Sunday, October 31, 2004

Happy Halloween!

Jason, your second question was too easy. I will refrain from answering since I already asked a question. I want to give others a chance to post a question.

So, today is Halloween, my least favorite holiday of all. I just don't like it. But, I like candy a lot, so it isn't a total waste. Ohhh, plus I love to dress up. Speaking of dressing up, I found this neat link (but it isn't technically a link since you have to copy and paste it to your browser):

http://www.starwars.com/kids/activity/crafts/f20041027/index.html

Totaly cool par-tay at Kristen's on Friday. We played a couple of rounds of paper phone with hillarious results (I swear it was an "N", not an "R"). Then we played Taboo and sat around and discussed the Band Hall (what else would be dissucssed at a band party?).

So, i guess that Jason has been out of the loop. Indy has long since been postponed. Been about a year or so since the news was learned. But Spielberg is filming a totally awesome adaptation of War of the Worlds starring Tom Cruise that is going to rock! Check out www.spielbergfilms.com for all the latest and greatest news on Spielberg and the gradual, snail like progression of Indy 4!

Well, I will be going. Don't forget that election day is Tuesday. Vote Bush!

Saturday, October 30, 2004

Answer2?

Ewan McGregor

100% Vegetable Juice

This week has been full of firsts for me and I can honestly say...it's been great. I saw my first opera, Aida. That was so wonderful. The music was gorgeous and the cast was amazing. Tonight I went to my first institue dance (actually, the first dance I've been to since high school). That was an interesting experience...needless to say, our old, white marching shoes make for a good costume, but they are terrible dancing shoes (ouch!). And last but not least, tomorrow my roommate and I will be heading to Abravenal Hall to listen to the Utah Symphony play the Lord of the Rings soundtrack (and yes, that is what they are playing). I can't wait! This will be the first time I will have seen a real concert at Abravenal Hall (my only other experience was a 5th grade field trip that I barely remember). What a week! So...I believe that it is late (12:30am~ish) and I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. So, for now I say farewell, until our paths cross again. Have a wonderful weekend and.......
Happy Halloween!!!!!!

Friday, October 29, 2004

Thursday, October 28, 2004

I'll just take it in two pills

So, I am guessing from the lack of commentary on my trivia question that I have people pretty well stumped. Okay. Well, should I tell the answer or just go ahead and post another one? Hmmm. Decisions, decisions. (By the way, the music to the movie Enter the Dragon is very strange quasi-oriental sounding. Thanks ScoreStation.) All right, I'll give the answer away to my trivia question. The question was who was the person in the Napster's flashback who stole the disk out of his computer, thus claiming to actually have created Napster? Answer: None other than the Napster himself --Shawn Fanning. Go ahead and read the third bullet item on the list of trivia. :)

Well, I must inform you all that it may be some time before I can update my own blog because I recently moved my entire system over to Windows Server 2003. I simply swapped the Windows XP hard drive out and put in an unused disk in and loaded Server 2003 on it. I have spent the last couple of days configuring it and getting it set up as a fairly nice server. The only problem is that all my software is still installed on the XP hard drive and I hate to constantly swap out hard disks every time I want to run a program. So, I just have to install my web development software on Server 2003 and I'll be good to go. I just wanted to let you all know that I am moving up in my geekiness and have moved from desktop operating systems to full-blown servers. :)

Gaaaa! Indiana Jones 4 has been bumped back to 2006. Oh, I was so looking forward to being able to see Star Wars and Indy all in one summer. I guess I'll just have to make do with my trilogies of both films. :)

Okay, new trivia question: Who was the famous Irish actor who was considered for the roll of James Bond in GoldenEye?

Catch y'all later!

I'll take mine sitting on my head!!

Jon! If only I'd have known you posted a question a long time ago. How long ago and what, again was your question? Remember, I didn't have regular access to the web a long time ago.

I will be comming home for the weekend! Yay! I get to go to the par-tay at Kristen's house! What fun it will be, plus I have a really cool costume.

That's it for today. Sorry I don't have more to write. Vote for Bush!

Wednesday, October 27, 2004

Take this sitting down? I don't even think so.

thought of the day: Refuse to condone and thereby support things that you consider morally or ethically wrong.

Isn't that a great idea. If only everybody would do that. No person should be discriminated against. All immoral or unethical behavior should be. (Good greif, isn't that what laws are for - to "discriminate" against unethical and immoral behavior?) I leave it to the reader to make application of a broadly applicable principle.

Ben, in your last post you said something that I mis-read in a funny way. You said you were sorry for the loss of Weber State. I'm just glad they found it in time for school on Monday.

So, I forgot about work and got stuck in traffic today on the way back from my last lab. I also found out yesterday that photobucket reduced the space for free accounts from 100MB to 25MB. So if you were wondering why some of my blog pictures haven't been showing up, that's why.

La la la la. I can't hear you. That's the blessing and the curse of blogging.

I finally found a chicken sandwich I liked. Burger King's new Spicy Tendercrispy Chicken Sandwich. Mmm.

The first transport is away. _huzzah_ This brings me to my next point, which is that I posted a trivia question a long time ago. So far no one has even taken a stab at it. I don't know the answer to yours Jason, but if anyone knows the answer to mine, feel free to post it.

Someone brought 4 little cannisters of Play-doh to work and made a bunch of stuff with them on the lab aide desk here. And now it smells like Play-doh all the time to me.

Jason - new rootism comin' atcha: "What we need to do is keep our eye on the ball... where did the sun go?"

Ok, so now I'm going to log onto athena (WSU CS terminal server) and see if I can't learn something about putting together web forms in .net

'kay, bye.

Saturday, October 23, 2004

Now I get it! Leeeeets go....

Jason, your question is extemely hard! Well, for me it is, seeing as it has been a looooong while since I last saw that flick. I really can't answer it. But now, hopefully, everyone gets the idea with the ongoing trivia contest.

Weber State does suck (fooseball wise, that is). What an emarassing game for you. On the other hand, I'm watching the Utes beat the crap out of UNLV as we speak. 63-21. In other words: blow-out. Now the Utes are 6-0 and currently ranked number 10 nationally. It is very cool. Plus I heard the marching band practicing the other day and they were playing One More Time Chuck Corea. Brought back some great memories, but mostly reminded me of how much I don't miss being in marching band, and Heather, your comments just reinforce my disslike for marching band.

Ben, you had a sickly experience I take it? Well, you ought to read my review of Super Size Me over at my blog, then go watch the movie. You'll never ever want to eat at McD's again.

Okay, I guess it be time to go.

We're heading into head hunter territory now. That's not a good place to be headed.

Yo-Yos are great

I need to post a trivia question of my own, eh? Well, here goes..

In the movie "The Italian Job" (2003) when The Napster (Seth Green) is having a flashback to defend his position as the actual creator of the file sharing utility Napster, who is the character who removes the disk from his computer during that flashback?

I hope that one is not too easy. If it is, let me know and I'll see what I can do to increase the difficulty of the questions. I don't want to make the questions so hard that they are unanswerable, however.

Yay! We got to go home from the football game on Saturday after halftime. It was raining and Dr. Root didn't want all of us getting sick and didn't want to be saddled with a huge repair bill for the poor woodwind players' instruments. It was a bad game anyhow. At halftime, we were down 35 - 0. Weber really needs to get a new coaching staff. There were times when Weber was a powerhouse in the Big Sky. I don't think the players are bad by any means. I mean, those guys are playing there because they want to. It's got to hurt their self-esteem to not win any games. Seriously, I don't think the coaching staff is doing a very good job with the football program at Weber State.

Well, I must be going now. I'm excited because I get to go to a birthday party this afternoon for Kristin's grandma. :) TTFN

Oh hey, we're coming up on the Republican National Convention. It's okay to wave; they've all got their trunks on.

Weber State---Great? Great? Great????

Thanks to Dr. Root, I am at home and not freezing my fingers off at the pathetic game anymore. I've heard of bad teams before, but nothing this extreme! My friends and I decided that we should be proud of our losing streak...it's something to brag about. :) I have to admit that I find Weber's games very fun to go to, despite the fact that we lose every time. It' s still fun to shout and make noise. Well I think I'm done now. Until next time!

Slip or Trip

I'm sure that most and all are not surprised by the loss of Weber State today... and since I'm writing this before the game even starts, I'll eat at McDonald's if I'm wrong. And that's saying a lot, considering the experience I had with my last McDo trip. So, as my headline goes, if Weber Slips then I won't Trip (to McDo's) I would, naturally be wanting to go, only that I got a family thing and then got invited to spend the rest of the weekend with Hava's family. Saw Van Helsing again, pretty good flick. Saw Amelie again, pretty funny frenchiness. Reading Heart of Darkness... I'll tell you about it when I'm done. It's ok so far, but really hard to go through at any pace other than slow. Okay folks, I'm outa (money? cotton candy? birthday cards) here.

Thursday, October 21, 2004

We have a weiner, er, winner, yeah, that's it!

Jason, you are right, but you never posted the next trivia question. Whoever is right posts the next one. That means you Jason! On Tom Sellick, you are half right. he was offered the role and was even officially (well, sort of) cast as Indy. He wasn't busy at the time since CBS decided that Magnum P.I. would not be right for them to start work on immediatly, so Selleck and Spielberg thought they were in the clear. When the CBS execs discovered that Lucas and Spielberg were vying for the star of the then shelved show, the rushed it into production to avoid potentially loosing their star. So anyway, POST THE NEXT QUESTION JASON.....

Now comes the most dangerous part of our voyage, our return to civilization and my attempt to ram the dock.

There's a Magnum in the Pi

Andrew,

In response to your trivia question you posted earlier on this blog, I would have to say that Mr. Tom Selleck. He was originally cast as Indiana Jones, but had to break off that relationship because he was busy shooting another role (one that he would become almost typecast in.)

About Halloween, hmmm. I'll have to get back with you on that one because plans are still a bit up in the air at the present time. Aside from that, I need to go to bed. Just thought I'd answer the burning question that has been on everyone's mind since 6:25pm.

TTFN

And always remember that if you enjoyed this ride, my name is Jason and this has been the Jungle Cruise. If you haven't enjoyed the ride, well, my name is Tony and this has been the Submarine Voyage.

Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Avoid getting probed!

Don't know what that title was for other than to illicit some kind of morbid curiosity. Well, its been a while since I put something here, so I thought I would just start typing and thus put something here. I don't know really what exactly I want to say so you have to endure my meaningless rambling for a moment or two until something comes to me.

So, I finally saw Napoleon Dynamite and you can check out my review either Friday in The Morgan County News, or you can check out my blog which is accessible via the nifty link to your left (thanks for that Jon).

Why are spiders creepy?

So, maybe I'll go watch a movie right now as I am taking a bit of a break today from studies (I need it). Is anyone else feeling the burn out yet? I would highly reccomend you take a day off from studying and just do something relaxing to you.

What are everyone's plans for Halloween? Is there anything in particular going on? What will you dress up as? Could I possibly ask anymore questions? Why don't we find out?

IDEA: TRIVIA QUESTIONS!
I will start this out by asking a nifty trivia question and whoever gets it correct gets to post the next question and so on. Here we go: Who was originally cast as Indiana Jones before Harrison Ford steped into the role?

Well, I seem to have finally put something here so it looks like time to go. Have a great day!

Monday, October 18, 2004

Constitution...Institution.... same thing, right?

The truth about the Colonies agreeing on the constitution is that it was, very possibly, the greatest comprimise in US history. The best thing, ( i believe) about it was regarding the slavery isssue. Obviously the southern states would not have agreed to it had slavery been condemned in it, but the wording seems to imply that all people regardless of gender and race are equal. So what's up with that, eh? I think the founders were a fairly bright group, despite deciding to get together in the middle of the summer in a closed room (no open windows even) wearing all their wool getup and wigs, in that they were able to provide a way that when the time was right and the people were ready, to address issues such as true equality - aka, the ammendments.

ohhh.... I've been spending too much time in my American Govt class.... I need to stop that. ;)

Kristin Schill

Let me Qualify

I would favor Prohibition, too. But it was, you cannot deny, ineffective -- not that it wasn't a good idea, just that it well, wasn't a good idea. I like Prohibition; but you can't legislate good behavior. Unless everybody agrees -- which is the amazing thing about the Constitution, about Colonial Amercia: everybody agreed! Very odd.

Saturday, October 16, 2004

The Big Freeze

I just got back from watching The Day After Tomorrow. When it first came out, I thought it would be another one of those fake, end-of-the-world type movies that just make me feel like I've wasted my time. This is not the case for that movie. Besides having a pretty good cast (Ian Holms and Dennis Quaid), the plot was very realistic and the CGI effects (except for the wolves) weren't too bad. I'm a nut for seeing natural disasters (dream #1-be a storm chaser), so I loved the scene where LA gets ripped up by a load of tornados. The only problem I have with this movie is that it isn't a too far-fetched idea. If you think about it, the world's climate is slowly changing, who knows what could happen in the next 1000 years?! Well, I suppose I wouldn't make it in the the movie-reviewing world, but I tried....right? It's a good movie, and it's pretty tense, so if you have free time and haven't seen it, I would recommend it. If nothing else, there is very little bad language and no dirty scenes. Enjoy!

Oh, the geekitude...

Here is yet another great use for the wonderful, God-given power of USB:
An aquarium.

Thursday, October 14, 2004

Both carry blades. One has mind tricks, the other, gold

A big hey hey to all y'all.

So band (no band) was fun today. I should've just slept the day away in on the couches on the second floor. I did manage to catch a few winks on the Orange Forum's namesakes in the TE building. (For those who don't know, the Forum is named after the orange chairs and couches out in the hall by the south lab.) Sadly, that didn't last a long time.

Jarrett, I think maybe you're right. I guess I wrote that out of frustration with people not caring about voting. I didn't stop to consider whether it would be an effective solution to the problem. As for Prohibition, I think it was a good idea. But otherwise I agree with you.

Well, time for study or I really will regret it later on.

WHOA FOLKS

Hold on one moment.

You speak (Jon, I believe it was) of the polls in Denmark -- that Everyone is Forced to go to the polls. Kristen Vesper mentioned the other day that they do the same thing in Brazil.

It seems like a good idea -- get everybody to vote, or at least say they don't want to. But it doesn't work. Kristen's account validated that. They all voted on emotional impression for Mr. Lula, who was once poor, thinking he could help the poor. Forcing people to vote cannot make them care; it cannot make them really understand. You can't force people to do things, because then you Really get crappy (I use the word rarely and intentionally) results. Forcing people to vote is almost as ineffective and impractical, especially in a country so large as the United States of America, as Prohibition was, or outlawing belly-shirts would be. You cannot Legislate morality. It can't be law to care, it can't be law to think about things. That falls into the charge of each person. And when the more part of people quit thinking, we get imperialism -- because those who lack self-discipline need more government.

So, that is my rant. Someday you can have my opinion on public Education and Welfare.

Just a comment about Voting

Did any of you read the comment in the school paper Wednesday concerning voting?

I accually couldn't tell if they were being srious about not voting if you felt that you didn't know anything. It seemed that they were accually advocating NOT bothering to find out ANYTHING about the candidates, and that if you didn't care one whit about it, that's ok too. Don't worry, your vote won't count for anything.

Perhaps they meant to be satirical. I couldn't tell. It really irked me though. This election has shown such a dramatic increase of voter registration. College students usually don't care about these things, they're to buisy, and they think, Why? it'll never affect me? Well, my friends, that's because they think that. it's self fulfilling prophecy.

Anyhow, i just wanted to vent. I have a hard time with a school paper who is accually advocating not voting. I agree with whomever it was that thought that Denmark does it right, where you have to go to the polls, even to mark that you don't want to vote. I believe it might make it worth some people's time to enlighten themselves a little. That and it gives them an excuse to complain about the elected official. I believe that if you didn't vote, you have not right to complain.

-Kristin Schill

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

Comments

1. Tevyeh for President (When you're rich, they think you really know)
2. Jon, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY recommend purchase of the Uncorked Soundtrack. I myself did so back in January, and though at the time I shied away from spending the about $20 after shippine, I have never regretted it. Excellent stuff. And Ross' Concert is a very, very catchy and very cool track.
2a. As you may have guessed, Jon (and Jessica, as she's seen it) Uncle Cullen is my hero -- one character in all the history of film-making I actually identify with.
3. I tried 20q: it got the platypus and the chili pepper, but not Buddha or the Tao. It was close, though. For the Buddha it brought up faith and friendship, and for the Tao it brought up freedom, joy, and vision.

And the politics go on...

I am in the process of watching the final presidential debates. I have never been so outraged by a comment then I have tonight by one of the candidates. The subject of homosexuality came up. I know that we are free to believe what we want, but I am so upset by what one candidate said that I have to vent. He said that both he and the other candidate agreed that marriage is between a man and a woman. He then proceeded to say that he also believes that some of us were made, BY GOD, to be homosexuals. I don't have any exact references, but do I know that the Bible and the Book of Mormon do not say that we were made to have that preference. God created Adam, then he created Eve from the rib of Adam. He didn't create another man, he created a woman. Man was made to love, marry and procreate with the opposite sex. I have been enjoying this debate, despite my being outraged; it's the first one I've watched with the real intent of learning something. Anyone who has the desire to exercise the right to vote should watch these debates. I regret not watching the others. A person can learn so much about who will be leading our country for the next four years by watching the debates. Thank you for listening to my opinions...if you don't agree, I understand, but I do not apologize for believing what I do.

In other news, it's amazing what sleep can do for the sick and tired body. I woke up this morning and felt terrible, so I've been sleeping all day. I actually missed not going to school, but now I have the energy and clarity of mind to go on. Thank you for the welcome Jon, I feel at home now. ;)

Well folks, I want to go listen to the rest of the debates. Have a wonderful day...evening, whatever it may be when you see this. :) And please understand that I am not attacking anyone for their beliefs, I just felt impressed to share mine.

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Yeah! You're all gonna be in my experimental reality

There were a few good Rootisms uttered today. One about Dr. Root's early formative, impressionable years, and the other about graduation. And how... HOW could he? I mean, here I am, all excited about coming on Thursday and sitting through my 60+ measures of rest at the beginning of whatever song we play that starts with a P and he calls sectionals and says the percussion people don't have to come! "He wandered in loneliness, weeping a little for the hardness of the world..." - J.R.R. Tolkein Ok, I'm only kidding. :)

In other news, there is now a bit more text on my blog for the Europe trip. No more pictures as yet. I have to redo some of the ones I put up on photobucket since even the small versions have nearly overflowed my account limit. And I haven't even put them all up yet. I will hopefully be able to get some work done on them if I get my program done. I thought I needed to have it turned in by Saturday at midnight, but when I went to submit it, the instructor had extended the deadline til tomorrow. Oh, well, at least it's almost all done. I think it works, but I have to run it on Visual Studio 6 to be certain. Wish me luck.

Jason, I wholeheartedly agree with you. There were people that died to give us the right to govern ourselves and a huge part of that is voting. Not caring enough to go vote when it's the day of elections because you can't be bothered or because you don't think it's important enough is an affront to people who sacrificed everything for your way of life. I respect the right of every person to hold an opinion and to try to support what they feel is right. I think Bush has done a good job, but if you're a Kerry fan and don't vote for him then that I don't respect. I kind of like how they do things in Denmark. Everyone is required by law to at least show up at the polls. They can mark a box that says they don't want to actually vote for anyone, but they can be fined if they don't at least do that. Apathy in this matter shows a lack of appreciation of every good thing we enjoy in this land. Being America doesn't mean we're perfect or that we will ever have perfect leadership. But it does mean that we have something that many people have considered worth dying for. The least any of us can do to repay that debt is to do this smallest of all forms of participating in our more perfect union, governed by the people, for the people.

As far as the band blog being a forum for political discussion, I figure Hey! Why not? This is just an extension of the hall itself and we can discuss anything here that we might there. And speaking of our little forum here, I must extend a warm welcome to our newest blogger, Heather. If there's anyone else who wishes to hang out in the digital as well as the real band hall and post here, just send an email to the address listed above. Cheers! Juice! (What!?!) By the by, Jason - on the 200th post on this blog you mentioned a dessert. As I was reading that post just now I suddenly had an overwhelming urge to eat just such a dessert. My question, then, is this: Where does one obtain such a dish?

Ok, so until next time, here's blogging at you, kid.

Sunday, October 10, 2004

This will make you even more political...

Now that I see I have political folks somewhat riled up (or at least seemingly riled) I have yet more stuff to point out from the debate on Friday night. By the way, if you haven't yet noticed, I support the President and think he has done a great job, granted he is not perfect, but nobody is.

Did anyone else get as angered as I did by Kerry's statement that he believes abortion should be funded by MINE and YOUR tax dollars? (Yes, he did actually say it and I am not making it up) I think that is the worst idea of the century. Why should my tax dollars go toward supporting a practice that I consider murder. Do you want to pay for murders? Neither do I. That is why my vote is going to the President. Bassed on the statements made in Friday's debate, I can guarantee you that if Kerry is elected, it will be the darkest four years of American history.

Saturday, October 09, 2004

I decided to go home this weekend...I'm not sure why. So, I'm sitting here at my family computer (which I might add, is on something-I can't see everything on the screen...and no there's no way to fix it). I just practiced for a long time and my arm is tired (playing Jon Schmidt, amongst other things, can do that :o) ), so yeah. The weather is kind of gloomy, makes me want to go trick-or-treating. How about that, the screen went back to normal....never mind. I miss Ogden already and I can't wait to go back. I wish I was up there where my friends are...it feels like a ghost town right now here in little 'ole Dugway. Anyways, I think I better stop now. Thank you Jason for your insight about voting. It was nice to hear that someone actaully cares about it.

All about rings

Considering the fact that I'm hearing the political issues from all around this recent time and that I am, by nature, a non-confrontationalist, I'll not make comments on that subject. Just so everybody knows, I will vote and you will not know ever who I'm voting for.
Things in my life can't be better... and if you have questions as to why, just ask me.
Can I say that I don't like work, especially at Focus. It takes up too much of my time. Can I also say that I don't make enough per hour.
I'm excited for the DVD Gift Set for Return of the King. It has a special Howard Shore music documentary. I'm also re-reading the books because Hava invited me to go with her to her Lord of the Rings Philosophy class reunion over Christmas break. I'm getting into Lord of the Rings again, yay for me.

Friday, October 08, 2004

More Political Stuff

Kudos to all who have voiced their opinion politically in this very heated season. It is our responsibility as citizens of the United States to elect leaders who will be leaders. I am not going to claim pertainence to a particular political party or that I support publicly either President Bush or Senator Kerry. I believe that both these men have what they beleive to be the best interest of the American people in mind. I have to respect that. I just got done watching the 2nd Presidential Debate. It was quite a good debate. Both candidates were very sharp and knew what they were going for. When I watch debates like this, it only makes me more proud to be an American. How many people are there in the world who would give all that they posess to be able to have democratic elections? This is a great gift to us and we need to cherish it. Countless people have gone before us in defending the freedoms that we lazy Americans take for granted. I am often saddened that I can go to the polls and go in and vote and hardly see another soul there. I have heard reports that in some countries, when a democratic election is held, more than 100% of the population votes. That only means that people are going out and voting more than once! These people are so grateful for the opportunity that they are filling the polls.

With regards to your own political colors, I can't say that the Republicans are all right, but in the same breath, I can't say the Democrats are all right. The job that falls upon us humble citizens is to vote our conscience. We need to support the candidate and not the party that best reflects our personal values. If I were to say that I support the Republican party (which, by the way, I have been accused of before) I would have to say that I completely embrace all of their creeds and tenets. I can't say that I agree with everything that the Republican party embraces. The same goes for the Democratic party. It is my job, like I said before, to study the issues and make a decision on a candidate who best fits my opinions.

I feel like I have just preached a bunch on here and have been a political sort of rallyer with a mission to bolster support for some idea. I hope that I haven't been that way. I just see, especially in college, how people have this tendency to forget what it means to vote. Guys, if there is one message that I can leave with you, it would be to get out and vote. You probably have ancestors who fought or perhaps gave their lives for the freedoms that you now enjoy. Think of the American Dream. It's a glorious thing. However, it comes at a price. Nothing that we have came to us just because we looked good or something. Someone had to pay for it. We need to vote and protect the luxuries we now enjoy. I'm proud to be an American.

Terrorism must fall. It's not going to be an overnight, poof! it's gone, thing. The war on terror isn't really a war that can be won in the sense of winning a traditional war. It's sort of like the war on drugs. In case any of you have perhaps forgotten, we are still engaged in the war on drugs. But, in the terror arena, whether George Bush or John Kerry has the right plan is up to us, the people of this great nation, to decide. Now is the time to take the power into our own hands. Please get out and vote.

Whew! Had to get that out of my system. Hey, it's been great to see all the stuff posted on here by all of you! I certainly miss the companionship of the band hall, but as happens in people's lives, things change and we move in different directions. I have very little free time anymore, but that's okay. I still would like to get together with y'all and have a get-together, party-esque thing-a-majig. I wish I wasn't so blasted beat down after each football game. Keep in mind, y'all, that I don't play my trunket as much as I used to so making it through the game is a real chore. :) This is a fun band this year. I am glad to be at least superficially involved in it again. It was very hard to leave the marching band last year. It was hard for me to not be in the Symphonic band this semester. I keep the option open for next semester, possibly. :) I've got to get my trumpet fixed first, though. It got a really bad dent in it a couple of months ago and now it just plays differently.

Well, you all have probably gotten really tired of listening to me gab on. All right. Fine. I'll cease and desist. But, before I do, I must give another political jab. Please make sure that your Shockwave player is up to date and then direct yourself to Atomfilms.com. You should watch the films called "This Land" and also the newest creation, "Good to be in D.C." Hehehehe. I think you'll laugh at both.

Chao!

Hello

Hello, I am new in this blogging world and I'm excited to join, since I have nothing else to do right now. I am sitting next to my friend Jessica who just finished her own thing. I'm slightly excited, because my parents are coming to visit. Today is weird though, I have to admit. Only one class....what a day! I agree with Jess, it feels like we should be out on the field right now, but instead we're inside, writing complete nonsense that I'm not sure I would enjoy reading(at least my own stuff...you other bloggers have fun things to say, but I will get better at it, eventually). So, you wonderful friends of the band hall, I bid you a fond farewell (wait...I mean a good afternoon!). Have a great weekend y'all!

Thursday, October 07, 2004

Laying down the law

Ben, I'm emailing you the Rules as they appear in what I was going to post, but decided to get your approval on before I did. strangbaen@hatmayil.cam [as said w/ accent]

Wednesday, October 06, 2004

20Q strikes again!

This time I was thinking of the web-slinger:

I am guessing that it is Spiderman(superhero)?
Yes , No , Close

19. Is it man made? No.
18. Can it be easily moved? Yes.
17. Can it be trained to obey commands? No.
16. Does it live in cities? Yes.
15. Do you find it in the sky? Sometimes.
14. Have you seen one in real life? No.
13. Does it help accomplish tasks? Yes.
12. Is it usually colorful? Yes.
11. Was it used over 100 years ago? No.
10. Is it comforting? Yes.
9. Is it outside? Yes.
8. Is it commonly used? No.
7. Is it small? No.
6. Does it require specific knowledge to use it? No.
5. Can it be washed? Yes.
4. Does it use electricity? No.
3. Does it make noise? Yes.
2. Can it cheer you up? Yes.
1. It is classified as Other.

Check it out, yo.

Truly uncanny. Even though Spidey isn't an X-Man.

Ok, so now I'm going to do my homework actually. That way I won't die as much (gradewise).

Thanks for the political stuff Jon.

Cause, I like to be political. Especially when you are showing strong support for the President. It makes me want to show my strong support for the President too.



Ben, I know that you will forever hate my stinking filthy guts for this but there was a major news story about the draft rumor in the paper today.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-10-05-draft_x.htm

Copy and paste that link for a detailed story about how there is no draft, nor was there ever ever ever ever going to be a draft. Note the part where the President is quoted as say that as long as he is president, there will NEVER be a draft.



I think the President has held strong and stedfast in his beliefs, something his challenger can't claim. It is important that the leader of the free world has concrete beliefs and holds true to them. Afterall, you can't please everyone. If you tried, it would be disasterous. On the scary side, if John Kerry is elected, he will sign into law a treaty that would alow OUR troops to be prosicuted by foriegn judges in foriegn courts. Why would we want to hand over that much authority to foreign countries.

As far as nuclear claims go, there is a new report coming out today that links Saddaam to activly pursuing nuclear arms right under the UN's nose. And John Kerry says the world is a more dangerous place now that Saddaam is captured.


Okay, time to stop ranting.

Tuesday, October 05, 2004

Feel free

to be as political and religious as you want. If nobody were much of either of those our world would sure be in a sorry state.

And yes, I'm excited for the middle of the semester also. Especially because 2 of my 3 classes decided not to have a midterm. Woo who!

Andrew, I forgot and posted a bit about your ebay experience over on my blog instead of here, so you can go there and sort through the rubble of my collapsed writing skills to find that bit if you want to. I'm such a messy person, leaving replies to comments and questions all over the ether. But at least I shower daily. That's a good thing, don't you think? And I try to keep my car clean (shove all my junk into the trunk on a regular basis).

Now to work on the drumline show for this winter. If I don't, Billy will hit me with a fist on my face. Shoot English grammar with a rifle. That's what I just did there. And it wasn't even a clean shot, either.

I'll quit before I get further behind.

quote of the day:

Understanding Soldiers from Iraq

People think they understand
(but they really have no clue)
the life of a soldier
and what it is we have to go through:
Crying families, crying children,
“Daddy, please don’t go away!”
Smiling, you say, “Things will be fine,”
while inside you’re crying, praying to see another day,
fighting for those who cannot
and for those who burn what you swore to defend,
constantly questioning life’s purpose,
hoping it will all make sense in the end.
There’s no one to talk to
except the angels that guide us through the fire,
frozen in a silent scream,
being led by God’s divine power.

I have nothing to do
but wonder why I am here.
Is it out of pure patriotism,
or is it strictly out of fear,
the reasons why I do this?
For faith, sacrifice and love,
and to defend our nation?
When push comes to shove—
hunger, homesickness, anger, sadness, fear,
thirst, exhaustion, loneliness, and disgust—
sometimes I feel small, helpless, and alone,
in a world hard of finding trust,
with nothing to do
but wait for another day.
God is my refuge,
and to him I always pray.

We are soldiers; men of honor
holding steadfast and strong without fear.
Even though most of us soldiers
are not yet old enough to have a beer.
Even so, we will be haunted
by the images left in our heads,
by the phantoms, the ghosts
and the nightmares we will have in our beds.
You will look upon us as a child,
but men we are—more so than some,
and we will continue to grow
even when the fighting is done.

Always being asked:
“Why put yourself through that?”
If only I had an explanation;
If only they could think back
to a time long ago
when a Man suffered for all our sins…
Are we as soldiers
any different from Him?
Maybe then
their understanding may begin.

This goes out to Josiah Halverson, mostly. I think he's currently in Japan with his girlfriend visiting her family, but he was in Iraq. Ok, so, vote for Bush (yeah, he's not perfect, but at least he is doing something to try to prevent more 9/11 type terrorism, which Clinton didn't and Kerry prob'ly won't - and Bush won't pull out of Iraq and leave a power vaccuum that would only be filled by another Sadaam, because then it would be Kerry that wasted the lives that have been given, where Bush is making the tough call to sacrifice them for a good cause... now I'm being political), eat your vegetables, don't forget to brush your teeth, wear sunscreen, and please, please, don't play on the freeway.

Peace

Titles are fun....

....like going to the dentist.

Way to post Jessica! Awesome to see someone else around here besides the "regular four" (I guess they just eat too much bran is all). I am not excited about the mid of semester comming. I think my class of Spanish is not going well and fear that I will have to take it again next semester.

On the other hand (the political right one), be sure to hide as many copies of Farenheit 9/11 as you can when you go into stores this week. Its easy. Just grab a few copies and scatter them throughout the store (behind magazines, under store fixturing, inside pre-assembled furniture). This is so that Michael Moore makes fewer dollars from his propaganda film than he would otherwise. Moore is a very cunning liar and it is imperative that his message does not get out to others who believe anything they see if it is in a news format. Just because Moore makes it look like facts through his presentation, does not make everything he says gospel. If you have to see a controversial film this week, see The Passion of the Christ. It is a wonderful and powerful account of God's greatest love for mankind.

Okay, sorry to be so political and religious on you, but I had to get that out of my system. Ben is kicking my trash in football right now. I think he may be semi-psychic. He can see the truck before it runs over him! Okay, that was really bad. Sorry. Be sure to check out my blog for my latest review: "Shark Tale". Feel free to leave me a comment or too as well.

Sunday, October 03, 2004

Eye, Eye!

I hate e-Bay. Why do people have to snipe you with less than one minute to go? Can't they just go find another auction of the same ilk? Can't they just NOT CHEAT?! I was bidding on "The Godfather Collection", a normally $60 item. I was just about to get it for under $25, but noooooooooo, some buttman had to go and bid at the very last second. Well, I learned a lesson from this: In order not to get sniped, you must be the sniper. Hehehe. I quickly found several other auctions for "The Godfather Collection" in my price range and have been watching them veeeery closely over the last few days. I think my plan will pay off, but only time will tell. I was just so mad from mister cheater that I MUST win one of these auctions now. Thanks for wasting your time by reading this.

Okay, the first attempt failed, but I'm going for attempt #2......

Attempt #2 failed too! E-bay has this really cool feature though, where you can "buy it now" on selcted items, so I found me a "Godfather Collection" for $29.99 plus shipping and went ahead and bought it. It was really starting to peeve me off.