I'm not really into kissing family members and friends.  For some reason, everyone I know does this all the time.  "I haven't seen you in two weeks *kiss*."  "Happy Thanksgiving *kiss*!"  My family and friends were never the kissing type of people.  The first time I was exposed to it was at some point in college, probably with some of Wendy's friends.  Girls would lean in for the hug and expose their cheek, expecting a kiss.  But I wouldn't give it to them.  Sorry ladies, a kiss is worth more than a handshake. 

Nowadays I occasionally participate in casual kissing.  But I try to reserve it for (a) people I'm really comfortable with or (b) bold Italians who I just can't refuse. #psychology

Bluetooth sucks.  That's my conclusion.  I was pretty psyched about it a few months ago, when I figured out what it was and how it works and how it could improve every area of my life by eliminating every cord in existence.  It seemed like an awesome idea:  Basically, Bluetooth is a wireless technology that allows you to connect different electronic devices.  For example, you can connect a cell phone to a computer to allow you to sync your address book.  You can connect a Bluetooth-enabled hands-free device to your cell phone so you can abide by NJ traffic laws.  You can connect speakers to your sound system without using any wires.  The possibilities are endless.  And Bluetooth applauds itself by claiming that it requires no user intervention; connections happen instantaneously and automatically. 

I was so pumped about it that I got a few things with Bluetooth capabilities:  a Palm Treo 650 and a Dell Inspiron 600m.  I set everything up (which goes against what they said about there being no setup) and it all looked good.  My devices communicated.  That's where my problems started.  What they didn't tell me was that Bluetooth doesn't actually work.  It's more of an idea, not really an actual thing.  I tried to send a file from my laptop to my Palm and it looked like it was working.  It got through the big long progress bar, and then it gave me an error.  Thanks.  You could've told me at the beginning that it wasn't gonna work.  Instead you wasted my time and then broke the news to me.  The same problems happened when I tried to send files from one computer to another, except that it didn't work at all.  It made no attempt.  It just said, "Nope".  Great.  Bluetooth, you're no longer on my "cool" list.  You're stupid. #technology

I almost always make life-changing decisions when I'm around old people.  I used to visit my grandparents in Florida and observe how slow and inactive they were.  That would always encourage me to be more physically active.  I would always be riding a bike or playing basketball.  Sitting around meant getting old.  Sitting around also meant playing board games, hence my current near-hatred of board games.  These games were only played when the weather wasn't nice outside or when the people involved couldn't do anything else.  Board games and other inside games are still always my last choice. 

I'm amazed at what happens when old people fall.  I hear about it all the time.  Somebody falls and breaks their hip or crushes their skull.  From falling.  Not falling out of a 10-story building.  Just falling down while standing up.  That always encourages me to never fall down.  No, actually it again encourages me to stay in shape so that falling down won't mean a near-death injury. 

I can see why someone would want to work with old people (i.e. Becca).  Aside from getting the satisfaction of helping people in need, you get the inspiration to never allow yourself to get that old. And it's not just the age that matters.  It's the physical condition.  I know a woman in her 70s who was a gym teacher her whole entire life.  She's still pretty active and she's in great physical and mental shape.  My grandmother, who's in her 80s, smoked her whole life and is in terrible shape.  She's been in terrible shape for as long as I've known her.  It just goes to show that two people the same age can be completely different in terms of health.  So it's possible not to get "old" in the sense of "assisted living old". 

On the comedic side of things, I think it's funny that old people hate "rock and roll music" and can't learn how to use computers.  I wonder what I'll hate when I'm that old and what I won't be able to learn how to use... #health

Sploid.com is a site described as "News with a tabloid mentality".  It collects news stories on non-mainstream topics.  Part of the extensive Gawker Media group. #technology

Damn Interesting is a site containing daily articles about random interesting things.  I've come across it a few times, and it's pretty cool. #technology

What's the deal with cowboy boots?  I'm surprised (disgusted, appalled) at how often I see people wearing them.  What's the appeal?  I think we can all agree that they definitely don't look good.  They're not a fashion statement.  You may say, "Yeah, but look at you.  Tucking your shirt into your underwear isn't too cool either."  I agree with you, but I still do it.  At least I don't wear cowboy boots.  I see people wearing them at church, at work, in airports.  And it's not like they just blend right in.  It's not like they look like regular dress shoes.  You see the tops hidden under someone's pants and you know exactly what they are.  All you can think is "Why?"  Maybe their reasoning is that cowboy boots are comfortable.  How?  How could tall leather boots with big heels be comfortable?  Maybe it's a cultural/regional thing.  My answer to that:  You're not in Texas anymore, broseph. 

And whenever I see people with cowboy boots, I can't get this image out of my head:  The kid who likes playing cowboys and Indians and likes watching westerns, and who convinces his mom to buy him cowboy boots.  Then he puts on his boots and straps some guns to his belt and rides his imaginary horse that looks remarkably like a broomstick. 

And these people expect other people to take them seriously? #lifestyle

Swanksigns.org is a site "dedicated to the art of mocking public works".  It has pictures of a bunch of "odd and off-kilter street signs, which are just begging to be mocked".  I might have a few to add... #language

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (the organization that runs New York City's subway and buses) has a new ad campaign entitled, "If You See Something, Say Something".  It's meant to monitor suspicious activities to prevent terrorism.  Among its several major points is this interesting imperative:  "Take notice of people in bulky or inappropriate clothing."  Based on that statement, I don't know if any of these MTA people have ever been to NYC.  All you see is people who are dressed in bulky or inappropriate clothes.  I'd love to hear some of the conversations from the 800 number: 

Gay guy:  "I'm calling because there's a guy on the F train whose shoes don't match his belt.  Talk about inappropriate!" 

Old white woman:  "A young man just got on the bus, and he's wearing baggy clothing!" 

Kid:  "There's a lady on the train who's wearing a tight leather skirt and leather boots up to her knees.  My mom said it was inappropriate, so I called in." #lifestyle

One of the best experiences in my entire life happened when I was in youth group in high school.  The pastor's wife was the youth group leader, and she invited everyone over to their house to have a jello fight.  Yes, a jello fight.  I was kind of skeptical at first because I wasn't really sure how it would work.  But I went along with it.  We each made a few packages of jello and brought them to their house in plastic bags.  We were in their backyard, and when the time came, somebody yelled out, "Jello fight!" and we let loose.  I don't remember if there was a point or a winner.  All I know is that we threw jello at each other.  And that's all that matters in my book. 

The best part came when I saw the pastor's wife running for cover.  She was throwing her bag of jello like you'd think a pastor's wife would throw (I don't really know what I mean by that, but basically she was throwing like a girl).  So I took some jello chunks out of my plastic bag and flung them right at her, pretty much as hard as I could (which probably wasn't too hard considering it was jello, which is neither a solid nor a liquid).  Direct hit!  That just felt so good for so many reasons.  And the best part about it was that there were no hard feelings or consequences or anything.  I chucked jello at the pastor's wife and it was ok.  What a beautiful thing. #religion

I got this letter from a bank and I couldn't not make fun of it.  Red text added for comic relief.  #sociology