This little fella was perched on the flowers out in front of our house.  It was kind of cold outside, so he wasn't moving much. 



I like how you can see the fuzz on his head and legs. #entertainment

When people want information, they tend to have a source.  In the year 2008, it's interesting that some young people* still have the following information-gathering practices: 

1. Checking the radio for traffic.  The radio rarely ever has traffic information, especially when you want it, and especially the area you're driving in.  Alternative:  Cell phone.
2. Checking the TV for weather.  If you can actually find the weather channel, and if it's not playing commercials, and if you happen to have 30 minutes to waste as you wait for them to get to your area of the country.  Alternative:  Cell phone or internet.
3. Checking the newspaper for news.  Will it be under National?  Or Local?  Or Lifestyle?  Who knows?  Who cares.  Alternative:  Internet.

*It's not too surprising that old people don't use cell phones for everything, and I'll let that slide. #entertainment

Quite possibly the coolest TV show ever created (for geeks) is How It's Made.  I always think I won't be interested in learning how pet food or aluminum baseball bats are made, but I'm always wrong.  I'll see the show listing as I flip through channels and think, "Meh, I don't feel like learning right now."  But even before that thought finishes jumping across my neurons, I'm immersed in the show and can't look away.  Who knew the manufacture of yogurt and candles was so involved and so awesome? #entertainment

It's interesting how people think they know what they're talking about whenever the subject of politics comes up.  Most people rightly admit their lack of understanding when it comes to things like psychology or the variation of gravitational acceleration with altitude.  But with politics, everyone's an expert.  I particularly like conversations that start with "You voted for that guy?  I can't believe anyone would vote for him."  It's nice to talk to someone so ridiculously full of themselves and their political opinions. #politics

Sometimes I find myself totally rockin' out to a song in the supermarket, then snapping back into reality and controlling myself.  But then I'll look around and see if anybody else is rockin' out, and usually I see a few people at least mouthing the words.  How can you not sing along with Low Rider or War (huh, good god y'all [what is it good for? {absolutely nothing}]). #entertainment

Two new rules I propose to be added to the Universal Unwritten Code of Common Courtesy: 

1. Don't answer your phone during a meal with other people.  If you're by yourself, go for it.  But if you're eating a meal with other people, eat the meal and enjoy the people.
2. Don't call a person on their personal cell phone for work reasons.  It's one thing if you're traveling together and you need to coordinate when you're eating dinner.  It's another thing to call a person on their cell phone while they're on vacation or somehow otherwise absent from work.  Nothing is ever important enough to disrupt a vacation.

You'd think these would go without saying, but you'd be wrong. #technology

Why aren't there any really good political candidates?  Sometimes the question that comes to mind is, "This is the best we could do?"  Seriously, this is the number one Republican candidate in the country?  There aren't any Democrats better than this guy?  It just seems like, out of the 300 million people in this country, maybe we could find some that don't have glaring character flaws, dubious birth certificates, speech impediments, difficulties with their native language, extremist views on casual issues, and anything else that makes half the country hate or distrust them. #politics

Some brief thoughts on the election: 

1. I hope nobody wins.  That would be funny.
2. I refuse to vote for a candidate other than one of the main two, because if I wanted to waste my vote on a person that definitely won't win, I just wouldn't vote at all.  It's sad that it has to be that way, but that's how it is.
3. Two things I'd like Obama to change are the outrageous price of movie tickets, and the lack of availability of the NFL Network on my cable package.
4. There was one person in line before me at 7am when I voted.  I almost turned around and walked out.  Just kidding.  It was the easiest experience of my entire life.
5. I can't believe we don't yet vote online.  Instead we show up to obscure polling locations in the middle of nowhere (at least that's how my town works) and use strange machines.  Stupidest idea ever.  Do people still not trust the internet?  We trust the postal service to deliver our bank statements, but we don't trust the internet to register our vote securely.  Ridiculous.
6. In reality, I don't think the person occupying the office of president has any effect on me whatsoever.  I can't be drafted into the military (or probably won't be), I'll always pay more taxes than I want to, and I don't buy things I can't afford (not that the president has anything to do with the financial crisis [though I'm sure the case can be made]).  Regardless of who wins this little contest, life will go on as usual.
7. I can't ignore the fact that voting for a president is an extremely selfish act.  Everyone has their own core beliefs and values, and their vote will reflect those values, often at the expense of other people.  If I vote for a dude because I don't like paying taxes, I'm ignoring the fact that my taxes fund everything from the military to social security to public education to the police.  Right there I'm destroying the livelihood and wellbeing of pretty much every member of my family and every one of my friends, and all because I don't feel like paying taxes.  I'm such a jerk.
8. It's funny how people get so worked up about this whole stupid election.  It's one thing to root for a candidate, but it's entirely different to get in arguments that lead to insults about people's personal appearance and intelligence.
9. I think it's pretty clear that there will be a significant amount of unrest regardless of the outcome of the election.  If Obama wins, some ignorant racist will do something pretty stupid that will lead to a large-scale conflict.  If McCain wins, most democrats will likely leave the country for fear of Tina Fey eventually becoming president.  It's gonna be ugly either way.
10. Update:  I can't stand the thought of having another person in power who can't properly pronounce the word "nuclear".
11. Update:  I was amazed once again at the lack of identity verification at the voting place.  I simply had to state my name and sign a box.  No one checked my ID or asked me to verify anything even remotely personal.

#politics