Jack, Esq.

'nough said

Hockey Update

After watching OLN's coverage I wrote this e-mail:

To Whom it May Concern:

I have say that I was skeptical when I heard that OLN was covering
hockey. However, being a fan I was hoping for the best. I sorry to say
I was very disappointed. When you got the contract did you bother
hiring people that had covered a hockey game before. The camera is too
zoomed in to get a sense of the whole game. As a result, the camera is
being jolted back and forth, thus making the game unwatchable and
myself nauseous.

Hockey Rules!

So, I've been watching hockey for about 6 hours straight. God I missed this sport. Anyway, here is my take on the rule changes. I think for the most part it greatly improves the game. It makes it more exciting if that was possilbe. No two line passes, faster clearing for offsides all equal more scoring opportunities. (I don't like that my Kings lost after being ahead 4-0 after the first period). However, I thought that there were way too many penalties called. Wheather this was a matter of the new rules or just people adjusting to the new rules is a quesiton.

To sum up...Hockey kicks ass and it felt like Christmas to me. Does anyone else care?

Done and Done!

"We have normality. I repeat, we have normality. Anything that you are still can't cope with is therefore your own problem."

Every Day is Exactly the Same

I believe I can see the future
Because I repeat the same routine
I think I used to have a purpose
And then again that might have been a dream
I think I used to have a voice
Now i never make a sound
I just do what I've been told
I really don't want them to come around oh no

Everyday is exactly the same
Everyday is exactly the same
There is no love here and there is no pain
Everyday is exactly the same

I can feel thier eyes are watching
In case I loose myself again
Sometimes I think I'm happy here
Sometimes I still pretend
I can't remember how this got started
But I can tell you exactly how it will end

Everyday is exactly the same
Everyday is exactly the same
There is no love here and there is no pain
Everyday is exactly the same

-Nine Inch Nails, "Every Day is Exactly the Same"

Deep Throat

Not not that one. The identity of 'Deep Throat' has finally been reveiled after 30 years. For those who do not know their history (or news), Deep Throat was a key informant that Woodward and Bernstien used to bring to light the break in at the Watergate Hotel, which eventually lead to the resignation of President Nixon. Here is the story.

"Forgive me Father for I have Sinned..."

I came across this very interesting site via the NY Times today. It is PostSecret, which is a really fascinating blog. The gist of it is, this artist has asked people to mail in anonymous confessions in the form of decorative postcards, which he then posts every week on his blog. I have to say it is very interesting to see the results. They seem to range from teenage angst with suicidal thoughts, to sexual fantasies, to mid-life crises, to sagely wisdom about life. The goal is for the artist to put together a montage of all of them and publish a book. Now that is what I call art.

"All work and no play make Jack a dull boy."

Something happened...or rather didn't happen...I should be on vacation. I've completed my educational odyssey after 20 years. I should be celebrating, no more school coupled with the hardest 3 years of my life. I'm graduating from law school on Saturday, yet the only thing I can say about it is that it will be my first break in a week and a half. This is all because I've started studying for the bar. The next two months will be absolute hell, I thought nothing could be worse than 1L, but I was wrong.

The breakdown is like this, class for 4 hours and then study for 6-8 hours per day. The only breaks that I'm allowing myself to have are to eat, exercise, and sleep. If it was up to the people in charge of the program it would probably be only limited to sleep, eating would be limited to IV fluid and exercise is gotten by your eyes moving while reading, turning the page, and writing. Thus, two thing are for certain based on this:

1) My brain will be completely fried.
2) I will be in excellent shape, since exercising will be my only reprieve.

2 months of this, then I'll be free to work at a job that requires exactly the same amount of time and effort...something to look forward to...oh god...well, at least I'll get paid for that.

Just 12 more hours to go

To all those who say I should post more I say "Fuck off, I've been busy"

I am Jack's One Year Anniversary

Yes, that's right I started this blog exactly one year ago. Originally, it was really a procrastination for finals, but I've kept it up much to my own surprise. Recently I read some of my older posts and I must say that I enjoyed what I read, but perhaps I am a little biased. I quite like having my own little place in cyberspace and I want to thank all of those that contributed comments. If it weren't for you I'd just be talking to myself. My theory for blogging is that you have to write it as if there were someone out there that will actually read it. So thank you for making it a little easier. I'm going to be a little busy for a couple months but I will keep trying to update. I do have a post that I've been meaning to write for awhile. For now, that is all.

Cell Phone Update

"Why in the world would you think your (cell) phone would work in your house?" he (CEO of Verison Wireless) said "The customer has come to expect so much. They want it to work in the elevator, they want it to work in the basement."

Right...just like I said.

"The Man-Date"

I found this article on my newest addition to my blog, fark.com. (Which is a great site for random links throughout the web.) *Pauses a few minutes so people can read the article* But since no one ever does...basically the article discusses with stigma that straight men feel in going out with their male friends one-on-one, in a non-sports and non-business setting. Some of the men fear that people will assume that they are gay on a date with another gay man and how this is a recent phenomena. Men used to socialize together all the time and there was never a problem with it at all. I find this a very interest societal development, that men can no longer share the company of each other without it being perceived as a "couple". I ask the men who read this, or the straight ones at least, if they find the same thing ringing true in their lives.

Now I think it is easy to dismiss this as a logical extension of homophobia, while I think that is what drives a lot of men to avoid this contact, I think there is more to it than that. Perhaps what people are really afraid of is being judged by other's unfairly. I consider myself a very enlightened and liberal person, especially in matters of sexuality. I have been described by people who know me as "the gayest straight man they know". I take this as a complement, but I also do not want people to think I am gay...not that there's anything wrong with that (sorry had to do the Seinfeld reference).

The logic of this point goes something like this. I don't want to be perceived as something that I'm not. If I behave in such a way that does not conform to how a straight male should act then I am perceived as gay. Because I appear gay to someone then they also attribute all of the stereotypes and prejudices to me as well. I am not gay, but I have been judged by someone else as being something that I am not. To put it another way, it is not a homophobic reaction on my part for not wanting to be perceived as gay, rather it is me saying "why do you assume that I am? Why can't I act in a way that is contrary to yours and society's perception of how I should act and not have a label put on me?"

Perhaps I have delusions of grandeur but I like to hold myself out as an example to other men who feel that they have to act in a certain way or be perceived as homosexual. I feel that many of the traits that men exhibit are not innate but rather taught to us by fathers, coaches, and others. That men cannot show emotion, must treat women as objects to conquer, please insert any other characteristically male trait. There is no reason men need to act like this and they as individuals and we as a society would be far better off if they didn't.

But maybe I just want to have a nice candlelit dinner with my straight friend and share a bottle of wine.

Cell Phones

Anyone has spoken to me probably knows that I have a deep resentment of cell phones. It's not so much a resentment towards cell phones but rather the general idea that most people have is that they should work all the time and can not live without them. People complain about not getting reception and getting calls cut off. Somehow they just don't think something like that should happen. Maybe it shouldn't but the technology is not up to par just yet (or perhaps its the fact that we went with a different technology then the Europeans did). The point is people should realize that they do not work all the time and thus not have an expectation that they will.

However, this is a complete tangent to what I really wanted to talk about. Included in the many things I don't like about cell phones is the voice mail itself. Why is it necessary to have instructions on the voice mail "if you would like to leave a message, please wait for the tone." This comes after the personalized message of the person you are calling, and always seems to be the same woman's voice. Who decided that we as a society needed instructions on how to leave a fucking message! Oh you mean I'm leaving a message? And I have to wait for the tone? And I can leave my call back number even though the person's phone 9 times out of 10 will have a missed call listed on their phone anyway? We don't have instructions on home phones, other than the one you yourself put on their. Why is it that cell phones are completely different in that respect.

"If only we had their numbers..."

Just in case you were worried about Religion being trivialized in our secular modern 21st century, those crazy Christians have done more damage on their own. No I'm not talking about the hypocrisy of the Christian Right in the Schiavo case. Nor am I talking about the fact that the church celebrates Easter on a different day each year, since the day is based off of the Lunar calendar which determined the pagan Spring festival. I am talking about the brand new amusement park...wait for it...Holyland. This only furthers my argument that I had over the weekend that Religion is really just a way of taking advantage of people in order to sell a product.

(Bonus points for the one who gets the reference in the title, I'll post a hint if people have trouble.)

Bart's Blackboard

Found a fantasic list of everything Bart has every written on the blackboard on the Simpsons, Ever. Some highlights, one from each season.

1. "I will not yell "Fire" in a crowded classroom"
2. "I will not cut corners" (Repeated for 3 episodes in a row).
3. "Funny noises are not funny"
4. "This punishment is not boring and pointless"
5. "All work and no play makes Bart a dull boy" (points to those who know the reference).
6. (tie) "I will not mock Mrs. Dumbface" and "Cursive writing does not mean what I think it does"
7. "I will stop talking about the twelve inch pianist"
8. "I did not learn everything I need to know in kindergarten"
9. "I no longer want my MTV"
10. "It does not suck to be you"
11. "I won't not use no double negatives"

For the complete list

Glorifying shit jobs

Something I've been thinking about, do we Glorify some shit jobs? Firefighters, cops, teachers can all be considered Heroes. But the cynic in me wonders whether we just say that to "dupe" people into doing those jobs that no one else wants to do. Even my own job can be considered noble, but I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I don't get paid anything, I deal with horrible people that are living in a terrible situation, and I have to listen to all their stories. I have to deal with the emotional baggage of my job on a daily basis, but everyone says, "wow that's a really great cause!" Sure...I guess, but are they really saying "That's a good cause that I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole, I'm glad you're doing it so I don't have to."

This can apply to the previously mentioned professions as well. I would never want to be a cop or fireman and I'm guessing most of us wouldn't either. The people who do might think that they want to make a different and "be a hero". And that is fine, good for them. I'm not saying that's a bad thing but my question is how much of this attitude is constructed by our society? Do we as a society need to say that they are heros just so that we can have a constant supply of people doing those types of jobs?

Are you the bereaved?

Ok, I totally stole this from a message board, but I thought it was a worthy topic. The question:

What Song/Album would you commit suicide to?

Yeah I know it's kind of a depressing topic but it was very interesting. There are many things to take into account. It's different from what is your favorite album because it being the last one you hear makes it special, it is also possible that you would want to say something with your last selection. Perhaps you might want something that would put you in the mood, so to speak. I cheated (because I can) so I have a couple of selections, both Rock and Classical.

I must say that I had a really hard time picking some of these, I guess I thought I listened to more depressing music than I really do.

Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile - both discs ending with the song "Ripe (with Decay)"

Pink Floyd - The Wall

And being cliche, but unable to make an argument against it...
Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral

As for the ones that the rest of you don't know, I found these much more easy to pick. I debated about whether or not to include explanations with them, but I did. If any of you would like to experience the music first and later hear the explanation I'd advise you to skip the explanation. Enough stalling:

Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 6 "Pathetique" - Tchaikovsky's last three Symphonies all deal with Fate and a person's reaction to Fate. In the 4th, there is a triumph over Fate. The 5th describes acceptance of Fate. His final 6th Symphony is a battle against Fate that you do not win. The result being that you can not escape and you are doomed to your fate

Mahler - Symphony No. 9 - Mahler became one of my favorite composers and this Symphony was the first piece I heard by him and it is still my favorite. This piece is interesting from a purely historical/technical standpoint but I'll leave that lesson for another day. If the 4th movement isn't enough to depress you, perhaps this fact will. While he was writing this Symphony his daughter died, if that wasn't enough, Mahler was diagnosed with a heart condition so he knew that he was going to die.

And finally, the piece I feel most justified in putting here, because if I was actually going to do it, this would be the one that would be playing...

Barber - Adagio for Strings - Simply...Hands down the most depressing and beautiful song I've ever heard.

Just a disclaimer, this was not written in contemplation of anything, this is not a cry for help, it is only a way of writing about music that I love. Now discuss, and please post your picks as well

And the Oscar Goes to...

Well I watched the Academy Awards tonight, so I thought I'd post my thoughts on it. Honestly, not my favorite year for movies, granted I haven't seen all of them, but I've seen a fair amount. I just think that what I did see was only "ok" or "good", maybe it was even more of a I-realize-why-some-people-would-like-them-but-I-personally-wasn't-blown-away-type movies. That being said I think I have to see Million Dollar Baby, although the end was spoiled by something I read in the most unexpected of places, but I digress.

As for the show itself, I was actually really impressed. The pacing was very quick but did not seem rushed and I think they gave due respect to all the winners. Even the people given awards in their seats was not distasteful at all. They cut off people who deserved to be cut off, you can't just go up there and ramble forever. Also, for my money Chris Rock did a really good job hosting. I did think that it was the wrong crowd for him though. His humor is a little to "street" for the conservatives in Hollywood, but overall a very good job. (I do not mean this in the political sense, just that Hollywood likes to think of itself very highly...I kinda want to say "stuck-up" but I don't want it to have a negative connotation...).

Anyway a good evening in my opinion and I came in 2nd in my Oscar pool so hooray for that.

Advertising

Well the last topic has dissolved into discussing robots, so it's time to move on.

The new Mitsubishi commercials are really pissing me off. If you haven't seen them here is a short description of both of them (these are not the official name but just the one I came up with).

Let's get it on: A couple walk into look at buying an SUV. Young Husband tries to convince Young Wife that they should buy it. He talks about the safety rating, the great deal they are going to get, but she is undecided. Husband looks over to the Mitsubishi guy who then does the international symbol for rocking the baby. Husband then shrugs and says "it's the perfect size for the family we've been talking about". Wife is convinced and hugs him, and he has a vague look of disappointment. She then adds "Look it seats five!" Husband stops in his tracks and the commercial ends.

The WingmanTwo guys are in the dealership. Dude#1 says here's the sporty Eclipse that I'm going to buy, Dude#2 responds "Nice, Chickmagnet!". Dude#1 responds that No, the car is really good and lists all sorts of great things. At each one Dude#2 responds "Chickmagnet!". The commercial ends with Dude#2 doing push-ups on a car, while the female sales person asks Dude#1 if "He is with you". The thing is that she doesn't ask in a completely disgusted manner, it appears to me that she is interested in the guy and is wondering if they are friends.

Right, so why do I bother describing all of these...Well it could be my Gender Discrimination class talking, but I find these commercials incredibly offensive, chalk full of all the gender stereotypes of our society. The first describes a situation where in order to get what he wants (the car) he cons his "wife" (I assume that they are married but I could be wrong) that he is ready to have a family. The problem is the suggestion that all men NEVER want to settle down and have to have a selfish motivation (getting a car) as the reason to settle down and have a family. The second one at least has a redeeming guy who wants a car and appears to be offended by the suggestion that he is only doing it to get chicks. The suggestion from the commercial is completely opposite since it could be argued that his friend 'articulates' the real reasons for getting his getting the car. And again the female seems interested in the friend making an ass of himself.

Wow this is getting long. I could say more about how advertising, rather than the Conservative right promoting the traditional values, is the real danger in our society being stuck in the terrible gender stereotypes and continue to construct our society's concept of gender.

Comments Redux

Blogger changed their comments again so I decided to try them again, since they are now allowing anyone to comment. After screwing with the HTML I finally got them to work. I have added the comments from the two previous posts into the new system. Let me know what you think of the new look. I think it will automatically show all coments, I can change it so that you would have to click on them in order to view them. Also, I can always bring back the old format if this doesn't work out.

EDIT: I've decided to have a link to the comments instead of displaying them on the main page. Why? Well, it looks better, but more importantly this is my blog and thus only my opinion should be on the page. Don't like it? Get your own!

In perfect isolation, here behind my wall...

Yes, I borrowed the line, it doesn't mean quite the same thing here but it does evoke a feeling that I've been thinking about recently. You see I've been listening to my iPod, pretty much exclusively since I got it. Thus, no radio, no CDs, nothing. Also I just got Digital Cable which has the OnDemand feature. Not quite as good as TiVo or DVR, but it's the same concept. Basically, this has left me only listening or watching exactly what I want to, without have to be exposed to anything outside of my own taste. Now some people would say that this is a good thing. Commercial radio is loathed, but tolerated by most people. Most Television is just utter crap, even (or especially) the shows we love to watch.

However, this also leads me to ask a question: Is this the end of popular culture?

If we are not exposed to anything besides things that we want to be, thus our entertainment is completely tailored for and by ourselves. The end result of this is that there will be no common experience among everyone. It used to be that everyone was exposed to the latest trend/fad/whatever since we were deluged with the sights and sounds of it all the time. Now we don't have to be. Some would say "thank God". But I wonder if (1) we will not be exposed to anything else, because the means of doing so are outside the little bubble we've created. But more importantly (2) we will loose a common experience that is the basis of our culture.

How was your day?

So I'm sitting in class not paying attention at all. Then I hear a loud noise, a *gasp* from some people, and the BOOM! Here read "BOOM" to refer to the covering of a floresent light falling from the celling and crashing down ON TOP OF MY HEAD! "Ow!" was the next thing I heard and that was coming from my mouth. So, I check to see if I'm bleeding and sure enough I am. I decide my time would be better spent if I wasn't in class. Got home found that it was just a couple of small cuts and a nice goose egg. I watched TV and iced my head. It was reported to me later that some more of the light decided to fall. A nice big metal piece of the frame fell into the seat that I had vacated not 5 minutes earlier.

On an obviously related note, my school has two brand new flat screen televisions to be used for "anoucements"...

Test

I'm attempting to change the comments at the bottom but I need to test it, please be patient.

EDIT: nevermind, nothing has changed. For those who care, I was trying to change the comments to be run by blogger itself rather than Haloscan. After much work I was finally able to get the HTML code correct, since it didn't do it automatically, but I found out that you would need a blogger account, instead of posting comments however you would like. I didn't like this and thus scraped everything and went back to the old way. So there's 30 seconds of your life, but feel better because it's about 30 minutes of my life I won't get back.

Abstinence

No the title is not a reference to my lack of posting, it refers to a new study. Shocking, abstinence education does not work. But look at what the article does not discuss, that being STDs and Pregnancy. It says that there has been no "improvement" with regards to the percentage of kids having sex, it does not talk about whether there has been an increase in STDs and pregnancy rates. I would imagine they have increased since birth control and thus protection can not be discussed. What is really frightening is that these are the same programs that the government would like to have in third world countries. At least here, kids have access to other resources that will teach them the practice of safe sex. In other countries those resources are limited and/or non-exigent.

Emerging from the void

So, I've been on a hiatus for awhile. Vacation makes you not want to do anything at all which is why I haven't been posting. Now, I'm off vacation but still not posting. I feel the pressure to perform, the first post back has to be something witty and inventive to properly bring in the new year...The pressure has been too much. So this is an effort to get over the hump, as it were, a space filler so that I can now post without pressure. And now you will never get this minute of your life back...It is mine!