5 Things You Don't Know About Me
Yeah yeah, thanks to a certain someone I have to participate in this little meme.
People I'm tagging: Caleb, Mike, Shawn, Anna, and Joey.
Tag: general
Disgusting
I was browsing my stats and noticed an incoming link to my theme. Always curious as to what kind of sites used my theme I checked it out. I won't provide the link here because the site I found was disgusting. The site is supposed to be an alternative "news" site but really was nothing more than a racist and bigoted site that talks about "niggers", "kikes", "evil Methodists", and "fags." Reading the titles of these posts made me want to throw up, and the actual posts and comments were worse. I guess the drawback to releasing a theme is you have no say in what kind of site decides to use it. I, for one, am disgusted by it's use on this hate speech site.
EDIT: Just an update, I contacted the site's host, DreamHost and they said they support free speech. This is understandable. I, however, doubt it has anything to do with free speech and more to do with them making money from a client. That's just how DH operates. Even if the hate speech can incite hate crimes (which, if you look at the wikipedia entry posted in the comments by Mike, actually has happened). This lead me to post some terms in which I explain I have no affiliation with the content on sites using my theme. Kind of an obvious thing, but I just want to cover my bases.
Some Christmas Goodness
Something for my friends that enjoy the holidays.
This I remember from when I was a kid. In fact, I still have this on tape somewhere. We used to watch this cartoon every Christmas, along with some other Christmas specials that were on the tape. If you can sit through the commercials, give it a shot and watch the Smurfs Christmas Special. I'm sure you'll be able to find this on the net somewhere to download, if not, AOL has it for free. But typical AOL, you will have to sit through commercials. Reminds me of that thing I used to watch back in the day. What was it called? Oh yeah, TV. How far we've come with DVR and on demand programming. No wonder the networks are afraid of losing advertising dollars.
A great friend sent me this link. I thought I'd share it with you all. It should be noted that it might not be suitable for children. See how far you can Smack the Penguin.
Both of these go out to a very special friend, who may or may not ever read this. I'll remember you always. Take care of yourself. We'll always have the rain.
Tony vs. Paul
Tony vs. Paul
Caleb posted this over in facebook. I thought it was cool so I thought I'd share
My Feed List
I was bored so I thought I'd share with you the websites that are in my feed reader (which is Google Reader). They are:
Anna's Blog Caleb Was Here Give Away of the Day (hat tip Mark) Homeland Stupidity All in the Cards Photomatt Qn5 Blog Ryan.Connect Simply Complex Sporadic Nonsense What Makes You Happy? StL Today Cardinals Yahoo Sports- Cardinals
I also have on my Google Homepage Wired Top Stories, Slashdot, BBC, and New York Times. All good reads. What's in your feed reader?
New Colors and Other Site Updates
I changed the colors of the site a bit. They were red/orange and I changed them to blue. Blue is my favorite color, so I thought I'd try this out. I hope the header image isn't too bright. I'm still not decided on that. Any thoughts?
Also, since I last reinstalled Akismet I've been saved from 1000 spam comments with not one false positive. Good job Askismet people!
With Friendship, Distance Doesn't Matter
About 6 months ago I met someone online. This person was a great person and quickly became one of my best friends. In the past, people with "best friend" status were usually reserved for people I grew up with, went to school with, or generally lived in the same area as me. This friend is none of these. She lives in Florida, we never went to school together, and we didn't grow up together. I've never even met her. She is an online friend. With the increasing social aspect of the internet (we met in an online game), these things don't matter anymore. Even though she is an online friend, she has become one of my best friends. I feel I can talk to her about anything, and I do. She genuinely cares about me (at least I hope :P ), and I care about her. Will we ever meet in real life? Doubtful. But I'm okay with that, it does not bother me. I've gotten to know her better than some of my real life friends that I've known for years, and I've only known her for about 6 months. She knows me really well also. We talk quite frequently and is someone I can always count on. You always hear the long-distance relationships don't work, but the same cannot be said about friendship. Friendship knows no bounds, especially with a great friend like you, L-Feezy
Time to Relax
After a long week last week, it's finally time to relax. The week was long, filled with many errands. Am I the only one that has fallen in love with Google Calendar, Google Notebook, and the To Do list for your Google Homepage? That made the week so much easier. I could mark things like "Pick up tux" off the to do list, add work and events such as the rehearsal dinner to my calendar and even add notes on what I want to say or brief "post-its" of information that I might need later.
The rehearsal and the dinner went well. I had a good time there, and luckily we didn't miss any of the Cardinals game that night as they were rained out. Friday night we had a party at our house for my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary. All the Schepker side of the family was there. It was a good time. We BBQed and then watched the Cardinals win the World Series! Then Saturday came. What can I say, 16 hours in a tuxedo is not fun! 11 hours of partying in the limo bus and the reception is. So, I guess it evened out. Then Sunday we had people over for the gift opening. I'm just glad it's all over with and it wasn't even my wedding! I was just a groomsman. Congrats to my sister Lisa and new brother-in-law Kevin.
The Genius of Johnny Cash
As many are aware, I do not like country music. It just doesn't do anything for me. No, it's not because it's all about your girlfriend leaving you and stealing your pick-up truck (though, I do use that stereotype when talking about the music to others, just as they use stereotypes to describe my music of choice, hip hop). I just don't care for it. I would say there is once exception, and that is Johnny Cash. Now, I never really got into Johnny Cash until college, but I do think the man has put out some excellent music. The other day while subbing a social studies class, a young girl and I debated on his genius. She was a product of the new school of country music, not appreciating the "grittier" country music that came before. It wasn't until recently that I could say exactly why Johnny Cash was a genius, and this excerpt isn't the only reason he is, but it explains a lot as to why he is. This is from Chuck Klosterman's Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto
Here is the easiest way to explain the genius of Johnny Cash: Singing from the perspective of a convicted murderer in the song "Folsom Prison Blues," Cash is struck by pangs of regret when he sits in his cell and hears a distant train whistle. This is because people on that train are "probably drinkin' coffee." And this is also why Cash seems completely credible as a felon: He doesn't want freedom or friendship or Jesus or a new lawyer. He wants coffee.
Within the mind of a killer, complex feelings are eerily simple.
This is why killers can shoot men in Reno just to watch them die, and the rest of us usually can't.
Like I said, it's not the only reason that makes him great, just a simple explanation.
Potty Talk
No, I'm not talking about the four-letter words we all love to use. This time, I am in fact talking about going to the bathroom, more specifically, urinating. I know this may seem like an odd topic to blog about, but I've not been posting much and I decided to post this little thing I noticed about going to the bathroom. For those not offended by pee talk, continue to read.
Have you ever really had to go pee, so you go and then after a few moments you quit going? You think to yourself, wait, I got up because I really had to go, and that's all that came out? Surely there has to be more in there. I mean, I felt like I had to go more. So where is it? Then you wait a few moments thinking maybe it's afraid to come out. It's just not ready, like the baby bird that won't leave the nest. You try and make it come out. You think of running water or a slow steady drip, but nope, nothing. That was hardly worth the trip.
Another thing I've noticed about peeing, and this only happens to guys, well, at least I hope it only happens to guys. When a guy is going pee for a long period of time, it's almost as if it is draining the life force out of you. Our natural reaction is to place a hand or arm on the wall and support and/or brace yourself. I don't know why we do it. I mean, it seems like the pee is taking forever to come out, but it can't really be that long. Long enough to get tired? Most likely not. I also notice that this wall-leaning usually occurs when you've had a bit too much to drink, or perhaps after you wake up from a long night of drinking. Enough of this potty talk.
Ahoy, me hearty!
That's right me hearties! Tis International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Shiver me timbers and raise me jolly roger. Get all your landlubber buddies to talk like a pirate or force them to walk the plank. Arrrrrr.
To celebrate this grand holiday, we shall drink some grog and give you the top 10 pirate pick up lines via talklikeapirate.com.
10 . Avast, me proud beauty! Wanna know why my Roger is so Jolly? 9. Have ya ever met a man with a real yardarm? 8. Come on up and see me urchins. 7. Yes, that is a hornpipe in my pocket and I am happy to see you. 6. I'd love to drop anchor in your lagoon. 5. Pardon me, but would ya mind if fired me cannon through your porthole? 4. How'd you like to scrape the barnacles off of me rudder? 3. Ya know, darlin’, I’m 97 percent chum free. 2. Well blow me down? And the number one pickup line for use on International Talk Like a Pirate Day is …
- Prepare to be boarded.
10 Years and He is Not Forgotten
10 years ago Tupac Amaru Shakur died after being shot 6 days earlier in Las Vegas. He is missed by many and forgotten by few.
Wow, Another Update
Yes yes ya'll. I'm gracing you all with another update. Crazy, I know. So, what is the reason for my sporadic update? Well, for one, it's the summer. And two, nothing much is really going on. Sorry all, I lead a boring life. School will be starting next week, and it's to the wonderful world of sub-teaching I go. No, I still do not have a teaching job. This year was crap for open Social Studies positions. Hopefully next school year will be better, or you never know, one may still open this year sometime. That would be sweet. This fall I suspect I will be posting again more regularly. Until then all my loyal readers (that just means you Podz) keep checking back. Something interesting is bound to turn up.
Has it been 5 years?
This past Saturday was my my 5 year high school reunion. 5 years goes by quick. Now, I really do find the 5 year pointless. Everyone is still in college or just got out of college and are looking for jobs. The only purpose it served was to see some people I haven't seen in a while, since high school for many. The standard question of "what have you been up to?" doesn't really work here, though everyone asked it. What have I been up to? Well, college, just like you and everyone else here. There were some people there that I was surprised to see and glad I did see them, while others I was hoping to see but didn't. Even Tony from Chicago came down for it. (thanks for the ride again T-Bone!) Over all there weren't that many people there but in a way that was good because it gave me more time to talk to everyone that was there. It was definitely a fun night, and I had more 22 ounce beers than I can remember. If anyone from the reuninion reads this, it was great seeing you and we really should try to do this more than every 5 years.
My visit to KC
So I went up to Kansas City this weekend to visit my friends Matt and Anna. I went to see their new place and the Cardinals play the crappy Royals. I hadn't seen them since their wedding at the end of March so it was nice seeing them. I had a great time there. Kansas City can never compare to the superior St. Louis, but they try. The Cardinals did of course sweep the Royals. That's right. Royals suck! I got to see 2 Pujols home runs (he hit 3 in the series). Also on Friday night a guy jumped into left field in nothing but his boxers and ran around left field. The batboy tackled him and security ran to the field to take the guy off. That was the funniest thing I have ever seen at a game. I also got to see my friend Nate at Friday night's game. That was nice as I haven't seen him for a long time. I also got a $30 pair of shoes from an Adidas store and saw The Da Vinci Code (which was good, but not nearly as good as the book). Overall, the weekend was great. It felt good to get out for a while. Thanks again to Matt and Anna for their hospitality and great brownies.
Who Would Notify You?
This thread on the WordPress forums made me think. What would happen if I suddenly die? Who would notify you? How long would it take for people I know and talk to online to wonder where I went? Recently something similar to this happened. A friend of mine, that I only know online, hadn't been on for a couple weeks. I wondered where she had been, but not until she had been gone for a bit. It turns out she is (was?) in the hospital. I don't know much more than that. The only reason I know is because a friend of hers told a friend of mine.
If something happened to me, who would tell you? How long would it take you to notice? I would like for my website to stay online, as sort of a living tribute, and to even notify people of what happened. What would be even nicer is for people to discuss who I was on my website; what I meant to them. Think about them coming together and sharing stories about their times with you, in real life or online. There are a lot of people that I talk to that I think would appreciate a notification. Should I have the usernames and passwords for various websites and instant messengers saved somewhere so in case something happens a loved one or friend could notify? I think that is probably the best course of action. Think about it.... wouldn't you like to know?
(hat tip to Podz)
Been a long time, shouldn't have left you
I haven't updated in quite a while because I really haven't had anything to say or blog about. Nothing new is really happening in my life right now. Kind of boring, I know. Anyway, a new version of PhoenixBlue theme is available for download. It's just a few minor bug fixes. Took me a while to port the fixes over from PhoenixTheme to PhoenixBlue, not because it was difficult, but because I was beeing lazy and had no time.
Birthday Plans
My birthday is Thursday, and this is the first time that I will be in the same town as Mike and we can celebrate our b-days together. (yes, two guys named Mike that went to the same high school have the same birthday) So, I think what we are going to do is go to Kokomos West on Mid Rivers Mall Drive (by SCCCC) at around 9:00pm. Anyone and everyone is invited. Hopefully, I'll see you there.
Quick Update
Nothing much to really write about, or at least write a whole post about, so I figure I'd throw up some random happenings in my life.
I'm subbing a fair amount at Fort Zumwalt. It's kind of odd seeing the younger siblings of some of my friends in my classes, but what can you do. I should be getting my first paycheck from subbing sometime over the next couple of days. It won't be for much as I came in at the end of a pay period. It will still be nice to have a check to deposit though.
My dad did my taxes today and I will be getting a combined amount of around $300 back from state and federal. I won't be spending this because student loan payments will kick in sometime in June. Well, that's it for now. Nothing spectacular, I know, but I felt I was neglecting my blogging duties.
The Wedding
I had a great time at the wedding. It was really fun, except for the 3 hours of picture taking with odd poses. About 15 minutes before the reception, the Maid of Honor Angela and I found out we had the exact same toast. We decided to combine our toasts. I think it went well. Of course, there was no topping Anna's dad's toast. His was excellent. The night was fairly painless. I danced a couple times. Slow dances are easy, but fast songs and a white boy with no rhythm don't play well together. Sorry Angela (and all the friends' girlfriends I made dance with me during that excruciatingly long song). Blame the DJ for that. All I can say is thankfully there was an open bar. Pictures will hopefully be up within the next few weeks as they come in from various people. Stay tuned.
EDIT: here are the first of the pictures: wedding photos