Incite Full

Now, I’m not going to take issues with most of the easy fodder here. Lord knows enough people are going address the irony: the party of “family values” can’t keep the daughter “under control”, or whatever. They are making keeping the child, which aligns well with a pro-life stance.

My issues, while they exist, are not the point of this post. The daughter has decided to marry the father of this child, and I can only assume that there is some familial pressure. Alaska requires parental (or guardian approval) for a marriage of any minor to occur. This is a sensible law, although why in this day and age people get married before they are 18 (military, withstanding) is foreign to me. So the daughter will mary and the child will be raised with the full love and support of both kid’s families.

My issue is this: Is this really best for the daughter or the child? Honestly, isn’t this the wrong idea? Having your child wed at 17, when she was unable to make the right decision once, is the best we can do? I’m not taking low shots, it’s just a fact, in my opinion. Teen pregnancy’s are tough, but they are not life ending. Being a single mother is tough, but is not life ending. But what about having the young marriage of two kids who I have to believe have a lot going for them? Is raising this child in the spotlight of political controversy and turmoil really best for the kid?

I feel sorry for everyone involved. This should be a non-issue to be honest, not because it’s a private matter, but because Palin has no business being the VP pick. She should remove herself from the nomination, not because she can hardly hold her family together (low blow, I apologize) but because she has no experience and undermines the only reasonable objection McCain has over Obama. She has been Governor of Alaska for 2 years, and has no international experience. Imagine her in a debate with Biden.

I’m not a fan of either party, as a whole, but this is the kind of decision making that we, as a country, need to get away from. Stupidity like this is only made that much better more expected because we’ve been dealing with it for about 8 years. And that’s not a shot at bush, that’s a shot at everyone.

Regardless of what happens, I feel bad for the daughter, child, and the soon-to-be husband. Give the baby up for adoption, and let the kids live their lives. There are worse things in the world than that, and it allows the child and daughter to go on with their respective futures. But maybe I’m wrong, maybe it is the kids who want the marriage and family. If so, I don’t know what to say. As a parent, I would not want to move forward with the marriage, which I’ve discussed already. Somewhere here there is bad parenting going on, somewhere here there was the chance to make this something better, and I feel that everyone missed out.

Amazingly, Palin supports abstinence only sexual education. What are the odds that this changes between now and November?

Sometimes I walk around and see something that jars me. Cake would call it a bowel shaking earthquake, but this was simply awe inspiring. I’m at the grocery store trying to decide which tortillas I would purchase, and that’s an adventure in itself. Do I need 10, or 20? Flour or corn? Reduced fat? Regular? Whole wheat? And then what size? Taco size? Burrito? WRAP?! Honestly, it needs to be a much simpler process to make a damn taco.

But I digress, sitting next to the tortillas was some beef jerky. I thought it was odd to place it there- especially this particular beef brand. It was, and I’m not sure how to say this, Jeff Foxworthy beef jerky. The man who knows ten ways from tuesday if you’re a redneck or not is now slapping his face on beef jerky.

As an aside, Jeff Foxworthy looks a bit like the Brauny man from the paper towels. The old one, not the new stud that they have selling, prostituting, their goods.

Jeff Foxworthy now sells dried, cured meet. Is he involved in the jerky making process? Is it his home recipe? I know you share my keen interest in this topic, so i did a bit of sleuthing for you. Monogram is the company that makes the jerky- which is located in Minnesota. A bit far from Redneck land, but I can let that go. Monogram wanted a notable face to sell it’s brand, and they believe Jeff is the one. Mission, which makes those delicious tortillas I was looking for, and those chips as well, partnered with Monogram to distribute the jerky product all over the country.

And that’s the story of Jeff Foxworthy’s salted meat. Can we call him a sellout now? I rarely throw a term like that around; I feel that people deserve their due especially after some hard work. Musicians get this label a lot, Chuck Palahniuk had this to say about being a sellout:

Why have I sold out? You think I’m supposed to grow old, beating some trite old protest drum that people don’t hear anymore? Please; protest is now just a backdrop for a Diesel clothing ad in a slick fashion magazine. My goal is to create a metaphor that changes our reality by charming people into considering their world in a different way. It’s time — for me, at least — to be clever and seduce people by entertaining them. I’ll never be heard if I’m always ranting and griping.

He has a very valid point in casting off his critics. But Jeff Foxworthy is no Palahniuk, and I’m sure he’s quite happy with that. If I were to define sellout, I would have an alternate definition which included slapping one’s likeness on a package with which you were not consulted for, invested in, or have anything to do with in any way, shape or form. It’s just mind boggling to think about this, honestly. I’m sure he eats jerky, at least I hope he does. If I’m wrong on this one, then the entire idea becomes even more preposterous.

Unfortunately, my plights on decency in marketing will most likely go unanswered. Lets be honest, with apologies to the late Vonnegut, me writing this entry is as effective as donning a full suit of armor to fight an ice cream sundae. At least you won’t be shocked, when looking for tortillas, to see this:

At work the past few days, I’ve gotten lost in some random thoughts. After having a conversation with a friend about over thinking things. Some people over think relationships, or their job, or decisions that need to be made. Not I, however.

Today while listening to some music, I heard what must be music’s greatest sin. I’m talking about something worse than a great group ceasing to use heroin leading to a decline in lyrical awesomeness and melodic magnificence. I’m talking about the dreaded, and I shudder thinking about it, fade out. It’s like falling asleep to a book on tape, or knowing that the band didn’t care enough about the song to finish it properly.

So I got to thinking, what is the best song with the worst ending? I’m still trying to figure it out, but will let you know when I do. Suggestions are welcome.

Also, in a meeting yesterday I heard the following statement: “I’m sorry, my brain must be thrashing.”

If you follow that link, it’s a term used to describe what happens to a computer when it is constantly reading from disk and not memory. I know, nerdy. But this guy used the sentence, and what’s more- no one batted an eye. It was like common lingo or terminology in this group. I wasn’t sure what to think at first. Then I realized I don’t ever want to become like that. Sure, nerdiness to a certain extent is a badge of honor- like winning bar trivia. Not this, though. This was not cool.

I’m currently watching the Simpson’s movie. And it feels very forced, unfunny.

Something else I’ve thought about is that one could probably get away waisting 60% of their time. If anyone were to ever call you on it, you could just blame meetings and bureaucratic blunders for the lack of work getting done. Now this isn’t a very ethical way of getting through life, but I think it is the norm.It seems, from other places I’ve worked, as if they expect you to waste half your time until you realize that you need to get shit done.

Then it’s a week of insane work which one complains about non-stop for being “overworked.” How ridiculous.

Ok. We get it. It was your first earth quake- and a 5.8, not a bad beginning. Things can only get better, right? What i do not need is footage of the event. Especially lame footage accompanied by a ‘cute’ one liner.

I’ve seen footage of bike shops, swimming pools, and even wine bottles breaking. The horror! There is something about shit moving unexpectedly that gets people, much like cats, excited. This was not a 9.0-  desks were not flying across the room, people were not killed (which i a good thing)- but now I have to listen to everyone tell their earthquake story- Oh yeah? You were on the phone and you actually said “I think I have to go- We’re having an earthquake.” How about you? Oh, you were sitting on a bench? You don’t say!

This accompanied by the woman who said it was “Beautiful” just really make me weep for humanity. It’s over.  I don’t care if you have security footage of a restroom or a bunch of people running outside.

Seriously.

Ok, enough of that. Today the weekend begins, and i’m pretty excited for it. Batman again, Saddle Ranch, coffee, out, surfing, and Saturday night, which I have no plans for as of yet, but I’m sure I can think of something to do. Lets do it.

“I used to sleep nude – until the earthquak”

So when I first started using my MBP, I felt like an old man, unable to figure out the smallest things with ease. Thinking, like Brian had said, that the next 3 years of my life would be a terrible nightmare, almost as bizarre as the one I had which had me fleeing from a deranged hotel guest who was attempting to shave my head. That is a completely true dream that I had about 2 nights ago.

But I digress, I feel pretty comfortable with the thing now. I wouldn’t say it’s better, as much as it is prettier. you feel better about doing mundane tasks, as exemplified by my fist/terrorist pound upon sending an email. I’m still working on finding better notepad editors which are free- we all love vim, it’s true, but Jesus I could use some better syntax highlighting.

What is going to kill me, is the time line for my evening. I get home, and I’m going to eat and run, in either order, and then go out a bit. Then we’ll meet for the movie and watch it. Normally this is where I’d go home and go t sleep. But I’ve got to drive in and do some overtime at 5:30 in the morning! Hopefully I’ll make it, but regardless I’ll probably just be thinking about batman the entire time. You’ll get an entry on it, too! Lucky you!

I thought I was running out of material to write about, but I took a quick peek at CNN and have a new topic to write about: Shut the Fuck up, Glen Beck.

Here is what he wrote about the wearing of now famous Che Guevara T-shirts:

That’s right, the same T-shirts you see Hollywood celebrities, starving pseudo-artists and confused hipster teens wearing around local coffee shops. To all those who decide that you want to be coffee house communist-chic, remember this: When you are wearing a Che T-shirt, you’re wearing the same shirt that makes terrorists believe you’re just one of the gang. I hope that latte is tasty.

Are you fucking kidding me? First of all, I’d think commercializing this man would be the best thing for you- to throw in his anti-capitalist face something he was fighting against. Secondly, why does a person wearing the Che shirt have to be confused? Just because you don’t agree with it doesn’t make it wrong. And are you still picking on expensive coffee drinkers? That’s about as entertaining as remembering the Y2k crisis. For fucks sake, man, it’s 2008, and you still think only college kids and people who waste time spend it in coffee shops. Get off your god damn high horse.

Your argument is what? Isn’t this in the same vein as “if you do drugs, you’re supporting Osama Bin Laden?” Christ almighty, that’s original. Buy this shirt and you’ll support terrorists. Are you really extrapolating, from a story about t-shirts, the argument that FARC rebels representing all terrorists? I’m convinced that the reason he wrote this article, besides lack of intelligence, is because some “hipster” teen in front of him got the last scone at Starbucks.

And that “wisecrack” at the end about capitalism always winning? Way to say stupid shit when people are losing their home due to predatory loan rates. You should run for office. I’m well aware that there is a lot of blame to pass around here, but ‘capitalism,’ as you’re trumpeting it, is about as real as communism is and was.

He even goes on to ask why, if Che is so great, did Barack Obama not “approve of its use,” referring to a flag hung in one of the volunteer offices. I’ve got the answer for you: because fucking morons like yourself have a need to exploit and fear monger the public. The only reason you have a job, Glen, is because the rest of the world is blind enough to read and agree. Shit, did I say read? I meant watch. And getting Barack Obama to disapprove of communism is like getting water to stay wet, and I can think of a handful of lefties out there that would make better examples.

Do I approve of the shirt? No. Do I approve of Che? Not in the slightest, but wearing the Che shirt really says nothing, much like buying Campbell’s soup does not mean you’re a fan of Andy Warhol. Sometimes you’re just fucking hungry.

I apologize for the rant, and how poorly structured it is, but I just can’t stand this man and his dumbassedness sometimes.