Reborn

The Middle Age

2006-09-05T00:45:00.000-04:00

I have tons of thoughts swirling around in my head. All of which I want to write down. But, I am losing all of the words. everything makes sense in my head. Nothing makes sense on paper.

I have tried to keep a real ournal on several occaisions now. My thoughts never come out crisp and clear like the journals I read as a histroy student. I don't think I really am able to set pen to paper any longer and develop clear ideas.

This frustrates me terribly.

I have been given lots of advice about writing. "Write what you know," "Write what you do not want anyone else to discover," "Never use a semicolon," "Keep your fingers on the keyboard." All of it is good, and none of it is helping.

This one time

2006-08-30T17:48:00.000-04:00

There was this one time I was jumping on a trampoline and I ripped my shorts. Everyone could have seen my balls, but they didn't.

On being big mean and scary

2006-08-26T13:17:00.000-04:00

My house is in a general state of disaster, because the kitchen and dining room are being remodeled. Thus, there is no real place to eat breakfast, so I got in my car and drove to the diner where I ordered "the ususal." Two eggs scrambled with American cheese, hash browns, side of bacon, and white toast.

After my meal I decided that I should take a walk around town, since I paid for time in my meter. As I was cossing the white street parking lot a blond haired caucasion woman in her late 20s was walking in the opposite direction.

A large puddle was directly in my path and I moved over to make sure my shoes did not get wet. There was plenty of room for her and I to pass along the same path without either of us getting wet. As I moved to my left she immediately changed course and walked through the giant puddle. Looking very worried and scared as we crossed.

This happens all too frequently.

The decline of Rome: A retrospective

2006-08-25T13:38:00.000-04:00

To say the Roman Empire fell is actually highly inaccurate. In fact it simply dissolved over time much like the limestone columns that bolstered its glory.

The great empires never fall. In the case of Rome it was just accepted that the way things were, were not the ways things are. That is to say what made Rome Roman no longer existed.

Several factors contributed to the overall decline of the empire: inflation, a tax-burdened middle-class, Christianity, and a myriad of others.

But, perhaps the single most attributed factor in the decline of the empire is the Germanification of its frontiers, its army, and eventaully its ruling family.

The invasion of Germania seemed only natural when it was first attempted. Gaul was seized and Celtic culture obliterated, the population not killed or enslaved was assimilated. It was the same for Iberia, Carthage, Britain, etc.

Rome had effectively removed any true rival for its power from Europe and southwest Asia. Over the course of some 500 years. It had no allies to call on for help.

When it came to the Germans Rome could not conquer them mainly because over time the Roman Legions became German themselves. The once highly trained incredibly disciplined citizens army gave up its infantry roots in favor of the heavy cavalry. Germans filled the ranks of the legions once completely filled with the equestrian classes. They slowly moved into Gaul, and they exerted more and more pressure in the West, where peasants were tied to their rich landowers properties.

The pressure that built for 400 years only increased. And, Rome unable to remember what made it strong, what made it Rome started to whiter and die. The East separated from the West -- it had its own problems: Parthians, Huns, New Persians, Arabs, Jews, and eventually the Turks. Unable to make money the West gave up on learning and became overly agrarian and laid the foundations for the feifdoms of the Medieval Period.

In the end the last imperator, Romulus Augustus, a German himself abdicated his throne and lived the rest of his life in peace. The roads and aqueducts built by legions of Romans continued to serve Europe. Hadrian's Wall, built to keep the marauding Scots at bay, still stands. Rome's language and mytholgy permeates Western culture. The foundations of its early government are the basis for our own.

There was no great battle to bring down the imperator. He was not killed. He simply retired recognizing that what once was, was no longer. A dark period of history followed. Charlemenge had brief success holding Gaul together, but his death ripped his small kingdom apart. The continent continued to ripped apart by infighting and border wars. It has taken 1,600 years for the factions to once again work together and repair the bonds that were lost in the Fifth Century, but what is being built in Europe today is not Rome. It is something inherently different.

Solar system downsizing affects Pluto

2006-08-24T13:22:00.000-04:00

Just in time to screw up every second grade teacher's lesson plans this year crazy fact-based scientists voted to kick Pluto off of the island.

The small, distant, icy world is now considered to be in a new class of heavenly bodies called dwarf planets. The change was made after the discovery of UB yadda yadda yadda last year. The possibility of a tenth planet sparked the debate on what should and should not be called a planet.

While it was bad news for Pluto is was good news for Ceres, formerly an asteroid, that orbits the sun between Mars and Jupiter. Other asteroids were not readily available for comment.

But, little or no consideration was given to Pluto's satellites. No information is being provided about what used to be Pluto's moons. Are they still going to be called moons, or are they simply going to be ignored? It all depends on how slow the news is that week.

Hitler and chocolate cake

2006-08-23T11:14:00.000-04:00

Indians love Hitler. The proof is a new restaurant in Bombay called Hitler's Cross. The swasticka sporting eatery apparently serves chocolate cake and soft drinks to an overly apathetic population.

Local leaders apparently don't mind the name, and do not plan on protesting the restaurant.

However, it has outraged the Jewish Community, but the owner says he means no harm and just wants to attract attention. Something tells me he will be committing suicide with his wife down in the walk-in cooler, as the Russians bang down his door.

Ex-pating

2006-08-22T19:45:00.000-04:00

A younger brother of a friend of mine recently suggested that the families of my friends must hate me. The reason is that my friends are fleeing the country in droves.

Droves is a relative term because I only had four close friends in driving distance. One moved to Cambodia, another is moving to Hungary, and a third to Pennsylvania (PA is a foreign country for my intents and purposes.)

I'm not sure what to make of this startling phenomena. Am I driving these people to flee from me as Cambodia the younger suggests? Probably not, I'm not that influential or noticable.

My conclusion is that I need to stop being friends with people who hate America because I'll end up being very lonely.

WWJD

2006-08-15T11:12:00.000-04:00

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall possess the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Why isn't this the focus of the religious right? Why aren't scores of parents screaming about the lack of the Beatitudes in our schools and public offices? Oh fuck it, nevermind.

On calling out of work

2006-08-02T20:29:00.000-04:00

Well, my voice is shot, my stomach is twisting and turning, but at least I have stopped vomiting.
I'm not sure hat the hell caused my general illness, but I'm attributing it to heat and stress.

Anyway, I can't see how a day in bed could hurt me at this point. I guess I'm just upset that no one broke into my house to see if I needed a medevac or something.

Santa's Helpers

2006-07-30T16:14:00.000-04:00

Apparently, Christmas comes more than once a year in Denmark.

The home of mythical Danes Beowulf and Grendel is, apparently, the home of a fantastic orgy of fat, white-bearded, winter-holiday, omnicent, toy makers and the bikini-clad women who love them.

Sounds like a good time...

With a friend like me...

2006-07-22T13:05:00.000-04:00

Rest assured if I think you are dying, is desparate trouble, or in any other type of dire circumstance I will breakin to your basemnet apartment make sure everything is ok and proceed to fall asleep on your living room floor.

I'm not really sure how to relate the specific events of last evening, but all that can be said of the evening is that itwas fascianting...utterly fascinating.

McCabe Ave.

2006-07-22T12:42:00.000-04:00

Well this is where you came in, back at that apartment again, the one I always wanted. It's dawn now and they must have photographed me a thousand times. Then they get a couple of pruning hooks from the garden and fished me out...ever so gently. Funny how gentle people get with you once you're dead.

Fuck it all to hell

2006-07-19T17:47:00.000-04:00

So,

I went down to see the people at the Press of Atlantic City. Big break and all that. It doesn't look like I got that job. I have taken to drinking by myself, in Keyport of all places, and watching the Mets. At least they keep winning.

I love being a reporter, but, Hey-zeus fucking shit, I hate being poor. Well dear readers what should be my next move? And Hungary is not an option.

YouTube clip of the week

2006-07-17T23:02:00.000-04:00

YouTube clip of the week

2006-07-10T01:14:00.000-04:00

On the Ambrose

2006-07-09T01:15:00.000-04:00

"The Ambrose" is a social move in which at least two people who know each other completely ignore the existence of the opposite party in a social setting other than the one where the parties are acquainted.

The full Ambrose cannot be made if only one party recognizes another and decides not to acknowledge the other. The Ambrose can only occur when both parties recognize each other and make a conscience effort not to acknowledge their acquaintence.

Ambrose is always accompanied with the definite article, "the," and never the indefinite article "an." For example: "I gave her The Ambrose," and never, "I gave her an ambrose."

While this tactic has surely been employed countless times over the centuries, it was not given a definite name until March 17, 1999. Two New Jersey high school seniors playing hookey in favor of spending the day in New York City encountered two other classmates walking in the opposite direction along 20th Street. Eye contact was made between the pairs as they passed each other along the street. Neither party said anything to the other. One of the members involved in the exchange was one Shannon Ambrose, thus the name.

The Ambrose can be applied to by any acquaintence of another and not just high school classmates.

You Tube Clip of the Week

2006-07-03T18:07:00.000-04:00

It's the end of the world as we know it

2006-07-03T09:20:00.000-04:00

You know there is a certain dignity in being completely annhinilated by the Soviet Union, but to die a slow and miserable death as radioactive fallout washes east from California after a nuclear attack from start-up nation North Korea is just embarassing.

The last remnants of truly militant communism has threatened to repond in force if attacked by the U.S. I'm glad we have strong national leadership in every branch of government, and all of the members are overly equipped to handle these types of situations with tact and diplomacy.

On nose spelunking

2006-07-02T19:25:00.000-04:00

Exploring one's nasal cavity while stopped at a light is ill-advisable. However, if it must be done do it quickly, and do not eat your discovery.

I wish I could have told the man I saw doing that very thing while stopped on Laurel Ave. and Route 35 today, but I could not contain my laughter and appaluse.

I did attempt to take a photo of this extraordinary person, but there was too much glare off the car windows.

You Tube Clip of the Week

2006-06-26T16:47:00.000-04:00

WTF

2006-06-26T14:10:00.000-04:00

My parent's just bought a new car -- a minivan. Apparently, my mother refuses to drive anything else, and she is great at rationalizing the purchase of this behemoth. As far as I'm concerned it's an empty nest syndrome taken to the extreme. The craziest part is that my brother, my sister, and I are all struggling artists or some crap and we live at home! Well, not my brother he's still studying art so he's not struggling yet, but my sister's dream is to become a professional contest winner. And, we all know what I do to make ends meet; yes, that is me in the Port Authority.

The List

2006-06-21T16:37:00.001-04:00

For year my father has maintained a list of the nations five most relentless self promoters. The original list included: Donald Trump, Elizabeth Taylor, Madonna, Michael Jackson and a name I cannot remember right now.

Over time the list has changed as people became more or less "significant." He has bequeathed the maintenence of The List over to me.

So here it is America's most relentless self promoters:

Anderson Cooper (i'm just tired of seeing him)
Angelina Jolie (she's hot, but other than that i just don't care about her life)
Connie Chung (see below)
Donald Trump (as long as that stupid show lasts)
Kevin Federline (for that ridculous penny stunt)

Honorable mention goes to several abstracts:

The fake celebriity
The FIFA World Cup

When news readers attack!

2006-06-21T16:37:00.000-04:00

Theyr're made out of meat

2006-06-20T16:05:00.000-04:00

Because some people can say it better than you

2006-04-20T00:15:00.000-04:00

The road not taken

By Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
and sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
and looked down one as far as I could
to where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
and having perhaps the better claim
because it was grassy and wanted wear;
though as for that, the passing there
had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
in leaves no feet had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less travelled by,
and that has made all the difference

Untitled

2006-04-09T02:45:00.000-04:00

If our own government was responsible for the deaths of almost a hundred thousand people... would you really want to know?
-- V for Vendetta

Does Kansas suck that much?

2006-04-07T01:40:00.000-04:00

Kansas was a vast empty plain of grasslands. Then white people came to the east coast and built cities, universities, roads, bridges on land they stole from the Native Americans.

Well, the Native Americans just took some horses, guns, and scalps and moved west. The displaced tribes, you know those who didn't die from small pox infestted blankets, of the east came together to create an entirely new nomadic plains culture (see John Wayne movies).

Well, the whiteman couldn't contain themselves and they followed, possibly in search of dream catchers to hang from the rear view mirror or their covered wagons. They took land, then gave it back, as a favor? And grew shit loads of corn, too much corn. Way too much corn.

Now, like then, they are trying to give the land away! Free fucking land, when a townhouse in Asbury Park is going for over $1million. WTF? Does Kansas suck that much? I would think that it does. Miles of empty nothingness and then, WHAM! A house lifting thunderstorm.

Anyway, the fine politicans of Kansas are hoping that by giving land away to people who want to build homes and start businesses in a place free from corruption and most likely evolution.

Here's the best part: Kansas is a hardcore red state, you rule of the free market blah blah blah. Well the Pols know their state sucks ass so they are funding massive public imporvements unimaginable: cable tv, internet, parks, health clubs...ON TAX DOLLARS. WTF again.

LINK

Send them

2006-04-06T00:37:00.000-04:00

Christians follow the piper to South Carolina, please.

ChristianExodus.org is moving thousands of Christians to South Carolina to reestablish constitutionally limited government founded upon Christian principles. It is evident that the U.S. Constitution has been abandoned under our current federal system, and the efforts of Christian activism to restore our Godly republic have proven futile over the past three decades. The time has come for Christian Constitutionalists to protect our liberties in a State like South Carolina by interposing the State's sovereign authority retained under the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

It's no secret to this liberal northeast elite tha the Union actually lost the Civil War. We pay for their infrstructure improvements, they inflate divorce rates, and the make the rest of us look like assholes -- The south that is.

So, I'm asking anyone who is tired of bigotted people flyingthe banner of Christianity in your face to donate to this organization so that fundamentalists can ruin themselves as a collective.

Let S.C. be free of blacks, homosexuals, intelligent women, and anything else that might be considered a heresy by fundamental standards and give it too the south.

adventures in cyber space

2006-04-05T00:48:00.000-04:00

I was researching my ancestry on the Internet recently when I discovered a non-profit organization for the history and support of the McGrath Klan (also MacRae, McRae, MacRaith, McGraw, et. al.). The organization is seeking donations to purchase at least two of the many McGrath Castles throughout Ireland.

When the money is raised the Klan will purchase and restore the castles for a McGrath family hertigate center. McGrath's are apparently one of the most numerous of all the Irish families.

We are the descendents of Raith, the brother to King Brian, and apparently they were charged with the unique task of hereditary historians and poets to the Kings. This only confirms my world view.

However, as someone is sure to point out there was one bad apple in the North, a kid-touching, protestant director of an orphanage. We can't all be perfect.

Body Worlds

2006-04-02T21:48:00.000-04:00

If anyone has the oppurtunity to see the Body Worlds exhibit at the Franklin Institute, take it. I went there with Christine and I have to say the whole expereience was truly amazing. But, it is not something for those with weak stomachs. The exhibit uses real bodies, sliced and diced and dipped in plastic for preservation. It also shows a lot of tar-stained smokers' lungs. Anyway, I found the whole thing to be extremely interesting.

Yup, it's Friday

2006-03-31T09:17:00.000-05:00

Me: Damn Ed, you look sexy!

Ed: I contribute it to a good haircut and a long nap.

A tale of two commentors

2006-03-27T11:38:00.000-05:00

The five of you who read this probably have a good idea who THE COMMENT POLICE are, and who the Big_Professor is. They have similar objectives, except THE COMMENT POLICE are funny, while the Big_Professor is as laughable as his comments.

The pair post messages on many of the same blogs except where THE COMMENT POLICE attempt to rout self-importance, by making us reflect on how stupid we all really are, while Doc. Blogger falls into the trap of his own ego and his own self importance by attemping to thwart the same.

This isn't a serious execrise in thought, or self-expression. I write about anything that has frustrated me or that I have found interesting throughout the day. I write late at night and on my lunch break. I don't a flying shit if you read or you comment. But, if you comment be funny and don't drag me into your persoanl vendettas.

God is in the rain

2006-03-26T19:06:00.000-05:00

"A revolution without dancing is a Revolution not worth having"
-V for Vendetta

I have been to see "V for Vendetta" twice now.

It was able to sum up nearly 6 years, probably more, of frustration. Not only frustration with the government, and the current Bush Administration, but frustration with everyone around me.

The movie served as an indictment of everyone's actions. But, especially the notion that giving up freedom is a necessary part of preserving it. The character "V" is correct there "People should not be afraid of their governments, government should be afraid of their people."

We give the power to the government, we control what we allow them to do. Just because a certain administration wants to ignore the voices of so many people in oppostion to their agenda, should not mean we should let them.

I'm tired of slogans, and the debasement of words (climate change, the Long War, the Death Tax). I'm tired of my government trying to market their agenda to me. I know its a huge stinking pile of dog shit.

The issue was even discussed on Bill Maher's show Saturday night. The administration is trying to sell the American people on the Iraq War like a used car salesman would try to sell a car without a transmission.

I'd be much happier with the truth, I can't trust a government that resorts to subterfuge with its own people.

So many things, so little time

2006-03-21T22:58:00.000-05:00

I was offfered a job at the Messenger-Press today. The paper is part of the nationally reknowned chain of Packet Publications, the Priceton Packet being cheif among them. I'm turning down the job tomorrow. It seems like a rash decision doesn't it? so did leaving a major corporate job for a meager independent weekly newspaper. That's worked out so far.

On a different note, I've started writing my first book...again. as more of the manuscripts is complete I will definetely show allow some key people to read what I have.

It's late and I'm tired. Nothing I'm writing seems to make sense so i will bid everyone adieu. That's French talk for good-bye.

Eye boogers

2006-03-20T00:44:00.000-05:00

Since I last wrote many happenings have occurred: I watched my great grandmother die. I won an award for being good at what I do. I have laughed, I have debated, I have argued, and (of course) I have made myself a fool.

My most recent debate was, as always, with a good friend. The subject was, as always, the inadequacies of the American system. "Democracy is broken," he said. "Majority rule is tyranny," he said. "I would prefer an oligarchy," he said. Though I will agree that the American system has had better moments in history, I cannot and will not agree that I would prefer the tyrannical rule of the few, or the one, over the many.

No system is pefect, nor can it be. Is there a better system? No, because one culture's system of government can ever be fully and equally compared to another culture's system of government.

This same friend recently denoucned the garbage analysis of our recent history -- books on the Iraq War for example. Truly it is bad history to analyze a war while it is occuring. That I am agreed. Those books are not history. They are the primary documents that future historians will look to to judge how we lived, and they should not judge us kindly.

America is in a period of twilight. Whether this twilight is a dawn or a dusk I cannot determine. But to think as an optimist, the day always follows the night.

Oscars

2006-03-06T00:40:00.000-05:00

The theme of this year's academy awards was: "A return to glamour." WHAT? The nght was focused primarily on the fact that people are not going to the movie theaters anymore. They are buying DVDs and using the internet to pirate their publications.

It's bullshit, You know why I don't like going to the movies? Well, besides the uncomfortable seats, the screaming twelve-year olds, andexorbanat (sic) prices, most movies suck.

There is a serious problem in the industry when the best movie that I saw in 2005 centered around a man dressed like a bat. Now I love my superheroes and what not, but please a comic book character should never be more compelling than a real character.

Here's the deal Clooney: I'm not going to shell out $20 bucks for my girlfriend and I to see your crappy movie. Make something actully compelling and I may want to go see it, but for now I'm sticking to comic book characters.

Study concludes Americans are clueless

2006-03-01T10:43:00.000-05:00

It shouldn't really surprise me that more Americans know more about "The Simpsons" than they do about their First Amendment rights. I have long held the belief that my fellow country men are ignorant and uninformed. What can you do.

WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

I don't post nearly enough

2006-02-26T22:18:00.000-05:00

I must apologize to my avid readers: I'm sorry i don't post more often. I will from this point forward attempt to post something everyday. I will even try to have pictures added.

With that said I hope everyone had a lovely Mexican Flag Day, which wasn't today but it recently passed, and remember if your mother doesn't love you for who you are no one ever will.

CPT James M. Burt, U.S. Army (Ret.) (1918-2006)

2006-02-17T09:38:00.000-05:00

Salutations…

To be here is to be with Heritage…

To hear and to see…and to almost feel.

Among the awesome gifts of God, high among the treasures, is the literacy of symbols, a gift for man not shared with other creatures. Other animals are compassionately handicapped with instinct, which enables their orderly evolution, ...impeccably precise, beautiful, imponderable, totally necessary, and yet a handcuff to Freedom.

Lacking instinct we have, and must have, History and Heritage.

With our reasoned deeds we create heritage, and with our literate symbols we record the happenings in proud words and stored artifacts.

Being honored here massively compounds the grandeur of being here; being honored evokes feelings beyond my lexicon.

For thirty-seven years I have searched the mystique of brain and person for explanations of events gone by, with some meaningful partial answers, but not yet with total comprehension. Let bravery be an example.

Many have said I was brave, but I am not yet sure.

Contiguous with bravery is fear. Or is it? I am not yet sure. Matched to the definitions of fear, definitions read or heard or dreamed or imagined, I have not yet been afraid. Is it possible to be brave without being afraid? I do not yet know.

In our Heritage, in our Great Depression, the Leader's words concerning fear are recorded for always: "There is nothing to fear but Fear itself."

There is, I think, a common set of observations applying to recipients of the Medal of Honor:

They served, as citizen-soldiers served.

They did a little beyond ... but so did others.

They were noticed and recorded, perhaps by accident.

They were unafraid ... who but God knows why.

The Norwich credo of citizen-soldiers has a timeless motto: "I Will Try."

To this motto an amendment might be fitting:

"I Will Try, Unafraid."

I went to a psychic

2006-02-16T15:10:00.000-05:00

That's right. I was bored and I have been having a string of nightmares, so I went to a psychic.

She told me that I am going to live a long life, I think too much, I like to help people, and I am two people in one person. Not startling revelations. I went to a psychic before and she told me that someone was plotting against me, dark spirits followed me, and a close friend was practicing black magic. Coincidentally, she also told me I would live a long life....it must be true.

A Fruitless Crusade

2006-02-15T08:03:00.000-05:00

I CAN TAKE 'EM!

An Icon

2006-02-14T22:12:00.000-05:00

i·con (ī'kŏn') n.

1. also i·kon (ī'kŏn')
a.An image; a representation.
b. A representation or picture of a sacred or sanctified Christian personage, traditionally used and venerated in the Eastern Church.
2.An important and enduring symbol: “Voyager will take its place … alongside such icons of airborne adventure as The Spirit of St. Louis and [the] Bell X-1” (William D. Marbach).
3. One who is the object of great attention and devotion; an idol: “He is … a pop icon designed and manufactured for the video generation” (Harry F. Waters).
4. Computer Science. A picture on a screen that represents a specific file, directory, window, option, or program.
[From Greek eikōn, from eikenai, to be like, seem.]

Falling into the void

2006-02-08T23:30:00.000-05:00

It cuts like a double edge sword, the falling.
Free like birds to travel through space,
And weighted like a prisioner chained to his ball.

As the wind rushes past your flapping face your senses deceive you.
you flip and fly through the breeze enjoying the rush of wind brush you're cheeks.
You're the only one in the whole world and nothing will ever harm you.

But your conscience wrenches you back to reality --
You're going to die when you hit the ground.

The knowledge of your plight becomes a reality
As the Earth zooms in toward you.
There is no freedom, there is no space.
Except that gap
Between you and the hard ground
Focusing in on your head.

you jerk awake just before you meet your plight.
Heart pounding. Heavy breathing. It was just a dream.
This time.

On leadership

2006-02-01T15:45:00.000-05:00

Once upon a time I was very active in the Boy Scouts. I was elected Patrol Leader when I was 13 years old and it was my first real taste of control. I wasn't great at it. I remember feeling overwhelmed with the immensity of the whole thing -- I felt so young.

In eight grade I stood as tall as I do today. My voice changed rapidly and my lungs powered a huge voice. I made up for my inexperience with dictatorial rule, Machevellian leadership, and a draconian demeanor. It was effective to a point. I got results -- sort of. My "leadership" made me an obvious candidate to lead the troop the next year.

In the course of a year I went from being responsible for eight of my peers to almost 50. I started to feel very young again, and I forgot many of the lessons from my previous year and I did what was easy.

It's been a decade since I was in that position. What I've learned in the intervening years is that being a leader is a lot more than a large presence and a draconian attitude.

Today I was watching c-span while The Sentate's Governmental Affairs Committee was questioning New Orleans Mayor Negin about his response to the aftermath of Hurrican Katrina. A Senator from Minnesota wanted to know what Negin was doing to combat the perception that he was not doing his job. The mayor said he felt it was importaant to be in the city to do what he could to save lives. He testified that he had a box of useless satelite phones, cell and land lines were inoperative, and communication had to be realyed the old-fashioned way. He added that saving lives was inherently more important to him than attending press conferences to save political face, and he does not regret his decisions. And, in my humble opinion, I seriously doubt that the people stuck on roof tops were watching too much TV to see their beloved mayor talking to the press.

His testimony spoke to me. Leadership is not about face. It is not about screaming and calling people out. It is about doing what is right by the people you are responsible for no matter how you came by that authority.

I was lucky to have started to learn that lesson when I was a young teen, now I have to learn patience while others learn those lessons too.

"Pink Triangle" by Weezer

2006-01-24T16:49:00.000-05:00

This goes out to a couple of friends who have been in this very situation....

When I'm stable along enough
I start to look around for love
See a sweet and floral print
My mind begins the arrangements
But when I start to feel that pull
Turns out I just pulled myself
She would never go with me
Where I the last girl on earth

I'm dumb she's a lesbian
I thought I had found the one
We were good as married in my mind
But married in my mind's no good
Oh, pink triangle on her sleeve
Let me know the truth
Let me know the truth

Might have smoked a few in my time
But would never thought it was a crime
Knew the day would surely come
When I'd chill and settle down
When I think I've found a good old fashioned girl
Then she put me in my place
If Everyone's a little queer
Oh, can't she be a little straight

I'm dumb she's a lesbian
I thought I had found the one
We were good as married in my mind
But married in my mind's no good
Oh, pink triangle on her sleeve
Let me know the truth
Let me know the truth

I'm dumb she's a lesbian
I thought I had found the one
We were good as married in my mind
But married in my mind's no good
Oh, pink triangle on her sleeve
Let me know the truth
Let me know the truth

I'm dumb she's a lesbian
I thought I had found the one
We were good as married in my mind
But married in my mind's no good
Oh, pink triangle honestly
Let me know the truth
Let me know the truth
Let me know the truth
Let me know the truth

PIRATES CAPTURED BY NAVY!

2006-01-23T13:05:00.000-05:00

Click the title.

Green Lantern vs The Incredible Hulk

2006-01-19T23:11:00.000-05:00

The Green Lantern weilds the universe's most powerful weapon, the power ring. It is fueled through the bearer's own wil, imagination, and ambition. The weapon was created by the Guardians of the Galaxy, near omnipotent beings living at the center of the universe on the planet OA, to help establish order and enforce justice over the cosmos. While there are many Green Lanterns, Hal Jordon of Earth, formerly a pilot in the U.S.A.F. stands out among his colleagues as the best green lantern to ever live. However, the ring is not without its flaws: there is an impurity in the ring's power source that makes it ineffective against the color yellow; it must be recharged every 24 hours, and it is only as powerful as the concentration of the bearer.

The Incredible Hulk is a "monster" created in a labratory accident. Bruce Banner was exposed to high levels of gamma radiation in his labratory which unleashed the juggernaut within. Anger fuels the Hulk and the angrier the Hulk gets the more powerful he becomes. In my opinion the "weakness" of the Hulk is Banner is at the core. He is a scientist, he is rational, and he does not want to use his power to hurt innocents. It can also be argued that Banner's humanity is the Hulk's greatest strength.

This is defeinetly a battle that goes the distance. But, ultimately I have to say Green Lantern over the Hulk. The Hulk commands a massive physical being, but his emotions control most of his actions and his power. Green Lantern is a fighter pilot who will engage his enemy with the thought of a soldier. Because his power is fueled by thought and concentration the Lantern will eventually wear down the Hulk who will expend much of his energy uselessly battleing the Lantern constructs.

United we stand, divided we head to Wal-mart

2005-12-29T00:01:00.000-05:00

It is the first official work day after Christmas an co-workers everywhere are asking "What did you get for Christmas?" Next week the eager classmates of children returning to school will ask the very same question. The seeminly harmless question is indicative of a national trend of consumerism, a trend that focuses on the individual rather than the group.

This very issue is a McG. household debate, which I have been involved with since my adolescence, and it was recently the subject of a documentary on PBS (Yes, I watch public television). The argument is that America's beloved free market economy is fracturing society -- we are not Americans, we are Consumers.

Consumers are individuals concerned with their own whims, wants, and wishes. As American citizens, or as part of any larger social group, we must concern ourselves with the greater good, and the greater good can sometimes be contrary to our own specific desires.

What is the difference? In a social group and individual must show deference to a leader, leaders, or group dynamic. An individual can say "To hell with the group! I'm doing what I want." The individual, who will be identified as one of 70 demographics, will buy cars, phones, goods, services, etc. The more people see themselves as individuals the more people will act on their wills acting on thier greater good. They will buy stuff, lots of stuff.

To sustain this economy you need more and more consumers, everyone is a consumer, the businessperson, the mechanic, the nurse, the teacher, the student of any age and gender. Consumerism is why a 12 year old girl walks around the mall in an outfit that no family concerned parent could ever approve. However, the parents are not concerned, they need to out buy their neighbors and their kids are minor annoyances. Kids are consumers too. Everyone fits into one of 70 demographics with an endless amount of sub-demographics.

Who am I? I am a white male between the ages of 18 and 24 who enjoys camping, contanct sports, comic books, history, spy novels, science fiction movies, and public television. If I said I am an American it would be bad for the economy. So, while individualism is great for the American consumer economy and some quasi- communist leaders in Asia (the ones who make all the stuff we buy), we are unable to act as one unit. The unit can be anything a family, a church, a community, a state, or a nation.

Politics is even branding. You buy into a party like you buy a cell phone plan. What deal suits you best. Party 1 feels stongly about issues A,B, and C. Party 2 feels strongly about X, Y, and Z. Now the individual must choose; what plan best feines them as an indivdual. You may want unlimited mobile-mobile and nights and weekends, but the other plan has cheaper peak minutes with only an alotment of free anytime minutes. What cell phone plan do you choose, you have to be sure because it is a two-year contract and it is extremely expensive to opt out of the plan once you have bought into it. There is no debate. Issues are assigned and fought for along party lines, people buy the cell phone plan or they don't.

Debate is gone. Thought is gone. What exists is 264 million people who vote based on partylines because they like one general plan more than the other, and the only time they speak up is when they are charged too much money,money that could have been spent on more stuff.

I'm not perfect, I have whims, wants, and wishes, but I have not been broken down to think that I have to accept a world without debate or compromise. I don't buy it, I won't buy it. As Americans we have the right to question, a right to debate, and a right to the greatest good, but sacrificing a small peice of us to acheive something great is more important than "What we got for Christmas."

The Tally

2005-12-28T16:19:00.000-05:00

Well, I'd like to welcome Middletown's Mayor to my distinguished list of readers. We had a short conversation about Web-logs, but he did not want to comment on this blog any further.

On to more important matters:

A new section on the sidebar, titled Tally, will list how many people want to be Ninjas and How many people want to be Pirates.

If you would like to vote please click on the link labed "Ninja or Pirate" and leave a comment on that posting.

Have a wonderful new year everyone.

Ninja or Pirate?

2005-12-20T23:01:00.000-05:00

Which one would you be?

Or?

Never would have imagined

2005-12-19T22:37:00.000-05:00

I never could have imagined that my corner of cyber space would ever become the center of debate. My friends barely read my stupid posts, never mind anyone else.

As for the parody post. It may give off the impression that I think less of the individuals in that post. I do not. In fact I do not make it a secret that I voted for three of the people currently serving on the township committee. I understand the difficulties of the position and I understand that no elected official is ever appreciated fully.

Many inpropriaties have recently been uncovered in New Jersey Politics. It can cause some of the faithful to become cynical. At times I can be naive, altruistic, and a number of other qualitties that have recently taken on a negative connotation. Those are my flaws and I deal with them.

Take that as you will, but I will no longer post any more local political parody.

There is always another train

2005-12-16T15:17:00.000-05:00

It was a muggy afternoon, and my advances on a Jewish girl with extremely large breasts were rebuffed for the first time of many that summer.

each day after class I walked with her to the Broad Street station, and I think she welcomed the company. She was heading west on the Morristown Line, and I was not going anywhere near her direction. I had to head south on the Coast Line out of Penn Station; I routinely missed my train because of the detour.

When you miss a train another one pulls into the station eventually.

For the most part the conversation wasn't memorable. I think she caught me taking a look at her chest once. She mentioned how the men along the street always called out to her about her breasts. I felt a twinge of guilt, but glanced again and I kept on walking.

However, it wasn't her breasts that truly attracted me (though they did speak to some primal part of my monkey brain), I wanted her because she was real. She had thoughts, feelings, and expressions -- not the vacant look of most 20-something women today.

Sometimes I would drive to class simply to be able to offer her a ride home, but she always had a reason why she didn't want to accept my offer.

When classes ended that summer so did our afternoon walks. I made my train more frequently, which was good, but I missed the conversation.

Nicknames

2005-12-16T01:05:00.000-05:00

Well first I want to welcome Honest Abe to my short, but dedicated list of readers. He is a welcome addition.

Sometime during hell week at the Military College of Vermont my platoon competed in a tug-of-war contest and my team slipped off the rope. I remained on as anchor and defeated five other cadets by myslef (please don't ask me to do that now). I was given the moniker "Tank," and from that point forward that who most of the school knew me. Later, underclassman would address me as Cadet Tank. Parent's of friends call me that to this day.

The name almost became an addiction. I needed the identity of Tank to function in that environment, because Matt was just a guy who liked comic books and big ideas. When I see my friends now I still feel the need to act as that character, and when I don't they react differently to me.

I left MCV after my third year, I decided not to go into the Army (to be honest they didn't really want me anyway), and I found myself at Rutgers.

Recently, I was staying with a MCV friend and I made some sort of comment about the movie "Jarhead." His response was that I should never have left MCV because I became too smart. But, what he was really saying is that I wasn't in my character. I let it slip, the real man behind the curtain.

It was slightly disarming,yet releiving at the same time. Disarming because I showed a person from that era who I really was, and releived for the same reason.

Friends from that chapter of my life will always call me "Tank," and part of me will always be that person, but I like the person who is just called Matt a whole lot better.

CHECK IT OUT!

2005-12-14T15:17:00.000-05:00

Check out my other blog, "The Bayshore Planet," for commentary on issues affecting Northern Monmouth County

I was stressed...

2005-12-12T16:14:00.000-05:00

Your results:
You are Superman

Superman		100%
Spider-Man		95%
Green Lantern		75%
Robin		72%
Wonder Woman		60%
Supergirl		60%
Iron Man		50%
The Flash		45%
Hulk		45%
Batman		45%
Catwoman		30%

You are mild-mannered, good,
strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...

A letter to the editor:

2005-12-07T17:11:00.000-05:00

The American economy of the early 21st century is incredibly different than the economy 100 years ago. Newark, Elizabeth, Camden and Trenton were at one point a booming industrial cities populated with middle-class blue-collar workers. Today, Camden is listed as the worst city in the U.S.

The blue-collar middle class was supported by the tireless work of the labor movement. Unions provided security and power to a group of people who felt diminished by their white-collar superiors.

Today, labor unions are labeled the enemy of the “ownership society.” Wal-mart, is one of many corporations excluding unions from their work force. The Department of Homeland Security was allowed to exist if the federal labor unions were excluded from the federal department. Companies like Motorola are revoking the pensions of employees.

It is a horrible and dangerous national trend.

I attended a military academy nestled in a valley of Vermont’s Green Mountains. For various reasons I did not go into the military, rather I entered the private world to seek my fortune as an enterprising young man.

Yet, as a cadet I listened to many lectures on the nature of leadership. And, I cannot recall one officer from any branch of the service or any executive from any company that said a successful leader is one who is blinded by ambition, promotes him or herself, and/or neglects the people in their charge.

Yet, Corporate America is filled with “leaders” who routinely practice this type of management. As a former customer service rep. I have been subject to the slashing of my health benefits, the cutting of my lunch break, and other various whims of my superiors.

As an “at will” employee I accepted the terms of my employment, and I understood they were subject to change at any time. Many of my co-workers at the time felt they had no way to challenge the white-collar power structure. They had mouths to feed, school loans to repay, or payments to make.

The maltreatment extended beyond some constantly changing terms, but the details of the situation are not pertinent to this story. The fact that they could not risk causing a stir about day-to-day mistreatment made them apathetic towards their work and production dropped.

In one extreme instance, a woman working for the company, on and off for 10 years, in a highly specialized and technical position, was promoted while simultaneously having her pay-band lowered one level and pay cut over $10,000.

Yet, the company constantly lauded the service it provided its customers and the employees that provided that service.

The dissonance between what was ritualistically said at the quarterly business meetings hosted by the companies Chief Operating Officer, and the reality of employees fighting for basic office supplies never rang true to me. My fellow cubicle-dwellers also noticed the stark differences between rhetoric and reality, but few ever voiced their concerns.

Fortunately, I am no longer the calm and cool voice of an insurance company catering to the nation’s affluent, but there are still thousands of customer service reps. being treated badly by customers and supervisors alike.

They may not be producing goods for consumption, but customer service reps. are the factory workers of the 21st century. In a service-based economy it is the representatives who are offering a quality product just like the workers of the last century.

The supervisors they work for feel that reps. are easily replaced — that anyone can do the job. The reality is that it takes a special person to handle the hundreds of complaints of irate customers on a daily basis, and good reps. are never easily replaced. Furthermore, supervisors generally regard reps. (who are able too absorb massive amounts of information, and respond quickly and accurately to customers, supervisors, and others) incapable of handling any other job within the company. That treatment causes many people, quality people, to leave the organization in search of other less stressful employment.

Yet, the customer service reps. employed all over this country in a number of very different corporations do not realize the power they wield by providing such a valued commodity.

Corporate employees such as customer service reps. would value greatly from acting as a unified body. They would no have a way to voice their concerns without a fear of being fired or targeted by a boss who cares little for them or their situation.

Before we condemn unions as a nation we should reflect on many of the concessions the labor movement has garnered for the common good: the 40-hour workweek, the weekend, paid vacation, sick leave, and many others. What common benefits could be lost if a new generations of employees are left to fend for themselves among the mini-Machiavellis in the Hobbesian world of American corporations?

A Rebuttal

2005-11-30T20:18:00.000-05:00

In a recent Daily Show report New Jersey was satirically attacked for seeking a new slogan. Now while I am a huge fan of the fake news show and loathe slogans I cannot sit idlely by while my home is ruthlessly slandered.

Now New Jersey does have its share of problems: stereotypes, tolls, a governor who was posing as a straight guy while being an adulturous gay-American, et cetera. I can't defend the tolls or the gay-governor, but the stereotypes are something that needs to be attacked.

Big hair/hair gel: Many of the people you see while traveling through the Garden State use excessive amounts of hair products. These people are not actually from New Jersey, they are immigrants from the distant lands of Staten Island and Brooklyn. Actually, everything you may hate about New Jersey's population can really be atrributed to those from Staten Island and Brooklyn. Gold chains? Yes. Chesthair popping out of a half-buttoned oxford shirt? You can bet on it. Rusting 1980s Chevy Camaroes? Definetely.

You may ask, why can't you prevent these rouges from invading your land. once upon a time in the wake of the American Revolution there were border checkpoints between the states, but this impeaded commerce and national policy. So, some really smart people created this thing called the Constitution, to allow for greater cooperation between the states. Part of that coopeeration was the ease of travel and the softening of the state borders. In short it is against the law to exclude one group of people from relocating. Unfortunetly, we are also not allowed to prevent these vagrants from breeding. So, we end up with a proliferation of camaros, hair gel, and general neanderthalesque social behavior in our state, but more importantly not of our state.

Refineries: Yes, we have oil refineries along the New Jersey Turnpike in towns like Woodbridge, Perth Amboy, Carteret, Elizabeth, etc. But, let me ask this question: How are you going to drive your flippin' SUV if no one turns oil into gasoline? It needs to be done somewhere and by someone. I will point out that I never have to get out of my warm car in the winter, or my cool car in the summer to pump my gas. I just pull up to the pump, and enjoy the benefit of mandatory full service. I don't have to tip the guy, and even if I did the gas in Jersey is cheaper than the rest of the country.

But, I digress the Turnpike is not the state. No one wants to live next to the main thoroughfare between two major cities. So, why not put all the shit no one wants to live next to in close proximity to one another? Holy shit! That makes sense.

Left Turns: Barriers and jug handles, an annoyance or a stroke of planning genius? I prefer the latter. I'm sure many of you who don't live in the most densely popuated state in the country never have problems making a left hand turn. I'm sure no one out there has ever missed a greenlight because some jerk wants to turn left but can't because there is too much traffic on the oppoisite side. Unfortunetly, we Jerseyians live in a pretty populated area and innovations -- ideas created to solve problems when applicable brain power is put to use -- like the jug handle help the flow of traffic.

Traffic continues to flow in a orderly line without the need to stop and wait for left-turners. drivers wishing to turn left exit right onto the road in which they intend to turn in a 90 degree loop. Generally there is adequate room to veer off the highway and then to merge onto the road. Simply a matter of conserving space protecting drivers.

I'm sure people will come on here and blast New Jersey and make fun of it, that's part of the fun. But, I love it here and the only thing that could make it better is if everyone from New York packed up and went to Pennsylvania.

a funny quote

2005-11-22T15:51:00.000-05:00

"Real investigative journalists Google," Doug Irvin

A Dark Prayer

2005-11-10T00:03:00.000-05:00

Rememeber the riot?
The sweet smell of gunpowder and the kiss of the flame?
We were part of something then--something big.
As uniforms and books were tossed into the pyres
We cheered and jeered all those around us.
Every laugh, cry, and shout peirced their souls.
Ours too, you know?
Remember the riot?

The next year there was no riot.
Only the lingering taste and smell of Winter.
I always told you I stayed for you, and that is true,
But, I left for me.
The immensity of it all was lost for me.
At least we were connected through our rings.
Did I mention the ring you gave me was stolen
Off the sink in a dirty men's room?
There was no riot.

Was it a mistake to leave?
You tell me I abandoned you.
Are you saying that to be mean, or do you really mean it?
I pondered that question
As I sat under a tree in the warm Autumn sun.
However, I pushed my question aside choosing to sleep instead.
Here there were no riots, no choices, no old connections.
Was it a mistake to leave?

I assumed life for you would go on as I remembered it.
Our place was after all timeless.
Winter followed me to my new home.
My life was dark and lonely--
Life continued for me as I remembered it.
Then we met in the city for one night,
And we drank and we danced.
Our memories reignited, our passions in sync.
It was like the riot.
I left on the first train that next morning.

But, you made new choices, and new mistakes.
Did you really love him? Honestly? Truly?
Did he really love you? Honestly? Truly?
Maybe I should not have lost that ring....
I assumed life for you would go on as I remembered it.

I prayed for you, I traveled to the holiest place I could--
To pray for you.
Her Majesty did not answer my prayers, he did;
The Trickster.
I prayed for you.

Tragedy, followed tragedy, and I kept my peace.
I always kept my peace.
Was that my failure?
Should I have held on to the ring?
Should I have started another riot?
Would it have chagned your mind?
Now that winter has left me.
Now that I am finally happy, truly happy with another.
Do you see the truth of this history?

Your new tragedy accompanies my elation.
I'm sorry for you loss, all your losses,
But I left for me and it wasn't a mistake.
I'm sorry I lost your ring, but we'll always have that riot.

Something to think about

2005-11-09T01:11:00.000-05:00

Maybe the person across the bar is simply wondering why you are there....

Pirates in the Indian Ocean?

2005-11-05T11:54:00.000-05:00

Click the title and revel in the glory! ARGH!

Prymiad Schemes

2005-10-28T17:36:00.000-04:00

It's rare that anyone in America gets real letters anymore. In these modern times of uncertainty and terror it seems that the United States Postal Service is nothing more than a junk advertising, bill, and catalog delivery service, so you can imagine my surprise when I found what looked to be a real letter in the pile of mail on Monday.

I'm sure you can imagine my dismay when I found out that the letter was from a member of the St. John VianneyHigh School Class of 1999 asking me to join a cultish pyrimid scheme--Primerica.

The letter was a mediocre attempt at trying to get me to recall fond memories of high school, the best years of our life, coupled with the key words that touched on the current hard economic times in an attempt to lure me into the clutches of their dastardly plot.

I'm not sure what it was about the letter that illicted my reaction: it could be that the letter worked to well and forced me to recall the awkwardness of my adolescence; it could be that the letter was such a farce that it called for some absurd reaction filled with irony, sarcasm, and spite; or it could be that I was bored and had nothing better to do than reply. Whatever the reason, I returned her letter with one of my own as fast as I could--I mean she provided a self-addressed-stamped envelope.

Here are some choice quotes from my response:

-"There may be a good reason why we haven't seen each other since high school..."

-"Forcing me to recall memories of high school, an experience we barely shared to begin with, may not have been the best recruitment tactic."

-"I expect that I will not receive any more correspondence from you masked as if we are, or once were, friends."

I also said that I would spare her my full wrath because I suspected that her superiors at the cultish pyrimid scheme pushed her to send the letter in the first place.

I could go on about my own dealings and a friend's dealings with Primerica, but this post is entirely too long. However, the saga continues...

On Lex Luthor

2005-10-19T23:37:00.000-04:00

Consider for a moment this villian. He's not a supervillian, by which he has powers that he uses for what is commonly viewed as evil. He is simply a villian because he is oppossed to what is commonly viewed as good. However, he is not like all villians.

The Joker, the Batman's crazed and diabolical nemesis, knows he is evil and he exploits his mania to perform truly horrid tasks; however Luthor, is of the rare breed of villians that truly believes that their mission is just and their mission is good. His strength, whether he is portrayed as a mad scientist, a shrewd businessman, or the greatest criminal mind of our age, is that he beleives his cause is just and that his enemy is evil.

Who is this enemy? A stranage vistitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of motal men. A man who is can change the course of mighty rivers, and a man who can bend steel in his bare hands. He is faster than a speeding bullet, he is more powerful than a locomotive, and he can leap tall buildings in a single bound. His enemy is Superman. Yet, despite all of the Man of Steel's amazing powers his greatest strength is that he also beleives that his mission is as just as Luthor's.

What are their missions? Superman's mission is simple: To fight for Truth and Justice, for all mankind (formerly The American Way). Luthor's mission is also simple to oppose and destroy Superman. But, is it that simple? If portrayed in such simple terms we assume Luthor's villiany because only a bad man would be oppossed to someone who supports such noble ideals. Luthor is not opposed to Superman's mission he is simply oppossed to Superman. He is oppossed to an lifeform, who not only posseses an incredible array of powers and abilities, but who is not human.

Luthor perceives his fight against The Last Son of Krypton as humanity's fight against a figure who claims to inspire mankind, but who mankind can never measure up against. Luthor is a self made man, Luthor is educated, Luthor uses his great ambition, his great mind, and his sheer will to accomplish great things. Luthor believes that every human being can do this, if they simply shift their focus away from what they can never become.

Yet, despite this knowledge we still see Luthor as a villian. Is it because he will stop at nothing to acheive his final goal? Is it his jealously for a man that steals away the attention he thinks he deserves? Or, is it because he seaks to steal away our dreams?

(Click picture to enlarge)

The world isn't all bad

2005-10-09T02:47:00.000-04:00

There are some people out there who base their conviction that a god does not exist on the horrible atrocities that occur across the globe on a daily basis. There is no denying that these events are horrible and that they are not in keeping with most universal moral values.

I think there is plenty of merit to that argument. I can't deny that these malicous acts occur. I can't deny that they violate what is generally accepted as right or good. I can't deny any of it because no matter what I write I cannot prove that a god, in whatever form, does or does not exist.

I'm sure we all know the horrors of this world as I am writing this someone was raped and/or murdered, a house was burglarized, a store was robbed, a car bomb probably went off somewhere in the Middle East, and an author in a authoritarian Asian state is being tortured for expressing his/her discontent with the government.

There is a lot of bad in this world and to deny it is to be ignorant and blind, but reciprocally there is a lot of good in this world. I witnessed such a decent act not to long ago.

Somewhere out there is a young man who has become embittered with life. This man also suffers from a horrible disease, which cannot be cured, but it can be treated. He is embarassed of his illness and works hard to hide it from his friends.

He attacks one of these friends with a constant stream of veiled insults, but the friend chooses to ignore them. Instead he continues to regard the sick man as a friend.

However, the young man had to reveal his weakness and his embarassment when the disease gripped him. The friend helped the sick man as best as he could, and he did everything in his power to help the young man.

He also understood the embarassment of the sick man and did not tell the story of that afternoon.

Two years later, the disease grips the young man again, but this time the friend acts quicker. His two motivations are to stop the attack to help his friend and stop the attack before it gets bad to save him the embarassment because the sick man is in a larger, less-acquainted, company.

Unfortunetly, for the friend the disease takes hold of the young man quicker this time--more violently this time. He continues to act and directs the help of others and calls for professional help while holding onto his sick friend.

The sick man claws his way out of the back seat of a car and falls head first onto the blacktop where he starts to seize violently. A recent acquaintance of the young man calls an apathetic emergency operator with a quiver of fear and panic in her voice while another acquaintance sits and stares at the spectacle in drunken disbeleif. Another close friend of the sick young man (but merely an acquaintance of the other insulted close friend) holds the seizing body quietly and gently. The other friend also holds the seizing body, but he grows angry and starts to scream at the girl talking to first responders because they don't seem to be acting quick enough. They all have done everything that they can do, and nothing worked. This sick man is dieing on the street.

Eventually, helped arrived and saved the life of the sick man. Soon everything returned to normal. The friend came under attack from an embittered sick young man, and for the most part the friend chose to ignore the veiled insults.

That night I witnessed a group of loosely connected people caring for another person who needed their help. They did what they could, and they could have done many things much better. Despite, some of their failings they loved a man, who had attacked at least one of the group before, as he was dieing in the street.

Ultimately, I think they helped save that man's life. If loving a friend in their time of need is not something good gleaned out of a world gone awry, I don't know if anything can be good.

BIBLE NOT TRUE! (Full Text)

2005-10-07T15:47:00.000-04:00

Catholic Church no longer swears by truth of the Bible

By Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent

THE hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church has published a teaching document instructing the faithful that some parts of the Bible are not actually true.

The Catholic bishops of England, Wales and Scotland are warning their five million worshippers, as well as any others drawn to the study of scripture, that they should not expect “total accuracy” from the Bible.

“We should not expect to find in Scripture full scientific accuracy or complete historical precision,” they say in The Gift of Scripture.

The document is timely, coming as it does amid the rise of the religious Right, in particular in the US.

Some Christians want a literal interpretation of the story of creation, as told in Genesis, taught alongside Darwin’s theory of evolution in schools, believing “intelligent design” to be an equally plausible theory of how the world began.

But the first 11 chapters of Genesis, in which two different and at times conflicting stories of creation are told, are among those that this country’s Catholic bishops insist cannot be “historical”. At most, they say, they may contain “historical traces”.

The document shows how far the Catholic Church has come since the 17th century, when Galileo was condemned as a heretic for flouting a near-universal belief in the divine inspiration of the Bible by advocating the Copernican view of the solar system. Only a century ago, Pope Pius X condemned Modernist Catholic scholars who adapted historical-critical methods of analysing ancient literature to the Bible.

In the document, the bishops acknowledge their debt to biblical scholars. They say the Bible must be approached in the knowledge that it is “God’s word expressed in human language” and that proper acknowledgement should be given both to the word of God and its human dimensions.

They say the Church must offer the gospel in ways “appropriate to changing times, intelligible and attractive to our contemporaries”.

The Bible is true in passages relating to human salvation, they say, but continue: “We should not expect total accuracy from the Bible in other, secular matters.”

They go on to condemn fundamentalism for its “intransigent intolerance” and to warn of “significant dangers” involved in a fundamentalist approach.

“Such an approach is dangerous, for example, when people of one nation or group see in the Bible a mandate for their own superiority, and even consider themselves permitted by the Bible to use violence against others.”

Of the notorious anti-Jewish curse in Matthew 27:25, “His blood be on us and on our children”, a passage used to justify centuries of anti-Semitism, the bishops say these and other words must never be used again as a pretext to treat Jewish people with contempt. Describing this passage as an example of dramatic exaggeration, the bishops say they have had “tragic consequences” in encouraging hatred and persecution. “The attitudes and language of first-century quarrels between Jews and Jewish Christians should never again be emulated in relations between Jews and Christians.”

Similarly, they refute the apocalyptic prophecies of Revelation, the last book of the Christian Bible, in which the writer describes the work of the risen Jesus, the death of the Beast and the wedding feast of Christ the Lamb.

The bishops say: “Such symbolic language must be respected for what it is, and is not to be interpreted literally. We should not expect to discover in this book details about the end of the world, about how many will be saved and about when the end will come.”

In their foreword to the teaching document, the two most senior Catholics of the land, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, and Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Archbishop of St Andrew’s and Edinburgh, explain its context.

They say people today are searching for what is worthwhile, what has real value, what can be trusted and what is really true.

The new teaching has been issued as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of Dei Verbum, the Second Vatican Council document explaining the place of Scripture in revelation. In the past 40 years, Catholics have learnt more than ever before to cherish the Bible. “We have rediscovered the Bible as a precious treasure, both ancient and ever new.”

A Christian charity is sending a film about the Christmas story to every primary school in Britain after hearing of a young boy who asked his teacher why Mary and Joseph had named their baby after a swear word. The Breakout Trust raised £200,000 to make the 30-minute animated film, It’s a Boy. Steve Legg, head of the charity, said: “There are over 12 million children in the UK and only 756,000 of them go to church regularly.

That leaves a staggering number who are probably not receiving basic Christian teaching.”

BELIEVE IT OR NOT

UNTRUE

Genesis ii, 21-22

So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man

Genesis iii, 16

God said to the woman [after she was beguiled by the serpent]: “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”

Matthew xxvii, 25

The words of the crowd: “His blood be on us and on our children.”

Revelation xix,20

And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had worked the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with brimstone.”

TRUE

Exodus iii, 14

God reveals himself to Moses as: “I am who I am.”

Leviticus xxvi,12

“I will be your God, and you shall be my people.”

Exodus xx,1-17

The Ten Commandments

Matthew v,7

The Sermon on the Mount

Mark viii,29

Peter declares Jesus to be the Christ

Luke i

The Virgin Birth

John xx,28

Proof of bodily resurrection

BIBLE NOT TRUE!

2005-10-07T08:49:00.000-04:00

Something almost any thinking human being would be able to tell you is that they Bible is not wholly accurate. The Bishops in the United Kingdom have now instructed their five million followers to listen to thinking people.

Here are some excerpts:

“We should not expect to find in Scripture full scientific accuracy or complete historical precision.”

***

They go on to condemn fundamentalism for its “intransigent intolerance” and to warn of “significant dangers” involved in a fundamentalist approach.

“Such an approach is dangerous, for example, when people of one nation or group see in the Bible a mandate for their own superiority, and even consider themselves permitted by the Bible to use violence against others.”

***

As examples of passages not to be taken literally, the bishops cite the early chapters of Genesis, comparing them with early creation legends from other cultures, especially from the ancient East. The bishops say it is clear that the primary purpose of these chapters was to provide religious teaching and that they could not be described as historical writing.

Similarly, they refute the apocalyptic prophecies of Revelation, the last book of the Christian Bible, in which the writer describes the work of the risen Jesus, the death of the Beast and the wedding feast of Christ the Lamb.

***

What does this mean? Well, for one thing the Catholic Bishops have not wasted all their valuable seminar time. And, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride to be Catholic at this particular juncture. However, we will have to wait and see how the Nazi Pontiff will view the Anglican Manifesto. I'm guessing they will all be tortured at the hands of the Jesuits, at which time I can go about loathing my Catholic heritage as a force that cannot let go of the Roman Empire and subsequent Dark Age.

An open letter to anyone that reads this

2005-10-06T21:33:00.000-04:00

To All,

I have had a hard time deciding what to name this blog. I first called it "The Matt Cave," which was uber cheesy. IT was named something else for a short period of time, but I don't remember what it was named. Obviously, it is now called "Dark Recess," which I think is utterly ridicoulus.

So, I ask you, my devoted public, what should I call my corner of cyber space?

Sincerely,
Mattman

Norwich Alumn dies while serving in Iraq

2005-10-05T23:08:00.000-04:00

Vermont mourns another fallen soldier
By BOB AUDETTE
Reformer Staff

PITTSFORD- Even from beyond the veil, the strength and character of Lt. Mark Dooley was present in a church in Rutland and during his memorial service Friday.

In a letter Dooley composed before he shipped out to Iraq--a leter that was only to be opened in the case of his death--his words cause tears to fall from even the toughest in attendance.

"It was only by God's grace that I was born into the family that i proudly called mine," he wrote in his letter. "Parents, whose unconditional love supported me through times that others would have surely given up. ... And a brother whose patience and pure heart set the example I could only hope to have imitated."

First Lt. MArk Dooley, a former Willmington police officer who was killed this month while serving in Iraq, was laid to res Friday [September 30, 2005]. The funeral was held at Christ the King Church in Rutland. A memorial service followed at the Vermont Police Academy in Pittsford. Dooley was 27 years old whe he died on Sept. 19, in an explosion in Ramadi.

Representatives from all the military services, including cadets from [Norwich University] and law enforcement officers from as far away as Boston, gathered to pay their respects.

The men and women in uniform stood smartly in rows, saluting when Dooley's casket was removed from the hearse and during a 21-gun salute that was followed by taps.

The memorial service was held on the parade grounds of the academy. In the center of the grounds is a memorial to fallen Vermont law enforcement officers and fire department personnel. Their names are carved into black granite blocks which are arranged in a circle surrounding the American flag.

As the flag which draped Dooley's casket was folded, bagpipes and family and friends wiped tears from their eyes.

The flag was handed to Dooley's mother, Marion, who seemed to be giving comfort to the soldier handing her the flag, rather than the other way around.

After the somber salute, family, friends, co-workers and fellow soldiers spoke about Dooley.
Charlie Dooley, two years older than his brother, with a smile of affection on his face, said Mark was "superhuman."

"He strived for the challenge," said Charlie, with a steely look in his eyes that spoke of a wisdom that comes from losing a sibling. "He excelled when everything was against him. He could run further and jump higher than anyone and he was mentally tough as nails."
"He really touched a lot of people," said Marion Dooley, who was glad to talk to the clutch of reporters that surrounded her, thrusting microphones into her face and snapping pictures as she talked.

"He will be remembered for his faith, his leadership and his love for his family and his country," said his mom, who added with a smile that it was important for people who didn't know her son, to understand how important he was to the community.

"He was a down-to-earth young man," said his father, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Peter Dooley III, who stood proud and erect in his Air Force uniform.

"He was gung-ho, enthusiastic and fun-loving," said his aunt, Christine Dooley, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes.

"This was the path he chose," said Dooley's uncle, John Dooley, who looked to the sky before adding "He always wanted to be a police officer or join the military. So he did both."

Sgt. Matt Murano, of the Wilmington Police Department, was described by Dooley's friends and family as "best of friends" with Dooley. Murano attended Norwich University with Dooley and they worked together as Windham County deputies and on the Wilmington Police Department. When asked to describe his friend, an obviously emotionally overwhelmed Murano responded, "There is no way to describe him in words."

"He was more than a classmate or a friend," said Keith Clark, who was in Dooley's officer's training class. "He was a brother. As soon as you met him, shook his hand and looked into his eyes, you knew he was one of the good guys.

Dooley was a member of the 3rd Battalion 172nd Mountain Infantry of the Vermont National Guard. He had worked as a patrolman for several months with the Wilmington Police Department before he deployed in January. He had also worked as a deputy with the Windham County Sheriff's Department from 2002 to 2003.

He was the second member of his unit, the 400-member Task Force Saber which arrived in Iraq in July, to be killed in Iraq. Sgt. 1st Class Chris Chapin, 39, of Proctor was killed by a sniper Aug. 23, also in Ramadi.

He is the second soldier from Windham County to die in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003. In August 2003, Kyle Charles Gilbert, 20, of Guilford, was killed when his unit was ambushed outside Baghdad.

Dooley's last letter to his family was read to the hundreds who gathered at Christ the King Church on Friday. He thanked his father for the direction he gave him in life and apologized to his mother for not being there for her anymore. He told his brother he was proud of him. And he offered everyone words of comfort.

"Time will ease all pain, and the best way to pay respect is to value why a sacrifice was made."

As published in the Weekend Reformer, Brattleboro, Vermont

Giant Mutant Bugs!

2005-10-04T22:24:00.000-04:00

I do a lot of work out of my, pardon the expression, office located in the basement of my parents house. I write articles for the paper, I blog, I poor over a budget that is horribly in the red, and other home office activities.

Recently, my space has been invaded by a colony of mutated chriping crickets. These things are huge. I have a table where I have Middletown flood maps spread all over and this spawn of hell starts crawling all over them.

The good news is that the bastard was captrured and flushed down the toilet, but there are so many more of them out there. Moving in secret and waiting in the dark. Traveling, and moving bug supplies along some insect Ho Chi Minh Trail...

A complete waste of M's time

2005-10-03T22:54:00.000-04:00

The following is a post froma friend and former co-workers blog. I cannot provide the name or web address for that individual as I have given my word. Anyway, enjoy the musings of M:

In a desperate search for brain candy, I was asked by a fellow member of the cubicle set to come up with 10 bad things that are still better than being at work all day. I responded so quickly to her, sending email after email, that she insisted I put this in my blog:

The Flu with a fever of 103 with no health insurance (I speak from experience…I still got to watch TV all day)

The Clap (I’m guessing)

Being chased by an angry mob of fourth graders with nail guns.

Keep hostage on top of a Hugo by an angry rabid Rottweilder

Falling down a flight of project stairs....in the winter....in your bathrobe

A contractual obligation to go to a Vanilla Ice concert, sit front row, and have backstage passes….sober. (ah, not so funny now, is it?)

Alien abduction complete with anal probing (does that count as sick time?)

Being locked up and your only choices for conjugal visits are Rosanne Barr or Steve Buscemi.

A prostate massage…a dry prostate massage…with a finger with a hang nail.

Standing alone on an elevator…the door opens….and Christopher Walkin is standing there in a black suit…he doesn’t smile or say a word as you excitedly acknowledge that you know who he is…he just gets on the elevator with you…arms folded behind his back….he stands quietly on the elevator with you for two floors….he turns slowly to look at you….then leans in real close….( the flinching and the slight loss of bladder control….is better than being at work)

Speaking of work, this week is Customer Service Week, which has been graciously defined by our Manager. Here’s the skinny:

October has been declared National Quality Month by the American Society for Quality. National Quality Month is a public awareness campaign that encourages individuals and companies to focus on the importance of quality improvement. The first week of October has been designated as Customer Service Week. This is a national event devoted to recognizing the importance of Customer Service and honoring the people who provide outstanding service.
As you can see, this celebration is not just an Insuracare event. We are participating along with companies across the country to recognize those individuals who are committed to delivering superior service and who in every sense of the word Service Professionals.

Thanks to everyone for providing outstanding service and for "making it easy for our customers to do business with us"!

And by way of celebrating, they have a week long procession of inane activities offering prizes, trinkets and bagels, not to mention themes like ”Decorate your Cube” or “Wear a Fun Hat” (which is today and I’ve been asked several times where my funny hat is. I didn’t shave my head and wore stubble, it’s hilarious.) None of which, of course have anything to do with showing any kind of appreciation for the constant stream of angry callers we have because our website sucks hot monkey ass. Hey, here’s an idea and this goes for “companies across the country”: instead of spending money on what must be a buttload of smiley face cups and balloons and candy bags and bagels and juice boxes, why not take that money and put it back into your product and make it easier for people to enjoy. Don’t thank us for weathering the shit storm of complaints, DO something about them. That’s how you can appreciate us, throw in the towel when you see we’re taking a beating and go back to training camp and make us better equipped for the next fight.

Ah, news flash: I just got an email that said to show their appreciation they’re giving us 5 dollar coupons that can be used at the coffee shop or the cafeteria, here in the building. Thanks for proving my point.

Wait, there’s more. Another one of the activities is to go to a conference room and write a note about how you appreciate one of your co-workers for whatever reason. Our new supervisor just sent an email titled “I expect participation” where she says:

Team
Please please........when you have a minute, go to the posters hanging on the glass outside the conference room walls across from J's office.
Go and APPRECIATE someone. It could be anyone...............

Ok first off, how you gonna demand we participate and then beg? Not to mention and I’m really only spitballin here but…aren’t we GROWN? I mean, shouldn’t we have a choice to participate in the frivolities if we want otherwise what’s the point? How are you enforcing fun? Part of me wants to pick a woman’s name at random and go write “I appreciate so & so cause she sucks me off like a saucy little crack fiend in the parking lot at lunch and woo that’s a load of my…mind, Ha! Ha!”

Oh God, the torture continues:

Don't forget to wear a tie tomorrow or bring one in.......................participation........wins prizes.
I know you may not be used to a supervisor constantly making you play games and get into a spirit but that is who I am.
We need to make our jobs fun but also be serious about what we do and how we contribute to the companies goals.

We can do it!!!!!

“A supervisor who constantly makes you play games and get into a spirit.” Doesn’t sound so bad, in theory, I suppose. Depends on the games, I mean the killer from Saw made you play games too AND get into a spirit. Didn’t really work out all that well for everyone involved.

::sigh::

Ok I’m spent. I don’t know if this was a desperate need to vent about the absurdities of this job or just an excuse not to do anything today which I haven’t. I mean I’ve taken my phone calls and been so saccharin sweet with the cavalcade of morons that call that I should get a Golden Globe. But none of my emails, which I know will become a problem later on if I don’t get my act together. Its amazing to me how little that seems to matter. I’ll be bitching later when I’m on unemployment.

So I’ll sit here and finish out the day, surrounded by swinging, weaving insipid smiley face balloons and banners… pretending I’m interested in what I’m doing like a mercy fuck…trying not to let loose the almost girlish wail of frustration that’s welling up deep in my gut. At least there’s candy. Things could be worse.

Could be held hostage by Christopher Walken while he gives me a dry prostate massage with a nail gun at a Vanilla Ice concert. Or something.

Anyway, that’s my two cents:

Frank White: I never killed anybody who didn't deserve it.

Because I can't leave well enough alone

2005-09-30T12:46:00.000-04:00

Below is the text of an email forwarded to me by a friend and former co-worker:

To all,

I am pleased to announce that R.S. has accepted a position as supervisor of the Masterpiece Cornerstone Team. I am very happy to see R.S. continue on his career path at Insuricare but sad to lose a tremendous asset to the Customer Care Team. He has made significant contributions to our Team and he will be greatly missed. R.S.'s last day in the Customer Care Team will be October 14th.Please join me in congratulating R.S. and wishing him well in his new role!

Fat Supervisor

And here is my response:

M,

That truly is amazing. He's a no-talent-brown-nosing ass-clown. He's a closet cocksucker wannabe jackass and I hope he fails miserably by way of being assraped with a parking cone by one of his subordinates.

And, that's how I feel about him on a good day.

The Problem Coordinator

This once great city

2005-09-24T16:19:00.000-04:00

The winter city of a fallen empire cries out for a Hero.

Its jigsaw skyline is littered with dark abandoned buildings, and once blackened holes, where houses stood, are now gardens of weeds.

The faces of its population are sullen; their voices are filled with despair.

Yesterday, a man fell dead on the steps of city hall. His friend, a heap of rags and charred bone cried out, yet no reply came.

A pale business woman saw the affair, and stopped long enough to call public works.

Who else is better to remove trash from the curb?

Certainly not the gestapo. In their black leather uniforms; upon their horses.

Their clubs are always at the ready.

I look to the sky and I wonder where this city's Hero is. Why doesn't he fly down and save its people?

He doesn't come.

So, I take some coins out of my jakcet pocket and I place them in a strangers' expired meter.

In a place on New Street

2005-09-21T23:01:00.000-04:00

I left the frigid Northeast very confused, and I returned to New Jersey. I hate to admit it, but the saying is true—You never can go home. The idea of home is constantly changing, what I remembered as home no longer existed. My parent’s moved their house, their home, to a new town. My room remained largely unpacked and unpainted for some time after that move. Home, for me, became the idea of the place from which I had retreated.

The transition made me depressed. I was lonely, and I was lost. I longed for the familiar, but I did not regret my decision to leave that cold dead place.

I took the train each day to classes that I half comprehended. My lack of comprehension was never caused by an inability to understand the material, but through a great sense of apathy and fatalism.

However, I did find solace in my newfound freedom. I read texts while sitting under a tree in the warm New Jersey autumn. The train became an escape between each non-reality. My walks to and from the station were times that I quietly reflected on what I was doing and why.

On Wednesdays I ran to the comic shop downtown to grab the latest titles and immerse myself in a word of fantasy, in a world where no matter what good triumphed over evil.

Amazingly, I found what I was looking for in a bar. For a time I hid behind the alcohol, but I realized the danger in that activity. I found friends in that bar. Some friends lasted only a few hours, some a few days. I still talk to one friend, and I wish I talked to another more often.

It was the conversation, sometimes drunken loud, and incoherent, that the latter two offered saved me. Maybe they knew it and maybe they did not, but they saved me. That bar, that time, those negative feelings, those friends morphed my past into my present, and helped me make a new home.

Without your help I would not have been in the position to become what I am today. Happy.

Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, this time more wisely." - Unknown

2005-09-20T01:22:00.000-04:00

That's right. I am a failure. I've never been happier.

I discovered the hard way that I am not cut from the Corporate American mold. That discovery has led me to my place in a quirky local and independent newspaper.

Here in the Matt Cave I hope to bore you all with some works of fiction and my genreal opinions on whatever topic I feel like ranting about on a particular day.

Please by all means leave snarky comments.