On my soapbox making dedications to advancement, pain, and beauty.

So I just noticed it's been about 2 weeks and 3 days since my last post, which is way to long. I do have a good reason for my lack of updates, sort of. I have been busy with meetings, studying, and test taking. I am doing all of this because I am tired of applying for jobs and not getting hired. I'm tired of just sitting around all day doing nothing. Most importantly I'm tired of not making decent money. So I am going to go back to school. I don't think I am going to do the traditional college thing, but I am going to take some classes that will get me certified in I.T. In other words I want to be the "Computer Guy" people go to. It's what I am really good at and I like doing it, and there are tons of jobs out there in the field. I was originally going to go for journalism but I decided that I love music and writing more as a hobby. I don't want to become a jaded rock critic or end up hating having to write everyday. However computers I can handle, besides if I end up not touching a computer for a few days outside of my I.T. job it's not like it's a bad thing. It gives me the chance to get out of the cave and into the world. I'm in the process of getting everything straightened out for it. I have to jump through a lot of hoops in order for the state to help me out financially, but I am on it like flies on shit. I'm really excited. I also have been busy messing around with my dinosaur of a computer trying to get it running like a well oiled machine once again. My dad recently gave me not one but two of his old CPU's to mess around with which means that I have three computers. Well actually it's only two right now because I used one for parts to make the other two super computers. It's been a lot of fun, sometimes frustrating but it's also been VERY educational. I plan on building my own computer soon with the one I used for parts. I just need to save a little before doing that. I'm a nerd, but it rocks!
Plastic Operator - Folder

A few days ago I realized that I have not used my Wii Fit in a long time, 63 days to be exact. I broke out the old balance board and popped in the game and proceeded to get my sweat on, and I did. It felt really good and I felt like I actually did something good for my body for a change. at the end of the day I was surprised at how I didn't ache like I usually do when I haven't "worked out" in a while. Well my surprise turned into pain the next morning. Mainly in the abs region. It hurt so bad that I could not stand up straight without feeling like someone had tied my abs to a car and sped away. It hurt bad and 2 days later I still am feeling the burn. I need to use it more often but I will not be attempting it again until I can stand with out wincing. They say no pain no gain, but damn the pain sucks. This better be worth it because if I get up to heaven and they tell me that I would have lived to the same age if I had worked out or not I'm going to be pissed. Speaking of getting fit, I am making my 1,315,260th attempt to quit smoking. I have a quit date set and I am going to try to stick with it. My sister and brother in law are doing the same so I'll have a little support.
Goldfinger - Question

Summer TV sucks! It's either reality TV or talent shows non stop in the evening. Frankly I am so sick of this trash TV it makes me want to puke. Of course there is one exceptions to the rule, Biggest Loser. The other night I had on Americas Got Talent which I normally try to avoid like the plague, but I wanted something on while I was waiting for my computer to reinstall windows (which takes a while). There was a girl on there who did a really cool piano version of Poker Face by Lady Gaga, which I didn't know was so popular because I never listen to the radio. In fact I just heard the real version a few minutes ago. My verdict is that it's alright but I like Just Dance more. I did however know Lady Gaga sang the song because a few months ago I found this great remix. I just love the beat!
Kid Cudi (feat. Kanye West and Common) - Make Her Say (I Poker Her Face)

I am an avid movie watcher and occasionally I try to catch a few documentaries as well. The other day I picked up An Inconvenient Truth. You know the Al Gore movie where he talks about global warming, and somehow incorporates how he lost the election (yeah it sucks, and I feel bad for him, but come on. Not in a movie about global warming) I saw it at the library and it was free and I remember people telling me that it was pretty interesting so I picked it up. I watched the whole thing even though it was a lot of charts and graphs and his voice makes me want to fall asleep. I thought it was really good, aside from all the feel bad for me propaganda. I posted on my facebook that it was a really good movie and thought other people should see it. Well I got a few responses, one about how he's making big money from the carbon credits, and another flat out questioning why I believe anything he says. I feel I need to "clear the air" here. First of all I am not anywhere near being a fan of politics and I don't pay that much attention to it. Don't misunderstand me, I do keep track of some things but I'm not a junkie. Call me ignorant, I don't care. I have the mind set that I never trusted any politician and I never will. I think they are all crooked and soulless to some point. I am more anti-government than anything, and I can't even say I am that because I think there needs to be some form of authority. I think it comes from the punk/anti-establishment music I listened to growing up, and from the people I hung around with. Again I'm not saying that I hate the Government but I think there is a lot of shit wrong *coughpatriotactcough* but I digress. I liked the movie only for the simple fact that someone realizes that there is a problem going on with pollution that is starting to take it's toll on the earth and is speaking out about it. There is no way it can be denied that nothing is happening. If people in China (or wherever it is) need to wear a mask to filter their air then there is a problem. If we are ripping a hole in our ozone, there is more than likely a problem. I can't stand it when people tell me there is nothing wrong and we don't need the change or that global warming is a myth. I may be ignorant, but that is just plain stupid. Why would you not want to use things like solar and wind created energies, or cleaner and fewer carbon emissions, or even recycling products that will cut back on using natural resources. Like I said I'm not a fan of politics but I do commend Al Gore for at least coming out and saying "Hey, we need to do something here." I have to admit that I never recycled before I lived with a roommate who demanded we start. I know I am part of the problem, but after seeing that movie I want to become a part of the solution. However if it's not making dollars then it isn't making sense, right? I just wish people would put all political bullshit aside and say you know what lets just do it because it's the only planet we have. *steps down from his soapbox*
Sesame Street feat. Ernie - I Don't Want To Live On The Moon

As I am sure anyone who reads this blog knows by now that I am a closet fan of a lot of music that isn't necessarily cool. I know I recently posted a cover of a Taylor Swift song but I am going to do it again. It's sort of funny because my sister introduced me to Taylor and I thought man this is pretty good music. Then I saw her play on a few music award shows and she didn't lip sync and she actually played guitar, and played it quite well. I liked her even more. Then the other day I was at my sisters house and she played some videos of hers and they were clever and now I can say that I am a fan. Would I buy a CD by her just yet....um no. However if she keeps on impressing me and doesn't go all Britney I just might have to drop some cash for her. This is a instrumental mashup/medley cover of Love Story (which is becoming one of my favorite songs. Got to love that melody) and Viva La Vida by Coldplay. What results is a beautiful arrangement. When listening to this I started to sing the lyrics to Private Eye Alkaline Trio. If you have not heard the song Love Story I would recommend giving it a spin.
Jon Schmidt - Taylor Swift Love Story/Coldplay Viva La Vida

The last song today I am going to dedicate to my good friend Jake. I was at his house a while ago and we were sitting around watching football and he asked me if I would like a drink. Of course I said yes and then he asked if I ever had a Bloody Mary. I told him I never had but I didn't like tomato juice at all. He said well I'll make one and let you taste it first. He proceeded to tell me that he has become a big fan of them. I tried the drink and I did not like it at all. If I am going to drink juice it has to be sweet and not taste like a glass full of ketchup. To each his own I guess. I picked this song because I know Jake likes Johnny Cash and I would hope he likes Willie. So Jake this ones for you.
Willie Nelson - Bloody Mary Morning

Get your facts straight, you filthy animal!

Evey song in this post has an animal in their name or band name. I also added little factoids for reading enjoyment. I am so lazy.

Coffee was first discovered when goat herders noticed the animals acting very energetic after nibbling on coffee beans. An autoclave is a device to sterilize equipment and supplies by subjecting them to high pressure steam at 121° C or more. It was invented by Charles Chamberland in 1879.
The Mountain Goats - Autoclave

Yaks do not bellow, bawl, or moo. Instead they communicate in quiet grunts, snorts and head shakes. Yaks are extremely intelligent, curious, independent, serene, mellow, and quiet animals that make them a pleasure to raise. If raised as a pasture pet, they will respond to you as a pet, always seeking attention and responding in turn with appreciation and with real personality. If raised on a ranch with minimum interaction, they quickly recognize and accept their caretakers as friendly and are not aggressive, as long as the caretaker knows how to communicate with their Yaks, and establish their leadership position in the Yak's pecking order. The Missouri River is about 2,540 miles long, making it the longest river in North America. The Nile is the longest river in the world at 4,132 miles as it travels northward from its remote headwaters in Burundi to the Mediterranean Sea. # The 8 longest rivers in the U.S. are (in descending order) Missouri, Mississippi, Yukon, St. Lawrence (if you count the Great Lakes and its headwaters as one system), Rio Grande, Arkansas, Colorado, Ohio.
Wild Yaks - River May Come

The rose is the official National Floral emblem of the United States. This legislation was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on October 7, 1986. The rose is also the state flower selected by Georgia, Iowa, New York, North Dakota and the District of Columbia. Foxes are solitary animals that do not really prefer to live in packs. The fox belongs to the medium sized canid group.Although foxes belong to the Canidae family along with dogs, they also display behavior patterns similar to cats. The vertically slit eyes are on similar lines of the feline cats, besides, they also have retractable claws.
The Rosebuds - Nice Fox

The Big Dipper is not a constellation, it is an asterism. Many people consider the big dipper to be a constellation but, in fact, it is an asterism. An asterism is a pattern of stars in the sky which is not one of the official 88 constellations; they are also composed of stars which are not physically related to each other and can be vast distances apart. An asterism can be composed of stars from one or more constellations - in the case of the Big Dipper, it is composed entirely of the seven brightest stars in the Ursa Major (Great Bear) constellation. Tigers normally sleep up to eighteen hours at a time and can eat up to 50-70 pounds of meat in a meal.
Her Space Holiday - Sleepy Tigers

The eye is the only part of the human body that can function at 100% ability at any moment, day or night, without rest. Your eyelids need rest, the external muscles of your eyes need rest, the lubrication of your eyes requires replenishment, but your eyes themselves "never" need rest. But please rest them! The most important muscle in kissing is the orbicularis oris, also known as the kissing muscle, which allows the lips to “pucker. Every two to four years there is a change in the pride where either a younger male or a male from another pride takes over and drives out the older males. This is a violent time for the group. The new dominant male usually kills most of the male offspring of the previous leader of the pride. The females defend their own young but if they lose they begin breeding with the newcomer. The roar of a lion can be heard up to five miles away.
The Features - Lions

Super Sweet Human Being Bonus Song
The most snow produced in a single snowstorm is 4.8 meters (15.75ft) at Mt Shasta Ski Bowl, California (USA) between February 13-19 in 1959. Each square inch of human skin consists of twenty feet of blood vessels.
Miike Snow - Animal