Sunday, April 22, 2007

The Henry Rollins Show: I'm A Happy Billychic




Yes, I'm a happy Billychic.

I have cable now...and I can see The Henry Rollins Show. Hell, I didn't even know it was on.

Not only is he one of the sexiest men alive, but the show looks awesome. Oh, goody goody...

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Virginia Tech Massacre: Are Things Getting Worse?


I was having a conversation with a coworker about the lack of empathy humans have for each other after the first headlines started trickling in on the internet newscast about the horrific tragedy that had happened over at Virginia Tech. At that reading, there were only 21 dead. Later, when the numbers started to rise, so did the empty feeling in my stomach that this was not only a devastating tragedy, but also something that will be referred to in history books along with Columbine, Waco, and..well, pick your horror show.

Later, she and I began talking about the concept of the state of human beings in general and how they treat each other: is it getting worse? In a supposedly "civilized" society, how does something like this happen? And is it happening more often?

I'm not a specialist in history; I was always interested but spent most of my time writing or reading fiction, so I'm not going to sit here and wax philosophical on what I don't really know jack about. But I will say this: there are two sides in the answer to this proverbial coin, at least for me.

The first is that yes, it is getting worse. Many kids today are growing up not only faster (due to more exposure to more resources and information via our new information age and it's technological toys) but also with a sense of...arrogance and lack of respect and empathy for their fellow human. I see this trait spanning across economic, racial, gender, and religious lines. Whether it's rich priviledged kids who feel it's their right to do whatever they want or poor kids who feel that they have nothing to lose; black or white, green or purple; girls or boys; christians, jews, muslims - I see it.

I find myself starting to sound like my father..."When I was a kid..." but it's TRUE! When I was a kid, there was a sense of respect you had for your elders. Now, I get five year olds giving me the finger.

When my FATHER was a kid, he got mugged by a gang of boys for his shoes. They beat him up and took the shoes and he had to walk home barefoot. Nowadays, there is a good chance that same kid would get shot for those shoes.
30 years ago people settled scores by a good old fashioned fight with your fists. Now, ten-year-olds are picking up guns and shooting each other for stepping on their shadow.

So yeah...there is an argument for the first side of this coin.

However, the second side is also as compelling. We are comparing the atrocities that are going on now to our current experience of what we know and understand. If we go back in time, though, and compare it to...say...a time when feeding Christians to the lions and hanging out, eating grapes and getting a blowjob while it happened was a regular part of society, then perhaps things aren't so bad.

There was The Inquisition, The Salem Witch Hunts, thousands of horrific events; hell - even gunslingers in the Old West would just shoot out their differences in the middle of the street. Then again - if you stole a horse you were hung, so...

I think the point is that violence was prevalent and an almost natural medium all through human history...so is it really any worse?

And, dear reader, I pose the question: should be really surprised that this has happened? My prayers go out to all the families that lost a loved one during this tragedy and I mean no disrespect, but in all honesty, I'm truly surprised that this doesn't happen more often. Like...once a month.

Considering the fact that we as humans (no matter how much yoga, meditation, prayer, affirmations, etc., try to do) have proven ourselves to be a mostly violent society (take a look at what's popular on either tv, video games, movies and our history) - which is not our fault in some respects, because we are human and humans are not devoid of those emotions; and then taking into consideration the fact that a sizable chunk of the population are just TOTALLY INSANE - and I don't mean people who are depressed or anxious or suffering from a psychological disorder, I'm talking about complete sociopathic or psychotic personalities, many of whom are able to keep it together and keep it under wraps - I'm surprised that this kind of thing doesn't happen all the time.

My friend was a bit shocked - and interested - when I said that, but I meant it. Thank God it doesn't happen more often, I really do thank God for that - but I am surprised...

Just another reason why we should be thankful for each and every day we have.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

RIP Kurt Vonnegut



The amazing writer passed away today at the age of 84. His writing, imagination, and ability to see the satire in everything set a new standard for readers, authors, and thinkers...

I know that when I started reading him, in about 7th grade, he opened my mind...and continued to do so throughout my adult life.

We've lost another great one.

My friend David Corey has written a great post over at his blog on MySpace about some of the reasons why writing in general - not just as an art form, but in a myriad of mediums - was made all the better because of Vonnegut's contributions.

Go check it out...it makes for great reading. Fucker writes way better than I do.

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Happy Easter! Oh, BTW...The Easter Bunny Has Gone Insane

This made me laugh...and I need a laugh today (see post below this one).

Thanks, AspieGoddess, for sharing this with me...

The Easter Bunny Hates You

So I Had to Go to the Emergency Room Yesterday...

Because my darling baby boy, light of my life, sunshine of my existence...the little bastard known as Spud, a.k.a. "Evil Kitty" bit the hell out of my hand when I was trying to give him medicine.

Spud in the Sink

Actually, he didn't really mean to (well, the jury is out on that one); I was shoving a tube of laxatone down his throat to get him to cough up a hairball that was making him vomit all over the house, and he struggled...chomped down to get away from the foreign object in his mouth...and found my hand there. That's the story I'm going with, any way. I've had him over ten years and although he didn't get the nickname "Evil Kitty" for nothing, he has never bitten me like this before. He bit me like a rattlesnake, in the webbing area between the thumb and forefinger - so I had two deep puncture wounds. There was LOTS of blood.

So, after a few hours, when the two puncture wounds he gave me began to swell, along with my hand; the whole side of my hand that had been bit hurt; and the pain, reddness, and swelling began to creep up my wrist, I decided (along with the gentle nudging of my pal Josh and a concerned phonecall from my Mom) that I should go to the doctor...if anything, for a tetanus shot.

Well, it was Saturday, and the DOCS clinic on 23rd was closed (they suck anyway), so off to the hospital ER it was, with my grumbling the whole way.

We get there, and the doctor says it's a good thing I showed up; that I obviously had an infection (it had been about ten hours since the bite occured by that point) and that I could have gotten Pasteurellosis into my system.

But, I protested, it's my baby kitty! He's an indoor cat!

She said it didn't matter...they carry all kinds of nasty bacteria in their mouths and the bite wasn't just a little breaking of the skin, he had bit the shit out of me. She gave me a week's worth of antibiotics, and told me that if, by today, it wasn't better, I should come in to get the antibiotics by IV. I also got a tetanus shot in the same arm, so now my left arm is shot to hell. Thank god I'm a righty.

Can you believe that shit?

Well, as of today...it's not really better...so while some of you are eating chocolate bunnies, I think I will be heading over to the ER again to get hooked up to an IV to make sure that this infection doesn't get any worse. I was going to attach pics - but I figured I'd save you all the nasty nasty...lol...

This hurts. Any outpouring of sympathy or sarcasm would be appreciated.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

RIP Bob Clark


Bob Clark, director of the great films A Christmas Story and Porky's was killed today, with his son, in a car crash in the Pacific Palisades.

One of the fondest memories I have that came out of the 80's were those two films - in particular the former; so much, that I have my eye on purchasing a gawdy Christmas Story Leg Lamp in honor of the film...and that gleam in Darren McGavin's eye that always made me laugh.

Clark was a great director
and contributed a great deal to the world of cinema.

Here's a little tribute to Clark...enjoy.





Loer Velocity at the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe - Tonight!




My friend Loer Velocity is doing a gig at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe tonight at 9pm.

Go check him out! He rocks! I'm going to try to make it...


Tamazu: Humor observations blogs


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