Monday, March 31, 2003
Everybody needs a villain.
The Legion of Doom is up for the task.
I'm too worn out to not fight.
I'm too frustrated to get along.
I'm too tired to wait for everybody else to get their act together.
I'm too burnt out to worry about being right.
I'm too restless to care about being polite and clever.
I'm hungry;
a father driven to crime to provide for his family,
I've lost patience. And I'm feeling rather villainous.
The Legion of Doom is up for the task.
I'm too worn out to not fight.
I'm too frustrated to get along.
I'm too tired to wait for everybody else to get their act together.
I'm too burnt out to worry about being right.
I'm too restless to care about being polite and clever.
I'm hungry;
a father driven to crime to provide for his family,
I've lost patience. And I'm feeling rather villainous.
wabi sabi did not help :: honest insight from my dear wife
Thursday, March 27, 2003
As I was leaving for school this morning, Melissa was still asleep in bed. She looked so beautiful and peaceful sleeping there. I bent over and gave her a kiss. She woke up startled. It freaked her out! Next time, I should probably give fair warning and consider other ways to wake my wife up. Heck, it looks good in the movies. But if you're still half-asleep, a strange pair of lips can be quite disturbing.
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
"I'm not small, I'm space-efficient."
-Rachel Leigh Cook
-Rachel Leigh Cook
I love my students. One of my favorite students from last year is running for Student Body Vice President. She has been carrying a James Dean cut-out around school telling people to vote for her. She also gave me a large stack of her election fliers. They are hilarious. Here are some examples:
Vote for ***** and you won't have to worry about your health, because she will kill you.
Vote for ***** because she used to be a man ... a WO-man
Vote for ***** unless you want to be known as the goon that didn't.
Ever want to get rid of that unbearable depression in your soul? Vote *****
Vote ***** and that itch will go away.
Did you ever wonder why people become such tyrants when they get even the slightest bit of power? Vote *****
If the worth of a teacher is measured by his or her students, I am very proud to be shaping the future of our country.
Vote for ***** and you won't have to worry about your health, because she will kill you.
Vote for ***** because she used to be a man ... a WO-man
Vote for ***** unless you want to be known as the goon that didn't.
Ever want to get rid of that unbearable depression in your soul? Vote *****
Vote ***** and that itch will go away.
Did you ever wonder why people become such tyrants when they get even the slightest bit of power? Vote *****
If the worth of a teacher is measured by his or her students, I am very proud to be shaping the future of our country.
Monday, March 24, 2003
It's a sick, sad world. We could use the Internet to bridge understanding between cultures, to share knowledge and achievements, to connect displaced peoples, and discuss meaningful issues, but no... instead the Internet offers us this. I'm so proud to belong to the 21st century!
a segment of Michael Moore's Oscar acceptance speech:
"We live in a time where we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons. Whether it's the fictition of duct tape or fictition of orange alerts we are against this war, Mr. Bush. Shame on you, Mr. Bush, shame on you. And any time you got the Pope and the Dixie Chicks against you, your time is up. Thank you very much."
a segment of Adrien Brody's Oscar acceptance speech:
"But, you know, there comes a time in life when everything seems to make sense and this is not one of those times."
"And you know, wait one second. One second, please one second. Cut it out, cut it out. I get one shot at this. I'm sorry. I didn't say more than five names, I don't think, but. This is, you know, it fills me with great joy, but I am also filled with a lot of sadness tonight because I am accepting an award at such a strange time. And you know my experiences of making this film made me very aware of the sadness and the dehumanization of people at times of war. And the repercussions of war. And whatever you believe in, if it's God or Allah, may he watch over you and let's pray for a peaceful and swift resolution. Thank you. And I have a friend from Queens who's a soldier in Kuwait right now, Tommy Zarabinski, and I hope you and your boys make it back real soon. God bless you guys. I love you. Thank you very much."
You are one brave man, Adrien.
a segment of Chris Cooper's Oscar acceptance speech:
"To my wife, Marianne, you took on all the burden, thank you. And in light of all the troubles in this world, I wish us all peace. Thank you."
a segment of Nicole Kidman's Oscar acceptance speech:
"Russell Crowe said, 'Don't cry if you get up there.' And now I'm crying. Sorry."
"I do have to say, it was 'Why do you come to the Academy Awards when the world is in such turmoil?' Because art is important. And because you believe in what you do. And you want to honor that. And it is a tradition that needs to be upheld. At the same time you say there is a lot of problems in the world and since 9/11 there's been a lot of pain, in terms of families losing people, and now with the war, families losing people. And God bless them. And I am standing here in front of my mother and my daughter and my whole life I've wanted to make my mother proud. And now I want to make my daughter proud."
"We live in a time where we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons. Whether it's the fictition of duct tape or fictition of orange alerts we are against this war, Mr. Bush. Shame on you, Mr. Bush, shame on you. And any time you got the Pope and the Dixie Chicks against you, your time is up. Thank you very much."
a segment of Adrien Brody's Oscar acceptance speech:
"But, you know, there comes a time in life when everything seems to make sense and this is not one of those times."
"And you know, wait one second. One second, please one second. Cut it out, cut it out. I get one shot at this. I'm sorry. I didn't say more than five names, I don't think, but. This is, you know, it fills me with great joy, but I am also filled with a lot of sadness tonight because I am accepting an award at such a strange time. And you know my experiences of making this film made me very aware of the sadness and the dehumanization of people at times of war. And the repercussions of war. And whatever you believe in, if it's God or Allah, may he watch over you and let's pray for a peaceful and swift resolution. Thank you. And I have a friend from Queens who's a soldier in Kuwait right now, Tommy Zarabinski, and I hope you and your boys make it back real soon. God bless you guys. I love you. Thank you very much."
You are one brave man, Adrien.
a segment of Chris Cooper's Oscar acceptance speech:
"To my wife, Marianne, you took on all the burden, thank you. And in light of all the troubles in this world, I wish us all peace. Thank you."
a segment of Nicole Kidman's Oscar acceptance speech:
"Russell Crowe said, 'Don't cry if you get up there.' And now I'm crying. Sorry."
"I do have to say, it was 'Why do you come to the Academy Awards when the world is in such turmoil?' Because art is important. And because you believe in what you do. And you want to honor that. And it is a tradition that needs to be upheld. At the same time you say there is a lot of problems in the world and since 9/11 there's been a lot of pain, in terms of families losing people, and now with the war, families losing people. And God bless them. And I am standing here in front of my mother and my daughter and my whole life I've wanted to make my mother proud. And now I want to make my daughter proud."
Friday, March 14, 2003
St.Patrick's Day is Monday. I enjoy the holiday. Thankful that generations ago, Andrew Jesse Hopkins decided America was better than a potato famine and left for New York City. And odd as it may sound, I'm proud that I retain many of the physical traits of my past Irish ancestors (thick, wild dark hair, light complexion, red cheeks, blue eyes).
Last year, I didn't do anything incredibly special for the blessed holy day of St.Patrick. I honored my heritage by marrying a girl with the last name of Cassidy. Hopeful that someday we will bring into this world super Irish offspring.
This weekend my friends and I are going to the St.Patrick's Day Parade on Greenville Avenue. But today, to celebrate, I found the "House of Pain" CD for about $5. God bless the Mother Country!
Enjoy!
Last year, I didn't do anything incredibly special for the blessed holy day of St.Patrick. I honored my heritage by marrying a girl with the last name of Cassidy. Hopeful that someday we will bring into this world super Irish offspring.
This weekend my friends and I are going to the St.Patrick's Day Parade on Greenville Avenue. But today, to celebrate, I found the "House of Pain" CD for about $5. God bless the Mother Country!
Enjoy!
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
Spring Break is next week. I probably will not have access to my computer during that time. It's nice to fast from the Internet on occasion. It's been a strange situation for me to only have access during school. I have to make "good use" (whatever that means) of my online time, instead of aimlessly typing in addresses and seeing where it leads me. And yes, I do that!
Friday, March 07, 2003
Thursday, March 06, 2003
Since Dan decided to create his own nation, I have create my own. Shall we ally? Shall we war? Who knows? Friendship and global politics is a tricky business.
About my nation, so far:
The Empire of Monkhouse is a tiny, safe nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 5 million are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.
The enormous government juggles the competing demands of Social Welfare, Healthcare, and Education. The average income tax rate is 28%. A healthy private sector is led by the Arms Manufacturing, Automobile Manufacturing, and Retail industries.
Crime -- especially youth-related -- is well under control, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Monkhouse's national animal is the kaffir cat and its currency is the cosmat.
About my nation, so far:
The Empire of Monkhouse is a tiny, safe nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape. Its hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical population of 5 million are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.
The enormous government juggles the competing demands of Social Welfare, Healthcare, and Education. The average income tax rate is 28%. A healthy private sector is led by the Arms Manufacturing, Automobile Manufacturing, and Retail industries.
Crime -- especially youth-related -- is well under control, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Monkhouse's national animal is the kaffir cat and its currency is the cosmat.
Monday, March 03, 2003
From the website Gone and Forgotten, I learned about the comic book HANSI:THE GIRL WHO LOVED THE SWASTIKA. This comic book comes courtesy of Christian comic-book makers Spire Publications. Ideally, these stories are supposed to be inspirational and offer lessons in faith to the young reader. Here's the cover image and some excerpts below:
Some how, I don't get the anti-Nazi message the cover is supposed to convey.
Geez, what a bitch.
Okay, the message here is: Ladies, if you're skinny, the Russians won't rape you.
Um, still waiting for the anti-Nazi message... Hansi? Please?
Oh gosh. I really hope the young and impressionable readers got that this was supposed to be an anti-Nazi comic book! (Or was it?) Millions of Christian children wanting to be just like poor Hansi, drawing swastikas in their bibles.
Some how, I don't get the anti-Nazi message the cover is supposed to convey.
Geez, what a bitch.
Okay, the message here is: Ladies, if you're skinny, the Russians won't rape you.
Um, still waiting for the anti-Nazi message... Hansi? Please?
Oh gosh. I really hope the young and impressionable readers got that this was supposed to be an anti-Nazi comic book! (Or was it?) Millions of Christian children wanting to be just like poor Hansi, drawing swastikas in their bibles.
One of my favorite radio shows~
This American Life
Although this this week's episode on Super Powers was entertaining, my favorite episode so far is Time to Save the World (Episode 231). Particularly, Act Two "Heather. Help Me." Jessica Riddle reports on how, as a teenager, she and her friends would pick up the phone and dial the letters of the name "Heather" and talk to the old man who'd pick up the phone. At first they'd just prank call him. But then it turned out to be much more. (18 minutes)
