Thursday, May 06, 2004
From Dave
Damn.
What a year: people killin’, people dying, children hu… nevermind.
I’ve already written two columns in retrospect of the past nine months; although they’ve been particularly vague to my personal life. In fact, I make a habit of trying to keep most of my personal life off of this site and my columns – after all, it’s a web log, not a fuckin’ live journal.
This isn’t to say that the columns have been untrue – saying such would be a lie in and of itself. However, to say that they are the complete story of my year would be a far stretch of a weak imagination. [Alright, so NOW it may get live journal-esque…]
I don’t know if there’s any one place to begin, and just as well I know there’s sure as hell no good place to end; an intricate and fascinating fact, if I do say so myself.
It’s amusing (saddening, maybe) to sit around through the week, waiting and pondering as those you’ve gotten to know carry their last box of belongings off onto a road which is, for many, planned and packed as far as the summer is concerned. What is furthermore amusing is how (for most) that road will inevitably lead back here within a matter of months. Not everyone is on the same path of certainty, but that’s the way things go.
If I could publish (for that matter put into words) the things that I’ve experienced this year, you’d be sitting here reading this site for, without a doubt, the rest of summer. Some of it I can discuss, much more remains locked in a vault that time itself may never open. Either way, for those of you who thought I had an average freshman year: you were way the hell off. *smile*
I can’t emphasize the line from my column enough: you never expect to truly redefine yourself until you realize you already have. Having been friends with many a year ahead of me, I never quite believed them in their freshman year about how much opportunities, expectations and characteristics can change, especially socially speaking.
But, having now been through it myself, I can vouch for it, as well.
I’ve made some incredibly different, incredibly exciting and incredibly cool (is that word considered ‘90’s yet?) friends this year. Sure, some will fade into the distant memory that was freshman year; but others are sure to be taking center stage from here until… well, who knows?
I look forward to figuring out who will fall where; but at the same time, I fear it. We/I can only hope that we try our best to remain in touch, regardless of the space between. For now, though, it’s truly time to enjoy what’s out in front of me.
To those which I plan to carry on summer with: may we make the best of it. You know who you are, and (cliché moment here) I haven’t a doubt of the fun and memories that lie ahead.Well, that’s about as much live journal bullshit as I can put out for now. Some of you, mainly the small dose of female fans, were looking for it – thus, I provided.
For those who fade into the summer’s sunset, only to reappear in the late August sky (don’t ask, it sounded cool at the time): Enjoy your summer, I hope to cross your path at least a couple times.
And to those who have fallen distant this year, or will fall to such in the near future: I apologize, I will miss you, and I certainly have not, nor will I ever forget you.
Don’t ever I say I didn’t do anything for you.
BewilderedSociety.com will continue publishing through the summer, although a slightly more limited schedule. Be looking for updates and pictures as the summer progresses. Coming this August, BewilderedSociety.com will go through it’s second ever overhaul into version 3.0.
Oh, and for those of you who know me on a merely mediocre level: do not hesitate to stalk me down.
And with all that said, I leave you only with this:
Friends need not always say goodbye; the true ones are always there for you.
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Baseball Sells Out (In a Bad Way)
SFGate.com | Baseball sells 'Spider-Man' ads on bases
Ads for "Spider-Man 2" will be placed atop bases at major league ballparks during games from June 11-13 as part of a promotion announced Wednesday.Wow, what's next: a strike?
The "Spider-Man" promotion has been in the works for more than a year and will include ad buys and ballpark events, such as giving masks to fans, said Jacqueline Parkes, baseball's senior vice president for marketing and advertising. The ads, about 4 inches long, won't appear on home plates.
And On a Lighter Note...
WHO TV - Des Moines: Bases stolen -- for real -- from ballfield
Normally, stolen bases on a baseball field are nothing to be concerned about, unless you're playing against the team stealing the bases.Wow...How...Clever...
However, police say someone actually swiped bases from a field in Marshall, Minnesota.
Not.
'Fahrenheit 9/11'
TheHawaiiChannel - Entertainment - Disney Blocks Release Of Moore's 9/11 Documentary
Michael Moore's latest documentary might not hit the big screen -- at least in the United States. The Walt Disney Co. is blocking its Miramax Films division from distributing "Fahrenheit 9/11," which criticizes President George W. Bush's handling of the 2001 attacks.But why? Now, this is the interesting part:
Moore said he was told by Disney Tuesday of the decision. On his site, he cited a New York Times article published Wednesday that addressed the controversy.With the news, Disney now approaches Clear Channel as being the second strongest force to be reckoned with behind the U.S. Government.
In the article, Moore's agent Ari Emanuel said that Disney chief Michael Eisner asked him to pull out of the deal with Miramax last spring -- expressing concern that it might endanger the tax breaks Disney gets with the state of Florida, which is governed by Bush's brother, Jeb.
Loud and Clear
TheHawaiiChannel - Technology - 18,000 Complaints Filed About Wireless Companies
They filed more than 18,000 complaints last year with the Better Business Bureau, which says the wireless industry was second only to car dealers as a source of consumer problems.Say it ain't so! Let's hit the list...
The 10 most-complained about industries:Funny - "credit collection" can be complained about...1. Automobile dealers
2. Mobile phones
3. Credit cards
4. Internet services
5. Credit collection
6. Mortgage and escrow
7. Computer sales
8. Home furnishings
9. Telephone companies
10. Banks
Let Freedom Rise
CBS News | Freedom Tower Groundbreaking Set
Developers of the Freedom Tower will break ground on the 1,776-foot skyscraper [set to be the world's tallest] at the World Trade Center site on July 4, The Associated Press learned Wednesday.God Bless America.
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
I Wouldn't Call This A Good Thing
From the "How You Know Your Software Sucks" Department:
InfoWorld: Microsoft: Almost 1.5M download Sasser cleanup tool: May 04, 2004: By : SECURITY
Almost 1.5 million Windows customers downloaded a cleanup tool for the Sasser Internet worm in the first two days after Microsoft Corp. began offering the tool on Sunday, according to a Microsoft spokeswoman.
Britons: Sooo Tech Savy
newsobserver.com - Britons use text messages to break up more often:
Nine percent of Britons admit to dumping a partner by sending an SMS text message - possibly signalling the beginning of the end for the 'Dear John' letter - according to a new survey.Next up: Txt Cyb@ring...
Among those aged 15-24 the figure rises to 20 percent.
Monday, May 03, 2004
We Are Our Own Worst Enemy
MSNBC - Airline employee finds loaded gun on plane
WASHINGTON - An airline employee found a loaded 9mm handgun Monday lodged between the seats of a Continental Airlines flight after it landed at Newark airport, MSNBC.com has learned.Hmm... You don't say! You mean to tell me that this isn't the first time?
The FBI was called in to investigate and determined the weapon, a 9mm Sig-Sauer, belonged to U.S. Secret Service agent, a source familiar with the investigation told MSNBC.com. The agent declared his carry-on weapon at Reagan before boarding and was the only armed agent on board, according to a federal security employee who asked to remain anonymous.
The disturbing incident is apparently not unique. This is not the first time this has happened, said an administration official while confirming the incident to NBC News. There have been one or two other occasions where federal agents have left their firearms on board planes, the administration official said, though he couldn't name which agencies the officers worked for.
[Props to Jason Blevins for the link.]
All Croaked Up
XTRAMSN: News: NZ News: High-Flying Frog Stows Away In Salad
An airline passenger was given a nasty fright when a frog with a taste for adventure stowed away in her in-flight salad, New Zealand authorities have said.Better than a condom... So what are they going to do about this, anyway?
The passenger discovered the airborne amphibian perched on a slice of cucumber while on a Qantas flight from Melbourne to Wellington in February.
Qantas was not immediately available for comment but a spokesman told The New Zealand Herald newspaper the airline had since changed its lettuce supplier and introduced "additional procedures into the salad supply process."...in otherwords, the frogs are not Atkins friendly!
Talk About Irony
WPVI.com: "Cracker Barrel" Lawsuit Settlement:
Black customers at many Cracker Barrel restaurants were seated in areas segregated from white patrons, frequently received inferior service and often were made to wait longer for tables, according to a Justice Department civil rights settlement announced Monday.*Laughs controllably*
Alcohol Impairs Judgement
WCCO: Teen Walks Into Police Station, Says He's Too Drunk To Walk
A 16-year-old Austin boy has been cited for underage drinking after walking into the police station early yesterday and asking officers for a ride home.Hey - at least he was trying to be honest...
The boy claimed he was too drunk to walk.
I'm Not Making This Up
Monster.com | US-CA-Santa Monica-Director of Production
Girls Gone Wild is looking for a Director of Production for its Santa Monica, CA headquarters. We’re looking for a hands-on, take-charge leader who has at least 6-8 years of experience in all facets of TV production, from development to field production to post. Reality programming and/or advertising & promo background (writer/producer) is a must. Must have strong organizational and supervisory skills, work well under pressure, and be familiar with both business and production aspects of the industry.... and you need is a Bachelor!
..degree.
[Props to Ryan Miller for the find (again).]
Perhaps We're Paying These Guys Too Much...
Yahoo! News - Baseball Player Gets Stuck in Bathroom
The wait for the bathroom never was supposed to be this long. But that's what happened when former big leaguer Jeff Liefer got locked inside a dugout bathroom, forcing a 20-minute delay in Thursday night's Triple-A game between the Indianapolis Indians and Louisville.Sure... You just didn't know how to use the damn thing.
"I went to the restroom, a perfectly normal thing to do during the game," Liefer said Friday. "When I went to leave, the handle didn't want to work on the door, so I was stuck."
[Props to Ryan Miller for the find.]
Sunday, May 02, 2004
It's So Good, Yet So Bad
CNN.com - Nancy vetoes 'Ronald Reagan University'
Notice the news service that provided this story... Now read on:
Nancy Reagan is just saying no to the idea of a Ronald Reagan University in Colorado. Organizers wanted to name a proposed 10,000-student university after the former president, but his wife issued a statement Thursday effectively killing the idea.Aww well, at least CNN's got some balls to print it.
Federal law gives former presidents or their spouses final say over the use of the president's name as long as either is alive, said Terry Walker, the founding president of the university.
"I'm just sitting here watching Fox News and recovering with a scotch in my hand. When I wake up tomorrow, maybe I'll think about it some more," he said.
[Props to Ryan Miller for the find.]
A Presentation with a 'bang'
CNN.com - Gun safety presenter shoots self
ORLANDO, Florida (AP) -- A federal drug agent shot himself in the leg during a gun safety presentation to children in what police describe as an accident. His bosses, however, are still investigating the incident.As if that's not funny enough...
He drew his .40-caliber duty weapon and removed the magazine, according to the police report. He then pulled back the slide and asked an audience member to look inside the gun and confirm it wasn't loaded."Whoops!"
[Props to Azn Dan for the link.]
Virus Alert: Blaster Worm Reinvents, Distrubutes Self
If you've found yourself infected with the latest edition of the Blaster virus (W32/Sasser.worm.b), here's some information to help you get back to normal:
Details on the Virus: McAfee Security - Computer Virus Software and Internet Security For Your PC | Virus Profile
And if you need a free program to seek and delete it: Stinger Virus Seeker
Microsoft has added a fix to their site, which may be your best bet: Microsoft Support
©2003-2007 David Studinski/Bewildered Society, unless otherwise noted.