As of today, I'm up to 34 pounds lost. As I had foreseen, I am finding it much more difficult to lose weight than I had before. Part of it is just the hustle and bustle during this time of year. Another part is the fact that nutrition is more or less thrown out the window on a large scale during this time of the year.
Needless to say, and as any of us can attest to, these are dangerous times for us poor souls who intend to lose weight. Take thanksgiving for example: I was relieved to find out that we were feasting on roast turkey, as opposed to the usual fried turkey, and (drum roll please)... we even had SALAD! However, as far as other vegetables are concerned: "fuggetaboutit". Oh sure there were vegetables, but you had to pick them out of a casserole, drowning in sour cream and/or butter. However, I will say that the squash casserole was especially tasty.
I'm afraid even as I move away from thanksgiving, that Christmas is right around the corner. Aside from the terror of spending my own hard-earned money to buy gifts for others that they may or may not like, I always have to keep my diet in mind and, most importantly, do NOT stray from it.
Oftentimes during this season, as aforementioned, we're constantly out and about. When I think upon a past blog post of mine, discussing how people should take a temporary reprieve from electronic devices and enjoy their more natural environment, I think it is also an applicable approach towards HOW we hustle and bustle about during the holiday season. Instead of nabbing fast food from the food court in the mall in between shopping adventures, maybe pack a small salad or healthy sandwich. Bring a bottle of water with you as opposed to buying a bottle of soda at the strategically-placed vending machines. You don't HAVE to eat popcorn while watching a movie in the theater. Those are just some subtle but effective strategies that I've picked up or plan to adopt for both the near future and even beyond.
I don't know if I've mentioned it (maybe in my original weight loss post), but it is my plan to lose a noticeable amount of weight (and show up as a new person) for my sister's wedding, which as of right now is scheduled for April 24th (but tomorrow is a new day, which is why I say "as of right now").
I hope all 3-4 readers of this blog have a wonderful holiday season, and always remember to appreciate what you gain, but cherish what you have.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The bill for the damages...
Well, I suppose we should've seen this loss coming. From the Dolphins dismal 4th quarter track record this year, the loss of Ronnie Brown and even the Bills' somewhat new-found confidence and injection of energy since beating the Jets on the road and interim Head Coach Perry Fewell taking over the team.
Regardless of all those factors, the Dolphins SHOULD have won the game. To go from up 14-7 after the third quarter to the Bills scoring TWENTY FOUR unanswered points is nothing short of an inexcusable and disgraceful embarrassment.
I will start off first by saying that this team misses Ronnie Brown more than any coach or player will openly admit. Case in point: Ricky's interception in the end zone. With Ronnie, Ricky doesn't throw the ball and that poor decision from lack of experience just doesn't get made. Secondly, Chad Henne is, for all intents and purposes, a rookie. He'll make a great throw during one series and make you pull your hair out the next. Third, we're still far too inconsistent in the secondary, but that comes with sacrificing experience for talent. Fourth, we don't have a receiver who can legitimately threaten the opposing defense vertically. Ted Ginn is a decent kickoff returner, but nothing more.
At 5-6 with our schedule, I hate to say that we're out of the playoff hunt, but I don't see any way that the Dolphins can even lose one more game and make the playoffs. It's either 6-0 or bust from here on out, and even we are far from a playoff lock. A situation similar to last season may arise: it's either win the division or miss the playoffs, so this week's game against the Patriots may either essentially end our playoff hopes or keep us alive in the division.
Unfortunately, I have the Dolphins finishing the remainder of their season at 3-2 with an 8-8 overall record (which is the record I predicted before the start of the season). The schedule is just a murderer's row this year.
Moving forward: we're going to need to start finding replacements on defense, specifically Joey Porter and Jason Taylor. I know, they're still performing at high levels right now, but winners plan for the inevitable future and losers react to the obvious present. Secondly, we must - MUST - find a legitimate vertical threat at wide receiver. Have I mentioned that I have a man-crush on Dez Bryant? Well, I do. The field trip to Prime Time's house is merely a blip on the radar recorded in pencil.
The good news is that I believe the Dolphins (finally) have a young quarterback that they can legitimately build around (knock on wood). Granted, I don't think he's the next Marino, but he's clearly not the next Ryan Leaf. Have you watched Henne throw the ball. I knew he had a strong arm, but GOOD NIGHT. Also good news is that, assuming Ronnie Brown makes a full recovery (which I expect him to), we have a solid stable of RBs (even if Ricky decides to hang it up, which, if he decided to do say after next year, wouldn't surprise me in the least). Lex Hilliard reminds me a lot of the vastly underrated Kevin Faulk, and RBs are a dime a dozen in the draft, but here's to hoping that Ronnie can stay healthy for a full season and make a full season's claim to being one of the 5 best running backs in the league as I fully believe he is.
Ryan Fitzpatrick is still running.
Regardless of all those factors, the Dolphins SHOULD have won the game. To go from up 14-7 after the third quarter to the Bills scoring TWENTY FOUR unanswered points is nothing short of an inexcusable and disgraceful embarrassment.
I will start off first by saying that this team misses Ronnie Brown more than any coach or player will openly admit. Case in point: Ricky's interception in the end zone. With Ronnie, Ricky doesn't throw the ball and that poor decision from lack of experience just doesn't get made. Secondly, Chad Henne is, for all intents and purposes, a rookie. He'll make a great throw during one series and make you pull your hair out the next. Third, we're still far too inconsistent in the secondary, but that comes with sacrificing experience for talent. Fourth, we don't have a receiver who can legitimately threaten the opposing defense vertically. Ted Ginn is a decent kickoff returner, but nothing more.
At 5-6 with our schedule, I hate to say that we're out of the playoff hunt, but I don't see any way that the Dolphins can even lose one more game and make the playoffs. It's either 6-0 or bust from here on out, and even we are far from a playoff lock. A situation similar to last season may arise: it's either win the division or miss the playoffs, so this week's game against the Patriots may either essentially end our playoff hopes or keep us alive in the division.
Unfortunately, I have the Dolphins finishing the remainder of their season at 3-2 with an 8-8 overall record (which is the record I predicted before the start of the season). The schedule is just a murderer's row this year.
Moving forward: we're going to need to start finding replacements on defense, specifically Joey Porter and Jason Taylor. I know, they're still performing at high levels right now, but winners plan for the inevitable future and losers react to the obvious present. Secondly, we must - MUST - find a legitimate vertical threat at wide receiver. Have I mentioned that I have a man-crush on Dez Bryant? Well, I do. The field trip to Prime Time's house is merely a blip on the radar recorded in pencil.
The good news is that I believe the Dolphins (finally) have a young quarterback that they can legitimately build around (knock on wood). Granted, I don't think he's the next Marino, but he's clearly not the next Ryan Leaf. Have you watched Henne throw the ball. I knew he had a strong arm, but GOOD NIGHT. Also good news is that, assuming Ronnie Brown makes a full recovery (which I expect him to), we have a solid stable of RBs (even if Ricky decides to hang it up, which, if he decided to do say after next year, wouldn't surprise me in the least). Lex Hilliard reminds me a lot of the vastly underrated Kevin Faulk, and RBs are a dime a dozen in the draft, but here's to hoping that Ronnie can stay healthy for a full season and make a full season's claim to being one of the 5 best running backs in the league as I fully believe he is.
Ryan Fitzpatrick is still running.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
P.L.A.N.
Pain
Learning
Anguish
Nerve-wracking
It's times like these when being the eldest sibling sucks. My parents' 25th wedding anniversary is coming up and my two siblings and I (okay, just me) have been planning and organizing the party for them on Saturday.
And, boy, has it been a pain. When you plan a party, apparently you have to plan EVERYTHING (who knew!?). Food, drinks, booze, decorations, invitations, plates/napkins/silverware, who to invite, how many people, and then there's picking a date/place/time. Keep in mind: this is all before actually going out and getting anything, much less setting everything up.
I suppose planning a party is like one of those projects you get at the beginning of the semester that your professor tells you to start working on no later than a week from now. Hint: you should listen. The earlier you start, the more time and thus, less stress, you'll have until the day of the party. Then there's also the change of plans factor.
From my recent experience, the first suggestion I would make is to get your invitations out as soon as possible and set an appropriate RSVP deadline, because the earlier you get them out and replied to, the better idea you have of how many people will be attending.
Another suggestion I would make is to take advantage of those around you who are willing and able to help, especially with actually going out and getting materials. I've been blessed with an extraordinary family who, while stepping on my toes at times, have been incredible with not only gathering necessary materials and supplies for the party, but have also drawn from their experiences and given input as to what I should serve or have at the party.
Oh, and about planning early. I kid you not, I just got a call and it looks like the cake I ordered for the party may not happen. It was as timely a phone call as it was creepy.
You can never plan early or well enough.
Learning
Anguish
Nerve-wracking
It's times like these when being the eldest sibling sucks. My parents' 25th wedding anniversary is coming up and my two siblings and I (okay, just me) have been planning and organizing the party for them on Saturday.
And, boy, has it been a pain. When you plan a party, apparently you have to plan EVERYTHING (who knew!?). Food, drinks, booze, decorations, invitations, plates/napkins/silverware, who to invite, how many people, and then there's picking a date/place/time. Keep in mind: this is all before actually going out and getting anything, much less setting everything up.
I suppose planning a party is like one of those projects you get at the beginning of the semester that your professor tells you to start working on no later than a week from now. Hint: you should listen. The earlier you start, the more time and thus, less stress, you'll have until the day of the party. Then there's also the change of plans factor.
From my recent experience, the first suggestion I would make is to get your invitations out as soon as possible and set an appropriate RSVP deadline, because the earlier you get them out and replied to, the better idea you have of how many people will be attending.
Another suggestion I would make is to take advantage of those around you who are willing and able to help, especially with actually going out and getting materials. I've been blessed with an extraordinary family who, while stepping on my toes at times, have been incredible with not only gathering necessary materials and supplies for the party, but have also drawn from their experiences and given input as to what I should serve or have at the party.
Oh, and about planning early. I kid you not, I just got a call and it looks like the cake I ordered for the party may not happen. It was as timely a phone call as it was creepy.
You can never plan early or well enough.
Bittersweet.
After the way the Bucs played the week prior against Green Bay, I was very worried about this game. Yes, I still knew that, all things being equal, we SHOULD beat the Bucs. However, a team that has new-found confidence plus nothing to lose is as dangerous an opponent as there is.
As I'm sure many of you did, when Chad Henne threw that especially bad interception with about 1:45 left in the 4th, I erupted in enough profanities to make a sailor blush. It was a throw that you just don't make. You HAVE to see that defender there. There was NO excuse for it and it was 100% Henne's fault. But goodness gracious, did he make up for it or what?
Needless to say, I think we have our long-time future at QB. Henne responded like a great quarterback and leader would, leading his team down the field with the help of Davone Bess (one of the most underrated WRs in the league) and a clutch run by Ricky Williams, who was filling in for Ronnie Brown (more on him/that in a bit).
It was a big win for a number of reasons. One, it was a comeback. Two, Henne was able to bounce back from a late crucial mistake. Three, it keeps us alive in the playoff hunt and lastly, both the Patriots and Jets lost and to make it sweeter, both lost in a way that rips their fans hearts out (and in the case of the Jets, makes their head coach cry). Mmmmmm let me taste those tears, Rex.
Moving forward, it appears that the answer to "What can Brown do for you?" will apparently be nothing at all, at least on Thursday night against the Panthers. Despite the fact that we still have Ricky, this is a huge blow as Ronnie is the Dolphins best player and BY FAR their biggest play-maker on offense.
My solution: give Ricky as much magical mary jane as is necessary, because he'll need to smoke the Panthers defense for us to win. Errick "Ricky" Lynne Williams, Jr is going to have to channel the Ricky of old for us on Thursday night, and the Marley magic will help towards that goal.
Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
As I'm sure many of you did, when Chad Henne threw that especially bad interception with about 1:45 left in the 4th, I erupted in enough profanities to make a sailor blush. It was a throw that you just don't make. You HAVE to see that defender there. There was NO excuse for it and it was 100% Henne's fault. But goodness gracious, did he make up for it or what?
Needless to say, I think we have our long-time future at QB. Henne responded like a great quarterback and leader would, leading his team down the field with the help of Davone Bess (one of the most underrated WRs in the league) and a clutch run by Ricky Williams, who was filling in for Ronnie Brown (more on him/that in a bit).
It was a big win for a number of reasons. One, it was a comeback. Two, Henne was able to bounce back from a late crucial mistake. Three, it keeps us alive in the playoff hunt and lastly, both the Patriots and Jets lost and to make it sweeter, both lost in a way that rips their fans hearts out (and in the case of the Jets, makes their head coach cry). Mmmmmm let me taste those tears, Rex.
Moving forward, it appears that the answer to "What can Brown do for you?" will apparently be nothing at all, at least on Thursday night against the Panthers. Despite the fact that we still have Ricky, this is a huge blow as Ronnie is the Dolphins best player and BY FAR their biggest play-maker on offense.
My solution: give Ricky as much magical mary jane as is necessary, because he'll need to smoke the Panthers defense for us to win. Errick "Ricky" Lynne Williams, Jr is going to have to channel the Ricky of old for us on Thursday night, and the Marley magic will help towards that goal.
Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
My, how a week changes things...
You know, when it comes right down to it, sometimes football really isn't that difficult. I mean, yeah there's schemes, reads, audibles, check downs and other subtle aspects about the game that may go unnoticed by the average fan, but one thing that every fan can agree on: if you're the quarterback: you throw it to your receivers or running backs. If you're a running back, you gain positive yardage and don't fumble the ball. If you're a receiver... YOU CATCH THE BALL. NO EXCUSES.
I don't care if you make the occasional game-breaking special teams play. If you're out on the field on 4th down with the game on the line and your quarterback hits you right in the hands, YOU CATCH THE FOOTBALL or you don't deserve to be on the field. The rest of your teammates are working too hard helping that very play get developed to see it ruined because you're a professional pass catcher and you fail miserably at doing your job. Your teammates deserve better, and maybe most importantly, your essentially rookie starting QB needs every opportunity for his teammates to help him out.
Furthermore, yes players make mistakes. They're not perfect. In fact, they're very flawed human beings (save for Tim Tebow, of course). What separates players is their reputation. Ted Ginn's reputation as a receiver is... well, I can't even say he's mediocre. Terrell Owens is notorious for dropping passes, but he's also one of the best receivers in the league (despite the fact that he's in the wasteland that is Buffalo. Braylon Edwards drops passes, but he put on display right in front of our very eyes during his first game with the Jets why he was worth the risk for Gang Green.
Ted Ginn doesn't have the luxuries of an elite WR. He doesn't yet have lee-way with the fans (or hopefully the coaching staff). I hate say this, but if I was Henning (or Sparano), he would not be a regular WR. He would be the occasional deep ball threat or even decoy and would be strictly a KR (which I think is the only position where he has a shot to hold down a roster spot.
What does that leave us with at WR? We essentially have Devon Bess, who I think is a great option in the slot and is great on short to intermediate routes and can do some things after the catch. Greg Camarillo (who is a poor man's Wes Welker, and I mean that in a complimentary fashion). Both of these guys consistently catch ball, but both are far from stretching the field. So, where do we go from here? No way in hell we go after T.O. after he inevitably leaves Buffalo after this year, and I can't really see any other big-time WR being available through free agency.
I'm willing to drive from Stillwater to Miami to bring Dez Bryant here. Anyone want to chip in for gas money?
I don't care if you make the occasional game-breaking special teams play. If you're out on the field on 4th down with the game on the line and your quarterback hits you right in the hands, YOU CATCH THE FOOTBALL or you don't deserve to be on the field. The rest of your teammates are working too hard helping that very play get developed to see it ruined because you're a professional pass catcher and you fail miserably at doing your job. Your teammates deserve better, and maybe most importantly, your essentially rookie starting QB needs every opportunity for his teammates to help him out.
Furthermore, yes players make mistakes. They're not perfect. In fact, they're very flawed human beings (save for Tim Tebow, of course). What separates players is their reputation. Ted Ginn's reputation as a receiver is... well, I can't even say he's mediocre. Terrell Owens is notorious for dropping passes, but he's also one of the best receivers in the league (despite the fact that he's in the wasteland that is Buffalo. Braylon Edwards drops passes, but he put on display right in front of our very eyes during his first game with the Jets why he was worth the risk for Gang Green.
Ted Ginn doesn't have the luxuries of an elite WR. He doesn't yet have lee-way with the fans (or hopefully the coaching staff). I hate say this, but if I was Henning (or Sparano), he would not be a regular WR. He would be the occasional deep ball threat or even decoy and would be strictly a KR (which I think is the only position where he has a shot to hold down a roster spot.
What does that leave us with at WR? We essentially have Devon Bess, who I think is a great option in the slot and is great on short to intermediate routes and can do some things after the catch. Greg Camarillo (who is a poor man's Wes Welker, and I mean that in a complimentary fashion). Both of these guys consistently catch ball, but both are far from stretching the field. So, where do we go from here? No way in hell we go after T.O. after he inevitably leaves Buffalo after this year, and I can't really see any other big-time WR being available through free agency.
I'm willing to drive from Stillwater to Miami to bring Dez Bryant here. Anyone want to chip in for gas money?
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Weight Loss Update...
Well, as of today, I'm down 33 pounds. It has been a struggle over the past couple weeks, both in the process of the program I'm participating in (and thus, the results which have been few and far between). It's literally 2 pounds forward and one pound back, but it is at least progress.
The hardest part has been fulfilling the requirements of the diet (I'm usually not eating quite enough vegetables and surprisingly, not enough protein), and I have gotten somewhat lax on my water intake as well.
Ever since starting this diet, I've just not been that hungry (save for the normal hunger after going too long without a meal). The great thing about the diet is that I can have the special drink mixes whenever I have a craving, and also the water helps me to feel full as well.
Even before the diet, I've never been much of a breakfast person, and my consistent lack of daily breakfast has been detrimental to my weight loss, as it is the one meal that helps my metabolism more than any other. I don't think it's coincidence that my largest losses of weight were in the beginning of my diet, when I was consistently eating breakfast according to my nutritional requirements.
Another factor that I need to improve on is exercise. Sure, I do work both around and outside the house, but I don't feel it's quite strenuous enough to consistently burn fat. I enjoy a session on the treadmill and even have played soccer on and off. I think once the weather cools down (hopefully, crossing fingers) it will be much more enjoyable to exercise.
After dealing with all of that, there comes that time of the year that destroys any and all nutritional plans. The combination of Halloween (which, I'm happy to report, I've only come away with a pumpkin muffin and 3 cookies), Thanksgiving and Christmas is a nutritionist's nightmare and a wasteland for healthy food.
The next couple months will definitely be a challenge, the biggest challenge I'll have faced since starting the diet, but my goal is to get to 50 pounds lost. If I work on addressing all the aforementioned points (and not just giving them lip service), I think I will be well on my way to achieving my goal.
Here's to being healthy and happy!
The hardest part has been fulfilling the requirements of the diet (I'm usually not eating quite enough vegetables and surprisingly, not enough protein), and I have gotten somewhat lax on my water intake as well.
Ever since starting this diet, I've just not been that hungry (save for the normal hunger after going too long without a meal). The great thing about the diet is that I can have the special drink mixes whenever I have a craving, and also the water helps me to feel full as well.
Even before the diet, I've never been much of a breakfast person, and my consistent lack of daily breakfast has been detrimental to my weight loss, as it is the one meal that helps my metabolism more than any other. I don't think it's coincidence that my largest losses of weight were in the beginning of my diet, when I was consistently eating breakfast according to my nutritional requirements.
Another factor that I need to improve on is exercise. Sure, I do work both around and outside the house, but I don't feel it's quite strenuous enough to consistently burn fat. I enjoy a session on the treadmill and even have played soccer on and off. I think once the weather cools down (hopefully, crossing fingers) it will be much more enjoyable to exercise.
After dealing with all of that, there comes that time of the year that destroys any and all nutritional plans. The combination of Halloween (which, I'm happy to report, I've only come away with a pumpkin muffin and 3 cookies), Thanksgiving and Christmas is a nutritionist's nightmare and a wasteland for healthy food.
The next couple months will definitely be a challenge, the biggest challenge I'll have faced since starting the diet, but my goal is to get to 50 pounds lost. If I work on addressing all the aforementioned points (and not just giving them lip service), I think I will be well on my way to achieving my goal.
Here's to being healthy and happy!
Teddy Ginn is still running...
I must admit that I wasn't able to catch about 75% of the Dolphins second victory over the Jets this season, as I was helping a relative at their new place.
I had no idea the Dolphins didn't even muster 150 yards on offense. What I did see was a team that made a final stand ON THE ROAD in a MUST-WIN game. A team that would probably tell you that it wasn't pretty (more like Marshawn Lynch-esque ugly), but they left the Meadowlands (which I have just decided to call the Ghettolands) with a win and Rex Ryan with a big frown (preferably crying, but I'll take a frown, especially when his 5 chins add to the effect).
Of course, you can't expect the Jets organization to handle much of anything with class, as has been put on prime display week after week by Ryan and his team. It makes victories over such a horrible organization that much sweeter. If I haven't admitted this already in an earlier blog post: I laugh at the Bills, but I hate the Jets. The best part about it is that Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan make it so easy, too (as does Bart Scott and his post-game comments about how "awesome" our offense was).
That's why I love the NFL. No rankings, style points, voters, computers, BCS, or bowl selection committees. No beauty contests. Just wins and losses.
At the end of the day: a "W" for the fish and a "L" for the paper airplanes.
I must be honest again when I say that I thought the Dolphins would lose. If you had told me that we'd only muster about 150 yards of offense, I would've told you big-time revenge blowout. Surely Ted Ginn wasn't going to score two touchdowns. I mean, that's crazy.
Yes, it was crazy but wholly appropriate for the day after Halloween. Teddy entered the "Twilight (End) Zone" twice, the second of which reminded me of ex-Kansas City Chief Dante Hall. Just a ridiculous effort by Ginn.
I heard (name redacted) radio personality Mike Greenberg practically break down Monday morning upon mentioning his beloved Jets. It brought a smile to my face.
I hope all Jets fans like him did cry. I want to taste their tears (it's water, so it will also be good for my diet).
Oh, and by the way...
Teddy Ginn is still running.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
In-Class 10/21, Balloon Boy
When I first saw an online news snippet about this developing story, I hardly gave it a notice. I figured it was just nonsense and more filler garbage for news outlets during the work day. When the reports came in that a boy was in the balloon alone, I became somewhat interested in it, but took the attitude that I wasn't really going to pay it much attention unless something really developed (like a crash), and I figured the whole sequence would be posted on Youtube or some news outlet within the next 6-8 hours anyway. I don't have the patience to follow news stories like this. Stories like this (including car chases or hostage situations) aren't interesting to me unless I find out the conclusion, and then I MIGHT take a gander at the entirety of the chain of events.
I haven't read a single entire story about this situation, and until tonight, I couldn't have told you where the kid lived or what his name was, and actually found it to be a enormous letdown that it was a hoax. In today's society, it seems we're constantly hoaxed by the re-hashing of old tall tales like Bigfoot/Sasquatch, and it turns out to be another large publicity stunt, or even the casinos that sponsor streakers at sporting events. I believe the theme amongst these activities is taking very serious situations (save for maybe the Bigfoot stunt), and mocking them in a shameful act of capitalism towards the almighty dollar.
I don't know what the motive was, or even care to know if it's even been revealed, because honestly I don't really care about the whole balloon boy episode and I'm glad I didn't waste my time following such utter nonsense, but I know one thing: if I had to choose between a balloon or an attic in southern Florida, I think I might choose the balloon.
I haven't read a single entire story about this situation, and until tonight, I couldn't have told you where the kid lived or what his name was, and actually found it to be a enormous letdown that it was a hoax. In today's society, it seems we're constantly hoaxed by the re-hashing of old tall tales like Bigfoot/Sasquatch, and it turns out to be another large publicity stunt, or even the casinos that sponsor streakers at sporting events. I believe the theme amongst these activities is taking very serious situations (save for maybe the Bigfoot stunt), and mocking them in a shameful act of capitalism towards the almighty dollar.
I don't know what the motive was, or even care to know if it's even been revealed, because honestly I don't really care about the whole balloon boy episode and I'm glad I didn't waste my time following such utter nonsense, but I know one thing: if I had to choose between a balloon or an attic in southern Florida, I think I might choose the balloon.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Fun e-exploration...
Among the numerous advantages to the internet, one that I particularly enjoy is the opportunity to find sources of entertainment (specifically, movies and music) that I would never be able to find without the internet.
Whether it's foreign films or music that isn't produced by major record companies, I feel like I'm not being true to myself if I don't actively seek such material out. This very process is how I came to discover the film "King of Kong" (mentioned in an earlier blog post).
Very often, when browsing music on iTunes, Amazon, FYE or other sites, you'll have recommendations of other albums or artists, and that is always a prime opportunity. Even Myspace or Facebook are great channels to find music that's not signed by record labels. "Kings of Leon", signed by a major record label, having their music played on mainstream airwaves and selling out large arenas, were once a more indie band, and have previously released a number of albums (all of which are excellent, and their latest album "Only By The Night", while not up there with their previous work, is still pretty solid).
One of my favorite time-wasting activities is to browse Youtube and start by finding alternative forms of popular songs. Two of my favorite such videos are below:
Videos like these are prime examples of yet another reason why I love the internet. Up until finding these videos, I had no idea who Antonio Forcione, Flecktones or Andy McKee were. Needless to say, after watching these videos, I aggressively sought out the rest of each of these amazingly talented artist's catalogs, and my musical life has been greatly enriched by such additions.
I know such hunting isn't really life-changing or relevant to the world's problems or concerns, but videos like these are always great, even if you just want to turn off the monitor and listen to beautifully melodic sounds to ease your stress level after work or after a bout of studying.
Or, if you're just a lover of music in general (as I am), you can appreciate imagination and talent, regardless of genre or culture, so seek out as much music as you can, and as always... happy listening!
Whether it's foreign films or music that isn't produced by major record companies, I feel like I'm not being true to myself if I don't actively seek such material out. This very process is how I came to discover the film "King of Kong" (mentioned in an earlier blog post).
Very often, when browsing music on iTunes, Amazon, FYE or other sites, you'll have recommendations of other albums or artists, and that is always a prime opportunity. Even Myspace or Facebook are great channels to find music that's not signed by record labels. "Kings of Leon", signed by a major record label, having their music played on mainstream airwaves and selling out large arenas, were once a more indie band, and have previously released a number of albums (all of which are excellent, and their latest album "Only By The Night", while not up there with their previous work, is still pretty solid).
One of my favorite time-wasting activities is to browse Youtube and start by finding alternative forms of popular songs. Two of my favorite such videos are below:
Videos like these are prime examples of yet another reason why I love the internet. Up until finding these videos, I had no idea who Antonio Forcione, Flecktones or Andy McKee were. Needless to say, after watching these videos, I aggressively sought out the rest of each of these amazingly talented artist's catalogs, and my musical life has been greatly enriched by such additions.
I know such hunting isn't really life-changing or relevant to the world's problems or concerns, but videos like these are always great, even if you just want to turn off the monitor and listen to beautifully melodic sounds to ease your stress level after work or after a bout of studying.
Or, if you're just a lover of music in general (as I am), you can appreciate imagination and talent, regardless of genre or culture, so seek out as much music as you can, and as always... happy listening!
I Get A Kick Out Of It...
It has been told to me numerous times that, upon my doctor's holding me up by my armpits to inspect me after I launched myself from the womb, I was kicking my legs furiously, to which the doctor responded "he's going to be one hell of a soccer player".
Now, to my Long Island mother and Alabamian father, "soccer" may as well have been a Chinese word. My mother was never into sports and my dad grew up in a section of the country where it was football and maybe baseball (mostly for those who weren't good enough for the football team).
Well, as it turns out, I ended up being pretty good at soccer and started kicking a soccer ball soon after running. More importantly, I loved the game. There are very few things more amazing in sport than to watch a goal materialize in a football match (hey, it's only called 'soccer' here, so I'll call it football from now on).
In case you were wondering, yes in fact, the United States does field a football team and they've played some very exciting matches as of late (their youtube page can be viewed here (the highlights against Costa Rica and Honduras are especially exciting.
The best part about football being the world's sport is that the amount of talent from different parts of the country is quite awe-inspiring. Whether it's my favorite player Lionel Messi from Argentina (whose youtube highlights are below), or Didier Drogba from Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), virtually every young person in the world can have a sports icon to admire, and it's that special sort of bond that I find incredible.
here is a great story about Messi, and why he's an inspirational individual for far more than his skill with the football.
Oh, and by the way, FIFA 10 comes out for XBox 360. That will be occupying my time for a while. Good thing I only have one class this semester.
Now, to my Long Island mother and Alabamian father, "soccer" may as well have been a Chinese word. My mother was never into sports and my dad grew up in a section of the country where it was football and maybe baseball (mostly for those who weren't good enough for the football team).
Well, as it turns out, I ended up being pretty good at soccer and started kicking a soccer ball soon after running. More importantly, I loved the game. There are very few things more amazing in sport than to watch a goal materialize in a football match (hey, it's only called 'soccer' here, so I'll call it football from now on).
In case you were wondering, yes in fact, the United States does field a football team and they've played some very exciting matches as of late (their youtube page can be viewed here (the highlights against Costa Rica and Honduras are especially exciting.
The best part about football being the world's sport is that the amount of talent from different parts of the country is quite awe-inspiring. Whether it's my favorite player Lionel Messi from Argentina (whose youtube highlights are below), or Didier Drogba from Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), virtually every young person in the world can have a sports icon to admire, and it's that special sort of bond that I find incredible.
here is a great story about Messi, and why he's an inspirational individual for far more than his skill with the football.
Oh, and by the way, FIFA 10 comes out for XBox 360. That will be occupying my time for a while. Good thing I only have one class this semester.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Weight Loss update...
I'm happy to announce that, as of Tuesday, I've lost over 30 pounds. I had been struggling for the past couple weeks (losing a pound one day, gaining a half pound a few days later), but I feel like I've started to reinvigorate myself towards the diet plan I'm on. I think I took the process for granted and got a little too comfortable being in it (most people would call this "cheating", but I digress).
This diet and weight loss plan have altered me in many ways, not the least of which is my body. I have learned the importance of water on my diet. I have to drink 64oz of it everyday (for a rough conversion, it's about an entire 2 liter bottle).
I've regained appreciation for certain foods, including lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms and have discovered more useful alternatives: eating wraps instead of sandwiches (less starch), using fresh ingredients instead of canned (less sodium) and most of all, just simply reading labels. The government orders the food companies to put them there, so you might as well at least skim them for a second or two and find out what you're eating.
As I said in one of my earliest blog posts, my sister is getting married. Well, now that date is pushed back to late April, so I have more time for more weight loss and hopefully an even bigger surprise.
To this very day, I haven't taken one bite of my most favorite entree (cheeseburger), but as a side note: vegetarian baked beans are just as good as regular, and the sugar free, fat free pudding mixes are very good (chocolate is heavenly, cheesecake flavor is divine).
Here's to being happy and healthy!
This diet and weight loss plan have altered me in many ways, not the least of which is my body. I have learned the importance of water on my diet. I have to drink 64oz of it everyday (for a rough conversion, it's about an entire 2 liter bottle).
I've regained appreciation for certain foods, including lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms and have discovered more useful alternatives: eating wraps instead of sandwiches (less starch), using fresh ingredients instead of canned (less sodium) and most of all, just simply reading labels. The government orders the food companies to put them there, so you might as well at least skim them for a second or two and find out what you're eating.
As I said in one of my earliest blog posts, my sister is getting married. Well, now that date is pushed back to late April, so I have more time for more weight loss and hopefully an even bigger surprise.
To this very day, I haven't taken one bite of my most favorite entree (cheeseburger), but as a side note: vegetarian baked beans are just as good as regular, and the sugar free, fat free pudding mixes are very good (chocolate is heavenly, cheesecake flavor is divine).
Here's to being happy and healthy!
Orange Crush...
In my young Monday Night Football life, I don't think I've witnessed a more exciting back and forth game than the one last night between the team I love to hate, the New York Jets, and my beloved Miami Dolphins.
Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown (23) celebrates with tight end Joey Haynos, left, and full back Lousaka Polite (36) after Brown scored the winning touch down in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Monday, Oct. 12, 2009 in Miami. The Dolphins defeated the Jets 31-27. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
It was so much more than a prime-time, nationally-televised game for my Phins. It was a home game (wearing the stunning orange jerseys, which I loved I might add) for the Dolphins. It was against arguably their most hated opponent (okay, let's get real: we just kind of laugh at the Bills nowadays but we'll always hate the J-E-T-S). Most importantly, however, it was essentially to have any chance of making the playoffs. The difference between going 1-4 with the 4-1 Jets versus going 2-3 with 3-2 being the division lead is immense.
I'll be honest: I thought the Dolphins would lose by ten. I was very afraid of the what the Jets defense was capable of doing to our running game and, to a greater extent, Chad Henne in only his second career start. I thought the Jets would be able to run the ball and Mark Sanchez would be able to make throws off the play action against our suspect secondary.
However, the Dolphins made a huge statement to me, everyone watching in Landshark Stadium and most importantly, Jets Head Coach and defensive guru Rex Ryan, his beloved defense and the rest of the NFL.
Thank goodness for a bye week. Every Dolphan's heart needs a rest.
Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown (23) celebrates with tight end Joey Haynos, left, and full back Lousaka Polite (36) after Brown scored the winning touch down in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Monday, Oct. 12, 2009 in Miami. The Dolphins defeated the Jets 31-27. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
It was so much more than a prime-time, nationally-televised game for my Phins. It was a home game (wearing the stunning orange jerseys, which I loved I might add) for the Dolphins. It was against arguably their most hated opponent (okay, let's get real: we just kind of laugh at the Bills nowadays but we'll always hate the J-E-T-S). Most importantly, however, it was essentially to have any chance of making the playoffs. The difference between going 1-4 with the 4-1 Jets versus going 2-3 with 3-2 being the division lead is immense.
I'll be honest: I thought the Dolphins would lose by ten. I was very afraid of the what the Jets defense was capable of doing to our running game and, to a greater extent, Chad Henne in only his second career start. I thought the Jets would be able to run the ball and Mark Sanchez would be able to make throws off the play action against our suspect secondary.
However, the Dolphins made a huge statement to me, everyone watching in Landshark Stadium and most importantly, Jets Head Coach and defensive guru Rex Ryan, his beloved defense and the rest of the NFL.
Thank goodness for a bye week. Every Dolphan's heart needs a rest.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Because "fan" is just short for "fanatic"...
every week it seems, we hear stories of crazed fans acting in a reprehensible manner (often times in front of their own children). Unfortunately, I can say that I've witnessed such behavior. I've seen parents act less mature than their teenage children would even think of acting. In fact, after one of my soccer games years ago, a parent became so enraged at a referee that he tracked him down in the parking lot and headbutted him, so badly that the referee needed an ambulance and required surgery, and the parent was arrested (and rightfully so).
Then you have scenes like this, which are nothing short of sickening. What a disgraceful example we set for our future (gets going about 1:20 in):
On a slightly less disturbing note, during the weekdays before 2007's Louisiana State - University of Florida college football game, LSU fans somehow got UF quarterback Tim Tebow's number and proceeded to "blow it up" - essentially calling him non-stop to harass him via call, text or voice message, and even this year have somehow got UF head coach Urban Meyer's cell number.
In a more activist route, fans have even taken it upon themselves to contribute to coaches firings. The standard bearer for such action is that of the famous (or infamous, however you remember it) FireRonZook.com - started by ardent UF supporters in opposition to then UF head football coach Ron Zook, who had the daunting task of taking over UF football after legendary UF heisman trophy winning QB and national championship-winning head coach Stever Spurrier left for the NFL's Washington Redskins. FireRonZook.com became one of the sports' earliest internet phenomena, even getting the occasional plug from sports czar ESPN on their hugely popular college football pregame show "College Gameday".
With all these examples, it begs the question: have fans gone too far, or have they simply used the communicative resources to further voice their opinions (and, often times regrettably, made them seem more legitimate than they actually are).
I think we can all agree that head butting referees or hitting them with chairs is at least reprehensible and very much criminal, and clandestinely acquiring sports figures' cell phone numbers in order to hassle them or talk trash is at least immature, but have fans as a whole, with the availability to their favorite team's "insider" news, taken their measures too far? Have they become more than just 'fans' and moved on to full-fledged 'fanatics'?
There is quite a contrast between my age bracket and that of my parents. If I'm watching a Dolphins game with the rest of my family, my dad and uncles can count on their hand the number of current Dolphin players that they recall, while my cousins and I can rattle off all starting 22 and what college they went to. I am of the opinion that the current availability of information has caused America's sports culture to obtain an insatiable hunger when it comes to information about their favorite sport and/or team, and thus, an inflating of their self-perceived status in the sports world.
But, what do I know: I'm just some dumb fan typing on a keyboard. All I know is that I hate the Buffalo Bills and love being 4-0 in Fantasy Football. Oh, and Ronnie Brown is really good and Brett Favre still has "it", much to the disgust of cheese heads everywhere.
Then you have scenes like this, which are nothing short of sickening. What a disgraceful example we set for our future (gets going about 1:20 in):
On a slightly less disturbing note, during the weekdays before 2007's Louisiana State - University of Florida college football game, LSU fans somehow got UF quarterback Tim Tebow's number and proceeded to "blow it up" - essentially calling him non-stop to harass him via call, text or voice message, and even this year have somehow got UF head coach Urban Meyer's cell number.
In a more activist route, fans have even taken it upon themselves to contribute to coaches firings. The standard bearer for such action is that of the famous (or infamous, however you remember it) FireRonZook.com - started by ardent UF supporters in opposition to then UF head football coach Ron Zook, who had the daunting task of taking over UF football after legendary UF heisman trophy winning QB and national championship-winning head coach Stever Spurrier left for the NFL's Washington Redskins. FireRonZook.com became one of the sports' earliest internet phenomena, even getting the occasional plug from sports czar ESPN on their hugely popular college football pregame show "College Gameday".
With all these examples, it begs the question: have fans gone too far, or have they simply used the communicative resources to further voice their opinions (and, often times regrettably, made them seem more legitimate than they actually are).
I think we can all agree that head butting referees or hitting them with chairs is at least reprehensible and very much criminal, and clandestinely acquiring sports figures' cell phone numbers in order to hassle them or talk trash is at least immature, but have fans as a whole, with the availability to their favorite team's "insider" news, taken their measures too far? Have they become more than just 'fans' and moved on to full-fledged 'fanatics'?
There is quite a contrast between my age bracket and that of my parents. If I'm watching a Dolphins game with the rest of my family, my dad and uncles can count on their hand the number of current Dolphin players that they recall, while my cousins and I can rattle off all starting 22 and what college they went to. I am of the opinion that the current availability of information has caused America's sports culture to obtain an insatiable hunger when it comes to information about their favorite sport and/or team, and thus, an inflating of their self-perceived status in the sports world.
But, what do I know: I'm just some dumb fan typing on a keyboard. All I know is that I hate the Buffalo Bills and love being 4-0 in Fantasy Football. Oh, and Ronnie Brown is really good and Brett Favre still has "it", much to the disgust of cheese heads everywhere.
More reminders of my earlier years...
As I posted earlier, I mentioned some recent musical releases that reminded me of a earlier, simpler time in my life.
With the current theatrical release "Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs", it reminded me of other recent theatrical releases that reminded me of earlier years. Admittedly, I wouldn't normally make the drive to the local theater and chalk up $7+ to see a movie mostly geared towards children or teenagers, but with such adaptations as "Curious George", "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" or "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory" (although I am more fond of the first film adaptation), I was willing to make an exception.
My combined anticipation of all those movies' releases cannot come close to the nearly giddy feeling I get when I get to go see the film adaptation of "Where The Wild Things Are".
First off, if you're not familiar with this book, go to the library and check it out as soon as possible (or even buy it, it's THAT good). I won't reveal anything about the story here, but it involves a young imaginative boy and large hairy creatures.
A trailer for the upcoming movie can be viewed below (may need to turn up the sound just a tad):
and here is a brief featurette with the book's author, Maurice Sendak, and the film's director, Spike Jonze:
It's these movies, like the music I listen to, that both help me escape the usual stresses and burdens of life and remind me of more simpler times without necessarily causing me to neglect or deny my current life's status of course.
While adaptations of children's stories that had corresponding pictures with the text don't have the same affect as, say, the "Lord Of The Rings" film adaptations, they effect me in similar ways, not the least of which is pure awe. Whether it's seeing the Wild Things put to film, or the wonderment of watching full-fledged Ents stomp through Fangorn Forest and attack Isengard.
I can only hope that my fellow pupil bloggers have as tremendous experience at their local theater as I've had watching these mind-blowing adaptations. Happy viewing!
With the current theatrical release "Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs", it reminded me of other recent theatrical releases that reminded me of earlier years. Admittedly, I wouldn't normally make the drive to the local theater and chalk up $7+ to see a movie mostly geared towards children or teenagers, but with such adaptations as "Curious George", "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" or "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory" (although I am more fond of the first film adaptation), I was willing to make an exception.
My combined anticipation of all those movies' releases cannot come close to the nearly giddy feeling I get when I get to go see the film adaptation of "Where The Wild Things Are".
First off, if you're not familiar with this book, go to the library and check it out as soon as possible (or even buy it, it's THAT good). I won't reveal anything about the story here, but it involves a young imaginative boy and large hairy creatures.
A trailer for the upcoming movie can be viewed below (may need to turn up the sound just a tad):
and here is a brief featurette with the book's author, Maurice Sendak, and the film's director, Spike Jonze:
It's these movies, like the music I listen to, that both help me escape the usual stresses and burdens of life and remind me of more simpler times without necessarily causing me to neglect or deny my current life's status of course.
While adaptations of children's stories that had corresponding pictures with the text don't have the same affect as, say, the "Lord Of The Rings" film adaptations, they effect me in similar ways, not the least of which is pure awe. Whether it's seeing the Wild Things put to film, or the wonderment of watching full-fledged Ents stomp through Fangorn Forest and attack Isengard.
I can only hope that my fellow pupil bloggers have as tremendous experience at their local theater as I've had watching these mind-blowing adaptations. Happy viewing!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Basic Manners...
Over the past few years, I've tried to improve myself in various ways. Nutrition, health, physical activity, school, work, etc. and one of the more subtle yet rewarding improvements I've tried to develop is that of habitually utilizing manners.
It's simple things, really: holding the door for someone; saying 'please' or 'thank you' or 'excuse me'; being more hospitable to guests and more grateful to hosts. I think it's these subtle but lost habits that are taken for granted in today's society, a society that seemingly spends every waking hour connected to some sort of communication device, cut off from the other human beings around them and too preoccupied to care, much less acknowledge, those around them.
I think if we were to all take a step back while putting our cell phone in our pocket or turning off our mp3 player and opening our eyes to the world around us, we would appreciate more the world we live in, and thus be more considerate of others.
I have kept my phone in my pocket, and I only use it to send the occasional text message and maybe talk on it a few times a day. I hate sending e-mails and I absolutely loathe instant messaging. I use my mp3 player only in certain situations (if I have some free time to relax or doing some sort of physical activity). I fear that the astronomical leaps in communication technology have also made society take those same leaps away from basic human interaction and consideration.
In my opinion, this has come full circle in the form of Twitter. It seems multiple times per week, high profile individuals have posted something on Twitter (probably in the midst of an emotional outburst), and due to the accessibility and speed with which one can utilize Twitter, they make a post before they can even stop to think about it, much less comprehend its consequences. Again, it goes back to taking a step back, and realizing what you're doing.
And, finally, if you have one of those wireless "bluetooth" devices for your phone, please disconnect it if you're not in your car. You look like a pompous douche walking around with it stuck in your ear. Furthermore, if you're having a phone conversation and are using it, people either think (a) you're talking to them, or (b) you're talking to yourself, but assuredly everyone thinks (c) you look like a jackass.
It's simple things, really: holding the door for someone; saying 'please' or 'thank you' or 'excuse me'; being more hospitable to guests and more grateful to hosts. I think it's these subtle but lost habits that are taken for granted in today's society, a society that seemingly spends every waking hour connected to some sort of communication device, cut off from the other human beings around them and too preoccupied to care, much less acknowledge, those around them.
I think if we were to all take a step back while putting our cell phone in our pocket or turning off our mp3 player and opening our eyes to the world around us, we would appreciate more the world we live in, and thus be more considerate of others.
I have kept my phone in my pocket, and I only use it to send the occasional text message and maybe talk on it a few times a day. I hate sending e-mails and I absolutely loathe instant messaging. I use my mp3 player only in certain situations (if I have some free time to relax or doing some sort of physical activity). I fear that the astronomical leaps in communication technology have also made society take those same leaps away from basic human interaction and consideration.
In my opinion, this has come full circle in the form of Twitter. It seems multiple times per week, high profile individuals have posted something on Twitter (probably in the midst of an emotional outburst), and due to the accessibility and speed with which one can utilize Twitter, they make a post before they can even stop to think about it, much less comprehend its consequences. Again, it goes back to taking a step back, and realizing what you're doing.
And, finally, if you have one of those wireless "bluetooth" devices for your phone, please disconnect it if you're not in your car. You look like a pompous douche walking around with it stuck in your ear. Furthermore, if you're having a phone conversation and are using it, people either think (a) you're talking to them, or (b) you're talking to yourself, but assuredly everyone thinks (c) you look like a jackass.
Media's Agenda?...
For the many of you who don't follow sports closely, you probably haven't heard about the minor controversy involving Buffalo Bills star wide receiver Terrell Owens and Sunday's post-game press conference after the Bills lost 27-7 to the New Orleans Saints.
Owens, an uncanny lightning rod for media attention and thus, controversy, was clearly trying to squash any potential controversy about the Bills' lack of performance on offense, especially when it was the first game since 1996 that he didn't have a single reception.
From where I'm standing, it appeared as though the media knew very well of Owens' reputation and tried to use it against him. It seemed to me that they were more interested in creating the news than just merely reporting it, and planned to exploit Owens' clearly (and visibly) frustrated state-of-mind.
Video from the press conference can be seen below:
A follow-up story about Owens appearing on a local radio show can be read here. Some revealing quotes from the segment:
Certainly, Owens' answers during the press conference weren't ideal, but take any high-profile athlete whose team gets blown out at home and whose impact on the game is virtually nil, and see how revealing he becomes. I can't say I blame Owens, especially considering his history with the media (including, but not limited to: questioning the sexuality of his former former quarterback, Jeff Garcia (who's now married to a Playboy model); crying while defending his former quarterback, Tony Romo; inviting the media to his house so they cover his holdout, specifically him doing sit-ups in his driveway and playing basketball; etc.)
What are your thoughts? Did Owens handle it properly? Did the media try to create news or "goat" him into controversial answers?
Owens, an uncanny lightning rod for media attention and thus, controversy, was clearly trying to squash any potential controversy about the Bills' lack of performance on offense, especially when it was the first game since 1996 that he didn't have a single reception.
From where I'm standing, it appeared as though the media knew very well of Owens' reputation and tried to use it against him. It seemed to me that they were more interested in creating the news than just merely reporting it, and planned to exploit Owens' clearly (and visibly) frustrated state-of-mind.
Video from the press conference can be seen below:
A follow-up story about Owens appearing on a local radio show can be read here. Some revealing quotes from the segment:
"It really just shows you the angle that the media has taken all these years," Owens said during the interview. "Over the years I've always kind of spoken openly about whatever is being asked with my answers, so the last four or five years I've kind of noticed that and tried taking some steps to prevent some of those things from happening.
"But [Sunday] as you saw, it was obviously ... [the media] took some more than initiative to try to get me to kind of go down the wrong path. I know the last two teams that I've been on, I felt like I left those teams prematurely due to media interviews that I've done and things kind of taken out of context and they created sort of a media whirlwind in the locker room and things kind of went downhill from there. I'm just trying to do the best job I can do as far as answering the questions and trying to be a better teammate and not try to throw people under the bus."
Certainly, Owens' answers during the press conference weren't ideal, but take any high-profile athlete whose team gets blown out at home and whose impact on the game is virtually nil, and see how revealing he becomes. I can't say I blame Owens, especially considering his history with the media (including, but not limited to: questioning the sexuality of his former former quarterback, Jeff Garcia (who's now married to a Playboy model); crying while defending his former quarterback, Tony Romo; inviting the media to his house so they cover his holdout, specifically him doing sit-ups in his driveway and playing basketball; etc.)
What are your thoughts? Did Owens handle it properly? Did the media try to create news or "goat" him into controversial answers?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Discourse in Discussion...
"Racist", "Nazi", "Liar", "Hypocrite", "Elitist", "Astro-turf", etc.
These are such words that are being heard more than any actual discussion about domestic policies. Many are to blame, not the least of which are the fringe faction on the right and left, and even many of the Democratic and Republican politicians and supporters enabling them.
The mainstream media, which I'm afraid has become nearly irreparably partisan, is also to blame for engaging in much the same fashion. Editorial at best and bigotry at worst, each night on "news" networks, obviously biased talking heads spew their side's rhetoric whilst doing nothing short of demonizing their counterparts on the other side of the aisle: who's more corrupt, who's more in-bed with special interests, who's deceiving the public the most, and so on and so forth.
The internet is also a major factor in this decomposing of civilized discourse, as anyone with an internet connection, maybe even on this very blog service, can spew their opinion (framing it as fact, of course) and the age-old "I read it on the internet, so it must be true" adage tends to take hold, whether it's the President's birth certificate or George W. Bush's desertion of military service (both of which have been widely discuss on mainstream websites and even airways).
All these factors and more leave "We, The People" to suffer the consequences: the general public is just as deceived by partisan hackery as it was a century ago. It is ultimately the people's responsibility to seek out the facts on their own, conducting their own "citizen investigation" if you will, or just a good old fact-finding mission. As with many things in life, the truth won't just arrive in your mailbox or email inbox, unless of course it's been forwarded to you from a friend who forwarded it to all of their friends: THEN you know it must be true.
Right?
These are such words that are being heard more than any actual discussion about domestic policies. Many are to blame, not the least of which are the fringe faction on the right and left, and even many of the Democratic and Republican politicians and supporters enabling them.
The mainstream media, which I'm afraid has become nearly irreparably partisan, is also to blame for engaging in much the same fashion. Editorial at best and bigotry at worst, each night on "news" networks, obviously biased talking heads spew their side's rhetoric whilst doing nothing short of demonizing their counterparts on the other side of the aisle: who's more corrupt, who's more in-bed with special interests, who's deceiving the public the most, and so on and so forth.
The internet is also a major factor in this decomposing of civilized discourse, as anyone with an internet connection, maybe even on this very blog service, can spew their opinion (framing it as fact, of course) and the age-old "I read it on the internet, so it must be true" adage tends to take hold, whether it's the President's birth certificate or George W. Bush's desertion of military service (both of which have been widely discuss on mainstream websites and even airways).
All these factors and more leave "We, The People" to suffer the consequences: the general public is just as deceived by partisan hackery as it was a century ago. It is ultimately the people's responsibility to seek out the facts on their own, conducting their own "citizen investigation" if you will, or just a good old fact-finding mission. As with many things in life, the truth won't just arrive in your mailbox or email inbox, unless of course it's been forwarded to you from a friend who forwarded it to all of their friends: THEN you know it must be true.
Right?
Please allow me to crack a big smile, because...
Pearl Jam has released their latest album "Backspacer" today and my favorite band of all time, Alice In Chains, is releasing their latest album "Black Gives Way To Blue" next Tuesday. More information on both of these albums can be found by clicking on the respective album arts below:
With the rather tumultuous life of a musician, I never thought I'd see a Pearl Jam, much less an Alice In Chains, album in 2009. For those of you who don't know (which most likely encompasses a vast majority of you), Alice In Chains' former singer Layne Staley passed away from a drug overdose in 2002, and the band disbanded (no pun intended) shortly after. To this day, the three remaining members of Alice In Chains still find it hard to cope with his loss.
It is a testament to both of these bands' members and their bonds with one another that they're putting out great albums almost 20 years after bursting onto the 1990s alternative/grunge scene. Pearl Jam's "Ten" is arguably the best album of the 90s and Alice In Chains' "Dirt" is a personal favorite of mine.
I've been starving for some good music, and will never stop listening to Pearl Jam or Alice In Chains for as long as I live, and these two albums are doubly sweet for me: they bring me back to one of my favorite musical periods and provide me with new listening material for two of my favorite bands of all time.
Music, like film, is something that's very personal and close to my heart. I have everything from Marvin Gaye to As I Lay Dying and everything in between on my mp3 player, and I enjoy them all as much as the other.
Needless to say, between these two albums, I think my music time will be occupied quite nicely for AT LEAST the rest of the year. I can only hope that the reader(s) of this blog will have their lives as musically enriched as mine will be for the next several months. Happy listening!
With the rather tumultuous life of a musician, I never thought I'd see a Pearl Jam, much less an Alice In Chains, album in 2009. For those of you who don't know (which most likely encompasses a vast majority of you), Alice In Chains' former singer Layne Staley passed away from a drug overdose in 2002, and the band disbanded (no pun intended) shortly after. To this day, the three remaining members of Alice In Chains still find it hard to cope with his loss.
It is a testament to both of these bands' members and their bonds with one another that they're putting out great albums almost 20 years after bursting onto the 1990s alternative/grunge scene. Pearl Jam's "Ten" is arguably the best album of the 90s and Alice In Chains' "Dirt" is a personal favorite of mine.
I've been starving for some good music, and will never stop listening to Pearl Jam or Alice In Chains for as long as I live, and these two albums are doubly sweet for me: they bring me back to one of my favorite musical periods and provide me with new listening material for two of my favorite bands of all time.
Music, like film, is something that's very personal and close to my heart. I have everything from Marvin Gaye to As I Lay Dying and everything in between on my mp3 player, and I enjoy them all as much as the other.
Needless to say, between these two albums, I think my music time will be occupied quite nicely for AT LEAST the rest of the year. I can only hope that the reader(s) of this blog will have their lives as musically enriched as mine will be for the next several months. Happy listening!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
On The Unexpected Pleasantries Of Life...
I'm a firm believer that life is just, well... life. I refuse to use the saying "full of ups and downs", because I believe that's too much of a simplistic interpretation. I, for one, always try to cherish the enjoyable moments, while both learning and growing from the tougher times.
As aforementioned in this organized chaos of a blog, I lost a good friend from swine flu, and instead of dwelling on what was lost (which I, admittedly, did do for a period of time), I also spent the recent days contemplating what was gained by my friend's life, and how my friend's life had positively impacted my own. It made me also ponder my own life. What exactly were my aspirations? How much progress had I made towards them? If I was to die tomorrow: what had I done, experienced and most importantly, accomplished?
Needless to say, the tough time of dealing with the loss of my friend, Jason, was turned into a partial self-realization, a recollection of past experiences, analysis of current situations and appreciation of my current life, as much as it is. Life is funny sometimes, though...
As it so happens, yesterday afternoon I received a call from my father saying that not only had one of my cousins moved to Orlando from the northeastern United States, but that he was coming down to visit (along with his brother and his girlfriend). I hadn't seen him in a couple years, and he hadn't been down to Florida in many years. I didn't exactly know what to expect, even though I'd always gotten along very well with him.
Having them over and the subsequent visit was like a breath of fresh air. We caught up with each others' lives over the past few years (mostly just filling in minor details here and there), sharing many memories, experiences and most definitely laughs (often at the expense of each other). It was in that visit that I realized (yet again) how important my family is in my life, and how it has shaped me as a person.
The past couple weeks have been memorable, to say the least. With the loss of my friend and the reconnection with a few of my family members, I have taken measure of what parts of my life have affected me, each in their own special way. I have reflected back on the memory of my friend, and even elder family members who have long since departed this earth, and what each of them has meant to my life.
I can only hope that readers of this blog have taken measure of such influences in their own lives, and especially that their family lives are even one-eighth as tremendous and fortunate as mine has been.
As aforementioned in this organized chaos of a blog, I lost a good friend from swine flu, and instead of dwelling on what was lost (which I, admittedly, did do for a period of time), I also spent the recent days contemplating what was gained by my friend's life, and how my friend's life had positively impacted my own. It made me also ponder my own life. What exactly were my aspirations? How much progress had I made towards them? If I was to die tomorrow: what had I done, experienced and most importantly, accomplished?
Needless to say, the tough time of dealing with the loss of my friend, Jason, was turned into a partial self-realization, a recollection of past experiences, analysis of current situations and appreciation of my current life, as much as it is. Life is funny sometimes, though...
As it so happens, yesterday afternoon I received a call from my father saying that not only had one of my cousins moved to Orlando from the northeastern United States, but that he was coming down to visit (along with his brother and his girlfriend). I hadn't seen him in a couple years, and he hadn't been down to Florida in many years. I didn't exactly know what to expect, even though I'd always gotten along very well with him.
Having them over and the subsequent visit was like a breath of fresh air. We caught up with each others' lives over the past few years (mostly just filling in minor details here and there), sharing many memories, experiences and most definitely laughs (often at the expense of each other). It was in that visit that I realized (yet again) how important my family is in my life, and how it has shaped me as a person.
The past couple weeks have been memorable, to say the least. With the loss of my friend and the reconnection with a few of my family members, I have taken measure of what parts of my life have affected me, each in their own special way. I have reflected back on the memory of my friend, and even elder family members who have long since departed this earth, and what each of them has meant to my life.
I can only hope that readers of this blog have taken measure of such influences in their own lives, and especially that their family lives are even one-eighth as tremendous and fortunate as mine has been.
On to a more enjoyable topic...
With the myriad of recent happenings in my life, I took some time to take a step back (and a deep breath) and revert back to the things that I find enjoyable, and one of my passions is that of movies.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a film critic and am, in fact, far from possessing extensive knowledge about film history or types of film around the world, but I know a good movie when I see one.
Some of my favorite movie sites are IMDB, RottenTomatoes, AtTheMoviesTV.com> (which recently made a change [and substantial upgrade, in my opinion] in co-hosts). I also like to peruse Youtube to find reviews of movies that I've either recently seen and/or have especially liked.
As you may or may not be wondering, I have watched a good collection of films that have been released this year, and these are some of my favorites:
Watchmen
Star Trek
Up
Public Enemies
Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince
Inglorious Basterds
Some of films I'm looking forward to are: Where The Wild Things Are (yes, based on my all-time favorite children's book), The Wolfman, The Lovely Bones and Avatar (the James Cameron one, not the M. Night Shyamalan one).
I find movies to be many things that fascinate me. They are works of art (and contained within that, means of expression), forms of entertainment, adaptations, interpretations, but I think what is most valuable about films is that of the contribution of talent to society. Whether it's the spectacle of the beach landing at the beginning of Saving Private Ryan or the acting talents of Daniel Day-Lewis as the morally void oilman Daniel Plainview in "There Will Be Blood".
It is such talent that continues to awe me. I myself aspire to one day write a screenplay, and with every great movie I watch, I'm given a new idea of where to start.
To wrap this post up, I'd like to suggest you watch King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Before you watch it, I have to let you know that it's NOT a mockumentary, but it is, in fact, one of the most real and bizarrely entertaining movies you've never seen. This movie encompasses the age-old saying "you can't make this **** up".
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a film critic and am, in fact, far from possessing extensive knowledge about film history or types of film around the world, but I know a good movie when I see one.
Some of my favorite movie sites are IMDB, RottenTomatoes, AtTheMoviesTV.com> (which recently made a change [and substantial upgrade, in my opinion] in co-hosts). I also like to peruse Youtube to find reviews of movies that I've either recently seen and/or have especially liked.
As you may or may not be wondering, I have watched a good collection of films that have been released this year, and these are some of my favorites:
Watchmen
Star Trek
Up
Public Enemies
Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince
Inglorious Basterds
Some of films I'm looking forward to are: Where The Wild Things Are (yes, based on my all-time favorite children's book), The Wolfman, The Lovely Bones and Avatar (the James Cameron one, not the M. Night Shyamalan one).
I find movies to be many things that fascinate me. They are works of art (and contained within that, means of expression), forms of entertainment, adaptations, interpretations, but I think what is most valuable about films is that of the contribution of talent to society. Whether it's the spectacle of the beach landing at the beginning of Saving Private Ryan or the acting talents of Daniel Day-Lewis as the morally void oilman Daniel Plainview in "There Will Be Blood".
It is such talent that continues to awe me. I myself aspire to one day write a screenplay, and with every great movie I watch, I'm given a new idea of where to start.
To wrap this post up, I'd like to suggest you watch King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Before you watch it, I have to let you know that it's NOT a mockumentary, but it is, in fact, one of the most real and bizarrely entertaining movies you've never seen. This movie encompasses the age-old saying "you can't make this **** up".
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Life Lessons In School...
The President's speech that aired in schools all across the country Tuesday was an excellent message for all of America's youth. It was excellently well-intended (even if ulterior motives were an attempt to increase poll numbers), and all schoolchildren should have the opportunity to watch it, not as a lecture from a person in a power position, but as an opportunity to have the President speak to them about something that is both relevant to their current stage in life and that they can both understand and relate to.
Video of the speech can be viewed below, or a transcript of the speech can be viewed here.
It was a great speech to both inspire kids to find how they can contribute to our society, and stress the importance of education in that search. As well intended as it was, I'm certain that it will have little to no effect on the academic proficiency of today's youth.
The greatest affect on our youth, as it has always been, will be in the home. Parents must take the lead in the raising of our children. Often times, whether by divorce or other circumstances, it is up to one parent to raise a child. To coincide with support from home, support in the classroom is vital as well, especially in the neighborhoods where teachers and school administrators are the only role models that the students know.
Speeches, education reforms, increase in funding and any other measures by governmental officials, while having a positive effect, can only achieve up to a supportive role in the raising (and education) of a child.
Make no mistake, education is a part (though a vital one) of a child's upbringing. I can honestly say that I wouldn't have been as well off in high school or as prepared for college if it wasn't for my parents constantly nagging me about the importance of education in my life.
I fear that high school kids who are without strong support from the parents will, at best, take this speech to heart for the rest of the week. The President didn't say anything new or revolutionary or announce anything new in his speech, but as the famous saying by Marshall McLuhan goes, "the medium is the message". They were stressed the importance of education, contributing to society and challenged to push themselves by the President of the United States.
To me, that is an inspiring thing, but I fear (and am even convinced) that, for a vast majority of today's youth, it will fall on deaf ears.
Video of the speech can be viewed below, or a transcript of the speech can be viewed here.
It was a great speech to both inspire kids to find how they can contribute to our society, and stress the importance of education in that search. As well intended as it was, I'm certain that it will have little to no effect on the academic proficiency of today's youth.
The greatest affect on our youth, as it has always been, will be in the home. Parents must take the lead in the raising of our children. Often times, whether by divorce or other circumstances, it is up to one parent to raise a child. To coincide with support from home, support in the classroom is vital as well, especially in the neighborhoods where teachers and school administrators are the only role models that the students know.
Speeches, education reforms, increase in funding and any other measures by governmental officials, while having a positive effect, can only achieve up to a supportive role in the raising (and education) of a child.
Make no mistake, education is a part (though a vital one) of a child's upbringing. I can honestly say that I wouldn't have been as well off in high school or as prepared for college if it wasn't for my parents constantly nagging me about the importance of education in my life.
I fear that high school kids who are without strong support from the parents will, at best, take this speech to heart for the rest of the week. The President didn't say anything new or revolutionary or announce anything new in his speech, but as the famous saying by Marshall McLuhan goes, "the medium is the message". They were stressed the importance of education, contributing to society and challenged to push themselves by the President of the United States.
To me, that is an inspiring thing, but I fear (and am even convinced) that, for a vast majority of today's youth, it will fall on deaf ears.
Saying Goodbye...
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” - Mahatma Gandhi
“Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.” - Pope Paul VI
I went to bed on Tuesday night just as any normal Tuesday, having finalized my first contributions to this very blog. I woke up the next morning to find out that one of my best friends since high school was gone. Forever.
Admittedly for whatever reason (him moving, school, work, different circle of friends, etc), I hadn't reconnected with him in a few months, and to gain knowledge of his passing by way of the local paper's obituary was most regrettable and upsetting.
He was taken by (of all things) swine flu, as he was susceptible to it due to his asthma and the relative weakness of his lungs due to their numerous bouts with pneumonia. I take some solace in the fact that he actually contracted the disease while doing something he loved: going to concerts.
I still feel the same emotion that I felt as I stared down at his lifeless body on Friday during the visitation. Disbelief that he is gone forever; incomprehension of the manner of his passing; contemplation of: "what if I had met up with him recently? Would I have contracted swine flu as well?"; anger at the hospital who may very well have been able to prevent his demise but couldn't; regret that I hadn't stayed in contact over the past few months, and most of all grief, especially for his parents who lost their only child.
Too often, whether in wars or natural disasters, or in this case a pandemic: we see statistics and words such as "casualties", "cases" and "displaced".
Well, this case of the swine flu hit home. This specific case of H1N1, clad in his favorite shirt, accompanied by his favorite hat and adorned with his beloved ornate pocket knives, was... gone. I went to the same Elementary, Middle and High School, was in the same cub scout troop, drove to Miami just to see a movie premier, went to Halloween Horror nights and even got my car silly-stringed by this case.
I was there to see the disgust on his face after he was told that he would receive a zero on a final project because he forgot to put his name on it (even though he did a vast majority of the work) and thus failed an english course by 3 percentage points. Therefore, he would not be able to walk with the rest of us at graduation, and would have to pass a semester of summer school to be able to get his high school diploma. I still remember the happiness that overcame him when this case finally found something that he enjoyed doing: being a meat cutter. I shared his happiness when he got his first car and endured with his frustrations as I had to follow him down US1 because the power steering belt on his car fell off (if you've ever had to drive like this, you know how frustrating it is).
His name was Jason Christopher Schenck.
Rest in Peace, good buddy. I'll both miss and never forget you.
PS, make sure to hold a good seat in heaven's movie theater for me.
“Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.” - Pope Paul VI
I went to bed on Tuesday night just as any normal Tuesday, having finalized my first contributions to this very blog. I woke up the next morning to find out that one of my best friends since high school was gone. Forever.
Admittedly for whatever reason (him moving, school, work, different circle of friends, etc), I hadn't reconnected with him in a few months, and to gain knowledge of his passing by way of the local paper's obituary was most regrettable and upsetting.
He was taken by (of all things) swine flu, as he was susceptible to it due to his asthma and the relative weakness of his lungs due to their numerous bouts with pneumonia. I take some solace in the fact that he actually contracted the disease while doing something he loved: going to concerts.
I still feel the same emotion that I felt as I stared down at his lifeless body on Friday during the visitation. Disbelief that he is gone forever; incomprehension of the manner of his passing; contemplation of: "what if I had met up with him recently? Would I have contracted swine flu as well?"; anger at the hospital who may very well have been able to prevent his demise but couldn't; regret that I hadn't stayed in contact over the past few months, and most of all grief, especially for his parents who lost their only child.
Too often, whether in wars or natural disasters, or in this case a pandemic: we see statistics and words such as "casualties", "cases" and "displaced".
Well, this case of the swine flu hit home. This specific case of H1N1, clad in his favorite shirt, accompanied by his favorite hat and adorned with his beloved ornate pocket knives, was... gone. I went to the same Elementary, Middle and High School, was in the same cub scout troop, drove to Miami just to see a movie premier, went to Halloween Horror nights and even got my car silly-stringed by this case.
I was there to see the disgust on his face after he was told that he would receive a zero on a final project because he forgot to put his name on it (even though he did a vast majority of the work) and thus failed an english course by 3 percentage points. Therefore, he would not be able to walk with the rest of us at graduation, and would have to pass a semester of summer school to be able to get his high school diploma. I still remember the happiness that overcame him when this case finally found something that he enjoyed doing: being a meat cutter. I shared his happiness when he got his first car and endured with his frustrations as I had to follow him down US1 because the power steering belt on his car fell off (if you've ever had to drive like this, you know how frustrating it is).
His name was Jason Christopher Schenck.
Rest in Peace, good buddy. I'll both miss and never forget you.
PS, make sure to hold a good seat in heaven's movie theater for me.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The Injustice System...
As I am oddly fascinated by regular goings-on of our current American society, I cannot help but be at a loss for words or even suffer a loss of faith in our society multiple times throughout the week.
A recent example of this has to do with sports, but not exactly. Recently, the National Football League (NFL), specifically its players, have constantly been in the news for troubles with the law. Most notably is that of Michael Vick, who headed up a dog-fighting and illegal cross-state gambling operation. As expected, a vast majority of the outrage has been over the revelations of the heinous mistreatment of the animals. Multiple protests and other such actions have been taken by animal rights groups (as expected), but underneath all that lies the most significant crime in the eyes of the American justice system: the illegal gambling operation.
Animal cruelty may land you a slight amount of time in jail, but most of the time it will just be a hefty fine. The gambling operation is what landed Vick in the slammer for nearly two years, but yet it wasn't the gambling that tortured and executed the animals. As a personal lover of animals, I may not ever forgive Vick for what he did to those dogs but I feel he has paid his debt to society and should have a second chance (and ONLY a second chance), but ironically enough, that isn't what got him in the worst amount of trouble.
More recently, there have been the ordeals of Donte Stallworth and Plaxico Burress. To make a long story short, Plaxico Burress took an unlicensed gun into a club and somehow accidentally shot himself. Stallworth, on the other hand, drove drunk and killed a pedestrian with his car. Take a guess as to who to over a year in prison and who paid a fine and will spend less than a few months in jail?
Like I said, at times I'm just at a loss for words over my loss of faith in American society. To make a somewhat humorous ending out of this, here is a video of uproarious comic Dave Chappelle who ponders "how old is fifteen, really?" and it is somewhat vulgar in the beginning, but he makes a lot of good points starting at about 4.5 minutes in, along what my post is about:
A recent example of this has to do with sports, but not exactly. Recently, the National Football League (NFL), specifically its players, have constantly been in the news for troubles with the law. Most notably is that of Michael Vick, who headed up a dog-fighting and illegal cross-state gambling operation. As expected, a vast majority of the outrage has been over the revelations of the heinous mistreatment of the animals. Multiple protests and other such actions have been taken by animal rights groups (as expected), but underneath all that lies the most significant crime in the eyes of the American justice system: the illegal gambling operation.
Animal cruelty may land you a slight amount of time in jail, but most of the time it will just be a hefty fine. The gambling operation is what landed Vick in the slammer for nearly two years, but yet it wasn't the gambling that tortured and executed the animals. As a personal lover of animals, I may not ever forgive Vick for what he did to those dogs but I feel he has paid his debt to society and should have a second chance (and ONLY a second chance), but ironically enough, that isn't what got him in the worst amount of trouble.
More recently, there have been the ordeals of Donte Stallworth and Plaxico Burress. To make a long story short, Plaxico Burress took an unlicensed gun into a club and somehow accidentally shot himself. Stallworth, on the other hand, drove drunk and killed a pedestrian with his car. Take a guess as to who to over a year in prison and who paid a fine and will spend less than a few months in jail?
Like I said, at times I'm just at a loss for words over my loss of faith in American society. To make a somewhat humorous ending out of this, here is a video of uproarious comic Dave Chappelle who ponders "how old is fifteen, really?" and it is somewhat vulgar in the beginning, but he makes a lot of good points starting at about 4.5 minutes in, along what my post is about:
The wait on the weight...
There are many health risks to the human race, including (but certainly not limited to) numerous forms of cancer, infections, viruses and just the latest is H1N1, more commonly known as "Swine Flu". However, one of the most widespread and controllable health risks among human beings is that of obesity.
I myself know all too well of this condition (I refuse to call it a disease, as I don't see obesity as something that is communicable or a mutation of the body), having been overweight during virtually my entire high school and college years, but it was only recently (but numerous signs before then) that it has really hit me as to how bad my weight was. I was tagging along with the rest of my family to do some summer clothes shopping. We perused the usual mall tenants looking for clothes. I was very troubled to find that I couldn't find any clothes that fit me. I figured "oh well, they probably just have sizes for skinny people", but I was even further disheartened to eventually find out that every store, save for one, didn't have a single article of clothing that would fit me (save for maybe hats, and even then I have a pretty big head).
That store would just so happen to be the "big and tall store", and I sure as heck wasn't there because I was tall. As a looked around the "big and tall" store, I noticed the sizes: XXL, XXXL, XXXXL and even, yes XXXXXL. I was surprised to realize that the store actually had a somewhat decent fashion variety (not that I plan on regularly shopping there, but just an observation). It was during the trying-on of clothes that it had hit me: I need to make a drastic change in my life... and NOW. Not just to get rid of a substantial amount of fat and look better, but to feel better, to sleep better, to be more active, and most importantly, to actually live to see 65.
It turns out that this was the perfect time, as I've found a weight loss plan through my work that is simple and that I can attest is very effective. As of today's weigh in, I've lost 24 pounds in as many days. Of the nearly ONE-THIRD (according to the National Center for Health Statistics) of Americans who are obese (Body Mass Index of 30 or greater), this is one who is determined to change the way I eat and live life, and thus enjoy a more active and rewarding, and hopefully much longer and healther, life. I also have a little side goal for this weight loss. My sister is getting married in February, and I haven't seen her since long before I started the weight loss plan, so it is my goal to surprise her with my whole new body shape.
Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to go play soccer, something I haven't done in a long, long time.
I myself know all too well of this condition (I refuse to call it a disease, as I don't see obesity as something that is communicable or a mutation of the body), having been overweight during virtually my entire high school and college years, but it was only recently (but numerous signs before then) that it has really hit me as to how bad my weight was. I was tagging along with the rest of my family to do some summer clothes shopping. We perused the usual mall tenants looking for clothes. I was very troubled to find that I couldn't find any clothes that fit me. I figured "oh well, they probably just have sizes for skinny people", but I was even further disheartened to eventually find out that every store, save for one, didn't have a single article of clothing that would fit me (save for maybe hats, and even then I have a pretty big head).
That store would just so happen to be the "big and tall store", and I sure as heck wasn't there because I was tall. As a looked around the "big and tall" store, I noticed the sizes: XXL, XXXL, XXXXL and even, yes XXXXXL. I was surprised to realize that the store actually had a somewhat decent fashion variety (not that I plan on regularly shopping there, but just an observation). It was during the trying-on of clothes that it had hit me: I need to make a drastic change in my life... and NOW. Not just to get rid of a substantial amount of fat and look better, but to feel better, to sleep better, to be more active, and most importantly, to actually live to see 65.
It turns out that this was the perfect time, as I've found a weight loss plan through my work that is simple and that I can attest is very effective. As of today's weigh in, I've lost 24 pounds in as many days. Of the nearly ONE-THIRD (according to the National Center for Health Statistics) of Americans who are obese (Body Mass Index of 30 or greater), this is one who is determined to change the way I eat and live life, and thus enjoy a more active and rewarding, and hopefully much longer and healther, life. I also have a little side goal for this weight loss. My sister is getting married in February, and I haven't seen her since long before I started the weight loss plan, so it is my goal to surprise her with my whole new body shape.
Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to go play soccer, something I haven't done in a long, long time.
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