Monday Tirade #3

OK, long time no post.
A couple of things... maybe more, I'm in a mood- hence the tirade:

What is it with women who think they need cosmetic surgery?
Specifically the injections in the lips? Don't they realize that they look like Donald Duck?

I saw a woman the other week and I wanted to give her some Looney Tunes lines to see if she would start following along. Women, I know that some of you might have vanity issues and want to look younger for yourselves, your mate or whatever- hell, maybe you are getting signals from your partner or subliminally get them from the publishing/advertising world. Please know that we love you the way your are. Granted, men are shallow assholes when it comes to our own looks and you might get that feeling that we want you to look younger, well let me tell you: we just want to feel more secure in our own minds and I think that is why men stray... but, that is another topic.


NBC sucks! Boy, did they screw up the opening ceremony for the Olympics. If I wanted to see a new camera angle every 3 seconds, I could tune into MTV or whatever passes for music video programming these days. Hey jackasses at the home office in NYC: we have brains and know how to use them so please stop force feeding us visual cues on how great you want us to think things are. Oh and Hasbro would have loved it if you said a new board game was coming out next week based on the opening night monologues. I swear, if I heard that China had 1.3 billion one more time after the first two hours I would have been violently drunk because the drinking game I could have invented every time I heard "1.3 Billion!!!" I should hunt down Bob Costas and kill him for putting that into a perpetual loop. Again, we are not dumb but if you continue to treat us that way the exodus to cable and satellite will continue. Personal aside: I have not watched network television in years and the crap I put up with for the first night of the Olympics are the very reason I stopped watching.


More on television: My TV screen is not a computer screen.

I do not need a crawl at the bottom of the screen nor your logo in the corner of the screen reminding me what channel I am watching. And I can damn well tell you I don't want your advert interrupters flashing across a good portion of the screen when I am trying to watch a show. I can already disable that type of content on my computer at 99% of websites; don't think I don't relish the day when I can do the same on my TV too. Just stop it.

Whatever happened to common courtesy and manners? I used to think that kids were rude, but I find out that they have been taught the manners that their parents have forgotten. Simple things as saying hello when its said to you, or speaking when spoken to. Folks, it really matters.

And the biggest rant of all: Do any of you out there see the irony when our jackass leader says that Russia invading Georgia is without any merit and is essentially against any kind of moral code, law, UN Security Council violation or just plain wrong. Hmm. Did we not do the same thing when we invaded Iraq? Millions around the world protested the unlawful invasion of a country that had nothing to do with 9/11. You know, they used to string up leaders and people for making dumbsh*t decisions like that. I am certainly not advocating it, but stating a fact.

People of the U.S., please wake up.

Hopefully, I will post more often.

2008 Major League Baseball Predictions

My predictions for the 2008 Major League Baseball season. Hey, I could get these right you know... it could happen.

AL East

Red Sox (1)
Yankees (4)
Blue Jays
Rays
Orioles

AL Central

Indians (2)
Tigers
White Sox
Twins
Royals

AL West

Mariners (3)
Angels
Rangers
A's


NL East

Braves (3)
Phillies
Mets
Nationals
Marlins

NL Central

Cubs (2)
Reds
Brewers
Cards
Astros
Pirates

NL West

Diamondbacks (1)
Dodgers (4)
Padres
Rockies
Giants

AL Playoffs

Indians over Yankees
Mariners over Red Sox

Indians over Mariners


NL Playoffs

Cubs over Dodgers
Diamondbacks over Braves

Cubs over Diamondbacks

World Series

Cleveland Indians over Chicago Cubs in 6!
Cubs continue the curse.

AL MVP: Travis Hafner (Indians)

AL Cy Young: C.C Sabathia (Indians)

AL Rookie of the Year: Alexei Ramirez (White Sox)

NL MVP: Mark Texiera (Braves--Yes, I picked him two years in a row!)

NL Cy Young: Carlos Zambrano (Cubs)

NL Rookie of the Year: Johnny Cueto (Reds)

The 3:30 AM Squeak Squeak

My newly moved in neighbors above me are early risers. Every day- even on Saturdays, they get up around four in the morning to start their day. Frequently, there is some Dusty Springfield action going on... you know the song: "Just a Little Lovin'" from Dusty in Memphis.

Now, did I mention the bed squeak? I guess I didn't. Their bed makes so much noise that it has actually woke me up from a deep sleep more than once! But its only the bed- I rarely ever hear them make nary a sound. I don't mind really because at least somebody is seeing some action around here.

Friday night/Saturday morning this past week, the action started around 3:30.

3:30!!! If the bed woke me up around then, that means it all started before that!

I couldn't get back to sleep.

Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak

Pause

Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak

Longer pause

Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak.

I had to listen to the rest of that squeaking bed- then the stomp to the sink; the running water; the stomp back to the bed; the stomp back to the sink; more water running. I was mostly awake for the rest of the morning until right before I had to get up for work... when, my alarm/radio came on.

I was so tired that day.

Five Years

Can you believe that it has been five years since our retard of a president declared war on Iraq?

Re-read that sentence if you need an additional moment of clarity.

Five years, and 3,991 confirmed U.S. armed forces deaths as of March, 19th 2008 according to the Department of Defence. Tens of thousands of our soldiers wounded (discharged & non-discharged). Iraqi military and civilian deaths? - Well that depends on whose numbers you believe. Estimates range anywhere from 50,000 to 250,000- maybe more as accurate numbers will never be validated by our government.

The surge you hear our leaders grandstand so much about in the last six months that is supposed to be working. Well of course they can claim it as a victory of sorts because the violence has lessened-- because we are paying the insurgents to not kill each other. Really, you can look it up in a variety of places. And that is your tax dollars. Why is the media or congress for that matter not investigating what happened to almost nine billion dollars that is missing.... hey, even Fox news- that bastion of the right wing with its fair and balanced reporting style, reported this in 2004. Where is the outrage? Are we all asleep?

Economically, this war is a mess for us as well. When Alfred E. Newman took office, we had a budget surplus that was unsurpassed in American history. He blew that and was already getting hammered by the press on economic matters leading up to 9/11 (Enron anyone?) when we all of a sudden got patriotic and decided to go to war on lies. We've spent upwards of 3 trillion dollars by the current estimates and who knows when we are going to get out. The upcoming election this year guarantees us nothing on this war. If McCain wins, he'll keep us mired there longer and if a democrat wins, all the blame will get put on them for anything further by the Republican spin machine. It is a no win situation for all of us. The Democrats are no better. Most of them voted for the war based on the fear machine put into action by the Bushies.

We've lost stature
in the international community in so many ways. It makes so many Americans ashamed to actually be an American... me included at times. People think that radical Islam is all of Islam and that they all want to kill us when that cannot be farther from the truth. Radicals exist in all religions and sects. If you don't think so, look at the Christian right in this country and examine the sad deeds of the Catholic church in Europe over the last thousand years. Now they want to try and extend the war into Iran when the Irani people actually want nothing to do with that and are the one of the most pro-American countries in the middle east.

Five years ago, I marched in protest of a pending invasion of Iraq. It was a just cause then and now we've decimated a country that had nothing to do with 9/11.














Sure, Hussein was a horrible despotic leader, but his country was safer in his hands than the hands of the Shiite and Sunni Muslims who are slaughtering each other for control (and I probably don't have that fact right). Millions marched around the world in support and now America is considered an aggressor who pushes for regime changes to serve its own economic interests.

We've lost so much-- we all have.

Monday Tirade #2

What the hell is it with all the dipsh*t's who cannot fathom the idea of driving in a sane and/or rational way? It's like they selected "I for Idiot" instead of D when they put their car in gear.

I find the following things terribly annoying when I am driving:

1. Morons who fail to use a turn signal.
2. Morons who fail to stop at a stop sign.
3. Morons who think that by going a million miles an hour faster than the posted speed limit, they will get there faster.
4. Morons who peel out at the stop light when it turns green.
5. Morons who drive through pedestrian walk ways when there are pedestrians actually present in the walkway already!
6. Morons who run red lights.
7. Morons who like to tailgate me. (I just love to take my foot off the gas pedal and slow down for these idiots).
   

I really want to mount a grenade launcher onto the roof of my van to take care of some of these bozo's- that and an L.E.D. message board that I can flash messages at them (like SLOW THE F*** DOWN!! MORON!).

I feel better now.

Oscar picks 2008

It’s Hollywood pat on the back time again- where millions watch the only award show that hardly matters anymore (because the Grammy’s clearly suck). Do the Oscars matter now that every network/magazine or blogger like me rates this stuff at the end of every season? Where are great stars of yesteryear like Cary Grant or Katharine Hepburn? Tom Hanks is not our Jimmy Stewart- he’s our Tom Hanks and that should be enough. Gone are those golden days of great movies. Sure, they churned out some lower grade films then, but do we really need absolute crap like Witless Protection or yet another Rambo movie? Clearly, there are enough morons out there (studio executives who green light this junk & idiots who fill the seats) who say yes. Okay, stepping off the step stool now and my mega horn is thrown away.

Best Picture

Not only do I think No Country for Old Men is the best picture, but it was my favorite movie last year. The Coen brothers have done it again. There Will be Blood is only good because Daniel Day-Lewis did some kick ass (I drink your milkshake!) acting in it. Paul Dano was chronically under used in his role & left out of the Oscar party. Juno, while very good was too cutesy for a best picture win. Atonement was not good enough. In any other year, Michael Clayton would be the front runner but there will be no denying the Coens.

Should Win: No Country for Old Men
Might Win: Cannot see any possibility of another movie winning
Will Win: No Country for Old Men

Best Director

Yeah, you might think I am biased here with my pick of the Coens. This film elevates their already lofty status to new heights. Paul Thomas Anderson is the serious competition here and I don’t think he going to get it (This is not even P.T.A.’s best movie- Boogie Nights easily gets the nod with Magnolia right behind it). The other three are mere window dressing. This race is the one that might be the tightest to call.

Should Win: Joel and Ethan Coen
Might Win: Paul Thomas Anderson
Will Win: Joel and Ethan Coen

Best Actress

This is a two horse race: Marion Cotillard in a movie that no one has seen & Julie Christie in another movie that no one has seen. Ellen Page got the late year push from Juno, but her role is mostly charming smart-ass quips and not great acting (the real gem in Juno is the writing- Thank you Diablo Cody). Laura Linney is solid in just about everything she does and I am waiting for a big role to come her way so she can really shine. Cate Blanchett is not going to win this year in this category since she is nominated twice. That leaves Cotillard and Christie. Gut feeling is Christie takes it as she is an established name.

Should Win: Laura Linney
Might Win: Marion Cotillard
Will Win: Julie Christie

Best Actor

Daniel Day-Lewis vs. the world on this one. His competition is filled with worthy actors. George Clooney might prove us all wrong. Tommy Lee Jones doesn’t have a real chance in a movie most people did not see. Johnny Depp is a good actor, but is wearing out his welcome in quirky roles (note to Depp: please stay away from Tim Burton for a long, long, LONG TIME). Viggo Mortensen in a powerhouse role will not win either (the Academy likes the Best Actor Winners to be in dramas. Only four winners since 1980 featured actors in terribly violent roles: De Niro, Hopkins, Crowe & Washington)

Should Win: Daniel Day-Lewis
Might Win: George Clooney
Will Win: Daniel Day-Lewis

Best Supporting Actress

Best Supporting Actress is always an interesting one to try to figure out. Will it be another year of an out of the blue winner like Saoirse Ronan (Atonement) or Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone)? Will it be a year for an established background actress to be recognized like Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton)? There is always the sympathy vote for a veteran actress like Ruby Dee who has never been nominated and Oscar likes to give these out for career achievement. Then you have the actress who really deserves it like Cate Blanchett (I’m Not There). There should be no question here… yet there always is.

Should Win: Cate Blanchett
Might Win: All four besides C.B., but the lean is towards Ruby Dee
Will Win: Cate Blanchett

Best Supporting Actor

Unlike its sister category, I don’t see the same kind of out of the blue possibilities every year in this race. Javier Bardem should win this easily friend-o. There is stiff competition with Philip Seymour Hoffman in the mix (hell, he could be tough to beat in three roles this year: The Savages, Before the Devil Knows Your Dead & the nominated role in Charlie Wilson’s War). New comer Casey Affleck is this year’s Ryan Gosling. Tom Wilkinson is A-1 in Michael Clayton but would rate #3 in this year’s category. Hal Holbrook should escort Ruby Dee down the red carpet as he is her counterpart this year though I give him no chance.

Should Win: Javier Bardem
Might Win: Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Academy loves to have actors with Best Actor & Supporting Actor Oscar’s: There are currently six)
Will Win: Javier Bardem

The Rest of my Picks:

Animated Feature: Persepolis
Art Direction: Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Cinematography: No Country For Old Men
Costume Design: Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Documentary Feature: War/Dance
Documentary Short: Salim Baba
Film Editing: No Country For Old Men
Foreign Language Film: The Counterfeiters
Makeup: La Vie en Rose
Original Score: Michael Clayton
Original Song: Once
Short Film (animated): I Met the Walrus
Short Film (live action): At Night
Sound Editing: The Bourne Ultimatum
Sound Mixing: Ratatouille
Visual Effects: Transformers
Screenplay (adapted): No Country For Old Men
Screenplay (original): Juno

Another Day, Another Cup of Coffee

I've been up for just under three hours now. I've had time for a bit of television, web surfing, emails, two cups of coffee (well, maybe it's really four because my mug is pretty big) and a bit of time for reflection.

What is this day going to bring me I wonder? I know it will be the usual drudgery at work which is fine because I am able to do my job in my sleep. No challenges there really. I've decided not to take a double promotion that has been offered. I had tentatively agreed to take the position but other than a verbal agreement, nothing has been hashed out. I warned them that I might feel shaky about the whole thing later on if I took the job. Turns out, it didn't even take me that long. Every day has been filled with pressure & stress that only comes from my own head. I cannot compromise myself in this way, so I have to go back to them and say "No Thanks". Tomorrow is the day of reckoning.

The good news is that I am taking nine days off starting this Saturday. The bad news is that I am not going any where. That is quite okay though as I need the time to figure out some things so I can get my act together. I'm not getting any younger you know.

I am listening to Pearl Jam's Live at the Gorge 05/06 set.

I've become such a big fan this year after years of ignoring them. Low Light is a beautifully powerful song. I have a co-worker to thank for that. How can a band such as this be so under the radar in the U.S.? I suppose you can attribute that to the lousy state of the music industry. Thanks a lot you greedy backward thinking bastards!

Well, I have to get my day started- no more coffee though...NEED FOOD!

Books, Best of 2007

Yep, I really read 106 books last year. I’d read more if I could find the time but I really do have other things to do & if anything, maybe I should read a little less (don’t really want to do that) in order to concentrate on more important items.

As was my decision last year, I will put forth two top ten lists. One with books released in 2007 only and the second will be comprised of books released in years prior to that (because there are too many good books that I have not read yet).

Without any further bloated meanderings, here are my top ten books (in order) of 2007:

1. Dead Boys Richard Lange
   
2. A Good and Happy Child Justin Evans
3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows J.K. Rowling
4. Crashing Through Robert Kurson
5. After Dark Haruki Murakami
6. In the Country of Men Hisham Matar
7. Blaze Richard Bachman
8. Mistress of the Art of Death Ariana Franklin
9. Heart-Shaped Box Joe Hill
10. The Uncommon Reader Alan Bennett

Here is the second list (in order) but I will not place books in this list that I have re-read such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy, older Stephen King titles, Murakami, Herbert etc- you know, favorites you read again & again.

1. Special Topics in Calamity Physics Marisha Pessl
2. The Book of Lost Things John Connolly
3. Feeding a Yen Calvin Trillian
4. The Stupidest Angel:A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror Christopher Moore
5. Gringos in Paradise Barry Golson
6. Heat Bill Buford
7. Comes a Horseman Robert Liparulo
8. Mostly True: Collected Stories & Drawings Brian Andreas
9. Exile on Main St.: A Season in Hell with The Rolling Stones Robert Greenfield
10. Sharp Objects Gillian Flynn

I read a lot of good books last year and there are authors on the list such as John Connolly, Cormac McCarthy and Don DeLillo that I had never read before. I look forward to reading more of their work in the future.

Newer authors such as Marcus Sakey, Bill Cameron, Hisham Matar, Richard Lange & Justin Evans are also not to be overlooked.

There are also new titles to look forward to in the coming months:

1. The Serpent’s Tale (Ariana Franklin- released 01/31/08)
2. At the City’s Edge (Marcus Sakey- just released)
3. Indefinite Leave to Remain (David Sedaris- released 06/03/08)

Finally, if you have not heard of Granta (The Magazine of New Writing) and you like good short stories, non-fiction, poetry, photography & overall quality literature, then check it out. It is a quarterly publication that is issued in trade paperback format and retails for around $15.00. It is money well spent and a great way to learn of authors/subjects you may not have heard about.

Below is a complete list of what I read in 2007 and when I finished each title (nerdy, I know). The books have varied in length… some less than 50 and others almost 900 pages.

There are lots of good books on the list.

Happy Reading!

1. Heat Bill Buford 01/06/07
   
2. Talk to the Snail Stephen Clarke 01/08/07
   
3. The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror Christopher Moore 01/11/07
4. The Book of Lost Thing John Connolly 01/16/07
5. Comes a Horseman Robert Liparulo 01/18/07
6. Sharp Objects Gillian Flynn 01/22/07
7. Exile on Mainstreet: A Season in Hell with The Rolling Stones Robert Greenfield 01/26/07
8. The Road Cormac McCarthy 01/28/07
9. Travels in the Scriptorium Paul Auster 01/30/07
10. You Suck: A Love Story Christopher Moore 01/31/07
11. The Alexandria Link Steve Berry 02/04/07
12. 102 Minutes Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn 02/05/07
13. The Blood Spilt Åsa Larsson 02/08/07
14. Suite Francaise Irene Nemirovsky 02/10/07
15. The Castle in the Forest Norman Mailer 02/19/07
16. Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich Mark Kriegel 02/22/07
17. In Harm's Way Doug Stanton 02/24/07
18. In the Country of Men Hisham Matar 03/06/07
19. Heart-Shaped Box Joe Hill 03/08/07
20. Mistress of the Art of Death Ariana Franklin 03/18/07
21. Granta 96: War Zones Ian Jack (Editor) 03/22/07
22. Gringos in Paradise Barry Golson 03/26/07
23. Scavenger David Morrell 03/31/07
24. Nocturnes John Connolly 04/09/07
25. Climbing the Mango Trees Madhur Jaffrey 04/12/07
26. Crashing Through Robert Kurson 04/17/07
27. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Frank Miller 04/26/07
28. The Far Side Gallery 5 Gary Larson 05/03/07
29. Jamestown Matthew Sharpe 05/13/07
30. The Double Eagle James Twining 05/15/07
31. After Dark Haruki Murakami 05/17/07
32. The Adventuress Audrey Niffenegger 05/22/07
33. The Judas Strain James Rollins 05/23/07
34. The Overlook Michael Connelly 05/24/07
35. The Witch of Portobello Paulo Coelho 06/04/07
36. The Curse of Madame "C": A Farside Collection Gary Larson 06/05/07
37. The Far Side Gallery 4 Gary Larson 06/06/07
38. A Thousand Splendid Suns Khaled Hosseini 06/11/07
39. Blaze Richard Bachman 06/19/07
40. God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything Christopher Hitchens 06/19/07
41. The Good Guy Dean Koontz 06/20/07
42. Michael Tolliver Lives Armistead Maupin 06/22/07
43. Wall and Piece Banksy 06/23/07
44. Mediterrean Summer: A Season on France's Cote d'Azur… David Shalleck with Erol Munuz 06/24/07
45. The Children of Húrin J.R.R. Tolkien 06/27/07
46. The Rug Merchant Meg Mullins 06/29/07
47. Zugzwang Ronan Bennett 07/02/07
48. Granta 97: Best of Young American Novelists 2 Ian Jack (Editor) 07/06/07
49. Lost Dog Bill Cameron 07/07/07
50. The Atheist's Bible: An Illustrious Collection of Irreverent Thoughts Joan Konner (Editor) 07/08/07
51. Milk Eggs Vodka Bill Keaggy 07/09/07
52. The Dark River John Twelve Hawks 07/13/07
53. The Blade Itself Marcus Sakey 07/15/07
54. Mostly True: Collected Stories & Drawings Brian Andreas 07/15/07
55. Chill of Night John Lutz 07/16/07
56. Still Mostly True: Collected Stories & Drawings Brian Andreas 07/16/07
57. Rickles' Book Don Rickles with David Ritz 07/17/07
58. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows J.K. Rowling 07/22/07
59. Kingdom of Ten Thousand Things Gary Geddes 07/28/07
60. Falling Man Don DeLillo 07/31/07
61. The Uncommon Reader Alan Bennett 07/31/07
62. A Good and Happy Child Justin Evans 08/06/07
63. Granta 98: The Deep End Ian Jack (Editor) 08/10/07
64. The Amateur Gourmet: How to Shop, Chop, and Table-Hop Like a Pro Adam D. Roberts 08/11/07
65. Interred With Their Bones Jennifer Lee Carrell 08/13/07
66. Spook Country William Gibson 08/20/07
67. Different Seasons Stephen King 08/21/07
68. Dune Frank Herbert 08/25/07
69. Crooked Little Vein Warren Ellis 08/28/07
70. Dune Messiah Frank Herbert 08/30/07
71. Nexus Confessions: Volume One Lindsay Gordon (Editor) 08/30/07
72. The Sanctuary Raymond Khoury 09/03/07
73. Children of Dune Frank Herbert 09/06/07
74. Baltimore, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden 09/08/07
75. Special Topics in Calamity Physics Marisha Pessl 09/16/07
76. Death and the Devil Frank Schatzing 09/18/07
77. The Intruders Michael Marshall 09/23/07
78. Dead Boys Richard Lange 09/29/07
79. Super Crunchers Ian Ayres 10/01/07
80. Inside Kenneth J. Harvey 10/04/07
81. Red Sea Emily Benedek 10/07/07
82. Fire in the Blood Irene Nemirovsky 10/11/07
83. I Am America (And So Can You!) Stephen Colbert 10/14/07
84. God Emperor of Dune Frank Herbert 10/17/07
85. The Sad Truth About Happiness Anne Giardini 10/21/07
86. Kafka on the Shore Haruki Murakami 10/28/07
87. The Hobbit (or There and Back Again) J.R.R. Tolkien 10/30/07
88. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring J.R.R. Tolkien 10/31/07
89. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers J.R.R. Tolkien 11/06/07
90. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King J.R.R. Tolkien 11/07/07
91. Cancel Your Own Goddam Subscription William F. Buckley Jr. 11/09/07
92. Exit Ghost Philip Roth 11/12/07
93. Sword of God Chris Kuzneski 11/14/07
94. Deadfall Robert Liparulo 11/19/07
95. Holidays on Ice David Sedaris 11/25/07
96. Granta 99: What Happened Next F. Ahmed, L. Jobey, M. Weiland (Editors) 11/26/07
97. The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry Kathleen Flinn 11/27/07
98. Skeleton Crew Stephen King 12/01/07
99. Feeding a Yen Calvin Trillin 12/03/07
100. I Am Legend Richard Matheson 12/11/07
101. 2033: The Future of Misbehavior Nerve.com, Editors 12/12/07
102. The Fortune Cookie Chronicles Jennifer 8. Lee 12/19/07
103. Granta 67: Women and Children First Ian Jack (Editor) 12/23/07
104. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (A Pop-up Book) Stephen King 12/25/07
105. The Venetian Betrayal Steve Berry 12/27/07
106. The Darkest Evening of the Year Dean Koontz 12/31/07

For Pete’s sake stop already!

I’ve just about had it with the so called clothing style for teenage boys where they wear their pants pulled down past their ass. You can plainly see they can afford a belt (because it is usually worn the wrong way), but I am mystified as to why they wear pants like this. I cannot think of any specific role model/musician/actor who could possibly be a trendsetter for this horrible clothing concoction. If I have to see one more kid on the job somewhere while their store management is oblivious I am going to slap someone. Plus, I am really tired of having to see plumber crack when my household water is working just fine.

Please, please, please make this go away!

Duma Key

I am currently about a quarter of the way through Stephen King’s latest book titled Duma Key. Wow! What a great book so far. Folks, this is Stephen King at his absolute best. When this comes out next week (Tuesday, January 22nd), run right out and buy it.