The Jobey on...

"Halleluja" by Jeff Buckley

2006-10-15T03:53:00.000-05:00

I'm listening to a live version of Halleluja by Jeff Buckley
tonight because life is confusing
and I drink too much to make sense of it.

(Dedicated to my readers.)

"Use Me" by Bill Withers

2006-08-20T21:42:00.000-05:00

That song kicks ass. That one time when we hit another round, there was a band out back that played an awesome cover of it. Anyway, go d.l. it.

Summer 2006 is in the books. What a time. In spite of my lame-ass job, I had a terrific time from start to finish. Wire-to-wire, I had a great time. Played a lot of lacrosse, played a lot of disc golf, drank a lot of fine libations, enjoyed fantastic company. If that's not keeping real, I don't know what is. I'm going to put together a top 10 list for the summer. You know, so that I can put a nice pretty VH1-style bow on this party. Look for that soon.

This school year promises to be great, too. I'm looking forward to everything this year, even classes. How odd is that? It's going to be an interesting year. Should be a fun ride.

Everybody enjoy yourselves. Don't drink and drive. Don't be stumbling around in the streets with an open tall boy of High Life when the cops are around. The fucks. Hope all my readers have a great, P.I.-citation-free year. Peace.

"Airline to Heaven" by Wilco

2006-05-09T00:54:00.000-05:00

Ok, I know this is going to sound a little morbid, but when the day comes that there is a funeral for me I want that song played. The live version, off Kicking Television. And I expect all those in attendence to sing along. Lyric sheets will be provided, hopefully.

I don't have much to say expect that. Just wanted to throw that out there while I remembered. So there's some documentation when the day comes. And hopefully it won't come in handy for a long-ass time. I got a lot of beers to consume, a lot of skeet to shoot, a lot of money to blow on stupid shit...a lot of life to live, and I love every minute of it. You should do the same.

"Uninvited" by Alanis Morissette

2006-05-02T02:28:00.000-05:00

Listen to that song. It pisses my shit off. It's a fucking great song; if it weren't that good, it probably wouldn't piss me off so much. It's just so realistic. I've fucking been to that point of unrequited love, that point where I virtually had these lyrics recited to me. It fucking sucks. Which is why this song pisses me off. It honestly captures point of view of someone unable to reciprocate, and I have a hard time with that concept still.

Wow. I just realized how vulgar my language gets at 2:30 in the Am.

Anyway, I forgot to post something about The Jobey on...'s one year anniversary. What a long strange trip it's been. There. That had to be done.

Well, I'm sure you've all got your own concerns these days. It's dead week for me, so I'm wrapping up the semester and making important decisions like 'how old is too old' (I actually don't think it matters) and if I'm keeping it real enough (My tan is coming in pretty nicely).

Ok, well, kids do good on your finals. Remember to floss. And drink a lot of beer. Not vodka. Not scotch. Beer. Ok. And, kids, soon enough summer will be here, and you'll have plenty of time to drink beer and meet ladies with Uncle Jobey. Don't worry, triflin' bitches will be forgot in days of auld lang sine...or whatever the fuck...

Later.

"Here Comes Success" by Iggy Pop

2006-04-22T11:09:00.000-05:00

I can't wait for summer. Geez. This has been a long semester. It's been strange. It was all inevitable, though, I guess. Cosmic fucking music, right, A. Casey?

But soon enough, I'll be at home for the summer. Time to make some jack, refill the coffers for my senior year. It should be a decent summer. I won't make the same mistake I made last year and go into summer with high expectations. This summer, all I want it to get a job I can tolerate for a few months, have fun at every opportunity I find, and, as always, keep it real.

On to the issues...

...on fuel
Damn, gas is expensive. Barrels of crude broke $75 the other day. What the fuck is going on? Someone who knows about oil production, corporate politics and/or greed, explain this before I start chokin' motha fuckas. $2.75 a gallon is ridiculous. Remember the prices you're paying for gas this summer when midterm elections come up in November. Remember who was giving big oil tax breaks and vote accordingly. Oil is going to be the issue this fall. Which is sad because we still have a pair of wars going on and kids getting sent home in flag-draped coffins everyday, coffins which the press is banned from showing, but that's yet another issue...

...on the Duke Lacrosse scandal
I just want justice. That means if the players are guilty, send them to prison. If they are innocent, release them and let thm sue the D.A., which I'm sure their parents will do considering the background the players come from. This entire case is a huge soap opera. My favorite sub plots:

Rev. Jesse Jackson offers to pay for the victim's college education. When ask if he would make good on the offer even if her charges are proven false, he said he would. Wow. Does he just not realize that if she is found to be lying and he still pays her college bill, it will only make other girls think to themselves, 'Hey, if I say this happened, even if it didn't, I'll get paid.' Making the public even less likely to trust victims of rape.
The D.A.'s up-coming re-election. This case is all over the place right now and along with it Mike Nifong's name. Pursuing this case is good publicity for him. Whether he's basing his indictments on his actual feelings about the case or about keeping this in the news is open for discussion after no DNA evidence was found from the victim.

Although I am a lacrosse player (well, kinda), I'm not taking sides on this issue. I'm not going to stand behind some guys and later find out they are guilty of something so heinous. I will also not stand behind the victim and later find out she was lying. I'll let the due process of law take its course and await the outcome, like we should all do if our nation still stands on its founding principles. Okay, now everyone knows where I stand on that.

Well, shit. I'm gonna go enjoy this beautiful day. Y'all go do the same.

The Jobey Poll
Watch this. Tell me what you think.

"Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple

2006-04-14T10:47:00.000-05:00

This is going to be a numbered post, because I can't think of decent segues right now.

1) I'm not going to lie: I like the shit out of beer. I drank my half gallon of Red Brick Ale from the Brewery last night. That is some good beer. Currently my favorite. Actually, it's been my favorite for quite awhile, so I guess that really says something for this beer. It's pricey, but it's worth it. If I go home this weekend, I will fill the jug on the way...and not with urine.

2) Check out the items I purchases at the supermarket last night:

Best Choice Hot Dog Buns: $0.93
Farmland Franks: $0.98
Shasta Cola: $0.88

Fill in your own punchline.

3) I'm reading Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk right now. It's not bad. I just wish it would get to the point sometimes. His minimalist style is kind of wearing on me since I'm over half way through the book and I'm still not sure what exactly is going on. That does make me want to keep reading though.

Well, that's all I got for ya, so here's a random rap quote and I'm done:

"When I hit the club, all the gulz show me love. Buyin' out the bar got drank by the jug."
Slim Thug

Alright, I'm off to fix a hearty late breakfast.

"Fake Plastic Trees" by Radiohead

2006-04-02T23:03:00.000-05:00

That's right. Fake. Plastic. That's all I surround myself with apparently. Nothing real. And what is real, I can't deal with, so I push it away.

My night just continued to go downhill after I posted that "Ballad of Big Nothing" post last night. After consuming a few adult beverages, I decided that the only way to ensure I wouldn't have anymore nights ruined by calls from certain people would be to have a conversation with someone I should have had a long time ago. And it fucking sucked. For one thing, I haven't spoken to her in over a month and realized how fucking much I miss talking to her just from hearing her voice. For another, the subject matter is going to make me out to be a big asshole. Not to say that I'm not, but I'm sure this conversation will be discussed with mutual friends who will judge me based on it. It's not for me to say whether that's fair or not. Anyway, I really could have used someone to talk to last night...which offers a great seg-way, as it happens, seeing as someone I've considered my best friend for a good portion of my life just so happened to be in Norman last night and was doing a great job of blowing me off completely. And I couldn't get in touch with anyone else to talk to me, partly because my phone was dead, partly because my other confidants were sleeping or busy.

I did talk to one person for a considerable amount of time after that first significant call of the night (the one that made me feel guilty), and I truly appreciate the fact that he allowed me to talk his bloody ear off with my rapid fire explanation of the excruciatingly confusing night I had stumbled upon. I don't know if you still read this, but, Thanks a lot, bro. I know you weren't expecting me to drop all that shit on you last night, especially since we haven't talked a lot in a while, so I really appreciate you lending me your ear. Holla at me when you come to Norman...I mean, if you feel like it, I know some folks don't like to bother, so I won't cramp your style or anything if you're not into that.

So, I guess I'm back to the Fake Plastic Trees thing. I'm pushing away some people who aren't fake and trying to embrace some who are. For clarification, I'm trying to be vain and I'm trying my best not to take my real friends for granted, mom. There just comes a point where I've got to look out for myself and turn certain people away. Shit. That sounds terrible...

Ok. I just remember why I got into such a funk last night. It was because of the poetic justice I felt was being done on me by the world by having certain people bail on me and then turn around and do the same thing in a different way to someone else. Somehow, purposefully or inadvertently (Jesus Christ, I hope it's the latter. Not like it matters except for my ego at this point any-damn-way), I was cast as the odd man out in a play I'd just written for another person. Well, needless to say, a night of drinking and deep introspective nightmares proceeded.

So, in conclusion...well, shit, I don't really have one. I guess all I've got left to say is that I don't want this shit to affect me anymore, so I'll try to get back to the basics: Going to class, playing lacrosse, playing disc golf, eating well, drinking better, paying homage to Bacchus. Basically, find and suckle that sweet teet of Fun until that bitch runs dry.

Middle finger to the haters.

And, I'm spent.

"Ballad of Big Nothing" by Elliott Smith

2006-04-01T19:31:00.000-06:00

I wrote a post with that title earlier in the week, but I erased it because of content I regretted having written. This time I'm writing this post. This time I won't write anything I regret. This time it'll be truthful.

Somewhere about Monday afternoon I was feeling about as confident as I ever have in my life. About everything. I was pretty happy with myself, the fact I was rapidly getting my academics back on track, and just a lot of things.

However, as the week progressed, the bottom fell out on all those good feelings and I realized things aren't that great and that maybe they are worse than that.

So, right now, I'm sitting around my apartment, alone. It's quiet because side one of Either/Or just ended and I haven't gotten up to turn it over yet. And I'm thinking. I'm thinking about how happy I should be tonight. We won a lacrosse game. A good friend of mine is in town. I had a chance to talk to Wayne by chance. Red Dirt's going to be practically giving away drinks tonight. Tonight the sky could be the limit for me.

But for some reason I feel completely deflated. I don't feel up to doing any of it. It might be because of that phone call I got when my mom and I got back from our day out in Norman. I know that has something to do with it. Even though there's not much I can do about that situation. I feel bad about bailing on friends, but I'm just not strong enough to deal with that situation tonight.

I tried to handle that call as delicately as I could, knowing how sensitive the situation is for my friend. I still felt guilty. I still feel guilty. And that fact that my mom half-way lectured me after the conversation didn't help me feel any better. She said I should have thanked him for calling and asking about the game, but I had enough reciprocity to ask about how his event this afternoon went. So I feel like I'm fine there...

Ah, that's better. Side two. "Rose Parade."

"And when they clean the streets, I'll be the only shit that's left behind."

As good as I have it in my life, it just makes me as a person feel more like shit. Maybe I've just built an impossible image of myself that makes the real me feel more and more like shit myself as I continually perpetuate the image and compare myself to it. I don't know.

All I know is that between the guilt, regret, fear, loathing, depression, confusion, feelings of utter worthlessness, all I want to do is something that I've promised myself I wouldn't do for awhile and that worries me even more. Maybe I should just hide out tonight, shut off my phone, try to finish Lullaby...but, since I probably won't, I just hope I don't regret it.

"It's Going Down" by Blackalicious

2006-03-27T21:40:00.000-06:00

I found out about this group Blackalicious this evening when I was at Guestroom Records. So I guess this evening I found a new favorite rap group and record store. Guestroom has a sweet selection and Blackalicious has the best beats I've heard in a long time. Sweet.

This last weekend was possibly the most interesting I've ever had. I can't go into many details because of legal and personally embarrassing implications, but just know I had an amazing time sans the 20-2 loss to Texas Tech we suffered in lacrosse.

I just realized I've become too lazy to hyperlink my text. Geez. I used to be pretty good at that. I've missed...let's see...at least 5 opportunities to link this stuff. Sorry.

Ok. One more thing and then I'm done:

Let's hear it for the ladies!

Kiss the rings, bitch. I'm out.

"Paper Tiger" by Spoon

2006-03-20T19:39:00.000-06:00

The second half of the semester lies ahead of me. I'm reminded of last New Year's Day when I committed to leaving the disappointments of the previous year behind. The first half of this semester has been weird; good in some respects, bad in others. I feel more motivated coming into the home stretch than I did at the outset. Things feel better, you know? Maybe it's just the euphoria from spending a week sleeping in and playing really good disc golf. Man, did I plan some good disc golf...

Dropping the emotional baggage of the last couple of months is allowing me more time to concentrate on how to turn this semester around for the better. Call me crass for doing so, call me Machiavellian, but if I can pull a 3.75 this spring and have a good time doing it, feelings will be cast aside.

The Jobey Poll
What's the story?

"Whorehoppin' (Shit, Goddamn)" by Eagles of Death Metal

2006-03-13T00:54:00.000-06:00

What I've learned so far on spring break:
1) I can play Chandler to -3 in 15-20 mph wind. (And I did today. Bitches.)
2) I need to learn to play defense better in lacrosse.
3) Eagles of Death Metal fucking rule.
4) The Strokes are amazing live.
5) What it means for a bitch to be trippin'.
6) That I should consider another "bitches be trippin'" post.
7) Rolling your ankle in the afternoon then standing on it for 5 straight hours will make it very sore.

And now for a random rap quote:
"[I] had this one broad, right? She was so damn sprung, she used to hold my mothafuckin', mothafuckin' sack, nigga..."

Bad news: I've lost 3 discs already this year. 2 valkyries and a viking. That's nearly 30 bucks worth of plastic. Lame.

I'm posted up in the Springs for break, y'all. Keeping it so real you can't even fathom this realness. I'm going to get shitty tomorrow night. I just decided this. Hurray beer.

"Ex-Factor" by Lauryn Hill

2006-03-11T00:20:00.000-06:00

Man, fuck meth and anyone who cooks it, sells it or ingests it. When I can't go into Wal-Mart at midnight and get some sudaphed, I get annoyed at bastards who make it necessary for things like sudaphed to classified a controlled substance.

So, I ended up getting some of those nasal strips to help me breathe. I guess it's for the best that I couldn't get any non-drowsy sudaphed. Best to not risk one's heart exploding on Ironman Lacrosse Day.

But, still, fuck meth. That shit is stupid as hell.

Peace out.

"The Good Times Are Killing Me" by Modest Mouse

2006-02-28T20:30:00.000-06:00

I decided earlier today that my mama's right; I am depressed, probably clinically. I also decided that with all the shit I'm putting up with in my life, it's a bad time to be depressed. So I'm going to get an actual shrink and, if necessary, drugs. I'm not looking forward to the latter, but, at this point, whatever I need, right?

In other news, the basketball game on senior night was amazing. The seniors, playing their last game at the LNC no less, won the game for the team. 67-66. It was great.

In other, less timely news, the OU lacrosse team won their first game of the season 9-1 over Stephen F. Austin. That was a great game to be a part of. Especially after all the hard work we've all put into this season and starting off 0-4. Getting our first win in front of the home crowd was great.

Other than that, I've mainly been depressed, angry, annoyed, anxious, scared, and useless. And all that worries me, so I'm going to do something about it.

The Jobey Poll
What are you doing over spring break?

"Like a Friend" by Pulp

2006-02-21T09:04:00.000-06:00

I really wish I had used this song for my music video now. It'd be better than "The Broken Heart" by the Mooney Suzuki, even though I love that song and think I could make an alright video for it in class. I might e-mail the T.A. about that.

My life's returning to normalacy it seems. I hope this keeps up for at least a couple of weeks. I think I'm over that one thing. Sunday night ended it for me. That's fine by me, kinda. By kinda, I mean it's tough to let go of it, but I've realized it's something I was going to have to let go ex die uno.

I'm afraid now that it took up such a portion of my life that I'm trying to fill the void with what some have termed self-destructive behavior. I'm going to cut back on that, I think.

Seriously, though, what did she expect to accomplish with a call like that? I mean I realize there was one question in that that I needed to answer, but beyond that, what? Shit, I'm pretty sure I'm through it, but calls like that are making it harder. And for someone not wanting to make it harder, she sure seems oblivious to how bad a call like that can make it.

I don't agree that we need ground rules. I think that after the two-week hiatus, we should just let it work itself out.

On to other business...

I feel like I did when I was in high school. I don't want to do homework. I'm having trouble concentrating in class. I think it's just burn out. One of my professors said it was junior burn out, that point where you've gone to college so long, but the end still seems a long way off. That might be it.

I'm starting to worry that this semester is a wash already. I mean all the signs point toward disaster. It's almost spring break already and there's only going to be more shit coming at me. Maybe I should bring this stuff up on Friday instead of that other bullshit. I probably will discuss that a little bit, to see if it's progressing correctly. But no more than that.

Shit. Why does it seem like my life's going to hell when it's not?

The Jobey Poll
When are those guys going to get here to fix my heat? They said by 10:30 it'd be done.

"Balance Beam" by Blue October

2006-02-19T21:06:00.000-06:00

I've got to listen to that like a million times for Madison's music video. It's a pretty good song, though. So, there.

Anywho, I just decided that it was about time I take on a very serious issue. I've recently noticed just how many damned people are writing blogs of some sort. A couple of people have told me that they use it to "vent." I understand that. Hell, I've done my fair share of venting on this site.

However, I've always done my venting without a lot of specifics. And tonight I was reminded of why not to say very specific things on a public forum like a blog.

All that being said, I'm really having to restrain myself from throwing a lot of very specific thoughts I have on certain people. I'm pretty much half-way pissed off. I'm not sure why. Maybe it was the arrogance that phone call displayed to me.

Yeah, that's probably it.

Arrogance. Nay, arrogance dressed in friendly, caring clothing. "I'm just worried" covers nicely for "I want to eat your soul." I can't hear it in the voice, but I see it in the actions. And it makes me pissed off.

Maybe it's just time I found my own "Penis Showing Game." Something wonderful to take my mind off all this bullshit. That doesn't involve drugs or alcohol. That'd be great.

The Jobey Poll
How do you feel about frontal male nudity?

"Barely Legal" by the Strokes/"Twilight" by Elliott Smith

2006-02-14T21:21:00.000-06:00

So, I'm in the middle of my space-wanting phase. Some people think that going through with that phase will bite me in the ass later (read: think I'm an idiot). Some people think it's a good idea (read: I'm dealing with some real freaks). Some people think I stepped in a pile of shit and I just can't get it off my shoe.

The problem becomes that I know what all these people think, but I don't know what I think yet.

Happy Valentine's Day, by the way. My plan to get drunk all day were quashed by that goddamned Film Noir take-home test. Mother fuck that test. I guess that was a blessing in disguise, as those pseudo-religious types around me might say.

I really hate this holiday and this year I feel even worse about it. It's probably because of something I said that Saturday morning. Yeah. That's part of it. Pipe dreams. Fuck.

The problem now is that I've been having memories from that day and the day before. And they are making me depressed. I mean, I'll be sitting in class and something will pop into my head and it's like I got punched in the gut. I don't know what it means.

"California waitin'
Everything has gotta be just right
Say
While you're tryin' to save me
Can I get back my lonely life?"

I've been lonely before and I'll be lonely again. I feel a little lonely now, but it's different. I didn't feel so empty inside when I was lonely before. I want my self-fulfillment back. It's coming back, which is good, but those moments when random memories wash up suck.

Anyway, I was just having a night cap and decided to bitch for a while on this fine, lovely, dandy Valentine's Day.

The Jobey Poll
If you're single, how was your day? If you're not, shut the fuck up.

"This is the Sea" by the Waterboys

2006-02-07T11:25:00.000-06:00

"That was the river, this is the sea."

And I'm drowning.

So, this morning I was trying to just chill around my apartment and not think too much about last night, the drinking, the vomiting. I watched 'Riding Giants' again. Awesome movie. I wish I could surf like that. Hell, I wish I could surf period. That brings me to another topic. This morning has made me really take note of my shortcomings. It's making me depressed.

I'm going through strange times. I've said that before, not too long ago. Maybe I never stopped going through the strange times. Like I've been going through them all along and things just seem different. Alcohol does have a part to play in all this, as much as I hate to admit it. If it weren't for alcohol, none of this round of strange times would have happened.

These strange times were different than the last few. This was actually a lot of fun for a while. I can't say if I regret all this yet. I've thought about it a lot as I'm sure other people have as well. Where would I be today if I skipped Madison's birthday and played caps with the team? Would I still be questioning my existence this morning, hung over and lazy? How fun would it have been to get wasted in Stillwater for my birthday? How great would I look in one of those Kelvin Sampson T-shirts from the Tech game?

If I knew the answers to these questions, I probably wouldn't be asking myself a lot of other questions right now, honestly. The What-If's, the Why's. The Why's are really bothering me now. I have to ask why I was put through all this if we knew it was going to happen anyway. Why let it start in the first place?

I've come to the conclusion that certain people were a lot more selfish then they're willing to let on. Wanting to try something new while keeping two people in precarious positions. I'm not trying to play victim. I have certain blame, too. But if someone in that type of situation lets things happen the way they did, they must know it can't end well and they must know they have the power to stop it. Thus the Why's.

So, that's where I'm at right now. A little angst. A little regret. A lot of confusion.

The Jobey Poll
Can I get some comments? Maybe some opinions? Maybe somebody tell me, "It's alright, Jobey, you'll find the right woman someday"?

"No Action" by Elvis Costello

2006-01-31T20:31:00.000-06:00

An Orange and Cream Slurpee with some Captain Morgan can really spice up the State of the Union address. Here's a list of quotes from the speech...my quotes, that is:

Is that Derek Jeter sitting next to Leiberman? What the fuck?
Holy shit! Obama is asleep!!!
Hillary doesn't look impressed by that Patriot Act remark...but damn she looks good tonight.
Bill's gon' be hittin' dat shit tonight, son.
Wait. Is that chick blind?
Is McCain sitting next to Coburn? I just lost a lot of respect for him. Tons.
Rejects amnesty? FLIP-FLOP!!!! FLIP-FLAAAWP!!!
Don't even grandstand like that, you mother fucker! You know you don't give a shit about women's health!
Nuc-u-ler! I heard it!!!
Laura Bush is kinda cock-eyed. There, I said it.
Democrats! Stand the fuck up! He's talking about reviving the American Dream!
Oh. Nevermind. He's awake.
Ah, yes, the optative when calling for God to bless America. Good job.

I think I created a new drink: The State of the Union. A medium Orange Creamcicle Slurpee and as much Captain Morgan Spiced Rum as you need to sit still for the whole speech. Thank you. Now back to my regularly scheduled Latin homework.

The Jobey Poll

What'd ya think of dat bullshiiiit?

"Should've Been in Love" by Wilco

2006-01-24T16:21:00.000-06:00

on disc golf and life
I shot +2 at Colonial today. It seems like I play better when my mind is burdened. I shot par there when I had a lot on my mind. I threw some of my longest drives after my near nervous breakdown. And now I shot +2.

"In a Young Man's Mind" by The Mooney Suzuki

2006-01-20T08:19:00.000-06:00

I went out and bought a 40 of O.E. and a 24 oz. of Smirnoff Ice at midnight. It was great. Tonight should be, in the words of Dave Chappelle as Don King, schpediforous. Yeah...that's all I got. I'm suffering from my first legal hangover right now.

"Next Lifetime" by Erykah Badu

2006-01-15T13:12:00.000-06:00

on brakes
Getting brakes put on my car is turning out to be very difficult. It's lame. It shall be done though. Mark my words. I just want it done now, but parts stores and garages decided they don't want to cooperate, I guess.

on beer
Beer es muy bueno.

on the new soccer jersey I got yesterday at the thrift store
Pretty boss.

The Jobey Poll
How are you celebrating MLK Day?

"Darek H. Latta is the 6th Biggest Cock in the World" by Toby Queef

2006-01-04T10:17:00.000-06:00

For the record, Darek is not that big a cock, but that's the name of the song and that's the last position he took on the list. The Administration was No. 1, followed by the temporarily-named J-Knob, Jr., Ron Jeremy and Lexxx Steele. Since I had a couple shots of schnopps, my readers will have to figure out the rest of the list for themselves. Also, just because I was playing a solo show does not mean TQ/HC is breaking up.

on 'holy shits!'
Holy shit! I like the shit out of my car.
Holy shit! That dude's remains were on the ceiling fan.
Holy shit! I still haven't copied those CDs from the library.
Holy shit! They were due yesterday.
Holy shit! My new 25" by 42" duffle bag is big.
Holy shit! I still haven't been able to enroll.
Holy shit! I still haven't moved back to Norman.
Holy shit! If you're having a party, call me a few hours in advance.
Holy shit! 16 days until my birthday.
Holy shit! Return of the dual B-day celebration, sans shitty enchiladas? Hmmm.
Holy shit! The Strokes' new album is good.

on music
"Positively 4th Street" by Bob Dylan and "Somebody I Used to Know" by Elliott Smith. That's all you need to know.

on the last great quote of 2005
"What'd he do? Tea-bag ya?"
Said by me to Chris Johnson in regard to Nick Bagley with out even knowing what they were discussing or looking up from the guitar I was tuning.

on the greatest (fake) quote of 2006 about that quote
"Uh, he said something about, like, coffee filters."
Chris Johnson to Darek Latta in Paul's mind.

The Jobey Poll
Best memory of the Stach. Go.

A Year in Review.

2005-12-24T20:49:00.000-06:00

Looking back on a year like the year of our lord 2005 isn't a happy proposition for me. 2005 was a roller coaster of a year, but not a fun one. The lows reached depths heretofore unexperienced for me and the highs never seemed to balance that out.

Some people who may or may not read this may think that my perspective of the past year is tainted by the last two months of introspective hell and self-doubt I've had to traverse. But with a look back at the moments and trends from my 2005, it's easy to see that this year was never that great and just seemed to get worse as it wore on.

I'm not going to give a detailed story of this year. Now is not the time; I've been awake too much, asleep too little these past few days. I'll just throw out a list of things I remember from this year, a list tossed together in no particular order, the good, the bad, the raw truth.

Cole Murdoch's death
Starting at OU
My "summer of futility and impotence"
The 2-day job
My brother's 18th B-day
My near nervous breakdown
That weekend in Stillwater/toga party/whoopin' Brett's and Zwiefel's asses at Boomer
The night Paul and Erin came to Norman
That party in Edmond
The campout
Hunter S. Thompson's suicide
Joining the lacrosse team
My first lacrosse game
Going worst-to-first in Fantasy Football
Learning to hold a grudge
My first 'D'
Wayne's going-away party
NEO graduation
Playing outrageous amounts of disc golf

That's just the stuff off the top of my head from the bulk of the year. A lot of those events may seem inane, but I think that every small event is a part of a bigger picture, and by looking back at all these things I think a comprehensive portrait of my year that was will emerge.

The amazing thing about this year that I can see is the unlikely high notes it has ended on. This last week of 2005 has been pretty incredible. Most of my time during the week was spent helping Paul and his family move into T-town from the neighborhood I've shared with them since I was in 6th grade. Now they are in their house in Tulsa and it's great.

The day after their move was completed, the Stachenwagen, known to many as the Stach or Stachie, finally succumbed to transmission failure. Everyone has been expecting this since I started driving her in my junior year of high school (Don't pretend you haven't).

My best friend moving from Meadow Valley and my car's demise could have been the knockout punches on me after a year of body blows, but instead, it's been a great week for the most part and it's left me hopeful for 2006: Paul's new place is great and now I'm driving a fuckin' Cadillac.

So, this December 31, I am looking forward to leaving the broken dreams, burned bridges, regrets, and just the general bullshit in the past. I am looking forward to a year with far less of those things and far more kicking of ass.

I'm going to have a great 2006. This New Year's Eve will be a celebration of the year ahead...now...just where the fuck am I going to have that celebration, goddammit?!

"There was no point in looking back. Fuck no. Not today, thank you kindly." HST

2005-12-15T07:14:00.000-06:00

I'm going home for a couple weeks. Recharge and reassess are the names of the game.

"Suicidal Thoughts" by Notorious B.I.G.

2005-12-10T11:28:00.000-06:00

I'm done.

"Basketball Jones" by Cheech and Chong/"Shooting Hoops" by G. Love and Special Sauce

2005-12-04T11:45:00.000-06:00

I played some basketball Friday night. I watch basketball all the time and consider myself a pretty big fan, but I don't play very often. I mean, I shoot some free throws from time to time. Well, actually pretty often...but I don't actually play, so I was kind of surprised when I actually jumped up high enough to touch the rim. I didn't dunk, mind you, but I actually got up and got part of my hand in the basket.

I know, what you're thinking: "Jobes, you're like 6'3". Why are you so excited about touching the rim?" Well, kiss my ass, I don't play basketball very often.

So, now I'm thinking, I should play basketball more often. A lot more often. I mean, "I'm-goin'-out-for-a-schola'shiiip" often. Sooner or later, I'm going to dunk. I was beginning to seriously doubt I was ever going to have the hops to dunk, but now I'm pretty sure I can. I'm still going to play lacrosse, though.

Ok. Enough hoop dreams. Now for the important stuff.

My former roommate, Wayne, is going to the Navy this week. Even though we don't get to hang out often, I still consider him one of my best, closest friends. I wish him the best as he moves into this new chapter of his life. Also, good luck to him and his new fiance, Kayla. Mad love, y'all. Be safe, bro.

On a related note, his going-away party was awesome. It was great getting to see Wayne before he leaves. I got to see some other folks I went to school with up there, too, which was nice. I didn't feel depressed overall for the first time in a long time. I loved it.

Editor's Note: I shot +7 at Francis Park in Miami Saturday. Trust me that's not bad at that park in the wind.

The Jobey Poll
Is Gilgamesh Rex going to get a foot in his ass? Metaphorically speaking, of course.

"When I Was Cruel" by Elvis Costello

2005-11-30T23:23:00.000-06:00

Alright, I'm all comfortable now and I'm ready to rant.

Recently, I noticed that people younger than me have taken an interest in lecturing me. In case they have forgotten, I'm older than them. If I wanna go out and have a few drinks, I will. If I want to go out and get completely fuckin' bombed, that's my business. That paper I should be working on in the meantime will get done when I say it does. Reality check: I'm a second-semester junior with a 3.90 GPA. There was a reason I worked my ass off my first two years: So I could party balls now. A wise man keeps telling me, "Don't take any guff off these swine." You know what? I won't.

I haven't played disc golf in almost two weeks. Maybe that's why I'm so cranky...no, wait a second...my life sucks balls anyway. Nevermind.

Damn, man. This semester's almost over. What do I have to show for it? First and foremost, I'm a lacrosse player now. That is truly excellent. Probably next on the list is the damage to my liver since August. That definitely ranks up there. Well, I'd actually put the massive debt incurred above the liver thing. That's gonna bite my ass some day. That's about it. I tried some new stuff over the past few months. Most of it failed. Remember when I was going to church? Yeah, I haven't been in over a month. Who knows? Maybe next semester will be better. (Goddamn, I get tired of saying that.)

"No direction home. A complete unknown." Bob Dylan

There it is. My life summed up in six words. I don't know where I've come from and I don't know where I'm going. Neither does anyone else.

I haven't seen much of the world in my life. I've seen even less of it on my own. I'd like to remedy that. But I don't have any money and I'll be damned if I'm joining the military. I want to see the rest of America. I want to see Europe. I want to drive to the end of the Pan American Highway, maybe stop to see Macchu Picchu along the way. I want to learn how to surf. I want to hike through Tibet. I want to know what the Mediterranean smells like at dusk.

How am I supposed to know where I want to end up if I don't know what's out there? "No direction home." That's what I'm left with.

The Jobey Poll
You're not going to comment any-damn-way. No poll for you.

Party Politics

2005-11-21T13:01:00.000-06:00

This semester, I've partied more than I have in any other period in my life, and I think through the haze of drunkenness and euphoria I've learned a couple of things.

Number one, I like large parties with mass quantities of alcohol and other favors and plenty of music played at reasonable levels. Lots of people getting wasted and having a good-ass time.

Number two, which is a reason for number one, is that I have become turned off, indeed paranoid, of the small party scene. Sure, I've had some great times just chillin' with small groups and having a few drinks, but that just hasn't been the case recently. Not long ago, there was a small (6-8 person) party I attended that went to hell in a hand basket. Interpersonal battles that had been brewing for weeks, nay, months began before my very eyes. Seriously, there was a point where through my intoxication, I wished the cops would have busted in. In the past some of my worst experiences with alcohol have come from small group parties (OU/Texas weekend, the crying incident, etc.).

So, this last weekend, I was faced with a dilemma: Hang out at a small party with people I had known for a long time or attend a large party across town with some other people I had known for a long time. Now, realizing that I had had a rough past week or so, I knew that my personal life would eventually infect the small party making it a worse experience for those present. I took into account that my desire to get drunk and vent to someone would be a selfish proposition and that in that atmosphere it would be inevitable.

There were other factors leading to my decision to eventually choose the large party: the more favorable male-to-female ratio, the fact that said party was a toga party. I mention the latter because I have always wanted to attend such an event, as most of my friends can attest. Using the former, it could be said, violated the rule of "Bro's Before Ho's." But, honestly, can anyone fault me for that? Doubtful.

My choice to lie in order to leave the small party was a bad call on my part. My friends deserve better than that and I regret it. But at this point in my life, hedonistic calculus is taking over my decision-making process. I gambled on one of the maxims and lost, in doing so, I obtained the maximum pain on one side and the minimum pleasure on the other.

But, it was a risk I felt I had to take.

So, to the haters, the cockblockers, the critics, the racists, the cops, I say, "Let a playa play." And to the kegstanders, the beer pong pros, the party sluts, the beer bongers, and everybody on the dance floor, I say, "Here I come, my babies."

"Man of the Hour" by Pearl Jam

2005-11-17T22:59:00.000-06:00

For those of you keeping count (i.e. my Dashboard), this is post number 50 on thejobey.blogspot.com. Wow. A few more posts and we'll be drawing social security or something.

Anywho...Just a few general observations, then I'm done for the night.

First, I listened to The Strokes' Is This It last night as I was going to sleep. Damn, that took me back--cruising the Springs in the Stach after school junior year. That was four years ago, man. Time flies.

Second, if I have to deal with a Budd Dwyer situation in my career in broadcast, I will quit. Throw up my hands (probably my lunch, too) and walk out of the editing booth. That's all that is.

Third, Oklahoma Lacrosse rules. Want a shirt? $10. Call me.

That's all I got for now, folks. It's Stillwater or bust for me this weekend. I don't want to be anywhere near Norman until the Red/White Lacrosse scrimmage.

The Jobey Poll
I need to go get my laundry. Make up a question to answer, but don't tell me the question, just give me an answer.

Hurray!!!

2005-11-15T22:39:00.000-06:00

I got me some new
sweatpants at target today
comfy, very cheap

"Untitled" by D'Angelo

2005-11-14T09:57:00.000-06:00

For the record, I was considering other songs. "Fight Test" and "Ego Trippin" from the Flaming Lips came to mind, as did "The Drugs Don't Work" by The Verve, but I couldn't decide, so I thought "Untitled" would be funny.

I had an eventful weekend. I came moments away from a nervous breakdown when I discovered my car had been towed on Saturday. Thankfully, I had friends and family around to help see me through it all and my first lacrosse game on Sunday so I could leave some stuff behind on the field.

It was a confusing time. And even now as I prepare to leave it behind I have more questions than answers from it. But that's alright with me because the questions are all about the future, which means I want to have one.

The Jobey Poll
What's the world got in store?

"Just Like Tom Thumb's Blue" by Bob Dylan

2005-11-03T13:49:00.000-06:00

"Everybody said they'd stand behind me
When the game got rough
But the joke was on me
There was nobody even there to call my bluff
I'm going back to New York City
I do believe I've had enough."

USA! USA! USA!

2005-10-27T20:29:00.000-05:00

I read the news today, oh, boy...

A 20-year-old Palestinian blacksmith blew himself up at a falafel stand in an open-air market Wednesday, killing five Israelis and wounding more than 30 in the deadliest attack in the country in more than three months.

This story made me glad that I live in the United States of America, where there is only one place a blacksmith can blow himself up in order to kill people: Silver Dollar City.

The Jobey Poll
Am I the only person who finds it a little ironic that the S.D.C. would have such a well-designed website? Or a website at all?

"Today" by Smashing Pumpkins*

2005-10-24T20:55:00.000-05:00

I shot even par at Colonial Estates Saturday before the game. I'm proud. You should be, too. Except for two double bogeys (on 1 and 11), it was a really good game. I even found a disc in the creek on my one creek shot--a Discraft Piece-of-Crap, but a disc all the same.

I really like disc golf. I'm going to play Boomer this weekend to show those folks in Stilly what disc golf is all about!

*Editor's Note: I heard that song in the Stach on my way to Colonial. That's freakin' awesome.

shocking the world.

2005-10-09T22:37:00.000-05:00

I got a haircut. This time it's for realz. People are shocked. You will be too. Pictures coming soon.

The Jobey Poll
John sans long hair: Is this the beginning of neo-noblesism or is this post-noblesism?

fuck this haiku shit, i wanna fight.

2005-10-02T23:32:00.000-05:00

Weekend full of the
best and worst of this race man
Now I'll have a beer

I don't know what all this shit this weekend means. I've got the time to figure it out this week I think, but I also have enough time to drift into a massive, crippling state of depression, again. Let the good times roll...

Dirtbags, Diapers, and Chicken Shit.

2005-09-29T11:29:00.000-05:00

That's a pretty high bar to set for one post. There's a lot going on there. Let's start with a timeline:

Thursday: Scenic River Commission accepts a $1.1 million donation from a poultry industry lobby. For those of you keeping score, that donation is equal to about 3 times the budget of the commission. A donation like that coming on the heels of Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson's announcement of a lawsuit against the poultry industry because their operations fuck up our rivers seems very strange. But the SRC voted 7-4 to accept the payoff...er...donation.

Tuesday: Rep. Tom "Bugman" Delay (R-TX) finally gets indicted for some shady campaign finance dealings and, despite the protection he was promised last November by his Republican colleagues, he stepped down from his Majority Leader position.

This very day: 1) John Roberts confirmed by the Senate and becomes the new Chief Justice of SCOTUS. There it is.

2) CASA BONITA IN TULSA IS CLOSING AT THE END OF THIS WEEK. This is the end of an era, my friends. I know a lot of you will say good riddance. I know a lot of you will lament the fact that our local Casa Bonita always lacked the cliff divers those rotten bastards up in Denver always bragged about. But this is a loss of a local institution.

I'll admit the food, with the obvious exception of the sopapillas, was pretty bad and horrendously overpriced, but where else could you engourge yourself with enchiladas in a cave, or next to a waterfall, or a Mexican courtyard and be seranaded by a Mariachi band, and play a game of skiball? Tulsa's Casa Bonita has been in business since 1971. There's a good story in today's Tulsa World Business section about the restaurant (I don't do deeplinking, so you'll have to check it out for yourself).

The Jobey Poll
Other than the dirty diaper incident, what is you most memorable Casa Bonita moment?

Bitches be trippin.

2005-09-22T12:30:00.000-05:00

Has everybody noticed how all these devastating hurricanes are "females?" Bitches be trippin'! Is it that time of the month for these hurricane bitches? Damn y'all need to get some Midol, some chocolates, rent "Waiting to Exhale" and raise up off the Gulf Coast's nuuuutz.

What's up with bitches who be hatin' on my people and me? Bitches be trippin'! Just because we be keepin' real and y'all bitches' asses be half-steppin.' Fuck it--That's just that bullshit.

What's up with waitresses at the Brewery? You hook me up with beer all night, knowing I'm underage, and expect me not to try and get your digits? Bitches be trippin.'

Condoleeza Rice. That bitch be trippin, dog.

Y'all see that bitch on the front page of the Local section in today's Tulsa World? Bitch be trippin.' Shiiiiit...

That bitch talking about her period on her cell phone too damn loud be trippin'.

That dude who looks like a bitch down at B.K. be trippin'. Yeah, bitch, I like the Sourdough Bacon and Swiss. So, raise up off deeez nuuuts and gimme my sandwich, mothafucka.

Lil' Kim's new album is getting mad props from the Source and King...actually, that bitch can trip any way she pleases. Chuuuch.

The Jobey Poll
Hurricane remnants hitting Oklahoma? Explitive-Deleted pleeease.

Big WTF?

2005-09-14T20:17:00.000-05:00

I caught a glimpse of some Fox News today and I'm not sure why people hate it.

On the screen, all at the same time, mind you, there was live footage of National Guardsmen rescuing a dog in New Orleans, stock footage of children reciting the pledge of allegiance and a banner reading FOX NEWS ALERT: ROBERTS QUESTIONING COMES TO CLOSE,.

I thank God the sound was off while I was watching. The unholy mixture of sounds it would take to combine all of those elements into one story would probably cause my ears to bleed.

Like I said before, I don't understand how people can claim Fox is brainwashing people and feeding them uncensored Republican press releases. How can anybody get any useful information from that clusterfuck?

The Jobey Poll
3 papers a day: Does that make me a news junkie?

"The Food" by Common and Kanye West

2005-09-13T11:37:00.000-05:00

for the gas tax
Polls are open today for the vote over an increase in tax on motor fuels. The question on the ballot, if approved, would raise the tax on gasoline by 5 cents per gallon and on diesel by 8 cents. The tax increase would be used to pay for road and bridge repairs. Another part of the question would guarantee that the legislature can not lower transporation spending.

Preliminary polls conducted by state papers have found that up to 75% of potential voters are against the tax increase. With gas prices going through the damn roof, who can fault them for their disdane for paying more money?

Well...I can. Our state has the worst bridges in the nation, and I've driven enough to know our roads, in general, are pretty shitty, too. So, to the voters of Oklahoma, I would like to ask, "What good is the extra 50 or 60 cents in your pocket when you fill up if the roads aren't worth a damn and crossing bridges means gambling your life?"

It's simply not worth the risk. Vote yes.

A Note to those who helped the Republicans get a majority in the state House and are opposed to this tax: Maybe if the people you installed had been better public servants, they would have helped fund transportation projects instead of giving out those fucking ridiculous $30 tax rebates. If they had practiced some actual "economic responsibility," this tax may not be necessary.

The Jobey Poll
Did you vote? If so, how'd you vote? If not: 1) Why not? 2) How would you have voted?

A Tip of the Cap to A. Casey

2005-09-05T23:10:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry, bro. Making a list of what I'm thankful for seemed like a great idea after such a weird weekend, so I'm doing it.

What I'm Thankful for This Labor Day Weekend:

O.A.R., specifically their songs "Drunk" and "Naked"
Griffin Park and the people who play disc golf there
The Jimi Hendrix Experience's BBC Sessions
My ex-roommate (Get your ass back in college, Wayne!)
Sublime: Stories, Tales, Lies, and Exaggerations
The Stachenvagon
"Big Salty Tears" by the Ziggens

Things That I am, Conversely, not Thankful for:

People who treat me like a child
People who don't call me back after the game on Saturday
Homework
Texas Christian University
Texas Christians

Things that are kind of a toss-up at this point:

Play-It-Again Sports (They can't string my raquet, but their golf disc selection is great.)
John Roberts (I'm just not sure. I mean, it could be worse, right? Does anyone know if he's going to help overturn Roe v. Wade for sure? Shit! I don't know. Fuck!)
The Pro Starfire (I've seen the type of distance and accuracy I can get with it by throwing sidearm, but I'm still inconsistent and I still like throwing backhand.)

4-day week is coming up. Next Saturday, I want to see Tulsa get half-a-hundred hung on them. I need to see the Sooners rip their opponents throats out, just like Dalton did not do to that dude in Road House despite what some fools claim. Boomer Sooner!

TheJobey Poll

Did Dalton rip the guy's throat out or is Ashford full of shit...as usual?

I always swore I would never say it, but...

2005-09-02T13:21:00.000-05:00

...World's Smallest Violin Playing "Hearts and Flowers"

Gas prices hurting NASCAR teams, too

Boo fucking hoo. Maybe now the "NASCAR dads" will start to realize that voting for Bush was a bad idea. ("Price gouging Dale Jr.? Those rotten sons of bitches!")

As most of you know, or could figure out, I'm not a big NASCAR fan. As a matter of fact, I hope this is the death nell of the activity (it's not a damn sport!). With gas prices rising like crude to a derreck, we should probably be conserving gas instead of using it to drive around an oval a couple hundred times at 200 mph.

Stock Car: $250,000
Gallon of gas: $3.50
Seeing the death of Nascar in my lifetime: PRICELESS

Random stuff that comes to mind

2005-09-01T00:33:00.000-05:00

My thoughts are with those effected by Hurricane Katrina, and by those effected I mainly mean myself next time I buy gas.

I saw Jon Heder and Aaron Ruell this evening taking questions about their claim to fame/meal ticket, that retarded-kid-on-acid masterpiece "Napolean Dynamite." The crowd that showed up to see them was pretty amazing...and the questions they asked were even more so. Does anyone actually give a shit what religion the guys who played Napolean and Kip subscribe to? (It's Mormonism, apparently, by the way.)

I played a pretty shitty round at Colonial Estates yesterday afternoon. My score wasn't too bad (+7), but that included 4 creek shots and some missed birdie putts on 6 and 12. I did find a DX Teebird while searching for one of those submerged discs, so that was nice. I've lost count of all the discs I've found this summer, but I still know I've lost 3. Requiescant in pace.

The OU Young Democrats meeting was awesome. So many people showed up. I'm looking forward to getting involved in the group and hopefully a campaign again. The best part of the meeting was the fact that we more than doubled the number that attended the College Republicans meeting. That gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling, folks.

First goal seems to be a go. Hurray beer.
Second goal? Pure bullshit. I'm going to try my best though, goddamnit. I'm trying to keep in mind an expensive piece of advice I recieved this summer: You should define failure as not trying. Fucking A right.

Movie Review. Pornstar: The Legend of Ron Jeremy is pretty good. It mixes enough humor into the story of the Hedgehog to keep his biography interesting. Honestly, who doesn't want to hear the story of a short, fat, hairy Jewish guy from New York becoming a superstar because of his 9-3/4" penis? That, my friends, is the American Dream.

This week has been pretty strange by my standards. Strange enough to make me yearn for the weekend. And what a weekend it shall be...

The Jobey Poll
OU vs. TCU: Guess the score, win a cookie.

"Dead Presidents" by Jay-Z

2005-08-29T18:43:00.000-05:00

on the religious right
What is the difference between Pat Robertson and Muqtada Al-Sadr? The latter is a terrorist, calling for the death of our nation's leaders; the former is a man of god, protected by freedom of speech in his calls for the death of another nation's leaders. The punchline? Well, I'm not that great at writing jokes, folks.

By now everyone has heard about Robertson's statements on his late night ABC Family program The 700 Club, so I won't bore you with them here. I will say that these statements are a testiment to the type of hypocrisy we see when politics, especially foreign policy, is combined with a religious worldview. Is it not a tenant of Christianity to love your neighbor and not call for his death? Here, Pat Robertson, a man claiming to be of God, has called upon his country to assassinate the leader of another country. Wow.

So, what is my point? Pat Robertson and the rest of the religious right (i.e. Jerry Falwell, Dr. Dobson, et al.) need to stay in their realm of expertise (i.e. bedtime stories, fairy tales, et al.) and leave the foreign policy decisions up to those in charge. As a matter of fact, get your fat asses out of politics altogether. The country would be a lot better off without your rhetoric involved.

The Jobey Poll
So, how's yer mama?

FRIDAY UPDATE

2005-08-19T13:01:00.000-05:00

Yesterday at Colonial Estates, I found the Valkyrie I lost last Saturday at the scramble. Finding that disc gave me a lot of hope for awhile. If the fact that it sat at the bottom of the creek without being discovered for nearly a week doesn't inspire some form of hope in you too, well, you must be a robot. Now, go fix me some dinner, robot.

"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" by Bob Dylan

2005-08-17T11:37:00.000-05:00

I'm moving back to Norman tonight. That's right: Tonight. Travelling a 90 mph straight shot under the cover of night to make my untrumpetted return.

The summer is over. The season wears on, but its spirit has been irreparably broken. I sit here in mid-August, when Oklahoma has been known to have 100-degree days coupled with insufferable humidity, and for the last five days there has been a 50% chance of rain, clouds, and upper-70s to mid-80s. If that doesn't bode the end of summer, by God, I don't know what does.

As much as I hate this rotten weather, I must say it's exactly the way I would choose to end this summer if I had the choice. Summer ending just the way I felt through must of it--a constant gloom with the ever-present chance that everything could go to hell and immediately be washed away in a downpour. How's that for your classic metaphor?

This was my summer on the edge. Not so much that I lived all that dangerously, but that I had a hard time coming to an understanding with this summer. I just felt that at any moment an unexpected something, anything, could happen that could send me into a freefall to oblivion which not even a return to school could rescue me from.

I like to say that this has been a summer without a theme, but that isn't true at all. My summer, I believe, touched on some part of the human experience. The loneliness. The fear. The fact that, with all my freetime and imagination, I wound up waking up at noon and playing disc golf everyday from the beginning of July should reach people on a gut level. This is what can happen to anyone without a plan.

I was recently asked to define failure for myself. The answer I came up with was that failure and doing nothing were the same thing. Failure is not in the result of trying, but in not trying at all. By that criterion, this summer cannot be judged a failure, although, plenty of my readers will think otherwise.

I've tried plenty this summer. I was willing to try much more, but fate and resources caused me to fall short. From the two-day job and George Carlin, to Mass Media and American Politics and disc golf, from fantasy draft and "fishing," to walking and therapy, my summer can be called eclectic, hectic, schizophrenic, but never a failure.

I'm lookin' California, but I'm feelin' Minnesota. Oh, yeaaah.

2005-08-05T17:47:00.000-05:00

on our nation's legislature
I was just watching some of the hearings on the Liability of File-sharing Software Providers from last week and I got to thinking about another piece of legislation regarding liability that was passed recently. That would be the bill that eliminates liability for gun manufacturers and dealers in the event of crime.

I think I'm missing something here. Congress is worrying enough to slap restrictions on people who make and provide software that allows people to share songs, movies, etc., but they aren't worrying about keeping the gun manufacturers honest with the threat of legal action being sought against them in the event of gun related violence.

Basically, what I'm hearing from Congress at this point is, "We don't want y'all givin' folks a way to swap mp3s all willy-nilly, that's stealin'. But y'all providin' folks a way to kill each other with them guns, y'all are fine."

The gun industry has bought itself a big win, and the record industry looks to be doing the same. I guess all the families with uninsured children across the country can learn something from these scrappy Little Interests That Could: With enough hard work and tenacity and huge soft money donations, you can get anything you want from a Republican majority.

on the sweetness
Dude, seriously: I'm looking California. And, I am beginning to feel decreasingly Minnesota, as Chris Cornell might so eloquently put it. I'm jogging again, I'm lifting, I'm trying to eat right. Plus I'm starting to get a bit of a tan. My hair is still bad-ass. I ditched the laze-growth beard I was rocking in July.

School's about to start up, which will give me a reason to wake up in the morning. I know that sounds bad, but it's very true. Being a bum has taken a toll this summer, but I think I'm getting back on track. I feel pretty content. Maybe my feelings are getting drawn back toward the coast along with my look. Or at least they'll be in Wyoming or Colorado, you know.

7 Deep Cuts in no particular order

2005-07-22T11:23:00.000-05:00

"All Your Jeans Were Too Tight" American Music Club
I found this one on the 1993 AIDS benefit disc No Alternative which features some actual alternative artists from the late-80s and early-90s. This song is damn cool, from the twangy, distorted guitar to the singer's deep, jazzy delivery of lines like, "All this vanity would be funny if it didn't hurt so much." The lyrics tell the story of a tough break-up and, judging from the really specific references to Barbara Streisand and piercings and tattoos, it is written from personal experience.

"Waiting Room" Fugazi
Ok, this is the first track on their first EP, I'm not sure if that qualifies as a deep cut, necessarily, but it is a great piece of punk rock that doesn't get much play.

"Sunshower" Chris Cornell
If you're a Ethan Hawke/Gwyneth Paltrow fan, you might recognize this as the cut used in the "third-base" scene in the 1998 version of Great Expectations. Pretty good track, pretty tough to find.

"7 Years" MC Breed
"7 years, 7 years, 7 years of sweat and tears, and what?/ 7 years of bullshit." 'Nough said.

"AT&T" Pavement
Another song that is just damn cool. Stephen Malkmus starts out with "Maybe, someone's gonna save me..." and ends up singing about a "groovy, groovy kitty." Classic Pavement track.

"I Must Be High" Wilco
Another first track, first album situation. I think this one even got its own video. But, seriously, this track doesn't get played enough. This is from Wilco early days, when most of the bands sound was still reminiscent of the recently split Uncle Tupelo, so there is equal parts country and rock influence on the track, making it tough to get wide exposure. Still Jeff Tweedy's lyrics are catchy and the music ain't bad either.

"Say Yes" Elliott Smith
Last track on either/or. This is short and sweet, clocking in at about 2 minutes. Smith's underrated acoustic work drives this one along well, but the lyrics are really great. The first line of the song is, "I'm in love with the world through the eyes of a girl who's still around the morning after." Who's not looking for that?

It's the Economy, Stupid.

2005-07-20T20:36:00.000-05:00

on the economy
Yesterday, Hewlett Packard announced that they are cutting 14,500 jobs. Today, Kodak announced they were cutting 10,000 jobs.

But, fear not, Jobey readers! The unemployed need look no further than their local Wal-Mart for employment: 2005 Wal-Mart Openings.

This is the economy we're facing in the neo-conservative America. The current leadership in government is of the philosophy that there is nothing wrong with companies cutting jobs in America, shipping them overseas to reduce overhead, and calling it Free Enterprise. As a matter of fact, it's beginning to look as though they think of that as the American Dream. The good paying jobs are becoming fewer and fewer, the unions are weak, and the Wal-Marts multiplying.

Here's another bit of information worth your while: In the past 30 years, the wealthiest 1% in our country has seen an increase in earning by an average of 119%. In that same time, everyone in the bottom 60% has seen a drop in their income. This is not a healthy environment for a middle class.

The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. The right likes to write that off as communist propaganda, but the rich are getting richer and disproportionately so to the rest of the people. And, by the way they conduct themselves in society, they seem to want to make as much money for themselves as they can without caring about the responsibilities they have to the community with that wealth. They get tax cuts. They cut those jobs at their companies that are cutting too deep into their profits.

There are positive things wealthy people do for society. Many are philanthropic and help their communities, but the high-concentration of wealth at the top of the spectrum becomes a burden democracy cannot bear.

WEDNESDAY POLL

2005-07-13T23:26:00.000-05:00

I shot 4-under at Chandler today, so the question is:

Should I feel proud of posting such a fine score or depressed that I've spent so much time playing disc golf this summer when I should have had a job and been making bones, or clams, or whatever you call them?

"A Distorted Reality Is Now A Necessity To Be Free" by Elliott Smith

2005-07-10T20:00:00.000-05:00

the short version
Oklahoma's junior Senator Tom Coburn made an appearance at the Sand Springs Triangle for the local Chamber of Commerce. He spoke to the crowd on the issues that the government is tackling right now and took some questions. The Sand Springs mayor gave him the key to the city. God save the Sandites now...

the long version
[The following is my second attempt at gonzo journalism. When I sat down to write up my recap of the Coburn event, I couldn't see any hep way to cover other than straight forward personal experience and opinion. I haven't copy edited this piece; I guess that makes it part gonzo, part spontaneous prose. If you think it's worth editing, comment and I'll clean it up. Enjoy.]

Police officers and old people. Chris and I stuck out like sore thumbs freshly smacked with hammers. Nevertheless, we are constituents and the good Senator Dr. Tom Coburn shook our hands and moved along to the more right-thinking elderly citizens to our left.

I kept thinking to my self as he walked down the stairs of what used to be the Charles Page Memorial Library, "I've never met a U.S. Senator before." I once met a man I thought would become a senator, but that seems like a long time ago, and it wasn't meant to be.

Has it already been 8 months? 9? Putting on my Carson shirt, it seems like it was last weekend that I was out knocking on doors, trying to get the right man in office. I act surprised by the passage of time, but then I realize how much has changed since then. How much I've changed. Election night 2004 changed me. Looking back at who I was before and who I am after, I know that something died that night in me: that optimism, that feeling that what I was doing mattered, that I was making a difference. I felt that way all day on November 2, 2005. For 12 straight hours, I walked Ottawa County door to door with the flu to squeeze every last vote out for my guy and it took ABC News about 20 minutes bring my hopes crashing to the floor. Peter Jennings reported that they were calling Tom Coburn the winner in Oklahoma, with 2% of precincts reporting. I was in the TV studio by then propped up in a chair, trying to man a camera and stay awake. The retiring Oklahoma Rep. Larry Roberts almost convinced me that Jennings and the ABC guys were wrong, and I thank him to this day for it. But Tom Coburn, the crazy doctor from Muskogee, the man who only became a U.S. Representative from District 2 because a Republican patsy won the Democratic primary in 1994, had become the junior senator from Oklahoma.

Now he stood before me and a gaggle of my fellow Sandites, waiting for the head of the Chamber of Commerce to finish a short biographical introduction, so he could address us. The Chamber of Commerce guy started by telling the crowd that he understood why the crowd had chosen to sit in the shade and that's why they had scrapped the idea of holding the event on the platform a few yards away. I dare say Chris and I had more to do with it than the weather, though, as we were the first to arrive with chairs and I'll be damned if I'll sit in the sun and listen to this breed of swine.

After mild applause for his marriage and his desire to maintain his medical practice while in office, Coburn began, naturally, by linking the terrorist bombings in London to the need for U.S. resolve in Iraq. "London is a good example of why we cannot lose in Iraq," Coburn said, tying an a coordinated attack coordinated by an Al-Qaida off-shoot to a military operation thousands of miles away and far from the point of the war on terror. Listening to that took me back to the spring of 2003, when Bin Laden and Hussein were best buds and WMDs were still the main threat Iraq posed. You know, the good ol' days.

When he finished spreading fear through the crowd with terror talk, he moved immediately to an issue that happens to be in his wheelhouse in these parts: Supreme Court justices. This was the subject that the good Christian folk of Sand Springs had come out to hear about. Sen. Coburn set the stage for a battle, a "battle of ideals." If the crowd had been larger than 35 people, they would have been in a frenzy. Imagine the Beatles on Sullivan, only instead of cute, mop-topped Brits, you've got bug-eyed Tom Coburn, instead of "I Wanna Hold Your Hand," you've got a commitment to amend the Constitution to stop filibusters, and instead of hysterical girls, you've got over-weight, bored retirees clapping that their man is in office. That gives you a pretty accurate portrait of the scene. The crowd was especially roused when Coburn spoke of how the opposition party cannot stop the "truth" from prevailing. The aging housewives were enthralled; I was less impressed. His "truth" is ideology. Just as mine is ideology. Dealing in absolutes, like good and evil just makes the ideology easier for church-goers to swallow.

I did directly agree with the senator at least once during the day. When he said the recent Supreme Court ruling in the Ohio eminent domain case was a horrendous decision, I was feeling it. I actually felt like clapping at that condemnation, and did. My attitude soon soured though when he turned his attention to medical issues. He blasted Medicare, Medicaid, and private practices, proclaiming each "broken." He offered no true solutions, like no one else in his party can. He also offered no apology for helping to break it. When he mentioned that Medicare is bankrupt, he didn't mention it was this year's budget that broke it, cutting 30 billion dollars from its budget. It's not like Tom Coburn or any other Republican is actually worried about fixing this service which helps our seniors get the medical treatment they need. It's always been their plan to rack up a bill big enough that the government has to cut the funding for the "socialist programs" in order to pay everything else off. Iraq and the War on Terror gave them a pretty big bill to funnel money to, and the seniors in the terror-targeted nursing homes across our country are better off for it.

Instead of actually offering solutions to fix ailing Medicare and Medicaid, Coburn claimed prevention is the way to get the costs down. He gave the example that over 80% of diabetes cases are preventable. He said if only our Surgeon General, a bureaucrat, were more visible and active in public education, we'd know not to feed our kids some much damned sugar, saving the nation millions of dollars in treatment later. I don't think it would totally solve the problem, but prevention is a good idea. I can't fault his logic, entirely, but I'm sure the candy and cereal lobbyists might be able to.

A good friend of mine likes to call the Republican Party the "Party of Life...Until your born, then you're on your own." Sen. Tom Coburn is a perfect example of this philosophy. He wants anti-choice justices on the bench and doesn't care if there's a safety net in place for young children or not. Case in point, if you're a child in Oklahoma, there's a 1 in 3 chance that you haven't been properly immunized, and if you're one of the 150,000 kids here who's living without health insurance, there's a slim chance you'll see a doctor for preventative care. If Tom Coburn wants to preach about prevention, why doesn't he start by doing something that will keep our kids from getting sick in the first place, and getting sicker than they should have to when they do get sick.

Last year on the campaign trail, Brad Carson talked about the uninsured children of this state and his desire to make medical attention available to them. Tom Coburn campaigned on the "Christian persecution complex" platform: Anti-Abortion, Anti-Gay Rights, Pro-Ten Commandments, Anti-Liberalism. Helping people who are living and breathing and out of the womb was and is none of his concern.

I can sit here and type with all this fury, but as I sat on the Triangle, I only listened respectfully to the senator.

I know that might be shocking to some, disappointing to most, but I was somewhat awestruck, indeed, dumbstruck. Perhaps it was the senator's rhetorical skills. He took what seemed like centrist positions on most issues and took stands on issues it would be easiest for him to defend in front of his "homefield" fans. He didn't say anything that anyone could really attack and draw any blood.

The more likely cause for my lack of solid rebuttals to the doctor was the buildup. I've been waiting so long for a crack at this guy, and I'd built this image of a crazy fundamentalist who would say anything he felt like, leaving himself open for attacks. The Tom Coburn I saw Friday afternoon was not the guy who spouted off about Schindler's List corrupting young minds, though. He wasn't the guy who made conservatives scared of lesbians in high school bathrooms. He wasn't even the guy who said said he silicone breast implants are healthy. He was just another politician, talking to his constituents about the issues. He wasn't the nutty right-winger who'd ruined my day back in November. He was just another rich white guy voted into power.

I was disappointed. I'm still disappointed. I expected so much more from this guy. I ran myself ragged through the streets of Miami and Commerce with icy wind blasting me in the face, nose running, trying to defeat him, and here he was, just another guy. My disappointment almost matched that that I felt last November, slumped in that chair in the NEO studio.

The whole affair ended with our Sand Springs mayor giving Sen. Tom Coburn the key to our fair city. For what reason was never addressed. I guess a big time political player who would bother stopping off in Sand Springs deserves something, regardless of his particular accomplishments on our behalf. I couldn't help but give an uneasy sign and grimace as the plaque on which the key was mounted was handed over, for now Sen./Dr. Tom Coburn can enter this town whenever he likes and that, children, does not sit well with me at all.

a thought for the weekend

2005-07-10T00:36:00.000-05:00

"I think that parking meters should give out at least one gumball."

[I know I'm alluded to a Coburn piece to most of my readers, but I promise, it is coming soon. For more timely, more informative pieces on the Coburn visit on Friday, and for a picture of Chris and me front and center, read the Tulsa World and/or the (gag) Sand Springs Leader.)

Thanks.

TUESDAY UPDATE

2005-07-05T16:53:00.000-05:00

on impotence
"Nobody broke your heart
You broke your own
'Cause you can't finish what you start.
If you're alone, it must be you that wants to be apart."

Elliott Smith sang that in his song "Alameda," then, a few years later, after battling alcoholism and heroin addiction, he stabbed himself in the heart.

I lived on Alameda street for a few weeks this summer and now I feel like I'm living that song. I'm unemployed and I'm running out of money. I'm beginning to loath some people that I'm supposed to love. I'm depressed. I don't feel like there is anything left for me where I live except school and familiarity.

on futility
I tried to escape to the library for a few hours to read and relax, but I'll be damned if anyone can read in a library these days. I tried both libraries in Sand Springs, only to find that both are packed with rowdy young children and their parents. I made the drive to the Central Library downtown, but it was still nearly impossible to find a good place to sit comfortably and read.

Today at the various libraries, I've heard people walking the rows of books talking on cell phones, I've seen a mother feeding her two very young kids, one of whom was yelling and crying constantly, I've heard the constant clatter of keyboards, echoing through every nook and cranny. Public libraries have yielded themselves to the semi-literate, and they are the worse for it.

MONDAY UPDATE

2005-06-27T15:29:00.000-05:00

Two items today.

First, the Supreme Court ended their session and handed down their decisions today. The most anticipated decisions were on the issue of state display of the Ten Commandments. The court issued a really weird split decision on the two cases. I'll post a link to the actual opinion later; I'm sure it'll be an interesting read.

Second: Fuck Jeremy Roenick. Discuss.

"Her Eyes Are a Blue Million Miles" by Captain Beefheart

2005-06-26T14:04:00.000-05:00

on Outrage: The Week in Review
This has been an eventful week. And there's plenty to be outraged about if you pay attention.

1) The Supreme Court's 5-4 decision that private property can be seized via eminent domain for private development was handed down on Thursday. Basically, what the decision sets up is a system under which no one's property is safe from a developer or business approaching a local government and, with the proper sweet talk, having the government buy up homes and sell them back to that developer or business and say it was in the best interest of the community. I'm not against the idea of eminent domain; it is written into the 5th Amendment for a reason: if the government needs the land for public use, it needs a way to obtain any land it needs. But the New London situation, in my opinion, oversteps the intention of eminent domain.

This decision will lead to problems in the future. Justice O'Connor, along with Justices Scalia and Thomas, wrote the dissenting opinion, stating, "Today the Court abandons this long-held, basic limitation on government power." She adds, "The specter of condemnation hangs over all property. Nothing is to prevent the State from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz-Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory." I don't consider myself to be of the same philosophic viewpoint as the dissenting Justices, but, in this case, they represent my opinion exactly.

To read the actual decision, visit this site. The dissenting opinion begins on page 27.

2) The House passed an anti-flag desecration amendment proposal on Wednesday. We've been over this already on this site, but it bares repeating, so go read over that post and look into the matter further for yourself.

3) The Right is trying once again to dismantle the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This week, there were proposed budget cuts and the appointment of a new president, who just happens to be a former co-chair of the Republican National Committee.

Since the days of Richard Nixon, the right wing in America has been hard at work to discredit and remove funding from our public broadcasting system, one of our great national treasures. If you listen to NPR for their great news coverage or if you value the great journalism of shows like Frontline, Now, or Newshour on PBS, you should take an interest in any attempts to change the way they conduct their work. In an era of shouting neo-cons on the radio and pseudo-journalism on the networks and on the cable outlets, the public stations are a beacon of what America needs from its media to have a healthy democracy...a concept that threatens most Republicans.

on The Motorcycle Diaries
One of the best movies I have ever seen. Beautifully shot, wonderfully written, based on a true story. Ernesto Guevara is one of the best characters in film history. The story is based on the travels of two Argentineans, Guevara, a young medical student a semester away from becoming a doctor, and Alberto Granado, a 30-year-old biochemist. They set out from Buenos Aires on a beat-up motorcycle they name 'The Mighty One," to see Latin America in its entirety. Along the way they see the injustices of the world firsthand and they are affected by them.

The Motorcycle Diaries gives an account of a great journey with significant historical implications. Because of the travel across Latin America, Che Guevara became a revolutionary, aiding in uprisings in Cuba, Nigeria, and Bolivia, where he was murdered with the support of the CIA. This movie shows those coffee shop revolutionaries and the teenagers shallowly wearing a shirt with his image, who Che Guevara was and how he honestly cared about people and helping the downtrodden. Watch this movie.

The Jobey Poll
Which commercials are better: The 'Got a little Captain in ya?' Captain Morgan commercials or the 'Hooray Beer' series from Red Stripe?

VERY IMPORTANT WEDNESDAY UPDATE

2005-06-22T22:01:00.000-05:00

An anti-flag desecration amendment has passed in the House and is now moving to the Senate where it will require a 2/3 vote in favor to move on to a vote in the states, at which point it will require 3/4 to become an addition to the United States Constitution.

Apparently, such an amendment proposal has gotten past the House eight times in the past, but never has one gotten through the Senate. This time, though, I think we all have to consider this thing a danger to our Freedom of Expression. By some estimates, 65 members of the Senate are in favor of the amendment. That is fucking dangerously close to passage.

Read those sacred words that I've posted on the header of this blog. THAT is what is at stake in this debate. Being able to express yourself and your beliefs in any way you see fit is at stake. The flag is not the issue here; the issue is the precedent set when the government decides how we can and cannot express ourselves. You all know in your hearts what the neo-con faction is thinking if this thing passes: Flag-burning today, just imagine the unpopular speech we can ban tomorrow!

DO SOMETHING: Call your Senator as soon as possible. I know what you're thinking: But, The Jobey, our Oklahoma Senators will be among the staunch supporters of such legislation. Fuck it! Call 'em anyway and remind those shits who the fuck they work for!

Also, just get the word out on this bill. Tell your friends and family. Remind folks about what the Freedom of Speech is all about! Blog on, baby!

TUESDAY UPDATE

2005-06-21T17:38:00.000-05:00

on hypocrisy
Check out this diary on Dailykos. I touched on this subject briefly back in May, but these guys are taking these Young Hypocrites to task.

So, to repeat: If you are a pro-war Young Republican, enlist or castrate yourself.

Have a nice day.

MONDAY UPDATE

2005-06-20T15:40:00.000-05:00

on cereal
GQ has an article in their current issue featuring interviews with some of the National Guard members responsible for guarding Saddam Hussein. They reportedly give out some pretty intimate details of Hussein's life behind bars. One interesting note: Saddam is a big fan of Raisin Bran Crunch and gets a little pissy when he doesn't get a bowl of it for breakfast. Wow. Is there a better day than the day you discover that a brutal dictator shares your love for sweet, crunchy flakes with oat and honey granola clusters and plump raisins? I think I have a bowl right now.

"Back Then" by Mike Jones

2005-06-19T13:01:00.000-05:00

on Hitler/Nazi references
There have been a lot of comparisons to Hitler and Nazis being thrown around by pundits and Congressmen lately. Most have to do with the Guantanamo Bay "enemy combatant" detention center. These statements are stirring up controversy on both sides of the argument, and it's well that they are.

Hitler/Nazi references must be carefully considered before being used. Calling someone a Hilter or a Nazi is too often done as hyperbole. Using as symbols to represent something less than genocide those who have committed genocide trivializes the meaning of that symbol and the actual impact of the guilty parties. I hate to pick on a particular incident, but when a graduating high school senior refers to a campus security guard as a "parking Nazi" in front of a large audience, it cheapens the Nazi reference by applying it to something trivial and all together shallow.

However, if someone truly believes that the reference is justified, then they have a responsibility to use it. The theory of teaching history is that by learning the mistakes of the past we can prevent them from happening again. If a Senator decides that the Guantanamo Bay is setting our society on a track that might lead to mistakes already made by Nazi Germany, they have a civic responsibility to make their views known so they can be considered by the public.

What You Can Do: Make sure others are aware of what Hitler and the Nazi actually did so they can judge for themselves when the use of references to them should and should not be used.

on recent media consumption
Yesterday, I heard "Freebird" in my car twice--once going to my destination, then again coming back home. Incredible. The stars must have aligned perfectly for me during that trip across town.

Last night, I watched Steal This Movie, a bio-pic on Abbie Hoffman. It's a really great movie. If you're a fan of outlaw culture, liberalism, radical politics, or just stickin' it to the man, you'll probably enjoy this one. Otherwise, go read some Ann Coulter, douche. For more information, read this.

This morning, I watched my first and last episode of PBS's Tucker Carlson Unfiltered. The episode was a retrospective of its first year on the air because this was their last episode. Even if it weren't being cancelled immediately after my viewing, I'd still probably never watch another episode. I find bow-tied conservatives a little creepy. Actually, I find anybody in a bow-tie a little creepy.

The Jobey Poll
If Tricia defaults on a Denny's related agreement, what sanctions should be sought for reparation?

"All Talk/Too Much Brains (Not Enough Cock and Balls)" by TQ/HC

2005-06-12T23:35:00.000-05:00

on Wal-Mart
Last week the Daily Show had a story done by Samantha Bee (Union Jacked) about a Wal-Mart that closed its doors after a union was started by its employees. I was astounded that I hadn't heard about this story in the legitimate, mainstream media. I had to search to find that CNN link before I started writing this to have something other than the Daily Show clip as background. A story like this, showing a blatant case of Wal-Mart, an American company, stifling American labor traditions like the right to organize, should be huge news in the states. But most people never heard it, not to mention your average Wal-Mart shopper.

The practice of shutting down a union store and opening a new store down the street from the closed one is something I first heard about in Schlosser's Fast Food Nation. He describes a Canadian Burger King pulling the same trick a while back. Apparently, large chains, retail and fast food, have done some cost analyses and have found that it is cheaper to open a new store than meet the demands of unionized workers. Hmmph.

Anyway, PBS reran the Is Wal-Mart Good for America? episode of Frontline last night. It's a really in depth study of the vast effects of Wal-Mart on the economy. Those segments may take a while to load, but it is worth the wait.

on Norman
I'm still living in Norman. Class is going well so far. I've got a test on Friday. Should be a push-over. I've just been sitting around the house when I'm not studying. Picture this: two Republican college students taking in one Democratic college student for the summer. I smell sit-com. It'd be good if they had more one-liners and I didn't drink as many White Russians. I'm banging my head against the wall in my free time, so, please, feel free to suggest some new activities to engage me.

I finally watched The War Room the other night. Really good doc. Watching the footage of Stephanopoulos and Carville at work back in 1992 is inspiring. Carville is hilarious. A drinking, swearing Cajun Democrat. You can't beat that.

Last night I watched Michael Moore's The Big One. It was made as a documentary of his book tour for Downsize This for the BBC. Some good parts here, but not as cohesive as his other work.

the Jobey Poll
a) Who ya got in game 4: Pistons or Spurs?
b) Where did the Christian Scientists stand on the Shiavo thing?

"Long Hot Summer Night" by the Jimi Hendrix Experience

2005-06-05T22:28:00.000-05:00

on totally random stuff
Went camping last night. There was some rain, not much. There was some lessons learned (Hot dogs and White Russians don't mix). Special thanks to Paul and Erin for helping pitch the tent, in the literal sense. Special thanks to Russell for prepping the site and refusing to quit when putting up the tarp got rough. Special thanks to Chris Cornell. Extra special thanks to Rachel because you made sure I didn't die. Actually, Rachel gets super extra mega thanks for that. I declare it. That's the upper eschelon of thanks around here, Rachel, good show! Special thanks to everybody who came out and saw me off in...well, style, if you can call it that. (If you would like your shout-out removed for any reason, contact me, ya drunks!)

I live in Norman now. So far, only two of my summer desires have been realized. I went to a Driller's game the Wednesday and I've played some frisbee and some disc golf (Shot 1-under at Chandler Monday). As of yet, go carts have not been ridden, nor Denny's eaten at the expense of others. Look to August.

Three things I noticed at the supermarket: 1) Milk, an item on most shopper's lists, is at the back of most supermarkets. That pisses me off. 2) Albertson's currently has one of the weirdest sales I have ever seen: 10 for $10 on mustard. I had to ask myself, "Who needs that much damn mustard not in a squeeze bottle?" 3) Albertson's also has an impressive cigar case up front and really good prices on most of those cigars.

My dad showed me "Desiderata" by Max Erhmann this afternoon before I left for Norman. I suggest you read it. He gave me a copy to hang in the room in which I'm staying, which I have just done.

on Matt Blunt, dead Confederates, and the like
Ok, so, Rep. Matt Blunt (R-MO) was trying to have the Confederate flag flown over a Higginsville, MO, Confederate cemetary for (get this) Confederate Memorial Dayvtoday. The NAACP, among others, is, understandably, pissed. That flag should never fly in this nation. Not only because of the racist overtones implicit in the image of that flag, but the Confederates lost the war, and, therefore, lost their right to fly their flag on American soil in my view. Blunt (huh-huh) is trying to pick up the votes in the "pickup-truck-with-the-gun-rack" and Klan crowds, both of which have pretty strong numbers in the great red state of Missouri. Flying the Confederate flag over the Confederate Memorial Day festivities is nothing more than a way to patronize the dead and strengthen a politician's image with racist-ass white people. There I said it.

the Jobey Poll
The Confederate Flag: WTF, dude?

"One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)" by Bob Dylan

2005-05-31T12:49:00.000-05:00

on May: a Review, too soon for perspective
This is the last day in May. The actual summer season is still 20-some-odd days away, but I feel like summer has been around for months. I'm sitting in my mom's house typing this out on her computer, my brother's about to get home from work, I'm about to enroll in a couple of classes in Norman for the summer, and I'm wondering how I got to this day in this fashion.

I can actually pin down the day that became the turning point of my summer, and it occurred at least a week before I came home. My dad offered me a job for the summer at the oil field service company he's saving from financial failure. That was immediately after I received my decorative diploma display and turned my tassle to the opposite side. I was in Miami for graduation. He offered me a job when I was making decisions about where I was going to party and how I was going to avoid the uncomfortable situation having both of my parents in the same room. He offered me a job when I was incapable of making a decision. He offered me a job and cast a haze on the rest of my evening.

I came home about a week later thinking, 'Why bother looking for a job too hard when I've got something lined up?' I wish I could go back and answer that question for myself. I wish I could save myself the hassles I'm currently confronting by just declining that job on the spot and searching harder then ever for a decent job in Tulsa.

On a more positive note, this month has taught me who my friends are--a lesson it's taken my immature ass a while to learn. I've gotten to see a lot of them this month and I've realized how great most of them are.

Also, this month renewed my faith in my party. The Democrats straight represented this month. Keep fighting for stem-cell research. Keep fighting against extremist judges. Keep fighting corruption. Keep fighting 'til mid-term elections!

It's been an eclectic month. Here's a toast to the month of June, Warren G. Harding, and a return to normalcy.

the Jobey Poll
What's been your favorite Jobey on... post this month? Who's had the best post on the blogosphere at large?

"Miss Misery" by Elliott Smith

2005-05-26T23:14:00.000-05:00

on the Democrats rocking the house...or Senate to be more specific
The compromise between the moderates on the "up-or-down" votes on justices showed the power the Democrats are wielding as a minority. We made the hard-line Republicans back down a little bit because of our strong threats of filibuster and we showed Dr. James Dobson where he can shove his theocratic ambitions.

Today news came that there will be a delay in the hearings on Bush's nominee to the U.N., John Bolton, whom Democrats have rallied against. All of this is good news. We have to fight for what we believe in and keep the Republicans from screwing things up in this country until the pendulum swings back to us. (Sorry, I don't have many links. I've just been picking things up here and there for the past few days.)

on my summer of futility and impotence
"I know you'd rather see me gone/than to see me the way that I am." That's from "Miss Misery," the late Elliott Smith's Academy Award-nominated song from 'Good Will Hunting.' Those lyrics pretty much sum up the way I've felt for the past four or five days.

Allow me to recap what's been going on since my last post: On Monday, I went to work, worked my ass off, and became convinced that I would never return to that yard in Drumright. On Tuesday morning, I called my dad and quit. I spent the rest of that day driving around Tulsa looking for Help Wanted signs and thinking (and buying Chappelle's Show Season 2, in case your wondering). Sometime that evening, after filling out some online applications, I realized and accepted the fact that it's far too late to find decent employment and I had to think of some alternative quickly.

Basically, I realized I am a fuck-up, and decided to go to a place where being a fuck-up in every other aspect of life is acceptable: college. I'm going to Norman for academic advisement Friday, and then I've got to track down financial aid and housing in the next week. It will be a challenge to be ready for class in a week, but I'd far rather do something constructive with my time this summer than allow it to slip away to sloth entirely.

the Jobey Poll
Who let you in?

"You Get What You Give" by New Radicals

2005-05-21T15:21:00.000-05:00

on George Carlin
The show was great last night. A. Casey has a brief review up. If you missed the show (Fools!), you can catch some of the material he performed in November on his 13th HBO special. His opening piece, 'Modern Man,' is classic rapid-fire Carlin, like the advertising piece from 'You Are All Diseased.' He used notes through the first part of the show, because he is still perfecting some new material for the special after his stay in rehab over the winter. Despite being a little rusty and unpracticed in the new stuff, Carlin showed he still is a master of the comedic arts and still has his brilliant, razor-sharp analysis.

on my new job
Hell on Earth. Plain and simple. If any of my readers know of any job locally that I can get in a hurry and that pays reasonably, contact me immediately. Time is of the essence.

Maybe I'll just lay out the positives and negatives of my work situation:
Pros:
Good pay, working outdoors, working for my dad
Cons:
Driving to Drumright by 6:30 every morning, working outdoors in Oklahoma summer, being under the constant scrutiny of fellow employees and management, not fitting in on the job, ethical dilemmas in requesting time off

There you have it. Pass your own judgments in Comments. I have tried to be unbiased, but you can tell the way I'm leaning with this thing. You can probably also infer why quitting is a difficult proposal.

This job already pisses me off because I almost fell asleep a few times during the George Carlin show I'd been looking forward to for quite a while. It's a shame I wrote so much more about this shit than I did that great show.

the Jobey Poll
The last part of A. Casey's last post: follow advise or 'fuck it, dude, let's go bowling'?

"Shiavo" by Toby Queef and the Hot Charles

2005-05-18T01:32:00.000-05:00

on George Carlin
Love the guy. Going to see him Friday.

on the return of Gilgamesh Rex
Gilgamesh Rex is about to re-enter the fray, ladies and gentlemen, with an epic posting. I only have one...well, two things to say. First, this will be one of the finest posts the blogging community will have seen in quite some time. Second: Where you going in such a hurry?

on the week so far
I haven't posted since Sunday (I know it says Monday, but I'm noctural, so Monday morning is, for all intents and purposes, Sunday.), so let me recap the week thus far without giving away to much of G.R.'s upcoming offering: lots of carefree goodtimes with the exception of emerging car troubles.

the Jobey Poll
Where you going in such a hurry?

"Battleflag" by Lo-Fidelity All-Stars

2005-05-16T00:09:00.000-05:00

on the great red state of Kansas
The self-righteous religious elements of Kansas are still pressing ahead with their case to teach religious beliefs along side scientific theory in classrooms. The Jobey on... has already ran a post on this topic (it should be in the April archives), so we won't run this into the ground. The main reason for this post is to plug a piece by an archeology fan about the trial. It's a good post, and a little touching. It is recommended.

On a related note, I was in Kansas for about 15 minutes about a week and a half ago and I cursed that state's name every one of those minutes. I'm not sure if I hate the entire state, or if I just hate its backwards people and that corner of the state you have to pass through to get from Miami to Joplin without using I-40. I may have to do some more research, but it appears that between being an extremely red state, supporting bad science, hosting the church that protested at Charles Page High School last year, and have very repressive speed limits, Kansas will be a fixture on my hated state list for a while.

on summer days and lacks of sushi
In the immortal words of Ice Cube: I gotta say it was a good day. I played some catch with Paul and Erin, smoked a cigar, watched some South Park, visited my dad. I just finished watching 'The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou' with my brother. If you haven't seen it yet, call me and we will watch it. It is really good, so any chance I have to watch it, I will accept.

I got really hungry this evening. I really wanted some Philadelphia roll sushi, but by the time I had reached this conclusion it was too late for me to be cruising Tulsa looking for a sushi place to serve me at midnight. I'm planning to make a trip into the city tomorrow, so I'll definitely be on the look out for late-night sushi places for future reference.

the Jobey Poll
Should intelligent design be taught in science classrooms? Should evolution be taught in mathematics classrooms? Do you think that exposure to religion before the age of 17 is indoctrination? Do you know which historical American figure proposed that idea? Are you still reading the additional questions to today's Jobey Poll?

"All Falls Down" by Kanye West*

2005-05-13T14:20:00.000-05:00

*Every summer post will be titled with a song that I've listened to a lot between posts or that somehow symbolizes what's going on in my world. Otherwise, it's still the same ol' Jobey on...

on A. Casey
The Jobey on... wishes to extend it's welcome to A. Casey to the blogosphere. He should be an excellent addition. Links are to the right.

on my previous post
That issue really strikes me. I'm going to continue to harp on it until I get some feedback. I'm not the best writer to be tackling those sorts of issues, so I'd feel better if my readers would contribute their take on those stories. You know where to leave the comments.

on coming home
I got home at about 3:30 last night. There's a funny story about how I accomplished that and it involves a very effective use of the Facebook to find my R.A.'s contact information at one in the morning. I in Sand Springs now. I have no definite job yet. The only plans I have are not a definite timeline and they include:

going to a Drillers game or five
riding go-carts with C. Cook
eating some Denny's paid for by Tricia
taking down the Fox News of local newspapers, The Sand Springs Leader

There are several other things I really want to do as well; my summer reading list has grown to epic proportions, boats won't sail themselves, my friends can't play frisbee alone. This should be a good summer. The wind just seems to be blowing right this year. Call me.

the Jobey Poll
What's up with the lack of posting on the Jobey on...? Should I give up on the meaningful shit, sell my site to NewsCorp, and be done with it?

It's a pencil and the eraser is stuck up bin Laden's pooper!

2005-05-12T10:19:00.000-05:00

Best 40 bucks I ever spent!

on yesterday's mysterious post
While I've got some time, I'd like to give my take on these new developments in Army recruitment. The current scandal involves recruiters doing everything from helping recruits pass drug tests to coercing them with threats of legal action if they don't show up for meetings at the recruitment offices. I'm sure that the questionable tactics used by our miliarty to get numbers up don't stop there. This is a tough time to be selling the services, what with a war in Iraq, a war on terrorism in general, the threat of wars against North Korea and Iran looming, all of which are being headed by an ungrateful leader who continues to cut the benefits for veterans and military families.

I am not necessarily from the camp of left-wing bloggers who think that we should be weary of using the word 'draft.' I do not intend to use it as a scare tactic. I only use it here so that people my age will be concerned with and look out for their best interests in these times. When I look at information like that the links in my previous post, I see the potential for selective service. When a bullshit war is led by bullshit leaders and people get fed up with the bullshit and no longer want to serve or want to see their children serve for the benefit of a bullshit cause, where will the citizens be found to serve? I seriously suggest you learn the lyrics to Country Joe and the Fish's "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag." Hit me with some comments.

UPDATE: Since it seems to fit in this topic, Kos put this up in the early morning. Fuck this war and fuck the people who pushed for it and fuck the people who allowed it to happen. If you see a Republican under the age of 26 today, tell him or her to go replace these fallen Marines, the hypocrite.

on final exams week
Three down, one to go, for anybody keeping score at home. I just got through the hardest of the group--Intercultural Communication. I'm only shooting for a 'B' there. I don't particularly need the 'A,' so why put in the effort? Tomorrow is Intro. to Mass Communication which should be a pushover. I'm coming home on Saturday to a life of servitude and squalor. At this point, I would rather be homeless than live with my parents.

the Jobey Poll
The Jobey's hyperlinking: overboard or good reflection of the insanity of the mediasphere?

Could you close that window? I feel a draft.

2005-05-11T15:03:00.000-05:00

on Army recruiting
I'm just going to post some links for now and I'll get my analysis up later.
CBS News Story
http://dailykos.com/story/2005/5/11/11427/2427

Go ahead and look it over. I'll be back later.

Final Exam Week Post

2005-05-09T10:09:00.000-05:00

on finals
I'm finally ready to start posting again. My trip to Miami went well. I graduated. NEO Fine Arts Dept. Chair Barbara George, a.k.a. Lumbergh's secretary, read my name. My dad came. My mom and grandma came. Paul and Erin came. Special thanks go out to everybody who made the trip up. I'm glad you could all be there.

I just finished my Latin final, making an 89, which should put me at an A for the semester. With that test out of the way, I have a two day break before my Anth. final, so I'll have some time to write something good, hopefully.

on Audioslave in Cuba
MTV has a pair of articles online about Audioslave playing Cuba last week. They played a 26-song, 2-1/2 hour set attended by 50,000 fans at La Tribuna Anti-Imperialista in Havana. The playlist reportedly included some of the new Audioslave material and also songs from Soundgarden and Rage Against the Machine. The concert serves as a reminder that sometimes it's good to be a communist. This isn't the first time an American artist or band has played in Cuba (Billy Joel and Kris Kristofferson, among others, did it back in 1979), but it's definitely the most exciting show an American band has put on in Cuba in a long time.

I really wish it would have been the original Rage Against the Machine that played Cuba. That would have been an amazing story.

on W. the Harvard MBA
Dailykos has a diary today concerning an article by one of our president's former profs at Harvard. I highly recommend that you read it.

the Jobey Poll
Which do you prefer: tennis shoes or oatmeal cream pies?

Open Thread Day

2005-05-06T00:41:00.000-05:00

on being a lazy bastard
I'm on the road for a couple of days, so I'm going to let you hijack this post and write whatever you want in Comments. (What the hell am I thinking?)

TheJobey Poll
Are you cool, man?

"Disney bought the fantasies and piles of eyes."

2005-05-04T13:33:00.001-05:00

on the commodification of innocence
Disneyland's 50th anniversary is this year. Watching a FoxNews report on the anniversary, I began thinking about the effects of Disney on our culture.

Disney commodified innocence. Plain and simple: they turned childhood into a product to be bought and sold. Some people think Disney has become a monster today as they control such a large percentage of mass media outlets and therefore public opinion, but I contend Disney was a monster all along. Their earliest films were based upon stories not under copyrights which, after used by Disney, Disney got copyrights for all those stories and now works with copyrights held by Disney are among the best-protected works in our culture. Let me restate that: Disney's movies, which they originally stole, are now heavily guarded against being used by others and the families of their original creators get nothing. And then there's the manipulative advertising to children and just last summer their reluctance to release and eventually dropping of 'Fahrenheit 911.' Think about some of that when your kids want to go to the new Disney movie, and get all the new Disney toys, and get the special edition re-re-release of the classic Disney film on DVD...I'm sure the list goes on, what with synergy within that beast.

TheJobey Poll
Who the hell am I? Where the fuck do I belong?

And justice for all cases deemed necessary by the Republican Party

2005-05-03T13:57:00.000-05:00

on Tom Delay
A little local poll from a Houston television station is causing some waves in the Delay Watching community. It seems that of the 548 voters polled in Delay's district, 51% disapprove of the job he is doing as Congressman. In addition to that, 21% believe he should resign from House leadership, while 36% believe he should flat out leave the House. The odd thing about all of that is that 39% believe he should remain the Majority Leader.

All in all, I don't know how much stock should be put into this poll. It seems like good news, but the Democrats still need to push the issue and get Delay's corruption in the faces of the American people so that public opinion will continue to turn against him. Allow me to restate that leaving Delay in office for midterm gains is a bad idea. I say get him out now and let the Republicans in Texas replace him with someone else, because...REALITY CHECK...a Democrat winning that district is virtually impossible. If 42% of his constituents are still supporting him while he misuses and disrespects the power they gave him to represent their best interests, all they must care about is his vote in the (R) column and nothing else. In other words, they'd rather have the most corrupt man in the House representing them than risk having a (D) in their seat.

on the nuclear option
I found a link to some great analysis on the Republicans' attempt to take away filibuster abilities of the Democratic minority. Check it out. The breakdown of the events provided is pretty sweet. The "nuclear option" would be a ridiculous move by the Republicans. If Bush doesn't want his judges shot down, he should ditch his extremist litmus testing and nominate some sane and fair judges instead of trying to have his Senatorial lackeys change established Senate procedural rules to cover his ass. Go watch "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," dude!

Furthermore, I'm tired of the religious groups campaigning against Democratic filibusters, claiming they are anti-faith. Balls! It would not be anti-faith principles guiding filibusters, it would be pro-justice principles. Focus on the Family should lay down their Bibles, reach for a government textbook and figure out what this whole justice thing means here in America.

I saw m.f. Rev. Pat Robertson on his CBN newscast talking about how it was God's will that filibustering of judges be taken away from Democrats. I can't help but laugh at this sad old guy. He's a bigger partisan hack than O'Reilly and Hannity put together and he backs every one of his Republican talking points with his interpretation of God's will. Jesus H. Christ! The saddest part of this guy's approach toward the filibusters is that if a Democratic-nominated justice were to come before the Senate he'd be up in arms about God's wish that the Republicans filibuster. I hope he lives to see a Democratic President and legislative majority again, so people can tune in to CBN, or whatever that late-night current events/preachathon is, and see the nightly hypocrisy of organized religion. God bless our country!

on the Vodka Suicide
Everybody remembers back in the day when you'd go up to the soft drink fountain and mix every flavor together, right? Ok...
*****Vodka Suicide*****
1 part cola
1 part Root Beer
1 part Orange Fanta or Red Pop
1 part Dr. Pepper
1 part Sprite
1 part Mountain Dew
4 parts Vodka

GET RIPPED!

Today's JobeyPoll
Who is going to win tonight: Buhler/Daugherty or Cranfield/Nobles? Post your answers in Comments...

Leaving the World of the Past, one step at a time

2005-05-02T16:49:00.000-05:00

on the departure of Larry Cochell
In film, rain can be used as a symbol of cleansing. Well, it was raining in Norman, Oklahoma today. Yesterday evening saw the University of Oklahoma baseball coach Larry Cochell submit his resignation to President David Boren, ending an dark episode which began last Tuesday involving, to quote the Daily, "racially insensitive remarks made to ESPN broadcasters last Tuesday in Witchita, Kan."

The comments made by Cochell were in reference to freshman outfielder Joe Dunigan. According to ESPN, Cochell, in praising Dunigan to broadcaster Gary Thorne, said, "There's no nigger in him." Thorne, appearently, pushed the statement to the back of his mind until he found out about what Cochell had earlier told his partner broadcaster, Kyle Peterson. Again speaking about Dunigan, Cochell had said, "There are honkies and white people, and there are niggers and black people. Dunigan is a good black kid."

In an apology accompanying his request for resignation, Cochell claims that he is not a racist and that the comments he made are not representative of his feelings on race. The only two black players on the OU baseball team and their families have made statements supporting the coach and offering him forgiveness. President Boren, in a statement accepting Cochell resignation, said, "A good and caring man has made a terrible mistake for which he must assume responsibility."

I don't know Larry Cochell as a man, so I can neither support President Boren's assertion nor deny it. However, I am not sure I buy into the idea that this is just a case of a baseball coach trying too hard to be affable for the media. The fact that there are only two black players on OU's baseball team causes a problem for me. How could a nationally recruiting, Big 12 baseball team have only two African-American players? Because I am only conjecturing here, I am going to let you think about that on your own...

I feel that the proper course of action has been taken in this case. Cochell has shown considerable character in resigning from his position in a timely fashion, instead of causing the team and the university more bad publicity. Regardless of how his leaving of OU came about, I believe that Cochell should not have been allowed to stay. We cannot allow such sentiments to be reflected upon this fine institution.

on Kansas, fucking Kansas...
Reuters is reporting that Evolution is about to go on trial yet again in America, this time in the great Red state of Kansas. The new wave of pseudo-religious proponents of 'Intelligent Design' being taught in science classrooms is looking for a victory in the Kansas courts so that their theory can be taught side-by-side with evolution.

OK. I feel it is necessary at this juncture to make sure that everyone knows thejobeyon...'s stance on the evolution v. intelligent design v. creationism debate. It's a simple one: Let's keep that which is supported by science (i.e. Evolution) in the science classroom, and keep fairy tales of huge men in the sky with beards creating everything 10,000 years ago (don't look at me like that...) in the philosophy classroom. In a philosophy class, debate is usually encouraged and students could have fair game of ideas. Teaching something with no scientific relevance in a science classroom. I say that we should keep the current system where the controversy is mentioned, but nothing besides evolution is taught in the science classroom.

I've often thought of how particular policies mixing religion and public life will affect our country, and I see no bigger threat to our education system then 'Intelligent Designers.' They have a hidden agenda to get their beliefs in a higher power taught as fact in schools to all children. By teaching the idea of a higher power being the creator of life, science teachers are opening a Pandora's Box; How far should they go towards interpretting the meaning of life? What questions should they answer on morality? What do they tell their students about the nature of the higher power which possibly created them? If these questions aren't answered properly, we must assume that the next logical step after espousing 'Intelligent Design' in the classroom is to inflect one's own religious beliefs into the lesson, essentially preaching at students. A very dangerous situation, and, ultimately, an unnecessary one.

Have at it in Comments.

Quick question: Do we have any Tylenol?

2005-05-01T22:37:00.000-05:00

I'm calling in sick to the office today.

The Darek updated today though and he's got a great piece on North Korean nukes. Check it out.

I'll be back tomorrow. Until then, use comments as an Open Thread: What's on your mind?

Saturday Evening Post sans Norman Rockwell

2005-04-30T14:36:00.000-05:00

on the fall of saigon
Today marks the 30th anniversary of what's known to America as the Fall of Saigon and what's known in Vietnam as Reunification Day. A reporter from NPR who was present 30 years ago, was live in Saigon today. Today is a day of jubilation in Vietnam, but, in America, where the wounds of the war are still yet to heal, there is nothing to celebrate. An unjust war never ends well or soon enough. Today, as a nation we should take time to think about that war, the lives it took, the men who fought, and men who sent them to fight. I was not alive during this war, it wasn't a generation I was a part of that was effected, but I still feel strongly for the veterans of Vietnam when someone like Ann Coulter says that one of them is part of the reason we lost that war. It is not their fault. Vietnam was lost by the politicians who forced men to fight and to die for a cause not worth fighting for voluntarily. There are plenty of other sources for information on this occasion around the mediasphere today, please visit them for more information.

on the documentary 'Okie Noodling'
'Okie Noodling' is a documentary that went, like its subject, under the mainstream radar. Taking on the subject of what's known as a pasttime for rednecks without enough money to buy bait and tackle for actual fishing, the film gives profiles of the type of people engaging in noodling. Oh, in case you don't know, noodling, or hand fishing, is wading in shallow creeks and lakes until you find a deep hole, sticking your hand into the hole and letting a catfish, or whatever else is in the hole, bite you. After being bitten, the idea is to drag the fish out while it's still gripping your arm, which is not that easy when your dragging a fish that weighs 40 or 50 pounds. The film was produced by Bradley Beesley, an Oklahoma filmmaker, and was bankrolled by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and OETA. As interesting a topic as noodling culture is, the documentary actually gets pretty dry about halfway through. The stories told by each of the profiled noodlers seem to be repetitive and the footage of beer-bellied, sinewy rednecks mostly submerged in muddy waters digging in unseen holes doesn't make for very compelling visuals. That's to be expected though. 'Okie Noodling' marks the first time a documentary had been attempted on the art of noodling, so very limited stock footage exists to use in such a project. The film deserves an A for its pioneering spirit and soundtrack provided by Okies the Flaming Lips, but a C for its execution. If you have a chance to check out the DVD, it's worth a viewing at only an hour long. Plus, the special section dedicated to the soundtrack features a hilarious commentary by Wayne Coyne in which he discusses what he thought the topic of the film would be when he was first contacted to work on it. Appearently, he and the director had two different ideas of the word 'noodling.' Priceless.

responsible consumption of alcohol
The rum is indeed gone. I can't give any details as to where the rum came from, who consumed the rum, or whose possession the rum has been in, but I can say definitively, "The rum is gone." What I also cannot say is that mixing rum in root beer is good. I cannot say that when you have exhausted all the coca-cola and root beer at your disposal, stealing grape Gatorade mix from your suitemates, mixing up that mix and consequently mixing rum into said Gatorade, is a proper course of action. I can't say these things, not because they are not true, necessarily, but because I am a minor and I live on a dry campus. By the way, I also cannot say that I've watched the new episode of Family Guy everyday since Monday. I can't say that for another reason altogether. However, I can still say, "Fuck you, Rupert Murdoch!"

i am a genius: part 1
Ok, so I bought a half gallon of chocolate milk this afternoon instead of getting one of those little cartons...but I don't have a refridgerator. After I had drunk as much chocolatey goodness as was my fill, I went to see if I could use my suitemates' fridge...they, however, had gone home to Texas for the weekend and chained their door. I had to think fast! I looked around the room and found paper towels, some old styrofoam cups, and a bag. I wrapped the towels around my milk, then put the ice I had in a beverage from earlier in the cup on bottom and put the wrapped milk on top of it. I put a styrofoam cup on top and then covered the whole thing with my plastic bag. The contraption seems to be working. I figure I saved myself at least one more serving of chocolate milk before it goes bad. And that is why...I am a genius.

And the beat goes on...

2005-04-29T14:15:00.000-05:00

Late last night, the 2006 Budget for our United States of America passed both the House and Senate floors. The margins were extremely close, considering the make-up of the two houses, with the bill passing the House 214-211 and the Senate 52-47. As you probably deduced from the numbers, there were no Democratic crossovers in either house.

I'm really glad that the Democrats stood firm to try and defeat this budget and got some Republicans to cross the aisle, but seeing the budget pass deeply troubles me. The budget, drafted primarily by the "Party of Fiscal Responsibility," leaves us with a $382 billion deficit, while continuing tax cuts which this year will cost $106 billion in revenue. There will also, obviously, be cuts to federal programs totaling $35 billion, with Medicaid losing big. Plus (Fucking, have you read an overview of this mother fucker?), defense spending is, as always the bulk of the budget at $438.9 billion (FUCK!), but homeland security, which I've sort of thought of as a part of defense, is getting fucking $49.9 billion while the current wars are getting fucking $50 billion together. We're spending around $540-550 billion to kill or otherwise harass people, yet we still can't afford health care for all our citizens. I guess all I can do is quote the words of our president from just last night as he fled the podium at his first press conference of his second term, "God bless our country."

Speaking of that press conference, I'm pretty sure Bush planned his address last night as a way to fill up the pundits' plates with his comments and keep the budget debate out of the public eye. As divided as the entire legislature was on this bill, the public needed to hear the debate taking place and understand the reprecussions of this budget's passage. Instead, they saw Bush taking softball questions from the corporate media tricks. I've said it before and I will continue to say it until the day I die: Our nation must have an independent, unbaised, investigative, unhindered source of media if true Democracy is to survive. Right now, that just doesn't seem to be the case.

On a side note, I had access to a television briefly last night and caught a little bit of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) on the floor giving his closing remarks in the debate. He spoke about the immorality of the budget because of the deficits and cuts it will cause, actually going so far as to quote religious leaders' statements which had been sent to him denouncing the budget. I have to say, Harry, buddy, I love ya, but please be careful when playing the religion card on the floor.

UPDATE: I am still looking through the voting records from last night, but I would like to publish that Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK) was present, to my surprise, and cast a vote of 'no' for all y'all in the Second District. The rest of the Oklahoma delegation voted in favor of the budget.

Classy-looking, but still trashy as ever...

2005-04-28T12:05:00.000-05:00

As the Jefferson's theme song said, "We're movin' on up."
Welcome to the new the Jobey on... New posts coming soon. Stay tuned.

The original site (http://thejobey.crimsonblog.com) will remain up, but I'll be updating here from now on.

I don't know about y'all, but I'm giddy as a schoolgirl right now.