Saturday, February 5, 2011

A Special Kind of Stupid (My Drudgereport Moment!)...

I have to admit, this minor heat wave that we're receiving coupled with the fact that the sun is staying out past 5:00pm really acts as a natural Prozak-- one may say that it's slightly inspirational even.. hmm... ok. Peace, Love, Happiness... right?! I figure, it's the weekend, I'll withhold the rants for a bit...

While I certainly have my thoughts regarding the following comment and email excerpt, I will refrain from articulating them... Rather, I feel that the content speaks for itself. Before posting it, let me just offer a brief background...

I received the emails below from a friend who works in the television news industry. Every day, he receives multiple phone calls, emails, and letters from viewers who believe that his station COULD DO MORE (capitalized to emphasize the true passion behind their suggestions); More content, more accuracy, less propaganda, etc...

At times, the ideas are offered with a genuine desire to improve the lives of the viewers. Most of the time however, the beliefs emanating from these people can only be described as "whhhhaaaaaaa?!?!" or, "a special kind of stupid."

Following, is a comment from the "suggestion box" and an excerpt from a very long email that my friend received yesterday-- I suppose, if accurate, both could really be MY big break... Remember, you heard it HERE first!!! --FYI, I redacted the name of the city from the "comment", so I can follow-up and preserve this story as my own... ;) ... no, actually to protect my somewhat innocent friend- I swear, this really is real...

(FYI, if this craziness becomes too painful and you don't want to continue reading, scroll to the bottom for today's "Good Day Wish...")

Suggestion Box:

"Comments: I have it on good authority that the Chinese government have allocated 30,000 acres near [our city], and plan to build a city near it.  The government has given permission to let the Chinese build 257 cities so that they can build products quicker for the US consumer."

Email Excerpt:

Does this make you wonder?

  The great mystery...............
         Ever wonder why no one ever came forward from President Obama's past saying they knew him, attended school with him, was his friend, etc. ??  Not one person has ever come forward from his past.
               VERY, VERY STRANGE..
               This should really be a cause for great concern.  To those
who voted for him, you may have elected an unqualified, inexperienced shadow man.

Reminds me of The Manchurian Candidate....
             Let's face it.  As insignificant as we all are .. someone
whom we went to school with remembers our name or face ... someone
remembers we were the clown or the dork or the brain or the quiet one or
the bully or something about us.

           George Stephanopoulos of ABC News said the same thing during
the 2008 campaign.  He questions why no one has acknowledged the
president was in their classroom or ate in the same cafeteria or made
impromptu speeches on campus.

           Stephanopoulos also was a classmate of Obama at Columbia -- the
class of 1984.  He says he never had a single class with him.

           While he is such a great orator, why doesn't anyone in Obama's
college class remember him?  And, why won't he allow Columbia to release
his records?

           NOBODY REMEMBERS OBAMA AT COLUMBIA !
         Looking for evidence of Obama's past, Fox News contacted 400
Columbia University students from the period when Obama claims to have
been there, but none remembered him.

         Wayne Allyn Root was, like Obama, a political science major at
Columbia who also graduated in 1983  In 2008, Root says of Obama, "I
don't know a single person at Columbia that knew him, and they all know
me. I don't have a classmate who ever knew Barack Obama at Columbia.
EVER!

         Nobody recalls him.  Root adds that he was also, like Obama,
"Class of  '83 political science, pre-law" and says, "You don't get more
exact or closer than that."  Never met him in my life, don't know anyone
who ever met him.  At the class reunion, our 20th reunion five years ago,
who was asked to be the speaker of the class?  Me.  No one ever heard of
Barack! And five years ago, nobody even knew who he was.


OK.... So, that's that... Like I said, DON'T FORGET who FIRST brought this to you! NOT the MAINSTREAM MEDIA--- MY blog... ;)

I hope everyone has a great Saturday and, Brett Pederson and Claudia Kabella, you two have a WONDERFUL DAY!!!

Friday, February 4, 2011

"Faggot; Fatty; Slut... Shoot."

Similar to the game of chance and circumstance, "Rock; Paper; Scissors," providing denigrating labels for those that surround us at any given time during the course of our lives, tends to be as logical as playing your "weapon" of choice at the point of draw.

Like many, I have had held the position of both the bullied and the bully. What too often escapes those involved in the "process" is that neither position is enviable and both are the result of something WE ALL share. Insecurity.

I sincerely wish with every ounce of compassion existing in my heart that each school-aged kid could truly grasp the concept of  "insecurity" and recognize that even those hot, popular kids that seem to have everything are all equally uncertain of themselves. Unfortunately, during Junior High and the like, the ridiculous number of chemicals (natural and possibly manufactured) and raging contradictions tearing through our systems make it pretty difficult.

That's when we were young, there's an excuse-- as we grow, the 'innocense' factor is lost-- and, both parties, 'the bullied' and 'the bullies,' are guilty of ignorance and a REFUSAL to emerge from a real shitty cocoon.

What seems to be developing at a record pace over social networking groups is the re-surfacing of cliques and the cool crowd. Even more troubling, it appears that some are allowing this concept to seep into their lives outside of cyber-space. Don't believe me? Take a peek at some of your 'friends' status updates (the outrageous and clearly unacceptable nature of many of these will act as fodder for a future post)-- or, have an actual conversation about it; weird concept...

I will be the first to acknowledge that many people have a horrendous childhood, that circumstances exist in households that I could never imagine let alone understand.
Some enter a world where family dinners are replaced with mom smoking crack and dad swinging fists, where recognizing who YOU truly are means extradition from your cozy bed, where the supposed 'safe-haven' of school is really a torturous prison. Because these extenuating circumstances are a REALITY, it would be foolish, ignorant, and morally unjust to deny these members of society additional help- in many forms.

Truth is though, that for most of us, life may have dealt some pretty shitty blows and even more gut-wrenching labels while growing up, but it's time to move on.

It's time to really grasp the fact that all those cliques, the cool table at lunch, and the idea that some are beneath you are figments of your imagination.

I honestly still remember dreading the walk into middle school. I was frequently referred to as a fag, pussy, bitch, etc... and, that was just from peers who are now actually gay... I hated life, I hated those people and, it was really hard to suck it up and move forward. But, what I realized (perhaps, more easily than others) is that your weakness is their gain.

So, STOP. STOP being weak. STOP allowing the figments dancing through your head of convincing you that these bullies are real. They exist because YOU let them. YOUR mind is preventing you from recognizing your potential.

I won't fully expand on it during this post however, I truly believe that our imaginary limitations and/or strengths act as an all too frequent prevailing force during the quest for change in society.

Ideas:

That the entire GLBT community must free itself from their own mental shackles before the major physical ones can be broken; That the obesity epidemic must first be addressed in our culture's mind before the pounds start falling off; That the religious and historical restraints grasping sexuality's (in all its forms) progress, will only be removed if we take the arduous strides of re-examining our perceived traditions.

The task of creating a sound mind is incredibly difficult (like catching a shadow) and may never fully be achieved. However, while it is in no way, shape, or form a 'cure-all,' it's a place to start.

DON'T FRET......

To those arriving at this blog with expectations of reading something with a bit more-- oooomph! ;) -- Squash your worries-- This is simply the CALM BEFORE THE STORM.................

Remembering High School Morning Announcements...

During my senior year at Southwest High School, I had the privilege of presenting the Morning Announcements.

 The script (or, lack thereof) consisted of daily events, future plans, and/or warnings pertaining to leaving campus for lunch.

 We frequently featured guests from sports teams and plays, an individual who offered a "Word O' the Day" (he always wanted to define "masticate" but, the administration refused to allow it --pretty sure he snuck it in towards commencement), and during a couple rare occurrences, dates were arranged for school dances (perhaps, that was the 'start' of reality TV- residuals?!).

A minor suspension even occurred because of my inability to refrain from offering commentary (to this day, I will maintain that a "Black History Month Presentation" postponed through April deserves ridicule-- similar to a "Christmas Pageant" stalled until March).


Despite the various 'acts' on the show, one specific element really seemed to reverberate amongst all those listening, the "Good Day Greeting."


My "greeting" merely focused on two individuals in the school and offered them a completely random wish to have a wonderful day. I don't know if it was the mention of their name over the shoddy loudspeaker or a true sense of 'warmth' on a particularly 'cold' day that held their interest but, something about it worked.


With that in mind, moving forward, I will offer a "Good Day" wish to two of my Facebook friends (or, maybe some randoms) every morning. My method of choice will be left to divine intervention and/or natural selection (whichever you choose to believe)... If you don't want your name selected, that will probably require a ton of prayer or direct threats--- even with that, I can't make any promises.


The 'wish' will occur regardless of the morning post's content... Perhaps, as a reminder to not take ourselves too seriously (me, especially...)


Good Friday Morning to everyone and, Kyrstin (Gustafson) Schwartz and David Beukema, you two have a wonderful day...

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Cheating the Restaurant Gods...

I want to break the mold of my posts a bit by sharing an awesome recipe that I brought together for dinner.

Since my inaugural excursions to the Richfield Leeann Chin Restaurant when I was probably around 10 years old, I have maintained an affinity towards Lemon Chicken.

As I grew older, the spicier Peking started filling my plastic 'Metrodome bowl' but I have never forgotten the sweet taste from my first love.

It has been years since I consumed Leeann Chin's food as the taste and quality took a pummeling during new ownership and budget constraints. However, I discovered a recipe that places even the old and true fast-food dish to shame.

I highly recommend this when the $12.00/order minimum at a take-out restaurant just isn't cutting it... Or, when you simply want something incredible to eat.
Also, serve with some whole grain brown rice to add an even healthier component to your dinner.

Ingredients

  • 1 package (1 - 2 lbs) of chicken breast
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose unbleached flour
  • Coarse salt (use the salt you have- don't worry)
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil (vegetable or canola will work too),
  • 1 tablespoon (a splash) white vinegar (white wine will work too)
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth or stock (I used consomme- just follow directions accordingly)
  • 8 ounces prepared lemon curd (you can find a 10oz jar by the Jelly at Cub for around $5.00)
  • 1/4 cup hot water
  • 1 lemon, zested
  • 2 scallions (I used shallots)
  • Red pepper flakes to taste
Cut the chicken into pieces or strips.

Coat the chunked chicken lightly in flour, seasoned with a little salt (mix these ingredients together before immersing the chicken-- INSTEAD of salt, I used Tony Chachere's seasoning--- simply a matter of preference).

Heat a large skillet or a wok-shaped nonstick pan over high heat. Stir fry chicken until golden, 3 or 4 minutes. Remove chicken from the pan and return pan to heat. Reduce heat to medium.

Add a splash of vinegar to the pan and let it evaporate. Add stock or broth to the pan and scrape up any drippings with a whisk.

I USED ABOUT 4-6 oz of Lemon Curd-- The more you add, the sweeter the dish! Thin curd by stirring in a little hot water. Add curd to broth and whisk to combine.

Add chicken back to the pan and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes to thicken sauce and finish cooking chicken pieces through.

Remove the pan from heat, add the scallions or chives and zest, and toss chicken pieces well to combine zest and scallions or chopped shallots evenly throughout the sauce. Finish with pepper flakes for your heat preference.

A light post with a light meal to end the day...

Bon Appetite!

Ok, Just 'Hold' the Lap Dance (for now....).....

My post from this morning has garnered mixed reactions.

Some individuals have expressed disgust and disappointment, others have mocked and openly asked, "what the hell are you doing?," and one person took a sensational risk and openly critiqued my position.

Sonya's response to my post is THE reason that I wanted to start this blog. (Please, read her thoughts underneath the initial "Take Your Lap Dance and Shove It" column)

She offered a perspective to my thoughts that I would never consider.

Heck, strip clubs can only be one or two things, right? A smutty destination for horny dudes or a place where distraught or slutty women sell their bodies to make ends meet.

I will argue that those sentiments ring true during most discussions involving the Adult World. Seldom, would anyone take the time to consider the multiple business and personal elements that really exist in a strip club or sex store. I was guilty of that.

This is not to say that horrible occurences don't exist in the trade... But, what DOESN'T have a dark side? I believe it is integral to our growth as a community and people to venture where we are most afraid. To acknowledge that shit exists in many facets of our surroundings. But sometimes, THAT is all we choose to see or accept.

All components of an argument should be scrutinized before one claims to have 'the answer'...

I will maintain my personal position on strip clubs, but also look to continue a discussion with those that have made a career out of the endeavor- owners AND employees-- and, those that enjoy and benefit from the services offered... That is only fair to truly developing a sound stance and/or understanding.

If this blog continues to live, I will commit to researching and presenting as accurate a portrait as I can offer.

My opinions will continue to flow and welcome open challenges... But, always with the inherent mission of my goal, to provide some sort of change...

22 hours 245 views... My Second thoughts...

I am very surprised at the number of views that my small blog has received in a relatively short amount of time. Based upon the private responses that I have received, I can only surmise that the interest is akin to watching a NASCAR race-- People tune in with the hope of witnessing a crash of epic proportions.

I don't want to delve too deep into my thoughts surrounding my growing apprehension behind this project, however it is my intent to operate this site as I try to live life, with an open mind and honesty. I can't adequately express how truly frightening that is.

I will be the first to admit that I am not always right, hell, I am usually equally as unsure of my opinions as those who fiercely disagree with me. But, I have thoughts and questions that I desperately want justifications and answers for...

My intent with this blog is to explore the many uncertainties of life. And yes, that can be something as deep as the concept of a Higher Power or an observation regarding strip clubs in our society.

My aim is NOT to offend or incite mass dissent. Rather, I proceed through life with a curiosity that builds to the point of utter confusion. This blog is my outlet for exploration and discussion... And, if you'd like, it can be yours as well...

Often, my outward nature and strong opinions brings trouble whether or not I am looking for it. I am the first to recognize that. Placing your own words in any public forum can certainly act as a detriment towards other's perception of your character. I get that.

I will continue with this blog because I truly believe that it can help with this crazy ideal that I have held close for a very long time, fostering the growth of positive change in my surroundings.

How exactly will this happen? I have no freaking clue. But, I have some ideas...

Every goal can only be reached with a conception and an execution... I don't know if I will succeed or fail... But, this is my VERY PUBLIC attempt at something.

Again, I appreciate your continued thoughts and suggestions...

Take Your Lap Dance and Shove It...

I have a deep, sincere hatred of strip clubs.


To be completely forthright, I have slummed within the lowest, paltry realms of Warehouse strip shacks and mingled amongst classy nudes and 'refined' gentlemen where each drink matches the price of a dance ($$$, in other words). These escapades were at the outer core of a rebellious fervor beset upon my late teen years and early twenties.


My experiences were no different than most men who tread into the universal staples of Adults Only Venues. Patrons are greeted with dark, blotchy red carpeting, cheap rope lights gliding along the walls, and rows of what can only be described as misplaced spotless mirrors that bounce the impending sin from one side of the hallway to the other.


Tawdry, yet enticing decorations beckon you towards a mammoth basement style room, headlined with a stage pierced with multiple poles. Nearly naked women hoping to capitalize on a rush of chauvinistic adrenaline rendering males blind to reality, thrust themselves onstage and sweep empty flirtations across the floor.


For some, the peer pressure coupled with an inescapable aura of feminine mind-control is too much and the twenty dollar bills emerge from pockets like an ATM machine.


For others, the performance resembles more of a 'house-of-horrors' perpetuating rapidly growing feelings of discomfort and shame.


Why are all these women naked?
What if my relatives see me here?
What would my mother think?


Undoubtedly, these questions have flowed through every guy at some point while partaking in this 'right of passage'-- However, it is not the shame nor the ridiculous amounts of money that cause me to detest these dens of dirt.


I hate strip clubs because they are insulting.


They are insulting to me, and should be insulting to every man who encounters their jaded presence along our streets.


What message do these venues echo throughout our society?


That a man is not good enough to find a woman on his own.


So, screw you! I am NOT paying to have a woman grind on my clothed groin for any amount of money. I am better than that.

What magical, golden gift can a stripper possibly possess that entitles her to my money for a service that really provides ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for me?!


Brothers, refuse!! Hell, I say, if you wanna play this game, let's go there!!


From a pure physiological point of view, the woman has the potential to gain more pleasure from her lap-dance than we do, in fact, the dancee is actually acting as the stage for the strippers enjoyment, she should pay him.


And, the more I think about it... men are doing HER a favor, choosing her over all the other girls in the candy shop acts, without hesitation, as a boost to her place in the pecking order of the cool lunch table.


Now, if your friends insist on stealing you away to one of these bro-tastic establishments, I implore you to make this commitment; Tell any inquiring stripper that, you will NOT act as her 'play-toy' for anything less than a drink (I am not responsible for the ensuing bouncer battle)!


Stand your ground! Strip clubs are NOT your friend, you are better than them. Do not allow the perceived appeal of superficial love/lust coupled with cheap perfume to cloud your ability of remembering WHO YOU ARE!


-----Note: My aforementioned sentiment should not imply that women lack a right to a very similar argument... I chose to focus on a position that my gender allows me to relate to...

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Bias Egypt Coverage

Despite my political leanings, I can't help but notice the incredible bias in support of the anti-Mubarak protesters filling every facet of the media (yes, this includes radio, Internet, newspapers, AND television)... I admittedly, have the luxury and privilege to view the turmoil from a distance (in a country that affords me countless rights) so I will NOT pretend to 'know' what I do not. However, while the violence certainly seems to be gaining frightening steam and the crowds are steadily appearing to increase in size, I can't help but wonder what the 'non-protesting' 7.75 million residents of Cairo are thinking...

While the emerging sentiment from world leadership and Al Jazeera is that it is time for an overhaul of Egypt's government, it must not be lost that Mubarak has complied with many wishes/demands in a very short time. This man has ruled (whether right or wrong) for 30 years, an immediate change of an unstable system in an unstable region cannot occur with the snap of one's fingers.

Being that I am a member of a generation accustomed to and expectant of immediate gratification, I sympathize with the protesters desires and would most certainly be at the forefront of the Cairo blogosphere if that were my home (I will not, for one second pretend that I would have the cajones to march in the street). However, structuring something new and efficient is not easy (we are still 'perfecting' our Democracy) and I have to assume that many of the millions of people NOT in the square probably have some pragmatic views on this...

It would be difficult for a producer to strike any sort of balance with their coverage of this potentially monumental world event - I would not want to be in those shoes. Cameras can't move far and their current focus is probably where it should be, at the heart of the strife/movement in Tahrir Square. Maletov cocktails are being thrown along with stones amongst two groups of people fighting for their futures. Soon, guns will almost certainly enter the equation.

The situation is likely reminiscent (for American History Teachers and the aging books in their classrooms) of Colonial American society during the revolution. The 'real' fight that these people are engaged in is sure to peak the curiosity of billions throughout the world...

...It is my only hope that we, along with those covering it, remember where WE are and where THE EGYPTIAN PEOPLE are... And, that what we see on television and read in the news only represents an incredibly small portion of the citizens of Cairo and Egypt.

Breaking Wind/Passing Gas; The delights of "health"

For the last couple of months, I have made a truly conscious effort to closely monitor every ingredient in the food that I eat. For those unfamiliar with my 'hobbies', I absolutely love to cook and experiment in the kitchen. Usually, due to the bland assortment of menu options (bland pertaining to choice, not seasoning), I almost always prefer a home cooked meal to anything at a restaurant.

While it becomes much easier to monitor what you eat when you dine in, inevitably some component of our meal is made outside the confines of our 'safe-zone.' It is the tortilla for my taco, the noodles for my Italian feast, the bread for my butter, and the cereal in the morning that I typically have no control over.

My 'healthy' emphasis has specifically targeted the consumption of more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. I think the post-lowcarb mentality has enveloped a new love and appreciation for the 'cleansing' power of these foods.  So, if this is the case... it makes complete sense to skip over the 'plain' processed options that lack the alchemist concoctions assuring a double, triple, or quadruple increase in their magical powers, right?!

As my wise consumer eyes drift along colorful packaging and bold pleasing titles to the list of ingredients accompanying my grocery store's offerings, a trend emerges. It has become more frequent that although a food claims to possess 'healthful benefits,' its 'substance' is chalk-full of words that I don't recognize let alone, understand. Among the recent claims permeating packages on shelves is an emphasis on fiber.

Initially, these claims entered my skull with a sense of glee and liberal accomplishment. It was as if my reading of, "Fast Food Nation" and "The Omnivore's Dilemma" had some how forced the Walmarts of the world to bring meaningful change to their money-sucking behemoth companies. Down with the fat, calories, artificial bullshit, HELLO clean colons and youthful hearts... HA! ... I'll concede, they won that battle... I'm still in the war...

Admittedly (with humility), I neglected to recognize the clever manipulations by the marketing geniuses behind the likes of Wheat tortillas, double fiber breads, high fiber pasta, Fiber One Bars, Kashi Cereals, etc. until I regularly consumed this food with pride and a lack of abandon, rendering my stomach into a collection of murmurs, roars, bleps, and an inescapable stench.

What could be doing this to me?!

I, like so many others, fell into the trap that plagues most of us... I wanted a shortcut.

Obviously, I am not a scientist. I am however, a person who is constantly curious and who hates being gassy... So, I did some research on this human-fumarole inducing trend and this is what i found:

This 2009 Slate article about Polydextrose (a 'fiber', additive)...
The always wise minions of Oprah provide some insight....
And, here's a TV news broadcast on the subject...

In a nutshell, the fiber additives (functional fiber ((fake)) ) pass through your body without any of the benefits obtained from the dietary fiber found in produce and whole grains. In fact, some of these functional fibers could actually strip your body of necessary minerals... And, if that wasn't bad enough... the rocket fuel emanating from your ass will be.

So, back to brown rice, steel cut oats, carrots, lettuce, and grapefruit... I think a good rule of thumb is, if it has only one ingredient, it's likely a safe and healthy bet (commentary on FDA inspections and my vagueness is more than acceptable and deserved after that declaration).

Tip: Make a batch of brown rice (NOT INSTANT) and/or steel cut oats on Sunday (as it takes about 30 - 45 minutes for both) and store in the fridge for use throughout the week... Simple and effective...

24/7 News and Nothing to Show...

I possess very strong opinions pertaining to the ridiculous "news" culture that we live in... The notion that we MUST ALWAYS be provided with the newest reality TV scandal, cocaine exploits of Charlie Sheen, Iphone App madness, or the latest in political talking points only aides in perpetuating a culture of morons who think they "know" something because the news told 'em so...  
I will admit that those stories provide entertainment and quell some sort of voyeuristic tendency that many of us possess-- We can see into the shit lives of others and feel pretty damn good about ourselves... That does NOT mean however, that it should be considered "news."

Additionally, the outrageous pundit "analysis" on these "news" stations is theater. You are NOT receiving both "sides" of an issue regardless of what the title on the scrolling bar tells you. The "experts" are being paid to act a specific way and say a specific thing with the hopes that it will provide the same 'rush' for viewers that "The Bachelor", "Survivor," "Jersey Shore", etc. offer... a sense of turbulence and instability in a highly edited and controlled world...

Frankly, it is very annoying and I truly believe that anyone who tunes into those channels should feel completely offended (much like a MAN in a strip club... that's a future post :) )

Following, is a wonderful commentary that follows along the lines of my last post regarding narcissism in American culture...

Here is an excerpt,
"It's obvious that our government is unsure how to speak to us about [Egypt]. It would be nice if they treated us like grown-ups and said "we supported Mubarak for fairly obviously reasons for many years and so we're a bit wary of seeing him ousted," but that is not how the State Department has ever communicated.
So our liberal Tumblr users feel self-satisfied because they are keeping up with the latest images out of Cairo and our Bush apologists can feel like his entire foreign policy has been justified and our finest foreign affairs bloggers can happily argue with each other over Israel, as they always do, and meanwhile in Egypt thousands of people will fight for their fundamental human rights, a struggle that has very little to do with your opinions on anything."

And, here is the column.... enjoy.... http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/01/31/narcissism_egypt/index.html

Narcissistic...

Well, that didn't take long... I feel a little guilty... I composed my last post and created this blog with a blind/arrogant notion that ANYONE would care... Please, do me the favor of granting some leniency in your immediate critique...

Ostensibly, this blog IS for selfish purposes. I enjoy writing AND it helps quell my irrepressible ADHD by allowing me to focus my thoughts, if only for a moment...
And, I suppose that creating this "on-line portal of Adam" is a bit self-serving and attention seeking.

However, I promise you that I truly am NOT a selfish person and the principles behind my actions are almost entirely driven by a desire to keep US "open" and "progressing" with education and ideas...

If I had to have one wish in this life, it would be for NO
PERSON to live as a "hollow man"... This is my attempt to "walk the walk" by, well, "talking the talk"... I guess...

Now, if there is anything that my former life as a host on Radio Aahs taught me, it's to NEVER begin a sentence with "Now" and ALWAYS provide a decent segue (eh, one out of two)...  

With that noted, I would like to embrace another widely utilized trait of my generation and toss the blame for my mental state at something else; I believe that my gravitation towards narcissistic tendencies is the by-product of our culture and one must only shift his head in the direction of the immediate American coverage and response towards the Egyptian uprising as proof...

It begins...

My incessant polluting of your "Facebook News Feed" is, for the time being, headed the way of meaningful environmental reform legislation in Congress- straight into a pit where only those who care to see, experience, or believe in it have the opportunity. And, unlike the ideas presented to politicians, "the pit" is probably where a lot of what I have to say belongs.
My intention is not for this "pit" to represent the immediate images that the word implies. Rather, I want my "pit" to be more like the cozy room, nook, or person that we all try to seek refuge in from time to time. It would be asinine for me to even for a moment expect this blog to be a safe haven for anyone but me. Hell, I control the crazy Google tabs on the top which allow me to essentially ensure that this remains MY zone. However, if you ever feel the desire to post something, anything... feel free. See, my IDEAL "cozy nook" is one that encourages and fosters debate, discussion, and random thoughts.
What "my zone" does NOT guarantee is that you will always feel comfortable. I truly believe that my only REAL progress as a person occurs when I am challenged and uncomfortable. Why? Because uncertainty FORCES me to think.
This does NOT ensure that I will respond to your comments. Sometimes, I like to ponder concepts for lengths of time... other times, I just don't care... Regardless, know that I will ALWAYS read anything that you post.
I plan for this inaugural message to act as the only in depth "warning" regarding this blogs' content. My mind is full of randomness, hell, it's full of chaos. But, I will maintain that your spirit is too... it's merely a matter of recognizing that 'control' is something unattainable and slowly allowing your layers of security blankets to fall off (for the record, this is next to impossible and it would be a lie to you and myself if I for one moment implied that I have the capability of doing this).
For this reason, my blog may incorporate discussions that will anger, scare, disgust, or bore the hell out of you...
While this blog may actually become a detour in whatever existential journey I have set myself on, so be it... In the meantime, enjoy my valiant attempt at grasping even a small piece of the shadow (it should be amusing, eventful, dumbfounding, painful, and/or perplexing) and, for any brave/insane souls, feel free to come along... I have NO clue where we're headed.....