Bill Maher Chose Right

One of the reasons I look forward to Fridays in general is that they herald the upcoming weekend, and also because Bill Maher is on HBO at 10 PM. I recorded his last show and finally got time to sit down to watch it a few days ago. His second guest of the night was Chef & Restaurateur Alice Waters

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Bill Maher Chose Right

 Frustration Friday: Vent And Be Free!

Everyday stresses can build up and hang around in the back of our minds so that even when we have free time to relax and unwind, we find ourselves stressed out about all the little things that are bugging us. So today I would like to invite everyone to let go of all their frustrations and, as part of the cleansing process, tell us about the stuff that’s been driving you crazy.

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Frustration Friday: Vent And Be Free!

 Existential Nonsense

What is the meaning of life ?  Why are we here?  What is the answer to life, the universe , everything?  Have you ever asked yourself these questions?  Quite probably you have.  Whether you were having some kind of crises in your life, or you just like exploring your own inner existentialism, the need to know, or at least feel better, about our existence is one that has plagued mankind since the beginning of time.  At least, I assume it has.  It sure as hell messes with my mind.  You might be thinking that I am going through a crises, since I am obviously thinking about my existence.  Well, I actually do enjoy thinking about my existence, and how it fits in with the big scheme of things.  Do I have any answers?  Of course not.  I don’t believe in definite answers, at least where existence and the meaning of life are concerned. First off I would like to say that, in the big scheme of things, we are nothing.  We are next to nothing.  We aren’t even dust in the wind.  Think about it.  Think about the immensity of the universe, of everything.  Supposedly, in our galaxy, there are two hundred billion stars.  Just in our galaxy.  And speaking of our galaxy, scientists estimate it is about thirty kiloparsecs in diameter and about one kiloparsec thick.  Now one parsec is about 3.262 light years , or 19 trillion miles.  So that would make our galaxy approximately ninety-seven thousand, eight hundred and sixty light years across.  Ok, now, supposedly there are one hundred and twenty-five billion galaxies in the universe.  These numbers are, to me, almost completely unimaginable.  These are expanses that I can scarcely even conceive.

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Existential Nonsense

 Dropping In On A Killer Surf Art Blog

For some unexplainable reason, surfing keeps finding its way into my life lately. I dreamt of surfing the other night. The following day, I sat down on the couch after straightening up our kitchen and the show Parenthood was ending by showing one of the show’s fathers sitting on a surfboard and smiling contently as he looked out to sea

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Dropping In On A Killer Surf Art Blog

 The Blogpaper, Moving Blogs Into Print

Karl Jo Seilern and Anton Waldburg, managing partners of theblogpaper.co.uk , seem to be swimming against the currents in the ever turbulent waters that are the publishing industry. While most print publications are moving more and more content online in order to reach an increasingly tech-savvy, internet-based and mobile readership, Seilern and Waldburg are taking blog content offline in the blogpaper–the UK’s first completely user-generated, free newspaper

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The Blogpaper, Moving Blogs Into Print

 Who’s Watching Your Back? How to Find Members For Your Support Network

Going it alone really doesn’t work for most of us. We need help and encouragement from others

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Who’s Watching Your Back? How to Find Members For Your Support Network

 Would You Jump Onto A Moving Planet?

I have a theory about how we ended up here on Mother-Ship Earth . After all, isn’t almost everything about our precarious futures just a tad too ominous, seemingly set into a pattern of continuous lucid movement

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Would You Jump Onto A Moving Planet?

 He’s Steve Fantastic!

Who is SteveFantastic? Why he is the most fantastic new addition to the BlogCatalog family. He is so damn fantastic that I hear this song every time I see him… He’s just freaking fantastic!

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He’s Steve Fantastic!

 Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s View Of Blog World Is All Wrong

Yesterday, I read a post on freelancewritinggigs.com titled Google CEO Eric Schmidt not on board with bloggers . A major theme of the post was that while “writers” are respected “bloggers” are not. A more minor point in the post, but the one which I found quite interesting was that editors are a vital part of the publishing industry who ensure only quality material makes it to print….something that the blog world lacks: And if you’re ever confused as to the value of newspaper editors , look at the blog world.

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Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s View Of Blog World Is All Wrong

 A BFBC2 Moment

I go with Recon.  M-95, extra ammo, binoculars, and that cool revolver I unlocked yesterday.  Let’s do this. I drop down through the air, my parachute billowing and slowing my descent.  I look down and notice a vacant tank, something Russian , like a T-90 or something, just waiting for someone to drive it.  Unfortunately, another soldier, SuperPhat420 by his blue name hanging over his head, also notices it and starts steering his parachute towards it.  Since he was quite a bit lower than me he gets there first.  As he enters the tank its engine rumbles to life and he guns it.  The big machine lurches forward, but I had timed it correctly and make it in just in time.  I don’t mind not driving though.  Gunning is preferable since, when the tank is inevitably destroyed, you can always blame it on the driver

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A BFBC2 Moment

 Creative Inspiration From 404 Pages & Pancakes

Last night, when I should have been asleep, I was up reading some random blog posts and checking out my friends posts on Facebook and friedeggs.com .  During my late night browsing session, I came across a post by SelinaJane–one of my new best buddies –about 60 Cool & Creative 404 Error Pages .

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Creative Inspiration From 404 Pages & Pancakes

 Underdog Becomes New Champion Frankie Edgar Wins at UFC 112

We have a new Lightweight Champion!  Frankie Edgar defeated BJ Penn with a unanimous decision victory over the former 155lb Champion.

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Underdog Becomes New Champion Frankie Edgar Wins at UFC 112

 Adopting From Abroad

In the United States when a child is born with a disability and is not wanted by their own parents, the child is sent to a foster home where the family is given training on how to care for the child. There are strict requirements and the children are generally well cared for. In other countries, Haiti, Turkey and Ukraine, for example, many times when a child is born with a disability (sometimes even a minor defect such as stunted growth to an extremity) the parents are counseled to institutionalize the child, often being told that they will not be able to care for the child, or that the child will die regardless of care.

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Adopting From Abroad

 Reflections On The End Times

As I sit here in a comfy chair at Starbucks, typing away on my laptop, I think it odd that my thoughts drift to visions of destruction and desolation.  Odd because my imaginings entail the loss of pretty much everything I enjoy as I sit here: my iced mocha, the wireless internet I am using, my car outside, even the sense of safety and security that I feel.  Odd also because, while I entertain notions of what it would be like, a part of me is sure that I really have no concept of what I contemplate.  No frame of reference.  I could assume that since I have played numerous games, seen numerous movies, and read numerous books centered on the theme of the post apocalypse that I do indeed have plenty of vicarious experience to draw upon.  But how much do I really know about something if what I know is solely based on things fed to me through popular culture .  Just because I have watched as many war movies as I possibly could, and read as much as I could about military engagements and what not, does not mean that I have any idea of what it truly means to be in a war.  An idea, maybe, but nothing more.  Something tells me that if I were really and truly there, I would not be quite so into it.  And yet, this idea of the end times fascinates me.  Why?  What is it about the end of everything that is so alluring?  Is it some kind of species awareness that makes us afraid that something may happen to wipe us from history completely?  Or, is it because Hollywood just wanted to make another bad disaster movie? There are so many ways we have envisioned the demise of our species.  The pole shift that will occur in 2012, that was supposedly foretold by the Mayans is a good example.  It sounds really exciting.  But when you really research the whole 2012 thing, you get all bogged down in Mesoamerican Long Counts, and previous worlds that have been destroyed, or were they destroyed, some say no, and after a while, you don’t even care anymore.  Did you know that the Aztecs believed that there were four “Suns,” or worlds previous to this one, all of which were ultimately destroyed?  Then again, the Aztecs themselves were, for the most part, destroyed by European invaders, so maybe they were on to something after all.  Let’s not forget the vikings.  According to Norse mythology there were a series of events, called Ragnarok , that signaled the end of the world.  A great battle between the gods, followed by a bunch of natural disasters , and eventually the submersion of the world under water.  Then again, of course a sea-faring people would predict that eventually the oceans would cover there lands.  It just makes sense.  Even Christianity has its own doomsday predictions.  The rise of the Anti-Christ, followed by the return of Jesus Christ , and ultimately, Judgment Day.  Or something along those lines.  I’m not quite sure about the particulars, but if you are really interested you could read the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye .  I think there was even a movie starring Kirk Cameron. In addition to all of these example of the end of the world, we have managed to come up with a few new ones that are not religion based.  Like a meteor impact or an ecological disaster.  Some scientists believe a global pandemic is a real possibility (zombie apocalypse anyone?).  How about a mega tsunami or a super volcano?  There is evidence that it has happened before, and it could happen again.  From there the possibilities of our extinction devolve into the fantastical.  Alien invasions and rebellious robots and what not.  Anyway you look at it, it pretty much ends the same way.  Death, destruction, and the end of life as we know it.

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Reflections On The End Times

 If you’re not growing, guess what? You’re dying.

To me, “business is life and life is business.”   Business has become the primary vehicle for my growth and contribution.  It’s the vehicle that has taught me more about human psychology, myself,  connection, people, values,  courage, creativity, meaning, self-empowerment and even sexuality than anything else. My parents were the reason I went into business

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If you’re not growing, guess what? You’re dying.

 The End Of The World According To Movies

Today, in continuation of my impromptu celebration of the end of all things, I want to discuss the many different images of the end portrayed in movies.  So many times over the years a new movie is released that *gasp* is about the end of the world as we know it.  And I gotta tell you, I fall for it ever time.  I guess there is just something fascinating about the idea of the destruction of our many accomplishments.  Well, fascinating enough to make movies about it.  Many, many movies in fact. The first post-apocalyptic movie I remember seeing was The Road Warrior staring a very young Mel Gibson.  I know technically Mad Max was first but, lets be honest, that movie was pretty boring.  I can hear people disagreeing with me already on that point, but I am gonna stick with it.  Anyway, for me the post-apocalypse meant long desert roads, punks with mohawks and football armor, a sawed-off shotgun, and Mel Gibson looking like a freaking badass, even when he gets all messed and limps around with one eye swollen shut.  And the car!  A modified 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT Coupe (an Australian car) complete with a blower and side pipes.  My blood starts pumping just thinking about it.  I even had a Matchbox car that I used to pretend was Max’s, although it was actually a 1970 Dodge Challenger with a huge and unrealistic blower sprouting from the hood.  I can’t tell you how many times I recreated (with Matchbox cars) the many different scenes from The Road Warrior.  Yeah, I loved it that much. The next movie that comes to mind dealing with the end of the world is The Terminator, with my all-time favorite action star, Arnold Schwarzenegger.  As everyone knows (if you have never seen this movie, or any of the sequels, shame on you) the end of the world in The Terminator is brought about by mankind itself.  In what would become a very popular storyline, mankind creates artificial intelligence which then gains sentience and immediately begins the eradication of humanity.  I mean, it really is the only logical thing to do.  And sentient robots are, of course, completely logical beings.  In The Terminator, and all of the sequels (except the last one), my favorite parts were always the flashbacks (or flash-forwards…time travel makes my head hurt) where the fight against the machines were depicted.  For years I wished for a movie about the actual war with the machines, not the war between two machines that were sent back in time to the present.  Well, I got my wish finally with Terminator Salvation.  Unfortunately, as often happens with big budget, over-hyped movies, I thought it kinda sucked.  I mean, after watching the trailers I thought the movie was gonna be mostly about John Connor, not some other guy who, surprise surprise, turns out to be a machine himself.  If I were to judge on acting skills, I would have said that Christian Bale was the robot.  I did think that the CG Arnold that appears near the end of the movie was pretty cool, especially since he seemed so much bigger than Arnold ever was.  My favorite part of the entire series, however, was at the end of Terminator 3 when the nuclear war actually happens.  In my mind that made all three movies up to that point kind of pointless since the nuclear holocaust they were trying to prevent happened anyway.

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The End Of The World According To Movies

 Proper Facebook Etiquette

Facebook now has been estimated as having upwards of 400 million users.  There are so many people on Facebook literally every person I know is on Facebook including my 50 year old mother (albeit against her will..)

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Proper Facebook Etiquette

 UFC 112 Invincible – Top Dogs vs Underdogs

I just reviewed the line – up for UFC 112 on April 10 th .  I’m excited again! As usual, the UFC has delivered another great night of stellar athletes to entertain us in the octagon. This event takes place in Abu Dhabi, UAE.  This is the first event that will take place out in the open.  Will sandstorms or stifling heat interfere with the fighter’s cardio or focus? At first, I thought I’d seen enough UFC with 3 major events already since March 21 st , but then I remembered that Anderson Silva and BJ Penn are showing up on the same card

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UFC 112 Invincible – Top Dogs vs Underdogs

 A Semen Education

Semen is a subject  that everyone can relate to or at some point has thought about it.   This post is all about semen and the source is a wonderful website called onlineschools.org.  Perhaps an alternative name for this terrific site could be, “Things they should have taught you in school but didn’t.”  With the subtext being,  ”learning in an interesting and exciting way.” What I learned  about semen after visiting onlineshools.org: 1

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A Semen Education

 Top 10 Things You Would Need To Survive The Post Apocalypse

All these thoughts about a Zombie Apocalypse have got me thinking.  Of course, the fact that the mini-series The Stand was on the other day might also have something to do with it.  Plus I watched a teaser trailer for the up and coming Fallout game New Vegas.  Ah, the end of the world.  There’s nothing better to dedicate my thoughts to on a lazy day off than the end of the world. After writing my last blog, I have been thinking a lot about the apocalypse.  Therefore, to fully purge my mind of all this nonsense I have decided to declare an unofficial Apocalypse week for my blogs.  So, as the title implies, I am going to try and figure out the top ten things  we would need to survive after the fall of man. First, a word on the end of the world.  There are so many ways the world could end, some real and some not so real.  Alien invasion , for example, would be a not so serious threat, whereas a nuclear holocaust has been a very real possibility for some time now.  There could be a plague that wipes out most of humanity and the survivors will have to band together to fight the anti- christ (or insert whatever kind of ultimate evil that suits your sensibilities).  Wait, I think that was a storyline in a book.  It sounds familiar.  What else?  Zombies of course.  With all the genetic manipulation that is going, the zombie thing seems like it could become an all too real possibility.  There could even be an EMP ( electromagnetic pulse ), which is one of the side effects of a nuclear blast.  That would knock everything electronic, for all intents and purposes regressing human kind , technologically speaking

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Top 10 Things You Would Need To Survive The Post Apocalypse