I've been reading news articles lately about the most recent legislature snailing and scheming its way through the house of Congress and the Senate. Apparently, in an effort to make permanent residents of the people in the Guantantomo Bay military detention facility, some of whom might be completely innocent, President Bush in his infinitesimal wisdom is pushing our lawmakers to pass a bill redefining the rules for holding and trying enemy combatants of this country. Incidentally, the law also changes the definition of "enemy combatant". I won't go in to details other than to say that it is a very slipery slope indeed, and depending on the political climate of the time, this law could give some a justification for throwing people into a detention center and never put them on trial, and never charge them with a crime. Throughout the history of this country, generation after generation has faced its struggles head on while working within the founding principles of this nation to maintain order and move towards a better life for all. Unfortunately, I feel that this pattern is about to be broken and we will be a worse country for it.

Ben Franklin once stated, "He who sacrifices liberty for security deserves neither." It's amazing how relevent these words are today, and when I read things like this, I really do feel that our founding fathers did something incredible for generations to come. They are gone, however, and we are here. It is our responsibility to make sure that the principles held so dear by countless people before, continue to guide the hearts and mind of future generations. I want America to be safe, just like most people living here, but we've got to be smart about it. We have to make sure that in protecting ourselves that we don't become the very thing that our current laws are designed to prevent. Sleep tight.

Hello? Is there anybody there? After a little prompting from my soon-to-be-relocating west coast cousin, I have decided to once again lend my opinions...as well as my self-righteous tone of voice...to this wonderful cyber-space.

What would my return be if it didn't contain a little biting social commentary to show just how little my dismal outlook has changed? So if you're ready, and even if your not, today's topic will be hybrid trucks and SUVs, and how they miss the point completely.

The idea behind the hybrid vehicle is well conceived, and if properly implemented in society, could actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help to slow the gobal temperature increase...oh wait, there I go again thinking people give a rat's ass about that. In reality, people only care about gas consumption for economic reasons, but I disgress. Anyway, it is an outrage that automobile manufacture's have suddenly started peddling hybrid trucks and SUVs in an attempt to cash in on the suddenly gas conscious American public. Those vehicles may contain a drive system composed of both a rechargeable battery and an internal combustion engine, but they are no more a friend to the environment than I am to Ashlee Simpson's original face. The whole idea of a hybrid is to decrease the amount of fuel required by a vehicle to traverse a predefined distance. A hybrid, by its very name, has in the past, conjured up images of a greased out, tree hugging hippies, or self-important Hollywood-types, because that hybrid monikor stood for environmentalism. Not just better gas mileage, but, occasionally, way better gas mileage. A hybrid SUV, on the other hand, still gets worse gas mileage than most sedans...non-hybrid sedans, that is (and isn't that what most SUVs are...taller, longer sedans). So do me a favor, do you grandchildren a favor, buy a non-hybrid sedan before you get a hybrid truck or SUV.

I'll have something better next time.

Administrative Professionals Day?

Honestly...what the hell is this all about. Last time I checked, administrative professionals are paid employees, are they not? So why do we have a special day devoted to what they do? It's becuase deep down inside many people feel that secretaries are underpaid, and, consequently, they get a special day on which they receive flowers. I have an idea, pay them more, so that we can do away with this silliness, or stop pitying them for the profession they chose.

Anyway...Sox are pissing me off lately. Pitching has been very hittable, bats have been annoyingly quiet, and to make matters worse, every fifth game, the other team is going to get a bunch of free bases courtesy of Josh Bard...I'm not saying that we should have kept Mirabelli (a bench player for a full-time starter is always a good trade), but it is getting painful to watch Wakefield pitch.

I've been toying with the notion of using this blog as a cheap way to distribute a work of short fiction...maybe 5-10 chapters. Any thoughts? If I posted a new chapter every once in a while, and they happened to be at least reasonably good, would my loyal following think this was good? Just a question for thought.

On to more pressing issues...like how can a collection of animals with the same essential needs be so intensely different? I was talking with my friend Nate tonight on the ride home from darts (we lost...as usual), and we got on the subject of religion. I think that religion is one of the most messed up of all human inventions. Simultaneously, it wills billions of people to behave according to some sort of prescribed moral standard, and yet, AND YET!!, at the same time, that very same scripture is quoted as justification for treating other people like crap. It is a most interesting dichotomy. Surely this point has been made countless times before...but I've never really stopped to think about it much. That's the beauty of this blog. I say very little that is actually new or unique (although I may be the first person to publicly denounce magnetic ribbons on cars), but I say things that are new and unique to me. Anyway, my discussion about religion ended with me geting out of the car...at which time I said, "I believe in a God of sorts, but my God is more of a 'I wonder what will happen if I do this?' type of God." Personally, I don't think a Being possessed of such power as to be able to create all that we know as real would actually be so petty as to care how it was worshipped. I like to think that a true God would care little about that sort of thing. I've really got to start organizing my thoughts before putting fingertips to keayboard...these blog posting are really starting to sound more like rambling, maniacal rants.

Later.

Quick story....I was driving home from work tonight, and I was coming upon a part in the highway where the right two lanes merged into one. It should be noted that this stretch of highway is not in a high-traffic area. I was about a half car length in front of another car as the lanes began to merge when, to my consternation, the guy starts to creep up. He doesn't gun it and pull right in front of me. Instead, he slowly inches up until we almost get into an accident and then he gooses it and pulls in front of me. My response....I PUT ON MY DIRECTIONAL AND TOOK MY EXIT!! As I veered onto the ramp I gave pause at his creativity. Where most people would have gradually slowed their vehicle by easing off the accelerator and then merging in behind me, our subject, despite all reason, decided that he needed to create a dangerous driving scenario so that he could get in front of me. End result...I take my exit, he gets blogged and he is approximately 0.5 seconds ahead of where he would have been had he decided to acknowledge that he, in fact, does not own the road. The incident left me wondering, "What is it about some people that drives them to 'win' when there is no game being played?"

Anyway, I didn't actually spend that long thinking about him, it's just that thoughts flash through the mind much quicker than they rattle onto the keyboard. A few notes about my blog now that I have your attention. Once in a while the creative well runs a little dry, so I can't promise to post regularly. Also, if you're reading the blogs, feel free to join the fray by clicking on the post comment button below the entry and shares your thoughts. As many of my thoughts aren't relevant, yours don't need to be either. I'm really looking for quantity here...not necessarily quality.

Quote on the wall of a dorky guy at work: "There are 10 kinds of people. Those who understand binary and those who don't"

I speak dork so allow me to explain that the number 2 converted into binary is 10.

I should go....

26 and all is well....

The earth is in the same place that it was 26 years ago when I was born, at least in relation to the Sun that is. Technically, the Sun revolves around the center of the galaxy, much like the earth revolves around the Sun and the moon revolves around the Earth. Taking this one step further, no living thing on this planet will ever occupy the same "space" twice in their life as the amount of time it takes for our solar system to revolve around the galactic center is much longer than the lifespan of any earth-bound creature. It really is easy to feel small in a universe that big.

Birthdays shouldn't be a time to assess one's own minscule impact on the affairs of celestial bodies in motion, but rather, it should be a time to reassess one's decisions and where they have led him to this point. Each passing day dulls the grandeur of yesterday's dreams and we accept less than we had previously hoped for with a more idealistic heart. Maybe. It could all be a trap. Maybe that's what distinguishes great people from role-players. Maybe great people are just better able to remember their dreams. Maybe. Maybe it's that great people don't waste time determining what typifies a great person...hmmm.

Whether a result of annual soul seraching or just a timely coincidence, I've noticed a renewed discontent at my own pursuit of traditional success. So whether it's taking a class, volunteering or spending more time on other pursuits, I think it's time to take some action and stop wasting my time thinking of all the good reasons not to take a chance.

Babbling over...Seacrest, out!

I took this online quiz...supposed to tell you what kind of soul you are.

You Are a Prophet Soul

You are a gentle soul, with good intentions toward everyone. Selfless and kind, you have great faith in people. Sometimes this faith can lead to disappoinment in the long run. No matter what, you deal with everything in a calm and balanced way. You are a good interpreter, very sensitive, intuitive, caring, and gentle. Concerned about the world, you are good at predicting people's feelings. A seeker of wisdom, you are a life long learner looking for purpose and meaning. You are a great thinker and communicator, but not necessarily a doer. Souls you are most compatible with: Bright Star Soul and Dreaming Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?