No More Resolutions

Am I the only one that thinks that new year resolutions are a farce created to promote spending more money on wasted gym memberships, exercise equipment that becomes laundry racks & other self-help/fitness bullshit? Don't get me wrong I'm all for improving oneself, especially when it comes to health & fitness, but what kind of weak-willed sap needs the excuse of a new year to get in shape.

Signs that your fat-ass needs exercise

1. if you can't see your own genitalia without a mirror




2. you spend more time eating and watching TV than you do with physical activity; this includes walking




3. your ass circumference is more than twice your waist circumference




4. you don't look at a weight scale because you find it depressing




5. you have to fold a fat roll out of the way to fasten your pants




6. you think spandex and stretch cotton are acceptable work pants material

Don't let this be you

I can think of a lot more but you get the idea. If you are out of shape don't make excuses, try making a change. Cut the desserts, second helpings and excuses. Nothing is wrong with wanting to better yourself but it shouldn't be a once-a-year thing.

True self-improvement is a year-round, life-long commitment.

Propoganda That I Support

Morning my fellow Chatt-ites. I want to talk about rights. The gov't (both Republicans & Democrats) have allowed torture to be carried out under the auspices of the 'war on terror.' The one thing I truly believe in, as an American and an individual, is liberty & freedom. Anytime the gov't increases security, we end up having to sacrifice another right so that they can prevent 'another 9-11.' I truly grieved for the people involved in the tragedy, but am not willing to give up the rights granted to every American out of fear of the unknown. We are better than that. Whenever we allow the gov't to twist our laws we lose our own identity.

So with that said, I joined the American Freedom Campaign . Yeah I know its run by a bunch of lawyers who just want to be able to sue the gov't for all their transgresses, but that doesn't mean they're not right. Their end motivation might be less than honorable but their chosen battle is one that's worth fighting for. I think the federal gov't, specifically the people in office who allowed, and even authorized, any ILLEGAL methodology, should be held responsible and prosecuted according to our laws. No torture, no abuse, just fair & legal prosecution matched against truthful defense. In front of a jury of our fellow Americans, as granted by our Constitution.

Check out their page, if you agree sign up. If not well, don't complain as we gradually become a fascist state.

American Freedom Campaign

hypocritical S.O.B.'s

Congress is giving themselves a $4,700 pay raise. When average citizens are being laid off left & right, these a-holes think they have done enough to merit a raise. Even the officials at our state colleges are taking pay cuts. Here is a novel idea for the congressmen & women, you want to whine about executive pay then look in the mirror. Of course the executives don't listen to you about pay cuts when you're doing the same thing you admonish them for. Damn you congress, I hope Santa leaves you nothing but a lump of coal in your christmas stocking.

Rock 105 vs. KZ 106

Am I the only one that is confused about the bashing going on with these two stations. The other evening I heard 105 play a little spot with a few highlights. In short, Pat Benetar making the rock gods roll over in their graves, those 'heretic M*F*ers', their own words (although I do agree with that assessment), and they closed with 'that's why they call them K Z 1-o-sux.' Did someone steal some talent, bit, playlist,... whatever. I used to listen to both before I moved away. I have never heard of anything like that. Most of the time, even in larger markets: such as Nashville or Orlando, stations try to not even mention any other station or in anyway even reference one another. I am curious as to what has happened to cause this? Any ideas?

chrondo leads to Wendy's

homestyle chicken club sandwich for lunch. damn those things could be addictive.

Fatty Fun Time

While my mind is otherwise occupied I wanted to relate a new term I heard on the radio Wednesday night. 'Chrondo' as used to describe situation; guy & girl agree to sex in exchange for bag of said chrondo. Guy agrees, coughs up chrondo. Girl takes his chrondo and his dignity, places in back pocket and walks away. Guy, foolish enough to call radio and tell them this story. Equals my word for the week - Chrondo.

Chatt state vs. UTC

Funny experience i wanted to make note of. I just called both CSTCC & UTC to inquire about enrollment. Now I attended UTC for 2 years right after high school before transferring and graduating from MTSU. I called admissions at both. At Chatt state, the lady was extremely pleasant, she inquired as to my intentions so that she could better assist me. She got my info and told me she would have a packet with the application & catalog in the mail within 3-4 business days (its almost x-mas so I'll understand if it takes a few extra days.) She answered my questions and gave me the info I needed to get my transcripts sent from MTSU. Overall top marks for customer service skills. Then I called UTC for the same info & same questions. All I got from the lady in the adult services center was to go online & check the web page. I asked about getting a catalog but apparently they don't want to send those until you've paid your application fee (Chatt State has a fee too, but that didn't stop her from including it with the application.) She hung up before I was able to finish writing down the web page address without giving me any name or number to call in case of questions. Sadly, very poor marks on customer service.

Let me explain why this irks me. Customer service skills (whether internal or external, customer vs colleague) are basic and universal. ANY job that requires you to deal with people can be better performed by applying this skill set. From construction to food service to retail, the list goes on... Its amazing how a little courtesy , respect and patience can improve a work environment and customer satisfaction.

Rule 1~ BE RESPECTFUL; yes sir/ma'am, please, thank you can make any conversation more pleasant. also (especially for lower level, non-supervisory employees) they appreciate a respectful tone because it is so rare when dealing with the public.

rule 2~ when opening the conversation, openly ask for help, 'I was hoping you could help me out or point me in the right direction,...' When you elevate someone's importance and then ask for help, whether they realize it or not, you're stroking their ego. My making it seem like you need THEIR help, they get a little superiorty buzz. Even if it is completely false, most people like to help, when it is easy & they are asked nicely. Even if it is just to direct you to someone else, you have made a positive impression. And if the time ever comes again that you need their help again, they will remember and that usually speeds up your service. NEVER DEMAND ASSISTANCE, 99% of the time it will just immediately alienate the other party and cause hurt feelings. Think back with your own experiences, do you continue to frequent a restaurant where the servers are rude?

rule 3~ PATIENCE - understand that sometimes help takes time. Just because you don't get an immediate response is not a personal snub towards you. There are always times that whoever you asked may not know. If they need to look it up or get an answer from someone else, that is perfectly fine. Give them time. Same goes for assisting someone else yourself. Take the time to get the right answer. If you need additional time, tell the customer. They'll appreciate the candor and understand that you are trying your best.

There is a lot more to good customer service than that but by following these simple guides you'll find that your experinces take on a more positive tone and the individuals you are dealing with will appreciate it.

BEWARE THE INTENT OF A PATIENT MAN

Gaming Nostalgia

It seems every time I turn my Wii on and check out the new virtual console or Wii ware offerings i find some piece of gaming goodness that I have missed since my brother pawned the SNES years ago. After Super Mario RPG and Megaman 2, now they bless us with Secret of Mana. For those unfortunates who never played this wonderful game for the SNES, it is a RPG in a long running Japanese series. Only 2 were ported, to my knowledge, to the US but all are outstanding stories and depth exercises. Unlike final fantasy style turn based combat, here your fights are 'real time.' Personally I just find it more satisfying when I get to run my character around the screen avoiding attacks and looking for openings for a swift attack of my own. The combat system has multiple weapon types and magic as well. Defensive & offensive spells to go along with status ailments that directly affect your characters speed, accuracy, and such. One of the most fun features is leveling up your weapons to allow access to special moves, such as multiple sword slashes, crazy leap attacks, spear thrusts and the like. To use these moves you have to take the time to charge up a power meter. To do so drastically slows your speed and opens you up to attacks from multiple on screen enemies. trying to defend and attack against a swarm of cute little killer rabites is endlessly entertaining. If you go the other way and just start slashing away, you'll find your attacks are less effective and often time miss. Once you learn to balance these options you'll find yourself exploiting weaknesses in the enemy AI that allows for some nearly unbeatable combinations, especially after you power up your magic.

I loved this game so much that I kept the SNES cartridge after the console was gone in hopes of stumbling across one, and being able to replay this timeless classic.

THANK YOU NINTENDO & SQUARE

Big3 bailout - Corker's plan - reactions/replies

People need to realize that the only reason Corker ii making such a stink about THIS bail out is because now they (republicans) know that any new problems that might crop up will be blamed on the president elect and the democrats. So it allows them to drag their feet and pose for the camera a little. Before 'making a tough decision to stave off economic ruin' or in simpler terms, cave in to union demands.

2 types of workers "entitled" and appreciative

Inspiration struck with a blog topic on my way in to work this morning, when it comes to easy jobs there are two types that mostly take these positions. The worker who feels they are 'deserve' an easy job & those that appreciate the fact that they have an easy job. I know my job is not difficult, stressful sometimes but never difficult. There is no task that I have to handle that is in any way taxing on my capabilities. That isn't cocky, just confident and knowledgeable in what I am capable of. Before I go further let me quickly list my previous work experience:

• age 15 - concession stands at ball field
• 16 children's restaurant server, host, game tech, performer
• 18 cement - lab tech, customer service, 'grunt' for tech services
• 21 property science lab - quality control tech
• 22 waiter in college town bar & grill
• 23 ready mix concrete- intern, management trainee, customer service (call center), quality control field tech, human resource asst
• 25 retail dept head for furniture/seasonal home goods/arts
• 25 retail asst manager independent record store
• 26 to present~ bureaucrat paper pusher

like I said stressful sometimes but not taxing in the least.

For the a-holes that have an easy job but still slack off. GROW UP. People everywhere are begging for work these days. Appreciate your good fortune and take pride in doing a good job... it's not like its hard to do.

Wise folks count their blessings, fools count their problems.~ Michael Franti

A human has no more than two hands,... to take something one must first drop what one is holding.~ 'Elfen Lied', volume 57, page 3

Councilman Pierce not guilty

If you aren't familiar with the case go read the article on the chattanoogan.com, times free press or just turn on the local news.

Open letter to Mr. Pierce,

I am not a resident of your district and rarely agree with your choices as a member of the city council, but my hat is off to you sir. Unlike many constant complainers you not only publicly voice your opinion on the state of our local neighborhoods and the impact crime has on them (whether or not the drug dealer is liked by his neighbors/customers) but are also willing to take a stand against the flagrant lack of respect these criminals demonstrate towards public safety & law enforcement. While I do not believe you showed the best judgement in allowing this drug dealer to provoke a response from you, I can't honestly say I would behave any differently from what the allegations levied against you stated that you did.
For the individuals who are shocked that you were acquitted, I ask for them to read the court records. After reading Mr. Jones testimony and the behavior of his 'cheering section' no one should be surprised that you were acquitted. IF the allegation are true than I think your reputation would have been better served to admit to them, but as I wasn't there so I'll defer the judgement to the jury of your peers who decided that you were not guilty. But next time, roll up your window...

Call in Gay?!?

First read this from Chattarati.com, I'll wait...
http://chattarati.com/2008/12/09/come-on-chattanooga-call-in-gay/#more-846

Done?

When will people grow up. In a nation that was founded on the principle of truth, liberty & justice FOR ALL, we are bombarded everyday with hateful speech and attempts to steal the rights of our fellow Americans. Even for those of us who are straight, these efforts to steal rights should be met with outrage & disgust at every turn. If the government decides to treat any segment of our populace as second rate citizens for ANY reason, we should fight it tooth and nail. How long before they decide that agnostics or atheists, don't deserve equal protections. We don't believe in religion the same way that the evangelists do. Does that mean we are less deserving of our rights than they?

That being said, a walk-out or boycott is counter-productive. Instead I encourage vigorous legal action. The first time a right is denied to a GLBT, they need to turn around, get a lawyer and challenge the constitutionality of this heinous & hateful law in the supreme court. It is sad that it has come to this but given the obvious bias of the Californian voting populace. I am severely disappointed in the self-proclaimed progressives of the Golden state.

Good luck to ALL my fellow Americans.

my obession with vampires

My dad made an interesting comment the other day. He asked what i was reading on & when I mentioned vampires & werewolves he just snickered and said 'figures.' Now I know I have always enjoyed monster themed movies, books, & such (especially vampires), but then I asked myself, Why? Once I actually thought about it, my interest makes a lot of ...sense.

First, I have an EXTREMELY active imagination & the thought of something more out there besides logic and normality appeals to that side of me.

Second, and most prominently, vampires are 'durable' unlike me. When do you hear about a vampire with a chronic illness, besides thirst ;). I guess in my mind the costs are HUGELY outweighed by the advantages. Anyone with any lifetime illness, especially ones that force changes in habits and lifestyle, can vouch for how much ending their pain would be worth (conversely how many suicides/euthanasia can be directly contributed to illness).

The whole immortality thing I could do without but as part of a package deal, again the advantages (many lifetimes of experiences & knowledge) eclipse the potential drawback (possible eternal boredom). Of course that is determined by the individuals personality and choices, where others see isolation and boredom, I see never-ending discovery. Strength, insight & any other abilities are just part of the deal.

Now I know some Evangelists might submit the loss of soul issue but I don't see the mind and body as exclusive or separate entities. It is only with both that the supposed soul is defined. By radically altering the body, my soul might be changed but so long as my mind is still mine then the changes are superficial only.

So to all the lonely vampires/nosferatu/undead (whatever), I'M WAITING!!!

Sadly this is where my sense of reality steps back in and tells me to stop dreaming. There is no magical cure. I must face facts and deal in my own reality.

"Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'. That's the god-damned truth" Shawshank Redemption

Hope springs eternal

Next day... can't forget one other important note, I have an unhealthy fascination with violence. Go figure.