Gimme A Minute

Time is our greatest asset.

The weakest excuse for anything (whether dating or helping someone) is "I'm too busy."  We're all busy.  We each have only 24 hours in our day, so we try to fit in as much as we can.  Therefore, we prioritize things based on their value to us.  "I'm really busy" automatically means "it isn't worth my time."  Minus the honesty, especially in dating.

Consider the Occupy Wall Street movement as an example.  I cannot help feeling as though many of the people spending two months on Wall Street are the same ones who do not volunteer because they "don't have time."

I have long held the belief that our politics are less of an adversarial system and better established in terms of priorities, and what is important to people.  The conflicts between Republicans and Democrats are more often a matter of priority than dispute.  The reason I love our two-party system for the United States is certain matters will go unattended for eight years, and then when the list of growing concerns is powerful enough, the other party gets support from the swing votes.

The last I heard about the Occupy Wall Street movement is that they are growing to become a third party (so much for starting as "the 99%").  That sounds reasonable.  There is a lot of gross misconduct in Corporate America, and Americans have been flexible enough to work around these atrocities.  It would be great to see it come to an end, but the cynical perspective is that the greedy are so conditioned to their behaviors and so empowered by their immoral practices that change is impossible, not inevitable.

If enough people consider it a priority to stop this behavior, they can cease.  If not, they won't.

Only time will tell.

My NHL Teams & Their Enemies

I have been watching hockey since 1993, but even before then, I had a fondness for the sport.  I attended a live hockey game before then, but it was a game among a bunch of Olympic hopefuls, prior to the Olympics permitting professional players.  Additionally, I had "Ice Hockey" for the original Nintendo Entertainment System (outside of "Pro Wrestling," the only sports game I remember owning for that unit).  But in terms of pro hockey, I have been following the NHL since 1993.

In that time, I have always been a fan of the Montreal Canadiens.  But they aren't the only team that I cheer.

Here are my Top 5 favorite franchises:

1. Montreal Canadiens -- I can speak at lengths about the team, but I think I already have. If you don't know about my history with the franchise, then read #GoHabsGo from last month.
   
2. Vancouver Canucks -- I will cheer any team that can bring the Stanley Cup to Canada to end this extended drought, and the only team to have had two opportunities in that duration has been Vancouver Canucks.  First, they had the chance in 1994, in one of the best series finals of all time.  Most recently, they celebrated their 40th anniversary with a near perfect season, winning the President's Trophy for best season record and the Western Division for the opportunity to win the Stanley Cup.  They had two chances, but they lost both games by giving up a 3-2 series lead.
   
3. New York Rangers -- I love Madison Square Garden, so it's a natural for the New York Rangers to be one of my favorite teams.  Add to that the fact that the first full season of hockey I watched, I predicted the New York Rangers would win the Stanley Cup, and they did.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs -- Regardless which team wins the Stanley Cup in June, the Stanley Cup's permanent address is in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  Therefore, I would love it if Toronto could be the team to bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada after this long drought.  Unfortunately, the team has not won the Stanley Cup since 1967 and it has not even been in the playoffs since 2004.  Regardless, both facts add to the story should the team finally get a deep playoff run. 
5. Los Angeles Kings -- It seems potentially ironic for them to be my favorite United States NHL team, considering I was rooting against them when Montreal won its latest Stanley Cup.  However, I have a soft spot for most things LA and that extends into hockey.  Granted, the franchise would not necessarily be ranked so high, except right now I'm very impressed by their young goalie Jonathan Quick and I hope that he can get them to the Stanley Cup within a few years.  Additionally, I have a very pretty neighbor who's a long-time LA Kings fan, which certainly earns them more devotional points.

Likewise, here are my least favorite franchises for no particular reasons, although I have to admit that the Coyotes team for 2011-12 have won me over for this season, so keep in mind the difference between franchises and teams.

1. New Jersey Devils
2. Boston Bruins
3. Detroit Red Wings
4. Chicago Blackhawks 
5. Phoenix Coyotes

Black Friday, Inside-Out

Currently I am working my first job in retail.  For the uninitiated, I worked 10 years in finance (mostly at Vanguard) and quit in April to re-career into law, specifically as a paralegal.  I started taking classes at Phoenix College, and to minimize the drain on my savings, I wanted to get part-time work while I was in school.  Plus, being under-employed right now is totally chic!  Petco came to my aide, so I have been employed with them for the past 90 days (give or take a week or two, in other words IDK).

In addition to unique experiences with animal care, working at Petco was my first opportunity to enjoy Black Friday from the inside.  When I bought my television a couple years ago, my first thought was that I wish I could have experienced it from an employee's point of view, so I got my chance.  And, honestly, Petco was a poor comparison to department stores like Target and especially Wal-Mart, but based on what we went through, it was good enough to satisfy my interest in the other side.

While stores like Wal-Mart and Target have been staying open 24 hours for Thanksgiving, or opening at midnight, the most inconvenient Petco got was opening an hour earlier.  This would have been a non-issue, except I was working as a pet-sitter over Thanksgiving in Mesa, so I had to get up around 5:30AM in order to feed the dogs and get to work on time.  Fortunately, I was able to get to sleep at a reasonable hour (well, relatively reasonable) so, while I doubt I could explain how, I did make it there before my shift started.

Now, if you have ever gotten up early on Black Friday and raced out to buy discounted pet food, which would be discounted all weekend, then you are in the vast minority of consumers.  Additionally, you would have plenty of space to shop.  Aside from the Black Friday shoppers with a casual approach, I'm not sure anyone came into the store before its regular opening time at 9AM.

This experience was lacking the exact "Black Friday" flavor, but business picked up before the end of my shift.  I guess I was lucky, since by the time things got bad, I only had an hour left.  To its credit, it was busy after the time I got back from lunch until my shift ended.

It wasn't unbearable, but it was enough for the experience.  Much like my shopping experience two years ago.

Black Friday, Outside-In

(originally printed November 29, 2009)
Earlier this month, I saw an article on CNN.com about leaked Black Friday deals, and I noticed that Target was rumored to have a Westinghouse 32" LCD HDTV for $246. It sounded like a good price, especially since the last time I went shopping for televisions they were all hovering at $400, and the more I thought about it, the more sense it made to try to take advantage of the deal.

Back in 2006, I bought a new computer from Best Buy and the next week or so, my 27" television stopped working. At that point, I had just spent a lot of money on a computer, so I was not about to turn around and buy a TV for an equal amount. The idea of Rent-A-Center occurred to me, but I nixed that with the idea that I would just buy a cheap television somewhere, and then "pay" myself the installments for a year, until I could buy a top-of-the-line television.

I went back to Best Buy because I had purchased my computer at an insane price through their Open Box deals, and I found a 19" television. Open box price: $59, no remote control. Lucky for me, it was the same brand as my prior television so the remote control that I had been using for the past six years worked on it.

Again, that was in 2006. Since that time, I never had the motivation to buy a new television and the opportunity never presented itself to me. Until now, Black Friday sounded like a reasonable day to purchase a new TV.

Unfortunately, after that article enticed me into the deal, I read a few other articles about Black Friday on CNN.com, including one or two about what a hoax they are because the big ticket times are in such limited quantity and, sometimes, lower quality. Needless to say, this was a bit disconcerting but I decided that I could go to Target at the Scottsdale Pavilions and find out all the details I'd need to have an edge. That sounded like the best laid plan. Although, we know how those often turn out.

On Tuesday evening (because traffic on the 101 was really bad), I stopped off at Target and asked a few preliminary questions. Since the actual deals had not been announced yet, they were not allowed to answer specific questions (which I already knew), but I made my premise clear: I had never taken part in Black Friday, so I wanted to know some of the tricks that are typically learned through experience. I did not want to conclude with "now I know for next time" and wait a full year to buy a television.

(Albeit, that theory is somewhat flawed since I think after-Christmas specials are going to drag down the prices of all 32 televisions to within a $50-range, which is reasonable enough for me, so at worst, I could just buy a new television in January 2010 as Plan B.)

From speaking to the customer service desk at Target, they told me that people would be lining up as early as midnight on Thanksgiving and that they did have several units in stock of the television in question with daily shipments (which may or may not include more units) but still, the big ticket items (of which this television was this year's biggest) sell out quickly. In other words, waking up at 5AM would be unacceptable.

After they told me everything I needed to know, I figured that my savings would be about $50, so getting there at midnight to save $50 made no sense. Getting there two hours early was reasonable, since $25/hour is a good rate, but still, I did not think it was necessary. Since it was the Pavilions, where people that don't like shopping with people like to shop, I figured between 4:15 and 4:30 was the ideal time. Plus, I had to work Black Friday, so it was not like I would catch up on my rest after an excursion.

I entered Thanksgiving Day with the thoughts that I would set my alarm for 4AM and get to Target just before 4:30AM. I ended Thanksgiving deciding that I would set my alarm for 4:15AM and rush to Target just after 4:30AM. Playing Smackdown versus RAW 2010 all day, then going out with Amy for dessert until 10PM had kinda skewed my original plans.

When I woke up this morning, I was half prepared to abandon the idea altogether. I woke up before my alarm, but I could not keep my eyes open. I grabbed my cellphone to look at the time, and it was only 3AM. Fair enough, I could sleep another full hour and then decide whether or not it was worth going. At that point, I seriously doubted it would be.

That one hour made a big difference. I woke up with nothing more than a half-morbid curiosity to find out what Black Friday was like at a major retailer like Target or Wal-Mart. The dream I had about cutting in line to get my hands on a television, only to have it stolen away by a more aggressive customer was nothing more than an afterthought.

Unfortunately, it did not make a big enough difference to correlate to my rushing to Target and I was very lethargic (which in retrospect is what should have been expected for 4:15AM). On the drive up, I had serious doubts about the usefulness of the excursion, and I even pulled into the Wal-Mart parking lot, thinking that while more consumers would go to Wal-Mart, people specifically wanting this TV would be going to target because it was $2 cheaper than the one Wal-Mart was offering. I suppose the logic was there, except I did not trust Wal-Mart to have as much inventory as Target and I had done my research for Target, so I wanted to see it through. I checked out the parking lot at Wal-Mart, but it was packed, so I figured Target would be much better.

Except it wasn't. It was as crowded if not worse, and there was a crowd of about 150 people. So, my expectations were split in half. I figured if every fourth person wanted the television, then they would make it through a stock of 50 before I had a chance. If I were smart enough to quit, I might have. But I am a born Taurus, so I was too stubborn to leave. Plus, the guy beside me in line (who was badmouthing the Black Friday concept, but he was a veteran Black Friday shopper) said that he had never been at this spot in line and NOT gotten what he set out to get.

Once the doors opened, people orderly walked inside. Inside the store, there was another orderly line for televisions. They had both 32" and 40" sets. The 32" sets were going quicker. Amazingly, I made it to the front of the line quickly, but as soon as we did, there was a hold-up for a recount of inventory. What they had on the floor was all they had in stock, and there were two boxes on the floor with two people waiting. The first TV went to the first person waiting. The second person waiting was only waiting for the first person, so lo and behold, I got the last box available.

The guy behind me in line who had the dubious distinction of being the first person in line to not get the television could not have been cooler about it. If he had been the slightest bit fussy, I would have opted for the larger television. But he even said, "if I cared enough about the price, I would pick up the 40" set, but I really don't. I just wanted to see what Black Friday was like, and I am relieved to learn it is nothing like the horror stories you see on the news."

He and I were of the exact same mindset. I guess in a way it was poetic justice that the two of us were the last person in line to get the product and the first person in line to not get the product.

Oops I Did It Again

Earlier this year, I had an entry entitled "See You In Court," which told the story of my (at that point) only experience in a mock trial.  I failed to mention in that entry how interested I was in pursuing the law field as a paralegal, but it did not surprise me when I learned in September that I would be involved in another mock trial before the end of the year.  It was a requirement in my Civil Procedures II class.

The case was fairly simple.  It was a situation where a stockbroker was involved in a minor traffic accident in which there were no reported injuries, but the next day, he started suffering "whiplash effects" from the bump.  The stockbroker's testimony was shady and his stories sounded inconsistent through the assignment of exhibits and additional testimony.  In addition to working as a stockbroker, he was also an avid tennis player.  Most of his damages were associated to the fact that the whiplash has left him unable to play tennis.  He even went onto the tennis courts once to try to play, but he was so ineffective at it, that it depressed him further to even try.

The contrary evidence showed the insurance investigator providing photographs of the stockbroker playing tennis, and drinking beer (another no-no per doctor's orders).  Even more damaging, the stockbroker's testimony was largely in unreasonable absolutes, such as "I followed doctor's orders to the T."

Regardless, the jury instructions stated that the case would be decided on the elements of the tort, which for a case of negligence are duty, breach, cause, and damages.  Despite all other evidence, the heart of the case was that the other driver owed the stockbroker (plaintiff) a duty to drive safely, he breached that duty when his car careened into the other vehicle, the whiplash from the accident was the cause of the stockbroker's injuries, and the injuries speak for themselves as damages.

I had already been assigned to the plaintiff's case before I read anything about the case, so I felt we were set up for failure until I got to the jury instructions.  At that point, I felt we could not lose.

Then, it came time to assign roles and, of course, nobody wanted to be the plaintiff.  Actually, nobody wanted to do anything in my group, but I'll ignore that point for now.  My group was about to assign the other male to the role of the plaintiff, and he was agreeable, until I spoke up and volunteered myself.  I figured the most important part of the case was creating a profile for the plaintiff and I felt I understood his character enough to fill in the gaps of his story.

After all, he was a stockbroker and I had spent the last 10 years in finance.  After all, he was an avid tennis player and I had spent the last 8 years befriending professional wrestlers, who perform injured all the time but still recover.  I felt I understood the plaintiff and I could bring him to life.

As we continued to meet in class and learned more about the assignment, it seemed as though my instincts were incorrect.  There was a lot of missing information in the case, obviously since (A) these were not real people, and (B) a lot of questions we had were not relevant to the case.  At first, I thought we should exploit the gaps left open, but our instructor (who is a lawyer, and a great one at that) made it clear that the cross-examination should never, ever pose a question unless he/she knows the answer.  It seemed as though all of the gaps were filled (or at least untouchable), and I had no strategy left.

However, just because a teacher says something doesn't mean the students will follow it.  In the end, my instincts were wrong but the preparation was correct.

The opposing counsel's strategy was to exploit the inconsistencies in our case.  There were a lot of inconsistencies, and quite frankly, the stockbroker did not come off as a very likeable guy throughout the case.  (Again, perfect for me!)  Therefore, the opposing counsel went through a medical journal that my character was keeping to notate the progression of his recovery.  There was a key incident on June 25th, the day my character went to play tennis.  The next entry after that day was the Fourth of July.  It said that my character went into work that day.  But, the opposing counsel recognized that it was a holiday.  So, why would he be working?

Therefore, in the cross-examination of my character, they directed my attention to that day and asked the question, "You see your entry dated July 4th.  Do you often work on holidays?"  The problem was that they did not know the answer to that question.  Actually, the real problem is that I did.  I responded, "Yes, absolutely I do.  On holidays, we never schedule client meetings and there is a lot of paperwork that builds up, so I usually go in and catch up on that leftover paperwork."

After our mock trial, our teacher debriefed us on the finer points of what we did well and what we did wrong.  He used that as a perfect example of what can happen when you ask a question you don't know the answer to.  He pointed out that the opposing attorney had the unfortunate task of going up against me, because I quickly turned that question around to my side to make me look like some kind of super-worker.  Oops!

The funnier part came almost a second later when another team member from the defendant's side said she suspected that I overheard them discussing that question and I had time to come up with an answer.  "Nope, I've just worked in the finance field for the past 10 years, so I know they work on days off.

"Also, I was at a hockey game when you guys discussed that question in class!"

#GoHabsGo

This past Thursday, I attended a Montréal Canadiens game! It was the first time I had seen them play since December 2002, and it was my first opportunity to see them since their amazing 2010 Stanley Cup run, which perfectly coincided with the retirement of Shawn Michaels, and since that time, my interest in hockey has risen proportionally as my interest in wrestling has diminished.

Habs fan since 1993.

Since June 1993, Montréal Canadiens have been *my* team. Not my hockey team but my favorite sports team, period. Granted, I rarely watched sports in high school or college, so there was no strong competition to be deemed my "favorite," but the Stanley Cup has always gotten my attention over the past 15 years, and when the Montréal Canadiens made the playoffs, my interest doubled or tripled.

My adoption of the Montréal Canadiens started when my sister and I were home alone on a Friday evening, and the only movie we could mutually agree to watch was "The Mighty Ducks." She and I did not have many common interests, so it made sense that a family film could hold our enjoyment. The next night, I was home alone on Saturday night flipping through the channels while there was a real hockey game on ESPN, and I quickly recognized the LA Kings so I started to watch. I figured the LA Kings were my favorite hockey team because (A) I loved a lot of bands from LA, and (B) they had Wayne Gretzsky, who was my favorite hockey player -- by default, because I couldn't name another one.

Therefore, I stopped on the channel to cheer LA Kings. They were down on the scoreboard, but they were determined to tie the game. At one point, they had opportunity after opportunity to shoot on goal, and with every shot I cheered "GO! GO! GO," but the more they failed, the more I was blown away by the opposing goalie. Although the Kings continued shooting on goal and I continued yelling "GO! GO! GO!," my loyalty had turned around completely. I was no longer cheering for the Kings to score a goal and tie the game; now I was cheering for the goalie to continue these amazing saves and win the game!

Pre-game warm-up on 11/10/11.

Through that exchange, I learned another hockey player's name: Patrick Roy, who instantly became my favorite hockey player of all-time (a distinction he still holds today). I cheered Roy and the Canadiens through the rest of the game, despite the Kings successfully tying it up, and I celebrated their overtime victory when the game ended. Not nearly as proudly as the droves of Canadian fans who clearly loved the sport and the team more than I did, but in terms of bandwagon fans, I was on board!

Two nights later, there was another game between the same teams. This was my first exposure to a sports "series." The concept excited me to no end since this Stanley Cup series appeared to be the Super Bowl raised by seven degrees! The only sport I learned in Oklahoma was football, and it was required knowledge in our school, even if there were no classes for it. I guess we learned the basic rules of football through osmosis if nothing else. Maybe it was in our town water supply.

Conversely, hockey was not a well-respected sport in Small Town, Oklahoma. It wasn't actively disrespected, but it was mostly ignored, so it was fair to say that the sport was passively disrespected. Regardless, I was watching WWF wrestling every weekend and Monday nights, so hockey was at least a step in the right direction into the wide world of sports.

I had a friend or two feign an interest in the Stanley Cup finals, so I could discuss it with them between games, which meant I had a reason to watch the games: cheering "my team." Therefore, I was extra delighted when "my" Montréal Canadiens went on to win Game Four. And, when I say "my" Montréal Canadiens, they were exclusive to me at my school. No one was a Canadiens fan, not even the other dozen (give or take) fans of hockey. Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues, and LA Kings were the most popular teams in my hometown, but no one there cheered Canadian teams. Except me now.

After watching two great hockey games, I was ready for the third, except this time, if my Montréal Canadiens won the game, they would win the cherished Stanley Cup. I could not wait! Unfortunately, my anticipation far exceeded the excitement of the game. Montréal Canadiens won easily, and that was that. No more hockey. The full season started up several months later, but hockey was rarely on TV, and when it was, it was usually the Stars, Blues, or maybe Kings, so I never watched. I also lost interest in the Canadiens season through the newspapers once I learned that the almighty Patrick Roy was not flawless and that he did not win every game.

But when the season ended and the Stanley Cup Playoffs started, then I tuned in! It was not just to cheer the Canadiens either. I cheered the New York Rangers all the way to the Stanley Cup in 1994, and I cheered the Detroit Red Wings to the finals in 1995 (by which point, the team was so beaten down that they were disappointingly swept in four games). But, still, the Montréal Canadiens were *my* team, and they always came first. I got my first Montréal Canadiens jersey for Christmas in 1994 (technically, I got it four days before in order to wear it to an Oklahoma City Blazers game, which was my first pro hockey game).

Jeremy Dion & Patrick Gates 

In December 1995, an interesting situation happened. Patrick Roy (known to me as "St. Patrick of Montréal") abruptly left the team to join the Colorado Avalanche. While I was disheartened immediately, the plus that I would have another team to cheer was in the back of my mind. And so began a few years of cheering Colorado and Montréal equally. I always said if they met in the Stanley Cup finals, then I would cheer Montréal, but unfortunately, that situation never developed. In fact, for several years, if it weren't for Patrick Roy, then I would have had no reason to even *watch* the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

After Patrick Roy retired in 2003, I realized that Canada had not won the Stanley Cup in 10 years. Thus, I found another team to cheer in the playoffs: any team from Canada! Sadly, I have followed Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators, Calgary Flames, and most recently, Vancouver Canucks to the Stanley Cup Finals, but none of the teams have brought the Cup home to Canada. Throughout that disappointment, the silver lining has been the same: maybe the Habs can do it next year!

The 2010-2011 season was the first time I followed an entire NHL season, primarily because Montréal was first or second in its division through the season. I even won tickets to a Phoenix Coyotes game in October 2010, which happened to be their last game before facing Montréal, so I called it a scouting mission. It was no substitute for watching Les Canadiens in person, but I knew it was only a matter of time before I would get my chance.

Habs & Yotes: Ready to face-off!

That opportunity came on Thursday, November 10, 2011. Unfortunately, I had school Thursday nights so there was a bit of a question mark whether I could actually attend. Luckily, my class session for that evening was light, so I made plans to skip class to attend the game. Except, it had been so long since I had been to a game that I wasn't even sure how to plan it. I invited my neighbor who was the only hockey fan I knew under the promise that if she cheered the Habs with me, then I would get us tickets to cheer the Kings (her favorite team) later in the season. Unfortunately, she declined so my one idea went to waste. Therefore, I wound up doing the same thing I did in December 2002, and just showed up at the box office an hour before the game.

I was skeptical about trusting scalpers since I was decked in my Montréal jersey. Fortunately, once I got to the arena, I realized my apprehensions about wearing the opposing team's attire were greatly unfounded. A large number of people were there to cheer the Habs as well. I bought a decently-priced ticket, and again my apprehension returned, fearing that buying a good seat would increase the likelihood of being the only Habs fan among die-hard Coyotes fans. But once I got to my seat, I realized there were more people wearing Montréal shirts and sweaters than Phoenix. Rationally, it made sense: we had to wait two years to see our team whereas Phoenix fans could see the Coyotes play over 40 times a year.

However, none of the Habs fans came to see their team lose, myself included. Therefore, we were disheartened when the Yotes scored a little over 5 minutes into the game. Montréal had been on another losing streak, so disappointment became part of cheering the Habs, and it almost felt like a small victory when the first period ended without giving up any more goals.

The second period went much better! Montréal scored around the halfway mark, and then they got another goal before the period ended. We entered the third period up 2-1 with spirits high. Unfortunately, the Coyotes dashed those hopes by scoring a game-tying goal earlier in the third. While the excitement of the fans died out, so did the the spirit of competition on the ice (or, maybe it was the other way around). The Habs had a couple more scoring chances before regulation ended, but they did not net another goal, and the teams went into overtime.

Montréal Canadiens celebrate!

The last time I saw the Coyotes play, they lost in overtime, so I knew that Coyotes were not a real threat until a shootout. However, I was not sure about Montréal. They had a few overtime losses and a couple overtime victories, but with three top players scratched from the game, it seemed as though we were low on assets. Fortunately, the Canadiens netted a goal from an unlikely resource (Josh Gorges) to win in overtime, and the area where I was seated (with whom I had already gotten to chant "Go Habs Go" and "Olé Olé Olé") erupted in celebration. Again, myself included.

In the end, it was the closest experience I could have to a game in the Bell Centre without leaving Arizona.

Missing Pieces

Recently, I have been having the same conversation with a friend over and over.  Ordinarily, I would hate repetition.  I cannot stand hearing people repeat themselves, especially in the course of the same conversation, but this situation is slightly different because the discussion has more of a life-focus, and the discussion has mostly been on where he is in life.

This week, however, I feel as though we reached an epiphany in his situation.  He is an artist, and what we had previously diagnosed as a mental hang-up in his ability to follow-through and complete work, I now believe is simply a creative barricade.  The only hang-up is disappointment, so his only choices are either releasing art that he is not behind or waiting until he can figure out the missing pieces to get his art to match his mental vision of it.

It sounds like a roadblock, but this week, I compared it more to a mental Rubik's Cube.  My basis for comparison was not very hard to reach.  From March 2005 until January 2008, I used to record matches for a local wrestling promotion.  I did a lot of work for them, including ring announcing, writing promotional material, and calculating rankings, until the company ceased operations in September 2009.  There were various degrees of accomplishment throughout the years, but the thing I consistently enjoyed the most was filming the matches.  This footage was often sent to larger organizations when the performers were looking for work, so my footage was viewed by several top talent scouts.

Beaver & I "like" working for IZW.

Unfortunately, for the past two years, watching these matches made me sick to my stomach.  I could not bare to watch any footage without going through a wide range of emotion (and none of them positive).  I dismissed the feelings as being tied to the death of Peter Goodman (one of my favorite wrestlers in the promotion, and the best friend of Lil' Nate, who is my second favorite wrestler of all time).  There was a long story behind my time with Impact Zone Wrestling, in fact I think I wrote 10,000 words about it a year ago in the hopes of resolving some issues.  It didn't.

However, I recently had a breakthrough and I have been thoroughly enjoying my footage again lately.  The difference was that I found a way to upload my footage to YouTube.  Not just a way, but a very simple way to take what I have already done and to put it on YouTube for anyone to view.  Since that time, I have been watching the footage, analyzing it like I used to do, and deciding what I want to put online.

The problem is that I had been trying for the past few years (if not longer) for a way to get what I have done online, but nothing ever worked.  Even the most expensive programs, some I've even purchased, did nothing for getting my footage online.  To explain it in technical terms, I have my footage as .VOB files but YouTube will not load those files.  My first thought was that I could simply rename the files from .VOB to .AVI or another coding, but my computer dismissed that attempt.  Thus, began Plan B, and then Plan C, Plan D, Plan E, etc.  For months, I've ignored texts from Lil' Nate because I was so disillusioned with the matches that I did not want anyone to see them.  In my mind, my footage was not any good.  If only it were as easy as renaming the file.  Instead, it became some complex puzzle where everyone had an idea but no one had the solution.

"The Match of Matches" is YouTube.

This week, I downloaded a couple of programs through which I should have been able to rip my DVD-R and recode the files, but even those programs were not compatible with my .VBO files.  As part of my research to find a solution, I came across a lousy YouTube clip in which the person simply renamed the .VBO files to .AVI successfully.  The video itself warned that not all computers allow it, but I figured that, since I had been trying everything else, I might as well try everything.  It failed.  At first, anyway.  Then I realized an important difference, which was that I was trying to rename the programs on my DVD-R whereas the video had the files in a folder on the desktop.  It made sense to me why that would make a difference, and it was worth a shot.

As it turned out, it was worth more than a shot: it was priceless.

The amazing thing was that they were the same steps that I had first tried, but one minor difference prevented it from working and not working.  One of the folder options had to be changed to permit it.  After that small change, the floodgates opened.  Now I can put any match from my IZW library online in a matter of minutes. All my disappointment vanished.  I am proud to share these matches with anyone who seeks them out or happens across them.

The comparison is one I feel as though my friend has been facing, as though all he needs is to find one more piece of his creative puzzle, and then he will have his own mental Rubik's Cube solved.

Turn, Turn, Turn

"The more things change, the more they stay the same."  To summarize life with cliches, I feel this one captures the essence of personality the best.  And often times, life feels to follow suit.  While the line is often delivered in a negative connotation, there is an upside to it -- at least, if you like the person you are.

It captures a lot of my life right now, personally, in the good way.  This week marked the sixth month since I left my job.  My part-time job is becoming routine (which beats it being a mystery), my finances are holding up quite nicely, and my education is definitely top priority.  I am really looking forward to getting back into a professional environment, but by the same token, I don't mind working retail (something I have never done in the past) for the time being.

Pins (right) & Needles (left) snuggle.

Surprisingly, at least to me, Needles is back to normal -- in terms of his eating habits.  I eventually cajoled myself into taking him to the vet.  My primary veterinarian was almost 15 miles away from my place, so getting the cats down there was always a chore.  When it was a matter of life & death, it was easy.  When it isn't, it feels like I am torturing them for my own amusement (and spending several hundred dollars for it).  Instead, I brought Needles to a much closer Kaibab Animal Hospital, which was less than 5 miles away.  By the time I took him in, his eating was mostly back to normal.  The vet said, aside from the obvious obesity, Needles appeared to be in good health overall for a cat his age.  I've learned that the average lifespan of house cats is 12-15 years, and we will celebrate his 12th birthday on November 1st.  We have him on other medication (because, why only pay $200 for a visit?) which is supposed to benefit him.  I'm sure it will, but for the most part, I'm happy that he does not protest its oral administration every morning.

Besides, it is good experience for my part-time work.  We have sick animals often there, which need medication.  None as cute as my cat.  They are usually bearded dragons or corn snakes.  I am not looking forward to the day(s) when I am caring for them, but that time is still another month or two away.  Right now, I am perfecting my lay of the land.  The most amusing anecdote from work happened the other day.

I thought I had off Tuesday and Wednesday, but I got a call at 8:40 on Tuesday morning from my hiring manager stating that I was scheduled to come in at 8, and he was curious where I was.  I called back, while getting dressed, to let him know that I overslept, and that I would be in as soon as I could.  Things blew over soon enough, and the rest of the day shaped out to be a normal day.  Until I had a familiar looking customer.  I couldn't quite place where I knew him, but I knew I had seen him before (just not face-to-face).  Regardless, I rang up his purchase and asked if he was enrolled in our rewards program.  He had not, and he did not want to be bothered with it, but his purchase was $7.50 less with a card, so he conceded to it.

I gave him an enrollment form, and he wrote his name in the email address line, and asked for another form.  Ordinarily, I would have coaxed the person into using the one they had, and memories of the Cash Cab guy's stand-up routine kept circling in my mind, but there was a much louder thought in my mind: BE NICE!  I followed that instinct, which proved to be especially beneficial when I learned his name was Jason Kidd.  I had another in-mind exchange, which went basically like this:

• FIRST THOUGHT: "Oh, like the basketball player!"
• SECOND THOUGHT: "Actually, not 'like', THE basketball player!"

I worked at a restaurant for five years before I had my first celebrity encounter there (Alice Cooper, January 2003) and now I had my first encounter in the first month here.  Granted, it's possible another sports celebrity came into my restaurant and I just did not know who he was.

Otherwise, things are mostly normal.  At least, as normal as they always are.

The Very Best of WCW Nitro (DVD Review)

After I left my job, only one wrestling DVD came out that I wanted to buy.  I fought temptation until I had a part-time job for income, so this weekend, I finally made the purchase.  It was "The Very Best of WCW Monday Nitro," and it featured numerous matches of both Kevin Nash (whose matches I swear get better with age) and the now deceased Randy "Macho Man" Savage.  Both men are favorites of mine, but most of the marquee matches I have somewhere else in my collection.  At least, that's true of Kevin Nash (less true of Randy Savage).

WWE has released a couple other WCW-based discs, but neither appealed to me.  Rather, the way they were packaged did not appeal to me.  One was titled "The Rise & Fall of WCW," which I would have found very interesting except the second and third discs had no matches of interest (luckily, I found the program itself in another set, so I purchased that set).  The other was the Essential Starrcade Collection, but it was done in a countdown style, which I cannot fathom for a DVD.  I don't mind five-hour blocks of programming for countdowns on VH1 but I would not watch it repeatedly.

Luckily, this DVD set hit the nail on the head!  At least for me.  There are a couple common criticisms about this set.  The first is that its chronological format prevented WWE from focusing on the promised "very best of WCW Nitro."  The second most common complaint is that the match selection was a bit of a head-scratcher to have DDP versus Buff Bagwell alongside Goldberg versus Hulk Hogan, but I personally would not have liked this set as much any other way.

The first disc was dedicated to 1995 and 1996.  The second disc was dedicated to the ever-popular 1997 and 1998.  The third and final disc was dedicated to the petering years of 1999, 2000, and 2001.  Honestly, the so-called "head scratcher" matches of minimal significance or other greatness were the ones I enjoyed the most.  Case in point, I found myself particularly entertained by Kevin Nash & Sting versus Scott Hall & The Giant.  These matches often captured the essence of WCW Monday Nitro.  Nitro wasn't all highlights, but it was not just filler either.  It was an excellent blend of a variety of international wrestling styles, and while the WWF specialized in its own style of "sports entertainment," WCW let its wrestlers wrestle in a wrestling ring (at least until the Russo era).

While most fans unanimously point to the second disc as being the best, and it's a valid argument, I have to point out that one of the follies of the second disc is WWE's refusal to sell matches featuring Chris Benoit.  The best match in Nitro history was arguably Bret Hit Man Hart versus Chris Benoit, which would have been on the third disc if it weren't an obligatory omission.  Regardless, I was pleasantly surprised to see how often Chris Benoit appeared in the set.  Whie he was never a top draw, he was my second favorite WCW wrestler behind Kevin Nash for most of WCW Nitro's run (truthfully, I lost interest in Randy Savage when he defected to WCW in 1994, but my interest was resparked when I grew out my beard in 2008), and Benoit was one of the most important players in WCW throughout 1999 before he defected to the WWF in January 2000.

Watching the set, viewers can recapture some of their own personal emotions of the 5.5 years Nitro aired on TNT.  In that regard, it is on par with "The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event" (perhaps my favorite WWE release).  Bottom line, WCW Nitro was FUN!  The championship belts were still of value, and even though this time frame (1995-2001) saw the sharpest decline in the value of championships, its announce team of Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay, and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan never abandoned the kayfabe mentality that professional wrestling is direct competitive sports, so every championship match is important (albeit, preserving the value of the WCW Tag Team Championship became impossible).

Unslept, Undead

I have not had many sleepless nights in my life, except for those "rock-and-roll vampire" nights that end after sunrise, but I had one today. This night was almost entirely remiss of any except two hours between 1:30 and 3:30. I awoke with a knotted stomach. My cellphone was almost charged as well, so one event enabled the other and I waited until the pain left my body, which worked out to be about the time my cellphone finished charging. Then, I lay back down but I could not sleep anymore.

Doggies love me! And I love (most) pets.

There are a few heavy things on my mind, including pet issues, financial issues, and work issues. I started working at PETCO this week, getting the job with only 90 minutes between phone call and interview. I thought that I was invited back on Wednesday for a second job interview, but when I arrived, I was introduced as the new guy. Somewhat counter-climatic, but that's fine with me considering I have not had gainful employment since April. I have taken "work" as a tertiary petsitter for my friend's business, but that only came to be when I told her that I couldn't go out drinking until I had some source of income.

Additionally, I misplaced $80 this week, which is extremely unlike me! I have looked throughout my place in all the places that I would expect (and even a few that I wouldn't) but to no avail. I am beginning to believe that the cash was in my back pocket and escaped on its own accord. Needless to say, it's a substantial blow since I have been watching my savings dwindle for the past eight months. On the plus side, I did realize today that I have more in the bank than I realized, so my growing concerns about my savings are not as urgent as they seemed to be.


It took 6 weeks and $1500 to save my cat.

But most alarming has been my cat Needles, who I believe is not eating enough again. I don't know if that's truly the situation or just my imagination, sparked by our 2008 incident when I put him on a diet that gave him Fatty Liver Disease (which caused a $1500 vet bill for recovery). I have been observing him, and I genuinely cannot tell. I changed up his diet slightly recently, so he has lost weight but it should be a better diet for him, which could result in healthy weight loss. But this week, and especially today after going through pet care training at PETCO, I feel certain that he has health issues. Of course, this would also be the ideal time for a psychosomatic reaction.

However, none of these issues kept me awake throughout the night. It was a phone call from my best friend at 3:35, right when my head hit the pillow again. She wanted a place to sleep because she and her boyfriend have been growing apart for quite some time, and his way of handling issues is called alcoholism. It has been a long, drawn-out situation, where they have stayed together but they are not fun to be around, despite my natural inclinations to help them every chance I get. I could write an entry twice as long, noting every gripe with my current situation (which could also include difficulties in resuming my studies after semester break and in maintaining my residence), and I would not be able to touch the issues they are handling, starting with his DUI in November 2009.

Regardless, being awake at the time my friend called (the first time she has ever been desperate enough to stay in my spare room) was quite convenient though. I feel more as though it was an act of God to wake me so I would be prepared to help my friend. And I was. I hope that good feeling gets me through this long day.

@KellyOxford

I woke up this morning to an annoying phone call, one that I let go to voicemail and then retrieved the extra-long message later.  Afterwards, I went onto Twitter.com, which has become my primary source of social networking because (unlike Facebook) strangers can interact with each other.

Blogging since 1997 (and before)

The first thing I noticed was that I had a new direct message.  I barely cared since I assumed it would be from a friend correctly my spelling in an earlier Tweet.

Instead it was from Kelly Oxford!  This was very cool because Kelly Oxford is the primary reason I enjoy Twitter more than any other website.  She has almost 200,000 followers, and I even follow people who follow her.

Overall, Kelly Oxford is an amazing woman!  She is often acknowledged as one of the first Twitter- or Tumblr-made celebs, netting a book deal and another to write a CBS sit-com.  More importantly, she is a married mother of three, and she usually transfers that home life into comedic observations (in 140 characters or less, at least on Twitter).  She was even honored by Canada's Cocktail in May 2011 as "uniquely Canadian" and one of the leading voices in Canadian social media.

In reality, her book deal and TV series were NOT the result of either Tumblr or Twitter as interested parties can piece together by reading through either feed, and it was mostly her own hard work/talent and life's enjoyment.  She recently attempted to debunk the myth that Twitter turned her into a writer because she had been doing it well before the advent of Twitter.  Think along the lines of Geocities, and even before that... way back when we used paper and pencils.  But, the whole "Twitter-made celeb" title is just too marketable for the media to ignore, so I'm not sure how many of her own fans know the real story.

Anyway, this person took a second out of her busy life to send me a Direct Message, which turned out to be a bad thing since it read as follows:

"Do you feel like shit to know that 1000's laughed and rt'd that tweet and u were the only 1 to complain."

My first thought was "Was I complaining?"  Here's the story: last night she sent out a Tweet that said "More often than not, a paycheck is compensation for putting up with bullshit."  Very funny!  People should laugh and retweet it.  Including myself, because I was one of them on April 8th (the day after I put in my two-week notice) when she tweeted "A paycheck is simply compensation for putting up with bullshit."  Amen to that!

Additionally, I started following Kelly Oxford in the first place because I recited one of her Tweets at work, and it got a big laugh from my co-workers.  It was during Hugh Hefner's engagement to his would-be runaway bride.  She tweeted that the fiancee claims she "doesn't notice the 60-year age difference" but what she means is "I can't count that high."  Kelly Oxford also repeated that Tweet about a week earlier as well (slightly updated to keep it relevant to today).

Meanwhile, I had on my television at the same time and it was advertising the new shows coming out next month.  It was really hammering home that we could expect an "all new season" for these shows that I don't even watch in the first place.  It struck me that she was probably knowingly repeating past tweets to coincide with the reruns on television, so I tweeted the following.

"I cannot wait for the new season of @KellyOxford tweets! #reruns"

Unfortunately, there was a simple misunderstanding. On my part. I didn't know calling attention to the repetition could be taken as an insult (since it would require some devotation to even pinpoint it) and I was obviously very wrong about her trying to coincide with reruns on TV, so I can easily see how it was read as a complaint now.  Especially if she didn't scan through my profile to see that I had retweeted it previously.  With a family and 200,000 other readers, it would be a waste of her time.  Additionally, I know a LOT of her hate mail comes from men, and I have my picture on display at Twitter (mostly because she once said you should use real pictures, because otherwise everyone will assume you're fat), so I could understand her assumption that I was mocking her repetition.

Looking like a stuck-up French Canadien.

Plus, the hashtag is a tricky beast in Twitter lingo.  It does not have a defined use.  When I wrote #reruns, I was referencing the reruns on TV.  I don't think reruns are a bad thing myself since I watch "South Park" every night on syndication despite owning every boxset, but reruns probably have a negative reputation in Hollywood, where Kelly Oxford is far more cultured than I am.  Regardless, I figured if I knew she was repeating Tweets, then she definitely knew that she was repeating them.  I suspect she has repeated more than just the two in my example, but it's hard to tell because a lot of them are general observations that are always good for a laugh (like the paycheck one).

The thing is, the same people don't stick around on Twitter so the turnover of her 200,000 followers is pretty high.  It makes sense for her to resend her best work a few times (A) for new followers to enjoy, and (B) for old followers who may relate more closely to the observation now than previously.  I understand that logic, and I support it.  Kelly Oxford's account should be used as a case study on leveraging social media successfully.  Unfortunately, my drawing attention to the repeat Tweet(s) came off as a critique for lacking new observations.

So, I simply explained myself in a couple of Tweets directed to her.  I had hoped she would read them, but dealing with the mass of Tweets she is, I wasn't sure.  Therefore, I sent the following statements if she wanted to read them since I believe the only difference between an excuse and an explanation is the listener.

My apologies, no complaint; just a tie-in to TV currently advertising its "all-new" seasons b/c your tweets > most TV shows. (and) I support repeat Tweets for new followers to LOL+RT since your list is near 200K (and U R busy in life beyond Twitter). Sorry!

One of my latest pet peeves is when celebrities and other public figures respond to hate and ignore praise.  I noticed this fact during the Stanley Cup when I often replied to the witty commentary of a former Hockey Night in Canada producer on Twitter.  He made a silly observation about a player who should have been suspended after that player scored a goal in a crucial game, stating that the guy should not even be playing, let alone scoring goals.  I wrote a quick reply, basically saying that if he is on the ice, then he should be trying to score, period.  Right before I sent it, I decided to dress it up a bit to make it more edgy.  I simply added "Get real," at the beginning.  And, despite numerous other unanswered Tweets, this one got a reply.

I also noticed Christopher Titus would often get into public arguments with his followers on Twitter.  Twitter is an awesome channel to communicate with strangers, but arguing with strangers who are way more famous than you is lame (and arguing with strangers who are way less famous than you doesn't make sense to me either).  I couldn't understand why Titus, who is constantly showered with praise and love by his fans, would spend more time acknowledging his critics.  But I don't understand the pursuit of fame in the first place, so I'll just classify it as a pet peeve.

Today I realized the great irony of this pet peeve is that it does not extend to people I really like.  Despite her obvious "attitude" (which doesn't bother me because I worked backstage at pro wrestling shows for 5 years; plus I like attitude, including my own), part of me felt that Kelly Oxford was asking a real question.  If so, then she would be open-minded to a reply.

Shortly after posting my apology tweets, I got another Direct Message from her, which made my morning complete:

Sorry!! I didn't mean to sound like a bitch. I guess I did, but only because I'm sensitive!! :(

"No apology necessary ... keep the laughs comin' and my thanks for each of them" was my reply.  I love knowing that Kelly Oxford is so passionate about her Twitter feed and followers that she is ready to take on anyone who tries to suck her enjoyment out of it.



Also read, http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/03/catching-up-with-kelly-oxford.html

Life At The Movies

Often people like to go to the movies as an escape.  I understand the sentiment, although just as often, I like to see a true human drama play out.  In fact, I am often critical of films when the characters do not jive with realistic characters, aside from the "escape" movies where one person can truly devote his/her life to making another person's life miserable or that the entire fictitious world would be as captivated by the story's events as the writer thought they should be (e.g. "The Terminal" or "Fight Club").

As such, there is a big difference (in my mind) between "movies" and "films."  Movies are for the sake of entertainment, and they should often be viewed as an escape.  Films are for the sake of art, and they should reflect life more realistically.

Rarely we are treated to one between both distinctions, but I have to admit that "My Cousin Vinny" comes really close.  Clearly, it was more movie than film.  But it is a good education, and often recommended viewing for law students.

This is why I am so tired...

After working ten years in the finance field, I quit my job and went back to school.  It wasn't on a whim, mind you, and a lot of planning went into the change (and a little bit of luck).  So, I am currently pursuing a Paralegal certificate through Phoenix College.  Therefore, my first semester of school is this summer and I have three classes going right now.  Two of them are law classes and the third is a computer class.  I had the option to get out of the computer class (a prerequisite for the program) but I thought the blow-off class could help my pad my grade point average, and I did not know how I would adjust to school after not taking any classes for almost 12 years (I graduated from Arizona State University with a less than 3.0 GPA).  As irony goes, my challenging class is the one I expected to be a blow-off.

We just finished mid-terms, and my favorite class had been Civil Procedures I on Wednesday evenings, but then the first class after the exam shifted from theory and practical application of law into the actual application of law, specifically drafting a complaint.  My first paper is due next week, and I'm not entirely sure how well I am going to succeed.  My second favorite class, which moved into first place after mid-terms now, was Introduction to Law on Saturday mornings.  Our book in this class is the same used with law students studying to be lawyers (hence the reason I call my schooling "law classes").  For the most part, the class is a broad overview of various aspects of law, and this class is definitely the most interesting.

However, the reason I'm so tired is that all three classes have exams every week and, in both law classes, we cover a new chapter each week.  Right now I am torn between signing up for three or four law classes for the next two semesters.  If I took four classes in both semesters, then I would finish certificate in 12 months.  If I took three classes, then I could taken on a part-time job and get some income.  At this point, I am torn between the choices.  After 10 years of stable income, I have grown accustom to a few more luxuries than I have budgeted.  Then again, after 8 years of dedicated employment, I enjoy taking things slow and absorbing the simple life (although, lately that has consisted of more television than anything else, so if that continues, I'd prefer working).  Of course, the option isn't fully up to me as I would need to find a job first.  My ideal part-time job would be in a law office as a mail-room clerk or similar position where I could grow within the company and take on the position of a paralegal in the same firm at a later date.  Failing that, I could take on any brainless job as long as it did not wipe out my energy.  But again, it is not fully up to me.

Either way, I did well on my mid-terms and I enjoy learning about specifics of the law enough that I doubt the next 9 or 12 months will be too difficult for me.  Plus, the weather will only get better since Arizona is experiencing what I call the "100 days of 100 degrees" (i.e. mid-May through mid-September) and this weather zaps all my energy.  Lately, I have felt that I have accomplished less each passing day.  Come to think of it, that may be the real reason I am so tired.

Sex or Violence

Yes to Violence, No to Sex
By Robert Scheer
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-scheer/yes-to-violence-no-to-sex_b_886654.html?ir=Technology

This American life of ours has long been pro-violence and anti-sex, unless the two can be merged so that violence is the dominant theme. The U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed that historical record on Monday in declaring California's ban on the sale of violent video games to minors unconstitutional while continuing to deny constitutional protection to purely prurient sexual material for either minors or adults.

The California law that the court struck down prohibited the sale or rental of violent games to minors "in which the range of options available to a player includes killing, maiming, dismembering, or sexually assaulting an image of a human being," unless the work, taken as a whole, possessed redeeming literary, artistic or social value -- qualities that limit censorship of sexually "obscene" material.

The Supreme Court, in essence, said no -- "sexually assaulting an image of a human being" is protected speech, but depicting graphic sexual activity that is nonviolent and consensual is not.

"California has tried to make violent-speech regulation look like obscenity regulation by appending a saving clause required for the latter," Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in the majority opinion. "That does not suffice. Our cases have been clear that the obscenity exception to the First Amendment does not cover whatever a legislature finds shocking, but only depictions of 'sexual conduct.' "

As Scalia put the prevailing argument that says yes to violence and no to sex, it is only violence that possesses deep cultural roots going back to our favorite fairy tales. Arguing that "violence is not part of the obscenity that the Constitution permits to be regulated," Scalia made clear that the problem is with the sex and not the violent or misogynist behavior that some critics argue will result from material the court defines as obscene: "Because speech about violence is not obscene, it is of no consequence that California's statute mimics the New York statute regulating obscenity-for-minors that we upheld in Ginsberg v. New York. That case approved a prohibition on the sale to minors of sexuall material that would be obscene from the perspective of a child."

Scalia's opinion is actually quite thrilling in enunciating an extremely broad definition of the free speech rights of minors. But it is simply bizarre in dismissing the claimed harmful effects of violent depictions while still insisting on the strictest puritanical view of the dangers of sexual imagery. "No doubt a State possesses legitimate power to protect children from harm, but that does not include a free-floating power to restrict the ideas to which children may be exposed," he said. Unless sex is involved, in which case, as Scalia quotes an earlier court decision: "Speech that is neither obscene as to youths nor subject to some other legitimate proscription cannot be suppressed solely to protect the young from ideas or images that a legislative body thinks unsuitable for them."

In that regard, Scalia's view is a vast improvement over that of Clarence Thomas, who held in his dissent that minors have no First Amendment rights at all. But Scalia is unnerving in his dismissal of the concurring opinion of Justice Samuel Alito Jr., in which Chief Justice John Roberts joined. Alito argued that the California statute addressed "a potentially serious social problem" but that "its terms are not framed with the precision that the Constitution demands. ..."

Scalia's withering dismissal of Alito's concerns is revealing of his tolerance for violent imagery as opposed to that which is merely sexual: "Justice Alito has done considerable independent research to identify video games in which 'the violence is astounding... Victims are dismembered, decapitated, disemboweled, set on fire, and chopped into little pieces. ... Blood gushes, splatters, and pools.' Justice Alito recounts all these disgusting video games in order to disgust us--but disgust is not a valid basis for restricting expression... Thus, ironically, Justice Alito's argument highlights the precise danger posed by the California Act: that the ideas expressed by speech--whether it be violence, or gore, or racism -- and not its objective effects, may be the real reason for governmental proscription."

Hear, hear to such a bold defense of the right of minors to consider a full range of controversial thought, but if the claimed harmful effects of minors' exposure to violence, gore and racism do not warrant a governmental limitation on free speech, why isn't sexually prurient material -- for adults if not minors -- deserving of equal First Amendment protection? The unspoken answer that runs through Scalia's opinion, and that of the court down though the ages, is that violence is normal while sex is obscene.

Ain't That America?

The motto of the United States is "In God We Trust" but perhaps, it should be P.T. Barnum's famous quoted philosophy: "There's a sucker born every minute" (which itself is grossly misattributed).

Last year, a billionaire's pledge captured media attention, and like many of you, I was very pleased to hear the idea.  But while it has been presented as a sort of paradigm shift in American greed, part of me thinks they've sunk to a new low.

In short, 40 wealthy families and individuals joined Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates and billionaire investor Warren Buffett in what they called the "giving pledge," donating at least half their wealth to charity.  Buffett said calls to about 75 of the nation's wealthiest individuals were placed by himself and Bill Gates.  The people who agreed to the pledge came from 13 states, with most participants residing in California and in New York.

In truth, I'll believe it when I see it.  I imagine Warren Buffet is probably legit with his pledge, but it seems that any family (outside of Bill Gates) could contest the donation under duress.  The pledge garnered a lot of media attention, and everyone knows public image is critical component of success.  Based on the media attention given this personal decision, I question how any businessman could have considered the full weight of the idea before agreement.

While the action itself is noble and praise-worthy, the publicity around it could nullify its effectiveness.  Maybe I am overly cynical.  Maybe I want to be pleased again when (if) it actually happens.  Maybe it is the words of Matthew 6:2-4 ("Therefore, when you give alms, do not choose to sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the towns, so that they may be honored by men. Amen I say to you, the have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your almsgiving may be in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you.").

Obviously, there's a wealth of good to be done, but I keep remembering JBL's theory that if every person in America switched places with their financial counterpart (i.e. the rich were poor, and the poor were rich) tomorrow, then everyone would be back to where they are today within 20 years.

Additionally, there is the known caveat that many of these billionaires have their own charities (often named after themselves).  Donald Trump has his own charity, and when he has done cross-promotional events with WWE such as WrestleMania 23 in 2007 or appearances on Monday Night RAW, they have compensated him by donating to the charity.  In fact, I read that WWE has put more money into it than Donald Trump himself, so he could leave half of his money there.  Even Bill and Melinda Gates do most of their philanthropic giving through their foundation.

One question that may remain is why bother?  There are couple of reasons: the value of good will from charitable giving often exceeds the good press is can net. Secondly, and far less altruistic is redemption.  Mexican drug lord Carlos Slim Helu surpassed Gates and Buffett to become the wealthiest person on earth and nab the top spot on the 2010 Forbes list of the World's Billionaires. Pay attention when the media covers the news, because it is often noted that if you add the charitable giving of Gates and Buffet to their net worth, then they would still be in the top two spots.

The fact that their "giving pledge" was announced publicly shortly after the release of the Forbes list may be less of a coincidence than their pledges are legally binding.

Remembering Randy Savage

NWA pays tribute to a legend.

At church this morning, we did our daily prayers to remember those who have recently departed.  Instead of saying "amen," I involuntarily responded "Oooooh yea!"  That's because an hour earlier I learned of the passing of Randy "Macho Man" Savage.

Without question, Randy Savage was my first favorite wrestler.  I started watching the WWF regularly after WrestleMania IV because he was champion.  Aside from being the single most masculine name in wrestling, Randy Macho Man Savage was the total package in 1988 to me.  He was holding the highest honor in the WWF, he was accompanied by the most beautiful girl in the WWF, and he was friends with the most popular wrestler in the WWF.

Earlier this month, I spent money that I didn't readily have on the Macho Madness DVD and yesterday, I finished the last disc.  His matches (especially the 1992 match with Shawn Michaels) hold up very well today.  I remembered being in awe of him as champion in 1992, since it seemed so improbable at the time to retire at one WrestleMania and then to win the championship at the next one, but watching back yesterday, I realized what a crowning achievement it was for him to regain the WWF championship.

He had four more reigns in WCW, and only Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair ever beat him for the championship; as if a sure indication that those two men were the only ones capable of it.

After I grew out my beard in 2007, I kept referencing pictures of Randy Savage to determine was what acceptable and what was not.  This reference point eventually evolved into a Halloween costume in 2008.  And I'd put my vocal impressions against anyone.  His voice was another trademark that separated Savage from the rest of the roster, which was a secret to his success.  He was the only man who had a female manager in the WWF.  He had the most outlandish costumes, and he was also the first to rotate and change his attire frequently.  Numerous things about Randy Macho Man Savage made him stand out, even to the casual viewers, and once you took notice, he had the talent & proficiency to impress.


My top 5 favorite Randy Savage matches--
5. Randy Macho Man Savage versus Ted DiBiase (March 1988)... A week or two before WrestleMania IV, I looked over the brackets at a friend's house and I said "I want Steamboat or Savage to win, even though I know they won't."  The WWF was Hulk Hogan's territory, period. Or so I thought. As it turned out, Hulk Hogan was cheated out of the championship, but he did the next best thing and helped his best friend win the championship.  Hulkster's popularity was unquestioned at the time, and the WWF faced a difficult task of transitioning the fans onto a new champion.  I thought the way this shift was handled was perfect, albeit most historians consider it a failure.  In my opinion, if Randy Savage could not fill Hogan's spot and retain the fans in 1988, then it simply could not be done.  The tournament set-up was perfect to launch Savage's reign, and this final match tied all the loose ends together (even if the issues between parties weren't exactly resolved).

4. Ric Flair versus Randy Macho Man Savage (April 1992)... Recently I learned that this program was Randy Savage's idea.  It helped Vince McMahon out of a booking stalement, and it was better than the next best option.  That really proved Savage's aptitude for the business thoroughly, and it is sad that he left the business when he was an invaluable resource of unlimited knowledge (albeit, as Dusty Rhodes pointed out, he was the only major star of the '80s to walk away). The match itself was tremendous to watch unfold, and Savage's cheating to win (despite being a face) was a great nod to the history of both characters.

3. Randy Savage & Hulk Hogan vs. Ted DiBiase & Andre The Giant (August 1988)... As soon as WrestleMania IV ended, this match was obligatory. The build-up for this encounter was handled perfectly, especially with Jesse The Body Ventura as a huge X factor in the equation (albeit, painfully slow by today's standards). The match played out in such a fashion that every question was resolved, suitably bringing an end to the program between Savage and Ted DiBiase.

2. Randy Macho King Savage versus Ultimate Warrior (March 1991)... This match was billed as a retirement match at a time where neither man was ready to retire.  The characters of both men were in stark contrast, complete with their own personal baggage to boot.  The highlight of the match was the repetition of finishers, first from Savage and then from Warrior which ended the match, but the most memorable moment came in the immediate aftermath when Randy Savage & Ms. Elizabeth reunited.

1. Tito Santana versus Randy Macho Man Savage (February 1986)... This match is my all-time favorite despite its airing prior to my watching wrestling, which is a credit to the storytelling in the match itself.  You did not need much knowledge about either man to enjoy the match, albeit it helped.  The result was one of the best see-saw match-ups in which both men relied on their own ring smarts to defeat the other.  In the end, the dastardly Randy Savage dug deep (and stooped very low) to win his first WWF championship.

NBA/NHL Playoffs 2011

As we approach June, there are two champions about to be determined: 2011 NBA champion and 2011 Stanley Cup champion.  Each sport is down to the conference finals, so there are only a handful of teams remaining (hence the reason I broaden my attention to include basketball since there are so few hockey games remaining).

Tonight, the NBA Eastern Conference championship is ready to begin with the mutli-time champion Chicago Bulls against the odds-on favorite Miami Heat.  Under normal circumstances, I would expect Miami to win, but after the #1-seeded San Antonio Spurs were eliminated by #8 Memphis Grizzlies and defending NBA champions Los Angeles Lakers were upended by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round, it would only be fitting to see Miami Heat eliminated in the conference finals.  Regardless, I will let that upset upset me when (if) it happens.  I expect the Miami Heat to win in 6 games or less.

Conversely, the Western Conference championship has not even been determined yet, although based on the way Oklahoma City Thunder performed in the Ford Center earlier this week, I am going to declare Memphis Grizzlies dead on arrival.  This assumption would leave Dallas Mavericks against OKC Thunder.  Since arriving to the heartland from Seattle, Thunder did not capture many sports headlines (even less attention) until they beat the LA Lakers in two of the six games, truly holding their own against the team that would eventually win last year's playoffs.  This wanning success would be solidified if they had the honor of losing to Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.

Unfortuantely, Dallas cannot be overlooked and they will have had plenty of rest since the series with LA to get enough wins to take the series (especially if Game 7 with the Grizzlies goes past regulation time).  Admittedly, the Grizzlies are statistically just as likely to beat Thunder in Game 7, which would result with the team that eliminated San Antonio Spurs against the team that eliminated LA Lakers.  Regardless, I am going to defy the odds and predict OKC Thunder will beat Dallas in 7 games.

Back on ice, the Boston Bruins are looking like a completely different team than they were when the third period ended in Game 2 of the first round to put the Montreal Canadiens up 2-0 in the series.  If anything, the Canadiens taught Bruins how to be a winning team.  Their series went into overtime in Game 7 and Boston Bruins.

However, my prediction for the Stanley Cup finals at the outset was Vancouver against Tampa Bay, so I am sticking with that prediction.  I just hope Canucks have a relatively easy series against the Sharks, and if not, then I hope it is at least injury-free for the team.

NHL Stanley Cup 2011

Each year, my life gets into hyperdrive at the beginning of the year.  It starts with the Road to WrestleMania, and as soon as WrestleMania wraps, I shift my attention to the National Hockey League for its Stanley Cup Playoffs.  My favorite sports team is the Montreal Canadiens, but I have been wanting the Stanley Cup back in Canada for so long that I will cheer any Canadian team.  This year, I have two hereos: Montreal and the Vancouver Canucks.

I'll admit Montreal is a long-shot.  They outperformed their greatest supporters expectations last year by eliminating the #1-seed Washington Capitals in the first round, then eliminating the defending champions Pittsburgh Penguins, before getting eliminated by the #7-seed Philadelphia Flyers when they were seven wins away from the Stanley Cup (by far the closest they've gotten to the Cup since hoisting it in 1993).

Conversely, the Vancouver Canucks finished the regular season ranked first.  And not just ranked first as the President's Cup winner, but they were ranked in the top three finishers of Goals Scored, Goals Allowed, Power Play, and Penalty Kill.  They are wrapped up tight like the total package, and they may be Canada's best shot to win the Stanley Cup for the past many years (including recent years when Canadian teams made it to the finals).

Stanley Cup turns all things hockey up a notch.  The stakes are higher, the games are more competitive, and Stanley Cup fever becomes very infectious!

As of this morning, all eight series in the opening round are two games deep.  The results have been interesting.  Canucks, Habs, Capitals, and Red Wings won both games, and Sharks/Kings, Ducks/Preds, Flyers/Sabres, and Pens/Bolts split their series.

Busy Is the New Norm.

It may seem as though no entries in March would imply that not much happened in the month. In this case, it is the opposite as so much happened that I was unable to update my blog until April 16th.

It started when my computer died. It just wouldn't turn on one day. It didn't take long to adjust to life without Internet for me, surprisingly. Obviously, I didn't quit cold turkey as I had access to most of the Internet at work, but in terms of casual posting, well, that suffered a bit.

Luckily, it turned out that it was just my starter (or power supply, in computers) and my best friend hooked me up with someone she knows who managed to fix it at minimal expense. More than I can say for my friend's car I bought off her. It seemed like a better idea at the time than it really was, but it is in need of repairs, although it seems to be workable. Unfortunately, I wouldn't know since I haven't stayed on top of it.

Jericho was happy to be home!

Most importantly, my friend Amy was moving back home to Illinois to buy a house. This was a move of 1600 miles, but in theory, it was no different than the drive out here back in 2007. Unfortunately, her rental truck rode a little higher than we expected, and her 10-year-old, 105-pound dog was unable to get himself up the narrow, high steps (much less down) several times a day, so hours before her departure, it became apparent that the easiest resolution to her situation was for me to drive her dog across country since my car rides only about a foot off the ground (much easier than the 3 feet of her rental truck).

Therefore, I spent the middle of March driving 3200 miles to Galesburg, Illinois, and back. My friend wisely had planned out a very easy route, so the first day was an 8-hour drive, then next two days were 6-hour drives, and the last day was a 4-hour drive to Galesburg (I turned back around and drove to Tulsa, so it was a 10-hour drive that day, then another 16-hour drive back home the next day).

Lucky for me, the second night's stay was in Oklahoma City where I was able to reconnect with my best friend and meet his 15-month-old son for the first time, then I stayed in Tulsa with my mother on the way home, so it was an impromptu family reunion. Also, I made it back to Scottsdale to celebrate Jeordie's birthday.

The following weekend, it was off to Altanta, Georgia, for WrestleMania XXVII. The event sucked, but the city was awesome, so there was no way I was going to change plans for that trip. I got to spend a lot of time with another good friend of 9 years (also with a 15-month-old child), so the whole month was spent with good friends and minimal concerns about work.

John Mack Motley (1920-2011)

Work is a hopeless cause, so I put in my two weeks notice after I got back from Atlanta. Later that day, my grandfather passed on. He entered hospice in January, and the nurses were surprised by how well he was doing the past couple months. I got to see him in November, and he was always the type of guy who just enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, like sitting on the porch or taking a nightly walk. Unfortunately, there wasn't much left in life he could enjoy when I saw him in November, so it was the best thing for him. (Rest in Peace, Papa John.)

In between, I have been busy fighting off a cold, including a bizarre eye infection (which turned out to just be a burst blood vessel) and I changed my TV package from basic expanded cable to digital cable, through which I have found out that there are several more TV shows that I enjoy than I was aware of, including "Mr. Sunshine," "Perfect Couples," and (most surprisingly) "Outsourced." Not coincidentally, this change was made just in time for the Stanley Cup to begin.

This brings me to this evening, which is the first day in over a month's time that I have worn contacts. I worked my final Saturday shift at work, I drove Chad to the airport, dropped Jeordie off at her gig, attended Psy's 3/4th birthday party (which Steve Nash crashed) and watched lots of hockey.

Busy is the new norm.