Sick of it All

    I guess I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, for too many days now.  I am in full on rage mode.  The job I have I set up appointments, and go to people's homes for an estimate.  I get paid for each appointment I go to.  Two days ago I arrive at an appointment.  The appointment was setup for 4:00, as I am very punctual, I showed up twenty minutes early.  No one was home.  I waited til 4:01 still no one.  I then call the customer, she says her husband will be there any minute.  Ten minutes later she calls back and says there is a key in the electric panel box.  I go check and there is no key.  She calls back ten minutes later an says her husband should be there any minute and she herself will be there soon.  Twenty minutes go by.  Finally it is 4:45, and I have waited for her for over an hour.  I called her to tell her I must leave to make it to my 5:00 appointment.  She then proceeds to tell me sorry, and that her boss got fired and that is why she could not make it.  I rescheduled for today.  Under these circumstances I could still get paid an additional trip charge from the company for the way she handled it.  I went through all the proper channels.  The company says if that is what happened they will pay me, but they want to confirm the story with the customer.  This morning I get a email stating customer says she told me her boss got fired and rescheduled with me.  Therefore they will not pay me. She basically left out the whole story and now I look like a douche bag to the company, and do not get paid.  I drove an hour out of the way to go there then sat there for another hour.  And now I have to go see this lying bitch today and be professional.  I want to strangle her, and she probably doesn't even know, what she has done to me.  I am furious.  I am just plain sick to my stomach.  Not only about this, after all it is only thirty dollars, and a couple hours of my time and gas.  I am just sick of everything.  I am sick of being broke.  I am sick of being a scapegoat.  I'm sick of people not following through.  I'm sick of people lying.  I'm sick of the government.  I am sick of being let down. I'm sick of no one being there for me.  I'm sick of the god damn corporations running our country.  I'm sick of living in a free country where nothing is free.  I'm sick of wearing a god damn seat belt.  I'm sick of walking in to a crowded room and feeling alone.  I'm sick of being taxed on everything.  I sick of smug people.  I'm sick of people saying something, when they really don't know what the fuck their talking about.  I sick of being sick.  I'm sick of hearing shitty music.  I'm sick of rotten vegetables when I go to buy produce.  I'm sick of not having enough time to do the things I want.  I'm sick of spending 90 percent of my life working for someone who doesn't give a rats ass about me.  I'm sick of buying stuff that breaks within a week of buying it.  I sick of parents not being there for their kids.  I'm sick of dumbass drivers.  I'm sick of parents blaming the schools for their kids being stupid, when they have never sat down and spent anytime doing homework or reading to them.  I'm sick of politicians running on a platform, then not following through with any of it.  I'm sick of fucking congress being so worried that one party or the other will get credit for something, that no compromises can be made, and everyone gets screwed.  I'm sick of high gas prices.  I'm sick of the oil companies keeping the car companies from making better cars.  I'm sick of having Jesus pushed on me, on a weekly basis.  I'm sick of spam.  I'm sick of political correctness,  if it walks like a duck, its a fucking duck. I'm sick of the price of everything going up but people's pay.  I'm sick of every vote not counting.  I'm sick of living in a free country, where you are free to do only what they tell you.  Wow, sorry for the long-winded rant.  I wish I could say that I feel better, but I do not. I am just Sick of it ALL.

Captain Morgan Bowling

  
         I went through a phase about two years ago where I only drank Captain Morgan spiced Rum.  I always saved the bottles for target practice.  About a week ago me and a couple of friends were off on a week day.  We were a little bored so we came up with this cool new game, "Captain Morgan Bowling".  It is very fun, but messy.  Anyway, hope you enjoy our stupidity.

Occupy Wall Street vs Tea Party

I came across this infographic, and wanted to share it with you.



Image Source: Accelerated Degree Programs

Crack vs Cocaine

  In August of 2010, Congress passed the Fair Sentencing Act.  Basically this act changed the disparity between minimum sentences for crack and powder cocaine.  Prior to this act the disparity between the two was 100-to-1.  The Act made the difference 18-to-1.  Basically this means prior to the act, someone who was caught with five grams of crack cocaine would receive a mandatory sentence of five years, whereas someone who got caught with five hundred grams of powder cocaine would receive the same mandatory five year sentence.  Now someone would have to get caught with twenty-eight grams of crack to receive the mandatory five years, yet still five hundred grams for the same sentence.  This is funny to me.  In a apples to oranges comparison, it would be like getting a DUI for having 1 jello shot vs 100 beers.  As we all know this is not how the government handles alcohol.  Summer of 2011,  the U.S. Sentencing Commission voted to make the reduced crack penalties retroactive.  By doing so, 12,000 inmates are eligible for early release.  Eighteen hundred of them are eligible for immediate release.  Tuesday November 1st, many of these prisoners were released because they have already served more than enough time.  It is estimated that the act will shave about three years off of the majority of the inmates sentences.  This will save taxpayers about twenty-eight thousand dollars, per inmate, per year.  This does not affect me, but I find it interesting.  I'm sure legislators probably passed this law not because it was the right thing to do, but because the prisons are already so over crowded.  So be on the lookout there is sure to be  a crackhead or dealer newly released to your neighborhood.

Occupy Checkers Restaurant

        Yesterday I was in a hurry for lunch.  I stopped by a local Checkers restaurant to get some food.  In the past I had always known checkers to be a cheap, but good lunch.  Actually about five years ago I used to work close by one.  I used to go there at least twice a week for lunch.  I always got the same thing.  two checker burgers, a water, and two packs of barbecue sauce.  Total price $2.35.  Yesterday was quite different.  As soon as I pulled up to the menu to place my order, I scanned around until I located the infamous "Checker Burger".  The price had jumped from 99 cent, to $1.49.  Now I understand time has gone by, but I did actually go there a couple years ago and it was still only 99 cent.  This is a fifty percent price increase.  I know lots of commodities prices have risen, but I am sure they do not pay fifty percent more for their ingredients.  They also charged me 50 cent for a cup of water.  Which I understand a lot of fast food restaurants  do now.  I pulled up and paid for my food.  When the employee handed me my food, I kindly asked, "May I have two packs of barbecue sauce?".  She snapped back at me "there is a charge".  I repeated what she said back to her.  She then says, "yes, you didn't get no chicken nuggets, so there is a charge".  I asked how much.  She said 65 cent after tax.  My mouth dropped, I was dumbfounded and angry.  "Are you fucking kidding me!".  I always use barbecue sauce on my fast food burgers, because they lack in flavor, what I produce in my kitchen.  You can buy a whole bottle of barbecue sauce for 99 cent at any grocery store. I told her to let me get one pack, as I needed it for my ritual fast food burger session.  I can't complain about the food it was as good as I remembered, but a meal that used to cost me about $2, now cost over $4.  This does not seem right, so I say "Occupy Checkers"

Beavis and Butt-Head Return

          After fourteen years, Beavis and Butt-Head are back.  Tomorrow Thursday October 27, at 10:00 PM , Beavis and Butt-Head return to MTV.  I can not believe it after all this time.  Yes they will still rock the AC/DC & Metallica  T-shirts.  And they still have not "Scored".  From what I understand they will not even reference all the time that has passed. Van Toffler (President of MTV) asked Mike Judge (creator of Beavis and Butt-Head), if he was interested in bringing the show back.  Toffler claims he was up late one night watching MTV, and realized today's culture was missing Beavis and Butt-Head, and their critiques.  Judge announced the show's return at this year's San Diego Comic-Con.  When asked why he was bringing the show back, Judge replied " I felt like TV was getting too smart".  Beavis and Butt-Head will still be commenting on music video's, but not as many as before.  One reason is MTV hardly plays music video's anymore.  So you can bet that, the boys will be taking on Jersey Shore, Teen Mom, today's pop culture, and many of today's MTV reality shows.  Oh, and don't forget Snooki.  Another reason is licensing.  Licensing became an issue a decade ago, when Sony attempted to release Beavis and Butt-Head on DVD in 2006.  Producers only had secure broadcast rights.  Most of the episodes had to be edited, and the majority of video's had to be cut out.  Many of the old characters will still be on the show, such as the hippie teacher.  As you can tell from the sneak preview, Beavis's alter ego "The Great Cornholio" make his triumphant return.  So Thursday night curl up on the couch around 10:00, and prepare to get stupified once again.

MTV Shows

Launch of Unthink

        Yesterday Tuesday October, 25, brave start-up company Unthink, launched its social networking site, to the first round of beta testers.  Unthink is the self proclaimed "anti-Facebook".  One of the motto's of Unthink, is "We are not another social network, we are a social revolution".  The Tampa-based company has received 2.5 million, in funding from DouglasBay Capitol.  Unthink's core marketing campaign is to take out Facebook, or at least distinguish itself from the other social network site's.  This sounds like prison rules 101.  First day out, find the biggest, baddest guy and take him out.  Then you will get respect from the other inmates, or so the story goes.  Unthink claim their user's (referred to as Unthinkers), are not users, but owners.  On Facebook, all your activity, likes, post, and data is collected and sold to advertisers.  The advertisers then fill your pages will ads relevant to your demographic.  Unthink has a feature named "iEndorse".  This feature allows the user/owner to pick the brands/ads of their choosing, to sponsor their page.  So basically if you have an affliction for a certain brand of clothing or product, you choose that brand to run ads on your page.  You can opt out of this feature.  If you choose to have no ads, Unthink will charge $2 per year for service.  There have been many social networking start-ups, with the goal to take out, or at least compete with Facebook.  None of which, have succeeded.  It will be interesting to see how Unthink fares in this battle  

The Rum Diary

     The Rum Diary is scheduled to be in theaters this Friday, October, 28.  The film is an adaptation of the novel "The Rum Diary", by Hunter S. Thompson.  The novel involves a tangled love story, of jealousy, and violent alcoholic lust.  The film stars Johnny Depp.  You may recall another movie starring Johnny Depp, that was an adaptation of a novel by, Hunter S. Thompson.  In 1998 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, was released, starring Johnny Depp as Raoul Duke, and Benicio Del Toro as Dr. Gonzo.  While this film did not do very well at the box office, it is revered as a cult classic.  This is one of my absolute favorite movies.  So when I heard of this new film, starring Depp, from another of Hunter S Thompson's novels, I knew I must share it.  The Rum Diary novel was not published until 1998 (probably due to the success of Fear and Loathing), but was written in the early 1960's.  This novel was actually written before Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.  Some are calling The Rum Diary a prequel to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, but it is not.  The film was directed by Bruce Robinson, director of The Killing Fields.  The film takes place in Puerto Rico in the 1950's.  In this film Johnny Depp play's the role of Paul Kemp, a boozed up journalist who moves from New York to work for a local newspaper in Puerto Rico.  Giovanni Ribisi also stars in this film.  He plays Moberg, star journalist and, alcoholic of the newspaper.  Depp's characters constant drunkenness, does not even compare to Ribisi's character.  Although this movie does not have all the drug addled charades, of Fear and Loathing, there are plenty of hilarious hijinks that will ensue.   This should prove to be another great movie.  I think it will easily become another cult favorite. 

BlizzCon 2011

  BlizzCon 2011 kicked off Friday October, 21.  BlizzCon is an annual convention held at the Anaheim Convention Center in California.  BlizzCon started back in 2005.  They skipped 2006, but returned in 2007.  BlizzCon has been held every year since.  BlizzCon is organized by Blizzard Entertainment.  Blizzard Entertainment created World of WarCraft, StarCraft, and Diablo.  The convention is for all of the fans to get together, for previews of upcoming game releases, and expansions.  This years headliner Foo Fighter's rocked the house to close the event.  Dave Grohl no newbie to BlizzCon, actually played drums for Tenacious D, who headlined last years event.  The major announcement this year was World of WarCraft: Mist of Pandaria.  Mist of Pandaria is an expansion for the massive online multiplayer role-playing game.  Also the most anticipated, and highly revered part of the convention is the costume contest.  These fans work very hard, and probably all year on these elaborate costumes.  These fans are widely referred to as Cosplayers.  I can not even begin to fathom, the endless hours, effort, and money, put into creating these works of art.  This year first place went to Avery Faith from Los Angeles, California.  Her entry was from the StarCraft II game.  The character was titled "Terran Adjutant".  This earned her a standing ovation, as she collected her title as first place, and her prize of 3,000 dollars.  This character was a female robot, which words can not even begin to describe the intricate detail, involved in this costume.  I have posted the pictures below, and a few of my favorite female cosplayers from this years event.  This year was great from what I have seen, and look forward to seeing what next years BlizzCon brings.

                                         1st Place Winner - Terran Adjutant                        

North Carolina Vehicle Safety & Emission's Inspection

         The other day I noticed my tags were past inspection.  Trying to do the right thing, and to avoid a ticket, I went to a local service station to get my truck inspected.  If your car is newer than 1996, and your county requires it, then in addition to the yearly vehicle safety inspection, they hook up your vehicle to a computer and run an emission's inspection. In North Carolina the emission's inspection is on a county by county basis.  Meaning some counties require emission's inspection while others do not.  There is a county that is twenty minutes away from where I live.  This county does not require emission's inspection.  So basically if I lived twenty minutes down the road, I would not be required to endure this additional test, and additional fee's.  This seems irrational to me, but I do not make up the rules.  I first arrived around 12:00 pm.  The mechanic told me he was busy, and request I come back in thirty minutes.  I was already off of work, so I ran a few errands.  I came back 45 minutes later, only to sit and watch him work on someone else's car.  After being there for fifteen minutes, he said "it's gonna be a few minutes".  Twenty minutes later he pulled my truck around back where they perform inspections.  Lights, brakes, horn, and turn signals.  Check, check, check, and check.  Then he did something I have never seen done.  He jacked up the front end and started wiggling the tires.  He shook them front to back, and side to side.  I asked him what he was doing, since I had never seen this before.  He said he was checking the bearings, and to see if there was any play in the steering.  I have had my vehicle inspected every year since I was sixteen.  Well over fifteen years.  This was the first time ever seeing this.  Then he proceeds to tell me there is to much play in the steering, and he will not pass my inspection.  Then he said I need four new tires.  In my opinion, I could drive on these tires at least six more months.  Already knowing he will not pass my truck, he then proceeds with the emissions test.  "Well no emission's or computer problems", he says.  I asked him what was wrong with the steering.  He said there was to much play, and I must have it repaired before he will pass it.  I asked him what part needs replacing.  He said "the main linkage".  I asked him three times before I left the name of the part.  Every time, the same reply "the main linkage".  I also asked him how much it would be to let him fix it.  He stated $70 for the part, and $130 to put it on.  I was flabbergasted.  Then he handed me a piece of paper that said North Carolina Vehicle Inspection - FAILED.   "That will be $27".  I wanted to punch this asshole in his face.  I paid him and left.  On the way home I thinking, $200 to fix the steering.  $200 for some used tires.  This is going to cost me at least $500 to fix my truck, get a passed inspection, and get my tags for one more year.  This would take me at least three weeks to be able to come up with $500 extra dollars.  Meanwhile I would be driving illegally, hoping not to get a ticket.  Once I got home, I checked the truck out.  I determined what part was a little loose.  I would not say it was loose enough to be dangerous at all.  I got on a auto parts store website to price the replacement.  To my surprise there is NO part named the "Main Linkage".  After tracking down the schematics, to my truck.  I realized the part was named the idler arm.  To my elation, I found a replacement part for $10.99.  I replaced it today, and will be heading in the morning to get some used tires.  I will go and get my truck inspected again tomorrow, but I will never go back to that dumb asses shop. 

Beta Testing

        Over the years I have beta tested, several games, and a few products.  All of which were for little or no compensation.  The appeal of beta testing, is getting to try something new and exciting, before anyone else.  This does not mean it will be fun.  In actuality, most of the time the thing being tested does not work properly.  This can have a lasting negative effect on the product at hand.  You only have one chance to make a first impression.  Some of the required testing was very time consuming, while some of the game testing was just fun.  I have been working as a contract estimator, for a large flooring company, for the last three years.  Shortly after I started with this company, I somehow became the resident computer tech.  Basically during one of our quarterly meetings, I showed a few of the other guys, some tricks/shortcuts on the computer system we use.  Ever since that day anytime someone has a question, or needs technical support, they call me.  This is by no means a part of my job.  I do not mind helping people, but when you have the "boss man" directing other employee's to call me whenever they need assistance, this can become quite frustrating.  Since they realized I know my way around a computer, the company has asked me to do beta testing, every time we have new software developed.  I will say that the company I work for, does try to stay on the cutting edge of new technology. Beta testing, is not always a difficult task.  However, there is usually a lot of paperwork and emails involved with each program/application.  This is my least favorite part.  I actually am testing a new online application for one of the main client database programs we use.  Basically in the past I have tested out new software or applications, and then taught my boss and other employee's how to use them.  Not so much beta testing, but rather tech support.  I usually just had communication with my boss directly, then to employee's.  With this new project,  it started same as before having only communication with my boss on the project.  By the second day,  I had found so many bugs and glitches in the system, that I now have direct line communication with the developers. In addition to the developers, I am having communications with the guys who maintain our network, the guys who wrote our other programs, and a second development team.  I have never been educated in the field of computer technologies, but it takes no genius to make sure the application works before you try to beta test it.  The first run began about two months ago.  My boss called me and asked if I minded beta testing this new application.  I remorsefully said yes.  Three weeks behind schedule the software was finally ready.  Within two minutes I had found that one, the application was not working.  Secondly I found about three glitches, and at least five different crucial pieces of data needed missing. For this application to be efficient and beneficial in comparison to what we are currently using, they must include all the key data needed.  After sending the developers a five page email about the changes they needed to make, my boss sent me an email stating, we are not using this application anymore until changes have been made.  Two weeks later I am testing again.  Right away I noticed, they took my advice on several of the key elements needed to make this efficient.  But, they did not change the other ten recommendations I gave.  To my dismay the application still does not work.  The developers are blaming it on the network BES settings.  I forgot to mention this is a PC and mobile application. Our "IT" guys are blaming it on the shitty code.  I do not know how to right code, script, or anything in that realm.  I respect anyone who has taken the time to learn it.  All I know is that these guys are really smart, but they have no common sense.  I wrote another five page email and sent it to my boss, and everyone else involved.  This time I gave step by step instruction, of what we need this program to do.  I also made note that if this development team can not produce the functionality that we need from this application, then we as a company are stepping backwards.  Within two minutes I received an email from my boss that we are no longer using this application, until further notice. Next time they call me and ask to test something for them, I hope that I will say no.  However, I like to be in on the front lines of the new software, so I will probably say yes.

Exotic Animal Massacre in Zanesville, Ohio

    Tragedy struck the town of Zanesville, Ohio, Tuesday October 18th.  The owner of Muskingum County Animal Farm, Terry Thompson opened the cages to 56 of his rare animals, then committed suicide, by shooting himself.  Amongst the animals released were Tigers, Lions, Bears, Mountain Lions, Wolves, Monkeys, and a Baboon.  The animals roamed through and around the town of Zanesville, Ohio. The police lead a massacre of these exotic animals.  Of the 56 animals that were freed, police slaughtered 49.  One of the most disturbing pieces of information I found, was that around thirty of these animals were massacred right on the grounds of the farm, many of which were trying to get back into their cages. This is a horrible tragedy, that should have been handled differently. The massacre included 18 rare and endangered Bengal Tigers.  Conservationists say there are only around 3200 Bengal Tigers left in the whole world, half of which live in zoo's.  Also among the 49 animals that were massacred was 17 Lions, 6 Black Bears, 2 Grizzly Bears, 3 Mountain Lions, 2 Wolves, and a Baboon.  A Macaque Monkey is still missing, and believed to be infected with the  Herpes B virus. In humans this form of the virus can lead to severe brain infections.  Schools were closed, and motorist were warned of the situation by road signs.  As if this story couldn't get any crazier, several people were arrested for attempting to steal the carcass of a lion.  The only good news from this story is that 6 animals were still in there cages.  These animals consist of a Grizzly Bear, 3 Leopards, and 2 Monkeys.  These remaining six will be moved to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.  This will be facilitated by animal advocate Jack Hanna.  Hanna is the Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.  Owner of the farm Terry Thompson had recently got out of prison, after serving one year, for federal weapons charges.  Thompson had also been convicted of animal cruelty, and animals at large in 2005.  There needs to be new legislation to prevent people like this from working with this caliber of animals.  Ohio is among ten states that have the weakest restrictions on exotic animal ownership.  This makes Ohio a cesspool, for exotic animal traders.

Hydroponic How To

    A friend of mine is a local organic farmer.  He grows an assortment of Lettuce's, Chives, Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Herbs, and other organic vegetation.  He has a pretty large operation. He distributes to the local farmer's markets, "High End" restaurants, and a large organic distributor.  I have seen his operation double in size over the last year, due to the fact that people are trying to eat healthier.  Now that people are finding out about all of the chemicals, and hidden processes used in the food industry, a larger number people are going for the local organically grown vegetables.  Organically grown vegetables have about ten times the amount of vitamins as most of the vegatables you buy at the super market.  The organic food industry is the way of the past, and it will be the way of the future.  His YouTube user name is atmjph1369 .  I have encouraged him to make some organic video's.  In this video he teaches you how to seed and do seedling selection of hydroponic lettuce in a  Rockwool  growing medium. This is his first video.  Hopefully there will be more to come.  I like the fact that he is actually doing something to better society.  His operation is very impressive, and is fully organic.  The system he uses to heat and cool is even organic.  I do not want to divulge too much information about his operation, for one it is not my place, and secondly the majority of his setup is very ingenuitive.  I would hate for anyone to steal his original idea's.  Hopefully we will see more of his operation in the future.  For now give his video a chance.  Subscribe or like it on YouTube. 

Ubisoft's Rocksmith

          Yesterday game developer Ubisoft released Rocksmith.  Much like Guitar Hero or Rock Bank, this game alleges to teach the player to play actual guitar.  What is different about this game, is that you can play any real electric or acoustic guitar, with a 1/4 inch output jack.  The game was released for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC.  The game will come with a cable the has 1/4 inch input jack to usb, that can easily plug into any of the three platforms.  I have read that a lot of people who actually played the game, learned how to play a few of the songs.  This is ingenious.  You can sit down and play a game that will teach you a physical skill.  You can take this skill on with you for the rest of your life.  The game comes with an allstar line-up of songs.  Alternative rock bands like The White Stripes, The Black Keys, Nirvana, Sound Garden, and Stone Temple Pilots.  Also classic rock bands like Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the Animals.  It aslo has obscure cult classic bands like The Cure, The Pixies, Radiohead, and David Bowie.  So you can see that this game runs the gamut of great songs to learn, from many different genres.  The game is set to have fifty track in all.  The only negative thing I have heard about the game is that, there is definitely a noticeable amount of lag during game play.  The only other downside to getting this game is, if you don't already own any of the three platforms, this will cost a fortune.  Though in today's day and age, almost everyone has a PC or Laptop, so this will not be an issue for the majority of consumer's interested in this game.  If you are a beginner guitar player, or have always wanted to learn how to play.  I recommend you buy this game.

Take the money out of Politics

        I came across this video on YouTube, created by user Paul4Pres2012 .  I feel obligated to spread the word.  I have had the same intellectual conversations with my friends,  I'm sure you have all had with yours, about how corrupt the politicians are.  About; how the "system is broken", the lobbyist run Washington, and Corporate Greed has taken over America.  The guy in this video is Dylan Ratigan.  He has a show on MSNBC, weekdays at 4:00 P.M. Eastern Time.  Dylan "Get's It". In this video he gives a heated explanation of what is wrong with our government.  I have been saying this for years.  The video's creator brings out such a great point.  This should be our number one goal in government reform.  This should be the one goal that the "Occupy Wall Street" movement demands.  This is the first time in many years, and in my lifetime, that citizens in America have protested in such large numbers.  They say that our Constitution gives the power to the people.  Well it is time to take the power back.  They need to force Congress to pass new laws the gets the money out of politics.  They need to make Lobbying a federal crime.  We can never fix what is wrong with our country or economy, unless we get the money out of politics.  This is a message that should cross party lines.  The lawmakers must put into place new laws and agencies to enforce, investigate, and prosecute these crimes against our country.  It is my opinion that  if you are an elected government official,  choosen to represent a large group of your people's (constituents) ideals, you should be held under the utmost scrutiny.  Take a plumber for example.  If a plumber runs a pipe under you house.  A government inspector must come out and inspect your work.   However, when a politician decides to vote on a bill or law, there are no government inspectors in place to inspect how said politician came to his or her decision.  I feel that if a politician ran under the platform that he or she would vote a certain way, then is given any form of money, perks, or financial gain.  Then the politician votes against what he promised in his or her campaign, this should be considered deceitful and unlawful.  There needs to be full transparency on all monetary transactions, having any correlation with any elected government official.  I can not understand the way congress is going right now, without any bi-partisan legislation.  These politicians who will not let any laws or reform pass, just so either side of the party can not get credit for it, should be considered as traitors.  In my opinion, if you are purposely standing in the way of progress and the rebuilding of our country, you should be charged with treason.  That goes for all publicly elected officials, corporations who do majority of their business in America, and people behind the scenes who hide all the underhanded dealings in the government.  So "Occupy Wall Street" I reach out to you, and beg that you make this your one common goal.  To get the money out of politics.  Please watch this video.  I hope it makes you think.  I also encourage you to spread the word, or get involved at any level.  Now is the time when so many people are uniting, to get real change.
 

New Family Tradition

       So my family has started a new tradition.  Every year when it is time to pick out the Halloween jack-o-lantern, my whole family dresses up in full costume, and heads to a local pumpkin patch.  It's sort of embarrassing, because it is always two or three weeks before Halloween.  No one else is dressed up.  Every once in a while there will be a small child in costume, but we are usually the only one's.  You should see the looks and finger pointing that goes on. This all started about eight years ago when my first daughter was two months old.  We carried her to the pumpkin patch dressed like a lady bug to take pictures sitting in the pumpkins.  My wife thought it would be cute.  Every year thereafter we went back and took her in costume.  When my second daughter came we continued the tradition, sticking them down by the pumpkins and getting a few pictures.  About four years ago, my wife started dressing up with the kids when we went.  Until this point it was not really embarrassing.  Every once in a while we would run into other people who's children were in costume, but never adults.  One thing you must know about my wife, she loves to dress up.  Halloween is her favorite holiday.  So who am I to crush her spirit.  Almost every year we went to the same small, family owned pumpkin patch. There was never really a large crowd.  Last year one of her friends took their kid to a huge pumpkin patch, hayride, corn maze, and petting zoo farm.  So, guess where we were going?  If you guessed there, then you were right.  There were hundreds and possibly thousands of people.  Of course my family were the only one's in costume.  My wife did not care though, that is what I love about her.  I have always  not really cared about what people think of me, but something about this was embarrassing to me.  So we spent at least two hours there and of course everywhere we went, we were the center of attention.  No matter how it made me feel, they had a ball and that is all that really matters to me.  So this year my son is about five weeks old.  My wife said she was going to the pumpkin patch.  She had went out and bought him a little devil costume.  She actually gave me the option not to go this year, because she knows I do not really get as excited about it as they do.  I guess the fact that she did not force me to go this year, actually made me want to go.  Human behavior really astonishes me, especially mine.  So we packed up the car, and went to the local patch.  My family was dressed in costume.  We let the kids run around and play in the pumpkins.  We put little man down in a group of pumpkins, as we have always done with all three children.  My wife told me she had brought my devil mask, in case I wanted to join in.  At first I was hesitant, but she said "you don't have to wear it you are just as scary lookin without it".  She was right.  I can be a pretty scary looking dude.  I decided to put the mask on and join in the fun.  We let the kids try to pick out a pumpkin and of course they wanted the biggest one they could fine.  I bought it and we went on our way.  I know now that this will be a family tradition for many years to come in our family.  Hopefully even passed down to my grand kids.  So feel free to take our tradition and make it your own.  If anyone has any similar stories or weird family traditions, I would love to hear about it. 

Trying to sell a car these days

       Work has been slow, and I was a little strapped for cash.  I had a 1993 Buick LeSabre as a backup plan to my primary family car, should anything go wrong with it.  I decided to sell it to get caught up on some bills.  Over the years I have sold many cars using word of mouth, Craigslist, and a local magazine named Carolina Bargain Trader.  They usually always sold for the amount I was asking, and usually within 1 week.  Most of the time they actually sold within two days of placing an ad.  Well, not this time.  I first posted to Craigslist asking $1800, which was the Kelly Blue Book value for this model car in the condition it was in.  After two days no calls, not one.  I decided to go ahead and drop the price to sell it fast.  The new posting on Craigslist was for $1500.  I started receiving calls. Over the next week I received at least twelve calls.  I heard so many different stories of how people have crashed their car, letting the bank take their current car, filling bankruptcy, and various other sad stories.  I had about six or seven of them come and look at it.  The first guy did not like it because the headliner was sagging a little.  Another did not like it because of the color, which was clearly posted in the picture.  Finally one guy took the cake, he did not want it because there was no CD player in it.  The other few who came really wanted it but did not have money yet to buy it.  One lady said she gets a school grant on the 15th of the next month, an could I hold it for her.  That was almost a month away, so I told her to call back if I still had it she could get it.  A couple others said they would come back the following Monday or Friday to buy it, but no one did.  So now this is the third week of trying to sell this car.  The car was in great shape.  The engine runs good, transmission has been rebuilt, low miles for the age, regular oil changes and maintenance, and I just put $440 worth of new tires on it two weeks before I parked it.  In my eyes any car that you can get in and drive with no problems is worth at least $1000, even if it only last one year, regardless of the shape it is in.  This car was in good shape, but to no avail was it selling.  I decided to reduce the price to $1300.  This time I posted it on Craigslist and the local Carolina Bargain Trader Magazine.  I received too many call to recount how many, but it was at least thirty.  Same sad stories as before.  One third of everyone who calls said tell me about the car which was already clearly posted in both ads.  That question was always followed by "Will you take $1000 for it".  No; I will not take $1000 for it.  This really pissed me off because the car was already way more valuable to me than what I was asking for it.  I had already scoured the internet looking for all the used cars in this area, nothing was even remotely comparable.  If my primary family car went out there was no way I could find a dependable replacement for $1300.  As I mentioned I was strapped for cash so I still had to sell it.  At least ten more people came to look at the car.  Majority of them liked it but did not have the money.  Everyone wanted to work out a deal to give me a couple hundred to hold it for another week or two.  Finally I started telling them if they would come it with $600, I would hold it for one week.  Still, no one could come up with the money.  Finally yesterday an older guy came from an hour and a half away to check it out.  When I came outside he had already been here for twenty minutes, checking out the car.  He asked when was the last time I had checked the oil, because there was none in the car.  Honestly I hadn't checked the car since I parked it.  I knew it need an oil change, but had no idea it was that low.  I added a quart and a half. it was still low.  He said he had some in his trunk. He gave me two quarts.  I was sure he would not buy it at this point. He spent at least another hour giving the car a obsessive one over.  I told him to take it for a drive, and he requested me to drive and let him ride.  He stated he could tell more about it by riding.  I was puzzled this guy was strange to me at this point.  He even put a gallon of gas in it that he brought, to see if the fuel gauge would move.  In retrospect he was probably a genius.  Driving him was like riding with a driving instructor. Stop here, take off slow, accelerate, pull over, and various other request.  After the ride when we got back, he requested to drive the last 200 feet.  Once he got out he started pointing out everything that was wrong with the car.  At this point I have invested almost two hours with this guy who is now looking like he will not be buying.  Finally I said "well thanks for looking at it nice to meet you, no hard feeling for not buying it".  He reached out to shake my hand and said "I'm think I'm gonna" then a short pause, "go back to my car and get the money, would that make you feel better".  "HELL YES", I replied.  I wrote him a receipt, and gave him the keys and title.  He then began to preach to me about Christianity, and a thousand other things.  He had just helped me out by buying the car, and he obviously seen the value in the car.  He did not even try to haggle price with me.  So the least I could do was let him talk.  I actually spent over three hours from beginning to end, talking with him.  I really wished I could have gotten more for the car, but these days it is very hard with the economy in the shape it is in.  Once he left I told my wife and children of the news.  First words out of my kids mouth was " Daddy can we go out for Chinese now".  So we did.

They told me it wasn't gonna show up as a Strip Club

They told me it wasn't gonna show up as a Strip Club

Last night some friends and I decided to pay a visit to a gentlemen's club. I am not going to do a review of the particular club. Apparently he used an ATM inside the club. This morning, he told me that his wife woke him up to inquire about a 30 dollar withdrawal  made from inside of a "strip club". His reply was something on the order of "They told me it wasn't gonna show up as a strip club". This reminds me of another time years ago. I was hanging out with the same friend. We left a bar after having too many drinks and he was driving. He was pulled over immediately. The police made him perform a sobriety test. After that the police asked if I was able to drive. To this he responded, "He is drunker than I am". For some reason the cops let him go. We went to another bar after that.

Posted by yowillyjj     I figured I would add this to my blog as it referenced me.

How to Rip Off Your Toe Nail

             A few weeks ago I smashed my toenail, and it turned black for two weeks.  After that it turned to a cream color for about two weeks.  I had the bright idea to rip it off with a pair of rusty channel locks, and film it.  So with out any further ado this is "How to Rip Off Your Toe Nail".

Devin Wayne Muncy - My Gift to the World

             On September 4, 2011 my son Devin Wayne Muncy was born.  My wife woke me up at 7:30 that morning and said "it's time we gotta go NOW!".  We got ready in a shuffle, dropped the kids off at her mom's on the way.  Once we got there they checked her and admitted her.  She was only dilated 4cm, and you must be 9 - 10 cm to give birth.  Once we got a room they gave us 1 hour to walk around the hospital to to try to help her dilate. She did dilate 1 more cm.  They doctor and nurses kept coming in to check her about every hour.  My wife is short 5' 1".  Just on a side note under 5' is recognized as being a midget, or politically correct "little person".   Any way; her bed was broken and would not go low enough for her to be able to get on and off of it.  We waited for about an hour and a half before they brought a new bed, with the broken one in the hallway.  Finally they installed the new bed to find, it too was not working properly.  It took another hour and they finally brought a working bed.  So after three hours of having no bed in the room, the doctor came in and check her again.  He decided to give her Pitocin, a chemical to help induce her.  After that it went really fast. Within one hour she was fully dilated.  The nurses and doctor were setting up for the labor and the baby started crowning.  I said to the nurse who was standing beside me "I need to put my hand there in case he falls out", she said "no we are not that close yet".  I told her that she only pushed four times with our last child and she was out.  The doctor finally got into position, my wife pushed 4 times and Devin was here.  Of course I cut the umbilical chord, as I did with my other two children.  Well this is my third and final child.  Glad he is here, and ready for all the mishaps to commence.  I had forgotten how much sleep you don't get with a newborn in the house.  I'm clocking about 4, or if I am lucky 5 hours a night.   My wife was a trooper, and I am proud of her.  Devin is my latest gift to the world.

Hurricane Irene - The Journey

      Well I knew the hurricane was coming, but had no idea it would cause as much damage.  We lost power about 1:30 am Saturday.  I woke up about 7:30 Saturday when Irene started to make landfall at Cape Lookout.  After being awake for 20 minutes I went outside to assess the damage.  No shingles were missing, so I was relieved, until I see the big oak tree that fell across my power lines and driveway.  I knew then that I would be without power for a long time.  I went in the house and tried to relax and ride the storm out.  Immediately my phone rang.  One call after another.  Everyone calling to see if we were ok, had any damage, but mostly to see if we had any power.  I must of talked to at least 10 people within an hour.  We had prepared for the storm a little, but I knew Irene was supposed to make landfall around 8:00 am.  I was sure we would have power, at least long enough to get up and cook breakfast.  Boy was I wrong.  I started telling my pregnant wife about when hurricanes come with the high and low pressure, it sometimes send women into labor.  Finally I talked to my dad and he said he had power.  I started to make plans to go to his house.  As I was on the phone with him, I looked out the window and another tree fell blocking my neighbor's driveway.  This was my exit strategy.  I said to him, "I guess we aren't coming now".  At this point I am frustrated, and so are my wife and kids.  Tensions were running high, everyone was getting on everyone else's nerves.  This is when I caved in on the quitting smoking.  I figured it would be best for everyone if I could just calm down, instead of being on edge.  About 2 hours past and I finally saw my neighbor drive through his yard and get out to the main road.  I told my wife to pack some clothes, "we are getting out of here".  I packed up the car in the storm and got everyone loaded in.  We drove about a 2 miles and the road was completely covered in water.  I turned around and went an alternative route.  I made it about 2 miles and the road was blocked by a couple big trees.  I turned around and went another alternative route.  I made it about 3 miles and it was blocked with a couple huge pine trees.  I knew of one other road to try, made it about 2 miles and it was blocked with trees down.  At this point my wife is starting to panic,  she said "the ambulance won't even be able to come get me cause all the roads are blocked".   I told her "well I guess I'm gonna deliver this one at home", she did not find my comment very amusing.  I drove back to the water.  I sat and watched 3 or 4 trucks drive through and I figured this was the only way out, I have to try.  We made it through, only to find a river flowing across the road less than a mile further.  I pulled off to the side for about 20 minutes, watching trucks and suv's cross, but I wanted to see a car go across.  Finally a car did come and it did make it.  The water seemed to be about 2 feet deep.  It was now or never.  The water was getting deeper by the minute.  I don't want to deliver this baby at home.  I asked my wife what she thought, and she said do what ever I think is best. I forged through the river and we made it.  Drove about 4 miles and once again, there was a river flowing across the road.  I was already in the mindset that, we are getting the hell outta here, and keep in mind this is during the brunt of the hurricane.  I just crossed it and finally made it to the highway.  We drove to my dad's house and were finally safe with power, and close to the hospital in case she did go into labor.  In retrospect I am glad we left, but I wish we would have just went Friday night.  Either way it was one hell of a journey.

Friday Blue's

              Today I got the no good, lousy, down an out, train driving, Friday blue's.  Today is day five of quitting smoking, and it seems like the worst one yet for cravings.  Usually about this time on Friday I am plotting a night of drinking an jammin with my friends.  I would go first to the liquor store and pick up a bottle of Jagermeister.  Second I would go to the the grocery store to pick up a 24 pack of Busch Lite, and 2 large green Monster energy drinks.  Final stop would be to the gas station to get 4 packs of Basic light 100's;  "cowboy killers" as my friends often call them.  I would feel great cause I knew tonight was going to be a good night.  So, not only am I craving the cigarettes, I'm also craving the Jager & Beer.  I can not even begin to think of drinking only 5 days into quitting smoking.  Because, drinking has been the downfall every time I've quit in the past.  So yes today is definitely the hardest day so far.  In addition to the stress, Hurricane Irene is headed this way.  We live in a double wide trailer, so the news and everyone says to evacuate.  I have lived here for fourteen years and been through several hurricanes.  Now; with the pregnant wife, and my other two kids, I  have to take into account their well being.  Therein lies the problem, my dad, brother, his wife and kids, and my mom live in a brick house about 20 minutes away.  Which sounds great.  Only problem is my mom, dad, brother, and sister-in-law all smoke.  And to add fuel to the fire when me and my dad get together we drink.....  I mean we really drink hard; after all we are Irish.  So staying in a house where everyone smokes, and more than likely I will have some drinks, there is a very good possibility I will not make it for 2 days at their house.  Ultimately I will do what is safest for my children.  Maybe I just think to much, or maybe I am just looking for an excuse to smoke.  Today I got the Friday Blues..........

The Balance

             I have always wondered to myself, as I am sure all of you have done at least once.  Where did we come from?  Why are we here?  Is there a God?  Well I don't have the answers.  What I do have is an opinion.  As a child I went to a catholic sunday school.  I also went to pretty much every christian denomination church that I could think of, including mormons.  I never felt like I was being told the truth.  I always felt that I could never have such blind faith in something I could not see, or have some sort of proof.  So in my teen years I always struggled to find what I really believe in.  I had decided for a long while that I was atheist.  I really was always into science.  So I was always down with the whole "Darwin- Evolution", and  "The Big Bang Theory".  One day I was watching a documentary on the science channel http://science.discovery.com/ about the "Large Hadron Collider".  One of the scientist was talking about how they were smashing atoms to see the smallest length of measure known to man. From what I recall basically it was a group of positive and negative charges.  BAMMM!  It was all clear to me. Everything on earth is made with atoms.  You, me, your pet, house's, car's, food, ect...  The atom is basically the smallest building block known to man.  Then I started trying to reason my new found thought.  I immediately thought of the chinese symbol for "yin/yang" .  The Chinese culture is one of the oldest in the world, and their whole philosophy of life is based on this symbol.  Yin/Yang basically means dark/light, evil/good, cold/heat, female/male, death/life, and negative/positive. Then I thought of computers, and binary code specifically.  Binary code basically is a series of  of zero's and one's.  Negative/Positive, minus/plus. They can take almost anything, music, pictures, movies, games, virtual worlds, and turn it into data.  Data is made of a  series or string of series of zero's and one's.  The more I think about it the more things I find to validate this.  So everything that we have come to know with science, explains our world is made up of positive and negative charges.  Some people believe in karma, which is pretty much the same thing.  So this brings me back to Yin/Yang.  The real meaning of Yin/Yang is "the perfect balance".  Our world as we know it is made up of trillions of trillions of positive and negative charges that found the perfect balance.  So I still don't have all the answers, and I still don't know why we are here.  However; I do have something to believe in, and now I know what I am.  I can  a cluster of Atom's trying to find  "THE BALANCE"

Finding the Balance

          I have recently made some changes in my life.  First being I  have a baby boy coming any day now.  Third and final chapter in the child arena.  For the sake of the new and existing children and the wifey, I have decided to give up smoking.  I have smoked for over 17 years.  Today is day four, and I wish I could tell you that it is getting easier, but I am struggling just as hard as day one; if not harder.  I have over the years quit several different times, but it has never lasted.  Once I quit for three months.  I have decided to quit smoking for 2-3 weeks, then my new diet and exercise routine will commence.  I am getting older now and the things that were important to me years, months, weeks, and only days ago somehow aren't as important.  I have set several goals for myself, which is a good thing for everyone to do.  It is important to have something to look forward to, and once you succeed at it, have a feeling of accomplishment. 

           GOALS

1.  Quit Smoking -


2. Eat Healthy(including no sodas/koolaid) -


3. Exercise routine -


4. Make a Blog -


5. Make money on the internet -


6. Make more video's on youtube -

So I have a lot going on over this next year.  I will try to make better use of my time, and get real results in every aspect of this new life.  So if anyone does find this, feel free to comment or give any advice on any topic that concerns you.  I will be spending this year  "Finding The Balance" !