Best Production in Film Thus Far

BBC's Planet Earth, which i have indulged in many many times, is the best film production thus far. The cinematography is unreal, shots of rare animals are fantastic, it's just a fucking spectacular production that everyone needs to watch on a regular basis. This epic series celebrates the Earth as it has never been seen before using state of the art HD photography and revolutionary ultra-high speed cameras that are able to zoom in and out miles flawlessly. Taking 5 years, over 2000 logged field days, 40 cameramen, across 200 locations, nothing was spared in making this series a masterpiece. 

"A tour de force...A masterpiece." -The New York Times

"This is the Best DVD of the Year...an absolutely extraordinary achievement." Chicago Tribune 

Planet Earths stunning compilation captures the world's most rare animals, impossible locations, and intimate scenes with the loved, wildest, and most elusive creatures Earth has to offer. Watching a never before taped snow leopard in Pakistan makes you think about what that would look like in your foyer, gorgeous. Every seventeen years when the cicada appears to flood the forrest with an abundance of food for animals and nutrients for plants was also caught in this series, how's that for a stimulus package? 

Series is a MUST watch at least once. Be amazed, who knows how much longer these beauties will be around. 

Snowy Day Browsing/Procrastinating

When I should be packing for the long haul out west, I find myself easily distracted looking at different blogs from adventure to testimonial to music. I randomly came across this blog recommended by New York Magazine with all different genres of music with insightful reviews. It was recommended as one of the top 5 blogs to check out. The author, Matthew Perpetua, takes his time finding new music and writing very detailed descriptions of each song. The best part about the music he finds, other than the description of course, is the Quicktime link that allows you to listen to each and every song posted. Genres range from Europop to Indie to Rock to Electro, I even found a few Smashing Pumpkin bits in there from rather recent postings. 

Wiley & Merriweather - Cash in my pocket. 

"Musicians, take note: It is probably a very good idea for you to write catchy songs about being broke and/or desperately wanting money right about now. They don’t have to be miserable, mind you — it’s probably for the best to lean in the direction of this Wiley single, which balances out the frustration of insolvency with a perky, can-do optimism. Wiley’s verses are energetic and enjoyable, but his lyrics are largely beside the point — he’s basically just doing a hip hop stock move, i.e. “I come from nothing, but I’ve made some money from my music, and so I will flaunt it a bit without forgetting my roots.” The real action is in Mark Ronson’s musical arrangement and Daniel Merriweather’s chorus, the latter providing the bulk of the song’s emotional resonance, and the former lending the track a jolting sense of urgency. When the galloping beat overlaps with Merriweather’s white boy soul — actually, his voice sounds more than a little bit like that of Damon Albarn — the song just sparks, and kinda zaps you into its hustling state of mind."

-Matthew Perpetua

The intricate, well thought-out wording used by Perpetua almost makes you want to get up and dance, write your own song, and blast the stereo like Michael Jackson's - Black or White. 

Check it out here: FluxBlog 

American Ingenuity In Danger

While watching someone's short position on CitiGroup lose any gains it could have made over the past few market days, the government steps in, bails them out with $20B, and all equity shareholders are freed from the all-to-certain bankruptcy stock value of 0. One might next ask the question, "why is the government so quick to bailout yet another financial institution when some of the "Great American Icons" are waiting patiently for their own slice of the cake(most likely German Chocolate)?" The debacle is a double edged sword of sorts due to the fact that Citi was involved with credit default swaps and has already received $25B from the government already. Hogwash at its finest. IS it a good company? No. William Smith of Smith Asset Management, who owns CitiGroup stock said, "you're seeing an inept management being rewarded by the U.S. Government." Isn't one of the investing points to believe in their management team? 

On the other end of this argument, the US Government sent the automakers packing last week when they came and pleaded for a cash infusion. Do they have poor management? Yes. They. Do. Similar situation. Congress told them all to come back with a business plan for the next few years to prove this money isn't for staying afloat, somewhat makes sense, not entirely. Will congress be able to tell if the business plans are for viability purposes? Should we be looking out for our manufacturing sector? Yes. American manufacturing cannot crumble, even Obama understands that one. Automakers linked to 3 million jobs, banking industry linked to around 225k jobs. Which impacts the economy greater? Were the auto companies making risky investments that were not transparent such as mortgaged back securities? Not hardly. They were burdened with the high costs of American Labor, which made them less competitive on a global scale. Give cash to the companies who truly need it, in other words, let the shorts run free.  

Correction: CitiGroup received over $300B over the weekend in extended backings. Automakers: $0USD

If I Had Another Chance Tonight

Recently heard on a favorite podcast of mine (check post of things I dig) the Roger Sanchez track Another Chance remixed by Kaskade. Definite must have download if it is not in your collection thus far. The song's main chorus is - 

"If I had another chance tonight, I'd try to tell you the things we had were right. If I had another chance tonight..." 

Check it out here. 

Then of course the track breaks into a banging version of the original with added organ and synth. Anyway, the point of this post, other than being influenced by a few Landsharks, is not only that this track was a classic upon its release but the connotation behind the lyrics. If you had another chance tonight, what would you do with that chance knowing the outcome of set previous actions? Fun to think about? Yes. Waste of thought/time? Absolutely. Do what you are out to accomplish in that night/day/meeting/situation/competition = no regrets, there are no second chances. Layer Cake. 

Also, I have recently turned Travis onto this Kaskade track, which I cannot find a link to. Kaskade - Stars Align(Andy Caldwell Mix) Turn it up. 

Fell off the face of the Earth

I had this friend in college, Jesse, who became a very close friend to me the first few years of school, resurface just yesterday. Being a renegade himself, living and traveling all over the world most of his life, it wasn't a complete surprise that he hadn't contacted myself or my brother in just less than a year. Low and behold he called just yesterday. Sounding quite disheveled on the phone made me question if it were actually him on the other end. Well a lot has happened since the last time we spoke, such as him getting married, losing his leg to a brown recluse spider, planing his own funeral, and being in the current process of choosing a prosthetic leg, which I assured him could turnout to be somewhat sweet. Of course I took the opportunity to brag about my newly superior basketball skills, maybe to lighten up the conversation? My first question when all of this information was being relayed to me was - what the hell, where was my wedding invitation? I happen to love weddings, the party afterward, and everyone being in such a great mood. Quite offended upon hearing this news. (The leg being on the backburner.) 

What troubled me the most about this phone call was that Jesse thought I would not still be friends with him if I knew he had one less appendage. Who gives a shit? Yeah I can't be seen with someone missing a leg, that might be embarrassing. Ha. A point was brought up to me later, that I had only thought about briefly during the conversation due to there being a distress element, pertaining to the missing time in between the spider bite (July) and when contact was made, yesterday. What happened to unanswered messages of the email variety? In the next conversation, since the last was difficult on Jesse's part evidently, I will address said questions. Personally, I couldn't imagine what it would be like to lose a leg, except getting the closest parking spaces of course. Coincidentally, Tristan and I were talking about his fall from the Earth not a week before the infamous phone call. Somehow he managed to climb back on for now. 

Continued Media Destruction

A news story has been running on most major networks the past 24 hours about Sarah Palin's controversial background choice. She chose to do an interview in front of numerous turkeys being slaughtered as her background. No the turkeys weren't being killed with an ax on a chopping block, more like a giant cone where you couldn't see what was happening anyway. MSNBC made an even bigger deal by blurring out the turkeys unfortunate death because apparently people with xray vision can see through the steel cone and witness the turkeys head being chopped off. Evidently she was asked before beginning the interview if the background was alright, replying "no worries." Did she really know what was going on behind her or is she totally oblivious? If she knew and didn't care I would venture a guess Mrs. Palin thought it would be in the spirit of Thanksgiving. Who can honestly say they give a shit about the turkeys being killed and go eat one with family next week? Hypocrites. Give the woman who has vision for a few hundred miles a break. I wouldn't put it past her to slaughter a few after the interview with her Burberry scarf on, she would want to swing the ax, guaranteed. 

Stop pestering Palin, the woman is most likely torturing small game to drown her public humiliation/embarrassment. Who is suffering now? I'd bet she knows all the ways to skin a cat and would be happy to share them with Martha Stewart, could be her next show's craft, Alaskan style. 

Tell me honestly that a bear rug in your office doesn't mean business. 

Citations Without Notice

Can one receive a citation without proper signage of where trespassing is not permitted? As if trespassing is permitted in certain places to begin with, yes. Especially the Chelsea Pier area, specifically Pier 40 next to the Port Authority building. Yesterday I went to New York City to hang with Lily. Neither of us being able to sleep as usual, we decided to take a walk down by the pier. We then decided to jump over two sets of railing to bypass the closed gate out onto the boardwalk, mind you this gate had no trespassing signs attached to it(although the previous on had). Soon enough, the parks and rec security came lights flashing ready to exert authority upon us. These two goofs, most likely illiterate, claimed that we have been seen on camera trespassing onto the boardwalk and we were in big trouble. OoooO. We both proceed to give the forceful parks security false identities and ridicule them. It was quite hilarious in that both of our first responses were fabrication and the parks "officers" thought they had served justice by giving us each $50 citations for looking through binoculars on a public pier. Yes it was closed after 1am. Did we harm anything? Absolutely not. Napoleon Complex had overtaken both of them, especially Juan Gutierrez who made sure we knew that a law had been broken. Give me a break pinkerton. Utterly hilarious situation that only the two of us could get ourselves into. 

Don't mess with forceful pinkertons, they will kick your ass and issue you a citation.  

Nurse Says, "boys will be boys."

Thought for a second that I could type my normal speed minus two fingers, evidently not. Did some innocent animal killing over the weekend, also referred to as "killing god's creatures." Regardless, duck hunting is an activity that brings one closer to their father/brothers, encourages shooting of things flying through the air, allows for judgement practice, and most of all tastes absolutely delicious. Unlike restaurant duck, wild ducks are able to develop muscles and with the right marinade (olive oil, garlic, soy sauce, hint of salt, and cracked pepper) makes even my mouth water whilst writing this entry. Does that make me a vegan? Apparently not. Duck hunting is something I have enjoyed since about the age of 8, and frankly I am quite good at it. Ducks fly in but not many make the flight out. It gives you a perspective on how long your patience tolerance is, how good your aim/lead judgement is, and if you were cut out for early settler life. Which in its own right would have been fun to experience, not knowing the technologies we use on a day to day basis currently. 

Anyhow, the incident of the weekend happened right before hunting time, around 3pm, on Saturday. My older brother and I were goofing around, after was given by the opposing party. I then proceeded to slug him in the shoulder twice, the second time he decided to put a low-ball scotch glass in the way of his shoulder. My hand then went directly into the glass, shattering the glass with blood instantly squirting out of my hand. My thoughts exactly, "O fuck, fuck I hit a tendon, my life for the next three months is over. What a fuck, putting a glass up as a defense move while goofing off." On the way to the ER, due to my hand bleeding profusely, I was thinking that I get to experience the Socialist Canadian Healthcare System. Walking into the ER was an entirely different experience than in the States, as I have been there my fare share of times. Everyone in the

 waiting room was smiling with no worried patrons in sight. Initially I thought I was definitely in the wrong place, looking around I confirmed this indeed was the ER. They checked me in, a doctor who was scheduled to leave waited around to stitch me up, and I was on my way. Easy enough. Him being a Michigan Grad put me slightly at ease and I inquired as to where the rest of the staff was educated, most being educated in the States. The doctor was also eager to tell me how excited he is about Barrack Obama being the new president. If he can change America's image worldwide, I'm with him 100%. Anyway, four stitches were placed in my hand and the glass luckily missed my tendon by a hair. Thank fucking God for that one. 

Will my luck run out? 

- I hope not.

-Beware of the black swan. 

Story Lines Followed More Closely

Leaving the Grand Blanc theatre after being part of the first audience to see Quantum of Solace, the new James Bond flick, I have feelings of amazement and dismay simultaneously. I enjoy how after Pierce Brosnan they have started to glamorize bond less and follow the original story lines that were written by Ian Fleming. The originals portrayed Bond as the more human secret agent who felt extreme feelings of anger, passion, hate, revenge, whereas the more glamorized Bond was a womanizer who only cared about the cool gadgets he was using, if his car had the invisibility option, and if he was going to get some good old fashioned Pussy Galore. Since Daniel Craig has taken the Bond role, the character has become not only more human but more realistic in the stunts being preformed. The stunts I am mainly referring to have to deal with some of the outrageous gadgets, which are ridiculously sweet most of the time no doubt, but a bit unrealistic. 

Make sure of two things before you see this film. 1). Watch the end of Casino Royale to get a feel for Quantum Solace, as it begins just twenty minutes after Casino Royale ends. (If you don't own it, check out www.sidereel.com.) 2). Make sure you sit in the back of the theatre for this flick, I was in the middle section with ample leg room but a sore neck from following all the action. The cinematography was excellent but quite a bit shakier than usual. They had to accentuate the fight scenes somehow so when bond is kicking everyones ass on the screen, the camera appears as if it might too have gotten its own ass kicked. Sit in the back to make up for the immensely shaky camera. 

The beginning of the movie, with a badass car chase scene, catches your attention right away. Especially with how cool Bond drives away after defeating all bad guys, acting as nothing has happened other than his Aston Martin receiving minor damage. The bad guys in this film were very real and doing things such as exploiting third world countries, that makes this film more believable than its predecessors. Although the ending of this film has to be worked on a fair amount. Bond comes into the film wanting revenge for the people who killed his love and leaves empty handed, not even with the new Bond Chick, Olga Kerylenko. Though there is much controversy over the new Bond girl being fiercely independent with her own agenda and there not being enough sex in the film, yes and no. Yes, due to the pattern of the Bond girls and no due to sex between them might have ruined the film. Can't say enough about the new English Cool as redefined by Daniel Craig. Yes, we have all heard rumors of him getting hurt on set but can you tell me with a straight face that he sucks as Bond? Don't even try. Watch Layer Cake if you would like to see where he emerged onto the main stage, excellent English Gangster film. 

Trevland Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - Quantum of Solace

Detroit in Turmoil

If you haven't been watching what is going on in the auto industry the past few years and how it has been getting worse and worse, get your head out of the bag it's in. There are so many reasons GM is in its current situation. Where shall we start? Beginning with the biggest problem facing all three automakers, being the lack of innovation. They have been putting out variations of the same cars for far too long while foreign car makers grab more and more of the market cap. Thomas Freidman offered a priceless piece of advice in his recent article, How to Fix a Flat, saying "somebody ought to call Steve Jobs, who doesn't need to be bribed to do innovation, and ask him is he'd like to do a national service and run a car company for a year. I'd bet it wouldn't take him much longer than that to come up with the GM iCar." That very well might be the innovative spirit GM needs. Next, the cash problem facing our American Automaker. GM burned through $2.3B in October, estimated the automaker burns through over $1B a month and will be bankrupt by the end of the year baring no bailout. Government assistance is needed for these companies to stay alive.

Congress denied GM's initial request for $10B and said it will give the industry as a whole $25B to make cars more fuel efficient. Well why are the American cars such gas hogs to begin with? Safety standards that have packed on a few hundred extra pounds might have added to them being less fuel efficient, definitely. Another main problem the automakers are dealing with is the proud UAW (United Auto Workers Union). This group of inefficient workers, their pensions, healthcare plans, overpaid wages, and underworked hours is one of the biggest problems GM especially has to pay for. "Lets punch in, do work for a few hours, go home and take a nap, then have our buddies punch us out. Ha we sure fooled them." Geez Mr. Union Employee, you definitely fooled your employer. These people should be held responsible if the auto maker goes bankrupt in my opinion. 

Poor management is another example of this company's past steps toward its current downward spiral. In talking to a family friend yesterday whose husband is a junior executive at GM, she told me stories her husband would relay back to her about how bad the management really is. These individuals would fund vacations with company money, be on the clock while at home, and most importantly, only want to stick with what GM has been doing since they joined the company. This brings a phrase to mind, "change or die." Obviously the original strategy sucks a fat one and it needs to be revamped asap. Hopefully things will change soon and this old-style of managers will either retire or be forced out of the company, in order to let new ideas and most importantly innovation run free in the conference rooms. Restructuring this company, starting with management, is the most important move GM can hope to make for any future whatsoever. How crippling is this? Read this article.

One last thought to leave you with - the auto industry in Detroit is responsible, directly and indirectly, for employing almost 3 million people. There are also two GM retirees being paid benefits/pensions for every US zip code. Can you afford to pick up the slack? 

 

Things I Currently Dig

Some people like to schedule their lives around Television shows, not I. 

Use either: show-links.tv  or sidereel.com for any TV Shows, Movies, etc. anytime you want them. (With the exception being Bottle Rocket of course.)

Watching the two best shows on television currently - Entourage and Californication. 

Entourage, being created by Marky Mark himself, always give a half hour feel good presentation. Following around the career of actor Vincent Chase and his posse of goons - Drama, Turtle and E, which have a one of a kind dynamic guaranteed to please the pickiest of TV viewers. 

Californication follows the conquests of one sex addict, David Duchovny, in and out of his family, random chicks legs, and the lives of his friends around Southern California. He brings a witty leftist view, as well as, clever commentary everywhere he goes. The best character being his filterless daughter who has to parent both her parents on regular occasions. 

Both of these shows are a must watch. 

In regard to music, I usually pick an artist and let Pandora figure out the rest. This brilliant idea is called The Music Genome Project. One easily selects a favorite artist or song and the site chooses other music you might enjoy that is similar to the chosen artist/song. Can't even begin to explain how many great tracks/artists I have found over the years through Pandora.

Otherwise I use Myspace to follow my favorite artists, their new music, and upcoming shows. 

The best dance-related podcast I listen to, that can be found through Itunes are:

The Gareth Emery Podcast - New house, electro, pop-electro, minimal, and very little trance. (Trance is for E heads anyway.)

MDB - Great UK station that plays everything from rock to chill tunes. I highly recommend downloading their recent Chillcast, as I have listened to it several times and it kicks ass.

MarcoV Topten - Marco V puts out the best tracks from the month on a podcast. 

Andy Moor's MoorMusic Podcast - usually a bit on the trancey side but fairly good tunes for a long run or workout with banging tracks in the middle portion. 

If anything, check out Pandora. The rest can wait for a rainy day. 

Cheers

Has Someone Called The Chinese Wankers?

The other day I was cruising around the Reuters website and came across an interesting article about the Chinese People. The article talked about two things of particular interest to me: 1). their new $586billion stimulus package and 2). them calling on all the other nations of the world to reduce pollution. Okay, so the Chinese are having a small economic crisis as well and they need capital to stimulate their economy, stimulus package is justified. The second issue is a whole different story. I must say that I can't believe the gumption of these people, to call for all other developed nations in the world to reduce pollution/carbon output? This goes right along with the old saying - the pot is calling the kettle black. 

Let's now look at a few statistics and other relevant facts to this argument, before I personally rip into this radical statement. When you look at pollution hotspots around the world, the biggest concentrations are that of China and the US, China's being quite a bit larger than ours. Chinese factories do not contain any technologies to reduce pollution either. The chinese middle class is expected to grow to 700million by 2020. Due to China becoming the world's largest manufacturer 3/4 of their country is now desert from massive deforestation. 70% of the world's computers end up in China to be scavenged through for usable parts then thrown away to pollute the soil, water, and deteriorate ecosystems with toxic metals all over China. Such unchecked devastation will not only put an abrupt end to China's ever growing population, but it will also cause mortal havoc in societies and ecosystems all over the world. China, just a few years ago, overtook the US as the worlds leading CO2 emitter. 

With that being said, and surely there was a shit-ton of data not included, I think we all better take the next step in reducing our own pollution. China seems to have things under control, since they only have one person calling the shots as opposed to 400+, let's allow them tell us what to do regarding pollution control. Thanks for letting us know China, we'll get right on it. 

Garble Jibble Jayble

Waking up without an alarm after a while becomes somewhat like a burden. I mean this as a two part answer – the first being that I enjoy waking up to an alarm at 6am when there are important things to be accomplished and the second part being that it is a burden having to sleep in, waking up realizing that there is nothing of importance to be done. Discouraging waking up on my own day after day. Life has purpose when things are orderly, organized, punctual, and most of all busy. Idle minds are dangerous things, idle hands breed the devils work or something of that nature. The religious quotes always get skewed.

This situation needs to be reconciled, first priority. People have recently told me to take advantage of this down economy by going out west to pursue other options. By taking this opportunity in Big Sky that is exactly what I intend to do. However, another part of me wants to get my professional (reality) life started. Why so soon? Too many ideas that need to be entertained in some fashion or another. In what field? Not a clue. Find a passion? Not anything that can be turned into a fiscally plausible career. Yes, things of this nature have been thought about but being back home has made me realize being in a small town is not the life I want to lead. 

            I read a study today that talked about bullies being amused by others going through pain. No shit? Wow, I really thought that bullies liked doing bully things because they cared about people. Why would a study like this made publications? Surprisingly it was in the Science section of Reuters, not the Oddly Enough section. While reading the article one thought kept coming to mind – was this even in question before research ws conducted? They found the bullies to be "cold and unemotional in their aggression." Usually when a child uses violence on another child the former has some sort of complex - no concern for human life being one of them. I'm sure with further research they will also find that these same "bullies" will be found to hurt/kill small animals. Don't look so shocked. 

Great First Steps

I thought that it would be a good idea to have a new perspective in the White House, even though I didn't vote for the man who won. Personally, I thought he was not the best choice but I gave him the benefit of the doubt when the American Public, by majority, chose him as the best option. Given that this whole election was a dilemma anyhow. Then I am researching his policies, seeing what can be put into play right away and what has to take a few years to be distributed and what do I see? I see the cabinet appointments. Are you fucking kidding me????? He appoints the risk manager for the former Bear Sterns as Fed risk manager??? This man may have been a major player in what happened to Bear Sterns and you want to put him in a federal position?? 

The funny thing is that appointment wasn't the worst of them. The worst appointment Obama has made thus far has to do with my home state of Michigan, which is and has been in economic turmoil for the past six or so years. Obama put Governor Granholm on his Economic Policy Board. You must be kidding me. The woman has completely destroyed the Michigan Economy and now she will be doing the same thing on the national level. The first thing she did in office was raise small business taxes, which run Michigan by the way, and then tried to instill a business to business tax. This is absolutely ludicrous. When an economy is doing poorly, the first thing anyone should do is make that geographic area attractive for businesses, not impossible. 

Mr. Obama has already started to destroy free markets. 

Nasty Tasting Mints

We have all gotten the mints on our check at the end of a meal. This is an effort by the waitstaff to receive a bigger tip in giving out mints before the bill has to be decided. Being a very selective individual when it comes to the type of mints I will actually ingest, this very gracious act can work against certain staff trying to help themselves out. I consider myself very generous, always giving the benefit of the doubt on service and usually dish out at least 20%. For me to give less than the standard twenty percent, the waitstaff has to do absolutely nothing or perform so badly that I want to walk out the restaurant all together. Hearing how tough it is to work in the service industry, especially in a major metropolitan area, these people deserve to be treated well - meaning tip-wise. That being said, skip the before mints and ask for a preference when first taking any orders. 

Silencio

Ever sit back, open your window and listen to the rain falling while you are trying to fall asleep? I highly recommend doing this completely relaxing activity. Falling asleep listening to the rain as we speak...

Peace of Mind/?

All anyone wants in life is to reach a level of complete happiness accompanied with peace of mind. The question at hand - what is happiness to you? Is it the G5 sitting in a hanger used only a few times a year? Is it the dog waiting for you to get home and play? Is it the belt that would completely tie together your outfit for Saturday night? The Zegna suit that takes up 1/3 of your bonus but turns every head for the next year? Is it being the most fit individual wherever you are? Climbing every peak that rises above 11,000 ft across the Northern Hemisphere? Is it coming home to your family during holidays? Giving or taking? Helping or hurting? Traveling or sitting in one place? Being one who passes by or makes an impression? A statistic or an outlier? Open or closed? Breakable? 

I would imagine that when one acquires that which makes him/her completely satisfied, they will indeed find peace of mind shortly there after. Someone who's opinion I value once told me that it is virtually impossible to find peace of mind. She also mentioned the only reason people do things is due to boredom. It may be the case that peace of mind is impossible to achieve, therefore one must only be able to obtain that point by either being dead or immensely satisfied. 

One is only coasting in life while going downhill. 

Change

As it has been anticipated over the last few months, the election for the 44th President of The United States has taken place and a winner is chosen. If there has been any doubt over the last few weeks who was going to end up taking the top spot, that individual obviously doesn't know how to read let alone talk to other human beings. Being from the opposing side for various reasons, I have already embraced the fact that my party lost. Not a huge deal considering what was promised and what can actually be delivered, bottom line. My only hope is that in the next four years Obama will change the way other countries view America. Being able to travel freely, not being disguised as Canadian, without ridicule is all I really ask for. The man will bring a new perspective into office, have majority rule in all three branches, and begin a new era. 

In my short life i have never seen anything like this and probably never will again for the rest of my life. This presidential election has changed the way black Americans view opportunity. There is no one who can say, "you can't do this because you are a different color." Obama has defied all boundaries. "Wake up, wake up, it's a new era." However, the American people do need to realize what a president can promise while on the campaign trail and what they can actually do while in office. Such as - revamping the healthcare system - not a small order and no universal solution, meeting with threatening world leaders under no preconiditions - not smart potentially hazardous, raising business taxes - small businesses drive this great country and without them being able to support themselves and their employees, goodbye, etc etc. Obama needs to figure out what will realistically be accomplished and what needs to be changed. Good Luck 44th President - you certainly have your hands full. 

Embrace the change.  

Complete Boredom

Since packing up my car, leaving Chicago, and arriving back in my hometown of Fenton Michigan, I have come to quite a few realizations. The first being that there is absolutely no point in being here unless you have a family, business, or are planning on littering the earth with your offspring in a short period of time(sooner rather than later). My older brother and I spent all day moving patio furniture from the back deck into the barn, sorting through an old woodpile, and splitting new wood for a new one. These list items that seem like they would take a few short hours took all day and will take the rest of tomorrow to complete. Not that I am complaining about this, yard work used to be one of my favorite past-times, I just find it to be rather uneventful. 

This past weekend I had two good friends make the journey home with me, Ryan and Patrick. Ryan and I have been great friends since we met playing golf years back and I then met Patrick through Ryan a few years after that. Both great guys who are always interested in having a great time, drama free - the way to be. One thing I did notice that was rather bothersome being one to enjoy the outdoors to the fullest extent was that getting fucked up seemed to be their number one priority. Granted the time we all share together may mainly revolve around some sort of alcoholic beverage but having a good time shouldn't require that. Come to think of it, the most fun activity of the weekend was playing touch football. Brought us all back to the playground. Only point here: I just wish they would want to do certain things minus alternative substances and without being prodded into them. It may be the difference in between city and country life but it could be something more along the lines of what that individual specifically grew up do

ing. 

In all honesty, when I was working on the Don's new tractor today it was extremely satisfying. I had to change a few hydraulic hoses around, move some other equipment, and change different parts on the tractor itself. I felt like I was back ten years ago having my father explain all the different parts on each machine and how each was related to the next. It was very satisfying and rewarding to be doing something that I am truly gifted at doing. Granted I will not be working on machinery to make a living but it will always be something that I enjoy and am naturally talented at. Working on equipment and figuring out how things work has always fascinated me. In hindsight it should've been engineering instead of international business, whatev. 

Since my o so lovely sister wanted to be mentioned this post, I will now go on a tangent about our relationship that I find has been very progressive. We never particularly got along as children, me picking on her to no end didn't help. Not entirely sure of the exact reason other than her being the youngest and a girl to boot. (Hence - no good reason). It wasn't until later on, somewhere around mid high school where we finally clicked and started getting along quite well. I think that figuring out how similar our personalities were was the final catalyst to spur the friendship into what it has become now. I truly enjoy how she speaks her mind, has little filter, and is hilarious. She and I were sitting in her room just bullshitting about whatever and she came up with a pteradyctal that could be used as transportation who also ate people Chelsea didn't care for.

 At the time, and still to this day, we laugh about the list of people who get fed to the pteradyctal. Absolutely hilarious. 

Greatness, destined for greatness.