Air Strike on a Motorcycle

I swear I just heard that Israel retaliated for post cease fire bombings by having an air strike target a motorcycle. Air strike on a motorcycle...wow.

I never thought I'd see the day...

...when Dave Neal would get an ovation of sorts for coming in off the bench. I never thought I'd see him start either but that's neither here nor there, since the terps really have no one else to put in. It is a sad state of affairs when there's no inside presence with the obvious lack of a big man, our potential 3-point sharp shooter can't hit a bucket under any pressure and our most passionate player is a big ball hog. Tonight I went to the UVA v. Maryland basketball game and observed one of the worst games ever played at the comcast center. Our zone defense was working only because the UVA players can't pass worth shit, the refs couldn't seem to get any calls right and the Maryland players couldn't get a rebound to save their lives. I'm disappointed in the team, the fans(an ACC game, versus UVA, and the stands were half full), and the coach. Gary's got one more year before I start chanting for the hook. I shouldn't really complain I guess because the Terps did win, even though through some very stupid mistakes, UVA never seemed out of it.

In other news, the Inauguration went off without a hitch. I arrived early enough to stand and wait in the streets of D.C. with 2 million of my now closest friends. I ended up getting pushed about 200 ft. closer than I ever expected to get, due mainly to some very brave souls crossing the frozen reflecting pool to try to get an even better view. After the ceremony I went to a lunch thing that Sen. Barbra Boxer was holding which was part "yaaay Obama!" and part "yaaay I'm running for re-election in 2 years, I better start campagining now." But hey a free lunch is a free lunch, plus I got to meet members of her staff as well as the Senator to whom I remarked, "I loved your scene in Curb," to which I recieved a "haha, nice to meet you" as she moved on down the line. Overall, I'd say it was a rather successful day which started off with some regret as I prepared to freeze my tail off. One note though: being forced to stand ass to elbows with completely random people allows for maximum random schmooze time as well as a way to keep warm on a bitterly cold January day.

Inauguration Ticket

So my mom came home today with a surprise. A ticket to Obama's Inauguration. Don't believe me? Here's proof(also, I dunno how many of you will get a chance to see an Inauguration ticket):


Pretty sweet huh? When I first found out about this I was like, "Hells no, It's gonna damn cold." But then I thought, I'm a trooper and there are a ton of people that would love this opportunity, so why should I waste it? To give you an idea of where I'll be here's the map that came with the ticket:

I'll be in the silver section. I get the idea that the orange, blue, purple and yellow ticket holders will be really close to(if not on) the steps of the capitol while I'll be with the rest of the ticket holders in the front part of the mall. At least I won't be stuck in the middle of the mall somewhere, though chances are I'll see more of the ceremony via a Big Screen T.V. than with my own eyes. Gates open at 8am, so I guess I'll have to be there round 7. I plan on wearing 2 possibly 3 layers under my coat. God damn it's gonna be cold.

As for other updates, I got back from my family vacation in the Bahamas with a bit more money than I originally had, thanks to the fish at the poker table. The weather was awful so the best thing to do was sit inside in the casino. After a quick turn-around I was in Israel for 10 days which was completely amazing. The people I met were awesome, the country is beautiful, I want to go back again and again and again and again. If anyone has a few hours on their hands and wants to hear about my trip I will be much obliged.
I've started working at H&R Block in cloverly. Taxes are boring as hell but it's a good stepping stone job and I'll know some ins and outs for when I need to do my own taxes. If anyone needs their taxes done, let me know by January 23rd so I can get you on a special friends and family list, it'll be a ton cheaper. Even if you don't make it onto that list and want your taxes done, swing by cloverly and I'll see what I can do for you.

Showdown at the Golden Corral

This is both an appreciation and story post, so it runs a tad long.
I love the Golden Corral. For those of you who may not know or have experienced a Golden Corral in all its food-acious glory, a Golden Corral is a buffet style restaurant that specializes in fried foods, steaks, and desserts. It's relatively cheap compared to most buffets and many restaurants. Many think Golden Corrals have low quality food due to the massive amounts they prepare, but I swear the quality is Grade A. Tonight, I ventured out to my "local" corral and had a small confrontation, hence the "showdown" in the title. Henceforth is the telling of that confrontation:

I'm at the salad bar and I had just started putting lettuce into my bowl when this guy comes up to the salad station and yells at the lady behind the counter, "Hey! Hey you! we need more lettuce! can I get more lettuce!" I'm very confused because I just used the lettuce and there was tons of lettuce. So I say to the gentleman, "hey man, the lettuce is right there, and there's plenty." He looks at me, looks at the lettuce, yells something, i think, "nevermind" to the woman behind the counter. Ooooo.K. I go on, enjoy my salad, and my first plate of delicious starches, meats, and veggies. After completing the task of vanquishing all of my edibles collected on the first trek, I go up for my second plate, which as we all know, is the most important plate. Let me side-track here to explain the second plate:

The second plate theorem:
-The second plate requires a lot of thought, management, and personal integrity to complete. Chances are you've had 2, or maybe all 3, of these; Salad, soup and a single first plate which was most likely rather full with bits and pieces of the entire spread. You went up for appetizers and came back with pizza, mac and cheese and a slice of meatloaf.* Eh, it happens to the best of us.
-Now, with the second plate you get to try the things that caught your eye on the first trip but didn't grab for any number of various reasons(space, wait, freshness, ect.). But watch out! You don't have as much room and you need to save some for dessert. thus the balance.
-The balance is when you "balance" the contents of the plate with new things, old things that you want more of, and the idea that you will want to make one more trip for 2 or 3 desserts. So some sacrifice size of the portion for flavor, just to get a taste; others may only get what they know is good, thus leaving more room for it, but keep in mind: room for dessert.

Back to the story. I go up for my second plate and I'm waiting in line when I look up and it's that same guy from the salad bar. I noted it but didn't care until we get up to the steaks. I wanted this rare steak that had been taken off the grill maybe 5 minutes before. No one wanted it, everyone wanted well done. I go to ask for the rare one and the guy in front of me snags it with his fork. His own fork! You don't use your own utensils at the buffet line! So I had to wait for another steak. But just note this, the wonder of the Golden Corral, they will grill as much steak at any degree of cooked, right in front of you! AMAZING!!!
So I finish my second plate and go up for dessert. I'm pickin' through some pie, some cake, a cookie thats covered in frosting and has cake and whipped cream on top. Yeah, I domolished that. And just as I'm leaving I hear this guy, that same guy from the salad bar and at the grill, yelling at the lady behind the counter cause, guess what the were out of: a cookie thats covered in frosting and has cake and whipped cream on top! So, yeah, I owned him. Looking back I feel bad for the person working there, but if he's going to take my steak I'm going to take his cookie cake. Booya.

So yeah, Golden Corral is the shit, let it be known!


*known as the first plate theorem.

Fun With Snapshots

So the new VLC Media Player fixed the snapshot bug. This is what I made just now.

Oh, the places I've gone

Today my 1991 Acura Integra achieved a feat that most cars only dream about; 250,000 miles. To put things in perspective that's over 10 times the circumference of the Earth, 2,640,000,000 dollar bills laid end to end, 10,000 more miles than the distance from the center of the Earth to the Moon, and, with an average MPG of 28, 8929 gallons of gas. In case you need proof, and the fact that I could have been killed while taking these, here are pictures of my odometer:


If you are wondering about anything else in my life, no nothing is new, this is my achievement of the week so stop asking "what i'm doing" or "what's new" because the answer other than my car surviving much longer than the factory expected is nothing. If you are curious on the condition of the car, it shakes, a lot. And it smokes, a lot. For some reason my engine likes to shoot oil on itself causing billowing smoke to come out from the hood. But don't worry, other than an impending car fire, a terrible burning oil smell, and my 1 of 4 speakers being blown out the car is in grand condition.

Batman Returns

I was watching Batman Returns today and one quote seemed to really pop out at me and I would like to share. Maximillian 'Max' Shreck is played by none other than Christopher Walken and Catwomen is portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer. I feel like this dialogue belongs in a comedy routine.

Maximillian 'Max' Shreck: I don't know what you want, but I know I can get it for you, with a minimum of fuss! Money, jewels, a *very* big ball of string.

Catwoman: Your blood, Max.

Maximillian 'Max' Shreck: My blood? I gave, at the office.