You know, it just sort of dawned on me...
 
Democracy AND Islam in an Iraqi government. Simple. How fucking dumb do you have to be to not figure it out?
 
Alright, Georgie boy. You did the job, you got rid of the money grubbing sadist. No more torture, no more crooked deals (we hope, *cough*Enron*/cough*), no more WMD whether he has/had 'em or not. Now it's time to let these people have their freedom and run the joint themselves.
 
So now, the great problem. Which form of government in Iraq? Democracy, you cry! Yeah, good idea. But these people aren't used to that sort of thing. They have ancient ways to consider, traditions to uphold. You can't just throw them into a system like ours, they'd fall flat on their faces. Having a Democracy would almost assure the need for a constant American presence, and that leads to interferance. Bad bad bad.
 
The Arab world screams for Islam, for a Muslim state. This government upholds millenia of tradition, it's the way they've pretty much done things for thousands of years (yes, Christians, even in the times of Christ, and well before then as well). But through our experience in Afghanistan, we know that a government based on Islam can be twisted into something very, very oppressive: The Taliban.
 
So, what to do, what to do. Tell me, Captain Pretzle, what do we do in Iraq?
 
Well, let's do some simple math.
 
  In Iraq, you have x number of Muslim sects and people (Sunni, Kurdish, etc). They represent y people each, right? Right. So, each sect gets z number of representatives for a certain percentage of each group's population. These representatives should be chosen by their respective group, and will most likely be prominent Clerics. They can get together in Baghdad in a council, much like a Congress, and dish out the dealings when it comes to how to run the country. From among them, one can be chosen for the role of Prime Minister/President, who presents Iraq's collective voice to the world.
 
Ahh, but wait! There's more! Tariq Aziz was a wild card in Saddam's deck of 55. Remember him? He had the "Prime Minister" role during the first Gulf conflict, and did probably handled most of Saddam's outside affairs thereafter. But what made him so different?
 
He was a Christian. Now, there's proof that Saddam wasn't really pro-muslim, just pro-Saddam/Ba'ath. As a Christian (the traditional Muslim "infadel"), Tariq got fairly high on the ladder, didn't he. He was Saddam's voice, and probably one of his closer confidants.
 
Yep, there are Christian people in Iraq as well. So where do they figure in? Same as the other groups. Chirstians can have an equal voice, and would most likely be the voice of reason in the modern world when it comes to Islam.
 
Islam has the bad reputation of being a very violent religion. This was so, in times long past. Back then, it was a fight just to survive. But in modern days, more focus is given to the peaceful end of the prophet Mohammad's texts. Allah isn't looked upon as a god of vengance that much anymore, but more as a benevolant kind of god.
 
Going the ancient route led to the Taliban. Islam can progress, as all the rest of the world's religions have progressed with the times. That would be thier only true and necessary concession.
 
Christianity is a modern voice of reason, kind of urging Islam away from its brutal past and into a future where it can coexist with the other beliefs of the world. That's necessary in a modern government, don't you think?
 
Transitioning ancient tribal and national law shouldn't be too terrible a problem. I'm sure alot of the rules already on any book would easily be adapted for modern times. Tribal laws would be a bit more work, weeding out all the violent stuff and adapting different systems to work together. Look, this culture has survived for more than two millennia at least, in an environment as harsh as the Middle East is. They must have done something right, right? Right.
 
Yep, this is a rant that Rendquist won't be able to get you out of this time, bucko...
 
Once you get the whole ball rolling, you set up your good diplomatic and economic ties with them. Here's the catch, Dubya. NO TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THESE PEOPLE!!!They got it, you want it, we know. You, the Veep and the Secretary of Energy. Black gold. Tikrit Tea. In words a President of your caliber can understand, "a bubblin' crude." Oil. And a shitload of it.
 
And there's no way you'll be able to hire Baghdad Bob to cover your ass and tell fibs about your Oil connections, either.
 
You've got to be legit to these people and give them an internationally accepted amount. Yeah, we'll help them if a neighbor gets feisty, and we'll keep their economy moving (thusly, keeping ours moving), but we've got to be fair, and we've got to respect a whole bunch of their traditions. Maybe one McDonald's in each major city, that's it. Deal? That way they won't all go apeshit with the greazy grub. And while they may want good ol' Sam to put up a few Wally Worlds, let's try to keep the Rodeo Drive shit to a minimum.
 
Of course, it's just a thought from one of the people you supposedly speak for. What the hell do I know, I'm just a "taxpayer..."
 
-E-Rock

Well, that last entry didn't go over very well, did it. Oh well. You win some, you lose some. And it can stay there as a testament to me having a bad night.
 
Hopefully, though, that bad night is the last one I had to get out of the way before tomorrow night. You see, tomorrow night is my band's first paying gig at Electric Avenue. The week leading up to tomorrow night's show has been a rather interesting one for me, bad night aside, and getting bad nights out of the way ensures that I won't have one when I get on stage.
 
Justin, the owner of Electric Ave., is one hell of a guy. I went to school with his wife Rochelle (for a few years, anyway, she was a few grades ahead of me), and they're just wonderful people hands down. His mother, Mary, comes to Karaoke every Friday night (tonight will be no exception) and has basically become my "mum."
 
Justin continued to show that awesomeness by buying us 10 spots on the local Modern Rock station, The Buzz! Tuesday, I went in with the morning DJ, Laura, and recorded three different spots to be aired yesterday, today, and tomorrow (the day of the show). Though I was only there for about a half hour, I had a fun time with Laura and her husband as we wrestled with Windows, talked Linux, and recorded my part of the ad.
 
I heard the first spot yesterday. Laura did a fucking GREAT job with it! It sounded awesome, and I think it'll get some people down to the Ave. to watch us rock and roll.
 
Slowly, I'm giving up hope with regards to Jill. So, a final word on it (barring a miracle at the last minute) - After Memorial Day weekend, I'm finished with the whole thing.

Hey! If you're bored on a Thursday night, check out the John Miller Program! John, Paul and guests have tons of fun wasting bandwidth in order to entertain and inform. You can interact via the IRC chatroom or ICQ, and sometimes you can call in as well. Check it out, come on, you know you have nothing to do on a Thursday...
 
Peace to those who know. Those who don't, go blow. Outtie.
 
-E

OK. First of all, never once have I claimed to be a "great man." All I am is another guy with ambitions of greatness, and am honest about every facet of my life.
 
That said, I invite you to read the amusing text of an ICQ conversation I had this morning with a girl named Jenn, using the ICQ account of one Robyn. During the conversation, I told her I'd be posting this, and she said she didn't care. Permission is granted, so I can't be sued ^-^ And that also means that if you feel like adding her ICQ number to your list and fucking with her head for a while, then by all means, go to town. In fact, I encourage it...
 
Anyway, I never claimed that my jobs have been the greatest in the world. My current job is Cleaning Guy/Spare Bartender at the local VFW club. Glamerous? Nope. I'm also an aspiring musician, but am I famous? Nope. Just getting started, actually. I also live at home with my mom and dad because, due to my luck and the local economy, I lack the funds to move out. But as soon as I do, I'll be out.
 
Keep in mind that I think there's nothing wrong with all of this. The only thing I would change immediately is my living situation, and I'm making every effort to do so with a job and a band (first paying gig is this Saturday night, more on that in a future entry). Nothing at all is wrong with my current situation. Could be better, but it could also be worse.
 
Now, Jenn? I don't really know about her. She seems odd and immature for a 20-ish year old who thinks like she does. I've only ever met her in person once or twice, and those were for maybe 5 minutes each. Why she thinks of me like she does is beyond me.
 
Tonight, she expressed the need to let me know just how shitty and pitiful my existance is compared to hers, and she wanted to make sure that I was well aware of the subject.
 
But little did she know that what she (or anyone else) thinks of me doesn't really matter one way or the other to me...
 
And so, hillarity ensues:
 
Session Start (ICQ - E-Rock:25025470): Thu May 08 00:55:34 2003
25025470: whens yo band play
E-Rock: Saturday night
25025470: jennsvthere
E-Rock: ???
25025470: BACK WHERE I COME FROM IT'S CALLED DOIN THE HIPPIDY DIPPIDY

WHY DO YOU HATE JENN
WHY DID YOU GET FIRED

E-Rock: I don't hate Jen, what did you mean by "jennsvthere" and fired from where?
25025470: I DONT KNOW, BEST

E-Rock: Because I knew too much.
25025470: ART?

E-Rock: No, not art...
25025470: ART ART BLEW A FART
E-Rock: Have you been drinking?
25025470: SPRITE
E-Rock: And...?
25025470: IT'S CHEWY
E-Rock: Once again, you continue to fail to make any sense whatsoever...
25025470: HEY I THINK YOU SHOULD GET A MULLET
E-Rock: Yep, no sense at all..
25025470: BEST
E-Rock: What about Best?
25025470: I THINK YOU SHOULD GET A MULLET

25025470: DO U STILL LIVE AT HOME
E-Rock: Exactly what are you trying to get at here?
25025470: WHAT IM TRYING TO TELL YOU IS THAT YOU ARE A BIG LOSER....
YOU CANT EVEN WORK AT A FREAKING GAS STATION.....YOURE TOO QUALIFIED....MY ASS.....RIGHT.....YOU CANT EVEN MAKE MONEY PUMPING GAS...HA HA HA.....THE ART INSTITUTE HAS GOTTEN YOU REAL FAR....YOU ARE HOW OLD, STILL LIVING WITH THE FOLKS, PLUS STILL ANOREXIC......GET A TUB OF LARD AND GO TO TOWN....WELL NOT THAT WAY BUT WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU
KISSES....

25025470: YOU DID ASK
E-Rock: And obviously, you haven't grown up at all. I was fired from Best because I got too close to the Manager having an affair, and rather than her lose her job over doing it on company time, she fired me. What the Art Institute has done for me is irrelevant. Living with my folks is most certainly not by choice. I am not anorexic, I have a high metabolism. If I were genuinely anorexic, I would weigh MUCH less than I do now.
E-Rock: Everyone else has at least matured somewhat. You haven't caught up yet?
E-Rock: And honestly, does it make you feel better about yourself to talk shit about someone elses circumstances?
25025470: you are cool. let me think about this...you went after a MARRIED woman whose career is checking people out who need to buy soda and purchase gasoline. Im glad to see that your standards ARE high.....

YOURE the one who BRAGGED on how you would be working for Disney.......Can I have Mickey's autograph?

Maturity level......hummmm.....let's check yours...reread first paragraph..you know the affair...point to ponder.....I would share my disgusting love life with others...once again...check of maturity level.

Does your folks have an extra bed for me...perhaps I can live off of them too.....hee hee....

Yes I like to see others FAIL who ONCE thought they were so great....oh it makes me chuckle thinking of you being the person I give my $15 that fills up my tank.....then again I guess you are used to dealing with money to fill up tanks....HINT HINT
25025470: quick response.....must be all those qualifications holding you back.....

Ill take a pack of Marlboro lights in a box please

Thanks
E-Rock: The affair: Not my affair, hers with someone who was engaged only in his own mind, and even then has an obsessive/compuslive disorder with regards to excessive gambling and mental abuse towards his girlfriend.

  Disney: Never said I WOULD be working for them, said I COULD, as in it was possible. However, from what I've learned about the Walt Disney Corporation, they wouldn't be to favorable to work for. Besides, my major was Multimedia, not Animation.

  I do work, and not pumping gas. I work for the Osceola VFW.

  And as far as maturity goes, well, you're proving me right each time you send a message.
E-Rock: End of line...
25025470: by your responses....i can see the maturity.

well ponder this YOU MIGHT be working at the bar for the rest of your life. Ill email Disney and let them know how much better off you are.....

once again, the lard

25025470: the crossing guard waved me through
E-Rock: Lard? Make some sense for once. I will not be working at a bar for the rest of my life. Do you get off on putting other people down? Or are you perpetually stuck in the 10th grade?
E-Rock: For christ's sake, get some class...
E-Rock: People do what they do to get by. That's all I do. Greatness comes with time, to those who want it.
E-Rock: There is nothing wrong with anything I do.
25025470: you work at a bar.....and you tell ME to get some class.....gettting by? humm interesting way to put that

i dont understand how people can go through life thinking whatever they do is just fine...then again there are people like you which causes the world to contain the many mysteries it has.....

greatness....hee hee. ill take a rum and coke.....think you can get great at the correct proportion? point to ponder
25025470: my cartoons are on.....gotta jet.....
nice challenge.......ha ha ha
E-Rock: You must certainly be enjoying yourself, because you're entertaining the hell out of me. I haven't laughed this hard in ages...
25025470: it is good to laugh at yourself.....
E-Rock: No need when you're supplying all the comedy...
25025470: i could be the next chris rock.......COULD BE!!!!!!!

im glad to see that you can still laugh about your situation. im was just bringing up some of the great accomplishments that you have done with your life.....

oh was the prerequisite for working at the bar to work at best PRACTICING selling the smokes?
E-Rock: In case you haven't gotten the hint, I'm laughing at you, not myself...
25025470: okay....it is your LIE.....tell it how you need to
25025470: you are quick
but then again youve been told before too
E-Rock: Never said I actually gave a rats ass about what you think of me... And because I don't give a rats ass, the senseless drivel coming from your keyboard is what's fueling my laughter. I find it funny that you feel the need to justify your self-supposed position in life by taking someone's life and making it sound like it's the most repulsive thing in the world.

  Honestly, are you that insecure about yourself?
E-Rock: Now I feel bad for you... Wait... No I don't... Never mind...
25025470: my position in life is to help others. YOU HAVE problems....you think that you have accomplished so much in life. i am just pin pointing some aspects about your life thus far in hopes that you would better yourself...even you are above a bar....atleast i think you are...

insecurities? hummmm......let us think about the affair once again. point proven.

E-Rock: I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to post this entire conversation in my weblog, complete with ICQ number and your full name. I think quite a few people will get a kick out of it...
E-Rock: Who says I don't help others. Apparently you haven't heard about my Volunteer work...
25025470: im sure the whole world will read it as well. i would post all your accomplishments
E-Rock: I have quite a few people around the world who read my work, actually...
25025470: are you feeling insecure? you must justify your assistance with the volunteering...hummmm
25025470: i feel sorry for them, if my life was that pathetic...to read your web conversations...hummm.....
E-Rock: And still, she tries... Amazing...
E-Rock: Since when does volunteering constitute self-justification?
25025470: i know i am
too bad NOBODY has ever told you that in return.....
E-Rock: Two different matters entirely...
25025470: since you have to justify that you complete these duties....
25025470: you are a different matter entirely
E-Rock: So, is everything I do going to be looked upon as a negative?
25025470: where is this web shit. i wanta read it

25025470: No of course not.....you are human
E-Rock: We haven't finished this little comedy hour yet, deary. I can't post it until you're done making me laugh...
E-Rock: Human is all I will ever be.

  And you too, for that matter...
25025470: well i hope you have had your thrills....
E-Rock: Deary, the party's just starting...
25025470: nah it is just ending...
E-Rock: Come on, I know you can do better than this. Make me REALLY laugh...
E-Rock: Quitter...
E-Rock: Quitter...
E-Rock: Quitter...
E-Rock: Quitter...
25025470: go look at your penis. that will make you chuckle
E-Rock: You can't tell me you're giving up on trying to make yourself look better than me?
E-Rock: Quitter...
25025470: i never claimed that i was better than you
25025470: ERIC
E-Rock: Gee... That's basically what everything you've said implies...
E-Rock: ROBYN
25025470: bye
E-Rock: Oh, and thanks for giving me permission to post your ICQ number. Enjoy getting Slashdotted...
25025470: this is jenn

E-Rock: Oh, but you don't know what the Slashdot Effect is... Here, let me show you... (Link: http://www.google.com/search?q=slashdot+effect)http://www.google.com/search?q=slashdot+effect
E-Rock: JENN, whoever...
E-Rock: Ohhh yeah... I have access to YOUR ICQ number, too...
25025470: go to bed
E-Rock: This is going to be really fun! I should thank you, really...
E-Rock: And to think that you actually gave me permission...
25025470: i am so scared.
E-Rock: Nothing you should be afraid of. Just a source of quite a bit of amusement for me.
E-Rock: The Slashdot Effect, if you would actually educate yourself, is only temporary at best...
25025470: get the lotion and go to town
25025470: go away
E-Rock: Only you would twist it that way... Of course... nah, nevermind. I'm finished with you.
E-Rock: The chatlog is long enough.
25025470: oh yes eric
my nipples are hard
E-Rock: Or maybe not. Come on, that's cliche. I KNOW you can come up with something better than "oh, my nipples are hard"...
E-Rock: Seeing as how you're living SUCH a BETTER life than me...
25025470: get your hands out of your pants
25025470: i know..id be jealous too
E-Rock: Give me a break. Is that all you've got? Come on, bring it on, girlfriend...
25025470: dont ever call me girlfriend AGAIN
E-Rock: No, you did not go there GIRLFRIEND... Uh uh...
E-Rock: Girlfriend...
E-Rock: Jenn's my girlfriend!
E-Rock: Yay, I'm all twitterpated! Joy!
E-Rock: Girlfriend Girlfriend Girlfriend!
E-Rock: Annoyed yet?
E-Rock: Or should I try harder?
25025470: im sure you get try harder all the time
E-Rock: Creative... Come on, I know you can do much better than that... If you're going to insult me, at least do it right, please...
25025470: atleast do it right.....another famous saying
E-Rock: Are you having an off night?
25025470: NO
E-Rock: Your brain seems to be unable to come up with a truely witty insult...
E-Rock: Impress me, damnit...
25025470: mirror
E-Rock: I'm waiting...
25025470: another famous saying you hear often
25025470: are you having flashbacks from some dates
E-Rock: Mirror mirror on the wall, will Jenn come up with any good insults at all?
E-Rock: The verdict is in... Nope.
E-Rock: Did you get these insults in a fortune cookie or a box of crackerjacks?
25025470: mirror mirror
25025470: you tell me which one won your woman over
E-Rock: Oh, now you're reaching...
E-Rock: Bottom of the barrel alreday?
E-Rock: Sad...
E-Rock: And here I was holding out hope that you could honestly say something so original that I'd have no choice but to feel even remotely insulted...
25025470: yes ive been working with the bottom of the barrel.....all evening...

typical man.....whenever youre in the mood they arent and then after orgasm they just keep it up
25025470: bye
E-Rock: Oh, going to tell me about your sex life now? Sweet! I've always wanted to know how people with better lives than me like to fuck...
E-Rock: Come on, Jenn. You have yet to come up with a real zinger. Reach deep down, find the other of your two brain cells, and ask it for the best, most insulting thing you've ever said to someone...
25025470: i wish i was eric jacobson
E-Rock: Wish on, wishing dreamer...
E-Rock: Maybe someday...
25025470: that would be a nightmare
25025470: hopefully
E-Rock: That it would. Two of me? The world would be destroyed... I'd have to kill you first...
25025470: good
E-Rock: But then again, ammunition is so expensive these days, and it takes a whole lot to get the blood off of stainless steel...
E-Rock: Perhaps Anthrax...
E-Rock: No, wait, nevermind. I don't have to do a thing :)
25025470: humm.....maybe i can copy this and send it to the cops
E-Rock: They'd certainly get a good laugh about it...
25025470: what part of leave me the fuck alone dont you understand
probably the fuck
E-Rock: Ha ha. You have an ignore list, use it. I certainly will be. Thank you for your time, though, I got a good laugh out of the whole thing...
25025470: night baby doll
sweet dreams
25025470: dream of me, ill be dreaming of you NAKED
E-Rock: Yep, the cops WOULD love this...
*** Error while sending IM: This user is currently not logged on
 
Well, if her position in life is really "helping others," then I guess she did her job. I really did get a good laugh at the whole conversation, and she most certainly helped that laughter along...

This is one of those things where you just have to sit down with a person, look them in the eye, and tell them like it is. But in this case, I'll just say what I have to say, and let you damned people tell me what you want, because frankly, I don't care.
 
And by "you damned people" I most certainly mean the people of France, more specifically, their government officials.
 
What the fuck is your problem? Tell me. Tell me now. Look, math is not a difficult subject. You have one (1) insane dictator in 1 (one) oil rich country. This lunatic is making billions ($$,$$$,$$$,$$$.$$) off of it, and at the same time is neglecting the better part of his fifteen million (15,000,000) people. Because of their tribal backgrounds, they are tortured, killed, and have even been used as targets for chemical and biological weapons.
 
Now, keep in mind, and this is very important - Saddam has fifty-two billion (52,000,000,000.00) dollars, and fifteen million (15,000,000.00) people, two thirds of which he commits genocide against. That works out to roughly three thousand five hundred (3,500)dollars per person, dead or alive.
 
  And your problem is...?
 
What do you not understand about the phrase "homicidal/suicidal fundamentalist lunatics with oil and bad bombs?"
 
Look, I'll give France some credit. Once, France had a good chunk of Europe under its control, yes. You were, at one time, a superpower. But for the better part of that time, it was a much smaller world, wasn't it...
 
When Napoleon decided to invade Mother Russia and was met by General Winter, ultimately leading to Waterloo, that's when it was over. You sold us land (that neither you nor us rightly owned, I'll give you that much, we're just as guilty as you there) that allowed us to grow...
 
To save your asses not once but TWICE! Fucking Twice!
 
"Oh shit, here come those wacky Germans! We give up! We give up!" Flash forward four years, "Hello, Americans, THANK YOU!"
 
Fucking Twice, Already!
 
And let me tell you motherfucking frogs something about the Second Big Surrender and Liberation go-round. My Grandfather served in your pitiful nation. His friends - an entire generation - they put their lives on the line because they knew what was right and decided to give it all to save your sorry asses, and we lost a whole fuckload of good men on your account.
 
And yet you sell these people shit like nuclear reactors? What... The... Fuck?!? You know he's a fucking nutcase, and you give him the means to start working on a nuclear weapon?
 
Imagine this for a second. What if we stayed neutral and sold Hitler the bomb? Hmmm? Where would you be then? A fucking testing ground, that's where.
 
You owe the United States your very existance. You owe my Grandfather your existance. Plain and motherfucking simple. You owe it to us to stand right beside us in this matter.
 
But only on the grounds that Saddam is a lunatic nutcase and needs rid of. After that, we sould stay the fuck out and let the Iraqi's try to mimic us if they can. That's a whole other can o' worms, though...
 
Who the hell gave you Veto Power at the UN? A nation that laid down twice to the same enemy? Please, security to you starts with "US", I'll bet, doesn't it. You rolled over and died, we kept you going. You don't know the first thing about security, other than the words "We give up, please don't hurt us." Oh yeah, didn't you get hurt pretty bad both times? Awww, poor babies. No Veto For You...
 
Are you getting my point yet? It's pretty much shut the fuck up and get with the program. Quit wanting to lay down and let guys like Hitler and Hussein play with toys they shouldn't. Who knows. Maybe we are pre-empting the next Hitler or Stalin or Pol Pot or Ho Chi Minh (by the way, didn't he push you out first?)... I could go on, but those examples should be enough.
 
The entire campaign, we've done nothing but show the utmost compassion to the Iraqi people. Yes, some have died, but less died in this war than wouild on Hussein's clock. Iraq will have control of its own destiny once we rebuild them.
 
But wait! Your troops didn't shed blood. Ours did. I guess you can't play. Just the Coalition. The UN? That fossil is in need of serious reform (if it gives you veto power, that is reason enough) and can only help on the hu-man-i-tar-i-an ef-fort only. Have the world show the compassion that the United States has shown it.
 
Send your men and women - Fuck that. YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY - let them come to the theater. Let them offer up their lives to get rid of Crazy Hussein and friends, and then (and ONLY THEN) can you play ball on any big scale.
 
Point taken yet? Shut your goddamned mouths. My family fucking bled for your lives, your very existance as the nation of France. Once, you believed in Liberty, Equality, and Brotherhood. Don't the Iraqi people deserve the same? What makes us so goddamned special? Especially you?
 
Either get on the love train, or get left behind. And when the next nutball knocks on your borders and you want some help? Damned if the Americans are coming again to save the day. Third time won't be the charm, mes amis. Think on that a one time...
 
Peace to those who know. The rest, go blow. Outtie.
 
-E

Here we go with some random happiness from my little world. Please forgive the abbreviated nature of this particular post, but I have work in about an hour, and I still have quite a bit to do before I leave. So, here goes.
 
Fire School Update - One more class to go! We have to take the final, and then it's time to set fire to an old house and get down to business with entry crew training. Should go well, since my team consists of top-notch guys that I know and trust well.
 
Band News - Our debut CD is selling pretty well, we've already offed about 50 copies and counting. Bill, Andy and I have our burners working hard to churn these babys out, and Andy's printer is eating up ink doing the labels and inserts. Tomorrow, we take the stage at 6:40 for our slot in the Battle Of The Bands at Clarion University. From what I hear, all the entrants so far have been cover bands, so we stand a HUGE chance of crushing fools and getting a record label's attention!
 
And speaking of this weekend, man, am I busy! Work this morning, spending the afternoon finalizing travel plans for tomorrow. Then, off to the VFW for beer, and on to Electric Avenue for more beer and Karaoke. A mere two hours after that, it's a Fisherman's Breakfast at my fire hall from 4am to 9am. Follow that with a Rabies Clinic, again at the fire hall, from 10am til noon. Then I get to leave from there for the Battle in Clarion. After spending all day there, I finally get to come home, only to have to go to work the next morning at 9:30am. Sleep? What's that?
 
Nothing new on the "Geek In Love" front, though things are progressing on my end of it all. Every lover needs a backup posse, after all...
 
Feeling nostalgic lately, so I've been hacking away at Warcraft 2. I got the Battle.Net edition so I can log on and frag fools from all over the world. Fun games never go out of style, outdated graphics or not!
 
It's a good thing I can type fast...
 
Blame it on Wil Wheaton. He's got me addicted to Fark, and soon I'll be tossing my hat into the "Photoshop This Image" ring. Now we'll see if my unique humor can stand the ultimate test: Impressing other hopeless geeks like myself.
 
Gotta say what's up to Christina, Nathan and Scott, former classmates who are now giving the Baath Regime hell in Kuwait and Iraq. Go get 'em, guys, and come home safe. Everyone back here at home is behind you 100%!
 
And finally, a shameless plug! Gotta love those! Anyway, if you're not busy on Thursday Nights around 9pm EST, why not download Real Player and treat yourself to The John Miller Program. There's no better way to waste bandwidth on a Thursday night than watching John, Paul and the gang take on whatever topic comes to mind. Join us in the IRC chatroom, ICQ in your thoughts or whatever else comes to mind, and enjoy two hours of complete, uncensored insanity!
 
Peace to those who know. The rest, go blow. Outtie.
 
-E

Yep, here we go again. Jill's back in my life, and the rollercoaster ride continues. Now, at this point, I had to stop myself and think for a second. Is it worth the hell I'm putting myself through? Is it worth holding out hope for a dream that might never be realized?
 
Or is hope worth it? Could this dream possibly come true? So far, one dream has come true. While I'm not a huge rock star (yet), I am in a great band with a good bunch of guys, and I've recorded my first album. When I was little, I always wanted to be up there on the stage, making music and having fun at it. Now, I have my chance, and it's better than I could have imagined, even at this early stage.
 
But have I been given another chance with Jill? Or is it the hopeless romantic in me playing games with the logical thinker in me? That's a tough call. Of all the decisions I've had to make recently, this one has to be the most confusing. Part of me says to let it go, that I'd be better off without the heartbreak that would inevitably come with failure. And the other part of me says that life is all about taking a chance on your dreams. If I gave up, I'd probably end up regretting that choice for the rest of my life, whether I find love again or not.
 
I hate "What Might Have Been" as opposed to "What Could Be."
 
So, I'm going to take a chance. What the hell, right? I've dealt with heartache before, and I've survived. You always survive things like that (unless you're a weak minded fool, which I'm most certainly not). I'll survive again if it comes to that. But it can't be said that I didn't try my best.
 
"Try not! Do, or do not. There is no try." The words of a puppet in a sci-fi film. And they couldn't be any more true...
 
Don't know if I'll update much on the subject. I'm probably in for another ride like last time, so I won't bore you with repetative details. When something breaks, that's when I'll say more...
 
Peace to those who know, especially the people of Iraq, many of whom are tasting freedom for the first time today...

Yep, the title says it all. Lots of interesting stuff has happened in the past 7 days, and it promises to only get more interesting. My life is one heck of a ride, that's for sure.
 
First off, of course, the CD is finished. Already word is spreading (slowly), and a few folks have downloaded a tune or two from my machine via P2P. See? P2P can be a good thing!
 
Read an article by Darcy Fournier over at 1Wrestling.Com that basically took an interview of Paul Levesque (aka Triple H) and tore it down to what he's really saying. I decided to write to Darcy and express my thoughts on his article, and wouldn't you know it, my reply was the first one he put in his new Reader Feedback article! Sweet! Always fun to get your opinions on a somewhat major website. Done it twice (1,2) here on Slashdot ^-^
 
Is "A Geek In Love" really over? Apparently not, but I'm not going to get all excited... Yet...
 
Finally found some work this week, cleaning and tending bar at VFW Post 5020 in Osceola Mills, PA. It's not much, but at least now I can afford to get cigs again. Eh, I should quit, anyway...
 
A friend of mine split up with his long-time girlfriend this week. His declaration? "I'm gonna go get me some pussy tonight!" That was Wednesday. It's now Saturday, and he still hasn't gotten any. Guess he isn't the Mack Daddy he thought he was. Ha ha. What's worse, I've gotten laid every night this week without even trying. Sucks to be him, kicks ass to be me.
 
Sorry, I know you probably didn't want to read that, but hey. At least it made a point.
 
Time for me to head back to work to man the bar. Gotta love alcohol!
 
Peace to those who know. The rest, go blow. Outtie.
 
-E

Finally, after two studio sessions and about a week's worth of waiting, my band (Tempered Edge) has finally finished our first CD, "Slip Into Never." It's available to order now by Contacting Andy (the bass player), and the price is a reasonable $10 (covers CDs, ink costs, paper and label costs - we're doing this ourselves, after all), not like the near-$20 discs of crap that the RIAA likes to swindle you with.
 
Now that the CD is done, we can finally look forward to gigs! Our first scheduled gig is in two weeks on Saturday, April 12th. We're entered in a Battle of the Bands at Clarion University. We know we won't win (these things are always rigged), but we'll deffinately make a good showing, and hopefully get hooked up with a record label to begin discussions. And yes, tops on my list is how copyrights are enforced. We want control of that, not the label.
 
Gotta say what's up and congratulations to my boy Ed Wilsoncroft's band, Final Stand, on getting signed by a label from Germany! If you're more into the hardcore scene, you'll deffinately want to check out these Clearfield Area rockers. Good luck with taking the next step, guys!
 
While I'm plugging things (yeah, I'm shameless, LOL), gotta send out a huge THANK YOU to J.P. at Castaway 7 Studio for helping us put together a totally boss CD! J.P. recorded Final Stand as well, so we're expecting good things to come out of our relationship with his studio. If you need music recorded, and have the means to get to Altoona, PA, then by all means get in and record there! The studio is built into his house, so it has a relaxed and laid-back atmosphere, essential to recording a great CD. Thanks, J.P.!
 
The future's finally here, and the one dream I have left is quickly becoming a reality. Here's to holding on and putting it all on the line for what you believe in.
 
Peace to those who know. The rest, go blow. Outtie.
 
-E

People. You know, in 25 years, I still can't figure them out.
 
Monday, Steve told me that he was coming to Electric Avenue tonight to kick my ass. First mistake, since you should never give anyone with half a brain fair warning. I was so ready for him it wasn't funny.
 
And the pussy doesn't show. Go figure.
 
Now, honestly. Why should a 33 year old construction worker (and compuslive gambler, woman abuser, tax evader, etc.) be not show up to kick a 25 year old musician/firefighter's ass? There shouldn't be any reason. But apparently, there is.
 
He must see me as a threat, otherwise he wouldn't have challanged me in the first place. But why didn't he show?
 
A few possible reasons: 1) He's afraid I might beat him. And tonight, I would have. I was all boozed up and ready to rumble, plus I had a little secret tactic that would have immobilized him on the spot. Possible, but not likely. 2) Jill talked him out of it to protect me. Lord knows why. If she chose him over me, why would she care to protect me? Also possible, and a little more likely. 3) The stupid fucker forgot. Wouldn't put it past his mank ass. 4) Something completely off the wall prevented him from showing. Doubtful, but still possible.
 
So, will he reschedule his impending beating? Who knows. His arrogance says he will, and Jill has a hand in saying he won't. Only time will tell.
 
Otherwise, a very uneventful day, other than my car's engine seizing up. Now I'm without wheels. Sucks, but I'll manage, just like I always do. The band's CD will be finished this weekend, and real MP3/OGGs will be available Sunday night. Here's to hoping my career takes off ^-^

So let's see what happens...

Boy, did I have a ton of fun yesterday. Dave, Bill, Andy and I went to Castaway 7 Studio in Altoona to record our first CD, titled "Slip Into Never." Breann, Kirk, Courtney and Vince came along for the ride.
 
In all honsety, I wasn't really as nervous as I thought I'd be in the days leading up to Sunday. Bill was the only nervous one, and boy, was that funny. You see, Guitar players often have egos or are driven perfectionists. Bill's a little bit of both, but he doesn't take it to any sort of extreme. He was more or less just trying to make sure everything was a little above satisfactory.
 
The recording process is pretty simple, but a little time consuming. First there's setup. At Castaway, there's a decent sized drum room, so we had to get Dave set up and miked. Andy, Bill and I set up in the living room (the guy's house doubles as a studio), and we recorded the scratch tracks and drum track all at once. Then it was time for the three of us in the living room to lay down our production tracks.
 
Andy went first, recording the bass tracks in the control room so he could plug directly into the racks. Bill's marathon guitar track session came next. He got to set up in what became known as "The Hole" (the drum room). The way JP miked his guitar was just awesome. Four different mics, one for each speaker in Bill's cabinet, four different sounds. Excellent stuff.
 
Finally, it was my turn. A mic was set up in "The Hole," and I went to town. I'm really happy with what came out, because I nailed each and every song in one take, and did each one like I'd never done them before. I couldn't believe that me, the kid with some of the worst luck in the world, could do something that awesome. Maybe I'm finally set to get somewhere...
 
We're going in on Thursday to do the final mix and touch up some stuff here and there. After that, "Slip Into Never" will be done and ready for public consumption. I'm extremely proud of this record, and hopefully it'll be the start of great things to come for this city kid stuck in a small town...

George Bush is a fucking moron.
 
With all of our focus on Iraq, he's opened the door to terrorist attacks on our nation. And, as a first responder, that doesn't make me happy in the least.
 
This is my second official war. There have been smaller conflicts, peacekeeping missions, the whole thing in Panama to get Manuel Noriega. But this is war number two for me. The first, of course, was the original Gulf War. I was in the 7th grade back then, only 13 and not really affected by the whole conflict. It was half a world away back then, and there was no real danger to us here in the US.
 
But now, things are very different.
 
The first responder in me is worried that bin Laden and his cronies will use this "distraction" to launch an assault on my homeland. If they do, and if the shit goes down near me, then I have to go to the front line. In my back yard. That's fucked up as far as I'm concerned. Many of my brothers, sisters (in the fire service) and fellow Americans lost their lives doing their duty on September 11th, 2001.
 
In the end, if need be, I am ready to lay down my life to defend my home soil, and to defend my people. But ONLY here, not over there.
 
Then there's the 25 year old man in me. If worse comes to worse and a draft is held, it is very likely that my number could be drawn. I could be chosen to go fight, and possibly die, for a cause that I don't fully believe in. While I do detest Saddam Hussein and his regime for their crimes, I do not believe that it is our place to get rid of him. Total war is not a viable option, at least not to me.
 
In the end, if I am chosen to go to war, I will not go. I will not kill when ordered to do so. I will kill of my own accord.
 
And then, there's simply me. Who I am, what I am, and what I'm about. So many feelings, so many thoughts. And all of them focused on one person.
 
Yes, I know I'd be one of many to go if drafted. I'd be one of thousands leaving family and friends behind. But that's not what worries me. What worries me is leaving just one person behind. Someone whom I said I would never leave behind again. And that, thanks to my nature, is a promise I can't break.
 
Of course, that one person is Jill.
 
Yes, she has made her choice. Yes, she has decided that I'm not in her future. But when I make a promise, I intend to keep it.
 
So here I sit, aware of the world around me, yet stuck in my own little world at the same time. What I'll do, I don't yet know. But rest assured, whatever it is, it'll be to look out for number one. And I don't mean me...

Here's a killer for ya. Jill decides to stay with Steve. Steve borrows $3100 from a lady to pay bills. He pays a few bills, then blows the rest gambling. Now both Steve and Jill are getting sued by said lady.
 
Poetic Justice. Gotta love it...

Yep. Good old Eric is going back to school. But not just any school, Fire School! For the last 9 months, I've been running around with a local fire company in an effort to do something constructive with my life during my current down period. Ever since, I've been waiting for the class to be offered that I need to join the ranks of "actual" firemen. That class is finally here, and I'm all over it.
 
Fire School (or Essentials of Firefighting) is being offered in Houtzdale (of all places, my home town), and I couldn't be happier. It started last weekend, and so far, things are going really well. I'm the captain of Team 1, which is pretty cool (although it doesn't really mean much, LOL). It's nice to have it in my town, I can just trip on home for lunch, relax, read Slashdot, talk to folks on Trillian, check e-mail, watch some TV - you know, the usual. LOL.
 
So now I'm two weeks in, and already I'm alot more confident in my abilities. During SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus, or Air Packs for those who don't like long names) training, I was picked to lead my team through entry, search and rescue training. Wouldn't you know it, out of 10 teams, our team did the best. That makes me feel pretty damn good, since it shows my skills as a leader in a pressure situation. Before you know it, I'll be bolting into a burning structure and yanking people to safety. Granted, the idea is to never have that happen, but it's nice to be prepared as well as confident that I can do the job and do it right.
 
Today, we took the SCBA practice test. I got a 92%! 25 questions at 4 points apiece, meaning I only missed two questions. Since it was just a practice test, I'll be able to bone up on what I missed and ace the test next week. The rest of my team didn't fare so well, but I'll fix that. We're going to have a few team study sessions this week, and come hell or high water those boys will get it right.
 
You know, it's really funny. All through Elementary, High School and College, I never worked this hard at anything. And, especially before College, I was never this confident about anything, either. Funny how times change. I finally found a job I like to do, and it has nothing to do with computers at all. What's funnier is that it's a volunteer job, so I don't get paid. But I'm honestly thinking of going to the Academy and making this a career, if only to suppliment the freelance work I do in the digital world.
 
Alot of people laugh at us. I have no clue why, though. Being a firefighter is a thing to be proud of. For starters, you're doing something that benefits and protects your fellow man (no matter how much you despise them). Being a volunteer and loving what I do has shown me that, yes, I am capable of giving of myself to help others in need, which is a huge pride booster. Each and every time that pager goes off, it's one hell of an adrenaline rush, which any moderately-thrill-seeking person would love. And most of all, I'm doing something that contributes in a positive way to the furthering of the human race as a whole.
 
I didn't get into this business for accolades, recognition, or any of that nonsense. I got into it to do something with myself and my life. And now that I'm back in a classroom learning what I have to do to be better at it, I finally feel like life is getting back to normal.

Back in December, when LotR:TTT came out, I did a little piece on the LotR movies and the bajillions they had the potential to make. Now, almost four months later, it appears I was right...
 
  The IMDb has an All-Time Worldwide Money Chart. And guess what movies are listed at 5 and 7 all-time. That's right. Both LotR films. FotR at 5, and TTT at 7. TTT is just about ready to overtake it's predicessor, since it's only down by about $12 Million.
 
The final take on FotR obviously hasn't changed ($860,200,000), since it hasn't been in theatrical release for some time. But boy, has TTT grown. $848,600,000 later, and only four months into it's first run, it's ready to actually overtake FotR. So, lets do a little Tolkien math and see what we have:
 
Cost to make all three LotR films: Roughly $300,000,000. Remember that number, because we'll be subtracting and dividing with it in a bit.
 
Final take of LotR:FotR: $860,200,000
Current take of LotR:TTT: $848,600,000
 
Total so far: $1,708,800,000
 
To quote another famous movie villian, "Impressive. Most impresstive." Two movies, two years, almost two billion dollars. While the Star Wars franchise remains the single highest grossing series of all time, you have to remember that the original trilogy has been through several rereleases, including a slight makeover. Looks like Sauron is giving Emperor Palpatine a litteral run for his money.
 
Now, we take the $1,708,800,000 that LotR has made, and subtract the original $300,000,000 it took to make the three movies (which were shot simultaniously, then each edited in the year before its release). We're left with $1,408,800,000. Big number, eh? That's more or less total profit for New Line. That sum is enough to make a whopping 12 more movies of LotR's scale, or four more trlogies.
 
And there's still one more movie to go. Scary.
 
Once I said that even if TTT only made half of what FotR made, it'd be a huge success. Boy, was I right, and New Line is laughing all the way to the bank.
 
As of right now, it seems that TTT will in fact overtake FotR. Since this was written on a Saturday, the IMDb's world tables are only updated as recent as last weekend. So on Monday, we'll see where the numbers are. It's had a whole week to run, and of course, there's the ever-popular weekend. $12,000,000 isn't all that much as far as the movies go, and we'll probably see it when the weekend is over. TTT will be bigger than FotR.
 
And what of Return of the King? It's in post production right now, and is set to be released around Christmas later this year. Yep, a nine month wait. But when the cards fall, that wait will most likely be worth it. With the biggest on-screen battle yet to come in the form of the battle of Pelannor Fields, not to mention more Gollum and the conclusion of one of the greatest stories of all time, this one promises to be a killer. I most certainly can't wait.
 
And, will New Line and Peter Jackson option The Hobbit? What about the Silmarillion? Or maybe any of the Unfinished Tales of Middle-earth? There's plenty of future movie fodder to consider here, folks. This could very easily crush Star Wars into space dust. If you want more info, check out The Encyclopedia of Arda, one of the most comprehensive sources of info on the world of Middle-earth on the net. That site pretty much proves that LotR's universe has the potential to sit the movie business on it's ass for many, many years to come.
 
Anyone want to bet that Tolkien is in his grave, kicking himself for saying that his story could never be made into a movie?