Just FYI

I'm currently contemplating a blogging move, which would involve not using this site on Blogger to post a blog. Don't exactly know what's going to happen next, but I'll try to keep everyone posted (you know who you are). And... that's 'bout it. Ciao!

Not going anywhere for a while? Grab a... Snickers?

So, there was this Snickers commercial during last weekend's Superbowl.
And this is the response it received from the Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD, both of whom are up in arms against this commercial, and its associated website (which, incidentally, has been removed and the link now directs you to the Snickers website).

So two apparently-straight auto mechanics kissed after one craves the alluring Snickers bar. And because one says to the other "Quick... do something manly!" we the audience are supposed to agree that this ad is homophobic and "fuels the kind of anti-gay bullying that haunts countless gay and lesbian school children on playgrounds all across the country?" Are we now supposed to be offended if a TV ad shows any two people kiss and then immediately dislike the experience? Or is it limited to two 'redneck' auto mechanics who're too stupid to realize the outcome of both eating opposite ends of the same Snickers?

In some sort of fairness, the Mars, inc. marketing department (or the independent contractor) should at least have someone reprimanded. Not for coming up with a bad commercial, but for having an extreme lack of foresight and approving a commercial that, while appealing to your base demographic, provides an easy opportunity for misunderstanding and retribution.

But what do you think? I'm curious to hear people's reaction on this (all 2 of you that check my blog).

Product (RED)

With a desire to listen to some 'tunes while I try to begin working out regularly, I'm considering buying that most iconographic of American electronics: the Ipod. After looking at Apple's website, I came across an interesting version of the Ipod nano: the Product(RED) nano. Which, after investigating, led me to the Product(RED) website and this included manifesto:

Great idea, right? People buy (RED) products, pay a similar amount of money (the Ipod in question costs no more than a non-(RED) one), and consequentially help the lives of AIDS-stricken people they'll probably never meet. You get the product you want with an added life-saving bonus; does it really get any better than that?

Perhaps it does. Perhaps, with a conscience seared to do right to people who desperately need to be shown the love of God, we can give to causes that support saving a life just because these causes exist to save lives. Perhaps the idea of giving of ourselves to help another in need, without the thought of any return, is what we're supposed to do.

Is Product(RED) a good idea? My perspective says yes, though it can seem to border on catering to American laziness and consumerism (a whole different discussion). It's ideals will be deemed much greater, however, if this company convinces people to give to real life-changing charities without the expectation of return.

Will I buy the (RED) Ipod? That remains to be seen (I still have to come up with at least $200 for the contraption); however, the idea that a company supported by other established brands would give a proceeds of their 'earnings' to life-change around the world is very encouraging.

Another post is here!

It's amazing how the time flies when you... really don't blog. My site says the last post I made was over 5 months ago; that's kinda scary. Aside from the usual reasons of lack of internet access and time to blog, the real reason is that I usually don't have anything to discuss. Or, more accurately, I don't take the time to post things on this site that mean something to me and that I would enjoy informing the world about such things. Perhaps sad, but it is true.

Nevertheless, this post will be about a quick recap of those 5 missing months and a look forward to more posts. I've finished my first semester back in school at UTD; 10 completed credit hours later and I come out of the Fall '06 semester that much closer to my graduation. Meanwhile, I continued to work at Starbucks; with the promotion to Shift Supervisor and all its responsibilities adding to the large reading/writing load that was my school work. The insurance claim for the Starbucks accident in April '06 still isn't finished; without too much detail, let's just say I had to involve a lawyer who is making steady, if slow, progress towards a final settlement. This is probably another lesson from God about patience and perseverence; I just hope I can learn it this time around and move on to the next 'adventure' He has planned. Katie and I are moved into the garage apartment at my parents' house; the electrical wiring has yet to be completed, but the place is in great shape otherwise and a vast improvement from our old space. Let's see... that about wraps it up.

My next semester involves continued work at Starbucks with 12 more credit hours at UTD to tackle. I'm taking courses in World History: 1500 - Present, Early Modern European History, Linguistics, and Topics in Latin American and Asian History: Chinese Religions. A fairly wide spread of topics to be sure, but fortunately none that initially seem boring in the least. Hopefully a full load of credits in the Fall semester and I'll graduate with a B.A. in History in December of '07. From there, well, it remains to be seen, but I'm trying to cast 'feeders' towards alternative teaching certifications, including Teach for America and Region 10.

Since it's almost 2:30 a.m. here and I'm barely awake, this post will be cut short. More posts will come, though probably not before the January 8, 2007 start of Spring Semester classes. For the very few that read this blog, this could come as a welcome relief. Or just a nice change of pace.

Yeah, I'm still here

OK, it's been 2 months since my last post and the people who stop by to read this will probably be amazed to find that I'm still alive. Yes, I've been very slack in posting, probably due to a lack of regular internet access and the time to use what access I have. In any event, since I have a minute, I'll update on what's been going on here.

First, the my Starbucks store is repaired and I've just finished intensive chiropractic treatment. I'm now just waiting on the last info from my doctor so I can send my total bills to the insurance company and (hopefully soon) get my settlement... well, settled. And hopefully without involving a lawyer; that may be necessary in the future, but I'm trying without one for now.

Secondly, I'm just waiting to hear from UTD about my readmission to enable me to sign up for classes in the fall. They have all my info and I should hear something within the week, or at least I hope so. I'll probably be taking 3-4 classes, hopefully on two or three days during the week, and working at Starbucks the other days.

Lastly, I'm hoping to be blogging more often, as the result of the insurance settlement mentioned above should help us get a new laptop. And that'll be very nice.

A Fateful April 20th

So it was my day off, that 20th of April. How fateful you say? Well, herein lies the tale...

It's about 1:00pm, and I'm at my Starbucks, enjoying an afternoon with co-workers and surfing the 'net on my laptop. After a few minutes of checking email and scanning my usual spots (apple.com and monster.com, to name a few), I decide that my place at the bar in the back of the cafe wasn't comfortable, and moved over to a comfy chair next to the glass wall. About 20 minutes later, as I'm facing the bar I was just seated at and merrily typing on my computer, I'm suddenly turned sideways. Not just me, mind you, but my entire chair as my laptop quickly flies out of my lap. I immediately turn to my left, for as all this happens I hear a deafening roar and am bombarded by glass flying everywhere. Where I was seated a less than half an hour ago, a blue Ford Expedition now sits, motor idling as it comes to a stop. Loud screaming, glass breading, and general pandemonium reign over the normally quiet cafe. It's at that moment that my mind draws a blank, for in what seemed like a couple of seconds, my life flashes before my eyes and I wonder the following things. 1. What just happened? 2. Why am I facing this direction? 3. Why is there an SUV in the Starbucks? After all, this isn't a drive thru, much less a drive-in.
The answers flow just as quickly. 1. Ok, so for some strange reason, a person drove an SUV into the store. 2. I'm facing this way because the front passenger side of his bumper hit the side of my chair, which also explains why my laptop was unceremoniously launched into orbit. 3. Well, I didn't have an answer for #3, until a couple of the people who were still in the front of the store started shouting that the driver wasn't moving and we needed to get him out.

Great.

And so I move into action. I'm sure it was within seconds, but it felt like hours. I get up and look out the open side of the wall where the three glass panels used to be and see a coworker who was inside his car now come out and stand there looking as dumbfounded as I felt. My attention turns back to the inside as a couple of guys try to break the driver's side window with a chair because the SUV's doors are locked. I move over to look in the passenger side window and see the driver, a guy in his early 30's, splayed stiff as a board against his chair, with what looks like blood all over the rear passenger window.

Even Better.

By this time the drivers' side window wouldn't break, so those same guys moved to try to break a hole in the windshield. Meanwhile, a friend of mine (who was also at the front of the store at the time) came up to me with a long metal pole that had broken off from where the Ford crashed through our bar, and motioned to me to help him break out the back windshield. One big push with that bar and the back windshield was destroyed, making way for us to try and unlock the back door. As we moved to open the door, the men in front were able to unlock the doors and began to pull the driver out of his seat. Though unknown to me at the time, about 4 people had called 911 immediately after the truck crashed into the store, so the fire department and paramedics showed up just as the men were pulling the unconscious guy out of the SUV. Turns out the driver is actually not bleeding, as the 'blood' I thought I saw was actually mocha from our pump that was destroyed when the truck destroyed our bar.

And time is running out for me on this computer (at the library) so I'll have to finish later.

But I must finish with this:
God is merciful, and I've just witnessed a modern miracle.

Changes, they've been a-comin'

So there has been quite a few changes since I've blogged last. And I'll now try to recap.

1. The person in my last post is now fired, and the my Starbucks is restored to some sanity.

2. My wife's sister, her husband and daughter have moved to San Fransisco, with happiness and good cheer all around. God bless them, they'll need it (come to think of it, we need it, too)

3. The baby goats, born over six weeks ago, are becoming less cute and cuddly and more obnoxious by the minute. One only hopes the cuteness lasts 'till they're sold.

4. My promotion (to Shift Supervisor) is back in the works; I'm setting up a plan for advancement via my manager which should help give our district manager an idea of my promotion timetable. Cindy (my manager) says she wants me promomted within 3 months, and I totally agree.

5. Should be meeting with a school counselor on Friday (April 14th) to discuss my options as far as going back to school in the fall. That should be interesting.

And that's about it from here. Oh, and Ben had his 24th birthday a week ago. I feel... well, O-L-D.