Walkin down the strip
the world feels exciting.
Women shake their hips
and are ever inviting.
This is the world's playground
any normal person would enjoy
Bells ring, constant sound
Most addictive vices employ
Why do I feel out of place
am I strange or weird?
So much sin in a single space
addiction and lust...feared.
Tryin to fit in, be normal
happiness becomes hidden
Inside knows this as abominable
realization comes all of a sudden.
I am not "normal" I am unique
fun is not free, sin brings a fee
These actions I must self-critique
Clearly, Vegas ain't the place for me.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Your Story
Who am I in your story?
Am I the bad guy or a hero?
Am I your everything or just a zero?
One you reject, the other you marry.
We're always the protagonist in our own worlds.
But on other planets we are simply minor.
Some roles are huge and others much finer.
We're actors men and women, boys and girls.
The possibilities are endless, we play different parts
Some fun, some boring, some happy, some sad
Some long, some short, others good, others bad
We can offer healing hugs or throw fiery darts
I've been the bad guy despite my best efforts
Circumstances require this from all actors
We play these parts because of many factors
Sometimes the bad guy is my last resort
Some actors are type cast, yet others expand
It's who you want to be that matters
Because of no control, we might leave one in tatters
Our chaotic chaos creates a plan
Improve your lot in life
Strive for some new parts
New experiences will give you heart
This plea is for all brother, sister, husband, wife
Never aim for the bad guy role
Never shy away from it either
Life gives parts simultaneous, there are no breathers
You will achieve the goal
So who am I in your story?
In my own I'm the good guy.
Yet, I do things and others ask Why?
Heavy loads I thought I could carry.
Ask yourselves who you are in another's story.
Do you play you or do you play another?
It's okay, nobody is never some other.
Who are you in my story?
Are we the same in each other's story?
If so that, for sure, is a true rarity.
Am I the bad guy or a hero?
Am I your everything or just a zero?
One you reject, the other you marry.
We're always the protagonist in our own worlds.
But on other planets we are simply minor.
Some roles are huge and others much finer.
We're actors men and women, boys and girls.
The possibilities are endless, we play different parts
Some fun, some boring, some happy, some sad
Some long, some short, others good, others bad
We can offer healing hugs or throw fiery darts
I've been the bad guy despite my best efforts
Circumstances require this from all actors
We play these parts because of many factors
Sometimes the bad guy is my last resort
Some actors are type cast, yet others expand
It's who you want to be that matters
Because of no control, we might leave one in tatters
Our chaotic chaos creates a plan
Improve your lot in life
Strive for some new parts
New experiences will give you heart
This plea is for all brother, sister, husband, wife
Never aim for the bad guy role
Never shy away from it either
Life gives parts simultaneous, there are no breathers
You will achieve the goal
So who am I in your story?
In my own I'm the good guy.
Yet, I do things and others ask Why?
Heavy loads I thought I could carry.
Ask yourselves who you are in another's story.
Do you play you or do you play another?
It's okay, nobody is never some other.
Who are you in my story?
Are we the same in each other's story?
If so that, for sure, is a true rarity.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Something Interesting
I just read an interesting article about the safest cities (pop. 500,000+). The safest big city in the country is New York City. This surprised me, mainly because the only interaction I have with NYC is through ficticious TV shows like Law & Order. Some other "safest cities" surprised me as well, namely: Los Angeles, San Diego, El Paso, Las Vegas, and Denver.
Some of the least safe cities also surprised me, these included Memphis, Milwaukee, and Detroit. Now I'm not surprised these cities are considered less safe (except for Memphis that is kind of perplexing). I'm more impressed in the differences between the most safe and the least safe cities. It seems LA and NYC get a lot of press for some of the crimes that are committed there, however they are the safest cities in the country.
Something else also hit me when I looked at these cities. Illegal Immigration. One of the biggest arguments against illegal immigration is that it causes crime rates to go up where it occurs. Well lets look at that list of "safest cities again. El Paso and San Diego are border towns, sort of a port of entry for many illegal immigrants. Yet these are two of the safest cities in the country. NYC and LA each have more than 3 million illegal immigrants each. In fact California in general has over a third of the illegal immigrant population. Yet it's cities are the safest.
On the other hand Detroit, Memphis, and Milwaukee...not exactly the hotspots of illegal immigrant territory are the least safe big cities in the country. I find it interesting that when we want to look for something negative we usually find it. I don't know what to think about illegal immigration, but I do try to keep an open mind. Hopefully everybody else can too.
Some of the least safe cities also surprised me, these included Memphis, Milwaukee, and Detroit. Now I'm not surprised these cities are considered less safe (except for Memphis that is kind of perplexing). I'm more impressed in the differences between the most safe and the least safe cities. It seems LA and NYC get a lot of press for some of the crimes that are committed there, however they are the safest cities in the country.
Something else also hit me when I looked at these cities. Illegal Immigration. One of the biggest arguments against illegal immigration is that it causes crime rates to go up where it occurs. Well lets look at that list of "safest cities again. El Paso and San Diego are border towns, sort of a port of entry for many illegal immigrants. Yet these are two of the safest cities in the country. NYC and LA each have more than 3 million illegal immigrants each. In fact California in general has over a third of the illegal immigrant population. Yet it's cities are the safest.
On the other hand Detroit, Memphis, and Milwaukee...not exactly the hotspots of illegal immigrant territory are the least safe big cities in the country. I find it interesting that when we want to look for something negative we usually find it. I don't know what to think about illegal immigration, but I do try to keep an open mind. Hopefully everybody else can too.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Things that Piss me off
Here is something that absolutely infuriates me...Look at this link:
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/03/031902/valedictorian-ordered-rewrite-speech/news-metro/
So basically this student who has a 4.5 GPA, and was chosen as class valedictorian, turned in the speech she had prepared. The speech was filled with inside jokes, was not offensive, light-heartedly poked fun at some cliques, and criticized school decisions. Her supervising teacher and principal vehemently rejected the speech calling it "appalling." She was ordered to re-write the speech, or else she would be replaced by another person as valedictorian.
(The links to these speeches are below)
This is the kind of thing that pisses me off. I hope that principal loses her job (when a reporter called to get her side of the story, she angrily hung up the phone). I hope the superintendent loses his job.
It's obvious what happened here. The adults don't understand the students. However the adults are acting more like children. They can't handle some light criticisms, so they bully the valedictorian into doing what they want her to do.
I hope Jem Lugo (the valedictorian) gives her original speech anyway. I hope she turns in a revised speech, but smuggles her original in under her gown. I hope she sticks it to the man. This story should be a much bigger deal. It's the freaking first ammendment!!! The freedom of speech. Since when do school districts and principals have more power than the federal government? Jem should sue the school district, or the government should step in before and allow her to give her speech. Send in the damn National Guard, like they did in segregation. I would like Jem to have a personal Guard escort while she delivers her speech, and another two Guardsmen standing on either side of the principal to watch her fume, while EVERYBODY enjoys the speech.
Why would a school crush creativity. Who cares if a portion of people who hear the message MIGHT get offended. Those people need to lighten up!!! Part of Jem's speech talks about never sacrificing personal values to conform to the status quo...well that's ironic because that is exactly what the school is forcing her to do.
What I wished would have happened is that Jem would have refused to change her speech and all the students banded together behind her and nobody else accepted the valedictorian position. I hope nobody goes to graduation...If they are there I hope people boo the totalitarian dictator with the title of principle. In fact, I hope the students boo during the entire ceremony.
Jem did not have any vulgar or profane words in her speech, she did not single out groups to pick on. She picked on everybody, teased certain people. If we create a society where teasing is unacceptable, then get me the hell out of here. I'll be the first one locked up.
Teasing keeps us humble and it also keeps our spirits up. When we stop poking fun at ourselves we stop having fun at all. I am the greatest source of entertainment I have solely because of the sheer amount of stupid things I do. If I couldn't laugh at myself, I would literally go crazy, I would have an unending amount of self-doubt because of all my failures. Why can't the principal and advising teachers think like a rational person?
I don't know if this kind of stuff riles you guys up as much as it does me, but I just get so furious. We live in AMERICA!!!! Land of the free, right? Well sometimes it doesn't feel that way.
Here are two more links you should look at:
Original speech:
http://www2.hernandotoday.com/content/2009/jun/03/rejected-jem-lugo-valedictorian-speech-springstead/
Revised speech:
http://www2.hernandotoday.com/content/2009/jun/03/revisedapproved-speech-jem-luko-valedictorian-spee/
Let me know what you guys think about this situation.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/03/031902/valedictorian-ordered-rewrite-speech/news-metro/
So basically this student who has a 4.5 GPA, and was chosen as class valedictorian, turned in the speech she had prepared. The speech was filled with inside jokes, was not offensive, light-heartedly poked fun at some cliques, and criticized school decisions. Her supervising teacher and principal vehemently rejected the speech calling it "appalling." She was ordered to re-write the speech, or else she would be replaced by another person as valedictorian.
(The links to these speeches are below)
This is the kind of thing that pisses me off. I hope that principal loses her job (when a reporter called to get her side of the story, she angrily hung up the phone). I hope the superintendent loses his job.
It's obvious what happened here. The adults don't understand the students. However the adults are acting more like children. They can't handle some light criticisms, so they bully the valedictorian into doing what they want her to do.
I hope Jem Lugo (the valedictorian) gives her original speech anyway. I hope she turns in a revised speech, but smuggles her original in under her gown. I hope she sticks it to the man. This story should be a much bigger deal. It's the freaking first ammendment!!! The freedom of speech. Since when do school districts and principals have more power than the federal government? Jem should sue the school district, or the government should step in before and allow her to give her speech. Send in the damn National Guard, like they did in segregation. I would like Jem to have a personal Guard escort while she delivers her speech, and another two Guardsmen standing on either side of the principal to watch her fume, while EVERYBODY enjoys the speech.
Why would a school crush creativity. Who cares if a portion of people who hear the message MIGHT get offended. Those people need to lighten up!!! Part of Jem's speech talks about never sacrificing personal values to conform to the status quo...well that's ironic because that is exactly what the school is forcing her to do.
What I wished would have happened is that Jem would have refused to change her speech and all the students banded together behind her and nobody else accepted the valedictorian position. I hope nobody goes to graduation...If they are there I hope people boo the totalitarian dictator with the title of principle. In fact, I hope the students boo during the entire ceremony.
Jem did not have any vulgar or profane words in her speech, she did not single out groups to pick on. She picked on everybody, teased certain people. If we create a society where teasing is unacceptable, then get me the hell out of here. I'll be the first one locked up.
Teasing keeps us humble and it also keeps our spirits up. When we stop poking fun at ourselves we stop having fun at all. I am the greatest source of entertainment I have solely because of the sheer amount of stupid things I do. If I couldn't laugh at myself, I would literally go crazy, I would have an unending amount of self-doubt because of all my failures. Why can't the principal and advising teachers think like a rational person?
I don't know if this kind of stuff riles you guys up as much as it does me, but I just get so furious. We live in AMERICA!!!! Land of the free, right? Well sometimes it doesn't feel that way.
Here are two more links you should look at:
Original speech:
http://www2.hernandotoday.com/content/2009/jun/03/rejected-jem-lugo-valedictorian-speech-springstead/
Revised speech:
http://www2.hernandotoday.com/content/2009/jun/03/revisedapproved-speech-jem-luko-valedictorian-spee/
Let me know what you guys think about this situation.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Without Meeting
Can we love someone we've never met? Is it possible we already do?
I saw a girl today and her eyes penetrated my soul...they said "I love you."
Though my mouth was silent, my heart screamed back "I love you too!"
We've never met, though we know each other quite well.
I think about her constantly and she thinks of me all the while.
She's what I've always wanted, I can't find her...the search seems futile.
I'm not who she thought I was, I'm who she always wanted me to be.
Two people know they're in love, however with whom...they simply cannot see.
Once they meet, two parallel lives inexplicably intersect.....
Serendipity.
I saw a girl today and her eyes penetrated my soul...they said "I love you."
Though my mouth was silent, my heart screamed back "I love you too!"
We've never met, though we know each other quite well.
I think about her constantly and she thinks of me all the while.
She's what I've always wanted, I can't find her...the search seems futile.
I'm not who she thought I was, I'm who she always wanted me to be.
Two people know they're in love, however with whom...they simply cannot see.
Once they meet, two parallel lives inexplicably intersect.....
Serendipity.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Things I liked
Five things I hated about Jazz/Lakers:
1. Kobe Bryant's smug look and his attempt to look like a tough guy. I would love it if he got punched in the face.
2. The officiating
3. Brevin Knight
4. THE OFFICIATING
5. BREVIN KNIGHT
5 Things I enjoyed about Jazz/Lakers
1. No Free Tacos!!!!
(If you don't already know, in game 1 in Los Angeles the Lakers were having a promotion that if they held the opponent to under 100 points everybody in the arena won a free taco. Well, with 45 seconds left in a game LA was clearly going to win Utah turned the ball over twice. The crowd was chanting "WE WANT TACOS". With 16 seconds left, Deron Williams drove the lane and scored a lay-up. That put the Jazz from 98 to 100 points...Take that Lakers fans!!!! No Free Tacos!!!!!! With four seconds left, D-Will proceeded to air-ball a three pointer, that was another slap in the face for LA fans haha)
2. Carlos Boozer's overall performance, cementing himself as one of the five best power forwards in the game.
(Here's my list, obviously this is assuming health 1. Kevin Garnett 2. Dirk Nowitzki 3. Carlos Boozer 4. Tim Duncan 5. Amare Stoudamire)
3. Boozer's dunk and D-Will's shot in game 3
4. Ronnie Price
5. Any time Brevin Knight and Andrei Kirilinko were on the bench.
Some things I hope for:
Carlos Boozer stays in Utah
Paul Milsap stays in Utah
Jarron Collins never plays next season
Brevin Knight gets let go
Ronnie Price stays in Utah
Andrei gets traded to a team that can use his talents
Matt Harpring becomes the greates MMA fighter ever
I hope Utah fans realize the talent Boozer has and love him instead of despise him. I really think we'll miss him a lot if he leaves. With him we have two of the best power forwards in the game, without him, we're shallow. Let's make him want to stay in Utah.
1. Kobe Bryant's smug look and his attempt to look like a tough guy. I would love it if he got punched in the face.
2. The officiating
3. Brevin Knight
4. THE OFFICIATING
5. BREVIN KNIGHT
5 Things I enjoyed about Jazz/Lakers
1. No Free Tacos!!!!
(If you don't already know, in game 1 in Los Angeles the Lakers were having a promotion that if they held the opponent to under 100 points everybody in the arena won a free taco. Well, with 45 seconds left in a game LA was clearly going to win Utah turned the ball over twice. The crowd was chanting "WE WANT TACOS". With 16 seconds left, Deron Williams drove the lane and scored a lay-up. That put the Jazz from 98 to 100 points...Take that Lakers fans!!!! No Free Tacos!!!!!! With four seconds left, D-Will proceeded to air-ball a three pointer, that was another slap in the face for LA fans haha)
2. Carlos Boozer's overall performance, cementing himself as one of the five best power forwards in the game.
(Here's my list, obviously this is assuming health 1. Kevin Garnett 2. Dirk Nowitzki 3. Carlos Boozer 4. Tim Duncan 5. Amare Stoudamire)
3. Boozer's dunk and D-Will's shot in game 3
4. Ronnie Price
5. Any time Brevin Knight and Andrei Kirilinko were on the bench.
Some things I hope for:
Carlos Boozer stays in Utah
Paul Milsap stays in Utah
Jarron Collins never plays next season
Brevin Knight gets let go
Ronnie Price stays in Utah
Andrei gets traded to a team that can use his talents
Matt Harpring becomes the greates MMA fighter ever
I hope Utah fans realize the talent Boozer has and love him instead of despise him. I really think we'll miss him a lot if he leaves. With him we have two of the best power forwards in the game, without him, we're shallow. Let's make him want to stay in Utah.
The Perpetual Hope of Next Year
In my short 25 years I feel like I've experienced a lot. I mean my family moved all over the country. I've been able to meet people from all walks of life. I've attended big city schools, and small farm-town schools. Regardless of these different experiences or the quality of education, I would have an extremely hard time finding anything that has had the same meaning or impact on my life as sports. Aside from my parents, sports have taught me more about life and how to live than any book, or teacher, or class has been able to teach. This probably isn't true for everybody. I'm sure there are kids out there that hate sports and feel like sports ruined their lives, either because their not very good at them, or because they plain just don't like them.
Sports have always been extremely important to me. First of all, they are really fun. Fun is important in my life. Also, sports provide an atmosphere where learning takes place, even though the intended outcome isn't necessarily academic. Some important lessons I've learned through sports are: teamwork, honesty, hard work, losing, winning, responsibility, overcoming adversity, character, and many other things. What I'd like to discuss today is a lesson that traverses the world of sports and, like many of the items on that list, should be applied to all aspects of life. I'm sure what I'm about to say is completely subjective to how I'm feeling right now, but I feel like the most important lesson sports teach is the lesson of hope.
That's why we play the games isn't it? Because we hope the amount of work we've put into the game, both with physical training and mental preparation, will be enough to overcome the amount of preparation the opponent has exerted. Sometimes we're David and sometimes we're Goliath. (Which brings me to another lesson I've learned playing sports...It's awesome when David takes down Goliath, but usually Goliath beats the hell out of David.) Regardless of our situation, we always play with at least a glimmer of hope that we can win.
Following professional sports is fun, yet amazingly difficult. I personally tend to study numbers and statistics and talk myself into how the Utah Jazz or any other team I'm cheering for can destroy their obviously superior opponent. I fell into that pattern this year in the NBA playoffs. I ignored the fact that Utah had lost to lottery bound teams like Minnesota (another personal Fav) and Golden State. I convinced myself they could pull-off an upset over mighty Los Angeles. This hope was somewhat vindicated when D-Will hit that awesome fadeaway to put the Lakers away in game 3. Unfortunately with these highest of highs come the lowest of lows. With all my predictions falling into place after a game 3 victory by Utah, my hope was decimated by a crushing defeat. I mean game four wasn't even close. Los Angeles led by 26 and was never really threatened in the second half. David had sprained his ankle on the way out to fight Goliath and he was now a bloody mess in the middle of the battle field.
So I did the only thing a self-respecting Jazz fan would do. I called the season over and began my mental preparations for the offseason. Basically I tucked my tail between my legs, turned and ran as fast as I could. Don't you think that's what the army of Judah would have done if the real Goliath beat the real David? So don't judge me.
However, the unexpected happened. No, the Jazz didn't win the game. That wouldn't be unexpected, that would be the impossible. With a little over eight minutes remaining in game 5, with the Lakers holding a commanding 20+ point lead. The Jazz starters checked out and Jerry Sloan emptied his bench. Ronnie Price, a modern day David, who had played all of 49 seconds (at least that's what it seemed like) all season long, led the comeback charge. While five of my friends and myself were wallowing in our self-pity, griping about bad coaching decisions, and discussing the fate of our free agents, this little guy came into the game and won our hearts. Ronnie Price gave us what we most desperately needed. He gave us hope. Like Andy Dufresne says (Sorry Sports Guy, I'm not trying to steal your thunder with a Shawshank Quote) "Hope is a good thing."
In a matter of minutes six grown men went from complaining like a five year old that doesn't get as many cookies as his older brother, to screaming, hollering, and jumping up and down (on the third floor by the way) at midnight. We went from the complaining version of five year old kids to the happy version of five year old kids. The Jazz were only down by 6!!! The mood change was phenomenal. We were a part of this. We stuck through the crappy season, lost to injuries, we withstood the sportswriters writing us off, we handled the skeptics. Even when we lost hope, we came back for more. We knew game five would be the end of our season, but that didn't stop us from partaking of the glorious goodness of basketball just one more time.
Ronnie Price is responsible for the reinstatement of hope. Thank you Ronnie. Thank you for loving the game. Thank you for your attitude. Thank you for your example. Thank you sports. Your life-long lessons yield wisdom to those who look for it.
Even though the Jazz didn't win, Ronnie showed us that the NBA truly is where Amazing happens.
I can't wait til next year. The Jazz are gonna go all the way!!!
Sports have always been extremely important to me. First of all, they are really fun. Fun is important in my life. Also, sports provide an atmosphere where learning takes place, even though the intended outcome isn't necessarily academic. Some important lessons I've learned through sports are: teamwork, honesty, hard work, losing, winning, responsibility, overcoming adversity, character, and many other things. What I'd like to discuss today is a lesson that traverses the world of sports and, like many of the items on that list, should be applied to all aspects of life. I'm sure what I'm about to say is completely subjective to how I'm feeling right now, but I feel like the most important lesson sports teach is the lesson of hope.
That's why we play the games isn't it? Because we hope the amount of work we've put into the game, both with physical training and mental preparation, will be enough to overcome the amount of preparation the opponent has exerted. Sometimes we're David and sometimes we're Goliath. (Which brings me to another lesson I've learned playing sports...It's awesome when David takes down Goliath, but usually Goliath beats the hell out of David.) Regardless of our situation, we always play with at least a glimmer of hope that we can win.
Following professional sports is fun, yet amazingly difficult. I personally tend to study numbers and statistics and talk myself into how the Utah Jazz or any other team I'm cheering for can destroy their obviously superior opponent. I fell into that pattern this year in the NBA playoffs. I ignored the fact that Utah had lost to lottery bound teams like Minnesota (another personal Fav) and Golden State. I convinced myself they could pull-off an upset over mighty Los Angeles. This hope was somewhat vindicated when D-Will hit that awesome fadeaway to put the Lakers away in game 3. Unfortunately with these highest of highs come the lowest of lows. With all my predictions falling into place after a game 3 victory by Utah, my hope was decimated by a crushing defeat. I mean game four wasn't even close. Los Angeles led by 26 and was never really threatened in the second half. David had sprained his ankle on the way out to fight Goliath and he was now a bloody mess in the middle of the battle field.
So I did the only thing a self-respecting Jazz fan would do. I called the season over and began my mental preparations for the offseason. Basically I tucked my tail between my legs, turned and ran as fast as I could. Don't you think that's what the army of Judah would have done if the real Goliath beat the real David? So don't judge me.
However, the unexpected happened. No, the Jazz didn't win the game. That wouldn't be unexpected, that would be the impossible. With a little over eight minutes remaining in game 5, with the Lakers holding a commanding 20+ point lead. The Jazz starters checked out and Jerry Sloan emptied his bench. Ronnie Price, a modern day David, who had played all of 49 seconds (at least that's what it seemed like) all season long, led the comeback charge. While five of my friends and myself were wallowing in our self-pity, griping about bad coaching decisions, and discussing the fate of our free agents, this little guy came into the game and won our hearts. Ronnie Price gave us what we most desperately needed. He gave us hope. Like Andy Dufresne says (Sorry Sports Guy, I'm not trying to steal your thunder with a Shawshank Quote) "Hope is a good thing."
In a matter of minutes six grown men went from complaining like a five year old that doesn't get as many cookies as his older brother, to screaming, hollering, and jumping up and down (on the third floor by the way) at midnight. We went from the complaining version of five year old kids to the happy version of five year old kids. The Jazz were only down by 6!!! The mood change was phenomenal. We were a part of this. We stuck through the crappy season, lost to injuries, we withstood the sportswriters writing us off, we handled the skeptics. Even when we lost hope, we came back for more. We knew game five would be the end of our season, but that didn't stop us from partaking of the glorious goodness of basketball just one more time.
Ronnie Price is responsible for the reinstatement of hope. Thank you Ronnie. Thank you for loving the game. Thank you for your attitude. Thank you for your example. Thank you sports. Your life-long lessons yield wisdom to those who look for it.
Even though the Jazz didn't win, Ronnie showed us that the NBA truly is where Amazing happens.
I can't wait til next year. The Jazz are gonna go all the way!!!
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