This precisely described my own feelings on the nature of the cosmos and our place in it. No Gods, no magic, no objective morals, meanings or destiny. Nothing is ‘meant to be’. There is no divine plan.
yes, they edited out some of the critical parts, like the plane hits and people jumping (which im not exactly happy about). the emotional impact is still gut wrenching.
Im not someone who freaked the fuck out over 9/11 or someone who called for sweeping changes to our country (or other countries, for that matter…), but i am someone who feels the historical and all-too-human resonance of the events of that day.
My fear is, and was, that the aftermath of 9/11 would be more horrendous and memorable than the day itself. My fear has been more than justified, which is why videos like this are so crucial to history. Its true… we mustn’t forget. What we must not forget is what lead up to that day and how we, as Americans and human beings reacted to that day, immediately, in the inferno of the crisis and later, as our leaders used our rage and sorrow to alter our country and the world at large.
Remember the horror. Remember the sacrifice. Remember the confusion. Remember the bravery.
Dear fat, sloppy-drunk, bug-eyed blond at the bar,
Thank you for the compliments on my appearance. Yes, I do actually kinda realize that i’m more attractive than the other scuzzy barfly dudes in here. No, i will not be calling you. I took your offered phone number only to be polite. I’ve already deleted it out of my phone. I’m at this bar, on a Monday night, not to drink and cruise for cheap sex (as is customary, i understand), but to support a friend having a very bad day. Sorry.
SO… im thinking about getting a new car. I love my 3000GT, i do, but its to the point where fixing everything that needs to be fixed on it would cost more than the car is worth. If money were no object, i’d rather just fix it up and keep it (it IS my dream car, after all), but i need something reliable and more comfortable.
I know that i want a sporty coupe of some kind, preferably V6, but a turbo 4 cyl would work. No FiTs or Yaris’ or Scion Xc or Xb. I AM a heterosexual male.
Here are my current hopefuls:
The Hyundai Tiburon. Its smallish, sharp looking, modern and certianly affordable. Getting the GT model gets me a manual V6 and not much tacked on to the price.
Next, we have another Hyundai, the Genesis Coupe. A bit more robust (and pricier) than the Tiburon, but its also MORE car. I actually sat in one on the lot, and really liked how it felt.
The Scion tC is also in the range and style that im looking for. This car is readily available, affordable and standard. Nothing very exciting about this car, honestly. I sat in one on the lot and felt a little ‘cheap’ and ‘plastic-y’ to me. A solid choice, but it lacks the pizazz and uniqueness that im also looking for. Click for Pic
Others I’m considering:
The Mazda3
Its a sedan, and therefore much less appealing to me, especially considering its a 4 cyl.
The Dodge Challanger. Im sorry, but this car is fucking sweet. it also starts at $22,000. My only real issue with it? Its Automatic transmission ONLY, until you get to the very expensive SRT8 model, and even then it costs MORE to have a manual put in.
Mitsubishi Lancer… Yes, its 4 door, but it that Rally Sport kind of car i like so much. plus, affordable.
So, i hope i’v made clear what sort of car im looking for. one really hasnt jumped out at me as being ‘the one’ just yet. my search for a new coupe continues.
Im more than a little transcendentally connected to the FFRF; my mother went to highschool with one of its founders and its homebase is not far from my family’s home town of Talladega (pronounced “talluh-digga” by its natives).
As i read the article, a smirk crossed my face as i got to this bit:
On June 25th, the FFRF’s first Alabama billboard – “Imagine No Religion” with a stained-glass border – appeared on Interstate 20 between Birmingham and Talladega, facing west. It would greet many of the people coming to Lake Hypatia. The first advertising company the FFRF hired backed out, but they found another.
“heh”, i thought, “i bet my ignorant, racist, bible-thumping brethren have seen that billboard!”
How right i was…
A letter to the editor in the Talladega paper, The Daily Home, indicated that the authors, Opal and Preston Stone, were offended by the sign, by a story about the sign, and by “self-called ‘Free Thinkers.’” “We, personally, would like to be FREE from those who have done all that they can do to suppress and denigrate our right to look forward to meeting our maker, when he is ready to call us home.”
My grandmother, who used to be a manager of the Daily Home, decided to voice her opposition to sanity, just as she has done so before, in the comments of my own blog. She learned that i was an atheist from reading my blog… and then decided to troll, threaten and flame me. here. and here. (she’s ‘cricket’… my supposed conscience)
This is leaving out the half a dozen or so e-mails that she sent me telling me how mean, arrogant, hateful and wrong a person i am for not believing as she does.
This sort of thing is exactly why i do not have anything to do with my mother’s side of the family.
The funny thing to me, is, my mother (her daughter) is no christian herself… she read the Bible when i was a young teen and she quickly decided that such an awful, murdering, misogynistic entity such as Yahweh could not be an ‘all-loving’, all-powerful deity and CERTAINLY wasn’t one she would want to worship. Even she saw through the gaping holes in the Bible and declared it “a desert cult that somehow grew out of control”.
got back last night at 11:30… i didnt even unpack. I just peeled off my clothes and collapsed into bed.
Josh and Sarah’s wedding was wonderful; just perfect. everyone had a great time and nothing (that i could see) went awry. Good luck you crazy kids.
I had blast at my Dad’s for xmas, too. I brought him Crysis and we had a merry time killing North Koreans from the future. Also… its surreal to be playing Rock Band with your family. O_o
Now… to recuperate a bit. laundry, videogames and maybe run some errands. and then, back to the grind tomorrow.
A buddy of mine from work is starting up a Zombie Run campaign using the Savage Worlds rules, by Pinnacle. The campaign takes place 2 months after Z-Day in NYC, on Manhattan island.
In this game, as being tasty morsels, one much create multiple characters that all go into a pool, so that when one gets eaten, another can be brought up to PC status quickly. Here are my 4 concepts:
Male Nurse:
Leslie Stephanopoulos is a male nurse, 31, of Greek decent (dark, wavy hair, dark complexion) who is defensive about both his chosen (and much beloved) profession and his perceived effeminacy. He is quick to anger by any insult about his masculinity, but is too compassionate and pacifist to do much more than pout about it. His medical skills are somewhat basic, as he has never had any intention of progressing much farther than his current level of education/profession. While somewhat fussy and negative, he is truly caring about the well-being of those around him, even those who may mock him. He tends to be overly cautious and often has a “we’re safe here, why leave?” attitude.
Almost Retired Cop:
James “Jimbo” Lawrence is an overweight, white-haired Caucasian man of about 60 who has been on the Police Force in northern Florida for decades. He has, in the last 3 years, moved to NYC to be closer to his (now missing) daughter, who, unfortunately, has advanced cancer and was receiving treatment in a nearby hospital. Jimbo has a calm, even-keeled attitude and a soothing, folksy voice to match. While a decent marksman, Jimbo has always preferred to let a calm voice and sincere attitude resolve his conflicts, both on his personal life and out on the beat. Surprisingly strong for a man of his stature, he has been proficient in immobilizing and detaining troublesome suspects with a swift, unexpected action during a calming talk. He was 6 months from full retirement when Z-Day occurred. Jimbo is very likely to sacrifice himself if he knows that it will save his companions.
Hibachi Chef:
Lee Ho Fook, 24, is a young man of Thai, Japanese and Caucasian decent who has been an employee of a local Benihana Japanese hibachi steak-house for nearly 5 years. He was easily the highest paid chef there, due to his unique affinity and skill with the knives, his gracious showmanship and his exotic good looks. Shy and quiet, Lee never says two words when one will do. As mentioned above, he is unusually talented with his knives and possesses an above-average dexterity. Lee is a long-time fan of Asian martial-arts cinema, superhero comic books and garish horror movies. Lee is utterly, almost obsessively, preoccupied with the logical ramifications of the Zombie Apocalypse. Why did it happen? How did it happen? What powers the undead?
Dirty Laundry TV Reporter:
Kirk Henley, 38, has the chiseled jaw, classic good looks, and commanding baritone voice of an actor. However, his time in NYC has long since withered away any shred of innocence, optimism or sincerity he once had. Now, as the lead ‘journalist’ on the trashy investigative-reporting/paparazzi show Dirty Laundry, Kirk has instead honed his instincts, cunning, hawk-like powers of observation and oily charisma into a razor-sharp edge. The ease with which he can get another person into divulging something they had not intended to, trip over their own words, or somehow incriminate themselves, makes all but the most confident of people wary of him. Those that are familiar with his show often recognize that it has done just as much harm as good… he doesn’t care if he’s exposing a crooked politician, reporting a corporate cover-up or blowing the lid off of a celebrities affair. The outcome, for good or ill, is immaterial to him: only the ratings matter. Kirk is extremely concerned with his own preservation and is self-centered, but his fear of the zombies (and his fear of being alone) more than assures that he will not double-cross his survivor companions, unless it is for an extremely good reason. Kirk will never volunteer for anything dangerous, no matter how vital and will actively, even violently, protest anything that will put him in a position that will leave him alone for any amount of time.
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