Hey Freak!

Everybody has goals in life... get married, have kids, travel the world, make a million dollars, etc. I have a few goals like that, too (e.g. I've been figuring out what I want in my dream house (pool, hot tub, solar panels and wind turbines, huge garden for all my hibbies).

But I also have a few goals that... well, the only thing I can do to help accomplish them is to live long.

Like... I want to live long enough so that I can go into space. You know, see it with my own eyes. Feel the weightlessness. See the Earth from... well, there's no "above" so, see the Earth from... NOT the Earth. Hell, I get all excited when I've got a clear view of the moon with my telescope... I can't imagine what seeing our planet from afar would be like. Man, that'd just be the coolest thing.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure if I'll live long enough. I mean, we can't even build something better than a gas engine; how can we be expected to be smart enough for space travel? Add to that the fact that most people don't give a shit about space, what's out there, or anything that doesn't directly involve them. Or their favorite celebrity. Evidence of water on the moon? On Mars? Who fucking cares? What, so we'll send a big blender up there? Quit wasting my time and tell me some IMPORTANT news, like what's happening with Brangelina, or when the next episode of Jersey Shore is on.

But I'm not here to argue the merits of continuing the space program... I just want to say PLEASE continue the damned thing, so that I might make it into space someday.

Funny. A few days ago, I read this article about the intelligence of dolphins...

Dolphins have been declared the world’s second most intelligent creatures after humans, with scientists suggesting they are so bright that they should be treated as “non-human persons”.

Studies into dolphin behaviour have highlighted how similar their communications are to those of humans and that they are brighter than chimpanzees. These have been backed up by anatomical research showing that dolphin brains have many key features associated with high intelligence.

The researchers argue that their work shows it is morally unacceptable to keep such intelligent animals in amusement parks or to kill them for food or by accident when fishing. [entire article]

Interesting prospect.

And then yesterday, this happened:

A SeaWorld killer whale snatched a trainer from a poolside platform Wednesday in its jaws and thrashed the woman around underwater, killing her in front of a horrified audience. [entire article]

Wow. Sounds like someone was kinda tired of doing tricks for fish. Seriously. (remember, killer whales are actually dolphins -- the largest species of dolphin)

Dolphins, killer whales, whales... really, we have no freaking clue how "intelligent" these mammals are. I mean, sure, they're pretty smart, but they don't live "up" to human standards. They can't make art, or compose symphonies, or write great novels. We're obviously much more smerter... [/sarcasm]

But then again...

Dolphins... they know how to round up a whole crapload of fish in a big, scary ball, using only air bubbles, and then feast on the big ball 'o food. Killer whales... well, I saw an article where a killer whale showed that it could take out a great white shark by itself - by stunning it, then holding it upside down, where it would fall in a trance and eventually drown. Shoot, we (humans) didn't figure out that shark trance thing until just recently! I mean, that's pretty bad ass. And people are surprised when a killer whale gets bored of doing stupid tricks?

I think the age of Sea World has passed. These animals are too smart to exploit like this. Let the wild animals go, let the captive ones go to aquariums, and everyone's happy. I dunno... does that sound like a good idea?

Either way, here is a card that someone might want to send to Sea World in FL.

Since I've started blogging again, I figure I should do my best to finish out my "100 Things About Me" section. Where are we at?

51. 98% of the time, I hear music

OK, so, most of the time, when it's quiet and I'm just thinking to myself, I hear music. Usually, it's something I just listened to, or something I heard on a commercial, or sometimes, it's just some random song that got picked out of the archives (this week, it's been the March of Carmen. yeah, bizarre, I know). But there's almost always music. And it's not annoying somehow. It's just like... background music. You know, like you'd listen to when you're doing housework.

Or here's another way it shows up... a lot of times, when I'm just sitting here thinking about stuff (and wanting a Pepsi), I'll just start tapping out rhythms... beats... maybe a little humming to myself. Does anyone else do that? Do you find it hard NOT to do that?

Sometimes, I'll make up words to [whatever song] to match whatever I'm doing... especially if it has to do with Lulu. I don't know how many "feeding a bunny" and "petting a bunny" songs I've made up (and, sadly, sung out loud) in the past year. But I'm pretty sure this isn't weird. I know you dog owners out there sing some weird stuff, too.

But, back to the music in my head thing... does anyone else have this? I've noticed that sometimes I even type to whatever song's in my head. Just sometimes.

What's weird is, I don't even play an instrument. I don't sing. The last thing I played was the violin back in... 9th grade (and yes, I do vividly recall having to practice March of Carmen). But I haven't done anything musically since then... well, unless you count playing Rock Band a couple of times. So why does music still rule me?

One more thing... I know there are people with tin ears. I know that there are people who don't like music.

Who are these people?

I don't mean that in a bad way... I just... well, I just can't imagine NOT liking music, so the concept fascinates me. I would love to hear the thoughts of non-music lovers...

Daddy, Cesar Millan's pit bull and right hand man, died yesterday. Now, you might think I'm crazy for being sad for a dog I've never met, but... well, if you saw the show (The Dog Whisperer), you'd know. You'd be sad, too. He was just such a good dog...

Cesar's official statement is here.

If you'd like to read more about Daddy, you can go here. There's an article with a video tribute to Daddy here. Also, there's an interesting interview with Cesar shortly before Daddy's passing here.

If you'd like to see NatGeo's photo tribute to Daddy, it's here. My favorite picture is this one... the mural is just so... Daddy. In case you're curious, my favorite episode with Daddy is actually one that never aired - it's on the Season 2 DVD set, and it features Jada Pinkett-Smith and her pack (a lot of whom you'll recognize from the dog psychology center) trying to learn how to teach dogs to avoid snakes. Daddy's in there too, of course, and when it comes time to see if he's learned his lesson about snakes, well... I don't want to give away the ending, but his reaction is pretty hilarious.

RIP Daddy. We'll miss you.



Photo: Todd Henderson/MPH - Emery/Sumner Joint Venture

What do you have against live sports?

Seriously... the Winter Olympics are on.  Huge deal.  The USA Men's Hockey team is an underdog against host Canada.  Huge deal.  It's being played Sunday afternoon, when a lot of people are home watching... the Winter Olympics.

So why in the hell would NBC decide to play a TAPE DELAYED game between Russia and the Czech Republic rather than the LIVE game between the US and Canada?  Why?

Maybe old Gidget Heidi reruns weren't available?  (Old Jets fans will know what I mean)

And it's not just yesterday... I've noticed that most of NBC's coverage is on tape delay.  WTF?  Dammit, for ONCE I live in the same time zone as the Olympics; you'd think I'd at least have a decent shot at seeing some of the events LIVE.  I mean, come on, NBC... this is the age of the internet.  This is the age of Twitter.  We'd have to live in a frakking bubble if we wanted to be surprised by any of NBC's aired footage.

Yes, I know you want to show the most popular sports in prime time; I get that.  But you have NO EXCUSE for not showing the USA/Canada game.  No wonder you're currently the worst network.  Your executives are clueless.

But don't fret, NBC execs... it's nothing personal.  Hey, I know a way out of this for you -- you can blame Conan for the poor lead time coming into the Olympics?  Maybe that would work?

note:  Yes, I know that the game was broadcast live on MSNBC and live online... but... how many people don't have cable?  And how many of those people don't have a high speed connection?  You'd THINK NBC would be smart enough to show their biggest game on their biggest network channel.  Do poorer people not matter to ratings or something?  Is NBC saying "If you don't have cable, then fuck you!  You get replays of other games."?

I don't know.  I mean, you'd think it'd be obvious.  Like, duh.  Show the live games when you can, NBC.  Don't be cheap.

Just making sure this thing works.  Just in case I start blogging again.  Really, this time.

 

No, I mean it!

Does anybody know anyone who's won something in the McDonald's Monopoly game? Ever?

Seriously. They've been doing that game for wha, 15? 20 years? During that time, I've lived in Phoenix, Chicago, Las Vegas, and now San Diego, and I've still never encountered anyone (or anyone who knows someone) who's won something (besides a small drink or fries). They always have a lot of mid-level prizes (e.g. an X-Box), so you figure somebody's got to have won, right? Do you know anyone?

And, totally unrelated...

How do you flip people off? Are you a grabber (left) or are you freestyle (right)?



Me? I've always been a freestyler. It seems weird to pull my fingers back with my thumb. I dunno; I guess that's just how I learned it, and haven't changed. What about you?