David's Tangled Thoughts

I like my tea green and my cars on the right (read: correct) side of the road. You may find yourself driving on the left side of the road soon enough. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT?) is going to put in a new type of highway interchange at I-435 and Front St. in Kansas City. Now, it may not be as bad as the Magic Roundabout, but why do we have to confuse drivers even more than they are now? If I came across this during my travels and didn’t know about it, I would be thinking, “What the fuck?!” Don’t get me wrong, I like a little innovation so I am glad that Missourians are going to be the guinea pigs and not the Michianers around here. Just when I thought State’s traffic circles were the worst I’d ever have to encounter… Oh that reminds me, my new plate came in today. Temp plate is in the can and is waiting to be burned! Seriously, I can’t let my dad buy tea ever again. Really, how hard is it to buy the same tea? I buy the same types every time. I don’t care

Farm season is set to begin.

It was a rough time at church yesterday. The church isn’t known for it fire and brimstone services but it sure felt like one that morning. The end is coming, look to Jesus. That bit. After excommunicating myself, it was best that I got away from my parents for while. So I headed over to my friend Erin’s house. I know very little about DIY but it was fun trying things for the first time such as wallpaper removal. We did that in her bathroom which feels like it is 5’ X 5’. It was easy enough until we got to her vanity. To get to the wallpaper behind it, we would have to take it down which also involved some electrical know-how which I had basically none. Yeah, it had to wait until her friend Kevin came by. There was also a trip to Lowe’s where she had to pick up some more supplies. She got some swatches to see what kind of colors she would like to paint in her bathroom. I’m proud to say that I got some colors that were well received. At the moment, however, her foam colored p

I was standing by all day today hoping that the phone would ring. I’m desperately hoping for a second interview for an assistant manager position at candy shop in the mall. I heard that if I was going to be interviewed it would be either tomorrow or Wednesday. I’m biting my nails here. (Not literally… I don’t do that.) It may be retail, but hey—it’s managerial. That’s better than tacking on another associate level job on my resume.

Now like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breath free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, temptest-tost to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” --The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus Immigration, for me, is a sticky subject. I’m probably a fence sitter on the subject as I can see the issues raised by both sides. So let me say this: I am a big supporter of immigration and I would advocate making it easier for people to get here legally. However, I detest illegal immigrants. The issue was raised in one of my pol

I had a big long post in which I do nothing but bitch. It looked a little too hateful so I deleted it and left you with this one where I will say this: It’s been a bad day.

I got the last of my paperwork done for the new car. Remember those vanity plate options in the previous post? Yeah, I decided not to go with that since my bill came to nearly $200. Honestly, I was thinking around half that much. So I didn’t get the vanity plate but I did get the Spartan S plate. It’s a cheaper compromise plus the yearly fees go to Michigan State. *chest puffs up* Yup, I’m doing my part as a good alumnus. When I requested the Spartan S plate, the lady that was serving me said, “You should get a discount, ‘cause you are getting the best plate.” (Her son currently attends Michigan State.) Before I had a chance to say anything, she ran off to get some paperwork. “Umm,” I said to the service lady at the next booth, “Who do I see about a discount?” Yeah… I didn’t get a discount. However, they were able to change my voter’s registration from my MSU address back to the Galien address. And they did it free of charge! Yay! Is it the only free service they do?

I'm putting up this post a week ahead because I need your help. Yes, you dear reader, can help me find the perfect vanity plate for my new (new for me) car! Which one do you like? Unfortunately S-QUIRE was taken but S-KUIRE is pretty obvious right? Of course, I don't have that yet, so it doesn't seem appropriate. I like S-NARKY but there really isn't a set definition of what snarky really means. Generally, I take it to mean cynical or snide comments made with humor. Opinions? Comments? Suggestions! --If you have a cool idea, let me know. You have five spaces (S __,__,__,__,__) to use. Rules are that the characters must be A-Z, and 0-9. Spaces can be used as a place holder. UPDATE 03/21/2006 @ 11:12am EST: Oh, I am sorely disapointed! No responces. Tsk, tsk. Based on discussions with Jason, Erin, and Season, I will be going with S-NARKY. Unless, I experience an extreme case of sticker shock...

James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful” came on the radio last night while I was riding with Erin. She claims that she loves this song. In the summer, I burned her a CD with Coldplay’s X&Y album. I added “You’re Beautiful” to it. I’m sure she got to enjoy it months before it became popular here. Later in the night we were drinking some Chai Tea at Starbucks . Instead of drinking it in the car, we sat down amongst some of the Notre Dame students. For a few moments, I felt like I was back at college. Then there was something she said. I think I will remember it for the rest of my life. Am I going to share it here? No. I think I’ll keep it just for me.

I was watching the riots in France a few hours ago on CNN and Fox. France’s Prime Minister and President are supporting a “New Jobs Contract” that is supposed to make their business more “flexible.” I haven’t seen an article that adequately describes what this “contract” does but apparently, it allows employers to fire newly-hired workers within two years with no reason. Here in America, it’s called probation. [sarcasm]Imagine that—an employer can now fire employees![/sarcasm] It amazes to see the entitlement attitude of Europeans, particularly those from the more western states. They come off as being a people who feel that the world owes them a stable job and an excellent benefits package. I keep asking, “Where are they getting this money to support themselves?” American safety nets are laughable in comparison to the Europeans ones and yet those programs take up so much of our budget (which is F*cking gi-normous already.) If I remember correctly, Medicare and Medicaid alone u

I knew that MSU wouldn’t do well this year but I thought that we would at least win one! Article here .

I came across this shot a little while ago and it evoked the disgust that I am harboring for my party right now. The national debt at nine trillion dollars is approaching a year's worth of GDP. When I compare the agendas of Governor Bush (2000) and President Bush (2006), I begin to ask, "What the hell?" Sure, 9/11 changed his perspective as well as mine, but I still can not find an excuse as to why our government can not trim fat from the budget and live within that budget. The fiscal aspects which keeps me with the Republican Party is not being served and it frustrates the hell out of me.

*Groan*

Oh, I tell you, this has been the week from hell. I’ve got some Sublime song playing as I type because I am feeling pretty destructive right now. After lying sick for most of the week, the first day I venture out, my POS car finally dies on me! F*cking crazy! After putting in more than $1,000 in repairs over 2005, they wanted another $2,000. And here, I thought my brakes only needed to be replaced. Hell no. That damn thing did not deserve to have two grand put into it. The car isn’t even worth $2,000. So here’s the emergency replacement: 2000 Saturn LS-200 It was pretty much the only thing I can afford. Well wait—since I don’t have a job… I really can’t say that I can afford it. So no more holding out for the Michigan Works program, I’m going to have to find another shit job and I’m going to have to find it fast. (Oh God, I’m going to be a candyman.) *chants* Find the positive. Find the positive. Erin has closed on her house a few days ago and my first visit to her new home was really

I still think that I am in winter mode. Despite the string of warm days, I’m still expecting another Alberta Clipper to come by. It still could, it is Michigan after all. But yesterday, I woke up to the loud chirping of what seemed to be hundreds of birds. I actually have a small movie clip of it showing the flock perching on two of our trees. I don’t know how to post it though. (Note to self: don’t park under the tree anymore.) Later on in the night, the frogs started croaking in the pond across the street. It’s not loud, but if the warm weather continues like it has been, then it will be deafening in the next few weeks. We’re still two months away from the trees coming back. I hope that the buds don’t start too early.

I'm not a supporter of Wal-mart, but I do admire them for their capitalistic success. While I may admire them for that, I still do my business at their competitors. My favorite being Meijer . I saw an article in which Wal-mart wants to keep a man from marketing t-shirts with logos such as the one above. Wal-mart claims trademark infringement. The man, Charles Smith, claims free speech. I like the idea and would probably get one if they sold them in a store. Hey, I'm not comfortable ordering stuff over the internet. As for this going to court, I'm not sure. I can see it being a free speech issue. He does have a gripe against Wal-mart and the average reader would know what kind of message the t-shirt sends. The "logo" doesn't confuse a person to buy a product or shop at a different store. The smiley face isn't owned by Wal-mart. The font used for the "Wal [squigly]" is not the same one used by Wal-mart. My only question is, does the fact that the t

"V" from V for Vendetta "The King" of Burger King They just do.

This is touching on what I commented on John’s blog . Voters in Niles school district have voted down a millage* proposal. Read the story here . The proposal would have called for the building of a new high school. The current high school would have been converted into a junior high. The elementary schools would have been consolidated with renovations. If I had been a Niles resident, I probably would have voted it down too. It is more for selfish reasons than anything else. Hey, I don’t have kids. What incentive is there for me to increase my taxes to aid kids I don’t even like? But there are other arguments as well. Niles Community Schools is one of the best schools in this area of Michigan. Sure, as with all schools, it could use some upgrades. But building a new high school? That’s over-kill. In my opinion, it would have been better to ask for renovations. A few years ago, Galien passed a millage increase. The millage was used to renovate the high school. Shortly after the renovat