What I'm Reading and doing 5.24

Who would have thought Thursday night, by Saturday night I’d be eating boiled quail eggs rolled in cucumber and a Japanese spice mixture, white salmon on a bed of shredded sweet potatoes and drinking Founders Red Rye Pale Ale?

And, not to mention staying at the Ambassador East Hotel in downtown Chicago, within walking, or in my case, running distance of Lake Shore Drive – beautiful weekend all around and I thank my sidekick and her parents for the splendid time.

We went to a wedding at the beautiful Notre Dame de Chicago church Saturday before eating some lunch (French fries) at Stanley’s a sports bar/restaurant with a parking lot adjacent devoted to corn-hole and Busch Light.

Following mass we headed to the reception where the delicious and fine appetizers of quail eggs, minced fish on spicy crackers and squash in Fila cups were being passed around; as well as the Red Rye Ale, a nice Bordeaux and Riesling.

Yesterday morning, Amy and I went for a run on Lake Shore Drive to Navy Pier, and then ran back and walked around for a few hours down Michigan Ave.; the Magnificent Mile, before heading back home.

Today, I’m really interested in further developments of the BP Oil Spill; and the reaction and re-reaction from BP officials and the administration. IS this a topic that will define Mr. Obama’s administration?

Used cars may be gaining value, while the new car industry is tanking, the used car business is thriving. Ask my friend Josh, and well me.

I made the Indianapolis Star, Web site at least!

New movie; Captain America will be shot innnnnnnnnnnnn……London!?

The Reds are going first-to-third better than anyone in baseball. I’m worried about Bailey’s shoulder and Cueto’s blister w/ Harang’s non-sensical approach to getting no one out, now.

Five Web sites that can change news.

What I'm Reading; Election coverage, Tased Fans, Pure-Bred Dog Cancer and Spiderman!

This morning I awoke in a pile of sweat, stress and anxiety.

A perfect way to start any day.

After rushing around, a couple brown sugar cinnamon pop tarts, application of mismatched socks and a struggle in locking the apartment door; I set off for The Star Press.

Now, because I'm 'part time' I don't feel like a 'real' member of the media but, today I was entitled to boss anyone around as I was the Delaware County AP correspondent.

I wrote three stories, polished and left by 2:30 p.m. I was to report to the Delaware Co. building by 6 p.m., as the polls closed for the primary election and I was to begin reporting to Spokane, Wash. on the results in Indiana.

What I'm reading:

Went to see Phish 3-D and at first I was skeptical but soon my skepticism although I'd hope it might linger, was swept off instead...

No apparent tea party affect in Indiana and North Carolina races.

A great lead from a great Keith Roysdon, announced the fact where media staffers were kicked out of the Democratic headquarters on election night.

Ernie Harwell, longtime broadcaster of the Detroit Tigers is dead at 92.

More fallout on the tased-Philly fan by Rob Neyer.

Cancer risks of pure-bred dogs by the Wall Street Journal.

AND, SPIDERMAN has come to the rescue, in a comic book store no less.

What I'm Reading 5.3; 3-D, Public Access, Oil Spills, Immigration, Eminem and a lost iPhone

Following a rather relaxing weekend, the week begins with the fruit of procrastination and no motivation to complete tasks even the most menial of laborers would finish.

This weekend I went to the Heorot 3-days in a row, went home; made $101.20 in yard sale junk, made tomato-basil-cream sauced tortellini and garlic bread, took a nap that ended up being a nights sleep and effectively worried about WHAT i had to do; without doing it.

Even with the urge of flying monkeys lifting me away, I'm not sure I would hurdle my problem with procrastination; perhaps because it has never fully-dispersed my success in completing tasks put off to the last minute.

Either way, I have a full week ahead, including a spot as an AP new correspondent; but, really. I have to total the votes for Delaware County and report on them to an AP desk person waiting for my tally and information gathering ability.

I have about 5 stories to write this week, none-of-which close to resembling something to put into a professional publication.

It's finals week and I'm not a student; nor do I care to be at this point.

Starbucks - bold and black - is a perfect way to start the week.

What I'm reading:

WOW! Muncie's channel 60, public access is up and running.

Yet another potential-victim to the oil nonsense in the Gulf.

United and Continental have merged. I can't wait until all the mergers because of the 'perfect' capitalist model, become one and we have government and one-private business. Then who do we root for?

Archbishop Tim Dolan spouts about immigration reform. I'm with my brother on this, as you should be.

IN Memphis, a mom turned her so in for stealing drugs from her bra.

In Tulsa, a back backed his car through the walll of a parking structure.

If you haven't heard, the image of morality is rapping about Ben Roethlisberger's 'struggles'.

Roger Ebert is against turning 3-D into the movie 'way of life'.

Speaking of 3-D, Phish in 3-D is at select theaters and I'm going to see it tonight in Plainfield, Ind. The 2.25 hour 'movie' is made up of the Halloween show in Indio, Calif. last year; including favorites like: Loving Cup, Strange Design, Wilson and Undermind.

And, again, the saga of the lost iPhone 4 goes on.

What I'm Reading 4.27; small horses, oil in the gulf, dead wallabies and redirected flights

Today I felt like I was pumping out stories like the oil well in the Gulf of Mexico.

Okay, that's in poor taste, at least to the Gulf sea-life, but also to those people who really are pumping out stories like nobodies business.

We've got snow in New England, Oil in the Gulf, a plane re-routed on its way from Paris to Atlanta to Bangor, Maine and dogs killing wallabies. I can't imagine the summer will be any more exciting.

The drilling to offset and redirect the oil being spilled into the Gulf, will take months to complete.

The plane I mentioned, was redirected to a Maine airport after an passenger said he had a fake passport and explosives in his luggage.

In Gaston, Ind. a woman is nursing a baby wallaby, after dogs apparently killed her four wallabies. The baby was in the mother's pouch. Weird.

If you're familiar with baseballreference.com, check out the many teams and jerseys of Matt Stairs.

The NY Giants have invited 33-year-old, former-Marine and Ball State Cardinal, Brandon Crawford to training camp.

An interesting interview with Jorge Posada.

A 6-pound horse may set a world record.

A man in Montana was fined for scaring 7-year old.

The saga goes on in the iPhone 4 saga.

What I'm Reading 4.22; Farewell to Fr. John, Earth Day, Wal-Mart, Beer and Potato Chips

Earth day is upon us and ironically enough, we are on the earth...on this day.

Anyway, I've done my part, in not adding to the green house gas emissions by walking everywhere today. I walk places everyday but I still have not been driving a car consistently since January when my car broke down.

Today I awoke and went to mass in the library; a farewell of sorts for Fr. John who will be leaving St. Francis and Muncie tomorrow at 6 a.m. So, bittersweet as I've come to really admire the man who has inspired me further to be a vegetarian.

I'm covering an event this afternoon in New Castle, so this will be a short and probably less-entertaining post.

In honor of Earth Day and the disposal of household hazardous waste and other items here is a project from my days at Ball State I was a part of. And, here is a list for the surrounding counties of Delaware, of where to get rid of your waste.

A day in Wal-Mart in 2 minutes. This is a time lapse video of a Wal-Mart store in New Brunswick, N.J. Thanks to Mr. Roysdon for this one.

Revolutionizing American Beer from the WSJ; a great story and another peak into the growing nature of craft beers and their appreciators. Like me.

While on the subject of beer, and a great beer at that; from what I hear. Dark Lord Day 2010 is this Saturday at 3 Floyds Brewery in Munster, Ind. It's the only day of the year you can get the famous Russian Imperial Stout.

The Stealers are hinting at the possibility of trading Worth-lis-berger. (fingers crossed)

Lay's is changing the shape of the salt crystals on their potato chips to make them healthier.

What I'm Reading 4.21; Bear Affair, iPhone 4, Franny Boyle and Lady Gaga, $100s, Alf

Never before have I thought about the thought of wondering how and where carnivals come from.

Today, as I made my daily trek to the stop to catch the MITS bus, a system that has been running as consistently as well, I have, trailers carrying 'Bear Affair' and part of a Ferris wheel passed me by. It was as if the 10' tall bears were waving at me as they passed by in their blue cover-alls and red caps.

I then thought the occurrence and why it occurred and where carnivals come from. It's not that I doubt the existence of carnival-equipment-storage facilities but I surely had never thought about it. The bears passed and with them, my angst for riding the bears that were built to spin, and spin they will - without me inside of them, of course.

I like to keep my greasy-sugared pastry and lemon shake-up inside my stomach.

And that's the thing I hate about carnivals anyway. Most of the rides go round-and-round, rather than up and down, which now sounds like a sexual inuendo or that stupid song by Dead or Alive. I am also terrified of carnies; circus/carnival folk. Like modern-day gypsy's they load up rides, get drunk, put together rides, and travel city-to-city - not necessarily in that order, but come on really, ever met a carnie you weren't a little frightened of?

And back to bear affair, now pictured above, I'm scared to death of any animal that is supposed to be fierce and wild but doesn't look to be fierce and wild. Where does that wildness go, as I load into 'bear affair' for the, now defined, last time, full-bellied and ready for fun.

No fun, however; just remnants of carnie-made-deep-fried-overpriced and heart attack-causing food - now on my chucks.

Go away carnivals, hide in the abyss of wonderment I'll now dive into, on a regular basis.


What I'm reading!:

An Apple employee - Gray Powell - apparently had a few too many and left the next-generation iPhone (4g) at a bar only to have a 'random drunk guy' pick it up, eventually figure out it wasn't a regular iPhone and Gizmodo got ahold of it. So here is a page dedicated to the next iPhone and the continuing saga, as Apple has formally asked for it back. And now, more accusations.

The NFL schedules are out and Worth-lis-berger is out 6 games. WOO HOO!

One young lady I had the chance to meet on a recent mission trip I attended made CNN for her choice to choose chastity in college. Excellent story. Check out the headline of the huffington post's blog: Lady Gaga, Franny Boyle (my friend) Choose Chastity! Awesome.

A new $100 bill. Who cares; it's not like I ever see one of those.

Quadruplets from New York have chosen to go to the same college.

ALF outtakes.

From The Star Press: Improvization has paid off for local jazz band

Check out this article from a great local writer on a great local band!:

Upright double bass notes elevate a cool hum filling Muncie's White River Landing, with a foundation of near-melancholy clarity. Beget of light conversation, an emanating vibraphone, feather-like brushes on a snare and a firm tempo, the setting is serenely at ease.

"It's a feeling," said Charlie Owens, drummer for Muncie's classical jazz group, Live Jazz Tonight. "Jazz gets in your blood."

For the members of Live Jazz Tonight, the eloquence created for casual listeners and loyal followers is the byproduct of practice and spirited improvisation.

"Jazz is an art," said Paul Rhine, double-bassist and flutist.

"It's an art form created as you're watching it, hearing it. And it's the only art form that I know of that is live and being created on display."

Live Jazz Tonight, formed with diverse characters from varying backgrounds, join together twice a week, not to display their differences, but their commonality; playing music they see as consummate communiqué.

"The self expression in terms of music is empowering; it's very empowering," said Owens. "They say painting is music that you can see and music is painting you can hear."

To continue reading click here

What I'm Reading, Where I'm working and What I'm Thinking 4.15

First, am I the only person who has to constantly fumble for their phone, widget screen or wall calendar, more than once per day but, and remember the date even if i've looked at it 7.5 seconds earlier?

Today my work day started with an e-mail from an unhappy source about an innacuracy in a story entitled to me. Sorry.

But here's the thing, I pride myself on accuracy and will check once, twice, thrice - just to make sure I'm not offending someone - or more importantly, so I don't look dumb.

Just as I was about to drop into the abyss that is sometimes my self-loathing, I got a tap on the shoulder and it was my friend in the next cubicle. A veteran of the newspaper in Muncie for more than 30 years, this phenomenal guy and writer told me he could not believe my story, set to run this coming Sunday.

I thought, oh great.

But, just as my day was about to leap off the hypothetical Thursday-cliff like an over-medicated lemming - he told me: "I didn't know you could write like that." He told me, people throughout the newsroom were impressed and most importantly the editors loved it.

So, although I'm awful at the sometimes-necessary prideful side of life, I was very happy and I thought I'd pass it along. Look on here Sunday for my story: 'All that Jazz'.

The rest of my day was dominated with talks of Springfest at the Waterbowl, local priests (good talk) and the delicacy of celery.

Is telecommuting the future of several jobs, including journalism? Some people are moving further and further from their job's home-base.

Thousands of flights are either going to be canceled or delayed because of a volcano eruption in Iceland. Check out the name of the glacier in the first image. Eyjafjallajökull glacier. Excuse me, what?

All players and managers in MLB are wearing no. 42 today/tonight in honor of Jackie Robinson.

How about this picture? I thought it would be a nice print to have in any home. The NY Times store is offering it in an 11 by 14, printed on fiber-based archival paper with the finest ink for only $299 or $495 framed.

Fake AP Stylebook twitter-guys story. Funny stuff.

Pearl Jam and more importantly Band Of Horses are coming to Deer Creek. I know, I know it's not called that anymore but i wasn't going to write Verizon Wireless Music Center. Either way, I'll be there.

A couple of 'dump' workers couldn't let some expired brew go to waste.

Apparently the Donner Party didn't end up eating each other. Dang, there is nothing intersting in U.S. history.

I posted this last night but apparently two people got into a fight in S.C. and one person hit another with the head of a pet python.

And, a barking man is an internet sensation.

What I'm Reading 4.14; Stealers, Rec Services, Bishop Blogs, Hot Dogs and Speeding Tickets

I'm looking into training more consistently. And now that I'm in Muncie more, I thought, why not just use the facilities offered by the university, of which I should be granted access considering my completion of degree and several-thousand dollar debt to the school I pay, on time.

Wrong.

For the second time in as many days my Ball State ID was denied as I swam at Lewellen. The lifeguard pulled me aside and I did what I always do in intense pressure situations; improvise.

"Yeah, I thought it might," I told her. "But it's okay I'll just talk to them about it."

Who is them? I guess I was talking about the imaginary people who will wave a magic wand over my now-1.5-year-past-worthy ID.

But anyway, I called recreation services and asked how much it would cost for an alumni to use the 'facilities'. She said for alumni with alumni ID's (issued at the alumni center; last time I'm going to use the word alumni for a while) for $155 per year. Not bad I thought and what a great break for all those people, who spent years of their life studying and passing on the good word of Ball State.

Then I asked, after assessing how great of a deal alumni got, how much do people who aren't alumni have to pay?

"One-hundred-fifty-five dollars," she said.

So much for appreciation.

After all's said and done, as my Econ247 teacher always said right before I passed out unconscious from talks about the stock market and liquidity, I'm thinking about getting that alumni card and pass, if for nothing else, the satisfaction that they university still cares about me and wants me to be fit.

Well, maybe.

Anyway; what I'm reading:

Big Ben isn't so big anymore. I don't want to say I-told-you so, but I believe it's in order.

Pittsburgh is rooted in class; DUI's, marijuana and two sexual assault charges. Not bad for the team the league likes to root for and who, on numerous occasions added to their 'winning' tradition through the misfortune of others.

REDS WIN! 5-3 and it looks like they're just getting started!

Another 'terrible' earthquake. This time in China. As of this hour, 400 are dead.

Archbishop Timothy Dolan's blog. Good stuff.

(Sorry this post is so sporadic; it's reflective of my mind, today)

Driving cars all the time it's easy to see that American-made cars are junk compared to anything, any other country makes. Perhaps the market does figure out what is best; American made cars top list of worst-built.

A beautifully-written story on a terrible, terrible occurrence these days. I mean, I can't understand how people forget their kids in their cars but, I just keep in mind that caring for your children is your first priority - always. Sad.

Speeding tickets are up. My experiences are evidence of that.

So, Conan is going to TBS. Good news for them.

Record Store Day is this saturday. I'm sure a store deserves my patronage after years of piracy. Here's one great record store, I've been to.

Hot dogs at all the stadiums.

And, lastly I went to Dallas last weekend but missed this.

24th annual A Taste of Muncie is here! Read the preview and profile of one of the participating restaurants!

What I'm Reading 4.6

If I were to sum up my life post-college it would bear, perhaps the same moniker of the most recent presidential campaign: Change is here!

This week I began my first week at The Star Press, as a temporary features and freelance writer; fulfilling, hopefully, my ability to write and develop stories which, up to this point, has yielded me all of about $37.

The hardest thing about transitioning back to actually ‘doing something’ is a challenge, but I must remember it hasn’t been two days. Patience is tough in the vocation of newspaper writing but patience is necessary when working with people and attempting to get ahold of them at their most inconvenient times, it seems.

I enjoy the aura of the newsroom; writers and editors with their heads down typing feverishly, antidotes of stories writers are working on floating just at a listenable volume, random laughs to said antidotes, the scanner belching the police blotter and discussions of donuts and previous night’s ball games.

And when it’s busy and there are seemingly hundreds of assignments on my desk, I love it. I can’t wait to see what comes of this adventure (here’s to hoping it becomes more permanent) but, I’m sure whatever the next day brings will be an important part of my adventure going forward.

It’s morel season once again and if you don’t know what a morel is, or why anyone would walk in dimly-lit forests for wild fungus; this is not a call to you. I’m looking for anyone and everyone interested in morel-mushroom hunting. Tips, secrets, any and all insight into the world and season of morel hunting are wanted and/or needed.

Check out this site called Caring Bridge, an online support system for family and friends going through a serious health problem with another friend or relative. I landed upon the site of one Muncie couple – the husband is currently undergoing cancer treatment – and became instantly interested into the support of family, friends and complete strangers through an online social-network

Having wifi problems with your brand-spankin’-new iPad? Check out this for some quick easy tips for connection problems. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2362319,00.asp Don’t have one? Do you need it? http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1976932,00.html

The president had a 17-minute, 2500 word response to a lady asking about being overtaxed. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/04/obamas-17-minute-2500-word-res.html

Reflections on St. Augustine's Confessions

We all yearn for God but continually fail to recognize it.

For, if God is love and love is light, as light is truth and happiness; we are all seeking God. The medium of search is different for us all but as this world has taught us to find happiness in the norms we recognize, we are blinded to the true reality that everything is aberrant to Truth.

Saint Augustine said: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you."

St. Augustine found, as he thrust himself into situational norm for many in today's world during his conversion and blessed receiving of the gift of faith, that what he was encountering 'in the world', - albeit, more than 1600 years ago - did not give him ultimate fulfillment. And therefore, in blind opposition to relativism he noted it was not making those around him joyous either.

Early in Confessions Saint Augustine writes, in clear observation at the travesty of the human clasp to worldly value and the difficulties to overcome it:

"But how one must condemn the river of human custom! Who can stand firm against it? When will it ever dry up? How long will it continue to sweep the sons of Eve into the huge and fearful ocean which can scarcely be passed even by those who have the mark of the Cross upon their sails?"

So what step must we take to go against the grain and become 'not of this world' and yet, 'in this world'? Must we alienate those we know and the values they hold dear, the customs we hold and/or the way we allocate our time? Is it important to continually recognize fault in ourselves? In others?

And once we buy into the idea of ultimate and utter fulfillment in the Lord, what of the struggle to change our lives that have grown accustomed to the ways of this world?

In clear response, struggle will be ever-apparent living for God and while allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you. Yet, the importance is not in our comfort but in our opportunity and grace-filled attempt to bring others to what we have found; a disregard for the disgusting acquisition of injustice toward our Lord, which places importance on the pleasures of this world and rather, a genuine embrace of opposition to the institution and destination for the world to come.

Furthermore, the way to God is not easy. The way of God is not easy. And the discovery of God is not easy. For, as we come into a relationship, through prayer and genuine unassigned penance, we find that changing the person we grew into as a 'heathen' of society is painful beyond belief. Often you will ask: why is the life in the image of Christ so pain-filled and wretched? And yet, do not look to a life through God as a comfort to the 'evils' of this world. Embrace the cross that Christ took up and embrace your own cross, created not by God by what you have come to know and created by your own self.

What I'm Reading 4.1; April Fools Day, Escaping to prison and ramming vehicles in frustration

What makes April Fools Day so great is how it forces you to be a non-passive holiday observer; you have to jump full-in to celebrate it.

In the spirit of 'All Fools Day' I figured, either go big or go home. And I'm not going home, at least not right now. A top-10 from around the world.

My initial facebook status today should attest to my attempt to 'fool' the gullible and/or fun-loving friends who may forget to use a bit of extra logic on this day of days for ridiculousness.

Apparently British media take April Fools to an extreme and attempt to pull of shenanigans all day long. One attempt from the AP this morning:

This year, The Sun reported it has developed the world's first flavored newspaper page and invited readers to lick a square of newsprint "to reveal a hidden taste." Just below the spot to be licked was the fine-print warning: "May contain nuts."

At 'Weird Muncie' to your Twitter feed. I have to be honest I've kind of given up some on Twitter.

The Pinot Noir is tasting a bit smokey this year because of the fires in California. Excellent story, by the way.

A man fleeing police near Cleveland, Ohio left his car and hopped a fence - into a prison yard.

This is no joke and I know it is quite unbelieveable but they are re-routing traffic on Chester Blvd., again. (Definitely a world changing event)

The JFK library is displaying a letter from JD Salinger to Ernest Hemingway which leads with; "You'll never guess the line I used on this chick last night..." Thanks to David Hale for that.

I'd heard a lot of biblical reference in regard to the show 'Lost' but here is a story about tying it all together.

The partisan scuffle is intense but a 70-year-old man took matters into his own hands against an Obama-Biden sticker-yielding SUV. And in apparently ramming of vehicles is popular lately; a man in Nigeria 'sent by Jesus to punish sinners' ran his car into a parked airplane.

And, a rebirth of Calvinism?

SPORTS

Video of Pat Venditte; the switch-pitching baseball player in the Yankees farm system.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Denard Span invited his mother to a spring training game and concurrently hit her with a foul ball.

I love preseason predictions of teams because they are always wrong. Over at ESPN the 'experts' are picking the Reds to finish between 1st and 6th in the NL Central. Thanks for doing your homework Buck Showalter; I doubt he knew there were 6 teams in the Central. And, one more thing, it kills me that 'the worldwide leader in sports' doesn't take the time to do enough research on small market teams, like the Reds; Jay Bruce doesn't play 1B ESPN. Thanks.

And here are some official odds for the Reds, this year.

Joe Posnaski's take on the West Va. Mountaineers and their coach, our favorite: Bob Huggins.

If you still haven't read this you need to: Butler is everyone's sentimental favorite going into this weekend's Final Four. This is the best time of the year; Final Four and then opening day...

What I'm Reading 3.31; Easter, Kidney(s) and Steeler stupidity

Quickly approaching is Easter, a holiday once known for Jesus' resurrection but now known for plastic-imitation-chicken eggs and over-sized rabbits.

Funny how Easter - like Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. - is celebrated in varying ways by different families. For instance, I don't hunt eggs anymore, some older people do.

And on fasting; how did it go for you? I gave up meat and I stuck to it. And, I even liked giving up beef, chicken, lamb, weasel, etc. so much, I might not go back.

In Easter news: The Easter bunny may save your life, critics say avoid giving rabbits, chicks as gifts and a list of the largest egg hunts in the U.S.

Away from Easter, a new study finds that many people (including me) would give a kidney for a quick buck.

Airbags on airplanes?

Before you eat from McDonald's again AND more importantly before you buy another 'happy meal' for your kids, take a look at this. This guy is celebrating the one-year anniversary of a happy meal he bought, set out and watched NOT decompose over the course of the past year.

A history maker in our midst, despite what you or I think of him.

Another attack in Russia.

The Obama overhaul of the student loan system could come at a huge benefit to interested parties.

A new version could mean the end of a iPhone-less Verizon wireless network. Good news for me!

Remember all the talk of earmarks? Here is a state-by-state map of earmark allotment.

SPORTS

Things are looking good for the Steelers; first Big Ben, now smokin' Santonio, again.

The University of Conn. women's basketball team has won 76 games in-a-row and are headed to another Final Four.

Aroldis Chapman set to begin season in minors for the Reds. No big surprise.

If you haven't heard about Pat Venditte, check him out. Venditte is an ambidextrous pitcher in the NY Yankees farm system. He got his first spring action yesterday.

Reaching into the vault, Sports Illustrated has the story that proceeded the 1975 World Series.

Left Wondering In Wonderland (spoilers!)

Lately I haven't been moved to enter a movie theater, save the hint of popcorn that seems to pull me in, even in the most despicable of locales.

But, Tim Burton moves me to do and see things I wouldn't normally, and his new children's prize, Alice in Wonderland was sold to me.

Long gone are NOT the days where I could watch Nightmare Before Christmas in any season and scoff at those who say that Beetle juice wasn't a masterpiece. So, I'm a Burton fan and I assumed I would love the new Wonderland.

What I found however, that despite the incredible precision to specific parts of Lewis Carrol's masterpiece I was left wanting more. The always animated Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) was dressed to a 'T' looking as sharp as ever, with a quite a bit of Burton costumal flair to top him all off.

Deducing where the picture was taking me, I found the visual recreation of Carrol's novel and live-portrayal of the 1951 Disney version (the one I loved as a child), aesthetically pleasing but more or less flat on the didactical attempt at presenting a story I've loved for a long time.

I'm not sure if due to Burton's attempts to curb the excitement and 'scary' imagery - he's known for - was to grasp a 'wee' audience but it left me, a fan of Burton's unexpectedness and goth-esque imagery, wanting to see the parts and/or dialogue that seemed to be missing.

The 'curious' lack of animation and anger revealed by the queen of hearts (Helena Bonham Carter), did not reveal to me the character Carrol created all those years ago, while some characters were spot-on including Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum, the door mouse and the blue catepillar.

The story line lead with a short drama in Alice's life before Alice falls into the dreaded rabbit hole, following the white rabbit before a long fall and battle of transfiguration between large and small of herself.

She meets the astheically pleasing characters of Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum, Cheshire cat and others during her journey that also seemed accelerated compared to other versions of the story.

She meets the queen, flees from infantry-style playing cards and fights the Jabberwocky to end the journey, before climbing back up the rabbit hole and continuing the story; taking control of her life and following some semblance of her dreams and late-father's passion.

The movie was exciting in parts and clearly safe for children with a PG rating. I would tell anyone: "it is worth seeing," at least for the mind-blowing visuals (in parts) but, I am not ready to unseat Disney's masterpiece, as the better Wonderland; with or without a jabberwocky.

What I'm Reading 3.29; Baseball, Bombings, Barack and Baby Squirrels

Here I go again, more or less on my own; in seek of the ever-present career which has eluded me up to this point.

About a month ago a longtime friend (can you call someone you've known for 2 years a longtime friend?) let me into a secret about some potential part-time work at a newspaper. Yeah, that's right, those paper things people used to buy and read and gain insight into the world around them.

But, in my state; featured as the epitome for a lack-of-motivation and what not to do video, I brushed it off, only to come back to it now.

So tomorrow I'm beginning my journalistic journey anew at The Star Press in Muncie, working part-time and doing freelance. I'm excited and hope this is a breath of fresh air into a career path that, so far, has been a bit, so to speak; lacking.

Baseball is one week away and I know I'm excited how about you? The beloved Reds are looking fresh and young; something to embrace but who is this guy? President Barack Obama will throw out the first pitch opening day for the Nationals; at least they have something to get animated about in D.C.

An apparent suicide bomber killed 38 in a Moscow subway; it is unclear who is responsible at this hour.

A police-car-biting dog has to take obedience classes in a town I was in yesterday: Chattanooga.

Here is an interesting timeline of media layoffs; thanks C. Trent.

WSJ.com offers good insight into the benefits and costs of the health-care overhaul.

Ten stories 'you' should know about this years Final Four in Indianapolis. While we are the pinnacle of March Madness; how about those Butler Bulldogs?! Several Bulldog fans lined up for tickets this morning. Kravitz has a good take on the Bulldog's story.

And, last but certainly not least: a poodle plays foster mom to baby squirrels in N. Carolina.

California take, well: III

With the assurance that I'd come out ahead I took a trip, Honda Pilot in hand or rather, me in a Honda Pilot, to the Bay Area from Richmond, Ind.

No, this is not the story of now, this is the story of 3 weeks ago. And by random circumstance, it is now the story of this week.

So, I delivered said Honda Pilot to my newly acquired friends in the Central Coast/N. California/Bay Area/Santa Cruz area. I got to spend time with them, converse about important topics and take a walk through the redwoods, no less. They drove me to the San Jose airport and I was on my way back to where people may read this.

To me the place (Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley) was/is magical. I loved it and I could have seen myself living there. And oddly enough, I've felt a strong pull to find something out there.

But I went on my way, thinking about the day I would again see my friends in California and when I'd get the chance to walk the road running along the coast with surfers in the background and waves crashing into the rocky walls of Santa Cruz.

Not five days later, storms began battering the Central Coast/N. California/Bay Area/Santa Cruz area and as a result much of the living space around where my new friends lived. I was driving back from Baltimore and I got a text message that said 'tree fell, house smashed, car smashed; see you soon with a new Pilot!:)'

I felt awful but joyous at the same time for the opportunity to once again repeat history, somewhat, and visit this place I came to love in a matter of only 48 hours.

So, here I am after a longer jaunt to see a few things yet unseen, in Central Coast/N. California/Bay Area/Santa Cruz area.

After arriving quite late or early, depending on how you look at it, I awoke after a nap yesterday and ventured down to Santa Cruz, watched surfers and the Super Bowl at Rosie McCann's Irish Pub in downtown Santa Cruz. I met a few inspired individuals, one of which tried to convince me to move to Santa Cruz. He, although I don't remember his name, said, after my question: "so, what do you do,?" "I do nothing and I love it," he said "I just walk around and go to the beach every day." He was dressed in overalls, a flannel shirt and drank cherry coke, while we talked football and California Livin'.

What I'm Reading (or not) 2.1.2010!?

Disappearing is an act for a magician and they can have it.

To be honest, I've been quite busy since my last post and yet, as I haven't stopped writing, I have stopped posting.

So, I don't live in Indianapolis anymore, I don't work at Damar anymore and I'm back to traveling the country by-way of other people's cars in search of the best $1.99 cheeseburger. Or something like that.

After departing the dreaded town of Indianapolis, a place I try and avoid at all costs for its artificial feel and infrastructure, I began driving for the Mats International/Covenant Auto Sales again. I've remained somewhat busy, which is good because I need it.

New Years eve I had the opportunity to fly to Miami and pick up a 2006 Volvo and subsequently attend the Phish New Years eve show I wanted to make but never felt I could. Unbelieveable circumstance lead to me eating Cuban food on S. Beach, sitting in 80 degree weather on January 31 and attending a 3 hour, 3 set show by none other than the master's of music themselves.

After 2 full sets (the show began at 8 p.m.) Trey and the gang came out and began playing a diddy close to 11:55 p.m. As the time drew toward midnight, a large disco-esque ball lowered from the ceiling and as one the crowed counted down from '10' as the clock, or rather, guitar stuck '12'. As midnight ushered in 2010, Trey played Auld Lang Syne and everyone cheered. Unbelievable.

The last few weeks I've made trips to Baltimore/Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Wilmington, NC, Omaha, NE (in a snow storm) and most recently Dallas, San Antonio, TX, Monroe, LA and Little Rock, AR. So, I've stayed on the go at least.

Tomorrow I depart for Kansas City, MO, the home of overrated BBQ and bad professional sports teams.

What I'm Reading 12.17

The actions of the individual should not be weighed against that person, by any other person; it is not our duty to decide who is worthy and who is not.

This morning Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Chris Henry lost his life. He was a father, someone's son and from many accounts, a changed individual. Slim's time in Cincinnati was short and full of controversy, but no one can justify the loss of an individual at the age of 26 with 3 small children.

It is a truly sad story, as his family rushed to his bedside following an accident, apparently beginning as a domestic dispute. It makes me genuinely sad, as Chris seemed to turn the corner this year, had his head set and was due to do good things.

CincyJungle: Chris became someone you root for, after being taken under the wing of Carson Palmer and others.

In other news:

Make sure to check your facebook privacy settings, now.

There are a ton of disability claims pouring in equidistant to the loss in jobs. During a supervised home visit for one of the kids I work with, the father of the boy told me he was getting a check for $64,000 in lost wages because of a back injury. Blows my mind.

Also, Rust Belt towns hit the hardest, according to the Washington Post.

Blessed are the conservative? I'm not convinced.

Something I saw on Bob and Tom show before I left work last night: 21 things that became obsolete this decade. By the way the decade ends in 2 weeks.

Also, the 15-worst states to start a business. Indiana didn't make the list! Let's hear it for NJ!

In a fledgling economy, kids are asking for jobs for Dad and other essentials.

"Am I the Grinch who stole Christmas?," asks one journalist.

A letter to the Manila Bulletin about importance of Jesus in Christmas; something I'm sure to write about sooner or later this Christmas season.

Prisons are full. So, the best way to alleviate a problem is to empty them?

AND, time to get going on some movies. Here are the 2010 Golden Globe nominations if you haven't seen them.

A Calling

A call to action to alleviate the inequities of this world is sadly only relevant if the bellower of injustice holds status in the unjust society. As a result, the call to action rarely comes, due to the intentions of the renowned individual, because it is their great action(s) and great fault(s) that allow them to take advantage in a world where THEY are the proprietors.

Determining how to pick up the pieces and become justified in a society once thought be limitless in potential for even the dregs, has no precedent and therefore the ingenuity of minds of a great underling society must be grande. Where to go with my thoughts and intentions when I am the aforementioned underling?

Faith fuels the hypothetical fire. Faith in God, in action and in possibilities that may or may not become conceivable with just the right catalyst and opportunity.

A call to action is possible but only with the ability to give of your full self, with non regret for personal loss; finding it in you, to live for someone else can be the biggest challenge in the world.

Selflessness is passion. It is something I work for everyday; a way to break from the individual-gain society we are thrust in. A bit more personal submission from each individual - quaint in distinction and effort - would yield much. It is imperative to give of yourself before you can fully and efficiently give to others.

Although you may have submitted yourself, those you are helping may have not, yet shouldn't be judged, as opportunity has given their struggles to us, to soothe . Understanding and patience is paramount at a crucial time when one may have thought all was figured. You will never find someone who justifies action in the same way you do; a challenge is to find someone who can accept your inherit biases and faults.

Dostoevsky said: “Love a man, even in his sin, for that love is a likeness of the divine love, and is the summit of love on earth." Express said love through action and in a blinding manner, being careful to not trump action.

Action, can be had and will be with time and patience and swift effort, even from the underlings of society. I wish for the understanding and enlightenment of others and for the faith to continue a journey set for no exact destination. Despite a lack of stature and power, difference can be made; it starts with each of us and the attitudes spawned from those around us, through our actions, countenance and silent conviction.

It is empowering without measure when you feel you have given you to something much grander than the self.

What I'm Reading 12.3

Happy December everyone; only 24 more shopping days until the most important day of the year!

Are you getting tired of hearing about Tiger Woods? I believe 'transgressions' were destined to happen.

In the wake of the 25th anniversary of a disaster you've never heard of - a slideshow marking the Bhopal, India gas leak.

My Ball State Cardinals scored the fewest points in a men's basketball game in 58 years: 38 against 23 ranked Butler.

I feel we spend too much money on Christmas presents and as a result I wish for all who read this to donate, donate and donate some more, for those who have little or nothing. On donating: ECI has done a good job.

Barry Larkin is up for the Hall-of-Fame. Would you vote for him?

My Cincinnati Bengals are 8-3, 6-0 in the AFC North, running the ball like never before and are destined for greatness.

And, a periodical that looks interesting to me.

Have a beautiful day, wherever you are.

What I'm Reading; Thanksgiving edition

Happy Thanksgiving!

As I enjoy the national holiday from the seat of my pants, alone with work in the horizon of a couple hours, I thought I'd provide some insight into what's been up and down, so to speak.

Here is an interesting story to ponder over as we celebrate that 1st Thanksgiving.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade skipped Broadway, this year for the first time.

On something I've read a lot about, the genetic mutation of what we have come to know that is actually a super-turkey, may soon come to an end. Goodbye big-bland-tasting bird, hello smaller, more-expensive-more-rich-flavored bird.

The Detroit Lions are staying on Thanksgiving. IMO, good.

If you haven't seen or heard the bell ringers for the Salvation Army, they now are taking credit or debit.

I've been working consistently at Damar Services for more than 2 months now, and I've come to the conclusion; there will always be good days and bad days. The best thing I've learned to do is to leave everyday at work, and work day-to-day.

Recently, I've felt personal gains with some of the kids. After reading some of their files I have found less reason to become aggravated with behaviors and more inspiration to try and understand what I can do to help.

I struggle with getting the kids to listen to me for a couple reasons I can guess; one, they have a hard time relating with me and two, they just don't care about what someone, with a position of power, over them, has to say.

Interestingly, when I have found a way to lower myself to them (in hypothetical sense only) I have found they listen, and are much more happy with my presence. Joking and having a good time with them is not hard and I struggle with the staff whom cannot find it within themselves to enjoy their time with the kids.

On the staff, I have met some good, some not so good, and some who just show up for a paycheck. I never want to a paycheck person.

Moving on, it is a sad cycle for some of the kids. Watching some of the kids progress within the captive environment is all for naught oftentimes, as many leave and revert to behaviors that seemed to have been irradiated. Also, some complete their treatment plan and because of a lack of family or guardian support and/or consistency, they fall back into the system and sadly if they have reached adult-age that often means incarceration.

I want to get in the minds of the kids but become so aggravated with my own deficiencies, limiting my ability to understand and make breakthroughs with the kids, who may only need one explanation to turn a major corner. I am thankful for this opportunity, but I feel so much time is wasted and it pains me to no end to know that I leave every day at 11 p.m., with the kids sleeping, and I haven't figured out a way to suppress a behavior that would otherwise help them to be at peace with themselves and/or the environment they see around them.

I watch kids struggle with thoughts, memories and defense mechanisms that have been socially conditioned within them from dealing with the horrific lives most of them have experienced. I want to feel their pain in more real terms, so as to understand and have them understand that I am always there to help.

So, today i want to express my thankfulness in having the opportunity to be around the people I hope to help. I am thankful for the chance to be a positive person in their lives and someone they can rely on and trust, the likeness they may have never known.

Today I work from Noon-11 p.m., again, as I am enjoying Thanksgiving with one client's family, via supervised home-visit. It is not ideal for me, or my family who spend another holiday without my presence, but the focus is on the people of need I now attempt to empower. Having the thankfulness to understand my family eats w/out me because I've been so lucky to have a supporting family, is key. Redirecting that thankfulness and giving of myself to help one of my kids enjoy a Thanksgiving, is what is important today.

And I'm thankful for the opportunity.

What I"m Reading 10.30

A lot is going on in the news and a few other things, aside from my new job as a direct support technician at a organization supporting children with developmental and behavioral challenges.

Some days, more than others, I find a ton of interesting stuff on the 'internets' and I feel that it's necessary for you to take part (you who are undefined).

For example: the largest cruise ship in the world is in Miami. The 'Oasis of the Seas' boasts 2,700 cabins and can hold 6,300 passengers.

How is this for irony: a man in Minnesota was mauled by a dog he rescued. Not exactly a plug for HELP shelter and like rescue organizations.

Speaking of Richmond (HELP shelter), on a sad note, a great man passed away this week. Audry Reichter, father of my babysitter, lived an extraordinary life as a WWII veteran and foster parent, with his wife, for more than 2,000 children since 1947. He was 87.

A Washington television station is receiving both praise and critical glances after airing a live-action video of how to properly administer a breast self-exam.

The Phillies and Yankees are even at 1-1 in the World Series.

The Baltimore Ravens, although handled by my Cincinnati Bengals, may be the best 3-3 team imaginable. I'll take them over 6-0 Denver on Sunday.

Perhaps the trade of the decade: Cleveland sent Barolo Colon and Tim Walker to the Expos for Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore, Brandon Phillips and Lee Stevens. In retrospect; wow!

Back to Bengals talk: Ochocinco, promoting his new book on the off-week, was on Letterman last night reading the Top-10 list.

Also on the Bengals: Carson Palmer has been the key to Cincinnati's early success.

Away from the Bengals and down to Athens, GA: a woman apparently acted like a dog to scare off a man.

Here is a story about the resurected Paul Reubens (Pee-Wee Herman).

Is there a real Jaws out there? Check out the picture on the link.

And finally, a trailer for a new movie about John Lennon's early life: "Nowhere Boy."

Contradicting Perspectives

I want you to think of your first memories. Remember the early times that formed you, at early ages; things that helped you become who you are.

Now, think about who might have lifted you to the table to blow out your birthday candles. Remember who was there to help you when you fell off your bicycle. Think about the times spent with the ones closest to you, the ones who nurtured you and the ones you rebelled against, only to come back to when you needed them the most.

Now, try and think about what your life would be w/out those who did so little, that became so much, in retrospect. Imagine your life w/out happy times and w/out the sad times; having the ability to have someone there to help you or, enjoy times with you. Imagine them not wanting to.

Speaking in general terms, kids i now have the opportunity to help have lived lives without, what most of us have taken for granted. Attempting to reason with someone, who has known a life directly contradictory to my own is a feat. These kids are living with burdens and experiences some of us can't begin to imagine and can never truly understand.

The image of abuse and neglect, I can now see in the faces of so many, causing behavioral and emotional problems have been spawned from the people who were supposed to be there for them the most. No one living a 'normal' life can imagine what they would have become w/out nurturing loved ones. Yet, given the opportunity to change a view of the world and of life, held by someone who has known no true happiness and no true 'loved' one, is an opportunity worth grasping.

Attempting to understand 'my' kids' perspective is difficult but possible, at least on a degree enough to help change a perspective, or have them see things through the help of someone they can trust. Helping one of them understand, despite their pain, that hurting someone else is never going to alleviate their greatest fears of abuse, is possible.

Changing the mindset of the people you are told to trust, will not let you down, is also possible but only if a staff or concerned individual has the ability to give of themselves on an even greater level than even our parents did for us.

"True success is measured only in the growth of an individual."

Yesterday, I felt I gained trust in one, and was able to develop a goal, in another. I want to be someone trustworthy enough, for those who have never known, or had the ability to know anyone they could truly rely on. I want to change perspective(s).

New Observations on Life

The two weeks of orientation were set to enlighten and yet, scare away those feeling that working with children having been through some of the most traumatic life experiences and dreadful treatment known. I pushed through, because that's what I do best and it is only now, as I'm head-on into the job, that I see the images of tragedy and pain those I work with have been through.

The challenge of working with children known and documented as being 'dangerous' and 'disabled', is finding it within yourself to change your perspective of how everything is 'supposed to' work in this world and realize how things sometimes work in the most horrific of situations.

Two full days into the job, about to head for a third, I have been pressed already; morally, physically and psychologically, and yet, no matter the hardship I face in attempting to do all in my power to help, I can never fully understand the pain some of 'my' kids have been put through in their lives. Understanding why a youngster may do something to harm themselves or someone else is best examined after knowing what a child has been through. And that is tough, considering everyone has some handle on how parenting in a 'normal' world works. Helping people who have never had 'real' parents is difficult when brains and trust have been morphed the way these kids' have.

I'm going to do my best to document what I see, keeping anonymity, of course; leaving out specifics often but getting at the root of how and why things happen, things I can only imagine.

A 'job' pushing ones pschy and mental perspective, is not really a job but, a blessing and something an enlightened person can take and do great things with for others. I hope to be that enlightened person and I hope to help change lives for the people I see as, no one else has before; as precious, raw and propitious people.