Xpinionated

So there are people out there who are idolizing, for lack of a better word, David Blaine. ‘He’s a symbol of mankind going beyond what normal people can do,’ said one observer. ‘He’s got a creative mind like me,’ came another intelligent comment.

Uh, no. The guys is an attention whore. Much like us bloggers but more of an extreme case. Where blogging as an attention whore type activity would rank as a mosquito bite, this guy is herpes. He’s not creative, he’s not intelligent. He basically needs it….attention is his heroin.

Sadly, attempting to drown yourself for entertainment constitutes entertainment these days.

Tags: Original Blogger Posts by Xpinionated
CommentsStupidity+Televised2006-05-09+20%3A14%3A19Xpinionated

The hardest thing to do is to step back and evaluate yourself. I mean truly look at yourself and figure out what it is you want, what makes you happy, what impression do you want to leave on this world. If you’ve never sat down and done this, it becomes a more daunting task, a task which I face now, as time speeds along.

Triggered mainly by my current work situation, I’m having second thoughts about my chosen field of work. Along with those second thoughts come the obvious questions of what else would I do? Therein lies the problem. For as long as I can remember I’ve always said I would work in computers when I grew up. Never really entertained thoughts of doing anything else. Now, this whole IT thing isn’t exciting me. I go to work because it pays for the lifestyle that keeps me happy. The work isn’t fulfilling, captivating, or at all life enriching.

Perhaps it’s because it seems as if I’ve been doing the same thing for nearly eight years now. So maybe looking into some other area of IT is what I need to do. But I have had several affairs with other technologies but after the initial newness, my attention wanes…quickly.

Maybe I should just start with a list of keywords of things I like or like to do and see if there are any obvious patterns….

Tags: Original Blogger Posts by Xpinionated
CommentsThe+hardest+thing2006-05-08+22%3A47%3A28Xpinionated

The top ten list as produced by Hagerty Insurance is as follows

• Distracted drivers talking on cell phones
• Slow drivers in the fast lane
• Pushy drivers who tailgate
• Drivers who weave through traffic to gain one or two car lengths
• Obnoxious drivers who speed up to keep you from changing lanes
• Hasty drivers who change lanes without signaling
• ‘Road Rage’
• Motorcyclists who race down the middle of a lane, between cars
• Women applying makeup and men shaving
• Drivers who leave their turn signal on for miles

I have to agree with all of them. I am guilty of probably one or two or four. Let’s see: I may tailgate but that’s only if you’re a slow driver in the fast lane so I don’t know if that counts.
I do weave through traffic but I usually get more than one or two cars up so I don’t know if that counts. Plus that is also only when there’s a slow driver in the fast lane.
I usually let folks over but not if they are a)in an unmarked van, typically that signifies slow driver, b) they are getting in the left lane but not passing anybody, and c) if it’s bumper to bumper traffic and you have a vehicle I wouldn’t be able to see around. So I don’t know if that coutns
I do experience Road Rage episodes but of course that’s due to other things on this list….so I don’t know if that counts.

Tags: Original Blogger Posts by Xpinionated
CommentsDriving+Pet+Peeves2006-05-08+21%3A16%3A20Xpinionated

For all the talk of a choke, for all the disappointment that Lakers fans must feel, for all the media folks who were on our bandwagon when we were up 3 to 1 and now act as if they expected the come back, I am proud of my Los Angeles Lakers.

They told us we weren’t going to be in the playoffs. And even if we did sneak in it would be as an eighth seed. We got in as a seventh and were far from sneaking in missing the sixth seed by just a few games. Not only did we make the playoffs, we took the second seeded team to seven games. And quite possibly could have swept them had a call or two been made at the end of the first game. Not blaming the refs (which is hard for me because I feel they suck), just saying a couple different calls, different bounces and who knows…..and that can actually go both ways.

Kobe Bryant continued his journey to the Hall of Fame, averaging 35.4 points a game and taking home the scoring title. Included in this net barrage were 81 and 62 point efforts, alongside 27 (I think that’s the number) 40 + point efforts. Kwame Brown, Luke Walton, and Smush Parker had better than expected seasons (excluding the last couple of playoff games). Lamar Odom showed signs of the impact player he could be when he’s comfortable….I’d like to see him maintain a consistent aggression but at least we saw less of the fadeaway layups and more of the confidence.

I would say that we’re on schedule right now with our rebuilding. I wonder if Lamar Odom will be used as trade bait for a Kevin Garnett now that Odom’s understanding and comfort level in the offense has picked up. Also wonder who else we would have to ship with Odom to get a deal like that done. I can’t imagine there’s a possibility of keeping Odom and getting Garnett but can you imagine that starting lineup…..Kobe, KG at PF, Lamar at SF, Kwame or Mihm, and Smush at the point. SO much for double and tripling Kobe…..

There’s also been some talk of getting help at PG….don’t know how that will shake out but I hear Bobby Jackson is gonna be a free agent. Possibility????

Tags: Classic Laker Posts by Xpinionated
CommentsAfter+Thought2006-05-08+18%3A28%3A34Xpinionated

His quote justifying clothesline on another player:

“I have no respect for him,” Bell said. “I think he’s a pompous, arrogant individual.”

Bell said he had been repeatedly hit in the face by Bryant during the game.

“I got a bruised cheek here and I can barely open my jaw on this side,” he said, indicating the left side of his face, “and that didn’t come from nowhere, and I felt like I’d had enough of that.”

He’s got a bruised cheek? By cheek, he means arse cheek because he’s so busy flopping. And barely open his jaw on one side….er…ummm….as part of the whole human thing, nobody can open their jaw on one side you idiot. Go ahead, try and chew on one side of your mouth without the other side moving, I dare ya…..

Tags: Classic Laker Posts by Xpinionated
CommentsBitchilistic+Bell+Continued2006-05-04+20%3A56%3A55Xpinionated

Well when you put it this way……

Dear President Bush:

I’m about to plan a little trip with my family and extended family, and I would like to ask you to assist me. I’m going to walk across the border from the U.S. into Mexico, and I need to make a few arrangements. I know you can help with this.

I plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration quotas and laws. I’m sure they handle those things the same way you do here.

So, would you mind telling your buddy, President Vicente Fox, that I’m on my way over? Please let him know that I will be expecting the following:

1. Free medical care for my entire family.

2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might need, whether I use them or not.

3. All government forms need to be printed in English.

4. I want my kids to be taught by English-speaking teachers.

5. Schools need to include classes on American culture and history.

6. I want my kids to see the American flag flying on the top of the flag pole at their school with the Mexican flag flying lower down.

7. Please plan to feed my kids at school for both breakfast and lunch.

8. I will need a local Mexican driver’s license so I can get easy access to government services.

9. I do not plan to have any car insurance, and I won’t make any effort to learn local traffic laws.

10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the memo from Pres. Fox to leave me alone, please be sure that all police officers speak English.

11. I plan to fly the U.S. flag from my house top, put flag decals on my car, and have a gigantic celebration on July 4th. I do not want any complaints or negative comments from the locals.

12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes, and don’t enforce any labor laws or tax laws.

13. Please tell all the people in the country to be extremely nice and never say a critical word about me, or about the strain I might place on the economy.

I know this is an easy request because you already do all these things for all the people who come to the U.S. from Mexico. I am sure that Pres. Fox won’t mind returning the favor if you ask him nicely.

However, if he gives you any trouble, just invite him to go quail hunting with your V.P.

Thank you so much for your kind help.

Sincerely, John & Jane Q Taxpayer, anywhere, usa :

Tags: Original Blogger Posts by Xpinionated
CommentsIllegal+Immigration+.+.+.++.Again+.+.+.+.A+Letter2006-05-03+17%3A45%3A18Xpinionated

Raja Bell - I never realized how bitchilistic this guy is. He’s a flopper Nothing ruins the game of basketball as the so-called defenders who just throw themselves to the floor a la Vlade Divac. Get some cajones and play defense! He’s dirty How can you not call someone dirty when they clothesline and proceed to throw down a player? People catch beat downs on anything other than an NBA court for that garbage.

Result of Bell’s Bitchilistic Ways

Steve Nash - They really call this guy the MVP? Uh moving pick anyone? Does anyone else not see the barage of moving picks whenever Steve Nash is dribbling. If the refs were to call this obvious infraction just 50% of the time, no ‘career’ numbers for Nash’s teammates, dimes drop considerably for the Canadian that could, and definitely no MVP talk. Defending Raja? I expect him to defend his teammate or perhaps not say anything negative. But to imply that Raja may be suspended not because the call was a Flagrant Foul II (which is usually followed with a suspension), but because it was on Kobe is childish banter. He should be ashamed of himself.

Tags: Classic Laker Posts by Xpinionated
CommentsMy+List+of+Folks+for+Whom+Respect+has+Dwindled2006-05-03+16%3A43%3A50Xpinionated

Tonite’s game in Phoenix could end what many would have considered an improbable series had you asked them prior to the April 23 start. The seventh seeded Lakers head into Phoenix holding a 3 games to 1 lead over the second seeded Suns. Let’s hope that ‘one’ doesn’t come back to haunt us. The first game was within our reach and could have very easily gone our way with a couple of bounces here and there.

So what expectations do I have tonite? I expect a frenetic first quarter, lots of running, almost sloppy play, as the Suns try to jump on the Lakers early and keep the home crowd in it. Despite three straight losses, the last game was ridiculously close; so much so that it may have actually built confidence more than shot it.

The key will still be, no not Nash, he’s done everything against and the results haven’t changed, the facilitating by Kobe Bryant. This is made infinitely easier when the Lakers are up or at least down no more than six to ten points. After double digit separation, the Kobe heroics may start a bit earlier which could take others out of the game.

I really want to talk about how fun an all- Staples Center second round would be. But let’s do what we have to in the first round before we go there.

Tags: Classic Laker Posts by Xpinionated
CommentsThe+Nail%3F2006-05-02+20%3A11%3A27Xpinionated

So I was reading up freelance writing here on About.com. I came upon the following statement as they were talking about practicing your craft and repetition as a means of bettering your writing skills:

Make this a weekly habit like brushing your teeth.

That’s just nasty. Brushing your teeth weekly? Guess that’s why you would be a writer instead of a speaker. Perhaps it was not meant as I read it but it doesn’t matter now because that’s the way I read it.

Tags: Original Blogger Posts by Xpinionated
CommentsAbout+Nasty.com2006-05-02+19%3A33%3A01Xpinionated

Don’t you think the Atlanta Falcons should start sending a stipend or some scholarship money to Va Tech since we have basically become a farm team for their draft picks……

Tags: Virginia Tech Hokies by Xpinionated
CommentsDraft+Day2006-05-01+18%3A30%3A00Xpinionated