Simple Randomness

Getting Ready for 2008!

So its that time of year again…the time when everyone starts to set their New Year’s Resolutions.  I certainly hope that everyone isn’t setting the same ones that they set last year…

Here’s my thought on New Year’s Resolutions: its a great idea, but a year is a long time to focus on one goal.  So here’s the approach that I’m thinking about taking this year.  Rather than setting a ‘goal’ for the year, I’m going to set more of a ‘theme’.  Then, I can break the year up into 2-3 month chunks and focus on the more short term goals that will help me to achieve a larger goal.

I’ve just learned that when I set a goal for the year, I tend to lose interest after a few months (can anyone else relate to this ).  I still haven’t decided what the goals or themes are going to be yet, but they will probably focus around something physical, spiritual, relationship, etc.

Happy New Year!

The Dark Knight - Looking to be AWESOME!!!

Ok, so I am so totally stoked for the next Batman movie, The Dark Knight. I loved Batman Begins, in fact it’s probably one of my all-time favorite movies. And as I keep watching the trailers for the next one I’m getting more and more excited for it to come out. Too bad I have to wait until next summer to see it!

If you haven’t seen the 2 minute trailer, here’s a link to it on YouTube: The Dark Knight Trailer

Personally, I think it looks like Heath Ledger is going to do an awesome job as the Joker. Everyone talks about how Jack Nicholson was the best on ever. I watched that movie again about a year ago and yeah, he was good, but I think this new Joker is going to be much more sinister and dark. Probably the way he really should be. I am not a big follower of the comic books, but I’m really liking this much darker take on Batman that these new movies are doing.

“Merry Christmas” and Political Correctness - Give Me a Break!!!

So I hear that a lot of stores out there aren’t allowing their employees to say “Merry Christmas” to their customers because they might offend someone that isn’t Christian or it just isn’t politically correct. I know that this has been going on for a number of years, but I didn’t have this blog before now so I can finally speak my opinion on it.

This is ridiculous. I’m seriously so sick of this stupid “politically correct” stuff. Is every one out there just waiting to be offended so they can whine about it? If someone walked up to me and said “Happy Hannukah” would I get all offended and start to cry that I’m not Jewish, so why would someone wish me a happy Jewish holiday? NO! I’d just be polite and say “Thanks, same to you!”

I just don’t understand the whole thing. Historically and currently we have been a predominantly Christian nation, that’s why we take Christmas as a Federal Holiday. If I lived in the Middle East I would expect they do the same thing for their religious holidays. Same thing if I was in China or Japan. But for some reason here in the US we have to try to appease every single person that walks through our doors. So when does this mean that we lose our own identity?

Is anyone else with me on this? If so, I hope you’ll happily wish everyone you see a Merry Christmas and not worry about them getting offended. That’s their choice, and most people wouldn’t be offended anyway.

The Completely Non-Traditional Thanksgiving

I know that I’m a little late on this one, but I had an idea about a month ago and I’m going to have to pull it off in the next year or two.

I am officially sick of always eating the same thing at Thanksgiving. Yes, it’s good and I really do like the turkey and mashed potatoes, I just think that Thanksgiving could use some variety! So what I’m going to do every now and then in the coming years is have a 100% Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. One year maybe I’ll go Japanese and have a lot of sushi and other Japanese style dishes. Maybe it will be all Italian food, just a bunch of different pastas and such. But the idea would be to have a Thanksgiving dinner that is based on other nations’ foods.

Ha, here’s an idea: an all microwave TV dinner Thanksgiving! Ok, probably not a great idea on that one…

So who’s with me?! If you have any other ideas for a great Non-Traditional Thanksgiving feel free to share it!

Turn Your Brights Off!!!

Ok, it’s time to gripe a little bit about a pet peeve that I have.  For all of you who drive in the city, and that includes pretty much everybody, TURN YOUR BRIGHTS OFF!!!

Last night I was on my way home from a small family get together when a truck that already had a lift on it pulls in behind me with his brights on.  Do you think that we can’t see you???  So I spend the next 5 miles or so having to sit really funny in my car so that I can avoid the glaring light bouncing off all of my rear-view mirrors.

I just don’t understand it.  I’ve heard someone comment before that they will sometimes use their brights just to make sure that people see them.  Yep, we see you alright.  Thanks for blinding everybody and causing them problems!  I honestly feel it is one of the most inconsiderate things that you can do while driving.

Now of course I’m not talking about the times that you do this by accident.  I think that’s happened to a lot of people and can be expected.  But for those of you that purposely use your brights everywhere you go, please have some common courtesy and use your headlights the way they were meant to be used!

Gripe over .

I Love Nachos!

Just a quick plug for my favorite food: NACHOS!!!  I think I’ve been a fan of nachos since I was 12.  I don’t remember the day that I discovered this wonderful dish, but I’ve been hooked ever since.  In fact, my second job was working for a nacho store in the mall.  All we made was nachos and wraps, and while I worked there I sure did eat a good share of nachos!!!

In fact, one way that I judge a Mexican restaurant is by the quality of their nachos.  For a lot of places, that’s the only thing that I buy is nachos.  Does this make me a fanatic?

Here’s a list of my favorite nacho places in no particular order, and I know that some of these are going to be only for locals in Utah where I live:

• Bajio (especially with the Lime Chicken…YUM!!!)
• Cabo Grill (Don’s Nachos…very good!)
• Del Taco (the Macho Nacho!)
• Beto’s (used to be one of my favs…not so much lately)
• Taco Time (they’re ok, but not the absolute best)
• Mi Ranchito (monster plate of nachos!!!)

So there you have it.  And by the way, Taco Bell doesn’t count.  The only thing I eat there is the Chalupa!

Still Working on Changing Personal Prejudices

Have you ever read something that made you realize that you need to make some changes in your attitude towards certain things? This just happened to me again this morning about something that I’ve already been working on, but it was a good reminder.

I’ve never had a problem with weight. But every now and then I find myself being very aware of all of the overweight people around me, and many times in the past I have passed judgment on those people. I know a few years ago I was really bad about this. In the last 6-12 months though, I’ve stopped being as judgmental as I used to be. In fact, I remember an incident a few months ago where I started to slip back into my old habit and I felt really really bad about it.

I realize that it is not my place to judge people for their weight. I have plenty of my own problems to worry about, so why should I pass judgment?  I also find that its very easy to pass judgment on people I don’t know, but I really don’t pass it once I get to know someone.  That doesn’t make it right, but I’ve noticed that is my trend.

So today I read an article in Newsweek that was very interesting. It was by a lady that for most of her life was overweight. Then she underwent gastric bypass surgery and has now been part of the ‘normal weight class.’ She shares in this article some of the things that she’s heard people say to her that assume she has always been at a ‘normal’ weight. It makes me sick to think that people are really that prejudiced. And yet, if I look back at my own opinion a few years ago it would be very similar. And so my goal to change continues.

I think that all of us have some type of prejudice or another. It could be a racial prejudice. Maybe its prejudice against something like weight. Well, no matter what it is I think we should all work to be less judgmental of the people we meet everyday. Well, there’s my preaching to myself for the day. Thanks for listening!

PS - Here’s the article if you want to read it: My Secret History.

Why Do We Focus on the Killer???

Normally I wouldn’t care to comment on this type of thing, but since this blog is meant to be about all sorts of topics I figured I’d go ahead and do it.

I’m a little confused by the angle of coverage on things like the shooting that happened recently in Nebraska, and most of the other tragic shootings that have happened in recent years.  Does anyone else feel like the media focuses way to much on the shooter?

From what I understand, this kid wrote in his suicide letter that now he would be famous.  That’s a really messed up and sick way to justify what you’re about to do.  And the media will focus on it: try to figure out why he did what he did, who he really was, and take sympathy for him.  Honestly, I don’t know that I really need to know or care.  And I don’t mean to be harsh about that.

I’d rather let the families that were made horrible victims of this tragedy know that I care more about them than the criminal, no matter what his story.

My heart goes out to anybody that has been involved in these tragedies.  The focus should be on helping them to recover, not finding out more about the killer.

My Son is 2 Today!

Just a quick announcement that my little boy turns 2 today!  He is my only kid right now, and it’s crazy to think that my wife and I have been ‘parents’ for 2 years now.  My does time fly.  I’m sure all of the other parents out there will tell me that it just gets faster, and with all that has gone on in the last 2 years I can only imagine how fast it’s going to keep getting.

So Happy Birthday Brennen!!!

The Sunday Funnies Aren’t So Funny Anymore

I must be in a very nostalgic mood or something… I was thinking just the other day about how on Sundays we would always try to be the first one to get the paper so that we could read over the funnies. It was by far the most fought over section of the Sunday paper. Granted, I didn’t get half of the jokes, but they were still funny most of the time.

Just the other day I was looking over the funnies when I was at my parents house for a visit. They just aren’t the same as they used to be. I honestly think that most of the comics have gone down-hill. (I’m sure Garfield had his golden days, but I don’t think cats should live that long…) What happened to the classics like The Far Side and Calvin & Hobbes? Those comics were great! I honestly can’t think of one these days that even comes close.

Here are some of my favorites from the good old days (some of these might still be around, I just think the quality has gone down):

• The Far Side
• Calvin & Hobbes
• Foxtrot
• B.C.
• Dilbert

Well, there’s always hope for the future I guess!