Author: Moby

Confuscious say… III

Every time I think I have my head screwed on right something seems to come along and knock it all a kilter again.  Can’t a bitch get a break?

I ran into a play buddy (I’ll call him the Latin) over the weekend and not having anything planned, we decided to hang out. [1]I don’t really celebrate NYE as a holiday. Pointless in my view of things.  Things are going smoothly when he suddenly reveals he has feelings for me.  The irony here is I sorta had the hots for him when we first met.  He didn’t really seem interested so I was content to just play around.  Anyway, not long after TFA came into the picture so it was easy to ignore my initial desire and just go with it.

For the record, the Latin has known about TFA from the beginning so I’m not feeling dishonest, that isn’t it at all.  However, I have been spending free time with him on a regular basis.  I do have some guilt over that.  After this weekend, it has dawned on me I might be using the Latin as a substitute for the things I’m not currently getting from TFA. [2]Seeing any patterns here?  The same scenario w/TFA and his ex?  I’ve already mentioned I’ve been having doubts about TFA lately.  Truth be told it has been tearing me apart.  Not my feelings so much as the situation.  It is clear we have a great connection together.  Therein lies the problem and the part that upsets me the most.  The connection makes for a good start but that isn’t enough.    And potential doesn’t a relationship make.  No matter how much potential we have, if we can’t spend time together working on it, what is the point?  TFA has so much on his plate right now he can’t really focus on me.   I certainly don’t mind being supportive however, I’m realizing my needs are being completely eclipsed by his.  Being around the Latin this past weekend brought that clearly into focus. [3]I’m not referring to the carnal ones.  No problem there.   That isn’t really fair to me or him. 

No, I’m not looking to trade TFA for the Latin.  Give me some credit.  But he has made me realize things w/TFA aren’t working out.  For that I am grateful even if it does hurt like hell.  My feelings haven’t changed obviously but if I truly care about TFA, then he needs me as friend right now more than anything else. 

So once again, I find my love-life in the shitter.  Am I surprised? Hell no.  I’m beginning to wonder if it is par for the course. lol  Yes, I’m trying to make lite of it.  If I don’t, I might burst into tears. 

References

References
↑1 I don’t really celebrate NYE as a holiday. Pointless in my view of things.
↑2 Seeing any patterns here?  The same scenario w/TFA and his ex?
↑3 I’m not referring to the carnal ones.  No problem there.

I’m Legal (Again)

With Amazon’s addition of DRM-free mp3’s for download, I’ve once again joined the ranks of people who purchase music.  When the RIAA went ballistic over downloadable content, I stopped buying music.  That was 7 years ago.  I stopped mainly out of principle as I’ll be damned if I’m gonna give someone my hard-earned cash and have them tell me when, where, and how I can play my music.  No thank you. [1]I found it very ironic I could legally copy digital content off the radio for free but downloading it directly was illegal.

The turn around regarding DRM music supports what I’ve said all along.  If you give people an easy and convenient way to do the right thing, they will.  Most of us have no desire to steal from record labels or artists.  There will always be those who feel the need to "stick it to the man" and get around paying for stuff.  Get over it already.  The majority has spoken and the record labels, it seems, are finally listening.  For those that continue to favor old distribution methods and ignore emergent technology out of greed, shame on ya.  I’ll see ya in the poor house.  /rant

I just downloaded both albums from the Scissor Sisters.  I saw them perform here in SF back before they made it big.  If you’ve never seen them, they are very over the top. lol  However, the music is pretty damn good as well.  Now I guess I have to install one of those little programs that displays what I’m listening to at the moment or what I’m downloading.  Naaaaah.

References

References
↑1 I found it very ironic I could legally copy digital content off the radio for free but downloading it directly was illegal.

Onward

The holiday is fast approaching an end.  I spent most of my weekend w/my friend Bobby.  I tried to take his mind off his mom passing.  It worked overall.  He is taking it pretty hard naturally.  Anyway, we have just the dreaded New Year’s Eve coming up [1]NYE is the busiest night of the year for us at work. and that is it for awhile. 

My Christmas was uneventful.  I didn’t receive many gifts other than what I bought for myself.  However, that doesn’t bother me at all.  I much prefer to give than receive.  I am happy to be able to give gifts over the holiday.  I have never had a lot of money.  And while I still don’t, I’m in a much better place now financially than I’ve ever been. 

The roomie’s boyfriend arrived tonight from New Orleans.  We exchanged pressies when I got home.  Knowing my roomie got laid off I didn’t expect much from him.  Especially since he had his boyfriend to buy for.  I was extremely flattered by the small gift he did get me.

TFA is back from Beijing and sick as a dog apparently.  Poor thing.  He got the flu and it hit him hard on his last international flight.  We chatted briefly tonight and he does seem to be feeling better. 

Overall, it has been a good holiday for me.  Definitely better than some from my past.  Many of my friends aren’t having it so good though.  I hope I could bring them some joy or at the very least a little distraction this season.  That to me is the real meaning of Christmas. 

References

References
↑1 NYE is the busiest night of the year for us at work.

Bloody Christmas

(full story) A tiger escaped from the zoo today and attacked 3 people.  One person died, 2 others were injured.  I was on the channel when it happened and lord did the quiet evening take off. [1]Actually, it was the only excitement in the day.

I can’t say much more out of confidentiality rules however, it is still unknown how the tigers got loose.  I feel sorry for the victims but also the poor animal.  The officers had to shoot one and kill it after it attacked another person.  It was probably scared and just reacting to its natural instincts.  Frak, they are predatory animals after all. 

I love zoos but it gives me pause to wonder if caging wild animals is such a good idea.  Most zoos tend to hold animals in tight quarters.  And while they do make a very good effort of maintaining animals physical and mental health, it is not the same as being loose in the wild.  Animals like tigers need room to range and exercise their skills.  In this latest caper, I’m sure it had more to do with the animal being scared and threatened than anything else.  I’m guessing of course.  I can’t shake the feeling that we hold some responsibility though.  We take these animals, who were never meant to be tamed, and introduce them to an environment of confinement and denial of their basic instincts.

It is worth mentioning this particular tiger was the very same tiger from last year this time that attacked a trainer.  Some would say maybe the animal deserved it.  I’m not so sure. 

References

References
↑1 Actually, it was the only excitement in the day.

High Priced Soda

I happen to overhear recently that SF is proposing a tax on businesses that carry and sell sodas.  More precisely, Mayor Newsom has proposed the tax and hoping the Board of Sups. will run with it.

On the surface, I don’t really agree with it but after further thought, I’m not so sure.  Soda (made w/corn syrup, the high fructose kind) is one of the top contributors to obesity in this country.  I challenge you to find a person severely obese who doesn’t drink sugared sodas.  [1]I know I’ve never found one   High Fructose Corn Syrup or HFCS as a simple sugar that is absorbed very easily by the body.  What many people don’t know is that it actually reduces the insulin receptors response.  Translated, it means a person is more prone to developing diabetes.  HFCS has also been shown to interfere with the hearts ability to process vital minerals.  I could go on and on but you get the point. [2]I actually stopped drinking sugared sodas during my EMT training.  We got the full laundry list of damages.  The irony is HFCS is much more expensive to make however, because of government contracts and subsidies on corn in the US it becomes more profitable than regular cane sugar.

Soda is also NOT a necessity.  It is a luxury item.  I have no problem with SF taxing luxury items to help offset the growing medical burdens of society. I can’t really see equating corn syrup to carcinogens in cigarettes however, the mounting evidence against HFCS doesn’t lie.  I guess here I’d fall back on the old adage, "everything in moderation."  The problem is we have become a society of excess.  We do almost nothing in moderation. 

I don’t really know if Newsom’s idea will succeed or not.  I applaud him for attempting to do something rather than nothing.  However, his measure is a tiny band-aid on a sore the size of Texas.  Until we educate our children on the value of good nutrition, [3]when was the last time you saw a school curriculum that included more than a passing stab at nutrition? and the dangers of sugared sodas, the problem will continue to grow. (pun intended)

References

References
↑1 I know I’ve never found one
↑2 I actually stopped drinking sugared sodas during my EMT training.  We got the full laundry list of damages.
↑3 when was the last time you saw a school curriculum that included more than a passing stab at nutrition?

Techno-crap II

So, I’ve finally given up on technorati ever getting their act together and functioning.  If you don’t know, the company uses a system that basically tells who is linking to who.  It also has a ranking system based on how many links a person gets.  The problem is it rarely works.  Or at the very least, it works in spurts.  They seem to be constantly adding more algorithms to their list of links but still nothing.  Of course, I’m also overlooking that the entire system is flawed and easily spoofed.   

Hopefully, someone (are you paying attention Google?) will come along and design a system that actually works.  *le sigh*