Saddam

Wow, getting a website ready to promote is proving more difficult than I was hoping for. It's still a go for Jan. 1 tho. What will change with the launch you ask? Not much....it really just marks the day I wil start updating the daily travel encounter. Don't expect much in the beginning.

Other than site news, the big news is Saddam Hussein....or the lack of his lively presence anywhere on earth. I don't feel bad, because after all, there is nothing wrong with putting a rope around someone's neck and removing the floor underneath him, only to turn around and tell the world "YOU SEE...KILLING IS WRONG." That will show everyone! Seriously, I don't think our leaders have figured that one out yet. I have to admit, when they announced the execution was filmed, my first instinct was to visit YouTube.com to see if it was there yet. I don't know what that says about me, but I imagine it's natural. Or at least I hope it is.

Jared

Is it just me or is Jared putting on some weight?

Launch Trip

Booked! For the few who follow this little projet of mine, January 5th I'm set to go to Puerto Rico. I shall call it the "Horrible Use of a Budget Launch Trip" And for the record, airlines are fucked up. But this launch trip will mark the point where IzunoTravel.com actually gets a little promotion. I will be getting some first hand Travel Encounters for everyone, and more than likely a few unknown 3rd world diseases. But let's talk about something else that happened.

There is a feeling of motivation in me, that for the last couple of months has been hiding in the upper vessle of my depression gland. When the motivation gets lodged there, it might as well not exist because I can't see it and have no clue when it will show itself. But I have found the medicine (3 weeks in the Caribbean) to loosen up that ailment. The moment I hit "confirm" on the flights, I regained my motivation....and in turn shrunk my depression. I just hope it's not temporary.

(WARNING: Next paragraph is me thinking out loud....do not read)
I've been thinking a lot lately, and I need to re-asess my theory of global thinking as it relates to motivation. My new theory is "perhaps there is a need of personal experience to be motivated." After all, most people who have had an impact on the world, have done it out of personal benefit. Ghandi wanted peace amongst the Indian world (he was an Indy). Martin Luther King - black. You get my point. Maybe their motivation came from their personal lives rather than just seeing an injustice and doing something about it. Please don't mistake my examples for comparing these great people to me....that's not comparable....but the theory applies. I think now, to have the motivation, I must have a personal experience of whatever injustice is being done to me, in order to do something about it. (I told you not to read this!)

My Sweet 16

I was channel flipping a little today, and came across "My Sweet 16" on MTV. It occured to me that sweet 16's probably happen all over the world....for instance...Africa. A starving little 16 year old girl in Africa getting the party of her life thrown for her. I mean it's pretty much the same thing, except that she probably has a couple kids of her own by that age, and instead of getting a new car, perhaps daddy buys her a goat or donkey. Replace the A-List celeb appearance with a medicinal man, and it's a smash hit!

Needless to say, I'm not making fun....i'm just pissed off even more at TV/society. Come on MTV...help us shape the next generation into something a little better than a materialistic bitch (cuz it doesn't get any lower than that). And to the birthday boys and girls of "My sweet 16"...I'll be nice to you simply say...don't talk to me...........ever.

Cattle Auction

Yesterday I witnessed what was probably the last untouched event in America. The Fruitland Cattle Auction. The feeling of timelessness was evident upon seeing the ancient vending machine stocked with $0.50 cans of Coca-Cola and Fanta. Unfortunately, marketing dollars could still not keep away three local banks who had built a small lightbox above the auctioneer's stand. As for the dress code...carhart's and boots were the only staple you needed to fit in. I got the feeling my $40 pair of Quicksilver jeans had the highest price tag in the place. As for the auction itself...I think the phrase "seen one seen them all" pretty much applies; however, the auctioneer was all about cattle as you could guess, expressing his comments about the livestock, "I like these pretty ladies right here...." and "whoooeee....look at these stock ladies....don't they look smooth." All in all, there were some fine heifers there, and while they were the center of attention to most, I found enjoyment in pondering how the last 5 decades smelled.

Turkey Pardon

Happy Turkey Day! Everyone who knows me and who has been reading this knows I'm not a big fan of tradition... or holiday's in general for that matter. But one tradition I actually like is the pardon given to a turkey by the President of the United States. Just think of all the things we can now do with that turkey! We could use it for food....no, no that just defeats the purpose....maybe we could dress it up in a funny little outfit and make it run around, entertaining children of all ages.....no, no that would humiliate the turkey....perhaps we could give it to an enemy as a peace offering....ya, ya that's my fav idea yet! But seriously, I would like to know what happens to the turkey. Last check there weren't too many pet turkey caretakers. Oh fuck it, just let Cheney shoot the thing.

Cucumber Spit

On my flight to Las Vegas (ya, that's why a couple of weeks with no post) I sat next to a "Cucumber Spitting Kiwi Lady." Let's see how best to describe her further......well......she ate a cucumber while she was talking with me......and as she ate, two small crumblike pieces of cucumber shot out of both sides of her mouth simultaneously. I didn't know if I was more curious of her eating a cucumber on a plane, or how the two pieces always fired at the same time! It's like her mouth was a Star Trek Space Ship armed with a duo green proton cannon. At least that's what came to mind. And she was born in New Zealand...hence the "kiwi lady" part. Our conversation was about how she found the holy spirit....which I would rate a 2 out of 10 on the interesting meter.....spitting two pieces of cucumber out while speaking....9 out of 10!

Site Update

It seems like everytime I am close to doing a full scale launch of this site, there is something that turns into many things, which take up a lot of my time. But that is not necessarily a bad thing, just a little thing I've learned over the last month or two. To keep you up to date, I have been working on the shopping cart for the site, and reworking the entire "button" pages. Which includes new categories of buttons, new navigation (which is unique...and I hope not too confusing....you always have your browser's back button if you get stuck) and new pictures. Between riding my bike, never saying "no" to a friends request, and other minute issues, I have been spending some time on this....let's hope for a full launch in January '07. (fingers pessimistically crossed) izunotravel.com

Stay The Course

I'm going to do something I don't do very often....or maybe even ever. I'm going to defend Bush for something. Regarding this whole business in Iraq and a little phrase "stay the course." Lately, Democrats (my team) have taken a swing at Bush saying that he no longer wants to "stay the course" and now he is saying...."change"...."adopt new strategies..." etc. I don't believe that is a fair bullet to fire at Bush. Bush is still staying the course, and he is still doing exactly what he has been doing in Iraq so far. Nothing changed....maybe he's talking to more people....different people....but that is all. And in my opinion, that is a good thing. Bush can not win this and please everybody. We pull out to early....Iraq is left a mess, which means Iraq is going to blame the US for bailing (at least the Iraq government). We pull out to late....more soldier's die for a country that they didn't sign up to defend. He can't have it both ways. IF Bush is talking to EVERYBODY...he is doing the right thing. Although, I doubt anyone is talking to the insurgents to see what they want....maybe we don't have that privelage....but at least listen to those who want to talk. The US (and the Republicans escpecially) need an OK from 1. The new govt. in Iraq, 2. The Iraqi's themselves (which as I hear we already are getting from the educated youth...which I feel has a lot of merit) and 3. The US citizens (which shouldn't be difficult to get). But Bush dug himself a hole when he put ultimatems on what "winning in Iraq" actually is. Don't classify it, don't define it, just get the 3 OK's and claim success.....that's Bush's best move at this point. But to attack him and try to convince America that Bush made a mistake is not the right move for Democrats. Both parties already know he won't back down (which is stupid), so give him a light at the end of the tunnel...maybe he will see it, and get his 3 OK's. Just a thought.

Fame in Politics

Fuck if Patricia Heaton didn't do it again...using her stupid ass fame to voice her stupid ass opinion. And she wasn't alone this time, with Michael J. Fox, Kurt Warner, Jeff Suppan, and other "famous" persons making political statements as well. I am not arguing against freedom of speech, I'm arguing against using fame to persuade voters. I don't care that the people on this list make $millions....I even like some of their work...but they have absolutely no reasoning when they choose to express their opinion in politics. Please tell me what kind of credibility these people have in politics. The answer is none. I don't trust society with the ability to separate fame with being "right." And superstars shouldn't either. Fame is adored, fame is admired, so fame must be "right." NO IT'S NOT! These actors and sports superstars need to realize they are no more important than anyone else....they need to see the reason why it is wrong. Credibility is everything when expressing opinions. Go figure...everything boils down to personal responsibility again.

Comedians

Just the other night, I ran across this funny, fairly new, comedian...Dimetri Martin on the Conan O'Brien show. This guy is HILARIOUS. He does stand up and apparently did some work on the Daily Show with John Stewart. Funny stuff, he's got some of his work on his site, or just hit up YouTube. I think it's fair to say that he's my new favorite comedian, but still second place to the late Mitch Hedberg. Oh...and I also miss the 'Croc Hunter'....damn that was bad news.

Censorship

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IG Nobel Prize

Why woodpecker's don't get headaches, teenager repelant (my favorite), and the reason dry spaghetti breaks into more than one piece when snapped are all winning topics of the 2006 IG Nobel Prize. My hat is off to these people. The awards are given every year to research that makes people laugh then think. Check out last year's winners and much more at Improbable Research.

Kyle Yeargin has also started the Packing Tech project. An e-zine focusing on BIYT travel. It's in the "projects" section of the site. izunotravel.com

Mediocre

Am I the only person who cringes when the President of the United States speaks? I'm all about tuning in to the special "Live from the Whitehouse" speaches, but he is just so hard to listen to. I want him to speak without any problems or hesitations, but we all know the next orange cone is just a few words away. How did we end up with such a mediocre person as President? Simple, people as a society are mediocre. Everyone remembers the bell curve from high school, and most of us disliked that person who shifted the curve with a high score......I think we voted this time to avoid that bell curve shift. And by the way, there is a bell curve in society too, it's just the way it works, a mediocre President from a mediocre society. My solution...a candidate who is in the upper portion of the bell curve should lie to us and make us think you are one of us, basically the ability to "act" stupider than you are...now that is a a talent that I want in a President.

Stolen Ideas

"4.9% financing on a Toyota One Ton...that's my idea!" That quote expressed by Kramer on Seinfeld is all too familiar with me. My own ideas are being put into action by those who have apparently more time on their hands. First it was the street sign furniture idea.....not mine I suppose because I saw it in a Paris Architecture and Design book 4 months after I thought of it. Next it was Custom Trail Mix.....not my idea either because frickin Gabe and John obviously invaded my mind when they created barkingbuffalo.com. And just today, I found iJourneys.com, also MY idea back in July of 2005. Except I was going to add museums as well.....haha, you can't take that from me (sadly the start up costs and time involved is just.....nevermind). I am going to go put ketchup and mustard in the same bottle now.

Site Update

I've been busy working on the code for the shopping cart....finally, and have neglected updating this for a couple weeks. Anyways, the shopping cart should be functional soon, which brings us one step closer to a full blown launch. izunotravel.com

Cheap

Defining a "cheap" person can be a hard thing to do. I think just like a lot of words, cheap is all relative. I am of course using "cheap" in terms of money and people for the sake of this argument. What makes one person cheap and the next, not cheap? It can not be simply how much money one makes, but that number has to be put in a formula to get a "cheapness" value. For instance, If Bill Gates gives his nephew $20 for a birthday gift, and another uncle (avg. joe income) gives the same nephew $20, does that make Bill Gates "cheap" or "cheap compared to the other uncle." I don't think this is enough to make a decision tho. Cheap must relate to how much money one has, the degree to which they want an item, and the final decision to purchase (or not purchase) the item.

Example, a millionaire has to purchase bottled water on a vacation or he/she will die. The bottle of water costs $5. Everyone would agree that if the millionaire did not purchase the water they are being "cheap." However, the same millionaire, same bottle of water, life and death not involved, but extreme thirst. I think everyone would agree the person is again being "cheap" in not purchasing the water, but maybe there is a hint of un-necessity here that would claim some to say "wise-spender" instead of cheap. OK, low income guy, life or death bottle of water, this guy has the money, but it would cost him 80% of what he owns. (He buys it, he is not "cheap.") Low income guy, exteme thirst...same bottle of water, same 20% left in his pocket....I don't think people would consider this guy cheap in this instance if he didn't buy the water. If he did, he would have spent 80% of his total worth on a bottle of water he didn't need. Do you see where I'm going here....it is all comparative, it has multiple factors (amt. of that persons $ worth, necessity level of item, and whether or not the item is bought)

So on this basis, everyone (even Bill Gates or the poorest guy in the world) has the potential to be cheap. But the more $ you have, the more opportunity you will also have to be called "cheap".

Culture

Are tourist traps part of culture? OK, my answer to this is NO. Tourist traps are not part of the culture. I think this is marketing's biggest success ever. Let's take the Bahamas for instance. Everybody knows, even who has never been there, that if a neighbor tells you they are going to the Bahamas on vacation they are going to be drinking cool island drinks (pinneaple daquiri's, etc.) and spending time on the beach. What told us that we had to travel thousands of miles to drink a mai tai, lie on the beach, and tan. We can get a tan in a back yard, everybody in the states is only a 20 hour or less drive to the beach, and we can visit the supermarket for fresh pineapples and kiwis. Culture is the originality of the non manufactured. It extends beyond money. And after all, it is money that creates tourist traps, the Hawaiian flower lai, the Pinacolada, and the endless junket of trinkets found near cruise ships and train stations. And by the way, the US has tried to take it to the next level by incorporating the gift shop as part of the attraction. (We only have so many natural attractions and few years of history) At least when I bought that little pyramid paper weight in Tenochtitlan, it wasn't accompanied with gift wrap.

Wise To Surprise

I am beginning to believe that it takes someone wiser than us to surprise us. Although, maybe "surprise" is not the word I should be using. Let's see....."surprise" - "shock" - "blow your hair back" - is in essence, "revealing" - "mind blowing" - no that's too much, I'm going to say "mind opening." Yes that it's, it takes someone wiser than us to open our minds. Or at least open our minds on a specific matter. Wise people (and I am speaking from the unwise end) can enlighten others to a way of thinking that the person knew deep down was right, but just has not yet thought of it themselves. Wise people can see faults in almost everyone, but have enough understanding to not use it as a thumbscrew. Some people say this is tolerance, but tolerance implies the person disagrees. That is not the case in understanding. The understanding does not have to tolerate.

When my hair gets blown back it is a cross between feeling childish and solving a brain teaser. This feeling happens most times when I read, but it's more powerful coming from a person. And personally......I kind of enjoy the feeling! Later.

Integrity

It seems I'm taking time about once a week to keep this little operation of a journal going...still, in a perfect world it would be more often. Anyways, let's see what's been on my mind.

Integrity. Or more specifically, integrity for the average employee. I relate integrity with honesty, and with self honesty. What are the chances that an employee has of being completely honest with themselves in their job. Society and employers want all employees to act with integrity. Now let me say that again...ACT with INTEGRITY. When an act is nothing more than something fake, because after all why would we need to act if it was natural behavior to us. So really what they are saying is that they want us to to use fake emotions (act) to be honest with ourselves (integrity). Wow! that does not make sense at all. To lay it out on the table, that does not happen. No employee will ever be so suited to a position where they can be completely honest with themselves all the time. Employees do not tell customers what is on their mind or their true feelings. If we did, we would be jobless*. (*There is no line, but certain jobs require more acting than others) Nevertheless, my current position is calling for more acting than I am will to comprise my integrity for. I think there is only one thing left to do......start my own ball showing game. (note: if last sentence does not make sense, rent the DVD "Waiting")

Survivorman

A tribute to Survivorman. Survivorman is a show (Discovery Channel) that depicts what a man must do to survive the harshest conditions alone. He films it himself and usually it lasts seven days. Can you just imagine what this guy was like as a kid...he probably rode his bike somewhere he's never been, doing the voices in his head...."My pedal fell off going down the hill to Mikey's...I'm going to need a juniper bug and 14 blades of tall fescue. Will Survivorkid make it back for the ice cream man?...."

To Educate or Not

To educate or not to educate oneself is a question I have been thinking a lot about lately. (namely Middle-East Conflict) As a rational human being, should we care and learn about what is going on in the rest of the world?

Obviously one argument against knowing is that, there is nothing we can do about it. Which is in itself, narrow-minded. There is something we can do, it is something so difficult and so challenging even if we did do it, there is a good chance it won't make a difference. Another argument is that "I pay taxes, and our leaders are responsible."

Me personally, I need to know. I need to know why they are fighting, what they are fighting for, and what they need to stop fighting. Also, I know I'm not going to do anything, I'm not going to fly there and help rebuild, I'm not going to go preach a non violence speech. I believe all I can do is try to understand, so that in the future, choices I make, decisions that make up my life, will be better. Or at least better than not knowing. It goes back to the idea that "knowledge is power." And if knowledge is power, we are stronger with an education. So I say weigh the time it would take to educate yourself against the time you could be doing something else, and decide for yourself.

Breaking News

MSNBC is taking the fast track to get on my shit list. No wait...they are already there and there is no turning back. My question is this. Why do they put in large bold font, "BREAKING NEWS" Israel is bombing Lebanan, or Hezbollah is attacking Israel. This is not breaking news, Arabs and Jews have been going at it for longer than any one can remember. Even people who don't know what this is about knows that their is confilction in the Middle East. "BREAKING NEWS" would be if one side actually won. "BREAKING NEWS" would be if they came to a permanent agreement. By the way, since I can't seem to get off the subject, Bush commented that the real reason the fighting is going on is that of "terrorism." OH MY GOODNESS! BUSH JUST SOLVED THE PROBLEM! ....bullshit. He needs to ask himself why there is terrorism to get to the real problem. The real problem is debateable...call it religion, call it defining a home, call it anything but simply "terrorism." He is so narrow-minded, these two states will not see peace, fighting happens, it defined our country, it defined our borders and every other border between two nations. The simple fact that our borders were defined in the 18th and 19th century is completely irrelevant. I'm not saying let them fight, but just stop looking at the problem as a terrorist problem. Hezbollah officials won the governed election, that's what they voted for...how can you call that extremist.
Bottom line....religion once again tops reason...a reason that would end wars, and undefine borders...religion is conflict.

Life Is Fair

Everybody has heard it and most of us have said it..."Life is not fair." Those four words will never leave my mouth again. I was reading a quote the other day by Lillian Hellman who said "It's a sad day when you find out that it's not accident or time or fortune, but just yourself that kept things from you." In my ever increasing quest for knowledge and open-mindedness, I realized that life IS fair. Gravity is constant, air is everywhere, and food and shelter are easily attainable. After that, it's all a bonus. So next time little Britney gets cut off talking to her friends on her $200 cell phone and throws around attitude, just slap her in her stupid face and repeat Dennis Leary's best line ever "Shut the Fuck up...NEXT!"

No Drunk Apologies

Drunk people trying to apologize might be one of the lowest life forms on our planet. Let me google that real quick....yup, I was right...they got the spot just behind plankton. I stopped accepting the words "I'm sorry" a long time ago...I don't say the words, and I don't respect anyone who feels they have to use them. If you don't have enough control of yourself to keep yourself from doing stupid shit, then you shouldn't be drinking. (NOTE: This does not apply to the "first time drunk" people). It's not an excuse for acting like an idiot, it is a method of bringing out who you would be without any sense of self worth. So with that, I am going to go have a bottle of wine, and be the unsympathetic asshole I know I am. CHEERS!

Frat Houses

Think of one word that comes to mind when I mention "Frat House." If you thought of a positive word, then congratulations, you are insane. If you thought of a negative word, or a negative image, then you are probably in the majority. 20 years from now, when the world catches up to common sense, who would possibly want to hire a Frat boy. And the thing is, it's always on their resume. Assume for a second I'm an HR manager and I get this resume, I see a Phi Delta Gamma Wamma Bamma, so I research, find out they have a house on campus and their website indicates they are hosting a beer pong tournament on the 26th. HOW THE FUCK DOES THAT LOOK GOOD? I'm putting the resume in the trash can for one of his former frat brothers to take out to the dumpster in the morning. I guess my point is simple, I hate frat boys...and their counterparts....sorority sisters. And ask yourself, am I justified to hate...why yes....yes you are.

Fifa World Cup 2006

The Fifa World Cup 2006 is being held in Germany this month, if you haven't been near the tv, radio, or news lately. I enjoy soccer. I enjoy playing it, watching it, and hearing people criticize it. Yes, I enjoy listening to criticism, because when misplaced, I can secretly laugh at their ignorance. Soccer is pure, it's simple. Here is a ball, here is a goal, don't use your arms. Scoring is not made to be entertaining, but honest, and by honest I mean a true representation of how a team performed. What other sport can say that. If it wasn't good, it wouldn't be the world's number one played sport, riot's would break out over more important things, and kid's would never look forward to orange slices and HI-C's.

If I had unlimited time I would start another web site: SoccerMomDiaries.com. Just think how easy that would be to sell ad space. Special post game snack section with dietary information on different fruit juices, stickers for the mini-vans, I could go on and on.

Originality

When I was younger, I laughed "for real." Now it is "for fake sake." I am going to talk a little about originality, or lack thereof anyways. I have a job that requires me to smile and greet customers while being polite/sincere. The problem is, I am not by nature polite and sincere. So...when a customer comes up and makes what they think is a funny little comment, I am suppose to change my facial expression to laughter for their behalf. I am suppose to lie and act, because I truthfully don't find what they say to be funny at all....in fact I think it is a stupid line that I have heard time and time again. Examples.... "You're a good guy! I don't care what everyone else says about you." or the popular "I'm out doing some honeydews...my wife tells me honey do this and honey do that." Rabble Rabble Rabble. Sure it might have been funny the first time the first man in history said it, and it was only funny for a few seconds then. Now it is annoying. Come up with your own stuff or keep your mouth shut. Where is the originality? I can respect a silent person, they don't want to waste your time with meaningless shit, get done what they need to get done, and move on. In a way they are showing more respect. And I can appreciate that.

Brian Jungen

No complaints today. The sky is blue, the weather nice, the society blinded...scratch that last one. I haven't provided a link the last couple posts, so this time I would like to share a unique artist (as if unique and artist are two different things) who uses Michael Jordan shoes to design some crazy stuff. Take a look at the Brian Jungen gallery. p.s. Thanks Pegs.

Also a comment by a very wise individual...."Why are we so happy when we kill the time we are trying so very hard to save?"

Impossible Jump

I am not against marketing by any means, I feel it serves a purpose to draw attention on so forth, but I also feel it can go to far and create a lie. And I hate lies. Lies mislead, and lies lead to general stupidity when followed. So when a kid sees Mike Metzger (dirt bike jumper/kid who has kids) attempt the "Impossible Jump," a kid has obvisously witnessed a miracle. Because after all if it were an "impossible Jump" nobody could jump it....let alone make it over the FIRST FRICKIN' TIME. Call it the "Difficult Jump", or the "Owner of Ceasar's Palace gets even richer Jump" or the "Tell kids that impossible is often accomplished after just one try Jump." Basically what it comes down to is that people have no respect for words, and if you don't respect words, then why even use them....everything serves as a purpose....except for Mike Metzger who should try jumping from San Diego, CA and land in Tokyo, Japan, because that is my definition of an "Impossible Jump."

Get Your Own Towel

Life never stops revealing to me the idiocy of its inhabitants. All to my enlightenment of unaltered reason. Are you ready...here it comes...my gripe of the week...."GET YOUR OWN DAMN TOWEL!!!" My sister use to pull this crap on me, and I thought it was just her, but after living a few years, and an instance just the other day on TV, It occured to me. Why do people, after spilling a drink or substance, or anything that needs to be wiped up with a towel, always tell the person that had nothing to do with it being knocked over to get THEM a towel. Is it necessary to have one person stand there all shocked, starring it into the carpet even more? Is this person afraid that if THEY move, the drink will become even more embedded? I'm going to ask a scientist that whenever I know a scientist...."Um Doc???....What are the physics behind a spill and the conditioned response of shouting "GET ME A TOWEL!"

Extraterestrial

For the good of the universe and even more importantly earth, I hope we do not discover other life forms in the universe for a long time. I think that if there is intelligent life outside our galaxy we would be in a bigger mess than we are in now...then again there is nothing like a common enemy to bring people together. Just think about it...we can't even control ourselves from fighting and making continous threats about destroying each other for our own "defense." If we found another life form, there is no way we would be accepting of it. It's taken us over 2000 years to even think perhaps all men are equal, and we are still struggling with that. Not to mention the fat cat capitalists that are developing ideas to import resources from another planet. I know...that is getting ahead of myself, but I hope you see my point. And in an announcer's voice..."For more on extraterestrial life forms visit" www.pbs.org.

My type of Girl

Someone recently asked me what "my type" was (refering to girls). I answered "someone who can deliver a creative answer to the simplest of questions." I don't care about blonde, brunette or redhead, at least not anymore, those are merely side preferences. And being able to deliver a creative answer to any question I think requires two things. 1. is being able to explain the truth (to explain the truth you must know the truth), and 2. is knowing what you want. And I think that those two things are the things I look for most in recognizing someone "my type". On the flip side, someone not "my type".....where should we begin. Someone judgemental...see Patricia Heaton, someone naive...see Tara Reid....someone into posessions....see Paris Hilton. Whoops I went to far....I broke my rule of not judging people. Patricia you go right ahead telling other people when to pull the plug on their loved ones, and Tara...I will get rid of that drunken induced nipple slip desktop I found on the internet, Paris...Don't even think twice about taking that decked out Mercedez benz and the diamond encrusted dog collar to the Kabbalah center....because I'm sure you abide by the 613 commandments of the Torah.

V for Vendetta

"V" for Vendetta....what a great movie. Natalie Portman has skills to go along with her looks. It's like taking the best aspects of Anna Kournikova and Venus Williams, merging them together, and then trading tennis for acting. I knew "The Professional" was a good movie, and now I realize why I enjoyed it so much.....Nat Port. The movie is a Big Brother future of sorts set in London, and if you know me, then you know how much I hate the systems of the Big Brother future, and hence another reason why I enjoyed the movie. Anyways, check it out, I won't recommend a lot of movies on this site, but that one is the first of a few.

Tech Plateau

Recently I have been pondering whether or not technological advances are slowing down. My conclusion is that I feel we have reached a point where we are still growing, but at a slower rate. A couple of things have influenced my opinion on this issue. 1, I haven't had to upgrade my computer for over 5 years now, and 2 this ridiculus product right here. Does a cell phone attached to a regular phone that sells for $24 dollars scream that we are reaching a plateau or what?

It's A Huge World

Let me tell you about another misconception that makes me feel like acting like a Bobby Knight highlight. Upon seeing a friend of a family member or vice versa...."It's a small world!" NO, it is NOT a small world....it is a HUGE world...too big for your mind to understand just how stupid it is to say that. We see people we know in other locations because we go to the same spots. Vegas, Cancun, (enter any major tourist destination in for yourself here). You don't go to Meru France, or Mondigou Congo and see your barbers' nephew. Let me explain. We know a lot of people we live around, we know few tourist destinations. It's not a big coincidence...it's not a small world. It's just a small corner we live in...that's all.

Stand Up Wiper

No venting of any frustrations today...today is "come out of the stall day." On a recent trip I met a New Yorker by the name of Tony. Tony is an SUW. Now when it is ok for New York to "stand up" and say that, then my hesitation of embarrasment completely dissapates as well. So here it is...I am also an SUW ...for the same reason as Tony I might add. You probably haven't figured it out by now so here it is, SUW means Stand Up Wiper. An explanation coming from a New Yorker, its simply "Ima Stand Up Wipa" (notice how it sounds cool this way), and an explanation from a midwesterner, it is just silly/sad (take your pick), and while I'm not sure what specific reactions would be like from a Third World African country, it might make complete sense!? I will leave you with an entertaining site to combat the puzzledness you feel right now...cowabductions.com.

March Madness

Alright NCAA selection committee! I congratulate your decision on leaving Missouri State out of the March Madness bracket. Now there is only one thing left to do...eBay Barry Hinson's tears to fund rising tuition costs. Or perhaps put that money towards programs that got cut. No wait a minute, that would only make sense. And anybody who has ever lived in Springfield knows that we can't make a decision based on sensiblity. If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm taking out my frustration for sports being put ahead of academics. I'm not against compensating student athletes (not a salary...just compensation for the hours they spend practicing instead of working), but I am against money being put into "new" arenas when the old ones are more than acceptable, then running a story on the local news about tuition costs going up the same day. At least I got out when I did.

Loud and Sober

Let's go ahead and stick to the outdoor stores, www.altrec.com. Figure it out. And my beef for the day....loud people in cozy environments, ie. my little American coffeeshop. Damn, where is the day when kids would just find a house with no parents and get drunk. Now we have too many loud kids invading my enviornment because it's safe and alcohol free. Go grab a bottle of cheap liquor and watch the OC at someone's house, don't get all "I'm happy when I'm sober"...you haven't even been drunk to know what it's like. Because who knows... you might like it?

Bike Hits Car

Bike riding is fun. Bike riding is exciting. Bike riding sucks when you get hit by a car. More on that later. Here is one of my favorite company's site. http://www.arcteryx.com. They are a outdoor company...as in outdoor getting hit by cars while you're riding your bike. Luckily my bike survived.

Hate For Passion

Pretty sure it's been over a month since my last post...sue me, or don't sue me, either way really. Ok, what's been on my mind. Oh ya, people who are passionate about more than one thing. I hate the word myself, but fine if society wants to use it, I'll discuss it. Here's the thing, you can not be passionate about more than one thing. If you think I'm wrong, then you are using the word wrong. Passion means dedication, passion means love for something. Let's all generalize the meaning, so we can sound like we actually are better at something than we really are. If people were dedicated to and in love with something, just say that, don't use the word to be passionate about grocery shopping and your kids....don't be passionate about golf and fishing, you can only pick one. And since this is a little negative, here's your cheer me up if you need it. http://www.tbshumorstudy.com

Late Night TV

I'm not sure how I stumbled across this site but finding a different way to take pictures using old techniques is interesting to me...shut up Matt. So lomography.com is the place to go.

On a more interesting subject; I have come to the conclusion or reason why Carson Daly on the Last Call with Carson Daly is not working (at least for me.) He's got the guests, he's got semi-talented writers, he's even got the network for the sake of argument, but here is why he is not funny. He is too good looking. Nobody ever wants a good looking person to be funny because it is just sad. This goes along with the idea that women looking for a man with a sense of humor is complete bs and everybody knows it. Conan has his red hair, Letterman has his chipped tooth, Leno has the giant chin, and well when you start the business when you're old (Johnny Carson) you can be whatever you want. Carson...maybe for the first time in his life the looks backfired?

Leo Burnett

I'm not in a very talktative mood at the moment. Here is Leo Burnett's site; it is one of a kind and recently won a site of the year award...it's not a good site it's just one of a kind. Check it...http://www.leoburnett.ca/.

Nalgene Water Bottles

Nalgene Water Bottle is the only water bottle worthy of taking up time to talk about. It is like comparing a Hatori Hanzo Sword (I've been watching too much Quentin lately). If anyone feels like getting me a gift I will take the new bottle top that flips open with only one hand...any color will do.

Phil Borges

"What's with all the shopping links?" That's the most recent complaint I've been receiving as of late and in an effort to understand why American Idol is still being viewed, I simply can not commit any time to anything of real importance. But I'll stop and think for now and say "you're right" here is Phil Borges site...a photography site! But you can still buy prints....quiet.

Havainas Sandals

Havaianasus.com claims the world's best rubber flip flops. While I have not seen every flip flop in the world, this one is a good one. Just don't get trippy before visiting the web site...it will do that for you.

Flight001

Happy New Year....and happy January 5th. OK...today's good site is going to be flight001.com. Once again another sweet design, although I was not to excited with their products to be perfectly honest, but then again I am picky. Flight001 pronounced Flight 1 sells products for those flying travelers in a very style savvy way.

And next for izunodesign.com is to add some external links to the country pages so I can get some referral money from various sites. Also I am still thinking about the t-shirts design. All I can tell you is it will be simple and minimal and look good and ??? will most likely have the izunodesign.com logo on it. Maybe I should upload some samples and let all 12 people who view this site look at them.