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.