Crappy restaurant chain Bennigan's is closing down and filing for bankruptcy. So much for my back up plan of being a Bennigan's Blues Buster.
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Crappy restaurant chain Bennigan's is closing down and filing for bankruptcy. So much for my back up plan of being a Bennigan's Blues Buster.
July 29, 2008 in General Gab | Permalink | Comments (1)
11. Work out 4 days a week for a month.
There were many times during the 1001 that I'd come close to this, then my schedule would wreak havoc and I'd be knocked away from my goal. But I finally crossed this threshold over the weekend. And I'm now at the point where I really don't feel right if I'm not working out 4 days a week. Hopefully with this goal reached I can reach the big one.
July 28, 2008 in 101 in 1001 | Permalink | Comments (0)
McCain was on This Week with George Stephenopolous, and George asked him to clarify his position on gay adoption.
STEPHANOPOULOS: What is your position on gay adoption? You told the "New York Times" you were against it, even in cases where the children couldn't find another home. But then your staff backtracked a bit. What is your position?
MCCAIN: My position is, it's not the reason why I'm running for president of the United States. And I think that two parent families are best for America.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, what do you mean by that, it's not the reason you're running for president of the United States?
MCCAIN: Because I think -- well, I think that it's -- it is important for us to emphasize family values. But I think it's very important that we understand that we have other challenges, too.
I'm running for president of the United States, because I want to help with family values. And I think that family values are important, when we have two parent -- families that are of parents that are the traditional family.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But there are several hundred thousand children in the country who don't have a home. And if a gay couple wants to adopt them, what's wrong with that?
MCCAIN: I am for the values that two parent families, the traditional family represents.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So, you're against gay adoption.
MCCAIN: I am for the values and principles that two parent families represent. And I also do point out that many of these decisions are made by the states, as we all know.
And I will do everything I can to encourage adoption, to encourage all of the things that keeps families together, including educational opportunities, including a better economy, job creation.
McCain wants to keep kids orphans instead of having them adopted by gay couples who are willing and able to do so? That's "family values" for you.And I'm running for president, because I want to help families in America. And one of my positions is that I believe that family values and family traditions are preserved.
July 27, 2008 in Politicking | Permalink | Comments (0)
One of the good things Congress has done lately is hold hearings on the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for the US armed forces. While the Democrats lack the number of votes the change the policy, it's wise to actually have hearings into the 15 year old policy. DADT was drafted in 1993 as a compromise then-President Clinton had to make with Congress in order to pass something that gave us gays some rights in serving in the military. It's an awful, dumb policy that now 3 out of 4 Americans feel should be overturned, that more military leaders think should be overturned and a policy that "should be rethought" by one of its proponents back in the day, former Senator (and possible Obama running mate) Sam Nunn.
The hearing went underway this week, and boy, was it a doozy. One of the few witnesses called by the Republicans was Elaine Donnelly, head of the Center of Military Readiness. Donnelly, who has never served in the military and is not an expert on military matters, testified that gays shouldn't serve in the military at all. Her reasoning? Because of the close quarters of military duty, according to her, the presence of gays and lesbians would lead to "forcible sodomy", lesbian gangs and and increase in HIV infection. The congressmen went after her, including my new hero Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA):
Rep. Murphy got to the core issue, for me, about the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. The whole policy is based on the possibility of a slim minority of the military populace would be uncomfortable by possibly serving with a gay man or a lesbian. The policy is built on protecting a bunch of bigots who can't put their irrational hatred aside and just do their job, and that is what Rep. Murphy was going after. And Donnelly -- who apparently got styling tips from Katherine Harris -- could not answer his question. It is a complete back-assward way of approaching the issue. If you aren't professional enough to do the job, then don't do it. Why should good servicemen and women be given the boot from their job because some ignorant boob has a close mind and can't do his or her job? It's patently offensive to ask people to serve their country, die for their country, be permanently maimed for their country, use their talents and skills to help protect this country but tell them to not be themselves, to keep quiet about their spouses or their single life because some asshole bigot might be offended. And Ms. Donnelly? You have never served in the military, so methinks Rep. Murphy has the leg up on the issue of unit cohesion. 'Cause he's actually been part of a military unit.
Donnelly's view of gays and lesbians as well is amazingly antiquated. She says gays and lesbians not as people but as just "deviant" sex drives, looking to rut and rape whoever comes our way. Well, let me explain it like this. Gays and lesbians join the military for the same reasons that everyone else joins the military: we want to serve their country, we want to earn money for school, we want to prove ourselves. We do not join the armed forces to get a date. Despite all of the armed forces themed gay porn sites on the Web, we just want to serve our country... at least those of us who are military-inclined. And if you want to serve in the military and you are gay or lesbian or bi, then you should. Hell, even Barry Goldwater said "You don't have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight." And to answer the argument that having gays serve openly in the military would lead to "forcible sodomy", if someone is going to rape their colleague (and that's what "forcible sodomy" is), they aren't going to wait for some regulation to come into play in order to do so.
Fortunately, it looks like Donnelly has done more harm to her cause than good. The bulk of the congressmen there were against her, including the ranking Republican, Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT). His choice quote: "When I look at the graves at Arlington Cemetery, I know that some of those soldiers must have been gay. That is why we are here today . . . that is why we are having this hearing." He is one of 140 members of Congress who is for repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and having gays and lesbians serve openly. Hopefully if Obama does get elected, he'll come through on his wish of having it repealed as well.
July 25, 2008 in Politicking | Permalink | Comments (0)
One of the best Christmas presents I've ever received was back in 1988 when my mom got me the trade paperback of Watchmen. It has been and will always be my favorite graphic novel and one of the best novels I've ever read. And now the movie is coming out next year, and here's the trailer:
Holy. Fucking. Balls. It looks amazing. And, I really REALLY need that Smashing Pumpkins song, like, right now. [Thanks for my friend Kevin for e-mailing me the lin.]
UPDATE: The Smashing Pumpkins song is "The Beginning is the End is the Beginning." It's on their Rarities & B-Sides album. It's my new favorite song.
July 18, 2008 in Film | Permalink | Comments (2)
50. Take a week, while working the day job, and not have any caffiene. No Diet Coke, no coffee, no tea.
Accomplished this on Sunday. I've done this before, so I knew I could do it again without much hassle. Still getting some headaches, but I think I have kicked caffeine out of my system. Hopefully.
July 16, 2008 in 101 in 1001 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Rich at FourFour put together a brilliant montage of one of my least favorite reality tv cliches: I'm not here to make friends...
Really, guys? 'Cause you all seem so warm and friendly.
July 15, 2008 in Television | Permalink | Comments (0)
Now in addition to being against gay marriage, ENDA, and federal hate crime designation, McCain told the New York Times this weekend he's against the gays adopting.
Q: President Bush believes that gay couples should not be permitted to adopt children. Do you agree with that?
Mr. McCain: I think that we’ve proven that both parents are important in the success of a family so, no I don’t believe in gay adoption.
Q: Even if the alternative is the kid staying in an orphanage, or not having parents.
Mr. McCain: I encourage adoption and I encourage the opportunities for people to adopt children I encourage the process being less complicated so they can adopt as quickly as possible. And Cindy and I are proud of being adoptive parents.
Q: But your concern would be that the couple should a traditional couple
Mr. McCain: Yes.
What a shock. [link courtesy of Think Progress]
July 14, 2008 in Politicking | Permalink | Comments (1)
As previously mentioned, I have been working out more regularly lately. I'm one of those people who usually has to work out in the mornings, especially during the week. If I don't go in the morning, I will make up every excuse not to go. I can't bring myself to work out after work; I am usually too hungry and too fried to think of working out. And, by working out in the morning, it's over and done with and I have the whole rest of the day ahead of me. So, it's been beneficial.
Since it's becoming part of my pattern to work out at the same time and place, I've noticed there are other people who do the same. I've been recognizing the same people during my time on the elliptical or when I'm doing lunge walks in the empty aerobics room. When Tom and I worked on The Bachelor, our gym fortunately had a branch in the same office complex. So, we'd work out in the mornings, then off to work. During that time, we had come up with a whole pantheon of nicknames for the regulars there. So, let me share them with you now, and then move on to the nicknames of my new gym routine.
(Old Jeez Jon fans may recognize I did a post like this several years ago. I would have linked to it, but due to diary-x.com's complete crash of their system, I can't.)
The Gazelle: This 30-something woman would power through on the elliptical trainer, with her legs flying up and down, with an amazing amount of grace
Mr. Sheen: An amazingly fit guy in his 30's, he had a body like Michelangelo's David, and perfect hair. He wouldn't sweat, he would just kinda glow. He was so good-looking I would schedule my workout to not be in the locker room when he'd be in there, 'cause I just couldn't trust myself not to stare at the pretty.
Captain Creepy: This is a guy who would linger waaaaaay too long in the shower while touching himself. Even grosser than is sounds.
The Alderman/T.I.T. (Troll In Training): This gregarious, somewhat overweight fellow in his 40's seemed to know everyone at the gym and gabbed with everyone. Captain Creepy was his nemesis and The Alderman and I had a couple conversations where he talked about having Creepy being booted from the gym. Tom got a trollish vibe from him; I found him more chatty than anything else.
B.B.G. (Balding Buff Guy): This surly guy had a bodybuilder's physique and rotweiler's demeanor. I steered clear of him, especially when he'd get growler working the lat bar.
Allan Quartermain: Named after the fictional explorer, this 60-year-old with a think white beard would wear thin tanktops and would only use the weights.
Mr T.: Okay, well, this isn't a nickname. One day, Tom and I were on ellipticals, and he got my attention.
Tom: Hey. [pointing over to a guy in thick gray sweatpants, and a gray hoodie pulled over his head] That guy over there is Mr. T.
Jon: Really? Doesn't look like Mr. T.
Then someone came up to the gray sweats man, and I hear in a deep gravelly voice "Hey fellah, how you dooooinnn'?!" Yeah, it was Mr. T.
So, four years later, I'm now working at the gym closest to my house. It's small, but serviceable. Unlike the Hollywood branch, people at my gym are actually there to work out and not using the place like singles bar with Nautilus equipment. I don't have to wait very long to use a cardio machine, and there are plenty of weight machines around. It's pretty well maintained. There's enough eye candy around to help with motivation but not so much as to be intimidating to the non-athletic.
Vin Weasel: This late-20's latino guy has some tats going and a relatively fit body. He also looks a lot like Vin Diesel, but is probably taller. Nickname aside, he seems like a nice fellow.
Mr. Clean 2.0: The assistant manager of the gym, he works out every morning, usually working out with Armenian Douchebag Gym Sales Associate (see below). Lean, in great shape and a shaved head, he looks like a trimmer version of the famous cartoon cleanser salesman. Sans the genie earring.
ADGSA (Armenian Douchebag Gym Sales Associate): Name kinda says it all, doesn't it?
Dr. Creepenstein: This elderly gentleman has a habit of doing a light workout and then sitting in the men's sauna for a long period of time, peering through the glass door to the men's showers. While wearing his glasses. No inappropriate touching... as far as I know. If I catch sight of him, I usually speed through my shower and get out as expediently as possible.
The Dyed Duo: This married couple in their late 50's work out together every morning, and they usually arrive when I'm leaving. The guy is a former bodybuilder who wears very loose-fitting tank tops. The wife is a fit woman with a big nose and a fashion magazine permanently affixed to her left hand. And both of them? Have major dye jobs. Hers is a fluorescent auburn that verges on purple; his an obscenely bright plantinum blond. Not the most attractive colors, but they are kinda cute together. Kinda.
The more people I recognize, the more nicknames I'll come up with. In the meantime, I should probably go work out. Let's pray Dr. Creepenstein doesn't show up.
July 12, 2008 in General Gab | Permalink | Comments (1)
As my deadline approaches for my 101 in 1001, I'm getting a bit more disheartened by my lack of progress on some fronts. The traveling bits will definitely not happen unless my schedule changes (sorry, TJ and Owen), since my work schedule is pretty locked in past my 101 deadline. But, I will feel accomplished if I manage to get number one done... or at least underway.
1. Lose 20 pounds and keep them off for two months.
I have come very, very close. I got the trainer and worked out with him for a few months. I then carried on his training on my own and continued to lose the weight. Between December of 2006 and August of 2007, I lost 18 pounds. It came off very gradually, and I was excited. However, those last two pounds were stubborn, and they never came off. For months, I stayed at the 18 pound loss. Then, in December of 2007, I rolled into Trading Spaces, and my schedule got bad. (It's better since I've come back.) Since I was pulling 12 hour days with a horribly long commute, I didn't have the time discipline to continue working out. So, I didn't. Couple that with the amount of candy in the office, well, the weight started creeping back on. I then fought against the inertia that had accumulated by my not going to the gym by actually going back to the gym. But, the damage was already done. I had gained back 10 of the 18 pounds that I had lost.
I was rather horrified, as you can imagine. So, I am redoubling my efforts. By my deadline of September 26, 2008, I want to have lost 20 pounds. That's my goal. I've been hitting the gym 4 to 5 days a week for the past 3 weeks, and will continue to do so for the rest of year, gosh darn it. I've loaded up my office with healthy and tasty snacks. I've been packing my gym bag the night before so I have no excuse not to hit the gym first thing in the morning. I've cut out caffeine and alcohol from my diet since the holiday weekend, and they will be out of my diet for the next couple months, at least.
If I do lose the weight and keep it off, I will feel that my 101 list won't be in vain. Wish me luck.
July 11, 2008 in 101 in 1001, General Gab | Permalink | Comments (2)
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