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it has been an interesting couple of weeks. first, it's probably been one of the most expensive couple of weeks we've had in a long time... out water heater crapped out and we had to get a new one... the surprise party, rock band, wii fit, a new phone, clothes... you know stuff. but if you told me that I had to do that all over again in order to have the memories from sunday, then I would do it again in a heartbeat. it's always nice to see how much people love you... you know that they love you, but to actually see it physically manifest itself - (as it did on sunday for me, and in retrospect, the last few months) is amazing. lorie, anna, kimmie, eric, rob, and ellen. the amount of work they put in for something as simple as a surprise party was a little ridiculous and appreciate more than they probably could know. the art board, the food, the t-shirts, the hats, the planning, and from throwing a fake surprise party, to going along with a fake fake party, to getting everything together for a real surprise party under my nose and many times (unbeknownst to me) with my help. especially lorie. I don't know if I should be proud or weary about her ability to lie to my face - though with the best intentions, of course. before this weekend, I probably would have told you that I thought I was pretty smart, pretty clever. after this weekend, I think I might be a lot slower than any previous estimation. but, even if I did figure it out (which I didn't) I don't think I would have had the heart to ruin the efforts and the planning and just the thoughts of those six people that did so much to give me such a beatiful and fun filled day. all for me? in my head, yes, but I'm pretty sure everyone else had fun too. so thanks to everyone that came, and especially thanks to lorie, kimmie, anna, eric, ellen, and rob. you guys are the best. I'm so happy to be blessed with my family and friends.

now if I could only get some sleep. ;-)

Im typing this entry from the instinct. $70 a month for 450 minutes and unlimited text, data, email, tv... seems pretty good, though i can't play the facebook apps... i can also use the gps too... i'm a little excited. i'm also getting the hang of the keyboard too, which is pretty slick. i'm liking it so far. time will tell.

I've heard, here and there, that people believe that they are punished immediately by God when they are doing something wrong.

It's not simply that a consequence of doing something wrong is that something bad happens to you, but that you are being punished.

not sure if that was clear, but in my mind it is clear that if you do something wrong, you deserve to be punished for it. not even speaking from a religious stand point but a mere cause and effect.

now, I've also heard, here and there, that people believe that they when they haven't been faithful that God punishes them because you were away so long and He's mad at you.

that's probably one of the dumbest things I've ever heard.

"I was going to confession, which I haven't been to in years, and I got hurt. So I didn't go, because God was telling me not to because He's mad at me."

what kind of stupid horse caca is that?

whatever.

so randomly... Divine Mercy Sunday. from what I've been told, if you are free from sin (having been to confession within a week of receiving Holy Communion on that Sunday) then you will be granted a plenary indulgence.

what was that?

plenary indulgence.

from what little I understand, and crudely put, an indulgence is more or less salvation because someone holy (like the Pope who is infallible) said so. back when they were building St. Peter's Basilica, they were handing out indulgences for money so they could build it... A few people had a problem with that, not in God's plan or whatever... not sure how that works really...

and I'm not sure what the rule is on that now a days...

and I'm not sure what I think about it just yet - given that I haven't really looked up much... but I'll go with whatever the Pope says...

k... I should go back to work...

How does raising the minimum wage help the economy?

It certainly doesn't guarantee more jobs. In fact, I would think that hinders employeers because there is less money, therefore a hiked minimum wage just causes employers to cuts jobs to pay for the people they can afford, or it causes businesses to go bankrupt.

there is a difference between looking like you are helping people and actually helping people. by raising the minimum wage, you appease what people think they need. what someone needs to teach them is what they truly need and what they need is to understand.

understand that short-term fixes won't get the job done. it's a marathon people, not a sprint. but elected government officials have little time (like consultants) and typically focus on getting their main objectives completed - because they have a relatively short amount of time before they have to campaign again to keep their job - which means selling out, asking for money, and making promises or owing favors which would be better to be not kept or not owed.

but 'people' in general are selfish. then again, 'people' in general are stupid. but that's just the cynical pessimist in me talking. my optomistic side thinks that if we tell people and get them to actually listen and understand, that we will all be in a better place.

but maybe I'm oversimplifying things.

How does raising taxes on the rich help the economy?
so there are a ton of corporate bigwigs that make an obscene amount of money. and suppose we tax them extra because we think they should be giving more back to the country. but they don't get additional say - unless you count the millions they throw at government officials, legal and legal-ish-ly, through loybbying, campaign contributions, etc, etc, etc. - in elections - they still have one vote, but it is their money that is going to the government... personally, I don't think the government handles money all that well, and I would rather hold on to my money where possible. for those people that do make a ton of money - I'm sure they know better what to do with it - beneficial or self-serving - the trick is to get them to use their money and knowledge of managing it and growing it and water so that help everyone else.

it's the getting them to help everyone else and people recognizing that they are helping is the trick. but once you shine a spotlight on good deeds, that spotlight can go right to the dirty deeds...

raising taxes might be a short-term "gain" but it ends up screwing the little guy down the road, because that rich guy - he's smart, devious, and ambition, and he has a lot of friends because he has a lot of money - so wouldn't you rather have him on your side? how do we get him on our side?

by raising taxes on the rich, isn't it like consolidating power in an elite few? isn't that the opposite of a democracy? also, since they are getting 'pinched' so to speak, that just motivates them to cut unecessary cost - and that trickles all the way down the line to the lowest rung... because they just hike minimum wages and they need to cut some 'fat'.

you want to talk about the economy... who do you think controls the economy?

I'm not an economics major - I'm not a government expert... but I have seen into business, and I've watched west wing a few times, and I stayed at a holiday in express... so someone please correct me if I'm way off base, tell me why. if it's not that simple, then tell me why?

there are 6 billion people on the planet. I'm sure there are enough people around to try and find the root causes to this, because everything, everything is connected.

or maybe I'm oversimplifying things.

I've been looking at the lyrics all around the net and I didn't find any that satisfied me with regards to correctness... so here is my take on Jurassic 5's Improvise:

Yo, it's like this when Allah says "Let it be light"
He also designated, poetical brothers with mics
For whoever had skills to possess the gift
Combinated with the flavor and it go like this,

2na Fish

The manphibian citizen, with the lesson plan
Cashier at the J5 concession stand,

Akil

The militant steel with the periphial
Telegraphic skill build up force field,

Mark 7even

Fundamentalist bringing my verbal gift
My style is packed quick like cocoa in Swiss Miss,

Zaakir

For the way my pen sticks to rhymes
'Cause I feel that, party people, it's about that time

And together, we'll show you how to improvise
Reminiscent of the Wild Style '75
'Cause it's the brothers on the mic occupyin' the drums
Takin' four MC's and make them sound like one

I be the spark from the cannon, blaze the outstandin'
Tug of war, with the poor, rich, and scandalous
Road runnin' bandit, race against advancement
Style winds 'cause storms when I perform

I'm a plot with giant robot, And stomp ya whole spot
Then peep ya whole crew, Da bunch of know nots
Dissect you from the inner then declare myself the winner
Once the style clears, you'll be frail like thinner

I'm 2na the Black, pure contractor
Attackin' your backdoor, you're trapped in my trash compactor
Move back, boy, smooth as velour, the trap door
It's causin' the capture for brothers who rap poor

Check the shellin', rock niggas redder than watermelon
The grief-stricken, rotated 20/20 vision
Rap felon, hottest brother wit bad spellin'
I pitch shift with unprecedented sharpness

Distributor, local street corner contributor
Word inhibitor, scientific pen positioner
Rhythm commissions DJs for real
He drives the cross fader like a cut mobile

We perpetrate no fake, no fraud, no phony
Jurassic masters of the ceremony
You came and saw right before your eyes
In fact the old school flavor has survived, like this

[instrumental]

And together, we show you how to improvise
Reminiscent of the Wild Style '75
'Cause it's the brothers on the mic occupyin' the drums
We takin' four MC's and make 'em sound like one

And together, we show you how to improvise
Reminiscent of the Wild Style '75
So whoever bought the tape bring your butt right back
'Cause you never in your life heard a cut like that

Hey, we flip fast phonographs 45 records smash
Hot weather forecast, it ain't nothin' they never had

Make a move, never lose, competition quick to choose
New styles, hot rhymes, guaranteed to blow your mind

Who is he? The subtle lip fanatic from Unity
Demonstratin' the ghetto diplomatic immunity

Well I'm the style stimulus, sound photosynthesis
Super with the sentences in the land of citrus

And together, we'll show you how to improvise
Reminiscent of the Wild Style '75
'Cause it's the brothers on the mic occupyin' the drums
Takin' four MC's and make them sound like one

And together, we'll show you how to improvise
Reminiscent of the Wild Style '75
'Cause it's the brothers on the mic in the place to be
It's the J U R A double S I C