| Battlecry |
[Apr. 1st, 2008|03:28 pm] |
I posted about the VA Tech shootings a while back, and of course more school shootings filled the headlines since, but a teacher of mine sent me this link in October of last year. I came upon it while cleaning out my email inbox. Enjoy.
Librescu! |
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| Po-Po |
[Nov. 22nd, 2007|01:28 am] |
I intended to post weekly about the various trials and tribulations of police work, but then I realized that I'm not much of a blogger. I'm really too private of a person to post many of the things I want to record, and I like to have exciting and funny anecdotes when I see people in person or chat on the phone. If they might have read everything that happens to me online, I end up repeating stories they already know, and that's no fun. So I have been keeping a journal, but nothing public.
Having said that, there are a few things I would like to share and the internets seemed the appropriate place. First, a poem I wrote on the job:
When searching for the needle,
you will naturally begin
to resent the hay.
I found it funny the other night that I was becoming frustrated with people for being decent, law-abiding folks after I had pull them over on a traffic stop. I am getting a first-hand appreciation for why so many cops can be dicks. An aptitude for self-awareness seems essential to stave off the jaded demeanor so typical in my new profession.
Also, I arrested the President of Georgia tonight! Turns out, the President of Georgia is a highly intoxicated illegal immigrant from some country south of here. He was the first person to resist arrest with me, but he was already handcuffed when he realized what was happening, so I didn't need much force to get him in the car.
If you have any questions or insights regarding my foray into police work, post a question or comment. |
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| WtF? |
[Mar. 7th, 2007|09:41 am] |
Seriously, wtf!?
When did instilling socialist values in our children become acceptable? Life isn't fair and we are not born equal. Some people are better at making Lego houses than others. Perhaps instead of dictating that every house be the same, the teachers could have the best Lego builders in the class help the children who were struggling. How about teaching service and compassion through strength? We should use our gifts to help others, not stifle our talents to conform. |
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| I *heart* Joe Lieberman |
[Feb. 26th, 2007|12:04 pm] |
Seriously, I would be happy to have him in the oval. I haven't researched his position on all of the issues yet, but I do know he has a brain in his head and that he cares about what is best for the country rather than increasing his own power and influence.
Read this, and then tell me I'm wrong. |
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| Potpourri |
[Feb. 14th, 2007|09:21 am] |
Rebel Yell: Check out my new icon. No, really...check it out. I enticed Liam to join me in a little Billy Idol-atry after dinner recently, and Morgan transformed the picture for my LJ pleasure.
Liamism: While driving home the other day, Morgan was being silly. I don't remember the context, but she declared I'm a Leprechaun!
Liam: No you're not, you're not wearing green!
Morgan: I'm a leprechaun, I'm just on vacation.
Liam: You would still be wearing green, but you'd be driving south to Florida.
Point, set, and match to Liam
The Devil's in the details: So it turns out that Islam is less like a coin and more like a d20. This column does a good job of scratching the surface enough to peak my interest, and I recommend anyone with a minimal understanding of Islam give it a quick read. From the article: All monotheist religions have been really good haters. We just take turns. |
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| Ode to Shel |
[Feb. 13th, 2007|07:34 am] |
Can you bend straight over and touch your hands to your toes?
Can you put the tip of your tongue to the tip of your nose?
Can you get clean in the shower while wearing your clothes?
Or wiggle your ears while blowing your nose?
Do you have dreams of the future while you fitfully doze?
Can you keep Love in your heart while fighting your foes?
Would you never look back, even after you chose?
Or walk out a door that's already closed?
Do you ride on the highs and float on the lows?
Spill your heart with your mouth or spell it with prose?
Consider true love while plucking a rose?
Will you speak answers to questions that nobody knows,
While bending straight over
and touching your toes? |
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| Right out the Window |
[Dec. 28th, 2006|12:03 pm] |
I now have an impressive collection of notes and reminders for LJ entries I keep meaning to write. Will any of them appear? Who knows. I doubt a New Years resolution would be motivating.
I will, however, take a moment to post this. From the linked article: The [Windows] Vista Content Protection specification could very well constitute the longest suicide note in history.
Historically, I have been on the Windows side of the fence. While working as a computer tech, I became familiar with OSX and had to grudgingly admit that Apple was doing some things right. Now, combine OSX (with an incredibly stable Linux kernel) with Parallels, and factor in the gross arrogance displayed by Microsoft's decision to stunt technological growth and PC usability in the interest of placating content distributors. What do we have? A new Mac user.
Once upon a time, I enjoyed spending hours becoming savvy enough to work around the various quirks and problems of Windows. Now, my time is more valuable, and a machine that actually plug-n-plays is highly desirable. I can't afford a new computer at the moment, but I hope to purchase a new or gently used Mac-mini or iMac in about a year. Unless something drastic changes I will refuse to support Microsoft, and I will refuse to adopt Vista as my home computing OS. Screw brand loyalty, I want what works. |
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| Stop the Presses! |
[Nov. 27th, 2006|06:57 am] |
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This just in: New research shows that a positive attitude and performing service for others leads to happiness and increased satisfaction with life. It's a good thing we have some scientific research to let us in on the secret. |
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| X-Men: The Last Stand |
[Nov. 3rd, 2006|09:10 am] |
Worst. Movie. Ever.
I found a reviewer who aptly described the (hopefully) final X-Men film movie as "Michael Bay's Schindler's List". Hopefully, a director of Christopher Nolan's caliber will reinvent the franchise a decade from now. |
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| Poem |
[Oct. 6th, 2006|09:50 am] |
"The worm drives helically through the wood
And does not know the dust left in the bore
Once made the table integral and good;
And suddenly the crystal hits the floor.
Electrons find their paths in subtle ways,
A massless eddy in a trail of smoke;
The names of lovers, light of other days-
Perhaps you will not miss them. That's the joke.
The universe winds down. That's how it's made.
But memory is everything to lose;
Although some of the colors have to fade,
Do not believe you'll get the chance to choose.
Regret, by definition, comes too late;
Say what you mean. Bear witness. Iterate."
-John M. Ford
Poem provided to me by my eldest brother. Read it again, but out loud this time.
I have a whole bunch of stuff I have been meaning to post. Maybe I will get to it today, maybe not. |
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| Stop and Smell the Pretzels |
[Sep. 11th, 2006|11:27 pm] |
Just a quick entry to share these two gems:
We were in the car, driving to a Sesame Street Live show. Yeah, it was pretty weird, and I think the show would have benefited from a pot or shroom vendor. Anyway, here is a conversation while pulling into the parking garage:
Morgan: "It smells like foot in here. Liam, did you take off your shoes?"
Liam: "No, it's probably because I forgot to wipe good this morning."
Eww. But my personal favorite in recent memory comes from yesterday's trip to the park. Liam and I were walking up the beach toward the lake when I saw a man with a metal detector searching for buried treasure.
Me: "I see a man with a metal detector over there."
Liam: "I see a pretzel."
Sure enough, a few feet away I saw a little pretzel in the sand.
Me: "I bet he is searching for pirate treasure."
Liam: "I wonder how that pretzel got there."
We never found out how the pretzel got there or what the man was searching for, but we had a great time at the beach. |
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| Lesson on the Anifemale Kingdom |
[Sep. 8th, 2006|11:20 am] |
My lovely wife called me yesterday afternoon to let me know that female mosquitoes are fesquitoes. Obviously, male mosquitoes are masquitoes. Obviously, this lesson comes from Liam. I asked how fesquito is spelled, with an "fe" or an "fa"? He replied "eff-ee! Because it's feemale!".
By the way, telling if that buzzing sound is a masquito or fesquito is quite easy. Check it out: ( Fesquito ) |
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| Jackassery |
[Sep. 3rd, 2006|05:23 pm] |
Every Labor Day, Acworth (the city I live in) holds a Pioneers' Day festival. I have no idea what Pioneers have to do with Ferris Wheels or funnel cake or over-priced bottled water, but the fair is a great way to drop forty bucks in an effort to create some pleasant childhood memories for the little ones. We met with three other families and a bachelor friend, and departed en masse to the festival around 11 this morning.
We walked along a trail, through a neighborhood and then along a stream in the adjacent woods. The path was overgrown with grass and weeds taller than the children, and thistles creeped out past the wood-line like little barbed trip wires. A few Viet Kong comments were made ("Charlie in the trees!") but we made it through the woods, across the field, and to the fair.
The children spent an hour on the playground, ate some lunch, and then descended on the rides. Liam and I went on the ferris wheel, and I am pleased to report that my once crippling acrophobia seems all but overcome. Go me.
After exhausting our supply of tickets and making the significantly hotter trek back home under the midday sun, we arrived back at the house to enjoy the air-conditioning. The children played, the adults talked and snacked; life was good. As everyone was getting ready to depart, one of the little boys, we'll call him "D", went outside to the front porch with a bubble blower. He jostled the bubble solution before pulling the plastic ring out of the bottle, and asked "Why isn't this working?" when no bubbles could be blown.
One of the husband/fathers, sitting on the porch a few feet away, leaned his head back and said:
Jackass (with a completely straight face): "Because you suck."
Me: "Excuse me?"
Jackass: "Oh, I was talking to D."
Me: "Please don't say that to him."
Jackass: "He knows I'm kidding."
Me: "He's six. You don't speak to children that way, at least not in front of me. Got it?"
At this point his wife and the other couple were outside, and caught the tail end of our exhange. The Jackass and his wife were considering putting their daughter in my martial art class. I'd like to think they would be even more enthusiastic about training given my response to the dad's joke bullying, but I know that is probably not the case (EDIT: It is the case, and certainly impresses me). I can't begin to comprehend why anyone would feel good about speaking that way to a child. |
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| Toast |
[Jun. 18th, 2006|11:06 pm] |
Malted Milkball
6oz cold milk (I've been using 2%)
3tbsp malt
2tbsp chocolate syrup (powdered chocolate milk mix would work just as well)
1.5oz shot of Kahlua
Best served in a mug that will keep the drink cold as long as possible. I figure adding a shot of Bailey's would be crazy delicious.
Whatever you happen to be drinking, raise your glass and join my toast to Donovan Ryals McFarland. He was born June 9th at 11:28pm in our bathroom. His grandmother caught him, and I cut his cord (the stump of which has fallen away, leaving a perfectly cute belly button). He is wonderful beyond words.
I give thanks for his safe entry into the world, and pray for his life to be long and joyous.
*clink* Bottom's up!
J |
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| Rockstar |
[Jun. 3rd, 2006|02:06 am] |
I listened to an interview with Maynard tonight, and near the end he talks about how folks who are beginning a metaphysical or spiritual exploration tend to notice and experience synchronicity. Here is a brief transcript exposing a feeling I can relate to:
Maynard (MJK): […] "when somebody is really getting into the more metaphysical and spiritual aspects of themselves and their environment, one of the first things that comes out of that […] is synchronicity […] They start really picking up on all the synchronicities and the overlapping patterns and that’s kind of like nature throwing you a bone."
Interviewer: "Is that comforting for you to know that there is kind of a logic or over-all picture there?"
MJK: "It actually makes everything more confusing."
No kidding.
On a related note, the more I read and hear about Tool’s creative process the more impressed I am. They write songs like jazz musicians, arrange songs like classical musicians, and rock your socks like a metal band. If I need inspiration for a story or other creative endeavor I can usually listen to some of their stuff and get the juices flowing. I highly recommend their new album, 10,000 Days.
J |
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jonsan's journal