It's just a piece of paper?

Just an FYI for those who think the most important thing on God's green Earth is to go to college:

People who don't have college degrees

Bill Gates
Walt Disney
Michael Dell
Simon Cowell
Henry Ford
Richard Branson
George Washington
Peter Jennings
Abraham Lincoln
Thomas Edison
Steve Jobs
Rush Limbaugh
Michael Moore
Ernest Hemingway
....and a host of others you can easily look up.

“The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.”
--Albert Einstein

How gay is my zip code????!!!!

This feature from the New York Times shows Netflix rentals by location.
In my zip code, in this order: Milk, Rachael Getting Married, Benjamin Button, Doubt.
Pretty gay, pretty gay. Now where's my damn cosmo, I just got Brokeback in the mail.

Bad cop, Worse cop Part II

I don't mean to beat up on the NYPD (actually I do), but this story in the NY Post bugs me--not because PBA cards are being sold on eBay, but because PBA cards exist in the first place. Why should friends and families of policemen receive what amounts to a social courtesy not given to those without this card? Shouldn't all law-abiding, tax-paying citizens be considered "friends of the force" and therefore be given the same "breaks" as those with this card get?
These cards basically say: "Hey, I know I broke a law, but I'm one of you --see-- so how about you fill your quota on some other poor sap without this luxury." OK, I get it. Have card, can break rules.

Quote:
"Having the card marks you as a friend to the force, and can be used to get out of minor jams. Flash the union card to an officer who has stopped you for speeding or is citing you for illegally parking, and the cop will forgo the ticket and let you off with a warning and wink. Police unions long encouraged their members to honor the cards when presented at a car stop -- especially since they are often carried by cops' relatives."
Read the rest here

It seems to me that these "get out of jail free" cards also represent the sense of elitism that has perpetuated the untouchable attitude so many officers are infected with. Why not give teachers and their families "get out of jail free" cards?

The traffic stop should go like this: "My mom is a teacher, officer. She's making sure your children don't grow up to be a pain in the ass for you and your force, so how about you let me slide for pulling an illegal U-turn with no one around for miles while I'm lost." But no. If you don't know a cop who is kind enough to bestow onto you this cop-be-nice card, follow the rules buddy, because you are no friend to them.

A note on this blog Part I

This is not one of those blogs that is all about "feelings," it's just some simple commentary on commentary itself as well as on social and political issues. I've never done anything like this before so my voice may be a bit all over the place and evolution is expected, so please bear with me.

Also you should know that I can be crass, flagrant and, sometimes, even insulting. I use foul language at times, as we all do, and when I write I sometimes can compose an entire paragraph using ...dots...as in...when the sky falls...I'll be sure to kiss my mother...and my sister...and my girlfriend...and then my ass...goodbye. Writing like that may or may not be a bad habit of mine...but I love the feeling...so if you can take it...let me get away with it sometimes....k? And, yes, I called them dots...Get over it.

Bad cop, Worse cop...

I'm a minority living in New York, so I know that someone like me who has ill feelings towards the NYPD and cops in general isn't new.  However, I am compelled to explain a few things. 

First, the facts: I hate cops, and not in the way that one hates their drunk uncle at the family party. I've been living in NYC for my entire life and never once have I been robbed or physically assaulted by a civilian. Never once has a civilian pulled a gun or knife on me. Yet, I have been both assaulted and robbed by the NYPD.  I have had guns shoved in my face over 15 times, and one of those times I was forced to suck the barrel as if it were a penis, I was 16.

Now here's the kicker: I have never been arrested. Never been charged. Never been questioned at the station. Never put in a squad car--shit--simply put, I don't have a record.

So I pose a question:  if you are reading this and also do not have a record nor have never been arrested,  how many times has a cop thrown you to the ground?  How many times has a cop pointed a gun to your face only to see fear grip you only to come closer and press the nozzle to your forehead? 
Unarmed, no less.

You see I'm not afraid of Joe Shmoe walking down the street, but I am afraid of the police.  My rights have never been violated by Joe...just the boys in blue. So why is it that I always run into people making the same statement....Not all cops are bad?  That's where I disagree.

Phrases

Now, I wouldn't want to get off on the wrong foot with anyone, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this site has got to be the bees knees.

Seriously though, it's a site where you can check out the origins and meanings of popular phrases. Nice work.

Another winning site...

Seeing as I hate Twilight, this has to be my favorite ... click the photo to enlarge.

See more here

On the bright side part II

Tired of the bad news? Upset over the economy, the murders, or you're just a Republican?
Check this site out asap...it might just brighten your day

On the bright side...

"Broadway Community soup kitchen chef Michael Ennes poses with the $1,100 can of Petrossian Malossol Caviar that his Soup Kitchen received as an anonymous donation via City Harvest."

Read more here

NYT Charting the Decade

Click here to check it out.

From flowing data:
"Did we all see this? Phillip Niemeyer of Double Triple pictures the past ten years in this Op-Chart for The New York Times. Each row is a theme, and each column represents a year. For example, the champion rep for 2007 is Tiger Woods or collagen as the fad of 2002. Oh how times change."

Brilliant images of the Earth from space

The Guardian compiles this great collection of satellite photos.

Above photo:
"Like tiny blue jewels, the western Hawaiian islands glow among the clouds over the Pacific Ocean. The Hawaiian islands are in the north Pacific – the larger, eastern islands are probably more well-known, but there are actually eight major islands, as well as many smaller islands and several atolls. Though Hawaii is a US state, the island chain is actually located 1,860 miles from the nearest continent. The islands are the exposed peaks of a volcanic, undersea mountain range."

....the terrorists win.

I know you want to see your loved ones. I know you want to go see a jungle waterfall, or go party in the Caribbean and have random fun. But when this becomes an everyday thing...you have to wonder if you would be better off taking a friggin cruise.

Shows That Changed TV

The Daily Beast lays it out pretty well with this.

Bored At Work?

This game site has something for everyone...just be sure to keep your volume down.

Poem of the Month

I have come to understand what dreams are...
not in the sense of those one has when one sleeps...
but of dreaming while eyes are open...
to see something in front of you and never wanting to close your eyes...
i understand this now...

i have come to understand why someone might leave their lover...
in order to find themselves...i should only hope my understanding of this does not leave a taste so bitter, that it leaves me with no choice but to stop searching at all...

i have come to understand love a little bit more...and how fragile it is...
how if taken for granted for a moment...it leaves...as i am left...as i am alone...
as i am...as i understand...if ignorance is bliss...understanding is love...
as i now walk in the ever narrowing shadow of a love i cannot keep pace with...
for it is leaving...for i have never understood...a painful understanding indeed...
for i now understand...what it means to have a dream differed...