Preggo Sleep Walkers

Last night some Italianish woman who lives below us, who doesn't speak good English knocked on our door, with squinty eyes.

She made some joke about waking us up at 5 am. And then asked us to not jump on our heads, or something like that. It was mumbled. We were confused. She left. We laughed. We thing she was sleep walking.

Rocky - Made Famous By Ignorance

I may have said this before, but the Rocky films are some of my favorite films. The story of being given a chance, never backing down, always improving one's self. Honor.

But something that bugs me is why Apollo Creed chose to fight Rocky Balboa. As in the film, it is the bicentennial of the United States of America, and the fight is on July 4th. A good excuse for patriotism, that Apollo takes advantage of by dressing like Uncle Sam at the match.

But why did Apollo pick Rocky? In making his decision, he said, "Who discovered America? An Italian, right? What better way to celebrate its 200th birthday than to get it on with one of his descendants?".

And that is what bothers me. Cause while Columbus did discover America, he never came to the northern continent. Only Latin America/the Caribbean. Heck, the United States has Columbus day in October, to celebrate or memorialize the discovery of America. So why pick on an Italian? Why not pick someone with a British name?

Obviously, for sake of the story you couldn't have the British/English Stallion beating on Apollo Creed, not with it being independence day. But that is meta plot right there.

I just wonder why Apollo himself didn't realize the greater commercialism by picking someone that would be of greater symbolism for July, to react/pay respect to the Revolution.

That is what I don't get, why Apollo decided to pick an Italian just because one discovered America. The United States wasn't founded until nearly 300 years later.

So that is just an oddity in my mind, that Rocky was given his chance and made famous because Apollo Creed, to me, seems ignorant of history and marketing and picked an Italian over and Englishman.

That's Just Shiz

Shiz. We all know that word. Perhaps it stemmed from the recently slangification of "shizzle" from the 90's and all. I hear it frequently, all going along with the Urban Dictionary definition of 'cool', or 'happening', or 'very good'.

But, being that I am of a peculiar LDS/Mormon upbringing, see it in a different light. Well, I see it in a different light cause I am weird actually. Anywho, there is this commander of an army by the name of Shiz. Now, he's quite the blood thirsty and relentless fellow. Sort of wants to take over everything and will destroy everything in his path to get it.

So speeding forward to the end of the book of Ether, Shiz gets his head cut off while unconscious by a guy named Coriantumr. But that isn't the end of it. Shiz still wants to live. It says in the Book of Mormon, "And it came to pass that after he [Coriantumr] had smitten off the head of Shiz, that Shiz raised up on his hands and fell; and after that he had struggled for breath, he died."

He raised up on his hands. His body refused to give up. Instead of just lying there with his head cut off, his arms worked, tried to raise up. He would not give up.

That is how I interpret things when Shiz is used. That it is an intense type of cool. That you like it more than a lot. That it isn't just a passing fancy, that it is something you think is undeniably awesome, so awesome you will still think it awesome on your last dying breath. Something you will forever desire to work for...

Ok, I am just saying things now, but still. I take Shiz to mean something more than just cool. I mean, the guy's arms and body would still not stop immediately. That is awesome right then and there.

So there you go, my definition of awesome.

Modern Indulgences of our Time

This is too hilarious not to share:



And an ironic thing? It doesn't ship to Utah. Now excuse me as I hope to not be struck down by sharing this.

Strike Two

Strikes abound, but is this bowling, or is this baseball?
A strike before and a strike again.
Striking at the little things that matter.

Hoping not baseball, knowing it's not bowling.
Still, strikes have been called,
Perhaps only the batter knows the score

The score of life, seeing two strikes, focusing on that
Focusing on swings missed and not seeing the ball out of the park
Rounding the bases, thoughts not on victory

Thoughts on the strikes, not on the laps
Not on the score that shows the overpowering odds

Just on the strikes. Not concurrent, separated.
But in his mind, he wonders what the third strike will mean.

Not a strikeout, this known to all but him,
But he is blind to all but the missed swings
as his performance throughout the innings slide.

Summer Class Fail

The BYU computer science department fails when it comes to Summer classes apparently. Truly.

It is one thing when they assign a grad student to teach the class, who doesn't know how to teach. But since this is his first time teaching, he is just cribbing off the notes and assignments of last semester. He hasn't made the assignments, he hasn't gone through them. He is just copying off the class before and not knowing the full extent of the assignments, since he hasn't done or looked at the assignments in depth.

Sigh. That is all. Enjoy your Monday.

Viva Mexico!

Viva Mexico, today is el Cinco de Mayo! Today is the day you gained your independence!

Wait, what's that? We're all silly Americans? You're independence day is September 16th? Today isn't even a real holiday? It's only a commemoration of a victory against the French in 1862? Yes, we are silly.

I am in a snarky mood. Dunno why, but I am going to take it out on the Holiday. Or the French, neither matter. You know it's true Frenchies, I mean we're just silly Americans celebrating an unimportant Mexican holiday, but let's look at the facts. You lost against Mexico. I think that outweighs our American silliness.

So, because we are all silly about this holiday, or maybe only Utahns take it to silly lengths, I think I shall rename this day.

No longer is it a day to do Mexican-like things, and eat their food (which is supremely delicious), but it is a day of commemoration of all French losses. Today is the day that we shall sally forth and make fun of France for all their losses, not like we wouldn't any other day mind you, just that today, it is official.

So who's with me?

Or am I just alone?

I bet I am alone, aren't I?

SQL Mafia Death Threats

"Transaction (Process ID 107) was deadlocked on lock resources with another process and has been chosen as the deadlock victim. Rerun the transaction."

It was the message he always dreaded, one he had only heard about in legend. He heard the rumors that the Mafia had infiltrated SQL, and that this sort of this was happening, but he never thought that the mafia would move from dead pigeons to deadlock sql messages on his computer. It was almost too much to handle.

Messages being lost, transactions disappearing. It was only a matter of time before such a thing happened to him as well.

Oh what to do, what to do. Not much to do but wait. Wait for the query window to appear. And then? No one knows. No one has returned o0nce they have entered the query window.

But enter he must, or else be lost as resources became deadlocked...

Fear

Maybe fear is the incorrect word, but what else would you call something that you knew would come, that you knew you would enjoy, that you know you will enjoy when it comes. But now as the coming is nigh or approaches, you begin to fear that maybe you don't want that thing. You begin to doubt yourself, doubting the wanting or the desire in the first place.

Maybe it is a type of terror? A terror that looms and makes you feel inadequate, a terror that makes you feel not ready or worthy for the responsibility to come. Something to make you want to hide your head in the sand.

But come it will. Though doubt and fear gnaw, perhaps it is the knowing, the knowing that I should, the knowing that there is no reason not to. The knowing of happiness, that will carry one along. Maybe.

Maybe it is only a fear, and nothing more. Something silly, something crazy, spawned in my own mind. Unsure. What more is there?

I guess the only answer is to step up bravely and continue as always planned. And hope that it is only a fear.