Wiwille is somewhat literate.

For those of you who actually read this blog it may surprise you that every once in a while I pick up a book. Yes I do enjoy a good read, that is when I can find one. Sometimes I even read the same book twice, but there are a few that I read again and again. Most literature that I revisit often is by Hunter S. Thompson and Steinbeck, but there's one small book that always captures my attention.

Back in high school a history teacher of mine, the ever vocal Mr Stamp, recommended I pick up a copy of 'Man's Search for Meaning'. I went to the library and checked out the book. The book is split into two parts, the first being the author's experience in Auschwitz and the second is an explanation of his logo therapy.

We've all read and seen movies about the Holocaust, but this was the first time I was introduced to an accounting of the average life of a prisoner without it being over dramatized. The author does introduce his psychiatric theory, logo therapy, which by today's standards seems simplistic, but it's almost quaint learning about psychotherapy still in it's infancy.

It's an honest depiction of camp life, such as how the Jewish Capos were sometimes even more brutal than the SS guards. The author pulled no punches in detailing how far people would go to survive even in the worst of conditions. Of course the book is mostly about how man justifies his existence and finds purpose no matter how grim his world may be.

I received the book as a Christmas present from Quoc and Sam, having lost my copy years ago. Funny how the book came from Sam as she was the one who took me to Dachau, the first of all the Nazi concentration camps. I remember being in the camp and standing in front of one of the most disturbing sculptures I'd ever laid eyes on (pictured above) and thinking about Victor Frankl, the book's author. I hopefully will never truly understand what it's like to live through such a horrific experience, but I do sometimes wonder if ever put in that situation would I be strong enough to actually believe that my life is worth something?

"He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how." - Nietzsche

Does he get virgins in prison?

In news that you saw coming, an Egyptian blogger has been imprisoned for a sentence of four years for typing his views online. As you may have guessed he had unkind things to say about his country's dominant religion as well as it's president in his online diary which of course led to his imprisonment.

Dubbed by Time Magazine as the Martyr of Egypt, Abdel Kareem Nabil, a law student, became the first Middle Eastern blogger sentenced because of his anti-theocratic views. This won't seem troubling to most bloggers here in the west, but it shows a disturbing trend among other nations who view free speech as a curse more than a blessing. Given that many nations, such as China, are demanding ISPs block access to certain websites this may affect the readership of your own writings.

If my blog had any readers I might care, but then again I would never write anything disparaging against a religion soaked in civility, especially the religion of peace.

"We must prepare ourselves for a lengthy battle because this century is the century of Islam, the century of liberation, the century of victory and sovereignty, by Allah's will all those oppressive regimes will diminish and with our determination and sacrifices we will be the coming power." - Sheikh A. Yassin

The Blogger-Martyr of Egypt

Ask Wiwille: Music edition.

My first question for 'Ask Wiwille' was posed to me by Rawbean, author of Rawbean's Rants. In a comment on my last post she asked me: "If you were going to make me a mix cd, what would be on it?"

I pondered this for a while as making a mix CD is no small task. Do I make a CD that tries to impress with such artists that are wildly regarded as high brow? Should I make one for a specific task that I think she's into, such as working out, drinking, or naked satan worship? Would it be wise of me to leave out some of my favorite bands knowing full well that her, and the rest of the general public, will hate such music? Is it best pratice to make a mix CD based on a specific genre hoping that the listener will enjoy it? When making a mix CD should one choose songs that they think the intended listener will enjoy or should they create one based on the songs they like only? Do I just say to hell with it and be honest about my musical tastes?

Well the latter did ensue and listed below is a mix CD for Rawbean:

1. Blue Skies - DJ BT and Tori Amos.
2. Supernaught - Ministry and Trent Reznor.
3. Hurricane - Bob Dylan
4. Battery - Metallica
5. Beers, Steers, and Queers - Revolting Cocks.
6. Stripped - Depehce Mode.
7. These Things - She Wants Revenge.
8. Exodus - Ferrante and Teicher
9. Light - KMFDM
10. Bring the Noise - Public Enemy and Anthrax.
11. All Along the Watchtower - Jimmy Hendrix
12. Cocaine Blues - Johnny Cash
13. Anything by Coltrane.
14. On My Own - Les Mis.

I could go on with this, but I think this is enough for now. The list would probably change if I knew something more about her than what I read about. They say a mix CD is a great way to get to know somebody, but I disagree. When looking at my list one who doesn't know me would assume that I'm some chest pounding simpleton who tries to pass himself off as an intellectual powerhouse, but really he's just making up for the fact he has a small peni....err....actually that's pretty spot on.

That being said what little I know of the pretty Rawbean I doubt she'd enjoy this given how random the genres are. Having music jump from Ministry to Dylan would probably confuse, or dare I say perplex, her. Most of my aesthic snobbery is limited to movies and theatre after all. Go ahead and read the list and laugh.

"Most males see themselves in Rob. Most guys have been where Rob's been, maybe not as down-and-out or as poor, or as obsessive about music, but most guys have walked that path that Rob has and I think that's what made the book so great and so universal." - John Cusack

Thank's to the joy of Youtube I've listed a few songs below:

A Wiki for you.

Do you believe George Washington's earthly body ascended into heaven? Do you believe slavery had no part in the build up to the Civil War? Tired of reading online encyclopedias that try and fill your head with all sorts of nonsense such as scientific evidence? Well my friends there's a Wiki for you.

Conservapedia is a source you can trust for your online encyclopedia needs. Described as a much needed alternative to Wikipedia the site claims it will eliminate all liberal bias and produce it's readers with nothing but facts that "favor Christianity and America."

Now you can read about our founding fathers, who were the moral equivalent of the Apostle Paul. Fear not for your children's indoctrination into the massive liberal purging of our education system. Just have them read about how Darwin was a wife swapping drunk. Yes you can also come to the awesome realization about how faith is an exclusive Christian virtue.

I've actually browsed through the site, slow that it is, and yes I do find it interesting. Even if you don't agree with it's politics, or the whole Wiki concept for that matter, it still worth a look.

"Conservapedia is a much-needed alternative to Wikipedia, which is increasingly anti-Christian and anti-American. On Wikipedia, many of the dates are provided in the anti-Christian "C.E." instead of "A.D.", which Conservapedia uses. Christianity receives no credit for the great advances and discoveries it inspired, such as those of the Renaissance." - Conservapedia.com

Bad movies I love part 17.

I signed up for the Blockbuster version of Netflix and so far I'm actually impressed with the service. Yesterday I received Little Miss Sunshine, From Here to Eternity, and Idiocracy in the mail.

Most of you probably haven't heard of Idiocracy, and sadly some of you never knew From Here to Eternity exists either, but I must recommend Mike Judge's (Office Space, Beavis and Butthead) latest film.

An average slacker of a man played by Luke Wilson is set in a hibernation chamber only to awake 500 years later. Instead of finding a future that rivals one that Buck Rogers found, his character is immersed in a world that has seen the population's collective intelligence deteriorate. He discovers after a few hundred years of only stupid people populating the planet with equally dumb children that he arises to be the smartest person on Earth.

While the movie is indeed full of laughs at the expense of the mildly retarded it does make some subtle if not obvious stabs at contemporary society's love affair with consumerism and how we seem to equate advertising slogans with gospel. Sadly this movie doesn't have the poignant observations about contemporary life like Office Space, but still this movie has it's merits. It won't become the cult classic that was Judge's previous film, probably because there was no red stapler in the script, but still this play upon reverse Darwinism entertains.

Even though I obviously enjoyed the film I hardly slept last night thinking that the movie may be our Oracle at Delphi. With films like Norbit topping the box office while Idiocracy getting almost no theatrical run I think Judge's vision is soon upon us.

"Judge has a gift for delivering brutal satire in the trappings of low comedy and for making heroes out of ordinary people whose humanity makes them suspect in a world where every inch of space, including mental, is mediated." - Carina Chocano

The first few minutes of Idiocracy:

Canidates now using MySpace. SexyMonica approves.

With technology growing at an tremendous pace our nations' leaders are scrambling to catch up with the digital age. Some gracefully, some not so much. Whether US officials are claiming they invented the technology, using nouns inappropriately in plural tense, or embarrassing themselves in describing the information superhighway they often show how clueless they really are about the world's fastest growing industry*.

MySpace hit the scene and users delighted. Everyone seems to be on MySpace whether it be attention whores who post half naked pictures of themselves, attention whores who desperately try to add as many friends as possible in an effort to make up for the fact that everyone hated them in high school, or attention whores who create some of the worst custom layouts I've ever seen.

Now our current crop of Presidential hopefuls have jumped on the MySpace bandwagon so no longer will the site be only populated with sport fucking 20 somethings or stalkers. Now you can look up your favorite canidate on the social networking site, wait a few minutes before the shoddy servers decide to bring up the page, and have your senses assaulted with horrid graphics and really bad pop music.

Obama seems to lead the pack with the most MySpace friends. Sadly I couldn't find SexyMonica on his list.

I'm curious as to who will be monitoring the sites and how well they'll filter out the millions of MySpace spammers. Wouldn't that be a fun job?

* Not porn.

"Obama's the bomba. That can be your new campaign slogan." - Comment left on Obama's MySpace page.

OMG !!! R U voting in the primaries? ROFLMAO ;-)

In Scarlett news...

Proving that not only he's a fine entrepreneur, but someone who creates media designed for the goodness of mankind, Hugh Hefner's most popular magazine has released their top 25 Sexiest Celebrities list. Some of the celebs making the list are hardly surprising, such as Angelina Jolie, Beyonce, and the overrated J-Lo.

Who made the top of the list? If you're seriously asking this, well welcome to my blog.

Yes it was Scarlett that topped the list of sexy celebs. Seems Hugh and I are like minds with similar lifestyles, although I'm sure he doesn't fight ninjas on a daily basis.

"Scarlett Johansson is the apex of beauty and sensuality - from her porcelain skin to her fully feminine figure to her mysterious charisma, which is at once palpable and indefinable." - Playboy

Scarlett tops Playboy poll

Yeah it's 'energy' that springs to mind.

Gourmet establishment and advocates of a positive feminine self image, Hooters has decided to jump on the bandwagon of energy drinks. Called Hooters Energy, the restaurant chain is releasing it's berry flavored beverages to restaurants and grocery stores.

"When you think of Hooters you think of high energy," says Mike McNeil, VP of Marketing for Hooters of America.

Now it may surprise you readers that I've never been to a Hooters. Yes as much as I enjoy scantily clad women I've never seen the appeal of girls dressing down to serve me bad food. So when I think of Hooters really the last thing I think of is high energy. Yes many other thoughts come to mind...oh they most certainly do.

"My girlfriend works at Hooters... in the kitchen." - Mitch Hedberg

Hooters Brings Energy to NASCAR with the Number 7

Drunk post.

I'm drunk. Yes I'm drunk. I like being drunk. Being drunk is good.

I had too many beers with the good Andrew and his lovely wife at some Irish pub. We toasted Guiness at 11pm for reasons unbeknownst to me, but the flavor of a good stout always sits well with Wiwille.

God this reminds me of being drunk in my teen years, without the spontaneous nudity, unrination on vehicles, and involvement of law enforcement. It still it feels good to be a not so sober Seattleite. Man this rules.

I'm going to bed and hopefully I'll have no strange dreams about my blogger friends. Nighty night all those in bloggerland.

"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." - Ernest Hemingway

Initiative 957

Warning: post about politics below which was ripped of from Jowie's blog. No references to boobies.

Okay now that I know you've stopped reading I'm going to rant about a Washington state initiative that boggles my mind. 957 is a current marriage bill that not only goes so far as to define what exactly a marriage is, which in the framer's eyes is between a man and a woman, but also dictates the behavior of the couple and how they choose to procreate.

Yes the bill states that all married couples must be able to bear children even going so far as require those who join in matrimony to produce offspring within a period of three years or face annulment as dictated by the state authorities.

Now most of you that know me understand I'm pretty libertarian when it comes to social issues so really I'd like the government to stay out of marriage altogether. Having said that it should come as no surprise that I'm against this initiative 100%. In the unlikely event that this passes it would negate the marriage of my parents, who were unable to produce a child of their own and chose to adopt my sister and I. Under the language of this bill any dumb ass couple who decides to contribute to an already overpopulated planet, planned or unplanned, would be granted the benefits of a state recognized union.

Not only is this discriminatory when you consider the gay marriage issue, but to people with medical issues as well. Again I'd like the state to stay out of matrimony, but to pick and chose who can and cannot engage in a contract between two consenting adults is ludicrous.

The strange thing is that this bill seems to be a joke by it's own writers. As quoted by Defense of Marriage Organizer Gregory Gadow: "“For many years, social conservatives have claimed that marriage exists solely for the purpose of procreation ... The time has come for these conservatives to be dosed with their own medicine."

So yeah this is really nothing more than trying to highten the discourse concerning gay marriage; however I believe the opposite is true. So many pressing issues plague this state and here we are wasting time discussing this nonsense...oh wait.

Actually if I did happen to sit down with the writers of this initiative I imagine it would end in fisticuffs, cause as momma always said it's not kind to engage in a war of words with the mentally disabled. If this bill does pass well then we all suffer because some residents were unhappy about our State Supreme Court ruling.

“If same-sex couples should be barred from marriage because they can not have children together, it follows that all couples who cannot or will not have children together should equally be barred from marriage." - Gregory Gadow

INITIATIVE 957

Elvis lives and he does make sushi.

I first discovered my favorite sushi restaurant a couple of years ago when my friend Elli and I drove by and saw a grand opening banner hanging on the front of it. The restaurant has little to no atmosphere as it's your standard strip mall place, but the decor did strike me as odd. On the wall was a bunch of Elvis memorabilia and of course the King's music was playing in the background.

The sushi restaurant offers all you can eat for $20. Expecting the rolls to be mediocre we were amazed that it was some of the best we've ever had. Ever. This chef knows how to prepare some amazing creations. Given the guy's obsession with everything associated with the 50s pop star he serves up an 'Elvis roll', 'Lisa Marie roll', and 'Priscilla roll'. The chef also calls himself Elvis, which is really funny.

My friend Elli is half Chinese half Swede so that makes her an Asian gal with tremendous...err...assets. As you can expect guys tend to look at her. Elvis develops a huge crush on Elli and mildly flirts with her the whole time we were there. Since the place was new we were the only customers there and we ate our own body weight in sushi.

Our Japanese chef makes sure you have rolls in front of you at all times constantly reminding you that you need to eat more. "You eat more. Eat more. C'mon get rolls" is something his customers hear often. He shows his displeasure if you don't consume your own body weight by stating loudly "You come back hungry next. Need to eat more." Funny cause since it's all you can eat it shouldn't matter, but I guess he takes much pride in his art.

Anyways for our first date I decided to take the Pretty Girl to the place, cause not only do they serve great food, but it's almost like a dinner theatre watching Elvis preform his antics. The guy is friggin nuts with his quirky demeanor and loud voice.

He sees me and asks, "Where's Elizabeth (Elli)?"

Pretty Girl shoots me a look.

"She very beautiful," he proclaimed with his thick accent. I gave him an update as she was a regular there.

I then explained to my date that Elli and I were just friends. She gave me that 'yeah sure' look, but with enough sarcasm I knew that she was just giving me a hard time.

So fast forward to last night. The Pretty Girl and I drive up to Everette, I gorge myself on sushi, we reminisced about the first time I tried to woo her, and watch some crazy chef preform for us. A good Valentine's Day indeed.

"I don't know anything about music. In my line you don't have to." - Elvis Presley

Happy Valentine's Day

Last night was the Pretty Girl's birthday, which yes is the day before Valentine's Day. Kind of a one-two punch to the pocketbook, but still we had an excellent meal at Serafina. She enjoyed her presents, especially the iPod. Mission accomplished.

No holiday brings about such bi-polar feelings from the general public like today. Those who hate the holiday (Jeff) will scorn it's over commercialized nonsense and/or will despise the fact it reminds them of their singleness. There are those in relationships that feel compelled to buy something for their significant other and are bitter about taking a hit to the savings account. Then there are those who look past it all and just try and enjoy a holiday that usually provides them with romance and good sex (oral).

Regardless if you're in or out of a relationship I do hope you would remember those who love you on this day, whether it be friends, family, or that weird dude who's stalking you. It's their affection that makes your life worth living.

P.S. One Hindu group in India is fighting back against this holiday in the only way they know how. Believing that this Hallmark holiday is destroying the country's culture they're roaming about taking pictures and harassing young couples who display affection towards each other.

Moral of the story is if you hate this day become a Hindu. I should tell the Pretty Girl I just converted so we must ignore this day, but I doubt she'll buy it. Sucks dating someone smarter than you.

Happy Valentines Day from the folks at Erik's Ramblings.

"Absence from those we love is self from self - a deadly banishment." - William Shakespeare

Hindu groups in Valentine warning

Wiwille is still a dirty old man.

I was at the gym yesterday lifting weights in some vein attempt to try and build muscle. I got done with a difficult set and placed the weights down for my few second break. I looked up and on the elliptical trainer in front of me was some hot girl dressed in an outfit that might as well had 'I'm sooooo proud of my ass' written on it. She had a small shirt accompanying it which left little to the imagination.

The girl then stopped her workout and stepped off the machine. I could not see her face during her training so I was curious if she was as pretty as she thinks she is. After wiping her brow of perspiration she turned around and revealed a face that showed she couldn't have been older then 16.

Here I was checking out jail bait ass and being none the wiser. I should just stop looking at women all together (yeah go ahead and laugh). I am 31 after all and am ever closer to reaching 'dirty old man' status. It's strange being in your 30s and having to constantly remind yourself of the thin line between healthy thoughts and perversion.

"Imagination, the supreme delight of the immortal and the immature, should be limited. In order to enjoy life, we should not enjoy it too much." - Vladimir Nabokov

Grammy fever...catch it...or not..

As I sit down to read my news I suddenly realised that the Grammys were on last night. What's interesting is that I could really care less who won or even who was nominated for that matter. To watch a bunch of celebrities vote for themselves in an award ceremony that speaks more to ego than art seems really disturbing to me. I'm not much of a fan of horror films so I don't see why I'd sit through hours of Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake, and the Dixie Chicks, which sounds less fun than a slasher movie marathon.

I stopped watching the Grammys when Jethro Tull beat Metallica for best metal album. I couldn't bring myself to tune in again after Michael Bolton started winning the industry's most coveted award. Seriously that guy can't sing and you know it.

Maybe I'm getting older and my tastes are becoming out of step with the mainstream, or maybe the Grammys is the most worthless award show in existence. I'd like to think the latter is true.

"I'm listening to Pavarotti and I'm thinking 'What the hell have I been doing with my voice all these years?! Why haven't I taken my voice as far as I can take it as an instrument?'" - Michael Bolton

This better not catch on.

A hosiery manufacturer will soon release a new line of panty hose for men. Due to what they claim is high demand from males the company will make their products with a convenient front opening as well as one for larger feet.

What's amazing about this article is the skepticism from men who already enjoy wearing panty hose and tights. Said one: "Why create pantyhose for men when women's tights are fine?"

I don't care if this becomes a raging fad all over the world, or even if it becomes law I will never wear women's tights and not just because I'm all man with big brass balls, but it simply doesn't seem practical nor..oh it's just wrong damnit. Masculinity is truly dying.

I sound like my father when he reacted to seeing my ear pierced.

Oh yeah the hosiery company is located in France. Insert your own joke here.

"After about 20 years of marriage, I'm finally starting to scratch the surface of what women want. And I think the answer lies somewhere between conversation and chocolate." - Mel Gibson

Bad movies I love part 16.

I sat around yesterday with little to do and decided to flip through On-Demand to find a time killer. Upon my eyes did appear a movie that I hadn't seen in years. A film who's merits have been the source of debate through out the movie making industry. Critics and the public have never been so divided on a piece of art before and possible never will again. Yes this piece of celluloid is a milestone.

'Roadhouse' has it all. I used to hate this movie, but now have embraced it's mullet goodness for reasons I don't understand. It's got bar fights, Patrick Swayze waxing philosophic, Sam Elliot being a horny old man, and best of all gratuitous boobies. If that's not enough for you how about villains who all but scream their man lovin tendencies and a monster truck that reeks havoc on a car dealer.

Yes it's bad, but such a great time wasting guilty pleasure.

Doubt me in my analysis? Try this line spoken by Swayze's landlord: "Calling me sir is like putting an elevator in an outhouse. It don't belong."

Now that is a sign of quality film making my friends.

“Good looking people turn me off. Myself included.” - Patrick Swayze

The best homo-erotic fight scene ever:

This is acting out?

Everyone has heard of the scandal of the Rev Ted Haggard, pastor of one of the largest Evangelical Christian churches in the US. After Haggard resigned his pastoral duties due to the fact that he enjoyed buttsex with male prostitutes he did what all celebrities do, he went to therapy. And not the lower-middle class therapy like most people go through where years of counseling and work are necessary to cleanse oneself of certain addictions. Proving he's got the will power of your average rock star the Rev Haggard got 'cured' of the gays in only three weeks.

One pastor, who helped Haggard see the error of his Brokeback ways, had this to say about Ted's behavior and therapy: "He is completely heterosexual. That is something he discovered. It was the acting- out situations where things took place. It wasn't a constant thing. If we're going to be proved wrong (about Haggard only having contact with Mike Jones), somebody else is going to come forward, and that usually happens really quickly."

Usually when people act out alcohol, drugs, and petty theft are involved. Until now I didn't know that acting out involved giving oral to another man while on meth. I've lead a sheltered life. All I did was play with tuna bombs and dabbled in vandalism. Thank you Reverend for showing all men that to truly let go of inhibitions you must like man butt.

I can't believe I just typed that. Enough about gay men of God. Let's get to the stuff you really want to see:



“Everybody recognizes he is not a representative voice. He is a TV pundit and personality who is a Christian, ... Pat doesn't speak for evangelicals any more than Dr. Phil speaks for mental health professionals.” - Ted Haggard

Men are useless.

Well men you've known you're basically not worth sleeping with, but were you aware that women prefer clothes to having sex with you? In a recent study women on average would gladly give up sex for up to two years to provide themselves with a new wardrobe. Yes the girls prefer textiles to your penis.

Just when you believed you were a sexual dynamo suddenly you've been replaced by garments. Actually looking at myself I'm not that surprised women would rather shop than sleep with me. Really boys look at your self and tell me you're not surprised that girls aren't head over heels concerning your hairy asses.

What activity would men prefer to sex? Beer? Cars? Sports? Video games? Nope, nope, nope, and a resounding nope.

"If men liked shopping, they'd call it research." - Cynthia Nelms

Love is ... a pair of really good jeans

I have good friends.

I drove up to Whidbey Island to visit my old friend Nic for the greatest holiday the government stubbornly refuses to recognize and that is Superbowl. Nic prepared a meal for a king, well at least a middle class simpleton. Slow cooked ribs, hot wings, the best beans on the planet, and tequila lime chicken was all fantastic. While he was preparing the food he asked his three children who was the best cook in the house. They all screamed with a resounding "Daddy!" Yeah it was cute.

His wife wasn't around to hear that. I'm still amazed that it was the same guy who over a decade ago needed assistance preparing Top Ramen and now he has mad culinary skills.

I ate my own body weight as we watched Peyton pick apart the Chicago defense. The halftime show this year was actually pretty good with Prince giving a cover of "All Along the Watchtower." The kids probably didn't know who Prince was, which aged me a bit, but still they seemed to enjoy it. They were actually pretty busy with the toys I bought them. Funny how kids warm up to you when you purchase them stuff. They're sort of like women in that sense.

Sam sent me a link to one of Alyssa Milano's UNICEF ads. Just when you think she couldn't get an hotter she starts doing humanitarian work, Miss Milano that is not Sam, although Sam is a looker. I don't know why that makes her more attractive to me, but it does so I won't question it.

You know you have great friends when they provide good food and Alyssa.

"You hear about how many fourth quarter comebacks that a guy has and I think it means a guy screwed up in the first three quarters." - Peyton Manning

Soon to be a daywalker.

Tonight is a milestone for me as it's my last evening on the graveyard shift. Starting Monday I'll be working a day schedule which I'm happy about. After years of doing this night thing it'll be nice to remind people around the office that yes I do indeed still work here.

I will miss the slow volume which gave me a lot of time to study, surf the web, chat with people, and of course blog. Fear not dear loyal readers for I will still post as often as I do now, but instead of seeing a new one published at oh-my-god o'clock it'll be done during the daylight hours. Who knows maybe my writing will actually show some semblance of quality when I shift my body clock to banker's hours.

Super Bowl is this weekend and I for one couldn't be more excited to revel in the festivities. I so love everything that that day represents. Unhealthy food, good beer, bone crunching sports, and of course cheerleaders are just a few reasons why I think this special day should be a national holiday.

Speaking of which a beverage company in Indianapolis decided to give all 630 employees the following Monday off. Not content with such generosity Monarch Beverage Co also gave them free beer. Yes these employees get a day off and beverages to consume during the glory that is the NFL Championship. Sadly they did not provide cheerleaders.

My boss and I discuss career development often. I have now decided I want a second job working for a beverage company.

"There are a lot of people who might not get another chance to win a Super Bowl, not just me." - John Elway

Employees enjoy Super Bowl holiday, free beer

You deserve him.

Al Franken has recently announced that he's leaving his radio show on Air America and will soon make a decision about his candidacy for a Senate run in '08. Most rumors point to the fact that he will make a stab at the nation's capitol, which may cause concern for voters.

Now I liked Franken's first book a lot. It was a funny and somewhat insightful read, if not overwhelmingly naive and biased. The rest of his books were less enjoyable as he moved from satire to being a political know it all where anyone claiming to be a Democrat seemed angelic in his view while Republicans were naturally too busy to run a fiscal budget as they were drinking the blood of orphans.

After listening to his miserable radio show I all but given up on the once talented SNL writer. The strong possibility of him entering public office does amuse me, but frighten me a little. Granted one could argue that less qualified people have occupied a Senate seat, hell we even have a former Klan member that's still a federal legislator, but shouldn't the voters demand more experienced, and more reasoned, candidates? Isn't it time we abandon our love of celebrity when our nation's political future is at stake?

Then I remembered he will be running in Minnesota and all ideas of a race involving intelligent, reasoned discourse were abandoned. Good luck St Paul!

"I asked Dalai Lama the most important question that I think you could ask - if he had ever seen Caddyshack." - Jesse Ventura

Comedian Al Franken to Run for Senate