two new rules for 2009

this wasn't so much a resolution. but about a month ago i decided to make some big changes in my life.

two new rules:
1. no more call screening.
i had a really bad habit that every time my phone rang, i would see who is calling and most of the time not answer. like i was scared of the phone. no more. if you call thomas you get thomas. if you call me and i am able to answer the phone, i will.

2. no more roll calls.
roll calls happen when a friend will call you to come hang out somewhere and you ask who is there. now i wasn't as guilty with this one, but have caught myself doing it. now though if someone calls to invites me somewhere that's good enough for me. the only exception to this would be i would ask if i had already decided that i am hanging out and want to get more hyped on the friendship.

when i told people about the new rules i was a little surprised at their reactions. people were impressed. call screening and roll calling are universally bigger problems than i had realized. i now hope this turns into a full blown movement. these rules have touched people and changed lives...i have seen it.

Teardrop by José Gonzalez

don't talk to cops (parts 1 &2)

a two part lecture on why you should never talk to cops.
first part is a defense attorney. second is a former police officer who is now studying law.
they are both about 20 minutes each. kind of long i know, but really interesting stuff.

part 2

hat tip tre.

a. armada

jawk just turned me on to this band.
i am a couple of songs into this record and it is pretty damn good.
kind red sparrows and mogwai-y. sleepy time music.
here is a link to their myspace. do yourself a favor.

new york's alright...

if you like anti-semitic russian snacks?
what the hell?

Brooklyn, NY - Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) and New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson today denounced the Shnayder family, owners of the value import store, Net Cost Market, for stocking and selling dozens of packages of roasted sunflower seeds featuring a caricature of a greedy-and-sinister-looking Jew, complete with skullcap, on the label. The Cyrillic letters on the left of the label read, “Shalom, from Israel,” while the right side employs a slang phrase meaning “spit them out everywhere,” alluding to “dirty Jews.” The seeds are available in both 5.5 and 10.5 ounce bags. A survey conducted by Hikind’s office revealed that the seed bags are being sold in all four of Net Cost Market’s Brooklyn locations for a mere $0.99 to $1.99 per bag depending on size.

“I was absolutely appalled when I saw this label,” said an outraged Hikind. “Net Cost Market has become a complicit partner in the dissemination of hatred against Jews. With each bag sold, the Shnayders are literally sowing seeds of hate.” At three of the four locations, consumers who spent $50 or more were given the package of seeds as a promotional gift right at the checkout counter.

Net Cost Market bills itself as the “Costco of the ethnic Eastern European market,” and offers a wide assortment of imports from all over Eastern Europe. The roasted sunflower seeds are produced in the Former Soviet Union by Kremlin Kitchen. “I was not surprised to learn that this anti-Semitic product is being made in Russia,” said Hikind. “Recent reports indicate that attacks on Russia’s Jewish population and their property have increased in both number and severity. Kremlin Kitchen is trying to capitalize on this existing wave of anti-Semitic sentiment with the Russian-American community.”

new personal record

today at the gym i deadlifted 200 lbs x 5 x 1. for those of you who lift i realize that this is not that impressive of a number. but it is a big number to me. so suck it.

i like to think i looked like the picture above.

but i am sure it looked more like this.

either way i dedicate today's lift to bad darren brown. my new inspiration for love, life and lifting.

don't call it a comeback...

i have never really enjoyed mickey rourke in anything ever. except 'sin city'. but i find myself rooting for him in life. this movie looks really good. and the boss is on the soundtrack.



this came out november 7th, but not anywhere around here. i am gonna have to down load this