Cheap People and Subscriptions

Over the last few weeks I have seen a lot of posts that look like this:

"Ugh. My free Netflix subscription ended again. Anyone have one that I can join?"

People are so cheap. 

Yes, I know, money isn't always flowing, and sometimes we live paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet.

But we are talking about $7 a month.

Don't buy a coffee for a couple of days a month.

Next time you want to buy candy, buy the smaller version or don't get it that day.

If you save a quarter a day, you too can get Netflix. Or Hulu.

Ke$ha

I know. It's a weird topic...but in my free time, I flip through different TV channels, and happened upon her MTV reality documentary "Kesha: My Crazy Beautiful Life".

While it does show her fun side, it also shows touching moments with fans...ones that were bullied in school, but through her songs helped stay upbeat, and push through it all.

I'm not saying to go out and watch it...but if you are bored, or flip past it on TV, don't brush it off so fast. Give it a shot.

"This is our last chance"

A Moment Of Escape - RUINED

There is a place that everyone goes to when they need a place to Escape. The reason for escape doesn't usually matter, it can be to:
- Vent to ones self
- Be mad
- Be angry
- Be happy
- Lots of Other Things

And for a lot of people, they have one place that they can go to to do any of the above.

Over time I've heard, and seen, a lot of different places for this:
- Quiet Bench w/ a book
- Running
- Ice Skating
- Gym
- Swimming
- Insert Your Own Special Place/Activity Here

But what happens when you go to your special place, or do your special thing, and it is ruined by others?

Over this weekend I went to my Special Place (to Be Happy), and was enjoying myself at this location.

Until I saw those two Jewish teenage girls.

When you saw them talking there in the corner, you just felt the tension radiating off of them.

They were talking to each other, and clearly very upset about something. Their actions were forceful. Their voices somewhat raised, but not screaming. One was a little redder in the face, the other one was a little tearful.

When they finished that conversation (after about 20 minutes), one went off to sulk in a corner (the tearful one), while the other girl continued the activity as if nothing had happened.

About 10 minutes latter, the second girl stopped her activity to go talk to the first girl. They went out to the hallway for a bit, and came back a couple minutes later, all smiley (albeit looking a little forced from the teary one) and continued the activity.

But the tension was still in the air and had been in the air from when I started.

For that one day, my place of escape had been ruined.

Hopefully the next time I go, I can truly use my place of escape.

Silver Linings Playbook - Review (Book & Movie)

To make a great movie, you need to have an even better script.

So when I heard the premise for Silver Linings Playbook, and the release date of the DVD being a few weeks away (at the time), I set out to read the book behind the movie.

And it was great. A great read. A great story line. And some great characters.

So when I acquired the DVD last week, I was excited to watch it, especially with all the award nominations and wins that the movie had received.

Boy was I disappointed.

It was an okay movie.

But they removed some of the key story lines.

In the book, his father won't talk to him when he comes back from Baltimore...yet in the movie, hes all friendly the minute he walks in the door...even go so far as to hug him (which in the book, Pat wouldn't let anyone touch him without cringing, let alone hug him (at first)).

The whole story of Nikki was completely changed for the movie, including the revelations of important memories of why he was sent to the facility in Baltimore.

And don't even get me started on the parking lot fight now being with a fellow Eagles fan. Or the bringing in of Danny throughout the movie (just so Chris Tucker can get more lines, that don't exist anywhere in the book).

If you watched SLP and liked the movie, go out and read the book. You won't be disappointed.

Jason Collins

So yesterday morning the big news came out that Jason Collins was gay.

For those that don't know him, he is an NBA Center who has played for many teams.

Now, this is obviously a big story, as no male athlete in the four major sports has ever come out.

Now, that last sentence is very specific.

We've had big sports stars come out before (Read: Martina Navratilova). We've had current players come out (Read: Brittany Griner).

But never in the big four sports in America. For the underinformed, those being the Men's versions of Baseball, Basketball, Football and Hockey.

But waking up this morning, nothing has changed for me, and my view of sports.

Which is good I guess. Because big picture, it doesn't really matter that he's gay and a professional athlete.

Read the full Sports Illustrated story here.

PS. Did you notice that he also came out as being black? Who woulda thunk!?

Blogaversary

I was going to ignore it altogether...but really, my life has changed a little bit with all of you in it.

So to my 89 posts, 12,000+ Page Views, and those 9 special followers...

Thank you.

Without you guuuuuuuuuuuuu

No Seriously, "Congrats".

We've all been there.

The friend who suddenly drops off the map, and you just know: "Oh. They must be dating somebody again."

And then a couple of weeks/months later, you hear from them again, as they start up a simple conversation (such as: "Hey, how are things?" or "What's new?"), and at some point, the conversation becomes "BTW, we broke up."

At which point, you respond "Oh, you were dating?", and they vent on you for a bit.

And being the good friend you are, you listen to them, and you let them back into your life, as a friend, until they repeat the scenario again.

But what happens when they drop off the map, and one day, a few months later, you get a: "I'm engaged!!!!" text?

Well. For me. I simply respond: "Congrats."

As now I know, they are coming back again, because they want friends to show up at the wedding, and hopefully give lavish gifts.

But maybe, enough is enough.

"Congrats". I seriously mean it. Congratulations on finding the person you think you are going to marry and spend the rest of your life with.

But I'm tired of your childish games, and that's all I think you'll hear from me.

PS. I think I shared this blog link with the person who this post is referring to. God I hope they still read this.

April 15th, 2013

On this day of tragedy, our hearts and minds go out to those injured or killed in the Boston terrorist act.

As this day is fluid, numbers don't really matter, but what matters most is that lives were lost, and those responsible must be held accountable.

Gun bills. Knives on planes. Security. It all doesn't really matter, when people decide to do the wrong thing.