Moving on...

I've decided to bag the blogger spot, and move on to my own site. Hopefully you'll come along for the ride...

You can now find me at militantbuddhist.com

Cops and their silly toys

Here's a shock - a police officer just tasered somebody, unnecessarily. What a shock.

Sorry.

Ok, yeah, a kid jumps on the field and runs around. Yep, it's a nuisance, a bother. And he needs to be corralled and given a disorderly conduct, or whatever they do in Philly (in NYC, they put you in jail for a year - the Calvin Klein law. Yes, that Calvin Klein). Of course, before they do that, they have to catch the guy, and when it's a young, fast teenager, that can take a while. The cop who was chasing this kid decided ok, he's tired of looking and feeling stupid, in front of a bunch of frothed up, idiotic Phillies fans (really, Philly fans are the worst human beings on earth. Cops being sub-human, of course). One can understand that feeling. I certainly can...it sucks when some idiot decides to make your life more difficult, solely because he so enjoys being an idiot. So this cop pulled out his taser, and shot the kid with it. Lit him up, literally. And now, people in Philly are getting together to decide if this was appropriate or not.

Here's the answer.

No. It's fucking not.

Tasers are supposed to be non-lethal force...in the case where a WEAPON is needed. It's not supposed to be something to just make a cops life a little easier - hey, I don't feel like chasing this dick anymore, so I'll just fucking electrocute him. No, sorry, that doesn't work. You still have to do the heavy lifting.

It may come across like I'm anti-cop here, like I'm trying to tie their hands behind their back. I'm not, really. While I do have some obvious disdain for them, for a variety of reasons that would take way too long to get in to here, I think they have a tough job, and I really, genuinely tip my hat to the seemingly fewer and fewer good cops that are around. But - it is a *tough* job, and if you're not tough enough to do it, you shouldn't be a cop! If you have to subdue some crazy crackhead, or keep a loon from attacking you, or a fellow officer, or a civilian, great, fine, that's what it's there for. If you use it to stop some kid from running around IN AN ENCLOSED AREA, or settling down a 10 year old girl, or stop that "don't tase me bro" hippy from asking a presidential candidate a question (you all know who I mean), then you're a lazy bag of shit, and should be doing something else to pay your bills.

In the case of the cop that tased the 10 year old, his department actually said he was being threatened by the girl, and could have been hurt. Oh my god. Right there, you shouldn't be a cop. They also said that it was that, or hit her with a baton, because they couldn't control her.

What?!? A cop, a grown man, couldn't control a 10 year old girl?!? Pick her ass up, you fucking pussy motherfucker! Jesus Harold Christ.

I think it's a fair distinction that I"m making. I'm sure every police department will disagree, and cry about how tough the job is. Sure it is. Unless you use your silly toy to do your job for you.

Back to school

So, a little while back, I realized that my life had plateaued somewhat, and it was time to go do some stuff that I probably put off for far too long. In this case, that means school. College. Higher learnin. Trading in the blue collar for the white one.

Not that I mind being blue collar, mind you. I just want a job that's physically easier, where I make more money. I've also found that while driving a tractor trailer is, without a doubt, skilled labor, that once you get to the point where you can do it, and do it well, that's pretty much it. And I'm finding I simply need more mental stimulation.

So I've enrolled at DeVry University, in East Brunswick, NJ. It used to be one of those schools that I kind of looked down on...I didn't realize it was fully accredited, that it had real professors, etc. A friend of mine went to Cittone, and he said that it was really dodgy, that they had a very high level of turnover with their instructors, and he thought they all seemed to be just professionals who are in between real jobs. But I did some research, spoke to some IT recruiters, and found out that DeVry has a solid reputation, at which point I paid the school a visit, and liked what I saw. So I've enrolled. And now I'm a bona fide college student! Of course, being a fully accredited uni, I have to take humanities, literature, tons of math classes...stuff that I really, really don't want to take. What the fuck do I need with a poetry class? I know, I know. I'll be more well rounded. Im the fat guy, remember? I'm more than round enough.

The enrollment process was interesting...I haven't been to school in a long time, I had no valid credits to transfer, and so I had to take an entrance exam, which was broken down into four parts - reading comprehension, math (decimals and fractions), algebra, and a written essay. Except for algebra (hadn't studied any of that in about 24 years), I did really well...to the point where I started wondering if I was going to a school for dumb bunnies. I did get to speak with some professors, though, and they seemed as sharp as you would expect college professors to be, so that allayed my fears.

Hey, you people have to start telling me what I can get student discounts on. Seriously. I need to know this stuff. My friend Leon told me I can get discounts on Apple and Microsuck, my girl told me I can get discounts on Broadway plays (great, sign me up)...what about important things? Like Devils tickets?

Hey, I'm a college student! Fuck you! :-D

Went for a ride.

Beautiful day for it, and we've had several in a row now. Somehow I've managed not to go for too many rides, but today I did. Not very far, not for very long...I started lifting at the gym yesterday, doing Joe Friels workout, and I didn't want to do a terribly long ride the first day after starting a new workout. Makes sense, right? Anyways, nice, easy ride, with the highlight being a 1/2 mile long, perfectly straight descent, down a 12% grade. I can usually hit around 45 mph, when motivated. The only problem is...there is an entrance/exit to a fairly busy highway about 3/4 of the way down, so you really have to be extra vigilent, or get squished. And predictably, wrecking the fun of going really fast, some dickhead was sitting on the side of the road, with his left hand blinker on, as though he were going to pull back out onto the road. He didn't, but I had to touch the brakes a couple times, and not pedal, to make sure I had the ability to get out of the way if he made his stupid move.

Waah, I could only do 37.5 mph, instead of 45. Waah.

Outside of that, it was nice. Even saw a couple other roadies, which is quite unusual in Sayreville...one on a Specialized, one on a Bianchi. Good to see other people out.

Anyways, that's all I got. I know it's not much...but I wanted to put something up, so that the ultra depressing post about Billy (RIP) wasn't the first thing you see upon coming to this blog...people were sending me email, making sure I wasn't going to kill myself. Sweet, but unnecessary. Thanks anyways, folks...

RIP Bill McLaughlin

I just found out today that my friend is dead.

I am devastated...I can't believe it.

I don't think it's any worse to him at this point, but to me, finding out he killed himself...cut through me in a way I'm not even going to attempt to put into metaphor.

My friend was in pain, and now he's dead.

We had lost touch...probably haven't spoken in two, maybe three years. He got transferred from the place that I used to pass on Rt 17, in Hasbrook Heights, to a place in Passaic that's off the beaten path, for me, so I didn't have the chance to drop in on him in a while. I had a cell phone die an ugly death in the washing machine, so I had lost his phone number...but I always said, no problem...I can get the number for the new place anytime. And I will...I'll call him one of these days, we'll catch up on old times, it'll be great. So today, just by chance, I passed the place that he got transferred to...I passed it before I really realized it, and decided to give a call, rather than stop in. Looked it up on the iPhone, called...

...and found out my friend was in pain...

...and now he's dead.

It's narcissistic to think that I could have made a difference, maybe...but I still can't help but think...I could have helped...if only I'd picked up the phone the day before he'd had enough.

Right now, I hate myself more with every breath I take.

I've done my fair share of fucking things up in my life...I've wrecked relationships, said stupid things to people I care about, lost good gigs, and jobs, and through it all, through the disappointment of doing damage to my own life, I've been able to remain upbeat, even happy. When I've done some good, even happier...but that's beside the point. When things are going wrong, I've always had the ability to let it roll off my back...I get depressed, just like anybody, but it passes reasonably quickly, and I find something to laugh at.

I am not one tenth the person Billy was. He was in the top five of the best human beings I've met in my life. He was relentless about being a good person, even when being just a little loose with it would have benefited him. And yet, in the end, it seems that he didn't have that ability to let it go the way I do...and I can't think of a greater injustice. The world was better off with him in it...and would be better off if I was able to trade myself for Billy...and give him what I have.

I'd do it in a second. In a fucking heartbeat.

Rest in peace, Billy. I thought of you as a brother that I would always meet up with again...I'm better off for having known you, and I'm sorry I wasn't there to help.

Sammy Faq

Sammy is a Blue and Gold Macaw

He is 3 years old (hatched 10/11/05)

Yes, he does talk.

No, I cannot make him talk on command.

He has approximately a 100 word vocabulary, so far.

He loves people food, he will eat almost anything you give him, although there are things that are harmful to him. He also loves nuts, a variety of seed, and chicken. Yes, chicken.

I do not know if he is male or female. It's impossible to tell, unless you do a DNA test. The test costs about $50, and I'll get it done one of these days. My money is on female.

Blue and Gold macaws generally cost about $1,500, but there are many more expenses, including cage, feed, vet bills, grooming, etc. Don't try to steal him, as you might get shot as you come through the door or window.

If he remains healthy, he will live about 70 years.

Yes, he does curse.

No, I will not put him on my head.

Todays ride, spinning

Had a good ride today, with a fellow Skylands member, a gentleman named Gene. Gene races, and apparently is pretty strong, so I didn't really know what to expect...I don't usually ride with racers, as they are always "training". Which I suppose I should be doing as well...but it's Thanksgiving, and I just wanted to go for a couple hour ride, have a little human contact, since all of my people are in North Carolina right now, and enjoy the scenery in north western NJ, my favorite part of the state. Still, there's always a little trepidation with this kind of thing, since I don't race, and don't know the guy...is he going to drop my ass like a hot potato? Am I going to be a lead weight that he feels obligated to shepherd along?

Gene had put out an email last night, through the club mailing list, saying he wanted to do a couple hour base ride, and I figured, why not. He said it would be about a 17 mph pace, on flat terrain (in NW Jersey?). Great! I can keep a 17 mph pace on flat terrain pretty easily. And gas prices are low, so it won't impact the old wallet much. So, the plan was in effect. I woke up at 7:30 (ride was at 10), got my shit together, I'm out the door with plenty of time to get there, and, as is my custom when trying to hook up with Skylands rides, I found a way to fuck it up. 10 minutes out of the house, I realized I left my cycling shoes behind. Goddamnit. Went back, got them, got back on the road, and the goddamn GPS was telling me my arrival time would be about 10:15.

Now, Garmin GPS units don't take into account how fast you're going, when it gives you your ETA. It takes into account your position, and the speed limits on your route. So...I knew I could make up time, and I did - I arrived at 10:05, averaging about 12-15 mph over the speed limit. Safe? For you, probably not. But I'm a hell of a driver.

I actually pulled into the parking lot of the school that we were meeting at, immediately after Gene, so it was all good from a time perspective; this may have been helped by me emailing him en route...iPhones are a wonderful thing. We went for a somewhat hilly ride (I know there ain't no flat ground in that area), 30 miles or so, in about 2 hours. So, a little slower than planned, but I don't think I held us back, I think that's just the way the ride unfolded. We did a lot of yakking along the way. Here's the route we took:

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/7210726

Pretty good ride, just the right length...my legs were starting to get a little heavy at the end. Made a new friend. What else can you ask for on Thanksgiving?

In other news, I took my first spin class the other day...I don't feel any gayer, but you never know....