So Friday was a great day, the mortgage industry is insane. I was layed off, again, from a good company but let go non the less.
I started with a new company today. First day so I am not 100% sure how it is but this is the first time I have been excited about a company in a long time. They really seem to have their stuff together and provide some excellant benefits. I will post more as I move forward.
Short post this week but I will give more later.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
Saturday NIght...
So now what? I had a few friends over on Saturday night to relax, drink and play poker. I think we all had a good time. It was weird to have people actually over in my house. I don't normally have people over, it's not like I don't like to have company. I don't know it is weird, part of it is because I am a terrible housekeeper so that limits the chances that I would actually invite people over. The other thing is I am a little weird with the whole thing because I was a bad person, long, long ago. I used to steal a lot, nothing major but little stuff, nothing anyone might care about, but it wasn't mine so that makes it wrong. Shortly after that I had several items stolen from my home by a person who I thought was a friend. Karma, right? I know, so basically from that point on I never really invited people over. The problem is I have a strong core of friends now and it bugs me that I can't let my guard down to invite them over, none, and I mean not one would ever even think to take something but it is weird to let down a wall I have built and maintained for so long. It is not like I have a bunch of expensive stuff that would attract anyone to take it, I do have some nice things but who doesn't? I know it has nothing to do with theft at this point but it has been so long. The easy part is that I am so lazy that I can use the housekeeping thing as my excuse so as not to have to confront the real issue. I have had 1-2 friends over in the past but always on a small scale and not for a extended period of time. I feel bad because its almost like I am a bad friend, I mean all of them have made me feel more then welcome in their homes and I have always accepted their invitations. So it made me feel kind of good to have 6-7 guys over to just chill. Hopefully it was the first night of more to come, who knows. I do know that I have weird trust issues that I need to find a solution for, I hope that this was a step in the right direction.
So aside from my little issue, Saturday went pretty well. KG (one of my best friends) made Buffalo Wings for dinner, which were excellent as usual. I was starting to get a little anxious because there was only 3 of us to start off with, while we were planning to have 6-8 people total, but as usual people have lives and they all ran a little late, whew. LOL. We played cards and drank until about 3 in the morning. I drank a little to much, which was weird because I don't like to drink while I am gambling, but it didn't really have a major affect on me. Wait that's not totally true, I talk a lot and I do mean a lot. I think I was talking even more then usual, not mean malicious talk just talk, making jokes and bull shitting a bit more then usual. I noticed everyone else was feeling pretty loose and doing the same, also I feel pretty comfortable around this group so it made it easy. So I did drink a bit much, nothing to make me sick or to act out of control or anything, just to much. I like being the life of the party so to speak but I also wanted to make sure I was a good host and that everyone had a good time, but as I said before I don't have people over very often so the experience was fairly new. As far as I could tell and from what people said to me everyone had everything they could want and they all had a good time, so that was a relief.
My goal at games like these is not necessarily to win, I don't want to lose either mind you, but I am more interested in breaking even and being able to play for a long period of time. Since this was the first game I had held at my home I was just more concerned with everyone having a good time. I think that some people really did want to win and they made that intention clear early into the game. I don't know if they were just trying to pick up a few extra dollars for whatever reason or if they are just hyper-aggressive when we play cards. Case in point, there was one situation where one of the guys kind of went out of his way to break the other, he dint need to and it was going to take some luck to do it but he made it look like he was singling him out to take all his money. We weren't playing for a huge amount of money or anything so I don't know if that was the motivating factor but it seemed weird. Anytime we play home games, I am usually the enforcer as far as bullying the table or just taking over the game a bit. So of course I fell into old habits and I jokingly told the first guy that no matter what it was my intention to bust him out before the night was through. Everyone there knew I could do it and it was not the first time I singled a player out and went after his money, nor was it the first time I had singled out this guy either. All of us have played cards together hundreds of times and this scenario has played out almost as often, they all know it is not about the money it is more about seeing if I can do it. I usually try to dump the money back into the game without making it look like I am and Saturday was no exception. I went down early so that I could come back and be even should I bust anyone out. Of course this worked like a charm until one of the other guys noticed the point where I actually started trying a was playing at about 80% of what I can do. He said "oh I see you lost early and now you've decide to play." I laughed and acknowledged that he was right. You could see the game shift when I shifted, the better players started being a little more guarded, the cautious players started being a little too cautious and the bad players were oblivious to the change all together. I started building small pots that I could lay my hand down to if anyone became aggressive and pushed some really big bluffs into bigger pots that weaker players couldn't hold on to. Spotting the weak play and making the move to take pots away was easy and fun at this point and made it OK for me to show the bluffs. I only like to show the bluff if I know the players I am with and it will induce them to pay me off when I have the goods. This happened on 2 key hands, player A had decided that I was bluffing when he had a big hand and went bust against a full house when he only held A-K and no pair on the river. He was so convinced I had nothing he called my dark all-in on the turn. Unfortunately I do have a hand once in a while, LOL. He was mad at himself for donking all his chips off to me when I had him totally convinced that I was running a bluff. This is where knowing the players you are playing against is so important and why I sometimes have an issue at the casinos with naive, new comer players, they are so unpredictable sometimes that at that point I will never be able to beat blind luck, but oh well that's a different story. So I busted him out a reminded my intended victim that he was next, to which he made some comment for me to go for it. I laugh now because he knows better then that, I have busted him so many times when I said I was going to that he should have just laughed at me then continued to guard his chips. So another half hour or so goes by and I have steadily built my stack to 4-5 times my original buy in. I have dumped about half the chips back into pots and just played what looks like crazy (an illusion I like to create) but is instead controlled aggression. Finally I get into a decent hand with Player B who I told I was going to bust earlier. I flopped top and bottom pair and check to him, he checks, the turn comes off and I make a small bet to which he raise a fairly large amount about 10% of his chips ( I have him cover 4-1) I re raise to 1 1/2 times his raise and he pushes all in, I check the board to make sure I didn't miss anything like a straight or some dumb shit that could have been easily over looked, I put him on a bigger ace then me without a second pair or 2 middle pair, they are the same thing to me at this point, I call his bet and he laughs, the river comes off a blank and he makes a comment about how I was going to bust him, he rolls over 2 pair (the second he hit on the turn) and gives me a wry smirk, I smile back and show him the bigger 2 pair and start to stack all the chips. He laughs and says nice hand and remarks that he hates it when I am right, everyone starts laughing basically and one of the new guys asks how I knew it would happen, I let him know that it always happens. Everyone leaves about a half hour later we all cash out and I secretly give some of the money back. The new guy says thank you and laughs as he says he wants to play again but wants to know how I was able to tell him how I knew what he had in his hand while he was playing hands against me. I told him that it was mostly instinct and years of playing and that I would take it easy on him next time ( I busted him 3 times that night ) and if he wanted help with his game I would help.
So overall a pretty good night, I made back all the Money I spent on food, alcohol and gas running around for the day and was able to dump the rest back to make most everyone else even. So I think it was a pretty good night, hopefully I can do it again.
So aside from my little issue, Saturday went pretty well. KG (one of my best friends) made Buffalo Wings for dinner, which were excellent as usual. I was starting to get a little anxious because there was only 3 of us to start off with, while we were planning to have 6-8 people total, but as usual people have lives and they all ran a little late, whew. LOL. We played cards and drank until about 3 in the morning. I drank a little to much, which was weird because I don't like to drink while I am gambling, but it didn't really have a major affect on me. Wait that's not totally true, I talk a lot and I do mean a lot. I think I was talking even more then usual, not mean malicious talk just talk, making jokes and bull shitting a bit more then usual. I noticed everyone else was feeling pretty loose and doing the same, also I feel pretty comfortable around this group so it made it easy. So I did drink a bit much, nothing to make me sick or to act out of control or anything, just to much. I like being the life of the party so to speak but I also wanted to make sure I was a good host and that everyone had a good time, but as I said before I don't have people over very often so the experience was fairly new. As far as I could tell and from what people said to me everyone had everything they could want and they all had a good time, so that was a relief.
My goal at games like these is not necessarily to win, I don't want to lose either mind you, but I am more interested in breaking even and being able to play for a long period of time. Since this was the first game I had held at my home I was just more concerned with everyone having a good time. I think that some people really did want to win and they made that intention clear early into the game. I don't know if they were just trying to pick up a few extra dollars for whatever reason or if they are just hyper-aggressive when we play cards. Case in point, there was one situation where one of the guys kind of went out of his way to break the other, he dint need to and it was going to take some luck to do it but he made it look like he was singling him out to take all his money. We weren't playing for a huge amount of money or anything so I don't know if that was the motivating factor but it seemed weird. Anytime we play home games, I am usually the enforcer as far as bullying the table or just taking over the game a bit. So of course I fell into old habits and I jokingly told the first guy that no matter what it was my intention to bust him out before the night was through. Everyone there knew I could do it and it was not the first time I singled a player out and went after his money, nor was it the first time I had singled out this guy either. All of us have played cards together hundreds of times and this scenario has played out almost as often, they all know it is not about the money it is more about seeing if I can do it. I usually try to dump the money back into the game without making it look like I am and Saturday was no exception. I went down early so that I could come back and be even should I bust anyone out. Of course this worked like a charm until one of the other guys noticed the point where I actually started trying a was playing at about 80% of what I can do. He said "oh I see you lost early and now you've decide to play." I laughed and acknowledged that he was right. You could see the game shift when I shifted, the better players started being a little more guarded, the cautious players started being a little too cautious and the bad players were oblivious to the change all together. I started building small pots that I could lay my hand down to if anyone became aggressive and pushed some really big bluffs into bigger pots that weaker players couldn't hold on to. Spotting the weak play and making the move to take pots away was easy and fun at this point and made it OK for me to show the bluffs. I only like to show the bluff if I know the players I am with and it will induce them to pay me off when I have the goods. This happened on 2 key hands, player A had decided that I was bluffing when he had a big hand and went bust against a full house when he only held A-K and no pair on the river. He was so convinced I had nothing he called my dark all-in on the turn. Unfortunately I do have a hand once in a while, LOL. He was mad at himself for donking all his chips off to me when I had him totally convinced that I was running a bluff. This is where knowing the players you are playing against is so important and why I sometimes have an issue at the casinos with naive, new comer players, they are so unpredictable sometimes that at that point I will never be able to beat blind luck, but oh well that's a different story. So I busted him out a reminded my intended victim that he was next, to which he made some comment for me to go for it. I laugh now because he knows better then that, I have busted him so many times when I said I was going to that he should have just laughed at me then continued to guard his chips. So another half hour or so goes by and I have steadily built my stack to 4-5 times my original buy in. I have dumped about half the chips back into pots and just played what looks like crazy (an illusion I like to create) but is instead controlled aggression. Finally I get into a decent hand with Player B who I told I was going to bust earlier. I flopped top and bottom pair and check to him, he checks, the turn comes off and I make a small bet to which he raise a fairly large amount about 10% of his chips ( I have him cover 4-1) I re raise to 1 1/2 times his raise and he pushes all in, I check the board to make sure I didn't miss anything like a straight or some dumb shit that could have been easily over looked, I put him on a bigger ace then me without a second pair or 2 middle pair, they are the same thing to me at this point, I call his bet and he laughs, the river comes off a blank and he makes a comment about how I was going to bust him, he rolls over 2 pair (the second he hit on the turn) and gives me a wry smirk, I smile back and show him the bigger 2 pair and start to stack all the chips. He laughs and says nice hand and remarks that he hates it when I am right, everyone starts laughing basically and one of the new guys asks how I knew it would happen, I let him know that it always happens. Everyone leaves about a half hour later we all cash out and I secretly give some of the money back. The new guy says thank you and laughs as he says he wants to play again but wants to know how I was able to tell him how I knew what he had in his hand while he was playing hands against me. I told him that it was mostly instinct and years of playing and that I would take it easy on him next time ( I busted him 3 times that night ) and if he wanted help with his game I would help.
So overall a pretty good night, I made back all the Money I spent on food, alcohol and gas running around for the day and was able to dump the rest back to make most everyone else even. So I think it was a pretty good night, hopefully I can do it again.
Monday, September 29, 2008
New York, New York, big city of dreams...Or how I watch too much TV
So Sandy left last night to go to New York for her law firms case. It sucks, LOL, I dropped her off at the airport at 3 pm and drove the hour or so home in silence. It is amazing to me how you can have awkward moments and get annoyed with someone and then miss them 5 minutes after they are gone. Its not like this is anything new or that I am the first one to have this revelation, its just weird when it happens. The worst part was knowing the flight was going to be 5-6 hours long and I couldn't at least say hi. The only good thing was that 5-6 new shows were premiering Sunday night so I had at least the illusion that I would be distracted for a while.
Animation domination, Fox's Sunday night premiers helped to muddle the night away. Could there be any funnier show then Family Guy? Maybe but I haven't seen it yet. the things they get away with on this show amazes even me, and I love porn. McFarlane seems to do everything he can to push the envelope and make you laugh. I am not saying it is for everyone, but if most people un-clench their butts and relax, some humor could be found for most people. Think about it a talking dog that always seems to be in or want to be in a relationship with some hot girl, has moral dilemmas about sex and loses her for whatever reason. Glossed over always seems to be the fact that inter-species sex is a little rough, what would you do if your dog came at you all of a sudden, frothing and waving its little pink lipstick in a suggestive manner? But that's another story held for another day in some back alley where people pay to see that sort of thing. The interesting thing about Family Guy, at least for me, is the fact he always tries to sneak in a little message, its hidden there like the one beer left in an empty fridge, but its not so in your face that it ruins the show. This weeks push was from Cleveland who showed no qualms about stealing Brian's girlfriend, but when it came to dealing with Loretta (his ex-wife in case you didn't know) he showed surprising poise and class. I know that is saying a lot considering most people look at these shows as just cartoons, but what does it say when the realist most human show on TV is a cartoon? Anyway, so he lets her down easy and says he loves her and just wants her to be happy, isnt that what we all want? So message sent, good feelings all around, ooh so nice and warm. LOL. Unfortunately it wouldn't be an episode of Family guy without the line of the night and luckily it came twice and made me laugh out loud both times, I mean really what other response can you have when Cleveland and then later on Quagmire says, "Close the window your letting all the stank out." Come on, it may not be Great writing but it is damn sure funny.
It may look like I skipped over the Simpson's, but I did. The Simpson's is the greatest animated or otherwise television show period. It has been on so long that most people who watch it don't even know who Tracy Ullman is. The problem I have is that like in the Southpark Episode where Butters tries to dominate the world, "the Simpson's did it." is a reality. This show tackles some very real issues in a tongue in cheek way and entertains us (or at least me) in a way that no other show can. All the reviews have been written, the accolades have been laid out, and far be it for me to even try to write a review or opinion on a show that deserves better words then the drivel I could come up with.
American Dad? Not a big fan, sorry. It has moments, it strikes a cord sometimes, but for whatever reason I just cant seem to get into that show, I know there are probably thousands who dis-agree but to keep it short and sweet for once, yawn, whatever.
King of the Hill, I enjoy this show but again not a huge fan. This weeks episode all so bored me a little because I am in denial. Bill gets Diabetes, I have diabetes, Bill plays the poor me card, I just deny and get annoyed when people talk about it, Bills friends rally and try to help, my friends always try to help and be supportive. Parallels sometimes really annoy me sometimes especially when they make me look at my own life and see that I really need to change some of my behavior. Whatever, I am not the first nor the last with diabetes but I really hate watching TV about it. I mean how the hell can I continue to be in denial when every time I turn on the TV there is some new commercial or show dealing with it? I get so sick of that crap sometimes that it makes me go further into denial. Who cares? I mean I almost like getting sick sometimes just so I can take the day off from work, sad I know but really, what good is a disability that you cant milk a little bit. The problem is that diabetes is not what most people think a disability is, so you get caught between concern and skepticism. I do because I am such a lazy bastard that when I do get sick who'd know, LOL. Anyway didn't really pay attention because it was a show that talked about stuff I deal with and I wasn't in the mood for that shit, I just wanted to be entertained and not deal with other crap for a while.
So all the big shows I wanted to watch were really on HBO and Showtime, I am not really going to review them because I am getting bored. But...
Entourage, one of the best shows on cable. Period. End of Story. I will however try to write something, LOL, Entourage this week was pretty good, once again Eric gets in over his head and seems to be that little fish in a big pond, every time he catches a break either he shoots himself in the foot or the world steps in and shoots him in the foot. This dude cant catch a break for winning the lotto. I am never sure what to write about or how to structure what I am writing, I think this is mainly because I don't know what I am doing, but I digress. Entourage makes me laugh in such a way that I actually could see this actually going down in Hollywood, it gets me emotionally invested to such a point that I could see people dealing with there issues just like in the show. Not only that but they deal with things the way I would and I assume a lot of people out in the world would, yes some of it is over the top but for the most part it makes you believe, and that sometimes is what makes a good show, if you can believe its real then it just might be. Thank you Mr. Wahlberg for creating a show that does distract me and make me forget about Sandy being gone for 3 weeks to 2 months, I will need you now more then ever.
I also watched that vampire show on HBO, blood something or other. I only watched it because I had to record it so Sandy could watch it when she gets back from New York. She read all the books and was looking forward to watching this seasons shows. I frankly could care less but who cares? Wait I do that's why I keep typing, LOL. this show might be good but for me its a train wreck, the acting is weak, the story line still hasn't decided what its going to do and its just plain boring. Have your heard the southern accents for this show? I don't know, I tried to get into it because Sandy was going to watch it every week and I figured I would try to get into something she likes since all the rest of the garbage she watches rotates around Next Top Model, Project Runway and Hells Kitchen, first off I am not of the persuasion that enjoys these froo froo model shows and the only thing I like about kitchens is that food comes from there. Anyway so I was making an effort to watch this show because she was so hyped up about it. I will admit that I was at least distracted a bit by the episode last night only because so much of it revolved around the libido enhancing ability of vampires blood. Sorry but I love sex and this at least caught my attention, the rest kinda bored me, I mean the ADD kicks in during most shows and I have to click over to ESPN 3-4 times during the show but I couldn't because it was recording to the DVR, so I was stuck. The channel changing isn't a huge deal during shows on Fox, NBC, CBS or ABC because they have commercials and I can get away with it without missing much if I don't want to, but with HBO and Showtime, yep you know, no commercials so if the show gets boring and I change it I miss enough that I no longer care about what I was watching. OK enough of this show I haven't really said anything anyway.
Californication and Dexter premiered last night, I love both of these shows for quite a different set of reasons. Californication's story line is OK, struggling family re-united, blah, blah, blah. It is quite touching sometimes but that's not why I watch. I watch because it is a train wreck that I wish I could live, I mean Hank has sex with more women then you can count (except you can count because its a show and you can watch it again and count them), hes a writer and he has sex with more women then you can count. This guy just falls into sex, he walks out the door and has sex, goes to church, has sex, goes to the grocery store, doesn't have sex but sets up a date to have sex. I mean come on, I wish I led his life. Unfortunately, I am not a writer, even though I am trying to pretend I am, and I am married, so all you hot women out there waiting for me to walk by so we can have sex, I am sorry but it probably isn't going to happen. Anyway David Duchovney is my hero in this show, he has pushed so far from the X-Files that he might just go on to prove he is a good actor, and he wont have to worry about getting type cast. I also think McFarlane should write for Californication as well as Family guy, I mean how cool would it be for Hank Moody to say, "close the window your letting the stank out." LMAO, that line was written for him.
Finally the last show before I turned the TV over to ESPN and set the timer to turn the TV off in 90 minutes, Dexter. I am not sure why I was originally drawn to this show but I am glad it happened, I almost never switch it to ESPN to check scores when this show is on, and yes that is how I judge whether or not I like a show, I get distracted real easy and bored even easier so if I don't flip around I kinda go insane. During this show however I very rarely even think about changing it and getting updates. Something about the bad guy being the good guy and having the ability to save the day while struggling with his own humanity is cool to me. I know right, I said I like this show and that had nothing to do with sex, wow go figure. That's not to say there isn't sex in this show but I really don't care, wow, that was weird, cant believe I actually said I didn't care about sex, this show MUST be entertaining. Dexter is a blood spatter expert who just so happens to be a serial killer, he has found and then lost a brother, he keeps a sister just on the fringe, he works inside of the Miami-Dade county police department and oh yeah, he stalks and kills other killers and such, led by a faulty code set to him by his adopted father who committed suicide because of what he wrought when creating Dexter. Pretty twisted, yet kinda cool. Dexter is so jacked up emotionally that how he keeps it together is beyond me. Its like he feeds of it in order to keep is life in balance. The writing for this show is great and balanced, the characters are people that you could care about, one way or another, the story line keeps it going. Just when you think there has to be a let done, it picks up again without forgetting about all the loose ends that most shows hope will just go away. It does get a little far fetched sometimes but what do you expect when you are doing a show about a forensic scientist who is a serial killer.
So as you can tell I watched a lot of television last night, glad I did because it was the first night Sandy was gone and I really needed to be distracted. I hate being alone, I don't necessarily need her right next to me but if she is upstairs and I am downstairs watching TV at least she is in the house. I don't care if we are fighting or getting along the fact that she is close by helps. So I have been typing for about an hour now and I am not sure if I wrote anything worthwhile but if nothing else I wrote allot. Not sure when I will write again but I am sure it will be soon. So I guess I kind of do know when I will write again if I know it will be soon, what an idiot, LOL. Well hope I entertained you for a minute and take care.
Animation domination, Fox's Sunday night premiers helped to muddle the night away. Could there be any funnier show then Family Guy? Maybe but I haven't seen it yet. the things they get away with on this show amazes even me, and I love porn. McFarlane seems to do everything he can to push the envelope and make you laugh. I am not saying it is for everyone, but if most people un-clench their butts and relax, some humor could be found for most people. Think about it a talking dog that always seems to be in or want to be in a relationship with some hot girl, has moral dilemmas about sex and loses her for whatever reason. Glossed over always seems to be the fact that inter-species sex is a little rough, what would you do if your dog came at you all of a sudden, frothing and waving its little pink lipstick in a suggestive manner? But that's another story held for another day in some back alley where people pay to see that sort of thing. The interesting thing about Family Guy, at least for me, is the fact he always tries to sneak in a little message, its hidden there like the one beer left in an empty fridge, but its not so in your face that it ruins the show. This weeks push was from Cleveland who showed no qualms about stealing Brian's girlfriend, but when it came to dealing with Loretta (his ex-wife in case you didn't know) he showed surprising poise and class. I know that is saying a lot considering most people look at these shows as just cartoons, but what does it say when the realist most human show on TV is a cartoon? Anyway, so he lets her down easy and says he loves her and just wants her to be happy, isnt that what we all want? So message sent, good feelings all around, ooh so nice and warm. LOL. Unfortunately it wouldn't be an episode of Family guy without the line of the night and luckily it came twice and made me laugh out loud both times, I mean really what other response can you have when Cleveland and then later on Quagmire says, "Close the window your letting all the stank out." Come on, it may not be Great writing but it is damn sure funny.
It may look like I skipped over the Simpson's, but I did. The Simpson's is the greatest animated or otherwise television show period. It has been on so long that most people who watch it don't even know who Tracy Ullman is. The problem I have is that like in the Southpark Episode where Butters tries to dominate the world, "the Simpson's did it." is a reality. This show tackles some very real issues in a tongue in cheek way and entertains us (or at least me) in a way that no other show can. All the reviews have been written, the accolades have been laid out, and far be it for me to even try to write a review or opinion on a show that deserves better words then the drivel I could come up with.
American Dad? Not a big fan, sorry. It has moments, it strikes a cord sometimes, but for whatever reason I just cant seem to get into that show, I know there are probably thousands who dis-agree but to keep it short and sweet for once, yawn, whatever.
King of the Hill, I enjoy this show but again not a huge fan. This weeks episode all so bored me a little because I am in denial. Bill gets Diabetes, I have diabetes, Bill plays the poor me card, I just deny and get annoyed when people talk about it, Bills friends rally and try to help, my friends always try to help and be supportive. Parallels sometimes really annoy me sometimes especially when they make me look at my own life and see that I really need to change some of my behavior. Whatever, I am not the first nor the last with diabetes but I really hate watching TV about it. I mean how the hell can I continue to be in denial when every time I turn on the TV there is some new commercial or show dealing with it? I get so sick of that crap sometimes that it makes me go further into denial. Who cares? I mean I almost like getting sick sometimes just so I can take the day off from work, sad I know but really, what good is a disability that you cant milk a little bit. The problem is that diabetes is not what most people think a disability is, so you get caught between concern and skepticism. I do because I am such a lazy bastard that when I do get sick who'd know, LOL. Anyway didn't really pay attention because it was a show that talked about stuff I deal with and I wasn't in the mood for that shit, I just wanted to be entertained and not deal with other crap for a while.
So all the big shows I wanted to watch were really on HBO and Showtime, I am not really going to review them because I am getting bored. But...
Entourage, one of the best shows on cable. Period. End of Story. I will however try to write something, LOL, Entourage this week was pretty good, once again Eric gets in over his head and seems to be that little fish in a big pond, every time he catches a break either he shoots himself in the foot or the world steps in and shoots him in the foot. This dude cant catch a break for winning the lotto. I am never sure what to write about or how to structure what I am writing, I think this is mainly because I don't know what I am doing, but I digress. Entourage makes me laugh in such a way that I actually could see this actually going down in Hollywood, it gets me emotionally invested to such a point that I could see people dealing with there issues just like in the show. Not only that but they deal with things the way I would and I assume a lot of people out in the world would, yes some of it is over the top but for the most part it makes you believe, and that sometimes is what makes a good show, if you can believe its real then it just might be. Thank you Mr. Wahlberg for creating a show that does distract me and make me forget about Sandy being gone for 3 weeks to 2 months, I will need you now more then ever.
I also watched that vampire show on HBO, blood something or other. I only watched it because I had to record it so Sandy could watch it when she gets back from New York. She read all the books and was looking forward to watching this seasons shows. I frankly could care less but who cares? Wait I do that's why I keep typing, LOL. this show might be good but for me its a train wreck, the acting is weak, the story line still hasn't decided what its going to do and its just plain boring. Have your heard the southern accents for this show? I don't know, I tried to get into it because Sandy was going to watch it every week and I figured I would try to get into something she likes since all the rest of the garbage she watches rotates around Next Top Model, Project Runway and Hells Kitchen, first off I am not of the persuasion that enjoys these froo froo model shows and the only thing I like about kitchens is that food comes from there. Anyway so I was making an effort to watch this show because she was so hyped up about it. I will admit that I was at least distracted a bit by the episode last night only because so much of it revolved around the libido enhancing ability of vampires blood. Sorry but I love sex and this at least caught my attention, the rest kinda bored me, I mean the ADD kicks in during most shows and I have to click over to ESPN 3-4 times during the show but I couldn't because it was recording to the DVR, so I was stuck. The channel changing isn't a huge deal during shows on Fox, NBC, CBS or ABC because they have commercials and I can get away with it without missing much if I don't want to, but with HBO and Showtime, yep you know, no commercials so if the show gets boring and I change it I miss enough that I no longer care about what I was watching. OK enough of this show I haven't really said anything anyway.
Californication and Dexter premiered last night, I love both of these shows for quite a different set of reasons. Californication's story line is OK, struggling family re-united, blah, blah, blah. It is quite touching sometimes but that's not why I watch. I watch because it is a train wreck that I wish I could live, I mean Hank has sex with more women then you can count (except you can count because its a show and you can watch it again and count them), hes a writer and he has sex with more women then you can count. This guy just falls into sex, he walks out the door and has sex, goes to church, has sex, goes to the grocery store, doesn't have sex but sets up a date to have sex. I mean come on, I wish I led his life. Unfortunately, I am not a writer, even though I am trying to pretend I am, and I am married, so all you hot women out there waiting for me to walk by so we can have sex, I am sorry but it probably isn't going to happen. Anyway David Duchovney is my hero in this show, he has pushed so far from the X-Files that he might just go on to prove he is a good actor, and he wont have to worry about getting type cast. I also think McFarlane should write for Californication as well as Family guy, I mean how cool would it be for Hank Moody to say, "close the window your letting the stank out." LMAO, that line was written for him.
Finally the last show before I turned the TV over to ESPN and set the timer to turn the TV off in 90 minutes, Dexter. I am not sure why I was originally drawn to this show but I am glad it happened, I almost never switch it to ESPN to check scores when this show is on, and yes that is how I judge whether or not I like a show, I get distracted real easy and bored even easier so if I don't flip around I kinda go insane. During this show however I very rarely even think about changing it and getting updates. Something about the bad guy being the good guy and having the ability to save the day while struggling with his own humanity is cool to me. I know right, I said I like this show and that had nothing to do with sex, wow go figure. That's not to say there isn't sex in this show but I really don't care, wow, that was weird, cant believe I actually said I didn't care about sex, this show MUST be entertaining. Dexter is a blood spatter expert who just so happens to be a serial killer, he has found and then lost a brother, he keeps a sister just on the fringe, he works inside of the Miami-Dade county police department and oh yeah, he stalks and kills other killers and such, led by a faulty code set to him by his adopted father who committed suicide because of what he wrought when creating Dexter. Pretty twisted, yet kinda cool. Dexter is so jacked up emotionally that how he keeps it together is beyond me. Its like he feeds of it in order to keep is life in balance. The writing for this show is great and balanced, the characters are people that you could care about, one way or another, the story line keeps it going. Just when you think there has to be a let done, it picks up again without forgetting about all the loose ends that most shows hope will just go away. It does get a little far fetched sometimes but what do you expect when you are doing a show about a forensic scientist who is a serial killer.
So as you can tell I watched a lot of television last night, glad I did because it was the first night Sandy was gone and I really needed to be distracted. I hate being alone, I don't necessarily need her right next to me but if she is upstairs and I am downstairs watching TV at least she is in the house. I don't care if we are fighting or getting along the fact that she is close by helps. So I have been typing for about an hour now and I am not sure if I wrote anything worthwhile but if nothing else I wrote allot. Not sure when I will write again but I am sure it will be soon. So I guess I kind of do know when I will write again if I know it will be soon, what an idiot, LOL. Well hope I entertained you for a minute and take care.
Monday, September 22, 2008
So we were just talking... from the bottem up
Why bother responding to pathetic ramblings? You say we have shown no shred of proof. What proof was offered in the vitriolic rant you laid out? Your proof is from a blog written by "TexasDarlin" and THAT'S who you want to stand behind and get your facts from? Oh, well, why yes, I suppose I should believe anything anyone named “TexasDarlin” says in their blog. I guess we should all believe that we never landed on the moon either. Well, why not? There’s a website that says it’s a lie. Bah! Republicans spew what they’re told to spew. All they do is repeat the usual party LIES even after the lies have been pointed out and proven as just that – LIES. By independent sources – not Fox News and Rush Limbaugh.
Sandy
Like I said before in my “republican talky points” you have not provided one ounce of truth. All you have done is made my point for me by not really looking at the truth but by blindly ignoring the facts that have been put at your doorstep to ponder. I notice how the information that I have provided is not even mentioned but just glossed over due to your myopia (you can look that one up Cray). When you give me proof and not a bunch of ignoramus rants that you are trying to use to cover up the facts then maybe I can be swayed but personally I feel you are coming from a position of weakness and so it becomes your defense to repeat the things you Obama say in his sound bites on CNN or maybe what Nancy Pelosi says on the channel 4 news. Hey, other than that I would say you are quite informed.
PS- I will always answer your phone calls Chris if you need to tell me in person. ; )
Thomas
While your name calling be sure to call Obama President………. At least of the Harvard Law Review
Brian
HMMMM, it would seem you have been cornered, cornered by knowledge or at least with factual updates. LOL, It is a good thing that this is all done with e-mail so that you don’t have to actually hear the truth. I wonder what would happen if McCain won? Oh wait we already know, the same crap that has been happening for the last 8 years, LOL. Thomas I am curious at what point so you not hold the party line, what amount of proof would it take to sway you. I am not saying to the extreme as to change your vote per say but in life in general.
Oh well guess we will never know, LOL.
Chris
I do note that if he were to bother to actually look at Factcheck.org he would see that they also point out errors/distortions in Obama's ads and statements as well. But he'd rather hide behind the usual Republican stance - which essentially amounts to sticking his fingers in his ears while repeating over and over again everything Rush Limbaugh and Bob O'Reilly have told him to say.
Sandy
Yes, I did copy the entire chain of e-mails to a friend of mine. He has them all and I have invited him to the blog so he can give his two cents. I am only one man and to try and keep up with all of the volleys from you, your wife and your other woman (Bwahl) can get tiresome. I do have work to do you know. So I figured I could get someone on else with common sense besides me and we would make this interesting.
The only reason that I brought up the POW thing is because Brian seems to think it was no big deal and made reference to that fact in his last e-mail. To make it seem that the sacrifice that he went through is nothing is really in poor taste. I know it is not as big of deal as being the President of the Chess Club at Harvard or graduating from a Liberal hotbed like Columbia but it does tell a lot about the character of a man.
Thomas
Thomas, I just noticed you did not include this e-mail with the previous chain and you included a new person into the conversation. This only troubles me because they do not have the benefit of the previous e-mails as far as I can tell; also this seems like a dirty Republican attempt to hide the facts and opinions of others as they were presented to you. Good for you, at least we know that those spots can not be changed. LOL.
Coat tails seems like such a harsh word, especially since you supported the biggest “coat tail” rider in George Bush. I believe the fact of the matter is that at least he was able to rise above the partisan politics and seek out others of like opinion regardless of party lines. I know your pipe is large so at least now you can put this in it and smoke it. LOL
As far as being propped up, my friend you and I both know that I need nothing as simple as an ego boost of shared opinions to continue to battle wits with the like of you. It should strike you as funny though, that so many highly intelligent people disagree with the stance you so desperately hold to. LOL.
Also stop clinging to the POW deal, yes he was a POW, yes there are facts about his internment that have yet to be released, yes he SAID he didn’t talk but why so many stories to the contrary and finally yes he was conditionally released, but much mystery still shrouds the terms of his release. No one can debate he was a POW, I guess anyone would be if they were shot down 3 times, but besides that why is there so much debate and why is this the only thing anyone can point to as to why this man is great? What else has he done? Help me to understand why Republicans cling to this fact like rats to a sinking ship.
Who knows if Obama would have or wouldn’t have talked as a POW, I will tell you this as my opinion though. He was from the Southside of Chicago, toughest city in America and it would have taken an act of god to make him talk. Just my opinion with my brief knowledge of the city. I know, I know Santa Rosa is hood and if you can make it here you can be tough anywhere, LMAO.
Chris
I can certainly respect you getting your wife involved to try and cover your rear end on this one. Certainly it is always easier to stand with someone propping you up (Bwahl) than standing alone. Since I find myself in the unenviable position of having a gaggle of Liberal Lip Servers trying to corner me like a pack of howling hyenas then I must point out that as brilliant as your wife is and as educated as Bwahl is; to try and drop factcheck.org on me like it is the end all be all of facts and non-partisan fact checking is like asking a Liberal Democrat to hold my five bucks and then asking for it back in five minutes. (Brian for the record you did pay my $20 back just like you said you would). If you read the article below I believe it really blows factcheck.org out of contention for the “wow I didn’t realize Obama was so cool” awakening.
The fact that Obama “co-sponsered” a bill with a Republican does not mean that Obama has done anything except ride someone else’s coat tails “Lugar hasn't objected to Obama's characterization of their partnership or the bill, which became law in 2007, in his ads.” If you would take the time to read the information below and who is connected to Factcheck.org and Obama and his law breaking cronies it might help to remove the blinders. This is the same as Brian chirping about Rupert Murdoch!! But Brian is so blind he doesn’t realize it goes both ways. By the way Brian I never made the statement that Obama was not qualified due to the spell check issue. I just commented on it because I think it is ironic. This is just another attempt to take my words and spin them to sell your point of view because all you can point to is Obama’s resume. Maybe I should make sure that it is all factual by checking Factcheck.org? Oh, that’s right that has already been blown to hell. Oh, Brian by the way if Obama were a POW I am sure he would have talked!!
Thomas
Ok so now we have woken 2 sleeping giants I feel like Japan just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, I believe the Admiral was asked if the bombing was a success and a great victory for Japan, to which he responded, No I believe all we have done here today is wake a sleeping giant. Brian your response has brought a singular if not rousing chuckle from way deep down. Thank you is all I can say to this.
Thomas, I did want to pile on and remind you that being concerned and supporting a group that you do not economically belong to is a little absurd. I have always told you that you don’t make enough money to be a Republican so why support policy that may (although I do hope you become wealthy so I can borrow money) never trickle down to help you?
You two guys are what is right about America though, the fact that we can all be friends and be so fundamentally different is a great thing.
Chris
People people,
I can not do this any more. It is impossible to have a logical conversation with anyone who is worried about spell checking a name and holding on to that as some reason he is not qualified (at least since about 1960). Clearly Obama is for the working man as that is his platform. If Thomas is that concerned about the top 5% of the countries income earners and how much they pay in taxes then it is clear he is willing to pull anything that sounds controversial into the conversation and it becomes a mute point. However, as not provided, ever, by the right wing I have included “cited facts” I’m not sure if Thomas will understand these as they are not “Fox Facts” but I included the link non the less; http://obamasresume.org/.
Now I realize he was not a POW but if you don’t think someone who has a masters from Columbia and is the first black man in the US to be the President of the Harvard Law Review qualified (not to mention 12 years in the Senate), then global warming doesn’t exist and this ceases to be an educated argument.
Bwahl
So I woke a sleeping giant by cc’ing the copies of my e-mails to my wife, she has access and wherewithal to actually find facts and support her arguments, Thomas you remind me of a fat, white, hairy, republican, male version of her. LOL. Read below.
Chris
Love your responses to the Republican party line that he keeps spouting. Before he starts regurgitating all usual the Republican lies and spin, he should check the facts on Factcheck.org
Obama has co-sponsored bills with members of the other party, some of which have been noteworthy. Obama and Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, for instance, teamed up on an initiative to lock down and secure both nuclear and conventional weapons worldwide, such as the shoulder-fired, anti-aircraft missiles that have been proliferating in recent years. According to a report on the bill by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the legislation "enhances: (1) U.S. cooperation with foreign governments to destroy conventional weapons stockpiles around the world; and (2) the United States' ability to provide assistance to foreign governments aimed at helping them detect and interdict weapons and materials of mass destruction." Lugar hasn't objected to Obama's characterization of their partnership or the bill, which became law in 2007, in his ads. Obama worked with Sen. Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican, to write the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, which created a searchable database the public can use to look up details on federal grants and contracts. (McCain was also among the original co-sponsors of that bill, so Lieberman may have been tarring his own candidate when he disparaged Obama's legislative accomplishments). Obama and Coburn also got together on a bill to prohibit the Department of Homeland Security from issuing open-ended, no-bid contracts for emergency response activities after abuses were found in post-Katrina contracting.
Sandy
First off I agree that the original writer could be labeled extreme, I do however agree with a lot of what was written. I think that voting for McCain is bad mmmkay, but I can see your point (for you) of not wanting to vote Obama because he has not stricken a cord with you, the fact that you at least have a reason goes a long way right or wrong. That is the same reason why I vote for Obama, he has struck a cord with me, for better or worse. I cant say if he will uphold all his promises or if he even knows how to get the job done but at least if nothing else he is able (willing) to lie to me on a level I can believe in. Lets face facts here, they all lie its just whose lie you can find some truth in and then choose to follow. As far as McCain goes 20 years ago I would have voted for him, he was idealistic and had a backbone, now he has become such a follower and special interest groupie that I can just feel 4 more years of the “Bush Doctrine.” Although a friend of mine did make one good point about voting for McCain that actually makes sense, he said vote McCain so that everything gets even more fucked up so that there is no doubt everyone should vote Democrat. LOL, I loved until I thought about it and said what more proof do you need after the last 8 years of Bush? LOL, who really knows?
As far as the spell check, I was going to note it in my last message but forgot. That was Hilarious, what does it say about us as a people when Osama is more ingrained into the lexicon of human knowledge then the man vying to be the next Commander in Chief of the greatest country on earth?
Oh and BTW I would always have a beer w/ you and BWAHL any day any time (provided I have the funds) politics aside. Besides what good is it if you always agree with your friends? I am not nor will I ever be a lemming, if I were to follow a group it would be for my own reasons and I would back that up with my own opinions.
Also did you hear the rumor that Biden would drop out for family reasons and then Obama would pick up Hillary as his new running mate? This would be pure bullshit and I might lose respect for him if it happened but it would secure a few more votes.
Chris
And the opinion of the jackass that penned this rant is not extremism? For someone to say that “Republicans” are racist just because of party affiliation is ignorant. I am not voting for McCain because I think he is great or he is the right man for the job. I am voting for him because Obama does not strike a chord with me. I think he is clueless and because he says “change” does not provide enough evidence for me to believe he is the right man either. But I do know that he has voted along party lines 97% of the time and has never penned one piece of legislation in his six years in the Senate. It is not always enough to show up and cast a vote. Be a leader!! Do something!! He is the most LIBERAL senator ever and his voting record proves it. He will not win the election and it will not be due to his race but they will have to blame it on race instead of his lack of ability to get people to follow like lemmings. Except for you Cray!! LOL! We may not agree on politics but I still have much love for you and Bwahl!! I would sit down and drink a beer with you guys any day; especially if you are buying!!
PS- By the way don’t you think it is funny that when you use spell check Obama is suggested as Osama? I do!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thomas
Spoken like a true Caucasian, LOL. Hahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. You are correct though the color shouldn’t matter but only people who say that are also some of the first people to criticize or use the statement “it’s not because of the color of his skin or anything”. The fact of the matter is that on average America is NOT past the color of ones skin and that is why it remains an issue, plus 2 black candidates and one black president (Bill) does not erase 300 yours of pain, notice I said pain and not racism or slavery or ill treatment? I said pain on purpose because I believe that it truly hurt everyone because we all suffer for it now, whether you were directly hurt or because now the sins of the fathers are being paid for by the sons. Know matter how you look at it, it has hurt us all, especially as men (not ignoring women just putting it in simple terms) especially as me because instead of working together it is almost as if we live in two different countries. Until the pain ceases we will always be separated.
Also please don’t tell me that you actually buy into the BS front the republicans have put up and are thinking about voting for McCain. I can respect sticking with your party but McCain? Come on, haven’t we had enough of Bush?
But I will say if nothing else the Republicans were smart to find Palin, it was a risky ploy but it is paying dividends with the women voters. She is ill equipped and has no experience and we will all be screwed if they win and McCain dies but it was still a very smart and shrewd move to do this with so much strife in the Democratic Party with Obama not asking Hillary to run with him. Republicans may be greedy, money hungry, racist self loathing sons of bitches but I give them that, they are smart sometimes.
As far as Jesse goes he and Al Sharpton are irrelevant and will remain irrelevant, their opinion is more of an extremist opinion and I can’t really stand either one they went from good intentions and defending the underdog to corporate preeners who seem to have forgotten their roots until they get home and crawl into bed. The rainbow coalition has been turned into the colors of choice coalition that can include or exclude who they like at will, self serving loud talkers is what they’ve become. Sharpton shot himself in the foot when he decided to become the male Gloria Allred and started tilting at windmills on a regular basis.
I am not saying Obama is perfect but he struck a cord with me because he is inspirational and does share my values and seems sincere and at least is willing to use the word change, whether he means it or not is another story I know but McCain and his brood are so far in denial that change is a word without comprehension to them so they can not even lie and try and promise it.
Just my opinion, LOL.
Chris
Nothing like a good racist rant too get the day started!! This is exactly why Obama will lose the election!! Continue to blame everything on the color or lack of color in someone’s skin. Isn’t the whole idea to forget about race and concentrate on the message and the plan to make the country better? I guess when you have an empty message and no real plan to get anything accomplished then you had better ramp up the racist talk to give yourself a chance. That’s politics for you. When you can’t rally people with your message then baffle them with bullshit. It is very obvious how scared the Democrats are of Palin and McCain.
You know what is really ironic; is that even the great leader and proponent of the civil rights movement Jesse Jackson thinks Obama is full of crap!! Whoever put this to paper is the real racist!!
Thomas
Feels good to be white again, HUH? LOL. Vote McCain, Palin, 2008. LOL. Extremely biased I know but has a LARGE ring of truth.
Chris
White Privilege, White Entitlement and the 2008 Election
By Tim Wise
For those who still can¹t grasp the concept of white privilege, or who areconstantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps thislist will help.White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palinand everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is apersonal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents,because "every family has challenges," even as black and Latinofamilies with similar "challenges" are regularly typified asirresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.White privilege is when you can call yourself a "fuckin¹ redneck,"like Bristol Palin¹s boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messeswithyou, you'll "kick their fuckin' ass," and talk about how youlike to "shoot shit" for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (anda great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six yearslike Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, thenreturned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and noone questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas aperson of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, andprobably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmativeaction.White privilege is when you can claim that being mayorof a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about thesame number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makesyou ready to potentially be president, andpeople don¹t all piss onthemselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term stateSenator, and constitutional law scholar, means you¹re "untested."White privilege is being able to say that you support the words "underGod" in the pledge of allegiance because "if it was good enough for thefounding fathers, it¹s good enough for me," and not be immediately disqualifiedfrom holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800sand the "under God" part wasn¹t added until the 1950s--while believing thatreading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, theConstitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requiresit), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make peopleimmediately scared of you. White privilege is being able to have ahusbandwho was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state tosecede from the Union, and whose motto was "Alaska first," and no onequestions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black andyour spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home withher kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she¹s beingdisrespectful.White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and thework they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women tovote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to childlabor--and people think you¹re being pithy and tough, but if you merelyquestion the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with noforeign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college--you¹re somehowbeing mean, or even sexist.White privilege is being able to convince white womenwho don¹t even agreewith you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mateanyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspiredconfidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a"second look."White privilege is being able to fire people who didn¹t support yourpolitical campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being atypical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merelyknowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means youmust be corrupt.White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whosepastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merelycriticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christiannation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theologicalprinciples into government, and who bring in speakers who say theconflictin the Middle East is God¹s punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, andeveryone can still think you¹re just a good church-going Christian, but ifyou¹re black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have ColinPowell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are oftenthe result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racismand its effect on black people, you¹re an extremist who probably hatesAmerica.White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by areporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a"trick question," while being black and merely refusing to giveone-word answers to the queries of Bill O¹Reilly means you¹re dodging the question,or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anythingat all to do with yourfitness for president, while being black andexperiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it, a "light"burden.And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allowsomeone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percentof the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing theirhomes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from worldopinion, just because white voters aren¹t sure about that whole"change" thing. Ya know, it¹s just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four moreyears of the same, which is very concrete and certain.White privilege is, in short, the problem.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)