Flash Me

Edited For Ro's Benifit, and new linkage at bottom.

No, I'm not talking about Girls Gone Wild here, but Flash Art. Basicly flash is that stuff that hangs on the wall in tattoo shops that you can pick from. My friend PJ has a lot of tattoos. He also likes to draw. His drawings look like tattoos to me. Hence the connection. He posted a lot of them on the internet, so I thought I would link to them to get him some traffic.

And I'm off to another stimulating day at the Buy. Later.

**** EDIT ****

Awesome video clip of a boy with Autism who spends all high school being the basketball manager is finally allowed to play in a game. Bet the coach is kicking himself for waiting so long.

And here's the link to PJ's actual website.

Great Wi-Fi and a Great Movie

So my internet's been flaky, and I've been.... well not home. Last night I had another big meeting of Model Illinois Government, after working all day... and then class.... but hey who needs to be home between the hours of 9 am and 11 pm anyways (Saturday it'll be 7:45 am - 11:?? pm). Next weekend is my birthday and Model Illinois Government (hereby referred to as MIG). I think I've decided to last minute draw up a bill and get it passed in the House. Its going to be to lift the ban on local governments to allow free city-wide wireless internet access. Blah blah blah, not going to go into it, but with Cities like Philadelphia already have plans underway and Chicago is in negotiations it won't be that hard of a sell in a Model Government setting. In the real field its a few legislators in the hand of some of the big businesses that have enacted the ban in the first place before people really knew what anyone was talking about. Who'da thought, Cable Companies, Cell Phone Providers and the Telecommunications Industry are worried about losing business to free wireless internet.

Secondly, what if I told you there was a movie coming out staring: Chevy Chase, Jimmy Fallon, Whoopi Goldberg, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Kevin Smith, William H Macy and Jon Stewart. Now what if I said it was animated? Now what if I said that Jon Stewart plays the voice of an evil blue spring who is trying to freeze the world with an ice beam that shoots from his moustache? I am so there.

A short list...

of things I do when I should be doing homeowork

1. Picking up my apartment.
2. Watching TV.
3. Doing the Dishes.
4. Making Chocolate Chip Pancakes at 12:20 in the AM.
5. Doing my laundry at Scott's while he's out of town.
6. I DID MY TAXES.
7. Looking up information on when my Nintendo Revolution is coming out.
8. Looking for xBox games for mom and dad (yes Dad bought an xBox.)
9. Watch Super Smash Brothers Tips and Tricks Videos on the Internet.
10. Blogging.
    

Bowling

Soooo.... what do we do when we're bored? We dress Scott up as a Best Buy employee and go bowling. This photo is actually hanging in our manager's station, its awesome because Scott actually used to work for Best Buy back in the day... up until he just quit. We're going to see if we can get one of these photos put in the national Best Buy Newsletter, because that would be hilarious.

Oh yeah, I guess I could introduce: I'm on the far left (having just said something or getting ready too, I don't know). Katie is next to me, she's teaching Ro and I how to play pool at the local pool hall. Then is Scott behind us (very suave that kid is) and Alexa on the right (Alexa is technically my senior at work, but I don't take orders from no girl). TaDa!!

Tests and Tickets

So I've got my first test of the semester tonight. It's a stats test, so I'm not really worried (silly math), but still its two hours before... I guess I should start studying. First things first though... gotta order my plane tickets for Spring Break. Its official: Phil, Ro and I are going to San Diego, CA for Springbreak! Yay! We should meet Jamie and Scott there and we're all staying at my Aunt's House.

Ok, so I took a break from blogging and actually ordered the tickets. I used Hotwire.com, which had an interesting offer. We got Round Trip tickets for $279 a person (including taxes and fees) which was a good $25 lower than most of the offers I was finding through Expedia, and Orbitz and others, but here was the catch. You don't get to see the flight times, airlines or anything. Whatever, it was cheap so we did it.

Turns out its not so bad, sure we're going to San Diego via Atlanta Georgia, but hey... No big deal. I've heard Georgia is nice in mid March. In the end it's about 7 hours from a St Louis takeoff untill a San Diego touchdown. Hooray for Spring Break.

Now I guess I need to study for that damn test. Seeing that I've only got an hour before I need to leave, stupid test. Later.

Welcome to Rob's Space 2.0

I thought we should do a quick re-introduction. On my blog I often take pictures of cute puppies and tell you how they're trying to destroy the world and eat your soul. If you wanted something pure and innocent, you were looking for something more like this. Besides, I don't normally post until late/early morning, and MY Valentines Day didn't start until 11:55pm last night. And no one should really be surprised that I humor in the shooting, its the most random thing to happen since the Pretzel Incident.

Anyways, Since the demand was so high...

Now that V-Day is over and I can actually post about it without giving it away to Ro... I drove up to visit her and was able to make it with 5 minutes to spare! And here's what she got from me. The second picture is of a special tea set I got us, they're called display teas and they leaves are sewn together to look like flowers (the picture is of Jasmine tea, with a Jasmine Flower to boot).

The Aim Game

Come on, why is everyone acting so shocked? Its not like this adminsitration's aim has been the greatest so far. We meant to get the terrorists, we blow up Iraq. We meant to help people after Katrina, we blew up Iraq again. We meant to shoot a bird, we shoot an old man. But in Cheney's Defense, have you ever gone hunting? It is incredibly frustrating. All the waiting, the aiming, the dog laughing at you... Also it should be noted these were old birds. It wasn't like they were young birds that didn't look anything like the man who was shot. They were frail, white feathered, crochety old birds. Its a mistake anyone could have made.

Oops...

Here's a quick picture. Forgot to post.

Ro's New Shirt

Ro really likes braille stuff. She likes reading it on elevators and public places. One of her favorites was when Google celebrated their special "Louis Braille's Birthday" Google logo (Google written in Braille). Well, lets just say that Ro was real excited when she saw this article: Braille Shirts.

She's so cute.

Fine, no one liked that story...

Here's a better one for you:

A guy came into the Buy to get a new computer. Apparently he's the sound tech for a band and had some slightly complicated stuff he needed to work out. I, of course, was able to help him figure out how to control his mixing boards and such which are hooked up to a main work station (with dual monitors) wireless from the audience during a show from his touch screen tablet PC. "But Rob, I don't even know what you just said... how could you have possibly helped him out?" Because I'm just that awesome.

Anyways, this band that he works for is actually a pretty big band, Sevendust. You probably haven't heard of it, but just take my word for it (fine, don't believe me... here's a wikipedia entry that agrees.) So I talked to and helped out this guy for about an hour, got him all set up and it was pretty entertaining. He had taken a cab over, he hadn't really slept in like 2 days and hadn't eaten all that day... so he was a little out of it, but in a suprisingly good mood.

Andy (that was his name by the way) thanked me and proceded to ask for my name and some form of contact info. Tonight when I got home from work, I had an email saying that "Rob French +1" was on the Band's Guest List for that the sold out show that starts in 18 hours. How's that for awesome.

I rock. You're jealous. Deal with it.

Sometimes it slips out....

I've got two quotes from my Model Illinois Government (website) that I thought were noteworthy enough to share with the group. They both made me laugh quite a bit. First off to set the stage, we were doing some mock parliamentary procedures, just going through the motions of debating a bill, passing amendments and the like. We all split up into democrats and republicans (interesting enough, most of the republicans were actually just democrats playing it up) but one of the bills was about gun control. Pretty much a party line issue, Dems against and Repubs for. The main argument was about concealed weapons and the right to bear arms and the right to protect yourself and to protect your family. And in our Whip's closing argument it got a little ridiculous at the end. She became extremely melodramatic and finished with something along the lines of:

"And that, my fellow American's is why we should stand together and fight this... Remember, Guns don't save people; People save people."

it made me laugh outloud.



But the second quote of the night was even better. It was from me, whispered to the person next to me. So I know it's been mentioned before that sometimes I think really mean things because I think it's funny. Its not the fact that I mean or believe them at all, it just sometimes I just come up with the harshest things to say. Sometimes there's no one around me that I know well enough to let them in on, what I believe, is a hilarious joke. Sometimes the pain of keeping to myself is too much and I let it slip out.

So we were learning about points of order, objections, etc. In general, ways to interrupt and question someone or something. It was a VERY not serious bill in question, just whipped up for illustrative purposes regarding promiscuous acts amongst college students. The Representative of the Religious Right was going off about the damnable properties of "self-destructive behaviors" and made the statement that she "made the Choice to abstain from premartial sex," I leaned over and asked if we could object that I didn't believe it was her choice, but instead society's. The other girl said, "yeah, I wouldn't say that." I laughed to myself quite a bit... even if SHE didn't see the humor in it. I really can't be held responsible, sometimes it just slips out.

In the market for some credit

Not credibility... or "street cred" for you more verbaciously affluent types. I'm in the market for a new credit card/bank. Why?? I'll tell you. I found out that as a full time employee at Teh Buy I am entitled to some random benfits... like special deals with certain banks and such. Free Overdraft Protection, Free Checking/Savings, Low Interest, etc. Otherwise I'm also open for suggestions. I'm currently with Regions (Union Planters) and I think I have special benfits at Chase and National Bank.

I'm open for:
a) suggestions for new bank/credit cards
b) good credit card/bank stories
c) New Boxer suggestions... long story*

Check out Ask a Ninja, its a goofy (yet deadly) ninja who answers all your burning ninja questions in a short video podcast.

* Some of my favorite have holes in them. I need new favorites. Ok, so it's not that long of a story.

Superbowl Sunday

So I didn't even realize that the superbowl was today until... well late last night. Needless to say I didn't watch the Superbowl myself. What I suggest -- catch the highlights here. And since its too late and I'm lazy... if you want the rest of my opinions go here.

Why don't you people understand?!?

Its all part of their game. Think about it, there are more and more ridiculously cute animals popping up all over the globe. Everywhere they're rendering people useless in their wake. Look at this website documenting the widespread disease. Sure its just a little bunny in a shoe. Or a squirel sleeping amist a cluster of puppies. But think people! If you were going to do something, like walk out your door, or watch TV, or call the authorities, you wouldn't. You would stop and stare and want to cuddle.

What's worse is that they're not only multiplying at a staggering pace, but they're spreading to larger forms. Look at this girl! First cute gerbils, then dogs, now humans. What will it take to make you all understand.

Fine. You gawk and stare. I'm going to protect myself.

Annie the Destroyer and Bringer of Death

A terrible Evil has been unleashed onto this world. Do NOT BE DECIEVED by its small stature, Cities shall crumble, governments fall, and Butterflies chased! Sure, I know what you're thinking, how can something that small bring down so much havoc?





Look into these eyes... Look into the eyes of the devil himself.
But beware! Lest you fall prisoner and drown in those twin pools of despair. Please pray for my mother for she knows not what she is doing... pray for her, and pray for our mortal souls.



Even as we speak, Annie "Soul Cleaver" French, is honing her skills and preparing for the epic struggle that no one but I seems to see coming. Forget national boundries, forget political and religious affiliations, there are only two groups of people in the world today. Those who are with Annie and those are stand against.

And Annie, my friends...

Annie Stands Alone.

Model Illinois Government

So I joined MIG (see title) thinking that it would help give me a far better understanding of the whole process and it would also look quite nice on a resume (oh, and my teacher gives mega-bonus points for doing it). I decided that I would try and be a Lobbyist, a sort of behind the scenes man. I seriously have to lurk outside the caucuses and buddy up to legislators and try and get them to pass my bill.

After my first meeting last night I heard some past MIG examples of how you can do "favors" and get things done. Let me tell you, model government is just about as corrupt as the public mistakenly believes that the real government is. Here was one (yet almost every) example of how you can get someone to see your point of view: give them your request wrapped around a bottle of Jack. I can already tell this is going to call for some creativity.

I think this will work both against and for me. Obviously I'm not buying anyone alcohol to help get my pretend bill passed, if a time comes that I must sacrifice my personal beliefs for the greater good then I'll have to weigh my options. That time will not be for a fake bill for a fake government. So I need some alternative ways to grab attention.

I'll either have to champion a bill that's humorous in itself and college kids would just like the idea (although it can't be too far out there, because most do take this very seriously). I could carry around asprin for those who accepted too many "bribes" the night before. I could also hand out something like fruit roll ups (everyone loves fruit roll ups). I could have a sexually themed bill and hand out a condom to each representative with my proposal. Really, I just have to do something that sticks in their mind and makes them want to help me out. Its like real government, except its not because I've only got like 2 days to lobby and really nothing to offer. Another option is to try and find the people who are running for important offices (like Senate Majority Leader) and offer to help hand out buttons and such for them if they get their friends to help endorse my bill.

Anyways, I'm open to suggestions or comments. I pretty much was just thinking of this stuff last night and thought I'd blog about it. (My internet went down last night actually... which is why you have a late post). Have a great day, I'm off to the Buy.