Decisions

Sometimes close contests have a “judge’s decision” like boxing for example. Others sometimes have a “majority decision” like our legislature. There are still other kinds of rulings, such as the ever popular “monetary decision” (who has gold makes the rules sort of deal). Well, the contest that I posed on Friday has been decided, and not by any of the previously mentioned methodologies either. What started off as a close race has turned into a landslide victory. At the end, pulling ahead by somewhere around 1000 points, Tim Ryder is our winner!! That’s right folks, by an official “Phil’s Decision,” Tim has bested Google without question. Congratulations Tim!! (It should also be noted that Rob’s Space has always and will continue to support “Phil’s Decision” in any matters of… well, anything.)

The picture I posted is of my favorite person. I know that most of the face is hidden, but I still think you can figure out who it is. (And the textbook should be a dead giveaway)

That was during our study session last night. I was reading horrifically painful articles about institutionalism and legislatures and balance and power and how corrupt Illinois is… all in all, a good time. Almost as good of a time as when we were playing poker at the Ryder Household. I had the pleasure of knocking Scott out of the tournament and then Tim and Josh more or less took themselves out (I don’t remember). The final three was Allyn, Ro and I. I, of course, won. One day they’ll all learn they’re being hustled. One day… So that puts me winning 2 of 3 poker tournaments and 5 out of 5 chess matches against Scott.

I am STILL awesome.

Tim vs Google

• Google has a Research and Development building at NASA
  Tim knows every line ever uttered on the Satellite of Love

• Tim uses a lot of name-dropping and pop culture references in everyday conversation.
  Google, if I was so inclined to do so, can tell me what the hell Tim was talking about.

• Google is working on providing free wireless internet access.
  Tim provides free comedy and entertainment for those around him.

• Tim is a sexy man.
  Google can give me wallpapers of Kristin Kreuk.

• Google is part of the team developing a $100 laptop for children around the world.
  Tim is freakishly tall, and has potential for providing shade for children around the world.

• Tim’s beaten Island of Dr Brain more times than should be possible in one lifetime.
  Google can give me a walkthrough, so I can do it as well.

• Tim’s leaving us to live in Chicago.
  Google is always there… searching… watching…

• If you ask Google about a “miserable failure” it’ll give you President Bush’s biography.
  If you ask Tim about a “miserable failure”… well… he’d probably say George W as well.
  

All in all, I think it's too close to call. I'm going to leave it up to you. If you have anything else to add, feel free. It may tip the bal

I really am the Greatest

Currently Book: The Chronicles of Narnia
Next Movie to See: Serenity
Eagerly Awaiting: Smallville Season Premier
Current Chess Status: Undefeated

• Seeing as that I’m the greatest, and Ro’s the greatest, its easy to understand why we’re so perfect for each other. So I figured I’d just come out and say it since everyone else seems to shy to do so. “I am awesome.” Alright, now the pressure’s off… everyone can feel free to speak their minds. Feel free to leave your praises in the comment section.


• The picture is of the turning point in Scott and I’s last game, he’s really excited about losing, I’m not really sure if he had any idea that swift and utter defeat was only 2 moves after that.

• Sometime I start typing these posts and realize that there is little to no flow to the writing. When it’s all disjunctured like this I just make it bulleted and pretend like it was my intention all along.

• Apartment update #1: Going to try and work out a time for mom to come up and visit so we can look at apartments. Scott is going to be graduating sooner than later, and I’ve already stayed at Scott’s… well… originally I was just crashing there a week or so.

• Apartment update #2: We’ve got an inspector coming to the apartment today, so I had to make it look like I didn’t live there. Since I sleep on a futon, this isn’t too hard. The only thing that might be difficult to explain is why Scott has an extra dresser.

• I rule at chess.

• I got a B on my paper that I wrote for class. That paper was far harder than I had anticipated, and I was estatic to get a B. Also I should yet again, thank my roommate for proofreading it for me. He checked the first 4 or so pages for me, and it’s amazing the number of red marks on the last 3 versus those original 4. So, thanks Scott.

• Phil, we demand that you get your own blog!

Gaudy Patriotism

So, a while ago (a few years maybe, I don’t keep track of these things) some guy wanted to practice making an online store to help benefit his small, independent company. He was also struck with an epiphany, “how about I make a cheap product and sell it as a fund raiser!” This was a great idea, and just like the LIVEstrong bracelets, there’s really no fault or complaint to be had with it. Our friend decided to sell these yellow, ‘support our troops’ ribbon things, and would send the proceeds to families in need. I commend that man, great idea and great action. However part of me hates him as well… again, like the LIVEstrong bracelets.

Could he have foreseen what was going to come of this? No.
Was it ever his intention? No.
Do I hold him a bit responsible nonetheless? Uhh… yeah, a bit.
Does slapping that on your car really support anyone? Depends; sadly - not often.
Does putting an anti-bush or anti-war ribbon really fulfill your resistance ambitions? Maybe if you put in on your bicycle…

We all support our troops, no one wishes any ill on our soldiers (if they do, they should be kicked in the teeth). There’s really nothing wrong with having a ribbon on your car, if they money didn’t actually go to helping someone, I just don’t really see the purpose.

America is a great country because it is the land of freedom, opportunity and a several other overused, underconsidered cliches. You don’t have to be born here, you don’t have to be of a particular heritage, or even religion, THAT's why I'm proud to be an American. But I've gone off point... wait did I have a point? oh yeah, gaudy patriotism... like the title.

No where in our bill of rights is there the Right to be Obscene. So does plastering a total of fourteen ribbons and 2 flags on your car (I counted) make you more American, or a better American… or just tacky. Do I hate this woman for her patriotism? No, of course not… but I do pity her. I mean seriously, she’s just got no fashion sense whatsoever. She probably wears white after Labor Day as well. And mixes her browns and blacks and blues. And has lawn figurines. And Christmas Decorations up all year round. And those shiny basketball sized orb things in her yard too.

This made me laugh.

Neapolitan isn't just Ice Cream

I have a post all typed up and ready to go. I have a picture that I took while driving that is essential to the post, but my cell phone is unable to connect to the internet for the last 2 hours. So I'm going to have to put this post off until tomorrow. Problem is, I really don't feel like typing up a whole new post. oh well...

Ro came to visit this weekend, and it was awesome. I drove up to pick her up after work on Friday meaning I didn't leave until... midnight. But her brother had the car and we had a party to go to on Saturday. Tim's Farewell Party at Josh's house that is. Ro and I spent a lot of time "just hanging out." For example, on Sunday we went to Barns and Noble to do homework, but there was no tables available. So we somehow ended up at the pets section and looked at ridiculously cute pictures of puppies the whole time. And I came across the name of a particular breed of dog that I've been wanting since the Europe trip.

While waiting at a train station in Prague - Josh, and two other Euro-friends, came across this girl. The girl wasn't too remarkable, or maybe she was, we just couldn't have told you because we were too obsessed with the dogbeast at her feet. Seriously, the largest, scariest dog, I'd ever seen. We called it a "Shark with Legs." When it yawned, I swear it had like 8 rows of teeth. Its a good thing that it was so well behaved, because weighed just shy of 150 pounds, to our estimation (and the girl probably 110.)

It was a Neapolitan Mastiff.
Here's some pictures.
Scarriest dog ever.

A Little Ingenuity

• Current Book: Lies My Teacher Told Me
• Current Homework: A paper on Legislatures from an Institutional Perspective
• Current Video Game: Burnout 4: Revenge
• Current Scott vs. Rob Chess Standing: Rob 1, Scott 0
• Current Timewaster: Facebook
• Current Movie: Watching Final Fantasy: Advent Children this weekend with Ro

Like that picture? I bring a tea bag into work most everyday; today however, my tea bag was ripped. So, working in a coffee maker plant, finding a coffee filter wasn'’t too hard… Just had to be creative this morning. Sorry about the lack of posting, I'’ve been lazy after that mad push to get that last paper done. For the future, I think I'’ll just include a beautiful picture of me when I don'’t have time/content to post.

Last night we had an awesome Survior party at Josh and Allyn's house. Its only the second episode of Survior I'd ever seen. We took picutres, and if Josh sends me a copy I'll post for you all to see. I wasn't thinking, or I would have taken one with my phone to put up today. Anyways, we made our own little tribal counsel at Allyn's request and voted Scott out of our friendship. We're also taking part in a pool of some sort. I picked the two hottest ones... one who has a good chance, and another who has no chance. Stephanie was on last season, and almost won, and she's hot, so I picked her. Brianna is hot and her favorite color is pink and she sells makeup for a living, so I picked her as well. I also got this other guy who can't breathe too well or something as my random wildcard person... All in all, I've got an awesome team! More of this to come in future posts I'm sure. But that's all for now, later!