Why I'm Changing Political Parties.

I'm starting this article at roughly 5:30 AM on January 6th 2012.

I could not sleep. 

A youtube video was posted by a friend about Ron Paul.  A figure that I had heard about but had never given serious thought to as a candidate for President.

That time is over.

I did not get to vote for Bush in 2000.  I don't know that I wouldn't have, I would probably have leaned towards Gore...but I'm not certain that it would matter.

Full disclosure, I consider myself mostly liberal.  I dislike the Republican party and what it seems to stand for.  Militarism, Big Buisness, Guns, and a basic Fuck You if you don't like our party, we're more American than you.

I voted for Kerry in 2004, mostly because I thought George W. Bush was an idiot puppet for the Republican party.  He essentially was a guy who 'looked' like a President that they could prop up and with the right propaganda and messages could implement their own self serving policies.

In retrospect, I had no idea whether or not Kerry would not just be more of the same.  I could not have cared less.  The media coverage was so horribly biased to either hate or love Bush that I actually have no clue whether or not Kerry would have made a good president. 

I voted for Obama in 2008, because I thought he would be different, that he would implement serious change to policy.  That our presence overseas would be greatly reduced.  That the unscrupulous rich would be brought to justice.  That Government would, at the very least, become transparent.  These are the thing I expected.


So far I have been proven wrong. 

See, I grew up in the 90's.  Where America seemed to have reached it's zenith of power.  We were the most affluent nation.  We had the best military.  We had Universities and Colleges all across the land.  It seemed we had everything, and nothing was really needed to change it, because let's face it...we kept winning, kept getting richer and it seemed nothing at all could stop us.

Then 9/11 happened and everything started moving in the other direction.

In all likelihood the wheels were set in motion long ago by both foreign and domestic policies by both sides of the aisle.

And perhaps we as a country had just grown so out of touch with what our reality was that we didn't want to admit the truth, because it seemed like we got so much, why should we give it back?  We let our greed and selfishness blind us to our own disconnect to the values that originally made us who we are as a Nation.

And right now the truth is that our country is at the very best, managing a status quo.

We changed Presidents but the policies still remain.  Bowing to lobbyists, bowing to party pressures.

We have grown our Government into a monster.

Our foreign policy is wrong.  It is so wrong that the people who signed up to fight for America KNOW it's wrong. 

Currently, more active troops have donated to his campaign than all other Republican candidates COMBINED, not to mention the President himself.



Our economy is wrong.  Everyone, with the exception of the super rich knows it.  The wealth of the country is being concentrated and not spread out, and the problem is getting worse.

Most of all, I find our leaders to be wrong.  I see them as fake, shadows I'm sure of who they set out to be.

I don't think Obama is the answer.  I don't believe just any republican is the answer.

I believe Ron Paul is the answer.

He is not young.  But he is consistent.  He is possibly what Obama could have been.  But unlike Obama, he appears that he will not cower to inner party politics.

He is extremely intelligent.  He appears to be the most intelligent and logical candidate for President that I have ever seen.  Instead of appealing to senses of fear or hatred, he appeals to logic.


If you believe in the values that America was founded on, the ones that Thomas Jefferson wrote in our Constitution, then you owe it to watch him.

If you care that the world that you live in, the world that perhaps your children grow up in.  You owe it to listen to this man.

He is not a Republican like any other.

He is not a candidate like any other.

I am not universally in line with Ron Paul.  There are specific issues that I would have contention with.  But by and large I agree with his policies, and I'm so tired of the status quo and the living in the fear that we are all so accustomed to.

That fear is that nothing will change.

The fear that everything and everyone in the government is corrupt and can be bought.  That in the end, NONE of them have have the best interests of American citizens in mind, but rather only their own selfish needs.
 
I will be changing my voter registration to vote for him in the Republican Primary in Pennsylvania.

Not because I believe in the Republican party.

But because I believe in Ron Paul.

You can look at the video that sparked this piece here.

You can change YOUR voting status so that you can vote for Ron Paul in the upcoming primaries here

Tebow and Ali

 "We have one life; it soon will be past; what we do for God is all that will last."
 -Muhammad Ali


Tim Tebow has arrived America.

It is no longer a topic that can be put on the back burner.

He is relevant, and relevant unlike any other athlete except for perhaps one.

Muhammad Ali.

Before everyone piles on the fact that Muhammad Ali is widely recognized as the greatest boxer of all time, and one of the top 5 ATHLETES of all time, I am NOT referring to Tebow's athletic prowess.

I'm referring to his beliefs.  His religion.  What he stands for.

Tebow is controversial for as many reasons off the field as he is on it.

He is Pro-Life/Anti-Abortion.  He is a devout Christian.  He is unapologetic about his views.

Ali similarly led a controversial life.  He was against Viet Nam, to the point that he would dodge the draft and be stripped of his title as World Heavyweight Champion of the world.  He was idolized.  He was also vilified.

Tim Tebow is a story because he has led the Broncos to a 7-1 record after starting 1-4.  He is a polarizing story because of his beliefs.  This makes him a story that no one can put down. 

The popular idea, at least as far as I can discern it right now, is that Tebow, an openly very religious Christian is essentially working miracles.  Comebacks in the fourth quarter, bizarre happening with onside kicks and Marion Barber.  What is going on?  They're in the playoffs right now, and are approaching a match up with a perennial favorite in New England.

His style is unorthodox and has yet to be proven to win in the NFL.

He praises Jesus, and makes sure to say 'God Bless' at the end of his press conference.

Now travel back nearly 50 years to the 1960's.

Muhammad Ali is an openly devout converted Muslim, opposing the Viet Nam war.

He speaks openly about what he believes (albeit, in a much more brash and arrogant tone) and he is what Tebow is.  Polarizing.

On one hand you have racists and traditionalist calling for anyone to beat this man.  His style being unorthodox (rope-a-dope, floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee) many pundits believe he won't be successful long term.

Ali endured it all and just kept winning.  He won by knockouts, he would win by decisions, but Ali won.  And by the end of his career he would be distinguished by many as the very best athlete ever, due not only to his place on the field but how he handled himself off of it.

He protested a war, standing up for his beliefs to the point that he would not go after being drafted.  Thus he was then stripped of his title and boxing license.  He won his appeal, and then won again in the ring.  

Ali was Muslim, spoke openly about religion and I don't doubt that Christians, Jews, Agnostics, and Atheists and Sports pundits alike were more than likely put off by his outspokenness about his religion. 

Where are we now?

Time will tell if Tebow can accumulate the wins and popularity of Ali.  My personal opinion is that the sport of Football carries too many variable to maintain greatness for an extended period of time.  It isn't only Tebow playing in the games after all.  That said who knows.

The Tebow story is not only a football story but a human one.  That is what drives us to watch.  Because just underneath the surface of a game, there are topics that are more important.

Why are we fighting a war?
What is it to be Muslim in America
What is it like to be an openly devout Christian in America?
What is the right side (Is there one?) in the right to life/right to choose debate?

It has happened once before that a dominant player has stood up for his religious and political views.
Perhaps we should embrace that it's happening again.

My music choices of 2011. Not wasting light.

Over the past year or so I've purchased or downloaded 14 complete albums.  Not including random singles or compilations or stuff I've played on grooveshark.com and not my white panda mashups (which though awesome, I don't quite equate to original content.)  I'm not calling these albums of the year for everyone, just me and what I like to listen to. 

They are in Alphabetical order.

Awolnation - Megalithic Symphony

Bad Meets Evil - Hell:The Sequel (Eminem & Royce Da 5'9" compilation)

The Black Keys - El Camino

Bon Iver - Bon Iver (Self-Title)

Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials

Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

The Killers - (Red) Christmas

Lil Wayne - The Carter IV

Mac Miller - Blue Slide Park

Patrick Stump - Soul Punk

Puscifer - Conditions of My Parole

Red Hot Chili Peppers - I'm With You

Rise Against-End Game

TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light


I will now rank them from my personal perspective starting with number 14 and then concluding with what was for me, the best album of 2011.

14. Puscifer-Conditions of My Parole

I feel sad with this because I absolutely love the title track as one of the best songs of the year, but overall I felt like the album had nothing else to really give.  The sound is typically one really you can tell that Maynerd is experimenting with sound and making what he wants, but often it doesn't evolve into anything resembling a conventional song.  Perhaps that's what he wanted, but it mostly wasn't for me.  But make no doubt, Conditions of My Parole is a great song and video and is a piece of art unto itself.

'Conditions Of My Parole'

13.  Mac Miller - Blue Slide Park

I had high hopes for this one.  I've heard him on a few tracks before this feature release and I kept being impressed by the Pittsburgh native.  But while he excels on uptempo tracks and sound such 'Smile Back' and 'Up All Night', I found myself kind of bored when the other tracks came on. Not that his skill was any less apparent, but rather the music behind it sounded a bit too generic and failed to create whatever atmosphere he was attempting to create.

'Smile Back'

12.   The Killers - (RED) Christmas

This ranking has little to do with the actual content of the album, which I know is bizarre.  However it's Christmas time and I would like to listen to a little bit of an alternative band doing some happy Christmas music for a good cause and being donated to The Global Fund.  It's a great cause, and even a little giving back is important.  PLUS, fun, kinda offbeat music.  'Cowboy's Christmas Ball' and 'Happy Birthday Guadalupe!' are probably my favorite tracks.

'The Cowboys Christmas Ball'

Check out more about the Global Fund here

11. TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light

Not bad at all.  But I kept listening to the last 5 tracks far more than the beginning 6.  'Will Do' is a great single, but highly underrated are the two tracks 'New Cannonball Blues' and 'Repetition'.  I'm overall a fan of the band, but this effort still ranks behind a few others.

'Will Do'

'New Cannonball Blues'

10.  Bon Iver - Bon Iver

Bon Iver is not for everyone.  I'll admit to that off the bat.  But.  If you enjoy really well sculpted sound structure and harmonies you'll love it.  Often songs are difficult to understand the singing or story behind the voice.  However, in songs such as 'Perth' and 'Towers' his voice is an afterthought to the drums, strings and horns intertwining and creating something unlike anything you've probably heard in recent years.  Soft Album, probably made for solemn evening during Winter break. 

'Perth'

'Towers'

'Minnesota, WI' 

9.  Bad Meets Evil - Hell: The Sequel

Really had pretty low expectations for this album, but thought that Eminem was back on track with his last album and wanted to make sure he was still killing it.  Yup.  Album blasts Eminem at his best. Royce da 5'9" is good, but doesn't come with any memorable verses with the exception of 'Loud Noises', and while they share the same amount of minutes on the record, there is no doubt that the star is still Em.

Unapologetic to his critics while yet admitting to mistakes may seem to still smack of defiance to some, I felt that he continues to sound honest about how he feels about the world and life in general.

That essence?

Fuck You, I'm strong and I can do this.  I will be great.


And that is something profoundly human about that attitude.  Something that is surprisingly admirable.

'Loud Noises'

'Lighters'

'Take From Me'

8.  Patrick Stump - Soul Punk


I'm a bit of a fall out boy fan.  I started with Grand Theft Autumn from the 'Take This to Your Grave' album.  It wasn't the only sort of emo band I was liking at the time, but it did have probably the most distinctive voice in what at the time was a pretty crowded arena of emo/pop punk music.

The dude can sing. 


So after a while of digging the band as a punk/pop oddity over the next (they played pop, but never really made into a super stardom stratosphere.)  The band took a break.  They each decided to do, something else.


For his part, Patrick Stump just made more music.

And while as Fall Out Boy the band straddled genre lines, Patrick Stump has gone into a very definitive direction.

His album is decidedly and unarguably pop.

Which he happens to excel at.


While overall the album will satisfy your craving for something easy to digest, it rarely excels to a place that will have you out of your seat.  The ones that got my attention, held it for a significant time.

'Explode'

'This City'


'The "I" In Lie'

7.  Rise Against -Endgame

Rise Against has finally made a bit of transistion from noisy Indie Rock to mainstream rock.  My introduction to Rise Against came some time ago, probably around 2003, when I first heard 'Swing Life Away'.  Since then only the only other songs that really caught my ear were 'Prayer of the Refugee' and 'Ready To Fall'

Enter Endgame.

With a blistering pace set from the outset in 'Architects' to the title track 'Endgame' the albums message painted is one of hope, and one of starting to build one's own destiny.  Unlike some of the other albums that I've listened to over this year, this album does not feature a talented vocalist.  Tom McIIrath is not winning American Idol, but he may be writing the lyrics for them.


Musically, expect to be hit with constant drums and ripping guitars.  The pace almost never slows and for a band that clearly came with the message of getting up off your ass doing something, perhaps that's the best part about the album.


Best listened to at a high volume.


'Architects'


'Help Is On The Way'


'Endgame'

6.  Florence+The Machine - Ceremonials

I knew of Florence and her machine.  I knew she had a spectacular voice and that she used it in a  I knew about Dog Days being over, but this?  This was something really good.  A sense of energy and power is exuded all over the album.  From her dismantling of her past in 'Shake It Out', to her condemnation of her own actions in No Light, No Light, to a moment of pure joy and triumph on 'Sprectum and everywhere in between.  And where as Mac Miller's background beats and music seemed to leave Miller on his own, the score on Ceremonials enhances Ms. Welch's voice to an almost absurd level.  Great album.  Probably as good a technically as there is on my list.

'Spectrum'

'Shake It Out'

'No Light, No Light'

5.  AWOLNATION - Megalithic Symphony

My introduction to this "Band" (It's really Aaron Bruno's of must be credited to my roommate.  Every now and then I get referred to an album, and typically I will like a few selected tracks.  That is not the case here.  In this case I loved the album from Start to Finish.  Except for the weird interludes. 

While vocally Bruno isn't where Stump is, maybe not even in the same ball park, his writing and sense of energy within the album is above that of Soul Punk.

In essence, while Stump created a good Pop album, Awolnation's Megalithic Symphony is a great rock album.

Tracks like 'Burn It Down', 'Kill Your Heroes' and 'Soul Wars' crackle with energy, while 'People', and 'All I Need' slow the tempo down enough to give your mind a rest.

'Burn It Down'

'Kill Your Heroes'

'People'

4. Lil Wayne - The Carter IV

Weezy is free, and Weezy picks up where he left off, and that's on top of the Rap game.  While he still has fun energy tracks ('Blunt Blowin', 'MegaMan') he also exposes his human side in more than a few tracks, and even an ode to Michael Jackson in 'Mirror' which also features Bruno Mars

Overall the greater aspect to this record is that you can almost feel Wayne's emotions as he tells his story's.  It's an extremely rare talent, and one that Wayne uses to great expertise.

'Mirror'

'Blunt Blowin'


'How To Love'

3. Red Hot Chili Peppers - I'm With You 

This is my favorite band of all time.  I make no bones about it.  I could go on forever why I think they're the best but I'll save that for another post.

With the departure of John Frusciante, many wondered exactly what the next album would differ from previous incarnations.

Not much as it turns out.  They still play a hybrid of funk-rock that is second to none.  The musical depth on the album is immense, with many different layers to each track.

 Kicking off with a scorching track in 'Monarchy of Roses' the album begins with a quintessential upbeat song and from their only a few hiccups kept this album from being higher on the list.  While you can't mistake the fact that Josh Klinghoffer isn't Klinghoffer, the new guitarist is certainly no amateur on the guitar.  His solo, along with Flea's in 'Goodbye Hooray' is nothing short of extraordinary.

I'm sure my friends are shocked to not see this album not be rated #1 by me, but I couldn't get over my dislike for a couple of specific tracks.

Oh that and Anthony's ridiculous mustache.


'Monarchy of Roses'

'Brendan's Death Song'

 'Goodbye Hooray'

2. The Black Keys - El Camino 


This was a very tough call.  There's so much packed into El Camino that resonates with me I found it difficult to keep it from the number 1 spot.

From the moment I heard the opening guitar riff on 'Lonely Boy' I knew there was going to be something special to this album.  And after that track ended and 'Dead and Gone' began I knew the album was going to be great.

Blues and rock are no longer mainstream, which is too bad, because it's still being crafted and it's still the heartbeat of America.

They even take a song in 'Little Black Submarines' and turn it (though probably unintentionally) into a song comparable to Zeppelin's 'Stairway To Heaven'.


Before anyone starts yelling blasphemy, just listen to the song, and see how it starts incredibly slow and builds and builds into an eruption of distorted electric guitar.  It's difficult to not compare the two.

'Lonely Boy'

'Dead and Gone'

'Sister'

'Little Black Submarines'



1. Foo Fighters - Wasting Light 

Never would have guessed that the first album I listened to this year would have been the best.  But if you like rock music, if rock music is your favorite genre of music, then this is it.

Dave Grohl has delivered his Masterpiece, addressing one of the most haunting subjects of a lifetime in the suicide of Kurt Cobaine in 'I Should Have Known'.

The whole album is a tribute to what rock should be in this day and age.  Punishing drums, screaming guitars, enough melody and lyrics to hold everything together and a man triumphing over all his haunts. 


'Arlandria'

'Rope'

'Bridge Burning'

'I Should Have Known'



I would like to say that I purchased all but one of the albums.  I don't believe it's right to not pay these incredible artists.  I know they get paid, I know they tour and I know record companies are typically the bad guys.  I don't care.  I believe in showing my support for a band or artist by paying for their work.

Golfing with Dad

So today my post is going to be unique.  Unique because it's personal, and unique because it's also something I want to write for a specific audience, which is the Golf audience.

There is a problem with this.

I am not a golfer.

I rarely hit the ball straight, and worse rarely far.  My golf swing may not be as bad as Barkley's, but it's certainly no where near an amateur golfer level.

I can offer very few actual golf stories, because in total I have probably only played a full 18 holes no more than 4 times. 

I could play other sports mind you.  I think to myself " Basketball, football, baseball, but golf??  Eh...I'm too competitive and self critical at this junkture of my life for that.  Maybe someday I could do it, but in all likelihood I'd rather be doing something else.

There is one exception though that I have found recently.

Golfing with my Father.


It is amongst one of the most calming and easiest things to do that I've ever found in my life. 

I work with people, I have friends, I have loved ones, siblings, but in none of their cases, and perhaps someday that will change, but I would trade none of them to golf with than my father.

The reasons are difficult to explain, but I am willing to try.

Here is this man that has raised me, been there for me when I was low, when I was on top of the world, and everywhere inbetween.  He was my primary role model.

My role model is now 61.  I am 27.  I have completed my education to the point of aquiring a degree from a relatively prestigious University.  What more is he going to teach me on that course?

Things that can't be taught.

Patience.  In the form of hitting a bad shot and persevering.  It's OK to fail.  Failing at something doesn't mean you will fail at the next.  If you hit one shot in the trees it's OK.  If you miss the ball on a swing, it's forgiveable.

For right around the corner just might be a shot that feels so right, that drops so perfectly from the Sky you believe there might just be a God that grabbed your ball out of the air and put it down exactly where you needed it to be dropped.

Endurance.  In the form of continuing a course even if you feel battered and bruised.  Your ego not what it once was.  Perhaps your body is not what it once was.  But you battle on.  You will complete the course.  It is an important lesson.  One to finish what you started.

Because at the end of the day, even if you had place balls into the lake, broken a club, had more than 20 golf cart rides to other holes because you had a slice so bad that drunk college kids would look at you funny.  There is that on the last hole you just may put it all together.

That in the End, your drive is straight and true, and far.  That in one more you land on the green.  That you place your ball roughly 7 feet from the pin.  You have at this moment, dragged yourself up from the bottomless abyss you had been playing in, and are on the verge of your first Birdie.

A slight curve, a slight hill, but it's not drastic.  The anxiety, the rush comes back, the fire, the dread, the anticipation.

 But then you look up, you see your Father.  And you see him smiling at you. You see him, smiling without any concern, with no worries, with a spirit and appetite for life that you could only still hope to exude. 

And then utter peace and calmness returns.  And your swing is nice and easy and under control.  You putt with the knowledge that no matter if this putt goes in or not, you have won.

And that's when I learned about happiness.

In the wake of horrible men, doing horrible things.  I would like to thank my Father for Never, Ever, EVER doing anything but be the most supportive and thoughtful man I've known.  I would like to thank him for allowing me to find a peace of mind, on my own, and through my own methods.

I would like to thank the sport of golf to make it so I can exchange all of those feelings, all of those emotions out without even saying a word...until now obviously.

Love You Dad

Ben

Welcome to the Bars, Rookies.

 I've worked at a bar now for 5 or so years.  Figured some of the newly 21 year olds in college, as well as bar staff might want to read this.  I'll be covering the paying and tipping portion, the 'how much you get to drink at the bar' and the rule and how to interact with the staff.

 Tipping and Specials

"What's on special?"

These words are the bane of the bartenders existence.  They also seal the customers fate as to be looked down upon for the time being as being either cheap, ignorant, dumb, lazy, or all of the above.

In the customer's mind, they are possibly looking to spend less money, get some info on the place etc, but in the end it always boils down to this, you're trying to get your buzz on for cheap. They have the mindset that they're being economical, prudent, smart and forward.

In a bartender or a server's mind, you have set the ball rolling into a very different attitude.

"If you are already looking for a break on basic prices, you will probably not tip a generous amount on those prices"

While you crush $1-$3 drinks, and run up your tab to say 20 bucks, with 8 drinks, you tip say 4 dollars total, well, not only are the drinks and alcohol discounted, but the work was discounted too. You THINK you tipped 20%, but in reality you tipped also at a discounted rate.

Now, the bar staff does owe the customer that they are being honest with them.  They aren't Car Dealerships or Insurance salesman.  They just sell you booze.  Which sells itself honestly.  It's not hard to convince someone to try a new drink or offer another beer.  And they want their customers happy (happy people give more, tell more people to come by), so all they really need to do is convince the customers that both the staff and the surrounding customers are happy.  And they have alcohol to help them out.

Happy customers tip generally well, 1/2 off drinks or not.

The staff however will not be able to convince you that they're happy if another customer keeps ordering 10 dirty girl scouts at 2.50 a piece and being tipped 3 bucks on a $25 tab.  That tab should have been 50, which is customary to give a 8 to 12 dollar tip.  Those shots are tedious to make and are incredibly weak, meaning that you basically won't get nearly the buzz that I'm sure your 21 year old heart desires (yet admittedly, I love mint ice cream so I would also say delicious).  

The bar staff member will think he got screwed.

When you come up a second time to order another 10 lemon drops and drop another 2 dollars, the workers feel like they're getting hosed on the amount of work provided versus profits.  They are now apt to become more openly hostile towards that particular customer and more than likely, the very next customer that wants to ask "What's on special?"

I'm not saying that tipping solves everything.

Big tips are welcome and in general will get you some leniency when it comes to ordering, smiling and general patience.  Bartenders are there to work and make money.  THIS DOES NOT MEAN IF YOU GAVE A BIG TIP THEY OWE YOU A DRINK, A CONVERSATION OR ANYTHING ELSE.  If you're an asshole who just happens to be rich...I will gladly take your money and still think of you as an asshole.  If you are my friend and I'm busy, I'm not ignoring you or thinking little of you, but rather that I feel as though it's my obligation to serve everyone that needs something, and while I would love to sit and chat and hang out, I am still at work. 

Bar staffs appreciate money, but they appreciate respect even more.  Sometimes too little of a tip is taken as a sign of disrespect.  But a large tip with expectations later can be just as off putting.

Some other odds and ends..


Well Drinks-Referring to the worst/cheapest form of a drink.  If you ask for a well drink in this town, you're more than likely getting a Banker's Club edition of the drink.  For example.  A rum and coke with 'well' rum is a dollar cheaper than say with Bacardi. 

Long Islands-The best/worst drink ever invented.  It has rum, gin, vodka, triple sec, and sometimes Tequila.  This sound like a lot.  It can be, but when they are on special it isn't.  Basically you're drinking a quarter shot of each with sours and coke (maybe a splash of OJ).  That said, they're served in larger cups so you feel like you're drinking a lot more, but in reality, you are getting the same amount of total alcohol as any other standard drink.  Sometimes the alcohol content will very slightly but not to the point that it would be a twice as strong drink.  Iced Teas are great when first starting out because of their sweetness and low burn aspect, but in my view highly overrated.

Bar Tours-We get it.  Your in a group going bar to bar with matching whatever.  You are creative, you are funny, you're a team.  You are also NOTORIOUS for buying the cheapest thing possible and tipping optionally regardless of service.  You can make up for this by interacting politely with the staff and being reasonable, but this rarely happens.  If you're on a bar tour after this post, I'm not blaming you.  I'm blaming the 99% of bar tours before you.




How much can you drink?


Bars are not a frat party.  They aren't house parties.  They aren't office parties.  They are bars.  Act accordingly.

You can not be so wasted that you can barely string together sentences.  You can not haphazardly be neglectful of glassware.  You can't fight.  You cannot have sex in our bathrooms. 

You can swear like a sailor.  You can make off color jokes.  You can flirt with anyone and everyone, including staff. 

You CAN flash your boobs.

You CAN NOT flash your junk.

On the outer limits, will we be watching you for stumbles, slurred speech and glassed up eyes.  If you exhibit one or two of these attributes, the bar has the right to see how you're doing and possibly slow you down, if not cut you off completely.   It's in the best interest of both the customers and the bar to not have anyone in a completely obliterated state of mind.  If you want to continue getting messed up, feel free to further your self-extinction at the privacy of your home.



Interacting with the Staff

Don't be scared of the staff.  Don't be intimidated by the staffs.  Don't assume you know who they are.  By all means come and talk to them and find out.  The best part of a nightlife job is the stories and people you meet.  Whether it be talking about sports, the news, classes, relationships, movies, television, books, or anything else under the sun by all means if you feel like saying something, go ahead and say it, there is usually someone on the staff that shares you're interest. 

Flirting with and hitting on staff is going to happen.  If you choose to engage with people while they're working at a bar there is one indisputable fact you should know. 

The customer is typically going to be inebriated at some level

The staff is sober...(well, likely sober)

This imbalance is clearly to the staffs advantage.  It's a fair warning.

The rest is a pretty obvious thing about general respect.  Do not wave money, snap, pound the bar with an empty mug.  If it's busy, I'm sure the bartender is doing all they can to get to everyone with money out. Do not yell 'Hey' over and over.  A customer behaving like an ass does not help.

And Vice Versa

Bartenders and servers should not treat customers as anything other than guests.  Like guests in your own home.  Be polite and pleasant. 

You do not need to go out of your way to do things that are extraordinary, but you should not be a pessimistic asshole shit head either.  I understand the hours are weird, the nights can be long, and pay can vary wildly.  This does not excuse the staff to ignore or be rude to anyone based on how they're dressed or what they look like.  

BULLSHIT BCS!

I'm tired of it.

What is the most fair way to determine if one team is better than another?

YOU COMPETE THEM AGAINST EACH OTHER.

I'm tired of saying it. Football is different than Baseball, Basketball and Hockey. The toll and punishment put into that sport will not allow for a 20 game season.

But it would allow for 15. Easily. A High School champion on average plays 14-16 games. They have playoffs, typically after a 10 game regular season.

So there is no argument that can be made about player safety etc.

Secondly is about amount of school missed due to traveling to the bowl sites. Well, sorry bowl games, but I'm done with you, at least as far as titles are concerned. Bowl games should now just be referred to as playoff sites.

I know this may break your heart if you're a traditionalist but I just can't get into the whole nalstagia thing, and what good is a 'Sugar Bowl' or 'TicketCity Bowl' or 'Cotton Bowl' or 'Rose Bowl' No one cares, it's about the teams that are playing.

Would you watch the Rose Bowl if it had Indiana and Vanderbilt playing in it? No. Would you watch an Oklahoma State vs. LSU in the inagural TardPoop Bowl? Yes. And I'm betting you would even brave shitty weather to do it.

Thats the other thing. What if we didn't have to travel to Florida, Texas, or California for the games? What if you got to attend a regional game in say...Philly, DC or New York? I would certainly go to a Penn State game in the region regaurdless of opponent, then if they moved a bit further out and played in Arizona, or maybe in Chicago I would still strongly consider it. If they concluded somewhere further out, perhaps New Orleans, or Miami or Texas, AND WERE PLAYING FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP I would need to be shot to be kept from going to that game. That game would draw more viewers than anything I can think of except for MAYBE the Super Bowl.

Now....this change means a few things. Stop rankings. Stop it. They don't matter. Rankings are what we think we know, and we are often...often wrong. If you ranked teams in the NFL whats the best division?
Does it matter?

New Orleans was a defending Super Bowl champ going against a 7-9 Seahawk squad. Who won? The rankings would be so far in disproportion that we wouldn't have given the Seahawks a chance. Some said openly they shouldn't be there.

The Seahawks won

The Patriots, with The Best QB in the league at the time, perfect season, grit, will, everything on the line, against the Giants, with not the worst QB in the league but I would dare say one of the more inconsistent. The Patriots looked like a team that was unbeatable. The Giants appeared to be almost lucky to get there, having won 3 road games to get to the game, including an overtime game against Green Bay in what was the coldest game ever.

The Giants won.

We like our champions to Earn their rings. They are better for it. We are better for it.


But be careful about what you think you know. We thought...once, that Ohio State and Michigan were the two best teams in the country. EACH was undefeated. They played each other in an incredible game. Michigan lost. Ohio State won.

Should there be a rematch? No.

Only Ohio State was undefeated, and even though Michigan had 'the best loss' to Ohio State, Florida would be given the opportunity to defeat Ohio State, Michigan would play USC.

The results? Both Big Ten teams were destroyed and the prevailing wisdom was how wrong everyone must have been for putting up those teams in the first place.

That opportunity will not happen this year. That is not fair.

If the SEC is who we think they are. Let them prove it again. Earn their rings by playing a Boise State, a Wisconsin ANYONE from a different conference would be more fair.

Alabama had an opportunity to beat LSU and they failed. Would a Boise State, a Stanford, a Oklahoma State or Wisconsin win that game? I don't know. But I would take any of those games over a rematch.

Okay. So in conclusion

More money will be generated by the simple fact that there are more games and interest will spike.

You have a fair and equitable system to determine a winner.

I'd prefer a 16 team playoff system, the other bowls can still exist, (don't worry, I'm sure if people are going to the ticket city bowl now with a crappy system they'll still go with a good one)


The only thing that's stopping this would be lazyness of individuals. If you are truly content with the system, then so be it.

But it's such a flawed system that it's very existence is an affront to any logical and ethical person.

Oh and here.

BCS controversies over the years.