Jefe's Blog

2009-01-09T17:20:00.000-08:00

I believe that people support Obama don't even know why. All they can do is point out how much they don't like George W. Bush. If you are one of them please tell me why you voted for him. Your reasons may not include Hope, Change, Palin is stupid, McCain is old. Why would you vote for him? He can talk, so can I. Has he done anything the makes him so gosh darn lovable.
Personally, I won't vote for him ever. I get nervous about people who ganer this kind of psychotic support.

Zeppelin Tribute

2008-02-20T16:07:00.001-08:00

Hating on Scientology

2008-01-26T13:15:00.000-08:00

Current mood: rejuvenated

Some cyber warriors have just declared war on the Church of Scientology. I am not sure why the felt that this was necessary. I do wonder about a few things.

Anonymous war. What is the point of declaring war against someone who doesn't know who you are? They can't strike you back, so how do you declare a victory? You can't even do that. Who is going to celebrate your victory? There will not be parade for nobody.

Where do the P.O.W.'s go? Travolta Bay detention facility? Do Scientologists get specially prepared meals? Do they have to watch big budget Hollywood films as punishment or recreation?

How do you start a war with an Internet video? I could post a bunch of them for things I don't like. Jefe, when are you going to make a move? That is just it, they don't know, they will have to wait and worry for that fateful day.

Dakota Fanning. Let's do this!

Here's the Declaration. I still think W. made a better case for Iraq.

Good advice

2007-12-21T18:10:00.000-08:00

I saw a new episode of Entourage today. Part of the story is Drama getting a cannabis club card and getting the strongest weed in the place. He and Turtle end up going to a party and they play strip or smoke, a card game where the loser either strips or smokes. The group shouts "strip or smoke" at you until you make up your mind. Drama smokes too much weed and starts to cough and get thirsty and freak out. He cries out for water and proceeds to freak out. The group chants "Bug out" at him and he looks to Turtle for advice. Turtle looks at him and says "roll with it." Drama screams, "I'm buggin' out" and goes on with the party. Parties and fun and work is a challenge, at least they should be. Roll with it.

I found another website that gets people to do stupid things in public for a bit of attention. There is a bit of that in all of us. Check out the girl who gets peanut butter licked off her by dogs in public at a dog park. Apparently she is getting back at her boyfriend or something. I don't know what thought process gets you to that point, to each their own.

For all you cat people, here's a website that you may have visited already. If not, it is called stuffonmycat.com and they post new pictures each day of cats who are decorated in an innovative fashion. I can't tell if the cats mind or not, can you.

A Crab Nebula it isn't!

2007-12-20T17:18:00.001-08:00

We all have our mishaps. Things don't always go perfectly. Sometimes you have good intentions. At certain times of the year you spend your Sunday nights going to Holiday parties in the rain. Once in a while you go to a friends house for the first time, because the bar closed and you don't want to go home yet. Even in California, it's raining out. Every so often, you walk in a front door and the cat gets out. Then it occurs to you that a cat shouldn't be running out the front door, if that was alright it might not run. Reacting instinctively, your foot hit the top of that first wet step. Before you know it, you land on that second wet step right on your upper left gluteus maximus. That is what you see here. As bad as this looks, I got off easy. Nothing broken and no head damage. It is great when your butt works, especially when your head isn't.

If you look closely at this flyer you will see my nickname, Jefe, on it. I got actual billing credit. It doesn't really seem like a big deal, but it does give me some pride. I hosted the evening. This included, telling jokes, keeping the show going, announcing bands, and typical hosting duties. I was great. I especially liked the bands that played. A good time was had by all. Especially the musicians who were getting high in our Greene room and set off the fire alarm. 'Nuf Respect.

Oh yeah, for all you Batman fans who haven't seen the new trailer. Click on the link to see the YouTube .

Am I the only one who does this?

2007-12-19T18:57:00.001-08:00

So, I work nights. I have all day to sit around and sometimes I do. I will either surf the net, watch a movie, play a game, or blog.

Sometimes I will just sit near the TV and flip channel after channel while doing not much else.

When I finally find something that I want to watch, then I start to clean my apartment or cook a meal.

I sit through a couple hours of crap and then start to take care of stuff when a good show is on the tube.

Why do I need to make sure the TV situation is fine before I can start doing anything else?
I know why I went without it for so long.

Another thing about TV, if you do something dumb enough you will get on it. You can do something really smart as well, but that takes a lot of effort most people can't or won't put forth.

You have to read this!

2007-12-18T16:36:00.000-08:00

I love searching the Internet and finding new examples of peoples' stupidity.

Check this out:

A SCARY WAY TO BREAK UP!!!!! DO NOT stop reading this or something bad will happen!!!!!!!! One day, Sarah was walking home from school when her boyfriend drove by and honked at her to get in. She got in his car and he drove her to the lake. Her boyfriend said he was going to tell her something very important. Sarah could have sworn he was going to propose. However, he flicked her off, pushed her in the lake and yelled, "I am breaking up with you, you awful .......!! I hate you and I think that maybe you should just end your .............. life! DUMB ....................!!!" He laughed and drove off. It was a very cold day. Sarah climbed out of the lake, freezing cold, and feeling the worst she had in her entire life. She got home went in a hot bath, and slit her wrists and died in the bathtub. Her parents yelled and screamed at her to get out until they finally broke the door down. They saw no body, but the entire bathroom was dripping with her blood. Her mom went insane and killed herself three days later, her dad is in prison, accused of murder. Later that week, Sarah's ex-boyfriend was taking a shower when she came from the drain, rotting and bloody, with a razor in her hand and said "Goodbye Jason." She cut his throat before he could scream. If you do not repost this with the title "1 scary way to break up", you are a heartless ..............and Sarah come to you in the shower from the drain, and will kill you the same way she killed her boyfriend. 24 ppl have broken this chain and died close.

So you had better get out there and repost it. Or else I may be hearing about your murder on TV. HaHaHaHa!

Really. This is what some people waste their time doing. I waste a lot of time. But this, where is the payoff? "I think I scared some 14 year olds who have computers!"

I especially love the blackmail aspect of these kinds of chain mails. 24 ppl have broken this chain and died. Oh no, I had better be diligent in my efforts to get this around in case the spirit's bureaucracy is up to snuff.

Blackmail is never nice. I have friends and family members who send me emails which demand that I pass them on, or conversely, I will not love America, Jesus, sick people, them, puppies, dolphins, God, hamburgers or any numbers of good things in the world.

So please never pass on a chain mail unless you are doing it for a good reason, like gathering support for securing our borders. You will be hearing from me soon.

Jefe

Who Loves Animals?

2007-12-14T14:48:00.000-08:00

You would think that a group of people who claim to love animals would actually love animals. Here's the big surprise, sometimes people go crazy over some cause for their own self-aggrandizement. PETA really loves themselves and rubbing other peoples' noses in their shit because they wear fur or eat meat. Call the Museum of Natural History and strip the cavemen of their saber-toothed vestments. I ate processed chicken today. That is especially cruel. Grown in a cage, mangled by machinery, reformed into a disc, and then frozen. I fried it in oil just to get all the pain I could from it.

Did you know that not only is there a book and movie called The Devil Wears Prada, but also a band by the same name? Wow, what a coincidence. I haven't yet realized which came first. I mean, the book generated the movie. I don't think a bunch of teen metal heads would come up with this name on their own. But why would a bunch of teen agers name themselves after an Anne Hathaway movie? I don't get it. None of their songs are relating to the movie at all. There is no mention of Meryl Streep, fashion, Paris, Adrien Grenier, what is the deal? Oh yeah, in case you don't link to them, the band is a Christian scream metal band. They aren't bad. Then again, I like that sort of thing. I also admit to enjoying the movie.

Isn't Meryl Streep a funny name? I dare you to look at it for 10 seconds and not laugh. what did her mother say when she was born? "She looks like a Meryl." At least now the rest of us know what one looks like.

What the hell is with Eddie Murphy? When did his career turn into one big fat JOKE? Wait, one BIG fat joke? big FAT joke? Where do I put the emphasis there? I want to say that his career has been about making fat jokes into movies. Not that his career is a joke. Who would go see this movie? Why? Why not just go follow some slobs around Wal-Mart? Same deal.

The wheel keeps turning

2007-12-12T16:30:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday nights I host a live band karaoke night at Marilyn's on K street. We started about a year ago. To celebrate this special occasion, our drummer didn't show up. I don't know why. He is a good drummer and I will miss him if he does not come back. The night went well. We did an "Unplugged" style of show. The crowd really seemed to like it. Not our biggest night to date , still very good.
It makes me wonder why a friend would to that to people who count on him these 5 hours every week. Was it anger? If you don't want to be around somebody, you have lots of time to make that known in advance. Just to blow something off like that says "screw you" loud and clear.

Another annoyance

Al Sharptongue and Jesse Jerkson make their media round every time something happens to some black people. Some was called a name, it doesn't need to be the "n" word anymore, just something black rappers use and white people can't. Or someone goes to jail, even when they are guilty, these guys look for some irregularity to pounce on for their own narcissism.
I am amazed that all people don't really see how irrelevant these fellows are. What racism still exist in this country today? Let's look for some. Who are two of the most popular daytime talk personalities? Oprah and Tyra. Who do I see every time I turn on the TV? Beyonce. We're so not racist, no one has ever said, 'Beyonce' what kind of a name is that? Here is one of her commercials. It looks just like every other one.

Movies? Denzel Washington.
Golf? Tiger Woods.
Hoops? Need I go on?
Democratic Presidential nominee? Barack Hussein Obama. You won't see that middle name anywhere on his website. I think he will be the nominee. That way Democrats will actually prove how badly they don't want to fight the war on terror. But I digress.
Since some of our most prominent and successful Americans are people of color, what are our hustlers of color left to do? They harass Kramer, stand up for hoodlums in Louisiana, give Don Imus more attention he doesn't really deserve, and even stand up for pet abusers. If these people deserve attention? There must not be too much real discrimination happening.
When you can't find any injustice, change the definition.

Always late

2007-12-10T14:43:00.001-08:00

I often work with other people. They are usually late. This can be annoying as they told you that they would be here at a certain time. But they aren't. People who are normally late for things, I call stoners. This is why you don't normally go into business with friends. While you are losing money, they are listing excuses and calling you a dick because you want to know why this keeps happening. Here are some things I like to say to them.

Where you been? Getting high?

What's with your eyes, are you high?

I'm gonna get a real job, where fewer people show up high.

Maybe you wouldn't succumb to so many conspiracy theories if you weren't high. I used to believe a lot of dumb things when I was stoned. I don't get stoned anymore and I believe less stupid things. Maybe some would disagree. I voted for Bush in 2004. Most people I know would say that was stupid. I wonder what the percent of pot smokers voted for him. My guess would be 15%. Maybe High Times has done a formal survey. Ha ha. Here's the hard news they are covering this month. Willie Nelson, the Stoner Cup, indoor growing and you get the idea.

Unfortunately, stopping getting high doesn't stop me or anybody from doing dumb things. We are all imperfect. I think that is the one challenge humanity has over the rest of the organisms on this planet. You could argue that every other living thing is perfect. They are also less complex, but still perfect. Humans don't and never will enjoy that luxury. We will sometimes be late even when we know it is wrong. Heavy stuff.

So here's a video to take your mind off that situation.

Thoughts Today

2007-12-07T15:29:00.001-08:00

I may move to Utah and start trying to recruit Mormons to become Catholics. I can get the Church to sponsor me, I mean they do own the best museum in the world. I've been there, they get a lot of money rolling in from the tours alone. I could get a wine per diem. I could hang out and talk to people about what a great church it is and do God's work. Not real work. Who has got an in with the Church. I could share their women and they can share my wine. It's a win-win.

I hate when you are watching something on TV and they advertise the show or sport you are already watching. Look, I'm already sold. Enough. You're losing me. Which is true. They are. I prefer to watch movies.

It's December 7th. 2007. The 66th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Imperial Japanese and the United States entry into World War 2. Let's get drunk on kamikaze shots and drive our Honda Accords home.

You used to be cool

2007-12-06T19:09:00.000-08:00

You used to be cool.
What happened to you?
We used to stay out late.
You would drive drunk and get away with it.
You were single and had many chicks,
not just one you took to see shitty movies.
None of your shirts had collars.
Everybody knew you,
but no one knew you.
Bartenders and blondes wondered why you weren't around.
Your car was fast and bad on gas.
You would rather quit your job
than miss a trip to Vegas or Burningman
No used to be on backwards
Yes was your first instinct

You used to be cool.....

Wow, bad Television

2007-12-05T18:36:00.000-08:00

There's a show advertised everyday during The Simpsons. It is called According to Jim starring Jim Belushi. How come the less talented ones always survive? Does anybody watch this show? No one has ever mentioned that they saw a great episode to me at my water cooler. Well if they did, I would have a good reason to laugh in their face. I believe this show is probably less funny than Everybody Loves Raymond. Which I also don't watch because when I have it makes me want to punch some one in the cast.

Anyway, I did a search on Youtube for According to Jim and I found this video. Which I believe is how most people feel about the show.

You’re supposed to blog every day?

2007-12-04T10:19:00.001-08:00

Well, I don't blog everyday. I think I will try from now on to do just that. It was easy when I was in Europe and something new crossed my path.

Here are two things I thought about today.

Karma.
I am not sure that anybody knows what this word means. Lots of people think you have to do something good to have good karma. I would point out that this is more of a Christian concept in our society as opposed to a Buddhist one. Many people act like Christian but are afraid to stigmatize themselves as such, especially here in California. Neither religion is practiced by the people who like to throw this word around. Practicing a religion does mean that you actually go to their house of worship or perform a rite. Back to Karma.

I don't think it will improve my Karma if I give you a tip for charging me for coffee that I pour myself. I also won't tip you for doing a regular job like making me a sandwich or heating up a slice of pizza.
I may sometimes if I go there often, but it feels a bit like a hassle to see a tip cup, when not much is really being done to earn a tip. Seeing a tip cup where no tip is justified may actually deter me from going to a place.
Bartenders and servers have a greater measure of responsibility that a barrista or a cashier, that is why they are tipped professions.
I think tipping a cashier will get you bad Karma for being a dumbass.

Here are some definitions of Karma:

Hinduism & Buddhism. The total effect of a person's actions and conduct during the successive phases of the person's existence, regarded as determining the person's destiny.
Fate; destiny.
Informal. A distinctive aura, atmosphere, or feeling: There's bad karma around the house today.

I wonder if my fate will change for not giving fifty cents to the sub shop cashier??

Next topic:Job search tips

I got these in my email today. They are the Seven Deadly Interview Sins. When I read them, I didn't know how people could not already have these figured out. They are basic. Let's consider each one.

Showing up late. This doesn't work when you have the job. I tried this once after I stayed late at work the day before. I got yelled at by my boss. I never worked late again.

Inappropriately dressed. After living in California so long after growing up in New York, I can't tell what this means anymore. These people dress like they are going to Target everywhere they go. Unless you are 25 and going to the club, then you need a striped shirt and some hair gel.

Lying. Employers don't respect liars? Well, I'll be damned. You can only lie to them after they hire you. Then, be the first one to lie to them so they are more likely to believe you.

Bringing your parent to the interview. Mommy, tell that man to give me a job. They also don't take notes from them when you are sick. You gots to go to a "office" doctor.

Not knowing your own 'History'. I thought most places were looking for a tabula rasa so they could mold you according to their mission statement. I guess I am wrong.

Cellphone/pager beeping buzzing. What if I get a better offer while I am in the interview? You have to keep your options open all times. I do, That is why I have time to write this blog right now. I got work in a bar and wear crazy pants, my options are open. Anyways, my phone is my office, I am in their office, they have a phone that might ring. It is only fair.

Not asking questions. I think I am finished here.

Prepare to feel guarded

2007-11-27T18:31:00.000-08:00

You can all relax now. I have completed the Wackenhut Corporation training program that qualifies me for my Guard Card from the State of California. I am also certified for handcuffing. It was a one day course to pass a 45 question test. I got 44 right the first time, then I had to correct the one I got wrong. It was about what to do when you suspect terrorism. Not much, but a little more than I thought.
There is not much a security guard can really do. Well, you aren't supposed to do much. Be polite, be firm, and keep your eyes open. You can't search people, except for weapons. You can't arrest people, any more that a regular person does. IF you do, you must turn them over to the cops and they decide what to do. They may let them go.
What really goes on when you are working, you are supposed to watch for trouble and take notes and names if necessary.
It is pretty much what we were already doing. Except, some guys think you are supposed to be flirting or just sitting on your ass and talking to your friends. You know who you are.

Thanksgiving Activites

2007-11-24T08:42:00.000-08:00

Here are some things I have done at Thanksgiving time. You may or may not have done any of these things with me at some time in the past. I am not making any recommendations or excuses. It is only that Thanksgiving is a special American holiday that gives rise to its own special circumstances. So let's see what I remember.

Drink a case of beer, by myself at a party in Chrissy Smathers' basement. Other people also drank their own case of beer.
Crawl out of bed, down the stairs, and to the television to watch Barry Sanders and the Lions play football. In spite of the worst hangover I ever had to date.
Play wiffle ball in a small front yard and try not to trip on the curb while attempting to catch a fly ball and hold a beer.
Have a Trivial Pursuit tournament with a bunch of friends. See who knows the most and who is all talk.
Eat too many Hors D'oeuvre's and not have enough room for dinner. Then spend the whole next day being hungry and thinking only about the food you didn't eat, which was awesome.
Pondering whether or not it is appropriate to try to get laid on a holiday. Am I that type of person? Really? Can't I just live in the moment once in a while?
Play football, then watch football, then watch more football, then eat and watch more football.
Eat Thanksgiving leftovers and watch football the next day.
Teach and get your friends hooked on Guitar Hero, even after they have all seen the South Park episode making fun of it.
Sing and play actual guitars around a campfire. It is fun to try and match the words people know with the songs they can actually play.
Drive from Rochester to Detroit through Canada. Just to make sure it is cold enough.
Eat with 25 of your closest Sicilian-American relatives. This included all the traditional foods as well as Calamari, Pizza, Pasta, and baklava.
Watch a car flip into a ditch while driving back from Detroit through Canada. The road was icy.
Sit around in your Bachelor pad being hungry and watching the damned Lions play like crap. Only the hungry part is my fault.
Laundry. No one else in your building is doing theirs that day. Except that weird neighbor lady whose only friend is her mom who lives in a home. She also yells at the TV. "Baloney, aww bullshit." Which gives you uncomfortable prescience about your future, if you stay single forever as well.

Fake answers and Druids

2007-11-10T13:46:00.000-08:00

I saw this question on Yahoo Answers and I had to reply. Check it out sometime. It is great to see what people actually don't know.

Question:

Why am I getting "shocked" from EVRYTHING I touch??

I mean everything! It started around 4pm and hasnt stopped! Whats is this all about?

My Answer:
You have a high ratio of Midi-chlorians in your blood. You could be the chosen one. You need to learn to control the force before it is too late. Contact your nearest Jedi Council member as soon as possible.

Maybe I shouldn't have watched the first 3 Star Wars, meaning the most recent 3 Star Wars last week. But there you go.

Also, here's a great druid/wiccan/coven myspace page. Don't these geeks realize that they were the dorks of those centuries and reviving a dead pagan religion in an even dorkier, modern way, just proves what dorks they are. IT is a free country. BE as dorky as you want. Just expect some people to want to kick your ass. At least today it is just a butt kicking. In the Dark Ages, it would have been extermination.
Listen to the music, it totally sucks, mainly because we have electricity now. Try not to laugh when you do. Really, try not to laugh, I bet you can't. Unless you have a high count of Midi-chlorians in your blood.

The only rapper I like has Trojan written on the outside.

2007-11-09T08:25:00.000-08:00

That is a joke I just wrote. I haven't told it to anyone yet. I guess it wasn't totally a joke, more of a one-liner. That is the phrase.
I did some open mic comedy last evening. My friend Sara and Scott, the club owner thought it went well. I went first so the audience wasn't warmed up yet.
I wish I knew how to post audio, so I will in the future, cause I can learn stuff. But for this post, I will just type in some joke I used. Well, cut and paste them, because retyping them is such a pain.

Does it seem premature for the History channel to have a special about Nostradamus?.

Does anyone else think Mick Jagger is a liar for still singing Satisfaction? I mean, if there is anybody on this Earth who is satisfied, it is Mick 'I get it all I want anytime' Jagger. If he is still unsatisfied, he’d better become a Buddhist.

Are you automatically an asshole if you drive a monster truck sporting a handicapped license plate?

Are you guys good listeners? Cause my last girlfriend said I wasn’t a good listener. Well, she left a note. So, I went and bought an audio book about how to be a better listener. She left anyway. Too bad the tape worked, now I can really tune in to the sound of myself crying.

I even got my first cell phone for that woman. I love it, it’s a real time saver. I don’t have to wait until I get home to find out she’s not trying to call me.

Losing your girlfriend really kills your confidence. To get over it, I wrote some jokes about confidence, but I don’t think you’ll like any of them.

Part of confidence is caring about what people think about you. Some people don’t care what other people think about them, I call those people stoners.

Those are just a few. More to come.

Seano Sings

2007-11-09T08:22:00.000-08:00

Here's a minute of my boy Seano laying down a little Pearl Jam .

Been Away

2007-04-11T17:27:00.000-07:00

I am back in Sacramento.
I am at my sisters computer.
I am looking for a new job.
This is only fun if you are meeting people.
I hope to make money soon.
I am getting bored.
I haven't my own place or Internet.
I will blog more from now on.
It won't be about Europe as much.
It won't be all about my job search.
It will be a little of both.
I hope to get some dating in here as well.
I have missed you.
Did you miss me?
Oh, I do have one job.
I host Live Band Karaoke on Tuesday evenings.
I will see you there.
Jefe

Reichstag Dome

2007-03-27T11:33:00.000-07:00

This architectural wonder sits atop the German parliament called the Reichstag. If you want a history lesson, go to Wikipedia or pay for a tour like I did. I waited maybe an hour to get in the place. Security is rigid. You can look down on to the parliament while they are pretending to work. You can also walk up the spiral staircase to the top. You can also walk outside the dome on the roof. What I would give to be able to do that in DC or Sactown. Every time I compare Europe with the States, Europe seems to win. Do I think the US needs to change? In a lot of ways, yes. Do I wish we changed our security? No. We could use more choice as far as individuals wanting to run their businesses their way I am not going to denigrate our wonderful land because we over employ tons of busybodies. Europe has their share. I wonder what language they will all decide to speak? Esperanto? Latin?
I wonder what made the Germans put this dome on the old Reichstag? I guess it symbolizes the Reunification, I can't imagine how, but it must in some way. Maybe you know.

Today's Europe Picture

2007-03-26T14:39:00.000-07:00

This is a live music venue in Amsterdam called Paradiso. It is located at Weteringschans 6-8. I saw Ben Ottewell play here. He is in Gomez. I was late for the show because I was having dinner with friends. I wish I wasn't late. I got in for free because I was late. I still saw at least half of his performance. I recorded it on my iRiver. It sounds OK. You can have a copy if you ask nice enough. You should see a concert here if you go to Amsterdam. Don't spend all of your time drinking Heineken, smoking the weed, and drooling over hookers. The town has so much more to offer. However if you are lonely, those other things sound real good.

I just watched The Departed

2007-03-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

Vera

Lena

Yeah, I liked it.
Who was that chick in the movie?
Why was there only one?
There are a lot of good films, of course. But you have to find some way to fit babes into your film. 300 did it. The film was covered in shirtless Spartan soldiers. Not all that cool. The payoff was that the queen also got shirtless . She is a hottie. So was the girl from Departed. Let me give you their names.
Lena Heady played Queen Gorgo in 300
Vera Farmiga played Madolyn in The Departed.
They were both born in 1973, which means they are both the perfect age for me to date. How lucky I am.

Really, I can't believe that the Departed was the best movie last year. Was it? Really? It was good. Can Scorsese make a film that doesn't end in a bloodbath and get noticed?

By the way Casino sucked. Was he sleepwalking through Goodfellas dreams when he made that piece of crap?

Put more hot women in your films!

Guess who we got in The Gangs of New York. Cameron Diaz. That ugly leer jet hippie never should have got a start in film. Angelie Jolie has cold sores that out sexy Cammie.

Marty used Cate Blanchett in The Aviator. Why not just use a board and a wig to play Kate Hepburn?

Jodie Foster? There's a reason she attracts so many psychos. Don't forget Cybil Sheperd, wait I already have.

Any other fuglies he put in movies? That chick in Raging Bull, beat it. Lorraine Bracco. She was sexy for about 2 seconds. Winona Ryder, has anyone watched The Age of Innocence?

Well, if you can name any real babes besides Vera in Marty movies, give it a try.

One Bridge

2007-03-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

These are two views of the same train station in East Berlin. I still call it that. I don't remember people trying not to call the East side of Berlin East Berlin. It isn't the official name any longer, but it was for a long time. And the two sides are still very distinct.

If you like blight, try east Berlin. I assume the rents are lower. My bed at the hostel was much cheaper than when I stayed on the West Side.

In the States, the East side of town is usually the better, or more expensive side of town. Scottsdale is on the east side of Phoenix. Fairport is on the east side of Rochester. I guess that goes to show how much Communism can really screw up the natural order of things.

The reason I took these pictures is I think the station is so remarkable. I didn't expect to see something like it on this side of town. Nothing else surely was up to par with this urban structure. Brick is never really given its due. Or maybe it isn't power washed so it can look it's best.

The only yellow train in Berlin also stopped at this station.

I am not engaging in any sort of brickophilia. I think I liked seeing the contrast. My time in Berlin was split between the either side of town. Where was there more fun to be had? The east side. What was cleaner and safer looking? The west side. Why do you care? Maybe you do not.

I don't know when this structure was built. Before or after the fall of the Wall. It would matter if I were a historian. (Then you would all see what I could do.) I don't know anything other than I like the way this looks.

It shows that you never know what you are going to get. When I got off the the train at Warshauser Strasse, I had never been so underwhelmed by a first look at a part of town in my whole life. West Berlin looked like a place I wouldn't mind spending time. It wasn't. East Berlin looked like a place that had nothing much to offer. It wasn't.

That is one reason why I like to amble when I travel. Agendas and plans are for politicians and businessmen. I am looking around to see what will surprise me next.

On the Dark Side

2007-03-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

This is the Reeperbahn. Stay away from this place when in Hamburg. I took these photos on the bus tour. I made the mistake of going to look for a normal bar for just a drink. Never happened. What did happen was 100 hookers tried to convince me to pay them for sexual favors and 25 barkers tried to get me into their strip clubs. It didn't happen. It was annoying. This was my first night in town and I didn't know where to go. I swear. I bet there was some guy in town dying to find strippers and all he could find was a regular bar.

I didn't eat at the Pizza Hut. I didn't stay in Hamburg very long.

Click on the lower photo, you can see the street sign that says Reeperbahn.

First podcast about Europe is up!

2007-03-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

I took this photo in Hannover, Germany. These are big balls.
I quit my job, closed my apartment, and took off to Europe and parts unknown with languages I cannot even begin to understand. I did it. So could you. Give life a try!
This latest Seano and Jefe Show is up! Seano asks me what I can remember about my trip.
Not a full boring travel log, but Seano questions me about things that I wrote in this blog that caught his interest.
It is my return to the states!
My return to podcasting!
Your return to the Seano and Jefe Show!

Jagermeister

2007-03-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

This is the Jagermeister Headquarters. They make all of the pertinent decisions about how to produce Jagermeister. This is probably one of the most important places in the world. Many people rely on their product, pardon me, nectar, soma, no, plasma, that's the word, for their good times. Since you are reading my blog, you know what I mean. Others who need the importance explained to them, email me, I will hold your hand so you understand why the HUNTERMASTER is the premiere beverage in the land.
A few facts for you not in the know. (These may have been in an earlier post)

They only make Jager now. OK they make one other liquor. I am not telling the name and it only constitutes about .01% of the company's production. The other 99.99% is Jager.
They don't make alcohol. True fact. The fine folks at Jagermeister only flavor a combination of ethanol and water to create this liquid manna.
This black gold is aged. Jager is aged as are fine wines and whiskeys. The factory even employs coopers to make sure the casks are properly maintained. These casks are as big a a bedroom.
The employees there never complain. They get to drink Jager on their coffee breaks. I saw them. They also have a private chef when they are working. Professionals are provided on Fridays for anyone who wants oral sex. I am assuming the last one, bit I feel it is a logical conclusion.
There is no deer blood in Jagermeister. However, they are rather protective over their secret ingredient. They wished to change the label for sale in the U.S. The FDA(Federal Dickhead Authority) said they must divulge all ingredients in order to do so. "Hey why don't we give away our secret so our business can be ruined and out town can go broke. Great idea!" Stay tuned for another installment of 'Stupid Things Which Bureaucracies Expect People to Comply.' Don't expect to see a different Jager label in the States ever.
You can't buy their stock. Jagermeister is a privately held company. They have 3 primary shareholders. They don't work for the company directly. If they are smart, they never will. The people they pay will always have the incentive of needing money more than the.
The tour was free and they give you stuff. I received a small bottle of Jager, a Jager bag, pen, hat, and key chain. All will be used in loving memory.

This is how you should always serve Jagermeister. It is easy to remember. The label tells you Serve Cold-Keep On Ice. One commandment isn't hard to follow. In this case, the Jager was kept in a freezer and served in a glass from the freezer. More than OK. As long as it is cold. If it is not cold, employ other tactics.

The quickest way to chill Jagermeister is an ice bath.

Fill a basin with water and ice.
Deposit bottle of Jager.
30 minutes later, you gots cold Jager
Enjoy responsibly.
Forget number 4
Mix with Red Bull for girls.
Mix with anything else over ice, if you don't want shots.
Just drink Jager.

The Station

2007-03-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

This is the main railway station in Zurich, Switzerland. You cannot be in Zurich without coming to this place sooner or later. I would be curious to know which person who lives or has been in Zurich and has never been there.

This is the center of all activity in the city.

Really, this photo only shows the main hall. All the trains are at the far end or down below.

This place also boast a shopping arcade, casual and fine dining, and shower facilities. All come in handy for the traveller.

The Zurich denizens also seem to know their trains by heart. Nina (ex-girlfrined, Zurich resident) knew exactly where she had to go to catch a train and at what time. I was constantly scouring the schedule to make sure I wasn't late or that I tool the fastest train. How do you spot an out of towner in Zurich? They have looked at the train schedule for more than 20 seconds.

The hall you see is used for all types of community activities. In the winter I don't think it gets much use. Last April, when I was there, it hosted: a farmers market, a volleyball tournament, and a concert by Tokio Hotel.

Zurich has many other great things besides a good train station. More about that later. Don't go thinking that I wish I was there or that I think it is better than the United States. It's good, just different.

Bikes

2007-03-19T11:26:00.000-07:00

The Dutch love their bicycles.
The first photo is the bike parking area near the Tilburg main station. I didn't see this many people while I was there. yet here are there bikes. I think they have extras just in case. It may be a crime in the Netherlands to go without one.
They are a tall and healthy people. They have a small country. Where would they put them all if these bikes were cars? They wouldn't need to drop them off at the train station. Maybe they have cars but don't drive them because they have no where to leave them when they take the train? We don't bother with that here in the states, we just don't take the train.

The second photo is plainly a stoplight. The interesting part is that it has separate signals for bikes and cars, something I hadn't seen prior to this trip to Amsterdam. I am not even sure that this light is even meant for cars at all. Reinforcing my belief that the Dutch are obsessed with bikes.
Travel tip: Don't you dare get caught walking in the bike lane. You will be hit or harassed. My discovery of this was in Tilburg. I was wandering about the main commercial/entertainment area of town. The bike lane is not in the road like in the U.S. or many other cities in Europe. While trying to find my way around the place, I heard a ringing from behind me. I was non-verbally being told to get the hell out of the way. I am glad I learned this in a smaller town than Amsterdam.
Popular chatter tells us that we will all be safer without these cars we hold so dear. I am far from believing that to be true.
I am no pro-auto lobbyist. I really don't like driving, but it isn't a bad necessity.
I ride my bike for exercise far from busy streets.
I am not sure I want to move to a European style of public transport. Riding ones bike in the rain holds no appeal.
More damage is done by a bus or a tram a lot than by a car. Cars stop faster.
Of course, one can spend a lot of money very quickly on gasoline.
One more of life's trade-offs we need contemplate.

At no time in writing this piece about the Dutch did I obviously rhyme bikes with the word that describes a wall built to protect human occupied lands from encroaching bodies of water.

Beer Bottles

2007-03-16T12:33:00.000-07:00

Beer is probably the most important contribution the Europeans have made to the world.
I defy anyone to one up me there.
Don't try you can't.
Heineken was hardly the best beer I had over there. It wasn't even the best tour I went on. Although, it was the tour that involved the most beer. I didn't try to take any tours of any other breweries. Thinking about that now, what a huge mistake!
When I spent day after day in Berlin, not knowing what to do, did it cross my mind to go see a brewery? No!
Make that a lesson to yourselves people. But then again, you can't do it all. I guess going to as many breweries as museums can get just as mundane. But the Heineken Experience didn't even show them actually making beer. It was mainly a marketing ploy that you paid to see. How's that for reverse psychology?
Not that there weren't good things to see there. Like all of theses beer bottles. they are really hooked on the color green. These are two of my favorite pictures from the tour.
1. They do not include any examples of Heineken trying to sell me beer after I have already paid to be in, well near the factory.
2. Any overabundance of any consumer product concentrated in one place is always good for pop art. Thanks Warhol.
3. It reminds me, that I was in that place by myself and no one came over and said hello or tried to drink with me. You selfish fucks. If someone is alone, it can only be obvious that they are alone. Thanks for nothing. Now I know why so few people have chosen to travel alone like I did. I had to ask a tour worker to take that first photo.

Back in the States

2007-03-15T12:33:00.000-07:00

I have not updated in a while.

One thing you want to do after travelling for two months straight is nothing.

I did go to Vienna and did a quick tour of the city. It was a nice clean place. People were pleasant enough just like they were in all other places I went. The city is impressive as was the Schonbrunn Palace.

That palace showcased the opulence of the Hapsburgs, the last royal family of Austria-Hungary. The Austrians claim them still, the Hungarians do not. Few conquered peoples celebrate their former foreign heads of state, no matter how illustrious.

I want to compare the Swiss and the Austrians. I am not qualified. They may have their similarities, but I haven't been exposed to enough Austrians to be accurate. I may harbor a little bitterness towards the former.

But what can one do? Love dies and grows again. Most experiences need to be seen as a positive sooner or later. If you choose to do the opposite, life will be one bitter pill taken over and over, soon with less frequency because you aren't trying at all anymore.

I am glad I tried without worrying too much about whether or not success was guaranteed. I am a better person for doing so. I have seen more of the world than I ever thought I would, but maybe not as much as I want.

One thing I feel after every break up is that I wanted to do more. This could have been said easily about other women I have dated as about Nina. It was just more true about Nina. Yeah, it wasn't meant to be. That is also something you get sick of telling yourself. Try not believing that something isn't wrong. That is something that you just don't think about for long.

Enough of that. On to something else.

More blogs coming with photos from the trip.

Currently listening :
The Boatman's Call
By Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Release date: By 04 March, 1997

Still in Beograd

2007-02-28T02:58:00.000-08:00

Current mood: Grade A prime cut meated

Well, I haven't been able to leave.
I had wanted to spend 2 or 3 days in Vienna, that ain't gonna happen. I know people here and it is more interesting than another museum or gothic church. I assume they have them in Austria. In Belgrade they are Eastern Orthodox and the churches have a different style. they aren't as nice but stilll good in a different way.
I have been all over Central Belgrade this week. the city park is an old castle called Kalamegdon. There are vendors during the day and people relaxing. It is a bit of history and open space. You could have a picnic, walk your dog, or kiss your sweetie. there are also the old structures and some old tanks and cannons from 20th century wars.
One important thing to remember is that this city was bombed by NATO 11 years ago. There are still holes in many buildings right around my hotel. These are all guarded by Serbia military, no matter how cold. I have not gotten in too much trouble for being American for that. These people have more ire for Clinton than Bush, as opposed to the rest of Europe.
I haven't had too many political discussions on my trip. I did have one with a woman named Melitzza. She has a Masters in Sociology and she is Montenegran. Guess if we had different opinions.
She is also having a rough time because Montenegro split from Serbia and she has been living here for 15 years and wants to live here but still keep her original citizenship. On top of that, 11 professors here were arrested for selling diplomas which is putting her credentials under scrutiny. Does anyone else think America is over regulated?
We got along, mainly because I kept my mouth shut and listened. She was also hot and also had a boyfriend. A great guy, he played drums in the Black Sabbath cover band.
Mike and I have been walking the town, seeing some of his friends, and sampling the local food and brew. Both are very good. Let me make this clear, you cannot walk 5 minutes in this city without seeing a totally smoking hot sexy fine young woman.
I wish they all could be Califonia Girls.

This may be may last post for a bit as travel and time may prevent more blogging. I have seen all the babes in this cafe already!

Currently listening :
Crucified
By Army of Lovers
Release date: By 09 April, 1992

Belgrade Blowout

2007-02-25T05:14:00.000-08:00

Current mood: Tired and Red

Thursday we stayed out until 4 am. we to a few clubs with these guys Doca and Dan. they are locals and seem to enjoy the drinks we buy quite a lot. but they are a lot of fun and we picked up another friend whose name escapes me at the time. we knew Doca (pronounced Dote za who we now call Doatzer) was seeing how close he could walk next to speeding cars as we crossed busy streets. we went to a student center and saw a really good Black Sabbath tribute band. Me and Mike beat those guys at Foosball. and we hate soccer. The clubs here are cool cause they are probably in an old basement.
Friday we stayed out until noon. We went to Academia again. Dan is a Bartender there. When get to the bar, he pours us two beers, two shots, and lights up a joint. That has not happened to me anywhere before. Anyone else think America is over regulated?
Mike and I met these girls at the student center earlier that day. They said they were going to the KZT, another student center. I am pretty sure they couldn't drink in bars in the US. Anyone else think America is over regulated? And she said I was old enough to be her dad. She didn't get the 'whose your daddy?' aspect, but her English is good as she teaches it. They were Jelena and Anastasia. Anastasia is Greek as well as Serbian. And they have great tits. In case anyone is curious. I haven't seen them out of a sweater, but .....
We had fun at that club. The DJ played Sepultura's Rhattamahatta so we went and danced. Something I hadn't done before either. I went to a dance club and heard no Rap music. something I blah blah
Jelena introduced us to this guy named Ivan, born in Serbia, grew up in Canada Toronto area, and is back here. A real happy fellow, especially happy to meet someone he has some things in common. He says he is treated a bit like an outsider since he grew up outside Serbia.
People here seem to have a camaraderie I don't see back in the states.
That place closed at 4am I think. we walked around in the cold looking for places to go and picking up new folks along the way.
There was another Mike or Majk. He threw Molotov cocktails at the US Embassy.
Some long haired guy who was with Mike McArdles friend Juliana.
Some chick named Dragona who never showed me her tits, although I did get to kiss her.
Some girl with a pierced tongue, nose, and lip who doesn't think she has a soul.
this guy with a yellow bike named Nened. He saw our crew going into this bar at 7am and decided to come in as opposed to going to work. Not a lot of people have bikes here.
We wandered, bought beer, drank in the street, and went to this bar where there were 50 year old Serbs drinking at the same time. I am sure they just woke up though.
By 11 am it was just me, Nened, Dragona, and the pierced chick. I bought breakfast and Nened was a gentleman and walked me home. I knew the way. I think he was being polite cause I bought beer and cigarettes.
I slept till 8pm. There was NHL on the TV, unlike in the states.
At 10 pm on Saturday, Juliana and Mike came by the Hotel to get me and we went to the Student center again to see the Serbian hardcore band Atheist Rap. I will let you guess how good Serbian hardcore is. The crowd loved it. they knew all the words.
We left there at 2:30am and got some pizza. this place is always open and busy. And surrounded by hot women. I will go there again. They also put ketchup on pizza. Gross. But the women are hot.
And that is it so far. I know I have forgotten parts.

.

Currently listening :
Ratamahatta
By Sepultura
Release date: By 21 November, 1996

Miles and miles

2007-02-22T08:28:00.001-08:00

Current mood: Belgraded!

So today I am in belgrade serbia.
I wandered for blocks until I picked a hotel.
It is just what you would expect, nothing special.
I am here checking my email and thank god Mike McArdle got online. he is an old friend and the only reason I came to this place.

Travelling alone has been rough. i never knew how much I wanted or needed companionship.
It is a great test andI think I am passing, except when I get to a new city, don't speak the language, and feel all alone in the world.
I am not looking for sympathy, I just think that is the way it goes when you do something like this.
As you may know, I am not the most outgoing person from the start.
I am learning about how I feel about people.
They are generally a friendly bunch. That is usually because I am buying something from them. Here's to the free market!
Like all places, you only make friends with people you have a need for or there's a common link. That doesn't happen in a day.

To all of you, I am glad I needed you or we share something in common.

Italy has the best looking women so far. Florence and Venice and Pisa are just as beautiful as I had heard. Trieste is not as great, but has a super view of the Adriatic Sea.
I need to call my friend, I need the company.

Currently listening :
All by Myself
By Eric Carmen
Release date: By 15 December, 1999

Rome...undecided

2007-02-22T08:27:00.000-08:00

Current mood: feet hurted

Rome is beautiful and they never stop making you pay for it.

I am not all together sure it was worth it.

I say that everywhere I go and afterwards, I think back and say, I liked it there.

I am not sure what every one thinks they are supposed to do when they travel. Go and see shit and take a picture. It is hard to fill a day that way when your feet hurt. But I look back and It was all a pretty good time.

I went to Pisa. That tower is leaning. There are 2 other buildings next to it and I don't think anyone has ever mentioned them. Have you?

Florence is cool. I hope I get into the Uffuzi museum, if that is the name. Guess the got some good art in there.

One thing they have here, green marble. I think they bought all of it actually because I have never seen it anywhere else. They did this because the Roman bought all the red marble. That's why the Vatican is worth so much. And all that gold on the ceiling.

Buongiorno Sicilia

2007-02-13T10:14:00.003-08:00

Category: Dreams and the Supernatural

There's a feeling I get when I look to the West and my spirit is crying for leaving. That feeling said to go to Sicily. So I did.

As far as I can tell, my great great grandfather left this island in 1883. he never returned. I don't know who in my family has. I may be the first in the line to come back here.

Sometimes I see why he left. The city crowds the hill it is on. Aprtments are jammed next to each other like angry co-workers at a telemarketing call center. It is easy to tell whose baby is crying.

The ancient beauty is unmistakable. The city owns that distinct mediterranean feel. Termini Immerse is its name. The country side has volcanic hills covered with greenery. This is one of the most exceptional place I have ever seen.

I think he didn't return because he wouldn't want to leave again. I know I don't.

So I went from Zurich to rome to Palermo. It took a whole day. good thing I could make a hotel reservation at the train station for Palermo in Rome. Theses rooms haven't been cheap. For the asthetics you pay.

I am feeling better than I ever have. Maybe it's the weather or the coming home feeling, or that oath I swore on that canoli. Probably all three.

Palermo was great. I had a wonderful meal. 3 courses and marsala digestif. It only took an hour to pay. who says they aren't go getters on the islands.

Everywhere you look there are the names of your friends from America. Longo, Corso, Rugerio, Sansone, Lo Duca, Battaglia, Ventura, and so on.

People look familiar as well. It is nothing like I have experienced anywhere else in Europe so far.

I will leave tomorrow. Off to Rome.

I need to get a bed. Bye.

Buongiorno Sicilia

2007-02-13T10:14:00.002-08:00

Sunny Day in Zurich

2007-02-13T10:14:00.001-08:00

Friday, February 09, 2007

Current mood: very metal

So here I am back in Zurich.

I was hoping to see Nina. It never hurts to see a friendly face. Well, she is sick. I was more than disappointed. Which made me realize that I am not over her yet. It was easy to think so when I was out of town.I want to be her friend, but if I don't get over it I may just push her away, that I couldn't take. Besides, I wasn't without options anyway.

The night

I was in Zurich I went to this biker-american bar. The bartender took a liking to me and gave me her phone number.

I wrote her a text and asked if she was working. I didn't hear back and decided to go there anyway. Sometimes, your only option is your best.

She was pleased to see me and said hello. I got a beer an sat and watch the Metal videos on the TV. There was UFO, Magnum, Saxon, Deep Purple, and others that even I am unfamiliar. After that, there was a string of Whitesnake and Winger videos. These videos are so cheesey. For me the video takes away from the music.

The bartender, Fiorentina, a Romanian girl living here, loves David Coverdale from Whitesnake.

We also played this game for drinks where you hammer two nails next to each other into a big tree stump that is about belly high. The trick is, each turn you get one shot, thump thump, without resetting your aim. Then itis the others turn. Also you use the v-shaped side of the hammer, not the flat end.

She won. I didn't let her. drinks are expensive here.

She asked me out for tonight, if her roommate, a blonde stewardess, isn't free. She only gets to see her friend so often I guess.

So either I stay tonight or I go to Rome on the night train.

Currently listening :
Whitesnake's Greatest Hits
By Whitesnake
Release date: By 19 July, 1994

Train rides are long

2007-02-13T10:14:00.000-08:00

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Category: Travel and Places

Well, you can't get there from here.

Train rides in Czech Republic are slow. Let's get that capital flowing. they still have some catching up to do but are still on their merry smoking an ddrinking little way. The foreigners come there at first to party, but soon they are back to work trying to make a buck like in their home country, except they've got a real young hot girlfriend. Money isn't everything.

I miss my news and political arguments. But I should be finding out what else makes me, me.

It is easy to do alot of the same things I did back home. Also easy to see new things. That makes up the bulk of new experiences.

I loaned smokes to a Czech guy named Evo on the train to Regensburg Germany. Nice fellow, but he smelled like beer and smokes and only spoke Czech and German. That is what he needs.

He was thrilled to meet someone from California. So I kept giving him smokes to make a generous impression. He knew about the governator and I didn't mind, even though that is all anybody knows. I don't feel like naming off national parks to change their minds.

I switched trains in Munich, this train was more crowded and it was rough tryin g to get a little rest. Then the train stopped on the tracks for like an hour and a half. I though I would miss my connection to Zurich, but guess what? The conncection was waiting at the next station. We got into Zurich an hour late. fine with me, I had no where to go that early anyway.

I dropped my gear off at the hostel, recharged my cell phone credit, and caught the next train to Davos via Landquart.

A beautiful ride down the zurichsee-lake. Still not much snow in Switzerland. What a pity, but I don't mind the warmer weather.

I watched some people ski and snowboard a half pipe. they sold corona, so I had 1. This guy was working the crowd and singing traditional songs, quite amusing. And then I walked the town and trained it back to Zurich. And here I am.

Going and going and going

2007-02-07T03:33:00.000-08:00

No melancholy tones for me today.
No stories of crazy parties.
Just a few observations.
Europe is over doing it with the celebration of Jewish history. I know why they do it, but it does seem a bit much. What else can one do besides over react to Hitler? There are no Jews to fill up these synagogues they have so remarkably preserved. There will be a lot of dusting to do before they are.
That murderous psycho Che Guevara is everywhere . T-shirts and stickers. Some guy even tried to sell me a magazine with a photo of bin Laden as Che on the cover.
It's absurd. Trying to make A buck off two terrorists who want to destroy capitalism. One needs to take the long view in that case.
Also, Che consorted with the oppressors of East Germany and Czech Republic. Why would anyone, especially here want to celebrate that guy.
Let's have a party about when out lives sucked. In the states we through 70's or 80's parties to remind us of how silly we could be.
I haven't seen any Iron Curtain parties advertised anywhere. Why is that?
Getting a fast train from Czech republic is not possible. I should have known.
I am going back to Zurich, then off to Italy. Down one side and up the other. Probably. I would like to make it to Sicily but have been hearing only how far it is. Now I have to go. The challenge has been made.
Miss you all. Thanks for reading.
Jefe

2007-02-06T03:38:00.000-08:00

Prague continued
Current mood: recovered
Category: recovered Parties and Nightlife

I forgot where I left off. So after we went to a bunch off half full clubs, we found a place where Ed saw another American. Tom, I think and he makes commercials or something. he was with a group of people who were seeing a friend off back to SF. They were partying. If you know what I mean. Ed and I weren't but we went along for the ride.
Tom got a Limo to take us to Mecca, cause the bus they had wasn't running. It was 100czk a piece, 1100 total. The limo was for some titty bar called dancers, but no one was getting in to go there, so the driver took us to the club.
This club was great, I still was trying to make myself dance.Not enough other dancers to get lost in though. I walked around, said hello to others in the group. but hung loose, I was a little uncomfortable. I had only been in town 28 or so.Yeah, I can be shy.
Also, in Prague, get used to seeing young women with older guys, it just happens. A lot. when in Rome.....
I didn't try though. Want to hear some excuses?
After being there a while, we took a couple of cabs to Laclan, another all morning club. this place starts at 4am. Still drinking I ambled around looking for a good place to crash.
I must have been out for an hour. here you can sleep in a bar. So i got up rejoined the group and found my second wind. I had my humor and social skills back. I was really enjoying myself, not that the rest was bad, but I didn't feel like a stranger anymore.
At about 10am, we left. Charity, a Canadian woman in our group about 32 and blond, said we could come to her place for drinks. Ed, Zoran, Charity and I went there straight away. She lived around the corner and had whiskey and wine.
She said this was the first time in 2 years she had been out. She has lived here for 5. I didn't believe her until she called her Jameson's scotch.
We listened to music and drank for hours, until 4pm, in her 6th floor apartment. the shades were drawn, sunlight was not our friend.
Zoran, the Serbian sensation, left before Ed and I.
Instead of going home, ed and I went around from place to place, eating, having a coffee, or another beer for the next 7 hours. Ed drank more than I did as beer tasted like puddle water to me at this point, but it kept him going. I also played the game on my cell phone to kill time.
So at midnight me go to Jaromir Jagr's sportsbar and watch the game. 2 more beers, chicken wings and some beef off the bone with a veggie skewer and we were done. Didn't see the end.
We really tried. 48 hours in Prague on 8 hours sleep. I still got it.

Praha

2007-02-05T06:40:00.000-08:00

Spent the last weekend in Prague.

Found a room. Cleaned up and almost slept through the night. Glad I didin't. Got on the Metro and got off at Flora, hoping to find the club Ed Wade said he was going to be. Found it. It is called Infinity. The place was covered in beautiful women. What a first night!

Stayed the a while an drank many beers. Andrew is this American guy who works in mdeia in Prague. He loves it here, claimes the quality of life is better. Less work, less hassle. Compared to his job in the States, a similiar one that is.

Rob, this English guy, met Ed at the hostel they shared for a time. Rob works here as well. He ain't to smooth with the ladies. He was pawing this girl as I was talking with her. It was very bizarre. I didn't know if I should say anything and she said nothing about it.

Rob also told me there is a bar where you paz 500 crowns to get in, 200 for beers, and the women are free. You can do whatever you want with them, but the catch is that it will be sent over the internet. That's a big catch. What's the difference between freedom and moral rot? You decide.

Writing this blog for me keeps my sprits and curiousity going about htis trip. Thanks for reading.

I was out at that club and realized that it was after 4 am. I got a cab and went to my hostel.

I had to be out of there by 10 or lose 200 crowns. Not a good deal. I made it thanks to my 1st cell phone complete with alarm.

Ed said I could crash at his apartment. So I called him about noon. He had company the night before so was very tired.

I am still getting used to the phone and didn't want to use all of the credit on long distance cell phone calls.The pay phones in Europe are overpriced and worthless, especially if you plan to use change to pay. A phone card might work better.

I took a cab and called when I arrived. this included walking to 3 payphones which never worked, texting which didn't send and finally calling him which cost me like 3 chf, I think, my phone balance comes to me in German.

So i got there, he was still tired as was I. So we just sat around a while until we went to meet Silva at a club after our dinner.

She was cool, not much to say but I asked what my Czech name is and she said Sbynek, based on a guy at work with that name is called Jeff.

Then after more beer we to the tram to old town and hopped around the Ed's favorite places. Most weren't too busy because it was Saturday. People go all out on friday, so it is less busy at most places on Saturday.

I will finish this story later. IT doesn't end until the Super Bowl. Who won?

The Day I did nothing

2007-01-31T01:53:00.000-08:00

I didn´t take notes yesterday. I didn´t write. I was brain dead. I walked a bit. East Berlin isn´t very interesting. Still not too bad. I guess you can see alot in a walking tour which I did 4 days ago.
I think this city still doing recovery from the past Century. When you think about it that way, they are doing pretty good here.
I was speaking with a french student she remarked about how this place was very alive. Then it occurred to me that I haven´t really heard a German laugh really loud or hearty in fashion. Kind of sad, kind of deserved, kind of time for that to end. It ain´t my problem.
I haven´t found anything really funny either. I wonder why? I have to remember funny things from my past. Who has a good story out there?
I couldn´t think of much to do yesterday. I wondered if I was boring because only boring people get bored. I may just stay here and go to the Heavy Metal bar every night and drink Jäger and Becks beer everynight. I can get those in the States. Girls are just pouring through the hostel I am in. French, German, and others.
I am listening to American talk radio through the computer. Peace demonstrators are so dumb. Jesse Jackson is so full of shit, he can´t believe what he says. I don´t think he is an idiot.
What shall I do on my last day in Berln?
Check on train departures and prices to Prague.
See a museum?
Hang around those French girls?
2 out of 3

Life is like a sandwich in a box of chocolates wrapped in an enigma

2007-01-30T04:59:00.000-08:00

Current mood: über cromulant

For some reason I like mixed metaphors. Or better still, screwed up cliches. Instead of saying "you snooze, you lose" of move your feet, lose your seat" a friend said "move your feet, you snooze!" That still makes me laugh. That friend was never known for his brains, but has always been a decent person, and that is just the tip of the cake!
There is some much dogshit on the ground in East Berlin I am afraid to look down and more, even more afraid not to look. I don't want to spend money on new shoes. Again.
Speaking of shoes, I bought a new pair of boots, for winter weather. Since in hasn't been that cold, I am practically swimming in these things. When I take my shoes off, it looks like I was in the shower for a hour. I finally found some baby powder, so it is getting better.
I don't know whether to love or hate that movie Forrest Gump. It was an entertaining film. The metaphor is a bit hard to take. The main character is retarded and loves an unfortunate tramp. Since Forrest represents America, I don't want to agree with that world view.
Still looking for a computer I can plug the camera into. Maybe in Prague.
The hostel I am in has mixed rooms. Some single sex and others aren't. There are 2 French girls in the room as well as a couple of Japanese, they are everywhere, and a couple of some former Eastern bloc country where there this morning. They relayed the best info I have heard to date. Women who are pretty are in ample supply. We have reached the good side of communism. Since there was no money, sex was based upon looks. Good looking people men would get pretty women. There was no money to factor in the equation. In the states, toady guys can get fine women if they are successful financially.
What does this say about you ladies?
I am looking forward to Belgrade.
I went to a Heavy Metal bar in my current neighborhood. They showed videos all night. Some were very funny with how tough or evil they tried to be. the music was still pretty good. The music business screws up the music. What can you do? All they want is to get you to want to fuck whoever they are promoting, bunch of crap. There will always be a punk scene, for that reason alone.
How come the music biz doesn't get put on trial for pedophilia? They are doing more to fill kids heads with thought of sex than Catholic priests ever did. Rock and Roll isn't the Devil, but Sony Records is watching the gate.
Record execs don't make news speaking to Congress . They send the artists whose righteous anger wins media approval. While the execs market the lust and don't care about the results on people.
I don´t think I will see much of Berlin today. I don't want to walk far. I sure don't want to get in a train or bus for one day at least.

Currently listening :
Sodom
By Sodom
Release date: By 09 May, 2006

BERLIN

2007-01-29T07:41:00.001-08:00

Berlin has been all right. Pub crawls are the best way to meet people for fun. I went on one Saturday and Sunday. Bothe were great. I like the one on sunday, a little smaller and more fun people. There was a hot Brazilian girl named Carol who I didn´t try hard enough to get. I decided to go with stimulating conversation with an Australian social worker. Natalie was pretty sharp. I couldn´t remember her email so I don´t think I will get to see her again. You never know.

Today I saw 2 girls that stayed at the same hostel in Hamburg. Small world. If I see them in Prague it will be really star crossed.

Not in a writing mood. I was out very late last night and had to get up early to switch hostels. I absolutely hated the place. Kids and families. Not my scene. No one there was any fun. I wish I knew that before I overpaid to stay there. 25€ a night. The bed I have now is 10€.

I can now find my way around the city without too much trouble.

East berlin is not quite caught up to it western side. A lot of blight, older looking buildings, and general disarray. But it is quick to get around and whatever you may need is just blocks away.

I will be here through thursday. Then to Prague and back to Zurich, probably.

Currently listening :
Oracle
By Kittie
Release date: By 13 November, 2001

What I been doing lately

2007-01-28T10:58:00.000-08:00

I like quiet when I write.

Some of these bipeds thínk banging on the keyboard makes them type faster. No wonder I stayed at home to write.

Friday I got into,

I think I am getting a headache. I am alone, but i can´t get away from people.

Berlin is where I am right now. I pick a nice quiet place and soon somebody....enough complaing.

I have been enjoying this town for 2 days now.

It was chilling and snowing on Friday. Very wintery for the first time almost a storm. I was going to take a bus tour, but I couldn´t find the meeting place in time. I wouldn´t have seen much anyway, it was snowing that much.

I eventually found my way back to the hostel where I got a bed. Oh, I bought a winter hat, they didn´t have black so I got this deep burgandy or cabernet or soem wine color. It´s not red or purple, they had none in solid black.

I had the house dinner, chicken stew, rice, and salad. Not bad. Then I took a 2 hour nap. When the 2 other fellows in the room returned, I ventured out in to the night to find a beer and some sights.

I wen to the Potsdamner Platz. they have movies and theatrre up there. Sony has a big showcase. The BlueMan Group are also ín town. I saw a show of theirs in 1994 in NYC. I am tempted to see how much tickets are because that would be good to see alone.

There were no places to go for drinks. So after walking a few more blocks, 10 or 12 maybe, I foung a cafe that sold beer, but it closed a half hour later. I had time for 2 and I scoped that latest local paper, complete with titty shots, 3 different ones at least. Then back to the Hostel.

I saw an american girl, she was raised on promises, who talked with a friend about philosophy.

You people have no idea what it tis like to be me, every conversation you overhear sounds like the dumbest one ever.

So she says something like, 'Philosophy is all just questions, maybe I don´t know enough, but it doesn´t have any answers.'

It had to point out that Rene´ Descartes had an answer to the question: Do I really exist? Cogito Ergo Sum. Je pense, que je serait. I think therefore I am.

She hadn´t heard of him. Put down the philosophy, kids should play with sharp objects.

I went to bed.

The next day, filled with lunchmeat, cheese, cereal, and zeal, I found my way to the Zoololgischer Garten station to do a walking tour or Berlin.

The tour was given by a Scottish guy about my age. He is a writer who has been living in Berlin for 10 years. He loves it. He is trying to finish his first novel. If is reads like he told stories on the tour, it should be a one.

We learned about the founding of the city and how it came to prominence. We also got to some of the good stuff about why stuff was still there or was only partially destroyed. We visited the site of Hitler´s bunker, now an apartment block, which is the old Nazi headquarters. The Reichstag is quite impressive. The Chancellors house isn´t. The locals call it the washing machine, cause that´s what it looks like.

There is alot more but I am not typing that all out.

A few of us on the tour, those travelling alone and under 40, had some coffee and beer at a beer hall. Quite good. There Was KEnny, Tyler, Charlie, Katrina, and an Australian girl whose name I ahve forgot and gave the wrong country code for my cell number. Strike 1.

I may email Katrina and she what she says about a date. Will I do it in time? How long will she be in Town.

I returned to the Hostel for dinner and a cold shower, not on purpose, some yoga, and some map work to make it out to a pub crawl.

Made it there! A good group of Aussies, Zealanders, and Americans were out for drinks. Everyone was pretty cool ,except for 2 americans. The loud white guy with the baseball hat yelled at the bartender, shocking. The black dude from LA who never took off his shades thought he got dissed, Surprise! If I wore sunglasses all night I would have seen that coming. Neither of them made it to the club at the end. I did, bút left soon after, out of money and will.

I did find my way home and got up for breakfast.

More to come.

Here´s a post

2007-01-25T07:38:00.000-08:00

The computer I am on has throw me off myspace 3 times now. No Idea why.
I hate kids.
Loud little fuckers.
College kids, rude little fuckers.

Now that is off my chest.

I haven´t found shit to do in Hamburg. Tours are tours. Wow, another old building. I am going to save my money, walk from place to place, and write. That is what I have time for doing.

There is no music here. I may have to try something new. Oh no!
I haven´t got an email from Seano one time except for him to bitch at me about free form jokers on the podcast site. Gee thanks. Like he owns shit.

The only time your hear anything from that guy is about what is bothering him. My life hasn´t been exactly roses and I get no support, just whining. Complain to your wife!

Ous show has gone nowhere in months. What does he think our listeners want? Entertainment. Who cares who is doing it? Here´s a show idea. Argue with your wife for an hour. That sure beats the crap out of me and Chief Drunken New Teeth.

Glad that´s out. No hard feelings.
He probably isn´t reading this anyway. How would I know?

Hamburg, den of depravity. Well, I just had beers.

2007-01-25T04:41:00.000-08:00

Today and Yesterday I am in Hamburg, Germany. I took a guided bust tour, which just happened to cover what I had already known.

Quick Hamburg facts.

The 8th largest port in the world, by tonnage.

The Beatles came here in the early 60´s before the got big. The hung around the Reeperbahn. I don´t know how that translates. It probably means: place where they try to drag you into strip clubs, porn shops, and hookers can work the street from 8pm to 6am. I wouldn´t want a girl who has still there at 6am. In winter, thy all wear pink and white clothes. Ski jackets and stuff. It loks like a vanetine´s day candy coming after your dick. They grab your arm and plead. I may run the gauntlet again tonight just for kicks.

The Have three rivers here. One was damned for a while for a factory. But the guy who owned it flooded it once and it turned into a accidental lake.

I guess there is stuff to do here at night but I am having trouble finding it. Aimless walking is less fun in boots and cold weather.

It snowed here for the first time so far on my trip. It was great. Most of it melted though. It is still cold.

I haven´t picked up any German ladies yet. They charge too much! Kidding I am language impaired. That´s no excuse. It didn´t matter with Nina.

My socks will be thrown away.

There is no Gold Bond powder here. I need some.

People aren´t real thrilled with snoring in the Hostel. Any suggestions? I have to sleep with my mouth covered or closed. That´s not sleeping.

The hostel I am staying in is very modern and sits between the harbor and a huge statue of Otto von Bismarck.

I am sick of Red light districts, they seem to be everywhere. I am not bringing home any painful souvenirs.

Where´s the good clean fun?

I have no right to be bored, but what is there to do? Siteseeing only takes so much time. There has to be more culture thatn old buildings. I will takes tours in each new place I go.

I took the Jägermeister Tour. IT was great. If you want to go make an appointment. I had to go to Wölfenbüttel twice to get one. Call their Tourist office.

JägerMeister facts:

There is no deer blood in it.

Curt Mast developed the formula.

His descedents own the whole company. They must be so loaded. Surprise! They don´t work there.

There are 56 ingredients in Jäger.

Jäger buys their alcohol. THey make none.

They flavor the alcohol with the ingredient mixture. Like tea, but it is done at room temperature.

Jäger concentrate is aged for a year in old cleaned wine barrels so it will breath.

It is finished by adding more water and then bottled.Some concentrate i sent to other locations for bottling.

All Jäger in the US is made in Wolfenbuttel. I think. I audio recorded the tour.

The tour guide was Anja or anija, an uncommon name.

She said blowjob. It didn´´t laugh but that clip will be on the Seano and JEfe Show.

That´s all for now.

JEfe

I don´t fix all my mistake because it takes too much time thatI am paying for.,

Hating internet cafe´s still

2007-01-23T09:39:00.000-08:00

So the last place I was at sucked. I found a better, more expensive place in a casino. Who would a thunk it?
I cried over Nina.
Not because I felt sorry for myself. I don´t. Something wonderful was over and I am sad for that loss. This was unlike all of the other girls I have cried over. I felt like a sorry ass.
Here´s to the power of true love and the good that it brings!
I knew I had to come see her and I am glad I did.
Today I went for a walk around Hannover. A beautiful city with plenty of old building left standing from the war. I believe that will be a recurring theme throughout my German excursion.
If anyone wants to write me at any point during my trip please do.
I need some companionship even if it just a note. None of you have told me how you are doing.
My life should be more interesting right now, but I still want to hear about you.
I need to learn how to find things to do out here. It ain´t easy. My brain and bowels can only take so much bar hopping.
I went to the Jager factory on Monday. NO tour no dice. So I go back tomorrow before heading to Hamburg.
I need a warm hat. Finally. I am not used to the cold.

I can´t post pictures from these fucking places either!

As long as you think about the irony

2007-01-21T01:16:00.000-08:00

I told her I loved her.
She said she loved me.
Before.
Not anymore.
Not that way.
We are still friends.
I still find her charming and wonderful.
I had to be here and push her to know that we are through as lovers.
It had to be that way.
I had to be sure.
She is still special.
I am too.
That is life.
Even two people who think the best of each other stop being in love.
What a kick in the ass.
I love you Nina.
Thank you for everything.
I needed it more than I can say.

Time to Know

2007-01-20T05:08:00.001-08:00

I am going to see Nina at 3pm at the Central tram stop.
We spoke last night. It doesn't look good for el Jefe.
As I sat by myself, after many vodkas and beers, one important thing occurred to me.
I am doing exactly what I want to do.
Maybe for the first time in my life.
Not that I regret how I have lived.
But I haven't felt that I was doing exactly what I should be doing.
Being in Switzerland.
Telling Nina I love her.
Accepting fate.
I am doing what I want.

Zurich, the Return

2007-01-19T04:27:00.000-08:00

What are 3 things I don't care about? fashion style and shopping
Europe has all of those and for only twice the price.
Who wants shoes for ..150? Maybe a matching cap for £50? Don't forget your special gloves ath the low price of 45 chf.
Really, it's not so bad.
I think Zurich and Amsterdam are 2 of the priciest places I could have chosen to visit in the first part of my trip. Thanks to good friends, it hasn't stung my funds too much. Except in Tilburg, where I know no one.
I don't feel like typing each detail for my readers. But here's some travel tips I plan on using through the rest of my journey.
Always bring a bottle of wine on long train rides, especially the overnights. Drinks are at a premium. You will save a ton with just one or two bottles. Some trains have bars, some have a smoking car with racks of unchilled beer or wine. You can't complain, you forgot to stock up. Beer at the store is a about a dollar a can. This price triples on the train. Trying hanging the beer out an opened window to cool it faster. Don't get caught! I think you can drink beer anywhere you like here, so why go into a bar?
Bread also is a must. Rolls are easier than loaves, but these are harder to find if you shop in the evening. Get ready for the best of the rest. Do like I do, try anything twice.
I have had trouble finding small portions of meat and cheese. So I just ate more meat and cheese. Win-Win!
Fruit is also a must. You need your vitamins and roughage if you hope to proerly digest all of that beer, wine, meat, and cheese.
Premade sandwiches feels like a rip-off. If you want to pay too much for speed, wait until you find a kebap-felafel shop. These are plentiful in city setttings.
Also plentiful are the massage places. Or is it just where I have been staying? No need to be alone in Europe unless you want to be. I have no idea what this costs and I don't care to.
Don't plan on sleeping to well in the train bed either. Unless you like a real firm matress. I haven't been to a hostel yet, so I am not sure if those sleep better or not. But the price may be about the same as the extra cost to my Eurail pass. More on that later.
Dutch people hate the Belgians and use too many vowels in their words, but they speak English well.
The Van Gogh was great. The RijksMuseum was as well. According the that place the Dutch are the best people on the face of the planet. Let's keep that VanEgo in the DeCheck.
I did get lost a little on Tuesday night, well turned around. It also had nothing to do with that thing I bought at the Bulldog.
Ben Ottewell concerts are great. Amsterdam food was great. Todd and Michelle were great. Maybe I will see them again.
That's all I really have today.

Amsterdam is a hoot!

2007-01-15T03:12:00.000-08:00

My trip here has been great.

After a confusing train ride from Tilburg, I have been treated amazingly by my hosts Todd and Michelle. The video is of their great apartment. They have been living here since August. Her twin sister, not identical but they look similar, lives here as well.

Here's a brief recap of Saturday.

Find my way to Todd and Michelle's. We do some catch up and then Todd and I head to the Leidseplein for beers.

Michelle, Renee and Jeff meet us there for more beers and light chatting. Jeff also likes Gomez and is pleased to hear Ben is playing that night.

Off to Pastini's for dinner with all and Chris and Allison. Dinner was great and I left a bit early so not to miss much of the concert. Didn't work. I caught about half, but got in for free.

So did Todd, Michelle, Jeff and Renee. I also recorded the last 30 minutes of the set. Sounds okay, people were talking through the whole set.

Gave away rest of pins and Stickers I had left from the Gomez Listening party last April. I kept the shirt that I wore form them, it's cold in January.

Off to the bar again and Todd brought along 2 Dutch girls Rochelle and Katrinka, and a Welsh couple, Phil and Christine, I think. How fun is that?

3 rounds later, out into the rain, Jeff steals a cab at the stand, and back to Oud Zuid, the area Todd lives.

Any questions?

Sunday I walked to the Heineken experience. I want to put my pictures from it in one slide show. That will come later. Dutch beer is so great.

After that I walked to city from bar to coffeeshop to bar to pub to toilet and back to Todd's to meet for dinner. The Welsh couple met us there as well. They love the Young Ones so we went on about that through dinner.

Back to the apartment to watch a little football. We saw the Bears win. Then to bed. I slept like a log. Which meant I had dreams.

I was friends with Mick Jagger and his 14 year old daughter wanted to date me. I don't think he has a daughter that age. In the dream he had 7 kids. He wanted to do some work with me, not sure what now. But his house had this castle like glass foyer with the names of all the Rolling Stones tunes etched into the glass.

Of course dating the girl got me in trouble, not cause I did anything wrong, the girl just liked to play games.

Next, my van, the Econoline I used to own, got stolen by the Yakuza.Which was horrible because I had already smashed up my Pathfinder trying to impress Jagger's kids by driving a Semi into it. I can't drive a tractor trailer even in my dreams.

After that I think I yelled at my mom about my not having a car.

Then I went to work where Albert Brooks was the boss. I couldn't stop laughing because I remembered the Simpsons' episode were he was the James Bond Villain character. So I said "papaya papayin" over and over like from the show. People around me got tired of it faster than I.

I think then, I woke up. Here's to the Dream!

Here's a video of the flat where I am staying. Very nice. Thank you Todd and Michelle.

I went to the Heineken Brewery Tour!

2007-01-14T14:49:00.000-08:00

A quick review of my first day in the Netherlands. Beautifully wrapped up with a tour of the Heineken Brewery. There is more to say about this place. But it was the weekend and we have been enjoying ourselves all the while. I know the audio doesn't sync well with the video. Not my fault. Blame Youtube, the most amazing thing to hit the Internet since email. Here's a picture of Nina for the heck of it.

Making Heineken

2007-01-14T14:35:00.000-08:00

This was shown during the Heineken Experience tour in Amsterdam. It's just a small bit. If I showed the whole thing you would never go yourself!

Jefe from Holland

2007-01-13T07:57:00.000-08:00

I don't think I finished saying that I wanted to thank all of my friends for giving me a good send off for my trip. Especially Matt and Cicely who fed me fondue, showed me the movie Eurotrip, and took me to the Airport.

See me later!

Playing Catch(up)

2007-01-11T01:23:00.000-08:00

Been sorta busy.....here's what happenend.
Tuesday morning I caught the local train to Turgi. Near there, Vögelsang is where Tim Merkel (Fairport,NY) lives with his wife and children. He teches English and takes care of the kids. She, Dagmar, works full time at a power production company. No au pairs for this pair. Their children are Hannah, 3, and Jamie, 14 months. Very cute blond kids.
Tim and the kids and I went to the Rigi, the closest mountain to zurich. I had been last year, but there is nothing like a ride up a Swiss mountain. We took the gondola from Weggis and the train to the top.
Since there is little to no snow this year, the place was abandoned. We were lucky to get something to eat as everything was closing early due to the lack of customers.
The view was still exceptional. It is so remarkably different than anything I am used to seeing inthe states. White snow hugging black rocks lording over the clouds.
On the way back down, we could see the lights of the lake towns. There were even ferry boats in operation, the lake hasn't frozen. The city light over three lakes was new to me, so peaceful. To anyone nervous about heights, it gets easier everytime you ride the gondola. If it doesn't, close your eyes.
We left for the in-laws, as it was Opa's 76th birthday. An Austrian by birth, he's been in Switzerland for 40 years. I can't really say what and where Tim's in-laws are all from. I thought his wife was German, some in her family are, some live in Germany, some are Hessians, and they talk funny, but I didn't meet any of them.
Dagmar's brother and wife were very nice. He gave me a Dutch beer called Anker. Their four boys all look like smaller versions of the other, and they love to have Tim's kids to play with, since that keeps them from being the youngest any longer.
The lady of the house made a delicious goulash, which must mean beef soup, cause that's what it looked like, which was served with rolls.
Dessert was vanilla creme banana roll and sweet bread.
From there, Tim and I returned to Zurich to practice with his baseball squad, the Zurich Lions. Only about 5 guys showed up. We ran double play and grounder drills. An unexpected event.
I drove the family van back to Vögelsang and stayed the night is the guest room after a little american style channel surfing on the Eurocable. The broadcasting standards are a little more liberal on this side of the pond. And they show just as much hockey.
Next morning we walked the neighrborhood with the kids. The sun came out, apparently a rarity in switzerland winters. Thus, all the going to the mountains on weekends, to see the sun.
Tim's house and property back into a river. This has got him into kayaking, which will soon replace baseball as his main exercise. Also, he plans on redesigning the yard and the garden cottage to make his promising English instruction school more appealing.
I took the 14:28 back to Zurich and walked from there to Mona's. She left the key for me, thank goodness and consideration, so geting to rest my dogs was no problems. After a quick rest, for some reason, I was really head tired this day, I called Nina to get together.
I walked to her place. It isn't far. I will walk more, it just isn't really worth the fare each time to ride the bus. Baseball practice proved I need the exercise.
She let me in and we had tea and sweets. Her new place is great, roomy for city standards, and functional. Even small balconies for nice evenings. If you look over at the neighboring building, you can see them all cooking or showering at the same time. The clock making has worked its way into the DNA I guess.
We talked about this or that and I learned something new about her. SHE LIKES JäGERMEISTER! I don't know how this one got by me but it did. As If I wasn't already sold. But it isn't all up to me.
We went to a bar by the Central tram station, about 1km from her flat. We drank jäger over ice and talked about this or that. We are getting along well. No romance though.
To be honest, I would rather hang around Zurich all day just to meet her for coffee or a drink, than travel Europe. Cause when she is there, other places don't matter.
But that's not what I am gonna do. I am off to Amsterdam, on the overnight train, for a few nights to see Ben Ottewell from Gomez play live. After I meet Nina for a drink, of course.

Sleep of Ages

2007-01-08T07:58:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I slept a lot today. Maybe I am wasting time. Maybe I am saving money. Maybe I didn't want to walk all over town.
Over the last month, probably more, I have not slept very well at all. Sometimes getting only five hours a night. That's no way to live. So after I awoke today, I finished my leftover lunch from yesterday and took a bath. Then lying down seemed like the thing to do. Then sleeping did. I hope I am not up all night as I won't have much to do. Bars here are weird and different and don't have much of a bar and I don't feel super social all of the time.
Zurich has a hockey team, I would like to see a game.
I have to help Mona with her english lessons. She has to pass the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English test in order to teach that subject. The same test I would take if I wanted to do so. Tim Merkel passed it.
Nina is absolutely stunning, even dressed in street clothes. I am curious to see her in school marm gear. I doubt it is a snug skirt-suit with knee high boots, but one can always hope. She said she does have to be strict with the students.
Interesting story about her.
In early November, prior to her birthday, she had a bad bicycle wreck. She rode into an opened car door. Not her fault.
I have only been told piecemeal what has really happened.
At first I was told it was no big deal, so I thought bumps and bruises.
Next I hear its the hospital and bandages and missing work. Okay, worse but not scary.
Yesterday, it comes up again. She tells me that she didn't stop bleeding out her nose for days. They kept her for observation. they had to rebreak her nose to set it. Her roommate, Hammer, had to stay with her to take care of her because she couldn't do much for herself and some had to be there in case of an emergency. She also had a minor nose job, the top of her bridge is smaller than before. I noticed, which I think started the conversation in the first place.
Bottom line, I have to see pictures from the accident. I am glad they fixed her up good, but that wouldn't change how I feel.

Three King's Day

2007-01-07T03:51:00.000-08:00

In Switzerland, January sixth is Three Kings Day. they bake a special round bread that has six rolls attatched to the side. In one of the pieces, there is a plastic king figurine. Whoever finds it, and doesn't get it caught in their throat, is the King for a day.
For my day, I went to the store to pick up bloody mary supplies, a favorite of my hostess, Mona. the store had no horseradish. I think she takes them without, so no problem. I went to the store with her roommate Julien. He is Swiss-English, Swinglish, and chose zurich over London. The store had only 2 kinds of vodka, Wyobrodka and Smirnoff. And I picked up some Feldshlossen beer, the local Old Style.
After returning to the flat, Julien went off about his day and Mona finally returned from the Mountains. They do that alot here. She was at a Betty Ford party, the opposite of rehab. irony is alive and well `im Schwiez.` We proceeded to drink Koteli, a sweet swiss liquor and exchange pleasantries and cigarettes.
Mona's friend Mary arrived for dinner a little later. Mona prepared Sausage with beets and carrots over rice. delicious. Mary brought along some traditional sauce from the Philippines, as her mother is from there. Mary neither speaks spanish or is Catholic, a first among anyone I have met with that heritage. She was very nice and is in teaching like Mona and Nina.
After a fine dinner, Mario, Nina's brother, came by to say hello and go with Mona to a party. I declined as I wasn't sure how long I would have the energy to stay awake.
I can't say enough about how nice everyone I have been around has been. Great for a first day!
A funny thing happened on my way to this flat yesterday, someone asked me for directions to some street around here. I had no idea, and they spoke german, not my first language.

Back In Zurich

2007-01-06T03:54:00.001-08:00

After an hour of delays, The plane flew out of Sacto. No big deal, I was in no hurry. Window Seat. Good. Loud and energetic foreign child sittning behind me, not good.
I don't want to quash a youngsters enthusiasm, but why shouldn't that child behave for some part of a 4 and a half hour flight?
The in flight movie was the one about the bartender who tried out for the Philiadelphia Eagles back in 76 and makes the team. Good story. It was still a typical film about believing in yourself and not quitting. More than that, it was about trying your best. A very melodramtic oeuvre it was. The best way to put that type of message across to an audience.
The good thing about it was it's factual basis. Not like that Hilary Duff Uber-scheize about being a star. Stars don't make the world go around. Then again, everyone has a different idea about hard work.
Flight 2 was more of the same. No, it was better. I was so delirious from not sleeping, the miles just slipped away. A couple of tall beers before hand didn't hurt.
Whilst having those beers, I made soome friends. First was Tessa, a young woman returning to LA. She had been there 6 months. We talked about what we were doing and why we were travelling. Got to know a little. I think she dug me. Or the smile was from beer on my chin.
Another guy I spoke to was visiting family in DC. He got to visit some Congressional inaugural parties. According to him, Jon Kyl is a huge attention getter, popular or powerful. The same thing in DC I assume. Anyhow, this guy doesn't like wearing ties or paying $10 for drinks. We related. even when discussing politics.
Which reminds me, CNN is bullshit. It's just one hit piece on the President after another. Some may be deserved, but the constant barrage is disgusting.
Back to FLight 2. I sat next to a Virginia Tech co-ed spendind $12,000 on a semester abroad to study marketing in Lugano, Switzerland. Yeah, they know something about marketing allright.
This young lady was friendlty and laughed at my jokes. There should be more like her.$
8 hours later, I got off the plane at the Zurich flughofen and onto a terminal tram. In the tunnel you see a scrolling video pictoral of a Swiss Miss blowing a kiss at you. This was a new one on me. Innovative could describe it. So would arousing. Memorable.
From there, a breeze through customs and I'm on a train to central Zurich. I phone a friend and here I am. Only 2:00pm. No sleep and a long night ahead.
And, I got to clean up. first time since before I cleared out my appartment.

Bitterness and the move forward

2007-01-02T14:24:00.000-08:00

I am taking a long trip soon.
Things aren't going quite as hoped.
Still, who knows if this is good or bad?
I sure don't. I never know what will happen. The trip will be fun or at least challenging. Which could be better? Fun is always good, but challenging is more fulfilling.
I will get lonely and miss my friends. I will meet new people.
Let's stay in touch.
Jefe

Last Week in Sacto

2006-12-30T14:13:00.000-08:00

Folks,
My time is limited. I am moving out of my apartment and taking off to Europe for 2 months.
I am anxious. I need to get a lot done between now and January 5th. I may not blog a lot.

If anyone cares to share their experience of their travels over there, I would love to hear it.

Seano got mad at me for posting Free Form Jokers on the Seano and Jefe site.
I want to do another FFJ, but it may not happen soon. Look for the new link here.

I will Vidblog about the move for sure.

Wish me luck!

Jefe

Jefe's First VidBlog

2006-12-28T14:07:00.000-08:00

Click here for my first video

No Xmas for Mahmoud

2006-12-25T10:22:00.000-08:00

Peace On Earth

Goodwill Towards Men

Those are weighty platitudes coming from a nation of invaders and imperialists. Our hypocrisy must look so dire to little Mahmoud, benevolently sandwiched between Iraq and Afghanistan. During this holiday season, he won't be pulling for the King of the Jews. He is too busy planning the demise of the Jewish masses.

So, in order to be true to the spirit of Xmas, do we need to forgive and pray for the holiday wishes of even our most despicable nemesis? Do we hope that that our tiny Tim of freedom for the Middle East will warm the heart of this olive skinned and black bearded Scrooge? Or do we expect to hear that "Christ"mas is humbug?

What would a prayer sound like?

Santa. I know the uranium enrichment process is going slower than Mahmoud would like. He sent such a nice letter to the American people condemning bad things and Zionists, could you not bring him a little nuclear secret? Then they can save all that oil they have. If he has been bad, it is only because we have behaved badly.

Also, please make sure all the nasty extra explosives he is sending to Iraq make it there the way your presents do. After all, he is only looking to open up the marketplace of ideas and freedom with all of those IED's. It's the only way there can be a fair fight.

Finally, let the people, especially those pesky students, see the light about his leadership. It takes a lot of time and money to fix an election well enough to fool Billy and Jimmy. So if the people understood his mission of fairness and free expression, they would vote for him out of their spirit of goodness.

The miracle of Xmas is that we can hope for the best for anyone, no matter who they are.

Don't be overheard when I'm around.

2006-12-22T11:52:00.000-08:00

Last night after work, I stopped by my local to have a quick one and one. A Jager and a beer. Whilst lounging on the front porch, some rub-a-dubs attempted to gain admission. The door guy explained that he couldn't let one of them in, as a passport isn't acceptable ID, to the ABC. He was polite and was even giving options.
Two of her friends were walking away, the guy was saying to the girl," he's got some problem, he makes six bucks an hour...blah blah..."
This set me off.
I bluntly interrogated about who in Hades he was, does he feel better about himself now, does he think it is cool to talk like that where we can all hear him, does he really think all that hair gel is cool, and was that all he had to say. You get my point.
And so did the rest of the patio patrons. He got hooted out of there and probably won't consider returning soon.
Maybe I was upset because I make $6/hour. Plus tips, really $6.75. But I take shit from people all the time. I did that same night.
I work with a pretty blond girl on Thursday and Saturday nights. Last night I scooped a tip off the bar where she had helped them. $2. the jerk who left the $2 says

Drunk Jerk-that's for her.
Me- yeah, we split tips.
Drunk Jerk-I bet you don't make as much as her
Me-(biting lip)(holding tongue)
Me-(thinking) yeah, I never earned a $2 tip before.

Yeah I lashed out at a place I didn't work, because I couldn't where I did work.

No Rape-Rape Case

2006-12-22T11:48:00.000-08:00

Surprise! The biggest farce of a criminal case in years has gone belly up. Those guys who didn't do anything except hire a dancer, didn't like the fact that she showed up to do her job wasted, are no longer facing rape charges.
Watch the coverage for people who will still be screaming because they are sure that those boys did something wrong.
Wonder to yourself, what the hell is wrong with them?
If it is you, what the hell is wrong with you?

Ends with a Prom.....

2006-12-20T09:58:00.000-08:00

Is there a movie about the high school experience that doesn't include some kind of pivotal moment that occurs at the Prom? Yes, it's called a climax. But like most of you, I didn't climax at my prom. I'm still waiting for that to happen any formal event.
What's the deal with that? Is it not possible to sell a script about the high school experience that doesn't follow the last year with the mandatory dress-up gala? Even Napoleon Dynamite, a unique cellulose oeuvre, had the big dance.
Sixteen Candles doesn't have a prom, but is still has a dance. So does Dazed and Confused. Is this all there is to coming of age? Sure doesn't seem like much. That's disappointing.
I think back about those days, prom certainly wasn't the be all and end all. I hardly remember it. I would have skipped it except you are trained to think you might be missing something. You also expect maybe something will happen, almost conditioned to, and if it doesn't the night is a failure.
Now I get it, it is a metaphor for life. You get ready, all primed for something to happen. You spend years educating yourself. You get some money saved up. You pick out the nicest set of clothes you can find. You set your hopes up to the sky. But it's just a nice car ride and a good meal.
Many of life's big events are like this: Prom, Wedding, Graduation, Funeral.
Life's real BIG events are in between, but you don't know when they will happen. So you have to be ready all of the time. That's why people hate thinking of a great comeback 5 minutes after the fact. They miss a carpe diem moment. They should be more clever.

Here are some words people use in place of being clever.

Naked (a real attention getter)
I'm Jewish (some comedians never let you forget)
Jesus____(Lizard, built my Hot Rod, and Mary Chain)
God_____(flesh, head)
The Devil______(wears Prada, in Miss Jones)

Have you seen that show Little People, Big World? It's about a family started by a vertically challenged couple. It was on in the bar Monday night. We didn't have the sound up, so you had to guess what they were saying. The mom(Amy) is giving her son(Zach), also a dwarf, a haircut. Here's how I think it goes...

Amy: What do you think son? Do you like it?
Zach: It makes me look short.

I couldn't help it. I am still laughing even now.

Who's Shallow?

2006-12-19T14:24:00.000-08:00

We are now in the era of the modern Play-Grrrl. Britney and Paris make headlines for picking their noses and fiancees with the same amount of care. Teenage girls have their own shows merely for being cute. Most girls with that much money can look cute. Envious, not really, but who wouldn't like the money?
I want to call out all of the jealous people. You will know who you are because you call these ladies shallow. You know you have done it. Yes, that is code for how you wish you were them.

What do you mean when call them shallow? You say that those girls are lack depth, they don't think about the important things in life. They do. They have money, they don't need to think the same things are important.

Rich people get to have a different set of cares than us middle or lower class folks.

Rent- a musical their dad produced
Bills- for the masseuse and the spa and the jewelers.
Cars-are they still made in America?
Marriages-if this ain't the one, the GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER.
College-they don't exist for you and me and don't offer scholarships.

When issues like these don't ruffle your feather any day of the week, why not worry about stupid crap like someone's boyfriend or dare each other not to wear underwear when you know you are going to get pictures taken of you when you leave the house.
Is that all she had to do to hang out with them? Is the Brit that hard up for friends? Why do I care?

People, you are right. These chicks are shallow. It is a luxury we all wish to afford.

Eurail Pass

2006-12-18T14:47:00.000-08:00

It is here. My Eurail Pass has arrived.I have 15 days of access to Europe. I can visit 5 countries in that time. I chose Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria and BeNeLux(Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.) I have only tentative plans of where to go so far.
On December 13th, Ben from Gomez is playing in Amsterdam. I am hoping Nina will go with me to enjoy the sounds and the Heineken. she doesn't like beer though. What else do they have in Amsterdam?
I also will go to Rome and The Vatican. A pilgrimage of sorts that will also take me to Sicily. I have no idea where to go while there, but why should that matter. The blood in my veins will be my guide.
Vienna is also on tap since it is the home of Classical music. I enjoy walking around cities and seeing what unique things they have to offer. I love to look up at the tall buildings that people have built.
I won't be able to resist Berlin. Take me to your heavy metal. I love German Death Metal and can't wait to see it live and in person.
My plans will be based upon what I have to do. One core thing that draws me to a place. The rest I will take as it comes and keep it loose. I will probably plan ahead for room accommodations. Staying in hostels as they are more affordable. I hope the like snoring Americans.
I know I will visit breweries and museums and clubs and concert halls. I may ski the Alps, if I feel like spending money on the gear.
I will take lots of pictures. I will keep posting.
If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them.

Who reads blogs on Sundays?

2006-12-17T13:23:00.000-08:00

There is hardly ever anyone on line on the weekends.
Is this because people aren't blowing off work to write on their blogs?
I'll have you know that I use 100% my own time to write down my thoughts on this site.
It is a job thing?
Daily writing is somewhat of a chore, weekends are for fun and relaxation. not scouring your mind to come up with something relevant to say. Not that very many blogs have any relevance to anyone who isn't the blogger. In fact, I have been scouring the blogs for anything that I may like to keep up on regularly. I haven't yet. I am grateful you are even reading this.
I do it to keep my mind active and to commit to a regular exercise in typing and writing. Some of my better posts are when I have nothing planned.
Yesterday, I found out how much I enjoy hyperlinking. It has to be one of the best things about Internet journalism. Cross-referencing at the push of a button. I'm surprised libraries have anyone besides the homeless and lonely in them.
When is the last time you were at a library?
It was over a year for me. I think I went there to use the Internet.
Not that I think public libraries are bad, but the worst smells I have ever encountered where there.
One time I was reading the rules that are posted in the lobby of the Sac Library main branch. As I perused, a woman and her son, fully grown, were asking questions at the checkout desk. The urine effluvium hit me like a lead pillow. Definitely against the rules. Don't try to imagine what their home must be like.
I wonder if they can use a scratch and sniff book? Would they notice?
Civilized countries should have laws about hygiene. Why do they give free food to the vagrants? They really need is a shower and clean clothes.

This post makes little sense and I don't care.

Are you the chosen one?

2006-12-16T13:54:00.000-08:00

Do you feel life is passing you by?

Do you think there is a greater purpose to your life than the one you are currently fulfilling?

When you get out of bed, do you wonder what is the point?

How do you know when you will be satisfied?

Do you have enough friends?

Where do you live?

Will all of your questions be answered?

I don't know either. Ididn't know what to blog today so I thought I try something fun. Check out the links for a laugh.

My life, I think I spend a lot of time trying to think up a good joke or something clever to say.

Will this get me a house or a wife or satisfaction? Baby Jesus I hope so.

Work is work and a job is just a job. People need to love themselves in order to get beyond the mundane circumstance of everyday life. Love gets you over the questions that have no answers.
Regularly, I sit back and take in the majesty our civilization has afforded us. Being the fool that I am, I get mad at myself for wasting time. I should spend that free time being grateful for the extra time I do have. It isn't free, it was paid for by those before me.

To you I say thank you.

To anyone who is ungrateful, ask why you are the fool.

Love to you all.

Jefe

Dragon minus D plus E equals Eragon

2006-12-14T11:12:00.000-08:00

Yeah, so like there's this new movie out called Eragon. It's about a dragon. Get it Dragon, Eragon. Let me guess the sequel's title: Fragon.

Another casualty of the George Lucas school of sci-fi creativity. Remember Mace Windu? Hmmm........... a mace is a weapon, wind is an active noun plus U. What a great name!

Let's make one up now. We need a tough word.......noun or adjective.how about Gear. Another for the last name plus a vowel. Something elemental. Grass plus U. Gear Grassu, the newest hero in a story far, far away. He's a fifth level cleric with a sixth sense for danger. A lone hunter who cruises the cosmos in his diversity-powered Title IX fighter in search of the one thing that can save the universe, sex without consequence or broccoli without gas.

You too can make your own hero. Just don't be too original or the movie won't be made in your lifetime. Cash in while you can.

Acoustic Music doesn't sell booze

2006-12-14T10:15:00.000-08:00

Last night at work the show was Matt Hopper and Kat Jones . A great show. She sang wonderfully and he played a fun set. The problem is that few people ever drink much during these shows. It doesn't matter what day of the week it is, these mellow artists do not sell booze.

So you are someone who books show and has to bring money into the bar. What do you do? You book rock bands. 50 people at a rock show will drink twice as much as 100 people at an acoustic show. These are real numbers. That's why most of these people play at coffeehouses.

Bring on the bluegrass, country, rock, or even r&b,hell, maybe even karaoke, but keep the acoustic folk out of my bar. I need to make a buck.

Once you get to know them...

2006-12-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

Last night at my job, the Speaker of the California State Assembly had a party thanking the local party staffers for their hard work during the campaigh season. I'm glad they had a good time. I just wish they lost more seats in November.
A co-worker mentioned aloud that my politics were different than theirs. Bars are off limits to religion and politics. I quickly quieted him as I was there to earn a living. Besides, it would have taken too long to convince the entire room how mistaken they were.
The night went on with the group drinking steady, not real heavy. Tips weren't exactly flowing in. It got a little frustrating. This conservative had to think, "those Dems are a lot more frugal spending their own money."
So now I am thinking about life and politics. We can deal with each other one to one and have minor difficulties. Really, how many enemies do you have? When do you get upset with people you know or even strangers? Is it over little things?
I guess getting upset over the small stuff is a problem only a few of us have. Politics magnifies our differences in ways we don't see. Because we see our own point of view and it seems to make a great deal of sense. When others vision of the way it should be is put into action, it can be very frustrating indeed.
I was in a room filled with 200 people who support abortion, affirmative action, terrorism as a legal problem, higher taxes, and big government. Stuff I think makes no sense.
And I don't think there has been a nicer group of people in there since I have worked there. They also paid us very well for our effort.
Thank you very much and good luck.
That's all I wanted to say.

Things that should be removed from cars

2006-12-11T11:54:00.000-08:00

America is a nation of drivers. I assume it always will be. The only thing that may change will be the power supply. I do not always enjoy my drive. When I do, it is because there a few others on the road doing the usual rude and unsafe acts. I have a few ideas about what we can do to make the driving experience somewhat less painful.

Remove all turn signals from motor vehicles. "Jefe, what a radical move. Why so extreme?" Most people don't understand why they have a turn signal. It is for whenever you turn or make a lane change. Now it will be easier to understand when you are cut off on the road with out any advanced warning. Therefore less road rage.
Maximum wattage for car stereos. The size of car stereos has gotten out of control. Go ahead, pimp your ride, but keep the volume to the paint job. Your damn bass is gonna shake your taillights out. I remember my friend put a huge woofer in his Hyundai hatchback and we cranked the Ministry all the way up. Our whole bodies shook and we laughed. We knew we were scaring or angering the other drivers. That's why they do it today. There is no right or good reason for these monstrosities. Lose them.
Bye Bye car alarms. Have these ever done anyone right? Here's what they actually do. They wake you up at 7 am on Sunday morning. The one day you can sleep off your hangover. The one day that almost everyone doesn't have to go to work super early. Have you ever seen anybody breaking into a car as you hear the alarm going off? Let's just give out the car alarm stickers for free to everyone. Keep the thieves guessing.
Old people, see ya. Or they may not drive during times when the carpool lanes are open. This keeps them out of rush hour traffic. Have you been stuck in gridlock and look over at a blue hair. You think, "Where are they going?" It ain't work. It ain't anywhere in a hurry. They have all day to go where they need to go. Why do they jam up the road for people with schedules? I say they should quit slowing down the people with normal motor skills.

Well, that's where I would start. These few simple suggestions could get us well on our way out of traffic court, anger management, and high blood pressure. Wow, I think I finally found a cause that cound turn me into an activist.

Space Shuttle and Sports

2006-12-10T13:31:00.000-08:00

Space shuttle launches are hardly ever watched anymore. You never know when to catch them because they only take off in perfect conditions. I happen to have all day to wait for this to happen. But I don't. I know they have good reason to wait for a perfectly clear night or day. It costs a lot of money, too much to let bad weather be a problem. This thing is going into space, it should be kinda tough, right? They let us ride around in planes in worse weather. Well, I should be wondering, because I'm no rocket scientist.

I may have said this before and I will say it again. I can't listen to sports broadcasting. It isn't any fun. All they do is talk and talk about hall of fame this and Pro Bowl that. If they aren't showing the game, they are showing you the athete's wife or some idiot movie star who is at the game. Why should any of us care? We are already taking time from our lives to tune in. They go off and find ways to make each show longer and more full of fluff. I can put up with commercial breaks, but I just want to watch a game to see a game.

Don't lobby me on the air for more games. I'm yelling at you college sports commentators. Leave the students to their studies. I'm sorry your paycheck and identity are so tied up in these young adults playing a game, but shut up about it. I'm going to shove their less that stellar graduation rates in your face when you beg for more programming.

I like winning and losing, but your indignance over the lack of a playoff system in Division I-A football is very minor problem. Lives are not being ruined, fortunes aren't being lost. Especially by coaches making seven figures at a non-profit institution. save your bellaching when congress changes their tax status and the money train gets a little smaller.

I wonder when Sacramento will fall apart. It seems like whenever there is heavy rain, my power goes out. It must have happened 10 times this year. I can't remember being anywhere and this happening so much. The local power company wants to take over more consumer territory, but they aren't doing much with what they have. Hooray for public utilties. They fool us into thinking we have a say by letting us vote for the board members. I don't think it has helped much.

Jumanji is on every weekend on TNT. Why? I watched it again. I guess other people are. There is tons of screaming in that movie.

War in, -5000 geez

The real me.......

2006-12-09T12:23:00.000-08:00

Things that make me happy:
the upcoming weekend (yay!)
the fact that Gwen Stefani is performing on SNL this weekend (although I am lukewarm about her latest album)
Grammy nominations for the Dixie Chicks and Mary J. Blige (!!)
dachshunds (so cute)
cherry cola and chocolate (but not together)

Things that make me unhappy:
the number of Grammy nominations for Christina Aguilera and Madonna's latest efforts (too few)
the cold I am currently trying to overcome (blech)
today's bitter cold weather (brrr)
the fact that I still have a lot of Christmas shopping to do (argghhh)
the current television hiatus (boo)
That's all for now.

.......makes fun of idiots like this

Let Him Out

2006-12-08T09:40:00.000-08:00

Today is the anniversary of the murder of John Lennon. His killer, Mark David Chapman, was denied parole for the fourth time earlier in the year. Is there a reason we are still paying for this cat to enjoy a nice cushy prison cell?
I, for one, would like to take a real big swing at this jerk. Too much?
How about the sight of him trying to walk down the street and everyone on that road trying to trip him.
He doesn't deserve the privilege of sanctity in America's world leading incarceration network.
Maybe you are thinking now, "Jefe, if Lennon was alive today he wouldn't like the Iraq War or President Bush."
Yeah, I know. He was the original Hippie. You take the good with the bad. Lennon was an original. He could be a man and still bare his feelings to the world. He turned his frailty into a strength. We could all learn a lesson.
Every murder in this world is a vile act. Those of us who suffer the beast know the pain the most. Each of them owes a debt to the Lord and to mankind. Where they pay, I assume it is worse than what they suffer here.
Still, some have done us more damage than others. Some, like Chapman, have taken more than they could ever repay sitting in some jail cell. So I say to you....

Gentlemen...................Crack your knuckles!

Let Him Out.

13 channels of shit to choose from

2006-12-06T12:31:00.000-08:00

That famous line from Pink Floyd's 'Nobody Home' was quite prescient. Now there are 200 channels and TV hasn't become more watchable.

How many things on that box are actually interesting?

You love the Food network? How many recipes have you used from that channel?

You can sit around and watch cartoons and home improvements and up to the minute news and this that and the other. All the while commercials familiarize you with products you might like to buy.

Where is the real value?

The News tells you what they want you to hear. I can't watch it. I watch news analysis, where issues are discussed.

Sports are sports. It is more fun to go to a game anyhow. If you like that sort of thing.

And so on.
I am going to stop complaining and get to my point.

If the TV is your window to the world, then it is the world's window to you. Looking back the other way is someone sitting at the bar or on their couch not doing much of anything. The people on the other side are having all the fun.

Why pay them for that?

Ahh..the good ole days.

2006-12-05T14:07:00.000-08:00

People always long for days gone by. They have wishful phrases they repeat to no end. "When I was a kid, people didn't lock their doors at night." "Back in the day we used to...." "Remember the time we...." "When I was a kid...." "Before when you drove home drunk, the cops would give you a ride, not a night in jail." Are things so bad today that we should spend time hoping they will be like yesterday?

Me, I live for the moment. That's why I'm blogging more. Right now in fact.

Where the old days so great? I think I like to day better.

Yeah, there's a war on, but when isn't there. A lot less people are dying in this one. We probably won't end up conquered from losing this one. At least not soon. World War II, Hitler wasn't stopping. The Civil War, bloodbath city. And think of those wars before we had guns and could shoot each other from a safe distance away. People would run at you with a big hunk of metal and try to remove your limbs from your body

Houses. Never better. I can't stand these steel windows in my apartment. They suck whatever cold is outside and bring it right into my apartment. Now everything built has double paned and insulated vinyl windows. Your friend in the hot or the cold. How can it get better?

Work. More people have jobs than ever before. Most of them aren't hard labor, they are jobs using your mind. We have so much work that you don't even need to speak our language or enter the country legally and you can get a job.

Movies. I may write a blog next week about how movies are dead. They are. but they've never looked better. They can make a movie to look like anything anyone can dream up, and it won't look fake. Return of the King I bet most of that movie was never even built, it was all virtual. It was one of the best looking movies I have ever seen.

Sex. Hhmmm. That's up to you. It don't matter what year it is.

Alcohol. Nowadays, most alcohol you can buy won't make you blind. Remember prohibition? Of course not, only really old people do and they don't use computers. Back them you had to buy it illegally and it could kill you. It also could tatse so bad that you had to mask the flavor with anything. That's how we got mixed drinks.

Computers. Now we have them. Before we didn't. I don't need to visit libraries anymore. This thing still angers me, but no one can see me in my apartment pounding my fist on my desk.

Cars. They are faster, better, and more fuel efficient.

Yeah, I like today. I'll leave the 'wishing for the past' to the Commies and the Native Americans.

What is the opposite of pain?

2006-12-04T11:22:00.000-08:00

When the Internet began to hit full stride, say 1999, I began to discover its usefulness as a resource. I read an number of articles at The Laissez-Faire Times. One of its writers was Wolf DeVoon. (http://www.geocities.com/dv05131970/page1.html) One of his articles asked the question, 'What is the opposite of Justice?' The answer is mercy.
Today I was wondering "What is the opposite of pain?'
Well?

It isn't no pain. No pain is no feeling. Pain is definitely a feeling. So it's opposite must also be a feeling. Let's ask Kirk VanHouten.

One may think it is joy. I'm not so sure. There is one kind of joy, whie you get it in many ways, it usually feels the same. Pain comes from many different things and feels many dfifferent ways. Just go to the pharmacy and see how many types of pain relievers there are to cure all of one's pains.

Is it gain? If there's no gain with pain, then no pain means gain.

I'm running out of ideas. There's happy and sad. Laugh and cry. Wet and dry. Courage and Fear. Pain and ....

Any ideas?

E-nuff and his sick uv u cru!

2006-12-03T01:09:00.001-08:00

I am about a month away from a very long trip out of the country. Exciting to be sure. But I need to ask myself. Why am I going?

At first I thought it was for a woman. Well, I think she is The Woman, we have had a love affair, but we haven't really dated. But as I ponder the trip and the plans I need to make, there is a lot I want a break from here in the States.

You. Yes, it was you all of the time. The things you say, the way you don't keep me amused. The way you do all of these things that I can't understand. When you walk down the street, how can you not notice that it isn't a walkway built just for you? Other people need to use it. It seems blind people are more considerate than your cell phone talking ass.

Sports broadcasting. Why do these well paid and well spoken monkeys talk like a football game can be so gosh darn important? Let me tell you something, it isn't. It is just a game. It has no real importance on the world. Tell me this, do you think your precious Raiders are going to stop a nuke from blowing up the Golden Gate Bridge? There are fools who want to go to a college because of their basketball team. Hell of a way to start planning a life.

Movies. Why should you go to the movies anymore? there is nothing new. Oooh what can I pay 10 bucks to see again this week? A stupid holiday farce, a historical holiday drama, action complete with shiny explosions, some trouble making children with dumb adult and a lot of falling down, or a coming of age sex comedy(cause farts are funny!) This crap rakes in millions and buy mansions for vapid yet coherent narcissists.

Commercials. Why does every ad have to be funny right now? I have a new rule, if your commercial tries or does make me laugh, I buy nothing from you. This means no Bud Light, sportscenter, Jack In the box, CDW, DHL, IBM, Intel, Verizon, or Capital One. No that I put it that way, the day looks brighter.

News. This is the last time I say this, journalists are not unbiased. Never have been , never will be. At least when they say they are, you will know who the liars are.

I love this country and I plan on coming back. Who knows when? How will I feel when I get back? Good.

If anything is spelled wrong, I don't care.

What a Wonderful(fucked) World

2006-12-01T12:25:00.000-08:00

There is so much crap in the news. You know what I mean? Like hey, why doesn't everybody just chill out for a while. I need to try and sort this out in my head.

So there's this dude in Pakistan who hates us, not just the righties, but the lefties too. But he lives in a cave and believes that he should destroy us. what's his deal, we never set out one day and told him that he shouldn't believe something and we didn't try that hard to kill him before he wrecked the tallest shit in NYC.

Then there's this other guy who runs a country and he wants to destroy all the Jews in Israel. He freaking thinks his God wants all the Jews dead. Did he ever ask himself why a God would need 5 million dead Jews? This sand plower got the Aryan-Hitler gene somehow.

Another guy killed his wife and her date with a knife about 12 years ago. he avoided jail ,but not culpability. Anyhow, he wrote a book about how he would have killed them if he did. The woman he killed had 2 of his children. what goes through their minds? A lot of intoxicants someday.

There's this district attorney in North Carolina who destroyed three young men's college careers over rape accusations. He still plans on going to court with the deal even though he may not have much of a case. Why do I think that? He hasn't even interviewed the victim. A victim who has no DNA on her from the 3 men that are going to stand trial. One of the accused was at a bank machine at the time of the crime.

Running the show is a Commander in chief who has to win a war without anyone dying. His opposition wants us to be reactionary to any threats. After some of us die, go arrest the bad guys. That is great as long as you weren't in the World Trade Center. Hey, if getting dirty bombers lawyers is their top priority, why are we going to spend $XO Billion to build another WTC? So it will get knocked down again? I really want to know how many lawyers have stopped terrorism?

Freedom is a bitch. That's what makes America such a beautiful and crazy place to be. All this bad news, or good for me and bad for you or is it the other way around? At least here we turn it up a notch and fight it out amongst ourselves. And at least we are still fighting.

The Spaniards gave up as soon as they got hit. The French, their cities are burning due to a minority they imported and mistreated. Not to mention, the only moral compass in that country comes from the Koran. Drinking wine, taking vacation, and going on strike isn't a code of ethics, at least not one that can survive. The British let Muslims scream how they want to take over England in England. By the time those enlightened Europeans get old, the minorities will be majorities who won't see the need of paying them fat benefits, because those Muslims will have large families to take care of them and the white Europeans won't. Idiots.

It's a lot to think about. Why do I want a drink? Old habits......

I welcome a new Congress. I feel safer when nothing in government gets done. How can they keep track of the laws they already have? I can't and I'm smart.

Oh yeah, fuck people and their car alarms.

Have a nice day!

Columbia-School, Country, or Record Company

2006-11-30T10:50:00.000-08:00

For some reason, this was on my mind with the earliest thoughts of the day. The others were some freaky dream that I cannot remember well enough to recount. So let's briefly remind ourselves about each one and pick the best.

Columbia University-an Ivy League School Located in Manhattan, NYC. Probably most noted for its School of Journalism. Although it is distinguished for many other things. Columbia, Like many other universities has fallen under the spell of noisy self-righteousness, I mean protesting. Not content in rooting for our enemies in foreign wars, they also are against law and order here at home. On October 4, 2006 a group of student protesters mounted the stage during a speech Made by A founder of the Minutemen Project. I find their train of thought intriguing. Illegal aliens should be allowed to enter our country at will, but U.S. citizens don't deserve their First Amendment rights when you don't agree with them. Let's hope the future leadears of America don't go to C.U.

Colombia(White Powdery Jewel of South America)- A democratic republic with a stable goverment, yet to be completely hegemenous due to strength of the drug trade. The countries terrain is as diverse as its ethnic makeup. All types are to be found in Colombia. There is also a vibrant urban and rural populations. With a progressive and reform minded government, this country looks to be a part of the Free West, not taking the lead of thugs like Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. Now just stop with the coke please.

Columbia Records- One of the first distributors of Edison phonographs. They obviously got into recording and selling records. They were the first company to introduce the LP. Over the years, Columbia Records has brought us music from Tony Bennett, David Bowie, Alice in Chains, Billy Joel, Mariah Carrey, and Cyndi Lauper. Columbia is now owned by Sony.

My winner is Colombia-the country. With all of its faults, it is at least trying hard to be better. Those snot nosed Ivy Leaugers seem to have forgotten what freedom is. They are more pre-occupied with ivory tower concepts like peace and diversity. Columbia Records is a Japanese company now producing non-musical pop music. Their best days are long gone. Anyone care to disagree, let's hear it!

Thank you Wikipedia.com for your help

Why I am not a Comedian

2006-11-28T13:14:00.000-08:00

I like to kid around and make jokes. At one time, I thought telling jokes is what I wanted to do for a living. Maybe I still do. All right I do.However, I have never wanted to be labeled as a comedian. I want to be the guy who tells jokes and is taken seriously. Yeah, I'm screwed up. But that's the way I am and I don't care who knows.
However,I did make a list of tens why I don't want to do stand up comedy.
1) Roasts- telling the same joke about different people.
2)Fat jokes- these are never nice unless you are fat and you tell them about yourself.
3)Begging drunks for laughs- If they need to be sauced to laugh, you aren't very funny.
4)Being even lonelier- I lead a fairly solitary life so far, so being on the road as a one-man act doesn't sound too appealing.
5)Catholic Priest jokes are tired.
6)No boss to mock-this one could go either way, especially now that my sister is my boss.
7)I never want the same job as Kathy Griffin.
8)I can't fart on cue-we have to live with some regrets.
9)I don't want Sportscenter to steal my jokes.
10)Standing in front of a crowd and only telling jokes is stupid.

Kramer and Apologies

2006-11-26T15:47:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard, that guy Kramer (Michael Richards) from Seinfeld is a bad comedian. Oh yeah, he also called two black guys niggers. Why he thought that was funny I'll never know. Why two black guys went to see Kramer do Stand-up I'll never know either. The two men exhibited poor judgement. Kramer's behavior is deplorable.
Jerry Seinfeld had Kramer appear on Letterman to apologize or whatever he could do to show remorse.
The two men got lawyers. They want an apology. I am going to assume monetary compensation since that is why one gets a lawyer. I don't know what they hope to achieve or believe they deserve.
An apology when you get a lawyer involved is meaningless. It has been forced. Michael Richards may be a good enough actor to make it believable, but no more sincere.
Will an apology make what he said disappear? Do these guys care what this jerk thinks anyways after this incident? Why wouldn't they want the whole thing to go away? What is their concept of justice?
Money. This must be the reason.Why?
Is it a First Amendment issue? You can't say nigger anymore? You definitely shouldn't, but can't.
Are people no longer allowed to be offended? Will law boil down to whim?
I use poor language too frequently and at the wrong times maybe, but should I be punished?
Why should someone's hurt feelings be a claim on your wealth? Will only rich people be able to afford to be offensive? Will poor people be jailed for being offensive?
My sympathy ends for those guys when they get a lawyer. There was no contract or law violated.
So they get $50,000? Are they going to buy a car? Then every time they go into their driveway they could say "there's the car I bought with the money I got from Kramer for calling me a nigger."
Some things are worth forgetting. I would think that this would be one of them. I also have not been told my whole life that I live in a racist country and people treat me differently for the color of my skin.

Saturdays as a Bartender

2006-11-25T15:02:00.000-08:00

I have worked in bars for many years now. Mostly on weekends because that is where the money and work is. I am used to it.
However, there is always this limbo with my time between shifts. You can't do what everyone else is doing. Chances are, you will have to leave just as things are getting going. I usually end up on my couch going through a r.e.m. sleep of television and napping. There is nothing to watch. It seems the one good thing the television industry does is put horrible programming on Saturday afternoons so you have to get out and go do something. This does not help me.

Let's run down my Saturday options.

1)Go to a Bar and have a beer.
I just left a bar. I do not want to go near another drink until I am back at work.

2)Spend time with friends.
Sounds good. But most have already made their plans. They are going to San Fran. There is a wedding. There is a party I will leave early.

3) Go to the store and get some shopping done.
I tried this one time. the place was so full of other people and their families I left before I got what I wanted. Nothing but wall to wall noise. Not what I need between busy nights of the bar biz.

4) Relax with a book, movie, or video game.
What do you think I have been doing the rest of the week?

5)Get a Hobby
You're looking at it.

That beer sounds pretty good.

It is just beginning!

2006-11-24T15:13:00.000-08:00

Day of Days!

Notable events at my Thanksgiving:

One guest drinking straight out of a bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon.

That same guest showing me dog hair on an hors d'ouevre cracker while I am eating said snacks.

That same guest opeing the faux champagne without a towel over the dining room floor.

Me not believing he wasn't invited somewhere else.

I do like this person, I just never knew how quickly his playfulness could become malevolent.

I had pretty good day, I went home after Spiderman 2 was over.

Here's what really gets me, those kids with bowl cuts who repeatedly show up in movies and television. Quick examples: Nicholas from Eight is Enough. Jonathan from Who's the Boss. Max from Liar, Liar. The boy twins from Full House. Oliver from The Brady Bunch.

What is so damn cute about these haircuts?

Why does this style defy the ages?

This toe head Beatles homage spans American entertainment history.

Can't children be cute in some other way? What am I missing? Bring back baseball hats jeans with a hole in the knee.

It's just as another example of adults using children as their pawns.

It's not quite as sick as using your child to block an abortion clinic or a human shield.

But sick like........ not getting any marketable skills of your own to earn a living besides forcing your kid to go from audition to audition.

I hope kid has more than a public record of cutesy haircuts when he turns 18.

Things I hope this kid doesn't have by his 21st year:

Alocoholism.

More illegitemate children than the L.A. Lakers.

Familiarity with more than 5 types of narcotics.

A rap sheet.

A guest spot on Ellen-Where have I been since Liar Liar?

A commercial for a chain of check cashing stores.

An inoperable tumor.

The need for serious life counseling.

A divorce.

A 3 digit bank account.

An offer to be in a porn movie.

What can I say?

The holidays make me a caring person.

Quick Holiday Post

2006-11-23T14:18:00.000-08:00

It is Thanksgiving Day!
How do I know?
The Lions lost.
My hangover just went away.
There is no food around accept Thanksgiving dinner and I can't touch that until 5 o'clock.
Also, no one is on the net today, they are spending time with friends and family.
I will be too. However, I decided to blog everyday. (Like Pamela reminded me bloggers are supposed to do.) So here I am. I want to thank all of you for reading this or listening to my show. I am glad that I do something that provides interest and enjoyment to my friend and co-humans.
A special thank you to those who have especially made my life better this past year. Nina, Jane, Greg, Joel, Matt, Seano, and all my other close friends with whom I can talk.
This is as cheery as I get.
Now get eating!

Jefe

Enough Conspiracy Theories

2006-11-22T10:47:00.000-08:00

Many an idiot has believed many ridiculous ideas in order to make some sense of the world. I have myself. No one is immune to ignorance. The surprising part is how many people indulge their ignorance. Instead of being angry, use your energy to find the truth. Some truths are evident. Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK. Muslim Terrorists were behind 9-11. Accept it.
I know, people do things for money, like Halliburton. No-bid contracts are common for Defense Department work because we don't want our enemies to know all of our military expenditures. Think about it.
Let the internet that Shulda bin President Al Gore invented be a guide. If you can find wacko theories about fluoridation, you can know why polar ice caps calve.
There are some real phenomenon that need explaining. Start with a phone bill. Or how a phone works. These things are everywhere and no one can tell me how they work. I went to the library one time to find out, I couldn't find a decent book on the subject. Then I find Homeland Security was monitoring my account there. I mean c'mon. Have you heard about this Patriot Act. I though this was a free country.

Dreamblog

2006-11-21T10:09:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking about blogging my dreams. They are quite odd and subject to many interpretations. I am not entirely sure that I want to share. But no one else that I know is doing it, so here goes.
Two nights ago I dreamed I was on another planet. I and a co-conspirator were on the run from authorities. The planet was all terraced waterfalls. There was a lot of swimming involved in running away. Besides the waterfalls, there were groves were you could hide under the trees so you could get way from the helicopters that were chasing us. Under the tree, their sensors couldn't locate you. We were hiding pretty good, but the guys in the helicopters started dropping friends of ours onto the ground to show they meant business. Then I woke up or I can't remember why it ended. Lots of my dreams involve being chased.
I had this one early this morning about two guys, one dressed as a priest and the other dressed in drag. They were either father and son or brothers and they were fighting about how they weren't accepting each other. Also they were rather short and looked like people who looked like Sharpeis.
I had a better dream after that but I can't remember right now. So I will tell you about my recurring dream.
I regularly have a dream where I am at college during exam week. It is very vivid, although the campus isn't always just like the University of Dayton, where I attended. In your face state school rabble.
I have either missed or cannot find my classroom, for between 1-3 classes. This is troubling, as I need 9 credits to graduate. For three months I haven't been going to class. I don't really know why. Sometimes it gets in depth, I have to plan how I will come back to finish the next semester. The dreams eerily imitate my life. Of course, going to class was never my problem, I liked my classes. It was writing papers I didn't much like. Too rigid to form. But I don't feel that way now. Although, I am partial to essays.
The other strange thing about the dream is that I DID FINISH COLLEGE. So there is obviously another unmet need in my life. I am not sure what that is yet.
We always have more to learn.

It's National Novel Writing Month

2006-11-01T13:39:00.000-08:00

If you are interested, here's the link. It is a challenge. Not to write the Great American Novel, but a novel. It needn't be great or even American. Write about Mongols if you want. I'm doing it because I would like to say I have written a book before I die. Also, I can commit to a month.
What will it be about? Only I will know. But you can too! Just ask me for a chapter and it will be emailed as soon as I am able. Maybe, if you wan to help, send ideas to me, any and all will be included.

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Nothing Like the World Series!

2006-10-23T13:28:00.000-07:00

My Favorite baseball team is the Detroit Tigers. You may not care, so good for you. I do. My brother got tickets to Game 1 in Detroit for this year's World Series. I had to go. It was a homecoming. I was born in the Detroit area and my first major league baseball game was there in the summer of '77. For years, I have had to hear how bad my team was. That is over. The Tigers are the favorites. They are the best. They get to prove it. Enough sports fanaticism for me. Now my curiousity has been satisfied. My team was in the series and I was there. I may go again, but I am not sure what the future holds. This one time was worth it and I recommend it to anyone.
Jeff and Greg Gribben at Comerica Park in downtown Detroit, Michigan. 10/21/2006.

Time for a change!

2006-10-12T13:03:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, life gets rough. Your girl may leave you and your job may suck. You need to make a change. I have decided to adopt a new persona, someone else's. I am now the Wolverine.

Links for Show 52

2006-10-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

These are a few sites you can go to if you have more questions about what we discussed on the show.
www.uchronians.org is the site for the Belgian Waffle or a Message out Of the Future.
www.flaminglotus.com created the Serpent Mother and www.burningman.com should be obvious.
The Pendulum of fire doesn't have it's own website. So here is a link to YouTube for a video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLWST-DnwxE
Happy Viewing!

Burningman Hippies Suck

2006-10-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

This free spirit came into our camp, ate our food, abused our goodwill, and almost hit one of our camp members. Notice the sunburned face and empty stare. Stay far away from these knuckleheads. Taking without giving. Nothing to share, nothing up there. But don't try to tell them what to do, it's Burningman, they'll do what they want.

Don't hurt your eyes

2006-08-19T17:33:00.000-07:00

Click on the image to make it work.

You can make a wallet out of duct tape.

2006-08-02T18:27:00.000-07:00

I was reading The Cruise by Jim Anchower in The Onion. Here's the link to find more hilarious fake news and opinion. Onion The link won't publish so find it on your own. Fuck computers. OK, I got it to work but I don't feel like re-writing. The article states that a wallet can be made from duct tape. Having the motivational level of a welfare recipient, it surprised me that I was compelled to put the theory to the test. So I did. After wasting only about 2 feet of tape, here is the majestic result. Also, I showed my neighbor and he thinks it's a trendsetter. I can't wait to see the reaction when I pull it out to show my ID at a night club.

Hey, it's hot outside!

2006-08-02T16:43:00.000-07:00

Guess what?

It is August and it is hot. You would think this isn't news, because it is a self evident occurrence. It takes no skill at all to recognize that it is hot or cold. That is why God gave us senses. It is why muskrats that live by the river are swimming in the river. Yet, for some reason, every newscast from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon feels obliged to make this a story. The epitome of lazy journalism.

Mostly the news just points out all of the different ways people can die. If you die of heatstroke, you weren't that well off anyways. Does anyone watch the news to hear about the heat they went through all day? Can't anyone do the weather by now? I think so.

Many other bloggers write about this also. Why? Are they lying around the house trying to think of something to write about? Have all issues been resolved because it's too hot and no one is being controversial because of the heat? Email your friends your opinion of global warming, that will get the controversy swirling all over again.

Do you know in the spell check for this blog, bloggers isn't in there?

How do you top off stupid pants? With stupid hats.

2006-07-26T21:46:00.000-07:00

People will always have numerous inexplicable behaviors. They seem odd to me, but if anything catches on and stays around, sooner or later it will be glorified. Sometime in the last century, or possibly sooner, black women found it necessary to wear ridiculous hats to church. I don't exactly know when this started. I have done only enough research to find photographic evidence of this phenomenon. SO correct me if you must. Since you are someone other than I, I probably won't listen. I found out one other thing, they are called crowns sometimes. Cause someone made a whole book devoted to them. So enjoy your hats ladies, cause I won't.