This article speaks volumes about the difference between the rich and poor.  There are 2 arguments you could make about the rich though.

One side of me wants to say, "good for you, you can afford to buy an expensive dead zebra."  The other side wants to say, "couldn't you have done something better with your money?"

The rich folk are certainly much more privileged than middle and lower class, they afford nicer stuff, but there is a fuzzy line between what is luxurious and what is ridiculous.  For example, I would consider having a Bentley to be luxurious.  It is both functional and nice.  Owning a zebra that has been preserved in formaldehyde is kinda of ridiculous (a live zebra would be cooler anyways).  At what point do we look at the actions of the rich and criticize them for not making better choices with their money?  This is hard to say because we cannot put ourselves in their shoes.  It is easy tell people what they should do with their money, but when other people tell you what do with your money you are less inclined to listen.  After all, it is their money and they can spend it how they please.

Now that I have that out of the way, we can move on.  

In all honesty, we all know that there are people around the world who are in need.  There are people in 3rd world countries who lack the basic necessities.  Hell, I walk by homeless folks everyday who need help.  Instead of spending 2 million US dollars on a dead zebra, $2 million could buy a lot of food, build quite a few houses, and vaccinate thousands of people.

The money at the auction could have been spent more wisely, but we are in no position to tell others what to do with their money.  I don't like it when people tell me what to do with mine.

Paper clips are AWESOME.

I like paper clips so much more than staples.  Mostly for their non-destructive nature, but also for their other uses in life.

The paper clip a classic tool used to keep papers together.  They function in such a way that they do not puncture the paper, unlike their arch rival the staple.  Paper clips are also reusable.  This is very important since we live in such a polluted world, we should be reusing everything we possibly can.  Staples are one time deal, once you hear the click of a stapler, you just wasted a very tiny piece of metal.

Another cool thing about the paper clip is its' versatility.  Most of us have heard of MacGyver, the extremely resourceful secret agent.  For him, the paper clip was a very popular multi-tool often kept on him at all times.  There are a number of ways a paper clip can be used, including: zipper tab, cherry pit remover, fingernail cleaner, emergency corkscrew (for your emergency drinking needs), miniature catapult, and my favorite, let the air out of someone else's tires when he parks across multiple spaces.  Not to mention making chains.  Probably the most important use of the paper clip is saving lives.  It's a very serious business.

Overall, I firmly believe the paper clip is the wave of the future.  Next time you reach for that stapler, just think about how you are polluting and denying somebody the simple joy of letting the air out of someone else's tires.

Top 10 Albums.

If I were stuck on a desert island and could only have 10 music albums with me, they would be the following:

[Insert]  After I finished the list I realized the order is backwards.  My favorite is at the top, #1.

1.  How the West Was Won - Led Zeppelin.  Like any other person who loves rock music, I love Led Zeppelin.  My senior year of high school was the year of Zeppelin for me.  I downloaded every single one of their albums and listened to all of their songs on a regular basis and still know the lyrics to most of them.  It has always been a dream of mine to see Zeppelin in concert, but since Bonham (the drummer) died the band split up.  They have only done one reunion concert in London in 2007, and tickets were very expensive as you can imagine.  How the West Was Won is a 3 disc set that is a recording of some concerts put on in California.  The sound is so genuine I dont think any rock band could possibly recreate it.  BEST ALBUM EVER!!!

2.  Stadium Arcadium - The Red Hot Chili Peppers.  I loooooove the peppers.  I really started listening to them in the 10th grade, but have since become an avid fan.  Stadium Arcadium is a great album in full.  It is a double album, but no half is better than the other.  I like the Peppers because they have such a unique style.  They don't really care what other bands sound like, they just make music for themselves.  In particular, the lyrics of Anthony Keidis (lead singer) are very interesting, often using creative metaphors and word choice.  The album is wonderful to listen to, and according to iTunes, I listen to it a lot.

3.  Californication - The Red Hot Chili Peppers.  Yet another great album from the Peppers.  Released in 1999 it contains one of their most famous songs, Californication.  The song is about how the world is adopting some of the strange views held by the folks who live in California.  It definitely says a lot about today's society.  One of my favorite tracks from the album is "Easily."  It has catchy lyrics and guitar riffs, a listening pleasure.

4.  By the Way - The Red Hot Chili Peppers.  Are you really that surprised?  By the Way is really what got me hooked on the Peppers.  The songs "Dosed" and "Midnight" are probably my favorite out of the album.  I also like "The Bicycle Song" but most people havent heard of it because it was a bonus track.

5.  Curtains - John Frusciante.  Continuing on my Peppers streak, John Frusciante is the lead guitarist of the Peppers.  Just after the turn of the century Frusciante decided to do some solo work.  "Curtains" is his latest solo album and features mostly acoustic songs, and an occasional electric solo.  His song "Anne" is my favorite on the album.

6.  Led Zeppelin IV - The classic Zeppelin album.  Featuring "Stairway to Heaven," the most legendary rock song ever.  It has something for just about everyone.  The songs starts off with an innocent acoustic guitar, then wraps up after a face melting electric guitar solo.  The rest of the album is just as good.

7.  Rhythm of the Heart - Jim Stubblefield Group.  Breaking away from the rock streak I have my Spanish guitar interests.  I find this music extremely relaxing.  The rhythm is very catchy and relaxing.  The notes are played with such precision.  This is probably the most beautiful album on my list.

8.  Rodrigo y Gabriela.  Another Spanish guitar group.  They were born in Mexico and moved to Ireland for some reason.  Their music is an interesting mix of Spanish guitar and Irish rhythms.  There is a strong heart pounding beat with intricate guitar played over top.  They are also very influenced by rock bands that came before them.  They do an acoustic cover of "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin, and "Orion" by Metallica.  Both are fantastic.

9.  Are You Ready to Rock? - Blue Oyster Cult.  The album that needs more cowbell.  Blue Oyster Cult is most famous for their song "Don't Fear the Reaper."  The whole album is a little more heavy than your typical Led Zeppelin album.  Once again, awesome rock lyrics and sweet solos.

10.  What Goes Up! -  Blood, Sweat, and Tears.  Easy listening jazz.  Although I like this music, I think that other people on the island with me would be driven crazy.  Check it out.

I don't think what happened to Mr. Seale is very fair.  Serving a prison term 44 years after the crime he supposedly committed took place is ridiculous.  That would be like me going to jail in 32 years for something I supposedly did in the 3rd grade, with a liar as a witness.  I do admit that I stole a kid’s pencil though.  Jerk.

I do not think that Mr. Seale’s relatives were very wise for claiming he was dead.  That’s not suspicious at all.

While I greatly respect the US legal system, this case makes it look quite silly.  The fact that the judge would even consider hearing a 44 year old case is just stupid, especially because of a lack of evidence.  44 years is a really long time for no legal action. 

I do sympathize with the brother of the victim, although after 44 years he should settle down, especially since the old man hasn't been doing anything illegal since the alleged crime (because he has supposedly been dead).  Maybe Seale saw the error of his ways and has since quit the Klan and joined a southern Baptist Afro-American congregation (Blues Brothers style).  By 2007 the brother could have gone through enough therapy to maybe even forgive the dude.  I guess for him vengeance is sweet.

However, I do understand how both people feel.  Seale is probably pissed that they found him and pressed charges 44 years later.  Moore is finally able to sleep at night, not to mention he is pleased that he "disrupted his life."  Moore should have been content with Seale's health condition and considered that punishment enough.  After all, how could you put an old man with bone growths in jail?

I want to ride my bicycle.

Today I feel like writing in Courier.  Hooray for fixed-width fonts.

Since moving to Atlanta I have been without a car, I have been using a bike exclusively.  Most people would see this as a disadvantage, but I would have to disagree.  While not having a car does have its negatives, the positives greatly outweigh them.

Probably the biggest advantage for me money.  When I lived in Florida I would easily spend $50 a week on gas.  My car used a gallon of gas each way to work.  I figured that 1 hour of working would pay for me to get there and back.  This, of course, sucks.  Also, no car means no car insurance.  Can you hear the $$$$ being saved?  Lastly my car was very expensive to keep up, but I LOVE MY CAR. (<---Click for photos)  

MARTA.  For somebody from Florida this sounds like a very scary thing, but it's not so bad.  My first experience on Marta was July 30th, 2008.  The trip went fairly well, but after riding it for a month I got used to it.  When you ride it so often you begin to see familiar faces and meet new people.  Not to mention you can bring a bike onto the train.  Having a bike allows me to go anywhere within a couple miles of a Marta Rail Station, which is a large area.  One of the biggest perks is that my company will pay for my MARTA pass if I use public transportation to get to and from work.  

All of this means that means I pay $0 per month on transportation.  Yeah, that's right, I went from paying over $200 a month to $0.  I also get paid more up here as an added bonus.  $$$$  You can see why this is a big deal to me.

So now, we get to talk about the bad parts.  You are exposed to the elements when riding a bike, therefore you are sweaty in the summer and fucking cold in the winter (which I am not really looking forward to).  Not to mention the hills are kicking my ass, there are obviously no hills in Florida.  The other down side is it is slow.  Before going on a trip you have to plan things out, its almost like going on a mini-vacation.  I have found Google Street View particularly helpful for this.  Carrying items is also very limited on a bike.  A backpack is about the extent of what you can take with you, although I have managed to balance 3 pizzas on my handlebars before.  

Anywho, not having a car is awesome.  Missing your car stinks.  :-(

Free writing

On Labor Day I went to visit my cousins in the Dunwoody area since school was not in session.  I always enjoy visiting them because they are a fun group to be around, plus my Uncle Tariq makes some of the best food I’ve ever had in my life.  While talking around the kitchen table with the fam, I would glance over at my Uncle every once in a while to see my uncle flipping something, measuring, adding a spice, or tasting some food.  After watching him cook for a while, then tasting his creation, I decided that I need to learn how to cook.

There are a few reasons for wanting to learn how to cook, the first has to do with a desire to not eat junk food for the rest of my life.  As of right now my metabolism is such that I can eat whatever I want and I don’t gain a pound.  My dad used to be the same way, so I know what is in store for me.  Being able to cook for myself would provide a healthy alternative to eating EasyMac until I die.

Cooking would also give me something to practice and perfect on a day to day basis.  I don’t like to do very much, but I like to be good at whatever it is that I do.  Cooking something everyday would give me lots of opportunities to practice the art of cooking.  It would give me a chance to perfect recipes and ingredients.  It would be kind of like that Pixar movie Ratatouille.  That was the one with the rat that cooked in a famous French restaurant.

I LOVE food.  If I have the option to eat at a restaurant I jump at the notion.  The only problem with eating out all the time is that is gets very very expensive.  Cooking for myself would save money and time.  I could then used that saved money to go on a vacation, buy a nicer car, house, or maybe even a luxury yacht.   

I could also use cooking to entertain.  Hosting parties and serving my delicious food for everybody to enjoy.  I could entertain guests on my luxury yacht and cook up something delicious and tropical as we make our way to the Bahamas.  

Overall, cooking can only improve my health, budget, and way of life that I don’t think anything else can.  I should probably get started, it is time for some lunch.....

If I had the option to know the date, time, and delivery of my death I would have to decline for a few reasons.

For starters, knowing about my death would make me extremely paranoid.  For example, we'll say that I was going to die in a car accident.  I would be extremely terrified of all cars, whether I was in one or not.  The same thing goes for just about any other object.  I would hate to live in that kind of fear.

Depression would also be a downside.  Knowing how long (or short) I have to live would be a major downer.  I would most likely become a hermit and hate the world, much like goth kids.  On the other hand, it could make me severely violent.  It would be sort of like, "if I can't live nobody can."  Taking this theory to an extreme, it's possible I would go on a murderous rampage.  Nobody wants this.  This is highly unlikely because I am a pretty laid back person.

There is only one good thing that could happen.  Knowing the date and time of my own death could give me enough time to tie up any loose ends.  Or, as people in life insurance commercials put it, "I would leave my family with and financial burden."  For a few minutes I considered the idea that knowing about my death would give me a chance to do something about it.  The only problem is that if I were to avoid the original death, a new one would generate without me knowing about it.

Overall, I would prefer not to be paranoid, avoid a killing rampage, and live life in ignorance.  As the famous saying goes, "ignorance is bliss."