Another Police Officer Shooting...

It seems like only a week ago a Seattle area police officer was shot down for no apparent reason. The Seattle community came together to support the officer's family in any way that we could, and the shooter was quickly found and brought down.

Now it has happened again, only this time it was 4 times over. The current suspect should not have been out on the street, and now four officers are dead because of it.

Our current judicial system is so flawed that we are allowing the most dangerous amongst us to walk the streets. It's so expensive to keep them incarcerated that we seemingly do everything to get them out. While they are incarcerated they aren't given any of the necessary tools to be successful outside of jail, so the first thing they do with their freedom is abuse the system and break our laws. I am not saying that I have the answers... but something needs to change.

The rules of the Grocery Line

I was at the grocery store with my girlfriend a few weeks back, and we had an interesting run in with another shopper in the check out line.

We were waiting in line. The line next to us was closed, but there was a bagboy cleaning the conveyor belt and workspace. A fellow shopper came and asked us if we were in line for the closed checkstand, to which we replied 'no'. She then asked the bagboy if his line was open, and he also replied 'no'. Okay! Problem solved! She simply gets in line behind us and we all go on with our day.

Well, another checker walked up from the back and said, "I can help the next person in line over here." I was the next person in line, so I moved by cart over to her checkstand... the same checkstand that the bagboy was cleaning. The woman who asked if I was in the closed checkstand then confronted me for getting in line at the now open checkstand. She felt that since she was asking about the 'then closed' checkstand, she should be first in line.

That is not how things work!

The checkstand was deemed closed, and is therefore is out of play. When the new checker opened the line it came into play, and seeing as I was the next person in line... I GET TO CHECK OUT NEXT!

Learn your checkout line rules PEOPLE! :)

Cheers!

Motivation

Have you ever stopped to think about what motivates you in life? When you get right down to it, it seems to be personal needs. This answer came to me in the last ten seconds of thought, so I'm sure that there is a better answer... but I want to discuss this one.

Individuals need certain things... food, water, shelter. Really, it's quite easy to get these things. Okay, maybe not in this economy. However most times it is easy to go flip burgers for minimum wage to pay for a roof over your head and some ramen on your table. Why then doesn't everyone flip burgers or dig ditches? Answer: Relationships.

I care about my relationship with my Dad and my Mom. They took care of me when I couldn't take care of myself. They selflessly take care of me still today. College was their idea, as it is for all parents concerning their children, and I am thankful for their nudge in the right direction. Actually, it was a giant push... but I'm still quite happy. I love my family, and am thankful for their guidance in my life. At what point do I stop relying on their ideas though? At what point do I stop taking cues from the relationships in my life and stand on my own two feet?

Alright, enough of the soul searching. I will think more about this and expand upon it. As humans we need relationships. If only it were that simple...

Cheers!

Life Update!

Well, this past weekend I competed with some friends in the IKEA International Business Case Competition. We had to figure out an expansion plan for Apple's iPhone and put together a presentation over a 48 hour period. We presented on Monday and received nothing but complements from our judges, but we didn't win. I was a little bummed, but am still happy with the work that we did.

Also on Monday was the Law School fair on campus, where I was able to speak with a number of schools about their programs. The biggest change in my own perceptions was of the Arizona schools, which I am now very interested in. The number of schools that I am applying to seems to slowly keep growing. I am just happy to have discovered fee waivers...

Let's not forget that my birthday is on Saturday! I will finally shed all of the horrible stereotypes associated with being a teenager. Thank god!

Cheers!

Why are Seattle people non-confrontational?

Why are people in Seattle known for being so 'nice'? More importantly, why do we live up to that stereotype? All that stereotype says is that we are non-confrontational, which isn't healthy. I would describe myself as being pretty upfront in situations where I am comfortable, but in other situations I myself fall deep into that very stereotype...

Like when my apartment neighbor plays music that pulses through the wall, yet I make excuses to myself as to why I shouldn't confront him.

Like when the house next door has huge parties that keep me awake until 3 am, but I call the police to do my dirty work... that is if I even call them.

Like when people in movie theaters continually talk, or text, or actually make phone calls during the movie. I just want to yell and point and be CONFRONTATIONAL!!! but I don't. I sit and glare at them for good measure, but say nothing.

Like when people in class keep asking questions that have absolutely nothing to do with what we are learning, which only disrupts lecture and wastes my time and money. I want to go tell them to shut the f*$k up and listen to the highly educated man before us, but I don't.

My Dad grew up in Missouri where when there is a problem, everyone gets together and talks about it. If he has a problem with the city where he lives, he drives down to city hall and talks to them. If someone makes ANY noise whatsoever during a movie, he tells them to shut up. In many aspects of his life he doesn't take crap from anyone. I feel that I have found myself uncomfortably in between my dad and 'Seattle Nice'.

However I don't want to be Seattle Nice! I want to have my voice heard! Watch out world, because here comes one crazy bottle of CONFRONTATION just waiting to explode! Seattle Nice... HA! From here on out I am no longer going to bottle up the frustration that I have with the little things in life that can make or break you. I'm going to stand up for myself!

I think you should too.

Cheers!

Medal of Honor Monument and Junior... ah!

This morning I woke up at 10:05 and raced onto campus to watch the dedication of the new Medal of Honor memorial on our campus, which was supposed to start at 10:00. Luckily for me it didn't start until about 10:30, so I got a nice spot upfront and enjoyed. There were Congressmen, our Governor, the school president, a general, our veterans, and of course a number of Medal of Honor recipients in attendance. It was such a wonderful dedication of a fitting monument to the most respected men in the history of our country. Did you know that Medal of Honor recipients are the only people that are saluted by the highest Generals of our country? Pretty cool!

I don't know why this feels corny, because I mean it in the most sincere way that I can. Thank you veterans for everything that you have sacrificed and faced in the name of our country. The American people may not always agree with your mission, but we should support you in every way that we possibly can. Today I heard a few stories about the treatment of Vietnam veterans when they returned home, and I can't say that I was too proud. I hope that our Veterans today are receiving a much better welcome home, and much more support when they get home.

On a lighter note, GRIFFEY IS BACK! I can't say that I am too surprised, but it is really nice to have it officially in the books. You can bet that I will be at Safeco next year to watch him play, and I encourage all of you to do the same. For decades to come, you will be able to reminisce that you saw Ken Griffey Jr. play baseball for Seattle. He truly is one of the greats.

Muslims in the Military

I have been thinking about this since I began hearing coverage of the shooting this past week in Ft. Hood, Texas... however a discussion today on my favorite podcast (www.tbtl.net) prompted this response. Why is the media immediately making the assumption that the shooter in this horrible tragedy went crazy in the name of Allah? From what I know, this man received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from American institutions. He then chose to serve his country as a doctor in the military. Why on earth would this man go through 4 years of undergrad, 6+ years of medical training, and an entire career in the military for the sole purpose of killing American soldiers?

The media has also latched onto the fact that his religious leader was anti-american, and he joined in religious service with the 9/11 hijackers. He even contacted this religious leader for help with a research project on the effects of military service on muslim Americans. However there is nothing concrete at this point in time to link the motivation for this attack to a religious maniac. This is not to say that this point will not become better founded in the days to come. He may very well be a crazy man killing for his God, however this should by no means be a reflection on the greater Muslim-American community.

Furthermore, this attack should by no means be a negative reflection on the broader Muslim-American population. Apparently some people are calling for a ban on Muslims serving in the United States Military. This is an absolutely absurd notion that hearkens back to such American tragedies as the Japanese Internment and our obsession with seeing a Communist everywhere we looked. Learn from history and stop jumping to conclusions. Whatever his motives, this was simply a crazy guy carrying out an unthinkable attack on American citizens and soldiers.

On a final note, what is happening in our country! There have been shootings all around us this weekend. A man was shot by police (for murdering a policemen) only a block from my parent's house. Lets all put the guns away for a while, eh?

Cheers!

My Reunion fell a little flat

I don't know if you are aware world, but I worked at a batting cage in SODO Seattle for about 5 years before becoming unemployed this past year. My old boss at Strikezone is a great guy, but he basically ran the business into the ground. In fact, I am quite impressed with how long he actually managed to keep the doors open! Well, I did everything down at the batting cage... from answering phones and doing my homework to giving baseball lessons and coaching a select team. My boss for the team I coached still owes me some money, and tonight I made my fateful reunion with Strikezone so that I could try and get paid...

Now Strikezone was a huge part of my life. In fact, my entire teenage years were spent within its glorious walls. I would hit there everyday. I started my own sporting goods business down there. I became well acquainted with the 'usual' customers, and Stikezone seemed to have an aura around it that I can't exactly explain. It was like a second home for me. Whenever things were great or horrible in my teenage years, I always had Strikezone as a getaway. I could write a book about everything that I learned and saw in my time down there. I miss the people, and the baseball...

Now at a glance, Strikezone hasn't changed much. The unfinished staircase has been painted battleship gray. All of the signs have been taken down and the furniture has been rearranged. The l-screens still have holes in them, and the pitching machine is still broken. However in my own little world, EVERYTHING had changed.

First of all, it's no longer called Strikezone. All of the usual customers are no longer around. All of the personalities that made it such a comfortable and inviting atmosphere are gone. There are no longer any walk in appointments, so the only people who show up are on teams. Seeing as I am the desk person and I'm not employed, they don't have anybody to greet you when you walk in. The walls that I painted are still the same. The turf that I rolled out is still there, and still green. The broken Iron Mike that I pieced back together with my own blood, sweat, and a few curse words is still an attention whore. However everything that made Strikezone a home for me is gone. Perhaps I am giving away the ending of my soon to be Pulitzer Prize winning book, but I now realize that it was the people who made Strikezone important in my life. Funny how I grew to love the 'thing', when in reality I loved the relationships that the 'thing' brought into my life.

Cheers!

Dreams...

Lately I have been having very vivid dreams that I actually remember when I wake up. I have never really remembered dreams before, so I figured I would take this opportunity to share a dream with you.

I was at my Uncle Sid and Sally's house (which is in Kansas City). They have a beautiful house in a nice neighborhood, and for as long as I can remember they have been improving their gigantic basement. I went down into their basement where they had added at least six bedrooms. The ceiling in the hallway that led to the rooms had a glass ceiling that was at least 80 feet above me. I went into my room and had a conversation with my dad about how luxurious the rooms are. I told him how it reminded me of a really nice hotel where one would go for the ultimate relaxation experience. I remember there being a huge spa tub in the room.

Then I went upstairs which had floor to ceiling windows and three huge projected televisions. Each tv had at least three couches around it. This living room was huge! I sat down to watch the Phillies Yankees world series game, and then I was there...

Someone had interrupted the game by throwing a rotten, hollowed out tree at home plate. When it struck the ground it shattered into a huge pile of sticks. I was sitting in the front row down the third base line, and I asked the security guard if I could help him pick up all of the sticks. He let me onto the field and I filled my arms with a bundle of sticks. I walked past the third base dugout to a door. I opened the door, and there was a cement door behind it. I opened that one and there was another cement door behind that one. This door led into the clubhouse where I followed some kid in Phillies gear to a corner where I dumped the sticks.

I then went back out onto the field where my old boss and baseball coach interviewed me, asking who I was rooting for. I told him I was rooting for the Phillies because I had family in Pennsylvania.

How is that for a dream! Hope you enjoyed the trip through my subconscious self.