When I was 17...
I have not completely abandoned the photo/portrait a date experiment. Just been super busy and having trouble finding time to upload the pics.
Rachel and I purchased a new car over the weekend. When we drove home the new car, it looked so nice and shiney that
it made our old car look not so nice and shiney. So I was feeling ambitious and headed to Advanced Auto Parts for some
car soap, wax, microfiber clothes etc. I remember when I got my first car way back in the Summer of 1991, I would
wash and wax my car at least once a month. All by hand too. None of those brushless car washes. Well back in the summer
of 1991 I was 17 years old. About 10 minutes into the waxing process, I remembered why I stopped waxing my car. My
shoulder was killing me. And I still had 3/4 of the car left to do. Long story short...I finished washing and waxing
the car, but my shoulder feels like I got about 200 birthday puches on saturday. I was also a bit saddened when I realized
that I have been driving for nearly half my life now. Geesh.
To help make me feel a bit more like a kid again, I bought a pair of Kangaroo sneakers. As a kid, all I ever wore
was Puma and Kangaroo. They had a pretty cool pair of blue and yellow Pumas at the store the other day as well, I
actually prefered those over the Kangaroos, but they didn't have my size. Plus yellow and blue are Michigans school
colors. As an Ohio State fan, I can't wear Michigan colors. Ahhh who am I kidding? If they had my size I would have
bought them. Anyway, the old Kangaroo sneakers used to have little pouches built it. If I remember correctly, they
used to be located on the side of the sneaker. On the new sneakers, the hidden pouch is located in the tongue of the
shoe. Perfect for hiding crack cocaine or pocket change.
I saw this story yesterday on ESPN about a guy named Willie Mays Aikens. He used to play for the Kansas City Royals
back in the George Brett era. He is the only person in MLB history to ever hit multiple home runs in multiple games
of the same World Series. I believe he hit two HR's in game 1 and two more in game 4. Anyway, Willie has been locked
up in a federal penatentiary for the last 14 years for selling crack cocaine. Cal Ripken Jr. is trying to get Willie
released early. Apparantly during the 80's, President Reagan came down hard on people who distributed crack cocaine in
an effort to try to stop its use. Willie distributed a small amount to an undercover agent, but the penalties for crack
distrubution were alot more severe that if you were caught selling powder cocaine. So he was sentenced to 20 years.
I sort of have mixed feelings about this story. While I think the punishment by todays standards are a bit severe,
I don't think he should be released early simply because he is a "celebrity". People kill their spouses and don't
get twenty years anymore, but I think that tends to be why crime and violence is so rampant. But at the same time,
crack cocaine use is still a big problem. So maybe more jail time isn't the solution. People who get
released from prison after a drug conviction fall often fall into the same traps that put them in jail in the first
place. Partially because most employers don't want to hire convicted fellons, and because of the addictive nature
of drugs. So there is no simple answer.
On a lighter note, Nightmare Before Christmas 3D was awesome. I love the original movie, but seeing it in a theatre in 3D adds
so much more to it. I was a little frightened when we got to the theatre and the lobby was filled with dozens of people dressed
like characters from the movie. But it was a well behaved audience. Disney advertised a few other movies they will be releasing in 3D.
I've always thought 3D was sortof dumb, but the way it was done on Nightmare wasn't the typically cheesy 3D where stuff comes flying
into the audience. The way it was done for Nightmare added a lot of depth and symetry to the movie. Really makes you forget you are
watching an animated film. Truly amazing work. Im hoping they release a 3D version of Nightmare along with the glasses on DVD. I think
this could be the next big thing in movies. We already have high definition video and digital audio, so adding 3D seems like it would
really draw fans to a movie. I don't know if the effect will be the same watching at home. Seeing it on a giant theatre screen is so
much more impressive. So that could be another reason the movie industry would want to use 3D technology. A lot of people (myself included)
rarely go to movie theatres anymore. It's cheaper, and less of a hastle to see a movie at home when it's released on DVD.
Future photos of the day will feature the awesome 3D glasses from the movie as well as the "tight" new Kangaroos. Ill try to upload some photos
tonight. Thanks to everyone for the calls, cards and well wishes for my birthday.
Rachel and I purchased a new car over the weekend. When we drove home the new car, it looked so nice and shiney that
it made our old car look not so nice and shiney. So I was feeling ambitious and headed to Advanced Auto Parts for some
car soap, wax, microfiber clothes etc. I remember when I got my first car way back in the Summer of 1991, I would
wash and wax my car at least once a month. All by hand too. None of those brushless car washes. Well back in the summer
of 1991 I was 17 years old. About 10 minutes into the waxing process, I remembered why I stopped waxing my car. My
shoulder was killing me. And I still had 3/4 of the car left to do. Long story short...I finished washing and waxing
the car, but my shoulder feels like I got about 200 birthday puches on saturday. I was also a bit saddened when I realized
that I have been driving for nearly half my life now. Geesh.
To help make me feel a bit more like a kid again, I bought a pair of Kangaroo sneakers. As a kid, all I ever wore
was Puma and Kangaroo. They had a pretty cool pair of blue and yellow Pumas at the store the other day as well, I
actually prefered those over the Kangaroos, but they didn't have my size. Plus yellow and blue are Michigans school
colors. As an Ohio State fan, I can't wear Michigan colors. Ahhh who am I kidding? If they had my size I would have
bought them. Anyway, the old Kangaroo sneakers used to have little pouches built it. If I remember correctly, they
used to be located on the side of the sneaker. On the new sneakers, the hidden pouch is located in the tongue of the
shoe. Perfect for hiding crack cocaine or pocket change.
I saw this story yesterday on ESPN about a guy named Willie Mays Aikens. He used to play for the Kansas City Royals
back in the George Brett era. He is the only person in MLB history to ever hit multiple home runs in multiple games
of the same World Series. I believe he hit two HR's in game 1 and two more in game 4. Anyway, Willie has been locked
up in a federal penatentiary for the last 14 years for selling crack cocaine. Cal Ripken Jr. is trying to get Willie
released early. Apparantly during the 80's, President Reagan came down hard on people who distributed crack cocaine in
an effort to try to stop its use. Willie distributed a small amount to an undercover agent, but the penalties for crack
distrubution were alot more severe that if you were caught selling powder cocaine. So he was sentenced to 20 years.
I sort of have mixed feelings about this story. While I think the punishment by todays standards are a bit severe,
I don't think he should be released early simply because he is a "celebrity". People kill their spouses and don't
get twenty years anymore, but I think that tends to be why crime and violence is so rampant. But at the same time,
crack cocaine use is still a big problem. So maybe more jail time isn't the solution. People who get
released from prison after a drug conviction fall often fall into the same traps that put them in jail in the first
place. Partially because most employers don't want to hire convicted fellons, and because of the addictive nature
of drugs. So there is no simple answer.
On a lighter note, Nightmare Before Christmas 3D was awesome. I love the original movie, but seeing it in a theatre in 3D adds
so much more to it. I was a little frightened when we got to the theatre and the lobby was filled with dozens of people dressed
like characters from the movie. But it was a well behaved audience. Disney advertised a few other movies they will be releasing in 3D.
I've always thought 3D was sortof dumb, but the way it was done on Nightmare wasn't the typically cheesy 3D where stuff comes flying
into the audience. The way it was done for Nightmare added a lot of depth and symetry to the movie. Really makes you forget you are
watching an animated film. Truly amazing work. Im hoping they release a 3D version of Nightmare along with the glasses on DVD. I think
this could be the next big thing in movies. We already have high definition video and digital audio, so adding 3D seems like it would
really draw fans to a movie. I don't know if the effect will be the same watching at home. Seeing it on a giant theatre screen is so
much more impressive. So that could be another reason the movie industry would want to use 3D technology. A lot of people (myself included)
rarely go to movie theatres anymore. It's cheaper, and less of a hastle to see a movie at home when it's released on DVD.
Future photos of the day will feature the awesome 3D glasses from the movie as well as the "tight" new Kangaroos. Ill try to upload some photos
tonight. Thanks to everyone for the calls, cards and well wishes for my birthday.
5 Comments:
Glad you had a good weekend. We saw the special on Willie Mays Aikens.
What did you guys think about it? You think he should be released from prison?
It kind of sounded like he was trapped into selling, He was mostly using drungs not so much selling.
I think that he would be able to get work, on behlaf of his "celeberty".
Do you really think that he may get out because of his star status? If so, what is the difference of the an Eron executive who has friends in "high" places who only gets 24 years for helping to destory thousands of people's retirement fund. This guy got caught selling, and most likely was a not dealing for the money but for the access to drugs. So, I say let the bastard out. Like you said, people get less for murder. Drug use is a victimless crime. The great thing about drug use is that you choose it, so deserve your addiction, but I don't believe addiction should be a crime.
Niel, I agree, I dont think he was a mass distributer. From what I gathered from the story, he simply sold crack to an undercover female agent. It probably borderlines on entrapment.
Kelvin, I see your point, but whether it's a former Heisman trophy winner getting away with double murder, a white color executive, or a former baseball player, its wrong. I guess that's one of the big problems with the American justice system. Sure everyone is entitled to a trial, but there is a world of difference going to trial with a public defended or going to trial with a "dream team" of lawyers.
As far as being a drug user being a victimless crime, I disagree with that. It's a lot more hurtful cheating your employees out of their retirement fund, but anytime narcotics are involved there are lots of victims. People who are addicted to narcotics sometimes do not so nice things to get money to support their habit. Is it a victimless crime when some methhead breaks into someones home, steals the homeowners personal possesions and sells them to a pawn shop? And what about all the violence associated with drug dealers. Unless someone has their own personal meth lab in their basement, they are getting the drugs from some type of dealer. Not to mention families that are torn apart by members who abuse narcotics.
But I do agree that in this case, Willie probably had the means to support his habit without resorting to violence. One of the arguments he made for being released what that he never got to see his kids grow up. Would it have been any better for his kids to be around him when he was a cocaine addict? Not having a dad around because he was in jail or having a dad around who's got a drug problem seem equally as bad to me.
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