The Topic Of The Week

My latest reality check must have been last night while watching American History X.

I guess it started when I walked up to apartment #13 and realized that I wasn't the focus.

My latest reality check was about 1500 miles ago.
I was an idiot and went to the dealer even though Objectivity Masters had a coupon special for only $19.95...had to wait 45 minutes even though I had an appointment...the magazines sucked--all about fishing and Martha Stewart-type stuff...the coffee tasted like it was brewed by Leo on the Titanic...Then the damned mechanic said my lifestyle was a little worn out, and as a result my world-view was a tad dry and, like my briefs, a little crusty.
The last one that hit home personally was Sept 1, and I was reminded of exactly what I am.

My latest reality check..."when a man looks into the abyss and does not see his reflection.......that is when he finds his true character."
This actually did not happen to me this week, but to a friend. I helped him to survive when he did not see his reflection. I thought he had a better life than I. But the cost.
I found I am happier than a man more successful. I discovered that the truth to others, but most important, to yourself is the foundation for happiness and satisfaction.
If you look into the abyss and do not see your reflection, do not imagine it. It is more dangerous to fantasize who you see than to go where you can actually see your reflection. And be happy with what you see.

I just had a reality check last night while playing in Campbell.
Really research the people you are going to work or play with and find out what drives them.
I thought that I was joining an original band and now I'm stuck in a cover band playing for crowds that for the most part remind me of a herd of sheep.
If I hear someone scream "play Van Halen" again, I just may quit playing guitar.
"And now you do what they told yah."

Dear Bahb,
I have been told that I could have been a St. Bernard in my past life, I drool too much and I drink my gin straight up...

Bulldog.

Samoyed--Duh!

Well of course a boxer! I have limited experience, but they're really lovable, a little silly, and they love to lick!!
Oh and the one I have is fairly psychotic, which suits me very well...

Since my knowledge of canines is a bit lacking, I'll have to say any ol' bitch will do.

An airedale with a jheri curl.

easy.......
N.O.T.A., Buy Ten Get One Free,

1. Bruce Springsteen - Greatest Hits
2. Tower of Power - In the Slot
3. Led Zepplin - Led Zepplin

Belle and Sebastian - If you're Feeling Sinister
The Cure - Kiss me kiss me kiss me
The Smiths - Louder than Bombs

Hmm...Wish I owned more CD's so this could be a more informed list, but hey...
I. The Clash--Give 'Em Enough Rope (For the power)
II. Elvis Costello & The Attractions--Imperial Bedroom (For the passion)
III. Echo & The Bunnymen--Heaven Up Here (For the bombast)
and for those special times that I feel Uber-Germanic (or simply wanted to 'break me off an aria'), I'd have to hide a copy of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony somewhere as well.

ok how bout
radiohead~ok computer
indigo girls~closer to fine
violent femmes~add it up

At the moment it would be Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd), Abbey Road (The Beatles) and The Bends (Radiohead). Funny, they're all English this week.

The first album would be John Mellencamp's 'The Lonesome Jubilee'. Second I would need the voice of an angel to sooth me when my psyche would be fragile so Trisha Yearwood's 'Everybody Knows'. Since I'm under the assumption this is a tropical island let's go with Bob Marley's 'Legend'

i'd have to say, for all around, classic music listening: Simon & Garfunkel, Concert in Central Park; The Beatles, White Album; and Bob Marley, Legend.

or maybe the new Britney Spears to give me a reason to like being on a desert island.

I would bring:

I answer the last question with a question.
Can someone tell me the last disease that medical science actually found a cure for? Not a treatment. Polio? Thanks C.R.
Yet the money keeps coming in.
Proof the caash is in the medicine, not the cure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i would sure hope that it is being spent on finding the end to the means, rather than simply prolonging what would be a painful and while potentially positive, probably mostly sucky life.....
think of it the way Superman does, I am certain he would want to be cured of his spinal cord injury and be able to get back up on that horse again, instead of simply being tube fed and pumped oxygen every 3.1 seconds....i know i would....
if i'm vegetative comatose, you know what to do. time to meet my maker. late,

Okay...big topic...
*takes a deep breath*
If we're talking about resolving gross physical trauma, then we need to wait for surgical procedures/equipment to catch up with the patients desire to return to a 'pre-trauma' state.
If we're talking about infectious disease, then we're really talking about either bacterial infection (which for the most part can be treated with anti-biotics) and viral infection.
Until the folks at Stanford, Johns Hopkins and Genentech can figure out how to isolate viral replication from cellular replication, discussion of this point is moot.
This question is not necessarily about medicine per se, rather genetic research and re-engineering.
In my opinion the industry IS doing all that can be done to search for treatment options, but viruses are almost impossible to destroy.
This may sound like a cop-out to some, and if this is the case so be it. If so, I must also paraphase Jack, "You don't want the truth, you're afraid of it." I would also suggest strapping on an electron microscope and a "safe-suit" and giving it a shot (no pun) for yourself.
Of the segment of the population with the highest intellect, people that are working in genetic engineering are in the top three (the others either work for NASA, or are musicans--getting fed, drunk and laid while only working an hour a night...now that's smart).
With the outbreak of AIDS, there has been an amazing growth in in Viruology and genetic research. I would say that with the resources of the world behind this project, a type of 'cure' is not far away. The trick is figuring out how to trick the body into killing the parasite without killing the host, so to speak. As many virus cause some types cancers, and mock the behaviour of others, finding this secret will allow society to begin treating both viruses and cancers more effectively.
Two other sides of this coin. One is prevention. Viruses, like any other organism (including humans) have one purpose and that is to replicate. By denying the means of replication outside the host, we can effectively terminate the spread of most infectious disease, so wash your hands, wear a condom and bleach your needles.
Another issue is that many of the diseases have erupted recently as man has uncovered the hosts for these viruses as he invades undeveloped territory. Apparently Ebola, and other hemorrhagic fevers are an acceptable trade off for the manifest destiny bahaviour that consumerism has spawned.
Personally I feel that the medical community is making tremendous strides from where it was '83, when the Reagan administration said that AIDS was localized in the gay and hemophiliac communities and not an epidemic, and thus stymied much funding for viral research.
Hell 70 years ago, we didn't even have the technology to study the damn things, or have a name for them. In 1918, a type of influenza (a virus) killed, not infected, but killed 20 million people...the flu for Christ's sake...and look at how far we've come in one lifetime.
This is an exponential learning curve, and given time, there will be progress. Until then, we must continue to treat symptoms, and continue to hope. But when the breakthrough is made, whoever finds the key should be given a lifetime pass to the O'Farrell, and *pinky to mouth* 100 billion dollars.

...Money makes the world go 'round, the world go 'round, the world go 'round...

"Why don't we get drunk, and screw!"

Well, while lying on our backs listening to Prince (or whatever his name is) I tried to sing the lyrics to this woman I was so in LOVE with....yea, she was Loretta Ramirez (the one and only), she started laughing and said "you have got to be kidding". Well, I got no affection from that action and was securely sequestered in my nerd kingdom from then until.......

Told the truth; when success in this area is predicated on the exact opposite.

Back in '89 I went to a Al B. Sure/Bobby Brown/New Edition concert at the Cow Palace to show this girl how much I enjoyed her company.
Short story, Al B. doesn't show, B Brown stops after 4 songs because people are fighting, a riot breaks out, watch a security guy get clobbered with a chair, see chairs fly, New Edition plays for an hour. Outside looks like 1966 Birmingham riot police, police dogs didn't see Bull Connor thank God.
End result no play that night and a hellacious relationship through college.

I told her the three biggest lies in the world...........
This will only hurt for a little while.
I'll only stick the head up an inch.
I promise that I'll never try to cum in your mouth.
--RobbaD
(Rahb, Never promise that, they know it's a lie...just spread the love and say "Oops, I forgot..."--Rox)

Freedom? Yeah Right!

Revolution Rock...I am in a state of shock.

I think true Independence means you have the freedom to smile at WHATEVER makes you happy.

The freedom to speak and express my thoughts (on my front porch at 1 am on a Tuesday with a pissed-off bald guy) without censorship or fear of being persecuted for it.

I would think true independence is the ability to make rational decisions for yourself and being able to weigh the consequences to others.

True independence is the ability to think however you want and act however you want on what you think......Unfortunatly, too many of us have taken that to self-centered patterns and to the extreme headline grabbing events.
Having the courage, nay, the independence to be inter-dependent on others would give us all much more liberty to be and act as we truly are, and would sure make independence better for all.
Hope that isn't too Covey-ish for you! late,

The most unusual and most disgusting drink I have ever had was what was supposed to be a "Dr. Pepper". My husband and I were having one of our bashes in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Imagine if you can, a group of drunk girlfriends/wives in the kitchen, and one of them say, "You just have to try this drink! It tastes just like a Dr Pepper." My best friend proceeded to pour a glass of beer then put a shot glass into it with some sort of liquor in it (which I believe does have a name) and I chugged as much of it as I could stand. Needless to say, it was not what I expected. What a drunk night!!! Those times in Fayetteville were some of the best times I have ever known!!!

um I had jen-you-wine Kentucky moonshine from a still once...oh and yes, I did drink it out of a pint jar...and yes, I did use the word "y'all" several times after that...and, um, I bought a gun rack...and a mini-van...

rox, i'd have to say that the most unusual drink i've had at this point would have to be a "rocky mountain motherfucker." it's not necessarily the taste or ingredients that constitutes 'most unusual' but i think the name. the only place that i've ever heard of or tasted this drink is in toledo, ohio at the citi lounge (one of the clubs that we've played at on tour). in fact, the "rocky mountain motherfucker" is the sole reason that my band will never play at the citi lounge again. just kidding. peace.

I've heard the 'I'll have another round' before....
The sickest drink is called an abortion. It has a lot of different liqour (like a Long Island or swamp water) in the bottom of the pint glass is a hard boiled egg. You slam the drink and the egg plops into your mouth at the end (and the little fertalized fetus is soaked in alcohol.).

Had to be a "Surfer on Acid". If memory serves me right it had something to do with - 1 part Tequila, 1 part Yagermeister, 1 part Sprite, and a shot of Coke for color. I was introduced to that beauty at "The Beach" in Las Vegas one year.
A close runner up was a vile concoction 'Mario from the Barrio' and I found in our handy Boston Bartender's Guide one night at Porter College called a "Green Demon". This drink had nothing to do with quality and everything to do with quantity. 1 part Tequila, 1 part Vodka, 1 part Rum, 1 part Midori, and 1 part Sprite.
Have fun kids and remember...no playing with the Cuisinart while under the influence.

A warm, gooey, frothy shot of cum.