I live in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area. I like sharks (that WILL be it's own post soon)!
The Discovery networks building is in Silver Spring, Maryland - a city butting against the boundary of the District of Columbia. Shark Week 2012 was a couple weeks ago and this year they brought back Chompie! He is a sight to behold. Majestic and powerful as he bursts out of a glass office building to take a bit out of your soul.
Sadly, Shark week is already over. But that just means that the COUNTDOWN TO SHARK WEEK 2013 is ON!!! WOOOO!
For all we receive from society (not necessarily the federal, but specifically the immediate and local governments) - roads and related infrastructure, usually clean water, museums, certain grants and scholarships, and a portion of public television and radio - we are compelled in a mandatory manner to give back few times. Once a year on April 15th when our taxes are due (admittedly, we might be compelled to relinquish a larger percentage of what we’ve earned for our talents and labours than we might like) and the dreaded but socially important jury duty. Can anyone guess which social compulsion I fulfilled today (Nov 5 2009, that should give it away)?
Now, I relish the privilege of paying back for my voice as a citizen, you used to have to be male, of the majority class, and landed; but now you just have to pay taxes and show up for jury duty. Its sweet! I hadn't served before today, but now I understand why many people don't like it. There's alot of nothing going on there. But the worst thing is that they shove you and an ugly ass building. Really, I think a prison hallway might be nicer than the courthouse hallway. And the courtroom - beige acoustic panels and honey stained wood slat paneling with some sort of hovering, halo like lighting system and white noise coming through the speakers. Man, it was bad, but it was my civic duty.
Ans speaking of civic duty, Tuesday was Election Day. I hope that if you are a registered voter you did vote. You know what they say: thumbs separate us from the other animals, our minds separate us from the apes, and the ability to democratically vote separates us from the Canadians. Or something like that. I'm pretty sure that's how it goes.
I met a fella on Tuesday and he said he was from Virginia and I didn't even wish him a Happy Election Day! What's wrong with me? My mother would be so ashamed. I was out of the area for a week visiting home and I turned back into a Texan, not caring about the tiny slice of the rest of the world that isn't in that state. It was so negligent and rude of me, but I'll take this moment to share Election Day wishes from a show that I've grown to like more, especially recently.
Once again, I can't speak either way about the ad at the front end of this video.
If you didn't vote or aren't registered, you have plenty of time before next November where there will be tons more things and people to vote on. Its midterms! Hell yeah! What, you're NOT excited about that? Odd.
And remember how we elected that new guy into the White House last year? (No matter how you voted, you voted for a new guy.) Anyway he's been hosting alot of really sweet events at the White House. It makes sense, I mean, think about it. When you get your first big, sweet ass house, what're you gonna do? Thats right, throw a bunch of big, sweet ass house parties. And you'll keep throwing bigger and badasser parties until the neighbors finally complain and the cops show up and people scatter and hide in the closets and showers. Now I'm not saying the White House parties are gonna get that big, but look at it this way, a few weeks ago they had an outdoor rock concert of Latin music! Thats a helluva White House Party! I guess its been a gradual progression to get to that point. Check out this clip from a poetry slam they hosted a while back:
Now that's a sweet party! I love that Miranda guy! He's awesome.
Last month (September), I was wandering around downtown DC with one of my very good friends. We walked into one of those 'souvenir shops' that is really just a giant President Obama themed t-shirt outlet. Seriously, this place was huge (that's a hard 'h' sound, but I'll address that in a future post)! There's a Safeway Grocery Store in DC (and in this case I apply that label quite liberally) that is smaller than this t-shirt and nick-knack emporium. [see Link: DC Locals' Grocery Feelings ]
Anyway, while perusing their wares, I stumbled across this little diddy:
I'm having a hard time deciding if its a good or bad joke; of it its accidentally, blatantly, or not actually racist. Does it depend on the wear-er? On the place and/or situation worn in? I don't even think I laughed when I first saw this. I think I just thought, 'Wow, Really?' Then I whipped out my phone and took a picture.
