C0rk.W0rd

Here We Go Again w/ the Surveys

For some reason, it is the season of surveys... everyone must be bored... expect another soon...

#O01 - Who was the last person you met off the internet --- Maria (technically) I suppose... though having mutual acquaintances can speed things along ;)
#O02 - What is the longest you've gone without sleep --- Something like 72 hours, maybe?
#O03 - When was the last time you had cookies and milk --- Wow, I don't really know... probably the last time there were Oreos in my house... and THAT has been a while
#O04 - What is your favorite cereal --- Honey Bunches of Oats and 'Cream of Rice'
#O05 - One thing you did as a child that got you into trouble --- In 3rd grade, I knocked a kid's head back against a brick wall... not hard... but enough to get me sent to the principle... however the behavior of said kid during the proceeding years in the school system would substantiate my 'heinous' act
#O06 - When was the last time you were spanked --- Wow, over 10 years ago. That time before kids could hire their own lawyers.
#O07 - Can you burp on command? --- yes
#O08 - Last time you had a burp that rated high on the burp scale --- never had a whole heap of talent that way
#O09 - If you were to get plastic surgery on just one part of your body, which would it be --- I don't know. Any suggestions?
#O10 - What's your favorite sexual position --- each one has its time and place
#O11 - If you could be one of the seven dwarfs, which would you be --- grumpy
#O12 - What would be your one regret if were to be struck by lightning and die right now --- controlling my spending habits in the hopes of a more secure financial future
#O13 - What is your favorite commercial --- The promo for Chapelle Show where he does Rick James.... SLAP!!
#O14 - Do you like Faygo --- What the hell is Faygo?... (after internet research) --- I don't drink soda, especially not trendy designer soda
#O15 - Who do you love --- myself
#O16 - Who did you last go camping with --- BSA (Boy Scouts of America) - Summer 1999 or 2000?
#O17 - Ever met anyone famous? --- I'm pretty sure I met Joe Pesci in a hot tub in Colorado, but he claimed to be a spokesperson for Kellogg's Frosted Flakes
#O18 - Who is your favorite Batman --- Michael Keaton
#O19 - What was your favorite childhood cartoon --- Muppet Babies, HE-MAN, Ghostbusters, Thundercats, Ducktails, Ren & Stimpy, Beavis & Butthead, and Exo-Squad (Ok, maybe some of them weren't quite childhood)
#O20 - Have you ever slept in a car --- Yes, Boy Scout Trip Raystown, PA (the result of a flooded tent)
#O21 - Ever laid down in the tall grass and had sex --- no
#O22 - What kind of undies do you prefer --- on me?... boxers
#O23 - Last place you went on a road trip to --- road trip?... Does VERMONT count?... it's 6 hours ... but I drive it all at once
#O24 - Favorite Michael Jackson song (and don't lie) --- Bille Jean? maybe?
#O25 - Who was the first person you kissed --- I can’t remember if it was the Emma – “Chaz will kill me if I don’t do this” incident, or the Sara – “oops I missed your mouth, lets go for the ear” debacle. Regardless, both were disastrous… I should have taken the hint. Either way I'm sure I will catch some form of *shit* for this answer.
#O27 - Infinity, Caddy, Mercedes or BMW --- Infinity
#O28 - Favorite SNL skit --- The Continental comes to mind
#O29 - What was the last thing you wished for --- that this damn term session would speed the fuck up
#O30 - How expensive were the last pair of shoes you bought --- $79 - Gore-Tex Hiking Boots from LL Bean
#O31 - Name one thing you've purchased and never used --- Pocket PC
#O32 - Quote a movie --- so many to choose from: "I'm talking about drawing a line in the fucking sand dude, ... ACROSS THIS LINE YOU DO NOT... and by the way, dude, chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature... Asian American, please"
#O33 - Favorite PJ's --- boxers
#O34 - Have you ever gotten a fortune from a fortune cookie and kept it --- no
#O35 - If so, what did it say --- N/A
#O36 - Favorite candy bar --- Skor
#O37 - Have you ever traveled outside the USA --- Canada, Jamaica, and (soon) Ireland
#O38 - What's a weird thing that you collect --- Pens
#O39 - Name an embarrassing moment --- Congratulating "Ms. Moser" for having conceived only to find out she had a miscarriage.
#O40 - Who's the funniest person you know --- prolly Andrew, though I have an odd sense of what is funny
#O41 - Who's the meanest? --- possibly me ... but with the BEST intentions
#O42 - Is it possible to have more than one best friend --- who is picking favorites?
#O43 - What is your favorite picture of yourself --- charcoal artist rendering
#O44 - Do you think you're a good person --- better than most
#O45 - Do you think others do --- a few probably do
#O46 - What's the worst pick up line you've heard --- "I just want you to know that as long as I have a face, You'll always have a place to pee."
#O47 - Who was the last person you were mad at --- myself
#O48 - Do you like it if someone bites you --- yea
#O49 - What's the worst medicine you've ever had --- that shit Raja gave me to make me less nauseous
#O50 - Who's your favorite comedian --- Carlin, Izzard, Jon Stewart, Bill Hicks, Lewis Black, Sam Kinison, 80's Eddie Murphy.

Top 100 From IMBD... What I've Seen In Bold

1 Godfather, The (1972)
2 Shawshank Redemption, The (1994)
3 Godfather: Part II, The (1974)
4 Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The (2003)
5 Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The (2002)
6 Casablanca (1942)
7 Schindler's List (1993)
8 Shichinin no samurai (1954) (The Seven Samurai)
9 Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
10 Citizen Kane (1941)
11 Star Wars (1977)
12 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
13 Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
14 Rear Window (1954)
15 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
16 Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
17 Memento (2000)
18 Usual Suspects, The (1995)
19 Pulp Fiction (1994)
20 North by Northwest (1959)
21 Fabuleux destin d'Amelie Poulain, Le (2001) (Amelie)
22 Psycho (1960)
23 12 Angry Men (1957)
24 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
25 Silence of the Lambs, The (1991)
26 Buono, il brutto, il cattivo, Il (1966) (The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly)
27 It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
28 Goodfellas (1990)
29 American Beauty (1999)
30 Vertigo (1958)
31 Sunset Blvd. (1950)
32 Pianist, The (2002)
33 Matrix, The (1999)
34 Apocalypse Now (1979)
35 To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
36 Some Like It Hot (1959)
37 Taxi Driver (1976)
38 Paths of Glory (1957)
39 Third Man, The (1949)
40 C'era una volta il West (1968) (Once Upon a Time in the West)
41 Fight Club (1999)
42 Boot, Das (1981)
43 Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001) (Spirited Away)
44 Double Indemnity (1944)
45 L.A. Confidential (1997)
46 Chinatown (1974)
47 Singin' in the Rain (1952)
48 Requiem for a Dream (2000)
49 Maltese Falcon, The (1941)
50 M (1931)
51 All About Eve (1950)
52 Bridge on the River Kwai, The (1957)
53 Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
54 Se7en (1995)
55 Saving Private Ryan (1998)
56 Cidade de Deus (2002) (City of God/God's Town)
57 Raging Bull (1980)
58 Wizard of Oz, The (1939)
59 Rashomon (1950)
60 Sting, The (1973)
61 American History X (1998)
62 Alien (1979)
63 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
64 Leon (1994) (The Professional)
65 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
66 Vita ? bella, La (1997)
67 Touch of Evil (1958)
68 Manchurian Candidate, The (1962)
69 Wo hu cang long (2000) (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)
70 Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The (1948)
71 Great Escape, The (1963)
72 Clockwork Orange, A (1971)
73 Reservoir Dogs (1992)
74 Annie Hall (1977)
75 Amadeus (1984)
76 Jaws (1975)
77 Ran (1985)
78 On the Waterfront (1954)
79 Modern Times (1936)
80 High Noon (1952)
81 Braveheart (1995)
82 Apartment, The (1960)
83 Sixth Sense, The (1999)
84 Fargo (1996)
85 Aliens (1986)
86 Shining, The (1980)
87 Blade Runner (1982)
88 Strangers on a Train (1951)
89 Duck Soup (1933)
90 Metropolis (1927)
91 Finding Nemo (2003)
92 Donnie Darko (2001)
93 Toy Story 2 (1999)
94 Princess Bride, The (1987)
95 General, The (1927)
96 City Lights (1931)
97 Lola rennt (1998) (Run Lola Run)
98 Full Metal Jacket (1987)
99 Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
100 Sjunde inseglet, Det (1957) (The Seventh Seal)

Drexel.Spring.2004

Well, It has been nice milling around the house these past few months with little responsibility save showing up at work the next day, but like many good things, this too must come to an end. After battling with the much abhorred bannerweb system for a few days, Drexel finally saw it fit to add additional sections of some much-needed required classes. Like many things in my life, this schedule is also subject to change at any time, and for any reason whatsoever. Nevertheless, I give you my schedule for the Spring 2004. (Forgive the crude html - I can only work with what bannerweb gives me, though I did add links to the course description pages. Enjoy!)

Click Here For A Link To C0rk's Spring 2004 Schedule @ Drexel University

Some Interesting Picks:

TAX 353 Personal Income Taxes - I could have taken a political science class in this time slot titled Religion & Government In America, which would probably have been very enjoyable for me. However, as is the case with most of my decision-making processes, practicality reigned supreme. Despite my interest in the political science topic, taxes are something I should probably know more about than I do. It might assist my understanding of the tax process currently underway at work, while keeping me out of jail in the future.

WRIT 304 Visions In Writing - I'll probably be finishing up my fine art electives faster than any other student in the history of IST. All IST students are required to not only complete the freshman Humanities Regiment along with certain special topics in COM and PHIL, but also accrue 9 additional credits in a humanities subject of their choosing. I get the impression that I am one of very few IST students who actually enjoys learning and practicing written communication. I'm also a big fan of Dr. Riggs who is teaching this course. I had him for HUM102 and HUM103, and I'm pretty sure that the man knows EVERYTHING, and has a great sense of humor too. Following all of his Monty Python and Firesign Theater references was a definite plus for me.

It's also worth mentioning that I will be at ISSI during most of the workweek not spent in class. Erin and I talked to our boss, Hal, and gave him a rough figure of around 15 hours a week. With my schedule laid out as it is, I will probably be able to squeeze in 16-24 hours in a week, rather than the low estimate. Budgeting time will be key to a successful school/work balance, but because my time at work is flexible and to a certain extent forgiving (since they're only really paying me for when I'm here), I imagine I will be able to manage this fairly well. Welcome to "the life".

** There is a link to this schedule in the left hand toolbar under "links" for future reference **

5-FINGERS

WHAT DID THE FIVE-FINGERS SAY TO THE FACE???

SLAP!!!

::: HA HA HA :::

I'M RICK JAMES, BITCH!

My Addressed Paystub Wasn't Accepted As 'Proof of Residence' by the NJ DMV

In an effort to suppress any bad re-election juju, the Bush administration has dug up some "lost" documents that apparently prove that the President served all of his time in the Air National Guard during the early 70's. It should be noted that admittance into the Air National Guard was seen as a means of avoiding deployment overseas, in Vietnam. One can only speculate that a father in Congress may have had 'something' to do with this strategic move...

:::hearing CCR's Fortunate Son in my head:::

The documents released are apparently bank records indicating that the president was paid for the time he spent in the service. Specifically, It includes payment records for the time during which he was reported missing from his post in Alabama. The problem is that these pay records do not prove that the President was where he was supposed to be, merely that he was paid by the government for his service, or lack thereof.

These pay records do not explain where Bush was when he was stripped of his flight status for failing to show up for a mandatory physical. It is also curious why several military personal under whom Bush was slated to serve reported that he never arrived for duty. There are also review records indicating that Bush could not be evaluated because he was not available for review. No servicemen have come forward who can claim to have served with the President during the time he "apparently" spent stationed in Alabama.

The alleged fact that President Bush was paid for his time in the Air National Guard does in no way prove anything regarding the means by which George W. Bush served and earned his honorable discharge which came 6 months after being placed on the in-active duty list.

This is the man who is sending our men and women overseas to defend the interests of big oil companies. There are many more questions that need to be answered, and a payroll record does NOTHING to answer them. Something tells me that this probably wasn't the 1st time George W. Bush stole and/or wasted American tax dollars, and it would CERTAINLY not be the last.

Some folks are born, made to wave the flag
Ooh they're red white and blue.
And when the band plays "Hail to the chief"
Ooh they point the cannon at you Lord

It ain't me it ain't me I ain't no senator's son son.
It ain't me it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one no
Yeah!

Some folks are born silver spoon in hand
Lord don't they help themselves oh.
But when the taxman comes to the door
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no.

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord,
And when you ask them, "How much should we give?"
Ooh, they only answer More! more! more! yoh,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son, son.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, one.
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no no no,
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son, no no no

Ski.Weekend.February.2004

This weekend's ski trip was one of the most enjoyable we've had in years. It didn't start out to grad though. We were about 30min down the New Jersey Turnpike when I realized I had left my season pass at home. It took us an hour to double back and retrieve it, but my Dad said the roads were easier to travel at the later hours. I'm not sure if he was just trying to keep me from feeling bad, or if this was actually true. We arrived in Killington around 1am, shared a few post drive drinks with Rob and Raja, then to bed.

Skiing the next day was cold but fantastic. We were concerned that the sleet and freezing rain on the ride up may have ruined some plush snow from earlier in the week. Luckily, this was not the case. We took some top-to-bottom runs, and spent some time on Bear Mtn. It was cold, but not nearly as bad as the last trip. The temperature hovered around a manageable zero degrees. We skied the better part of the day before quitting to make a Long Trail run.

We arrived at the Long Trail about 20min before the kitchen is slated to close (5pm). We were a little panic stricken. The place was mobbed, and the likelihood of us securing a table for 12 in time for Yaki Wings and Onion Rings seemed grim. I secured a few pitchers of brew from the bar and we were fortunately squeezed in at the very last minute. The yaki wings were AWESOME and the Onion Rings were the very taste of beer battered perfection. Combined with some Hibernator, some Hit-The-Trail, and some Long Trail Ale, these delightful eats were the 'perfect' après-ski treat. We managed to get back to the condo, made for the hot tub, and enjoyed a nice soak before a little dinner/snack and sleep.

Sunday was an awesome day of skiing. Rob, Raja, and I woke of reasonably early and were out of the slopes a little after 9am. Not stopping for anything, we managed to ski 6+ hours. Eating on the gondola made things a little easier, and meeting up with the rest of my family on the mountain helped keep things at a workable pace. Raja was kind enough to capture a few videos with his new digital camera. I will be sure to post them as soon as he sends them to me.

Sunday was also my mothers Birthday that meant plenty of festivities for the evening. After packing in the ski-day we dressed and headed for the Goombay capital of the world "The Grist Mill". A few rounds of Goombay goodness had us all feeling really groovy. The Happy Hour beef ribs, and the 3 orders of nachos also helped to remove any edge that dared to rear its head. The Grist Mill was followed by another two hours at the Back-Behind. This restaurant/bar was the 1st place I had even been served a beer when I was a young 13. 14 of us filed in for dinner, and ordered up another round of drinks (beer & wine). I distinctly remember my 4ft tall cousin looking me in the eye and saying "YOU'RE TRASHED!!". He might have been right. Dinner was good, but all the alcohol in my belly made it hard to put any 'quantity' down. Toward the end of the evening my aunt and Kelly began putting away quite a bit of wine - They "overachieved".

When it comes to drinking - "ACHIEVE and MAINTAIN --- do not OVERACHIEVE"

Everyone predicted a slow moving c0rk for the next morning, but I was my eager, energetic post-drinking self. I was up around 8 and ready to ski around 9. Aside from some body fatigue from the previous days of skiing, I didn't get the sense that the alcohol had any effect on my head. --- no hangover. Monday was a sunny and reasonably warm day of skiing. The wind, however, kept a significant portion of the mountain inaccessible. No worries though, we found other ways of amusing ourselves. My uncle, my oldest cousin, Rob and I tackled some glades and other wooded ski elements in search of moguls and tight-turning powder in steep spots. A run down big dipper glade had plenty of moguls and a nice patch of ice for me to fall/slide down. We visited Lowrider, and enjoyed the trees along with the powder which made any mistakes just a little less painful. I finished up the day with a few sweet GS turns down Rams Head. The ski day was followed by a quick tub a shower and a little grub.

:::::on the road:::::

We arrived back in Voorhees around 11:15 last night, and despite getting to bed at a reasonable hour... I'm feeling pretty whacked today... dragging anchor as it were... Not to worry... There are a lot of interesting things coming up for me to write about, and some more political discussions ahead... ;-)

They're Going To Investigate... Well... Not Really

Under heaps of political pressure and a plummeting approval rating, the Bush Administration has decided to allow a commission to investigate the intelligence malfunction that led to our invasion of Iraq. Secretary Powell indicated that regardless of the commissions findings, the President's decision to remove Saddam Hussein from power and to protect the Iraqi people was the correct one. A similar inquiry is being launched in Great Britain by Tony Blair who, as Bush's right-hand-man in the war effort, is facing the same political scrutiny. This all sounds pretty swell... right?.... WRONG! Let me mention a few things sewn into this commission that really just expose it as a political ruse aimed at winning back votes for the the November election.

1 - First of all, Sen. John McCain whom I support despite being a Republican has been demanding this investigation since the war began. Probably because he felt it necessary to show some intelligence and provide some clear evidence, as to prevent both his political party and his country from loosing face unnecessarily. It would also ensure that we checked, double-checked, and continued to re-check the facts ensuring that our right to war was just. John McCain is a smart man, and could see where things were going before they got there. The Bush Administration, riding the big juicy approval rating afforded by September 11th, exploited the memory of the dead to push their own political agenda, and generate more "fallen patriots" while they were at it. An investigation was not permitted, and all efforts to push for one were brilliantly thwarted by the White House. Questioning the will of a government trying to protect its citizens was action bordering on treason according the Bushys. It's not treason, in fact its one of the greatest rights granted to Americans by the constitution which John Ashcroft is quickly trying to dismantle. We have the right to question, protest, and make demands of our government, and even overthrow it if necessary. Asking my government to SHOW ME the threat before sending our troops thousands of miles away to die in the name of national & world security is hardly an un-patriotic demand, and one that should have been offered voluntarily to, not only Americans, but to the entire world to substantiate our action.

2 - Though the commission will be bi-partisan, all 9 members will be hand selected by the Bush Administration. If there is nothing to hide... why would it matter who investigates the intelligence? It's kid of like letting a defendant sit 9 of his friends on the jury. If this commission were anything near semi-legit, which it is not, it would be perceived NOT as an investigation of intelligence, but an investigation of the substantiations the Bush administration had or did not have for making such controversy inducing statements prior to our aggressive action in Iraq.

3 - Just for a little added protection, the Administration has specified that no commission findings are to be reported prior to the November election. Now, I don't claim to be a campaign manager, but if my candidate was the go-to-guy in what many consider the biggest mistake of the new century, I'd want something that enabled me to shift the blame. I donno?... maybe some testimonies from intelligence agents explaining that the president may have been misled. Or hell, why don't we just have someone who knows about this kind of thing explain to us how it is that one can make a centrifuge for enriching uranium out of the aluminum tubes mentioned a dozen times leading up to the war. Oh wait, you can't because the aluminum tubes in question had no specifications that would indicate to ANYONE with a knowledge of general engineering principles, that they could be employed in the construction of a centrifuge. If someone could show me a believable model of how things went wrong, then maybe this wouldn't all look like one mans hidden agenda.

4 - The commission will not be permitted to investigate the competence or judgment of the administration. I guess this means that if the commission discovers very little incompetence when it comes to intelligence gathering, they're not allowed to question the contrasting inferences made by the persons at the top. We're telling the commission it is ok to grill, review, and persecute anyone that needs to be, as long as the trail of guilt does not lead to the White House.

I could go on for hours about what a bunch of SHIT this commission is, but I think I've mentioned enough things that will allow you to question its legitimacy for yourself, and identify it as the act of political desperation that it is.