A Cold Winter Night

The night is so cold and I can hear the wind howling from my window. The sound is scary, maybe it feels like that because I'm alone. Perhaps I feel it more because I am also cold. Imagining myself out there makes my throat hurt and my body shiver. I hate that winter is already here. When I thought of winter before the cold, I remembered children playing in the snow. I forgot the homeless dying under the bridges from the frozen air. When I thought of winter during snow, I remembered the joy of Christmas. I had forgotten the madness of holiday shoppers. These thoughts are dark, because with the winter comes the coldness in my heart.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The day is here, time to stuff your face :) Well technically we should take time to be thankful and share time and love with family/friends and loved ones. Let the celebration begin - Pass the potatoes!!
Where's that darned turkey?

Napster and Blockbuster Online Make a Deal

I'm skeptical about this deal.

Napster and Blockbuster Online entered a co-marketing deal to package their music and movie services together in a "Digital Duo" gift card. The card, which will be available in time for the holidays, costs $20 and is available at RadioShack retail outlets.

Card holders get unlimited access to Napster's music library and two free track downloads from that service, as well as a month of free movie rentals from Blockbuster's DVD-by-mail offering | source: ClickZNews

It may be my un-trusting nature: this sounds like a good deal, but something is telling me beware. Blockbuster is doing everything it can to remain the movie rental giant. Did you know they followed Netflix plan and are not doing rental mailings. This seems odd considering that there are so many rental stores nearby that it would be faster to just drop them off. The late fee is what gets most of us, and that is where Blockbuster and most movie rental stores get their profits from. I'm interested to see how this works out.

Dream Nonsense Rambling

I am a dreamer that is my fate. Somemay argue that fate is a mere dream as well. A dreamer may dream but not acquire his dreams. If he fufills said dreams, are not those dreams therefore over? Is that why dreamers want the unreachable? The hopes for something so unlikely that to even contemplate reaching it is nonsense? Are dreams nonsense? Are all dreams nonsense? Are all dreams that have hopes tied to them ridiculous?

It depends on the outcome. Not the outcome of attaining the dream for that is irrelevant. Forego the possibility that one does achieve that dream. We will leave that aside, for that's another possibility of madness on it's own.

The mere sake of dreaming up a want, builds up hope. For hope is all that man has. If that is the case man has now acquired a possession. Funny a possession out of nothing. However not a tangible one, it isn't something one can grab - Remember this is a dream that hasn't been attained. It is now part of man though. Something conjured up in the mind and can build up with the ever increasing want, and thought of getting closer. So now we have tied emotion to this abstract want. Isn't it all emotion? The want, the need, the need to want.

Wanting is not emotion. The emotion conjured up by the want can vary. One can become saddened by this want that is unfufilled. Man becomes joyous when his chest fills up with hope thinking he can actually achieve said dream. I confess I am a dreamer. I realize my limitations. In my dreams I am what I cannot be in real life. It is not a hope that I will attain this success, love, fame that I dream. When I think about it with reality I don't really want all of my dreams.

A dream is also an escape. I escape to my dreams to attain, yes grasp that emotional happiness that I lack in my everyday routine. What are your dreams? Why do you choose to dream those more so than any other? It's because they are always something that you lack. Where am I going with this? I don't know I am letting my fingers flow again.

I Must Vent

I am seriously annoyed!!! My browser just crashed because of another stupid blog requesting to install a plugin. What the hell!?! I am not going to install any plugins, I am not going to upgrade my browser, I don't want to listen to the crappy music.

I enjoy using the "next blog" feature from Blogger. However, people I beg you if you want people to visit your blog and better yet want to come back? Allow at least a somewhat pleasing user experience. If your content won't hold up, don't make things worse. Should you happen to think your blogs are worth seeing, then allow them to be seen! If you don't want visitors make your blogger private! Sorry for all the exclamation signs, I just needed to vent.

Error Page For Idiots

I love this page! I wish we would customize error messages in my company website, like the one found in this page. I found this link in one of my POP-Sci magazines, after squinting for a few I was able to go to the correct web address and retrieve the message:

YOU REFRESHED WHEN TOLD NOT TO!

The previous page clearly asked you to wait while the transaction is being processed, and NOT to refresh the page.

Your inability to read a clear instruction has now caused the transaction to be aborted abnormally. An email has been sent to the merchant web site and also to PriceTag in order for us to try and track your transaction.

Close your browser - you will be contacted at your given email address if necessary.

View Idiot Error Page Here

Tax Refund Finder

Find out if the IRS owes you money. Simply provide full name, city & state and retrieve results for that information. Heck it's that easy you should check on that neighbor, that hasn't paid you the money he owes you!
National Taxpayers Union & National Taxpayers Union Foundation - IRS Database

Kmart buying Sears to form third biggest U.S. retailer

ABC7Chicago.com: Kmart buying Sears to form third biggest U.S. retailer

This is quite surprising, considering that Kmart filed for bankruptcy a few years back. I heard that their stocks were up and they were doing better but not for retail sales. Kmart was actually profiting from real-estate sales. Kmart bought out Venture Stores (I know this very well, I use to work for Ventures and left a few months before the sale). When they bought the company they bought all the stores through out the country. They did open a few Kmart stores in the new locations, but after the bankruptcy incident they began selling all these vacant buildings. So now, the merge. The decision was unanimously agreed upon my all board members of both Sears & Kmart. I don't disagree with Sears wanting to merge, I'm just unsure if this is a smart move for the blue-light savings giant. Anyway, I just though this was interesting news.

Nature Walk

Today was a relaxing day, I don't get to have many of those often. I took advantage of the surprisingly nice weather today and took Charlie on a nature walk with me. Well as much nature as you can get in a big city as Chicago is. We went to Marquette park, I hadn't been there in years. They are doing some renovation or something because some sections were closed off. I'm glad we were able to go over the bridge and go by the pond. That was my favorite spot, now it looks more dirtier than I remembered. Charlie enjoyed ruffling and rolling around in the fallen autumn leaves and took a run, attempting to catch the geese. If the weather permits we might go back next week.
© 2004 Araceli Arroyo photograph

It's Still Over

When I saw a figure as I walked up the path I never imagined it would have been you. I thought I heard the rooster yell out the dawn's good morning. Unfortunately, it had to be your disapproving tone, questioning the time. I never thought you would await my arrival. What a bitter surprise. How long were you out there standing in the cold, letting your breath escape the warmth of your body? When I told you I would return early, I meant early the next day. I really hope you weren't outside waiting for me all night long. I doubt that was the case. The cold night air would have sent you running back inside.

Darling you and I both know we live together but we no longer share our lives together. You have no say in what I do. We are broken up, our relationship is nothing more than just roommates now. I don't know why you insist to think there will ever be more. I told you too many times that you and I don't work together as a couple. The times we've shared have been more painful and frustrating than it had to be. I like you as a friend, please lets not ruin that.

Joke of the Day

After numerous rounds of "We don't even know if Osama is still alive," Osama himself decided to send George W. a letter in his own handwriting to let him know he was still in the game. Bush opened the letter and it appeared to contain a coded message: 370HSSV-0773H

Bush was baffled, so he e-mailed it to Colin Powell. Colin and his aides had no clue either so they sent it to the FBI. No one could solve it so it went to the CIA, and then to the NSA, then to the Secret Service.

With no clue as to it's meaning, they eventually asked Canada's RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) for help. The RCMP cabled the White House as follows: "Tell the President he is looking at the message upside down"

Flash Movie - Color Vision Test

This test is designed to evaluate the quatlity of your color vision....
Click link to continue with the Color Vision Test

Play The Simpson's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

See how far you can get answering Simpson trivia a la millionre style. I only got up to 1600, note the lifelines weren't working for me.
Play Simpson's Millionaire

Movie Review - The Incredibles ***1/2

The Incredibles (2004)
Directed: Brad Bird
Written: Brad Bird
Genre: Animation / Family / Adventure / Action / Comedy
Main Cast:
Craig T. Nelson .... Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible (voice)
Holly Hunter .... Helen Parr/Elastigirl (voice)
Samuel L. Jackson .... Lucius Best/Frozone (voice)
Jason Lee .... Buddy Pine/Syndrome (voice)
Sarah Vowell .... Violet Parr (voice)
Spencer Fox .... Dashiell 'Dash' Parr (voice)

The creators of Monster's Inc and Finding Nemo have done it again! Pixar's The Incredibles was a very cute and entertaining movie with a real story line that an adult will not be annoyed by. There were actually real issues underlying the storyline of The Incredibles. Mr. Incredible voice of "the Coach" Craig T. Nelson - refusing to give up his super hero life with angst of midlife crises sneaks around behind his wife's back seeking the glory days of rescuing people. Former Elastic girl, voice of Holly Hunter, attempting to conform to the society expectations gives up her hero days. Sensing deception, while battling with her withdrawn teenage daughter and overactive middle son, and apparently only normal toddler, is brought back from her hero hibernation and piece her family together. With subtle jokes for adults and colorful entertainment for the youngsters no wonder why this animated film scored $60 million it's opening weekend.

Plot Summary - courtesy of the Internet Movie Database
Mr. Incredible is a superhero; or he used to be, until a surge of lawsuits against superheroes submitted by the people they've saved forced the government to hide them in witness protection programs so they could lead normal, anonymous lives. Now known exclusively by his secret identity, Bob Parr, he lives with his wife Helen, formerly Elastigirl, and their three children Violet, Dash, and Jack Jack. He works as an insurance claims specialist, and he's fed up with his pushy boss and his immoral profession, but his wife's worked too hard to build a normal life for her family to abide his nostalgia for heroism. When Mr. Incredible's offered the chance to play the role of hero again by a mysterious informant, he jumps at the opportunity, but when it turns out to be a trap set by an old nemesis he had a hand in corrupting, the whole family must reveal themselves to save Mr. Incredible and countless innocents.
Summary written by Michael Loughrin

QT Video - Office Surprise

Don't you just hate confined places? Watch this funny clip of an office birthday surprise. The surprise backfires on the office mates :)
Office Surprise from Donwload-Video.TV

Saturday Poker

We had game night at my house on Saturday. It was my brother in law's b-day and my sister threw him a casino theme party. It was actually a great idea, especially considering my side of the family mom's side. It was a perfect way to mingle and talk with everyone. We stayed up until 5:30 am. Would have been better if I was winning though, I don't have the lucky gambling gene my family has. However, with the exception of the traditional Mexican ending to parties (small drunken fight) it was a lot of fun :)

Celebrity Pictures - The Future

Check out these funny pictures of famous celebrities. This is how your favorite celebrity will look 50 years from now.

NIght Owl

El amanecer se espera hasta que la noche termina su fiesta
- Araceli Arroyo

That phrase just came to me this afternoon, translation:
The dawn waits until the night finishes it's party. Sounds nicer in Spanish trust me. Why it came to me I am not sure. I think it was after listening to a friend practice her Spanish by reading the reading material for the class I teach. The phrase itself, however proves that I am a night bird within. It's 1:53 am and I have no desire for sleep, even though I have been awake for 18 1/2 hours. Last night I slept only 4 hours. I know it's not healthy but I can't shake off the idea that sleep is a waste of time. You could do so many other things instead of sleeping, far more entertaining and far more productive. Ok, so writing this crap is not productive but it is more entertaining to me than sleeping.

Oh well have to go to sleep now. Even though I don't want to. My eyes have been fighting to stay open for a while. I have a 9am meeting tomorrow anyway and I will have to wake up extra earlier to prepare for it.

Buenas Noches

Joke of the Day

The Cathouse Parrot

A woman went to a pet shop and immediately spotted a large, beautiful parrot. There was a sign on the cage that said $50.00. "Why so little?" she asked the pet store owner.

The owner looked at her and said, "Look, I should tell you first that this bird used to live in a house of prostitution; and sometimes it says some pretty vulgar stuff."
The woman thought about this, but decided she had to have the bird anyway.
She took it home and hung the bird's cage up in her living room and waited for it to say something. The bird looked around the room, then at her, and said, "New house, new madam." The woman was a bit shocked at the implication, but then thought "that's really not so bad."

When her two teenage daughters returned from school the bird saw and said, "New house, new madam, new girls." The girls and the woman were a bit offended but then began to laugh about the situation considering how and where the parrot had been raised. Moments later, the woman's husband, Keith, came home from work.
The bird looked at him and said, "Hi, Keith."

Personal Update

November has kicked off for me with a busy tone. I took another class to teach on Thursday so now I will be rushing even more. Christmas is coming and I know I will need the money. The class is very small though only 6 students. I am surprised they didn't cancel it. My regular job as usual has been keeping me very busy as well, which is ok it's busy in a good way. I think I've become accustomed to my routine and can now easily add on activities. I've committed two Mondays in October and November to my Alumni Club. I volunteered to help out under grads with mock interviews. So far it's goes well. I have enjoyed the my time helping them out and get a sense of accomplishment and pride. Speaking of which I completed my civic duty this morning and voted in this years presidential election. It took longer than I thought because I've moved since the last election. I was the first one to use one of those provisional forms. I'm sure my vote wouldn't have made much of a difference since Illinois is a highly democratic state but I always feel it's a must. After voting in every election, even the primaries I feel really good.

I finally added some of my traveling pictures to my photo blog. Typical celi-organization they are organized by cities I've been to. Check them out in my Photo Blog