The Raging Tech

Weekend Update

On Giants and Gentlemen

Last Sunday, I had very low expectations out of the Super Bowl. I don’t really like the Patriots, nor do I hold any special place in my heart for the Giants. In fact, football really doesn’t hold a special place in my heart at all. I’m lucky I at least understand the rules enough to know what’s going on in the game. But I must say, the first two quarters weren’t that exciting - and then it all went crazy.

Sportsmanship used to mean something in America - but nowadays we just have spoiled brats in the NFL. Eli Manning, good job - one of the best games I’ve seen in a long time. But Pats - come on, just because you’re desperately clinging to a 1 touchdown lead does not mean you should drop all fair play and attempt to rip the ball from the precariously falling man’s arms, to his injury. He clearly had made the catch and was on his way to the ground to complete the play, but you had to go be a douche bag about it.

All that being said, where are the gentlemen in America? I know some guys who do everything they can to be gentlemen to any woman they encounter - not to be flirtatious or impressive, but because it’s the right thing to do. But what’s up with the rest of our half of the species, guys? The other day I opened the door and held it for a lady at the post office, and she patted me on the shoulder and said “Your mother raised you the correct way,” and I thanked her and said I’d be sure to mention it to her (here you go, Mom - I’m mentioning it here because I know you read this).

So what is it guys? Do you think chivalry is dead? I know some girls don’t prefer it, and that’s OK to let some things go if they are bothered by you holding doors. I know I forget sometimes, or sometimes positioning does not easily allow for it. But make the effort. Let’s honor the women in our lives, guys, in one way or another.

The Road to Not-Sickville

I’ve been sick with a head cold since the night before my birthday last week, but I think it’s subsiding. I feel less and less like death every day. But apparently my cold hopped hosts and has taken out half my team at work. Even with major system malfunctions, smart planning and some intervention by my boss has kept us from being overwhelmed.

My date Wednesday night went pretty well. I’m writing this mainly for the benefit of my mom, who read on my Facebook profile that I was going on a date Wednesday night. I took this young woman to a restaurant called Bogarts, where we had amazing food and cheesecake for dessert. Then we went back to her apartment and watched Disney’s Game Plan, one of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s newest films. It was cute and funny. We followed that up with Super Mario World (that’s right, she likes video games) and then some hanging out and talking. It must have gone well, because she wants to see me again next week.

This weekend should be pretty low-key for the most part. I’m looking forward to kicking back tomorrow and getting some laundry done. Sunday is the “Big Game,” and I’m looking forward to enjoying that, probably over at a friend’s house. I’m not even totally sure who’s playing, but I love the Super Bowl. It’s sort of the same reason why I only watch the first and last episodes of American Idol in a season.

Frustrated? Pop Off a Few Rounds

There was a time in my life when I could spend patience on anything and that would be enough to get me through. That time is approximately every night from around 1am until 6:42am, when I’m asleep. For the rest of the day - give me a good round of Halo or Unreal Tournament and I’m good.

Back at Thanksgiving 2006, I worked at Blockbuster Video, Inc. as a store manager, and it could be frustrating to say the least. One of our church members built houses for a living - luxury dream homes, I mean. Which also means his home was a huge luxury dream home. Out back of his house he had actually built his own firing range with a retractable, motorized targeting system that you could staple paper targets to, send it out, shoot, and bring it back.

I shot a .44, a .22, and some sort of handgun I didn’t recognize. That entirely worked out some good amounts of stress. But let’s say you don’t like guns, because they’re dangerous. You can always get air guns and airsoft rifles on the cheap along with ammunition and paper targets. You can setup almost anywhere, and it’s much less likely your neighbors will call the cops on you for firing BB guns in your back yard. Or, you could try paintball and actually shoot at living, breathing, moving targets.

Or you know, there’s always therapy. But bullets are cheaper.

Snowed In? Slack Out with Your Mac Out

With wintry weather upon us, a lot of people are unable to even leave their houses today. We’re fortunate enough to have light snowfall today and the roads aren’t bad. My roommate picked up Family Guy: Blue Harvest and my Netflix movies came in: Mystery Science Theater 3000 - the episode where they watch Mitchell - and I also received Blades of Glory.

So grab your favorite blanket, pop in a movie, pull out your laptop, and sit back and relax. You don’t have to do something every weekend. Just take it easy and enjoy some R ‘n R.

My birthday is next week - and if any of you incredibly benevolent folks wanted to purchase me one of these Massage Chairs made by Human Touch, I certainly wouldn’t turn it down. Apparently, these chairs are developed with the most advanced robotic massage system ever. It’s been modeled after techniques used by doctors, massage therapists, and chiropractors. If you had one of these, it’d make your “veg out” day just that much better.