brainxplosion

Yawn!

Next time...
1. Pick presenters that can deliver a line, for Pete's sake! Does nobody practice their lines anymore?! Seriously, people, isn't this sort of a professional standard?
2. Lay off the booze before going on stage to present an award! Yes, this means you, Dustin Hoffman! At least I hope he was drunk, because it's the only explanation for that performance.
3. Let the darn winners come up to the stage!!! I know we don't really care about half the awards, but to have to give your big speech in the aisle? Come on!
4. Stop abusing Adam Sandler! I know he likes to laugh about bodily functions, but to watch him present the award was just painful - he doesn't deserve that!

Are you listening, Frank Pierson?!

in no particular order, here are the reasons why I don't shop at the Evil Empire:

1. Wal Mart Super Centers contribute to urban sprawl.
2. Wal Mart pretends to be a 'family store' (e.g. by banning certain magazines of questionable content) but sells bullets and weapons.
3. Wal Mart is anti-union: They fire workers if they show interest in union representation.
4. Wal Mart expects employees who are minors to work past their legal curfew.
5. Wal Mart bullies their suppliers into bankruptcy.
6. Wal Mart receives federal/state incentives by creating jobs for unskilled workers, only to pay these workers at minimum wage and without giving them benefits - nobody can survive on minimum wage!
7. Wal Mart expects workers to do overtime without paying for it.
8. Wal Mart treats their employees like dirt (read "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich).
9. Wal Mart drives small, independent stores out of business.
10. Wal Mart does not promote females into upper management.

read more here:
http://pennsylvania.sierraclub.org/Otzinachson/december2004.pdf

I've been encouraged lately by reflecting on Jeremiah 3:16.
My Message Translation says: "The time will come when no one will say any longer, 'Oh, for the good old days! Remeber the Ark of the Covenant?' It won't even occur to anyone to say it - 'the good old days.'
That message has been sinking in over the last week or so. Every time I've thought back to last semester (less stressful), three years ago (when life was so peaceful down by the beach) or last week (when I got more sleep) and so on, I've been reminded that this is not what life will be like forever. God has a wonderful promise for us, and that gives me such hope!

Did you know there's dextrose in iodized salt?!!
I had no idea.

So... it's one of those days. We buy candy and overpriced flowers and go on dates to crowded, expensive restaurants and give stuffed animals (that aren't even that cute) to mature adults. And why? Because the calendar says it's corporately sponsored romance day. Can you feel the love?

I went to the gym tonight, and it was great. No problems with parking...