Well Christmas has come and gone, and New Year's is just a few days away. I hope that everyone has had a nice holiday. My own is kinda mixed. I got some really good gingerbread cookies from Hong Kong yesterday :), but was in a auto accident the day before (my post about driving in Korea is quite factual). Saw the new James Bond movie, but found out a close friend had to spend Christmas taking care of her sick mother and got nothing for Christmas :( (everyone needs something for Christmas, so I went a picked her up a little gift).
New Years is looking good, throwing a party at my place. Got the booze, snacks and assorted party needs, even managed to secure some Jell-o (a rarity here) for "Jell-o shots". Champagne is a nogo though, average of 50 bucks a bottle for bottom of the line.
Have a great New Year's all!
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Friday, December 22, 2006
Christmas time
Merry Christmas to all!! May you know peace, happiness, and love. To all those deployed during this season (as I have been many times), you are in my prayers and I give my heartfelt thanks for your sacrifices. Merry Christmas all my brothers and sisters, walk in grace and beauty.
And now a classic (thanks to Christmas-poems.com)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
By Dr. Seuss
Every Who Down in Whoville Liked Christmas a lot...
But the Grinch,Who lived just north of Whoville, Did NOT!
The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!
Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.
It could be his head wasn't screwed on just right.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all,
May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.
Whatever the reason, His heart or his shoes,
He stood there on Christmas Eve, hating the Whos,
Staring down from his cave with a sour, Grinchy frown,
At the warm lighted windows below in their town.
For he knew every Who down in Whoville beneath,
Was busy now, hanging a mistletoe wreath.
"And they're hanging their stockings!" he snarled with a sneer,
"Tomorrow is Christmas! It's practically here!"
Then he growled, with his Grinch fingers nervously drumming,
"I MUST find some way to stop Christmas from coming!"
For Tomorrow, he knew, all the Who girls and boys,
Would wake bright and early. They'd rush for their toys!
And then! Oh, the noise! Oh, the Noise!
Noise! Noise! Noise!
That's one thing he hated! The NOISE!
NOISE! NOISE! NOISE!
Then the Whos, young and old, would sit down to a feast.
And they'd feast! And they'd feast! And they'd FEAST!
FEAST! FEAST! FEAST!
They would feast on Who-pudding, and rare Who-roast beast.
Which was something the Grinch couldn't stand in the least!
And THEN They'd do something He liked least of all!
Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small,
Would stand close together, with Christmas bells ringing.
They'd stand hand-in-hand. And the Whos would start singing!
They'd sing! And they'd sing! And they'd SING!
SING! SING! SING!
And the more the Grinch thought of this Who ChristmasSing,
The more the Grinch thought, "I must stop this whole thing!"
"Why, for fifty-three years I've put up with it now!"
"I MUST stop this Christmas from coming! But HOW?"
Then he got an idea! An awful idea!
THE GRINCH GOT A WONDERFUL, AWFUL IDEA!
"I know just what to do!" The Grinch laughed in his throat.
And he made a quick Santy Claus hat and a coat.
And he chuckled, and clucked, "What a great Grinchy trick!"
"With this coat and this hat, I look just like Saint Nick!"
"All I need is a reindeer..." The Grinch looked around.
But, since reindeer are scarce, there was none to be found.
Did that stop the old Grinch? No! The Grinch simply said,
"If I can't find a reindeer, I'll make one instead!"
So he called his dog, Max. Then he took some red thread,
And he tied a big horn on the top of his head.
THEN He loaded some bags And some old empty sacks,
On a ramshackle sleigh And he hitched up old Max.
Then the Grinch said, "Giddap!" And the sleigh started down,
Toward the homes where the Whos Lay asnooze in their town.
All their windows were dark. Quiet snow filled the air.
All the Whos were all dreaming sweet dreams without care.
When he came to the first little house on the square.
"This is stop number one," the old Grinchy Claus hissed,
And he climbed to the roof, empty bags in his fist.
Then he slid down the chimney. A rather tight pinch.
But, if Santa could do it, then so could the Grinch.
He got stuck only once, for a moment or two.
Then he stuck his head out of the fireplace flue.
Where the little Who stockings all hung in a row.
"These stockings," he grinned, "are the first things to go!"
Then he slithered and slunk, with a smile most unpleasant,
Around the whole room, and he took every present!
Pop guns! And bicycles! Roller skates! Drums!
Checkerboards! Tricycles! Popcorn! And plums!
And he stuffed them in bags. Then the Grinch, very nimbly,
Stuffed all the bags, one by one, up the chimney!
Then he slunk to the icebox. He took the Whos' feast!
He took the Who-pudding! He took the roast beast!
He cleaned out that icebox as quick as a flash.
Why, that Grinch even took their last can of Who-hash!
Then he stuffed all the food up the chimney with glee.
"And NOW!" grinned the Grinch, "I will stuff up the tree!"
And the Grinch grabbed the tree, and he started to shove,
When he heard a small sound like the coo of a dove.
He turned around fast, and he saw a small Who!
Little Cindy-Lou Who, who was not more than two.
The Grinch had been caught by this tiny Who daughter,
Who'd got out of bed for a cup of cold water.
She stared at the Grinch and said, "Santy Claus, why,”
"Why are you taking our Christmas tree? WHY?"
But, you know, that old Grinch was so smart and so slick,
He thought up a lie, and he thought it up quick!
"Why, my sweet little tot," the fake Santy Claus lied,
"There's a light on this tree that won't light on one side."
"So I'm taking it home to my workshop, my dear."
"I'll fix it up there. Then I'll bring it back here."
And his fib fooled the child. Then he patted her head,
And he got her a drink and he sent her to bed.
And when CindyLou Who went to bed with her cup,
HE went to the chimney and stuffed the tree up!
Then the last thing he took Was the log for their fire!
Then he went up the chimney, himself, the old liar.
On their walls he left nothing but hooks and some wire.
And the one speck of food That he left in the house,
Was a crumb that was even too small for a mouse.
Then He did the same thing To the other Whos' houses
Leaving crumbs Much too small For the other Whos' mouses!
It was quarter past dawn... All the Whos, still a-bed,
All the Whos, still asnooze When he packed up his sled,
Packed it up with their presents! The ribbons! The wrappings!
The tags! And the tinsel! The trimmings! The trappings!
Three thousand feet up! Up the side of Mt. Crumpit,
He rode with his load to the tiptop to dump it!
"PoohPooh to the Whos!" he was grinchishly humming.
"They're finding out now that no Christmas is coming!"
"They're just waking up! I know just what they'll do!"
"Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,
Then the Whos down in Whoville will all cry BooHoo!"
"That's a noise," grinned the Grinch, "That I simply MUST hear!"
So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear.
And he did hear a sound rising over the snow.
It started in low. Then it started to grow.
But the sound wasn't sad! Why, this sound sounded merry!
It couldn't be so! But it WAS merry! VERY!
He stared down at Whoville! The Grinch popped his eyes!
Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!
Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?"
"It came with out ribbons! It came without tags!"
"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store."
"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"
And what happened then? Well...in Whoville they say,
That the Grinch's small heart Grew three sizes that day!
And the minute his heart didn't feel quite so tight,
He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light,
And he brought back the toys! And the food for the feast!
And he, HE HIMSELF! The Grinch carved the roast beast!
Welcome Christmas
Dr. Seuss and Albert Hague
Fah who foraze!
Dah who doraze!
Welcome Christmas,
come this way!
Fah who foraze!
Dah who doraze!
Welcome Christmas,
Christmas Day!
Welcome, welcome!
Fah who rahmus!
Welcome, welcome!
Dah who dahmus
Christmas Day,
Is in our grasp,
So long as we,
Have hands to clasp!
Fah who foraze!
Dah who doraze!
Welcome Christmas!
Bring your cheer.
Fah who foraze!
Dah who doraze!
Welcome all who's,
Far and near
Fah who foraze!
Dah who doraze!
Welcome, Christmas!
Fah who rahmus!
Welcome, Christmas!
Dah who dahmus
Christmas Day,
Will always be
Just as long,
As we have we
Welcome all who's,
Far and near.
And now a classic (thanks to Christmas-poems.com)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
By Dr. Seuss
Every Who Down in Whoville Liked Christmas a lot...
But the Grinch,Who lived just north of Whoville, Did NOT!
The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!
Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.
It could be his head wasn't screwed on just right.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all,
May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.
Whatever the reason, His heart or his shoes,
He stood there on Christmas Eve, hating the Whos,
Staring down from his cave with a sour, Grinchy frown,
At the warm lighted windows below in their town.
For he knew every Who down in Whoville beneath,
Was busy now, hanging a mistletoe wreath.
"And they're hanging their stockings!" he snarled with a sneer,
"Tomorrow is Christmas! It's practically here!"
Then he growled, with his Grinch fingers nervously drumming,
"I MUST find some way to stop Christmas from coming!"
For Tomorrow, he knew, all the Who girls and boys,
Would wake bright and early. They'd rush for their toys!
And then! Oh, the noise! Oh, the Noise!
Noise! Noise! Noise!
That's one thing he hated! The NOISE!
NOISE! NOISE! NOISE!
Then the Whos, young and old, would sit down to a feast.
And they'd feast! And they'd feast! And they'd FEAST!
FEAST! FEAST! FEAST!
They would feast on Who-pudding, and rare Who-roast beast.
Which was something the Grinch couldn't stand in the least!
And THEN They'd do something He liked least of all!
Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small,
Would stand close together, with Christmas bells ringing.
They'd stand hand-in-hand. And the Whos would start singing!
They'd sing! And they'd sing! And they'd SING!
SING! SING! SING!
And the more the Grinch thought of this Who ChristmasSing,
The more the Grinch thought, "I must stop this whole thing!"
"Why, for fifty-three years I've put up with it now!"
"I MUST stop this Christmas from coming! But HOW?"
Then he got an idea! An awful idea!
THE GRINCH GOT A WONDERFUL, AWFUL IDEA!
"I know just what to do!" The Grinch laughed in his throat.
And he made a quick Santy Claus hat and a coat.
And he chuckled, and clucked, "What a great Grinchy trick!"
"With this coat and this hat, I look just like Saint Nick!"
"All I need is a reindeer..." The Grinch looked around.
But, since reindeer are scarce, there was none to be found.
Did that stop the old Grinch? No! The Grinch simply said,
"If I can't find a reindeer, I'll make one instead!"
So he called his dog, Max. Then he took some red thread,
And he tied a big horn on the top of his head.
THEN He loaded some bags And some old empty sacks,
On a ramshackle sleigh And he hitched up old Max.
Then the Grinch said, "Giddap!" And the sleigh started down,
Toward the homes where the Whos Lay asnooze in their town.
All their windows were dark. Quiet snow filled the air.
All the Whos were all dreaming sweet dreams without care.
When he came to the first little house on the square.
"This is stop number one," the old Grinchy Claus hissed,
And he climbed to the roof, empty bags in his fist.
Then he slid down the chimney. A rather tight pinch.
But, if Santa could do it, then so could the Grinch.
He got stuck only once, for a moment or two.
Then he stuck his head out of the fireplace flue.
Where the little Who stockings all hung in a row.
"These stockings," he grinned, "are the first things to go!"
Then he slithered and slunk, with a smile most unpleasant,
Around the whole room, and he took every present!
Pop guns! And bicycles! Roller skates! Drums!
Checkerboards! Tricycles! Popcorn! And plums!
And he stuffed them in bags. Then the Grinch, very nimbly,
Stuffed all the bags, one by one, up the chimney!
Then he slunk to the icebox. He took the Whos' feast!
He took the Who-pudding! He took the roast beast!
He cleaned out that icebox as quick as a flash.
Why, that Grinch even took their last can of Who-hash!
Then he stuffed all the food up the chimney with glee.
"And NOW!" grinned the Grinch, "I will stuff up the tree!"
And the Grinch grabbed the tree, and he started to shove,
When he heard a small sound like the coo of a dove.
He turned around fast, and he saw a small Who!
Little Cindy-Lou Who, who was not more than two.
The Grinch had been caught by this tiny Who daughter,
Who'd got out of bed for a cup of cold water.
She stared at the Grinch and said, "Santy Claus, why,”
"Why are you taking our Christmas tree? WHY?"
But, you know, that old Grinch was so smart and so slick,
He thought up a lie, and he thought it up quick!
"Why, my sweet little tot," the fake Santy Claus lied,
"There's a light on this tree that won't light on one side."
"So I'm taking it home to my workshop, my dear."
"I'll fix it up there. Then I'll bring it back here."
And his fib fooled the child. Then he patted her head,
And he got her a drink and he sent her to bed.
And when CindyLou Who went to bed with her cup,
HE went to the chimney and stuffed the tree up!
Then the last thing he took Was the log for their fire!
Then he went up the chimney, himself, the old liar.
On their walls he left nothing but hooks and some wire.
And the one speck of food That he left in the house,
Was a crumb that was even too small for a mouse.
Then He did the same thing To the other Whos' houses
Leaving crumbs Much too small For the other Whos' mouses!
It was quarter past dawn... All the Whos, still a-bed,
All the Whos, still asnooze When he packed up his sled,
Packed it up with their presents! The ribbons! The wrappings!
The tags! And the tinsel! The trimmings! The trappings!
Three thousand feet up! Up the side of Mt. Crumpit,
He rode with his load to the tiptop to dump it!
"PoohPooh to the Whos!" he was grinchishly humming.
"They're finding out now that no Christmas is coming!"
"They're just waking up! I know just what they'll do!"
"Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,
Then the Whos down in Whoville will all cry BooHoo!"
"That's a noise," grinned the Grinch, "That I simply MUST hear!"
So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear.
And he did hear a sound rising over the snow.
It started in low. Then it started to grow.
But the sound wasn't sad! Why, this sound sounded merry!
It couldn't be so! But it WAS merry! VERY!
He stared down at Whoville! The Grinch popped his eyes!
Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!
Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?"
"It came with out ribbons! It came without tags!"
"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store."
"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"
And what happened then? Well...in Whoville they say,
That the Grinch's small heart Grew three sizes that day!
And the minute his heart didn't feel quite so tight,
He whizzed with his load through the bright morning light,
And he brought back the toys! And the food for the feast!
And he, HE HIMSELF! The Grinch carved the roast beast!
Welcome Christmas
Dr. Seuss and Albert Hague
Fah who foraze!
Dah who doraze!
Welcome Christmas,
come this way!
Fah who foraze!
Dah who doraze!
Welcome Christmas,
Christmas Day!
Welcome, welcome!
Fah who rahmus!
Welcome, welcome!
Dah who dahmus
Christmas Day,
Is in our grasp,
So long as we,
Have hands to clasp!
Fah who foraze!
Dah who doraze!
Welcome Christmas!
Bring your cheer.
Fah who foraze!
Dah who doraze!
Welcome all who's,
Far and near
Fah who foraze!
Dah who doraze!
Welcome, Christmas!
Fah who rahmus!
Welcome, Christmas!
Dah who dahmus
Christmas Day,
Will always be
Just as long,
As we have we
Welcome all who's,
Far and near.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Driving in Korea
I consider myself a worldly man, I have been to 6 of the 7 continents and visited about 33 countries. Out of all those countries Korea has the absolute worst drivers. A standard morning commute of 20 minutes usually takes me from a nice mellow mood right down to bloodthirsty and homicidal.
Most of the other car drivers consist of two types:
a: The terrified to be behind the wheel so they drive 30 kph below the speed limit.
b: The street racer wanta be's that have seen "The Fast and the Furious" too many times.
Combining these two people makes for a real life bumper cars experience. To both these types anything outside the car does not exist, meaning they will change lanes without looking and/or cut across 5 lanes of traffic at the drop of a hat.
The taxi's come next. These guys believe that the traffic laws do not apply to them, and since there is little to no police enforcement, they are usually right. I have actually learned to curse fluently in Korean thanks to these folks (on a side note: Most of the taxi drivers in a 6 block area around my house can now curse in English).
Busses, these juggernauts of the road run red lights, stop in the middle of the road (not in the bus lanes) to let people off, and bulldoze their way through traffic with no thought of any one else on the road. I have been ran up onto the side walk by these guys changing lanes without looking (luckily no pedestrians were there at the time).
Mopeds, these guys are more reckless than maniacally depressed lemmings. There are not laws concerning these psychos. They drive on the sidewalks, on whatever side of the street they wish, I have even seen one running down beside a railroad track beside a train. If there is an accident involving a moped the automobile is automatically at fault.
Pedestrians and bicycles, both of these groups fall into the "If I ignore it, it can't actually be there." category. They walk/peddle into traffic without looking. Crosswalks and the associated lights are there only for decoration. About a month ago I was sitting at a red light when a kid on a bike rides straight into the side of my car and falls over (like a bird hitting a window). The kid gets up looks at me like it is my fault and then starts yelling at me in Korean (the yelling stopped when I got out of my car. It is amazing how sorry you can be when you realize the person you are berating suddenly has double your body mass.)
Most of the other car drivers consist of two types:
a: The terrified to be behind the wheel so they drive 30 kph below the speed limit.
b: The street racer wanta be's that have seen "The Fast and the Furious" too many times.
Combining these two people makes for a real life bumper cars experience. To both these types anything outside the car does not exist, meaning they will change lanes without looking and/or cut across 5 lanes of traffic at the drop of a hat.
The taxi's come next. These guys believe that the traffic laws do not apply to them, and since there is little to no police enforcement, they are usually right. I have actually learned to curse fluently in Korean thanks to these folks (on a side note: Most of the taxi drivers in a 6 block area around my house can now curse in English).
Busses, these juggernauts of the road run red lights, stop in the middle of the road (not in the bus lanes) to let people off, and bulldoze their way through traffic with no thought of any one else on the road. I have been ran up onto the side walk by these guys changing lanes without looking (luckily no pedestrians were there at the time).
Mopeds, these guys are more reckless than maniacally depressed lemmings. There are not laws concerning these psychos. They drive on the sidewalks, on whatever side of the street they wish, I have even seen one running down beside a railroad track beside a train. If there is an accident involving a moped the automobile is automatically at fault.
Pedestrians and bicycles, both of these groups fall into the "If I ignore it, it can't actually be there." category. They walk/peddle into traffic without looking. Crosswalks and the associated lights are there only for decoration. About a month ago I was sitting at a red light when a kid on a bike rides straight into the side of my car and falls over (like a bird hitting a window). The kid gets up looks at me like it is my fault and then starts yelling at me in Korean (the yelling stopped when I got out of my car. It is amazing how sorry you can be when you realize the person you are berating suddenly has double your body mass.)
The stars of yesteryear
Found this while surfing around abit. A listing of many of the stars and the contributions they made during WW2. Quite a different Hollywood back then compared to today. Ben Affleck and Mat Damon vs. John Wayne and Lee Marvin, it don't take much to see who the real stars in the match up are. A Hollywood that actually stood up and took the call when their country called and supported the troops, such a difference from today's.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Good and Evil...
In kind of an odd mood this morning, started thinking about Good and Evil. To me it is curious, that as a species, we are capable of both these things in such magnitudes. What drives such things? Does nature override nurture in deciding which way a person goes?
According to Taoism one knows evil because one knows good, and one should strive to know neither. To some Good can not exist without evil, nor evil without good.
Like I said, kind of an odd mood today. I blame listening to too much Pink Floyd.
According to Taoism one knows evil because one knows good, and one should strive to know neither. To some Good can not exist without evil, nor evil without good.
Like I said, kind of an odd mood today. I blame listening to too much Pink Floyd.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
The next day...
Well, that was a surprisingly nice date. The young woman in question studied French literature and spoke English very well (a rarity from the local population). We will most definitely do it again sometime. For once a nice blind date!
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Blind dates....
Well, got a blind date tonight. These things usually don't end well for me, so keeping it pretty neutral. Going to Pizza Hut (oh yeah, snazzy). I know not the romantic get away, but is pretty nice for Korea and well lit and public enough so if things go bad I can't get accused anything illegal (like I said these things usually don't end well). This particular one was rescheduled from Monday, due to nomenclature confusion both she and I ended up in different parts of the city waiting for each other (see that ending well statement again). So off to meet a person I have never seen before.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Busy weekend
Was kept on my toes this weekend. Friday night was trivia at a local bar, followed by wenching and drinking. Saturday was spent at a going away party for a friend, this ended up in a karaoke room (where I learned the apparent skill for singing I have in the shower, does not translate over to actual singing). Finally Sunday was spent hopping from a late lunch date to a early dinner date. I am honestly tired, looking forward to work this week to relax.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
A blast from my past
Well was looking through some old thing around the pad, and came across this story I wrote in high school. I thought it would be interesting to post it. Sorry it's a bit overly melodramatic, back in the days of teen angst. What a difference 15 years make, for one I hope my grammer has improved abit.
The Final Move
The board was ready, sixty four squares, half black, half white. The squares were side by side to witness the battle. The armies were set.
Across the field two armies stared at each other, each equal but opposite. Each piece faced it's self on a plane of concordant opposition. All pieces fighting for the love of green paper.
The pawns, a force of eight, were ready to attack. Ready to rush forward and strike ahead left or right. The pawns...ready to die for green paper.
The rooks' lives, and powers had been bought on the block of sorrows. Death dubbed rooks, second only to the queen, ready for action. Fore, back, left, or right the rooks are destruction in a straight line. In God they trust.
The bishops' unholy work was ready to be unleashed on their enemies. Compromising their principles for legal tender, the bishops kill all diagonal to them. Betrayal most foul against God, all for green paper.
The knights were ready to sell their swords, and souls for dead presidents. Attacking forward left or right, ready to kill all... Sellswords till the end of time, charging ready for blood. The knights souls were sold into battle for green paper.
The queen is death incarnate, the ultimate weapon ready for use and feared by all. Death in a blinding flash, the queen is retaliation in a mushroom cloud.
The kings' part is that of leaders, and warlords. The weakest among the pieces, his is the cash holder, sending pieces to their death. The profit margin is his God.
The game starts, the war is declared. The first move is made.
The pawns are the first to fall. The screams of the dying are comforted by the all powerful green paper. One rook falls, as the other fights relentlessly, not pausing to mourn it's brother.
The king sits on his throne built of lies. The queen sits patiently on her silo waiting for use. The threats build, and contort carrying all, and no weight.
On the battlefield, knight fight without honor, and bishops without religion. The pawns die or get promoted. A former pawn, now rook, kills again and again in a never ending cycle of greed.
False flags are flown for fools, the real flags are protected in pockets. The battle rages on as it always has, and always will.
The once black, and white squared are now red. The once peaceful squares now torn with violence. The conflict evolves around green paper, nothing more.
The kings are at a stalemate, neither able to move. The soldiers are dead. The bodies of the vanquished litter the red field. All that's left are the kings and their queens.
threats as deadly, and useless as the soldiers are exchanged. The threats grow more and more, as innocents await the outcome.
The final move is made.
The war is over, the pieces are dead. The queens have been used. The field is now so much fused glass, and ash. All that is left is a single piece of green paper.
The Final Move
The board was ready, sixty four squares, half black, half white. The squares were side by side to witness the battle. The armies were set.
Across the field two armies stared at each other, each equal but opposite. Each piece faced it's self on a plane of concordant opposition. All pieces fighting for the love of green paper.
The pawns, a force of eight, were ready to attack. Ready to rush forward and strike ahead left or right. The pawns...ready to die for green paper.
The rooks' lives, and powers had been bought on the block of sorrows. Death dubbed rooks, second only to the queen, ready for action. Fore, back, left, or right the rooks are destruction in a straight line. In God they trust.
The bishops' unholy work was ready to be unleashed on their enemies. Compromising their principles for legal tender, the bishops kill all diagonal to them. Betrayal most foul against God, all for green paper.
The knights were ready to sell their swords, and souls for dead presidents. Attacking forward left or right, ready to kill all... Sellswords till the end of time, charging ready for blood. The knights souls were sold into battle for green paper.
The queen is death incarnate, the ultimate weapon ready for use and feared by all. Death in a blinding flash, the queen is retaliation in a mushroom cloud.
The kings' part is that of leaders, and warlords. The weakest among the pieces, his is the cash holder, sending pieces to their death. The profit margin is his God.
The game starts, the war is declared. The first move is made.
The pawns are the first to fall. The screams of the dying are comforted by the all powerful green paper. One rook falls, as the other fights relentlessly, not pausing to mourn it's brother.
The king sits on his throne built of lies. The queen sits patiently on her silo waiting for use. The threats build, and contort carrying all, and no weight.
On the battlefield, knight fight without honor, and bishops without religion. The pawns die or get promoted. A former pawn, now rook, kills again and again in a never ending cycle of greed.
False flags are flown for fools, the real flags are protected in pockets. The battle rages on as it always has, and always will.
The once black, and white squared are now red. The once peaceful squares now torn with violence. The conflict evolves around green paper, nothing more.
The kings are at a stalemate, neither able to move. The soldiers are dead. The bodies of the vanquished litter the red field. All that's left are the kings and their queens.
threats as deadly, and useless as the soldiers are exchanged. The threats grow more and more, as innocents await the outcome.
The final move is made.
The war is over, the pieces are dead. The queens have been used. The field is now so much fused glass, and ash. All that is left is a single piece of green paper.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Just ain't right.
Yesterday during the ordeal of having my yearly hearing and eye exam, I had lunch at a local Pizza Hut. Going to the restroom I noticed a picture frame over every urinal, on each frame were the words "Taste the magic!". I know many things are lost in translation, but that is just sooo wrong.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Nice weekend.
This weekend was pretty nice and relaxing. Fondue party on Saturday night, and a late Thanksgiving on Sunday. Quite a nice change from the usual cycle of drinking and recovering. The Thanksgiving was a pot luck event, way too much food. It looks like the nice time had by everyone on Sunday, is going to result in a weekly or bi-weeky group dinner party. Fondue and dinner parties replacing drunken beerfests, guess I am growing up (had to happen sooner or later).
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