Just another lame holiday where men are shamed by the ugly corporate world into emptying their bank accounts on jewelry and other crap. Since I technically have never been spoiled on a V-Day like I have spoiled my girlfriends, I'm going to spoil myself big time this year. I deserve it. I haven't decided exactly what I'm going to do, though.

Here's yet another question from Jason which probably won't get a serious response: Anybody ever gone on a first date on Valentine's Day?

Jason

With all of the nonsense out of the way I would like to ask you all if anyone is involved with these activities? Anyone want to talk about it? My interest is piqued.

Jason

Your analysis of media consolidation is much better than your analysis of our financial situation in New York State (We're in the bottom 3rd of incomes in NYS so we must be doing great). Although I believe that having media outlets owned by fewer and fewer entities is very dangerous, I don't think that any alternative media outlet available today is any more reliable or unbiased. Think about it - media which gives us the facts...all of the facts...and only the facts. Where is it going to come from? Where? Who among you can shed your partisan skin layer and honestly answer this question? I'm looking for an answer too.

Jason

"To be a man's own fool is bad enough, but the vain man is everybody's."
- William Penn

Tonight I saw a note on a vehicle parked outside of Kuni's which said "Your van is ugly. Please park it some place else. - Kuni's Staff". I thought it was pretty obnoxious so I attached the quote to said note and posted it on Kuni's door. The quote also applies to others here in this very space.

I don't know which is more appropriate - call people silly names, or do a "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." I wonder which has more value to you - the question of lost liberties in and of itself, or the opportunity to spew venom at someone. I really do wonder that sometimes.

Simply put, get over yourself. Do it today. There isn't much you can teach me when it comes to this stuff. I know damn well how innocents have gotten the shaft. I share in the sentiment that this has to stop. I also know damn well that driving up and down Elmwood taking photos of its restaurants and churches is not going to get you in trouble, so it's ridiculous to think that the boogeyman is going to come after you. Don't be silly. Go and take your photos and do the project. I'm sure it will be a good experience. We can take my car if you want. Someone else still has to bring the contraband.

Jason

John Ashcroft doesn't care if you drive up and down Elmwood taking photos for your project. I'm visualizing you guys driving down the street, heads ducked down low, mumbling to each other about guys in black suits and sunglasses coming out of nowhere to take you to the clink. I think as long as you're not around, oh, say, a nuclear facility or some kind of military base you'll be fine.

In case that's not enough to relieve you all of your uber-paranoia, I'll offer to go with and wear my grandfather's medals. Hell, we can take my car. I'll yell out the window about how we're snapping photos. Nobody's going to care. If anybody gives us any lip I'll go ahead and flash my voter registration card to assert my authority. Someone else has to bring the contraband.

Jason

A la (e:Terry) - I'm hiding my freshly cut, military style hair.

How many of you would be FOR a tax credit given to individuals who purchase hybrid technology cars?

Jason

For some reason during the Bob Hope final round today before a commercial break they played a Snoop Dogg beat......Dad immediately recognized it. He said "Yeah I downloaded this one" and told me he downloads some hip hop every now and then.

Jason

Your story about your "Queer Theory" professor hasn't gone unnoticed.

Left wing bias is already bad enough, but what really gets me mad is the suppresion of discussion that goes on, as well as examples like yours where someone is verbally attacked for no good reason. I was shocked when I read it. Let's put it this way - you handled it much better than I would have. I would have had a very hard time suppressing my anger. That professor would have paid a cost for saying something like that to me. I think you reacted so well, so kudos to you. I give you a virtual pat in the back.

I'm sure you and I don't see eye to eye on a lot of things. I don't see eye to eye with almost everyone here on certain subjects. I doubt you had any kind of bad intentions when deciding to take the class. People sign up for classes because they are interested in learning about the subject matter. I think you never deserved to be treated like you were. Don't let some moron professor make you have second thoughts about your talent and intelligence. Don't let one person's hatred and intolerance influence you that way. I hope you take this as a lesson in how to deal with people like that (left wing, right wing, whatever), and move on. You were admitted to graduate school because you are qualified to handle it! You know this! Forget about that fool and keep on working hard toward your goals. You have to believe in yourself, or else nobody will.

Jason

After (e:southernyankee) asking, and after (e:soyeon) asking, and after reading my own personal poem, I decided to try and see if I could post. With this new account I can, so I will. This new account works great so far. Paul, feel free to delete my other attempts to sign up, (e:BoredRepub) and (e:NeoconFury)

I see that the hate has simmered down a little, and I'm glad. Unless you are a Niman disciple and believe the sky is falling. I bet (e:ajay) misses having a right-leaning person to needle. I miss this site. It is such a good thing. I like reading about what you all have to say. I am truly interested.

I met yet another e-strip person recently. I met the lovely and intelligent (e:soyeon) for coffee. She used her feminine powers to get out of a parking ticket ("PLEASE! PLEASE!"), as I watched in stunned silence. It was so nice to meet another person from the site. She has been giving me very good advice in the last couple of weeks.

I'll give you all an update - I "broke up" with the girl I was seeing. I should have done this a long time ago, but I hesitated to do so because I knew she would be crushed. This was a mistake. She was crushed anyway. I do feel really bad, and I don't have anything "bad" to say about her, but I wasn't feeling it that way. I couldn't trust her. How can you be with someone you don't trust? It just doesn't work out. So now I'm having dreams about another girl - someone I don't recognize, other than her vague resemblance to Carin. I love Carin unconditionally. I don't know if I'll ever get a shot. She is so positive and so happy all the time, no matter what the situation is. I am just me, and she has a million guys waiting in line. I have to win the mega millions or do something else to differentiate myself from the riff raff. Enough of this mushy garbage. It's not manly of me to talk like this. And we already know that thinking like this inevitably results in FAILURE. I don't like to fail.

I overheard someone at Spot today talk about how sweet William S. Burroughs' Naked Lunch was. I have a copy of that book. Apparently this person never knew the guy was hopped up on drugs while writing it, and never remembered writing most of it. I'll be up front and say I'm not a big fan of fiction books. I don't have the patience to wait for the story to develop. I like non-fiction and poetry. That being said - I'll be blunt and say that I think Naked Lunch is a heaping pile of crap. If there are people who think that someone can go through a Trainspotting-esque binge and come up with something remotely close to "genius", I would like to invite them over to watch me smoke a bowl and come up with my haiku and political cartoons. Of course I believe there is room for all opinions, so I accept their notion as it is, but I have to vehemently disagree.

Hmm. I guess that's all for now. Dad's coming up here in an hour and I get to hit some golf balls with him. Everyone should have something they can do to relax and recharge. Golf is my thing.

Jason