Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Even Annoying Twentysomething Shits Like Me Deserve To Have A Future


While the Declaration of Independence guarantees each of us the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, today's economic uncertainty has kept those sacred rights out of reach for many of our newest college graduates. Not long ago, all Americans, regardless of how young and unbearably irritating they were, could count on having a chance to make a good lives for themselves.


Everyone—even people like me, a twentysomething piece of shit who has contributed nothing to society yet expects everything to be handed to him anyway—deserves a shot at a decent future.

If this truly is the land of opportunity, shouldn't America's promise extend also to the most worthless of human beings who continue to live on their parents' dime two years after college? It seems as though this nation has forgotten about the parasitic, self-involved young assholes who believe jobs starting at $42,000 a year with benefits are their birthright. What about us? What about all the smug, over­educated pricks out there still asking Mom and Dad to pay off a credit-card invoice filled with $4 purchases of bubble tea?

When do we get our turn?

It's true, my own actions may have earned me nothing more than the right to have this toothy, shit-eating smile punched off my face, but that doesn't make me a second-class citizen. I believe I speak for every whiny, inexperienced half-wit of my generation when I say that we too want our piece of the American Dream, even if it means pushing out some sad 54-year-old fuck who hasn't taken a day off in over four years.

This is still America, right? God, I'm a piece of shit.

Look, I realize I'm just another wide-eyed twat whose concept of hard work comes from the lone summer he spent behind a cash register at Home Depot, but that shouldn't disqualify me from living the life I want. I'll never have to pull myself up by my own bootstraps, or worry about my parents missing a payment on the fully furnished condominium apartment I believe I'm entitled to. But nonetheless, I, like all immature, narcissistic dicks my age, are due the same rights as everyone else.

My parents worked hard to pay $150,000 for my prestigious private-college education, and what do I have to show for it? Yes, I'm part of a generation that has taught me to earnestly expect that I will some day be awarded a lucrative book or television deal based on my asinine Tumblr account, but in the meantime, I shouldn't be denied the same privileges that have been unaccountably granted to young American fuckups for years.

There was a time in this country when an overconfident fuckhead like me could graduate and skate right into a job he didn't deserve. I suppose all I'm asking for is the same basic employment opportunities that I, too, lack the experience and responsibility to handle.

Let me put it this way: Do you really want to live in a country that denies a future to completely unbearable little cocksuckers who have never learned any sort of humility whatsoever?

In this great nation of ours, it shouldn't matter how many excruciating recommendation letters are sent to potential employers as a favor to my parents, or how often during job interviews I discuss at embarrassing length current events about which I have absolutely nothing interesting to say. It's still my life to live.

And I firmly believe it is unconscionable that I may never get the same chances in this life I would never be generous enough to grant to anyone else.

At the end of the day, I'm one of those guys who was born on third base and thinks he hit a triple, and nothing's going to change that. You can put me down for my dearth of any discernible talent or skill whatsoever, but you simply cannot deny the inevitable fact that I am the future.

Also, you can't honestly expect for me to wait until my parents die to become a millionaire.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

1st Night At The Bengies

Went to our first show at the Bengies this weekend. Natalie, Matthew, Tara and I went. The movies were all good (the new "Pirates" was the weakest). Hard to believe Natalie went,  she never wants to go, but she wanted to see "Thor" for some reason.




















Bengies eMail

Dear GREAT Patrons of the Bengies Drive-In Theatre,

We are NOW OPEN on FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY rain or not!   


FOR the  weekend of  MAY 20, 21 & 22: 
A TriPPPle FEATURE Treat  for Friday and Saturday, A DouBBle Feature SUNDAY! 


The box office will OPEN on Friday & Saturday at 7pm,  BUT a little later on Sunday at 7:15pm,  with the show starting all 3 nights at sunset, which will occur THIS weekend at about 8:15pm.

NOTICE: we will not allow one person in a vehicle to occupy space on busy nights.  If you are joining others here at the Bengies, please "hook up" outside the theatre and use one vehicle.  We cannot turn away families because we ran out of space due to folks thinking that the Bengies is a parking lot!  You MAY park at our good neighbor's lot that is the yellow or orange-ish brick building next to the drive-in theater's entrance, (Austen's) if you park correctly, and then you may walk down the roadway to purchase a ticket and join your party.    IF YOU ARE A REGULAR CUSTOMER that normally comes alone, PLEASE email us through the website at least a day prior to your visit and tell us who you are, the year, make, color and model of your vehicle and we may be able to email you an exception.   See the other notes on this in the "BE READY TO ATTEND" link below, and watch for a special email notice on this next week.

On the BIGGEST theatre screen in the USA, our MAIN attraction is the newest installment of the continuing saga of the "PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN...ON STRANGER TIDES" rated PG13.  This time, Jack Sparrow (shouldn't there be a captain in there somewhere...?) holds the key to the Fountain of Youth!  Ken and I saw this at the trade screening (Sean had too much to do,... go figure...) and we came away with the same feeling.  It was fast, fun and we did not feel the 131minute running time at at all!  However we both agreed that was absolutely no reason for this to be in 3D.  "PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN...ON STRANGER TIDES" will show Friday and Saturday in the second position at 10pm, but much earlier on Sunday after our twilight opening which starts at 8:15pm.

Our co-feature is HELD OVER by OVERWHELMING DEMAND, the new action adventure from MARVEL COMICS  "THOR" is rated PG13 in [ << W I D E -- S C R E E N>> ]  "THOR," Marvel Comics' God of Thunder is cast down to Earth among humans where he must learn what it takes to be a true hero. Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, AND Anthony Hopkins are among a few of the all star cast.  "THOR" will show AFTER "Pirates..." all 3 nights, which means it will begin after the box office closes (due to the running time of "Pirates." . So on Friday and Saturday you MUST be in by midnight when the box office closes, and the box office closes on Sunday at 10:30pm.   You must be in by box office closing time in order to see this feature.  NO ONE is admitted to the Bengies Drive-In Theater AFTER the box office is closed!

A special feature to make it a TriPPPle Feature Treat on Friday & Saturday ONLY, first up just after our 8:15pm Opening Sequence,  we are delighted to present, from Walt Disney Pictures, the fun documentary all about "AFRICAN CATS," rated G, narrated by the awesome voice of Samuel L. Jackson.  With a short running time, this adventure is a true story and hits high acclaim from all critics and viewer alike.Showing first on Friday and Saturday ONLY just after our opening sequence that begins at 8:15pm.


You can help us keep things running smoothly, REMEMBER:
the >CLOSER< it gets to sunset, the L - O - N - G - E - R the line will Become! ARRIVE EARLY!!!... 


We CANNOT allow traffic to build on Maryland State Route 150.
We CANNOT allow traffic to build on Maryland State Route 150 
We WILL NOT allow traffic to build on Maryland State Route 150. 


Friday & Saturday,  May 20 & 21  -TriPPPle FEATURE   
"AFRICAN CATS"  G, begins after our opening sequence at 8:15pm
"Pirates of the Caribbean: ON STRANGER TIDES" PG13, at 10pm
"THOR" PG13 PG13, AFTER MIDNITE**


**REDUCED ADMISSION is not available this weekend,  
You MUST be in before the box office closes at 12:15am,   
NO ONE is admitted after the box office is closed.
Box Office CLOSES At 12:15am on Fri. & Sat.
NO ONE is admitted after the box office is closed.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Textile Day at the BMA

Natalie and I went to this event. It was a lot of fun. I saw a couple of print-making demonstrations while Natalie spent most of her time in the main display area. Next year we have to get there earlier.



May 14, 11 am-5 pm

Enjoy this day-long event celebrating the artistry of textiles at the BMA! Participate in art-making activities, featuring workshops on batik to beading, and watch live demos of the experts at work.

New this year!
Fashion show + Family workshops

Also featuring...
- African-American Quilters of Baltimore
- Baltimore Appliqué Society
- Baltimore Heritage Quilters' Guild
- Chesapeake Region Lace Guild
- Embroiderers’ Guild of America
- Others!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

1st Orioles Game of 2011

Mom, Mike, Leslie and Natalie and I  went to the Orioles - Red sox game tonight. Natalie got the tickets from work and they were great seats - down the 3rd base line just past the visitors dugout, about nine rows back. Since the Red Sox were in town, so were there creepy fans. We were surrounded by them. But it all worked out in the end, we beat'em 4-1.







Images courtesy of the Sunpapers.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Ethicists Update List Of Acceptable Things To Masturbate To


Experts say the new list would help Americans more effectively pleasure themselves.


CAMBRIDGE, MA—Unveiling what may be the most comprehensive guide to socially responsible self-pleasure ever published, a group of leading ethicists released Monday its list of things that are acceptable to masturbate to.

The 2011 edition of the Standards and Values in Autoerotic Practices is the first revision in 17 years of the venerable reference used to determine what images and thoughts are appropriate stimuli for bringing oneself to orgasm.

"This list recognizes our changing cultural attitudes and offers an ethical framework to address all aspects of the current masturbatory climate," said Harvard University philosophy professor Greg Hawkins, the publication's lead editor. "Now, when pleasuring themselves, Americans can determine whether to proceed with a clear conscience, or recoil in self-disgust."

Many changes reflect new realities posed by the Internet, which was barely mentioned in the last edition of the SVAP. For example, the revised guide declares it "permissible" to reach climax while perusing photos from the Facebook profile of a coworker or a spouse's friend; however, masturbating to online hidden-camera videos of a woman using a tanning bed is deemed "troubling, and unfit for self-gratification."

Other revisions simply take into account the passage of time, with guidelines now declaring it acceptable to "freely touch oneself" when thinking about or viewing images of Natalie Portman, a practice that had been explicitly prohibited under rules written in 1994, when the actress was 12 years old.

"And that goes for men and women both, because one of our top priorities this time was to eliminate all bias against homosexual impulses," Hawkins said of the 2011 edition, which for the first time ranks masturbating to a member of the same sex as "entirely ethical." "Arousing himself with thoughts of a naked Jon Hamm brushing past him in a locker room is every man's moral right."

The revised list of onanism-appropriate subjects also includes friends' mothers, President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, pre- and post-op transsexuals, the late actor Heath Ledger (with the firm caveat that he only be masturbated to as a living person), and Ohio resident Adam Clemons, who was in terrible shape back in the '90s, but has, according to ethicists, "really pulled himself together nicely."

The new SVAP also resolves a pair of longstanding debates by determining that it is weird, but not unethical, to masturbate to one's own reflection in a full-length mirror, and that it is also fine to masturbate to the mentally challenged—a reversal of previous guidelines and an affirmation that all persons may provide erotic inspiration, regardless of cognitive capacity.

For the 23rd consecutive edition, masturbating to a litter of newborn puppies is classified as "wrong, wrong, wrong."

Since its first publication in 1795, which counseled "gentlemen of quality to grasp themselves only when moved by the most refined and upright appreciation of a woman's figure," Standards and Values in Autoerotic Practices has often been accused of being incomplete. Even after the sexual revolution of the '60s and '70s, during which the book quadrupled in length, many still argue it is still inadequate.

"This new list may be an improvement, but it is still mystifyingly silent on such mainstays as nannies, shoes, and the scent of a cousin's panties," Amherst College ethicist Joshua McBride said. "Another edition and another slap in the face to people who enjoy grinding against stuffed animals."

However, those whose preferred masturbatory stimulus appeared on the list said they were grateful to have the validation they had long sought.

"You think you're always going to feel like a deviant for rubbing one out while you fantasize about being forced to drink your own breast milk by your brother-in-law," Phoenix resident Denise Berger said. "But then, all of a sudden, you're a decent person. See, it's right there on page 296."

The SVAP's editors acknowledged that their endeavor will likely always remain unfinished, since people have a near infinite capacity for finding new ways to excite themselves while manipulating their genitalia for self-pleasure.

"No doubt, another edition will always be required," Professor Hawkins said. "The human imagination won't let us rest very long."

"But, honestly, I'm just happy I finally got 'amputee' in there," Hawkins added. "You have no idea."

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Natalie Gets Dragged To The Museum

Natalie and I went to the Baltimore Museum of Art today to see the new photography exhibit "Seeing Now". We both really liked it. I actually got through it before Natalie, which is unusual, she usually has to wait for me. Larry Clark's photos of his meth-shooting friends were disturbing - like this one. I guess they're not all wholesome out there in the heartland.


Baltimore Museum of Art Article on "Seeing Now"
City Paper Article on "Seeing Now"
Urbanite Article on "Seeing Now"
Baltimore Sun Article on "Seeing Now"