Click to see where I've been........

Now, I'm a pretty sarcastic guy, at times, very dry and negative. So I'm about to be very negative about something that has caught my eye lately. This is kind of lame that I'm referencing this through another website....but I'm about tired of the applications that have been added to facebook recently, one in particular.

I speak of the "Click to see Where I've Been" application. In case you're not familiar with the application, the user can show people viewing his profile ALL of the countries, his been to, ALL of the states his been to, and even ALL the places he wants to visit in the future. Now, this wouldn't be a problem if I was facebook friends with Ernest Hemingway or Charles Lindbergh....but let's be honest: I'm not, and all my facebook friends are douche-bags. I find the application totally unnecessary if the countries and places you’ve been includes: Mexico (SPRING BREAK '05), Florida (SPRING BREAK '06), Tennessee-Mississippi-Alabama-Georgia (on our way to SPRING BREAK '06!!!!!!). Even including the places you've lived....wow....I visited a foreign country for entire month....that must mean I've lived there. BLASPHEMY!!! This is the worst attempt at seeming like a worldly traveler I've ever seen in my life.

I think my favorite one I've seen so far includes just the states of Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. What a joke. Why don't you put "traveling" in your interests....oh wait, you already did. How was the turquoise jewelry stand on the side of the interstate in Arizona?.....clown.

The following are rules that I am petitioning for Facebook to implicate for adding this application, here are a few examples:

1. You must have had to lived in more than two states or countries to even qualify.
-Same rules apply for getting in-state tuition (1 year of living there with a guardian or alone)
-Going to school in a different state counts as living there (Over a 4 year period of time you will spend 28 months or more in that state)

2. Just because you spent over two months in a country for study abroad or a mission trip....it doesn't count....that's only a visit, you pillow-fluffer (once again in-state tuition rates apply 1 year tenure)

3. You suck.

4. You must have visited countries in different hemispheres.....

5. No one can see Hawaii on the map.

6. Visiting "3%" of the world doesn't qualify as being "worldly." Nor does it necessitate have the application. You must over 7 or 8 to even begin to qualify….

7. No one cares about where you "want" to go....everyone wants to go to Australia...you fist-clincher....

Until Bear Grylls, the Queen of England, or the Pope get on facebook, I don't think this application should be allowed. Oh, and cool turquoise bracelet.....

I Finally Finished a Book

I did it....I finally did it.....I finished a book. I recently finished "Rickles' Book." It's the memoirs of comedian Don Rickles. If you're a fan of the Rat Pack and the glamorous Vegas of the '50s, then you will love this book.

Granted, I didn't finish "Ulysses" or "The Brothers Karamazov," but it was still a very entertaining and funny book. If you know who Rickles is (in my generation he's famous for being the voice of Mr. Potato Head in Toy Story) then you will be enthralled by this book. I couldn't help but having Rickles' voice in my head as I read. It felt as though I was sitting across a table over dinner while he told me the story of his life.

It's always good during the summer to take a step away from classics and read carefree, easy reads. I'm not much of a reader, but I made a pact with myself to read actual books last year. Sure enough, I've read more books this year (4-ish) than I have in the past 4 years. Kind of sad.

I know that reading helps expand vocabulary (just read my friends Chris and Cole's blog). Reading is a vital skill that has been overlooked recently with the popularization of TV. However, I think the Internet is helping reading's cause. Evidence of this is the popularization of online news. (Also, blogs.....duh)

Now although I began this entry with the intentions to call attention to my glorious accomplishment of finshing one of the most poorly written books in recent history, I implore you to read. Read the real deal, but avoid "The Brothers Karamazov" it's a snoozer. You may ask, "Why 4-ish books? " Well, the -ish is the partly finished "Crime and Punishment." No offense to my Russian Literature amigos.

Top Ten Movies I Will Miss While in China

I love the thought that I'll be gone for a semester.....however, I will miss some great movies....I'm pissed about it. Anyway, here are the top ten movies that I will miss while in China:

10. August Rush- Shut up, it looks good.....
9. The Assasination of Jesses James by the Coward Robert Ford- I like Casey Affleck and Brad Pitt.....and they're cowboys....
8. December Boys- Harry Potter plays a real role, this was a great book and I would like to see how it adapts on the screen.
7. Dedication- A children's book author with a nasty case of writer's block, finds hope in Mandy Moore....don't we all find hope in Mandy Moore at some point in our lives?
6. 3:10 to Yuma- Two of the best actors in Hollywood right now: Christian Bale and Russel Crowe....as cowboys....
5. Beowulf- This just looks awesome, a 1500 year old story adapted to the silver screen, it will bring out the English major in us all.
4. American Gangster- Denzel being Denzel....Russel Crowe riding on his coat tails...
3. No Country for Old Men- The Coen Brothers direct a "Fargo-esque" film, probably no woodchippers this time, but the villian carries a high-powered air gun and a silenced shotgun.....
2. Across the Universe- What's better than a pshycadelic experience based on the Beatles?
1. The Darjeeling Limited- The next film from director Wes Anderson about exploration of a foriegn land and brotherly love, hilarity ensues.....what else do I need to say? Anderson is brilliant.