yo, teach, some help?

This semester has been a struggle for me. My New Year's resolution was to be on time to EVERY single class EVERY single time. I did not do that. I'm ashamed. I am probably the only one that didn't keep all of my resolutions. I'll go put my nose in the corner after I am done writing. It is too bad that I am so undisciplined.

Finance has been a real problem class for me. I don't like my teacher at all, not that she isn't nice, but she sucks at teaching. Her main problem is that she can't speak clearly or simply. She is too damn smart for me. Most of the class has quit going all together. I went the other day and there was 15 kids. I kept my backpack on the whole time, just in case I needed to leave like the rest of the cool kids, or to make me look more nerdy.

In my absences they have gone over simple finance subjects, which seem super complicated in my book. On one of my problems I thought I could e-mail her and get some help. This is how it went:

David Hyde	Apr 24 (6 days ago)
to yihui.pan

I have a question on number five. How do I convert the book values to the market values with the given information that I have?

Yihui Pan	Apr 25 (6 days ago)
to me

Yes, it’s the right way to go – use the market values.
Thanks... for the help. How is now a yes/no question.

Bums... they've got it all wrong.

You and I are blessed. We are blessed to be healthy. We are blessed to not be on the street. But mostly, we are lucky to have polite bums. Of course you feel bad as you walk/drive past them, as they are holding their crude looking cardboard sign; but it's not feasible to help all of them (or is it? Another topic for another person to debate). I think we have all overlooked these outcasts and should appreciate their courtesy for us. Cause if I was a bum, I would be all up in your face.

Bum Dave would be so confrontational, aggressive, and assertive it would make your head spin. You think I would kick it on the corner, holding a sign? Hell nah. I would exploit my situation. What do people already think when they see a homeless person? People are not thinking, oh that is sad. I wonder how they got there. How could I help them? They are thinking, that person is a crack baby and is probably crazy. Don't make eye contact, do no make eye contact, do not make eye contact.... I would use that stigma to my utility. I would be that cracked-out-crazy.

I would go into a McDonald's and say, "Hey, you make minimum wage. I ain't about to trouble you if you help me out. I know you got some apple pies. You give me two of those and a burger, I will be out of your hair. Promise. If you don't.....[pause].... I will be upset." That is when I give them a crazy look. If they decline my negotiations, I raise my tone, just enough to know that I am for real. Not prison shank real, but I-will-come-behind-the-counter real. If they decline again, I elevate my voice and my craziness. "I got problems MAN. You don't need any PROBLEMS do you?! Help me out." If they threaten to call the cops - I just equal them, get closer to them. Make them feel my presence, make it uncomfortable. You could do this in a variety of situations. People in a restaurant. Grocery store (I would dumpster dive as well.). Just in your face tactics.

I just wonder why this doesn't happen more often. Bums are considered people who are on 'life's edge,' yet they are begging. If I was on life's edge, I would be pulling you down to pull me back up - example: people drowning. I would not be asking to survive or be warm, I would demand it, just like a toddler. There is no illegality in being a jerk in asking. Cops can't throw you away that.

Other than that I guess I could do stunts for people, sell some organs, or do bum fights for money. And yes, those are my only options if was homeless. Because if that happens to me, I deserve to be on the street. I have way too many resources around me to be a screw up or without a home/job/family/happiness.

And I would be a bum in a cool place, like California. Eff the cold.

Hygiene

This subject is often overlooked. What most adult and I would say 'normal people' take as common sense, even second nature, there are some that struggle with this concept of hygiene. I have noticed a minority of people who walk around without shoes on. I have no idea why. Who came up with this idea? I wonder if they are making some kind of political statement. Like, "to hell with the progress we have made. We should go back to our caveman roots. Life is too complicated... especially by shoes." Shoes? I get it if you don't wear brands that you feel exploit people and have amoral business strategy, but shoes all together? Wear some damn Toms, you hippie.

I get the whole running minimalist movement... its supposed to better for your back and it is hip... whatever, but in public... no shoes. That is not okay. What is this, CRAZYTOWN? No, this isn't run by Sarah Palin or Dana White. If you'll recall Tom Hanks, who is a true american, was stranded on an island and resorted to wearing shoes that were too small for him (probably because our feet are weak due to the centuries of wearing shoes. Wait, you mean, we have been wearing shoes in civilized cultures for years and year? Wearing shoes isn't unethical.). We aren't apes. If Tom Hanks does it, so should you.

The only reasonable explanation I have is that some school nurse told them it was optional. Let me give you a real life example. This is one of my 20 memories, so you know it had an impact on my life. I was in elementary school. I can't remember which grade. We had a nurse come in and give us the 'you need to wash your hands' talk. This had to be before the 'you need to wear some deodorant' talk; that was in sixth grade. We age fast in Fallon.

Back to the talk. Here was our nurse. I think her name was Webb. Ms. Webb is before our class and talks about how we need to wash our hands after we go number two. Then she said something profound, "if you smell your hands and they smell like poop, you need to wash your other hands. If you don't smell poop you are probably fine..." That's when my ears shut off. She may have said something like, "but you should wash your hands ALL the time. Never not wash your hands," but I didn't hear it. I was on to the opportunities I would have with all this spare time of not having to wash my grimy hands.

See, as a kid, I hated washing my hands. I hated lotion. I hated being clean. At one of my boy scouts board of reviews I told them I had a problem staying clean. The room got very heavy when I said that, but I said, "not like that. With showering and stuff." I used to never shower after football or basketball games. I would lay in my own filth. So, naturally when I heard an adult, who was obviously trusted by parent and teacher, tell me it was OKAY not to wash your hands, I was on board. I thought it was a rule that only applied to the greater majority. Those who had never drunk from the murky waters of the Carson River or killed fish with their bare hands.

Some sick nurse told a group of kids that they did not need to wear shoes. Sick woman. I hate you.

over finals... over school

game of the month.

all day.

if you have heard of girl talk, good for you, i haven't. so here is a little mashup. listen at your own

dis·cre·tion.

Girl Walk // All Day from jacob krupnick on Vimeo.

a humble suggestion

do not assume you know where someone lives, based on their given state or nation. it is super annoying. so for the millionth time, I AM NOT FROM VEGAS.... you ignorant fool.

Keith Apricary. Not human.

I became obsessed with that guy from the last video I put up. I had to know if he was for real, or was this all an act; and if it was an act, where on earth did he come from? After about a minute on the google machine, thanks to Al Gore, I found out that Keith is a character that comedian, and actor, Nathan Barnatt does. I was pretty bummed. I thought we had another legend in the making, with shades of Wesley Willis. But not really Wesley Willis, cause he was certified crazy.

If he looks strangely familiar, this is probably why. Turns out, he is not as funny as I thought he would be, but he is pretty funny.

Music Video Audition

I do not know who Kimberly Cole is, other than she has found herself a gem. This guy has no qualms about showing everyone else up.

Football News... In April?

The NFL is the best league (Players do not run this league, notice how they played a full season, nothing was shortened. Besides training camp.). Their commissioner, Roger Goodell, is savvy as he is cutthroat. Goodell understands his market, the consumer, and what America wants. That is why he has contracted Nike to make the NFL jersey for this upcoming season. Nike unveiled them today, with only the Seahawks who have major changes to their unis. I think we can expect some modifications this year; I'm guessing the playoffs, probably the Pro-Bowl, but hopefully the NFL lets Nike do at least one game with some crazy jerseys.

I thought it prudent to share a commercial, because, there is not a better marketing company than Nike.