There's an app for that

This is a test of sorts. I'm currently writing this on my iTouch. I dunno, call me tech-savvy.

So, work sucked tonight (Sunday). We were slow and I made no money. Last night, however, was a different story. I had this table towards the end of the night whose bill was $16 and some change. I'm in the alley cleaning up when I see that they're about to leave. I go up to wish them a good night and such and I start to count their money as they leave. Guess what? There's nine bucks left on the table.

Naturally, I try to catch up with them, but they're walking quickly. I say loudly, "Hey, guys" to get their attention and they walk faster. I get to them before they are out the door and inform them of their "mistake." Dude ends up giving me enough money to cover the rest of the bill and an acceptable tip. Thanks, pal, I didn't realize that our prices were only suggestions.

My last table of the night is a one-top. To be fair, I have no clue who this dude is and wouldn't know it if I ran into him tomorrow. But I felt bad for the guy; not because he was by himself, that happens all the time. I felt bad because he looked so sad. Maybe he was sad because he had me for a server, I don't know. I do know that I saw a lot of myself in him. It was like I saw myself in five, maybe ten, years.

Again, I don't know this man. He might have been fine, but I know that I don't want to become what I saw him to be (no offense, sir, if you happen to read this). I have the next three days off. In that time I intend to do two things: clean my room (highly unlikely) and start making a plan to get my act together.

Oh, and one more thing. If I have one more person look at the sides listing in out menu and order "smashed potatoes" when it clearly says "MASHED potatoes" I'm going to scream and/or slap a bitch.

New beginnings?

I haven't blogged in a very long time. I've wanted to, but a combination of having no time and the fact that I really don't use MySpace (where I used to blog) anymore have kinda gotten in the way. But I feel the time is right to start blogging on a regular basis. (And, yes, I did just use some form of the word "blog" three times in three sentences.)

I decided to resume my hobby here for two reasons. One, as mentioned earlier, I no longer have a need for MySpace. It's silly to continue to use something for only one aspect. It's like having an iPhone only because it has a weather application.

I also wanted to use this blog again because it has a pretty sweet name. I had to maintain this blog for a few journalism classes I took at SC/BU (now BUS). I'll admit, most of these entries are half-assed (sorry, Doc, if you happen to read this). You may ask yourself, "Why doesn't he just delete those posts and start anew?"

OK, really, you're gonna use the word "anew"? Who says that? Besides, I don't like deleting most things. Unless, of course, they're potentially damaging to yourself or others.

All right, it's time for bed. I'm making a stand here and now that I'll do this more often (because, you know, it's fun). That said, I've made said stand before and abandoned it a few days later.

What makes Carl Hiaasen tick? And other thoughts on life

Carl Hiaasen sets all of his novels in Florida; which makes sense, since he has lived there his entire life. That being said, he writes about what is most important to him: Florida and its landscape.

According to Biblio.com, "Hiaasen's Florida is that of greedy businessmen, corrupt politicians, dumb blondes, apathetic retirees, intellectually challenged tourists, and militant ecoteurs."

Biblio also classifies Hiaasen's work as most "environmental thrillers," which also goes into what makes him "tick."

I believe that his issues go hand-in-hand with his "tick." Just from the little I've read of his work (which at this point is about half of "Lucky You"), it's obvious that the preservation of Florida holds a place near and dear to his heart.

The moral center of "The Scum Also Rises." Not to be confused with the center of Blow Pops.

It can be argued that Hunter S. Thompson didn't like government. The subject of "The Scum Also Rises" is of President Nixon's final days in office. Thompson's writing style was different than most at the time, as well as different that most of today's journalists. I think that to describe the moral center of "The Scum Also Rises" would be Thompson attempting to slam Nixon one more time as a sitting president.

Jimmy Breslin's take on the end of the Nixon era was slightly different. I large chuck displayed the loyalty that Tip O'Neill has. Towards the end of the reading, Breslin writes:
"But when a Tip O'Neill began using the word impeachment on the floor of the House of Representatives, this changed the issue."

I think that Breslin's tone was that if someone like O'Neill has turned his back on you, you're pretty much done.

Response to William F. Buckley Jr., 1925-2008

In reading various obits on William F. Buckley, many people said the same two things: he was a heavy conservative; and he was able to not let it interfere with his personal life.


I think it can be argued that "The O'Rielly Factor," "Hardball" and others evolved from Buckley's "Firing Line." That said, if that show were on in today's world, it would not survuve a month. One story on Buckley mentioned that he treated his guests with respect, something you don't usually see. Today, it's more about who can talk over the other person better.

I think that the best thing that we can learn from Buckley is that it's not what you say, necessarily, it's how you say it. Julia Keller wrote in the Trib:

"'At the peak of his fame, he received more than 600 letters a week. He would personally respond to at least 200 of them,' his son said. 'It was quite something to go through an airport with him. He would be stopped, literally, every 5 feet, and someone would say, "I don't agree with a thing you say, but I love the way you say it!"'"

War stories then & now

In comparing an news story on the Civil War to one on the current war in Iraq, one will be able to notice a striking difference between the two.

The meat and potatoes are there: both stories are about a war. Both stories give the reader information about a particular battle about the war. It's the presentation that's different; Villard's article on the first Battle of Bull Run is like something you might encounter at a dinner party, while Roeder's account of Iraq is a fast-food variety. (Yes, I went with the food connection.)

That is not to say that Roeder's story is bad; it is just that it is easier to read than Villard's. Roeder uses shorter paragraphs and follows the contemporary journalism style. Villard, on the other hand, has some challenging paragraphs in his story. His is a story that you would have to take the time to read.

Adventures in Live Blogging III

1:17 -- Molly said that she would give the reporters a story that would be true, then jumped out of the window to her (possible) death. A better story to give reporters would have been the fact that Molly can fly.

1:21 -- Hildy's going to choose her work over Bruce.

1:32 -- The Morning Post is harboring a criminal AND Bruce's mother isn't dead?

1:40 -- Poor Bruce. He's been locked up three times in one night.

1:42 -- The movie ends with Hildy staying with the paper and Wally.