Apr 09, 2010

Earth Hour

What is this Earth Hour I just read about?

Lights out in the city to save energy. Okay, let me explain how this “conservation” plan should go:

• Tell people that they’re saving money if they switch to energy efficient appliances. I think they just implemented a tax refund if you’ve bought an energy efficient appliance in the last year (don’t quote me on that).
• Tell business owners “Hey, save money on your building’s utility cost by not leaving your computers on all night.” Business owners (mostly) would go to any length to save a dime. In these economic times, companies are cutting back.
• Give building owners that lease their floors to tenants an incentive to require their tenants to be energy efficient appliance.
• Stop designing inefficient things for people to buy at a cheaper price. Make an affordable thing. If energy conservation is a goal, don’t make it a feature and a bigger price tag on every new energy star product.

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Apr 07, 2010

5 Things I Notice in Girls

Just so there’s no questions asked, I am straight. However, I’m sure I’m not the only one when I say I have first impressions of everyone. Here are some key things I notice when I come in contact (or sometimes even just walking by) another girl.

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Apr 06, 2010

Throwing a Grenade – How NOT To

This was so me during Basic Training but I actually got mine OVER the wall.

EMBED-Chinese Soldier Grenade Throw Fail – Watch more free videos

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Apr 06, 2010

5 Reasons Why I Reject Guys

In the past, I’ve rejected guys based on several reasons. I thought, for the lack of something better to talk about, that I’d humor this topic a little and go into semi-depth on why I wouldn’t date someone. I’ll try to stay away from the obvious ones.

Note: There’s a lot of articles out there that generalize both genders and say “Women don’t like…” or “Men don’t like…” This is just for me. I didn’t do in-depth research on other women. However, it may shed light on a guy’s situation and/or reach out to a girl that can relate.

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Apr 02, 2010

Shoot ‘em up

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about my Basic Training days when I first shot my M-16A-2. I remember the very first time I held my M-16 in my hands, it was like I was a killer. “I’m in the Army. I’m going to be killing people. I have a rifle in my hand.” Even though the Soldier’s Creed is nothing like the Marines, the Marines Creed rung louder and clearer in my head than anything in my head.

I loved the days in Basic Training during Basic Rifle Marksmanship when I got to shoot my M-16 down at the firing range. I don’t know if I would feel the same way if I had to shoot at human beings, but shooting down the little green men with real bullets was fun.

There were also days out in the field where you get to sleep with your M-16. There was one night, I told my battle buddy, “Man, I love my M-16. I need to get one of these when get home” and her response was “YEA! EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ONE!”

A couple days ago, boyfriend’s friend came by the house to pick up a package. He’s been assembling an AR-15 which has a lot of similarities to the M-16. However, my boyfriend comes up to me and is like “Ask Stephanie, she should know” and I was like “What?” They had trouble getting the bolt charger to lock into the rear position. I was like “Let me see…” and then I was like “Wow, I don’t remember. It’s been six years since I handled any rifle. I don’t even remember where the bolt is…”

As my boyfriend started to point out all the aspects of the rifle, it started coming back to me. We semi-determined that it was a bad bolt. However, I got into talking to one of my friends who was in the Army National Guard. I them remember firing the SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) back in Basic. I saw a youtube video showing now they only fire three rounds at a time while in training. However, back when I was in Basic, we pulled the trigger and said “I NEED A BURST” and then released it.

I miss shooting stuff. There’s a lot of controversy over gun control but I really do find marksmanship a sport. Like with everything, it can be good or it can be bad depending on how you use it.

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Mar 31, 2010

Healthcare bill: $250 Million for Bullshit

Have you looked at CNN lately? That is one of my various ways of getting news, yes.

(CNN) — The health care reform legislation that President Obama signed recently isn’t only about insurance coverage — there’s also a renewal of $50 million per year for five years for abstinence-focused education.

Programs that receive this funding must “teach that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems,” according to the Department of Health and Human Services. To qualify, they must also teach that sex before marriage is “likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects.” These are part of the “A-H definition,” requirements for programs to receive abstinence funding under Title V of the Social Security Act.

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Mar 31, 2010

Finished reading East of Eden

I started reading this a few months ago but became really busy with work and didn’t get a chance to read as much as I would have liked.

However, this morning, I finished it on my commute to work. How was it? It was great. I’ve read a few John Steinback books back in the day and they always end up to be some big tragedy. I can’t say that this one wasn’t any different but the ending had a twist for a happy ending considering the type of ending that Steinback gave all his other novels.

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Mar 30, 2010

Trains delayed due to fires

Trains were first invented in 1822.

You know, after what? 188 years of having trains around, that they’d think they’d put some fireproof material under the tracks so that fires can’t happen as easily? Specifically, I’m talking Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). Just a while back, they had a fire at Embarcadero station. Today, they had a fire between Powell and Civic Center. It’s pretty common that you’d think they’d find some way to prevent it from happening.

Maybe it’s something about trains that I’m not fully aware of, but I find it perfectly logical with my lack of further knowledge about trains. Our houses have electricity running through them and there’s still SOME level of fireproofing involved. If not fireproofing, there’s that material that slows fire from spreading? Maybe we should lay those under the tracks of trains.

This entry was brought to you by what was suppose to be my 45 minute commute to work made into a 2 hour commute thank you to a track fire.

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Mar 27, 2010

Is it like this when you’re married?

Sometimes, I struggle really badly with being around someone for a long period of time. I currently live with my boyfriend. I constantly feel like he’s around (which is yea, he is because he lives here). Sometimes I need that few hours alone or a moment where he’s not constantly saying “What?” when I mumble to myself. Sometimes I want to lay in bed and take up all the room. Sometimes I just wish.. I had that time to myself I had when I rented a room.

I used to be able to come home and ignore phone calls if I didn’t want to hang out. And I used to be able to sleep on a queen size bed without being woken up to someone right in my face on the edge of the bed. I used to not wake up every night to loud snoring and I used to sleep well at night. Now, granted, there’s a trade off. I’m not happy with the compromises at times but there’s  lot of good that has been traded for what used to be luxury.

But man, is it normal to get tired of someone? Like I feel like he quite literally follows me around the house no matter where I go or what I do. It’s like sometimes I lock the bathroom door when I go shower just to get some moments alone. We usually have a very open lifestyle in the sense that we never lock doors really when going to the bathroom (but we do shut them). I sometimes feel like telling him to go away but at the same time, I feel bad for pushing him away when he’s done nothing wrong. Sometimes I wish he wasn’t listening to every word I say especially when I’m just grumbing but at the same time, it’s nice to know he’s listening.

There should be some sort of line to be drawn between loving someone and being a pest in their life. I’m not trying to say that my boyfriend is a pest but… it’s feeling like he’s constantly within 10 feet of me. When I sleep. When I wake up. When I get home from work. When I shower (if I don’t lock the door).

So you married folks, is it always like this? Do they ever bugger off for a while and do their own thing around their house? I’m not anti-social or anything but I need just some peace and quiet and solitude in life.

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Mar 24, 2010

Having a stalker is never pleasant

Have I mentioned my 5 years working in a hospital as a volunteer? I worked in a very cool department (at the time). I work in Nuclear Medicine and it was probably my 2nd or 3rd year volunteering there. The people in the department were all very good friends. We joked around a lot and we had a good time while working. Of course, every work area has it’s drama but most of the time, that could be put aside.

One day, there was this older guy, probably around 40ish. He comes in as a volunteer. At first, I didn’t think much of his behavior until one day, he was sitting in the office with me while I was doing heart reports. All the employees were off busy doing their thing. The guy, who I dubbed Peanuthead, started talking to me, telling me how beautiful I am and that we should go to Todai’s sometime.

I shrugged it off and didn’t think much of it. The days following, his behavior became more apparent. He wanted to go with me when I took papers somewhere. Or when I went to make copies. Or get a drink. He continued his flirtatious manners and it finally started to bug me a bit. Friends will be friends. There were men in Nuclear Medicine much older (or around the same age) as him and I was great friends with them. However, I felt a major difference in his behavior and the way he was towards me vs how the other guys were.

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