Life is not so short but that there is always time enough for courtesy.

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

What A Great Quote!

So this afternoon I head over for a delicious, yet completely un-nutritious, lunch at Taco Bell. On my way out the door, there a guy approaching with a cell phone pasted to the side of his head. I quickly turn around, catch the door to hold it open (and kinda hurt my hand in the process), and the guy completely ignores me as he babbles away strolling on through.

This set me to mind. It hasn't been just this, but a notable slew of incidents recently -- culminating with this one -- that made me think, "Where in God's name has common courtesy gone??" I read more and more about the problems in today's American society related to entitlement, Princess Mentality Syndrome (dig that acronym), and all the myriad rages that we face: road rage, desk rage, standing-in-line rage, in-flight rage, and I wouldn't be surprised in the least if there weren't a "tried-to-shit-but-only-farted" rage.

The more I look at what the future holds, the more I like what the lessons of the past have taught us. That is, if anyone bothers to remember them. For instance, think back several years. Okay, I'm into my fifth decade on this planet, so bear with me if you're younger and can't recall that far. I can actually remember a time that was LESS stressful, MORE orderly, and FAR calmer ... if only for The Greatest Lowest Common Denominator: Courtesy. Nay, COMMON courtesy! Merely acknowledging a kindness, no matter how small, has seem to have gone the way of the dodo.

Not that I like to admit this much, but I like living alone primarily to step out of the flabbergasting bullshit that is today's society. Granted, I have a great job, and work with AWESOME people. But outside of that, I'm always happier coming home, closing the door, and gaining complete sanctuary. Ahhhhh ... the pause that refreshes. :-)

Did it have to be like this? Certainly not. But bearing witness to the frightening trends that have come to define life in America (or westernized) society -- divorce, litigation, political correctness, to name a few -- has caused me to largely withdraw from the otherwise "normal" tenets of societal interaction. Why land my ass in trouble just for being alive?

Sad that it got like this.

However, all that said, I still have no trouble striking up conversations with complete strangers ... if only to see if they, too, think American society has gone off the deep end. And, to my surprise, practically every person agrees with me!

So how to reset? Well, this all comes back to those two little words: common courtesy. If we can get back to that, there's a very good chance we could turn things around a lot faster & easier than we think.

In the meantime, I'll still hold that door open for whoever's coming through.

Funny Flashes & QuickTimes

	CHEATING GIRLFRIEND? Just call up this radio station .. oh wait, it's in Yorkshire, England! Still, this is the best pwnage (sp!) I've heard by far. Be sure to carefully note the girlfriend's questions when she gets excited. And people STILL wonder why I ain't married, hahaha! :-D
	DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU! Carlos Mencia has absolutely no shame when it comes to calling everyone out. I believe this is his best work to-date, and should be played in every school across the nation.
	WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW All I can say is just click, sit back, & watch. Simply amazing.
	IT'S ALL IN THE INTERPRETATION, BAY-BEE In order to fully appreciate the following, please click the image and close your eyes (or at least don't look at the screen). Listen to what's being said in this other language. Then when the song fades out, open your eyes and read the interpretation into English. This, my friend, is balls-to-the-wall brilliance!
	WATER-POWERED AWESOMENESS!! This is EXACTLY what we need to get our asses off oil!
	THE CASE FOR PUBLIC ACCESS TELEVISION DATELINE: May 20, 1997. A new kind of televangelist takes to the airwaves "in the name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit." And that's about as holy as he gets. Frankly, I'll never think of Yosemite Valley the same way again.(PARENTAL DISCRETION ADVISED (for some motherfuckin' swearin' goin' on))
	NEWSWORTHY The issue: Whistler tips inserted into auto exhaust tailpipes. The evangelist: Mr. Bubb Rubb. Glorious eloquency, this.
	STARBALL A really fun take on the Breakout games of the 1970s. The mouse becomes your "dial" in this game
	STICK-FIGURE SOCIAL COMMENTARY Known affectionately as Lodger, this little guy is rapidly becoming my new hero. See which two of the four Flash animations are actually commercials! (PARENTAL DISCRETION ADVISED (stick-figure porn advisory!))
	WHAT IS LOVE RE-RE-RE-RE-RE-RE-RE-RE-RE-REDUX Remember those crazy guys on Saturday Night Live who keep bobbing their heads back & forth to that earworm club hit "What Is Love?" Click the pic, heh.
	WEIRD AL DOES IT AGAIN You will never hear this song the same way again.
	MEN! WATCH & LEARN! As is now the way of things, every man who joins a company MUST go through sexual harassment training. Well HERE'S your head start, you lucky guy!
	I BET YOU'LL NEVER GUESS ... ... where they're taking the Hobbits.
	OWNED 101 Here's a primer on how to get one's ass owned.
	EXCELLENT!!! From the late, great website ROMP.COM came this hilarious animation series, dude! What's more, I believe this is the only complete compilation of episodes on the Web today.