Eddie Vedder on Politics

Pearl Jam, fronted by Eddie Vedder has been one of my biggest musical influences over the years, but they have also been active in the liberal side of the political scene. Recently Eddie Vedder was interviewed in a music magazine for being one of the most influential figures of Rock in the last 25 years. Talking about politics and the last presidential election he commented that looking back he wasn’t really sure what kind of good all the money they helped raise for moveon.org did. Said it might have been better to have raised ticket prices $5, not told anyone, and started a community center somewhere to really impact the lives of others.

I don’t agree with all of their political ideas, but I have great respect for someone who has the courage to facilitate real change in the lives of others. Republican or Democrat I think in the end we all want to be happy, we just have different ideas on how to get there. In this interview with Eddie Vedder, he earned that much more of my respect as a human being.

Waste

Remember when recycling was big? Everyone put their coke cans, and glass jars in that plastic recycling bin at the house and then once a week the recycling truck would come pick it up. I use to think wow, we’re really making a difference here, but that was before I walked into corporate America.

Call me cynical, but after seeing what gets thrown away at the office, I believe recycling my 12 aluminum cans and one mason jar a week does the equivalent of trying to put out a forest fire by spitting on it.

I try to be a little more responsible with my paper usage because I hate to see all the waste, but I still look into my trash can at work and see it full of things I looked at or used no longer than a minute. What’s even worse is sometimes I grab things off the printer and if there’s one blank sheet in with all my other pages, instead of putting it back in the machine, I’ll just throw it away, because that’s easier. How sad. I’m actually kind of embarrassed to admit that.

You would think email would cut down on the paper pollution, but it really just adds to it because now people print out the emails only to file them away in a folder with other paper.
I’m not an environmental nut, though I love the outdoors. I’ve seen enough beauty out there to know we need to protect it. I don’t go out of my way to be a conservationist, but I can’t help but look at all the paper that gets thrown away at the office and think how wasteful it is.

The saddest thing is that the residential recycling truck somehow ended up in my parents yard one rainy day. One tire took out a strip of grass about five feet long. Of course my parents had to pay to fix the yard, but because of that now they don’t even put out their 12 cans and a mason jar each week – they just throw it all away.

Fantasy Football

I love fantasy football. If for no other reason you get to trash talk with you friends for a good five months. It’s the best ever. Below is a recent dialouge between Stephen Scouten and I over our teams successes and failures of the season to date. Keep in mind Stephen’s 1-6 this year, his one win was against me. I’m 5-2 and leading my division. You’d probably have to know Scouten to think this is as funny as I do, but this is my webpage, if you don’t like it make your own.

Stew Crew - Are you kidding? Scouten’s team is awful, and he talks more trash than anyone! I’m still pissed he beat me!

Team Dominate - I’m still 1-0 against you….so till you beat me, I say your team sucks.

Stew Crew - Over the course of the season, you’ve put together one good week – and I’ll give you credit, it was a good week, unfortunately againt me. You’d have beaten anyone but Eric. Who had the next highest point total that week? Me. Over the course of the season I’m 166 point and 4 wins better than you. But that’s ok – I’ll see you in the playoffs……. If you make them?

Team Dominate - I don’t care who else you “would have” beat….you lost! To me. you are officially 0-1 against Team Dominate. Eat it.

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As much as I hate to admit it, Scouten has a point there… Jerk.

Quick Update

I need to upload some pictures from my birthday dinner over a week ago, but Dr. Dave hasn’t sent those pictures to me yet…

Also on the news front I’ve started planning my next big trip. November 2 – 10th to Russia. Moscow and St. Petersburg – I’m excited! (Don’t even think about making a Russian bride crack….)

More to come when I get some free time!

October 10th

Happy Birthday to me! =)