Thoughts on The Loss Of A Dear Friend

I am currently wearing a PMT brand cervical section neck brace. It's job is to support my neck while my blown C6 vertebrae rebuilds itself. It is also ridiculously annoying and restricts me from looking left or right. I figured out that this limitation on my peripheral vision is the cause for my new found butterfingers. I drop everything these days. I did not think much of this until yesterday morning. There I was, drinking my Emergen-C, making sure I got a billion percent of my daily value of vitamin C and every other vitamin and mineral known to man. When all of a sudden, said cup of vitamin juice blend flies out of my hand and spills alllll over the table. Now if you know me very well at all, you would know that breakfast goes hand in hand with some morning internet time.

Flash back to 3 years ago, Christmas time. There my whole family was sitting in our living room. My parents had huge grins on their faces that morning. As my mother would later recount the great feeling she had of actually pulling of a Christmas surprise. Northwest Airlines offered their employee's an awesome deal on Mac-book Laptops. I was over joyed. I had always wanted a laptop. I used that laptop so much. Whether it was writing papers or wasting time on YouTube, I was on this thing constantly. Through the Florida and New Jersey times, it was on of my only friends. But it was a great friend. She even excelled here in Madison. I got her a new battery and installed Linux on her, which she worked wonders with. She let me do all my computer science homework in the comfort of my own dorm room, avoiding the crappy CS labs. She was especially helpful recently, because I am not able to look down and a sheet of paper to write on.

As you probably guessed the Emergen-C spilled all over my beautiful laptop..... I flipped it upside down almost instantly. Pulled the battery out and yelled for my mom to get the hair dryer.... It was a horrific experience. She is currently sitting in a bag filled with rice, in hopes that the moisture will be sucked out and she will be revived. I am writing to you from my mothers laptop.... Crowded desktop and Internet Explorer.....
Pray to the computer gods for me......

I am pretty sure I have posted a Cranberries song before. I am also pretty sure I don't care. This is literally the only song that fits right now....



-KGM

Thoughts on Hurrr Durrrr Herp Derp derrr

Goddamn...
Computer science is one of the most frusturating thing on this planet. At first it's easy. The lines flow from my fingers like Leslie Nelson in Scary Movie.
(blog check list: clever movie reference CHECK)

After writing comes the finger crossing and the running. This step requires a lot less work, and a lot more hope. Not surprisingly the hope is always in vain. It never works the first time, and I don't think it should. But let me tell you when you stare at the same 10 lines of code for 2 hours until realizing that you have a > (greater than) instead of a < (less than), it sucks.
(blog check list: complain about something sucking CHECK)

Seen we are in the computer vein I wanted to talk about Grooveshark. I had obviously heard of Grooveshark, but it was a month or so ago that I discovered its true beauty and power. I mean it fills the spectacular void left by my inability to acquire music while on the University networks. I am actually very proud of my self, resisting that good old convert youtube to mp3 button. (by the way if you don't have that add-on you should get it,awesome). Grooveshark gives me almost every song I could ever need to listen too, granted I don't actually have them; but still. Another great thing about Grooveshark is that it allows me to artificially inflate my musical repertoire. I always felt like being "hip" to all those new, underground indie bands on the radar this week was just too difficult. It is way too time consuming to be that "music kid". I put up a decent effort, when I get the chance, but Grooveshark really helps. Grooveshark - "Helping you seem like a bigger hipster than you actually are since March 2006"
(blog check list: talk about hipsters and stuff CHECK)
(Also I looked up that March 2006 on Wikipedia....citing sources like a boss)

Well what is left.... rant or politics....
I chose you Rant-A-Chu...
This one is on country music, more or less. I am not talking like willie nelson country, not Johnny Cash country. Nay the rant is directed at this new Country. This sexy-tractor bullshit. Some kid posted a video on our UW-Madison class facebook page. To a song called red-solo cup. By Toby Keith. Now I am familiar with several Toby Keith songs. One in particular is called "Beer for My Horses". Now any actual Red-Blooded American ranch who needed his horses to work hard for him is probably not pumping his horses full of beer. Granted it is used as an old time cure for horses that do not sweat enough, I doubt Old Toby knew that. Keyword there being old... goddamn. This red solo cup video is ridiculous, the guy is walking around a college rager. He is 50 years old. What is he doing at a college age party. In the song he states (originally in a more rhythmical manner) that anyone who prefers to drink beer out of glass over a red solo cup does not have a pair of testicles. Last I checked sasparilla didn't come in a red solo cup.
(blog check list: rant CHECK)

I could go on for days about new country music and how I despise it. But to each their own I suppose!
Here... enjoy it...



-KGM

Thoughts on Holy Broken Spine Batman!!

First:

 IT'S ALIVE

Second:
Alright guys... I know I messed up bad this time. It has been at least a month... I am genuinely sorry for failing this hard. In my defense I did fracture 3 vertebrae and partially collapse both of my lungs, in an "accident". I guess what it really comes down to is in those Parkour movies where it says "Do no try this at Home, These are professionals." In the past warnings like this feel in the same category as "Read All instructions before use." But alas I vaulted over a railing by ol' Steenbock Library and here I am a month later, in a neck and body brace blogging from my temporary home in Eagle Heights. The Family Housing area for UW. On a positive note at least I didn't end up in Family Housing because I went to Vegas and accidentally got married right? <----- see that, I am learning to do the whole glass half full thing!

I know it's a few days late but still.....

1. I am thankful that I can walk.
2. I am thankful that UW hooked me up with a sweet apartment
3. I am thankful for having my own room and shower, and mom's cooking again
4. I am thankful that my friends have not completely forgotten about me
5. I am thankful that I am recovering, and finally have enough energy to type and study and listen to music
6. "you get the point" for my rediscovery of Citizen Cope, it's been a while man....
7. "" for my sweet new Monitor/TV replacement and hopefully soon new computer
8."" even partially handicapped I am still doing well in school
9."" that I might get my neck-brace off before Christmas

Look at me being all not cynical, I am damn proud of my new found mindset. Maybe the next hospitalization can rid me of my sarcasm...

Here is your tune... Thanks for reading!



-KGM

Thoughts on The Occupy Movement

I don't have a lot to say. It's late and I have been doing homework all night.
I just want anyone happens upon this post to watch this.



If you can watch this and not feel concern about the state of our country I worry for you. It is not up to one group of people to have all the answers, to have all the solutions to all of our problems. That is exactly the problem with the way things are right now. No one group will ever have the perfect cure for our ailments. The only way to solve the problems is to first acknowledge that they exist. Then we must come together, make compromises. The Occupy movement is a step in the right direction. If you find yourself in disagreement with some of "their" ideas, or opinions. Remember that they are not a political party or a lobbyist. They are people, just like you. They have all their own ideas about what is wrong with this great country and are just trying to voice said ideas in whatever way they can. I hope that you can feel some kinship with them, for at the very least, you are both human beings, and you are both fed up with the way things are going. I love you all. My heart goes out to everyone with enough brass to Occupy. To all of you who have felt the harsh backlash of the law, just remember this: You know in your heart that you did no wrong. These police officers and prosecutors make a mockery of the Constitution they claim to uphold. You have embraced the freedoms given to you by the Constitution, and you do honor to it with your protests.

-Kyle Griffith McChesney

Ye Old 180th Post....

Kind of hard to believe that this is the 180th time I have sat here staring at this stupid blinking bar thinking of something to write. School was been occupying so much of my time, I feel like everyone has probably given up reading this old rag. Life is just so much better here in Wisconsin. New Jersey was a dark chapter in my life, I really needed this to get my thoughts out. Man, there were days when writing in this blog was the most human interaction I had. Must say I am pretty glad that has changed.  I really bums me out that I no longer have time to write as much as I would like.
I have been trying to stay as up to date as possible on this whole Occupy "Revolution". I don't know what to think anymore. There is a lot of criticism directed at these guys, mostly directed and their often muddeled and sometimes conflicting. I just wish people had the ability to see through that. Dissenting minds always have the capacity to find fault with the people they disagree with. Look for the positives in the situation. At least people are doing something about IT. No one can deny that this country has been declining in almost all conceivable facets. Props to all of you occupiers for at least doing something about it.

In closing. They are a leaderless group. A gather of many different people from all walks of life. They might agree on somethings. They might disagree on other things. The fact that is important; they are there. They have been there for over two weeks. The ideas and opinions of 20 somethings fresh out of college are just as important as the views of everyone else.

-Kyle Griffith McChesney