Quit Using Limewire You Idiots

I mean that in the nicest way.
Instead, you should use Frostwire.
It's the open source version of Lime Wire Pro, it's free, it never whines about paying to "upgrade" and it's better than ever now.
Features include:

Completely Free & open-source

Firewall-to-firewall transfers

Turbo-Charged Download Speeds

Absolutely NO Spyware or Adware

Connects to more sources

Creative Commons license support

Max. speed network connections

Junk Result Filters

Community Chat Rooms

iTunes Integration

BitTorrent Support

Proxy Support


The .torrent support is a brilliant catch because I can use one app to handle all of my downloads. Combine that with it being cross-platform (that just means it runs on any computer) and you can't beat it. As Courtney and Nikki say: "Get it ahhh..."

Patrons: Read, Please

Having worked at a restaurant or two, and having dined out at a restaurant or two, I thought I would share this little jewel that I received in the form of a bulletin on MySpace. Enjoy.

"The next time you're out eating at a restaurant, look at your server. Do you think they are really happy to be doing that job? The answer is no, they are not, but it's what we do, and we do it for the money so please help them out. Its a tougher job than you think and you should hook it up accordingly!

There are SO many people out there flooding the restaurants w/o any knowledge of how to tip. Here is a short guide for the general public to follow. Feel free to print out and store in your wallet and/or purse. :)

1. CHILDREN "THE LITTLE DEVILS":
If you have children, DO NOT let them, open and dump anything on the table (ie; salt, sugar, etc). IF YOU DO, you must leave an extra $5 for the server to clean up YOUR CHILD'S mess & to restock the now unusable wasted items. We are neither their babysitter nor their parent. The least you can do is pay us for the extra work. Also make sure you control your kids and don't let them scream or run around the restraunt. It's very distracting not to mention dangerous if they get ran over by a server with hot food in their hands.

2. "THE CAMPERS":
If you feel the necessity to stay for longer than 15 minutes after you pay, its an extra $3 every 30 minutes. We make our money from the tables. If you are in one and we can't seat it, we don't make money.

3. COMPLIMENTS:
Telling a server they are the best server they've ever had is not a tip. If we are good, let us know by leaving us more money. We cant pay our bills on compliments. Its not that we don't appreciate the praise, its just that if you say that and then leave 10%, its an insult.

4. THE SALVATION PAMPHLETS:
Prayer cards and any other religious pamphlet is NOT a tip. It is insulting that you assume we are w/o religion and must save us. Again, like ..3, we cant pay bills w/prayer cards. We'd go to church on Sundays if it wasn't mandatory to work on Sundays because EVERYONE who goes to church follows it by eating out.

5. TIPPING:
It is not 1960. Cost of living has gone up dramatically since then. 18s the MINIMUM amount of what you should be tipping your servers. Just look at the tax line and multiply by 2-3, this gives you your minimum tip amount. Remember, our companies pay us minimum wage (minumum wage for servers is $6.75 in CA, $3.38 in FL, $3.09 in IA, ONLY $2.38 IN MARYLAND & $2.13 in Louisiana & TN) And we are taxed on 10 percent of your meal automatically anyway. So if your meal is $100 and you leave $10 and we tip out $4-5 to the busser, bartender, and whoever else then we pay tax on 10 dollars the state assumes we are atleast making and we actually make $5. It seems small but it adds up. How many times do you eat out per week and do this?

6. THE COMPLAINERS:
If you get a discount because of your food was prepared wrong or something, do not take it out of our tip. We didn't cook it. The cooks get paid hourly regardless if the food sucks. However, we only make what you give us.

7. THE FREE STUFF:
If you happen to get anything for free and you did not have a problem with your dining experience, most of the time it is because the server thinks you will realize that they are giving it to you for free. There should be extra tip thanking the server for the free item. They could get in a lot of trouble giving away free stuff. You should give them hazard pay for it.

8. THE LATE ONES:
If you come into the restraunt 10 mins before closing or any time near closing hurry up and order your food and get out. Closed means closed, not social hour. It is so rude to sit there and take your sweet ass time. We can't leave until you leave because we have to do sidework and clean the table you are sitting at. We don't want to stand there waiting for you for an extra hour just because you don't want to go home. We recommend 24 hour establishments such as Dennys if you wish to sit into the wee hours of the night.

9. THE TABLE HOGGERS:
If you only come in for coffee or a dessert, to do paper work, or to have a meeting, don't sit there taking up our booths for hours. We are not Starbucks or a hotel restraunt. If you want to sit for hours, go there or else you better leave a good tip for us and camping fee included.

10. THE GREET:
When we come up to the table to greet you and we ask how you are doing please let us know. We honestly want to know how you are doing. If you are in a bad mood we want to know that from the beginning. A confused stare or complete silence does not suffice as a reply to "How are you doing?". Also most of us are REQUIRED to say certain things during the greeting, so please don't interrupt our greeting and say "I want coffee", "Can we get some bread?", or "What are the soups?"

11. THOSE DAMN CELL PHONES:
Don't ever talk on your cell phone in a restraunt. This is probably the rudest thing to do. If you must be on your cell, at least keep your voice down in respect for other customers. If you are on your cell phone when we walk up to greet your table we will walk away and not return until you get off your phone. Just show some respect and give us your attention for a couple of minutes.

12. TAKE-AWAY OR TO-GOS:
Always remember to tip the take-out order servers! They work just as hard as a server, and hardly ever get tips for it! WE DESERVE TO BE TIPPED TOO!

13. DO NOT TELL ME YOU ARE BROKE WHEN YOU ARE LEAVING: If you cannot afford to tip properly then do not go out to eat. If I as a server bring you back $8.00 in change lets say from a $70.00 bill and only leave me $2.00 and tell me you are broke you should be castrated for being such an ignorant asshole!! Do not waste your time or mine it really pisses us off.

14. High School Kids: Learn how to tip!! Just because you do not have a job and mommy and daddy pays for everything you have including the meal that you are eating do not think that it is ok to not tip. Leave a tip people b/c I remember every face that does not tip.
!!!SERVERS READING THIS!!!
Please repost this so the word can get out, since so many people are uneducated about tips and our lives depend on this - atleast for now...

SIGNED, YOUR FELLOW RESTAURANT WORKERS"

Open Introspection - For Whitney and Amber

I had a couple of friends ask me some questions about a certain someone, and I wasn't sure how to answer them. It was about a woman that I care about that I was in a relationship with. Really, I'm not used to answering questions like that. Usually, no one asks! Really, the only answer I have about the matter can be summed up in a few thoughts:

I still care about her
I don't know what to do about the situation
I don't know that I should do anything about it
There aren't any hard feelings on my part
I feel let down
I'm not sad about it
I have been happier - I have also been sadder, so I feel feel good overall
Really, when we learn to communicate better with each other, I think that we can still be great for each other. She's cool in my book and I always wish her well!

Radiohead Live In Concert

Me likey

New Bloc Party Single: Flux

Don't front. I think I'm going to officially let BP take over as my current favorite band.
My all time favorite will probably remain a toss between Joy Division or New Order. Enjoy.

The year in review

So this Friday was my birthday. I thought that I would share some of the things that I have learned this year with all of you.

The world has to be saved. And it can be done. You just have to give a crap.

There's more great music out there than I know what to do with it. Seriously.

Open source is the way to go. You're reading this courtesy of Ubuntu.

I'll never ever again be brain-pimped. If you don't know what I mean, read Atlas Shrugged or ask me about a certain jackass that owes me money.

I have some amazing friends. Martial artists, teachers, stylists, scientists, writers, rappers, dancers, you name it.

I'm addicted to my hookah. I would pretty much cry if I couldn't get my daily fix.

Time does heal all wounds. Sometimes it just takes lots of time!

I have no patience for certain things. Seriously - I really don't.

A certain someone is my special someone always. I know what that means now to really carry something like that in my heart.

Martial arts is my calling. Some of you would say "duh" but I have never been blessed with a great deal of coordination or talent beyond what the average person has. I've been doing martial arts for almost 18 years now - that's insane.

I'm learning to deal with people in a more open manner. It's a refreshing approach. I'm not a dishonest person, but sometimes I'm a very closed and impersonal person. I'm learning to be more honest with myself and how to extend that feeling in my dealings with others.

My sense of humor is the best.

I've turned the internet into a past time.

I'm simultaneously the most and least likely person to kick your ass if you offend me.

Sex is good. Fighting is bad.

I really value my me-time.

People will tell themselves a CRAZY story and run with it, all the way.

Even your best of friends should be put in check if they cross the line.

You can't control who you like.

You can't control who you love.

You can control who you hate.

You can always control what you do and how you act.

Some people use you and sometimes you use people. It's not always a bad thing, but it's something to be aware of.

The only one holding me back is myself.

Someone out there has it way worse than me and they are not complaining.

I demand that people demand the best from me and from themselves.

Having been treated poorly, I acknowledge that it is important to be really nice when the chance presents itself.


That's all I got this year. For now. 2008 here I come!

From LifeHack.Org

This is a brilliant little piece that can be appreciated by anyone (I hope)!

Four Rules to Understand What Makes People Tick


Breaking down human behavior into rules might seem like a gross simplification. But even with the complexities, it is easy to fall into the same mistakes. I’d argue that many heated fights, lost sales and broken hearts are caused by a few critical errors. If you make the wrong assumptions, you’ve lost before you begin.

By keeping in mind these rules, you can avoid repeating the same mistakes.

Rule One: People Mostly Care About Themselves

Rule Two: People are Motivated by Selfish Altruism

Rule Three: People Don’t Think Much

Rule Four: Conformity is the Norm

Read the article here.

Saving The World Part Three

Mac asked me about what to do when you already think you're doing your part to save the world and all you get are "High Fives" and "Middle Fingers?"

I say: The same thing you've been doing. You're not going to make everyone happy, and not everyone will sincerely and whole-heartedly embrace you and your lifestyle. Don't be afraid to tell someone how you feel. Be heard. Disagree - respectfully. Don't ever be silent when you feel you have been disrespected. Sometimes you have to leave people alone. I have had many a friend that, having crossed a line drawn by my rational sensibility, I have dismissed - in a nice way, or otherwise. And these are GOOD friends I'm talking about. So, to be dismissive of someone I don't hold as valuable to me is a no brainer. People can be negative, but it only goes down so far as you let it. The only power and sanction that they have is what WE GIVE TO THEM. So, no more sanction from us. The main point is to continue to seek those who will enrich your life, and when you meet them, enrich theirs - bring your "A" game to people if you want theirs. These are the people you should be concerned about. The others can play catch up 100 years from now.

I just wrote this in reply to MacTruque:
"Thank yourself! We have to keep doing what we're doing. When it doesn't work out - we have to move forward. learn from our mistakes. What was Dagny Taggart's flaw? She always tried to yield results from people that had no ability and that were of no consequence. She thought she could think for others. She was wrong."

We were LOVERS

One of my favorite BP songs. That's all I got.

Last week at the Pearl

View Album

Get your own

Rhiannon, Mike, and yours truly met up with Jamie and Joy at the Pearl.
There was fun to be had. Enjoy. Oh - My birthday is Friday - show some love.

Wendy, Tribe-K, Saving the World, and more...

Okay, so most exciting update: Wendy Hartley!!!! (I know, it's not Hartley, but that's just how I'll always know you!) Yes! I can't even begin. Tribe-k is doing great and can only get better over time! Part 3 of How to Save the World coming today - I promise.

Tribe-K Seminar this weekend

Saturday: Intensive Seminar with Sean, Tony, and Joey.
Topics covered over the course of the day:
Kali
Aikido - Weapons and Empty hand
Pananlamut/Panantukan
Kickboxing
Silat and Ground Fighting
Testing to follow

Seminar fee is $50 for current Tribe-K members, $60 for non-members
Contact me or Sean Hurst about testing fees. Visitors welcome - no filming or photography allowed.

Contact Autrelle if you have any questions and please repost.
Train HARD!

Sean@Tribe-K.com
Tony@Tribe-K.com
Joey@Tribe-K.com
Autrelle@Tribe-K.com

(l-r, Mark, Ricky, Craig, Jahmal, Achilles, Autrelle)

My last piece for the evening

Okay, so here's something you can start to do consciously that will lead to you saving the world: STOP FAKING REALITY.
This will involve two things:Honesty and Integrity. I could make a LONG list of examples, but I think that 15-20 will suffice:

Quit pretending to like things that you do not like

Quit pretending to be happy when you are not

Quit pretending that you like people that you do not like

Quit supporting ideas that you do not embrace

Quit embracing ideas that you cannot live realistically

Quit creating these "support groups" of "like-minded people" when really, you don't like each other that much

Quit hating people that you have no reason to hate

Quit denying your own strengths and weaknesses

Quit denying the strengths and weaknesses of others

Quit pretending that you have to do or say something in a certain situation

Quit pretending that you don't have to do or say something in a certain situation

Quit pretending that you are a victim

Quit pretending that you are not victimizing someone

Anyways, I could go on and on forever, but the point here is simple: Really, really, think for yourself, and then live accordingly. Are you always going to be right? No. Will you always be honest? Yes. Will you always get along with people? No. Will people always know where you stand? Yes. Once again, paraphrasing Rand, you really only have to do one thing when you deal rationally with rational people: Judge, and prepare to be judged. That's right. Item three is Justice. You should always be prepared to assess any situation, and judge accordingly to your beliefs. Simply say to yourself "is this right?" If the answer is anything but "yes" then it's wrong. There's no such thing as a little bit of wrong, and little bit of cheating, a little bit of killing, a little bit of stealing. Read over this, and really think it over. Tell me what you THINK.

Matt Butler usually gets it right

Straight from the bulleting posted by Matt Butler on Myspace:

"I wish I could "I can't believe this!" but knowing what I know of human nature I'm not surprised. I also advocate and support any violent backlash that happens against these racist pieces of ...

It's time for accountability and "freedom of expression" to cease being a shield worn by those ... ugh.. I can't even finish the rant."

Source

First Jacksonville, then the WORLD

I'm going to save the world. One day at a time. One person at a time. One conversation at a time. One class at a time. Anyone can help. Here's all you have to do: Stop being MORALLY GRAY.

If you haven't read "The Virtue of Selfishness" by Ayn Rand, then get on it. It's short, and it will get you started. Anyways, cut it out. Define your beliefs and priciples in a clear, objective way, and embrace NO CONTRADICTION WHATSOEVER. You can't compromise between food and poison, and you can't comromise between good and evil. Either you believe in something, and you stand for it, and you LIVE BY IT, OR YOU DON'T. It's really exactly like that. Once you decide to live your life by integrating your own, rational thoughts, it's a no brainer: you will always eat right, you will always treat other people right, you'll actually do the things you want to do. You'll do this because you understand that IF YOU DON'T LIVE YOUR LIFE THE WAY THAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT, EITHER THE WAY YOU THINK IS SH*T, IF NOT, THEN YOUR LIFE IS, IF NOT BOTH.

How did that feel? I hear all of you, EVERYDAY.
"I'm so sick of DJ X at club X."
"I hate the way the guy I'm dating treats me."
"I hate the way my hair looks."
"I hate my job."
"I'm tired of getting my ass kicked everyday."
"I can't believe what the president did this time."

Okay then. Guess what. It's time for all of this sh*t to stop. It starts with you. You hate liars? Quit lying to people, and quit hanging out with liars. Hate cheaters? Quit dating them. Hate your job? Quit, or start your own business. Hate certain clubs or deejays? Stop going there and support what you do like. Let me give you a step-by-step idea:

1. Really take the time to think about what it is you truly believe in.
2. Having done that, integrate those beliefs in your life in a CONCRETE WAY, WITH CONCRETE ACTIONS. No abstractions at all.
3. Support things that are in line with what you believe. Go out of your way to do this. Create them if you have to.
4. Give no support or sanction AT ALL of anything that is contrary to your beliefs. Do nothing to encourage or appease evil. This is really important. As soon as you make that "tiny" allowance for evil, for WHAT YOU KNOW YOU DON'T AND CAN'T STAND FOR, look what you have done. Look at what you ENCOURAGE, and look at what you DISCOURAGE.

We can save Jacksonville, and we can save the world. It has to be ever vigilant. If you don't believe me - watch.

Sorry to keep y'all waiting

What have I been up to?

Training - a LOT. Kali, Aikido, JiuJitsu, and I guess I'll resume kickboxing and CSW pretty soon. I wanna get ripped.

Maintaining my Ubuntu PC. I had great success installing WINE today. I'm trying to avoid my usual Ubuntu OCD which involves a complete wipe and reinstall from scratch.

Pondering. I'm sick of the irony, satire, and contradiction. I'm sick of the fragmentation. I like being single, but I still think about you-know-who everyday.

Learning. About .xls, .csv, groupware, etc.

I need some back up. And I want to back you up. Get at me.

Flying Drop Kick Mother F**ker!!!

I LOVE seeing stuff like this!
Kick him!

Well that really sucks makes for an odd day

I woke up today with bad new on my mind (of course, only I think it's bad news)

Someone I care about got married

Some people I care about are getting divorced
If anyone has anything that I would think is good news, please don't hold back.
In the meantime, here's an oldie: Dreams Burn Down by Ride



Lying under sky,
She laughs at everything I say,
And pulls me under,
There's no time to resist.
Lying on the floor,
There's no time to resist,
Lying on the floor,
The tears are falling down and more,
Her eyes speak loud,
But actions speak the best.

Waiting, hoping for a sign,
That what's forbidden can be mine,
I just want what I can't have,
'Til my dreams burn down every time.

She's effortlessly cool,
But circumstances can be cruel,
And sometimes you must accept,
That you can't always get what you want.
We fill up our days and nights,
We fill up our empty little lives,
But we know we are doomed,
The moment we walk out the room

The Big Stir

How much are public officials in Jacksonville Florida making?
Click here to find out.
WOOT!

Myspace Bulletin of the Day

"myself and autrelle holland are making plans in that not-making-plans- because-all-beauty-and-goodness-comes-out-of-a-chaotic-struggle kind of way to reform the apathetic and tone deaf ears of duval county. inspired by monumental epochs in time such as the go go when kids (seemingly, which is more than we can say for today) cared about progressive thought, and an integrative and multi genre appreciation for artful music, and the search/process that leads to QUALITY music both new and old.....especially not afraid to embrace the old.....there will be, in the near future, a night of such extreme auditory intensity that your world will be fucked up forever. you will have a religious experience if you have any balls to be honest with yourself. and speaking of honesty, you should come with a box of kleenex because we plan to tear you down before we can build you up into the person you are truly entitled to be. fuck irony. we don't believe in it, which means you won't hear a single justin timberlake tune , we won't be dressed in american apparel, and you won't see us giggling behind the dj booth either. start doing your emotional warm ups now. this shit is going to come at you hard and fast."

This from dear Whitney's Myspace Page.
Check out the link for her blog also. She's brilliant.