The Jones legacy

This is a picture of me 'n my bruhdder, Brad. Yep, check us out. It's actually a pretty good picture - surprising, even - given how neither of us fully cooperates when it comes to saying cheese. We have differing, yet agonizingly obstinate approaches.

Brad is too busy doing crap like this:




And I'm too busy being all elusive and mysterious because I hate frikkin posing for pictures:




So, all things considered, the first picture posted is, in essence, a miracle. Sarah must have sensed that the planets were aligned when she spun around, camera in hand, and didn't even give us the chance to pull our usual stunts. Props to you, Mrs. Jones!

But, it is this representation I want to instill upon the minds of all when I officially declare that these two sterling gentlemen are the ones who will be continuing to build the Jones dynasty. Awww yeah! An exhilarating yet troublesome thought, I know: Exhilarating in that we're both geniuses and exemplars in our own capacity; Troublesome in that when we're together it's like listening in on a pair of 7 year-olds giggle about poop and farts and boobs and video games. Regardless, it takes well-rounded leadership to rule the world... Just be mindful of that when elections roll around in a couple of years.

Brad's birthday is tomorrow. He's gonna be 20... or 21; whichever, I don't remember. He'll be celebrating on the other side of the continent from me. Y'see, Brad's faithfully serving a mission in the great state of California. He's committed to something that's right and true, and I'm proud of him for it. I know and feel that his selfless service has blessed, and will continue to bless, our little family.

His absence is surely felt. To me, the din of family powwows has witnessed a steady decline in recent months. In part, it's because newly formed family units have gradually splintered off to nest elsewhere and are unable to make it to every gathering. And that makes sense, yes? Fewer loudmouths in one place equals less raucous. But something still felt off, something is still amiss. Indeed. The slight lack of enthusiasm I feel at family gatherings is due to the fact that I really, really miss my brother.

BUT, ALAS!Brad is involved in a worldwide effort to bring about the greater good. An effort and message that can only be successful if carried and accepted by people who strive to do the right thing. You go, Brad!

Happy Birthday, Mr. President!

Seeing as how things will be...

December is gonna be crazy for us. C-I-Z-Z-R-A-Z-A-Y!

Despite all the planning and social engagements that is inherent in living through the month of December, and with the impending logistical headaches of pulling up stakes and moving the Jones camp ten minutes to the west, The Music spoke to me these past two nights. In doing so, January's mixtape basically sequenced itself. Here's a picture preview of where the vibe sits now:

*gets all fidgety with anticipation*

Chew on this

Once the game is over,
the King and the Pawn go back into the same box

- Italian Proverb

Nukes and Good News - December '09 BRR Mixtape Brigade

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=M7ZI696I

"Still the calm continued...

We ate dinner, a hurried and anxious meal for me with eighteen men abroad on the sea and beyond the bulge of the earth and with that heaven-rolling mountain range of clouds moving slowly down upon us.

Wolf Larson did not seem affected, however... His face was stern, the lines of it had grown hard, and yet in his eyes, - blue, clear blue this day, - there was a strange brilliancy, a bright scintillating light. It struck me that he was glad there was an impending struggle; that he was thrilled and upborne with knowledge that one of the great moments of living, when the tide of life surges up in flood, was upon him...

He was daring destiny, and he was unafraid."

- Jack London

He's doing it on purpose!

Jack London is great.

In 1904 London published The Sea-Wolf. I'm about a third of the way through reading it and am thoroughly enjoying the way London describes his philosophical views of life. Man oh man, he is great.

The Sea-Wolf takes place on a seal-hunting Schooner; a smaller boat but well-equipped for speed during long hauls. Wolf Larson is the notorious, callous and surprisingly well-read captain with some twenty men under his command, one of which is the novel's protagonist the soft and domesticated "gentleman" Humphrey Van Weyden. "Hump" dictates the story in 1st person past tense (though sometimes London will slip into present tense just because he can, I guess... Man, he is great) and gives us the contrasting philosophical view of Altruism to Wolf Larson's Materialistic Monism. Behold! A base-line philosophical conflict that writers/thinkers like Jack London lusted over.

These are the fundamental questions that have been probing humanity since the history of recorded thought. This is some serious stuff, man!

But, Jack London foolishly overlooked one critical aspect of his composition. The Sea-Wolf takes place on a sailing vessel. Sailing vessel's have poop decks. "poop deck" has the word "poop" in it. Indeed, London failed to take into account that I think the word poop is funny.

Giggling like a 9-year old every time my eyes grace upon the word poop totally disrupts my reading experience. It distracts from my pondering the deeper philosophical meanings behind what London is trying to convey. And the fact that the boat is named "Ghost" kills me even more. GHOST POOP! BWAAAA HA AHA HA AHAHA!!!!1111

And I quote:

Occasional light airs were felt, however, and Wolf Larson patrolled the poop constantly, his eyes ever searching the sea...

He abruptly turned on his heel and started forward. He stopped at the break of the poop and called me to him.

The Wolf Larsen shouted from the poop: "Grab Hold of something, you - you Hump!"

Do you see? It's hard to take this infamous character seriously if he's just hanging out on his poop all day. Likewise, it's difficult to process all the philosophical goings on when the debate is taking place on a giant Ghost turd. Man, Jack London is great.

And you don't even know how giddy I am now just in typing this post about why I think poop is funny. I could read more of The Sea-Wolf right now, but instead I'm gonna go eat beef jerky and watch Ren & Stimpy.

A petty rant

Dear people who take the elevator up or down a single level,

Why do this? Why? Why are you going to delay the progress of my day just because you're too lazy to collapse your dumb schoolbag on wheels and carry it down the stairs? Buy a backpack! This way you can carry all the overpriced nursing and accounting tomes you need by using the solid strength of your humanoid physique. It'll surprise you how much your shoulders and back can support, give it a shot!

And double-shame on you who don't have dumb school bags on wheels but still take the elevator up or down a single level. Seriously? Take the stairs, fatty!


^^^^^^^^^ USE THEM! ^^^^^^^^^