My New Blog Website

I am currently in the process of creating my own website. I already own the rights to three domains, but this one will be my personal page.

http://www.Jcondon.com will be the place for my new posts, rather than this website.

Check it out!

-Joseph Condon

My New Favorite Music Video.

I was browsing YouTube today and I began searching for videos from the band OK GO. One video in particular really caught my eye, and I think everyone should take a look. It's a great song too!
I also recommend taking a look at most of the bands' other videos as well; they are all just as amazing.

If you would like to view it full screen, you do so with the controls at the bottom of the video. I strongly advise you to do so.
Here it is:

The End of Something Special...

I realized recently that I hadn't posted any new blogs in a great while, and I thought I should dust off the old keyboard and give it a try.

A great deal has changed since my last post. The last time I wrote in, I was an engaged, happy young man. Since then, I've lost a career, a friend, a love, and a life that I had grown happy with. It was a life I saw myself living and actually being comfortable with. It's really not that complicated of a story, but I still feel I don't know enough about the situation to give a reason to what actually caused these recent events. I suppose true love doesn't come as easy as we'd like, and that's going to be my mentality moving forward.
Great family and friends have proven once again to be the cure to most of life's problems, big or small. I'm blessed to have both the family and friends to make that possible.
It truly is remarkable when things are suddenly placed into perspective and you realize what could have been different, but it's not always worth crying over. For now, I have my own new obstacles to overcome.
Financial struggles are only the tip of the iceberg for this guy, but I suppose things could be much worse. I wish it was always easy to wake up with that type of mindset; but I suppose time is the biggest remedy for something like this. Sometimes things are simply easier said than done.
I'm sure I've learned a lot from all of this, but I haven't been presented with the opportunity to apply it all just yet. I've really surrounded myself with the friends that I love and the music that gets me through nearly anything. We all swim for brighter days even though it often seems like things will never get better. I know I've reached that point in my life through all of this.
I may as well ditch my dismay and get a hold of what really matters. Right now, I think getting my life back on track is more important than ever. Bills can be paid off, and school can resume in the near future, it will just be a tough transitional period between then and now. I'm sure my next series of blogs won't be quite as dreary. I hope to resume writing as usual if/when time allows.

--I would like the share the ultimate break-up album, which contains wonderful lyrics that got me through 90% of my recent struggles.

Relient K: "Forget and Not Slow Down"

The Proposal

Sorry for the delay, everything has been really crazy lately. To pick up where I left off in the previous post; I proposed and it was almost exactly how I wanted it to go.
It was the week before Valentines day and I was planning on popping the big question on February 14th. Kaylynn came home from work and told me that she had to work on Valentines Day and that we would have to make plans for another day to go out to dinner. I was pretty upset, but didn't want to show it. Eventually I made plans for the day before to take her for a walk through the "sunken gardens" here in Lincoln. The plants hadn't really grown in all that good yet but it was still beautiful. I had bought a box of chocolates earlier in the day and replaced the center chocolate with the ring. I carefully re-wrapped the chocolate box in the original wrapping and kept it in my coat pocket. As we walked around the garden I talked to her about how much I loved her; which honestly wasn't a giveaway considering that's how we talk on a daily basis. As we came to a clearing in the trees, there was a park bench, so I asked if she would like to sit.. she said yes. I presented her with the box of chocolates and told her that beings she had to work on Valentine's day, I would give her the present early. She was completely happy with the box of chocolates and became even happier when she opened them. Even though the ground was a little bit on the muddy side; I took a knee.

I expected to hear "yes" and I got it. The part that made ME tear up was when she looked at me and asked, "What took you so long"?

So I proposed... I'm engaged... I'm going to be married soon. This was a rather sloppy post; but I've told the story 3,000 times and this is the "short" version.
Hooray for me, and hooray for us!!

-Joe

A Hefty Proposal...

It's no joke.
I've really done it.

( Details to Follow In A Later Post)


The Ring....

Joe's Computer Repair

I mentioned in my last post that this year I made an attempt to launch my own computer repair business. So far I have only been slightly successful. All of the promotion and ad launching was something I did well, and this has helped me to gain my first loyal customers. I've always been great at fixing random computer problems so I decided to put my knowledge to the test in a market that is already over-saturated in computer repair businesses. I named my business "Joe's Computer Repair" (how original). So far I'm in the first few results on a Lincoln, NE Google search and have been listed on sites such as Local.com, SuperPages, Yellowpages, Yahoo, and Switchboard. Hopefully all of this will do more to further my exposure. 2009 is if to a quick start, and I hope the new year brings me good luck, I will need it.

To visit my new business website (which I personally built) please visit:

www.JCrepair.com

-Joe

My New First Post...

It's been over 6 months since my last post, so now I feel like a slacker. My very first post was in the first month of 2008 so I figured the first month of 2009 was an appropriate time to start again. My life has been pretty hectic but pretty amazing in this 6 month period. Nearly 7 months ago I met the most amazing woman ever (Kaylynn) and have since then moved in with her. Us two are pretty darn happy and lucky to have each; she's definitely a keeper... that's all I'll say about that (for now).
This year I didn't put a whole lot of thought into a good New Year's Resolution but once I did, it was an easy and smart choice. Kaylynn & I decided to do one together. Since we've both put on a little weight since meeting each other, we decided to eat healthy and stay active in 2009. So far things are going great, we've both lost a couple of pounds and are not regretting our choice. Since the last time I posted, I've taken a short break from the college life, even though I plan to return very soon. In my time off I've been making a living via my new computer business, which I will blog about someday soon. Christmas was great as I got to see a decent portion of my family and received more gifts than I ever asked for. My mother even bought us a new kitten, which we named Dexter.

Basically, all is well. For the first time in my life I'm truly in love and loving life. Things probably couldn't get any better - but they will......

Warped Tour 2008

It was about 4 am on a Wednesday morning and neither my friends or I had seen any sleep. We suddenly had the crazy idea that we all needed to go to a concert together. I quickly remembered the fact that the Vans Warped Tour was playing later that day near Kansas City, MO in a town called Bonner Springs. Vans Warped Tour, being one of the biggest concerts of the year, seemed like an amazing idea to all four of us. Before we could all decide whether or not to make the drive only a few hours later, I had already purchased and printed the tickets. So there we had it, with no time to sleep, we had to jump in a vehicle and take a trip down to Kansas City. We were all running high on nothing more than McDonalds and adrenaline. The trip went fairly smooth and we arrived in Bonner Springs just a little before noon. I was very excited because many of my favorite bands were playing that day (Relient K, Jack's Mannequin, Angels & Airwaves, Say Anything... etc.) Even though I had already seen them all live before, I had never seen them all in one day in the same venue. This year, the Warped Tour consisted of over 100 bands dispersed over about 8 stages. We made our rounds and met some interesting people! The day was going great and I was enjoying all of my favorite shows. One final band remained, Angels & Airwaves. We quickly rushed to the front of the stage to get the best view of the band. Just as we were about to hear amazing music, the storm hit. Rain began pouring down on all of us, creating a flood throughout the entire amphitheater grounds. Soon after, there was hail. Just as the band was about to take the stage, the city suits swept in and called off the show, without refunds. We were all super bummed and left the area before the riot took place, (which did end up happening by the way)! We ran quickly to our vehicle as to not let our cameras and phones get destroyed. We were all still alive by the time we reached my car... unfortunately my car was not. The battery had somehow died, along with several other Nebraska vehicles nearby. We quickly grouped up and all jump-started each others vehicles. The rain kept pouring, and we were drenched, muddy, and in nothing but our boxer shorts by this point. It was odd how the only people that got together to help one another, were all from Lincoln, Nebraska. Good people! We were on the road about an hour later, and hope a little after 2 in the morning. Overall, the show was good. We missed an amazing band but had the pleasure of seeing 50 others. It also helped that I had already seen Angels & Airwaves live in San Jose, California, so I'm fine. Here are some pictures and video I managed to capture before the perfect storm.

At Least I've Made It This Far...

I figured now would be a fitting time to post another one of these things, mainly because of a certain important someone urging me to. I kind of fell off the bandwagon when it came to typing these things up. There were plenty of situations and thoughts that I was definitely temped to post, but was just too lazy to do so. This last month marked 6 months of existence for this blog, and also marked the 1500 views mark. Thanks! I'm coming off a rather long stint of situations and events that have more than persuaded me to keep venting on here. I will probably find the time to post more often now. Hopefully everyone is enjoying their summer as much as I have so far. Independence Day was nothing short of amazing for me, as it should be for everyone. A new term of college is only 2 days from now and the short break I had was spent well... for the most part. Job hunting amongst a 16 credit-hour term is my next big obstacle, I'm sure I can do it. Thanks again to all of you that still read this from time to time.

-J. Condon

This Is War...

Recently, I was enjoying the first week of my entire college career that I DIDN'T have much homework. Every now and again I get a wild hair to get creative with the bit of computer knowledge that I have. Lately, I've been in the mood for older war movies, namely those centered around the second world war. I decided to create a war video consisting of a mix of both picture stills and authentic video clips. This all resulted in a rather lengthy film that I have now posted on youtube. So far I've had mixed reviews, most of them good. My views and stance on the war are not injected into the film anywhere for many reasons, so it's not any form of message or propaganda, but merely a short film that can open one's eyes about what war really is, and the many effects it can have. As I mentioned, it clocks in at just under 10 minutes, so only watch it if you have that much time to spare, as it's not near as good when viewed in individual segments. Any comments and tips are more than welcomed both on this blog and on the comment portion of youtube.

Thanks and enjoy,
Joseph Condon

---

This Is War...

CLICK HERE to be taken to the youtube version of this video to rate or leave comments.

Mothers, Have a Happy Day.

People should thank their Mother's every single day for the hard work and knowledge they have instilled in their children. Obviously, most people don't do this, not even the grateful ones. I can fit into that category. I more than anyone have noticed the type of hard work it takes for a mother to raise a child... or children for that matter. Yet I still only take a few days out of every year to let my Mom know how much I still care. I usually get my word out by roses and chocolates of some sort, but this year I'm a little more strapped for cash, and I live in a different town. So everyone that's reading, make sure you call your Mother and let her know just how you really feel, it's the very least you could do. Then call your Grandmothers and let them know, because they created the parent that created you!
For my mother, I will refresh her memory with the following vintage (mid 90's) photo:


Have a happy day, all you mothers out there!

-Joseph Condon

Thank You For smoking... NOT!

Ever since as early as I can remember, I've hated the idea of smoking. I felt this way even before I was taught in grade school about the negative effects of tobacco and the long-term, possibly life-ending results. I've actually grown up around smokers for most of my life. My Mother smokes, my Grandmother smoked, and many other people in my life have as well. Sometimes I wonder how it is that I've never even once tried to take a single drag from one of the dreadful things. I also often wonder if those that have smoked around me for all these years have ever felt saddened by the negative effects they have had on their lungs, and on my lungs for that matter. I believe it is everyone's right to do as they choose and to smoke if that's how they intend to treat their bodies. However, I believe that it is also my right to encourage them to stop. I recently came across a video on Youtube.com that shows the tar buildup from a select number of cigarettes. The video shows the amount of tar and harmful chemicals that actually enter the human body while smoking cigarettes. Please watch it when you get the time.

After watching the video, most people would think that it is overdone, I mean, who smokes 400 cigarettes anyway right? But for most smokers that suck down a pack-a-day or more, that is only 20 days worth (less than a month) before you have already taken in that much tar! There's more.

American Lung Association Smoking Statistics
If you're a smoker, you've probably been bombarded with statistics before. Let's look at some of the most important, courtesy of the American Lung Association:

• More than 430,000 Americans die every year from smoking-related diseases, including those who have heart attacks.


• Cigarettes contain at least 43 cancer-causing chemicals.
  
  Smoking during pregnancy is responsible for 20 to 30 percent of all low-birth-weight babies.


• Secondhand smoke is very dangerous for children. It causes between 150,000 and 300,000 cases of lower respiratory infections in children every year.


• More American women die annually from lung cancer than from breast cancer. In addition to cancer and heart disease (Smoking and Heart Diseases, smoking can also cause infertility, slow wound healing, and stomach ulcers.

Leaving Home Ain't Easy

March 14th marked the first day of my life away from home. At 19 years old, you could say it's about time! Having graduated at a nearby school and then went to college only three miles away, I found that living at home for free was the smart thing to do. Now college in my hometown is over and I've transfered to Southeast in Lincoln. The hardest part of all of this is all the memories and personal items that I had to leave behind. It was amazing to start packing and begin finding so many things that I once held so close to me in random places under my bed and throughout my closet. That's when I really realized how much a person changes over the course of time. Things that I once thought I would never get rid of, suddenly were so easy to toss into the trashcan beside me. I think I had already made that change to the point where I was ready to leave home and begin the second half of my life, it just took me a while to take the first step. Now that I have settled into my home in Lincoln, I feel free and have an overwhelming sense of independence and responsibility. I'm very fortunate to be living with such great friends in such a great house. I think now the fun times that I didn't want to leave behind at home are just distant memories to the fun times that are ahead. I think the best times of my life are coming soon and that's all I need to keep going up here on my own. So advice, to any teenage graduate: Leaving home isn't easy, but being gone is a whole new story.
-Joseph Condon

My Favorite Actors... thus far

As many know, I'm a very big fan of films in any genre. I will pretty much watch about anything that comes out at any given time. There are some movies, however, that I put on the top of my "to-watch-list" simply because I'm a huge fan of the actor(s) involved. I started by making a list of my favorite actors, and it grew to the point where I had nearly 50... yeah, pretty crazy. I had to narrow it down to the ones that have persuaded me to watch any movie they star in.
My top 15 favorite LIVING, must-watch actors are:

1. Leonardo DiCaprio (every movie this guy has been in has become a personal favorite!)
2. Johnny Depp
3. Steve Carrol
4. Owen Wilson
5. Nicolas Cage
6. Luke Wilson
7. Jason Swartzman
8. Pierce Brosnan
9. Will Smith
10. Edward Norton
11. Jim Carrey
12. Adam Sandler
13. Robin Williams
14. Tom Hanks
15. Chevy Chase

I could go on for days.... and I could more than likely even rearrange the list above. Other actors that could tie for 16th place would include: Billy Murray, Steve Zahn, Michael Cera, Anthony Hopkins, Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Alba, Amanda Peet, William H. Macy, David Spade, Giovanni Ribisi, Steve Buscemi, Rowan Atkinson, Danial Craig, George Clooney, Don Cheedle, Johnny Knoxville, Vince Vaugn, Kevin Smith, Matt Damon, Ben Stiller, Will Ferrel, and Rob Schneider.

Deceased actors would probably include: Chris Farely, John Candy, and Heath Ledger

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Sometimes I find myself sitting around in my downtime thinking of what I would do first if I won the lottery. I'm sure everyone has done it at some point in their life. I recently checked the Nebraska Lottery website and found the that jackpot is current at 133 million dollars! Obviously I would take the payment plan rather than a lump sum, considering I'm still young. I think the first thing I would do is secure at least half of the money in separate CD accounts (Certificate Deposits) and FDIC approved savings accounts. From those I could live off the interest alone for the rest of my life, but like I said, that's only half the money. My next step would be to make all my family members and very close friends instant millionaires. I would mention to them not to ever ask me for money again, and rightfully so! Their debts would be paid, and it would be up to them to keep track of funds. From here I would obviously still have a lot more money to spare. Keeping in mind that most of my money is already invested wisely, I would now purchase physical items. I would start off by buying a new house, one in America and one in a foreign country, preferably Italy or Ireland. One of these homes would be nested on a large vineyard. Next, I would buy a new vehicle. I wouldn't get a gas guzzling beast but instead a nice sports car. From this point, I would spend the rest of my days traveling the world with my best friends and family. Of course I'm only dreaming. The chances of winning the lottery are slim to none, and it seems you have to already be rich for things to go in your favor. I'm hoping that a close relative will win and share the wealth sometime soon; I suppose it could be anyone, any day! What would you do with your millions of dollars?

J. Condon

Alone On Valentine's Day...

It's Valentine's Day today and like most other years I'm going to be alone (dating-wise). I thought about it last night and got a little depressed.. but only for about 3 seconds. I haven't really tried to find a girlfriend with all that I've had going on lately, so it's partially my fault. When I think about it, Valentine's day is supposed to be about spending time with the things you really love and showing your appreciation for those things. Somewhere along the line I think those "things" suddenly evolved into a boyfriend or girlfriend... but not for me. Today/Tonight, I will spend time with the things I love, and I will love it! I've already listened to music from my favorite artists all day and tonight I'm hanging out with several of my best friends. I think the best advice to anyone who will be "alone" this year on V-Day is that honestly, you're not alone. Surround yourself with things that make you happy and if it makes you feel any better, buy yourself some chocolates. Personally, I'm very thankful that today I don't have to spend loads of money on candy and jewelry for a girlfriend, like so many of my good friends. Today, I will take joy in the fact that my lovely grandmother turns 80, I have amazing friends, and I have all my schoolwork done! I suppose I'm happy and very thankful for all of that! What more could a guy ask for?

A "Wingless Bird" For Our Rising Gas Prices?

Gas prices are getting ridiculous. I think we can all agree on that. I'm sure in the big cities, it's even worse than here in Beatrice. This morning I filled my tank and it cost me more than $40! To me, that's a lot to pay considering I only drive to work and school (2-7) miles everyday. I drive a 1993 Dodge Spirit car, so imagine the cost for someone filling their Expeditions and other SUVs. I do hate the gas prices, but I don't feel bad for those driving the gas-chugging vehicles; just buy a more fuel efficient automobile! If all else fails, think green!
I, like many others, am eagerly awaiting the day that car dealerships will begin to sell (affordable) fuel efficient, or electric powered cars. Whatever happened to the electric car? They used to have them buzzing around California.
In 1996, electric cars began appearing on roads across California. They were quiet and fast, produced no exhaust, and ran without gasoline. They were so efficient that major car companies and oil companies paid to have them taken back and destroyed. That's the America
we live in I suppose.

Right now in California there is a car being built that supposedly will get 300 mpg! They are set to begin production in late 2008. It's a rather odd looking vehicle, but if it is ever released, I will look into it! CLICK HERE to view the new Aptera: The "Wingless Bird".
I'm all about helping the environment, even though I don't come off that way. I hope in the future I'm able to live in a clean environment and provide the same for my children, but that's just me. So with global warming, pollution, unrest in the Middle East, and rising gas prices; is there an alternative? Well I guess only time will tell. Hopefully I'm alive to see that day.

Joseph Condon

Super Bowl + Commercials

Well, I didn't really care as much about the Super Bowl this year. This was due to the fact that I didn't care for either of the two teams competing. It was a good game, and I'm glad the Patriots lost... that being said, the commercials didn't make matters a whole lot better. There weren't many good ads this year. The Budweiser ads usually make me laugh the most, but not this year. Here was one of only about 5 commercials that I actually got a kick out of; enjoy:

Top Albums of 2007

Wow, much like the movies of 2007.. it was a good year, overall, for new music... at least for my specific genre selection. I was lucky to have many of my favorite bands put out new material. I can't say "Go purchase this music, it will open your eyes" because everyone likes different genres... BUT it is great music to say the least. Here is a list of MY top 25 albums of 2007; these are the ones I could get through without skipping a single track, and I still listen to today:

1. Relient K: Five Score and Seven Years Ago
2. Angels & Airwaves: I-Empire
3. Cartel: Cartel
4. Dashboard Confessional - The Shade of Poison Trees
5. Rooney: Calling the World
6. Hot Hot Heat: Happiness Ltd.
7. Jimmy Eat World: Chase This Light
8. Silverchair: Young Modern
9. Secondhand Serenade: Awake
10. The Fratellis : Costello Music
11. Gillmor: Counting the Days
12. James Blunt: All the Lost Souls
13. Puddle of Mudd: Famous
14. Maroon 5: It Won't Be Soon Before Long
15. Rufus Wainwright: Release the Stars
16. Matchbox Twenty: Exile on Mainstream
17. Yellowcard: Paper Walls
18. The Thrills: Teenager
19. Relient K: Let It Snow Baby, Let It Reindear
20. Motion City Soundtrack: Even If It Kills Me
21. Hanson: The Walk
22. The Shins: Wincing the Night Away
23. Sum 41: Underclass Hero
24. Dashboard Confessional: The Wire Tapes
25. Lifehouse: Who We Are

There were a lot more that were VERY good, but didn't quite make the cut in my opinion. Other bands that came close include but are not limited to:

(Academy Is..., Collective Soul, Fall Out Boy, Honorary Title, Mae, Matt Nathanson, Sherwood, etc..)

J. Condon

Only the good die young.

I will try to keep this blog short, because I could name millions of individuals that died before their time, which is sad. Last Tuesday, as you know, we lost a tremendous young talent in actor Heath Ledger. Ledger was found dead in his Manhattan apartment after taking one-too-many sleeping pills. The toxicology reports and investigative reports returned that it was accidental. To me these are the worst instances because not only did no one see it coming, but it happened on accident at the young age of 28! I really think that Heath Ledger was a rising star in Hollywood and you can't help but think what movies will never be made beings he is gone. Making this situation all the more sad is that he left behind his two year old daughter. So this blog really goes out to anyone that you think may have passed before their time, I know I can name quite a few, and hopefully we all can.

2007 also saw a lot of notable passings, to many to list here in fact. CLICK HERE for a full list of the notable deaths of 2007. It's really too bad the 2008 list will start off on such a sad note. RIP

-J. Condon

The Movies of 2007

In my opinion, 2007 was a good year for movies releases. We saw a good variety in all genres possible, and I personally had one of my biggest "movie going" years of my life. Over 300 movies actually came out in 2007, that's almost enough to watch a new flick everyday of the year... i wish. Now out of these 300-something movies, I made a list of the ones that I enjoyed the most... I left out the ones that weren't that good to me.. here is my list of the 77 best movies of 2007. If you are going to watch only 77 movies to recap 2007, this would be the list to choose from. I typed them as they came to mind, and they are in alphabetical order. Enjoy:

• 300
• 1408
• 11Th Hour
• 28 Weeks Later
• 3:10 to Yuma
• Balls of Fury
• Black Snake Moan
• Blades of Glory
• Breach
• Catch And Release
• Chuck and Larry
• Dan In Real Life
• Dead Silence
• Death Proof
• Death Sentence
• December Boys
• Disturbia
• Evan Almighty
• Everything's Gone Green
• Fracture
• Freedom Writers
• Good Luck Chuck
• Grind House
• Halloween
• Hannibal Rising
• Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix
• He Was A Quiet Man
• Hostel: Part II
• Hot Rod
• I Am Legend
• I Think I love My Wife
• In The Land Of Women
• Invisible
• Knocked Up
• License To Wed
• Live Free Or Die Hard
• Meet The Robinsons
• Mr. Brooks
• Mr. Woodcock
• National Treasure: Book of Secrets
• Next
• No Country For Old Men
• Norbit
• Ocean's 13
• Perfect Stranger
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End'
• Ratatouille
• Reign Over Me
• Rescue Dawn
• Resident Evil: Extinction
• Rush Hour 3
• Saw 4
• Shooter
• Shrek the Third
• Smokin' Aces
• Spider-Man 3
• Super Bad
• Surf's Up
• The Bourne Ultimatum
• The Brothers Solomon
• The Condemned
• The Darjelling Limited
• The EX
• The Heartbreak Kid
• The Hitcher
• The Hoax
• The Kingdom
• The Lookout
• The Number 23
• The Simpson's Movie
• The Wendell Baker Story
• This Is England
• Transformers
• Vacancy
• Wild Hogs
• You Kill Me
• Zodiac

America's Youth... Don't just stand idle!

I'd say this could be a very biased and opinionated blog, and some won't agree with all my points; and just for the record, I respect all the names I mention after this point, just not some of their previous actions and life decisions. That being said, I'll begin. Lately I've really taken the time to sit down and watch the news, really get into it, to the point where I have to shut it off or I won't get sleep. I've become increasingly aware that America's youth could be going to crap before our eyes. Every news channel you switch to has a story running on the crazy mishaps of Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, Jamie Spears, Nicole Ritchie, etc. All either consist of breaking laws or abusing money by way of drugs. In my opinion, I can't stand the bull that comes out of their parents' mouths when they say "We are just going through a rough time with our celebrity daughter, it's normal problems and we are only in the spotlight because we are celebrities". OK, so when did teen drug abuse and breaking serious laws become "normal" for today's youth? It's sad really. Now I'll be careful here, and mention a couple names (One of which I REALLY respect, but disagreed with his infidelity). An example of my point would be Britney Spears' parents. They made that quote I mentioned above, and it's ridiculous. That entire family is cashing in on the misfortunes of BOTH of their daughters. Those parents run around like JFK and watch that poor girl waste the best years of her life, I'll be damned if I would let my children go out that way. On top of all that, Spears' mother recently called her children "her little piggy banks"! This comment was made just after she sold her 16 year old daughter's pregnancy story for $1 Million dollars to the press. I'm rambling on here, and you get the point.. it's frustrating.. and what's worse is we have to turn on the TV and watch these celebrities destroy their lives, day-by-day. Their bad habits can and will eventually ruin them if they cannot receive proper family support. CLICK HERE to see a list of celebrities that could have hung around for several more years to entertain the world, had they not been thrusted into the spotlight in a time of need. So the next time you think you need just a little bit more money, just a little bit more fame; keep in mind that money can never truly bring the happiness and well-being that we really need. If America's youth everywhere is growing up like this, think down the road when they are the leaders of our country, our adults... it's not exactly a pretty picture to paint. SO, in order to provide our youth with a better world and a better future, we have to first provide a better present. And to all you parents out there, rule with an iron fist if you still can.
--Joseph M. Condon

Plead The Fifth

In the past year I've really become aware of how many outspoken people actually inhabit this country.... this town for that matter. I've really started to notice how simply saying too much can actually effect how people think of you. In my opinion it's one of the deciding factors in spotting good character.
Just so we're all on the same page here; to plead the fifth is similar to the right to remain silent, in that it provides you with a way out of speaking on the grounds that you could be obstructing justice, saying something inappropriate, or simply something very embarrassing.
So now that we are all up to speed on that, it's probably fairly easy to think of a time you should have kept your mouth shut, and maybe said a little less. I know I can think of many instances where I should have just kept my thoughts to myself. In my opinion, someone who speaks their mind is someone who is outgoing and probably has a good personality. HOWEVER, most of these same people don't know where to draw the line between good and bad when it comes to conversing. For instance, I have a good friend that is really a great person, very smart, and kind enough to keep around; but this same person also puts me into some of my most awkward situations. At random moments of importance, this person can't control the hole in his/her face.. and it's really hard to claim a friend like that at times. So before I go off complaining about people, I will just throw out some advice, take it or leave it: think about what you're going to say, before you actually say it! Lately, I exercise my right to remain silent on a daily basis, I only say things that I think other people care about, or won't be offended by.. even if it means not speaking what's really on my mind at the time. Think of how many celebrities have tarnished their reputations on camera simply because of a very poor choice of words, and that's only one example. The next time you feel like saying something, but you're not sure if it will offend the people around you.. just plead the fifth! Now I will do the same, Goodnight!
- Click here for a catchy jingle to sugarcoat my point.
-Joseph Condon

Back In The Saddle

School, work, and the weekend have kept me off my computer for a couple days, so posting was impossible. But I had plenty of time to mentally sift through some ideas for new blog posts during my four hour public speaking class. I will type them up as time allows. Stay tuned.
Joseph Condon

From peer-to-peer to wallet to ear

For many years now, music has been my biggest hobby, closely followed by friends and movies... Whenever I've gone through a rough time, had a bad day, or even had an amazing day, I listen to music. So how do I get all the music that I listen to? Well, a little less than a few years ago, I was into the "illegal" peer-to-peer music download sites. Any music, new or old, could be found on these sites and one click was all it took to own that music. It wasn't until just a couple years ago that I actually realized, I don't own that music; and not only that, but I didn't enjoy the music as much knowing that I never even purchased it. There is a certain satisfaction that I get when I'm listening to music and I know that I payed for it, and have no buyers remorse whatsoever. On top of that, I'm supporting my favorite artists and what is a so-called struggling music industry. In the last year, my hard copies of music (cds, box sets, etc.) has grown from about 100 albums up to over 500 albums. My computer and iPod alone contain over 14 thousand songs. This includes individual songs and albums I've purchased from the iTunes music store. So now that I feel better about owning all this music, I have to wonder.. how much money would I have if I would have never purchased these albums? There is no doubt I've spent an obscene amount of money, but how much?
Rough estimates:

504 albums X average of $11 each = $5,544
OR
14,991 Individual songs on iTunes X $.99 each = $14,841.09

Note: This also doesn't include my records or boxed sets that I own!

Mathematics = My achilles heal.

Ok, so pretty much everything has always gone decent for me at college. Here at SCC the classes really have never been that hard. I mean, I can admit that I'm not exactly a "dumb" kid, but this past week, I've really found my weaknesses.. and they are really slowing me down. You probably figured it out, if you read the title of this blog entry, Math is the speed bump I'm stuck on. In high school it was such a breeze for me to just go to math class and get a good grade, but now, it's changed. Between factoring, simplifying, and God knows what else they will throw at me each day, I'm just confused. I'm not the type to raise my hand in class and ask for help, because that slows everyone else down. So instead, I just sit there and fall further behind everyday. I think I may have to hire a tutor just for this one class. The only good part is that all I need is a C or higher in this course and I can move on, without ever having to take another Math class again in my lifetime! So who knows, maybe in two weeks or so there will be a blog on here explaining how I conquered my fear of math and aced it. But not likely. There is always that slight chance that I will go mad, like most of the mathematicians that created what I am trying to learn. For example: Kurt Godel was one of the most significant of all mathematicians and he worked on his own formulas so much that he literally went insane! I think I too am going slightly mad! I think Freddie Mercury explained my situation the best in his song with Queen titled: "I'm Going Slightly Mad"... Except he literally was going mad, he was dying of AIDS... but still. Here is the video to illustrate what I look like when I'm trying to solver certain MATH formulas..

It's always winter, almost never Christmas...

Today, I have officially decided that I do NOT like winter in the heartland (Nebraska). It gets so cold and the only day I truly like having the snow around in Christmas, and this years was still hardly tolerable. It was just another day for me, so that just leaves me with a few months of really cold weather that brings me head colds, flues, and nothing more. I'll take sunscreen over sweatshirts any day. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE Nebraska and all it has to offer, but I really would prefer a west coast winter over this. A winter day there is equivalent to a nice spring day here, can it get any better? I mean, if you've seen snow once or twice, there isn't really much reason to revisit it every winter. So maybe I'm a wimp, but at least I'm the happiest guy in Nebraska when summertime rolls around. The other day I told my mother, "Mom, I'm tired of working and schooling here in Nebraska and having to put up with these freezing winters. I want to move to California soon where it's always summer". Well, she just looked at me, and said "Joe, you live in Nebraska, this is your life, this is where you're from, this is real". That's when I decided; I just want to take a holiday from real!
--Joseph
--Enjoy me, running... to the ocean..

P.S. The only reason I got burned by my friends, was because I was running with a camera!

Public Speaking: not my cup of tea.

Ok, today was my first 4 hour class of public speaking out at the campus. I have to say, I have always had a BIG problem with speaking to large audiences, or any audiences for that matter. It's kind of been my curse to get up there, have no confidence in myself whatsoever and then totally clam up. My face turns red, hand get shaky, etc. SO today I went into class and immediately tried to be social, with everyone... I knew one kid, so I made it a point to not sit by him and instead sit in the very front row. This was a daring move considering I am slightly famous for always claiming the seat farthest to the back. It was ok, the professor talked to me more than anyone in the classroom, so then I felt more confident when I had to stand in front of the class and deliver my life story, unscripted. All went well I think. I have three different BIG speeches to give before the end of the quarter, so I'm really hoping I can stay calm and pull through on all of them. Lets all cross our fingers.
-Joseph

2008: New Years Resolution

Well, to all of you that do intend to read this blog, Happy New Year! I guess it's something that people always say, that they will set new years resolutions and "actually" follow through with them this year... but that never seems to happen, for most. Like most people, I started thinking about what my resolutions would be for the year of '08 a little ahead of time, just so I knew what I would be up against. Really, I knew there should be less partying, less procrastination, and more college, studying, and exercise. The partying wasn't really and issue, I mean, it didn't control me or anything, but it was starting to become the "thing to do" on a weekend when I was bored. The exercise part actually is going great, well it all is in fact. I eat pretty healthy now, so that was my first change. I run a few times a week as well. I am enrolled at both SCC Beatrice and SCC Lincoln for schooling. MOST of the nonsense really has stopped, altogether in fact. I've pretty much got a clear head for the first time in my life. It's really working out great. SO for all of you that had new years resolutions, I suggest you actually give it a try, it could change a lot in your life, and maybe the lives of people you care for, who knows... and for me, so far so good... and now - so tired, goodnight!
Joseph C.

Alright... New Year, New Blog!

Ok, so I've always been pondering the idea of having my own blog on the internet. The thought occurred to me when I realized how much time I took to actually read other people's blogs, and how I always seemed to be interested in what other people had to say, so now I will do the same. Yeah, it's kind of a waste of time and no one will probably end up reading most of the stuff I post here (nor should they) but it will be somewhat of a release for me to spill my guts, even if I should just shut up.
Enjoy,
Joe.