I stumble around the internet quite a lot.  I love finding crazy things I would not have found otherwise.  It got me thinking how I wish I could share the sites I find with others and encourage other people to explore the internet as well. 

Let me begin by stating that I use Firefox and have installed the stumbleupon toolbar to assist me with this.  If you have this toolbar and would like to see some sites I enjoy my username is radioactivesmurf.  A little background here is that I have rated over 11,000 websites using this toolbar and am fanatic about it.  It is because of this that I will choose one site a day to write and share through my blog.

Today's site can be found at http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/figurine  This is a crazy flash video that makes you wanna go WAHHH!  It's insane but fun and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  Until tomorrow everybody always remember we may never understand this world and we may not ever receive the answers to our questions, but the beauty of living is realizing everday holds suprises. 

I have discussed this topic in various forms of media before and I believe it is worth visiting here too.  I have talked about this on a Radio show I had at Beloit College, in my school newspaper and now I share it with you. 

CEREAL MASCOTS SET HORRIBLE EXAMPLES FOR CHILDREN!!

The Trix Rabbit is a friendly rabbit who only wants some cereal.  It's not a big request he only wishes that children would share with him.  He gets desperate and will steal, or dress up in disguises just to partake in a cereal that these children clearly love.  Do we teach kids that sharing is caring?  NO!  We teach them selfishness and to rationalize your greed with catch phrases like " Silly Rabbit Trix are for kids!"  Oh Really?  Says who?  I don't see why this kind rabbit who never did any wrong cannot have a bowl of delicious cereal.  Rotten kids just get in his way.

Tell me that Tony the Tiger is not on steroids.  He would love for you to believe that it is sugar on his frosted flakes but is it really?  This tiger is HUGE even for tiger standards.  Plus what is with all the kids hitting home runs in his commercials?  That seems a bit beyond little league play.  I think this mascot pushes drugs onto young impressionable kids.  No wonder there is such a problem in baseball today.  This guys is the Barry Bonds of the cereal world.

I don't know where to begin with this.  First his catch phrase is " I gotta have my smacks " which is wrong in so many ways.  Let's start with the fact that smacks is a street name for black tar heroin.  I wonder why he has to have his smacks?  Is it cause he is having withdrawal symptoms and needs his fix?  This frog needs help and he needs to get away from kids telling them all about smacks.

What do you suppose we can learn from Lucky Charms?  TO CHASE AND POTENTIALLY BEAT UP THOSE WHO HAVE WHAT WE WANT!!  Seriously these kids never let up on poor lucky.  He is always running away from these little monsters as they try to steal his charms.  He is using everything he's got to keep these kids away from him and they just won't let up.  Those little thieves will not rest until they have taken everything away from poor lucky.

Last but not least is Captain Crunch.  Do you feel comfortable with a salty sea captain sitting down to eat breakfast with your children?  I wouldn't. He even brings kids on his ship which seems like kidnapping to me as I never saw any parental approval and I don't know a parent alive who would say yes to their kid asking this " I'm going on a ship with an old man because he promised me sugar cereal "  I don't know what the captain is getting at but I think this old seadog needs to keep his crunch berries to himself.

So this is my take on cereal mascots.  What do you think?

http://englishrussia.com/?p=293

I was looking at the above site which I came across with the use of the StumbleUpon toolbar.  It is true what they say...a picture is worth a thousand words.  I can't believe that people can walk around the city of Chernobyl and it's mesmerizing to see what's left.  It really got my imagination running.  This was once a thriving city that even had a big carnival planned.  It was scheduled to take place just 4 days after the meltdown occurred.   The people did  not know that they were in danger because everybody was lied to.  It's well known that Russias ego is to big to admit a mistake and for that they killed many people and put more in danger.  It's horrifying and the panic that must have set in is unfathomable.  What amazed me most about this though was how mother nature took over this radioactive wasteland.  Tree's and shrubbery are growing all over the city slow reclaiming what they once had.  There is no doubting the power of mother earth with these pictures.  Take a look through the site and let me know what you think about it.  What is going through your mind and how does it make you feel? 

http://text2go.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/85-of-men-prefer-listening-to-a-female-voice/

We had an interesting discussion at work today when we got to discussing the helpdesk phone prompts.  Do people prefer a male or female voice?  I know I prefer the sound of a woman's voice as it is gentler and more pleasant to the rougher and harder male voice. 

I know from working in the service industry that women prefer to deal with women and men prefer to deal with women as well though I am not sure how of that has to do with the voice.  That could be other factors but it does make you think.  I had trouble finding studies to back either claim up honestly and am interested in other opinions.  So I ask which do you prefer: The male or female voice?

Rarely do I come across a show that I cannot wait to see each week.  Previously it was the X-Files but recently there has been a new one.  I say this with all confidence that with the show in it's third season it is HEROES!!!  Seriously I fell in love with this show day one.  I gotta say that if you are not watching this then you are missing out.

The first season was phenomenal.  I own it on DVD and have watched the entire season twice.  I love it and find that it has great character development, plot lines, and story.  It really is captivating and draws you in wondering what will happen next.  It creates this world of wonder where you just don't know what is going on.

Sadly the second season was not what fans wanted.  It was building up slowly to a crescendo but was cut short due to the writers strike and lost many viewers.  I understand the complaints of this season but can also see what the writers was trying to go for.  I feel this season would have done much better had it not been sliced in half.

The third season though IS AMAZING!!  Seriously my wife stopped watching the show in the second season but is now one of the biggest fans I know.  She can't get enough of this show because the third season has been so spectacular.  If you don't know what's going on and that is what's holding you back then rent the season, read it online, or ask me and I will talk your ear off about it and get you up to speed.  I am serious people this show is great and does not deserve any of the negativity it is receiving.  Judge for yourself and believe me you will not regret it.

This might be a short blog but I gotta say that everybody must see the new comedy I Love You Man.  I saw a pre-screening of it last night and have not laughed so hard in a long time.  Literally from beginning to end I laughed and it wasn't like your normal gross out humor.  It was just well written humor with characters you actually care about.  Seriously go out and watch it.  You will not regret it.

I think most people forget this when they stop being a teenager but I have not because of the hormonal imbalance I feel from my thyroid condition but have you ever noticed how things in your mind, or how you perceive people and situations, are not always the reality of the situation?  It is something I have struggled with for quite some time because I am always questioning if I am over reacting, or being reasonable.  My mind will often blow things out of proportion especially lately because of the stress I am under.  I just went under a re-org at work, and I work in the financial sector so I am feeling the pain of the current economy. I just got to thinking last night if you can really trust your heart or brain when it comes to emotion because they can often be wrong.  It's hard though to separate yourself from emotion because it can be such a part of who you are. 

Is there something that you do to make sure you are not over reacting to situations and are keeping a level head?

I have been learning all about how people use the internet and data differently.  Most people just scan to see if it is something worth their time or if it was what they were looking for.  Very few read every word written on a page.  It really got me thinking though about who the readers are for Xanga.  What is it that people look for on this blog site?  Is it to find a voice or to get as many comments as possible.  Could it be possible that there are different readers for this site but then how do you find them?  Do you ever get the feeling that there are some great writers on this site that just don't get recognized and are buried among the mass of blogs that can be found here?  It just has my mind reeling and it's very fascinating to me.  What do you all think?

I absolutely love the entire Nightmare on Elm Street series.  I mean more than any horror movie these stand out in so many ways.  they are some of the most entertaining. beautiful, and creative films I have seen in the genre.  Please let me explain why.

First it is experimental in nature.  Since so much of it takes place in dreams the ability to explore different ideas, concepts, and places is possible.  The way they make the dreamscapes come alive is incredible and frightening.  The way they portray the house on Elm Street, show people not being able to run from Freddy, or show a melting bicycle are all very interesting and powerful.  The house is the place the Freddy is most comfortable in so of course he likes to trap people there since it is his territory.  The melting bicycle is the innocense of childhood the Freddy destroys in all of his victims.  Even the music they use in all the movies is eerie, and yet always identifieable with Freddy.

Second I love how there are no dumb females in these films.  You never see a half naked blonde in heels running away but in fact in almost every film it is a female who saves the day.  They outwit Freddy everytime and while he may keep coming back they keep defeating him.  Truly a breath of fresh air in the genre as a whole.  I know others do this as well but for some reason it always hit me hardest with Freddy because of the way they not only defeat him but outsmart him too.

Finally it is the creative aspect of the film.  Sure some are better than others but each one has an aspect of it that sets it apart from the rest.  It could be the dreams of an unborn baby, using dream powers against your attacker, recognizing the fact that if he can hurt in your world then you can hurt him in yours if you can get him out.  All very good takes on what could be a tired series.  Even the way they mix reality with moves in Wes Cravens nightmare is nothing short of spectacular.  That movie is truly an unappreciated piece of cinematic genius.  The way that everything is so real and believable you begin to think that Freddy Krueger could be real by the end of the film.  I remember the first time I saw that I had trouble going to sleep that nigth and NOTHING ever scares me.  I can watch just about any other horror and go right to bed afterwards.  That movie got me to the core becuase it was told so well and shot so beautifully.  I always said that I judge horror movies on a different scale than other movies because with horror you need to be more lenient to enjoy it.  Wes Cravens New Nightmare though stands on it's own as a great film among them all.  I don't have to judge it any less because it is great enough to stand on it's own. 

I am currently watching Nightmare on Elm Street 3 - Dream Warriors and am still in awe at how freaky this film is even though I have seen it countless times, and it was made in 1987.  The effects and story telling is great.  Any fan of horror needs to watch the entire Nightmare on Elm Street series in order.  Even if Freddy's dead is terrible and should be stricken from the series.

I love to roller blade.  It is the best way for me to exercise and de-stress.  When I was in college I would roller blade at least 8 miles a week but sometimes even 16 I loved it so much.  I would be so exhausted after wards but in a good way.  I would just pass out for an hour or two because it would take so much out of me but it was cathartic.  Just me, the trail, and my CD player busting out whatever I felt like listening to that day.  There was nothing like Roller Blading for me.  I would like to get back into and try to but it's hard to find good places to go.  I live in Missouri so there are hills everwhere.  The trail I would go on in college is about half an hour drive away from me.  Sure I should make the drive but it is harder to get motivated when there is also half an hour drive involved.  I really should for my health though.  It stands to be obvious that anybody who gets that kind of exercise is going to be in at least somewhat good shape.  I can't wait for the warmer weather now.  I will make that drive more often this year.  What is your favorite type of exercise?