Avoiding Arrogance

On the morning of June 18, 1815 (the Battle of Waterloo), Napoleon Bonaparte smugly assured his generals: “Wellington est un mauvais général, l'anglais sont de mauvais soldats ; nous réglerons cette matière par déjeuner." (Translation: Wellington is a bad general, the English are bad soldiers; we will settle this matter by lunchtime.)

There’s a thin line between confidence and being arrogant. Arrogance is not a human quality, it’s a self-righteous flaw. Don’t be blind with a superiority attitude, having a little humility can help you steer clear of disaster.

History only repeats itself when we are arrogant fouls and don’t learn from our past. Don’t think it could happen to you? Look at Hitler and Napoleon, their arrogance ultimately lead to their downfall.

What are the chances George Bush Jr. failed History 101?

Change Me!

Today at work my company posted several images from the Change Me campaign. It’s a great initiative Getty is doing, and it makes me happy to be a part of a company that does stuff like this. Check it out: http://changeme.gettyimages.com/

Tonada De Luna Llena

I recently found this song through a friend and have grown to really connect with the words. What is it about music that can stir so many emotions...maybe i'm just a sucker for a good ballot...even if it's in another language.

Tonada De Luna Llena
by Simon Diaz (also song by Marta Gomez and Caetano Veloso)

YO VIDE UNA GARZA MORA
DANDOLE COMBATE A UN RIO
ASI ES COMO SE ENAMORA
TU CORAZON CON EL MIO

LUNA LUNA LUNA LLENA
MENGUANTE

ANDA MUCHACHO A LA CASA
Y ME TRAES LA CARABINA JIOOO
PA MATA ESTE GAVILAN
QUE NO ME DEJA GALLINA

LA LUNA ME ESTA MIRANDO
YO NO SE LO QUE ME VE
YO TENGO LA ROPA LIMPIA
AYER TARDE LA LAVE

LUNA LUNA LUNA LLENA
MENGUANTE

Homecoming!

In just a few days I’ll be returning to MY old street! I’ll have a great new apartment, a cool new roommate, free laundry, more space, a free parking spot, a nice landlord, and on top of all that I’ll be paying less. You can’t beat that shit!

This day hasn’t come soon enough, because I’m totally over this tiny-ass apartment (by the way, speaking of tiny, you should try Minnies at 1969 Halsted—I went there Sunday night on a date, it was cute…so was the guy). Honestly, this past year has been a fantastic *do you feel the sarcasm* experiment in my life, but the time has come for it to be done. Am I ready? YES! This is yet another step in closing one chapter and opening a mysteriously wonderful new part of my life—a better and brighter future awaits me and I welcome it with great anticipation.

Despite the fact that I’ve remained in the neighborhood the move back to my old street feels like a grand homecoming. For me, I’m returning to something I know and rebuilding the foundation to my life. I’m feeling good, strong, and like I’m more in control.

Not to mention all the parties we'll be having!!! Yahoo! Beer!

Fairytale Friday

I think my friend Ben is bored at work today....but I got a kick out of this, so guess where I'm putting it!!! HA, enjoy fuckers!

Well once upon a time there was a fair fairy princess named Troygina.
She was awfully plain looking and her Evil Stepmother would never let her leave the house and buy new clothes or get a pettie or go to the dentist or get her hair done. Troygina was forced to stay home and cook and clean for her two beautiful step sisters Davphnelia and bennita.
Luckily for Davphelia and bennita Troygina was an awful cook so they remained thin and beautiful. Well one night there was a grand ball and a very handsome prince was going to be there looking for his third wife.

Well Davphiella and Bennita where all a flutter. They bedazzeled their best denim dressed and ironed each other's hair and had Troygina shave and douche their manjinas. Everyone knew Troygina would never be able to go to such a grand affair. The only dress she owned was burgundy corduroy and since her ice skating accident(or purposement) with Tonya Harding Troygina could never wear heels again. (Her bunions didn't help the situation. Well on the night of the ball as Davephilla and Bennita left Troygina hatched a plan. She decided to go in disguise, in drag under the psydo name Jessica Sterling. She used 13 cans of spray paint on her face and 27 cans of aqua net, one on her hair and the other 26 on her chest and butt. Well she thought she looked good. But when she got to the ball her makup and hair all melted. It didn't matter though because the prince turned out to be fat bald and old with liver spots so Davephilla and Bennia let Troygina have him. And have him Troygina did.
On the dance floor, in the bathroom, in the parking lot, at the bar over and over again.
THE END!

29%

George Bush approval ratings drop to 29%
Are the republicans finally realizing what the democrates knew right from the getgo? hmmm, ya gotta wonder.

Kicking Caffeine

For a long time my daily habit has been to drink between 2-3 cups of coffee, 2-4 glasses of soda, and the assortment of other caffeine boost. However, with the Gay Games looming on the horizon, and every effort being made to improving my performance I’ve decide to kick the caffeine habit. The decision came last night while I was at the bar hanging out with my water polo team.

Now comes the hard part…actually quitting. I suppose it’ll be difficult, but I think I can do it. Maybe I’ll take up smoking…that’s healthy right?

Digital Mystery

This morning I was calling a couple of clients when I noticed one of the numbers was VERY similar to my cell phone number. It made me wonder who else out there in the world has the same phone number, but with a different area code. I pondered what they would be like, are they nice, cute, and friendly like me, or are they nasty fuck-heads that are self-centered and mean? What are the chances of someone else named Troy having the same exact 7 digits? Even more random, what if they had the same birthday or liked the same kind of beer.

And what is it about certain numbers that just won’t leave your head? I still remember phone numbers of people I no longer talk to, and stores in Michigan that I haven’t visited in over 6 years. Now if I could only remember who just called me that would be great!

Interested in doing your own digit exploration? Check out these sites for area codes across North America:

• http://www.whitepages.com/10583/area_codes/?source=GO000009&KW=area_codes_exact
• http://www.cs.ucsd.edu/users/bsy/area.html

Random facts:
What would you do if your number was featured in a movie? It happens, despite the creation of prefix “555”, which was setup in the 1950’s/60’s to help prevent such cases. Even with the fake prefix, there are still numbers that are real, because the prefix only goes from 555-0100 through 555-0199. Check out more interesting facts about the prefix 555, by visiting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/555_telephone_number

That’s a Wrap!

For a last minute, in comparison to a normal photo shoot, tonight’s experiment in 35mm went fairly well. It was a good lesson on the do’s and do not’s of organizing a photo shoot and working with other creative minds. I’m sure between the models, stylist, tech people, and everyone in the middle I pissed off someone. However, you can only be so fabulous for so long, before people start to notice you’re sweating and freaking-out on the inside.

Who can blame me though? This morning started off shaky with every cab in Chicago passing me up. I think they took one look at all 12 of my bags (filled with sports equipment, a disco ball, and random stuff) and said to themselves “oh, fuck that shit”. On top of planning for this evening’s shoot, I worked a full shift at my main job. Of coarse when it rains it pours, because today of all days we got a visit from the CEO of the company, two of my account executives were out and I had to cover them, everyone had a fucking issue that was an ‘emergency’ (I’ve come to realize that there never really is an emergency, it’s just poor planning on their part), and I was having minor tech problems with my machine.

Although I’ve been procuring models for the past two weeks, over half of them canceled on me at last minute or didn’t even respond to my phone calls. Plus, my make-up artist was a maybe show, the stylist was running late, there was a misunderstanding with the location and I told people the wrong info, I was spending money like a madman, and worse of all I was starting to smell like a pig roast.

Despite everything that seemed to be going wrong, in the end I had 12 models show-up. We whipped them through make-up, waredrobe, hair, and finally greased them down (oh you know I made that my job…lol). Above everything, my volunteer crew was amazing and they really made tonight happen, even when I thought it was going to blow-up in my face. I guess a little faith does go a long way. However, we won’t really know how the shoot went until the pictures are developed tomorrow. Cross your fingers!!

I’m tired as fuck, and tonight is all a blur, which isn’t a surprise considering that I was constantly being pulled in twenty different directions at once. In a way, I’m happy, yet sad, that it’s over. This tired Dutch boy needs his bed… HA! Only 1:05am… I’m not fazed! (until I zone out at my desk tomorrow)

Horoscope

Your tendency to go for the big picture conflicts with your current desire to stay focused on basic issues. But this isn't so much about details as it is about being down to earth. You need to rediscover old routines that previously worked for you while looking forward and not back. Concentrate on the future and not on the past.

Take My Picture...

I’m gearing up my first photo shoot in which I’ll have complete control; everything form art directing, finding models and assistants, and even bringing the snacks. I just hope my efforts pay off, especially considering I’ve been working on this shoot for the last 3 weeks and having meetings five times each week.

Ugh, I really hope this pays off at the event I’m hosting later this year.

Woods and Moussaoui gets life

Moussaoui gets life

Earl Woods dies at 74

Tsunami warning in South Pacific nation of Tonga

Mission Impossible: The Boob is Out

Will someone please put a sock in that Tom Cruise's mouth and shut that jackass up. Take his alien baby to Zodar where he belongs. The guy is a wacko and I HOPE his movie flops!!

March for Freedom—A Day without Immigrants

Today the nation paused as immigrants from all walks of life march for their rights and freedom to remain in this country. From my office in downtown Chicago I could see hundreds of thousands of protestors marching toward Grant Park for a rally. Even though the boycott in Chicago is breaking records as one of the largest demonstration in the city’s history, it is only a small part of a nationwide protest that challengs immigration reform. Even in Mexico City thousands of supporters are making their voices heard by marching through the city.

I went to the street for a little bit and walked with protestors for about a block, and it was amazing. For so long it was just a subject in the news or a distant thought that never had personal meaning. However, as I found myself emerged in the crowd I could feel their emotions, the passion that brought them to the streets, and I finally gained greater understanding just how much they had to loose. To see the fear and anger on their faces was incredible. These people weren't fighting for some crappy minimum wage job, they were fighting for their freedom!

While millions of people took a stand today and marched in almost every corner of this country, I have to wonder if my own freedoms are being challenged. Since Bush has taken office we have slowly seen our freedoms shifting and being challenged (the Patriot Act). Could we in fact be looking at a tipping point in American history where our rights as citizens will be given a complete overhaul?