Working at Teleperformance

Yesterday I started working at Teleperformance. I will be doing triage (email) technical support for TurboTax after 5 weeks of training. My training is from 3-11:30 P.M. M-F. I'm getting paid $9/hr and I'll get benefits after 30 days.

Yesterday I also moved to a house that is closer to my new job. I am renting a room from a lady who is renting rooms in a house that her friend owns (he's serving in Iraq). It's just me and her until she rents the other rooms. She's a nice lady.

King Kong

Last night Phil and I saw King Kong at the Cinemark 24 @ Jordan Landing. I rate it 2 (out of 5) stars. It was too long (3 hours) and the idea of the movie is dumb: lady gets captured by huge man-eating gorilla, lady develops Stockholm Syndrome for huge man-eating gorilla, lady gets rescued, people capture huge man-eating gorilla (yeah right) and transport him back to N.Y.C. (double yeah right) where he escapes (surprise <--- sarcasm) and goes on a rampage. I'm looking forward to seeing Fun With Dick and Jane, Bloodrayne, Glory Road, The New World, and Underworld: Evolution.

Player's is temporarily closed until the owner pays some bills. I've got an interview with Teleperformance tomorrow. Hopefully I'll get hired and start their training class next week.

Rev Run's Words of Wisdom

Reverend Run (formerly of the rap group Run-D.M.C.) posts Words of Wisdom on his website every day. Each episode of Run's reality show, Run's House, ends with these words of wisdom. Here is Rev Run's Words of Wisdom for today:

12/12/2005

Good morning. Many people who are overweight are carrying to much mentally. Many people that have back problems are carrying to much by theirself! Isolation is sickness.. Give your burdens to God.. Pray often! Ask others for help! Life is much eaiser when we stick together. Always remember this! One snowflake is frail but when snow sticks together it can stop traffic. Isolation is sickness!

GOD IS LOVE
REV RUN

Syriana

Last night Phil and I saw Syriana at Jordan Commons Megaplex 17. I rate it 3 (out of 5) stars. I was expecting it to be more of an action movie, but it mostly focused on the politics of the oil industry. I'll probably see King Kong this weekend.

Last Week

Here's what I did last week:

• Phil and I saw Just Friends. I rate it 3 (out of 5) stars.
• I finished watching Lost - The Complete First Season on DVD (I rented the series from Blockbuster).
• I bought Rev Run's new album, Distortion.
• I renewed my subscriptions to Blockbuster Online and GameFly.
• I got a new cell phone from Sprint (I haven't had a cell phone in for 6 months).
• John and I saw The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I rate it 4 (out of 5) stars.

Player's is only open on Wednesdays (for "What the Punk" Wednesdays - featuring live performances by Corner Pocket and other punk bands) and Saturdays (it's Couples Night every Saturday) until the end of the year. Hopefully we will re-open on Tuesdays (for Ladies' Night*) and Fridays (for our Hip-Hop Party) in January. I need to find a day job!

*Ladies never pay a cover at Player's - so every night is "Ladies Night".

Aeon Flux

Last night Phil and I saw Aeon Flux at the Cinemark 24 @ Jordan Landing. I rate it 4 (out of 5) stars. Aeon Flux is based on the animated series that was on MTV. You can buy the original series on DVD. I'm still working at Players. Hopefully by the end of the week I'll have a new cell phone from Verizon.

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

John and I saw Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang at the Broadway Centre Cinemas on Sunday. I rate it 4 (out of 5) stars. A plus to the movie was Michelle Monaghan. A minus was that Val Kilmer's character was homosexual. I want to see In the Mix, The Ice Harvest, and Syriana.

Sleeper Cell

Last night I saw a preview for a new series on Showtime called Sleeper Cell. Sleeper Cell is a series about an F.B.I. agent that goes undercover in an Islamic terrorist sleeper cell that is planning an attack in Los Angeles. This series starts on Sunday, December 4th and airs Sunday through Wednesday with the 2 hours series finale on Sunday, December 18th.

The other day I was thinking that if we do pull out of Iraq (like one idiot in the House of Representatives is suggesting) it will make it easier for the Islamic terrorists to bring the fight to our front door. I really don't want car bombs and suicide bombers in our country. If we do pull out of Iraq and if we don't secure our borders, the idea that this series is based on will probably come true.

Derailed

On Sunday Phil and I saw Derailed. I rate it 3.5 (out of 5) stars. Jennifer Aniston played her role better than I thought she would. This movie also stars RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan. He's a decent actor. I'll be seeing Walk the Line this weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in December.

Brian's List

In a recent newsletter from Tim Larkin, creator of Target Focus Training, he shared the following list of things that his friend Brian learned from TFT:

Brian's List

• Aim small, miss small
• Strike the first thing that moves
• Don't use violence to solve social situations
• Understand the difference between life or death confrontations and social violence
• Always focus on striking targets
• Principle based systems are superior to technique based systems
• Never quit until the other guy is non-functional
• Always assume multiple persons in a violent confrontation
• Close distance - step through the other guy
• Always strike never block
• Have a first strike mentality - don't hesitate
• Become a sociopath in a life or death confrontation - maim, cripple or kill
• Use kinetic versus static force
• Always have a center line focus - don't look at the face, it will deceive you
• To be in cause state you must continually cause effects in the other guy(s)
• Never get in the middle of a group in a multi person violent confrontation - choose a side
• Your only weapon is your brain everything else is a tool
• In violence never focus on the other guys tools (gun, knife, or club) focus on taking out his weapon (brain) - simply taking away the tools and leaving the other guy functional may cost you your life.
• Walk away from ego based confrontations - there is no threat
• If you can use social skills to avoid violence do so, but if it is asocial then there is only one option - violence
• You do what you train - make sure you train for the real world
• Occasionally take away dominate side during training - it'll make you a more complete fighter
• Become a 360 degree fighter NOT a 'one quadrant' fighter
• Give good reactions to your partner
• Don't try to 'teach someone a lesson or you may get schooled'
• Always ask yourself "what is available to me" NOT "what is being done to me?"
• Violence is not give and take - it should be over in 3-5 seconds
• Speed does NOT equal power
• There are no rules in violence - remove any such boundaries or you will suffer the consequences
• Be brilliant at the basics (do your leg dynamics)
• Don't ever posture with violence
• Feign weakness to gain an unfair advantage
• Don't mimic your opponent - do the unexpected
• 2 inches of penetration is better than 20 slashes with a knife
• Never square off with the other guy - strike when he isn't aware or doesn't expect it

You should definitely check out Target Focus Training and sign up for Tim Larkin's newsletter.

Jarhead

On Sunday Phil and I saw Jarhead at the Cinemark 24 at Jordan Landing. I rate it 3 (out of 5) stars. I was expecting it to be 4-4.5 stars but I was disappointed. I'm planning on seeing Derailed this weekend. I'm also planning on seeing Walk the Line (November 18th), Syriana (November 25th), and Aeon Flux (December 2nd).

D.J. Miss Joy

Last Friday night D.J. Miss Joy D.J.ed for our Halloween Party at Player's. The promoters brought her up from Las Vegas where she D.J.s at several clubs. I saw Miss Joy D.J. at Club 7 in Vegas when I was down there a few months ago. She is a beautiful person inside and out! (She says that I have "a really great smile".) She is my favorite D.J. To find out which clubs Miss Joy is D.J.ing at and to get on her V.I.P. list, call her before 8 P.M. at (702)234-8195. To book Miss Joy, email her at djmissjoy@yahoo.com.

I'm Still Alive

I know I haven't posted in 2 weeks, but I am still alive. Here's what I've been up to:

• I've seen several crappy movies: Doom (2.5 Stars), The Fog (2 Stars), Saw II (1.5 Stars), & Stay (0 Stars - I have absolutely no idea what this movie was about). I also saw The Legend of Zorro (3.5 Stars).
• I've moved in with Phil. We are both renting a room from his friend, Lolo.
• I did Security for the 2005 U-92 Halloween Bash w/ Tech N9ne @ Club Vortex for Gil Medina.
  
• I got a promotion at Player's (we changed the name back to Player's). I am the Manager over Security and I have some other responsibilities too.

I'm probably going to try to get a job at Discover Financial Services next week. I'm looking forward to seeing Jarhead this weekend.

GoodGame and Lumpy's

Yesterday I went to GoodGame around 5:30 P.M. I played Counter-Strike: Source, surfed the internet, ate Domino's pizza, and drank Bawls. At 11:00 I went to Lumpy's. Junior, b.k.a. Red Neck, who is a barback at The Beach, is a Bouncer there. Jake, who used to work as a Bouncer at Natalie's with me, and Todd, who has worked as a Bouncer at several clubs, are also Bouncers there. I ran into Brent, who is a bartender at The Beach, Ryan, who is the Promotions Manager at The Beach, and Brandy, who is the Front Door Manager at The Beach. Ryan and Brandy left shortly after I got there. Max, who is a bartender at The Beach, is also a bartender at Lumpy's. I sat there next to Brent, drank some water, and chatted with Brent and Max until closing time. Then Junior gave me a ride home.

Domino

On Sunday John, Phil, and I saw Domino at Cinemark 24 at Jordan Landing. I rate it 3.5 (out of 5) stars. I would have given it 4 stars, but the story took a bad turn two-thirds of the way through the movie. Sometime this weekend or next week, I want to see North Country, Dreamer, and Stay.

Calvary Chapel of Salt Lake City

Today I went to church at Calvary Chapel of Salt Lake City. I went to their 12 noon service. They also have an 8 A.M. and 10 A.M. service. I enjoyed the worship and the guest preacher had a good message. I think I've found my new church home.

Calvary Chapel of Salt Lake City is hosting 2 Christian concerts this month. Glenn Kaiser will be performing on Sunday, October 23rd at 6 P.M. This is a free show. Petra will be performing on Monday, October 24th at 7 P.M. This is Petra's Farewell Tour so this will be your last opportunity to see them perform. For more information call (801)814-4645.

The ACLU Exposed

The American Family Association sent me a newsletter today encouraging me to thank Bill O'Reilly for his exposure of the ACLU's agenda on his show, The O'Reilly Factor. You should go read Bill's comments now.

Flightplan

Last night Phil and I saw Flightplan at Century 16. I rate it 3.5 (out of 5) stars. I'm looking forward to seeing Domino this weekend.

Two for the Money

Phil and I saw Two for the Money at Century 16 on Sunday. I rate it 3 (out of 5) stars. Matthew McConaughey, Al Pacino, and Rene Russo all played their roles well, but I didn't like the story. Two for the Money is basically about sports betting. I think that sports are over-emphasized in America and betting on sports is stupid.

Kirk Franklin - Hero

On Sunday I bought Kirk Franklin's new album, Hero. This is a really good album. My favorite songs are Looking For You, Hero, Imagine Me, and Sunshine. You should go get this album now! It will really lift you up.

Grand Opening of The Beach

Saturday was the Grand Opening of The Beach. We renovated Players and changed the name to The Beach. I helped renovate the club and it looks pretty cool. John, a.k.a. Pakman, and Roc are two new bouncers we hired. John is really into the job and pays attention. Roc is a lot more laid back.

Although we weren't as busy as we usually are on Saturdays it was a good night. We didn't have any fights. We had to make a couple of people leave because they were too drunk and I had to kick some guy out that was annoying Mike Whitehead from Ultimate Fighter 2. Hopefully the club will get busy again soon.

Will Smith - Lost and Found

Last week I recieved Will Smith's new album, Lost and Found, from my brother, Pete, for my birthday. He picked this CD from my Amazon.com Wish List. I like this album. My favorite songs are Switch, Party Starter, and If U Can't Dance (Switch).

A History of Violence

Last Monday, October 3rd, Phil and I saw A History of Violence at Cinemark 24 at Jordan Landing. I rate it 5 (out of 5) stars. A History of Violence is loosely based on a graphic novel by John Wagner. I should warn you that this movie, like Sin City, does have strong brutal violence.

While waiting in line to get snacks, the guy in fromt of me recognized me from when he fixed the heater in the house that Phil and I were living in when we worked at Natalies 3 years ago. I get recognized once or twice a week by a complete stranger. Usually it's from a club or concert that I have worked Security for. I guess it's because I have interesting features.

Into the Blue & Serenity

Last Sunday, October 2nd, Phil and I saw Into the Blue & Serenity at Cinemark 24 at Jordan Landing. I rate Into the Blue 3.5 (out of 5) stars. It would have only gotten 3 stars if it hadn't been for Jessica Alba. I rate Serenity 4 stars. Serenity is a sci-fi movie based on the TV series Firefly which airs on the Sci Fi Channel on Fridays at 7 P.M. E/P.

My Favorite Posts 5

More Fun at the Pool
Why Evil Flourishes
Complete Fitness Concepts
The Fight That I Lost
Centerpointe Church at Fair Oaks
Nissan Pavilion
Oprah on Location: Inside the Katrina Catastrophe
I'm Back in Utah
Working at Players Again
Not a Good Night

Not a Good Night

Last Saturday was not a good night. I was working the door again (Phil has me on the door to keep all of the thugs out). Scott was working the door with me. Before I begin telling you about the night, let me explain a few of our policies:

• Our dress code is no hats, doo-rags, jerseys, sweat suits, tank tops, sleeveless shirts, or baggy pants. As far as t-shirts go, it is a "grey area" (according to Phil) - basically they can't have a short-sleeved shirt with no collar.
• Our de-escalation policy involves having the bouncer that the customer is mad at -usually due to that bouncer telling the customer that they can't come into the club, they need to stop doing something they shouldn't be doing, or they need to leave the club - roll-back and let the other bouncers de-escalate the situation.
• There is no re-entry after 10:00 P.M. The guys working the door might occasionally make an exception but they are few and far between.

The night started to go bad when Phil told me that there was some people smoking pot on the other end of the parking lot. When I approached the truck these people were sitting in, they weren't smoking pot. I told them that there was no loitering so they needed to either come inside or take off. I continued to walk around the parking lot and saw a guy and a girl (I'll call them Jack and Jill) get out of their car. I saw that Jill had a bottle of beer. I explained that it was against the law to have beer in the parking lot and took her beer. I also noticed that Jack was wearing a baseball cap and a short-sleeved t-shirt. I told him that he would have to leave his hat in the car and get a different shirt. He told me that he was here with Jamie, who worked here and was inside. Jamie is a friend of Boogie. Boogie used to be a Bouncer there. Jamie did not work there. I told him that I worked the door and it was up to me, not Jamie. He started to walk away from me and called Jamie on his cell phone. I asked him a couple of times to quit walking away from me and listen to me. He ignored me so I told him that since he couldn't respect me then he couldn't come in the club. He said, "We'll see about that." We walked up front and Boogie, Jamie, and some of their friends were at the front door. Phil was also up there. Jack was telling Jamie what an a$$hole I was. I told both of them that Jack was not coming inside the club. Jamie tried to argue about it. I told Phil that he wasn't coming in because of his attitude. Jack and Jamie started to argue again. Following our de-escalation policy, Phil told me to get back on my post and he would handle it. Phil did not let Jack into the club.

As soon as I started checking I.D.s again Phil saw a guy walking up to the door with a beer bottle. He told him to take it back to the car. One of the guys that was with the guy with the beer bottle approached me. I recognized that he had already been in the club. I told him that there was no re-entry and explained that one of the reasons for no re-entry was because people go to their cars and drink beer. As I was telling him this I noticed a black guy (I'll call him Thug 1) was smirking at me telling this guy that he couldn't re-enter. Since Thug 1 was next in line, I decided to see if he had an attitude problem by asking him to confirm his address on his I.D. Sure enough, he did have an attitude problem. He wouldn't tell me his address and started getting an attitude and cursing at me. At this point I checked the immediate area around me and saw that Tyler and Steve had come up on my right side (Scott was on my left). I told Thug 1 that he wasn't coming in the club. He started to walk past me. I stepped in front of him and he said "F*ck you, n*gger". Steve told me to roll-out and go inside. I told Steve that Thug 1 was not coming in the club and then went inside. When I came back to the door a few minutes later I noticed that Thug 1 and his friend (I'll call him Thug 2) had been let inside. I went outside and asked Brandon & Tyler how Thug 1 and Thug 2 had got inside. They said they didn't know. I later found out that Steve had left the door to tell someone inside to take off their hat and left Scott & Tyler to deal with Thug 1 and Thug 2. Scott had decided that since they had calmed down he could let them in. I told Brandon and Tyler that if a fight broke out later on, Thug 1 would take that opportunity to run up and punch me in the back of the head.

A little bit later Steve and I were working the door (Steve was giving Scott a break). A Polynesian came to the door wearing baggy shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. I told this guy (I'll call him Beer Thug) that he couldn't come in because of the dress code. He complained and then walked back to his friend's car that was sitting in front of the club. I figured he was leaving so I sat down in one of the chairs at the front door. Beer Thug came back up and walked towards the door. I told him that he couldn't come in. He said something like, "I know. I was just playing, Crypt." I smiled at his stupid wanksta comment and he asked what I was laughing about. I said "Nothin', have a good night." He stepped up to me up and threw a gang sign in my face. I pushed his arm away and stood up. He put his hands up like he wanted to fight and said, "What 'chu (you) want to do?" I said, "Whatever you want to do." He walked back to his car. I thought he was leaving. Next thing I know I heard him yell something at me and heard something explode next to my head. Then I felt beer spray on me. This idiot had thrown a can of beer at my head and it had exploded on the wall next to my head. I stepped inside the door and told Rachel, who was helping Brandy work the hostess position, to call the police. Brandy asked if I had the license plate number and a description of the car. I said, "I think Steve has it" and went to the door to ask him. Steve gave me the license plate number and I turned to give it to Rachel who was on the phone. Brandy had told Rachel to call Phil to ask him if they could call the police. So, instead of being on the phone with the police, Rachel was on the phone with Phil. The combination of the fact that I had almost been hit in the head with a can of beer and the fact that Brandy had told Rachel to not call the police made me mad. I started yelling at them. I said "What does it take to get the police called around here, a bullet coming through the window?" After venting a little bit, I realized that I shouldn't be yelling at Brandy. I apologized for yelling, but we still argued about why they hadn't called the police. Brandon came up and told me that of I didn't quit talking to Brandy that way, he was going to "take me out back". I told him not to threaten me and explained that I had already apologized for yelling at her." He said, "Just don't disrespect her." and walked off.

At 1:50 A.M. Phil told us to get everyone out of the club (by law all customers have to be out of the club by 2 A.M.) As we were telling to people to leave I saw someone push a guy down. I moved forward and backed this guy up. He came forward again so I turned him around, picked him up off of the ground in a half-nelson/sleeper hold and started carrying him outside. When we got to the door the guy started to struggle. I told him to relax. He said, "Drew, it's me. Get the f*ck off of me." At this point I realized that it was Boogie that I was kicking out. I pushed him out the door and told everyone who was behind me to keep moving out of the club. Someone who was outside said there was a fight outside. I also heard that there was a fight inside. I told Rachel to call the police and she did. I went inside (fights insde take presedence over fights outside because the safety of the employees takes precedence over customers fighting outside the club) and Thug 1 and Thug 2 were fighting with Brandon, Steve, and Scott. Once we got that situation under control, I ran outside to stop the fight out there.

When I got outside, there were several fights going on. I ran to the fight nearest me. The guy closest to me who was fighting was grabbing the other guys leg. When I grabbed him and pulled him off of the other guy I saw that it was Brown Sugar, one of the "Men of Crave" (the male strippers that we have on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9-10 P.M.). I pulled him off to the side with a friend of his and asked his friend if he could hold him. He said yes. Then I noticed someone laying on the ground. I ran over to him as people were picking him up. There wasn't anyone attacking him at that point but he had a few cuts on his head.

In the part of the parking lot near the street, there was more fighting going on. I ran over to where a Polynesian was fighting someone. As I squatted down to pull him off of the guy he was fighting, someone punched me in the back of the head. Because I was already squatting down, the punch knocked me to one knee. I immediately stood up and turned around. Ryan, the Promotions Manager, and several other customers were standing there but none of them were the guy that punched me. I later found out from Ryan that it was Thug 1 that had puched me (I knew that was going to happen). The Polynesain guy was still fighting so I grabbed him and pulled him away from the guy that he was fighting. Since there was no one restraining the guy attacking the guy I was restraining, he kept trying to attack him so I had to keep pulling him back to keep him from getting hit. Eventually the other guy quit attacking him.

At this point the police (Salt Lake County Sheriffs have jurisdiction in the area where Players is located) showed up. I ran over to one of the Sherrif's cars and told me that there had ben several fights going on. I told him that Thug 1 and Thug 2 had been fighting inside. He asked where they were. I looked around and saw them going to the parking lot in the lot next to Players. He went after them.

I went back to the front of the club to make sure everything was O.K. Things had settled down by now and people were leaving since the cops were there. I ended up talking to one of the Sheriffs and found out that because of the Polynesians that had been hired by Bags to work Security there, the Sheriffs didn't think very much of Players and Players Security. I explained that I had been gone for a while but was back now to help straighten things out. I also told him that we had gotten rid of most of the old Security and would only be hiring Security that had Work Cards. Work Cards are cards required for all Bouncers that work at clubs in the jurisdiction of Salt Lake County (outside of Salt Lake City). Anyone who has any felonies or warrants can't get a work card.

Big John, Boogie (who had continued fighting outside), Thug 1, and Thug 2 all went to jail. All of them were released later that night except for Big John who was held for three days. Scott apologized to me for letting Thug 1 and Thug 2 into the club.

I talked to Phil later that night and explained that if he had let us call the police when Beer Thug had thrown the can of beer at me, there would have been less fighting in the parking lot. He explained to me that since Players has become a "problem club", when the police show up, they don't just send 1 or 2 officers - they send 10-15 officers and they show up with automatic rifles, handguns, and tasers out. I said that it still would have been better to have them there before the chaos in the parking lot had broken out. Phil didn't agree. Phil makes a mule look compliant. He's more stubborn than me and that's saying a lot.

Phil also pointed out that he had told Steve to have the D.J. turn off the music at 1:40 A.M. Steve didn't do that so Phil came up and turned off the music at 1:50. We discussed having a strategy like the one we had at Natalie's (Phil was the manager at Natalie's and I was the Head of Security). The strategy was to turn the lights up at 1:15 A.M., turn off the music at 1:30, and then doing a "hard push" (telling everyone they need to leave the club) at 1:45. This strategy encourages people to leave gradually over a 45 minute period instead of forcing all of them out in 10-15 minutes. We also discussed telling the D.J.s not to play wanksta/thug rap after 12:00. This is easier said than done, but it should help keep the fights to a minimum.

Brandon & Tyler both quit that night. I'll miss Tyler, but I won't miss Brandon. Hopefully, with us closing Players and re-opening as The Beach, things will get better.

Working at Players Again

I worked (Security, of course) at Players on Friday & Saturday. Some things have changed. Some of the Security that was there before, like Derett, Martell, and Tiffany, are no longer there. Bags, the old Security Lead, and Mike, one of the Managers, have left. Ryan and Brandy are Managers now. Steve is the new Security Lead. Brandon and Tyler have come back (Tyler quit shortly before I went to Vegas). John ("Big John") is working with us now. Scott, who used to work with me at the Sky Bar, is also working with us. So, basically we have a better Security Lead and a better Security Team.

Friday night Brandon and another bouncer worked the front door and I roamed inside for the first half of the night. Halfway through the night I took over at the front door and Brandon came inside. I was I.D.ing and another bouncer, Paul, was doing pat-downs. He wasn't doing a very good job of searching people. I gave him a little bit of advice but he didn't listen. Throughout the night Brandon kept making remarks to let me know that he still didn't like me. I ignored him. At 1:00 A.M. we shut the front door and I went inside.

Stevo, an off-duty bouncer, and Graham, an ex-bouncer were both in the club that night. Around 1:30, Steve came and told me that there might be a problem outside with Stevo and Graham. I told him to get John. John, another bouncer, and I saw Graham and Stevo chasing after a black guy. A lady who was outside said that Graham had called this black guy a n*gger. John, the other bouncer, and I told Graham and Stevo to quit following the black guy and told the black guy to keep walking. Stevo, Graham, and one of Graham's friends started getting confrontational with us. John is 6'6" tall and over 250 lbs. of pure muscle. His presence definitely helped prevent things from escalating. Brandon came out to help. I was telling Graham to chill and Brandon told me to be quiet and go inside or me and him were "going to have a problem". Steve overheard him and told me to go inside. I went inside and cleared the club because we were closing. After I cleared the club, I came back outside. Stevo had left and John and Graham were talking. They ended up making peace.

After we cleaned up the trash in the parking lot, Steve pulled Brandon and I to the side to tell us that we needed to get along if we were going to work together. I told Steve that I didn't have a problem with Brandon. Brandon told Steve that he didn't like me and din't wnt to work with me because I am a snitch and I don't "have his back" (see A Bad Night for his reason for disliking me). Phil called me to the back so I left Brandon and Steve to continue talking. On Saturday I asked Steve what Brandon had decided. Steve said that he was just going to keep us seperated - we would take turns working the front door and inside.

Saturday night, I roamed around inside at first. Then I worked the door with Scott. Towards the end of the night, Phil pulled me inside to deal with a situation. The situation was that a Polynesian lady who was in the club had threatened to kill Brittany, one of our shot girls (she is so gorgeous and sweet), a while back.. This lady was there with several other Polynesians. I found Brittany and asked her where the group of Polynesians was. She discreetly told me where they were. As I was going to get Steve and a few other bouncers to tell this group to leave, a fight broke out. I later found out that a black guy had hit a lady that was there with Gary Gomez and his friends. Gary and his friends started beating him up. As I approached the fight, some of our bouncers were dragging Gary and some of his friends outside. I helped two other bouncers that were having trouble removing one of Gary's friends. Then another bouncer pushed another one of Gary's friends into the corner by the door. I grabbed him and pushed him out the door. Then I went back inside to make sure that all the combatants were outside. They were. I went back outside and helped the other bouncers prevent Gary and his friends from beating that guy up outside. After the black guy got away we told Gary's group to go home. They eventually did.

When we went back inside I told Brandon and another bouncer about the situation with the Polynesians. We approached them and told them that we needed them to come outside and talk to us. They came outside and we told them that management had said that they had been causing problems and that they neeeded to leave and not come back. The lady that had threatened Brittany said that she knew that it was because of Brittany. We didn't confirm or deny that, we just told them to leave. They left without incident. The rest of the night was mellow.

Killing Rain

Last week I finished reading Killing Rain by Barry Eisler. Killing Rain is the fourth John Rain novel. John Rain is a half-Japanese, half-American assasin specializing in death by "natural causes". Barry Eisler's research of self defense, martial arts, surveillance, weapons, and spycraft makes his books very realistic. Barry Eisler and John Rain stay fit using Matt Furey's Combat Conditioning. I am looking forward to the next John Rain novel.

I'm Back in Utah

Here's what's been going on for the past week:

• I saw Lord of War last Friday. I rate it 3.5 (out of 5) stars.
• I went to Shoutfest at the Prince William County Fairgrounds in Manassas, VA on Saturday. I saw that they were understaffed for Security, so I volunteered to help out. I worked the barricade and then the autograph signing afterwards. I liked Krystal Meyers, Seventh Day Slumber, ZOEgirl, and Jars of Clay's performances.
• The manny job let me go. Joe & Debbie have spoiled Evan which made it extremely difficult to deal with him. I wasn't perfect but I was trying make it work. I was considering quitting and had prayed about it over the weekend. We got into an argument Sunday night and they told me it wasn't working out and that I was done. Joe was going out of town for work on Monday, so they kicked me out that night (Sunday). I couldn't believe it, but it's true. I called Chelle, who is the Young Adult group leader at Centerpointe, and she came and picked me up. The church put me up in a motel for three nights. I made some calls and decided to move back to Utah. The church bought me a ticket to fly back to Utah on Wednesday. I am really grateful for all the church did for me.
• So I'm back in Utah. I'm living with Jake (JakeTheGamer) until I find my own place. I'm working at Players again. Some things have changed there so hopefully I won't be having any more bad nights (Brandon is back - hopefully we can get along). I've been doing some painting at Players because they are renovating and changing their name to The Beach. I'll be working there on Friday, Saturday, and Tuesday.

So I'm basically back to where I was 5 months ago when I left Players to go to Vegas. Please keep me in your prayers. By the way, my birthday is on Monday. I'll be 30.

Family Pass Online DVD Rental

FamilyChristian.com has its own family friendly online DVD rental service called Family Pass. Family Pass is like Netflix or Blockbuster Online but its titles are meant for family viewing. You can get unlimited rentals of great shows such as Veggie Tales, Little House on the Prairie, and Dr. Quinn - Medicine Woman for only $17.97/month. Click here to start your free 30 day trial!

House

Last night I watched the season premiere for the 2nd season of House. I like this show. I like Dr. Gregory House's sense of humor. I also like Dr. Allison Cameron's sweet spirit. House airs on Fox on Tuesdays at 9 P.M. E/P. You should check it out.

An Unfinished Life

Yesterday I saw An Unfinished Life at the Fairfax Corners 14 in Fairfax, VA. I rate it 4 (out of 5) stars. An Unfinished Life starred Jennifer Lopez, Morgan Freeman, and Robert Redford. It was good seeing Jennifer Lopez again.

I was planning on seeing Green Street Hooligans this past weekend, but it was only released in N.Y., L.A., and Chicago. It will be released in several major cities over the next few weeks. It will be released in the D.C. area at the Regal Gallery Place Stadium 14 in D.C. and the Majestic Cinema 20 in Silver Spring, MD on September 30th. I'll probaby go see it at the Majestic Cinema 20 on the weekend of September 30th. This weekend I'm going to see Lord of War.

The Nicene Creed

Last week I registered at ChristianForums.com. They have a section of the forums that is only for Christians. Part of their definition of a Christian is someone who agrees with The Nicene Creed. Here is the Nicene Creed with scriptural references:

THE NICENE CREED

We believe in (Romans 10: 8-10; 1 John 4: 15)
ONE God, (Deuteronomy 6: 4, Ephesians 4: 6)
Father (Matthew 6: 9)
Almighty, (Exodus 6: 3)
Maker of Heaven and Earth, (Genesis 1: 1)
and of all things visible and invisible. (Colossians 1: 15-16)

And in ONE Lord Jesus Christ, (Acts 11: 17)
Son of God, (Mathew 14: 33; 16: 16)
Only-Begotten, (John 1: 18; 3: 16)
Begotten of the Father before all ages. (John 1: 2)
Light from Light; (Psalm 27: 1; John 8: 12; Matthew 17: 2,5)
True God from True God; (John 17: 1-5)
Begotten, not made; (John 1: 18)
of one essence with the Father (John 10: 30)
through whom all things were made; (Hebrews 1: 1-2)
Who for us men and for our salvation (1 Timothy 2: 4-5)
came down from heaven, (John 6: 33,35)
and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary (Luke 1: 35)
and became man. (John 1: 14)
And He was crucified for us (Mark 15: 25; 1 Corinthians 15: 3)
under Pontius Pilate, (John 19: 6)
suffered, (Mark 8: 31)
and was buried. (Luke 23: 53; 1 Corinthians 15: 4)
And on the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures, (Luke 24: 1 1 Corinthians 15: 4)
and ascended into heaven, (Luke 24: 51; Acts 1: 10)
and sits at the right hand of the Father; (Mark 16: 19; Acts 7: 55)
and He shall come again with glory (Matthew 24: 27)
to judge the living and the dead; (Acts 10: 42; 2 Timothy 4: 1)
Whose Kingdom shall have no end. (2 Peter 1: 11)

And in the Holy Spirit, (John 14: 26)
Lord, (Acts 5: 3-4)
Giver of Life, (Genesis 1: 2)
Who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; (John 15: 26)
Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; (Matthew 3: 16-17)
Who spoke through the prophets. (1 Samuel 19: 20; Ezekiel 11: 5,13)

In one, (Matthew 16: 18)
holy, (1 Peter 2: 5,9)
catholic*, (Mark 16: 15)
and apostolic Church. (Acts 2: 42; Ephesians 2: 19-22)

I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins**. (Ephesians 4: 5; Acts 2: 38)
I look for the resurrection of the dead, (John 11: 24; 1 Corinthians 15: 12-49; Hebrews 6: 2; Revelation 20: 5)
and the life in the age to come. (Mark 10: 29-30)

AMEN. (Psalm 106: 48)

*The word "catholic" (literally, "universal") refers to the universal church of the Lord Jesus Christ and not necessarily or exclusively to any particular visible denomination or institution.

**This can be interpreted to mean that baptism is a matter of obedience and not a requirement for salvation or a regenerating ordinance.

I haven't heard of this before but I do believe everything in this creed.

Alan Jackson & Marc Anthony

On Friday I worked Security for the Alan Jackson concert at Nissan Pavilion. I did searches at the gates. I confiscated 6 cans of beer and found about 15 knives. They had to take the knives back to their cars. A few people decided to throw them away rather than take them back to the car. A few of them complained that I made them take knives with 1-2" blades back to their car. People don't realize that a 1" blade in the carotid artery can kill you. The night was uneventful for me.

On Saturday I worked Security for Marc Anthony concert at Nissan Pavilion. At first I was going to work "the house", which is the reserved seating area in front of the stage. There is a lawn up above the house. Before the show started they pulled me to work backstage. I was working the back door that led to stage right in between the stage and the production offices.

The highlight of my night was when Jennifer Lopez, who is married to Marc Anthony, walked by me as she was being escorted by her bodyguards to her seat on the right side of the stage. It was cool seeing her enjoy the show. During the last song of the night, a lady got up on stage from the right side and rushed towards Marc Anthony. I was dealing with the stage hands who were showing up for the load-out when it happened. One of the bodyguards grabbed her. I met him halfway from the front of the stage and escorted her out of the backstage area. I gave her to two of my supervisors who took her back to the police trailer to be ejected and trespassed.

Shortly after that girl came up from the front of the stage, another lady, who was a "V.I.P." for that show that was hanging out on stage left, ran out and grabbed Chayanne, one of the other artists. The bodyguards pulled her off and gave her to the guy working Security on that side. She was also ejected and trespassed. After that last was over, Jennifer Lopez was escorted off stage through the door that I was responsible for. There were some stage hands in the way so I moved them out of the way. I'll be working the Coldplay concert at Nissan Pavilion on September 30th.

Oprah on Location: Inside the Katrina Catastrophe

I just finished watching part 1 of 2 of Oprah on Location: Inside the Katrina Catastrophe. Oprah Winfrey and her Angel Network Team brought food, water, and other necessities to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. They also showed the stories that you haven't seen on the news. The thing that made me the maddest and saddest was when Eddie Compass, New Orleans police chief, told Oprah "We had little babies in there (the Superdome), little babies getting raped," he says. "You know how frustrating it is to be the Chief of Police knowing inside these things are being done and you don't have enough manpower to go in there?" Another family, who chose to wander the streets rather than stay in the Superdome, confirmed that childern were being raped when they went to the bathrooms in the Superdome. I keep crying when I think about that. It makes me so angry that people are so evil that they would rape babies and children.

Part 2 of Oprah on Location: Inside the Katrina Catastrophe airs today. Click here to find out where and when it will air in your area. Click here to find out how you can help the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. To donate space in your home for evacuees visit www.katrinahousing.org.

Rogue Warrior: Vengeance

Last night I finished reading Rogue Warrior: Vengeance by Richard Marcinko. I really liked this book. Richard Marcinko is a former Navy SEAL and the founder of Seal Team 6 and Red Cell. He currently lives in northern Virginia, where he is CEO of SOS Temps, Inc. - his private security firm, whose clients are governments and corporations; Richard Marcinko, Inc. - a motivational training and team-building company; and Red Cell International, Inc. (a.k.a. Red Cell II) - which conducts vulnerabilty assessments of high-value properties and high-risk targets.

I have read all of Richard Marcinko's Rogue Warrior novels. Richard Marcinko's "Red Cell mentality" has made it possible for him to predict future terrorist events and capabilities in his novels. Richard Marcinko's next novel, Rogue Warrior: Holy War, comes out next year.

Mary Mary - Mary Mary

On Friday I bought Mary Mary's new album, Mary Mary. This is Mary Mary's third album. My favorite songs on this album are Believer, Heaven, & And I (featuring Kirk Franklin). You can buy Mary Mary at FamilyChristian.com. Mary Mary's website is www.mary-mary.com.

Transporter 2

On Friday I saw Transporter 2 at the Centreville Multiplex Cinemas. I rate it 4.5 (out of 5) stars. It had some of the coolest fight scenes I've ever seen. Jason Statham was awesome. He was also in two of my favorite movies, Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch (both are Guy Ritchie films). Jason Statham will be starring in Guy Ritchie's new film, Revolver, which will be released in the U.S. on January 26, 2006.

Hurricane Katrina & Habitat for Humanity

Harry Connick, Jr. was on CNN tonight. He suggested that in addition to giving to the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and other organizations, people should also give to Habitat for Humanity. There are many organizations that are helping with the victims' immediate needs such as food, water, and medicine. The most significant long-term need that these people are going to need is shelter. There are thousands of homes that have been destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Habitat for Humanity will be helping many of these people build new homes. Please donate to Habitat for Humanity and pray for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The Constant Gardener

Yesterday I saw The Constant Gardener at the Fairfax Corner 14 theater. I rate it 4 (out of 5) stars. Tomorrow I'll be watching Transporter 2. Next weekend I'm going to watch Green Street Hooligans.

Nissan Pavilion

Yesterday I got hired at the Nissan Pavilion. I will be "Event Staff" (Security) for the concerts out there. I will be working the Alan Jackson concert on September 9th, the Marc Anthony concert on September 10th, and the Coldplay concert on September 30th. Working at the Nissan Pavilion will give me a little bit of extra money and something to do on the weekends.

TobyMac - Renovating Diverse City

Yesterday I bought TobyMac's new C.D., Renovating Diverse City, from Family Christian Stores in the Fair Oaks Mall. Renovating Diverse City is a remix of TobyMac's previous album, Welcome to Diverse City. I like it a lot. I especially like the remixes of TobyMac's latest single, Burn For You.

TobyMac is a member of D.C. Talk. D.C. Talk's most recent album is Free At Last: 10th Anniversary Special Edition. Kevin Max and Micheal Tait are the other two members of D.C. Talk. Kevin Max's next album, The Imposter, comes out on October 11th. Tait's latest album, Lose This Life, is available at FamilyChristian.com.

TobyMac's song, Slam, is the featured music in the trailer for Transporter 2. He is also working on a new song tentatively titled Brave New World for the soundtrack to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I got these bits of news from DCTalkSolo.com.

Kirk Franklin - Looking For You

Kirk Franklin's brand new album, Hero, will be released on October 4th. You can pre-order a special autographed Signature Edition of Hero online now for only $11.97 and also get a free Hero bracelet with your order (what a deal!). Go to Kirk Franklin's new website, www.KirkFranklin.us, to see the making of Hero. You can listen to the first single from the new album, Looking For You, at Kirk Franlin's new website, www.KirkFranklin.us. Looking For You is also available for download from iTunes.

Yesterday I signed up for The Takeover. The Takeover is Kirk Franklin's Official Street Team. You should check out The Takeover's website: www.fan2band.com.

Tonight at 10 P.M. E/P you can watch Kirk Franklin presents The Takeover on TBN (Channel 51 on Cox Digital Cable in the D.C. area). It will also air at 2 A.M. E/P and 5 P.M. E/P tomorrow. You don't want to miss this show!

Cinderella Man

Last night I saw Cinderella Man at the University Mall Theatres (it was $2 Tuesday). Cinderella Man is a movie based on the life of Jim Braddock, a boxer who made a comeback during the Great Depression. I rate it 4.5 (out of 5) stars. Russell Crowe is one of my favorite actors. I'm going to watch The Constant Gardener today and Transporter 2 on Friday.

Prison Break

Tonight I watched the series premiere of Prison Break on Fox. The premiere ran from 8-10 P.M. Prison Break will air on Mondays at 9 P.M./8 C. It looks like it's going to be a good show.

After Prison Break, I watched Wanted. I missed it last night because I was watching the MTV Video Music Awards. I liked watching Kanye West, Shakira, and Mariah Carey perform.

Mr.and Mrs. Smith

Last night I saw Mr.and Mrs. Smith at the Fairfax Corner 14 theater with Paul and Erica. Paul and Erica are a couple that I met at Crosspointe last Sunday. They came over after church today and Erica made lunch for us. (Joe, Debbie, and Evan went to their condo on the beach in South Carolina this morning. They'll be back next Monday.) I rate Mr. and Mrs. Smith 4 (out of 5) stars. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie had good chemistry. I'm looking forward to seeing Transporter 2 and The Constant Gardener this week.

Centerpointe Church at Fair Oaks

Last Sunday and today I attended Centerpointe Church at Fair Oaks. Centerpointe Church at Fair Oaks is an Assembly of God (Pentecostal) church in Fairfax, VA. I also attended Centerpointe's Young Adult group, Crosspointe. Crosspointe meets Sunday nights at 6:00 P.M.

When I lived in Gainesville, FL I attended First Assembly of God. I did not attend church regularly while living in S.L.C., UT. I'm glad that I've found a good church to attend in Fairfax.

I've Got A Lot To Learn

Yesterday I went to the Open Sparring session at Complete Fitness Concepts again. I warmed up by sparring with a new guy who had no martial arts training. He wasn't much of a challenge. Then Duke, who is one of the Apprentice Instructors, taught me some stuff while we were sparring. He spent so much time training me that he lost out on 20 minutes of his Private Lesson with Dan. I really appreciated him taking that extra time to teach me. Duke is a former Marine that has studied martials for ten years. He is very good at sparring and he is also a very good trainer. I learned a lot from him.

Something that I realized while learning from Duke yesterday was that although I may be able to handle the average guy in a bar, I've got a lot to learn about fighting a trained fighter. Dan and Duke are both very good trainers. I'm very glad that I have begun training at Complete Fitness Concepts.

The Island

Tonight I saw The Island at University Mall Theatres. I rate it 4.5 (out of 5) stars. It was awesome! It's main stars were Scarlett Johansson (I think I'm in love ;) ) and Ewan McGregor. It also starred Djimon Hounsou (he was in Constantine and Gladiator) and Steve Buscemi (he was in Armageddon, Con Air, and Desperado). I'm looking forward to seeing Transporter 2 next weekend!

Over There

Last week my brother, Peter, suggested that I watch Over There. Last night I watched it. It airs on Wednesdays at 10 PM/9C on FX. Over There is a show about American soldiers in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. I like this show. The story is well written and the actors are good.

The Fight That I Lost

While doing Night Club Security ("Bouncer") and Personal Protection ("Bodyguard") work for the past 9 years, I have been in many fights and I have had to remove many people from clubs. There is only one fight that I would say I have lost. It was against 5 guys.

I had met one of the individuals who attacked me while working Security for Phil when he was a promoter for Banana Joe's on Tuesday nights. A lady that I knew was at Banana Joe's. She came and told me that this guy (I'll call him "Grabby") had grabbed her and wouldn't get off of her until another customer, I think it was his cousin, pulled him off of her. I was angry at him for doing this, and was tempted to "punish" him (beat him up), but I knew that I had to be a "professional" and just tell him to leave the club. I told him to leave and he argued but he still left.

When she was leaving I walked her to her car. Grabby was outside with his cousin. As I was walking her to car, Grabby started "talking trash" to me. Instead of letting him escalate the situation (although I was tempted to do just that) I told him to go home. His cousin, knowing who I was, convinced him that it was in his best interest to do so.

A week or two later, I was working for Phil at another club he was a promoter for, Club Axis, on a Saturday night. Grabby got kicked out of there too. Later that night I was working Security for an after-hours spot in S.L.C. called Cello's. Grabby and a friend (I'll call him "Wanksta") showed up. I told them they weren't allowed to come in. A little bit later Theory (a.k.a. Dissaster) and Fate, who I did Personal Security for when they did their hip hop shows, came down to hang out. They spent most of the night hanging out in front of Cello's.

About an hour after Cello's had been open, Theory told me that someone was harrassing him because he was wearing red. This guy (I'll call him "Insecure") was implying that Theory was a "Blood" (that's a gang whose members wear red clothing - they are enemies of the Crypts, who wear blue clothing). I walked over to Insecure and told him that Theory wasn't invloved in any gangs and wasn't looking for trouble so he shouldn't be either. He told me that it was "all good"and that he was "just playin".

At the end of the night, as Cello's was closing, Theory called me over to where Fate and him were standing. Insecure and two of his friends (I'll call them "Lemming 1" and "Lemming 2") were trying to provoke Theory and Fate into fighting them. While I was de-escalating the situation, Luis, one of the owners of Cello's came over to help. Grabby ran up out of nowhere, and shoved Luis over a table. I tackled Grabby and then got up. Insecure was attacking Luis. I ran up and pushed him back. Then Grabby, Wanksta, Insecure, Lemming 1, and Lemming 2 surrounded me and knocked me down to my knees. I protected myself the best I could, but I took several kicks to the head, arms (I was trying to protect my head), ribs, and butt. Then they ran off.

I got up (I was down but not out) and Luis and I chased after Grabby and Wanksta. They had a good head start on us and they got away. While we were chasing Grabby and Wanksta, the other three, Insecure, Lemming 1, and Lemming 2, got in their car and drove away. Marcello, the other owner of Cello's, had seen what happened and chased after them in his car. He called the police and followed them until the police caught them. Marcello called us and we went over there to talk to the police. All the police did was search their car and give them a ticket for an open bottle of alcohol that they had in their car. Then they let them go. I wasn't too happy that they let them go but there wasn't anything I could do about it. I had a few knots on my head and my ribs and butt were sore for a few days, but I didn't need to go to the hospital and I still worked Security for Phil three days later at Banana Joe's. The most important thing is that Theory & Fate didn't get touched.

Dog the Bounty Hunter

Tonight I'm watching Dog the Bounty Hunter. This show airs Tuesdays at 9 PM/8 C on A&E. Duane Lee Chapman, b.k.a. "Dog", is an ex-convict turned bounty hunter. His wife (Beth), third son (Leland), second son (Duane Lee), and "brother" (Tim) work with him. Dog is a born-again Christian. In addition to catching fugitives, he also tries to help these people turn their lives around. I really like this show. It would be fun to be a bounty hunter.

Red Eye

Last night I saw Red Eye at the Centreville Multiplex Cinemas. Red Eye is a thriller by Wes Craven. I rate it 3.5 (out of 5) stars. I'm looking forward to seeing Transporter 2 on September 2nd.

Nick Cannon - "Can I Live?"

I like Nick Cannon's new video, "Can I Live?". It's a beautiful song with a strong message. I am pro-life. One of my favorite quotes is:

"I've noticed that everybody that is for abortion has already been born."

-Ronald Reagan

Valiant

Yesterday Evan and I saw Valiant. I rate it 3 (out of 5) stars. Valiant is a Disney movie about homing pigeons delivering messages during WW II. It was short (only 1 hour and 16 minutes) but it had some funny parts.

Stop Illegal Internet Porn

The Internet is under siege from pornographers who are illegally using your computer to harm your family and your children. In an effort to safeguard our homes, children, families, businesses, schools and libraries from unwanted and illegal online pornography, Grassfire has launched a national petition to stop Illegal Internet Porn.

To date, we’ve delivered hundreds of thousands of petitions, and met with key leaders in both the U.S. Justice Department and the Senate—DEMANDING REAL ACTION BE TAKEN AGAINST THE PROLIFERATION OF INTERNET PORN.

Our efforts have made a positive impact, but there is more work to be done—especially considering the recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court barring enforcement of the Child Online Protection Act.

Grassfire will be presenting petitions in support of the Internet Safety and Child Protection Act of 2005 during the first week of August. This bill, introduced by Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AK) proposes a 25 percent federal tax on Internet porn, and tougher requirements for accessing adult Web sites to help prevent children from being victimized.

Grassfire is seeking to mobilize 440,000 citizen signers to take part in this presentation who are standing against the proliferation of Internet pornography! Please sign this petition now!

Wanted

Last night I watched Wanted on TNT. It comes on every Sunday night at 10/9c. Wanted is a crime thriller that follows an elite team of crime fighters from various federal and local law enforcement agencies as they track down L.A.'s 100 most wanted fugitives. I really like this show. I'm planning on watching it every week.

The Dukes of Hazzard

Yesterday I saw The Dukes of Hazzard. I rate it 3.5 (out of 5) stars. It lost 1/2 of a star because Seann William Scott was in it but it gained 1 star because it had Jessica Simpson in it (she's so gorgeous).

Diet Sodas and Sport Drinks are Bad for You

In a recent newsletter from Matt Furey, he quoted an article at my.WebMD.com that talked about a study showing that people who drink diet soda gain weight. You should go read the article now.

In another recent newsletter Sean Furey, Matt Furey's brother, tells us that the artificial sweeteners in diet soda are bad for you too. Here is an excerpt from that newsletter:

The chemicals contained in Diet Soda are a powerful contributor in the fat focker epidemic. In addition to stimulating your appetite, increasing your carbohydrate cravings, and facilitating fat storage and weight gain, artificial sweeteners like aspartame (NutraSweet) and sucralose (Splenda) contain a Pandora 's Box of other goodies.

No Splenda advertisement will ever tell you that chemists add three chlorine molecules to sugar molecules to create the final product. No Splenda ad will say that there product could:

• Screw up insulin regulation.
  

• Shrink the thymus gland.

• Enlarge your liver and kidneys.

• Reduce your growth rate.

• Give you diarrhea.

• Reduce your red cell count.

When you see all the ads for Diet Soda, none of them will say that aspartame can trigger or worsen:

Brain Tumors...Multiple Sclerosis...Epilepsy...Chronic Fatigue Syndrome...Parkinson's disease...Alzheimer's...Mental Retardation...Lymphoma...Birth defects Fibromyalgia...Diabetes.

Just keep these things in mind when you stop at the local 7-11, grocery store, or restaurant, and want something to drink.

If you want to lose wait, I recommend drinking a lot of water and purchasing The Furey Fat Loss System.

God has blessed me with a high metabolism and I don't like diet soda anyway. However, I have quit drinking Gatorade. Gatorade (and other sport drinks including Powerade and Propel) also have the toxic artificial sweeteners, aspartame and sucralose. So don't drink diet sodas or sport drinks.

Four Brothers

Las night I saw Four Brothers at the Fairfax Corner 14 in Fairfax. I rate it 4.5 (out of 5) stars. Mark Wahlberg played his role very well. While there I saw previews for two movies I want to see: Domino (Keira Knightley kicks butt as a bounty hunter) and Aeon Flux (Charlize Theron kicks butt as an assassin).

Complete Fitness Concepts

Yesterday afternoon I went to Complete Fitness Concepts to train in Self Defense. In addition to their Combat Jeet Kune Do and Tactical Ground Fighting classes during the week, they also have Open Training, which is free for anyone and everyone, on Saturdays at 12:30 P.M. I will be going to the Open Training every Saturday that I am able to (I am "off" most weekends). In 6 weeks I am going to start taking Private Lessons from the Head Instructor, Dan Mikeska. I have never had any Self Defense or Matial Arts training so I am glad that I have found such a great place to begin training in Self Defense!

Our Property Rights Have Been Taken Away!

The U.S. Supreme Court has taken away our Fifth Amendment Rights and paved the way for our property to be siezed! I have just signed a national petition demanding the court restore my Fifth Amendment Rights, and am urging you to do the same by clicking here.

The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3-D

Today Evan and I saw The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3-D with Vivian, Loren, Katy, and Kristin. I rate it 2.5 (out of 5) stars. It was my first 3-D movie. The kids really enjoyed it and that is why we went to this movie so I'm happy.

Why Evil Flourishes

Here is an excerpt from an email that CBFTW recieved from his Battalion Commander, "Knute Lombatton":

"I believe that we are making progress in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Despite the ravings of pundits and uninformed ambulance chasers, this fight doesn't' hinge on oil or payback. It isn't about religion or race. And it damn sure is not about any innate desire to rule the world. These people will succeed or fail on their own merits. The task is daunting. You can release a person from bondage. You can remove a tyrant from power. You can create the conditions for liberty. But, you cannot simply grant or proclaim freedom. Freedom without honest action is a whisper in a storm just as change without vision and purpose is the illusion of progress. For ages these people were literally beaten to the point of submission by oppression, censure, murder, torture, and rape - regardless of age or gender. I have asked myself why they let it happen. The only answer I can fathom is that evil flourished because good people refused to pay the price required to oppose it. Sure, it's easy now to pontificate and blame the poor and down trodden for their collective indifference, but forgive my sarcasm - I think we owe them more than a couple of days to realize that their hopes and dreams have a chance to grow and one day flourish. No amount of rhetoric and no pressing agenda will change the fact that time is required to help heal these people and that ancient grievances require redress. Make no mistake: I'm no crusader -I do what I do because I am a professional soldier. For me it's been simple: protect the innocent, punish the deserving, accomplish my mission and bring my men home, period."

His statement that "...evil flourished because good people refused to pay the price required to oppose it" is similar to one of my favorite quotes from Albert Einstein: "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."