Randomer Thoughts

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world....

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

Riot
My legs are stiff. My left foot tenses up in pain with every step. I can barely walk.

How did this happen? Two words: Laser Tag.

What kind of laser tag could possibly cause this? Thirty-six words: The kind of laser tag that requires you to sign a waiver stating that you understand that you may experience injury or death because it is run by former soldiers late at night at Timpanogas park.

It was exhilarating. We were two teams pitted against each other in a series of war games, hiding behind rocks and in trees - hunting and being hunted. There were split-second decisions that needed to be made as the situation was constantly changing. Should we split up? Stay together? Charge the M.O.B. or take the low ground, hug the rocks, and flank them?

It was intense. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.

Roast
That was Saturday. Now it's Sunday. I'm alone in my apartment, taking a moment to update my blog and relax. A dozen people left my apartment two hours ago. The leftovers from the roast I made are either with them or in the fridge. I enjoy making dinner for a lot of people because I like getting people together. Someone actually asked me tonight if I was a chef. Haha! No, I'm not. I'm far from it. But I do like to cook. The most important think about tonight, though, is that I had the opportunity to take a break from the stresses of life and spend time with friends that I don't see outside of work very often.

Now, I'm tired and I'm going to bed, and there's nothing that you can say or do to stop me. Goodnight, everybody. I wish you all the best.

It's 3:30 in the morning, and I can't sleep. So my roommate and I get to talking, and he starts to tell me about the Superman movie he watched earlier today. Do you know what bothers me? Superman. Clark Kent. They are the same person! But a change of clothes and a pair of glasses later, and all of a sudden NOBODY knows who the man is. I mean, are the people in Smallville and Metropolis that clueless? Really? I'm supposed to believe this? And who's the villain? Lex Luthor. There is nothing special about him at all. And Superman can't seem to beat him? Really?

This is why Batman's better. He has cool gadgets, a sweet car that's part motorcycle, and he's filthy rich. Hey, if I had that kind of money, after tithing and fast offerings, I would have a motorcycle-car too. In fact, the old Batman from the early TV show had anti-shark spray. How that works, I do not know. I do know that I would also have anti-shark spray, just in case.

I'm not a comic nerd. I've never even owned a comic book. I'm just really tired. It's time for a change of topic.

This weekend is looking good.

Saturday: laser tag with the Elder's quorum.
Sunday: hosting a dinner for a dozen*.

*This is an estimate. I don't actually know. It could be less. It could be more. I do know that I'm making a killer pot roast and that I'm going to be trying some new spices.

I don't really talk about it, but I do like to cook. My goal is to be able to cook by feeling, without recipes, and to do it well. The only people that know that are those who will read this post.

Okay, it's time to go to bed. Goodnight, everybody!

~Brandon

Yesterday, I was on a message board for owners of the Ford ZX2. One of the members said something that pushed one of my buttons - the "sense of entitlement" button.

Let me start off by saying that living in America offers equal opportunity. It does not, however, offer equal outcome. This member was complaining that companies pick people from certain schools over other schools simply because of the name of the school. His argument was that the skills of the individual should be the basis for choosing prospective employees and that the school has nothing to do with the skill level of the employee.

If you want quality car parts, you choose certain brands. Why? Because those brands have a reputation for producing quality parts. You trust them. You do not spend your time and money purchasing the same part from every manufacturer, installing each of the parts, and giving each of the parts a test drive. You purchase and install one part.

The school that you come from - the program that you come from - says a lot about your skill set. For example, the programs at the Marriott School are known for producing quality candidates for certain fields. BYU's animation program also produces quality candidates for jobs in the animation field. Pixar, a well known and highly respected company, recruits right out of BYU.

In today's competitive job market, it's the role of those seeking jobs to stand out to employers. The program you come from is one way to do that, but it is not the only way. In other words: If you've got the skills, then prove it.

Today truly is a sad day for Brandon McBride. He sold his Superchips ECU chip.

Yes, the friend I was referring to was my ECU chip. Nobody actually died.

"It's your turn! You have to go first so you can act everything out!" That is what she said to me. One of the girls I had met only half an hour before. It was a birthday party, and I had arrived in the middle of a game that is best described as a fusion of Clue, charades, and telephone.

I waited outside with two girls while the rest of the group decided on the person, the weapon, and the location that they would act out for me. I would then act out what I had seen for the second member of my group. She would act out what she had seen for the third member, who would attempt to guess the person, weapon, and location of the murder. That was the plan.

I had a blast that Saturday night.

So what happens when you, out of the goodness of your heart and for no other reason*, try to be nice to someone and by them a drink? You get into a conversation. You meet someone new. You end up at a party. And somehow, you end up acting out the use of a bad burrito as a murder weapon.



*Such as an assignment from your MCOM 320 professor, for example.

I would just like to say that it has been an amazing conference weekend. The spirit was definitely present in both my roommate's house and my apartment (the two places that I went to watch General Conference).

I've learned a few lessons - a few nuggets of wisdom - aside from those learned in General Conference, that I would like to share.

First - knives are sharp and sharp things hurt. I was making a sandwich this morning and I almost cut my fingertip off. Be careful!

Second - read the instructions. I installed a short throw shifter in my car this weekend. Because this was my first time installing a short throw shifter, and because the instructions weren't readily available, I decided to wing it. The new shifter is ridiculously loose, and needs to be reinstalled (I need new bushings).

Third - MAGNUM is gunspeak for LOUD. Always warn your roommate before shooting off a round when he's less than two feet away. If you don't, he will blog about you. Jerk.