Train them Young?

The other day I walked into my room and on the tv was this Nerf commercial. For those who don't know Nerf is world renown for their "soft" sports products and toys. They have all sports basically covered and are also know for their wide range of suction dart guns. (Which are fun as hell btw).

So I'm watching this commercial, which I thought was a normal toy gun commercial, when I realized that the gun was bigger than the kid carrying it. I can understand the need for simple toy dart guns...but a sniper rifle?! This gun doesn't just fire darts, but fires them with with enough velocity to give it the range of a sniper rifle. At least I hope it does, it would be pretty pointless if it didn't. It has a clip, scope and cocking mechanism. It's basically modeled after the M82 rifle seen here, but a bit bulkier and...purple. (0_O)

Now don't get me wrong, this thing is fucking cool and makes me wish I had something like this when I was a kid. It does, however, make you think...as we take real guns off the streets should we be replacing them with plastic versions of more powerful weapons? I understand that Hasbro is a business and doesn't necessarily promote violence...just makes you think...

But You Don't Have to Take My Word for it

So Friday night during our March blizzard I put the car through its snow test. It passed with flying colors, especially white, as it plowed through the snow drifts created by plows crossing intersections.

Upon reaching my destination fun times were had by all at my friend's birthday gathering. It was during a game of "What the fuck!?" that it happened. I was reading one of questions when someone said that I had the best narrating voice he's ever heard and if he ever had a show that needed narration, that I would be the man he'd pick. And then references to Levar Burton and Reading Rainbow ensued... something about us being black, I don't know. Anyway I have never in my life heard anyone compliment my voice before. As for being a narrator, I don't really like the sound of my voice when its recorded. While I'm on the subject I don't really like to be video taped ether. Just something that bugs me a bit.

I thought the St. Patty weekend would be dull due to the inclimate weather, but it was anything but. Each day there were drinks to be had, green panties to catch on film (err memory card?) and cars to race. Oh and I can't forget about making fun of all the noobs on the street around BU who couldn't hold their liquor. :P lawf


Cheers

Needs more Mojito

I always applaud companies for trying new things, even when they fall flat on their faces. Today I experienced one company's endeavor to innovate in the chewing gum industry. The PlenT packs from back in the day are gone, and new brands of all kinds have taken their place. Dentyne Ice, Stride and Orbit now fill the gum section of your local store's candy shelves, and you can find them in a lot more variety than gum from back from when I was younger. For the most part they're all variations of the same mint flavor, with the exception of Orbit who dares to be different.

I had one of those "different" flavors today. I was walking by a co-worker's desk when I noticed his pack of Orbit gum. By the way, this is my preferred gum at the moment. At first I thought it was the "lemon" flavor (which I've had and have mix reviews), but boy was I wrong. The flavor was Mint Mojito, and it left us all pretty breathless...sorta.

You know whenever you see a gum commercial the person usually exclaims "Wow!" after putting it into their mouths? Well I've never done this before with any gum, and I don't know anyone else who has, until today. I took a piece and "Wow" was my initial response, actualy "Whoa!" was my initial response but you get the idea. "Wow," was also the response that I got out of another co-worker who witnessed me take the first piece (or was it "Whoa," eh I don't remember). It's about as close as you can get to a mojito in gum form. Odd thing was that I felt kinda "funny" after a while. Maybe it was the sudden shock of chewing a popular cuban cocktail..eh I don't know.

Because You Know I don't Read the Newspaper

So when people hear where I'm from the next that follows is, "Is it a safe city?" This is because my city has had a history of violence of all kinds, the most notable is gang violence. Another crime that isn't as rampant as it once was, but still present is prostitution. Which is the source of the city's nickname..."the City of Sin."

For the time I've been here I haven't experienced a rise in violence, and when people ask me "Is it safe?" I usually respond, "Yes, its about as safe as any other city." This for the most part is true, but a few weeks ago something made me rethink that response.

I picked up the local paper one night and read a headline regarding a shooting that had taken place in the downtown part of the city. The shooting happened on a main street and it was a driveby (I think, I read this a while ago). The man used a Tech 9 and shot two men. I don't think anyone was killed, but I was kinda surprised. I was even more surprised when I read that this was the 6th shooting since the year started (it was mid February when I read this). Maybe I should start reading the news paper more often. :P