Nature vs Nurture

Note: This blog is not meant to brag. I AM a fairly modest person.

So the other day I was told I was a good kisser. In general I would be skeptical of such a statement due to my aforementioned modesty; however, this was the third or fourth time I have been told this so I believed it. It got me thinking though: What makes someone a bad kisser?

I can understand how someone can suck at humping (rhythm and size) or backrubs (technique and effort) but kissing is confusing. Making out is more understandable and maybe that is what I am good at. There are more factors involved due to the tongue and longer period of contact. But is there so much difference in how people pucker and peck? Am I just good at making out and average at kissing? Why am I good and others bad?

If you have an explanation please let me know (You don't have to have kissed me to answer).

Free Gas

So I was at the OU vs Southern basketball game on Saturday. I was asked to go make a fool of myself in exchange for the possibility of free gas. The timing couldn't be better. How could a resist such an inquiry? I will be traveling to T-town in the next few days and I have a problem asking my parents for cash (makes me feel naked). So obviously I accepted.

My quest was this:

If I make a layup I get 20 dollars
If I make a free throw I get 50 dollars
If I make a 3-pointer I get 100 dollars
If I make a half court shot I get 1000 dollars. HA!

Catches:

I only get 30 seconds and I must go in order (I can't just go straight to half court)

I'm obviously no basketball jones since I played a sport that used my feet almost exclusively for the majority of my life. So what happens if I can't make a layup (besides me crying in the paint)? Apparently I would have received a T-shirt. Now, this is no ordinary tee, it says "Merry Crimson" on it I'm told. Now if that isn't motivation I don't know what is. I would feel very homosexual wearing such a shirt. Not only does it project a bad pun for everyone to read, the pun contains the word "merry" for non-heterosexual purposes.

So the 12-minute TV timeout is coming up so the chick that asked me comes to retrieve me. I had no idea how involved walking to the other end of the basketball court could be. I had to duck, hush, and take three pit stops along the way. Now that I think about it, it would have been fun to tuck and roll under the media. Anyway, I get a ball. It feels a little light. Maybe I just have huge guns, or maybe because I haven't handled a basketball in about 7 months. You decide. Then I get to go play the quiet game for a few minutes while the game finishes 20 seconds (longest 20 seconds ever). This time was made shorter by the friendly security guard that was critiquing our teams play. He told me that he believed I could make a layup. That was nice to hear since I got no other motivation prior to that or during the act. More on that in a minute.

So the time comes for me to take the court and try to earn my gas money and possibly convince Kelvin to give me some minutes. After a long introduction which included a stammering of my name and an allusion to Ferris Bueller's Day Off (how do you screw up my name if you see the link there?) I was allowed to begin. Layup...bounces around and in. Ahhh a weight lifted; no gay t-shirt. Free throw one, pretty but no good. Free throw two, also pretty but again nothing. Free throw three rattles home. Onto the three point line. 5 seconds left. It's up...no good. But wait I still have a second and it is a long rebound. I get it off (haha...get it off) and miss. So that's exciting.

So I win 50 dollars and go back to my seat while everyone is apparently on a first name basis with me now. Back to the support system I had waiting for me in the stands. Apparently Sooner Man and these other random dudes were showing me hella-support during my fiasco, however the person I was in attendance of the game with was silent. What's up with that? You would think the person that you take on dates and whose dog you walk would be more supportive, but no. I guess she is just the quiet type...

Moral of the story: Public embarassment is worth it for free gas.

National Anthem

This is a little delayed, but I couldn't help but write something about it. Last weekend at the OU vs Coppin State basketball game I heard the best national anthem I have ever heard live. This girl was amazing. She had more than a few people looking around thinking "wow". There is a chance that she is a professional singer (I don't know her name) but regardless I was very impressed. If she sang the national anthem for the rest of the basketball games I wouldn't be disapointed.

Bad Ideas

I found today that when you look through something with the intention of clearing someone of guilt you will find something incriminating. I'm not big on old sayings, well yes I am, anyway I guess curiosity killed the cat. Or in my case took away my appetite. I'm not sure if I'm more upset with myself for snooping or about what I found. I know what the feeling (Jealousy) is but I'm not sure what the biggest cause of it is. This topic if far too dark and gloomy. I'll see if I can lighten it up.

Haven't written one of these in a while, but I would definitely like to hand out props to my boy John Nobles for his recent accomplishments on the basketball court. I know he has it in him to dunk, he just needs to find the right court.

The main reasons I haven't written these very often is nearly over. I took my first final today, only needed a 70 on it and I probably got that so that adds magic to an evening sorely lacking it. It's really kinda sad that my engineering classes are easier then my gen-ed prerequisites. Fuck Physics II, if I need to know the electric force acting on a bridge I build I'll ask someone.

Don't know how much I'll be able to see the family over the break which is unfortunate. I am planning on seeing a Hornets game if that is possible. That's all, hopefully my next one will not be written on an evening like this.

The Couch in Gaylord

I really wish OU's biggest donor had a better last name, but that's not important. The important thing is I'm sitting on a couch he paid for. It's a good couch. Nice and soft; especially John. He's on it with me too. I don't know about Katie though, I've never cuddled with her. MMM.

I also just had a very serious conversation so I'm not sure if the rest of this will be very funny. The couch is giving me strength though. It is kind of like a pseudo-Jesus. Since I am only spiritual and not religious my strength comes from couches...and spinach.

This couch is magical. It's tan and Katie is touching my shouler (gasp). I'm getting butterflies. I wish John would touch my shoulder. Yes! That is just what I needed. Now if only I wasn't acting so gay. I like boobies. I do...Really. I like ass more, but guys have those too so it would just make me sound more gay. Vagina. Coitus.

Does the female form make you uncomfortable? It doesn't me. I love the female form. I wish I could snuggle with the female form every night, but no sex. Not right away. I need to work for it a little bit. If someone gives you 20 dollars does it means as much as earning 20 dollars by turning tricks on main? I didn't think so.

Is it really a blog if your whole readership views it before it is published? I'll ponder this until next time.

Huge Sunglasses Piss Me Off!

Girls (yeah you), don't wear oversized sunglasses. Don't be a Paris Hilton wannabe (<---that bitch on the left). Her sex tape sucked, you can do better.

I can't quite decide why I hate them so much. I have a couple reasons I'll run down.

1. I walk, or ride, around campus everyday. I see hundreds of girls everyday and I have no problem admitting that I'd like some eye candy on my way to class. The problem is that there is a widespread wearing of oversized sunglasses. I can understand that some people can't stand the sun and want to shade their eyes, but is it necessary to cover your forehead, cheeks, and ears? Wear sunscreen if you don't want to get burned, it'll compliment your nice petite sunglasses well. It will also reveal the rest of your face. Now, I would definitely prefer girls to not wear sunglasses at all since eyes are where beauty starts for me, but I understand the functionality of shades. It would be wonderful to walk from Physics to Calculus and see three beautiful faces instead of three racoon looking sororities bitches with their nose to the sky. It's also hard to look at someone's ass descretely as they pass by.

2. Maybe this is just part of my distrust in the Greek system. I don't agree with people paying money to be allowed to hang out with the "in" crowd. My complete feelings on the Greek system will probably be expressed in a future blog (whenever that could be). Anywho, the large sunglasses seem to be especially rampent in the sorority system. It's like the uniform is matching shirts, large sunglasses, and too much makeup. I don't necessarily want to see every girl that wears the sunglasses eyes. I know there are ugly faces underneath some of them, but if you wear them I just assume you are ugly to save myself disappointment, so in that case you have nothing to lose. I know some are beautiful but I would proably hang my head and be depressed if I didn't tell myself she is probably just covering up the black under her eyes due to the lines she snorted the previous night.

So here is my rule (with some exceptions): If you wear oversized sunglasses you are a bitch that does too much cocaine.

Don't be a bitch.

Double Dating

I lied. It's been more than a week. You'll forgive me.

Okay, this topic was brought up during one of my walks this summer. Is double dating a good first date? There is a yes and no answer to this question so I'll address both.

Yes:

It is good because you are able to be more comfortable because you are not alone with someone whom you've either never met or never thought of as any more than a friend. Since you are more comfortable you are able to have a better time with that person. If the date is not so entertaining atleast your friend will be.

No:

It is bad because you get a false sense of comfort. Are you really that comfortable around this person? Is it him/her or is it your friend that is creating the good time?

My conclusion is that double dating can be very good and fun. It should not, however, be utilized on a first date. If you are uncomfortable with the person then maybe you are being hasty in your decision to go on a date with them. You'll feel more comfortable but then later when you move on to exclusivity (im not sure if that's a word) then you may find that you have wasted the last few weeks with a guy that you actually don't like. It will proably take more than one date as a couple to realize your mistake if you went on a double date first. If you go as a couple to begin with you will have no trouble realizing your partner is a creep.

A Trip To The Store

My truck won't start. Now that that is out of the way...

I decided I needed to go to Wal-Mart yesterday. There were two days of school left and I was out of underwear. I was presented with a few options. First, I could just wear the same pair for three days straight. I was planning on that option until I decided to play raquetball. I won't explain why that option was scrapped. Second, I could wear no underwear for a couple of days. But the thought of a zipper being next to "me" did not sit right. Third, I could do laundry. What's the point of doing laundry for two dollars if I'm just going to be home in a couple of days anyway? Finally, the option I chose was to go to Wal-Mart and purchase a new package. I must say this was a magnificent choice. The style of boxer-briefs I selected were extremely comfortable.

The second part of the trip was to Hastings to rent a movie. We went with the intention of renting LA Confidential. For those who haven't seen it, a very general description of the movie is that it is about police corruption. If you haven't heard of it, it is probably because it chose to come out the same year as Titanic, As Good as it Gets, Good Will Hunting (also an excellent movie), and the Full Monty. Anyway, even though it was up for best picture in the loaded year of 1997, Hastings does not have it for rent. So we decided on Dr. Strangelove (also very good; funny).

Since I was in the mood for LA Confidential, I told my driver to take me to Best Buy to purchase the DVD. We went and came back to the dorms. Later that night I decided I wanted to watch the movie. When I opened the 6 layers of plastic and security strips I discovered no DVD. I paid 15 dollars for an empty case. I was very pissed. Not only could I not watch the movie, but I also had to go back to Best Buy and convince them I didn't take the DVD. The ending is happy though. I was able to exchange the movie and then I found five dollars in my pocket.

The Facebook

I recently created my Facebook account. With the lack of growth in the keep Russell Buhler Off Facebook group, I was beset by one of the more influential people I know. I was unable to ward off her requests any longer and registered my name.

Once I was registered, I did what most everyone does I'm sure; I invited a few hundred people to be my friend. Do I have a few hundred friends? No, but therein lies the backbone of facebook. While it is true that some of your facebook friends are truly your friends in real life, the majority I rarely speak to.

The next thing I decided to do was look up the Buhler family. I knew one of the 15 people listed; my sister. But I decided to ask them all to be my friend regardless. Of course they said yes. If you had a name like Buhler you would be friends with other Buhlers justs because it's not a normal name. Only one has said anything to me and that conversation ended very quickly. Go figure.

I don't so much regret joining the book. In fact, joining it has just amplified my feelings about it. I'm not going to be hypocritical and say it is bad, but I will say that it is unpersonal. The simple fact remains that you can't email a hug, IM a kiss, or fax a handshake.

The Recent Racial Issue at OU

I've decided to post the thoughts of an African American journalist from the Kansas City Star. I was going to post something similar today, but then I found this article and he articulated my thoughts much better than I would. The article is a little lengthy, but it will be worth the read.

Jason Whitlock

Posted on Wed, May. 04, 2005 Jason Whitlock

We all share blame for racial slurs

JASON WHITLOCK

The people complaining the loudest about Larry Cochell's coaching demise at Oklahoma are the very same people who say nothing when an acquaintance or stranger makes an inappropriate, racially insensitive comment.

The people cheering the loudest about Larry Cochell's coaching demise at Oklahoma are the very same people who foolishly believe there's nothing wrong with black people using the n-word.

Cochell resigned as head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners baseball team Sunday after ESPN reported that on two separate occasions, Cochell, who is white, praised an African-American player by saying he has “no (n-word) in him.”

Cochell was off camera and presumably off the record when he made the comments to two ESPN broadcasters. In his apology and resignation, Cochell said that he never used that type of language before and that he's a Christian.

Oklahoma's two African-American baseball players told local reporters that they wanted Cochell to keep his job.

I disagree with the players, but not because I believe Cochell is any more bigoted than the rest of us. Cochell should lose his job because he's an idiot, and his actions reveal a lack of common sense that can't be tolerated from a man who has been a college head coach for 38 years.

Cochell dropped the n-word on two strangers, two strangers who work in the media. Beyond embarrassing himself, he embarrassed his university, a university that has provided minority athletes and coaches a lot of opportunity. Keep in mind that at one time Oklahoma employed a black head football coach (John Blake) and a multiracial basketball coach (Kelvin Sampson) at the same time.

No, Cochell's demise was necessary. But it is not all Larry Cochell's fault.

We helped. All of us.

Despite Cochell's explanation, it's difficult for me to believe that last week was the first time he n-bombed a complete stranger. You don't wait for ESPN cameras to show up to practice that kind of racial stupidity. Cochell had to be in the habit of making these sorts of comments around non-blacks.

Or are we to believe that on the first day of Cochell's use of the n-word he just happened to drop it first on Kyle Peterson and then later Gary Thorne, the ESPN announcers?

No. It's obvious Cochell had grown accustomed to making racial slurs without anyone objecting. Had someone taken the time to properly embarrass Cochell when he first got in the habit of using the n-word among strangers, he might have learned a lesson and avoided this sort of national embarrassment.

Instead, we too often do nothing when someone we don't know all that well does something inappropriate or makes us uncomfortable. So, all the people who have stood silent while someone spews bigoted views are Cochell's co-conspirators.

And so are the black people who have embraced the n-word like the last drop of water on a 96-degree day.

If black people hated the n-word as much as we want white people to hate it, Larry Cochell would have never used it last week. Unfortunately, when it comes to the n-word, we, black people, sound like the chain-smoking parent who preaches smoking abstinence to a child.

We're hypocrites who surrendered the moral high ground.

It's nearly impossible to leave your home without hearing black people using the n-word in popular music or in casual conversation in almost any environment. You think Cochell hadn't listened to black athletes use the n-word for years?

Should Cochell know better than to use the n-word? Absolutely.

But so should we. But we don't have the discipline or the true understanding of just how dehumanizing the word is. So we've ignorantly embraced the word and convinced ourselves that it's a term of endearment when we use it. How foolish.

There is no pejorative equivalent in America. Trying to turn the n-word into a positive is the equivalent of suggesting that it's a positive to be stupid and unable to read and write. You follow? When the n-word was invented, American enslavers also forbid black slaves from learning to read and write. By today's logic of turning a negative into a positive, the proper course of action should have been for black people to embrace illiteracy and the n-word.

I digress. My point is we shouldn't celebrate or protest Cochell's demise too strongly. We should instead examine the role we played in it and make an attempt to change our enabling behavior.

Bad Relationships

I've come to realize in the past few years that after a couple has been together for an extended period of time, despite a lack of reason to be with one another, couples continue to see each other citing the time they've been together as the reason. Don't be that Person. If you feel like your relationship is a chore, don't be a part of it.

If a guy tells you that you should apologize despite him being in the wrong...apologize, he will no longer respect you. Of course you could always not apologize and keep your dignity. If that ends your relationship then it probably didn't have much hope anyway.