Ready Set Go (Not The Band)

I'm ready.

I'm ready to write on my own.

Thank you Court for writing with me (although I posted a lot here =)).

If you want my new blog address, give me an email or leave a comment here.

Alright, see ya peeps! And thanks Court. Love you to death, thousands and thousands of miles away. Take care now.

~Mr. Mikey "Big" D (for dick)

Make It All Melt Away

(Read previous blog or this one will make no sense)

My dad is not staying with my siblings tonight. On the ride home this evening, he turned down the radio in the car, and told my siblings why. I understand where he is coming from completely, and watching him tell us all about how much he cares for my mother, and how much it hurts him to be around her right now...it was ridiculously difficult. Watching him choke out the words, hold back the tears, my god, I could feel all his heartache.

As much as that killed me, the look on my brother Andrew's face hurt me inside more than anything has in the past six years. Yes, that includes those difficult break-ups and loves lost that I've had so much difficulty getting through. Seeing the tears just roll down his cheeks...I can't even describe in words how I felt. It was literally an indescribable feeling. I just broke down in tears at the mear sight of his sadness. I wanted to take all his pain away. I wanted to make him feel okay. I wanted him to understand this wasn't about him, this was between my mom and dad. Perhaps he does understand that, but all he wants is his dad. I feel so terribly bad that he has to miss out on moments with his father because of my parent's situation. There's really nothing he had done to deserve this, and seeing him the way he was tonight was more painful than I could ever imagine.

I cried the entire way home tonight. I sat rubbing my brother's head (us Dennison men really love getting our heads rubbed...it's calming to all of us), as he just wept beside me. I can't say anything to make him feel better, because there is nothing. I can only join him in feeling his pain. He shouldn't have to go through this. I want him to have that normal childhood. I don't want him to have to grow up too fast the way that I did. I want all his pain to go away.

Fuck, I want all my pain to go away. I can barely keep myself together lately with my whole break-up, and now this. If anything, it does put things into perspective. My family is first and foremost, and my relationship woes seem petty in comparison. I will do what I have to make things right (or as close to right as can be). I never want to see my brother the way he was tonight. I will do what needs to done to make this dysfunctional family semi-functional again. And I will try to make all my brother's pain all melt away...

~Mikey D

Father of Mine

I'm struggling a bit right now with some family issues. Not really sure how to handle it all, or how to talk about it, so I figure I'll just write it all down and maybe there will be some advice out there from someone.

My parents have been divorced for ten years now. Amazing, because it seems like only yesterday. They had one of those messy divorces, but after years of bitterness and hurt, they were able to come away as friends. I have always admired that. They basically put their differences aside for us kids. Once a month now my dad comes to visit us kids here in Lansing, and he stays with my mom. Yes, he stays with my mom. Not in her bed or anything, but he sleeps on the couch and such. The reason my dad doesn't get a hotel is because my parents like the idea of having us kids "wake up with their dad". I suppose it's there way of having things feel normal for us kids for at least one weekend. My dad would feel like a dad when he was here, and not just a visitor. Like a family if you will (oh, and you will).

This memorial weekend I was really looking forward to seeing my dad. A couple of months ago he was hospitalized with an irregular heartbeat. He was in the hospital for a whole week. My whole life I've been one of those lucky kids who has never had to deal with a tragic death in the family, or anyone from my immediate family. In my 23 years on earth, only my grandfather has passed away, due to his cancer. It was sad for sure, but I can only imagine the pain I will feel when one of my parents dies. Anyway, I was scared when I found out about my dad. I called him practically every night to check on him. When he finally got released, the doctors said his heartbeat was back to normal. Unfortunately, a week and a half ago he was back in the hospital, with the same irregular heartbeat. He spent some more time in the hospital "regulating" the heartbeat again. I am still so scared.

It's also been a real eye-opening experience for me though. It kind of opens your eyes and makes you realize that the time you have with those loved ones around you really is limited. That's why I was really looking forward to this weekend. I was going to get to spend some real quality time with my father. And I was going to cherish it.

Unfortunately, my father found out a secret this weekend. It was one my mom had been keeping from him for almost a year. The secret? That she had a boyfriend. His name is John, and they've been dating for, well, almost a year. Why had my mom kept it from my dad? Even though my parents are divorced, and they are completely amicable when they're together, my dad is still madly in love with my mom. I know that in my dad's mind my mother will always be my dad's one and only true love. When he said those wedding vows to my mom, he meant them, and took them to heart. And even though they went through a messy divorce, his love for her has never wavered. As a true romantic, I admire his devotion and feel saddened by the loss he's feeling. As most know, however, the greatest romances are often the most tragic ones. His story is one of those tragic romantic tales of love found, and love lost.

Being in love with my mom does not make it easy to handle the news of a boyfriend. So why now, after a year, did my mom finally tell my dad? She didn't. My dad went through my mom's drawer and found a card from John. The jig was up. It was totally the wrong thing for my dad to do; a complete invasion of privacy. It is a lose-lose situation for my mom in my opinion. Either way she wasn't going to be a winner. Now my dad is upset at her for hiding John. From my mom's point of view, better him upset now than a year ago, and still being upset. I don't know what she should have done. Honesty is the best policy, isn't it? But would you sacrifice honesty for the good of your children? Could my mom risk my dad getting angry and not coming to visit? Afterall, my little brother and sister live for visits from my dad. They miss their father figure, especially Andy. I don't really know what to tell my mom to help the situation.

My dad is real torn up. He doesn't want to stay with my mom anymore, and although I know my little brother and sister would understand, I'd know they'd be real disappointed. My dad doesn't want to help my mom financially anymore (he's been real good about that), and thinks that this John guy should. He wants my little brother to come live with him. He doesn't even want to come to our (us offspring's) future weddings if my mom is going to be dating someone. Well ouch.

My mom is hurt beyond belief. One, my dad went through her stuff to find out about John. I know that my mom for months now has wanted to talk to my dad about John, but hadn't found the right time. This was not how she wanted him to find out. Now she feels tremendously guilty for hiding it from him. Again, the no-win situation. I talked to my mom a lot today. She's wondering if she should break-up with John. She's wondering what she could say to my dad to make him understand. She's tried the whole, "I would understand if you dated someone...I'd be happy for you" thing, only to be met with a "there's nobody but you" speech. My mom doesn't want to hurt my dad, especially with all his health problems lately. And deep down, although not with the passion or vigor she once had, she still loves my dad, and will always- as a friend. But she's in-love with John now.

Ah, damn-it. What's a guy to do? I know when I see my dad today he's going to talk to me about it. And I know I will get at least one phone call from my mom asking me for advice. Honestly though, I can't pick sides again. I want both to be completely and utterly happy, but I don't know if that's possible. My dad won't be completely happy unless he's with my mom again, and we're a real family. My mom won't be completely happy unless her kids are happy and my father is okay. Another lose-lose situation?

Before my parents got divorced, my mom sat me down to talk with her in her room. I remember sitting on the edge of the bed as my mom just cried. She was so unhappy. She hated being in Michigan (can relate there), she missed Maryland, she didn't like her job, and she finally realized that her marriage was over with my dad. She had fallen out of love with him. My dad, however, wanted her to move back to Maryland with all of us kids and be a family again. What was my mom to do? Does she sacrifice her own personal hapiness for the overall well being of the family?

She cried a lot that night in her room. I just listened for the most part. I was only fourteen, I didn't know much. This was all new to me. She tried explaining both sides. I could see where she was coming from. Finally she just gave up.

"You decide. Whatever you say, I will do. If you say to go back with your father, I will. If you say that we should stay here, I will. It's up to you."

Those words stick with me to this day. I had the chance to go home and be with my father...everything I had wanted the entire time I was in Michigan. Instead of saying, "I can't make that decision, mom," I made it. And go figure, it was the romantic inside me that made it.

"Do you love dad?"
"Not anymore."
"Then we have to stay here."

End of discussion. Watch the movie "Closer". "I don't love you anymore. Goodbye." Plain and simple. My parents got divorced the next month, and we stayed in Michigan. I don't think I could have lived seeing my mom so unhappy. And afterall, that was not how love worked. Even at fourteen I knew that.

So here we are again. I can feel it coming. I can feel my mom coming to me again with the "should I go back with your father" question. Should she sacrifice her happiness so we can be a real family again? I don't know... Should my dad sacrifice his happiness to keep our current fragile family relationship together? I don't know... What advice can I give???

It's also really weird, but I miss Cori at times like this. She came from a broken home too, and although I have the greatest friends in the world, they pretty much all come from stable families (which is totally remarkable and impressive...a beautiful testament to true love =)). She was the one I confided in with this sort of stuff because I think she understood better than anyone. I miss that...and it just sucks....a lot. But that's why I blog to the world about this. I need some advice, and I'm not so good at verbalizing things (Kevin can attest). What do I say to my parents?

Geeze it's early. I still can't sleep. Sigh. Eight o'clock and I've spent an hour blogging already. For fuck's sake. Dats some bullshit right there. Alright, sorry for the downer post, I'll make the next one happy and cheerful and all sorts of other gay ass shit. Fuck a duck.

~Mikey D


"I'm sorry I have to say it but you look like you're sad. Your smile is gone. I noticed it bad. The cure is if you let in a just a little more LOVE. I pormise you this, a little's enough.

Just a little..."

Wallpapering

Wow, do you know how many people ask me, "Hey, what is your desktop wallpaper?" The number is approximately zero, but if someone were to ask me that, it'd be hard for me to answer. I change them so often now that it's hard for me to keep track. I don't really download wallpapers off sites anymore, but I kinda like to take pictures and add little quotes/sayings to them. Anyway, I think they're kinda cool, and I wanted to share I guess. Here's the last few wallpapers I've had up, so tell me if ya like em'.




~We live in a world of labels, stereotypes, and specifics. Some things just can't be labeled though. Moments in our lives that take our breaths away; moments that have indescribable feeling known and felt only by you...so yeah, that's the feeling behind this one =).




~We had probably 5 straight days of rain last week, so this seemed appropriate to me. I really like the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow quote. Read it if you're kinda going through a rough time.
You'll probably have to click the pic to read it without squinting. But if you like to squint, well, you're in luck.



~Love defines me. It's what I believe in, and what I believe makes life beautiful. It makes me feel alive, and yes, it's what I live for.


So I'm thinking about getting the balls and posting my story. I'm not very good with sharing (it's a miracle I didn't get held back in kindergarten), at least when it comes to my creative writings. We'll see. Maybe tomorrow.

Alright folks, short little post (that's what she said), and now I'm off to bed. Take care now. Fuck a duck.

~Mikey D


"A second chance you'll never learn,
You'll never get it right,
Story ending remain the same tonight..."

We Do What We Do

I think there are certain moments in everyone's life where you just have a feeling of what you're supposed to do with your life. For Court, I'm sure one day she discovered she loved picking at people's teeth with sharp metal objects, and had that feeling that that was what she was supposed to do with hers (besides just blog with yours truely). I'm one of those people who likes to think that there are signs all around us, and everything happens for a reason. The other day I think I saw one of my signs...

I was going to get my haircut (not going to complain about it this time...I got it cut by a lovely big-breasted asian girl (yeah I know! I didn't think there was such a thing as big-breasted asian women, but they do exist! And the world is a better place for that...), and she did a marvelous job and her tits were magnificent), when a couple came in with their two young girls. If I had to guess the little girls were probably both just two or three years old. Well they came into the hair-cuttery halfway through my haircut, and they started causing the biggest comotion. They took toys out and threw them everywhere. They ran all around the place and sat in every free chair they could. They knocked over magazines. They screamed and yelled. And in between all that, they beat on each other unmercifully.

The parents? Eh, they tried I guess. They yelled. They spanked their tiny tushes. It was all to no avail though. The thing that got the girls quiet for a few moments? Candy. Their parents bought them candy to shut them up. Hmmm...now I'm no parent, but I don't think reinforcing negative behavior with candy is the best idea in the long run. But hey, they did shut up for a minute or two. Perhaps it was worth it. Who knows.

Well, after my haircut the little monsters were up to no good again. As I paid, plastic legos came flying at me and crashing into my legs. By this point the parents had given up, and didn't even appologize for their little she-devils. Bitches.

"Do you mind if I..." I said to the parents, gesturing to their kids.
"Go for it," the dad said.

I turned my attention to the little ones, and began picking up the scattered legos that had found their way from the play area to the shampoo racks.

"Well this is no way to build a castle!" I said to them. I put all the legos in a pile and began to build with the biggest ones. "You have to start with a base first. How can you make a castle without a base? And how can you make a base if you just throw all the legos all over?"

The girls stopped yelling and just stared at me quizically.

"How about this," I began. "I will build the base for you. And one of you can build a tower for one half, and the other can build a tower for the other half." I gave each a set of blocks and sat them down right next to me, and together we began to build a castle. "You girls are very lucky today. They have the best hair cutters here today, and they are going to make you look so beautiful. Like those princesses that live in castles."
"Cinderella lives in a castle," one of the girls said.
"Yup, and you'll be just like her after your haircut," I replied.
"Me too?" the other girl said.
"You both will be the two most beautiful Cinderellas. But, when you get your haircut you have to sit very still and be very good, otherwise you'll get a bad haircut. And Cinderellas can't be walking around with bad haircuts can they?"
"Noooooooo," they both said in unison.

Together we constructed a small lego castle that they both decided to live in. Silly girls, they were too stupid to know that they could never fit in a castle that small. "What is this, a castle for ANTS!" Haha, a little Zoolander for ya. Anyway, I left the girls playing quietly with the legos and the surprised parents sitting in their chairs. It felt good to help and makes things right in that place. I calmed them down. And it made me feel like what I plan on doing with my life (teach the little ones) is the right thing for me. I take that moment as a sign.

"Thanks Mr. Mom," one of the haircutters said with a laugh as I was leaving. "We need more men like you!"
"Yeah, I know," I said with my usual cocky-ass grin, and walked out.

If anything that moment makes me feel more comfortable for my new job working with the four year olds. I'm excited to start (only guy in the place, booya), and I'm excited to teach and play with the kiddies. I'm going to build the biggest block fort those four year old fuckers have ever seen. Oh, and on the playground, I'm dunking on their asses. Facials for everyone. I'm going to use my god-given height advantage to my, well, advantage. Fuckers don't even know what's in store for them.....but I'm excited to show them =).

***

I'm going to try and start taking more pictures. I'm one of those people who isn't very good with a camera, and most of the pictures I've acquired have come from other friends who like to carry their cameras everywhere and snap millions of pictures. I was looking through my old pictures the other day, and I really did like looking through them, and I wished I had more. So, in order to get more, I must take more. So I bought a camera, and that's what I'll do. I plan on posting some up here on the blog. Hopefully they won't suck too much. Speaking of not sucking too much, I've written a short story, and am debating whether or not to post it on the blog. Perhaps I will.....or perhaps I won't.....it'll be one or the other for sure, maybe.

Alright peeps, I'll holla at you cats later. Peace.

~Mikey D


"I gonna teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeear your walls down,
and storm into your hideout...
I walked with you, I talked with you...
...my memories are slipping..."

Listen Up

So, looks like I need to defend my honour (yeah, that's how we spell it in Canada) and show Mikey what he's missing. Although, I must agree that Sean Paul and the other 'Top 40ers' suck ass. And that's all they play at the bars, so I need to get extra drunk before my integrity passes out and I will even consider being seen dancing to 'that music.' Ugh. I shudder just thinking about it.


Anyways, without further ado:

"Top 5 Punk Bands"

1. Face to Face
2. Rise Against
3. Thrice
4. Choke
5. The Used

"Top 5 Songs to Blast from Your Car Stereo and Sing With at the Top of Your Lungs" (Technically, for me this could be any song, but in particular:)

1. This Town - Hot Hot Heat
2. Move Along - All American Rejects
3. Mr. November - The National
4. God Killed The Queen - Louis XIV
5. The Way We Get By - Spoon

"Top 5 Songs That Give Me Goosebumps Whenever I Hear Them"

1. Boston - Augustana
2. Fix You - Coldplay
3. A Save Situation - The Format
4. First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes
5. Love Will Come Through - Travis

"Top 5 Bitter Angry Feel Like Shit Breakup Songs"

1. My Sweet Fracture - Saves the Day
2. Cute Without The 'E' (Cut From The Team) - Taking Back Sunday
3. Great Romances of the 21st Century - Taking Back Sunday
4. I'm Not OK (I Promise) - My Chemical Romance
5. Freakish - Saves the Day


"Top 5 Mushy Gushy Don't You Wish You Were In Love Songs"

1. Your Love - Tegan & Sara
2. This Is Everything - Tegan & Sara
3. Hold - Saves the Day
4. Do You Suppose I'd Come Running? - Dispatch
5. Brighter Than Sunshine - Aqualung


"Top 5 Bands Who Consistently Have The Best Lyrics Ever"

1. Saves the Day
2. Tegan and Sara
3. Brights Eyes
4. Matt Good (Matthew Good Band)
5. Taking Back Sunday

I'd like to thank all the bands for coming out today. Some of you didn't make the cut, but there's always next year....Honourable Mentions In No Particular Order:

- Death Cab For Cutie
- Beck
- Franz Ferdinand
- Nada Surf
- Our Lady Peace
- The Libertines
- Pilate
- Hawthorne Heights
- The Shins
- Tom Petty
- The Strokes
- Dashboard Confessional

Hope you've enjoyed the show. This took me waaaay longer than I thought it would, so it better have been worth it. Perhaps someone besides Mikey will work up the balls to comment.

-Court

We Don't Roll, We Roll On

We need to have a talk about music. Today Kevin and I were the first ones to work, and I had a little time to kill before I could clock in. I switched the radio onto the local college radio station and just chilled for a bit. When the rest of the crew arrived, they were less than thrilled with my music choice. As one so politely put it, "This is crap." This person immediately went to the radio and turned it to Lansing's top-40 radio station and my ears were blessed to hear some of Sean Paul's "Temperature". "This is much better," my coworker replied.

Wait. What? How is that much better? How is some foreign guy with a strong accent who mumbles and slurs his words together better than anything? If Sean Paul was the only one who put out music, I would rather hear nothing for the rest of my life. Fuck, even now when Sean Paul isn't the only one putting out music I would still rather hear nothing. I'd just rather be deaf. Yup, Sean Paul makes me want to be part of the deaf community.

For my entire workday I listened to top-40 radio. I swear to you there are not 40 hits on this station. I think it's about 10 songs played over and over and over again. Maybe I'm getting older and whatnot, but I cannot stand this cheesy, poppy, dance shit anymore. It flat out sucks. And for those of you who say I'm not giving it a chance, well I fucking did. For eight hours today. So fuck you. And for those of you who say it's "catchy" or "fun to dance to", I am intolerant of your viewpoint and think you are mentally retarted.

So what is my point you ask? Music today is so bad that people have no concept on what is good and what is bad anymore. It's like we're reliving the tragic mistake of the 80's again. Say what you want about the music I listen to (it's whiny emo and you can't dance to it), but at least it has substance. It has feeling...and you can understand lyrics. There are so many talented musicians out there who go unheard because they're different than the mainstream bullshit being played right now and don't get the air play deserved. Sigh.

So no, this is not "much better". This is much worse. And now I have to set you all straight. I must get you all to try and listen to something better. So I now give you my music awards for May 15, 2006. Enjoy and fucking listen for the love of god. Thank you.


"Best Band to Chill to Late at Night and Reflect on Your Past, Present, and Future" Award:
Third Place: Elliot Smith
Second Place: David Kitt
WINNER: AMERICAN FOOTBALL
*Do this band a favor and check them out if you haven't. My favorite song right now that they've put out is called "For Sure". I put a bunch of their songs in a playlist the other night and felt as if I was in heaven. I felt quite relaxed and my mind cleared completely.

"Best Band on the Face of the Universe" Award:
Third Place: Dashboard Confessional
Second Place: Copeland
WINNER: Guster
*Guster is amazing. Plain and simple. I still believe their older stuff is where their genious lies. They will disagree with me, however. They will say that is fiction where genious lies =). My Guster fans will understand me there. Listen to Copeland's melodies though. That man has a beautiful voice (I know I sound gay there, but just do it).

"Best Punk Band Around...That I Love" Award:
Third Place: October Fall
Second Place: Blink 182
WINNER: Jimmy Eat World
*Jimmy qualifies as a punk band, right? They're not hardcore, but they are still amazing. Every single song in their collection fucking rocks. Blink is amazing too, especially their last album. Stroke of genious. October Fall is just a great band to jam to. Love em'.

"I Wish You'd Fucking Go the Hell Away" Award:
Third Place: Rap Music- All of it.
Second Place: Techno Music- All of it (except for the rare song I do like =))
WINNER: Sean Paul
*I hate you Sean Paul. I hope you die from an ass infection after someone sticks a rotting log up your ass that is covered in diseases man hasn't even discoverd. Yes, that is what I hope for.

"Songs That Will Always Touch My Heart" Award:
Third Place: Copeland- Coffee
Second Place: Lovedrug- Spiders
WINNER: Damien Rice- Blower's Daughter.
*Sigh, if I could only bring myself to listen to these songs again...

"Songs That Should Be On Your Next Mixtape To Your Girlfriend" Award:
Third Place: Copeland- May I Have This Dance
Second Place: Jamison Parker- Here's Everything I Meant To Say
WINNER: Lovedrug- Spiders
*Beautiful. All Three. Enough Said.

Band To Check Out (not mentioned above):
Angels and Airwaves
Cartel
The Format
Moneen
This Day and Age
The Smiths
Reindeer Section
Iron and Wine
Lyndsay Diaries
Cranberries
Teitur
Stars
Something Corporate
Ryan Adams
New Radicals
Sunny Day Real Estate
Mae
Juliana Theory
John Ralston
Kathleen Edwards
Jeff Buckley
Dredge
Death Cab For Cutie
Postal Service
Dakona
Cute Is What We Aim For
Boys Night Out
Ben Folds
Bayside
Alkaline Trio
Josh Joplin Group
The Shins
Howie Day
Straylight Run
Frou Frou


There ya go folks. That should be a good start for you. Oh, and you're welcome. =)

~Mikey D


"You're not in! This is not how it was supposed to be. All I wanted to say was that I dreamed about you last night. We were in a field and the soundtrack to Singin' in the Rain was playing in the background. We lay on our backs just staring at the moon. I want you to know I won't stop loving you. I promise you, I won't."

I Am Addicted To Coke

I am a Coke addict.


No, not that kind of coke.


The other one.


Coca-Cola Classic.

Yup, as far as addictions go, I'm in pretty deep with this one. I usually have at least one a day, and if I only have one a day, well, let's just say I must not have been feeling too hot that day. I like to think that I get it from my mom, who is a Diet Coke addict. Like myself, she cannot go a single day without her caffeinated fix. I know my addiction isn't as bad as someone who can't get off drugs, or even a smoker for that matter. But it's an addiction nonetheless, and probably has cost me hundreds and hundreds of dollars to feed. And being the poor sap that I am, really could probably use that extra money.

Since I've begun to work out and be more active, I've been trying to clean up my lifestyle a bit. I've stopped eating fast food (whoa, that's hard as fuck for me folks...Adam and Kevin are witnesses to the amount of fast food I've eaten...it's sickening), and I'm trying to cut back on the junk I eat at home. I'm replacing my traditional snack foods for healthier alternatives. No more greasy potato chips for Mikey, instead it's raisins and Nutri-grain bars. I don't really mind the switch. I really am going to try and be dedicated to lifting and working out this summer. I want to put on some weight and muscle. And to do so, I need protein and those good carbs and fats. Unfortunately for me, Coca-Cola does little to offer much in the way of good nutrition. Okay, let's be honest, it's just not good for you...period.

I'm sure you've read on the internet or had one of your family members send you one of those mass emails about the wonders of Coca-Cola. Maybe you've heard of some of these:

1) In many states, highway patrol cars carry two gallons of Coke in their trunks to help remove blood from highway roads after accidents.
2) You can put a T-Bone steak in Coke and it will be completely gone in two days (want to try this...but I don't want to waste a steak...ah well)
3) To loosen a rusted bolt: Apply a cloth soaked in Coke to the rusted bolt for several minutes.
4) For 20 years, the distributors of Coke have been cleaning their truck engines with Coke.

So yeah...kinda makes you think. I have heard of those things before, but never really thought of the dangers that Coke could bring to myself. Which is weird, because people are using it to clean truck engines...so I guess that makes me stupid or something. But anyway, Coca-Cola does a couple things to the human body. The active ingredient in Coca-Cola in phosphoric acid. What the hell does that do you ask? Well, phosporic acid, with a pH of 2.8, can fucking dissolve a nail in four days. Four days! Do you know what it can do to your bones? Nothing good! It actually takes calcium away from your bones, which could possibly lead to osteoporosis down the road. Now you'd have to drink a lot of Coke to do that...I'd say at least one a day...uh oh.......Coke is also made with a high fructose corn syrup. All fructose syrups must be metabolized by your liver. Coke is so high in fructose content though, that your liver struggles meabolizing it. In a way, drinking too much Coke is like being an alcoholic and drinking too much beer. You're both killing your liver! So weakened bones and rotting liver? Hmmm. No, no that will not help me with my quest to put on muscle.

But the health hazards that Coca-Cola has are not the only reasons why I'm choosing to stop drinking it. I've recently begun reading the magazine, "The Nation," which is, as they describe it, a magazine with "news and analysis on politics and culture from the left." Me, being the liberal that I am, kinda like reading some of the shit in it. This past week they had a cover story about Coca-Cola. Just glancing at the cover, I suspected it would be an article warning people about the health hazards of Coke. Instead, it outlined the two year battle that has been going on in "the largest anticorporate movement since the campaign against Nike for sweatshop abuses."

What?!?! My beloved Coca-Cola? A bad, and I mean bad, company? Now I've heard of stories of these large American companies who like to take advantage of cheap labor overseas and whatnot. I've even heard Coca-Cola's name mentioned as one of those companies. I figured, not that it's right or anything, that it was becoming a pretty standard practice for these large companies to expand and find the cheapest possible labor. But after reading the article, I have to say that I'm a little disturbed...

"On the morning of December 5, 1996, union leader Isidro Segundo Gil was standing at the gate of the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Carepa, Colombia, when two paramilitaries drove up on a motorcycle and shot him dead. A week later, unionists say, paramilitaries lined up all the workers inside the plant and forced them to sign a letter resigning from the beverage union SINALTRAINAL, spelling the end of the union at the plant." Of course, Coca-Cola denies any wrongdoing. They have no control of the paramilitaries in Colombia, right? Afterall, it's very convenient to contend "that the murders are a by-product of the country's civil war." Seems a little too convenient to me. Especially when nearly 4,000 union members have been killed by paramilitaries in the past twenty years, and oh yeah, did Coke mention? Their high ranking officials like to meet with the paramilitaries on a regular basis! Shady folks, just shady...

The outcry from the public is only going to grow. In India, Coke plants have allegedly polluted and depleted water supplies. America, the most obese nation in the world, blames Coca-Cola as part of the problem for obesity. Of course everyone is responsible for their own actions (you don't have to drink it if you don't want to), but Coca-Cola spends billions of dollars a year on advertising that is aimed at the youth of the world. Why do you think people have this preconceived notion that Coke is a squeeky clean little operation? Because their billion dollar advertisements play towards kids and the kid inside all of us. Tricky, tricky. Now, 58% of eight year old American kids have at least one carbonated beverage a day. Eight year olds! Do they need the caffeine and sugar rush? So not only is Coca-Cola facing the labor issues, they are meeting resistance from environmentalists, human rights activists, health experts, and stockholders, who in the past few years have watched the Coca-Cola stock drop steadily. Pretty much everyone who is an "expert" at something has a reason to hate Coke.

Many campaigns have already been launched against Coca-Cola. Many are student-driven, and at least twenty or so universities around the world have terminated distribution contracts with Coca-Cola. This spring, Michigan State University is debating whether to terminate their contract. I was proud to see our school's name on the list of univeristies that are thinking about doing that. It seems like it might be the right thing to do, even though they will lose money possibly in doing so. It's just nice to see an institution take a moral stance based on what they feel is right, instead of it being purely based on money. Anyway, there's always Pepsi still...

***

So I have to cut it out. No more Coca-Cola for me. I'm replacing it with other delicious beverages, like water. I've never been a fan of just drinking straight water, but like most things in life, you get used to it. In fact, I'm drinking a glass as I sit and type this fantastic blog. For three days now, I have been Coke-free. Kudos to me. I am a recovering Coka-aholic. Like I said, there are worse things. But I feel good about having the will power to stop. And I feel good not giving money to a company that might not be as reputable and clean as I originally thought. I encourage you to pick up a copy of "The Nation" and check out the article. Interesting stuff.


Well, that's it for this post. 100 profile hits in a week?!?! Damn! That's pretty....uh fucking awesome! Good job Court, guarantee they're looking at your picture and not my ugly mug. Holllllllllllllla bitches!

~Mikey D


"Open your eyes and let me in,
I swore to God I'd never swear,
And we all fall down...
And we all fall down...
Again."