posted at 1/9/2007 0 Comments
"I bought a Limited Edition Red Ipod Nano AND $10.00 went to help save Aids victims!"
Is it just me, or does anyone else find that really messed up? I've been getting really sick of seeing charitable acts through corporations. Hear me out on this one. I believe charities are great and I am seriously looking into giving more of my time and money to such things. There is nothing better than helping another person out. However, I don't think we should have to buy products to donate to struggling people. Nor do I think we should buy a product specifically because they are supporting a cause.
Let's do the math here. Say you bought the Limited Edition Red Ipod Nano supporting a cure for AIDS (I hold nothing against those that own this because they wanted an ipod), attended a "Rock for Darfur" concert and bought pink m&m's and oreos for the cure to Breast Cancer (which ironically, is on the no-no list of a good anti-cancer diet.) Though one site suggested that "Rock for Darfur" donates $1 for every $27-$37 ticket sold, I can't find any hard evidence. We'll give them the benefit of the doubt and give them $8 donation towards Darfur relief. With that added up, I hope you feel good donating $21.00 out of the $241.00 you spent on entertainment. That is about 90% spent on yourself. Is it necessary to be entertained before giving to others who really need it? I'm sorry, but it sounds like a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Again, I am very much for charity! But I would have a hard time "rocking out" and enjoying myself at a concert with the reminder that the people "I'm supporting" don't even have a home to sleep in anymore. What happened to just giving out of your own good will? Since when do we need something out of it?
On the corporate / business side, I am honestly excited when I hear a company donates a majority of their product's sale to a cause. It's awesome when they donate ALL proceeds and stuff. None of this half-ass $10 out of $200 for an ipod stuff. Then it seems promotional. Like they are sending their customers a vibe of satisfaction if they buy a special version of a product that symbolizes their generosity. In my perspective, I have a feeling that Apple is benefiting more from their Red Ipod than what the AIDS research organization they are donating to is.
Really, this blog is more on a personal level, however. Bottom line is, we need to be less selfish. We don't need anything in return for donating. It's not authentic giving if you are expecting something out of the deal. It's easier than ever to wire money to an organization without the help of Frito-Lay or Energizer Batteries. This is all a reminder to myself, too. I need to donate more, time and money. I'm actually glad I'm a little pizzed. There is importance to charity.
If you think I'm off my rocker, I'd like to hear from you. nick@nickdavis.org
posted at 10/20/2006 0 Comments
You are so dead to me. wtf. Like, I don't even need to delete my account again to prove a point (which was awesome on my part). I can't go more than two profiles away without running into a scene kid with Panic! at the disco playing on their page. Also, Myspace is like the new geocities, if you think about it. Crappy animated gifs all over, annoying text, stupid phrases and a conglomorant of sub-par movie quotes.
posted at 7/7/2006 0 Comments
Check this Blonde Joke out! OMG!
posted at 3/21/2006 0 Comments
1. Not die
2. Take PLENNNTY more photographs.
3. Start screen printing
4. Develop my own film
5. Get rich
6. Get more renters
7. Obtain my blackbelt
posted at 1/2/2006 0 Comments
Honestly one of my favourite movies ever. I get choked up every time I watch it. Particularly the scene Jesse sings 'When She Loved Me'. Especially this verse:
So the years went byI stayed the sameBut she began to drift awayI was left aloneStill I waited for the dayWhen she'd say I will always love you
I mean, what the heck. It makes me think about everything and everyone I have at this very moment in time. I need to just slow down and soak it in because parents are getting older, siblings are growing up, friends are leaving for college and/or getting married, I still have a full head of non-gray hair, life can still be simple. I don't want to be caught later saying, "Wow, I should have appreciated that period of time in my life more."
This concept is a very emotional one for me. I'm happy to have such a good life and such a solid, wonderful past. Looking back, I am happy and satisfied with how things were but I can't help but feel a little sad and wanting to go back to those times once and a while. I suppose if we could go back to any certain point in time, that certain point in time wouldn't be as special as we remember it. I'm just glad God is consistent, otherwise this would be a very hard matter to cope with for me.
With all this said, I am only 20. I have plenty more experiences and stories to live through. I am still able to look forward to marry the girl of my dreams, settle down and raise a family with her. My parents are still young (For 11 kids? Heck yeah, you are!). My siblings are still the ages I want them to be. the house is expensive lately, but that adds suspense to life, so it's good. I still have some 44 states to visit and a handful of countries. I still have over-the-top dreams and time and resources to accomplish them. God has given me plenty to be happy with right now, so I better not take it for granted.
I suggest watching Toy Story 2 and I suggest listening to Sarah McLachlan's 'When She Loved Me'.
posted at 12/28/2005 0 Comments
A Christmas blog duurrr!!!
Christmas was great! It was wonderful seeing my relatives, family, friends and etc! The event went as follows:
Friday:
I sat in a van for 4 hours on the way to Grandma and Grandpa's. The trip is usually the most dreaded thing in the world for me. This time, however, I most just cried a lot more beforehand than I did on the actual trip. It was nice because I was able to work on stuff while we were driving. However, the extremely bumpy roads made graphic editing really sucky. We finally arrived to their house and I ended up eating way too many meat balls and too much oyster stew. Oysters are $20 a pint, so I felt sophisticated eating it (JK, but it was still good.) It was nice seeing everyone again. I wish we could do stuff more often. We opened gifts after a while and I received a Lap Steel Guitar from my grandparents, which is totally sweet. I really need to learn how to write music, though. Then I watched Wizard of Oz and took a nap for a while. It was a great time.
Saturday:
This day was reserved for my family and then in the evening Jacinda's. We had a nice Christmas Ham deal my mom prepared and it was good. It was really nice hanging out with all of them again. We all opened presents and I received a Holga Camera from my parents. woot! Now I can take artsy pictures and stuff! Eli (my youngest brother) received a book that was all like, "I'm a big brother!" or something. So it turns out that mom is having baby number 11! WTF I KNOW! Congrats! I think it's awesome. It was a good time.
Jacinda and I eventually left and met up with her family to go to Christmas Mass. It was a good time. Interesting deal. It reminded me some of Lutheran practices, except a little more involved or something. We got some baby Jesus plastic figured to eat with our bread and then went back to their house to eat and open gifts. I got some new kitchen knives. That was awfully kind! I needed some new ones real bad. They were even Chicago Cutlery, which are good. Overall my favourite day out of all of the Christmas weekend.
Sunday:
Went to church to hear my Dad speak about Dove Dung and stuff, it was a good sermon! Immediately after, Jacinda and I headed off to her Grandparents to do the Doll Christmas thing. It was a good time. I met a lot of people. They are all good folks. We had a gift exchange and I got a Best Buy Gift card (go figure) instead of an electric lint remover (seriously, who gives that at a gift exchange? ha ha) We headed out from there and Jacinda and I went back to her place to open each others gifts, of which I received A toaster oven (probably the best invention ever) and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy movie (Probably the best movie ever made.) Thanks! After that we watched "It's a Wonderful Life." It's a sweet movie. I loved every minute of it.
Christmas is a wonderful festivity. It's all like, you think it's an over-done holiday right until the actual day comes. Then it's worth it. w00t!
posted at 12/26/2005 0 Comments
Johnny! I visited Jacinda up in St. Cloud, correct? Well I left around midnight. I'm not quite sure but something didn't register when I heard about a blizzard coming our way. I thought it was more a Wednesday thing or something. No, it was pretty much right at that moment. I walked out and everything was whiter than before and there was tons of snow falling. The roads were terrible, the drivers were worse. I didn't go faster than 50mph anywhere during the whole trip back. I noticed a lot of tracks going into ditches, people spinning out, etc. Sometimes I couldn't see past 5 ft. Also, I had to turn my music up just do I didn't have to hear all the snow brushing under my car. WOW. By far the worse conditions I have ever driven in.
It's amazing how simple and pretty something like snow seems to be, yet it's enough to humble even the best drivers. Only to display the power and control of our God.
The trip took me 2 hours total. woot!
posted at 12/14/2005 0 Comments
posted at 12/13/2005 0 Comments
I placed first in sparring at my Tae Kwon Do tourney last Saturday. woot.
Okay, so it's partially brag able. It's not that amazing as there was only three people (including me) in my division. So I didn't have to fight a million people or anything. It IS brag able for the fact that I got opposite of the 'By', which means I had to fight once more than the others (granted if I beat the first guy.) and I was against red belts, which are 3 belts above mine.
So it goes like this, the first kid I spar, I beat him like 6-nothing. I pulled a lot of head shots on him on the last minute of the two-minute round. That was fun. He had a good kick to my face, which leaves my nose sore even today. I didn't pansy out and call a timeout when it happened. I'm not a pansy!!!!
Once I defeated him, I was up against my next opponent. I was proud of myself at this point because I wasn't totally pooped. Last spring when I sparred, I was dead tired after 30 seconds. So lasting a 2 minute round without being totally winded made me happy. Exercise actually works, weird! We both run to the middle of the ring when called, bow to each other, then to the judge, he's all like, "fight!" and we start. It was pretty intense. This kid goes to the same gym as I do so we had sparred the Tuesday before. This made it a lot more interesting since we both kind of had a grasp on each others fighting and stuff. It ended 3-2, I was one point ahead. Phew! I was dang tired after that round.
With that I learned two things.
1. I am healthier than what I was 6 months ago.
2. I lovvvve sparring.
I pretty much can't even wait until the next time I get to spar. It's such a workout. w00t!
posted at 12/12/2005 0 Comments
posted at 12/9/2005 0 Comments
As a few of you know, I'm pretty obsessed with southern rock lately (namely Maylene and the Sons of Disaster). This has inspired me to get something going. I'm hoping I don't slack off / get too busy for this project.
Here's a few band names I have thought so far:
· Mafesta and the Railroad Crossing
· The Outlaws from Hell's Flames
· Billy and the Young Riders
· Runnin' Heat and the Pit Stains
· The Blazing Saddles
That's all so far. I'll probably have like a million by tonight.
posted at 12/6/2005 0 Comments
I made lefse yesterday!!! I WIN!!!! DURRR!!
oh sheezy it's cold out. It was 2 degrees when I drove in. I mean, wtf is that about?
I'm drinking coffee right now. I love coffee this week.
I get to see my fiance tonight, I win!!! TOTALLY!!! YESSSS!!!!!
BYE FOR NOW! :-D
posted at 12/2/2005 0 Comments
posted at 11/30/2005 0 Comments
What a great weekend. Pretty much one of my favourite ever! I will explain in non-chronological order.
First of all, Jacinda and I got engaged! It's wonderful. I love her soooo much!!! It'll be a long engagement as we are planning to get married sometime around june 2007. She's going to wrap up school and I'm going to wrap up whatever need be wrapped up before that happens.
Thanksgiving festivities were great. I went with Jacinda to her Grandparents for lunch and met a bunch of relatives. Then proceeded to own Katie at video games. ha! Jacinda and I then headed over to visit my Grandparents and family. We had some pie, watched some Texas Ranger and etc. It was swell.
The Thanksgiving party at my house was absolutely wonderful! I miss hanging out with all of those kids! It reminded me of all the fun times we had last year. The Christmas party will definetly be great.
Last night Jacinda and I had a spa night. Foot scrub, hair dye and face masks, yummm!
Coffee is good. I've had a lot of it over the week.
If you haven't already, you should check out Bad Dudes. They are friggen sweet! http://www.myspace.com/baddudes
Man, life kicks butt.
posted at 11/28/2005 0 Comments
I got to thinking about MySpace and how impersonal it is. It's a great way to keep up with what's going on in friends lives... or is it? We all write our blogs of what we did in a day, our current thoughts, our feelings, etc. We open up to a computer and then hope for a few people to comment. Why can't we just open up to each other in real life? What ever happened to conversation? Phone calls? Letters, even? The art of communication has advanced to the point of where it doesn't even have to be personal.
So I'm probably just going to be more selective on myspace of who I add. Also, only friends will be able to read my blogs. etc etc etc. I suggest getting in touch if you'd like to know what's going on in my life. It'd be swell!
Until next time!!LO!L!!
posted at 11/18/2005 0 Comments
I just found out this morning that my parents are going to Cape Cod. I'm very happy for them! They pretty much deserve a trip like this. They have for a while, really. yay!
Lately traveling has been on my mind quite a bit. for the last 20 years of my life, I have gone two places more than 50 miles outside of Minnesota. I went to Washington D.C. when I was 12 for Promise Keepers, "Stand in the Gap". It was amazing. There was about 1.2 million people there, I believe? That was a good time. I thouroughly enjoyed it and would love to go again except at a less busy time so I can take in all the monuments and buildings. My second trip was in 2004, to a town in Illinois that has a population of no more than a few hundred people. This was for Cornerstone Festival. That was definetly an experience worth doing agian. And I plan on it. Yesss!
Half of the reason travel has sparked interest in me is the fact that it is a lot less expensive than one would think. You can get many trips over-seas for less than $1000 a person. This includes a round trip flight and a week stay at a hotel. Granted the rest of the trip is up to you, but the basics are covered. Shhiiizzzz.
So here's where I woudln't mind going:
There are plenty others, but that's what comes to mind right now. They are all super cheap, too. dang dude!!!!!!!!
posted at 11/9/2005 0 Comments
Last saturday was a good time. Jacinda and I headed to Marshall early in the morning for a TKD tourney. It sucked as far as competing, but the overall experience was dandy. Thanks, Jacinda! that night we went to Mike's to play poker. It was a ton of fun because Jacinda and I finally started to understand the game. Jacinda pretty much won, actually. I lost interest 3/4's ways through, but I was beating Mike at one point. that was swell!
Sunday was fun. We got to hang ou twith my family for Tim and Graces birthday. they are 11 now. crazy stuff!
I went to frieda's this morning, that was a fun time. yay. HI!
I pretty much can't excersize due to a possible rib fracture. I'm not sure what the deal is, as I am not going to have it professionally checked out. But hopefully it'll heal up well! :-D
I'll probably just end up being a pudgsickle.
posted at 11/2/2005 0 Comments
Hello everyone,
Welp, this weekend is the Marshall Family Tae Kwon Do Tournament. There will only be competing in sparring and forms. As far as forms go, I'm confident I will have a fighting chance for first. I generally put a decent amount of effort into it and make it look hard or whatever. That owns up.
Sparring is what I'm interested in. First of all, the lucky kids that get to spar me have an advantage as the ribs on one of my sides totally kills. Last wednesday, we were practice sparring and the 3rd degree I was with totally smoked me on the side with a round house. I lost my wind, but I didn't cry. Pretty much it's still sore right now. I'm hoping it heals before the event. Other than that I have a real good chance of placing first, I think. I pretty much have to. Jacinda will be counting on me to the best, and Josh will just make fun of me or something if I don't win. woot. I'LL EVEN KEEP YOU ALL UPDATED ON THAT!
Dang dood. Otherwise, life is good. And I love Tomato Juice.
posted at 10/27/2005 0 Comments
I got Maylene and the Sons of Disaster. Man, they kick so much butt.
posted at 10/26/2005 0 Comments