Congratulations to Mario!
Fencing friend Mario created the intro to October 27th's The Show with Zefrank. I think even Ze was impressed with the quality of Mario's work. Plus, The Show was awsome.
the show with zefrank
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October 30, 2006
Dark Woodie
He hates it when I spell it "ie".
I fenced in a tournament for the second time since 1996. The first time was Blades at the Beach, where you may remember things did not go so well. Nervious? You bet! I spent most of the day as close to the door as I could manage all the while trying not to run outside screaming. I had the whole positive self talk thing going. "
Woody, listen to me carefully. I believe in you! I always have! That's why I'm here. Destiny dressed you this morning my friend, and now Fear is trying to pull off your pants. If you give up, if you give in, you're gonna end up naked with Fear just standing there laughing at your dangling unmentionables!"
It wasn't really working. He was back. The last time he was around was 1996, Queen City Open. I had just lost a DE 14-15 against a fencer who made sure everyone knew they needed to win first place in order to move from the "B" team to the "A" team of their universities NCAA fencing team. True, the referee was an alumni from that very same university, so my 14-15 loss was really a win. I know I won that bout. I didn't win the bout for good reason as her NCAA future rested on the medal, but I got a medal too and 2nd place is still winning.
No it isn't stupid. Second means last loser. Not only did you lose but you were the last loser. You worked the hardest and the longest before you finally figured out you were a loser.
As irrational as his argument was, I couldn't find a way to beat it, or any of a grocery list of other arguments of why I suck no matter what I tried. While all this was going on in my head on the ride home a friend was with me who seemed to sense what was going on, and she spent the entire ride home pumping up my holed ego while Dark Woodie mocked me for hiding tears behind dark sunglasses. I still am not sure how she knew, I was pretty much silent the whole ride home anyway. I don't think I compeated after that, instead shifting my focus on running tournaments and repairing equipment. As for Dark Woodie, well, if you can't beat them, join them. I became whole, the night, the day, and the road between them. We were better than the sum of our parts. Everything was lit up crystal clear in the even gray light of bitterness. No shadows, no glare. Not only whole but perfect in every way. Being a perfect centered being some might say had some drawbacks, loneliness being top of the list, but this isn't a weakness so much as a strength. No one gets close enough to me to hurt me. I was a rock, I was an island. Time and loneliness eventually eroded me away and I craved warmth. Dark Woodie was just an empty overcoat I could choose to put in the back of the closet until winter comes. I should have left a light on in the closet.
Did you ever notice how stuff you stick in the closet seems to multiply til one day you can't seem to close the door because of all the shoes and you have no idea how they all got there to begin with. Surely you didn't have so many pairs of old shoes? Yesterday the closet door opened all by itself and Dark Woodie, his sleak and shiny coat dazzling to behold sloped gracefully back into my world.
My fencing goals were to score touches on everyone and not come in last. Those are stupid goals, the only goal is perfection. Anything worth doing is worth doing to obsession.
I won two bouts! You lost two bouts.
I scored touches on everyone. You lost two bouts.
I came in 7 out of 15 in pools! You say that like its a good thing. How's the view in the bottom 50%, loser?
I won my first DE bout since 1996. And where did that get you?
I took 7th overall! You won a DE and you still came in the bottom 50%. Only you can win something and still gain no ground.
I had a great day!! Only you would suck so bad that you can lose that bad and still be proud of yourself.
Its weird, last night I had a close friend riding with me, and she spent the car ride trying to prop up my holed ego while I tried not to speak at all. Do I have some sort of Loser flag or something? Yes, you would call it a loser flag, I call it your hair.
And haven't you gained some weight? I distinctly remember that you were 220. You've chubbed out all the way to 340. Clearly tubby, my return is long overdue.
For breakfast I had two packages of oat meal for 300 caleries, at lunch an all bran bar for 100 caleries. Then he showed up. When I was a kid, food would shut him up. Not last night. 3000 caleries at dinner and he only got more chatty.
I hate it when he's right.
October 27, 2006
War is good for the economy!
First things first, many thanks to Sara for making this connection in the shower this morning. Bathing seems to bring the best out of intellects. I hope no one ever outlaws it!
War is good for the economy! I used to hear that all the time in both history and economics classes. While it is a pretty crass statement, it is also true. Back in the day, wars meant that average people had plenty of good jobs making uniforms, ammunition, equipment, weapons, and more. Nowhere was this more clear than in the first and second world wars. Pretty much an entire middle class made their livings on the war effort.
But times they are a changing. Modern warefare uses fewer troops, thus less equipment. Modern manufacturing technologies means that fewer workers are needed to make the same amount of product. So the middle class sees little econimic gain. The money is still there of course or we wouldn't still find ourselves in these foreign wars. It is just being made by the few elite people who own the companies who make the wartime goods and services.
Its just coincidence that it takes money to run for public office, so only people with money get elected and they make their money on oil, weapons, and services used in the war effort. Right?
International Disadvantaged People's Week
October 22 through 28 is International Disadvantaged People's Week. Please send an encouraging message to a retarded friend, just as I have done. I don't care if you drive badly, interfere with your strangers' lives, vote republican, or occasionall crap yourself. You hang in there sunshine, you're freakin' special!
Was that too wrong? I never know.
October 26, 2006
How to Steal an Election
It used to be that to steal an election you had to be better than the other candidate. Then you only needed to look better than the other candidate. Then you needed destroy your opponents life. Now you only need to hack the machines. Here's how.
I don't know about you, but I think Yellow Dog has a real shot this year. Thanks to Jeff Williams for the tip.
I miss the old days where you needed to be better than your opponent to win.
October 25, 2006
Carolina Phoenix Women's Football Update
This just in:
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL WANTED: A FEW GOOD WOMEN TO PLAY FOOTBALL And we aren’t talking powder-puff, either. We’re talking full tackle, full contact, bone-crunching American football. The Carolina Phoenix team (seeking membership in IWFL) is currently seeking new recruits. Interested but not 100% sure? Excited and screaming “hell yeah!”? Then come to one of our Organized Team Activities. 10am on October 29th and November 12th at the Glenwood Recreation Center on Coliseum Blvd. Come ready to play with us or just observe. This is not a try out – all women are invited to come and experience this so that they can make an informed decision about trying out. No equipment necessary for the OTAs - we’ll be running plays, but not bashing heads - yet. Questions? Contact the team at carolinaphoenix (at) gmail.com
From the ashes they rise again, better than ever.
I highly recommend that even mildly interested folks come out and give your support.
October 24, 2006
First Blade Flush
When I left the house this morning it was 33 degrees outside. I'm glad I chose to wear a sweater. I'm in a good mood, but I awoke in a bad. The dog barking and the alarm clock woke me up. At the time I was dreaming that Cameron had talked me into going to a weekend long coaches seminar somewhere that required we fly in a plane. When we arrived I realized that she had tricked me into going to coaches college, which is an entire week. To make maters worse as soon as we got there she went off with her coaching friends and left me there abandoned and betrayed. I'm not even supposed to be here!
I like to go to bed at 10pm, that's my pumpkin hour. Last night something was good on TV so I stayed up until 11pm. During the show it sounded like our house was having wet towels dropped on from a great height. We realized it was the trees, which had chosen that moment to dump about a quarter of their leaves at once. Last year Sara and I happened to be home during the day when the trees dropped half of their leaves at once. It made a big "WUMP!" sound. Now that we know that leaves don't fall, but are pushed, I guess this means that trees poop too.
In fencing last night, I broke the blade of my last original electric foil while fencing Mario. Of my original equipment I only have one dry foil and one dry saber remaining. The foil I keep hanging on the wall in my office. The saber I use occasionally, but as we practice electric, it doesn't see much use anymore. I can feel my past slipping away. First it was my jacket, than my knickers. I had put all of my electric gear into the club supply because at the time we didn't have much. Soon after one of my original electric foils broke followed by one of my original electric epees. I took my remaining electric gear out of the club gear. We had a good inventory by this time. Six or eight months ago my epee blade broke and I had to buy new ones. Now my last original electric weapon has given up the ghost. I feel like if something happens to my dry saber and my dry foil I will have lost all connection to my fencing past.
Its odd really. I suppose it is like many first in ones life. First car, first love, first kiss, and other similar first. You never forget your first. But like my first love and my first kiss, these first are nothing more than memories now. See what I mean about my past slipping away? The only difference is I don't want to lose my fencing past. I don't mind at all my first kiss is a memory, my first other similar thing is nothing more than a memory of laying on the floor and watching Doctor Who: Revenge of the Cybermen (Great episode). I can always buy the DVD. The rest of that stuff is happily behind me.
Fencing however is not behind me. I'll be able to replace the blades, but I'll never get that feeling back. First blade flush I guess they would say.
October 23, 2006
Little known facts about me.
What? Can't I cop out once in a while and go for an easy one? (Thanks Mario)
October 20, 2006
Who is the more pervy, the perv or the perv who complains
I just read a story filled with moral outrage. That's not unusual as I am a regular reader of Fark. For some reason however this one left me of two minds.
The story is this. Ashley Paige a designer of knitted bikini's who is apparently famous in fashion circles puts on a show and in it, one of models is a 10 year old girl. There is a picture in the article. When I saw the picture I wondered what all the fuss was about. Its a ten year old girl in a bikini.
The article quotes a conservative spokesperson who says that children in swimwear is a "promiscuous image". I just didn't get that. I suppose it is in the eye of the beholder. A perv might see that and see it as a promiscuous image, the rest of us only see a child in swimwear. If that's the case, it doesn't matter where the child is, catwalk or boardwalk. Personally, I imagine that if the fear is that perv's are about, she would be a lot safer on the catwalk guarded by photographers, parents and security, than she would be walking on a boardwalk.
I can open any sales paper in the spring and know what swimwear the normal parents are putting their kids in. I wonder what the perv's and the conservatives put their kids in? Is it odd that a perv and a conservative looks at a picture of a ten year old girl and swimwear and thinks exactly the same thing? The only difference is the conservative feels guilt and blames others.
So is guilt the only thing separating the perv's from the conservatives?
October 19, 2006
October 17, 2006
Zefrank does what Rock the Vote tries to do.
Namely explain the entire voting process in a way that everyone could understand and leave them wanting to participate. In case I haven't said it before, this guy really impresses me.
October 16, 2006
President to Invade Blogsboro
Bloggers all over Greensboro will keep a low profile on Wednesday as the Commander and thief himself is comming for a visit. I guess he's getting tired of that "idiot monkey" joke.
Maybe I'll take a sick day and keep out of the county. The last thing I want to see is a couple of suits coming to take me to one of those spiffy new homeland security resorts. Of course, if they come for me, they'll come for at least half of the Greensboro blogging crowd. I might disappear, but at least I'd be in good company.
October 13, 2006
Ban the Pencil! Banned Items in Schools
I read this article this morning about an Ohio girl who was suspended because she was caught with a comb in school. This tap danced on my "outrage" button and so I am now on a mission. I will find this secret list of banned items and expose the dangers of combs and...stuff. I donno.
The Guilford County Schools Student Handbook a sprawling 94 page tome of enlightenment has this to say:
Rule 22 - Possession of a Dangerous Weaponor Other Instrument
Students shall not possess or conceal or transport any weapon or other instrument
that could cause or that is intended to cause bodily injury or other harm to another
or misuse otherwise acceptable objects in a manner intended to cause harm to
others at any time while a student is at school in any school building and on any
school premises, attending school-sponsored activities, on or about any schoolowned
or operated vehicle, off school property at any school-sponsored or school
approved activity or function or during any period of time when students are subject
to the authority of school personnel, and at any time when the student's behavior
has a direct and immediate effect on maintaining order and discipline and protecting
safety and welfare of students and staff. N.C.G.S. 115C-391(d1) mandates a 365-
day suspension for students in possession of dynamite cartridges, bombs, grenades,
mines, or powerful explosives. Fireworks are excluded from these provisions.
Consequences
• Elementary - Up to 10 days OSS. Confiscate weapon. Law enforcement will be
called. Repeated offenses may result in long-term suspension.
• Middle School - Long-term suspension up to 365 days. Confiscate weapon. Law
enforcement will be called.
• High School - Long-term suspension up to 365 days. Confiscate weapon. Law
enforcement will be called. Principals of high schools on a block schedule must
consult their School Support Officers prior to suspending a student out of school for
more than five (5) days.
Well, that doesn't seem so bad. It implies a comb is only a weapon when used as a weapon. I approve. Wait a minute, 94 pages and I couldn't even find a dress code? Hmmm...
Ok, the dress code for the county was strait forward enough. If you smell, or your cloths are disruptive, you are in trouble. The definition of "Disruptive" is left to the individual school. Aycock doesn't allow anyone to wear red for instance.
Wow, secret societies are banned in guilford county schools. Take that you Masons! And you, vile members of the Reel Big Fish fanclub. Ban the tube top!
Door to door selling is allowed up to twice a year and only by High School students. So you middle schoolers selling wrapping paper and stuff for your school are breaking the law.
You know, its odd. I really expected a list like the TSA post for things not allowed on airplanes.
It looks like in leu of a list, what is being said is "We get to decide on a case by case basis, what your child may or may not have subject to change at any time." So relax parents, your child will be suspended for the oddest things at any time. You can use common sense to help keep it to a minimum but basically if your child looks crosseyed, they will be suspended for having a book, and when they return to school without books, they will be suspended for not having their books.
My advice, save some vacation days and when the man goes all arbitrary on your kids backside, you can smile and enjoy a day at the zoo.
"OMG you got suspended for a ruler? What are you going to do now?"
"Me, I'm going to Disney land."
Meanwhile I will be quietly designing a training program so my children will be able to kill with a book, pencil, crayon, or white long sleeved polo shirt with between 2 and four buttons by the time they leave pre-K. You can never be too careful these days. People are killing Amish kids, no child is safe anymore.
October 12, 2006
The bra is mightier than the balloon
While yes, obviously I would think a single red bra would be more dangerous than 99 red balloons. In the song, 99 red balloons lead the the end of civilization. Still, it was only a song.
However, one red bra can do some serious REAL LIFE damage too according to the Toledo Blade.
Back in the Saddle Again II
I have been living in interesting times. My normal happy boring life hasn't returned yet, but things had slowed down enough that after I finished sewing the elastic back into the ankle of my knickers I was able to suit up after a fashion, and fence some saber. Some explenation is in order. Our saber lame's only go up to size 48. I wear a size 52 jacket. We aren't going to buy a size 52 saber lame, so I'm just going to have to become a size 48 if I intend to play saber with the normal kids. So in the near term, on saber night, if I get to play I put on a foil lame, and an overglove. I connect the overglove to the foil lame with a mask cord. This way those I fence against can hit deep target, they can hit my head, and they can get a stop cut on my wrist. My arms however, are not target.
As is often brougth up by those folks in class I fence against, it isn't fair, on the other hand, it teaches them to be smarter. Last night was special, not only because it was the first physical activity I have been involved in in weeks, I won all of my bouts. I used to think of fencers as using youth and skill, or age and treachery. I now think of it as age and experience. Not that I used any of those.
I won because of my new lucky Wash LYNDONO patch. He wore it on his left sleeve, I wear it on my left sleeve. I am a leaf in the wind, watch me soar!
October 11, 2006
Pining for her fjords
Sara has, over the course of her life, developed quite a following of gentleman callers. Many of these fine young fellows were friends of hers and developed serious crushes on her some of which border on extreme. They never made a move, she never noticed, life went on. She has lots of guys, myself on the otherhand, only have one crazed fan.
Flash forward to today, Sara's married to a hellova guy, and is making a name for herself in her current field. She's got her stuff together. Over time these guys have not only made contact with Sara, they have revealed their secret yearning for her fine frame. I am OK with this. Infact, I can understand their position and sympathize with them. Some of them have even visited, or we have gone and visited. They are all fine fellows, with excellent taste in women. Some might be bothered by allowing someone from the past, who is still carrying a torch, into their spouses present lives. I know Sara is uncomfortable with me having contact with anyone who may have at one time thought I was shagalicious then, and still wants a woody now. I am not like that. I want to meet them. I want to see the faces of the guys who failed to achieve Sara's relationship orbit.
To them I say fondly: NAH! NAH! I am the w1nz0r! Ju R teh L0z3r!
October 10, 2006
Guess I picked the wrong day to stop being paranoid
People are hardwired to find patterns where there may not be. Therefore, please strap on your tin-foil hat, and walk with me a moment.
The International News, an English language Arabic website reports that a high level Talaban leader is asking: "Muslims living in the US to leave the country as soon as possible “because God’s punishment would fall on America in the month of Ramazan.”
Meanwhile in North Korea, They celebrate the successful test of the newest weapon in their diplomatic arsonal, with this op/ed piece from the Asian Times Online.
Meanwhile on the homefront, "Experts warn of an accidental atomic war Nuclear missile modified for conventional attack on Iran could set off alarm in Russia"
And in completely unrelated news, the RINF Alternative News has compiled a partial list of US concentration camps to be used on patriotic Americans when the constitution is suspended. Complete with a list of all the already in the books laws they will use to do it.
That was fun! Don't forget to remove your tin foil hats, and enjoy your day!
October 9, 2006
Titanic Open 2006
This year was our second of a hopefully long standing tradition of hosting what we like to call The Titanic Open. The event is open to women and children only. Get it? Clever huh? Though our turnout was a little lighter than expected, we were thrilled by the positive compliments we got from so many parents and fencers. Especially in light of the fact that we were fairly short handed compared to what we prefer.
Dr. Sally Robinson, emertis faculty from UNCG and the founder of our club is away for a year and we missed her company, her wisdom, and her availability during normal working hours to accomplish so many things us working stiffs don't have time for. It was literally Sunday before some things that needed to be done on Friday got done. (There's nothing sadder than watching the sun rise from a Walmart parking lot.)
However, because of the family she created, the fencers, parents, and staff pulled together and hosted a very smooth and orderly event. My hats go off to you all. We had fun, our fencers had fun, and nothing caught fire or was broken. If that isn't a criticial success I don't know what is.
October 8, 2006
A Titanic Apology
October 6, 2006
Bush: "It's my law I can break if if I want to!"
I have been so good. I have kept the politics out of my blog for so long, but I can't ignore this. Bush signed into law a bill that creates some minnimum requirements for FEMA directors. He immediately signed himself another "This law doesn't apply to me" signing statement. Read it here.
I realize that I am putting myself on the short list for a one way trip to Gitmo for saying this, but it had to be said. WTF is that idiot monkey think he's up to anyway?
October 5, 2006
Fred Phelps Westboro Baptist Biblical Logic is Flawed.
Of course, that title is so self evident that even I am going to stop for a moment of "DUH!"
There, I feel better. The Westboro Church of Idiot Children blackmailed the state of Pennsulvania into a deal whereby they leave the Amish alone in exchange for an hour of time to polute the airwaves. Thought they got their deal they still say that the Amish got what was comming to them. The logic seems to be, If something bad happens to you, then you diserved it and it is their god's will.
OK. So if I stub my toe on the corner of the bed and shout something like "gosh darn it", their reply would be, "he already did sinner."
Fair enough. So by that logic all someone has to do is strap on a TNT vest and go to Westboro Baptist some Sunday with the intent of meeting god, and bringing friends. If this happens then the congregation all had it comming to them, so its fine.
I guess then the bomber would be a Hero in their eyes (those that still had eyes of course, we can assume the rest would be taking an eternal bath of fire).
By that logic, does that imply that murders on death row are all marters of Westboro Baptist? I wonder if Charles Manson then is a candidate for Westboro Baptist Sainthood?
While all of this is just my humble opinion based on the information I've gathered and processed in the past ten minutes or so, It sounds to me like that would make them a nutjob cult or something. I mean, why would any sane person or group pick on the Amish anyway?
October 4, 2006
Worst. Job. Ever.
While on the coast with Dad I had access to cable TV. One of the shows on was about really bad jobs. Sure, the work was often dirty, smelly, and dangerous, but I know a job worse.
While dad was in the hospital he of course ate hospital food. Even recovering from a heart attack, dad had a good appitite, but at each meal he could only eat about half of what he was given. At first I thought it was because he was sick, but as time passed I realized it was because the food wasn't that good tasting. No salt, no seasoning of any kind, and most of it came from a can. At first he tried to use the included packet of Ms. Dash to fix the worst tasting thing on the plate, but he eventually gave up. Some foods were so bad that the smell of them turned him off the rest of his meal. He would cover them with the lid to his plate and try his best to eat the rest. The worst offenders were the leafy green veggies. Ironically, leafy greens are among his favorite foods. Once he gave up on Ms. Dash, mom started collecting the packets to use at home.
The first morning home, mom made grits and had not used any salt on them, instead putting her collected packets of Ms. Dash on the table. I stirred my eggs into mine and needed no seasoning. Dad ate his grits with black pepper. Mom went for the Ms. Dash. From the look on her face, both the initial look as the food hit her tongue, and the look of pitty she sent in dad's direction, I could assume a whole lot about Ms. Dash. Ms. Dash wears a spiked black leather apron and her black chef's hat zips over her mouth and nose. She clearly whips her cream with a riding crop, and beats her eggs with wild abandon.
And that's when it hit me. There is a job out there worse than cleaning septic tanks, worse than diving for golf balls, worse than being a product testor for mosquito repellant. This job deserves a real american hero song dedicated to them (along with a tasteless Budlight beer).
Hospital Chef is clearly the worse job EVER. Think about it. You have to come work every day and make a meal that will be eaten almost entirely by a population who are at best, "unwell". You have to make this meal for the lowest common denominator. The person with high cholesterol, diabetes, an intestinal infection, heart attack, and on medications that react to food. They are allergic to certain foods and religion dictates that other foods can't be eaten. To add insult to injury, for a portion of your population this is their last meal...EVER.
I bet the suicide rate among the hospital chef population is up there with that of white male physicians. Come to think of it I wonder if hospital food is causing the spike in suicides among white male physicians. Ms. Dash must get really turned on knowing that her slaves are sharing their soul sucking misery with others.
So here's to you Hospital Chef, may the end of your misery come with flavor and fresh ingredients.
On the other hand, perhaps hospital chef is a field rife with sadist, in which case this would be dream job. Think on that the next time you or a love one get "served" while on the inside. But bring a picnic basket.
October 2, 2006
Attention Rednecks! (Southern, subtitled in English)
Herritage not hate, that is why I bother. Now listen ya'll, I ain't gonna but say this but once, so pay some attention here:
I don't pretend to understand dem dar team sports. But I respect dem recreational / church teams for bringing folks together to blow off some steam and have a good time in the fresh air. This ain't the big leagues though ya'll. Old, young, fit, and unfit, are all thrown in together to have a good time and not a thing more. Iffin ya'll only care about winning, you might be in the wrong place. Iffin, ya'll think its a'right to shove a lady around, you're dead wrong, but for the sake of argument lets just say it wuz. You'd better make good and damn sure the lady you're pushing around ain't playing professional women's football. Boy, you will get your ass stomped. Now one of ya'll learned this the hard way one county over, over the weekend. I reckon you deserve what ye got considering it ain't never proper to hit a lady, but for the sake of the rest of ya, I figured I'd better jest let the rest of ya'll know. Don't be that boy who got his ass whupped by a woman. Dat's a shame you jest ain't gonna get over. You want to be dat boy at the family reunion won't nobody share a beer wid on account of you not being a man anymore? I think not.
Let that there be a lesson fer ya.
(English)
As my place of birth makes me a gentleman of the southern variety I felt it necessary to tell you all of something that occured nearby this weekend so you might find a lesson of value in it.
By my very nature, the concept of team sport escapes me. However, I feel a great deal of respect for those who spend their nights and weekends in the persuit of these sports through recreational and church leagues. One unfortunate aspect of blending the old, young, tallented and untallented into a single team is the differences in expectations. Most play to relieve anxiety, and get exercise. Sadly there are always some, often with youth and talent on their side who look at these outings as some sort of battle that must be won. These expectations run counter to the spirit of recreational play and at times competitive minded people might find themselves at odds with coaches and teammates. With mixed gender, this can create a larger problem, as certain types of competitive men may choose intimidation and violence over diplomacy and tact when dealing with their frustrations. Over the weekend, a rather overbearing man found himself at odds with a woman in a leadership role on one of the teams. Though she tried her best, first to explain her decisions, and later to have the gentleman in question removed from the area of play, she discovered that there could be no peaceful resolution. Their idologies were too different, and his personality too strong to accept her role as leader. In the end, push came to shove and the southern male in question after physical contact, threatened the innocent woman with upraised fist. An odious act in and of itself to threaten the fairer sex with physical harm. Reprehensible! She had no recourse but to protect herself. It seemed that training from her primary sport, American Football, was serendipitous. In the end, the aggressor was defeated and order was restored. At no small cost to the brigand's self esteem, I should add! I would not be surprised to hear that his family and close friends would ridicule him openly or even shun him entirely for his despicable behavior.
I hope others who hear this story will think strongly about choosing a more noble path than this poor oaf.
