HOLY MOLEY!

Is that how you spell "moley"??? Is it even a word? Regardless, I cannot believe that it has been almost an entire week since my last message to the world. I know that everyone takes this as gospel, so when such a long period of time elapses without any word, people start freaking out. For this I apologize.

DZP: The Week in Review

The first full week of my Day Zero Project has concluded. I did not win the lottery (neither pick 4 nor PowerBall), which is not a big suprise.

Much to my amazement, this has not been a complete failure so far. My room/apt is mostly clean, mostly, I worked toward the reading goal I wanted to achieve, I began compiling the word of the week, (ambulatory is this week's word), and I am about to finish the biography Henry Kissinger by Walter Isaacson. However, there were definite shortcomings in several areas. I will try my best to improve.

I need to purchase a new pair of shoes in order to begin training for the marathon. I want to do this the right way, and since I do not own a proper pair of running shoes I feel it is a necessary expense.

As blogging goes, I believe I posted 3 entries this week. I am somewhat confounded with blog etiquette. I know that you readers do not really care what I ate for breakfast, or what time I woke up this morning. I want to make you WANT to read this stupid thing! However, I do not know what is too personal to blog about. What do you think? I know that ultimately, I am the only editor, the editor-in-chief to be exact. But when and how and were would I be crossing the douchebaggery line? I try at all costs to avoid any douchebaggerisms, douchebagality, douchbagitude, etc. Maybe I will just have to play it by ear. Let me know when I enter the Valley of Douche. (or, as McDonalds would say Douché)

The Big 3

So I just saw this in the news (yes, The Daily Show With John Stewart is news): Chrysler closed several hundred dealerships recently, and notified them via "Urgent Delivery UPS" letters. This is shitty as heck, yes. What is worse, Chrysler will not take back inventory supplied to said dealers. What f@#king scum bags.


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POD

gofursmotfdb

nice mouse. click it or dickit

POD

I has been a while since the last picture, nothing much has changed, I am still ugly:

DZP: 90help someone learn to read

So on Monday I met with a good friend and patron of Hoi, Mr. Gonzalez, and I signed up for 'Who's Up For Reading?'. This is an after school program that meets 2 days a week where students team up with mentors and work improve reading skills. The program also gives the students a healthy dinner and snack after school. I met some of the students and mentors on Monday, and I was just overwhelmed with how amazing the kids are and how hard the mentors work to help these children. I signed up as a mentor, but unfortunately I have to wait until September for the new school year program to start. I am very excited about the program, and I cannot wait for September. Definately cannot cross this off the list yet, but I wanted to let you all know that I am working on this one.

Also, I think I decided on what I will be writing my congressman about. Check out bluegreenamerica.org. Looks good to me!

I hope that everyone out there is doing well.

DZP: DONE 75delete yahoo account

There you have it folks, #75 on my list is done. chrisburgan06@yahoo.com is just a figment of Hal's imagination. Adios. Yes, it was a pretty easy first step, but whatever, I put it on my list and now it is done.

Man, being out at camp is so strange. I am pretty sure that I am not going to be able to update my blog 3x/ week because of lack of any interweb connection.

Not much has been happening, I will post some relevant information soon.

Gone for the weekend

Hey everyone. I just wanted to let you all know that I will be gone for a couple of days this weekend, there is an encampment at ASC. I should be back on Sunday or Monday with some updates. I sense a Yankee spot, some DZP info and some general shenanigans. Stay safe. Have a good weekend. Go Pens.

Quote of the Day

You give me a waterboard, Dick Cheney and one hour, and I'll have him confess to the Sharon Tate murders.

- Jesse Ventura, former governor of Minnesota and (before that) Navy SEAL, in a discussion about torture with Larry King.

thanks to : http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2009/05/quote_of_the_day_39.cfm

101 in 1001 - The Day Zero Project - CIBC's List

Here is the list. Don't forget, I am open to suggestions, encouragement, cheers (no jeers) and anything else that may help me on my way.

Day Zero Project May 15 2009 start date Feb 10 2012 end date
2 years, 8 months, 26 days = 1001 days

• 86,486,400 seconds
• 1,441,440 minutes
• 24,024 hours
• 143 weeks
  

For every task I do not complete I will donate $5 to IOCC.
I dare YOU to donate $1 to IOCC, for every task I do complete!

What is IOCC?

1train for and compete in marathon
2play soccer at least once a month (0/33)
3play lacrosse at least once a month (0/33)
4lose get weight down to 160-170lbs and maintain (190lbs May 15 09)
5watch all Best Picture films (0/81)
6read a Pulitzer Prize winner once a month (0/33)
7memorize a Shakespeare sonnet
8memorize the Gettysburg Address
9visit a museum/gallery once a month (0/33)
10visit 10 civil war battle sights (0/10)
11sleep outside one night (or more), under the stars, no blankets or tent
12ride bike every day
13learn what my carbon footprint is and reduce it at much as possible
14enroll at CCAC
15average no lower than 3.5
16visit someone in the hospital once a month (0/33)
17choose the local store over the chain store
18write a letter to my congressman once a month (0/33)
19participate in every possible election (and be informed)
20play a round of golf
21play basketball once a month (0/33)
22gss
23get over L (see 41)
24stop biting nails
25stop lying
26pay off all of my debts
27get PA drivers license
28live up to my word
29do not cut hair
30drink at least 1 gallon of water a day (0/1001)
31stop eating fast food
32host thanksgiving dinner w/ all the trimmings
33leave (and return to) north america
34take a weekend bike trip
35canoe from All Saints Camp to Pittsburgh
36update blog at least 3x/week
37complete one sunday nyt crossword puzzle
38play in a live low stakes poker tournament at a casino
39low-impact camp for 3 nights. scavenge/hunt for food, purify own water
40build my platform bed
41say sorry to the people i've hurt. forgive everyone who's hurt me. forgive myself.
42send letters to an orphanage once a month (0/33)
43get a record player and start a record collection (0/50)
44get and use a library card
45go to a casting call/audition for something
46put at least $2500 into savings account
47pay rent the first of every month, even though i have till the 5th
48convince phil to do some of this list with me
49stay in touch with my closest friends. AP, EC, ES, JS, RF, PH, RA, - you guys are awesome, thank you for everything
50do not watch TV for a week, repeat 10 times (0/10)
51hug someone i love once a day(0/1001)
52homebrew a case of beer
53eat duck and/or goose
54catch a muskie
55put aside $1 a day for charity (0/$1001)
56volunteer at the Children's Museum
57participate in an OCMC trip
58see an opera
59write a letter to the editor once a month (0/33)
60finish every book i start
61study english grammar always use correct capitalization and punctuation when typing
62learn one new word a week (0/143)
63submit the Christopher John Burgan wikipedia.org entry
64help/encourage JPB to write a script
65make up mind between teaching, law, or both
66make 2 new friends
67go to a music festival
68see bruce springsteen live
69take a voice lesson(s) (if after the first one it isn't a total lost cause)
70read the list of book in The Well Educated Mind (0/117)
71buy a helmet for bike riding
72be in bed by 11pm and up at 6am every day for a month 3 occasions (0/3)
73clean apartment/living space every week (0/143)
74see phish live
75delete yahoo email account
76keep clothes off my floor, do laundry every week (0/143)
77honor the bet made with Vic Bucharew Jul 08
78identify every sovereign state on the current political map (0/203)
79attend church every sunday (0/143)
80write a thank you letter to a service person once a month (0/33)
81bake 10 loaves of bread (0/10)
82host a barbecue/cook-out
83swim in the atlantic, pacific, and gulf of mexico
84follow all of the major fasting periods prescribed by The Church (0/11)
85apply for americorps
86get and keep alive 5 plants for the apartment (0/5)
87recycle all glass, aluminum, tin, and paper products every week (0/143
88go to the dentist 4 times (0/4)
89vonunteer one day a month at a soup kitchen (0/33)
90help someone learn to read
91buy one pick 4 a week and buy one mega-million each week (0/143)
92pursue my photography hobby
93explore 10 urban ruins (0/10)
94take apart a small engine, and rebuild it back into working order
95host a 3 course dinner for 10 people on 5 different occasions (0/5)
96go to a game in the new yankee stadium
97ride my bike for a 24 hour period (will explain)
98read/meditate on daily scriptures
99be a better brother, son, friend
100never forget that mom is here with me
101new 101 tasks to complete by friday november 7 2014

Au Revoir Simone

These three beautiful super talented girls are my new heroes. Voices of angels, thoughtful yet simple lyrics, and that synthpop I've been somewhat addicted to lately. They are on the road right now, I hope anyone who can will go and support them!!!!

This is a live recording of The Lucky One. I do not own this video. Enjoy!

DayZeroProject.com

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result
that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic
and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Hi everyone. Most of you who know me, know that for the past 25 years I have led somewhat of a disappointing life. I've been great at being mediocre, and honestly I have had enough. My life has been unorganized, destructive, a let down, full of shortcomings (sorry, ex-girlfriends), and simply not at all self-satisfying. I've been thinking about this a lot for the past year, and especially now after a close friend just passed away.

Today, this is all going to change. I am going to become a productive, exuberant, organized, person who is no longer satisfied with the ordinary, the mundane, the mediocrity that I have subjected myself (and others) to in the past.

Now, I have know about this Day Zero Project for a while now, and as you must know, I didn't really regard it too much. But I am going to use the DZP as the catalyst for change and self improvement. Over the next couple of days I am going to analyze my life, current life situation, assess possible futures, and so on. By Friday I will have this list compiled, and please, if you have any suggestions please comment!

I am going to post the entire list here on my blog, and obviously, you will be seeing DZP updates. Friends, please know that I am serious about this endeavor. I want, and need your support and encouragement. Also, if anyone wants to embark together, or meet up somewhere along the way, there is power in numbers.

It Is About That Time for Another Yankee Update

Its been a rough couple of weeks. Question: Does payroll matter? If it doesn't matter, why does everyone bitch about us spending so much moola? Really, why does anyone care how much the Yankees spend if, especially in recent years, it hasn't produced No. 27? As of this very moment, we are 14-15. One game under .500%. Why do beat writers say we are "floundering"? We are one game under .500. Currently, there are 14 teams under .500. Why does everyone have to go out of their way to HATE the Yanks? I was at a game in the Bronx two years back, a game between us and the Angels. There were people there wearing Minnesota Twins jerseys, just rooting AGAINST the Yanks. Who does this?? Get a life. Anyway, we had a pretty good win today. C.C. tossed a 112 pitch complete game shut out, 4 hits 8k 2bb. Not too shabby, lowering his ERA almost a full point. However, against Jeremy Guthrie, we succumbed to 10k's, and in all, double digits left on base. Even so, the most appealing moment of the night, something that I actually called would happen, exactly how it did, was Alex Rodriguez's first pitch 3 run jack. God Bless the New York Yankees.

We are not floundering, fuckers.

F my K

A little under 1 year ago, I was buying my PA fishing license at Walmart in Butler, PA. I was with my very good friend, Steve. By chance, I was also in the market for a knife. Lo and behold, Walmart's gaming section had plenty of outdoor knifes to choose from. I did do some research and I knew I wanted to get a Buck knife (the brand). After a little window shopping I settled on a pretty nice, 4.5" folding blade, tempered steel, gut hook, the whole nine. It'd F your A up. In fact, it was used to cut the guts out of a deer I helped hunt and kill. The knife cut the deers stomach right open, and helped remove all of its insides. This knife was awesome. It has been through a lot with me for the short time we were together. A man's knife if an elusive thing. I'm talkin Jerimiah Johnson style. A man's life, quite often, was the difference between life and death. This knife was good to me.

On Monday I ran it over with a CubCadet grass cutting tractor. The grass cutter destroyed my knife. Literally, demolished the knife into thousands of little pieces. RIP, knife.

POD

Real men wear MAGENTA.

This is my 66th post!

Wow, thinking back on every thing that we have been through together, it is hard to imagine that we have been doing this for 66 postings! CIBC, you really bring out the worst in me, and for that, I am forever grateful. Nothing can ever replace you in my life. To think, only 54 postings ago, someone commented that this was a failing relationship! Wilhelm, where are you now?!? In the darkness, while we are basking in glorious milestone, 66 postings! Bah! Thank you to all of our loyal supporters and to everyone who has always been there for us, though this wild roller coaster of a blog.

Here is to the next 66 postings!

Here is a special POD!!!