Yeah Baby!! 

Quitting Update

I have been sticking to my guns on this no-smoking thing. I cannot say, however, I haven't cheated. Only my cheating is becoming sneakier and sneakier. The only problem is the only person I am fooling is myself.

While up at UWM the other day, I am sure someone witnessed me taking 3/4 of a cigarette out of one of the ashtrays and lighting up. I know, it's disgusting and how could I stoop that low. Well, I have been smoking about a pack per day for about 10 years now at the addiction definitely has me by the balls.

I will keep trying though. I have probably smoked less this week then I do in an average day. Progress is going to be slow but steady I feel. I am going to try to refrain from using the last weeks worth of nicotine patches I have left. No more crutches. Check back to see how I am doing and feel free to post your own results.

What Happened to All the Posts?

I am making a conscious effort to keep up on all the things in my life that I have let slip. One of those things includes keeping this blog updated. From now on, I will try to post at least one daily thought, feeling, or exciting happening.

I can't guarantee the quality of each posting, but I think with regular posts this site could actually generate some traffic. So if you are interested in what I am up to and what is on my mind, check back everyday.

-Neal

Time to Give Up the Cigarettes

Which lung would you rather have?


I had my first cigarette in 1992 when I was a 14-year-old kid trying to fit in with my friends. I can remember how horrible they tasted when I was first starting. The tar was something foreign, not at all resembling anything people would want entering their bodies, much less their lungs.

Over time, people are able to take bigger drags without coughing. Nicotine is no longer a poison, but rather a necessity. You start to become cool, then you gradually get more and more hooked. Today, I begin the mission of ridding myself of nicotine and tar for good.

To whomever is reading this, I know I probably sound like most people who don't really want to smoke, but are powerless against the addictive qualities. I am very serious this time. It does have a little bit to do with being very broke in this time of $4 packs of smokes in Wisconsin. My friends in New York (Hi Carrie!)usually just order their's illegally over the internet rather than pay the $7 asked by most bodega owners.

To prove my urgency on this matter, I will be posting daily results. I will be honest and tell how many cigarettes I had, where I had them and what the triggering circumstances were. Hopefully, this will act as some type of therapy over stressful nerves and help to identify what makes me want a cigarette. (As if I didn't already know!)

So wish me luck and feel free to share any stories or remedies that worked while quitting smoking. Many have succeeded in quitting and hopefully, I will be the next.

I Just Joined a Crazy Poker Tournament

I have registered to play in the
Online Poker Blogger Championship!

This event is powered by PokerStars.

Registration code: 9716003

Michael Jackson Can Do No Wrong In the Eyes of Fans

MJ's Mug 

I for one will always be a Michael Jackson fan. I will be a fan regardless of the way he looks, the things he says, and the sometimes grotesque activities he involves himself with. Sometimes unconditional love for someone, even someone as kooky as Jacko, has to be just that, unconditional.

Michael needs to care less what everyone is saying about him. When you are that rich and famous, you are going to be talked about even if you don't invite pre-teen boys to spend the night at your house and get indicted on molestatition charges.

Michael went through a large amount of stress during his trial. In fact, he was so distraught by the testimonies of his accusers that he checked himself into the hospital multiple times during the trial. I honestly don't know how anything in life is that stressful, but some people just aren't built for criticism.

My advice to you Mr. Jackson, not that you will ever read this, is to believe in your convictions. If you are doing what you believe, you should stand behind it no matter what anyone says about you. If I listened to all the comments people made about my lifestyle, I would have put a gun in my mouth a long time ago. No matter how cliche, you have to do what makes you happy.

When you have money like Michael Jackson, people are obviously going to take advantage of you. This is especially true when you are known for your charitable dealings with children. Of course some over-zealous parent is going to have the idea to accuse whatever necessary to tap into his monetary resources. It's not cheap raising kids these days.

I will continue to listen to all of the great music that Michael has made over the years. (Even if he loses control of his own catalog.) I certainly am not condoning sexual encounters with young children, but I will definitely keep doing the Moonwalk at every family wedding until I am so old I need a cane.

The Brewers Have Pitching?

The Milwaukee Brewers' pitching staff still gets no respect. Maybe it is because they constantly are blowing opportunities to win. They are leading the National League in many statistical categories including ERA and WHIP.

The Brewers' record indicates a team not performing. However, they have had quality starts from guys Doug Davis and Victor Santos. In fact, Davis until Wednesday nights game against the Padres had gone 17 straight innings without giving up a run. All of this has been accomplished without the services of their ace, Ben Sheets.

Sheets has been out of the lineup for over 5 weeks with a inner ear infection. Now that the ace is back in action, the Brewers are poised to make a decent run this season.

After slipping into 3rd place in the NL Central, the Brewers have had the go ahead from owner Mark Anastasio to trade for players with higher salaries. Mixed with a surprise early season performance from Derrick Turnbow and the Brewer's pitching staff very well could end the season near the top of all the team statistics.

I would rather not jinx them but they won in San Diego which has proven to be the hardest park to play in this young season. They snapped the Padres 10 game home winning streak after losing the series opener on a baserunning error.

All I can say is GO BREW CREW!!!

Who Says Infomercials Suck

Our #1 Product, The Urban Rebounder® 

Everyone is probably wondering what the hell is I am talking about. Well, my new job is a customer service representative for a company specializing in distribution and fullfillment for the Direct Response Television Industry. Better known to normal people as infomercials.

Honestly, I am not thrilled to constantly be defending products that are completely practical, engineered in China for only the greatest quality. (Sarcasm) Some of the calls coming into the call center are great. Like the guy who was out there trimming his lawn with a product we sell. (It shall remain nameless, but you have seen this on TV) His wife to order extra cutters and complained that her one-armed husband should not be out doing yardwork.

We are customer service for many different companies, but nothing beats the infomercials. People are always calling up our 800 number just to tell us about the stupid products they have invented and want them to be sold on paid programming. The truth of the matter is, it really only costs about $1000 to advertise for a half hour after 2 p.m. on cable.

So next time you think that infomercials suck, remember all the people they are making rich in America. Certainly not me, but I don't mind making money for listening to people's problems with their Urban Rebounder®

The Golden Palace of Shameless Promotion

GoldenPalace.com purchased an invitation to Jennifer Wilbank's wedding at an eBay auction held Tuesday. It is just the latest wacky and outlandish attempt at attracting press for a company known for pushing the advertising envelope.

The online casino purchased the invitation of a guest to the wedding of the now infamous "Runaway Bride." GoldenPalace.com paid $355 for the latest piece in what is becoming an ever outlandish collection. Other recent purchases include new Pope Benedict XVI's Volkswagen Golf, Britney Spears' used pregnancy test, and food that looks like holy figures.

People routinely agree to rent their bodies to GoldenPalace for advertising space. Recently, a Georgia woman was paid to have the casino's name written on her stomach during the extent of her pregnancy. She recently gave birth to a happy baby girl named Mariah.

The GoldenPalace.com has an insatiable appetite for the spotlight. They are willing to explore a new frontier in advertising. By buying the rights to name a couples newborn triplets, the GoldenPalace.com creates an ideal relationship with the consumer by paying people and getting airtime.

Is it shameless promotion or is it clever marketing? You tell me after seeing all of the crazy ads yourself at

1991 Ponitac Grand Prix Saved From Going to the Junkyard

Well, I did it. After 26 years of life, I finally have my first car. It may not look like much on the outside, but she runs like a champ. And for only $20 and a rebuilt alternator, the car was a steal.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank (yet again) two of my best friends in the whole world. Jason and Melissa, I couldn't have done it without ya. They were more than happy to help me celebrate with a few vodka drinks.

Anyone that knows me will be happy to know that they will never have to pick me up again. (You like that don't ya Seth.) Now all I need is to get a driver's license. Unfortunately, there is about a 3 month wait to take your driver's test at and DMV in the state of Wisconsin.

No more waiting at the bus stop, no more wondering how the hell am I gonna get home, and no more being late to work.

So this is a warning that after July 14th, stay off the sidewalks, because I will be cruisin.

Ok...I hated it at first but...

The final six....although Constantine was eliminated tonight.

I heard all the hype about American Idol during the show's first two seasons, but never actually watched. I know, you are probably thinking I have been living under a rock. However, I have been watching this season (due to my lack of cable) and must say that the show has definitely grown on me.

To see the contestants pour their hearts out every week, just praying that enough people vote to keep them performing the next week. This week, Constantine got the axe. I personally thought that he was better than some of the others, but the competetion is fierce. Vonzell and Carrie have amazing voices, while the guys keep getting by with their good looks.

Paula Abdul had a shocked look on her face as host Ryan Seacrest announced that Constantine was leaving the show. Many, including oddsmakers in Las Vegas, had Constantine running in second closely behind the favorite, Carrie Underwood. Carrie is far and away my favorite. She is a beautiful farm girl from Oklahoma who can hit notes like almost nobody I've ever heard.

Where are the free mp3 files?

I have been recently scouring the web to find as many free mp3 files as I could find. After numerous searches, I found some good music but was mostly disappointed. I started with going through the different record label websites to see what they were giving away for free. There were a few that were decent.

I usually use a peer to peer network for finding my mp3 files, but I need a lawsuit right now about as much as I need my nose sewn shut. If you want to see what my current Winamp playlist looks like, click here.

If you see anything that you like on the list,email me and we will see what we can do about getting a copy. Oh, and by the way, some of the file names are not properly labeled, just ask me if you have any questions.

New Chat Room Added

If you notice, there is a new chat link on this page. It is my own private chat room devoted strictly to the Full Palette community. The quality of it is not the best and there are no cool little smiling faces, but the intent is just to keep everyone who visits connected. I am very excited as to the future of the Full Palette community and think it could grow to become something useful.

I really do not want to waste blog space with musings about the new website, so from now on, just log on to www.fullpalette.bravehost.com to see how far I am coming and more information as to what will be coming in the future. (Someday, I will own the rights to www.fullpalette.com) Until then, Cheers.

Coding For New Site in Progress

I started to learn basic HTML code about 5 years ago when web pages were alot less flashy. I find the tags I learned back then are still quite useful when I write on a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor like Blogger.

Now that I find myself wanting to make an actually cool portal site, I realize that getting the website to look the exact way I want it to is no simple task. I am a poor college student and don't really want to pay for web hosting or domain registration so I have created a free site from bravenet.com.

So far I am having a fairly easy time putting stuff together. Unfortunately, I am unsure when the finished product will be available. I hope it will be within a week or so. Until then I will continue to hype the unveiling of the site on my blog and hope I can create a quality product all from teaching myself a little code.

One Crazy Day

The swings in Texas No-Limit Hold'Em are enough to kill a man

Well I am happy to let everyone know that I am back to playing poker online for money again. Unfortunately, I have given up on my dream of making it to Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker for this year anyway. A normal guy like me making to the world championships of an event like that are slim and none.

My first day back online was quite the rollercoaster ride. I was up as much as $40 after a few hours, but as I write this entry I'm down almost $15. These are big swings for a guy as broke as I am. The problem always starts when I think I can win a big one right after I have just lost a decent sized pot. Oh well, give me some feedback if you want to hear more about my poker experiences or just would like to see more poker content on this site.

It's 4/20 Everyone!!!!

HAPPY HIPPY HOLIDAY 

Potheads across the country celebrate as the date is April 20th. Why is that date significant? A little history on this day from a stoner perspective.

• 1971 - Five San Rafael High School students christen the term "4:20," meeting daily at that hour to share a smoke under the school's statue of Louis Pasteur. The original password: "420 Louis."


• 1994 - Clocks in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction are set at 4:20.


• 1995 - The Cannabis Action Network stages its first annual 4/20 Ball in San Francisco at Maritime Hall. The event begins and ends at 4:20.


• 1997 - High Times launches 420.com, taking 420 into the digital world.


• 1999 - Columbine: The worst thing to happen on 4/20 since Hitler was born 90 years earlier.

Source:High Times Magazine

David and Courtney Cox Arquette Upset About Photos of Daughter

LOS ANGELES, April 18 / PRNewswire/ -- The following press release is being issued by David & Courteney Cox Arquette:

"Although we are public figures, we do have a right to privacy. The
photos from our daughter's christening are being distributed without our
consent. Anyone publishing these photos will be in copyright infringement and
liable to legal action. We appreciate your sensitivity to this matter."

I haven't personally seen these pictures and quite frankly I don't really care to. The Arquette family is entitled to their privacy as much as anyone else is. It is too bad that so many American's are obsessed with the lives of celebrities.

The only problem I have with this press release is comment about copyright infringement. If the pictures were taken by an independent source, wouldn't they be the property of the photographer.

It is time we start respecting the privacy of all Americans. It is really nobody's business what people choose to do behind closed doors. People do not want the intimate details of their lives displayed for the world to see. In America, where glitz and glamour is a dream of many, snakes in the media industry will pay top dollars for exclusive pictures of celebrities in private moments.

Striving For Diversity In News

As a Journalism student it is only appropriate that I create some type of site which delivers the news. However, I wanted to have news that stood out from the normal daily headlines. So from now on, look for daily updates of stories that have much more consequence in the daily lives of readers. I will be personally searching out stories that didn't make breaking news but has relevance. Check back often as you never know what you will find.

Don Lapre is a Punk Rocker

Don Lapre Loves Punk Rock and Wants You To Try His New Free Mp3 Website

When there is a great opportunity out there, Don Lapre is on top of it. That's why when he found out that Fat Wreckords was giving away tons of free samples on their website, he downloaded every single one and didn't even have a ounce of guilt.

Now, Don Lapre wants to share his downloading secrets with the rest of America. He invites you to visit http://www.fatwreck.com and click the Mp3 link. Here you will find all of Don's favorites like NoFx, Decendants, Lagwagon, Me First, and many more. Just right click the song file and enjoy over and over again. Brilliant. Don's created a winner again.

As If Things Couldn't Worse, I Lost My Wallet In Milwaukee

I lost my wallet containing $350 on Monday shortly after lifting weights with a friend. It was the ultimate capper to a month that has done nothing but bring me great sorrow. I owed the money to a friend and luckily I was able to borrow some from another friend. Robbing Peter to pay Paul has never been my style. I have cancelled the check card in the wallet but if anyone reaches this site because they found it, please contact me.

I repeat, I lost my wallet either near the Empire Building on Knapp St. or I dropped in the road outside my house on Pleasant St. between Jackson and Van Buren. Please contact me at this site using the email link provided or post a comment on this blog.

Bobby Fischer Being Searched In A Japanese Airport

Bobby Fischer Still Running

Former World Champion chess player Bobby Fischer has been granted citizenship in Iceland as he continues to battle extradition to the United States for playing a game in the former Yugoslavia. Fischer has continued his great run in chess and in life. However, the run seems far from over for poor Bobby.

Fischer is wanted for playing a exhibition match in Yugoslavia while the U.S. had imposed sanctions limiting travel to the country. After winning nearly $3.5 million in the match versus Boris Spassky of Russia, Fischer refused to the income tax and is now wanted for tax evasion as well.

Before leaving Japan, Fischer had some choice words for President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Fischer claims he was "kidnapped" by the Japanese government and that the two men "are war criminals and should be hung."

For more on Bobby Fischer's latest escapades and how you can help his plight visit http://www.freebobby.org

UW-Milwaukee On The Map With Sweet Sixteen Birth

Mid-Major Enjoying Attention

I am always a sucker for a story where the underdog comes out on top. Amidst all the madness that comes with the NCAA Tournament, I suddenly find my school's team in a national spotlight with a chance to beat the number one team in the nation.
The attention is infectious to everyone involved

Can Anyone Give Me A Job?

Please, I will begin to starve soon.

Times have been tough lately. I recently broke up with my girlfriend of 5 years and it's definitely weird living all alone for the first time. I was so distraught when it happened that I started failing all my classes and lost my job for calling in too many times. So if anyone out there reading this can loan me some money or put me to work, I would do nearly anything. (Try me)

Welcome To The Full Palette

My blog pertaining to everything and nothing simultaneously is now fully operational. After working for the man for too damn long, I now have ample time to keep the blog updated with new and interesting topics. Stay posted.