Bottom line is everyone hates SPAM. But there is going to be no way to get rid of it apart from spam filters but that's just going to clutter up the filter. (great!). 

A recent victim to Spam has been Virgin. Email accounts were being flooded with spam newsletter's meaning that user's couldn't access their emails for up to 4 days. I can just imagine that being the hardest thing to do if you are a workaholic. Haha. 

The spam became so bad that the emails that the actual legitimate couldn't get through to the receiver. This in itself is a frustrating thing if you are waiting for an email. I myself have been in the same situation! Whenever a customer tried to access their account they got an error message. Error messages can be very annoying so if you were trying to look at your emails then imagine that ! Thank god for Google Mail i say. 

Around 200,000 people use the Virgin service. However only half of those were affected. Good for those who were on the half who didn't get it! This is totally ridiculous that spam can breach these parameters that the webmail services put in place. We should really start to do anything possible to get rid of spam.

Although Spamza doesn't help! We can only hope that it stays down. Sorry for all those who are spam enthusiasts!

I daydreamed about 4 days in New Mexico by myself.  Why New Mexico?  I have no idea.  Maybe to find some decent pinion coffee.  Maybe because it's warm and looks nothing like Colorado.  Maybe it's because my kid's got a stomach virus, and I'm tired of cleaning him up.  Maybe I just need some space from my life here, and New Mexico's only a 5-hour drive away.  

So, I pulled myself out of my mood this morning with a fabulous mix-CD that Sideon gave me almost 10 years ago after he moved away.  Ain't nothing that compares to belting out Prince's "Kiss" while in the shower.  Little Guy has suffered some hearing damage this morning, but he will survive.  He will survive.  Hey, hey.

I'm burnt like a carcinogen at my jobs.  I have four days off at the end of the month, and I want to go somewhere.  I know I'll have to take Little Guy with me, but that almost makes it better.  Think of all we could find on a mother-son adventure.  I don't know where I will go, or if I will go for sure, but I started to turn that cog in my head last night.  Then, I talked to my mama today, and started to turn the cog with her.  Four days at my mama's house with Little Guy could serve the "get away" feeling well.  A day or two in an unexplored, nearby town might work, too.  

In the meantime, I leave you with Lenny Kravitz's "Fly Away."

Last Sunday morning I watched "Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl" on the CITV Channel...and I'm eighteen-years-old! Tragic...Thankfully it was only me in the room at the time of the crime so I might be safe yet...

All joking aside, the thing that struck me most wasn't really a criticism of the programme itself but of what was shown during the break commercials (Though I did feel a bit nostalgic- remembering back to the good ol' days of playing Pokémon Yellow on my Game Boy as well as collecting and trading Pokémon Cards. Watching the programme, I also wondered if the creators of Pokémon could ever be taken up for animal abuse- animals made to fight one another while kept in tight ball containers...).

About 90% of the advertisements were aimed at kids (Obviously), but about nearly all of them were showcasing in style the latest toys and gadgets. The first thought that entered my head was, "These advertisers are brainwashing children". There-and-then I could just imagine children across the country thinking up of their Christmas Lists to "Santa", putting all the various toys that they saw in order of importance. Do advertisers think that children are gullible and easy targets: after-all, who could say no to a child...?

Consumerism has swept the Western World where people's lives revolve around having the newest and best of everything- the newest car, the newest house, the newest clothes etc.

I'm not an economic expert and I rarely dabble in news of the economy, but during this week especially it's been quite hard to avoid. Market shares are plummeting, people are worried about their pensions and savings, banks are near the point of collapse and everyone is starting to experience the "credit crunch" with oil, gas and electricity prices rising. This seems to be a world-wide situation and not just localised to one area, and the Western business world especially is in a state of hysteria at the moment.

I think it's safe to say that money and belongings are obsessions to most people. I'm not denying that we're in difficult financial circumstances and I do understand that money is tight at the moment for most people, but for the majority, the current economic situation is disastrous.

In the Bible, Simon Peter and the Apostle John go to the temple to pray when they come across a man who, since birth, was lame and couldn't walk. This man begged for money outside the temple and when he noticed Peter and John he asked them for some. Peter, instead of throwing in a couple of coins and walking off as most people do in Society when they see a beggar, he said to the man:

"Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

Acts 3 v 6

Jesus, in prayer, spoke of his Disciples, saying:

"They are not of the world, even as I am not of it...As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world."

John 17 v 16, 18

Again, Jesus makes some other bold statements, reminding his Disciples of what their priorities in life should be:

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul? Or what can you give in exchange for your soul?"

Matthew 16 v 24-26

I think this ties in well to when Jesus spoke about the analogy of serving two masters and the difference between "serving" or living for money and living according to Christ:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

"No-one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

Matthew 6 v 19-21, 24

If the current economic crisis continues into Christmas time, what will parents say to their children when "Santa" can't bring them their most wanted toys?

To be honest, I despise the concept of "Santa". To me, I think it's dangerous for kids to be told to make a list of "wants" and send it to a man who (Supposedly) will give them everything on their list(s) that they want. Does that not just scream "Me, Me, Me!"? Does it not tell kids that if you want something in life all you have to do is ask someone else for it and they'll just hand it over to you? Does it discourage hard work and, instead, paints a rosy picture of life that is far different to that of reality? Or does it even invoke jealousy, whether then in the child's life or later on, "Why did Santa give him one of those cars and not me?"

I may be sounding like a bit of a Scrooge and a killjoy but why lie to children in that sense? Why can't Society just look children in the face and say, "No, life isn't as nice as that"? Why does Society feel the need to create a picturesque backdrop of life for children in which they are allowed to conjure up their wildest fantasies and dreams? Are we not just deluding ourselves and our children? Are we not prepared to face up to the realities of Real Life? Are we more happy to be in a Fantasy world full of streams, waterfalls, green fields and magical beings than face the harsh idea of reality; of doom, gloom and hardship- of wars, famines and conflicts?

Christmas time is the same thing every year: advertisements flood television screens offering presents, food and laughter. Or take Halloween. How many people, Christians especially, know that Halloween is a Pagan festival?

"The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, now known as Halloween, the boundary between the alive and the deceased dissolved, and the dead became dangerous for the living by causing problems such as sickness or damaged crops. The festivals would frequently involve bonfires, into which bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown. Costumes and masks were also worn at the festivals in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them."

Wikipedia

I remember sitting last year, around Christmas time, in one my church's Bible Class meetings for the youth on Sunday morning. The person who normally took it was talking about Christmas; mainly explaining the birth of Jesus. On explaining Jesus' birth she said (Something to this effect), "Jesus was born on the 25th December". When she said that, I nearly protested and had in my right mind to say, "Uh, no, Jesus wasn't born on the 25th December", but I held my tongue because I probably would have gotten scolded at for suggesting such a thing in a room full of innocent 12 and 13-year-olds who are only told about "God", "Jesus" and the "Bible" in their simplest forms.

I'm not trying to be patronizing or smug, it's just that I sometimes can't help but get the feeling that Christians "sugar-coat" the Gospel of Jesus Christ at times and make it out to be something fantastical and unreal.

The fact of the matter is is that we don't know when Jesus was born. Jesus could have been born in the middle of Summer for all we know, but yet tradition has held that it was Winter time. Sadly, Tradition has destroyed Truth. You only have to look at Christmas cards, particularly the "Religious" ones, to realise how warped people's ideas of the "Nativity Story" (Birth of Jesus) are.

For example, Tradition has generally held that there were three wise men, corresponding to the three gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Yet, the Book of Matthew gives no mention of how many "Wise Men" there were, it only states:

"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi (Wise Men) from the east came to Jerusalem."

Matthew 2 v 1

Why does the Church not formally celebrate the Birth of Christ in Spring, Summer or Autumn? Because it's out of sync with Tradition. It's out of sync with what people are familiar and comfortable with. Maybe some Christians do celebrate the Birth of Christ in their own personal way during Spring, Summer and Autumn, but formally it's always pushed to Winter and December time.

What does that suggest? Does it suggest that Christians don't view the Birth of Jesus as of much importance? After-all, it was only another birth and, sure, millions of births take place worldwide. But, according to the account in Matthew, Jesus' mother Mary was a Virgin. How many babies are born from someone who is a Virgin...?

Jesus himself, when on trial by Pilate, gives his reason as to why he was born:

"Jesus answered, 'You (Pilate) say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.'"

John 18 v 37

Maybe it's just the amount of interest I personally have in Theological and Philosophical issues and theories, but I sometimes wish that the Church would be more open to discussing the "big questions" of the Universe e.g. the "problem of evil", ID (Intelligent Design), Evolution, Morals/Ethics to name a few. Even in the Senior Bible Class that I have been attending for nearly two months, the answers still mostly consist of, "God", "Jesus" and "Bible".

Today in my church's morning service my Minister did his sermon on the Book of Genesis, Chapter 1; quite a rarity in my church I'll admit. At first, I was very excited- my minister started talking about the Book's controversial status in Society, the sudden sweep of Atheism, great Scientists in by-gone days who were Christians etc. It all started off good, but then I felt that it went into the same old tried-and-tested routine of: God did/said this, This and That happened etc.

Why do Ministers and other Christians mainly avoid asking or discussing the big questions? I don't think I've ever heard a sermon where Evolution and the Big Bang were talked about. Do Christians not like to get complicated, deep or controversial? Do Ministers and other Preachers feel the need to not rock the Congregations' boat?

A couple of days ago I was in the car going to school with my mum. I was telling her about an incident that happened a week previously in the school (I don't think I should go into too much detail here) in which there were disagreements between an Atheist and some Christians related to the placement and advertisement of Scripture Union posters put around the school and whether or not they should be allowed up. On saying this to my mum she replied, "He (The Atheist) just doesn't see that there is a God".

Now, I'm all for people having their own opinions, but for some strange reason I didn't like it that my mum had said that. She said it in such a way as to suggest that it was fact and indisputable- that it was blatantly obvious to anyone that there existed a God.

Now, I personally do believe in a Creator but I think that my view of "God" is quite different to that of other Christians'. I don't formally do so, but if I had to choose a philosophical viewpoint to best describe what my beliefs of "God" are, I'd probably say that they are very close to that of a Deist's point of view- an impersonal Being who created the world (Whether that be through the processes of Evolution and the Big Bang) and who does not operate or "tinkers" with its mechanics (Natural Laws) or inhabitants.

About two evenings ago I pondered this question: does a belief in God or in a Creator make you a Christian?

The answer I came up with was: no, a belief in God or a Creator doesn't make you a Christian.

That, to some Christians, may seem absurd, maybe even heretical.

Well, look at it this way: lots of Religions and Belief systems confess to holding a belief in "God". Muslims believe in God. Jews believe in God. Hindus believe in God. Sikhs believe in God. All of these Religions believe in God yet none of them follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Someone could be a Deist (Someone who believes in an impersonal God) and not be a Christian. So, does holding a belief in a God/Creator make you a Christian? In my opinion, it doesn't.

To be honest, I think quite a bit on Existence and Life in general: how it came into being, how it functions, what will happen when I die etc.

Call me weird or eccentric for saying that, but I think everyone (Whether they believe in God or not) reflects now-and-then on the meaning of life. "The meaning of life" is a very cliché saying, I know, but who doesn't look at the world around them and at their own existence and think to themselves, "Is there a meaning to all of this?".

As Humans, most of us like there to be a point in something, a meaning. Scientists usually just don't do experiments because they're bored and need something to pass the time- curiosity leads them to ask questions and seek answers to those questions. Likewise, I believe that it is natural for us as Humans to look at our lives and to try and extract some truth or meaning from them that will help us come to terms with our existence and reality.

For some people, Life is just one of those things that we just happen to be a part of- that we're just forms of Matter wandering about and that we create the meaning to our own existence. For others, it's a belief in a supernatural God or gods who made us and who have a plan for us and our lives; and still for others, there is no meaning or purpose to Life and there is no such thing as reality.

Do I believe that the Big Bang Theory and Evolution disprove "God" or the possibility of there being a Creator? No, I don't. The only thing the "Big Bang" Theory and the Theory of Evolution disprove (In my opinion) is the account of creation according to the Book of Genesis and how most people interpret it e.g. six, 24-hour days in which the world was made.

I still have a strong conviction that neither of these theories disprove the likelihood of there being a Creator. OK, so I can't point to the sky and say, "There's God" or "There's our Creator", but neither do I feel that I can say, "Yes, the Big Bang and Evolution Theories both disprove the likelihood of there being a Creator".

I suppose it's a bit like the "Alien" phenomenon (The creatures, not the movie!). OK, so I've never seen Aliens (At least, not in the sense that Popular Culture represents them) but that doesn't mean that they don't exist, right?

According to Scientists, the Universe is approximately 156 billion light-years wide. In other words: it's enormous. I sometimes think that people greatly underestimate how big our Universe actually is and don't fully appreciate its enormity. We may think that our world is big (And it is to us small creatures!), but when you take into consideration 156 billion light-years, it's mind-boggling. Maybe even more mind-boggling is when you realise that the length of a light year is 9,460,730,472,580.8 km (Approximately 9 trillion km) or 5,878,625,373,180.448 (Approximately 6 trillion miles)! *I hope I got those figures right, apologies if they're wrong!

So, saying this, how can I come to the conclusion that there isn't a Creator when we have barely even explored our own galaxy; let alone other dimensions, galaxies and regions of Space? As Albert Einstein once said:

“We still do not know one thousandth of one percent of what nature has revealed to us.”

I'm fascinated by Space and am always struck in awe when I see a picture of a galaxy or a cluster of stars. This may sound super cheesy, but I love standing outside at night looking up at the stars twinkling and shining in the sky. If you haven't done so in a while (Or at all) I would wholly recommend grabbing a coat some night and spending a bit of time outside when the sky is filled with stars. It's an exhilarating experience- the night air, the sense of grandeur and wonder...Believe me when I say this: you wont be disappointed.

You know, this reminds me of a verse in the Book of Psalms; a verse, I think, sums up perfectly my feelings towards Creation...

" I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place..."

Psalm 8 v 3

]]> http://ootp.wordpress.com/?p=2700 Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:05:58 +0000 OUT http://outontheporch.us/2008/10/12/expedition-18-lifts-off/

The Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft, carrying Expedition 18 Commander Michael Fincke, Flight Engineer Yury V. Lonchakov and American spaceflight participant Richard Garriott, launched Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The three crew members are scheduled to dock with the International Space Station on Oct. 14.

Fincke and Lonchakov will spend six months on the station, while Garriott will return to Earth Oct. 24, 2008, with two of the Expedition 17 crew currently aboard the International Space Station.

Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

These images are seriously shocking and world exclusive.

Where will you be ?

So now into the second week of the module we were set a few tasks to do with photography and working with the images taken to work out thing like view points, where the photos were taken etc.

Here below are a few examples of this.

Andy Samberg + Auto Tune = Space Olympics

[all the youtube vids are jacked so I'm just linking to NBC]

watch stuff here

Hello! The sequal of the stages origonal play, "Space Adventure" Arrived at the stage on friday and I must say it is one of my favorites! The play sees the return of many costumes and also the return of the switchbox! Here is the pic:

There is one new costume composing of three items:

~hasta la vista, baby!

As for me, I recently purchased Fable: The Lost Chapters for the PC. I know it's 4 years old or something, but better late than never, right? AND, with Fable 2 coming out this month, I think I've timed it perfectly; none of this waiting forever for a sequel. So, I'm almost finished with the Lost Chapters but feel like the game is more of a grind than actual fun now. I have never really felt all that attached to my character because he never says anything, even when directly asked a question. It's a throw back to games like the first Final Fantasy or Breath of Fire (I loved this series!), but not in a good way. Don't you think responses are just as likely to influence your "Good/Evil" gauge, or at least your public identity, as actions?

I also read Joseph Finder's Power Play. Though this isn't directly game related, reading is as big a part of writing as writing itself. If a musician doesn't listen to music, why the hell are they doing it in the first place? If you like a quick read that is very smart and full of action, read this book. Mr. Finder has an amazing ability to keep a hostage situation believable from every perspective, while making you hate the big wigs in corporate America even more.

I just purchased Flint Dille and John Suur Platten's The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design and wow! In the first 25 pages, I wrote 8 interesting pages based on their exercises. What I wrote may never see the light of day, but it's writing - and it's game writing to boot! If you remember, I attended Flint Dille's panel at the Austin GDC and absolutely loved it. The man has a comfortable presence on stage and spoke with us (the audience) rather than to us. The same goes for the book; it comes across as casual/informal while tackling some very technical issues in an in-depth manner. Though I'm only halfway through it, I highly recommend it.

Lastly, if you haven't heard, Richard Garriott is in space! This is just a cool thing, no matter how you slice it.

Now, I've shown you mine, time to show me yours. What are you up to? Show me, show me, show me!

Space wallpapers

Richard Garriott, whose father was a U.S. astronaut, today blasted off aboard a Soyuz TMA spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan en route to the International Space Station.

Garriott, who was a guest on News Talk Online on Paltalk.com. got a seat on the Soyuz through Space Adentures, the only private company that provides human space missions. He is now officially part of the Expedition 18 crew, which includes NASA astronaut Michael Fincke and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov.

In preparation for his spaceflight, Garriott, son of NASA astronaut Owen Garriott, completed a cosmonaut-training program at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center located in Star City, Russia. Garriott now is the world's first second-generation astronaut.

Space Adventures became world renowned in 2001 with the launch of client Dennis Tito, the world's first privately funded spaceflight participant. Since then, the company has launched four other individuals to space.

Garriott is not just going along for the ride. He will participate in a wide range of activities, including communicating with students associated with the Challenger Center for Space Education via a NASA-sponsored teleconference and conducting two science experiments designed by primary and secondary students from the United Kingdom in partnership with the British National Space Center.

He will also perform a series of experiments that will study the physical impact of spaceflight on astronauts. Garriott will observe the reaction of the eyes to low and high pressure in a microgravity environment; the effects of spaceflight on the human immune system; and astronauts' sleep/wake patterns and sleep characteristics.

Perhaps of greatest interest, Garriott will photograph a number of ecologically significant places on Earth. These photographs will be compared to shots taken 35 years ago by his father while in space. Together, Garriott and The Nature Conservancy will review the images to document how the Earth has changed in one generation.

A number of other experiments are also on his agenda.

drawing: Wolfgang Peter Menzel

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="468" caption="Shot from a cave in Utah, the Milky Way - 1,000 light years in diameter - and the planet Jupiter (top left). From Saturday's Daily Mail in the UK."][/caption]

YOU CANT FOOL OWLS.

Second, I was shown this, while quite bored.

Third, Toontown.

For the reason why I tried this, check out this link.

Unfortunately, it didn't work, so I changed the name to Stonewall Riots, the name "The Homosexual Agenda" was changed to after the admins caught him. Three panel soul is a great webcomic. Since custom names need to be reviewed, my name was set as "Maroon Duck"...

In Response to Alex's Desktop, I shall post mine, Behold, my custom wallpaper of greatness. It's still a work in progress, but it looks good already. The icons are all Amora.

CHANDRAYAAN 1 SPACE CRAFT : Chandrayaan 1 uses a 3-axis stablised space craft, with two star sensors, gyros and four reaction wheels. The power generation is through a single-sided solar array that gives the required power during all phases of the mission. This deployable solar array, consisting of a single panel, generates 700 watts of peak power. During an eclipse, the space craft will be powered by lithium ion batteries. The space craft employs X-Band 0.7 m diameter parabolic antenna for payload data transmission. The antenna employs a mechanism to track the Earth station when the space craft is in lunar orbit. The space craft uses a bipro-pellant integrated propulsion system to reach lunar orbit as well as orbit and altitude maintenance while orbiting the moon.

The propulsion system carries required propellant for a mission life of two years with adequate margin.

Click here for Chandrayaan 1's Official Site

Chandrayaan 1.com

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Hello Everyone,

Spoon, from Season 1 Of Vh1's The pickup Artist, was nice enough to let me interview him. Enjoy the read!

• What is your idea of a perfect date?
--- A date that’s as random as I am. I like to pickup my date on my vintage motorcycle. It’s a great way to get close and really enjoy the surroundings. Oregon is a beautiful state. We would just ride around exploring new areas. Sometimes I like to stop and just check out a new restaurant and see what kind of DELIOUS foods they have. Well, ok sometimes the food is shit. :)

• How would you describe your ideal dream woman?
--- Tara, you are my idea dream woman. And I’m dead serious. I like gals who are down to earth, clever, kind hearted and have a great sense of humor. It’s really similar to who I am. But sadly we could never be. Jdog already said he has dibs on you first. Hahaha. I love that guy.

• What person living today do you most relate to and why?
--- I would have to say Jdog (Co-Host of Vh1 The Pickup Artist Season 1). After I left the show Jdog really showed some heart and character. He really wanted to help me change my life. So for a month he coached me (for free which would normally cost a lot) 1 on 1 and turned my life around. A lot of people don’t even recognize me anymore. I dress differently, talk deeper, and lost a lot of weight, covered with tattoos and piercings and exude personality. Plus we have the same taste in women :)

• What was your experience with women before being on The Pickup Artist Season 1?
--- I was a geeky guy who played video games pretty much all day. My social life was non existent. I was pretty damn depressed. Innocent and naïve, I had no concept whatsoever on how to be around women. I just plain didn’t know what to do. PERIOD! I wanted a girlfriend or a female I could hangout with, but didn’t know how I would meet them or attract them. I attempted to pick up women. I would always start out by saying something funny. I thought if I could just make them laugh all the time they would like me. I found out that in doing so I was only seen as entertainment for them. I would provide them with humor while other guys would come in with their confident, smooth demeanor and sweep them away right before my very eyes.

• What went through your mind when you were picked to be on the show? What were your expectations?
--- I was totally blown away when I found out I was picked. It was always a dream of mine to be on TV. I wasn’t sure what to expect from it at first till I was actually on the show. But I knew that I needed this to change and grow as a person. I knew I was an amazing guy. I just didn’t know how to show it.

• How did it feel to go into the club that first night in Austin?
--- It was horrible. It’s like you got into a car accident and then another car hits and then another hits, and another hits, etc... The longer I stayed in there the more I panicked. I’m not really the club type of guy. In the past I wouldn’t stay any longer then 10 min in a club. It’s generally not the type of people I would want to meet or get to know.

• When we were in the club that second night and you froze up, what exactly were you thinking at that moment?
--- I kind of blanked out and didn’t know what to do. Thinking about it now and I don’t really have words to describe it. But I do remember you (Tara) coming and giving me the support and motivation that I needed for that one moment. That made a huge difference for me and I was able to talk to a group of women successfully. I felt alive. I didn’t think something like that would be fun and exciting.

• Do you regret your decision to leave the show?
--- Yes, very much. BUT that’s only because I’m not the same person who left the show. Back at that time it was the right choice. The pressure of being on TV and doing what I feared most really put a lot of stress on me mentally. The pace was to fast for real change. I really want another chance to show everyone that I didn’t fail at change. I really feel that I actually changed the most.

• If you could go back and do it again, would you? What would you do differently?
--- I would do it in a heart beat. The energy I would give out. The confidence would be at a whole new level. I want that second chance on TV again to show change and to help change other people’s lives. But mostly because I want guys who were like me to know there is hope. Plus I wouldn’t have held back at wanting to fight Kosmo. I don’t like the punk ass or how fake he was on the show.

• How is your love-life and experience with women now?
--- Fantastic. I usually try and go on a date with someone new each week. I work at a jewelry booth at the Saturday Market here in Portland selling handmade women’s jewelry. So I interact with women a lot and it’s a great place for me to expand my experience with women. I get numbers all the time. Some have even bought me lunch.

• Do you think that the being on the show and learning pick-up made you change your personality?
--- My personality is still the same. I didn’t really get the chance to express who I was when I was on the show. Being shy and nervous kept my true personality on pause. Thanks to Jdog I can be who I am. Myself! I am a guy who loves women.

• How is your life now, a year after the show?
--- Looking back on myself then and who I have become now it brings a tear to my eye due to how much I’ve changed. I am definitely more confident and secure in who I am. I am not afraid to show my sensual side, I am more ‘touch’ oriented and I am definitely more comfortable around women.

• Boldest Pick-Up move?
--- Here is the scene. A beautiful, dark haired, fair skinned woman who looked like she was from Europe is sitting in this vegetarian restaurant. I approach her and begin…

Me: The falatio here is great. I know an even better spot for it.
Her: *pause*
Me: It’s right down the street.
Her: *pause* Don’t you mean ‘falafel’?
Me: Isn’t that what I’ve been saying? What does falatio mean?
Her: That you know a great place for oral sex down the street.
Me: Shit!

• What advice would you give the new guys on Season 2 of The Pickup Artist?
--- Have fun and enjoy.

• What would you tell guys out there who have difficulty with women and are in the same position that you were once in?
--- If you really want to change your life you have to really want it and be ready to work for it. Commit to the change and make it happen. Contact Jdog at http://www.myspace.com/artistjdog or http://www.askjdog.com and ask for some personal help. He wants to help and I know he will help you.

• Closing thoughts . . .
--- If you have any questions on what I have been doing exactly to change my life. Leave me a message on my MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/iknowspoon because now you can say you know Spoon.

Thanks Spoon! Keep up the amazing self work!

XOXO,
~Tara

And there is a new space play!! It's pretty sweet!

]]> http://pickuptara.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/129/ Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:11:45 +0000 pickuptara http://blog.pickuptara.com/2008/10/11/129/ Tara of VH1's The PickUp Artist and PickUpTara.com Interviewed by 104.1 Jack FM PART 2

Tara of VH1's The PickUp Artist and www.PickUpTara.com is interviewed by 104.1 Jack FM (www.1041jackfm.com) Part 2 of Minneapolis Minnesota. Tara discusses the second season of The PickUp Artist, explains what her website www.pickuptara.com is about and gives a special shout out to Mystery and Matador!

And here is the costume catolage for the play.

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And also there was a new pin at the sports shop.