Hey hey hey. Today in Review. Well I woke up and worked out. Drove the 3 miles to the gym to workout. I’m changin’ that all pretty soon. I’m going to start a section in “rants” to document all the miles I ride on my bike instead of drive. This won’t include recreation riding. Anyway being bored I wanted to get outta town and into the wilderness. So I picked a spot on the map called “green swamp.” I had no idea what it was like or if it was some big housing development(which wouldn’t surprise me). It’s about an hour away, actually probably more like 45 minutes. When I got out there to 211 south, it was nothing but long leaf pines and a couple random farms. Apparently, the road was part of the N.C. scenic byway, explaining why I didn’t encounter any housing developments. I was really just driving to get away from the hustle and bustle of Wilmington. I drove past this pace on the road that looked like a dirt turn around. When I pulled in to investigate I learned that it was part of the Nature Conservancy’s land. Apparently, they bought it from some paper company. Most of the land I saw was owned by International Paper, which my dad sells because he is a paper salesman. Anyway almost the whole road was own by them which explained the lack of development, but also the lack of large trees. So with no plans and a camera I hopped out leaving my keys in my car because I’m a trusting guy who doesn’t think anyone’s in the market for a beat up old ‘87 4runner. Camera in hand I began walking. There was a clearly marked trail, but it looked as if no one had tramped on in it a while. Not only that the trail head sign explaining the significance of the land was beat in and trashed. Probably by some drunken, jacked up Ford truck driving, God fearing republican teenager with not enough to occupy his tiny brain. Anyway as I kept walking I began to notice something I hadn’t seen in awhile. What I noticed was that I didn’t notice anything. It was all forest. No sounds from the highway, just the wind blowing through the long leaf pines and an occasional lizard scampering off the trail. I must have stopped a few times to do a 360, taking in all the solitude the forest has to give. It was an alien feeling being all alone in the forest. I imaged I had stepped back in time, 200 year before anyone “settled” this country. In reality though, I had stepped back in time. Today, it’s all about progress and having a nice car, parked outside your house in the development called something like “willow woods.” A lot of people think development is a good thing. What happens when there is nothing left to develop though? When the land is so overrun by people and strip malls that there is nothing left except animals in zoos, hell even trees, because there won’t be that many left. Anyway, it just got me thinking about my own footprint in this whole world. A year ago I would have loved living in a huge log cabin with a nice truck and all the furnishings a beautiful house would have. This last year has changed me a lot however. Mostly because of seeing the development in this area and trips like today. I see what has happened to the land, and what it used to be like. A lot of people living in cities don’t get to see the destruction and therefore don’t understand what’s so bad about it. That’s made me realize that I don’t need a huge house with all the amenities. Instead I want to live off the grid. Shit in the woods(so to speak). Have a large garden with all the vegetables I could want to can and make the most out of my time here. People are selfish. Don’t get me wrong I’d love to live in a huge house and have tons of nice stuff. But for what? There’s no good reason to have that stuff other than to show off. I could give two shits if someone thinks my house is nice. What does it all matter in the end anyway. Were just shitting where we eat. But I think it’s inevitable the way were going. Everyone is worried about how much their next paycheck is instead of what they’re doing to mother earth. Don’t get me wrong I don’t mean to sound like too much of a hippie(in fact I hate those middle class, pot smokin’ wannabees), but with people in Africa starving, and getting mutilated while 16 year old girls worry that their BMW isn’t expensive enough just makes me sick. Yes, as Americans we do have a right to show off our wealth and buy what we want because we’ve “earned” it. However, at the same time with that wealth and freedom comes the responsibility make sure the earth and the inhabitants aren’t completely fucking themselves in the ass(sorry for the language- I’m a few Coors originals into the night). Anyway, America- Stop being dicks to the Earth. Please. We all play our part, remember that.

It’s 3am. I worked with all the illegal Mexicans tonight after getting to work a half hour late. I was taking a mid day nap after a good morning of mountain biking and my “alarm didn’t go off.” I’m sure it did and I probably just turned it off in my half sleep. Anyway I got home at 10:30 and went for a run. So I’m actually wide awake because of that. Probably not a good thing though because at 9am I’m going back out with my buddy to ride the trails at blue clay road. I love my trek, but when I read about people riding 29′ers and having all the pimped out components I kinda get jealous. Although I’m a stubborn bastard and will ride my bike until it falls apart or I bend the frame. I’m also becoming half way proficient at fixing my own bike. I still don’t know what everything is called, but as long as it doesn’t need to be replaced I’ve been able to manage to repair it to a ridable condition. I’m just going to have to get used to riding over roots that jam the seat into my ass. It’s all good though, cycling a lot is good for the body and soul. There’s too many lard asses driving their 8 cylinder SUV’s around here. Explain to me why you need a ford “mastadon” in a beach town. If you work on a farm or in the country where a truck is necessary I can understand, but driving a huge SUV from your gated community to the closest Harris Teeter is not a good reason. Oh well, some people will never change. Being self minded is what put humans past the neanderthals. Well that and Jesus. When will all the stupidity end? Ok, two more things and then I’m crashing. First, college students should not be allowed to own pets, especially dogs or cats. Second, Coors original is ten times better than Coors light which is the shittiest beer ever made. I hear Coors original puts hair on your chest too. BTW, Chuck Norris is advertising his Total Gym on tv right now.

Well today was a very productive day. I woke up went to the gym and worked out. Then had my last class of my undergraduate career, in which we were given cookies that our teacher baked(nice gesture I thought). Not that you know this but I just had to take a minute to catch a big ol’ wolf spider that was crawling on my bedroom floor. I then tore its legs off and squished it!(actually I’m just kidding, I caught it in a cup and let it outside like I do with all the spiders I catch in here, even the huge brown recluse that was hiding out in my shoe the other day). After that I went to register for the CRAGBRAT mountain bike race around our campus. When I got to the desk to give them my registration form(along with the 10 bucks) they said it was canceled. Apparently mountain biking is so popular that I was only the second person to put in a registration form. Disappointed, but not yet given up hope I drove down to Blue Clay rd where the mountain bike park is. Had a hell of a good time beating myself up on the trails and jumps there. I plan on taking my buddy down there this Saturday as a replacement to the CRAGBRAT race, he’s never been there and I’m sure it’s going to be a fun time watching him fall over on his bike like I did the first time. I’ll try to take photos this Saturday, but I don’t dare take my D-50 out there because of the nature of the riding. I came home after than and showered only to have my buddy call me and ask if I wanted to go riding on the trails at school I obliged and we went down there for a bit but I gotta be honest after riding at Blue Clay, the school’s trails just get old and boring. Nothing but flat sand with a few jumps here and there. However, the most important thing I did today was email about 10 environmental film festivals for research to help me get started with the one I’m hoping to get going in this town. One lady emailed me back and asked me to call her this week offering all the info I need. She’s the festival coordinator for the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival. It’s all looking good so far, but its definitely too early to tell. That’s all from here. This here is white lion, steppin’ back now, leaving the airwaves for the rest of ya(CB talk lol). Ciao.

Earth Day, the one day a year when we can pretend we really care about the environment. Oh well, I’m gonna go empty some hair spray cans, let my car run in the driveway for about an hour and maybe kill a puppy or two. Happy (early)Earth Day!

Man, sometimes this guy is just right on. Here’s the link to his post. www.sirbikesalot.com

Cho Seung-Hui, what a fucking piece of shit. It’s times like these I wish I believed in hell.

With the coming closure of my undergradute education I’ve been thinking a lot about what’s coming afterward and what I’ve accomplished so far. As to what I’ve accomplished so far, its been your normal accolades of honor roll, deans list, eagle scout, crap like that. It doesn’t mean a whole hell of a lot because that’s all it is is an accolade. I’ve got some unknown times ahead of
me. Almost a little more than a year off until hopefully grad school which I have yet to apply to. I’ll have to find some work within that year and I’m hoping I can somehow start making a larger impact on the environmental front. I know film is a great way to do that. The problem with film, is finding people who aren’t too egotistical and self-minded. That’s somewhat hard from what I’ve seen so far. Within this next year I’m hoping to meet like minded people who can help start realizing those ideas. On the personal front I’ve also got a few things lined up. I was at the grocery store today and I realized the impact I was having. First I was driving to a store I could easily ride to in 10 minutes or so. Second I was getting all plastic bags to which I’ve amassed in a giant pile in the closet, even though they never get reused. So today I’ve compiled a list of thing I can do and will try to do from here on out to lower my environmental impact and raise awareness at the same time, locally of course. As always you can play along if you are feeling lonely.

1) Use paper bags, or cloth bags that I can reuse at the store.
2) Ride my bike, ride my bike, ride my bike.
3) Try to start a local environmental film fest.
4) Recycle all my diet mtn dew cans of course.
5) Use those goofy looking long lasting fluorescent light bulbs
6) Turn off the power on things when you aren’t using them.
7) Flush less often(already do, roommates aren’t too kind about it)
8) Hang my clothes to dry.
9) Buy organic or locally grown at the Co-op.
10) Plant a fucking tree. Lord knows this town needs them.

Well that’s it. Shouldn’t be so bad. Hell maybe I’ll even move into a yurt and start smoking my own homegrown pot. Even if I don’t end up finding like minded film makers or starting a film fest, I’ll at least be in reasonably good shape from all that bike riding.

Well, my mother went to a medium today. She’s been to a few in the past, as have I. They’ve all been very accurate and helpful. So with the advent of graduation, I asked her to her ask about what’s coming up as far as my living situation, school(grad), and career. You know what the answer was? “Tell him to follow his heart.” Apparently that’s what the spirits had for me. I bet they’re all up there laughing their asses off because that’s the most generic, self explanatory answer I’ve ever gotten. It’s gotta be a joke. Seriously, it’s almost as redundant as, “tell him to eat.” Yah, no shit follow my heart. Actually, I was planning on going against it, applying to business school and push papers the rest of my life. Good thing the spirits intervened and saved me from that horrible choice. Anyway, not a whole lot to report from Wilmington, more trees cut down, more water polluted from breaking sewer lines, and I think there’s some secret agenda to get everyone driving a land rover in this town. On the brighter side, I’m DPing my class music video tomorrow and Sunday. So that ought to be a fun learning experience. Though there’s not that much to mess with since we only have one HMI light and are shooting outside. A nice weekend of two 12 hour days, gotta love it, or at least get used to it, because that’s what i have to look forward to for the rest of my life lol. Aaaaannnnd, I’m buying a new laptop and digital camera within the next week or two. That way I can film my whole Alaska trip and edit into a nice 30min travelogue. Gotta go.

P.S. - If you have a bike, ride it.

Jesus, why is everyone jumping on the bandwagon and calling for him to get fired for saying “nappy headed ho’s.” Honestly, It wasn’t the most flattering thing to say, but I in no way thing it means he should be fired or have the likes of Al Sharpton get involved. So much hypocrisy in this whole racial and political correctness crap. Let’s just get a grip and worry about stuff that really matters. I mean who cares, the man can barely make an clear word come out of his mouth to begin with. I watch him every morning and I can’t understand a word the man says, he just rambles on mumbling like a drunk. (man I better make sure I didn’t offend people with speech impediments). Sorry, I’m just some cracker ass honky who’s voicing his opinion. Lets worry about stuff that matters, like war, or Sanjaya still being on American Idol.

-A good post by my friend who I recently helped buy a bike-

Well while I should be doing an outline for a paper about the acting style of John Wayne, I’ll spare some time to give my anxious readers something to look over for the next day or two. I know I often rant about what is wrong with this town. But I really see it as a microcosm of what is going on over the entire southeast and southwest for that matter. There is a mass migration to these places because of nice weather, jobs(not Wilmington), and housing. Mainly from the north, because kids grow up and want to move to the where there’s beaches and sunshine to find jobs and live. So what’s wrong with that? Most people would say nothing at all. So in my search for reasons why unbridled growth of the southeast is a bad thing(besides the obvious) I found a few things. A lady posted on a forum that she was wanting to move from California to either, Wilmington, Atlanta or Myrtle Beach. She wanted to know why these places were suggested by all the magazines, but yet Raleigh and Charlotte weren’t. Some other folks responded and one post caught my eye. This lady said that the downside of living in Wilmington were: First, it’s not close to anything, except the highway I 40. Well, I guess that is true if you consider “anything” a big city. But Raleigh is only a short 2 hour drive, Greensboro a little more than three and so on. Maybe I’m coming from the perspective that not having “anything” around is a good thing. Concrete seems to get old very quick, and for somebody from a rural area, it’s very draining. There’s no restorative qualities about brick and concrete. Her second point was that there were no jobs. This is surprisingly true. Wilmington caters to the tourism and shipping industries for the majority. If you are looking for any industry jobs you’ll have a hard time. Apparently this is improving, but I’ve heard that for awhile that if you get a degree in Wilmington get prepared to move. That is of course unless you’re in the film industry, like me. Third, she said there was a high cost of living. Amen to that one sister. There is no doubt it costs more to live in this city than anywhere else in the state. There are actually some really cool places to live downtown, but it’s what us white folks call the ‘ghetto”. But have no fear the city is raising property taxes to rid themselves of people they don’t want living there so nice folks like you and me can move in to downtown and really clean it up(please sense the sarcasm). The fact of the matter is Wilmington is a rich, touristy town. A short drive outside will find you surrounded by small homes and large farms. The old south, the rural south, a dying way. Most places in this area of the country are blowing up though. Sometime I try to put myself in the shoes of some person who’s lived here for 50 years and no longer can afford to pay the property taxes, or because of eminent domain has to move so the city can put up a parking lot for new city offices. Will it continue to go on? Sure, there’s no doubt. I’ve given up on this area, it’s already overgrown with condos and unsightly shopping centers. But there’s a whole lot of other places worth saving still. I guess it’s better to concentrate on what’s left than what you can’t save.

My buddy emailed me this great list of ways to know you’re from western NY. Here they are….

1. Your idea of a traffic jam is 10 cars waiting to pass a tractor on the highway

2. “Vacation” means going to Syracuse for the weekend

3. You measure distance in hours

4. You know several people who have hit deer more than once

5. You often switch from “heat” to “A/C” in the same day

6. You stay in your house most of the summer because you aren’t used to the heat

7. You drive at 55 mph through 10 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching

8. You see people wearing hunting clothes at social events

9. You install security lights on your house and garage but leave both unlocked

10. One of your neighbors constantly has bonfires

11. You carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend knows how to use them

12. There are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at the supermarket at any given time

13. Your idea of a huge party is one with lots of cheap beer and some people you go to school with

14. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled in with snow

15. You think sexy lingerie is silk pajamas from wal-mart

16. You know 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, cold, construction

17. It takes you 2 hours to go to the store for one item even when you’re in a rush because you have to stop and talk to everyone in town

18. At least 6 people that you see a day have beards and stains on the front of their shirt

19. Cows are just part of the scenery

20. You or someone you know has a car that sounds like a big truck and can barely make it 20 miles yet no one says anything about it.

21. At least fives times in your normal travel day you will pass or be passed by a beat-up, old ass car that has had an attempted pimping out, such as a brand new oversized spoiler on a rust covered trunk, spinning HUBCABS, or everyones favorite, the performance exhaust on a car running on barely three cylinders.

22. You know that the phrase, “Goin up ta,” applies to going north, south, east, or west, up or down in elevation, and pretty much any other way you can travel.

23. The smell of freshly spread cow manure doesn’t bother you.

24. Its perfectly normal for your life’s aspirations to be working for the county.

25. Getting “dressed up” means tucking your shirt into your jeans and putting on clean work boots.

26. Holloween costumes are always designed around a snowsuit and winter boots.

27. You appreciate the delicacy known as Croghan Bologna, and serve it at all social gatherings.

28. On the same platter as the Croghan Bologna is a selection of flavored cheese curd, which you also love.

29. You know damn well that the verizon guy didn’t walk through your town going, “can you her me now” because reception is, at best, limited.

30. Your proud of your redneck-ness and where your from.

31. You can name everyone you graduated with.

32. You know what 4-H is.

33. You ever went to a party that was held about 20 miles down a deserted dirt road.

34. You used to drag “main.”

35. You said the ‘F’ word and your parents knew within an hour.

36. You schedule parties around the schedule of different police officers since you know which ones would bust you.

37. You ever went or thought about going cow-tipping.

38. School gets canceled for a sports team going toState

39. You could never buy cigarettes cause all the store clerks knew how old you were.

40. When you did find someone old enough to buy smokes for you, you had to drive down country backroads to smoke them.

41. You never missed a Homecoming parade.

42. You still go home for Homecoming.

43. It was cool to date someone from a neighboring town.

44. You had a senior skip day.

45. The whole school went to the same party after graduation.

46. You can’t help but date a friend’s ex.

47. Your car is always filthy from the dirt roads.

48. You think that kids who ride skateboards are weird.

49. The town next to you is considered “trashy” or “snotty” when it is just like your town.

50. Getting paid minimum wage is considered a raise.

51. You refer to anyone with a house newer than 1980 as the “rich people.”

52. The people in the big city dress funny then you pick up on the cool new trend two years later.

53. You bragged to your friends because you got pipes on your truck for your birthday.

54. On Fridays, anyone you want to find can be found at Main Street or the Dairy Queen.

55. Weekend excitement involves a trip to RiteAid.

56. Even the ugly people enter beauty contests.

57. You decide to walk for exercise and 5 people pull over and ask you if you need a ride.

58. Your teachers call you by your older sibling’s name.

59. The closest “cool stores” are at least 45 miles away.

60. The local phone book has only one yellow page.

61. You leave your jacket on the back of the chair in the
cafe, and when you go back the next day, it’s still there, on the same chair.

62. You don’t signal turns because everyone knows where you’re going, anyway.

63. You call a wrong number and they supply you with the correct one.

64. You have to name six surrounding towns to explain to
people where you’re from.

65. Driving to the party on a four wheeler is quite normal.

66. The town population increases by one-third when the universities go on break.

67. You laugh your head off reading this because you know it’s true and then forward it to everyone in your address book, which is actually half your town

Chalk one up for the bad guys. Idiots… Here’s the article about River Road.

Well in other news, I got my friend to buy a mountain bike yesterday. My first convert I suppose. We went out to the trails on the UNCW campus and made are rounds like two little old ladies on bikes. That sand is super hard to ride in. I’ve got to admit, riding on flat sand just doesn’t do it for me, although it is nice to have someone else to ride with now. Also, it’s quite sad to see the amount of development on campus. I had no idea how much there actually is. Many of the trails are dead ending at new dorms or take you right to someones backyard. Oh well, progress! I’ve also just finished a book called Mad Bear. You should check it out if you are at all into Native American studies and/or spirituality stuff. It’s a good book, and pretty funny at times. BTW, today is my birthday, the big 22! Alright, off to work now.

For awhile now I’ve been trying to put my finger on why I don’t like Wilmington like the other 100,000 that live here do. Searching for an answer to that question for the last three years, has taken a considerable about of time. Most people that have just moved here or even ones that have been here awhile really enjoy this growing city. It has the beach(dude), plenty of places to eat, a decent nightlife although moderate at best. Most college kids LOVE this town more than the new Mercedes they got for their birthday. But I’ve just never been able to quite settle in. On longer breaks I’ve found myself doing road trips to the mountains, or at least the Piedmont region. Anything to get out of the coastal plain of North Carolina. Over the last few weeks with graduation right on my doorstep I’ve been forced to deal with the reason I’ve never been able to quite call this place home or feel a connection with the people. I’m a simple small town kid, who left my home to go somewhere of opportunity. In that time, I’ve also been forced to deal with the issues of this town. It’s riddled with housing developments and overcrowded roads. Mostly because of poor planning and zoning. I don’t think they expected the town to grow like it did, and by the time they realized it would, it was too late to fix some of the existing problems like sewer, traffic and the high rate of morons that move into town. Most friends and acquaintances I know from here, live in or grew up in housing developments. I, for one, despise them vehemently. They’re like a cancerous growth sprawling across the land. I’ll say this though, the people I know from those environments, are far more concerned with material possession and self satisfaction by way of alcohol or drugs. I don’t want that to be a blanket statement, I’m just giving my experience. What they also lack is an appreciation for the land, a connection to the natural and normal side of life. I love the Allegheny mountains because that’s my home, but for these kids their home is whatever development they live in at the time, whether it be “Longleaf Acres, or Willow Woods” they’ve never been connected to the land, and instead use it only for material gain. The life they know is of expensive houses(though they all look the same), expensive cars and wearing the newest clothes. Shit, I’ve worn the same pair of shorts of the last 3 months. But I’m getting off track. The people in this area, don’t seem to have any appreciation for the land they live on. Instead, it’s all a matter of what development they live in and what car they drive. Back home, I can walk from the hillsides behind my friends houses to miles away without ever encountering more than the occasional squirrel or 15 year old on an ATV off in the distance. I doubt if any of the Land Rover driving, cubicle working, business majors would ever even dare to walk the longleaf pine forests(what’s left of them) around here for fear of coming across a black racer, if they even know what that is. I guess what I’m trying to say here isn’t so much a slam on Wilmington. It’s a great little city, with a ton of opportunity and history. That is if you like that sort of thing. I for one would be content living in some marginal log cabin far from everyone. Maybe a lake or a river nearby(for washing of course) and a horse to get to town and back. In my three years in Wilmington, I’ve learn a lot. I’ve learned that I’ll never like flat land, ever. That the most beautiful place I’ve seen is the hilltops of the Allegheny mountains. That there’s no good substitute for Keystone light 30 packs. That cycling 30 miles on flat land and 30 miles in the hills is a world of difference. Also, that economic development is not always a good thing. If I ever see the Alleghenies get pillaged and divided up into so many parcels it looks like a bad jig saw puzzle, I’ll probably head for the hills and start taking care of business the old fashioned way. Most importantly, I’ve learned where home is, and although I may not always live there, it’ll always be a place where I’m willing to go back to restore my soul, and gain some perspective on this crazy little adventure we call life. Oh, and that the Buffalo Bills are the best sports team ever! SUPERBOWL BABY!!