The Nickname



















You ever thought about 'nicknames' before?

Like what's in a nickname or where do they come from or why do we give them to people?

When I start to think back to some of the nicknames we games to people alot of them were indicative of the type of person that we, we being his friends, perceived him as. My group of friends would pick names that were quite obvious most of the time and it was pretty easy for an outsider to figure out why we called someone "Stoney." Or why we called someone else "Whiskey."

But then you have those names which really don't make any sense to an outsider. They are names like "E" or "Turtle" or maybe even "Sally" for another friend. At first you might guess that the first guy likes drugs and the second guy is always slow or late. While the second nickname does hold true, these are actually nicknames from a hip HBO TV series 'Entourage'. (BTW if you haven't seen it, you are missin ' out)

So you have your 'quite clear' nicknames that are self explanatory, then you have your nicknames that are only explainable through a story, but then you also have your third kind which are the ones that are extensions of existing names. (Kind of like Bamer for me, as my last name is Bame) Outside of these three reasons there aren't too many other explanations for nicknames, unless they are pet names from girlfriends or your mom still likes to call you 'peanut' or something, even though you are 6'2'' and weigh in at over 200lbs. :)

Now that we know where they come from a bit, I want to ask the question, "why do we give them to people?"

I think it could be because we want to personalize these important people in our lives and in our inner circles. We want to make them 'ours' so-to-speak. I think we name our friends and family member differently because it places them in a higher status in our own lives. I mean lets be honest, you aren't going to call some friend "flipper" unless you know him really well and you would do anything for him, and vice versa. These silly little names we use stand for more than just some cheap amusement, but they stand for a symbol of some sorts. A symbol that says that they belong in our circle and that they are our friends. And they show that you have a good bond with that person.

What do you think? Why do you think we give people nicknames? Just for fun or for some other subliminal reasons.

Posted in: , , , , , , , , on Thursday, July 30, 2009 at at 10:24 AM 11 comments  

The Metro

Two definitions of a Metro below. Both are quite different, I even think one was written by a metro? Check it out.


1) me·tro·sex·ual [ mèttrō sékshoo əl ] (plural me·tro·sex·uals)

Definition: young straight stylish urban man: a young, straight, sensitive urban man who is unashamed to enjoy good clothes, stylish living, the art of decorating, and improving his personal appearance ( informal ) [mid-20th century.]
2) Definition: A metro sexual is a man who is meticulous about his appearance. He is always in fashion and very well groomed. Some people mistake a metro sexual for a gay guy.


Above are two definitions for the same 'type' of guy. One dictionary depicts it as a guy that is looking to where good clothes and be well groomed. Well what the fuck, that means that I am a metro as well then? I find this definition to have many holes in which doesn't create a very good stance of which to logical have an argument about what is or what isn't because most men would argue that they fit those above points, no?
And the second definition talks about a fashionable, well groomed man that people think is gay. So what are you trying to tell me here, that if I like to look good and care about my clothes that I am a metro and most likely the majority of people peg my sexuality as being homo-istic? Give me a break.

To me both of these definitions are quite problematic, and raise the question of "what is really a metro sexual?" Perhaps you can think of a better definition? Maybe if you change the words of the first definition and add 'in excess' to it, then I could see that one being a bit more correct and having less problems.

Either way, this isn't the point to my random thoughts. Which were brought up when I read a blog about douche bags today from a friend, but that's a whole other topic for another day. :) Today we will keep it on metros and not on the d-bags.

What I wanted to talk about was how there seems to be more and more metros out there nowadays. I see more males with better looking outfits than the women then ever before. I see males with more 'bling' (rings, necklaces, bracelets, etc) then I had previously in the last 3 years combined. These guys must spend at least 2 hours in the mirror before they are ready to go out?

And these metros are getting help from the stores, it's not like they are hand making these $300 dollar jeans by themselves. They go out and buy them at designer shops that pride themselves and making guys look like models/accessory magnets/girls, etc. These stores can price their shirts so high because they know that the metros have money and will dish it out willingly in order to get that shirt with pink strips and a picture of Alice in wonderland on the front. Is that actually fashionable or bit too metro, 'too' meaning a bit on the gay looking side like the second definition above explains? I don't know, you be the judge?

Metro sexuals have lots of money normally, that's how they can afford their expensive shopping habits and their massive amounts of hair gel, not too mention their affection for the most expensive shoes. (Move over girls, your shoe collection my not be the biggest anymore..)

Other guys are out spending money on beer while these metros buy green vodka-red bulls. They smoke cigarettes in an almost 'sexual' way, and you will constantly see them disappear into the restroom to see if their hair still looks good.. AS if the 10kgs of hair gel would let it move?

There is a big plus though in being a metro. You definitely don't have a shortage of girls around, especially the dumb ones that can be persuaded by money easily and eat up your bullshit like its a 4-course meal. You will always see them with other metros as typical guys can't normally handle more than one in their group. (Because for sure he will steal all the girls with his half buttoned shirt and tight jeans, I suppose dropping money like it grows on trees helps?)

Let me know if you notice an ever growing population of metros? I see this in Europe, Switzerland, America, almost everywhere I have been. I am not writing this to say I don't like them but rather that I see more and more of them. It's almost like they multiple right in front of my eyes..

Anyways, check out and see if the next guy that orders a vodka red bull is a metro, chances are he is. And if he doesn't look like it, he probably is a wannabe.. (He just needs a bit of encouragement)

Good night from Switzerland...

Bamer-

Posted in: , , , , , , , on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at at 10:53 PM 5 comments  

Life and Friends

We meet so many people along this crazy road called, "life." We have huge highs and lows along the way and there is never a shortage of friends that are along for the ride as well. Some only jump on the train for a bit, but some how manage to have an impact on you like no other. While others jump on for the whole trip and these are the ones who are always there for us and love the journey, the beer and the friendship that you provide each other. We need these people, we need them so much it's unreal.. Make sure you appreciate them, and that you are appreciated back, but most of all just enjoy the ride.. because the ride wouldn't be the same without them riding shotgun. And the ride won't last forever, we all get off eventually.


Take pictures, welcome new friends and cherish the old ones, and make new experiences everyday of your life. Don't ever let it get dull and remember that you and your friends can make life as good as you want to, it's entirely up to you...

[turns off reggae music and proceeds to 'puff puff pass'..]

Posted in: , , , , , , on Saturday, July 18, 2009 at at 11:43 AM 5 comments  

Stress Level Meter

I have been doing a bit of thinking about this topic lately and a few questions have raised. So I decided to post a few of them below concerning our: Stress Level Meter?

So do you think we have one of these? Do you think that all of us are given some imaginary number inside our brains that is our limit and that dictates how much stress we can handle at any given time? And if pushed over that limit, that's when shjt hits the fan? Who knows, but it's interesting to contemplate.

So I am sitting here (being super cool), and I am wondering what must happen in order for us to finally let the stress in our lives 'get to us'? Do you think that each little thing that happens throughout the day adds to our stress level and once we reach a critical point we break? I mean for example, maybe there is a point system that our body makes up that is catered only to us? Because we both know that certain thinks 'irk' us more than other things... Here, let's make up an imaginary point system. (Maybe even add a few in there yourself?)

[Based on a 100 point system]

Stress Contributors:

  • Spilled coffee on lap: 2 points
  • Locked keys in the car: 11.5 points
  • Forgot to do the laundry: 4 points
  • No sex for a month: 3 points
  • break your favorite pair of heels: 14 points
  • You're sick: 57 points (You are basically already starting ever day that stressed/mad)
  • Too much work at work: 18 points
  • Someone fails to come through on a promise: 25 points
  • Your Internet connection doesn't work for a day: 31 points
  • Boyfriend gets his 5th speeding ticket and has spend the weekend in jail: 100 points
You can start to see where I am going with this. Everything is given a point system and how each one affects you is different from person to person. Maybe you don't get that mad when you are sick or when you lock your keys in the car? But I know I do. (In fact, Who knows, but either way it all adds up until it gets to that breaking point.

Now think about this in the other direction. Is there such a thing as stress relievers? Maybe certain things relieve the stress that we have throughout a normal day? Here is another list of examples that could potentially be stress reducers.

Stress Reducers:

  • Favorite coffee in the morning: -2 points
  • No traffic on the drive in to work: -10 points
  • Boyfriend bought you surprise roses: -40 points
  • You ate your favorite food for lunch: -4 points
  • Gas prices went down: -4.5 points
  • Just scored 2 free tickets to see your favorite band: -17 points
  • Girls/Guys night out this coming Friday: -55 points
  • Bought a new pair of jeans: -22.5 points
  • Sex: -68 points
  • Awesome sex:-120 points :P
  • You won an all paid trip to Hawaii for a week: -1,000 points
So you can see again that this internal S.L.M. can be affected in both ways. You can lower it by eating some chocolate or taking a run for lunch, but you can also affect it the other way by stepping in mud when you are on your run... ticks me off. :)

I personally think we have one of these and all those imaginary points get added up before you finally need to do something about it, before you explode. I think that we all operate with some level of stress everyday, but it's more important to control that level and manage it, than the actual fact that we have it. Being more stressed puts a strain on every part of your life as well, it certainly makes the other parts of your life suck more. Maybe it makes it so you don't want to get down & dirty that night with your significant other, or you aren't "in the mood" to go do something that you normally LOVE to do. Who knows?

Either way this S.L.M. needs to be taken care of and managed quite closely, and you need to decide when you should boost it back into a managable level, because if we don't manage it well we will have more of those 'wished I would have stayed in bed' days. :P

Just a short rant.

Can't wait for the weekend, -60 points!

Posted in: , , , , , on Friday, July 17, 2009 at at 10:58 AM 4 comments  

The Humble Line

I have had many conversations regarding being humble vs. egotistic. Being good and confident in what you do and being cocky. Obviously one side is better to be on than the other. And you would rather have someone think of you as humble than egotistic and the same goes for confident or cocky, right?


Now there seems to be a lot of grey area on this subject, the middle ground seems to be quite large as to when you cross the line and when you haven't. When you start to gloat about how good you are, or were, as opposed to just confident and good at what you do, or have done in the past.

I think this grey area is definable and at least able to narrow down the subject of being humble or cocky a bit more. And what I mean by that is that this grey area is completely subjective to each person in the way that it is defined by his or her own definition of egotistical vs. humble. This didn't become apparent to me until I had a conversation last week about what someone else viewed as egotistic and not confident, and that their view was completely different than my own. We used an example about another person and how good they were at a particular sport. (should be easy for everyone to relate to this) I thought this person was good at what they did and were also confident that they played it well. Where as my counter-arguer thought the other person was being egotistical because they knew they were better and acted as such. (Basically they liked to talk about the good games they had with others)

This is where I started to think about why some people put alot more people in the ego category than in the humble category. It's almost as if some people refrain from using the word humble to describe someone for only a select few? The chosen extreme humble ones, and that all the other ones got thrown into the grey area or all the way into the ego category. What's up with that? I felt as though it was a mild attack on people with confidence. And more so that if you knew you were good at something you couldn't be confident in it... or you run the risk of looking cocky or over confident.

Where is that grey line again?

So I started to think a bit more about this and one of my friends told me the other day that their definition of egotism vs confidence is simple. It's like this: Confidence is when you are good at something and know it, but don't use that to make yourself more superior than others. You don't tell others that you are better than someone else because you are better at a certain sport, photography, cooking, etc. If you know it, that's cool, and it's even cool to share your big victories and good things you have done or even won, but as soon as you start to think that you are better than another person, (possibly someone who is less gifted) then that's where it crosses into egotistical. When you think you are a better 'person' because of your god given talent, etc. That's when it crosses from one side to another.

And to me that was a good explanation and definition of confident vs. humble. I don't think you should ever suppress the victories you have achieved or the goals or events you have won, but I also don't think that you should make others feel inadequate that you can do one thing better than them. It should more sharing than a 'look at me' festival.

Maybe the difference is talking about it vs. gloating about it? Or maybe you know a person that always has to be first and never wants to show a weakness? It could even be in the way you say it? I don't know, but either way there is a fine line between being humble and being egotistical, and I think how you define the two is ultimately going to lead to what side you will be on when listening to someone else's story about the game winning goal they scored.

My question: Do you find more people egotistical or just plain confident? And is your view a reflection on you? (Maybe you are less fortunate at sports, so when you see a good athlete and they talk about how well they did, you feel a bit jealous? Just a thought)

-----------

And just as a side note, have you ever had the girl or guy that comes around and just looks for the compliments that they know you will dish out time and time again? Why do we always tell them good job, or tell them how good they look? Some of us are really good ego 'strokers' at times.. oops.

Posted in: , , , , , , on Friday, July 10, 2009 at at 1:42 PM 3 comments  

Baby love

How is it going?


I hope you are kickin off your week in a good way, and I hope you enjoyed a happy 'Independence Day', if you are an American. :) I didn't hear about too many firecracker accidents.

Anyways, I wanted to write a quick blurb today about babies and this ever growing feeling that people around the age of 22-35 or so have. And I know you know what this feeling is. Let's just call it, 'baby love'.

It's that feeling of wanting a baby. (If you haven't already had a few that is) You get to this age and you start looking at babies and thinking of how cute they are and how bad you want to have one for your own. This feeling is normal and it's instinctual. We are no different than any other animal out there, in the way that we want to reproduce and have some offspring.

But this feeling inside seems to start to hit full stride between this time period. Maybe a bit earlier for some and later for others, but either way it's something we all want to do. Alot of times you hear women talking about their 'internal clocks' and that they are ticking. This is that ticking that they are talking about. And I am hear to tell you that guys have these damn 'clocks' too. In fact I feel like I can't turn it off sometimes, but rather just change the station in my head. I mean I can't tell you how much I have thought about making a 'mini me' from time to time.

I know you can sit there and think, "Well then make one.." But it's not as easy as it sounds. Life puts alot of roadblocks in the way first. Here is a quick list below to show you want I mean.

Roadblocks:
-Finding the right girl/guy (This one is huge)
-Making sure you are ready (physically, financially, etc.)
-Being able to.. (It's not a given that you even can?? wtf??)

These are just a few but as you can see, it's not so easy to just pop a few kids out. More so I mean it's hard to do it the 'normal' way.. (normal being used in the sense of marriage/partnership, career, house, etc, before you finally have a kid) But if you want to bypass this, I am sure you can run to the local 'whore house' and make a whole in the condom?? (Let's hope you didn't actually consider that) I just shuddered...

Anyways, why do we get these 'baby love' feelings? Why do we have such an instinctual urge to reproduce? And is this controllable, because I have some friends who never want to have a baby... How do they control this urge? (Maybe they hate sex?) I dunno, but either way, this 'baby love' feeling can be killer at times.

Did I just write that?? Must be getting older...

Posted in: , , , , , , , , , on Monday, July 6, 2009 at at 3:33 PM 8 comments  

Fake happiness?

I recently had a friend send me a link to a YouTube video that talked about how we should try to be happier. About how this will help everyone, and not only ourselves. Of course we will see the most benefits from being happy, but it also affects everyone around us. Anyways I found quite interesting and I wanted to share my views on 'faking happiness'.


There was a blurb about faking happiness and if we could, and I want to weigh in here and give my opinion on why I think the speaker was right. I think we can fake happiness and not only that, but I think we are really good at it. We actually do it all the time in our everyday lives. We are damn good actors if you think about it. And I have a few examples to prove it.

1) Dad says, "If you are good, we will go and get ice cream later.." Now I know all of us have heard this or something similar at least a few times when we were kids. And, at least in my case, you better believe that no matter if I was sick, tired, mad or whatever I was going to be really good for that next hour so I could get me some a dat chocolate ice cream I was always craving. So this meant that I faked being good or happy.

2) You hate to work with Mr. A-hole at work, but you know you have to and on this particular day you have a meeting with him about some new 'thing' you want to change/improve/etc. Now normally you avoid him or just keep everything extremely brief, but this time because he has the final say on something you want, you fake happy towards him. (Not to mention you were faking happy every time you saw him in the hallway or wherever at work) I know everyone has had a boss before and faked happy to him or her.

3) Your are going to the movies and the person at the counter selling the tickets is really slow. You have been waiting for 15 minutes or so and the movie is going to start in 7 minutes and you don't even have popcorn. Not only does this make you mad and irritated, but you know the reason it's taking so long is because of this one person. But instead of you getting up there and sayin, "what the hell??" You simply roll up there and mumble, "2 tickets to Transformers 2." More or less just thankful to get the tickets as quickly as possible so you can get your butt in the theatre.

So out of those 3 above I am sure most of you reading this have done at least 2 of them. But why do we do it? Why do we fake happy? And if we are so good at it, why do we do it only when we want something? Why not all the time? I mean if the whole world was a bit happier don't you think it would be a lot more fun to live in? I do.

Before I answer those questions, how about I pose another one?

Do you think that if you 'act' or if you 'fake' happy that your actions or behaviors can shape your feelings? To explain further, do you think you can make yourself feel better by just faking your happiness?

Woo-wee, I know I am asking a bunch of questions and laying it on thick, but how about you give me your feedback and tell me what you think? Can we fake happy? Can it affect our real feelings if we do it long enough? And lastly, should we?

I know that sometimes I do. I know that I am a pretty jolly guy most of the time and that I am happier because of my faked happiness at times. (Not saying I am a fake'r or anything, but you get my point. Or at least I am not a fake'r like some women can be in bed... haha... that was just a joke, hope you don't need to fake it)

Anyways, throw me your thoughts.

Ciao~

Posted in: , , , , on Thursday, July 2, 2009 at at 2:15 PM 9 comments  

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