Scott S. Topiol

Jewzapalooza

On Sunday Nicole and I along with my cousin Naomi and her cousin Nik went to the musical event of the century: Jewzapalooza! Nik's band, the London-based Oi Va Voi, performed in front of an audience that appeared to be on some sort of matzoh-induced acid trip. Definitely a sight to see.

Pics from our excursion have been posted and can be found by clicking here.

We're on Long Island until this coming Sunday (Nicole's uncle is getting married on the 1st), then we head back to Rochester to finalize our packing. October 4 is moving day!

posted at 22:34

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This is good...

Donald Rumsfeld is giving the president his daily briefing. He concludes by saying: "Yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed in an accident'
"OH NO!" the President exclaims. "That's terrible!"
 
His staff sits stunned at this display of emotion, nervously watching as the president sits, head in hands Finally, the President looks up
and asks..........
 
''How many is a Brazillion ??!'

posted at 09:37

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One of Those Boring Surveys

I saw this survey on my sister's blog and since I was bored decided to fill it out and post it here. Yeah, yeah...I know.

-----------------------------------
Get to know me...

() been drunk
() kissed a member of the same sex
() crashed a friend's car
() been to Japan
(x) ridden in a taxi (With my grandmother once that I can remember. I hate taxis and prefer the subway.)
(x) been in love (Nicole!)
() been dumped
(x) shoplifted (Accidentally from WalMart. We bought a bunch of stuff and a roll of Scotch tape fell into the cart and nobody noticed until we got home)
() been fired
() been in a fist fight
() snuck out
() ever had a crush on someone of the same sex
() ever dated someone of the same sex
(x) had feelings for someone who didn't have them back
() been arrested
() made out with a stranger
() drank in a pub in London
(x) stole something from your job (mmm office supplies)
() celebrated New Years in Time Square
() gone on a blind date
(x) lied to a friend (I don't remember anything specific but I know everyone has at one time or another)
() had a crush on a teacher
() celebrated mardi-gras in New Orleans
() been to Europe
(x) skipped school (I hated Jr. High/High School)
() slept with a co-worker
() been married
() gotten divorced
() had children
(x) seen someone die (Many times; part of being a medic)
() been to Africa
() slapped someone you love
() driven over 400 miles to attend a show/festival
(x) been to Canada (Niagara Falls, Ontario and Tornoto, Ontario)
(x) been to Mexico (TJ smells like urine)
(x) been on a plane (I don't even remember how many times now)
(x) seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show (Never in a theater but I used to watch it with my sister Rachel when I was 10 lol...I had no clue what I was watching anyway)
() thrown up in a bar..
() purposely set a part of yourself on fire.
(x) eaten sushi (Is there a more perfect food?)
() been snowboarding
(x) met someone in person from the internet
() been moshing at a show
() had feelings for someone you knew only online
(x) gone to college (I should finish college one of these days)
() graduated college
() hitchhiked
(x) taken painkillers (Strongest I ever took was Darvocet when I got hit by a car and I got some IV pain med when I got to the hospital for the same, I think it was Demerol)
() intentionally burned oneself
(x) love someone or miss someone right now (I love Nicole and miss her because she's at work)
() went to a prom
() bungee jumped
() been to a pop concert
(x) dated someone for a year or more (End of October 2005 will be 3 years officially with Nicole)
() sold naked pictures of yourself
(x) been in a car accident (I was hit by a car and hospitalized in 1999 and in 2002 I accidentally let my car roll from a stop into the back of a car...there was no damage)
(x) eaten cheesecake (OH GOD YES!)
() had jury duty
(x) hated someone without knowing them (Nearly all of the flapping heads on TV)
() been to Maine
(x) shot a real gun (First time when I was 9 and the rest is history)
() made out with someone within 5 days of meeting them
() done ecstasy
(x) gotten your butt kicked (In Jr. High when I was a genuine loser)
() been caught smoking
() milked a cow
(x) got in a verbal fight
() lied one time in this survey
() threw a party at a friends house when they were gone
() done something with a friends boyfriend or girlfriend
() done something with a boyfriend's or girlfriend's sibling
() committed a major crime
() gotten in trouble w/ the cops
() ran away
(x) given someone a hickey
(x) gotten a hickey (As long as they're not in a visisble place it's okay)
() gotten super drunk
(x) lied about where you're going
( ) had mono
(x) got into a physical fight with a sibling (Lisa and I used to hate each other...but now we're cool)
() sex in the shower
() had sex for more than 2 days
() had a crush on some one from myspace
(x) watched porn (Can you honestly say you haven't...ever?)

posted at 09:34

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If You Found Me Through Google

If you found this site through Google, odds are you didn't get the page you expected. Click the "Photos" section and you'll likely find what you were looking for. When I restructured the site the original urls changed and I haven't been able to successfully map them all yet. Look around and you'll likely find what you wanted!

posted at 20:36

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Site Will Be Down During Move

Since this website is hosted on my home server it will be unavailable until we have arrived at our new home. The server will be available as quickly as possible once the move is completed.

Wagons West

We have finally chosen a date for our move from Rochester to Los Angeles. Assuming all goes as planned, Nicole and I will begin our 2,900 mile journey from North Chili to Los Angeles on the morning of October 4, 2005. We expect to arrive in Los Angeles by the 9th.

Those friends whom we will leave behind in New York are certainly welcome to visit us at our new home whenever they please. Just drop me a line and let me know.

posted at 08:01

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Four Years Ago Today

Today is the four-year anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks on the United States. While television stations air 9/11 documentaries, my thoughts stretch back to the months preceding September 11, 2001, to the very first time I ever flew on an airplane alone--to my very first visit to New York City.

It was the morning of July 5, 2001. My older sister had driven me to the airport and we arrived early. I was pleased when Rachel said that she would stay with me until it was time for my flight to board. Looking back, I am glad that she was allowed to do just that--that people seeing their loved ones off were not yet viewed as suspect, relegated to hasty farewells outside of security checkpoints.

Flying before September 11 was--at least for me--a "magical" experience. I remember saying good-bye to my sister and stepping onto the plane. I remember fastening my seatbelt and looking out the window as we took off. I remember eating my in-flight meal. I had the steak. Airlines still served food; in fact, many airlines (including Delta, whom I flew) were in the process of improving the quality of their meals.

I landed in New York after dark. Alone in a strange airport, traveling for the first time since I was nine, I stepped through the gate and into the terminal. Nicole and her friend Deanna were standing there, waving a sign with my name written on it in marker; smiles on their faces. I had arrived. I was no longer alone.

My very first visit to Manhattan will forever remain a vivid memory. The moment I set foot on the pavement outside Penn Station and looked up (clearly disobeying the instructions I had been given about how-not-to-look-like-a-tourist) a feeling of excitement came over me. I couldn't believe that I was really there. The city seemed larger-than-life and my only fear was that of a pick-pocket--not of a terrorist.

Life--even in New York--felt much more innocent in July of 2001. I never visited the World Trade Center during that trip. Nicole and I agreed that after a long day of sightseeing, the World Trade Center could wait until "next time." Next time would occur two years later.

The events of September 11, 2001 have changed our world in ways impossible to list. While we remember the victims of terror and those heroes who gave, and continue to give, their lives so that others may live, it is important that we never lose sight of the world which we have lost to the hands of evil--of the little things that are now gone, but not forgotten. I hope that we will always look back fondly to those carefree days before the world knew ultimate terror while simultaneously looking forward to a future filled with peace.

posted at 20:45

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Oswego, NY Gallery

Check out the latest addition to the photos section of the site. Yesterday Nicole and I visited her brother at college in Oswego, NY. While there I snapped into photographer/tourist mode and snapped away. The gallery contains shots of Lake Ontario (including sunset pics), Fort Ontario, and the City (town?) of Oswego itself.

Click here to view the Oswego Gallery.

posted at 08:57

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Katrina Death Toll May Reach 10,000

Fox News has quoted U.S. Senator David Vitter as indicating that he believes that the death toll in Katrina may be at least 10,000. "My guess is that it will start at 10,000, but that is only a guess," Vitter said, adding that he was not basing his remarks on any official death toll or body count.

You can read the related Yahoo! news article by clicking here.

posted at 12:19

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Hurricane Katrina

As you are all aware, hurricane Katrina recently struck America's Gulf coast with catastrophic force. The images streaming through our television sets resemble those of a third-world country, and not of the United States. Countless thousands of individuals are now homeless, jobless, and without the necessities and traditional comforts of modern life. Criminals have been released from prison and lawlessness has become the order of the day in New Orleans. The sheer magnitude of the event--the massive amount of refugees--has completely exhausted the public safety resources of New Orleans and many other affected areas. Assistance cannot arrive quickly enough.

In extreme situations such as this it is common for the initial fear and anxiety to be replaced with anger and resentment. Such has been the case with Katrina. A group of angry individuals has resorted to violence and criminal activity instead of a more productive and peaceful approach. Rather than focusing on survival and assisting their families and neighbors they have resorted to looting, fighting, shooting, and of blaming others for their plight. The fact of the matter is simply that this was an unavoidable natural disaster that nobody--not even the United States government--had the ability to completely prevent. True, likely more could have been done in advance to strengthen levees in anticipation for a greater than class three hurricane, however such was not the case and as a result this is a reality that we must live with and get beyond. Dwelling on what-ifs and steps that should have been taken in advance is not productive in addressing the current issues. Although at a later point in time such an examination of preceding events will be necessary to help prevent any future devastation of this magnitude when the Gulf coast is eventually struck again by another massive hurricane; presently, the focus must be on the victims and of restoring some semblance of normalcy to the region.

In the meantime, however, it is important for people to realize that we are all human--including rescuers and government officials. Those who suffer most from the affects of hurricane Katrina must realize that help is coming as quickly as possible. In fact, it is likely that the police officers and medics themselves have no homes to go back to. Never before in the history of the United States has such a massive emergency response been undertaken. Despite "wargames" that have been played out in the past, when the real thing comes along there are bound to be speedbumps on the way. Delays are not the result of racism or classism as some have insinuated. They are the result of executing plans that have never been executed in the history of this country and having to continually modify these plans as they are being executed.

We as a society have come to take for granted the incredible amount of essential emergency services that are generally available to each of us any second of the day or night. In most cases 911 calls result in nearly immediate responses by all necessary resources. Unfortunately, when a catastrophic event occurs, these services become taxed and must be distributed with the greater good in mind. The individual focus no longer becomes possible. This is the harsh reality of these trying times and does not occur because rescuers and government officials decide that individuals are not deserving of their assistance. Although difficult, we must all try to understand the situation from larger perspective. I truly believe that relief workers are doing the best that they can with the resources afforded to them.

If you want to help and are unable to assist directly in the efforts please give to the American Red Cross, especially if you donated to the Tsunami of 2004. Where is the international support for our "tsunami"? Exactly where I thought it would be last year when I told people that the world would not do the same for us. It seems that I was largely correct in my assumption. Americans must help Americans at this juncture. Give what you can and help your fellow countrymen.

posted at 06:00

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