On Thursday, Yahoo Mail launched two new domain options when creating a new e-mail address. The new domains are YMail.com and the returning RocketMail.com.

According to what I read on various Internet news/technology related websites, Yahoo felt it was time to give users more options, since many of the names and basic numbers are taken with the standard Yahoo.com domain. For example, with the domain of YMail.com, the username “marty42″ is available, as opposed to the Yahoo.com domain, where if I insisted that I have my first name, I would probably need to go with a “marty343243243242532523″ type username.

That makes sense, especially since AOL recently launched several personalited-themed domain names for e-mail, such as Games.com, and others similar.

As for YMail and RocketMail, I can’t say I’m fond of either one. YMail, obviously is a play off of Google’s popular Gmail service. The name YMail by itself, just comes across as a cheap imitation. Also, perhaps because it sounds new and I’m not used to it, but YMail just sounds silly where as Gmail, in my opinion, sounded cool from the start.

Rocketmail - which I realize was an old school service before Yahoo bought it years ago - just seems childish. I can’t imagine being someone having to give my e-mail address to someone important and telling that person that my e-mail address ends with @rocketmail.com.

Overall, I say twice try by Yahoo, but they should have considered allowing Yahoo.net as an option, or they should consider purchasing other domain names (much like AOL) and offer them as options as well.

I admit, I had no clue that Steve Carell even existed until I first saw the Forty Year Old Virgin. Then I realized that he was the mean anchor in the movie Bruce Almighty. I then became a huge fanatic of The Office. When I saw early previews for the movie Get Smart, I figured that this movie would be an absolutely hit… especially with a pretty good supporting cast, including Anne Hatheway and “The Rock” Dwayne Johnson (note, in the movie, he was credited as Dwayne Johnson).

While I was indeed interested in the plot - despite the fact that it was somewhat predictable without any innovations - I found the movie to be a bit disappointing. As I said, I had no problem following the story nor was I bored. I just didn’t find the attempts at humor to be funny.

Many people, including Meagan, were laughing in the theater at the comedic scenes - and while I found them amusing - there wasn’t really anything that I found to be laugh-out-loud hysterical. The type of mishaps that the main character Max endures reminded me a lot of those that would take place in the Pink Panther movie (the one that was released, I believe two years ago or there about).

Having said that, I thought the movie was good and the acting by Carell, Hatheway and Johnson to be good. The movie’s shortcomings certainly had nothing to do with the actors, in my opinion. If you have nothing much to do, I’m sure you won’t regret seeing it in theaters, but if nothing more, it still makes a good rental.

Last year, at about this time (May 9th to be exact), I wrote a blog post (back when this blog was located on the TPWW.net/martin site), where at the end, I wondered where I would be at this time now. That blog post, in its entirety is below.

Tonight I make my yearly trip back to my old high school, Lincoln-Way East. Each year during the month of May, the high school holds its annual art show, showcasting the best paintings, drawings, animation, graphic design and computer generated images from that year. I don’t go so much for the viewing of the artwork, because the projects are the same as the previous year and the year before that, dating back to when I was a student there.

The main reason why I go is to visit my high school art teacher, who I today consider a friend. In addition to seeing him, there is still a thrill from walking through the old halls once again, the very halls that I use to walk through each passing day. It’s been almost four years since I graduated from that place. In some ways, I have changed a lot; in other ways, not so much. A lot has changed for me personally since leaving high school, and I can honestly say that I am pleased to the direction in which my life has taken me these past four years. There are plenty of things I could have done better these past few years. There are plenty of things I wish I could change. With all that aside, I generaly am happy with where I am at today.

It will be fun to reminisce the old days of high school, when I walk into that building tonight. I have a lot of memories, mostly fond, from those days. As soon as I walk into that building tonight, will be as soon as I walk out… another year gone by since the last time I walked into that building. And as I sit here now, I can only wonder where I will be at this time next year, when I walk into that building in May 2008. Until then, I’ll just enjoy my visit tonight.

That blog post is significant, because yesterday, I did return to my high school once again, for the annual student art show, as well as to visit my old art teacher. It’s funny, because at the time when I wrote that a year ago, I had already begun to worry about what I would be doing once I am done with college. I knew when I wrote that last May, that a year later, graduation would be approaching.

I am extremely thankful that I was lucky and did find a job. I was hired at the very end of March, as a matter of fact, so all of April was smooth sailing as far as I’m concerned. Prior to that, I really was beginning to worry, an in fact, spent much of my spring break on sites like Career Builder and Craig’s List. Luckily, the job that I will be starting once finals are over, is something I am looking forward to. Sure, work is work, but the situation at this job appears to be something that will overall, be pleasant and very likely, something I will enjoy.

As for the art show, it’s always good to walk back into my old high school. Now that I’ve done it for a few years now, they all kind of blend together, if that makes any sense. It was good to talk to my old teacher. I suppose it should not be out of the question then, what exactly will I be doing next year at this time? I guess we shall see!

If you don’t know WGN weatherman Tom Skilling, then you’re messed up. If it’s because you don’t get WGN in your area… well, not my problem. Nevertheless, any WGN News viewer needs to see this video (especially if you ever watch WGN Morning News) . It’s absolutely priceless.

The general idea is that if Sen. Hillary Clinton is going to be able to overcome Sen. Barack Obama and win the Democratic nomination, it will be because she had to cheat and play nasty. What could the Clinton entity possible do to scam the system?

Fund-raisers from the Clinton entity are putting pressure on Democratic leaders to fix the situation that took place in Florida and Michigan. As it stands, the Democratic Party disqualified those states delegates from participating at the party’s convention this summer since those states violated party rules by moving their primaries ahead.

The Clinton entiy fund-raisers are now threatening, according to today’s New York Times, to cease any donations to Democratic National Committee later this year. In the last few weeks, Clinton has been vocal in stating that the delegates from those states should be at the convention for the sake of the voters.

That sounds all nice and dandy, but, it was Clinton who originally was in support of those state’s delegates from being disqualified. Of course, after she won both states, she now conveniently is concerned about the voters and now unfair it would be if their state’s delegates were not at the convention.

I tend to agree, and I think it was silly for the Democratic Party to ever penalize those states. However, Clinton comes across as sillier since she, again, contradicts herself based off of what she has previously said. It’s one thing to say something, such as now in support of Michigan and Florida having a “re-do” - but now that her entity’s fund-raisers are placing pressure on her party’s leaders - it just goes to show how that they will do anything, and I mean anything, to gain any slight advantage in hopes of eventually surpassing Obama.

However, Clinton doesn’t have to necessarily suprass Obama in the number of delegates or even the popular vote. If she trails Obama by a slight margin, she will be at the convention fighting her case, and hoping that that super delegates will support her.

If that happens, that will send a rift through the Democratic Party- not one that will destroy it necessarily - but enough to noticeably leave a bitter taste in party leaders and the people who have supported Obama from the beginning. And if Clinton is unable to scam the super delegates into voting for her, then everyone in that Senate better watch their backs afterwards, because the entity’s Queen will be coming after them.

I figured Hillary would do well on Tuesday, but I didn’t expect her to win both Ohio and Texas. I expected her to do just well enough to where she’d have a valid reason to stay in the race. The next big primary will be Pennsylvania in another seven weeks, I believe. Hillary still has an upward hill to climb if she is going to win (or steal) the Democratic nomination from Obama. The Clintons can play the political game as well as anyone, and you better believe they will use every trick, power play and anything else that will benefit them to get her that nomination. The Michigan and Florida primaries originally were not supposed to count. Hillary supported that claim. But because she won in both those states, now she wants to change the rules and get them to count. I was confident before that she would get the nomination. Now, I’m not as confident, but I still wouldn’t be shocked if she did.

I’m on spring break this week and I finally placed a small dent in my school work that I have (I have enough). This entire week, I basically have done pretty close to nothing constructive. I’ve slept past 10:00 a.m. each day this week (slept until 11:30 a.m. yesterday) and have spent countless hours online trying trying to find places where I may apply for jobs. I’m pretty worried about what I’m going to do after college and beyond. I don’t have any real prospects or paths at the moment and that worries me. I acknowledge that I have two degrees that are pretty much worthless, but I will continue to hope that a college graduate can at least find a decent Monday - Friday, nine to five job. I hope.

I actually did something somewhat constructive today - kind of on a moment’s notice. For about a year or two now, I’ve been bothered that I haven’t had a proper work space for homework or reading. I have a desk in my room but the computer monitor, speakers and etc. take up too much desk space. I’d have no problem using the kitchen table, but the noise of other people talking or that of the television distracts me.

My father has a small desk area in the basement and I’ve always been a bit envious of that. I was in the basement today for some unrelated reason, and I saw the our old kitchen table just sitting there going to waste. The idea hit me. I moved the table to an ideal spot in the basement, and set it up over a piece of carpeting. I found a few lamps and an old alarm clock that wasn’t being used and brought those to the desk. I brought some pens and paper and setup shop. I personalized it with a few old school action figures, a painting decoration and some phony plants that my mom had in storage, and the result is a cozy little spot that is all mine. I’m quite proud of myself.

This political season has been a roller coaster ride like no other, especially on the Democratic side. I predict for today that Hillary Clinton wins enough to allow her to stay in the race, without any moans within the Democratic base. If she were to do poorly today, many would want her to drop out so that the party can unify and strengthen itself against the GOP and John McCain.

Rush Limbaugh once again proves that politics is just a game. He is telling Republicans in Ohio and Texas to vote for Hillary, with the idea of continuing to mess up the Democratic Party. The idea is that the longer Hillary is in the race, the longer the party in theory, is in somewhat of a disarray, which may or may not help John McCain in the long run.

Politics is a game, with both sides doing everything possible to undermine the other party anyway they can. Rush’s encouragement of having Republicans vote for Hillary to mess up the order in that party, makes Rush as bad as the other polarizing politicians. A politician who is more concerned about about his or her party’s base over the concerns of the American people is someone I don’t take seriously. Rush Limbaugh, once again, shows why I certainly will not ever take him seriously.

Both Republicans and Democrats were at odds against each other last week, after House leaders refused to allow a vote on whether or extend the Protect America Act. President Bush declared that without the act, America is now less safe than previously.

I understand that radical Islam is a huge threat against us. In the past, I have been supportive of our country to go the offense in the war on terror (which I don’t believe to be a bumper sticker slogan).

However, I remain hesitant to willingly give more power to the U.S. government, at the potential expense of our civil liberties. The Protect America Act, as it stood, basically, allowed the U.S. to intercept international telephone calls on specific terror targets without a warrant.

Does anybody else worry that in the future, the U.S. government will find it necessary to intercept domestic phone calls, emails, text messages, etc. for the good of society? I believe that with any one aspect to a law or a specific idea in regards to government, it has the tendency to grow.

Who is to say that in 20 to 30 years from now (or perhaps sooner?), the U.S. government won’t find it absolutely necessary to intercept the private communications (phone calls, text messages, emails, etc.) between high school and college students, in hopes of preventing school shootings?

Is my suggestion a bit exaggerated? It starts with the government doing everything possible to stop terrorists. Then, somebody gets the good idea that maybe, in hopes of preventing gang violence, that the powers of something like the Protect America Act is extended to intercept the private communications of gang members. Will the people who support intercepting the phone calls of potential terrorists be against the interception of private communications of gang members?

What happens after gang violence? School bullies? CEOs and shareholders to make sure they aren’t planning on any type of fraud? All this in the interest of society - our country, hence the Protect America Act.

I’m just wondering… While I do believe that terrorism is real, I do question just how much civil liberties must we sacrifice? I’m not so sure I want to just willingly hand more power to the federal government, just because they say it is necessary to protect this country.

The independents or moderates decide elections. Not individuals who lean heavily towards the right or the left on the political scale. Conservative moderates have decided that they want John McCain to receive the Republican party’s nomination for president - despite what Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity have preached.

As influential as those conservative pundits are, the moderates have essential said “F U” to them and have gone out and done what they feel is best for the country, despite rabid cries from Rush that a John McCain presidency will ultimately mean the end of the Republican party as you know it. From my understanding, the Republicans have already screwed up their party - themselves.

Do you possibly realize how polarized Limbaugh is? On his very show last week said that McCain has reached out towards the Democrats on too many occasions, thus compromising conservative beliefs. He said that it should be the Democrats who should reach out towards the Republicans. Essentially, what Rush meant is that Republicans should never compromise with Democrats. I’m sorry, but that is not how things get done in this country.

Many people who sick and tired of the continued standstill - things hardly ever getting done, because many of our politicians are unwilling to work with the other party, just for the sake of staying in the good graces of their own party (if you don’t believe me, read Common Ground by Bob Beckel and Cal Thomas - while a somewhat dull book, still provides some revealing occurrences of just how polarized things are on Capital Hill).

John McCain, like him or not, is willing to work with the other party, which is essential if you ever get things done in this country. Is McCain the ideal candidate? No. But in my opinion, he is better than Mitt Romney.

Now, the Republican party wants John McCain to prove to them that he is conservative enough. This is absolute nonsense. The moderates have voted for McCain in the primaries because they see him as a moderate! If they wanted someone who was conservative enough, they would have voted for Romney! Any Republican candidate is going to have hard enough time in the general election, especially if it is Obama who gets the Democratic nomination. The Republicans trying to get McCain to show he is conservative enough may be the party’s death wish. The moderates have spoken and they don’t want someone who is conservative enough. They want a moderate!

Whether they like him or not, the Republicans would be in a far worse situation if Hillary or Obama is the country’s next president and not McCain. They need to bite the bullet and back him already. I do predict that Rush and Hannity will soon shut up, because I’m sure they realize this. Give it a month or two, and soon, you will not hear one thing from Republicans questioning McCain’s conservatism. They know better. Even though they won’t necessarily acknowledge it now, they know full well that McCain is still the better option as opposed to Hillary or Obama.

I’ve really been having a problem snacking and over-eating, when it is all unnecessary. At the same time, my commitment of going to the gym is severely lacking. How could I have possibly gone back to the old bad habits that made me overweight, when last year at this time, I did a great job of cutting snacking and over-eating and was going to the gym three or four times a week? (which resulted me eventually losing 30 pounds, before gaining ten of it back).

I’m very unhappy with this lack of progress on my end. I would like to say that I intend to right all wrongs, but I am not confident that anything will change after this blog entry. I entered a “biggest loser contest” at school last month, and since, nothing has changed. How did I gain the motivation that led to me losing 30 pounds, when I was in no such contest, and now a year later, I am eating junk and not going to the gym as often (I average once a week these days, two on a good week - it’s been this way since October).

To my credit, I have not gone back to the old habit of buying potato chips and other junk foods at the store or at school. I do not shell out money towards unhealthy lunch at school, nor do I stop for fast food, which is something I would do all the time prior to 2007.

My problem now is, after a day at work and at school, I come home and want to snack. I like to snack at night still. I pack a healthy lunch at school/work, and sometimes I eat part of it, and come home to snack on something else not so good for me. Or, I’ll snack on something that isn’t too bad for me, but I’ll over-eat. Whatever it is, I can’t win.

I keep on telling myself to snap out of this funk. I want desperately to regain the motivation I had at this time last year. As I write this, I’m thinking about what I did last year to get that motivation. What measures must I resort to do gain it back?