The Average American Male - My First Book Review

I'll preface this blog by saying I haven't been an avid reader since I left the Army in 2004. So, although I won't be getting a job writing reviews for The New York Times Best Seller List anytime soon, I don't consider myself a novice reader and I'm certainly never shy about sharing my opinion.

The author, Chad Kultgen, is a 20-something male who is running through what seems to be the mundane routine of most postgraduate students. Running through the tail end of his 18 month relationship he finds himself jerking off 3-7 times a day, seemingly to fulfill the void of sex in his life. Most of his thoughts and subsequent actions seem to be geared towards sex, women and porn.

His frustration comes to a boiling point when he finds himself engaged to a woman he can no longer stand to be around and has no feelings for. He breaks off the engagement abruptly and sends his new ex into a spiraling psychotic rage. With no need for recovery he quickly jumps into a very sexually charged relationship.

The new girl is everything he's been craving for the last 12 months. Although his mind still seems to be constantly wrapped around sex, he seems to finally be getting the quality and quantity he desired. So much so, that he has fallen in love and can entertain the idea of marriage without wanting to ram his car into a tree at a high rate of speed.

Things finally seem right when the first signs of trouble appear. Blow jobs become fewer and far between. Nights once filled with living out fantasies and mind blowing sex are quickly replaced by him jerking off in the bathroom while she sleeps. (This is what I've come to know as the typical sexual progression of any relationship.) Although disturbed by this change, he seems to have matured a little over the 18 month timespan of the current relationship and decides to push through. After an epiphany in bed one sexless night, he realizes that any relationship he gets into will ultimately end up on this same plane. He gives in, like so many of us have before, and asks her to marry him. Thus, accepting that he has now relinquished control to her for what is sure to seem like an eternity.

The ending is much more mundane than I would've expected, given the extreme nature of the rest of the book. It will most certainly not win a pulitzer prize. It's very sexually explicit. (I've seen softer descriptions of sex in smut magazines.) He refers to most women in here as cunts, bitches or whores. His only general use for women seems to be for sexual entertainment and if they show no promise of that, then, subsequently he has little or no use for them. I can't say that I agree with his gross disrespect but at a much less extreme level I think most men who've been in any type of long term relationship will find a way to relate to his frustration.

My iPad

I've been a long time proponent of Apple. I think their products are innovative, well thought out and in many aspects, revolutionary to the technology industry.

I wasn't sure that the iPad would be one of those revolutionary feats. I was wrong. Since its release not only have the tablets taken the mobile data world by storm but they seem to be the future of "must have" portable hardware. Against, my better judgement and mostly due to an expensive curiosity, I bought the iPad.

My initial guilt and regret for the self indulgent gift quickly dissapaited as I started to navigate through the world apple has created for its mobile users. There is a seemingly never ending stream of apps, both useful and entertaining. The visual display is nothing short of stunning; dwarfing even the high resolution screen on my smart phone. A library of books that would rival any Barnes & Noble and finally, an operating system that runs flawlessly, much like any other iOS Apple has created thus far.

The only draw backs were minor and not nearly enough to deter my elated inner child. The unit itself is cumbersome initially and it takes some getting used to holding. However, after the purchase of a nice third party case I found some very comfortable positions for reading, surfing, and gaming. My suggestion is to buy a versatile case that allows you to place the unit in multiple positions both handheld and standalone. The only other downside I can find is that you are limited to whatever software limitations Apple has set. This is nothing new unless you're a first-time Apple buyer. That being said, the mind-blowing graphics and software far outweigh the restrictions Apple has set.

I am part of a generation that has seen more technological advances in the last fifteen years than the preceding one-hundred and fifty years. I'm convinced that this will be one of the pieces we look back on and recognize as an important stepping stone to our predetermined Hollywood dream of flying cars and universal health care.

Runkle out!

Let's Get Started

I haven’t been on this earth a long time, a mere 28 years, and although that seems like a lifetime to me; it’s only a drop of water in the sands of time. When reflecting on my 28 years I have had my share of mistakes. Up until recently, my focus has been on those mistakes. I know I’m not the first to realize that living in the past is a futile battle while trying to live for today. However, it seems much more intense when it’s your own epiphany. So, I’m starting this blog. I am a virgin blogger, so, I ask that my readers bear with my novice writing abilities.
I was going to start this blog by telling you about myself. However, as I sat here and started to write I realized that I really can’t give it all away that easily. What I think of myself and who I am is of little consequence to those who may read on. Moreover, I know that many will not agree with what I think about myself. As I think about the original blogger, Dr. Doogie Howser, M.D., I aim to make this a blog about what I come across, my views on said events and lessons learned. (As it applies) This blog is not for the feign at heart, the sensitive or the politically correct. So, for those of you who are brave enough to pull your head out of the ass that has become our pop culture reality; sit back and let your eyes run across this screen. If it feels good, let it ride.