Last night, in the middle of a date that was so abhorrent that it reminded me of my date with the guy Madeline set me up with back in 1988, when the guy grabbed me across the front seat of his blue Cadillac and tried to mug down on me, I saw the movie "Michael Clayton."
The move was awesome. George Clooney's character is a "fixer," a jack of all trades who is an expert in many areas and can resolve nearly any situation.
I loved his haircut. And his black Mercedes S550. And his clothing. And his demeanor.
I talked to Rosita about it today, and we decided to go watch the movie together next weekend.
John informed me on Friday that Joseph is wanting to come back to work with us. Joseph.
Joseph.
Holy cow.
I just am sort of speechless.
I have to work on so many things tomorrow; it's a Federal holiday. I'm not sure who all is coming into the office tomorrow. Hopefully, there will be very little traffic.
I found a Corby Pant press online here in town this weekend - I've wanted one for YEARS. I'm going to meet up with him on Tuesday to buy it.
I actually got the dead water heater out of the attic. I got all of the Christmas, Halloween, gift wrapping and other nonsense organized into Rubbermaid tubs. I got all of the client records bagged up in sealed plastic and up into the attic, giving me a lot more room downstairs. I got Christmas set out in the dining room, which made Bram very happy. Next weekend, I'd really like to get some touch up painting done. And some carpet shampooing. And floor cleaning.
I ordered a new rechargeable flashlight for the car that's just like the one that VW equipped the Phaeton with. And, I ordered some Fabulair t-shirts, as they were on sale at 20% off the base price.
Yippie!
Busy busy week this week.
DJHJD
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
HOW THE FIGHT STARTED
I rear-ended a car this morning.
So there we are alongside the road and slowly ... the driver gets out of the car . . .
and you know how you just-get-sooo-stressed and life-stuff seems to get funny?
Yeah, well, I could NOT believe it . . . he was a DWARF!
He storms over to my car, looks up at me and says, "I AM NOT HAPPY!"
So, I look down at him and say, "Well, which one are you then?"
.. . . and that's when the fight started .
So there we are alongside the road and slowly ... the driver gets out of the car . . .
and you know how you just-get-sooo-stressed and life-stuff seems to get funny?
Yeah, well, I could NOT believe it . . . he was a DWARF!
He storms over to my car, looks up at me and says, "I AM NOT HAPPY!"
So, I look down at him and say, "Well, which one are you then?"
.. . . and that's when the fight started .
Friday, November 09, 2007
Friday linkarama
Well, the house cleaning homo had a "plumbing incident" last night at home, and has asked to come at a time that is a.) inconvenient, and b.) will mean that the house will stand dirty over the weekend, which pretty much means I'll clean it myself by then.
Two interesting links about the current financial "crisis." First, the State of New York is (possibly criminally) investigating overly inflated appraisals, mostly relating to a WaMu contract which does NOT revolve around sub-prime lending. Second, just some commentary on the idea that Citi is too big to fail, and the fallacy of that notion, with a link out to a very thoroughly researched piece that's worth reading.
I need to pack up and head into the office - many things await my focus today.
Two interesting links about the current financial "crisis." First, the State of New York is (possibly criminally) investigating overly inflated appraisals, mostly relating to a WaMu contract which does NOT revolve around sub-prime lending. Second, just some commentary on the idea that Citi is too big to fail, and the fallacy of that notion, with a link out to a very thoroughly researched piece that's worth reading.
I need to pack up and head into the office - many things await my focus today.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Watching Lewis Black
He's so funny. I went to Netflix to rate it (the new DVD) and there was a new little hyperlink that said "you have 15 unrated movies."
As in, of the movies I've rented from them, fifteen have gone unrated. By me.
So, I thought back - how did I miss that? I clicked through. Well, everything in 2007 was rated. In 2006, too. And 2005. And 2004. Whoops - missed one in 2003. Hm. Fourteen to go - how long have I been a Netflix subscriber? Let's check 2002. Holy toledo! It's the mother load of unrated movies! I found twelve. Now, it's two to go. Uh - How long have I been a Netflix subscriber? Turns out six years and two months.
Holy crap!
As in, of the movies I've rented from them, fifteen have gone unrated. By me.
So, I thought back - how did I miss that? I clicked through. Well, everything in 2007 was rated. In 2006, too. And 2005. And 2004. Whoops - missed one in 2003. Hm. Fourteen to go - how long have I been a Netflix subscriber? Let's check 2002. Holy toledo! It's the mother load of unrated movies! I found twelve. Now, it's two to go. Uh - How long have I been a Netflix subscriber? Turns out six years and two months.
Holy crap!
Hippo Hump Hay
We arise this morning to find this fabulous and delicious post on my girl "Pam's House Blend."
I be lovin' me some Pammage lately. Last night, she had posted the audio interview of Joe Solomnese by Michael Signorile on Siruis radio - give it a listen. Really, just click on the link, open that page, then click on the embedded player. Signorile, although the lispiest homo you'll hear all week, doggedly pursues actual answers to his very straight-forward questions and Solomnese squirms like bait on a hook. In fact, he's so sleazy that I threw up a little bit thinking "this faux-homo Republiturd represents GAY PEOPLE?"
And it's not just me. I sent the link to a big HRC 'mo late last night, and already this morning he had responded that he's "really concerned" and that "hearing it, when our leader can't consistently explain it is sad."
I think I'll keep my checkbook saddled the next time Homosexuals Raise Cash give me their spiel about being civil rights advocates. I don't like lobbyists anyway.
I have laundry swirling around in the machine, and have already cooked up this morning's oatmeal. A few minutes from now, I'll be headed over to the Valero to stick a few dollars' worth of $3.10 premium unleaded in the car and then off to work.
Talibangelist finances under the Senate microscope
by: pam
Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 06:00:00 AM EST
Pious preachers rail on against moral failures in society, and fixate on what consenting adults do in their bedrooms or the ability of LGBT citizens to obtain equal rights. What they don't talk about from the pulpit is what's going on with the money coming from the pews -- and out in the TV audience. Perhaps that's a little inconvenient.
It hasn't gone unnoticed by Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee. He's taking a look at the books of some big-name Men of GodTM -- looking for possible financial misconduct. Go, baby.
Letters were sent Monday to the ministries demanding that financial statements and records be turned over to the committee by Dec. 6.
According to Grassley's office, the Iowa Republican is trying to determine whether or not these ministries are improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to shield lavish lifestyles.
The six ministries identified as being under investigation by the committee are led by: Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn. Three of the six - Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar - also sit on the Board of Regents for the Oral Roberts University.
The ministry watchdog Trinity Foundation, headed up by Ole Anthony, has been leading the charge against televangelists who rip off the flock.
"We've been working with them for two years," Anthony told CBS News. "We have furnished them with enough information to fill a small Volkswagen."
Anthony said after twenty years of working with media organizations to expose televangelists, he saw little reform. He says that's why he turned to another tactic, going straight to Grassley. He is confident that Grassley's inquiry will be different, "What we hope is that this will lead to reform in religious nonprofits."
Fun fact: homophobe Bishop Eddie Long of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church marched in Atlanta to "save marriage" with fellow homo-hater Reverend Bernice King back in 2004.
And not just conservative televangelists are under the gun. Read below the fold.
pam :: Talibangelist finances under the Senate microscope
Michael Hussey pointed to this article about ministers Randy and Paula White of the Without Wall Church, located in Tampa; its records have also been requested by the Senate, including:
* Statements for all credit cards used by the Whites since 2004 for expenses related to the ministries, including explanations for clothing and cosmetic surgery.
* A list of expenses paid by the ministries relating to homes purchased by the Whites in Tampa; San Antonio, Texas; New York City; and Malibu, Calif. The letters also call for the addresses and size of each residence.
* The year, make and model of all vehicles and aircraft purchased, leased or maintained by the ministries. Copies of flight records also are requested.
* A receipt and documentation of payment method for a Bentley convertible reportedly purchased by the Whites as a tax-exempt gift for Texas author Bishop T.D. Jakes.
* All domestic and overseas bank accounts and investments belonging to the ministries.
* Names and addresses for the publishers of all commercial-related goods relating to the ministry, such as books and audio-video recordings of sermons.
* Detailed accounting of $871,000 worth of merchandise reportedly sold to the church since 2005 by two private businesses owned by the Whites.
Hat tip, Sylvia.
I be lovin' me some Pammage lately. Last night, she had posted the audio interview of Joe Solomnese by Michael Signorile on Siruis radio - give it a listen. Really, just click on the link, open that page, then click on the embedded player. Signorile, although the lispiest homo you'll hear all week, doggedly pursues actual answers to his very straight-forward questions and Solomnese squirms like bait on a hook. In fact, he's so sleazy that I threw up a little bit thinking "this faux-homo Republiturd represents GAY PEOPLE?"
And it's not just me. I sent the link to a big HRC 'mo late last night, and already this morning he had responded that he's "really concerned" and that "hearing it, when our leader can't consistently explain it is sad."
I think I'll keep my checkbook saddled the next time Homosexuals Raise Cash give me their spiel about being civil rights advocates. I don't like lobbyists anyway.
I have laundry swirling around in the machine, and have already cooked up this morning's oatmeal. A few minutes from now, I'll be headed over to the Valero to stick a few dollars' worth of $3.10 premium unleaded in the car and then off to work.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Some important articles -
This article discusses the wild variable between the treatment meted out to the Conservatives as compared to the "Liberals," aka "mostly Conservatives" by the "Liberal Media." It's very well phrased, and makes some crystal clear points that I've been seeing for years.
I was thinking about this a few weeks back - why would the democrats WANT to achieve the presidency? This post says it so much better than I could have ever done.
Since this is important to reflect upon, and since I know most people don't like to click through and read something - here it is, reproduced for you:
Speaking of boggling - what a waste this weekend was, in terms of commercial success.
Not just for me, but for everyone at the train show. It sucked, and it sucked out loud.
At least Jeremy had the brilliant idea to photograph all of the model trains while we had them out, and so now it's a matter of using Turbolister to get them all loaded up and listed out on eBay.
I'll have to go to my room and put everything back into the closet, temporarily, while I finish that task.
We're talking about how to decorate for Lurlinemas. Do we put up a tree? Outside lights? Tschotkes (of which I have a great many, courtesy of my mother?)
Do I care? Sort of. I'd like to get even more stuff out of the attic, so I guess I care THAT much. I'm thinking of skipping the whole pagan schlock mess this year, frankly.
I did decide to mostly forego sending Christmas cards. Each year, I've sent out a raft of them, and get fewer and fewer back, as fewer and fewer people actually go through the trouble of buying, writing, addressing, posting and mailing them.
It's not yet 10:00 p.m., and I'm feeling ready for bed.
Why do we bother observing Daylight Savings Time, anyway? It's not like the "farmers," all of whom now are corporations, give a wild turkey. Most of their workers are migrants or indentured servants, it's not like they could complain.
Which leads to an interesting point Jeremy raised today - is the government's reported increase in new jobs created any way related to the huge increase in ICE raids on places of employment, in which bus loads of Hispanic workers are deported back to their home countries?
I was thinking about this a few weeks back - why would the democrats WANT to achieve the presidency? This post says it so much better than I could have ever done.
Since this is important to reflect upon, and since I know most people don't like to click through and read something - here it is, reproduced for you:
What the Next President Faces
by SusanG
Sun Nov 04, 2007 at 07:10:45 AM PDT
With a hat tip to bumblebums, who linked to this blistering analysis by Charles Pierce in the open thread, all we can say is ... preach it!
Quite honestly, I don't understand why any Democrat wants to be president this time around. It's not just the wreckage that the Avignon Presidency is going to be leaving behind, although that is considerable. (Did you see Himself yesterday? All the cheesy smirking while the Heritage Foundation unemployables cheered his nudge-nudge, wink-winking on torture? It's like being ruled by Torquemada's mall cop.) Monica Goodling's testimony back a few months as regarding the hiring practice at DOJ leads me to wonder how many home-schooled, Christianist, Patrick Henry College yahoos have been salted away within the federal bureaucracy over the past seven years, and how effective a functioning underground resistance they might be. There was a little of this during the transiton from Poppy Bush to Bill Clinton. Cleaning up the debris is going to be hard enough without a bunch of authoritarian toddlers running off at the mouth to the Washington Times, or to whatever Republican legislators may be left after the upcoming bloodbath. The first two years -- which, given the idiotic way we run elections, often are the only chance any president has to get anything done before it's time to run for president again -- are hard enough without being undermined in the government by Bible-banging Mole People. None of these people can conceive of public service as an end to itself. If they're not in it to promote the party -- or, alternatively, "Conservatism," as though that term has any meaning any more -- they're in it to "give witness" to their Personal Lord And Savior, who should be told by any Democratic politician worthy of the name to shut the hell up for a couple of years while we try to repair the damage His fans have done to our country. The first order of business for any Democratic president elected next year should be to appoint unreconstructed hardbars to head the personnel offices throughout the Executive branch whose only job will be to root these people out before they can hurt the country further. The Monica Goodlings should be sent back where they belong -- into a commercial for one of those execrable "Songs For Worship" CD's that seem to be dedicated to ruining gospel music as thoroughly as these people have ruined the Justice department.
He's right, of course. Beyond the obvious tasks of rolling back executive power, the restoration of the rule of law, and a return to at least pretending the Constitution is a guiding document, there's going to be a lot of dull, persistent clerical work for the next president. Not just the personnel matter Pierce (brilliantly) addresses, but all the quirky little policy and standard language this gang has undoubtedly slipped into bureaucratic edicts issued by every executive department and sub-department and sub-sub-department. Think the Patriot Act on a petty and more insidiously seeded scale. The mind boggles.
Speaking of boggling - what a waste this weekend was, in terms of commercial success.
Not just for me, but for everyone at the train show. It sucked, and it sucked out loud.
At least Jeremy had the brilliant idea to photograph all of the model trains while we had them out, and so now it's a matter of using Turbolister to get them all loaded up and listed out on eBay.
I'll have to go to my room and put everything back into the closet, temporarily, while I finish that task.
We're talking about how to decorate for Lurlinemas. Do we put up a tree? Outside lights? Tschotkes (of which I have a great many, courtesy of my mother?)
Do I care? Sort of. I'd like to get even more stuff out of the attic, so I guess I care THAT much. I'm thinking of skipping the whole pagan schlock mess this year, frankly.
I did decide to mostly forego sending Christmas cards. Each year, I've sent out a raft of them, and get fewer and fewer back, as fewer and fewer people actually go through the trouble of buying, writing, addressing, posting and mailing them.
It's not yet 10:00 p.m., and I'm feeling ready for bed.
Why do we bother observing Daylight Savings Time, anyway? It's not like the "farmers," all of whom now are corporations, give a wild turkey. Most of their workers are migrants or indentured servants, it's not like they could complain.
Which leads to an interesting point Jeremy raised today - is the government's reported increase in new jobs created any way related to the huge increase in ICE raids on places of employment, in which bus loads of Hispanic workers are deported back to their home countries?
Friday, November 02, 2007
Link sausages and working like a Hebrew with a new Pharoah
So I've been cranking here at the office all morning. It's only 1:15, and although I feel like I'm fever-y, I feel okay for the most part. Perhaps it's time to go check the thermostat.
Nope, it's me.
I have everything priced for the train show, pretty much. The car's loaded up, and I have to stop and pick up some table covers, and an electrical strip for the booth, then go over there, haul everything inside, set it all up, and then go home.
I have my name badges set up, I think I'm pretty much good to go here.
Today, Brian (whom I gave love to but failed to link out to) showed me a fabulous piece on the CAFE standards. Write your Congresscritter (like it will make a lick of difference.)
Also, someone on the Conservative side of the fence has started to notice that Rudy ain't the most truthful person running for President.
But, most of all, our Lady of Two Sides to her Mouth is caught red-handed parsing out the perfidy on YouTube:
Yes, she'd be a perfect follow-on to Walker, Texas President.
Nope, it's me.
I have everything priced for the train show, pretty much. The car's loaded up, and I have to stop and pick up some table covers, and an electrical strip for the booth, then go over there, haul everything inside, set it all up, and then go home.
I have my name badges set up, I think I'm pretty much good to go here.
Today, Brian (whom I gave love to but failed to link out to) showed me a fabulous piece on the CAFE standards. Write your Congresscritter (like it will make a lick of difference.)
Also, someone on the Conservative side of the fence has started to notice that Rudy ain't the most truthful person running for President.
But, most of all, our Lady of Two Sides to her Mouth is caught red-handed parsing out the perfidy on YouTube:
Yes, she'd be a perfect follow-on to Walker, Texas President.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
I'm up to my knuckle coupler in model trains
So, I had WAY more model trains than I remembered. I started writing up the descriptions (the sizzle for the steak, you know) and found that I had nine cars from this train, ten from that, 23 from the other - far more than I had on my inventory list.
Jeremy's napping, and then we're getting the Christmas tree train down from the attic, and loading the trunk of the car up.
Some links!
Americans have an emotional/psychological link to their cars! Who knew?
Where I'll be spending my weekend. Tickets are only seven bucks, which is probably what parking will be. However, you can come cheer me on and pretend like you're hot and bothered for my train crap, to incent others to grab it and pay before you find your checkbook.
My terrific friend Brian (whom I'll meet someday, but who I talk to all the time) had this cartoon posted on his livejournal today, and I nearly busted a pant seam laughing over it.
Jeremy's napping, and then we're getting the Christmas tree train down from the attic, and loading the trunk of the car up.
Some links!
Americans have an emotional/psychological link to their cars! Who knew?
Where I'll be spending my weekend. Tickets are only seven bucks, which is probably what parking will be. However, you can come cheer me on and pretend like you're hot and bothered for my train crap, to incent others to grab it and pay before you find your checkbook.
My terrific friend Brian (whom I'll meet someday, but who I talk to all the time) had this cartoon posted on his livejournal today, and I nearly busted a pant seam laughing over it.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
*cough cough*
Well, my day at home being sick has been interesting. I tried to nap - twice - and was unsuccessful both times. Each time, I was motivated to arise and look through the accumulated CRAP that I have, all of which (that is train related) I'm selling this weekend.
I unloaded all of my railroadiana books, most of which were gifts from well-meaning loved ones, priced them all on Amazon and listed them out. I pulled out the posters, advertisements, magazines and such and prepared to do the same. I've designed my table layout, and I need to go get some table covers for the tables. I finished signing up for my credit card terminal. I need to make a checklist...
What will I do if I actually unload all of this stuff? I intend to come back home with none of it. Just contemplating what life will be like without all this unused stuff hanging out, most of which sits unobtrusively in boxes in the attic of closet, is liberating. It really DOES occupy space in your psyche. It takes from your total store of mental energy just HAVING it there.
Of the proceeds, I'm having framed the six posters I'm keeping (the rest are being sold,) the Rocketeer poster that's going to the office, the TWA poster that Pam & Jean gave me for my house warming that goes into the downstairs powder room, the Continental New Orleans poster for the bedroom, and the three 20th Century Limited posters that will hang in the stairwell. The rest goes into Fabulair.
At that point, I'll have rid myself of a huge percentage of what I toted into the apartment on Bagby, and gathered up while living there. I still have a way to go with it (wasn't it nice of me not to type "a ways?")
Jackie looks fashionable with her new haircut, produced by Tom while she was vacationing over there. When I went to pick her up, she was so excited that she dashed out through two of the bars of his anti-burglar door gate. She was stuck there for a good ten minutes before Tom was able to ease one shoulder back out and get her free.
Her new haircut makes her collar a very loose fit, so she has a lot more say in which direction the train is headed than before.
I keep wondering - what else can I rid myself of? What other things am I toting around just "because?" My mother's china, for one, which I haven't used since I moved out of Bagby. Most of the Christmas tschotkes. Most of the CDs and DVDs.
All of the porno.
The funny thing is, none of this stuff is worth anything at all once the first person buys it. It's just basically work to get rid of it.
I'm just thinking about how much more stuff there is to sort, label, research and sell.
Noteworthy is that I've totally stopped buying crap on eBay.
I unloaded all of my railroadiana books, most of which were gifts from well-meaning loved ones, priced them all on Amazon and listed them out. I pulled out the posters, advertisements, magazines and such and prepared to do the same. I've designed my table layout, and I need to go get some table covers for the tables. I finished signing up for my credit card terminal. I need to make a checklist...
What will I do if I actually unload all of this stuff? I intend to come back home with none of it. Just contemplating what life will be like without all this unused stuff hanging out, most of which sits unobtrusively in boxes in the attic of closet, is liberating. It really DOES occupy space in your psyche. It takes from your total store of mental energy just HAVING it there.
Of the proceeds, I'm having framed the six posters I'm keeping (the rest are being sold,) the Rocketeer poster that's going to the office, the TWA poster that Pam & Jean gave me for my house warming that goes into the downstairs powder room, the Continental New Orleans poster for the bedroom, and the three 20th Century Limited posters that will hang in the stairwell. The rest goes into Fabulair.
At that point, I'll have rid myself of a huge percentage of what I toted into the apartment on Bagby, and gathered up while living there. I still have a way to go with it (wasn't it nice of me not to type "a ways?")
Jackie looks fashionable with her new haircut, produced by Tom while she was vacationing over there. When I went to pick her up, she was so excited that she dashed out through two of the bars of his anti-burglar door gate. She was stuck there for a good ten minutes before Tom was able to ease one shoulder back out and get her free.
Her new haircut makes her collar a very loose fit, so she has a lot more say in which direction the train is headed than before.
I keep wondering - what else can I rid myself of? What other things am I toting around just "because?" My mother's china, for one, which I haven't used since I moved out of Bagby. Most of the Christmas tschotkes. Most of the CDs and DVDs.
All of the porno.
The funny thing is, none of this stuff is worth anything at all once the first person buys it. It's just basically work to get rid of it.
I'm just thinking about how much more stuff there is to sort, label, research and sell.
Noteworthy is that I've totally stopped buying crap on eBay.
Government policy made based on rumor and bigotry
I'm surprised that they didn't again raise the proven lie of welfare queens driving Cadillacs!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Greetings from Orange County (FL)
We're getting ready for Hallowe'en - Matticia is cleaning up, Jeremy is painting himself gold, and I'm waiting for my chance in the bathroom. I have my costume all laid out, and fortunately, writhing into the tights and leotards are the only difficult elements of dressing.
Two nights in a row that we were up past 3:00, and then awake again about 9:00. Eating has been erratic. As a result, I'm just wiped out.
The party was interesting; of course, we didn't know anyone. Everyone was very friendly, and I really liked some of Matticia's friends.
Tomorrow, I've been talking to everyone about going to the Fantasy of Flight museum in Polk City - the way I'm feeling now, I'd rather sleep in and have something very low impact. Today, we spent five hours running around trying to find costume pieces. I was starting to think that perhaps people anymore are more and more ill behaved, after having been knocked around while standing in the check-out line, and watching Jeremy bleed through his t-shirt after being pushed into the sharp metal corner of a rack in Wal-Mart.
Two nights in a row that we were up past 3:00, and then awake again about 9:00. Eating has been erratic. As a result, I'm just wiped out.
The party was interesting; of course, we didn't know anyone. Everyone was very friendly, and I really liked some of Matticia's friends.
Tomorrow, I've been talking to everyone about going to the Fantasy of Flight museum in Polk City - the way I'm feeling now, I'd rather sleep in and have something very low impact. Today, we spent five hours running around trying to find costume pieces. I was starting to think that perhaps people anymore are more and more ill behaved, after having been knocked around while standing in the check-out line, and watching Jeremy bleed through his t-shirt after being pushed into the sharp metal corner of a rack in Wal-Mart.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Hump Day (actual)
Sneezy. Oh, my. Last night's Rainbow/HRC thing went pretty well - I finally gave away most of my pens that I bought four years ago when I was working on W. Gray. I've toted those silly things around for a while, and now there are only three left.
My new desk furniture is 74" from edge to rear corner - the office is 74" from corner to door jamb. The desk itself is also 72" wide - to go in my office which is 109" wide. I should increase my work area by at least double, increase my storage space, improve my ergonomics and .. something else, I'm sure.
My new desk furniture is 74" from edge to rear corner - the office is 74" from corner to door jamb. The desk itself is also 72" wide - to go in my office which is 109" wide. I should increase my work area by at least double, increase my storage space, improve my ergonomics and .. something else, I'm sure.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Tuesday, which is hump day (this week)
My new office furniture has been delivered!!! WHOOPIE! It looks AWESOME (in a "please sand and re-seal me sort of a way.) It's going to fill up this office, but now I'm visualizing dark navy leather club chairs or something. It's going to be soo cool.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Friday night....
I was trying to think of a song title for Friday night, and I couldn't come up with anything but S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT by the Bay City Rollers, so I just went with what it is.
I've just picked Jeremy up; he goes back at the crack of dawn again tomorrow morning and works all day. Holy shyte.
It's nearly midnight, and Matticia is in the air on her way here from FAT by way of PHX. She's very disappointed that she got CRJs the whole way here and I say "You're the one who picked US Air."
My computer is suddenly slowed. I'm running a spyware check on it now, then other tools to find the culprit for its gooeyness.
I suppose I should consider hitting the sack; tomorrow is another day - just without radishes.
I've just picked Jeremy up; he goes back at the crack of dawn again tomorrow morning and works all day. Holy shyte.
It's nearly midnight, and Matticia is in the air on her way here from FAT by way of PHX. She's very disappointed that she got CRJs the whole way here and I say "You're the one who picked US Air."
My computer is suddenly slowed. I'm running a spyware check on it now, then other tools to find the culprit for its gooeyness.
I suppose I should consider hitting the sack; tomorrow is another day - just without radishes.
Proposed Constitutional amendments
Ideas for a New Constitutional Convention
by Hunter
Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 11:00:22 AM PDT
Many thanks to Larry Sabato for publishing his series looking at the options for a new Constitutional Convention. I admit to being wary of the idea at first, but the more I consider the possibilities, the better I like it. There are whole rafts of Constitutional adjustments that I think should be forthcoming, and which I believe better reflect modern American needs -- may I suggest a few?
Amendment 28: The House of Representatives shall be abolished. At this point, it is clear that there is no hope of finding a full 435 Americans who are intelligent enough to run a country. The Senate has less people, and is therefore proportionally less crazy. Also, Senators are also generally older, which doesn't necessarily mean that they say less crazy crap, but it at least takes them longer to say it.
If we cannot abolish the House, then there are still other things we can do. We can make it like Survivor, and vote the two most obnoxious House members out of office every week of the session. If it's good enough a system for television, surely it's good enough for the government of a country obsessed with television.
Amendment 29: We institutionalize the Thunderdome. Any American or foreigner who wants to can enter the Thunderdome and beat the crap out of anyone else there. Waterboarding and other "enhanced" interrogation, butchering people with advanced weaponry, whatever you like -- no laws, anything goes. The only catch is that anyone else in the Thunderdome can do the same to you.
The advantage of this plan is that it is one of the few strategies for planetary depopulation that self-selects for both violence and stupidity.
Amendment 30: From now on, "pro-life" has to mean what any reasonable person thinks it means, or you don't get to call yourself that, upon penalty of being beaten senseless with seafood. If you spend your time blustering about how we're going to kick some Iraqi ass, or which cities or religious hubs need to be bombed into a "sheet of glass", or explaining how children don't really need healthcare, if their parents had the blinding audacity to get jobs someplace that refuses to offer it, you forfeit the term.
Similar punishments will be meted out for abuse of the terms "compassionate", "patriotic", and "news".
Amendment 31: All members of Congress will be drug tested three times a day, every day. Anyone who thinks this is an invasion of their privacy will be assumed to be guilty and fired. All conservative foreign policy think tanks will also be drug tested, because there just ain't no freakin' way these people drew up the "plans" for Iraq without being wasted on something.
Amendment 32: From now on, all wars and police actions will be authorized not by Congress but by direct vote of the population. The results will be binding, but any required draftees will be taken from the pool of voters who voted "aye".
Amendment 33: All wars will require calling up the aforementioned draftees. You don't have to go fight, but you at least have to sit in an Army base cleaning tank treads for the people who do.
Amendment 34: For national census purposes, Rush Limbaugh will henceforth count as three-fifths of a person.
Amendment 35: Each network in America shall devote at least one hour a night to discussing whether Lou Dobbs is attempting to retake America's desert southwest via an intensive self-breeding program.
Amendment 36: Canada shall be annexed. If they're going to send all their goddamned wingnuts down here to opine to us about the horrors of immigration, then they can damn well give us some of that oil and timber while they're at it.
Hey, couldn't hurt. Except the Thunderdome thing, which certainly would. But I think the pay-per-view revenues on that one would more than pay for national health care, a carbon-neutral energy program, and resculpting the moon into a perfect replica of Al Gore's shiny new Nobel Prize. We'd be fools not to do it.
by Hunter
Fri Oct 19, 2007 at 11:00:22 AM PDT
Many thanks to Larry Sabato for publishing his series looking at the options for a new Constitutional Convention. I admit to being wary of the idea at first, but the more I consider the possibilities, the better I like it. There are whole rafts of Constitutional adjustments that I think should be forthcoming, and which I believe better reflect modern American needs -- may I suggest a few?
Amendment 28: The House of Representatives shall be abolished. At this point, it is clear that there is no hope of finding a full 435 Americans who are intelligent enough to run a country. The Senate has less people, and is therefore proportionally less crazy. Also, Senators are also generally older, which doesn't necessarily mean that they say less crazy crap, but it at least takes them longer to say it.
If we cannot abolish the House, then there are still other things we can do. We can make it like Survivor, and vote the two most obnoxious House members out of office every week of the session. If it's good enough a system for television, surely it's good enough for the government of a country obsessed with television.
Amendment 29: We institutionalize the Thunderdome. Any American or foreigner who wants to can enter the Thunderdome and beat the crap out of anyone else there. Waterboarding and other "enhanced" interrogation, butchering people with advanced weaponry, whatever you like -- no laws, anything goes. The only catch is that anyone else in the Thunderdome can do the same to you.
The advantage of this plan is that it is one of the few strategies for planetary depopulation that self-selects for both violence and stupidity.
Amendment 30: From now on, "pro-life" has to mean what any reasonable person thinks it means, or you don't get to call yourself that, upon penalty of being beaten senseless with seafood. If you spend your time blustering about how we're going to kick some Iraqi ass, or which cities or religious hubs need to be bombed into a "sheet of glass", or explaining how children don't really need healthcare, if their parents had the blinding audacity to get jobs someplace that refuses to offer it, you forfeit the term.
Similar punishments will be meted out for abuse of the terms "compassionate", "patriotic", and "news".
Amendment 31: All members of Congress will be drug tested three times a day, every day. Anyone who thinks this is an invasion of their privacy will be assumed to be guilty and fired. All conservative foreign policy think tanks will also be drug tested, because there just ain't no freakin' way these people drew up the "plans" for Iraq without being wasted on something.
Amendment 32: From now on, all wars and police actions will be authorized not by Congress but by direct vote of the population. The results will be binding, but any required draftees will be taken from the pool of voters who voted "aye".
Amendment 33: All wars will require calling up the aforementioned draftees. You don't have to go fight, but you at least have to sit in an Army base cleaning tank treads for the people who do.
Amendment 34: For national census purposes, Rush Limbaugh will henceforth count as three-fifths of a person.
Amendment 35: Each network in America shall devote at least one hour a night to discussing whether Lou Dobbs is attempting to retake America's desert southwest via an intensive self-breeding program.
Amendment 36: Canada shall be annexed. If they're going to send all their goddamned wingnuts down here to opine to us about the horrors of immigration, then they can damn well give us some of that oil and timber while they're at it.
Hey, couldn't hurt. Except the Thunderdome thing, which certainly would. But I think the pay-per-view revenues on that one would more than pay for national health care, a carbon-neutral energy program, and resculpting the moon into a perfect replica of Al Gore's shiny new Nobel Prize. We'd be fools not to do it.
Why are liberals liberal?
Could it be that their brains function better? Certainly, to be flexible and to consider other choices, weigh outcomes, one must be more adept at adapt.
I'm going to let others speak to the nature of liberalism, and to the neocon-ic pattern of outright lies, aggressively and vehemently repeated.
Thanks to TV and for the convenience of TV, you can only be one of two kinds of human beings, either a liberal or a conservative.
Kurt Vonnegut (1922 - 2007)
A liberal is a person whose interests aren't at stake at the moment.
Willis Player
A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel.
Robert Frost (1874 - 1963)
"The most perfidious way of harming a cause consists of defending it deliberately with faulty arguments."
Friedrich Nietzsche
"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."
Samuel Johnson
"If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this way."
Bertrand Russell
I'm going to let others speak to the nature of liberalism, and to the neocon-ic pattern of outright lies, aggressively and vehemently repeated.
Thanks to TV and for the convenience of TV, you can only be one of two kinds of human beings, either a liberal or a conservative.
Kurt Vonnegut (1922 - 2007)
A liberal is a person whose interests aren't at stake at the moment.
Willis Player
A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel.
Robert Frost (1874 - 1963)
"The most perfidious way of harming a cause consists of defending it deliberately with faulty arguments."
Friedrich Nietzsche
"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."
Samuel Johnson
"If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this way."
Bertrand Russell
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Hump day's got me high centered
So much so that I had to think about the phrase "High-centered." Took me a few minutes.
There's an OutSmart advertiser party in an hour that I'm committed to going to. They're giving "awards" for "reader's choices.
90 categories. 31 "ties" and 59 unique winners. That means that there are more "ties" than unique winners (62 compared to 59.) That's just silly.
I feel like I haven't gotten anything done today, but I know that I have. I'm just wiped out. Part of that is food intake, I'm sure - someone catered in Jason's Deli today, and I .. have felt sick ever since. I think I'm pulling back up and out. I have to give myself an injection before we leave for the event, so hopefully that will help.
Been working on my presentation for next Tuesday evening, hopefully have a few things lined up. I really want another exhibitor. Hm.
There's an OutSmart advertiser party in an hour that I'm committed to going to. They're giving "awards" for "reader's choices.
90 categories. 31 "ties" and 59 unique winners. That means that there are more "ties" than unique winners (62 compared to 59.) That's just silly.
I feel like I haven't gotten anything done today, but I know that I have. I'm just wiped out. Part of that is food intake, I'm sure - someone catered in Jason's Deli today, and I .. have felt sick ever since. I think I'm pulling back up and out. I have to give myself an injection before we leave for the event, so hopefully that will help.
Been working on my presentation for next Tuesday evening, hopefully have a few things lined up. I really want another exhibitor. Hm.
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