Blue and Green

Did you hold your breath? Did you? Well then you are dead now, or at least turning blue like a choking actor in a 1970's public service video on the Heimlich Maneuver.

Take a deep breath and come back to us please.

I moved again. Yeah, I think I'm a wandering gypsy at heart, but this time I just moved to a cheaper place closer to school. The parrot and I are settled in, but I'm still learning to deal with the roommate's cat. I do not understand cat.

MEOW MEWW MEOWW MEWW what do you want, animal!!?!?

I'm gardening at the church. Oh yeah, I kind of joined a church. Don't worry, I'm still probably going to hell, since it is a Unitarian Universalist church. Fun times with liberals and other unsavory sorts! I'm happy to have found a community. The garden should do well to nourish us at the shared luncheon, plus donate to the local food pantry, sharing center, or Food Not Bombs.

Speaking of, this happened in nearby Orlando:

My only thought is that the well off don't want to see the poor, hungry, homeless in the park. Don't feed the animals. Don't encourage the unwashed to gather. Compassion is dead, I tell you.

Things I love from The Internet Today

From Shakesville....because that's pretty much all I read anymore. So just consider this a public file cabinet. I tried coming up with witty and interesting commentary, but damn if these folks can't put it just right every time. Short me: THIS! LIKE! AGREE!

Again

"I am so glad this did happen in case another one of my friends ever gets beat up again and im serious about that."

On political correctness...

I hate the phrase "politically correct," which has just become a phrase used to (unsuccessfully) mask a sneering contempt for basic decency. If you're someone who has the nerve to suggest that marginalized people should be treated with dignity and respect, you're "politically correct," which not only disdains the fundamental kindness of acknowledging another person's, or one's own, agency and humanity, but also implicitly suggests that you aren't principled: You don't believe that shit; you're just being politically correct.

On people who can't get their minds out of other people's bedrooms

(quote from Skepchick.org)

I find it incomprehensible how politicians like O’Donnell talk a big game about freedom and liberty, while out the other sides of their mouths seem to be calling for the imposition of medieval sexual morality, if not in law, in what is to be seen as proper behavior for “good people”. Even more incomprehensible to me is the fact that people buy into it. If we truly live in a free country, then as consenting adults, we are free to do as we will with regard to our own bodies. Perhaps sensing this internal inconsistency, they will often attempt to frame these moralizations into arguments about how “sexual deviance” is the root of all our social and political problems; thus making public problems out of our private lives.

Lol News

I haven't browsed Lol News lately...and then I found this. *Blub*


see more Political Pictures

Necessary Reform

Unable to Resist...

see Sarah Palin pictures


see Sarah Palin pictures



see Sarah Palin pictures


see Sarah Palin pictures

Whats that word...?

Falling over themselves with pride at a girl who made a difficult, personal...decision...is "not the same as being pro-choice." Uh-huh.

Can I love The Daily Show more? Can I? Really? Please?

Also, I have been viciously attacked by hidden jalapenos in my burrito. But that burrito cost me $2, so I finished it anyway. People, I do not like spicy food, and at this moment I'm all shaky and woozy, and my feet are numb.

Double Standards

Love it!

Uhhh...Moe? Ok.

Now that I've registered to vote in Texass *yack*, confirmed that I did it in time, and found my voting location (must make tinfoil hat), I suppose I should decide between Obama and Clinton. Damn it, I was really hoping one of them would royally screw up so I could make a clear choice. No such luck, as far as I can tell. Yet.

I've been reading as much as possible (to the detriment of my studies, as usual) from each candidate's website, at least 1000 political blog posts, NPR news, CNN, BBCA..., ..., ...

My brains hurt, but I wasn't much closer to a decision. I'm excited about both candidates, but I have annoyance points for both too. I think they're both great. Can we have both, please? That thought has led me directly to the following reasoning: I can see young "inexperienced" Obama as Clinton's Vice President. I cannot see things the other way around. I think if she doesn't get the nomination, she would bow out and return to the Senate to work on her own terms. I mean, a young male President and an older female VP just seems monumentally unbalanced. I also suspect she's a bit of a control freak, and I can totally relate.

So I'm voting for Clinton, in hopes that Obama will be her running mate. That way we get a double-dose of toppled white male privilege.

Either that, or I'm playing a game of Eenie-Meanie-Miney-Moe in the voting booth. And that would just be silly.

Radio Quote

I was just listening to Air America(not exactly what I expected from the description, but anyway) on iTunes. This guy (didn't catch the name, sorry) was talking about religion and politics and said this:

"Don't go right. Don't go left. Go deeper."

Interesting.

To Do + Ranting

-Get off my couch: Clean house, exercise, prep for the semester start...etc.

-Send in my absentee Voter Registration. I've already missed the 28 day window to register for the MO Primaries, but I can at least vote in November. If I get off my butt. (see above)

-Go Watch Juno (I already did this, this is a To Do for you)

-Pay my Spring bill. I don't have to buy books, because both my classes (Cal 3 and Phys 2) use the same books as last semester. Yay!

Okay, here's my little rant. I bought a car off the Kadena Lemon Lot in 2002 or so, and by "buy" I mean "it was free." Sweet Deal. I drove it for 3 years and had the option of giving/selling it or spending $300 to de-register it and send it to the junkyard. We needed something to drive until we left the island and out-processing was busy and stressful. I chose a common route, by signing a Specific Power of Attorney to another military member so they could do the paperwork of changing ownership after we left. You have to trust the other person to do their part before the 4 month POA expired. We trusted him. We had good reason. We left the car in the airport parking lot for the guy to pick up after we left. TRUST NO-ONE!

Two years later, late 2006, I get an email saying the car was found abandoned somewhere. I dug around until I found the name of the untrustworthy jerk (which today I can't remember) and the point of contact assured me he would take care of the issue through him. I heard nothing else again for over a year so I figured it was taken care of. Yesterday I got a bill from MCCS for the towing and disposal fees. I saw it was for $170 and I figured I was mad but it was worth it to make the issue go away. Then I saw the second page for $320...and Now I'm Pissed Off. I emailed the point of contact asking for clarification, but I have little hope that he is even the right person anymore, people always come and go. If I don't hear anything in a week, I guess I'll bite the bullet and send the $490.

Also, I accidentally dated my first check of the year with 3 Jan 2007. Every year, and always with the rent. Figures. I think that its an omen, I won't have a good year until I can stop not do that. That means, naturally, that I have to stop using checks, which means I have to stop being a renter.

Defective Yeti

I just ran across this one via Dooce's sidebar, and I can't bookmark on these damn lab computers. Anyway, here are a few snippits:

I always imagine the inventors of Trivial Pursuit sitting around one evening after a few beers, saying "You know what my favorite part of high school was? Taking exams that I didn't study for. If only we could package the thrill of a pop quiz into a board game, but do it in such a way that 80% of the time you're sitting around inertly watching other people struggle to answer the questions, we would have a sure-fire hit on our hands."

____________
Knock knock

Who's there?

George W. Bush

Oh, god. Still?

Yes, for 14 more months

Fuck.

_____________

Of course I'll be the first to pull the lever for Clinton if it's Hillary v. Rudy in the general election. Standing on principle is noble, but Giuliani eats power for breakfast and shits crazy in the afternoon.

Government

Does this count as studying for Finals?

I was over at Shakespear's Sister joining a bit of Utopian Discussion. Here's my contribution:

Make the House of Representatives like Jury Duty. Each person is registered by their profession and chosen randomly at a national level and serves 6 year terms. They make the laws. People with Law Degrees would not be voting members of the House, because their jobs would be to draft appropriate language for new legislation. I see writing it and then voting on it as 2 votes.

The new President will be a popularly elected Ambassador. Responsible for negotiating treaties and acting as ceremonial leader of the nation. No executive, legislative or military powers. All treaties or executive agreements would have to be approved by vote of the Senate.

Give all those powers to the new Senate. No law is proposed in the senate, they merely have the president's veto and executive powers. Elected for 8 years, single-terms. Leadership of the Senate would be only for those who are 2 years or more out of their term. The 2 years act as a preventative to campaigning while still serving. They would then serve a single 4 year term.

Emergency military actions (in case of imminent attack) would be in the hands of a 3 person group within the senate, which the Senate Leader would not be part of. After the emergency passes, further authorization would require a joint vote of the entire Senate and House.

All of the above officials are paid the average of what all the serving members of the House would have made in their regular jobs that year.

I forgot the Judicial Branch. In order for them to accept this new constitution, lets not change them except to apply the same pay rules and they would be nominated differently. (not sure how)

I agree with several things others pointed out. There is no need for the Electoral College anymore, so lets get rid of it. Limit how many months a person can campaign prior to the election.

Overheard on CNN

"Its adult content, some of it bordering on X-rated, especially that scene with Cheney and Hillary Clinton."

Lil' Bush, huh? Now I'm definitely seeing this show...hooboy...

Politics and Not Sleeping

Might as well post something new. Its not as if I have a life or anything. I did intend on going to bed at 11pm, but then the TV had some recast of the Democratic Faith and Politics debate, which I had intended to see and missed, so I watched it. Then I read some stuff online about it, and before you know it, I was stuck on the Internet. Again.

My take was that both Edwards and Obama said things I agree with. As a kid I spent well enough time living in poverty, with only Missouri MC+ as health care. One of them said "eliminating education programs in prison is not being tough on crime." Also, Edwards' response to whether he supported same-sex unions: "No, personally. But I don't think its the president's job to enforce his faith so same-sex partnerships deserve the same rights and responsibilities as any other marriage" I'm totally paraphrasing here, because I can't find a transcript and I'm too tired to keep looking. Also, Michael called while Obama was on, so I didn't get all of his 15 minutes.

Clinton seemed very uncomfortable or tired, and had a hard time looking the moderator in the face, constantly looking down. It was pretty clear to me that she was putting on a show with the whole thing, much more so than her counterparts. Coming from me, that's not exactly a criticism. Since most of the questions they asked her were about her husband's affair, I was uninterested and drifted off. I think it would be great to have a female president, but I need to see her talk in another format. From what little I've seen she pushes her talking points too hard and is a bit too stiff.

A technical note: the chairs were too high, and the candidates and moderator looked like they were having a hard time getting in and out of them. Especially Clinton and Obrian. Is it sad that I can be confident in the spelling of Solidad, but not Obrian?

Easy to Understand Politics

Go forth and laugh!

http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=001107

Yellow Ribbon

Okay, morbid, politically incorrect, but exactly what I think about those stupid "support-our-troops" ribbons on gas-guzzling cars

Goodnight now. And now, please enjoy this video of what I wish I could do at work. Did I mention I'm about sick of this shit? I'm pretty sure I'm sick of this shit. Shit. Get this video and more at MySpace.com

Linkey

Well, this is all pretty depressing:

Banishment

But then there's this, watch the video to lift your spirits.

And then there's this, which I will quote one of many paragraphs:

Its all about me. We still remain a dreadfully segregated nation, and much of the country shields its residents from even a passing familiarity with any alternative American experience to their own, leaving the majority of Americans incapable of comprehending how someone outside their race, sexual orientation, and particularly social class might arrive at a drastically different destination in life than they have. Knowing people who aren't like us is the key to empathy, to caring about the struggles, blockades, and even the most basic circumstances of people who don't share our individual experiences. People sniff at multiculturalism and shrug at the suggestion that international travel is a necessary experience to broaden our own isolationist horizons. We are actively discouraged, by omnipresent reassurances that America is the best country in the world! that we don't need to experience other cultures because they have nothing to offer (and we are actively prevented from world travel by being provided with the shortest vacation times in the Western world). America is the center of the universe for many Americans and often, not even the whole of America, but just their own region, state, town, neighborhood. Best place in the country in the best country in the world. Why leave, even for a day? Incuriosity. Ignorance. Its all about my home, my experience, me.

Christian finds 'religion' about the seperation of church and state.

The Link Collector

I took most of the week off to study for finals. I've felt like crap all weekend. I had a little wine on Saturday, which probably didn't help things. I felt better for a few hours though. I might make an appointment tomorrow. Maybe. Probably not. Oddly, right now is the best I've felt in a few weeks. I know I'm not better, but its still pretty good.

We saw two movies on Saturday too. Talladega Nights, and Descent. I had low hopes for Talladega Nights, and high hopes for Descent. I was pleasantly entertained, for the most part, on TN. Descent was disappointing. Predictable: I knew who had to survive, who would die, from the first 10 minutes. Over-gory: not that I'm opposed, but gory doesn't make a movie good. Also, most of the screen was black/dark for most of the movie.

Next time I'm going to watch the first 20 minutes of a movie, and then write what I think will happen, and have everyone confirm it when its over.

Yet another reason to avoid cats
So they can't infect you with the cat-loving brain disease.
(You like cats? So do I! We should trade recipes some time!)

Legalized Extortion
Some people need to be destroyed.

How to totally fake being a geek
In which I find a blurred reflection of myself.