And that's all I'm willing to say about that.
Suppose you have someone in your life. This someone is going to your home when you are working at night in order to watch the beginning of the Tigers game and possibly some Clone Wars/Star Wars cartoon thing (which, coincidently, I actually watched 30 minutes of and came to the conclusion that I'm missing out on some pop culture stuff because I don't have cable. And the cartoon is completely unnecessary as most of the issues addressed in said cartoon, which is intended to bridge the gap between episodes 2 and 3, are actually alluded to in episode 2. And 3. George Lucas just wanted to make a cartoon and knew a bunch of geeky people would be into it. Oh. My. God. I cannot believe I just wrote all of that.) and enjoy an adult beverage. And before heading to your home the 2 of you are conversing via email. And it becomes increasingly obvious to the someone in your life that you are mildly stressed out about going out of town and missing the beginning of the Tigers game and having a pile of dishes to do and having spent the day explaining for the gazillionth time how a library is funded and how you're not just being a bitch by denying them a library card if they don't have their current address on their ID. If this someone at this moment offers to do the dishes they had no part in dirtying and then offers to pick you up at 9pm with nonwork clothes and then offers to drive you to Saugatuck to watch the Tigers game so you can actually be able to differentiate between the ball and the bad reception it is probably in your best interest to not only take them up on their offer but realize mayhaps having this person around for a while is a good idea.
So.
How 'bout them Tigers last night?
It's been suggested that it's probably for the best that I'm heading east for the weekend as I'm notoriously bad luck for Michigan teams. I'm starting to wonder if I may have broken the curse as I've watched the past 2 games and things have worked out unexpectedly well. The next 3 games are in Detroit where the fans are hungry and the abandoned buildings are just waiting to be burned in a celebratory fashion.
I know you're all waiting with bated breath wondering about the last LYS and whether or not I was able to procure the much coveted 12" #8 needles. I was not. Though I take back what I said about them not being very knitterly. They didn't mock my request and in fact went digging through a new shipment of needles for me. Alas, it was not to be. I'm now thinking I'm going to be forced to make this little project on double-pointed needles. Which will suck as I find them to be awkward and I don't want to end up with the much dreaded ladder at the join given how much I love this wool. And though it has been confirmed I am able to bring needles on the plane, I'm not sure how they're going to feel about 5 double pointed-needles. I'm back to square one where I'll be knitting flat and seaming. Or going with a completely different pattern which makes me sad in my heart.
12" #8 circulars doesn't seem like too much ask for.
Ah well.
Someone in my life did my dishes for me.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
it's really more of a rant and less of a post so scroll down if you want to read the real post of the day
Why in the name of GOD is it so difficult to find 12" #8 circular needles?!? Over my supper break in gale force winds I traversed the 4 blocks to my never-let-me-down LYS. Not only did they not have the needles, the guy actually convinced me that I was a lunatic, that 12" needles didn't exist and got me to purchase 16" for $7.25. Desperate to start the legwarmers, I bought them. I've now been on the website of LYS #2 and THEY don't have 12" either. I'm down to the last LYS that I never use because they don't have a website, their stuff is way overpriced and they seem all snooty and not knitterly but tomorrow I have no choice. My only other option is--I can't believe I'm even considering this--the big bad box stores on the north end of town.
I shudder at the thought.
Oh, Mr. Yarn Shop?
I'm not crazy.
I shudder at the thought.
Oh, Mr. Yarn Shop?
I'm not crazy.
if you have midterm election fatigue, be warned...
DeVos vs Granholm Round 2:
He is a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad debater. I don't think anyone on either side of the aisle would refute that. I've been reading some comments online about the debate last night and really enjoy the pro-DeVos peeps. Here's some of my favs:
"I'm not voting for an eloquent speaker, I'm voting for someone who will bring changes to Michigan and get us in the market again. Granholm hasn't kept half of her promises and yes, she did speak well but talk is not something I am looking for, action is. DeVos may not have done well in the debate but it's the way he will change the economy in Michigan that interests me."
DeVos has yet to say anything of substance regarding his economic plan. Even when given the opportunity last night to speak on the "134 ideas" he has, he passed. I'm guessing because he had nothing to do with actually writing the plan and has no idea what is even in the plan. Regardless, it seems to me that mayhaps campaigning is the time for candidates to do exactly what Granholm is doing: talk. Be specific about your ideas. Articulate very clearly what you intend to do. And as far as Granholm not keeping campaign promises: have you ever played the big bad game of politics? You don't honestly want me to go back to the past 2 presidential campaigns and remind you what G.W.B. promised, do you? Mr. I'm-a-Uniter-not-a Divider?
Right.
"I'm beginning to think that she will never take ownership of the problems the state has and work to address them. Michigan needs more jobs, a more diversified economy and better leadership. Broad platitudes on the subjects will not cut it any more."
That is exactly what Granholm's trying to do and ironically "broad platitudes" are exactly how DeVos is campaigning. Diversifying an economy that has been based almost solely on manufacturing cars for the past 100 years takes alot of time. It definitely takes more than 4 years. We have to change the perception of what constitutes a "good job." We have to re-train workers and invest in higher education. The U.S. will no longer be a country that makes things. We will be a country of innovation and ideas. Our economy will be service and information based. Of course we have the highest unemployment rate in the country. Our entire economy was manufacturing based and Granholm's plan-which I think she eloquently laid out last night-addresses that directly. Saying that "Michigan needs a business man" or "We need leadership" without explaining specifics is all DeVos has. I'd call that broad platitudes.
"She was left a poor economy ( should have beeen upfront about that during her last campaign), Going to fix our healhcare system, So far no improvement (we are still paying the tab for the uninsured and those who abuse the system). We need a change, I dont care if Devos is as articulate as Granholmas long as he can get the job done and if he doesnt well fire him in four years. Look we are at the botom of the barrel while the rest of the country is humming along, we are loosing jobs and students to other states that have their act together. Lets throw the bum out and give Devos a chance!!! Hes got my vote, I already know what Granholm is capable of, Blameing everyone else!"
The health care situation all over this country is deplorable. The only state that is really trying to radically change how it works is Massachusetts and I certainly applaud them for it. Because the economy was in such bad shape when she took office and only looking to get worse health care got put on the back burner. There's no money in the budget right now. There it is. Instead she used whatever money she had to invest in education. You know, schools? Where people learn to read and write and spell? (Cheap shot. I couldn't help it. It's the losing/loosing thing that really gets me.)
"I am voting for a change and if Granholm wins again, its time to relocate to Texas!"
Please. Go to Texas.
In other news, I'm heading to Connecticut this weekend to watch some of the family run a half marathon. I've flown alot and yet I always get a little anxious. It's not the flying and dying in a horrible accident that gets me. I have no control over that. It's the preparations--the doing of the laundry, the cleaning of the house, the making sure the cat is going to get fed, the trip to the airport, the standing in many lines, the hurrying up and waiting of it all. You'll all be very happy to know that I'm able to bring my knitting needles on board with me. Funny, isn't it? I still can't carry on my big bottle of shampoo, but 12 inch knitting needles are fine. Anyway, I'm looking forward to everything else about the trip. I'm getting me a haircut and I'm getting me a massage with my sister. I'm sitting down and chatting up some religion and politics with my Dad and I'm knitting like a crazy woman with my Mom. No one there knows this yet, but there will be some baseball watching as the Tigers series will be wrapping up this weekend. And most importantly there will be beer.
Long Trail and Magic Hat.
Soon we shall be reunited.
He is a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad debater. I don't think anyone on either side of the aisle would refute that. I've been reading some comments online about the debate last night and really enjoy the pro-DeVos peeps. Here's some of my favs:
"I'm not voting for an eloquent speaker, I'm voting for someone who will bring changes to Michigan and get us in the market again. Granholm hasn't kept half of her promises and yes, she did speak well but talk is not something I am looking for, action is. DeVos may not have done well in the debate but it's the way he will change the economy in Michigan that interests me."
DeVos has yet to say anything of substance regarding his economic plan. Even when given the opportunity last night to speak on the "134 ideas" he has, he passed. I'm guessing because he had nothing to do with actually writing the plan and has no idea what is even in the plan. Regardless, it seems to me that mayhaps campaigning is the time for candidates to do exactly what Granholm is doing: talk. Be specific about your ideas. Articulate very clearly what you intend to do. And as far as Granholm not keeping campaign promises: have you ever played the big bad game of politics? You don't honestly want me to go back to the past 2 presidential campaigns and remind you what G.W.B. promised, do you? Mr. I'm-a-Uniter-not-a Divider?
Right.
"I'm beginning to think that she will never take ownership of the problems the state has and work to address them. Michigan needs more jobs, a more diversified economy and better leadership. Broad platitudes on the subjects will not cut it any more."
That is exactly what Granholm's trying to do and ironically "broad platitudes" are exactly how DeVos is campaigning. Diversifying an economy that has been based almost solely on manufacturing cars for the past 100 years takes alot of time. It definitely takes more than 4 years. We have to change the perception of what constitutes a "good job." We have to re-train workers and invest in higher education. The U.S. will no longer be a country that makes things. We will be a country of innovation and ideas. Our economy will be service and information based. Of course we have the highest unemployment rate in the country. Our entire economy was manufacturing based and Granholm's plan-which I think she eloquently laid out last night-addresses that directly. Saying that "Michigan needs a business man" or "We need leadership" without explaining specifics is all DeVos has. I'd call that broad platitudes.
"She was left a poor economy ( should have beeen upfront about that during her last campaign), Going to fix our healhcare system, So far no improvement (we are still paying the tab for the uninsured and those who abuse the system). We need a change, I dont care if Devos is as articulate as Granholmas long as he can get the job done and if he doesnt well fire him in four years. Look we are at the botom of the barrel while the rest of the country is humming along, we are loosing jobs and students to other states that have their act together. Lets throw the bum out and give Devos a chance!!! Hes got my vote, I already know what Granholm is capable of, Blameing everyone else!"
The health care situation all over this country is deplorable. The only state that is really trying to radically change how it works is Massachusetts and I certainly applaud them for it. Because the economy was in such bad shape when she took office and only looking to get worse health care got put on the back burner. There's no money in the budget right now. There it is. Instead she used whatever money she had to invest in education. You know, schools? Where people learn to read and write and spell? (Cheap shot. I couldn't help it. It's the losing/loosing thing that really gets me.)
"I am voting for a change and if Granholm wins again, its time to relocate to Texas!"
Please. Go to Texas.
In other news, I'm heading to Connecticut this weekend to watch some of the family run a half marathon. I've flown alot and yet I always get a little anxious. It's not the flying and dying in a horrible accident that gets me. I have no control over that. It's the preparations--the doing of the laundry, the cleaning of the house, the making sure the cat is going to get fed, the trip to the airport, the standing in many lines, the hurrying up and waiting of it all. You'll all be very happy to know that I'm able to bring my knitting needles on board with me. Funny, isn't it? I still can't carry on my big bottle of shampoo, but 12 inch knitting needles are fine. Anyway, I'm looking forward to everything else about the trip. I'm getting me a haircut and I'm getting me a massage with my sister. I'm sitting down and chatting up some religion and politics with my Dad and I'm knitting like a crazy woman with my Mom. No one there knows this yet, but there will be some baseball watching as the Tigers series will be wrapping up this weekend. And most importantly there will be beer.
Long Trail and Magic Hat.
Soon we shall be reunited.
Monday, October 09, 2006
monday morning
Remember in 2002 G.W.B. gave a little speech that is lovingly referred to as "The Axis of Evil" speech? And in this groundbreaking speech he named Iraq, Iran and North Korea as the big 3 evil? And remember about a year later we invaded Iraq because though there was zero evidence indicating such, G.W.B. claimed that Iraq had not abandoned their chemical and nuclear program? And in 2003 as the coalition of the willing was declaring victory and looking for Hussein, North Korea pulled out of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and completely pointless 6-party talks began? Remember how some people thought that maybe the administration was focusing on the wrong axis? That maybe a bad dictator with no weapons program was something we didn't need to focus on but maybe a slightly crazy leader with nuclear capabilities was something we should take a look at? I know that charging into war is a hell of alot sexier than diplomacy, but it seems to me we wouldn't have gotten to this point if the U.S. hadn't gotten distracted. The remedy to Kim Jong-Il's actions will not be of the military variety as the U.S. is the biggest and the best and we're a little pre-occupied. So we're looking at sanctions of some kind which will have virtually no effect on Kim Jong-Il as he's already allowed tens of thousands (possibly millions) of his own people die of starvation in the last decade in order to advance his nuclear program.
Nothing is fucked here.
Waking up Monday morning after too little sleep to this bit of news put me in a mood. An angry, depressed, frustrated and tired mood. I alternate between rage and tears. Thankfully I have a ton of stuff to do this afternoon which should keep me busy and my mind occupied. No need to cry over spilled radioactivity.
I saw the new Scorsese film, The Departed, last night. I liked it. Alot. And suprisingly it wasn't Jack Nicholson that got my blood pumping. He was Jack. Same performance he's been giving for the past 30 years. What did it for me was DiCaprio, Mark Walberg, Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen and even Matt Damon. It's a compelling story with decent characters and lots of twists and turns. It's really violent and was nice to see people getting the shit kicked out them so Mom you're going to want to stay away from this one and Dad go out and see it. I like to think of this film as the triumphant return of Scorsese. I didn't see The Aviator, but I did see Gangs of New York and hated every moment of the over-directed nonsense. In this one, Scorsese has a nice light hand with a lot of good moments. I really like this time of year as this is when the real Oscar contenders start trickling into our theaters.
I have a plan for the Democratic Party. Assuming they can take back the House and the Senate, I say let's roll up our sleeves and start looking forward. Let's look at a plan to get us out of Iraq. Let's do what we can to resecure Afghanistan. Let's start talking about investing in higher education as this country will no longer be the manufacturing safe haven it once was. Let's come up with a non-market solution to the health care crisis. Let's start decreasing our dependence on oil in particular oil from the middle east and come up with alternative fuel sources. It's a common sense, very Democratic Party plan.
What I'm afraid we will do is get bogged down in retribution. The first thing the Democratic Leadership will do is go after G.W.B. I really really really think this is 100% the wrong direction to go in. I'm angry. I'm so angry I let that man's actions ruin my days. I spend hours enraged at what he has done to this country-OUR country. What he's done makes Watergate look like a practical joke and Clinton look like just another stupid politician who got caught. G.W.B. is a criminal. But going after him won't bring our servicemen and women home. And going after him won't make the ozone layer repair itself or our children become smarter. It will be politics as usual and you can bet your ass it will turn off voters. Let's be the party of leadership and the future. Not a party of the past.
Cue swelling campaign music.
It's clearly midterm election season.
It's supposed to snow here by the end of the week.
Nothing is fucked here.
Waking up Monday morning after too little sleep to this bit of news put me in a mood. An angry, depressed, frustrated and tired mood. I alternate between rage and tears. Thankfully I have a ton of stuff to do this afternoon which should keep me busy and my mind occupied. No need to cry over spilled radioactivity.
I saw the new Scorsese film, The Departed, last night. I liked it. Alot. And suprisingly it wasn't Jack Nicholson that got my blood pumping. He was Jack. Same performance he's been giving for the past 30 years. What did it for me was DiCaprio, Mark Walberg, Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen and even Matt Damon. It's a compelling story with decent characters and lots of twists and turns. It's really violent and was nice to see people getting the shit kicked out them so Mom you're going to want to stay away from this one and Dad go out and see it. I like to think of this film as the triumphant return of Scorsese. I didn't see The Aviator, but I did see Gangs of New York and hated every moment of the over-directed nonsense. In this one, Scorsese has a nice light hand with a lot of good moments. I really like this time of year as this is when the real Oscar contenders start trickling into our theaters.
I have a plan for the Democratic Party. Assuming they can take back the House and the Senate, I say let's roll up our sleeves and start looking forward. Let's look at a plan to get us out of Iraq. Let's do what we can to resecure Afghanistan. Let's start talking about investing in higher education as this country will no longer be the manufacturing safe haven it once was. Let's come up with a non-market solution to the health care crisis. Let's start decreasing our dependence on oil in particular oil from the middle east and come up with alternative fuel sources. It's a common sense, very Democratic Party plan.
What I'm afraid we will do is get bogged down in retribution. The first thing the Democratic Leadership will do is go after G.W.B. I really really really think this is 100% the wrong direction to go in. I'm angry. I'm so angry I let that man's actions ruin my days. I spend hours enraged at what he has done to this country-OUR country. What he's done makes Watergate look like a practical joke and Clinton look like just another stupid politician who got caught. G.W.B. is a criminal. But going after him won't bring our servicemen and women home. And going after him won't make the ozone layer repair itself or our children become smarter. It will be politics as usual and you can bet your ass it will turn off voters. Let's be the party of leadership and the future. Not a party of the past.
Cue swelling campaign music.
It's clearly midterm election season.
It's supposed to snow here by the end of the week.
Friday, October 06, 2006
i'm a live and let live kinda girl but if you get involved with a german shepherd it's over
I don't want to curse myself or anything, but in a mere few short hours I will be officially finished with the 7 days straight of library hell. I have survived 2 illnesses, lots of rain, the first DVD release party, and many many many irritating patron and co-worker interactions.
First up:
Drinks with Molly. We're off to Boatwerks instead of Butch's for a change. Now I know it's a little pretentious to have a mission statement for a restaurant especially one that says this
"Our mission is to create a place that reminds you of simpler times, of vacations on the lake, carefree summers and that first time learning to water-ski. You'll be able to relax and have fun at Boatwerks... it will be like taking a mini vacation every time you're here."
but the goat cheese crostini is really good. Molly's looking for a mojito and I'm thinking an ice cold Grey Goose martini with a twist. But I'll be open to a specialty drink menu too.
Next up:
Eat the beejezus out of a veggie Jimmy John's sub. I dream of this piece of sandwich art. And tonight I get to enjoy it.
Followed by:
Deep chilling out. Maybe some Scrabble outside. Maybe a nature walk. Maybe some Season 2 of Arrested Development disc 1 (finally!). We'll just have to see.
And finally:
Well that's still kind of up in the air too but I'm thinking there will be a short drive (I bet it's close enough to walk...) down South Shore Drive for a bonfire at the very least and some checking in of the score of the Tigers game.
Tomorrow someone is coming at 11 am to fix my broken windows (!!!!!!!!!!). At 4:30pm the U of M vs Michigan game is on as is game 4 of the Tigers/Yankees series. Honestly, who planned that?!? I'm thinking I'm going to go with the football and check in on the baseball game periodically. Tomorrow night. Huh. I have no idea. I know there was talk of a bonfire at the compound and I told the Berghoef to alert the urban jetset crowd in the Grandest of Rapids, but I'm not sure if he did. Confidentially, dear reader, I'm sort of hoping to make a trip to the big city for the evening. I haven't been to Sazerac in forever. Or Founders. Or the garage. Or Cambridge House. Then again I am a fickle woman. By tomorrow night I could be ready for a bonfire at mi casa.
With my renewed interest in knitting I've been checking out many a knitting blog lately. I really like Crazy Aunt Purl and Yarn Harlot. They give me hope in my time of darkness and uncertainty. Will I EVER finish that blasted lacy scarf? Will my hands EVER feel the perfect touch of wool again? Plus I can completely relate to many of the bizarre and quirky things knitters have in common like abandoning a project when you are within striking distance. And shedding tears of frustration when you have spent hours working on something only to discover it looks like a ratty mess and then realizing that you are shedding tears over something you supposedly enjoy doing.
It's a perfectly neurotic hobby for a perfectly neurotic person like myself.
First up:
Drinks with Molly. We're off to Boatwerks instead of Butch's for a change. Now I know it's a little pretentious to have a mission statement for a restaurant especially one that says this
"Our mission is to create a place that reminds you of simpler times, of vacations on the lake, carefree summers and that first time learning to water-ski. You'll be able to relax and have fun at Boatwerks... it will be like taking a mini vacation every time you're here."
but the goat cheese crostini is really good. Molly's looking for a mojito and I'm thinking an ice cold Grey Goose martini with a twist. But I'll be open to a specialty drink menu too.
Next up:
Eat the beejezus out of a veggie Jimmy John's sub. I dream of this piece of sandwich art. And tonight I get to enjoy it.
Followed by:
Deep chilling out. Maybe some Scrabble outside. Maybe a nature walk. Maybe some Season 2 of Arrested Development disc 1 (finally!). We'll just have to see.
And finally:
Well that's still kind of up in the air too but I'm thinking there will be a short drive (I bet it's close enough to walk...) down South Shore Drive for a bonfire at the very least and some checking in of the score of the Tigers game.
Tomorrow someone is coming at 11 am to fix my broken windows (!!!!!!!!!!). At 4:30pm the U of M vs Michigan game is on as is game 4 of the Tigers/Yankees series. Honestly, who planned that?!? I'm thinking I'm going to go with the football and check in on the baseball game periodically. Tomorrow night. Huh. I have no idea. I know there was talk of a bonfire at the compound and I told the Berghoef to alert the urban jetset crowd in the Grandest of Rapids, but I'm not sure if he did. Confidentially, dear reader, I'm sort of hoping to make a trip to the big city for the evening. I haven't been to Sazerac in forever. Or Founders. Or the garage. Or Cambridge House. Then again I am a fickle woman. By tomorrow night I could be ready for a bonfire at mi casa.
With my renewed interest in knitting I've been checking out many a knitting blog lately. I really like Crazy Aunt Purl and Yarn Harlot. They give me hope in my time of darkness and uncertainty. Will I EVER finish that blasted lacy scarf? Will my hands EVER feel the perfect touch of wool again? Plus I can completely relate to many of the bizarre and quirky things knitters have in common like abandoning a project when you are within striking distance. And shedding tears of frustration when you have spent hours working on something only to discover it looks like a ratty mess and then realizing that you are shedding tears over something you supposedly enjoy doing.
It's a perfectly neurotic hobby for a perfectly neurotic person like myself.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
super trouper lights are gonna find me shining like the sun smiling, having fun feeling like a number one
Last night the Stockard Channing home remedy seemed to work. I curled up on my couch with a mug full of whiskey, hot water, lemon and honey. I swaddled myself in fleece, the big red scarf, and a quilt. I watched about an hour and a half of Star Wars Episode 3. I passed out-book in hand, of course-and awoke this morning at 7:20am. I told myself that after a very hot shower if I still didn't feel well I could call in as no one expected me to come in today anyway. Imagine my surprise when I actually did feel pretty good post-shower. I even walked to work. I've had just about everyone tell me I shouldn't be here, but I'm fever-free and being pretty psychotic with the hand washing and the anti-bacterialing. I'm stuffy and coughing and tired. But I'm here. And on day 6 of 7 days in a row.
The weekend is within my grasp.
I did end up ripping out the lacy scarf and I'm finally happy with the pattern and the width, but I'm so sick of working with the yarn. It's a hand-dyed silk thing that's all noveltied out. I keep gazing at the wool I purchased last week longingly. I just want to push through and finish this project. I need to check if I'm able to bring my knitting needles on the plane for next weekend as when all those crazy runners are out running 13.1 miles my Mom and I can find a nice bookstore/cafe and sit and knit like the crazy addicted women we are.
I've started reading "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon. It's a book I avoided due to it's book club quality, but Peter's reading his new book and mentioned that he liked this one. I like it. The stilted candence of the prose could be gimmicky, but it's not. The fact that it's written in first person with a very specific character could get annoying or cliched, but it doesn't. It reminds me of--and I can't believe I'm going to say this--but it reminds me of how I felt the first time I read James Frey's "Million Little Pieces." Though I'm not a drug addict in recovery, Frey wrote such a compelling and specific first person narrative it made me feel as if I could completely identify with him. Haddon writes this 15 year old autistic boy and makes him so accessible. I've also been reading this Phillip K. Dick "The Man in the High Castle" which is this crazy trip of a science fiction book that imagines the world if Germany and Japan had won WWII and all of the characters in the book are reading a best-selling novel that imagines a world if the Allies had won WWII. And nonfiction wise I've decided to read the much talked about as of late Bob Woodward Trilogy of G.W.B. I love that the administration encouraged the American people to read the first 2 and are saying that the last one is less than accurate.
In the annoyingly familiar famous words of The Rolling Stones:
You can't always get what you want.
The weekend is within my grasp.
I did end up ripping out the lacy scarf and I'm finally happy with the pattern and the width, but I'm so sick of working with the yarn. It's a hand-dyed silk thing that's all noveltied out. I keep gazing at the wool I purchased last week longingly. I just want to push through and finish this project. I need to check if I'm able to bring my knitting needles on the plane for next weekend as when all those crazy runners are out running 13.1 miles my Mom and I can find a nice bookstore/cafe and sit and knit like the crazy addicted women we are.
I've started reading "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon. It's a book I avoided due to it's book club quality, but Peter's reading his new book and mentioned that he liked this one. I like it. The stilted candence of the prose could be gimmicky, but it's not. The fact that it's written in first person with a very specific character could get annoying or cliched, but it doesn't. It reminds me of--and I can't believe I'm going to say this--but it reminds me of how I felt the first time I read James Frey's "Million Little Pieces." Though I'm not a drug addict in recovery, Frey wrote such a compelling and specific first person narrative it made me feel as if I could completely identify with him. Haddon writes this 15 year old autistic boy and makes him so accessible. I've also been reading this Phillip K. Dick "The Man in the High Castle" which is this crazy trip of a science fiction book that imagines the world if Germany and Japan had won WWII and all of the characters in the book are reading a best-selling novel that imagines a world if the Allies had won WWII. And nonfiction wise I've decided to read the much talked about as of late Bob Woodward Trilogy of G.W.B. I love that the administration encouraged the American people to read the first 2 and are saying that the last one is less than accurate.
In the annoyingly familiar famous words of The Rolling Stones:
You can't always get what you want.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
First things first.
I watched the debates. Twice. First on PBS and then on FOX. A couple of observations:
I watched the debates. Twice. First on PBS and then on FOX. A couple of observations:
- Dick DeVos is frighteningly similar to G.W.B. From the cadence of his voice to that deer in headlights look he gets when he's halfway through something he's saying but he realizes he actually has no idea what he's saying because alot of what he's saying is substance-less catchphrases.
- Jennifer Granholm flung mud. I thought it was cheap and unnecessary.
- Granholm talked substance and numbers; DeVos talked vaguely and sweepingly.
I guess because he framed the race I never thought about how silly it is that she's campaigning on 4 years as governor and he's campaigning on years of being the CEO of a company. Apples and oranges, people, that'd be apples and oranges. He's doing a pretty good job of making it seem as if she's just not doing enough when in reality there's very little she can do with things like trade agreements and various constitutional issues. It was interesting to watch the 2 of them frame this nationally--name dropping Trent Lott and Newt Gingrich and Bill Clinton. It's sad really that state elections-where everyday citizens have the most power-are usually overlooked and instead of focusing on issues that are important to the people candidates still feel the need to make things bigger and feel more inaccessible.
The biggest scariest thing?
The similarities between DeVos and G.W.B. aren't just in their ratfaced appearance. G.W.B. had zero political experience before becoming governor of Texas. He was governor for only 5 years before he became president. He was a made politician by the Republican Party. He came from a family of unbelievable privilege and yet still managed to capture the good ol'boy vote by seeming to be down to earth.
Michigan does not want to be the state that launched DeVos' national political career. Because no one spends 20 million dollars of their own money to stop at the governor's seat. He's got his eye on something much bigger.
Second things second:
I'm sick of hearing about Foley. I hate to think that the only reason we're going to win back the house this year is because a very sad gay man acted inappropriately. I hate the moral hypocrisy of the right as much as anyone. But I hate the left's hypocrisy just as much. We were so pissed about Clinton. And here we are doing the same thing.
Third things third:
The DVD release party was a success. We had fewer people than expected which we're chalking up to some publicity confusion and the fact that it was rated PG-13. Which is totally the way to go. I don't think I can fully express the huge difference between a G rated film where parents drop off 5 year old kids or stay to "watch" the movie and then talk loudly to other parents leaving kids the impression that it's okay to be disrespectful or little animals who throw popcorn and run in and out of the auditorium willy-nilly. Unfortunately the rest of the movies are all PG or G so I got to ease into things, but I'm sure chaos is right around the corner.
Fourth things fourth:
It's not a cold. It's the weather. It's stress. It's allergies.
I'm not sick.
Monday, October 02, 2006
"and when i awoke i was alone, this bird had flown."
Today Norwegian Wood is my favorite Beatles' song.
It's raining here. Big rain. Thunderstorms and downpours. The kind of rain that makes one not want to leave the comfort of their homes. Sadly work beckoned this morning as did the storm. I was up at 5:30am and under the impression my house was being attacked by lightening bolts. It's probably because I'm an Angel of Sin, at least according to my neighbor who went so far as to purchase me a tank top saying so. I can dig it.
The highly-esteemed Western Michigan poet Mr. Peter Berghoef is published in this month's issue of Unlikely Stories. Check it out.
For those of you who are as perversely obsessed with this fall election as myself and who live in Michigan, tonight is the first debate between DeVos and Granholm. I believe it's going to be televised on FOX and PBS though right now my local PBS station is saying Antique Roadshow is on at 8pm. I'll watch. I'll listen. I'll scream at the tv and get frustrated about things I have zero control over and wish I lived in a country that valued leadership and was truly representative of the people and not corporations or manipulated by the media.
Good thing I have that padded room in my future. The one where I'm in control of everything.
It's going to be a big week at work as tomorrow is the first DVD release party. Woo. Hoo. I'm psyched. It's going to be fine. I come in at 1pm and pretty much make popcorn for 5 hours which will leave me coated in a fine layer of oil and seasoning.
I'll be delicious.
It's raining here. Big rain. Thunderstorms and downpours. The kind of rain that makes one not want to leave the comfort of their homes. Sadly work beckoned this morning as did the storm. I was up at 5:30am and under the impression my house was being attacked by lightening bolts. It's probably because I'm an Angel of Sin, at least according to my neighbor who went so far as to purchase me a tank top saying so. I can dig it.
The highly-esteemed Western Michigan poet Mr. Peter Berghoef is published in this month's issue of Unlikely Stories. Check it out.
For those of you who are as perversely obsessed with this fall election as myself and who live in Michigan, tonight is the first debate between DeVos and Granholm. I believe it's going to be televised on FOX and PBS though right now my local PBS station is saying Antique Roadshow is on at 8pm. I'll watch. I'll listen. I'll scream at the tv and get frustrated about things I have zero control over and wish I lived in a country that valued leadership and was truly representative of the people and not corporations or manipulated by the media.
Good thing I have that padded room in my future. The one where I'm in control of everything.
It's going to be a big week at work as tomorrow is the first DVD release party. Woo. Hoo. I'm psyched. It's going to be fine. I come in at 1pm and pretty much make popcorn for 5 hours which will leave me coated in a fine layer of oil and seasoning.
I'll be delicious.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
same old same old
The rest of the country seems to catching up with those of us who knew from the beginning that the administration fabricated intelligence in order to invade Iraq. The rest of the country also seems to be catching onto the notion that perhaps this move wasn't such a great idea. The rhetoric (from both sides actually) is spinning out of control. From G.W.B. we get: "The party of FDR and the party of Harry Truman has become the party of cut-and-run." It's almost as if he's claiming to once have respected the Democrats (HA!) but now they're just a bunch of pussies that even FDR and Truman would be ashamed of. My other favorite theme is the same old if-you-aren't-with-us-you're-with-the-terrorists:
"Some have selectively quoted from this document to make the case that by fighting the terrorists -- by fighting them in Iraq -- we are making our people less secure here at home. This argument buys into the enemy's propaganda that the terrorists attack us because we're provoking them."
We don't belong in Iraq. We never did. And our presence there has made the already unstable region that much more so. This isn't partisan. It's common sense. G.W.B. created this situation and now he has the balls to point fingers at me?! It's desperate and pathetic. You know who I respect less than those who "cut-and-run?" Those who knowingly lie to the American people in order to invade a country and then when they realize they can't win turn around and blame everyone else for their failures.
I know I sound like a broken record. I know I can go back in the archives and find a post very similar to this one. And if anything I should be feeling optimistic that the rest of the country seems to finally be getting it. But instead I'm more frustrated and disgusted and sickened by all of it. What he has done and continues to do is criminal. And I know he's going to get away with all of it. I just know it.
SO
I finished the Big Red Scarf yesterday and am working on the lacy fancy one that I've ripped out about a gazillion times. I'm contemplating ripping it out AGAIN because it's missing...je ne sais quois...it'll be right when it's right and I'll know it. Next up is the sweater and then finally I get to start on my leg warmers. I've been eyeing some skirt patterns that look really fun. I used to be intimidated by more complicated patterns. I finally realized that I'm good at reading and following directions so clearly I'm capable of more challenging projects. Tonight I'm very torn between cooking up some good food and hanging out with some peeps or going into complete seclusion and knitting like a lunatic whilst watching something fantastically bad. Regardless I know I have to take off my nail polish and start anew.
My hands appear to be those of a baby prostitute from Thailand.
"Some have selectively quoted from this document to make the case that by fighting the terrorists -- by fighting them in Iraq -- we are making our people less secure here at home. This argument buys into the enemy's propaganda that the terrorists attack us because we're provoking them."
We don't belong in Iraq. We never did. And our presence there has made the already unstable region that much more so. This isn't partisan. It's common sense. G.W.B. created this situation and now he has the balls to point fingers at me?! It's desperate and pathetic. You know who I respect less than those who "cut-and-run?" Those who knowingly lie to the American people in order to invade a country and then when they realize they can't win turn around and blame everyone else for their failures.
I know I sound like a broken record. I know I can go back in the archives and find a post very similar to this one. And if anything I should be feeling optimistic that the rest of the country seems to finally be getting it. But instead I'm more frustrated and disgusted and sickened by all of it. What he has done and continues to do is criminal. And I know he's going to get away with all of it. I just know it.
SO
I finished the Big Red Scarf yesterday and am working on the lacy fancy one that I've ripped out about a gazillion times. I'm contemplating ripping it out AGAIN because it's missing...je ne sais quois...it'll be right when it's right and I'll know it. Next up is the sweater and then finally I get to start on my leg warmers. I've been eyeing some skirt patterns that look really fun. I used to be intimidated by more complicated patterns. I finally realized that I'm good at reading and following directions so clearly I'm capable of more challenging projects. Tonight I'm very torn between cooking up some good food and hanging out with some peeps or going into complete seclusion and knitting like a lunatic whilst watching something fantastically bad. Regardless I know I have to take off my nail polish and start anew.
My hands appear to be those of a baby prostitute from Thailand.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
2 posts in 2 days...it's madness i tell you!
I am the proud owner of 12 new glasses.
I can now have 12 people over.
Six can drink scotch or whiskey in rocks glasses.
Six can drink mixed drinks in pint glasses.
Of course only 6 people can sit down, but who cares about that when you have a glass of delciousness in your hand.
The glasses are compliments of my companion who picked them out himself. They're a darn near perfect match to my previous 2 (It used to be a set of four, but 1 is being held hostage upstairs and 1 broke) and it was a complete surprise. He can be pretty swell. And thoughtful.
I'm back to being addicted to knitting. It's all I think about. It's all I want to do. I'm completely committed to finishing up my UFO's, but I couldn't help myself. Yesterday I bought some fuschia worsted and today I went back and bought blue raspberry wool. I'm soooo close to being finished with my long red scarf, I have another dressy kind of scarf to finish, and the sweater that won't go away, but after that:
leg warmers.
Before all ye judge, let me state my case:
I walk to work almost every day. I live in Western Michigan. I am a fan of skirts and dresses. Though I always swaddle my legs in wool tights during these cold winter months, I can always use extra warmth being that I am a Davison girl and us sisters tend to be cold. All the time (Traci, you totally know what I'm talking about!). This is not about fashion. They will not be incorporated into an outfit (though I'm already thinking about how fabulous the blue raspberry will look against some brown tights!). They are practical. They are comfortable. They are warm.
I'm going to combine these 2 patterns.
Tonight it looks like it's another Thursday night heading to the Grandest of Rapids this time for supper at the Cambridge House. Or someplace else. We're living on the edge. Seeing what strikes our fancy. Tomorrow I need to make a very important phone call to a very old friend who is getting married Saturday leaving me abandoned as the last proud to not be married hold out. It's supposed to rain so I'm certain there will be lots of tea and knitting.
Knnnnniiiiiiiitttttttttiiiiiiiinnnnnnggggggg.
I swear to god it's like crack cocaine.
I cannot get enough.
I can now have 12 people over.
Six can drink scotch or whiskey in rocks glasses.
Six can drink mixed drinks in pint glasses.
Of course only 6 people can sit down, but who cares about that when you have a glass of delciousness in your hand.
The glasses are compliments of my companion who picked them out himself. They're a darn near perfect match to my previous 2 (It used to be a set of four, but 1 is being held hostage upstairs and 1 broke) and it was a complete surprise. He can be pretty swell. And thoughtful.
I'm back to being addicted to knitting. It's all I think about. It's all I want to do. I'm completely committed to finishing up my UFO's, but I couldn't help myself. Yesterday I bought some fuschia worsted and today I went back and bought blue raspberry wool. I'm soooo close to being finished with my long red scarf, I have another dressy kind of scarf to finish, and the sweater that won't go away, but after that:
leg warmers.
Before all ye judge, let me state my case:
I walk to work almost every day. I live in Western Michigan. I am a fan of skirts and dresses. Though I always swaddle my legs in wool tights during these cold winter months, I can always use extra warmth being that I am a Davison girl and us sisters tend to be cold. All the time (Traci, you totally know what I'm talking about!). This is not about fashion. They will not be incorporated into an outfit (though I'm already thinking about how fabulous the blue raspberry will look against some brown tights!). They are practical. They are comfortable. They are warm.
I'm going to combine these 2 patterns.
Tonight it looks like it's another Thursday night heading to the Grandest of Rapids this time for supper at the Cambridge House. Or someplace else. We're living on the edge. Seeing what strikes our fancy. Tomorrow I need to make a very important phone call to a very old friend who is getting married Saturday leaving me abandoned as the last proud to not be married hold out. It's supposed to rain so I'm certain there will be lots of tea and knitting.
Knnnnniiiiiiiitttttttttiiiiiiiinnnnnnggggggg.
I swear to god it's like crack cocaine.
I cannot get enough.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
i was a biiiiig winner last night
The weather is in the process of turning. We've been spoiled here in Western Michigan the past 2 days with glorious sunshine and perfect temperatures. Not no more. Rain and cold are in my future. It's okay. I'm ready for it. Curling up whilst adorned in fleece with a fat cat, some tea, Season 2 of Arrested Development, and knitting sounds dreamy. Especially if I can make it though but one more day of work--it's a double whammy work weekend for me which means no work on Friday. I'm currently engaged in finishing up some knitting projects from last year but I'm already poring over sock patterns. Honey crisp apples and knitting are 2 of my most favorite things about fall.
Six weeks to midterms and things are just going to keep getting uglier. I'm already sick to death of DeVos vs Granholm ads. Especially given that Granholm has yet to bring on the goods. If I see one more horribly produced and underwhelming ad from the Dems I'm going to scream. Monday the 2nd of October is the first debate which I will, of course, be watching. Jenny should blow Dick outta the water. Not that it will matter. He gets to play the low expectation game-a tactic that worked marvelously for G.W.B. As long as he's capable of stringing 2 sentences together he'll come out the big winner.
I can't believe that anyone needed to hear from 16 intelligence agencies that the war in Iraq has made the world a more dangerous place. I also can't believe that both parties are trying to control the story with the Republicans saying that this proves Iraq is central to the war on terror (completely ignoring the fact that it wouldn't be if we'd never invaded in the first place) and the Democrats saying this proves the war in Iraq was a mistake (completely ignoring the fact that accusations aren't really helpful now. Ideas are.). One of my favorite moments from the press conference was when G.W.B. got all snippy about the timing of the leak implying that it was politically motivated due to the upcoming elections. You think? Kinda like the rapidly dropping gas prices?
I've refrained from saying to much about the new Aaron Sorkin show "Studio 60" because I don't really have anything nice to say. I may have been persuaded to give it another go as it looks like he's attempting an arch storyline as opposed to his typical character-driven shows. Right now I'm less than impressed. It feels like he's trying to combine Sports Night with West Wing. It's self-indulgent, the acting is lackluster, the writing flat, and the subject matter dull. And that's me being nice.
Six weeks to midterms and things are just going to keep getting uglier. I'm already sick to death of DeVos vs Granholm ads. Especially given that Granholm has yet to bring on the goods. If I see one more horribly produced and underwhelming ad from the Dems I'm going to scream. Monday the 2nd of October is the first debate which I will, of course, be watching. Jenny should blow Dick outta the water. Not that it will matter. He gets to play the low expectation game-a tactic that worked marvelously for G.W.B. As long as he's capable of stringing 2 sentences together he'll come out the big winner.
I can't believe that anyone needed to hear from 16 intelligence agencies that the war in Iraq has made the world a more dangerous place. I also can't believe that both parties are trying to control the story with the Republicans saying that this proves Iraq is central to the war on terror (completely ignoring the fact that it wouldn't be if we'd never invaded in the first place) and the Democrats saying this proves the war in Iraq was a mistake (completely ignoring the fact that accusations aren't really helpful now. Ideas are.). One of my favorite moments from the press conference was when G.W.B. got all snippy about the timing of the leak implying that it was politically motivated due to the upcoming elections. You think? Kinda like the rapidly dropping gas prices?
I've refrained from saying to much about the new Aaron Sorkin show "Studio 60" because I don't really have anything nice to say. I may have been persuaded to give it another go as it looks like he's attempting an arch storyline as opposed to his typical character-driven shows. Right now I'm less than impressed. It feels like he's trying to combine Sports Night with West Wing. It's self-indulgent, the acting is lackluster, the writing flat, and the subject matter dull. And that's me being nice.
Friday, September 22, 2006
i'm glad the boomers haven't figured out how to leave comments
It's been a bizarre week. And I can't exactly grasp why. It could be that I've been going to bed a little earlier. It could be that I'm happily back to walking to work instead of biking. Maybe it's the Warhol documentary I watched the last 2 nights. Or the unexpected news that 3 poems are going to be published at unlikely stories. I'm also grappling with what I believe to be apathy regarding midterms and politics in general.
Last night was quite a change of pace. Instead of the usual Thursday night Burger Nite we traveled to the big city. Dinner at the Pita House (heeeaaaaveeennlllllyyyyy) and then a beer at Mulligans where we were joined by Nick and Brooke. Nice to see them, but difficult to truly chill out and relax as the realization that it was a school night was in the forefront of everyone's minds. A fall weekend bonfire evening (not to be started later than, say, 8 or 9pm) is in the works.
The Warhol documentary was frustrating. I've never been a fan of Pop Art (leaving one asking what I was doing watching it in the first place!) but I'm starting to realize that it's not necessarily the art that's the problem. It's the post modern theorists that make me want to claw my own eyes out. Or rather cut my ears from my head with a rusty spoon. It was interesting to learn about his early obsession with Capote. I'm fascinated with Edie Sedgwick.
I enjoyed watching the progression of his work--from commercial artist to the soup cans to the silk screening to the films--and his interest in celebrity and fame which eventually brought him back to the beginning. But sitting there listening to someone else talk about his work was unbelievably frustrating and obnoxious. I came to the realization that the 60's were a sham. I don't care about the drugs or the sex or the culture. I get angry when people claim that it changed the world. Because from here? From 2006? All the protesting and the dropping out and music festivals and the peace signs and pop art and the weed did nothing. That wasn't what J.F.K. had in mind when he talked about what you could do for your country. I can't imagine how it must have felt the day he was shot. How hope and optimism was ripped out of the psyche of the youth culture. It's too bad instead of channeling that rage and really making a difference you all went to Woodstock. Or wish you'd been to Woodstock. Because all that left us with was 2 really shitty Woodstock Anniversary concerts and Lollapalooza. I don't mean to be glib. And I certainly understand the importance of the Civil Rights Movement (though one could say that was just barely a success given the racial discrepancies that still exist let alone gender and sexuality issues). I'm just sick and tired of being told how seminal that decade was. I'll give you music, for what would the world be without the Beatles or Bob Dylan. I'm not giving you much else. Because I'm left standing here in 2006 with a burgeoning deficit, the occupation of 2 countries, a War on A Concept, a health care system that gets fixed by Walmart, a culture of business that believes pretexting is moral, a president who has taken the constitution of this country and perverted it for his own political benefit who happens to be of the very generation I'm talking about, 2 political parties that are essentially identically corrupt, and the most media savvy yet most easily manipulated electorate in the history of the U.S.A.
We've come a long way, baby.
Last night was quite a change of pace. Instead of the usual Thursday night Burger Nite we traveled to the big city. Dinner at the Pita House (heeeaaaaveeennlllllyyyyy) and then a beer at Mulligans where we were joined by Nick and Brooke. Nice to see them, but difficult to truly chill out and relax as the realization that it was a school night was in the forefront of everyone's minds. A fall weekend bonfire evening (not to be started later than, say, 8 or 9pm) is in the works.
The Warhol documentary was frustrating. I've never been a fan of Pop Art (leaving one asking what I was doing watching it in the first place!) but I'm starting to realize that it's not necessarily the art that's the problem. It's the post modern theorists that make me want to claw my own eyes out. Or rather cut my ears from my head with a rusty spoon. It was interesting to learn about his early obsession with Capote. I'm fascinated with Edie Sedgwick.
I enjoyed watching the progression of his work--from commercial artist to the soup cans to the silk screening to the films--and his interest in celebrity and fame which eventually brought him back to the beginning. But sitting there listening to someone else talk about his work was unbelievably frustrating and obnoxious. I came to the realization that the 60's were a sham. I don't care about the drugs or the sex or the culture. I get angry when people claim that it changed the world. Because from here? From 2006? All the protesting and the dropping out and music festivals and the peace signs and pop art and the weed did nothing. That wasn't what J.F.K. had in mind when he talked about what you could do for your country. I can't imagine how it must have felt the day he was shot. How hope and optimism was ripped out of the psyche of the youth culture. It's too bad instead of channeling that rage and really making a difference you all went to Woodstock. Or wish you'd been to Woodstock. Because all that left us with was 2 really shitty Woodstock Anniversary concerts and Lollapalooza. I don't mean to be glib. And I certainly understand the importance of the Civil Rights Movement (though one could say that was just barely a success given the racial discrepancies that still exist let alone gender and sexuality issues). I'm just sick and tired of being told how seminal that decade was. I'll give you music, for what would the world be without the Beatles or Bob Dylan. I'm not giving you much else. Because I'm left standing here in 2006 with a burgeoning deficit, the occupation of 2 countries, a War on A Concept, a health care system that gets fixed by Walmart, a culture of business that believes pretexting is moral, a president who has taken the constitution of this country and perverted it for his own political benefit who happens to be of the very generation I'm talking about, 2 political parties that are essentially identically corrupt, and the most media savvy yet most easily manipulated electorate in the history of the U.S.A.
We've come a long way, baby.
Monday, September 18, 2006
bill clinton is on the daily show tonight
Operation Fall Purse was successful. Unfortunately, I was talked out of picking up these little darlings (in brown) by the lesbian. I'm going back asap. They're going to look darn near perfect with one of my cute new skirts.
ENOUGH OF THE FASHION BLOGGING!
The outreach program at the movie theater was wildly successful. We didn't register a ton of kids for cards--alot of people were already cardholders--but we did enthusiastically promote the library. From a 15 minute conversation with a man about the Mac vs the PC ("You have computer classes?! I had no idea you had computer classes!") to the dad who couldn't believe we hosted free dvd release parties ("Free? You mean, the movie's free, but you have to pay for the popcorn? The popcorn's free TOO?!? So you pay for the water bottles! You mean you're giving those away?!?!?!") my co-worker and I left feeling great about our jobs despite the realization that once again we were doing someone else's work. My other library-related adventure of the day was out-Referencing a librarian and an MLS student. Finding answers quickly and accurately for people is like doing crack--once you get a taste of the rush of success, you crave more.
I'm not exactly sure who to blame for the latest Muslim debacle. On the one hand, the Muslim community has a tendency to blow things a little out of proportion. Cartoons--this community got upset about some cartoons. And yet when you've been labeled the key target in the War on Terror, it's a little hard not to be sensitive especially when the head of a Christian denomination sites words from an emperor characterizing some of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as "evil and inhuman." Way to anger and alienate a religious community that already feels a little bit marginalized.
It was a tough week for the White House in regards to the controversy surrounding his assertion that the CIA can just keep on keeping on with their interrogation methods. According to some, a compromise is in the works. How they can compromise with a man who thinks that withholding evidence from a defendant if it's considered classified is aok or who believes that coerced information is just fine as long as it's reliable is beyond me. Did no one within the administration actually read the SCOTUS decision? Does no one within the administration see what a dangerous precedent this would set internationally? Does anyone else in the country notice that those who vocally support the president never actually served in the armed services whilst those who are against it did?
And my favorite news story that I'm so pleased has yet to go away is the Deadly Spinach Story. The local news did a greeeeaaat story on how this vegetable used to be considered a superfood and is now a killer. Ooookay. First of all, only 1 person has been confirmed killed by the bacteria. In almost a week. Secondly, only 109 people have been reported sickened by the bacteria. This is one of those typically American scare stories that the country gets riveted by: shark attacks, bird flu, anthrax...you name it: if it affects only a teeny tiny part of the population, but is remotely threatening, Americans will eat it up. Or not. In this case.
ENOUGH OF THE FASHION BLOGGING!
The outreach program at the movie theater was wildly successful. We didn't register a ton of kids for cards--alot of people were already cardholders--but we did enthusiastically promote the library. From a 15 minute conversation with a man about the Mac vs the PC ("You have computer classes?! I had no idea you had computer classes!") to the dad who couldn't believe we hosted free dvd release parties ("Free? You mean, the movie's free, but you have to pay for the popcorn? The popcorn's free TOO?!? So you pay for the water bottles! You mean you're giving those away?!?!?!") my co-worker and I left feeling great about our jobs despite the realization that once again we were doing someone else's work. My other library-related adventure of the day was out-Referencing a librarian and an MLS student. Finding answers quickly and accurately for people is like doing crack--once you get a taste of the rush of success, you crave more.
I'm not exactly sure who to blame for the latest Muslim debacle. On the one hand, the Muslim community has a tendency to blow things a little out of proportion. Cartoons--this community got upset about some cartoons. And yet when you've been labeled the key target in the War on Terror, it's a little hard not to be sensitive especially when the head of a Christian denomination sites words from an emperor characterizing some of the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad as "evil and inhuman." Way to anger and alienate a religious community that already feels a little bit marginalized.
It was a tough week for the White House in regards to the controversy surrounding his assertion that the CIA can just keep on keeping on with their interrogation methods. According to some, a compromise is in the works. How they can compromise with a man who thinks that withholding evidence from a defendant if it's considered classified is aok or who believes that coerced information is just fine as long as it's reliable is beyond me. Did no one within the administration actually read the SCOTUS decision? Does no one within the administration see what a dangerous precedent this would set internationally? Does anyone else in the country notice that those who vocally support the president never actually served in the armed services whilst those who are against it did?
And my favorite news story that I'm so pleased has yet to go away is the Deadly Spinach Story. The local news did a greeeeaaat story on how this vegetable used to be considered a superfood and is now a killer. Ooookay. First of all, only 1 person has been confirmed killed by the bacteria. In almost a week. Secondly, only 109 people have been reported sickened by the bacteria. This is one of those typically American scare stories that the country gets riveted by: shark attacks, bird flu, anthrax...you name it: if it affects only a teeny tiny part of the population, but is remotely threatening, Americans will eat it up. Or not. In this case.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
using my dark side feels good
How should one go about convincing a tired, anti-shopping, anti-fashion lesbian to drive to the north side of town so as to make one's fall dreams of the perfect purse a reality?
As said accessory is currently prominently displayed at the TJ Maxx, waiting until tomorrow is not an option. This beauty could be snatched up by some rich unappreciative Waukazoo Woods resident at any moment leaving me in the oh-so-familiar position of not capitalizing on an opportunity when it first presents itself.
I will employ all of my evil powers to ensure that she will do my bidding.
I must have that purse.
As said accessory is currently prominently displayed at the TJ Maxx, waiting until tomorrow is not an option. This beauty could be snatched up by some rich unappreciative Waukazoo Woods resident at any moment leaving me in the oh-so-familiar position of not capitalizing on an opportunity when it first presents itself.
I will employ all of my evil powers to ensure that she will do my bidding.
I must have that purse.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
the muppet movie is as good as you remember
It's been a week.
And it ain't over yet.
Today was as busy as I expected it to be. Lots of cutting of flyers for an outreach event on Saturday. I'm heading to one of the local movie theaters with a co-worker to register people for library cards. Though it means I'll be unable to attend mulitple fun events this weekend, I'm actually pretty excited about this. I love promoting the library in the community. And last night I came up with a brilliant idea during a harvest party celebration: if you register for a card you'll automatically be entered to win a 4 pack of free movie tickets compliments of the theater. Plus we'll be advertising for the DVD Release Parties, the Family Holiday Film nights, and the other events that we aren't associated with that are for the most part lame, but we're all a team so let's work together folks!
Attempting an attitude adjustment here at work.
Though the A Librarian's Guide to Etiquette pretty much summed up my feelings a few days ago:
Out, Burning
Librarians should be weary of being too good at their jobs. The momentary high that comes with exercising your innovations, creativity, efficiency, and skill will only be followed by a deep dive into bitterness and cynicism. So skip all the hard work and join your miserable coworkers now in the professional funk that is librarianship.
yeeeah.
On a good note, I went secondhand clothes shopping this week and made out like a bandit. 2 pairs of work pants (1 pair from J. Jill that are only missing a button and are supercute wide-ish legged corduroy), 1 short lil' tweed skirt, 1 wool/jersey dress, 1 vest (last fall I wanted a vest. I was mocked. This fall I got one. I was so ahead of my time) and 1 sweet sweet sweet vintage black cardigan with hand beading that needs a little tiny bit of repair work on the lining. My total: $22.20. FOR EVERYTHING. I still have accessories to purchase. Most notably some tights, belts, and shirts. But I got all of that at one store. And there are a ton of options here in town for second hand shopping. I'm totally hooked.
Chafee's win in the Republican primary in R.I. doesn't exactly bode well for the Democrats Senate takeback plan. I made a bold prediction last night that this would clinch it for the Republicans remaining in power, but I think I want to take that back. Whitehouse has a pretty good shot at dethroning Chafee. We'll just have to see what those crazy New Englanders will do.
Though R.I. is a blue state, I know of some other New England states that have a tendency to be a little independent minded and uncomfortable with being completely partisan.
25 minutes left in this day and counting...
And it ain't over yet.
Today was as busy as I expected it to be. Lots of cutting of flyers for an outreach event on Saturday. I'm heading to one of the local movie theaters with a co-worker to register people for library cards. Though it means I'll be unable to attend mulitple fun events this weekend, I'm actually pretty excited about this. I love promoting the library in the community. And last night I came up with a brilliant idea during a harvest party celebration: if you register for a card you'll automatically be entered to win a 4 pack of free movie tickets compliments of the theater. Plus we'll be advertising for the DVD Release Parties, the Family Holiday Film nights, and the other events that we aren't associated with that are for the most part lame, but we're all a team so let's work together folks!
Attempting an attitude adjustment here at work.
Though the A Librarian's Guide to Etiquette pretty much summed up my feelings a few days ago:
Out, Burning
Librarians should be weary of being too good at their jobs. The momentary high that comes with exercising your innovations, creativity, efficiency, and skill will only be followed by a deep dive into bitterness and cynicism. So skip all the hard work and join your miserable coworkers now in the professional funk that is librarianship.
yeeeah.
On a good note, I went secondhand clothes shopping this week and made out like a bandit. 2 pairs of work pants (1 pair from J. Jill that are only missing a button and are supercute wide-ish legged corduroy), 1 short lil' tweed skirt, 1 wool/jersey dress, 1 vest (last fall I wanted a vest. I was mocked. This fall I got one. I was so ahead of my time) and 1 sweet sweet sweet vintage black cardigan with hand beading that needs a little tiny bit of repair work on the lining. My total: $22.20. FOR EVERYTHING. I still have accessories to purchase. Most notably some tights, belts, and shirts. But I got all of that at one store. And there are a ton of options here in town for second hand shopping. I'm totally hooked.
Chafee's win in the Republican primary in R.I. doesn't exactly bode well for the Democrats Senate takeback plan. I made a bold prediction last night that this would clinch it for the Republicans remaining in power, but I think I want to take that back. Whitehouse has a pretty good shot at dethroning Chafee. We'll just have to see what those crazy New Englanders will do.
Though R.I. is a blue state, I know of some other New England states that have a tendency to be a little independent minded and uncomfortable with being completely partisan.
25 minutes left in this day and counting...
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
this is what you get for critcizing the administration:
House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said "if you listen to the Democrats, [you] have to wonder if they're more interested in protecting the terrorists than protecting the American people. The fact is these people want to kill Americans -- they have -- and if we don't go after them they will continue to injure and kill Americans."
and from Rick Santorum:
"The very people that planned the attacks are the people who are in Iraq -- al Qaeda in Iraq -- causing that sectarian violence," he said. "Should we ignore that, I ask the senator from Nevada?"
Just when I start believing there really isn't a difference between the 2 parties...
and from Rick Santorum:
"The very people that planned the attacks are the people who are in Iraq -- al Qaeda in Iraq -- causing that sectarian violence," he said. "Should we ignore that, I ask the senator from Nevada?"
Just when I start believing there really isn't a difference between the 2 parties...
Monday, September 11, 2006
monday. again.
Aside from about 10 minutes of Nightline last night, I have successfully avoided the media frenzy surrounding 9/11. No one is going to say anything even remotely groundbreaking about this arbitrary anniversary. I'm mostly avoiding it because it sickens me to see Democrats and Republicans use it for political gain with the upcoming midterm elections.
Dick DeVos has got a couple of new ads out that are really good. In one he goes through her campaign promises from 4 years ago (of course leaving out that some of those promises were blocked by the Republican legislature) and in the other he hits back on her "he-sent-jobs-to-China" ad. What's interesting is that despite his far superior ads his numbers aren't going up. Maybe...just maybe...he won't be able to buy this election afterall.
This weekend went by entirely too quickly. Between Season 2 of Project Runway (it is absolutely DIVINE! Santino and Daniel and my Tim Gunn!) and the little bonfire that could, I feel like the weekend should just be starting. Birthday gathering was pretty much a success though short (some of us needed not consume Jameson. ahem). The Traverac made an appearance. As did Raleigh and his special ladyfriend Lauren. It had been entirely too long since last I'd Raleighed. Though who can blame him when he's got such a charming and lovely companion to keep his attentions occupied.
It's a cold and rainy day here in Western Michigan. Of course the rain managed to hold off until I was just about ready to take off on my bike:
Dick DeVos has got a couple of new ads out that are really good. In one he goes through her campaign promises from 4 years ago (of course leaving out that some of those promises were blocked by the Republican legislature) and in the other he hits back on her "he-sent-jobs-to-China" ad. What's interesting is that despite his far superior ads his numbers aren't going up. Maybe...just maybe...he won't be able to buy this election afterall.
This weekend went by entirely too quickly. Between Season 2 of Project Runway (it is absolutely DIVINE! Santino and Daniel and my Tim Gunn!) and the little bonfire that could, I feel like the weekend should just be starting. Birthday gathering was pretty much a success though short (some of us needed not consume Jameson. ahem). The Traverac made an appearance. As did Raleigh and his special ladyfriend Lauren. It had been entirely too long since last I'd Raleighed. Though who can blame him when he's got such a charming and lovely companion to keep his attentions occupied.
It's a cold and rainy day here in Western Michigan. Of course the rain managed to hold off until I was just about ready to take off on my bike:
- My messenger bag really is waterproof.
- My panties are not.
- Biking in the pouring rain makes one feel slightly insane.
- And really badass.
Friday, September 08, 2006
politics schmolitics! there are much more frightening things on the horizon than a hillary/guilliani matchup
I was planning on a big "rally the troops" optimistic post after yesterday's downer, but a conversation last night left me feeling like it's pretty pointless. There's a reason the URL for this little piece of the blogosphere is whydoicareanyway. Apparently, I'm one of the few who's foolish enough to not give up yet.
Thankfully Season 2 of Project Runway came in for me here at the library. The anticipation of this moment has been almost unbearable as I've been on hold for months. Now that it's here I'm considering a hermit-like weekend filled with 777 minutes of fashion fun. The dresses! The drama! The models! The bitchy queens! It's going to be fabulousness at it's most fabulous! Instead of spending my lunchbreak doing something pointless like writing my congressmen, I wisely spent it catching up on the upcoming fall season.
I have 2 words:
Oh. Dear.
The 80s are back with a vengeance. Babydoll dresses, empire waists, the layered look, capes, leggings, ankle boots, plaids and--horror of horrors!--leg warmers.
LEG WARMERS!
I'm pleased with the copious amounts of knits. And the boyfriend sweater is back. Green and gray are in. That's good. Red lipstick is hot--I can finally wear that Chanel Red I bought a gazillion years ago. And heels. The higher the better. I say yeehaw to that.
Clearly I'm not able to go drop a few thousand dollars on a Dolce and Gabbana original (Harper's Baazar highlighted a dress made of feathers and gold available for a mere $170,000. Riiiiight) so I'll be interested to see what I'm able to come up with. I wish I was a more adept knitter because I'd spend some time making one of those cute knit minidresses or a ginormous oversized cable knit sweater. Regardless, it'll most likely be some mixture of Gap, Banana Republic, Target and hopefully some secondhand storing.
All bravado aside, my weekend will probably be more social than not. After work today I'm heading down to Butch's with coworker Molly for a pineapple mohito and some nosh. There will either be a bonfire or a gathering or a trip to G.R. tomorrow for the birthday celebration. A parental unit dinner was mentioned for Sunday maybe.
Oh well, Heidi Klum, my love.
We have a whole week to be together!
Thankfully Season 2 of Project Runway came in for me here at the library. The anticipation of this moment has been almost unbearable as I've been on hold for months. Now that it's here I'm considering a hermit-like weekend filled with 777 minutes of fashion fun. The dresses! The drama! The models! The bitchy queens! It's going to be fabulousness at it's most fabulous! Instead of spending my lunchbreak doing something pointless like writing my congressmen, I wisely spent it catching up on the upcoming fall season.
I have 2 words:
Oh. Dear.
The 80s are back with a vengeance. Babydoll dresses, empire waists, the layered look, capes, leggings, ankle boots, plaids and--horror of horrors!--leg warmers.
LEG WARMERS!
I'm pleased with the copious amounts of knits. And the boyfriend sweater is back. Green and gray are in. That's good. Red lipstick is hot--I can finally wear that Chanel Red I bought a gazillion years ago. And heels. The higher the better. I say yeehaw to that.
Clearly I'm not able to go drop a few thousand dollars on a Dolce and Gabbana original (Harper's Baazar highlighted a dress made of feathers and gold available for a mere $170,000. Riiiiight) so I'll be interested to see what I'm able to come up with. I wish I was a more adept knitter because I'd spend some time making one of those cute knit minidresses or a ginormous oversized cable knit sweater. Regardless, it'll most likely be some mixture of Gap, Banana Republic, Target and hopefully some secondhand storing.
All bravado aside, my weekend will probably be more social than not. After work today I'm heading down to Butch's with coworker Molly for a pineapple mohito and some nosh. There will either be a bonfire or a gathering or a trip to G.R. tomorrow for the birthday celebration. A parental unit dinner was mentioned for Sunday maybe.
Oh well, Heidi Klum, my love.
We have a whole week to be together!
Thursday, September 07, 2006
doomsday scenario
This little anti-Bush-ite has got to give them props for potentially pulling off the turnaround of a lifetime. Facing a more than likely ousting in November and pathetically low poll numbers, G.W.B. has spent the days leading up to the anniversary of 9/11 reminding Americans that they've been unsuccessful at catching bin Laden, they've created a safe haven for terrorists by invading Iraq and not able to secure it, they've been unable to fight off the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan, and this whole time the CIA has been holding onto prisoners in secret detention camps.
Why am I impressed?
It might work.
One would think that reminding us bin Laden is still on the lam would make us outraged or at the very least make some of us stand up and say "What the fuck have you been doing these past 5 years besides making the world a more dangerous place for Americans?!" Oddly this doesn't seem to be the case. He's using the tried and true scare tactics that have worked so well in the past: bin Laden's a dangerous man who is out to destroy the U.S. Has anyone else noticed that bin Laden is better for G.W.B. alive and on the loose than he would be either dead or captured?
Regarding Iraq: the only chance the Republican Party has at using what the Democrats will most likely be campaigning on this fall-the public's lack of support for the Iraq war-is to turn it into part of the War on Terror. Will the American people fall for it? Will we look past the obvious which is that we created that situation in Iraq by ousting a dictator? Will we look past the fact that this is, what, the 3rd justification for this war? First it was WMD's. Next it was liberating the Iraqi people. Now it's the War on Terror. If you're incapable of justifying your war, mayhaps you're not equipped to run it.
Remember Afghanistan? The original reason we invaded Afghanistan post-9/11 was that the Taliban was harboring al Qaeda (and we were pissed and needed to bomb the shit out of someone). Remember how quickly we accomplished that mission? Remember how very shortly after our victory we invaded Iraq? Here's a quote from his speech on August 31, 2006:
"In Afghanistan, we saw a vicious tyranny that harbored the terrorists who planned the September the 11th attacks. Within weeks, American forces were in Afghanistan. Along with Afghan allies, we captured or killed hundreds of al Qaeda and Taliban fighters; we closed down their training camps, and we helped the people of Afghanistan replace the Taliban with a democratic government that answers to them. Our enemies saw the transformation in Afghanistan, and they've responded by trying to roll back all the progress. Al Qaeda and the Taliban lost a coveted base in Afghanistan and they know they will never reclaim it when democracy succeeds. And so they're trying to return to power by attacking Afghanistan's free institutions. And they will fail. Forces from 40 nations, including every member of NATO, are now serving alongside American troops to support the new Afghan government. The days of the Taliban are over. The future of Afghanistan belongs to the people of Afghanistan. And the future of Afghanistan belongs to freedom."
And here's a news report from today stating that NATO's top commander is asking for more troops. NATO just took over operations at the end of July and have been surprised just how strong the opposition has been.
I don't think G.W.B. and the NATO commander are even talking about the same universe let alone the same country. I'm guessing America is going to be more likely to buy G.W.B.'s description of events as we're not too fond of being told we failed.
Finally: yesterday's revelation that there are secret prisons being conducted by the CIA seems like kind of stupid move by the White House. Think again! It forces Congress to come up with some sort of court/tribunal that will comply with the SCOTUS ruling earlier this summer. And if the Democrats put up too much of a fight over what the administration wants (ie not allowing defendants access to the evidence against them) the Democrats get painted as looking soft on the War on Terror. In G.W.B.'s perfect world, the U.S. could prosecute them with evidence that was obtained under conditions just short of torture--and wasn't it a nice touch to have the Defense Department come out with new guidelines restricting the use of, some might say, torturous methods like waterboarding just as the CIA is turning over 14 prisoners who have been subject to just such interrogation techniques?
So a recap:
They don't have bin Laden (and they want to keep it that way)
Iraq was a mistake as there were never WMD'S, the sectarian conflict was something we foolishly never foresaw, we've essentially created a safe haven for terrorists, but it's the front lines of the War on Terror so we can't leave.
Afghanistan is just fine unless you actually look at what's happening.
Detaining individuals at secret prisons has done wonders for our international credibility (see the first 3 recap items) and I'm sure will somehow continue to keep America safe.
Mark my words:
the American people are indeed that dumb.
The Republican Party has a real shot at holding onto Congress.
Why am I impressed?
It might work.
One would think that reminding us bin Laden is still on the lam would make us outraged or at the very least make some of us stand up and say "What the fuck have you been doing these past 5 years besides making the world a more dangerous place for Americans?!" Oddly this doesn't seem to be the case. He's using the tried and true scare tactics that have worked so well in the past: bin Laden's a dangerous man who is out to destroy the U.S. Has anyone else noticed that bin Laden is better for G.W.B. alive and on the loose than he would be either dead or captured?
Regarding Iraq: the only chance the Republican Party has at using what the Democrats will most likely be campaigning on this fall-the public's lack of support for the Iraq war-is to turn it into part of the War on Terror. Will the American people fall for it? Will we look past the obvious which is that we created that situation in Iraq by ousting a dictator? Will we look past the fact that this is, what, the 3rd justification for this war? First it was WMD's. Next it was liberating the Iraqi people. Now it's the War on Terror. If you're incapable of justifying your war, mayhaps you're not equipped to run it.
Remember Afghanistan? The original reason we invaded Afghanistan post-9/11 was that the Taliban was harboring al Qaeda (and we were pissed and needed to bomb the shit out of someone). Remember how quickly we accomplished that mission? Remember how very shortly after our victory we invaded Iraq? Here's a quote from his speech on August 31, 2006:
"In Afghanistan, we saw a vicious tyranny that harbored the terrorists who planned the September the 11th attacks. Within weeks, American forces were in Afghanistan. Along with Afghan allies, we captured or killed hundreds of al Qaeda and Taliban fighters; we closed down their training camps, and we helped the people of Afghanistan replace the Taliban with a democratic government that answers to them. Our enemies saw the transformation in Afghanistan, and they've responded by trying to roll back all the progress. Al Qaeda and the Taliban lost a coveted base in Afghanistan and they know they will never reclaim it when democracy succeeds. And so they're trying to return to power by attacking Afghanistan's free institutions. And they will fail. Forces from 40 nations, including every member of NATO, are now serving alongside American troops to support the new Afghan government. The days of the Taliban are over. The future of Afghanistan belongs to the people of Afghanistan. And the future of Afghanistan belongs to freedom."
And here's a news report from today stating that NATO's top commander is asking for more troops. NATO just took over operations at the end of July and have been surprised just how strong the opposition has been.
I don't think G.W.B. and the NATO commander are even talking about the same universe let alone the same country. I'm guessing America is going to be more likely to buy G.W.B.'s description of events as we're not too fond of being told we failed.
Finally: yesterday's revelation that there are secret prisons being conducted by the CIA seems like kind of stupid move by the White House. Think again! It forces Congress to come up with some sort of court/tribunal that will comply with the SCOTUS ruling earlier this summer. And if the Democrats put up too much of a fight over what the administration wants (ie not allowing defendants access to the evidence against them) the Democrats get painted as looking soft on the War on Terror. In G.W.B.'s perfect world, the U.S. could prosecute them with evidence that was obtained under conditions just short of torture--and wasn't it a nice touch to have the Defense Department come out with new guidelines restricting the use of, some might say, torturous methods like waterboarding just as the CIA is turning over 14 prisoners who have been subject to just such interrogation techniques?
So a recap:
They don't have bin Laden (and they want to keep it that way)
Iraq was a mistake as there were never WMD'S, the sectarian conflict was something we foolishly never foresaw, we've essentially created a safe haven for terrorists, but it's the front lines of the War on Terror so we can't leave.
Afghanistan is just fine unless you actually look at what's happening.
Detaining individuals at secret prisons has done wonders for our international credibility (see the first 3 recap items) and I'm sure will somehow continue to keep America safe.
Mark my words:
the American people are indeed that dumb.
The Republican Party has a real shot at holding onto Congress.
Friday, September 01, 2006
now that's what I call fascism!
Wow, am I sick and tired of the administration comparing the war in Iraq/Terrorism (I separate them because to connect them would mean that the terrorists win) to fascism. I'm also really sick of the 9/11-Iraq name-drop:
"Some politicians look at our efforts in Iraq and see a diversion from the war on terror," Bush said. "That would come as news to Osama bin Laden, who proclaimed that the Third World War is raging in Iraq. It would come as news to the No. 2 man of al Qaeda, Zawahiri, who has called the struggle in Iraq, 'the place for the greatest battle.' "
bin Laden didn't say that until after we invaded and screwed that country inside and out. bin Laden said that after it became pretty clear to him and the rest of the world that the mission was not accomplished.
The American people would like to thank you for not only capitalizing on one of the most horrific events this country has endured for your political gain but also for creating the very dangerous global environment we currently find ourselves dealing with due primarily to your failed attempts at holding together a responsible foreign policy.
Thanks also for resorting to your typical scare tactics when your party's poll numbers drop in a midterm election year that's shaping up to be quite a fight and the majority of the country has turned on your pathetic excuse for a war:
"If we give up the fight in the streets of Baghdad, we will face the terrorists in the streets of our own cities," he said."
In other news, it was nice to see this country get it self all wrapped up in a media frenzy over a murder confession that ended up being the ravings of a sick man. We watched "news" footage involving old home videos. We watched "news" footage involving interviews with former high school teachers. We watched "news" footage of him sitting on a plane from Bangkok. The story had enough clout that it not only hit the tabloid news shows, but the networks-both evening and morning shows and my beloved NewsHour. God Bless America and our ability to turn a lie into a hot story.
Man oh man have I got some plans this weekend. Detailed and intricate plans. Plans complex and time-sensitive. Plans involving a wide variety of people and a wide variety of locales. Most of these plans were hatched by myself and my steadfast companion. The two of us. Together. Made some plans.
Take that.
And speaking of that young whippersnapper:
new poem published today!
"Some politicians look at our efforts in Iraq and see a diversion from the war on terror," Bush said. "That would come as news to Osama bin Laden, who proclaimed that the Third World War is raging in Iraq. It would come as news to the No. 2 man of al Qaeda, Zawahiri, who has called the struggle in Iraq, 'the place for the greatest battle.' "
bin Laden didn't say that until after we invaded and screwed that country inside and out. bin Laden said that after it became pretty clear to him and the rest of the world that the mission was not accomplished.
The American people would like to thank you for not only capitalizing on one of the most horrific events this country has endured for your political gain but also for creating the very dangerous global environment we currently find ourselves dealing with due primarily to your failed attempts at holding together a responsible foreign policy.
Thanks also for resorting to your typical scare tactics when your party's poll numbers drop in a midterm election year that's shaping up to be quite a fight and the majority of the country has turned on your pathetic excuse for a war:
"If we give up the fight in the streets of Baghdad, we will face the terrorists in the streets of our own cities," he said."
In other news, it was nice to see this country get it self all wrapped up in a media frenzy over a murder confession that ended up being the ravings of a sick man. We watched "news" footage involving old home videos. We watched "news" footage involving interviews with former high school teachers. We watched "news" footage of him sitting on a plane from Bangkok. The story had enough clout that it not only hit the tabloid news shows, but the networks-both evening and morning shows and my beloved NewsHour. God Bless America and our ability to turn a lie into a hot story.
Man oh man have I got some plans this weekend. Detailed and intricate plans. Plans complex and time-sensitive. Plans involving a wide variety of people and a wide variety of locales. Most of these plans were hatched by myself and my steadfast companion. The two of us. Together. Made some plans.
Take that.
And speaking of that young whippersnapper:
new poem published today!
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