So today the Mexican President attended the funeral of one of his former top heads in his war against drug cartels. A few hours before the funeral, a senior detective was gunned down by seven bullets to his head & neck, and two other top police officers have also been murdered over the span of a few days.

Safe to say that the drug cartels are in charge? Wonder what has to be done. I guess it’s rough ousting the former ruling party, eh? Very sad.



The Many pains of Jujutsu
Today I had initially planned to get home from work, and then work out my legs. In reality, I got home from work, and worked out my eyelids. Because I was tired, and my legs were more-so.

My knees. My knees felt like they were suspended in pudding or something. They were slow, felt swollen, and just sort of ached a little. No real pounding pain, but it just didn’t feel like my good ol’ knees in general.

My leg muscles. My butt was sore, as were my calfs. I sort of figured my calfs would be sore from all the toe-curling action during the kicks and takedowns, but I didn't figure on the butt. So I in effect got my leg workout on already, albeit a day early.

Oh, and my foot. My left foot I think I sprained the top of it. The top of it? Yeah, the top. I was doing some rolls yesterday as practice, and I rolled onto and then over the top of my left foot, and I heard some popping. I made it through the rest of the class, but when I got home I could tell that it was probably going to be a little sore today. And I was right.

Oh well. Such is life. I feel pretty good overall, especially after my nap. Tomorrow I begin class at 11am. Hopefully I sleep well tonight. Will need it.



Tired?
Yeah. Remember we watched “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” last night. Well I mentioned it was long? Couple that with the fact that we didn’t actually start it until closer to 10pm. I don’t recommend that, should you find yourself in a similar situation.



The Girl’s changing climate wrt Pit Bulls
For the longest time The Girl has maintained that pit bulls are not inherently dangerous, that they are trained to be a certain way.

I have not believed this myself during this time. The truth of the matter is that pit bulls are involved in more bites & attacks than any other dog type. For me, it’s safe to say that the same as labradors are instinctively drawn to water & swimming, as are pit bulls to aggressiveness. I mean, that may not always have been the case, they weren’t always supposed to be killer dogs, and in fact they do have some stigma that is not deserved (German Shepherds actually bite harder, and both pale in comparison to the Rottweiler). But the fact is that today’s pit bulls are not by rule friendly family dogs as they once were, sad as it may be.

I attributed this defensive posture of The Girl to the fact that her dog is figured to be part pit bull of some fashion, most likely American Staffordshire Terrier, which is is commonly grouped with pit bulls (duh). Yes, she’s cute, no she’s not much a threat, but that doesn’t change the rule. It might just help define it, know what I mean?

Anyway, those feelings & defenses have eroded over the past few months. First she had her mom inform her that her cat had been killed when someone brought over their “friendly” pit bull and it chased down the feline and essentially ate it. The cat was some 20 years old or thereabout. Then just tonight, she found out a coworker friend of hers had her dog killed by someone’s “friendly” pit bull at a party both dogs attended.

Not only that, but we had also read recently in the paper about some dogs that had been attacked & killed by someone’s “friendly” family pit bull at the beach. Twice. In February.

I think it’s safe to say that The Girl is ready to admit that perhaps there’s something to the idea that pit bulls are in fact inherently dangerous pets. In the same way that Labradors are inherently perfect family dogs. It’s in the breed, I’m sorry.

Peace.

Tags: Gym, Entertainment, Politics

I think it might be related to a recent change in my ‘diet,’ actually. See I wanted to try a newer creatine product to help my lifting. This stuff was supposed to be more potent, aid more in uptake by the body. Well it might be working too good.

See, creatine essentially works by helping your muscles hold more water. This helps weightlifters because it basically gives their muscles the reserves necessary to get that “one more rep” out, and really tear down the muscle fibers more, so that the rebuilding process has more to do. More rebuilding, more mass! Well I think that my headache – that has now lasted 3 days straight – might be a function of dehydration in the parts of my body that are not muscle. Yesterday, not only did I have the headache, but I also had aching in my hamstrings. I started to think it might be dehydration and began drinking a lot of water, which by the beginning of the evening had helped to alleviate the headache and hamstring aching.

But I can only drink so much water at work, and when I got home I started feeling depleted again. The kicker was when I crawled in bed, I got a shiver and started… uh, shivering? Well anyway, my abs flexed, and they flexed hard, so hard in fact that they cramped up and I couldn’t get them to release for a few seconds. And at that point, I realized that for sure, I do not have enough water in my body.



Off the stuff
So I am going to stop taking the creatine, at least for a little while. See if it’s the X-factor or not. I think so, but I like to test. I’ll be drinking lots of water today, no creatine, try to drown the cramps & headache in wa-wa. I think it’s going to work.



The last straw, Clinton?
Clinton wonders why people defected to Obama. Well let’s see… Might playing up the gas tax break for Summer – which serves no real purpose and is against almost everything else we deem important, like the environment and the attempt to break our oil habit – be a hint?

I’m proud of Obama for his stance. He’s right in that realistically, it won’t solve any real problems. It would save me a whopping $100 over those 3 months. Meanwhile, it just might aid in putting more pollutants into the atmosphere, and really just give the gas manufacturers more reason to raise prices as they see fit.

All this fronting & maxing… it’s politics. Obama has gained a backing because he doesn’t want to play politics as usual, and a lot of people respect that. I respect that. This may be the final straw for me.

OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!

Peace.

Tags: Politics

Yesterday our trust iPod Nano died. It was a first-generation model, white, with a custom inscription. We mourn the loss. Mostly me though.

I was working a few nights ago, but I noticed on the way home the battery was running low, so I took it in to charge it. Yesterday I grabbed it on the way out the door, and sadly I noticed that it would not respond to any button commands. I tried to recharge it. I tried to reload the software. No dice. It does not want to recognize any button presses.

Sucky. Because my antenna is and has always been busted on the 4Runner, so the signal I get is lousy at best. That and even if it did magically get decent signal, there’s not much in the way of radio worth hollering about around here.

Sigh. May finally be time to look into a new iPod. Sad.



Clinton Wins Penn
I really wish that people would wise up. What are you voting for? Did you decide who to vote for based on looks? Did someone talk a good game?

No I’m not saying that Obama is a bad contender. I’m actually more referring to the fact that recently it was polled as such to reveal that McCain is about even in the race to the White House with the Democratic candidates.

Seriously America, where have you been the last eight years? Been around long? Not sure if you noticed, but nothing good has come from our “war” in Iraq. Al Queda is now a presence where it was not prior, and gas? Oh yeah, while our servicemen die, our prices for gas go to $4 a gallon. Nice.

I need to convince the area I call home to secede. We could be our own country. Or maybe convince us and everyone in between to just join Canada. I would not be opposed.

Peace.

Tags: Politics, hate

So yeah watched Across the Universe last night. It was… well, it was… like an art school project gone horribly wrong. Yes, remind me next time to avoid like the plague any and all arthouse flicks. Wow what a horrible movie. Dammit I cannot stand musicals!

I’m not sure what they were thinking. I mean, it takes a lot of effort to ruin a story like they did. The actual plot wasn’t that bad, but then they incorporate all these damn singing sequences that really detract from the point of everything else, because it’s so damn corny. Sorry, I’m not a West Side Story kinda guy; groups of people break out spontaneously into song and dance and I break into a wild frenzy in which someone – perhaps multiple retarded singers/dancers – must die, that’s just the way it is.

And they damn near ruined the entire Beatles Catalogue as well. Few if any of the voices and performances were worth listening to. I would have preferred just listening to a CD of it all and being done with it.

Do not watch this movie. Do not believe the hype that it’s “visually stunning” or “a storytelling masterpiece;” it’s absolute crap I can attest. A real, honest-to-goodness F-minus.



This is why Republicans suck
Mccain has been busy in the campaign trail simplifying the issues in such a way as to prey on the fears of the constituents to get elected. This is not right. It is not right to say that if we withdraw “Al Queda will have won,” because you’re implying that we are fighting Al Queda, and that they are the reason we got involved.

Little-known fact (read the above-linked article), but there was no Al Queda presence in Iraq until after we invaded in 2003. So in all reality, if “Al Queda wins” it’s because we went there in the first place; the republicans don’t want to admit this of course, because it was their idea and they're wholly responsible for the threats they have created there.

So they continue to frame it in such a way as to imply that we’re the heroes doing god’s work. Oh yeah, it’s the modern-day Crusades folks, don’t be fooled by the smoke and mirrors.


Safe to say that I hate republicans like I hate musicals…

Peace.


Across the universe review - Worst Movie Ever?

Tags: Politics, hate

I worked my arse of last night at work (of all places to do such a thing), and started feeling rather run-down as the night progressed. I hoped it was just that the long day had taken its toll on me, as I had gotten up early to take the dogs out, then gotten home and began a vigorous shoulder workout, then cleaned myself up to go to work and dog myself there, too.

Secretly though, I feared I was getting what The Girl was giving to me. B*tch.

She had started to feel ill a few days ago, and I tried to keep my distance. But I’m a man, and nature calls us on occasion, sick or not. Damn my lover ways, next thing I know I’m sick too. What a way to ruin a weekend off. Damn that woman; she’s such a giver.



Across the… the… LIVING ROOM!
Since The Girl is not feeling all that well, she decided to get her shift covered tonight. Since I’m off too and not feeling all that great myself, we’re going to sit back, relax, eat ice cream and watch a movie. On the agenda? Across the Universe. The reviews have been all over the map, with some calling it a masterpiece, and it looks a little odd. What the heck though, right? Netflix is workin’ OK, so I figure that we’ll put it on the queue, and see what happens. Maybe it'll be the next Shawshank.

I’ll be sure to report back to all the people that don’t read my blog anyway so you won’t know how the movie is.



More Proof The Mighty Dollar owns our Gov’t
Here’s a nice link to a blog post on the cosumerist that summarizes the state of personal taxes and corporate taxes now, years past, and into the future.

Hey these are figures BY the government; I’m not making this sh!t up.

Peace.

Tags: Politics, Entertainment

So true to my word, we popped in The Usual Suspects last night for a good time. I had seen it before, but it was long ago and I was curious as to whether or not I thought it was still a decent movie. Crap, it was originally released in 1995. That’s like forever ago.

Anyway, the 2008 viewing… We watched, it ended, and we thought about it. I thought about it a lot. Have you seen the film? They’re questioning a guy about a mass murder scene in San Pedro, CA. He’s this cripple, and he’s got immunity but there’s some local and other law officials that want to question him anyway. So he tells them a story. And then it ends. And you learn that that’s all it was; a story he told.

Which left me with questions. You see, the thing is our only window into “the story” is that which Kevin Spacey tells us. So, if it’s just a story, then really there’s nothing the audience really knows. What happened? How are we supposed to know what really happened versus what was just made up? I mean, you can wash away any discrepancies in the film just by saying “yeah but he was just telling the cops a story,” but then it really makes the film pointless. And that bothers me. Because then, why watch it? We watch, we want to know the “real” deal, what really transpired, and what story he’s told to cover his tracks. I think about it, and I don’t have any respect or admiration for the main character.

And I mean, if he’s as awesome as he’s purported to be, why bother telling a story? He’s got immunity and really the whole premise of the movie fails immediately, because they start by telling us he’s got immunity. So how do they get him to talk? He’s got nothing to say really, and no need to say it. Why bother…

It’s not a bad movie, but for me once you’ve seen it it really is a lot worse than it should be. I’ll give it a straight C. It really could have been better, if they hadn’t used the “twist ending” to justify the rest of the entire film.



Wax On. Let set and dry. Wax Off.
So I have talked about it before, but now I think it’s going to happen. The other day I cut out of a dinner date with The Girl early, as she was actually at work and I was making her serve me food, and went to check out a Dojo just down the street. They have classes thrice weekly, and it’s going to run about $65 monthly for me, or $100 monthly for both. The Girl might join, she’s kinda interested in the idea.

So yeah, the forearm isn’t quite back to 100%, but it’s getting pretty close, and I think I’m going to go for it. Oh, and I also learned that it’s “jujutsu,” not “ju-jitsu” so apparently I’m an idiot. Actually not quite. I sort of cross-pollenated two different brands of martial arts is what happened. “jujutsu” is the original art form that dates back to feudal Japan. Then there’s also "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu” which is, um, Brazilian. They’re similar, and in fact related, so you can see where I may have made this boo-boo: drop the I, and we’re done!



Elitist? Probably just honest
I really don’t want to have to jump ship, but Clinton’s making it hard. You heard the guff over Barack’s “Elitist” comments? I read all of them. They’re not that bad. And quite honestly I agree, and I think he’s got the right idea as to the why’s of certain people’s discontent.

And then Clinton & McCain both go and jump on the guy. Know what? I want to hear their ideas for a lot of American’s discontent then. What, do they think it’s because they are unhappy with their cable TV offerings? What do they think it is then?

More than anything, I think that there’s this big divide between reality and TV reality. Obama’s right, dammit, but so are Clinton & McCain, in that you can’t actually say that stuff aloud. That’s something that you discuss behind closed doors with friends and advisors; it’s the elephant in the room, you know? We all see it, but no one is allowed to talk about it. The elephant? The reach of the Military-Industrial Complex into our living rooms. Sure it may not be making bombs, it may even look gentle, but the idea that gov’t has not only tied its constituents to the business machine, but actually gone so far as to sell them out to it is oh so very real. People don’t see it like that all the time, but it’s the reality: we’re ‘just’ consumers for the machine, so that those atop can live the life while we chase the carrot on the stick.

Yeah, shame on Obama for mentioning it…

Peace.

Tags: Politics

This morning on some morning “news” show (I don’t know or care to find out which), Rosie O’Donnell was a guest. This was a big deal, because you may not recall but she was on another morning-esque show called The View (11 years now, no way!), where she had a falling-out with the only good-looking chick on the show over the whole Iraq Debacle we now find ourselves in.

Anyway, some thoughts on the matter:


ROSIE, YOU’RE RIGHT ABOUT the WAR AND SUCH, OK?
Look, I agree with you. The war is a farce. And in fact I think your views are much less cynical than my own are. The pretty bitch was wrong, she’s dumb and she doesn’t think passed her own perky, plump boobs. But c’mon! You gotta tone down the oinking, OK? People see your ugly mug, badgering away with that obnoxious attitude of yours, and they then try to label all liberals as “Rosie clones” or something.

Look: I even agree that you have to fight hard against the right-wingers. They throw sticks and stones and you need to throw sticks and stones back. But you’re dropping bombs, and more importantly, you’re just annoying. Shut up. Do all of us left-leaners a favor, and have someone else make your points for you. Write them down. Give them to me if you must. Dammit!

And I also agree that rather than arguing over silly, minute differences, Barack & Hilary need to realize that they’re both running for the highest office in the world. A black man & a woman, this would have been less than a pipe-dream 30 years ago. It would have been considered suicide – in the literal sense – a mere 60 years ago. Yes, they need to get over themselves, and get to at least being polite and sincere with each other.

But again, coming from you, it means so much less. You’re destroying the very foundations you hold dear every time you talk. Stop talking, OK, before you unravel democracy!

HOW YOU'RE DOING IT
You say things that are just so out of the realm of reality. Yeah sure, you don’t watch any TV or have any internet access at home. How the hell do you know what’s being said about you then? Guess what? You’re not front-page news on the New York Times, dear. And uh, the rest of america cannot fathom how it is that someone who is so often plastered all over the damn devices cannot have access to them. Hey guess what, it would be hard for you to blog (video blogging to boot!) if you aren’t using a computer, OK? Give us a break, even the dumbass right-wing nutjobs can figure out that if you have a blog (with video!) that you probably, must maybe, might be using a computer. And the internet.

So you’re a liar. And a hypocrite. And so much more. Like extremely annoying. Even to those who agree with your premises. And to be quite honest, you’re just not that special. I don’t care. I don’t think a lot of people do. And those who “worship” you? Yeah, the rest of us “normies’ feel about the same towards them as we do towards you. Are you getting it? Picking up what I’m throwing down, as they say? White on rice? You good to go? We connecting yet?



And more on the important point (and peoples)
Barack… Hilary… Seriously you two, get over whatever it is. And get real, too. I feel like you two are giving the public lines they want to hear (rescue! Pull out! Yay!), when in reality we can’t achieve the overall goals we need to and actually do what you say.

Like, uh, pull out of Iraq? Have you thought through that quagmire? Seriously? Yes, that's what we should do, tear apart a country with war... and then leave. Yeah I'm sure that wouldn't stain our image in the world any, huh? Oh, and saving the housing market? Are you for real? How the hell are your constituents going to afford homes if you don’t let the prices settle down to normal levels? You can’t bail out the mortgage industry and lower prices at the same time, sorry. Gonna have to let that crumble, my dears, if you really have the people's interests in mind here.

Dammit you two, I don’t want to have to run myself. I can’t. I have a few more years before I’m eligible. Get it right.Or email me. I’m available for consulting.

I’ll be checking my inbox. Hourly.

Peace.

Tags: Politics, hate

So a few nights ago we went to the symphony. They did Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake (remember I had said that it was Mozart; I was wrong – that’s next month). It was very pretty.

I have lots of classical music in my collection. But nothing can really compare to the depth, the power of the live orchestra. It’s magical. The music is alive, you feel it and it’s a wonderful experience, it really is. Tonight was the first that I have ever been to see an orchestra live. I liked it. I liked it a lot. I – I think we may make this “Our Thing,” as it were. It’s just too bad that they’re off the charts after next month. I think the “season” opens up again in October. Nice. Hopefully in time for my birthday. Buy me a present, btw.



Dairy farming: Organic vs “Conventional”
I was reading some “Did You Know” facts about a local dairy co-op while on lunch @ work the other day. They were saying that 19 of their members were “conventional” dairy farmers and 24 were Organic. And it got me thinking. It’s a simple question, and it’s a simple answer.

What is “Conventional?” And what is “Organic?” Conventional is by definition what is done ‘normally.’ Organic is taken to mean that the product is raised/groomed/created without the use of synthetic chemicals. Up until sometime around the middle of the last century, there were not many synthetic chemicals to bother mentioning. And it seemed to me, isn’t ‘Organic’ actually ‘Conventional?’

I mean, that’s the way it’s typically done, in nature for sure, and also around most of the globe and throughout history. Conventional is Organic. At least it should be. I am not sure why it’s perverted now, though.

They should rename ‘Conventional’ to more accurately describe what it is: “Hormone- & Unnatural Antibiotic-infested farming.” Or they could just shorten it to “Unnatural Farming.” I’d be OK with that too.

Seriously though, think about that next time you hear the word ‘Conventional.’ It sounds very low-key, very tame, something that you could take for granted. But really think about what it’s being applied to. It seems to me that just like “No Child Left Behind” was a victory of title over substance, they are using language to quell any fears that what they’re really doing might arouse. No one wants to buy milk that comes from “Hormone- & Unnatural Antibiotic-infested farming,” or even “Unnatural Farming.” But hey, Milk from “Conventional” farming methods? That doesn’t sound so bad!

Yeah. I’m all-organic, baby. And proud. And healthy. Thanks, I’ll pass on the “Conventional.”

Peace.

Tags: Politics, earth conditions

They keep on saying that we need to bail out the damn mortgage industry, some sort of “economic stimulus” plan, prop it all up with some $30 billion. I just don’t get it.

To me, it would seem that amounts to perpetuating the republican agenda. I mean, the dems didn’t create the housing boom, it serves the purpose of keeping most of the people (whom they’re supposed to be “for”) out of one of the biggest facets of the American Dream… yet they keep right on going for that. Election year politics? Man, f*ck.

Sorry, but propping up the housing market serves no one except the people looking to turn around and sell for profit sometime soon. The market’s overvalued, and if they prop it up and keep the prices artificially high, then they’re locking soooo many low-income families out of the possibility of ever owning the roof over their heads.

This is decidedly not a democratic ideal. I don’t know what the hell they’re thinking. I actually – GASP! – agree with McCain on this one.



Workout stories
I haven’t worked out much recently. I was hit by the flu bug, albeit not too hard. But then I just sort of never got much better for the better part of two weeks, and only recently got good enough to lift frequently. Like, 3 days ago.

One thing I noticed during my hiatus: lack of gas. Yeah, that gas. Almost as soon as I got back on the bandwagon though, the gas came back. And it hit me: I may not be as naturally gassy as I feared myself to be; it may be a byproduct of the whey protein supplement I take when I work out. Er, used to take. I have been off it for almost two weeks and haven’t had any issues, so I am going to try getting on it again, see if the gas reappears. If so? Then I’m screwed.

More specifically, my wallet’s screwed. Because it’s not like I’m going to not lift. Rather, I’m going to have to relegate myself to actually eating the protein I need, as opposed to drinking it on the cheap. And it’s not like I don’t enjoy the eating. It’s just a bit more expensive.

So if you’re a workout buff and you think gas is just a way of life for you? Maybe not. It may just be a “whey” of life. May be another point to the old adage, “you get what you pay for.” No way to cheap out on the weight gain either, apparently. At least for me.

Peace.

Tags: Politics, Gym

OK so I have been a supporter of the Clinton campaign since I knew she was going to run. This is because her husband did a bang-up job (hehe) while he was in office, and it’s not like the two are polar examples of politicians, so I was hoping to get the duo back in office, sort of right this ship we like to call Home.

But their recent campaigning has sort of soured me, and I feel a great many others. Perhaps even why they are struggling now, behind their competition in populous & delegate votes. It’s not that I feel they won’t do a good job anymore, but I did also say that I think both candidates would be a fine fit, so… It’s more that she’s gone to stooping instead of stumping.

Keep this up, and I may just decide that I’d rather the candidate that stuck to the issues. Maybe that’s an important part of being President, eh? Sticking to the issues at hand?



New York Governer linked to high-class Whores
Aww, that sucks. Hee hee, that made me laugh a little.

I’ve read some comments essentially saying that it’s only a problem because prostitution is illegal, which perhaps it shouldn’t be. Well, yes and no…

I think that maybe prostitution should be legalized. It’s a service, I mean we hire dancers, why not f*ckers? However, I don’t think prostitution being legal would have been enough to right this particular ship. As he said, he let his family down, which legalized prostitution or no, was going to be the case. I mean, I don’t think his wife is as upset that he was involved in illegal charades as much as she was upset by the fact that he went dipping in another honey pot.

So really, the only solution to those types of issues is to legalize prostitution, and also make it socially acceptable to “go outside the house” occasionally to get a fill-up, if you are pickin’ up what I’m throwin’ down.

Generic checklist in this alternate reality: Get groceries, rotate tires, knock a prostitute, pick up kids from soccer, balance checkbook.



What a Great Day!
Today was so nice almost all around. It wasn’t that cool when we got up, we hung out and ate breakfast (yay cereal!), then eventually went out for a short hike (hour & a half) down a trail we hadn’t been down before.

It was cool because it led into back-country more or less, branching off into all kinds of different trails & paths, with a few major arteries that got crossed here & there. Fun trails, though. Up steep inclines, through narrow, winding passages, and over the river & through the snow or some sh!t like that. Might be the trails I decide to go training for adventure racing on, me & Miles anyway.



Except –
Except that the entrance is marked “PRIVATE PROPERTY; KEEP OUT; NO TRESPASSING.” The main road leading down from the main thoroughfare ended at a residence about the better part of a mile down. On our way back, we saw someone in a SUV drive by. They glared unapprovingly.

I wasn’t wearing any pants at the time, so I’m not really sure if it was our presence, or the lack of presence of said pants. Hard to tell.



What the hell were you doing without pants?
Rocking out, of course. And what better way to rock out, than with….

You know, just never mind.

Tags: Politics, Animals

I have been saying this for what, years? Finally, a California University reveals that Daylight Savings Time is an utter farce.

Duh. I have been saying that it’s a waste, based on the same principles that they cited as causes for the lack of savings, and an actually-expanded costs of DST.

And what about factoring in the safety concerns? How many people are injured during the first week or so of the changeover?

Yeah, let’s just dump DST. It’s all about control, nothing more. Government mind control over its subjects.

That's, uh, YOU, people...



Throat caught up with me
I had to spend a lot of time conversing last night, and now my throat is paying the price. I’m hoarse, my throat’s a little inflamed, and I’m glad that I now have two days off in a row. I won’t be working out, maybe just taking the dogs out and getting some things done around here I need to get done.

Like oil changes. Maybe a blog, similar in design & content to this one.

Peace.

Tags: earth conditions, Politics

Another thing is that Hilary strikes me as someone who is willing to look at a problem and try to figure out the best solution, maybe even put the best people on the job. When people instantly start out with “I have a plan” speak, I get kinda turned off. Why? Well if you have a plan, you could, oh I don’t know, maybe submit it to the floor for debate in the Senate or Congress? You could do that if you had a plan. Look, our problems are complex, and to say that they “have a plan” for each and every tick is a failure of character, and kind of insulting to me, that you think I’ll buy that you’re plan is somehow a magical band-aid. Though Clinton has begun to take on that rhetoric as of late, when the campaigns were getting under way, I remember a debate focusing on education in which everyone “had a plan,” but Hilary was aware that there was a problem, and admitted she didn’t know the exact answer, but said something to the effect that it’d really have to be studied by the experts, and a plan devised. That’s true leadership, whereas “I have a plan” is more posturing than anything.

Another thing that strikes me about Obama, is something I read recently on another distant internet friend’s website. He linked to an article here, where they spoke of his affiliation with a “Black” church. But he’s black, right? So what’s wrong, you ask? Well it’s not that it’s a black church, it’s that they put black above all else. How is a leader of many people going to be for me when you belong to an organization that’s in a way against me? And against my middle-class values? How can you be a uniter, when you are so immersed in an organization that rejects most of the values you say you’re for?

And the ace up Hilary’s sleeve, for me, is that her Hubby will be first lady – er, man. I mean, regardless of what you think of his personal hi-jinx in office (I think it was scummy to do it and lie about it, though I would bet he’s not the first – the repubs hated him and I’m sure they did whatever they could to dredge up some kind of dirt on him), the fact of the matter is that he and his policies really helped bring America out of the economic drought we were fading into, and helped bring about the boom years we took for granted. He and Hilary are of the same mind, and I think having that team back in office would be so great for us.

To me, it’s of little surprise that during the 1980’s, under control of the repubs, the market and the US’s stature in the world began to crumble. Taking over from bushie #1, Clinton led off and began the US revolution. And we had our first balanced budget and budget surplus in some 20+ years. Then as bushie #2 took office, we suddenly ran back to deficit and a flagging economy. Coincidence? Hardly, I think.

Hey, I’ll support either dem that gets the nod, but in all honesty, I hope that when people vote, they’re taking a look beyond the rhetoric. Who’s more qualified? Who has done this before? Is now the time to take chances?

Hilary for President, 2008. Get it straight.

Peace.

Tags: Politics, earth conditions

So a few days ago, at my new job, the head honcho let me know that at my year date I’d be eligible for two-week’s vacation time, as well as 4 personal days. She also informed me that I’d only have until September 30th to use them all up, as they’d expire by then, so I should probably go ahead and request the timeframe I want off so I’m more or less guaranteed to be able to use my time off for the year.

So this probably means that they expect to keep me that long, right? This is a good sign then, no? I hope so. I think so… I hope so.



Bill Clinton Stumps
This was the newspaper headline today, the day after Mr. Bill Clinton was up campaigning for his other half. I grabbed a copy during lunch, as I had listened to the speech and wasn’t stumped at all, so I was curious to read about what the hell everyone was so confused about.

Much to my surprise, “stump” is some sort of slang I guess for “campaign.” So he was here “stumping” for his wife.

What a damn boring article. So many ways that could have gone. Went the most uninteresting one.



What’s wrong with Family Guy
Now don’t get me wrong, I love the show. But since it came back, something’s been different. Different and wrong, by the way.

I am referring to Stewie Griffin. If you’re a fan of Family Guy, then you probably remember the good ol’ days. You know, the ones where Stewie was constantly trying to kill Louis and take over the world. Where before he was fun and interesting, now they’ve turned him into a little flaming wamby.

What’s a wamby? Well, it’s a little baby that goes “waaaa” all the damn time, crying constantly over spilt milk. Well yes, yes Stewie is a baby. But that’s not material here, he’s a damn cartoon, and the Stewie Griffin that I’ve come to know and love is a murder-plotting, vile-filled, megalomaniacal brain with a flare for revenge. You go Stewie, you kill your mum, you take over the world. It’s all we can expect of you.

Dammit, I don’t tune in to watch a baby do baby things. I’d have a real kid if I gave a damn about that. I want the little nerf-headed bastard to create ruckus. Now create ruckus, dammit! We, your loyal fans, are counting on it.

Peace.

Tags: Politics, Entertainment

My sleep routine has been all but f*cked for the last few weeks. It seems almost every night, the wind comes, and its sole aim is to keep me awake. A task I might add that it has been very good at marking complete.

It’s not that I mind rain hitting my window. It’s that I mind rain being thrown into my window – a mere 2 feet from my head – at a speed that makes it sound as though an army of young whipper-snappers is outside my bedroom walls armed with Red Rider BB guns or something.

The other night it got so bad, and I was so tired from previous nights, that I decided I’d go and try to sleep on the couch. Bad move, as when I got out there I realized that in all actuality, the bedroom was the quietest room in the house. How’s this? Our front door was knocking back & forth, the gate on the other side of the house was rattling in the wind, and chimneys & vents everywhere were howling something good. So I reluctantly retreated back to my bed. I have to come up with a solution. And I think I have, too. I think I have a way to fix the wind & the rain. How? Earplugs.

Yes, earplugs.



Democrats confused; can’t decide between girl, black guy
Clinton makes a comeback. Whoop-Dee-Do.

See here’s the thing: if you’re going to win the presidency, you need to win some states in the south. You know, that bible-thumping place, filled with rednecks and lots of people that know how to tie up a good noose…

And I really think the dems are not putting forth an “electable” candidate. Don’t get me wrong; I love both Clinton & Obama, but you have to understand… the south ain’t going to vote for no nigger, and they ain’t gonna let no damn woman be in charge of no man, neither.

Yes it seems ass-backwards to the rest of us, but this is The South. You know, the ‘incest is OK as long as you keep in the family’ bunch. Yeah I know I’m being a little harsh, but… these are the states that “voted with their morals” in 2004, and decided that homos suffering through marriage was more wrong than sending their children to die in foreign countries for reasons that don’t benefit anyone here. Yes, these same people.

And the dems are going to give them… a black man or a woman? This will not go over well.



But if there was ever an election to lose…