I Don't Like Men Who Own Cats.

Counter Revolution

2012-01-09T21:15:00.002+03:00

The Pearl at Night

Qatar recently withdrew the liquor license for a free area, The Pearl, where expats would go to have dinner and a glass of wine/cold beer/fruity cocktail. It's a residential, shopping and restaurant filled area that, up until about a month ago, was a favorite for just about everyone from West of Istanbul (Not Constantinople). You can read up on all of the details here. "Here" just so happens to be a link to the Wall Street Journal that discusses how the surging wave of western culture across the Middle East is being challenged by the Wahhabi counter-revolution.

I live here. I work here. I would venture to say that 90% of the people I work with or that we have as clients are expatriates. I don't think its a good thing to take away something that most of those people would describe as a necessary part of their quality of life.

I also don't think its a good idea to be so short sighted that you can't see the forest for the trees. Did the Qataris really think they could have restaurants, and bars that serve alcohol and not have the expats get ridiculous and some locals so tempted they can't resist? Have they never been to London on a Friday night? Or known an Australian on any given weekday?

There is no counter-revolution. There is a bunch of men with power shooting themselves in the foot. You can't have the World Cup and Wahhabi-ism too. They just don't jive.

Jumping on the bandwagon.

2012-01-02T10:45:00.002+03:00

Good morning (my time), ladies and gents. Happy New Year! It's that time of year again. The time of the year where I jump on the age-old bandwagon and promise to write more often, consume fewer calories, actually see the inside of a gym, worry less and pray more.

So in the spirit of fairness (to myself) instead of doing six things at once I'm going to focus on two - writing more and worrying less/praying more.

New Year's Eve in Qatar was anticlimactic. All of the NYE parties around here are three or four course dinners help at five star hotels with a champagne toast at midnight. While that sounds very grown-up and posh and everything two of my siblings are in town and buying 500 Qatari Riyal tickets to these things gets expensive. Also, we felt like dancing the night away. Unfortunately, neither was achieved. We got dressed up and went to a party in our compound and played pub-games on teams (UK vs. the World). Again, unfortunately, the UK won (there are a lot more of them than there are of us). But William and I made an excellent contribution and won all three of our areas.

Conversely, National Day (December 18th) was awesome. The Qataris were in true form with Land Cruisers painted like the Qatari flag and covered in glitter, Maserati's with heart stickers all over them, the Emir's face plastered everywhere, and toddlers held high on the roof's of moving vehicles all in honor of the country's founding. A lot of the expat's we spoke to warned us to "stay away from the Corniche [Qatar's main drag]" or "don't even bother going out". But we went out, had no problem getting there and finding a spot, thoroughly enjoyed tea at the Four Seasons and then saw the greatest fireworks display of our lives. I'm so glad we took absolutely none of their advice.

We're still thankful for the experiences we get to have here, and Qatar is still very enjoyable though its getting harder and harder to stay optimistic. It seems like all that anybody wants to do is be as hateful of Americans as they possibly can, and then turn around and put on their Aviators and leather jackets so they look like they're in Top Gun, drive GMC's and listen to our music (Euro-Pop isn't all that popular around here... it's all Katy Perry and Lady Gaga). The hypocrisy of it is stifling. Half of the guys are in love with LeBron James and the other half can't get enough of The Situation. Part of me wishes there was a better part of American culture for them to be obsessed with and the other part wishes they'd just leave it all alone and stick to looking/being/sounding like themselves instead of Americans. Though, once the argument in my head finally gets down to the point, they hate us because they want to be us so badly... so as far as I'm concerned, I'm the luckiest girl in the world.

Again, Happy New Year everybody. Here's to seeing you on the regular.

Notes on Change.

2011-09-23T17:39:00.001+03:00

I'd like to make just a few observations.

We've all seen the "Only Change is Constant" bumper stickers. And yes, change is constantly occurring. But I think our perception that "everything" changes is part of our downfall. Not everything changes, but most things change considerably over the course of time which leads us to believe that literally our whole world is adjusting and adapting. Please see a small sample of things that do not change, despite being adjusted slightly:

1. If you have a boyfriend who is a crappy boyfriend. Changing his status in your life, from boyfriend to baby daddy, is not going to change the adjective before his title. Let's have some self-respect, ladies.

2. If you are in a particularly glum stage in your life changing your status to find support within your online social network is not going to change the fact that your actual lifestyle needs an adjustment. Get off your behind and go do something to make a change, don't just wait for it to inevitably fall on your head and give you another excuse to be a victim of circumstance.

3. Changing the nouns used in your insult does not change the fact that it is a fact-less claim. Calling me a "racist" one day and "small minded" the next still doesn't provide me with any, either quantitative or qualitative, corroborating evidence.

4. Changing the skin color of your President doesn't change the way politicians, and the whole political landscape, operate. If only it were that easy.

That is all.

If it looks like a duck...

2011-09-19T11:50:00.000+03:00

...and it walks like a bailout, and it talks like a bailout. Don't put a cow costume on it and think that I'm stupid enough to think it's a "Jobs Plan".

And while we're on the subject... the "Buffett Rule," really? Let's have everyone who's making more than a million dollars sacrifice more of their income in order to support a culture of give-aways that is enabling millions of people to be lazy, do-nothing, moochers.

Let's use this amazing research tool that gives us billions of pieces of information at the touch of a button and do some research. It is an absolute myth, an urban legend, a wives tale, call it what you will, but rich people paying the least amount of tax is a populist's lie. And look, when you move past the emotional fear-mongering and marketing ploy to make you believe that you're being subjugated by millionaires, there is actually quantitative evidence to prove it. It's something that those on the government waybill would like to believe because it gives their victimhood credibility. But it's a lie. Read 'em and weep.

Now, go get your own job, make your own damn money, and save it.

How to Be a Psychopath

2011-09-13T11:13:00.001+03:00

There is news about the 2012 Presidential election everywhere you turn. And, true to form, the media is tearing apart every single one of the candidates bit by bit so even the slightest gaffe becomes a faux pas of galactic proportions.

Everyday I receive a "Today's Top Stories" e-mail from PwC's central office and on 6September the "Must Read" at the bottom (which is always the best one because it's the story that's the most light-hearted and usually just for fun) was titled One in 25 business leaders 'could be a psychopath'. Here's a snippet that explains the headline:

As many as one in 25 company bosses could be a psychopath, according to a new study.
Psychopaths are defined by their lack of moral instincts, but many are able to hide this by a natural ability to charm and manipulate both their seniors and subordinates.
While some psychopaths are outwardly aggressive and destructive, factors like a happy upbringing can help others to mimic colleagues and fit in at work.
The capacity of the 'successful psychopath' to identify and outwardly display the qualities corporate leaders admire helps them climb the career ladder quickly despite being poor managers.
This makes it virtually impossible to tell the difference between a psychopath and a genuinely good boss, leading psychologists said in a BBC Horizon programme to be screened on Wednesday.

Essentially, psychopaths are excellent at emulating what they see as model behavior and convincing everyone around them that they are genuinely great leaders with a resume to back it up. I got to thinking, "Hmm, I wonder if there are any major politcal figures I can think of who look and talk the part but have a really hard time walking the part?"

And then I stumbled on this gem in the Wall Street Journal (which I love, by the way). How to Look and Act Like a Leader explains how adopting an "executive persona" can help you advance yourself through the business ranks.

So, is WSJ trying to breed psychopaths?

No, I decided, they're not. What they're doing it trying to help people who have genuine abilities to be more aware of what they are non-verbally communicating to the rest of the world.

However, how many politicians are there that have no abilities what so ever but a slew of advisors providing them with all of the answers so they can play the politician? So they look the part?

I know, I sound like a conspiracy theorist. But I think it's important to point out that people with a flawless image... they might not be real people. Apparently studies have proved they could just be psychopaths who are excellent at picking out the best qualities in people and emulating them. And now I get to the point where I tell you why I've written the worlds longest introduction to get down to my actual point.

I like my politicians with a few mistakes. I like them to occasionally pronounce something wrong when they're a little nervous, I like for them to forget the microphone is on when they're swearing, I like to think that they, too, cannot eat spaghetti without getting sauce on their last clean white shirt. I want a real person to be our President. I want someone who is extraordinary at what they do, but still an actual human being underneath it all. I don't want someone to be the Great Pretender.

I haven't chosen who I'll be voting for yet. In fact, I haven't even seen the most recent debate yet (we have to load them on YouTube to watch them). But when I do make a decision and decide to plaster their name, with all sorts of positive connotations, all over my blog, you can bet it will be because I feel like I can trust them with my rights and freedoms, and at the same time believe that they'd be the kind of person I could sit and have a laugh with over coffee.

It's so easy to pretend. With our online communities giving us a buffer and all the tools to be our own personal PR team, is it too much to ask for a President who doesn't prove the statistic?

Grand Old Loophole?

2011-06-29T09:02:00.002+03:00

For reasons unknown to me there is still a debate raging in various parts of the country over the Pledge of Allegiance. One particular debate that caught my eye is going on in Eugene, Oregon where the City Council has decided that instead of not saying the Pledge of Allegiance at all they're going to recite it four times a year (around July 4th, Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Flag Day).

I was born and raised in a military community where everything that has to do with your country is treated with the utmost respect and we take every opportunity possible (even playing the National Anthem before movie showings) to express that loyalty and respect. With that said, how anti-America do you have to be to not want to pledge your allegiance to the greatest country in the history of mankind? I don't care if you're an Atheist and don't believe in God, you can simply skip those words. I don't care if you morally oppose for some other crap reason. If you are a red-blooded, American citizen with all of the rights and privileges that come along with it you should be happy, joyous to be able to say the Pledge of Allegiance.

And now the Mayor of Eugene Kitty Piercy is saying, “If there’s one thing the flag stands for it’s that people don’t have to be compelled to say the Pledge of Allegiance or anything else.”

Since when has Old Glory been a symbol of "do whatever the hell you want"? When did our Star Spangled Banner become a free pass to disrespect everything the Founding Fathers thought it stood for? The American Flag, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are not bits of historical literature that are meant to be bent, skewed and walked all over until they mean whatever you want them to mean. They are the written evidence that men acknowledge and respect the concrete principles of liberty, justice, honor, commitment, and loyalty.

I'd like to motion that the Eugene, Oregon City Council be removed from office and deported until they can pass the Citizenship Exam that all immigrants are required to take. Along with that, if they do pass they must recite the Pledge of Allegiance just like every other naturalized immigrant who is proud to be a part of a country that allows for free speech, and freedom of religion; a country that actually has unalienable rights when so many others are rioting in the streets for those basic rights.

Take a look at the Pledge of Allegiance, recite it in your head. Now take a minute to wonder what our country would be like if more of us actually believed in those words. What would happen if Americans actually pledged their undying loyalty? What would happen if the Pledge inspired everyone to be pro-American? It makes me heart so incredibly heavy that people believe the words of the Pledge are just something school children should recite at the beginning of the day. Everyone, and I mean every single one of us, should remind ourselves on a daily basis (right after you thank God for another beautiful morning) of how grateful we are to our country and then remember that our loyalty is the least we can offer in return for our rights, freedoms, and liberties.

The day that the American Flag stands for anything other than liberty, justice, honor and bravery will be the most sad day in history. But as long as there are a few Americans who are willing to stand up and say, "I love my country and everything it stands for, not just the parts that suit me" then that day will never come.

There is no "compromise" for the flag or the Pledge of Allegiance; as soon as you compromise on those things you compromise your rights, and you weaken the integrity of everything this country stands on (or at least used to).

Lastly, I'd like to say that I do pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for every single American... even the ones who don't deserve it.

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In Other News, well, this really isn't other news just a continuation of my previous thoughts.

Move to the Middle East. Move somewhere that you aren't so damned privileged and the local citizens consider you as beneath them where you have to ask to be allowed to stay in country every 30 days and while you're there you are expected to obey some very specific rules with no leniency if you don't. And then tell me you don't passionately wish you could be back in your own beloved country despite whatever amount of ridiculous is going on there right now.

Unless you already have a grateful heart in your chest and thankful words in your mouth for the privilege you've been given to be American and live in America...Do it. Or shut your mouth.

A Few of My Favorite Things.

2011-06-13T10:29:00.001+03:00

1. ~~Recently,~~ For the past three years, Sarah Palin has been tarred and feathered by the media. With her entire e-mail history floating around the internet everyone seems to have an opinion. As I was reading up on the debacle I stumbled upon one particularly misleading article that I thought would be an objective review of what the e-mails mean in respect to the current political scene, but instead it was an unnecessary diatribe detailing everything this author thought she had done wrong with e-mail quotes to prove it. At the end of his article he creates a list of quotes organized by their context. One of the many quotes that he has judiciously pulled from hundreds of thousands of e-mails in order to slander Mrs. Palin is a comment by Palin on the guidance she receives from God.

On God's guidance
"I have been praying for wisdom on this ... God will have to show me what to do on the people's budget because I don't yet know the right path ... He will show me though."

Oh, the horror! A politician turns to God for financial advice?! Wait, you mean the same way that so many families turn to God for guidance in every facet of their lives? You mean, she's actually using the divine resources that 2.1 billion people on the planet believe in to solve a political issue?

I think the anonymous person, who doesn't even have the guts to put their own name on their article, should take his personal opinions and shove them somewhere that is completely un-Christian of me to mention. This is number one on my list of favorite things today because its one of the the first times I really have true respect for Sarah Palin. I don't believe women should be allowed to be President, and I don't believe she's doing right by her family to be working constantly. But anyone who consults God for their decisions has my respect. And people who quote those God-fearing people as if their beliefs can be used against them can go to Hell.

2. I know little to nothing about Mr. Pawlenty. I know he is from Minnesota, I know he has a last name that is hard to pronounce and I know he is running for president. However, this quote from an interview with Bill O'Reilly shows more about his character than any fact sheet.

""I'm not running for comedian- in-chief, or entertainer-in-chief. If people want that, they should go to the ball park or Broadway play or a Las Vegas show. ... Being strong is not the same as being loud. ... So, if you want the clown-in-chief, vote for somebody else. That's not me."

Amen. Mr. Pawlenty is calling out all of the politicians who think their smile and charm will get them through anything, all of the politicians who think they can do a little song and dance for the American people and with the other hand rob us of our rights. (Read the link about being robbed of our rights, its about the 5 freedoms Obama's healthcare legislation completely strips from us.) Mr. Pawlenty, you have my attention.

3. Last, but most certainly not least, a very good friend introduced my to Laura Wood's blog recently. The Thinking Housewife is brilliant for a number of reasons. First, she has an amazing mind. She is objective and succinct, all while being considerate and polite. Secondly, she has the gall to stand up for what she believes in, no wavering, no platform changes, no "that depends on what the definition of is is." Finally, she forces you to review your own position, forces you to actually use the brain God gave you.

As you know, I am a fairly opinionated person and Mrs. Wood's blog has succeeded in inspiring me, making my heart race and causing me to groan with frustration. But through the whole journey she is causing me to check my premises. While Ayn Rand and Mrs. Wood have little to nothing in common I believe that their dedication to the highest moral standard and the most objective assessment possible put them on common ground. At the very least they both hold a very high position in my mind for their inimitable dedication and philosophy. I'd also like to note, if Ms. Rand and Mrs. Wood were to have a tea party with the other women who I respect as much, they would be in very good company.

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In Other News, things in Doha are going quite well. No job yet but I have gone on a few interviews. I've been baking a lot and going to the gym, it's too hot out to lay by the pool (the pool, by the way, heats up to about 104 F so it isn't exactly refreshing). I've gotten some really great reading in (mostly Mrs. Wood's blog) and my floors are clean so life is good. Doha has been practically empty when we go out at night. Everyone is 'on holiday' for the summer since its too hot to hang around. Despite the lack of company, it is really nice being able to get a parking spot when we head to dinner without having to walk a quarter-mile.

I'd also like to note, while we're listing favorite things, I'm in love... again. (See here, here, and here for previous lovings.)

Belly Laugh of the Day

2011-05-26T13:46:00.001+03:00

I received an e-mail notification from my blog when I signed on about ten minutes ago. It reads as follows:

_______________

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A Very Dirty Word.":

Lady, I mean this in the most insulting and patronizing way possible: leave your backwards suburb sometime. You sound like a sheltered hack with a myopic worldview.

Posted by Anonymous to I Don't Like Men Who Own Cats. at May 26, 2011 11:49 AM

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First, I'd like to say... thank you for your impeccable grammar. It is the worst when the people attempting to insult you have awful grammar so I'd like to express my sincere appreciation.

Secondly, I don't live in a suburb. Nor, for that matter, have I ever really lived in a suburb. I'm actually quite well traveled and currently live in what might be called the anti-thesis of a suburb.

Thirdly, your criticism is exactly what I am constantly railing against. Nothing factual, nothing objective, simply a name-calling, knee-jerk reaction to an idea that is differing from your own. And that, my anonymous friend, merely proves my point.

Finally, you have provided me with a much needed laugh for the day. I would like to personally invite you back to 'argue' further with me because I actually appreciate opposing view points and a good, blood-pumping discussion is the whole reason I do this. However, you're a coward who decided to comment anonymously so my only hope is that you come back hoping to see my equally immature response to your comment and, subsequently, this post infuriates you to the point of another wonderfully literate comment.

In the words of my generation...

A Very Dirty Word.

2011-05-24T09:39:00.000+03:00

I'm trying to be very careful with these first few sentences because if I'm not I'm afraid a lynch mob of hateful Liberals will fly to Qatar, come to my house and beat me to pieces because of my gross violation of people's human rights. Don't be too frightened, you're just reading. You can say, "oh gracious, she's awful!" any time you would like... or just tacitly agree and the angry Liberals will be none the wiser. Today's subject? Profiling and the damned dirty Liberals who won't let us use it.

I was in Germany last week for a volunteerism and leadership conference that was wonderfully educational. However, one of the most eye-opening things that happened that week was in the jet-way between my plane from Doha to the Frankfurt airport. As far as getting off the plane was concerned I wa the middle of the pack. In front of my was a mix of German nationals returning to their country and a few GCC citizens catching connecting flights, but mostly Germans (you could tell by the blonde hair). Behind me were a number of GCC citizens and some Indians (this, not that [don't shoot me]). As I walked past the first German police man (who by the way was only armed with one pistol in a holster... no AK-47 or anything drastic) in the jet way he smiled and said "guten tag" and then immediately followed with "May I please see your passport?" Quickly I reach into my carry on to pull out my wallet and thus my passport, but as I'm looking up to hand him my documents I realize he's not talking to me... he's talking to the very stereotypical Arabic looking man directly behind me. And then I start really paying attention...

Ahead of me the German police have a number of Arabic men pulled out of the line and are checking their documents. I was witnessing the most blatant exhibition of racial profiling I had ever seen and no one was throwing a fit. No one was being rude, no one was indignant that they had been singled out. Everyone was just handing over their passports and, as far as I could tell, waiting patiently to be approved. My first thought was, "I have to tell everyone who reads my blog about this... this is amazing" (no joke, by the way). My second thought was, "Why does the rest of the whole world use profiling and Americans run away from it like it's a racial slur during a primary?"

And before you argue with me... yes, it is a world wide practice.

Americans are the only ones who find it offensive. Wikipedia even says so.

At some point during the 20th century *cough the 1960's cough* Americans started a trend toward political correctness that has quickly spiraled into a mire of illogical protocol that seems practically irreversible. Anything that can even be remotely construed as a violation of our personal rights or as offensive is quickly labeled unacceptable no matter how useful or accurate the original 'offense' was. On top of that, sometimes it is blatantly in violation of someone else's rights when the human rights violation flag is thrown. You can't refer to someone as Black anymore, they're African-American despite not having any African citizenship or even having set foot on the African continent ever in their entire lives. Do not even try to offend Buddha, Mohammed, Allah, or the Nature Goddess of the Elements... but, that parody on Jesus? Have at it. Stop me in the JFK because I'm a late-twenties/early-thirties Middle Eastern man with traditional dress on and someone will call the ACLU, and they will be all over your racially insensitive ass. Stop me in Heathrow because I'm a late-twenties/early-thirties Middle Eastern man with traditional dress on... well, here's my passport and have a good day.

Profiling is a scientific principle defined as "the extrapolation of information about something, based on known qualities." Did you catch the part about known qualities? Because that means that when we know, for a fact, that an overwhelmingly large portion of the people who intend to hurt, maim, kill and ruin the lives of Americans come from Middle Eastern Countries. Why wouldn't we want to pay a little extra attention to them when they fly into the airport? Why wouldn't customs take a closer look at the suspicious things in their bags? Why do we not seem to care about our own well-being and safety?!

There's even more evidence than just the photos of the 9/11 hijackers. Ever heard of the Manchester document? It is an al Qaeda training manual that explains how to get weapons through airport security, how to kill as many people as possible while on your mission and explicitly states that the United States is enemy number one.

Could we please actually make national defense a real priority? Please?

Profiling seems like a dirty word because of the connotation it is given through the media. But the honest truth is that it, flat-out, isn't. It's a scientific protocol that can be beneficial when used in a number of industries. Marketing uses it to focus on specific demographics, scientists use it to categorize information based on the facts they already have, and the TSA could use it to make us all just a little bit safer because of the information they already have.

So go ahead, America. I am giving you permission. Love everybody, treat everyone with the respect that each and every human deserves; which includes being polite when asking to see someone's passport on their way into your country.

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In Other News, being back in Qatar is wonderful. Although AWAG was great it didn't take me a whole week to start missing my amazing other half. I've been particularly motivated since I got home from my trip but being around my Mommy (and some other very successful, motivated ladies) will do that. I feel like I'm out of the "I can't get a job to save my life" slump. Not because I got a job but because I have other things to fill in the gaps again... and I really feel like I've gotten an answer (not always the one I wanted) to some of my more frequent prayers, which is always helpful.

I'd like to note that any feedback you guys could give would be much appreciated. I'm trying to expand on this whole blog thing and would love your input. Right now I have an interview with a very interesting fellow blogger that I'm working on... stay tuned. Until next time, faithful readers.

p.s. Does anybody know how to make your photos fit into the text margin and then zoom-in when you click on it? I'm at a loss... thanks!

Inconsistency

2011-05-12T06:56:00.000+03:00

The news is a constant source of inspiration for me, as I'm sure it is for many amateur bloggers. This particular article struck a chord with me because it is so painfully obvious that this crap is getting out of hand.

Some kid posted up a huge message asking a girl to prom on the front of his high school. He didn't deface any property. He didn't do it in spray paint. He took the time to cut out, and then tape up 12" high cardboard letters to the front of his high school... and now he's being banned from going to his prom for it. A bit harsh right? I mean, why not just make him take it down and then explain the proper procedure for requesting permission to do this kind of thing? Or detention? Or have him pick up litter on campus?

The Mayor of the Connecticut town this happened in said, "Based on what I know, I'm not sure that the punishment fits the crime. This may very well be a situation that needs a second look. Part of the problem in today's world is that we make policies or recommendations without common sense or flexibility built in and we lose sight of the big picture. This may be one of those situations." Which makes perfect sense, particularly when you apply it to, oh I don't know... everything. The big picture is that there are people in this world who are actually doing things that are wrong. No matter what moral code you live by some things are just wrong. And they're getting by with hardly a slap on the wrist. And then this kid does something that the romantic in me considers pretty darn cute and he's barred from a major milestone in what's left of his childhood. There is this knee-jerk reactions that says, "Oh no! We have to take a hardline stance on this because what if it happens again!" Why not take that stance on everything then? Apply it in situations that actually matter.

For instance, please see exhibits A - Lord, there are too many of these below.

A. Timothy Geithner does something that sends a number of people to jail, or at the very least into bankruptcy, and instead he gets to be Secretary of the Treasury... with maybe a smudge on his reputation.

B. Rod Blagojevich abuses just about every bit of privilege and power that comes with being a governor and he gets charged with lying to Federal agents and then is given his own TV show.

C. Some of the largest corporations in the world run their business with such poor practices that they bleed themselves dry... and then convince the government to hand over billions of dollars to them so they can try again!

D. Bill Clinton decides to be completely inappropriate while still being the leader of the free world and is impeached. Then, not only is he acquitted of the charges but nobody really remembers it any more. The president of the United States of America committed adultery and now it's a joke.

E. Men who were detained under suspicion of terrorist activity who swear up and down that they were just small town bakers, or tailors, or shopkeepers, or something innocuous are released from being held... and all of a sudden they're leaders in the al Qaeda network. Huh? Who would have thought they ever had those kind of connections?

The list goes on and on. Somehow the people who have done the most wrong are the most heavily defended. The those whose crimes are minor (at best) get the book thrown at them by an MLB-quality pitching machine. And it's because its easy. It is so, so simple to look like you're tough on crime because you sentenced that pickpocket to a year in jail. And that kid who graffiti'd the underpass? Oooh, that 500 hours of community service will do him good!

But you catch the Mayor of DC doing crack and nailing whores? *insert him-hawing, an awkward cough and some legal jargon that makes it sound like some serious consideration is going on* Let's re-elect him!

~~It's like there is a completely different set of rules for those in the lime-light versus the rest of us.~~ Scratch that.

There is a completely different set of rules for those in the lime-light versus the rest of us. And it's unconscionable the things that they get away with. Why do we allow our society to build divisions like that? Since when is justice not only blind but deaf and dumb? And why on Earth is justice allowed to yell, "look a diversion!" for people who have been on the cover of People and not anyone else? The blatant hypocrisy is nauseating. Add to that the fact that it is right in front of our faces, all over the media (all you have to do is use a little Google) and hardly any one takes notice, and you've a perfect recipe for complete and utter annihilation of any legal integrity left in this country.

Writing usually energizes me for the rest of my day. But this wears me out. Long story short...

Leave that poor kid in Connecticut alone. Let's take the advice of Mayor Lauretti and give a couple of things a second look. A little common sense and flexibility would go a very long way toward giving justice her blindfold back.

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In Other News, I'm going to Germany for about a week for a volunteerism and leadership conference. I get to see my Mommy so I'm very, very excited. When I get back I have a few job interviews coming up, so please keep your fingers crossed. Good news seems to be coming in waves lately (my baby sister graduated from college, my brother-in-law got engaged to the most wonderful girl, hearing back from prospective employers) so I can only hope it continues. Doha is still wonderful. Although the weather is taking a turn for the "Holy humidity, it's sweltering out here." We got our snorkel gear in so I believe we're going to head to the in-land sea this weekend and do some looking around.

Until next time, most wonderfully faithful readers.

View of West Bay at night from the 9th floor of the Pearl.

Come Back, Condi

2011-05-06T11:31:00.001+03:00

If you've been on my Facebook you've probably seen the video I'm about to wax poetic about. You've also probably noticed my unabashed adoration of Condoleeza Rice. I've always thought she was an amazing, accomplished, brilliant woman but she has rekindled my passion for her sort of poise, decorum, and ruthlessness.

The video is a portion of her interview with Lawrence O'Donnell. He's trying to act like the serious journalist that he thinks he is by asking hard-hitting questions. He uses words like, "the biggest mistake in the history of statements made by Secretaries of State" and throws around glittering generalities like they're beads at a Mardi Gras parade all while keeping on his serious "this is an intense interview" face. Then after he's done making accusations instead of asking questions he proceeds to not allow Ms. Rice to actually answer any of them until she puts her foot down and basically says, "What on Earth are you doing? Is this an interview or do you just want to hear yourself speak?" They go back and forth, and back and forth, and it is riveting. She is eloquent and uses facts, and names real names and places and events from history to support her point. Whereas Mr. O'Donnell likes to use popular opinion, widely-held almost entirely false concepts and the crap his bosses told him to spew. Also, the only time she even remotely raised her voice was when he had to stop him from continuing on his ego-stroking diatribe against the answer of her's that O'Donnell already knew he wouldn't agree with.

After watching the video I mentioned to my husband that I sincerely wish a woman like Condoleeza Rice would run for President. I mean who needs jack-of-all-trades, "I'm going to pretend like I'm a politician and a housewife" Palin when you've got the business-minded, incredibly focused, logic driven Condoleeza Rice? He laughed and told me in no uncertain terms that there's no way that's going to happen. He explained that after what the media did to the entire Bush Administration there is no possible way that they're going to throw themselves into the Lion's Den again only to be torn to shreds for the very qualities that the Liberals would love and adore about whomever they endorse. Democrats would kill for a Black woman who is a University Professor, has her Doctorate, and is an acclaimed concert pianist. They loved Bill Clinton's saxophone (no innuendo there, I swear) and he couldn't even play that well.

But Condoleeza doesn't share their self-loathing, hypocritical, uninformed view of the realities of the World... so they butcher her.

In a perfect world they'd appreciate her for being the incredible woman she is, and would be begging for her level-headed, well informed, educated opinion and influence at every turn. But, I guess, in a perfect world we wouldn't have a Community Organizer turned Senator as President.

_______________________________

In Other News, speaking about Condoleeza makes me wonder if you can be a successful, conservative woman who is taken seriously... and have a family. A number of the women in my life that I believe to be the most successful have wonderful husbands and homes but no children. Is it possible to get your Master's degree, move on to a Doctoral program, all while working with a multinational corporation and have a few children through it all? And don't tell me, "Oh! Marie Osmond and Sarah Palin did it!" because they didn't. Marie Osmond was an entertainer... that's not nearly as difficult as earning your doctorate, occupying political offices, teaching at a University, running a company and writing a book. And Sarah Palin... well, don't even get me started.

I'd like to thank @PatDollard for the tip on the Condoleeza Rice interview video. Good looking out.

Anyway, I'm going to go make a pie. Seriously. And contemplate the complexities of gender and it's effect on perceived levels of success.

Proud.

2011-05-02T10:43:00.001+03:00

First, my most sincere congratulations to the team of Americans who went into Pakistan and risked their lives to kill one of the most heinous men that was left on the face of the planet.

Next, in his announcement of the death of Usama bin Laden President Obama said, “Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader. He was a mass murderer of Muslims, so his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity.”

Amen, brother.

I hadn't ever thought of it that way but it is so very true. Most people think that the suicide bombers have been volunteering as an act of jihad to kill themselves but the truth of the matter is that a large number of those people are simply victims of a manipulative terrorist group that preys on their uneducated naivete.

Lastly, President George Bush also said something that stuck out amid the tidal wave of news stories.“The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done.” Yes, we do have to continue fighting but there are high points in this fight. I know lots of Americans who think the US needs to quit 'policing the world.' But eradicating the people who dedicate their lives to ruining the lives of Americans isn't policing, that's called protecting yourself. And there is absolutely nothing (as in not a single damn thing in the entire universe) wrong with protecting yourself.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the men and women who have suffered and died in the long process of fighting terrorism and those who will put themselves in harm's way in the future. Please know that when we say you will never be forgotten at least a few of your fellow American citizens believe that "never" means "not as long as there is a breath left in my body."

It is always a good day to be an American...

but today, it is a great day.

Attack of the Environmentalists.

2011-04-26T13:19:00.006+03:00

You've got to be f*&#ing kidding me. The basis of the article (linked in the title above) is that some hippie-freak-pink0-commie-tree-hugger who used to advise the leader of the free world is a major part of an organization who plans to unveil a 'cause' to give Mother Nature her own human-rights. Yes, you read that correctly, folks. The Earth gets human rights. Who cares about the Chinese, oppressed people in Africa, women all over the world who are viewed as incubators and not humans... we've got to give Mother Earth her rights. When the hell did we all become freaking Druids?

This is ridiculous. It trivializes every bit of work any humanitarian has ever put into providing human rights to any one on the inanimate object that they're trying to give rights. If you want to recycle, go ahead. Want to turn the medians in your neighborhood into a raised bed? Please do. Lets even work on technologies that do really cool 'eco-friendly' things. But human rights to a planet? And don't start giving me that awful argument about how the planet can't fight for itself. It's ridiculous. It's insane. It makes me so damned angry that this is even an issue. I can't even actually describe how frustrating this is in the face of every other actually relevant thing that these great minds should be worried about solving. I'm actually half-surprised I can even type because after somebody from some worthless South American country said that capitalism is the enemy of the earth I started spitting tacks.

I'm reading Michael Chrichton's "The State of Fear" and it is fabulous. At one point one of his characters says, "the only thing worse than a champagne-liberal is a Gulfstream environmentalist." And what is Mr. Jones doing? He's headquartered in LA and jet-setting off to Rio for an environmental conference planned on a date suspiciously close to Festival.

Yes, we should be considerate of our environment... after all, we don't want to look like we live on the set of Idiocracy. But do we really need to spend millions of dollars trying to pass legislation and spearheading and international initiative to give Mother Nature, the Earth, this really large piece of gravitationally controlled rock human rights? I know, and fully believe that God gave us this Earth and it is ours to take care of but... c'mon people.

Plant your trees, recycle your water bottles, but please for goodness sake... drop the get-the-whole-world-involved-so-the-cause-will-make-money marketing crap.

______________________________________

In Other News, I made home-made donuts today. That is all.

(No really, that's basically all I've done today.)

What Tolerance Looks Like

2011-04-21T15:27:00.001+03:00

With Easter upon us, and many people looking forward to adding whatever they gave up 40 days ago back into their lives, its amazing how much of it I’m surrounded by here in Doha. It’s a Muslim country, right? Then why the Easter sales? Why the Easter brunches? Why the chocolate bunnies and eggs? Because it’s just another commercial holiday that has nothing to do with the resurrection of Christ… partially.

The other part is that the Muslims are actually quite tolerant of Christianity. Crazy, huh? My American friend and I went shopping today on the Pearl and realized that there were all kinds of Easter things going on. When we discussed this with one of the shop girls (Indian) she said “Just wait until Christmas.” We both said, “Wait… what?” Apparently Christmas is lights, and pageantry and Christmas trees in all of the shopping malls and gifts, gifts gifts. Sure, they miss the whole point of it being the celebration of the birth of Christ and one of the largest events on the Church calendar but… they still do it. We asked if anyone tries to stop the celebrations, or if they’re offended, and she said, “No, why would they?” like we had just asked the dumbest question ever.

Tolerance isn’t what the US makes it out to be. It isn’t welcoming everyone and everything with wide open arms no matter how it affects our society, and then throwing a fit when something offends our delicate sensibilities. Tolerance is saying, “Yeah, we’re a Muslim country. Cover your shoulders up but please, have the Christmas tree… oh, and do you have enough plastic colored eggs for this weekend?” They even had a Muslim man on a sign at the mall handing a presumably English man an Easter egg.

When we thanked the girl and left the store she said, “enjoy your religious festival!” (her English was great… but some things just sound funny). If everybody in Qatar has that attitude then this may be the greatest Easter and then, eventually, Christmas ever. Sure they use X-Mas to write everything but in chrismons “x” is the symbol for Christ so I’m not too worried about that. And maybe they’re into the commercial side of it but they’re going to let me have my Christmas… no matter what they personally believe. And, this Easter, I get to go to Church and celebrate who we want… because this Muslim country is tolerant. No making concessions for their feelings or being careful not to offend because they know we won’t. They know if they’re polite about it we will be too.

Take note, liberals. I’m feeling more tolerance for our beliefs in the Middle East than I did in the states.

In Other News, I walked around in a $2300 pair of heels for about half an hour today. They were the “standard” heel height (15cm, which is 5.9in) and were covered in grey crystals (the pink ones are pictured). The sole of the shoe was coated in silver glitter and I was in love (to be honest, the picture online does no justice to the shoe itself… they’re sparkly and decadent and amazing and not nearly as clumsy as the picture makes them look).

They let me “try them out” and just asked me to bring them back when I had decided. Life, and shoes, is good.

Statistical Observations

2011-04-19T19:01:00.008+03:00

William showed be how to view the stats on my blog today (how is it that he's been on here just a few months and I've been writing for years and didn't know these existed?).

I'd like to state for the record that 15 people in Iran have read my blog and I haven't received a single angry e-mail from any of them. All the angry e-mails I've ever received have been from Americans (and always from people I knew personally).
Also, the ways that people have found my blog are pretty amusing as well. Why would anyone Google "men who own cats"? I really don't want to be a link in someones search for their cat-owning soul-mate or creepy Google image search.

Also, Staci... you're practically my publicist. I'm not sure if you should be concerned that people are googling you so often or excited that you are such a popular google search. Either way... thank you. :)

Acclimating.

2011-04-18T10:11:00.002+03:00

It has been freakishly rainy over here lately. Instead of the two days a year of rain that usually occurs we've had ten days of rain. Granted, they count anything that drips from the sky as rain but still... a little drizzle out here goes a very long way toward flooding the streets to a remarkably high level.

Because of the rain the weather has been a bit cooler (read: absolutely lovely) and just about everyone is taking the chance to be out during the day for a bit longer than is usual this time of year. I've been told, though, that this won't keep up and within another week or two we'll be back at 98degrees (Fahrenheit) and I'll have to turn our A/C on again.

The title of my blog doesn't entirely apply to the weather though. I'm getting used to running around not understanding half of what anyone (including the English) says, being treated differently because I'm a white woman, and being called 'madame' by everyone who's from any country besides the UK, USA and Qatar.

As far as the language barrier is concerned it is amazing how vastly different the English language is depending on where someone learned it. We have friends from Yorkshire who are harder than Eliza Doolittle's father to understand and then another friend from Nigeria who is the funniest, sweetest man but is nearly impossible to understand. On the other hand, my usage of context clues in order to carry on a conversation has increased exponentially. It's fascinating how varied the vocabularies are as well. You think that everyone knows what s'mores or molasses is, and that everyone knows the "six of one, half dozen of another" figure of speech but... they don't. It's cultural. Every version of the English language is influenced by so much more than your region, what languages your parents speak. It takes a huge hint from the culture you grow up in. We have a Dutch friend who says "shall" and "oughtn't" like they're words that everyone in the world uses everyday. But, often times, the only times you'll hear words like that in a conversation is if you're speaking to a very polite Southern lady in a very proper situation or someone is speaking Legalese.

Granted, I feel like I knew all this before... I just hadn't sat down to examine in. It's like this place puts a magnifying glass on everything that was, prior to coming here, just part of traveling. Or, possibly, this is the first time I've lived overseas since we were in Iceland (and I was 5). Other than that is was a month or so here, and a month or so there. Either way, I'm appreciating the differences, appreciating the culture I've grown up around and (inevitably) expanding my vocabulary.

__________________________

In Other News, we got our household goods shipment today so I need to go unpack! I'm so excited to have my guitar back. If you need me, I'll be in the backyard playing. Don't bother calling... I can't hear the phone from there. :)

A Whole New World

2011-04-05T08:52:00.007+03:00

There is a lot about my world that has changed lately. First and foremost, I packed my bags and moved to Doha, Qatar where my civil-engineer of a husband is working for the Army Corps of Engineers. Second, I'm back in the job market and searching has never seemed so tedious. Finally, after only having spent about two weeks together this entire year we're now up to three weeks. Being the individualists that we are, living together again is requiring some adjusting... but that's not the big story here.

I've never been quite this culture shocked before. Amazed at the differences, yes. But truly surprised? Not until now...

The first night I was here the call to prayer woke me up at about 4:30am. Granted, I had heard the sound before but it gave me the same eerie feeling it had previously. The first time I had heard it was in Guantanamo Bay as I was coming out of the water on Windmill beach just a stones throw from the detention camps. It was about 3:00pm, the sun was still pretty high, there was little to no wind but you could hear the Azan (call to prayer) very clearly. My bikini-clad, red-blooded, American self fully appreciated the irony of being scantily clad on some of the best beach real estate in the world in the midst of the Muslim call to prayer. But the sound still gave me goosebumps.

Since then I've heard Azan five times a day for the past six days and it has become quite commonplace. My husband likens it to hearing the liturgical singing that is done in a lot of Christian churches, particularly the very traditional Lutheran ones I've suggested we attend. It really is fairly similar. Sure, the cadences and language are different but the concepts and the intent both encompass the same things... solemnity, respect and spirituality.

A large number of Americans find the call to prayer as unusual as I used to, some think its a sign of fanaticism. I've had people tell me that they believe only an extremist religion would require the followers to pray five times a day. But the Azan is just a reminder to Muslims that they need to pray, whether it be at that exact moment or not makes no difference. Now, I really enjoy the call to prayer, the song is a nice familiar part of my day and often I take that time to say a little prayer of my own.

There is another axiom of Islam that I'm having a lot more trouble with than I had thought I would.

We all know the women have to be covered. Their varying degrees of cover are decided by their families. Some women are allowed to go out in blue jeans, long sleeves and a head covering while others absolutely must be covered head-to-toe with black fabric, including gloves and shoe-coverings in the same material. I find myself trying to look past the veil over their faces and see if there really is a person in there. With the women who only have to cover their heads, and wear modest clothing, its obvious that they're individuals. They're all on their hot pink cell phones, wearing Louboutin heels, walking up and down the main drag in the Souq like they're trolling for fish. They've got spark to them, they laugh, they're beautiful. But it's the women who walk two steps behind their husband, fully covered, holding a squirming child's hand and not saying a word that bothers me.

Now, I've never been much of a feminist. Yes, I have always wanted to build a career, an impressive resume and be respected for my professional skills but if my husband wants pie with dinner then I'm going to make sure I have all of the ingredients necessary for homemade pie crust and filling and by the way, would you like some coffee with that, honey?

But these women just seem so hidden. No one is, legally, allowed to look at them but they stare to try and discover even a fragment of a figure under the burqas. They shuffle around in small groups, usually with a few small children with them, and seem to come and go like ghosts. I know they're there, they're obviously standing in the grocery line in front of me, but it doesn't seem like there is an actual person there. I know it's just clothing, it is just a few layers of fabric but I feel like there's an entire universe separating myself from these women.

It makes me wish I could do something for them. Introduce myself to them and be a friend. Give them someone or something outside of their sheltered world. But that's not my place. And that's not the way the Middle East works. Partially because I'm stared at and ignored as well.

The other night a man asked if he could use the extra chair that was at our table while William, our neighbor Harry and I were out to dinner. He specifically said, "Sir, would you mind if I used this chair?" and I answered "Oh of course not." But he wouldn't take the chair until a second later when William spoke up and said "Of course". I didn't even notice the man's hesitation until William explained to me that not only was the man definitely not talking to me, he wasn't going to take an answer from me either.

The other thing I'm getting used to is the social hierarchy. The Qataris are at the very top of the food chain. You cannot get any higher in status unless you're a Qatari with "His Highness" or "His Excellency" in front of your name. The second tier? White people. Whether you're American, Australian, British, Canadian or any other variation of White you've got privileges. Privileges that I'm not quite used to. The other day we were in the VIP box at the Racing and Equestrian Center for H.H. the Emir of the State of Qatar's Swords and Trophies Race. I had such a hard time giving orders to the Phillipino girl's waiting on us that I couldn't bring myself to hand the girl my half-empty plate and ask her to take it away because I was done. I wanted to find somewhere, a table or bus-cart or something, to leave it. I didn't just want to hand it over and say, "Oh and could you bring me another mango juice?" (p.s. Not even kidding about the mango juice, it's delicious) I wanted to be the one who was being nice to them, who was treating them like more than the help. But by doing so I was making myself look silly because over here there's still a caste system that is alive and well. Not just well, it's thriving. Everything from public beaches to the Souqs to places of employment works the same way. I can't get a job as a cleaning lady because that is reserved for the Ethiopian or Syrian women, I can't work as a nanny because that's a job (along with waitstaff) for Phillipino women. The public beaches charge 3,500 QR (Qatari Riyal) for 'tickets' to the beach so that the 'riff-raff' can't just come and flood the beaches. Otherwise you would have thousands, literally, of Southeastern Asian men crowding the beaches. William says that they cordon off the malls and lock certain doors so that the day-laborers who go on their day off can only be in certain areas and not bother the rest of the population. The Qataris don't want to be bothered by the help and so the help are all corralled like cattle and that's just the way it works over here.

I think I'm going to continue to grapple with the idea that the only reason I'm given any luxuries or leeway is because I'm white and my husband is a white male. My post-civil rights-movement sensibilities all tell me that this is wrong (we're all humans aren't we?) but it's just the way life is over here... and not just here but in a lot of other places in the world. I guess, no matter how much traveling I've done I'm still astounded at how incredibly naive I can be.

This is my first experience outside of the normal North American travel spheres (Eastern Asia to Western Europe) and I'm going to make the absolute best out of every moment we have here whether its for a year or five. However, that doesn't mean that I'll ever truly assimilate. Keep an eye out for my name in headlines... I can't guarantee there won't be an international incident or two.

Also, yes, I will probably be making Aladdin references from now until the day we move out. You might as well go watch the movie with your kids so will have the same song stuck in your head, too.

______________________________

In Other News, our house is amazing. We're turning one of the three bedrooms into an office/computer room and the second bedroom will still be a guest room (come visit!). Our bedroom is so great, it's almost like two adults live here. :) We've already gotten to go out and experience so much. This weekend we're going to go camping. I think I'm going to talk William into heading to the Singing Dunes. I've heard they're just beyond belief. Finally, we have a MagicJack now so once the internet is a bit more consistent I'll be sure to make some calls!

Weather in Doha today: High of 84, 57% humidity. Low of 73, 55% humidity. Slightly overcast.

Facebook

2011-01-21T21:37:00.005+03:00

Earlier this week Facebook really made me angry. Not so much the entity itself but the people who use it and how it's being used. I swear I'll explain but let me say this first. Yes, I am the girl with the Facebook app on her Blackberry, and yes, I do check it at work... occasionally.

I posted the following as my status announcing my frustration:

"Emily Hall

is going to delete Facebook off my phone and will not be signing on anymore. I just cannot handle seeing you post your for all to see horoscope again, or spell "this" without an 'h', or whine... for the hundredth time today. This is ridiculous. Does no one have anything relevant to share?"

And in return, a number of people commented but one in particular stuck out. (Ahem, Mr. Director-Man):

"Its your fault for thinking you need to have mind-blowing material every second of everyday in the palm of your hand... Stop checking facebook so much. Remember when there was no facebook? Get back to that, and you'll be happy."

I'd like to point out, I don't actually check my Facebook that much. Daily? Yes. Hourly? No. Also, I have a bachelor's in Communication with about 27 hours of that degree consisting of media literacy classes. The point of media literacy is to understand and be able to communicate effectively via any medium... social networking included. As such, I firmly believe and do not expect that anything (read: anything) with user generated content will never, in it's entire lifespan be comprised of "mind blowing material." And please allow me to clarify what I meant by "relevant." Relevant = something that anyone other than yourself and your mother care about; including but not limited to photos of your kids, interesting articles, something you're thankful for, trip plans, trip photos... anything other than you having something to whine and complain about.

What I do expect is for the people I choose to surround myself with (even in the online setting) to not suck so much. And that's exactly what they're doing. I do not care what your horoscope has planned for you today, I hate the way you type/speak, I really don't like any of the songs your 'deep and meaningful' lyric posts come from, and you couldn't come up with something witty if your life depended on it.

On top of that, I do not want to see your vague "if I post this people will ask questions and make me feel loved" status updates, I do not want you to justify your drama with your baby daddy's other baby mama, and I do not want you to give me updates on whatever MTV/BET bullshit you're watching right now.

I love my Facebook. I get to talk to my Mommy on it, I can keep tabs on my little brothers, I get to laugh at my little sisters pictures, the ladies in my family and I even have a little book club going and when I feel all warm and fuzzy I can view the myriad of pictures of me and my husband at the drop of a hat.

I will not allow you to ruin this for me. Hence, you will be deleted.

If you would like to petition your deletion from my page that would be fine, and might even amuse me enough to make you not-deletable. In the mean time, "but we had chem together!" isn't a good enough excuse to keep you around. People and their hurt "but I thought we were friends?!" feelings be damned.

This is not a "beware you will be deleted!" blog. This is a "I'm reformatting those I surround myself with and don't feel like having all your crap in the electronic version of my life."

In short, I will not be completely signing out of Facebook... I will simply be improving my own experience.

Hypocrisy.

2010-11-29T20:39:00.003+03:00

I'd just like to briefly state a few observations.

1- If there were a Republican President in office and the economy was still in the state it is (and has been) and so many other agendas of the administration had been unpopular and virtually bombed then focusing on yet ANOTHER social issue would never fly. The Democrats would crucify the Republicans for trying to force their morals onto a government entity and there would be no end to the dissent.

Democrats would be beating a drum of injustice and whining that the Republicans are just trying to assuage the indignation of a new demographic so they weren't failing at everything. Shouldn't you complete at least one goal successfully before moving on to five-hundred others?

2- Don't Ask/Don't Tell shouldn't have ever needed to be in place because your sexual orientation should never have bearing on your career. EVER. If so many homosexuals think they need to be recognized in the military then maybe they need to move to a career where your sexual orientation is a key component.

3- I've said this before. DADT is not an issue of eradicating ignorance. It's a housing/logistical issue. If men can't be housed with women then why would gay men be housed with straight men? Separate but equal facilities are available when people don't have to be split in five different ways. A gay men's barracks, straight men's barracks, gay women's barracks, straight women's barracks, transexual barracks, and what about bisexuals and those people who just aren't sure? This is ridiculous, folks. RIDICULOUS.

3- Quit forcing people to be one acronym or another. LGBTQ? Seriously. Live and let live.

I feel like we're going down the drain so very, very quickly.

Blame Game

2010-10-08T05:00:00.003+03:00

I think it is truly sad that so many kids have committed suicide because of whatever pressures they were under. What I think is more sad is that we're convicting other teenagers for doing something that people have been doing for centuries... bullying. Yes, I said 'centuries'. People have been making fun of other people for being weird/different/strange/whatever for longer than any of us can remember. Only in recent history are we hearing about kid after kid after kid killing themselves because they're being picked on. Decades ago you let the bully pick on you until you got fed up then you mustered up your courage and socked him in the eye. Even more recently you told your mom and then your mom told the bullies mom and the bully got grounded. If anyone was commiting suicide is wasn't for bullying. Bullying was just part of growing up. You want to know what the difference is between then and now?

The parents.

Yes, grieving Mom's and Dad's I am pointing a finger at you. Don't pawn off your short-comings on other kids who are still dealing with this growing up thing just like your kid was. Don't cry on TV about how awful being a teenager must be.

Own up to the fact that you were not there to teach your child to LAUGH at bullies for being so small-minded and insecure that they have to pick on the skinny/gay/short/whatever kid.

Own up to the fact that while your child was crying themselves to sleep you were making sure your DVR was set correctly.

Own up to the fact that you talk to your children so little they never had the chance at the dinner table to tell you what was wrong so you could fix it.

Like so many celebrities who are now standing up against the 'atrocity' (p.s. that's my sarcasm font) that is bullying, I was bullied too. And you know what happened? My Mom asked how my day was at one point, and she talked to me enough that it was standard operating procedure to actually tell her how my day was. I told her what was happening and she said, "the next time you see that girl tell her you like her shirt, smile and walk away. She will never know what hit her." And that's exactly what I did. That girl continued to pick and pick and pick and each time I would laugh with her and make a lightly self-deprecating bad joke ("Yeah, I didn't want to look too smart this morning so I wore my stupid shoes.") And after a few weeks it stopped and I was on top of the world.

And what got me through those few weeks of her incessant picking? My parents.

And what made me smile through my teeth and laugh at her even though sometimes she was really hurtful? My parents.

Stop being cowards.

Stop being the most selfish generation known to man.

Stop blaming children for your shortcomings.

Your children killed themselves. No one else did bodily harm to them. And all that psychological hurt that they were going through could have been fixed, helped, healed by you. So no, I will not participate in your rememberance and wear rainbows day. No, I absolutely will not endorse whatever bullshit bullying legislation you're trying to pass. What I will endorse is you taking better of the kids you are damned lucky to still have. I absolutely will support you taking responsibility for your inaction and letting these bullies learn their lessons like teenagers will.

Yes, I know. I have no sympathy bone. But that's not entirely true. I feel for every teenager who feels like their inadequate, weird, unaccepted, studid and just plain old not good enough. And each and everyone of them should know be weird and unacceptable. Be unique. Be quirky. Get picked on. And then you know what, show some true character and laugh it off, or take care of it.

Too Gone for Too Long

2010-08-06T21:34:00.005+03:00

Well, I have been told more than once that I ought to get back to blogging so here I am. Lacking inspiration but feeling like if I don't write then I'm being a bit of a disappointment.

What's that you say? How could I be lacking inspiration in the middle of the wreck of a mess our Federal government has us in? How could I live in New Mexico's equivalent of Berkeley, California and not be, at the very least, upset? That's simple.

It's overwhelming.
But, fear not, faithful reader.
I haven't given up the good fight.

Instead of being frustrated and ranting on the internet about how and overqualified white girl cannot get a job in Albuquerque, NM I simply gave up being angry and channeled my energy into starting my own consulting business. And now we have DGConsulting LLC (DGC for short).

And instead of being upset that there are protesters that flood the streets of Nob Hill, but usually only when the cameras are on, to be so eloquently expressive about their opinion on Arizona's immigration law I simply stay home and write letters to Governor Jan Brewer telling her how much I appreciate the serious position she's taken on making something that is illegal actually illegal.

Recently I had a friend (Thank you, Mr. Matthes) point out something interesting to me that shows up in the "Political Views" section of their Facebook profiles. People have things like, "Political Views: OBAMA!" or "Political Views: I hate Sarah Palin" written where things like "Raving Liberal Nut" or "Socialism Rocks!" should be. Now, let's assume that a large portion of my Facebook friends have a college degree... after all, a huge portion of them did graduate with me. Everyone who graduated from ODU had to take POLS 101; meaning they all know the fundamental differences between liberal and conservative and so on. So instead of going through and asking each one of those people to re-read a textbook they more than likely sold back.... I'm going to keep blogging. Then at least they will have some point of reference for what God-fearing, tax-paying, Libertarian registered ranting looks like.

So, Ms. Smith and Mr. Matthes... this one in particular is for you. The rest of my blogs I would like to hereby dedicate to the morons who don't know the difference between a politician and a political party. Cheers.

_____________________

In Other News, I got so excited about writing again that I burned my sponge cake. This, I believe, is what we call a bittersweet moment.

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

2010-02-22T04:15:00.003+03:00

It's been a million years since I've written. Luckily, I feel like getting back into the swing of things. Enjoy :)

There is a reason "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is in place, and it certainly isn't meant to oppress any one type of person. Military work spaces should be completely devoid of any sexual orientation for organizational reasons. Next thing you know tax payers have to build six different kinds of barracks separating Homosexual Males from Heterosexual Males from Transgender Males and then all over again on the female side; instead of just one male and one female. Can you imagine six different sets of berthings and showers on an aircraft carrier? Sure, they're huge... but you have to have room for more than just personnel.

What we should be spending money on it classes that teach "Live and Let Live." It's none of my business, or anyone's business, if the person next to me is gay or not. As long as their doing their job not really anything matters. If we focused on people's capabilities instead of their personal choices we would all just be humans with resumes. Sexual preferences are meant to stay between you, your significant other and whomever you believe will be judging you in the end.

Either way, this all gets back to my usual points...

Do your job well.
Be responsible for yourself and no one else.
Live and let live.

Private Sector.

2009-06-18T21:28:00.004+03:00

In his first public speech since leaving office, former president says his administration's interrogation policies were within the law, asserts the private sector -- not government -- will fix the economy and rejects nationalization of health care.

You know when you just get tired of saying the same old thing and posting the same old ideals? Well, it's come down to simply finding headlines that mean exactly what I want them to. Check out the big bold letters above and then go read the article. It may be about President Bush and he may have not gone about it right but the ideals are right on target. Gitmo has always been run to the letter of the law. Saying it hasn't means you're small-minded and lumping it in with Abu Ghraib. Also, the private sector and dedicated capitalist businessmen are what's going to pull us out of this one. Not "for the greater good" politicians who simply seem to be lining their own federal pockets with money and power.

_____________________________

In Other News, I'm miserable. But I'll be fine. I'm keeping up with my responsibilities and obligations and doing what I can because that's what adults do. I hate when people disappoint you... and then do it again and again and again. And who cares if it's been a week since it happened, I'm still devastated and trying desperately to get my equilibrium back. Wish me luck.

Quoting Someone Smarter Than Me.

2009-06-11T18:33:00.001+03:00

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me".
Erma Bombeck

Caught My Eye

2009-05-28T19:03:00.004+03:00

On my google homepage (my never-ending source of inspiration) my quotes section has something from Abraham Lincoln.

It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.
- Abraham Lincoln

This, ladies and gentlemen, makes me feel pretty darn good about myself. I have a fair amount of vices and thus, according to Lincoln, must have at least a few virtues. In fact, I'm pretty sure my virtues are proportional to my vices. And if you really want to get technical, not only are they proportional but also of equal weight. So the more "vice-y" something is the more "virtue-y" my other habits/traits are.

Now that that nonsense is out of the way. I haven't actually slept well in approximately 4-5 days. The exceptionally busy road in front of my house gets incredibly noisy at approximately 445am and I am forced to retreat to my couch at 515am after I realize (for the umpteenth time) that burying my head under my pillow does not work. So, in short, I am cranky and so tired I might cry. That is all.

I lied. You should look at this website. It's about hipsters embarrassing themselves.
You're welcome. :)

HAHAHAHAHA

2009-05-27T18:50:00.003+03:00

So the gist of this story is that the NAACP is going to meet to discuss whether or not to boycott a Nascar race in Florida because of the presence of the Confederate flag.

NAACP Branch Readies for Confederate Flag Fight

Let me get this straight. Angry black Americans are going to meet to decide whether or not to boycott a social/sporting event that is rarely attended by anyone other than rednecks and race fans who are 9 time out of 10 of the very white (and usually incredibly sun-burned) persuasion. Excuse me while I go roll with laughter because this is just ridiculous.

Seriously, kids, live and let live. Who cares if someone else flies a Confederate flag? It's their own choice to still think the Civil War rages on. On another note, go read Larry Elder's book The Ten Things You Can't Say in America. One of his first chapters is about how Black American racism is worse than that of White Americans and he makes some seriously convincing points. Now, I'm not saying the NAACP is an antiquated over-zealous group of hate-mongers who are intent on keeping themselves and their race "down" in order to maintain the benefits but I kind of think the NAACP is an antiquated over-zealous group of hate-mongers who are intent on keeping themselves and their race "down" in order to maintain the benefits.

I personally don't care what flag you fly, what group you join, what candidate you support, or what sporting event you attend... just don't mess with mine. I'll keep my W stickers around for as long as I feel like it, I'll continue to be a member of the National Libertarian Party, and I'll hopefully get to go to the 500 next year. In the mean time, do whatever you feel like. Live and let live... I really don't see how that's so hard. In short, Brian France CEO of Nascar said it best, "It's not a flag [the Confederate flag] that I look at with anything favorable, that's for sure," France told CBS in 2005. "I can't tell people what flag to fly. I can tell you the flag we get behind — it's the American flag." Amen, Mr. France.

___________________________________

In Other News, I had the best Memorial Day weekend. We had a pretty crammed social calendar which was a very nice, though slightly unexpected change. Being social is a great reminder of how much more I like my amazing significant other than I do other people. I haven't talked to the familia in probably a week and it's getting difficult. Audrey, if you're reading this and you don't immediately email me the link to refill the phone card I may be forced to call Janet Reno and tell her never to say hi to you again... and also to punch you in the face. Nothing big happening in the near future... but at the end of June my favorite Hawaiian cousin is coming to visit! Can't wait :)

Little Late, Don't You Think?

2009-05-15T21:26:00.003+03:00

Apparently 78% of Americans don't believe the Government is "investing" their tax dollars... 78% of Americans thing the Government is simply spending willy-nilly (that's the technical term). And about 2/3 of Americans want less government in their lives.

So about seven months ago it was totally cool to want the government to take over and make everything better and we were all hoping that the world would be a better place. Now 2/3 of us are being realistic and want the government to butt out. The problem is the public didn't vote in the guy who wanted less government. They voted in Mr. I-Heart-Socialism himself who was quoting commie party lines at the ASU commencement speech he gave the other day.

If the general public weren't a bunch of fickle, media-controlled, mindless, self-absorbed, lackadaisical sheep this wouldn't be an issue. Unfortunately it took 2/3 of the American public this long to realize we don't need the government... they need us and we want them to leave us alone.

____________________

In Other News, my wonderful significant other is out of town for another two days. Which means I've got the whole apartment to myself... WOO! Par-tay! And by "par-tay" I mean "re-organizing my closet and cleaning the bathroom". Yeah, I know... I live on the edge.

Complete Waste.

2009-05-14T22:08:00.003+03:00

The government, specifically the National Institute of Health, is spending $2.6 MILLION to get hookers in CHINA to DRINK MORE RESPONSIBLY.

Yeah. Cool. That makes sense.

Seriously, kids, I think the entire government got a dart board out labeled it with legitimate things to spend money on, blind folded themselves and then accidentally hit other things in the room while trying to aim for the board. Now they are assuaging their guilt by helping Chinese hookers be not drunk.

This is so incredibly stupid.

sex with emily

2009-05-12T18:57:00.005+03:00

This is completely off my usual topic.

So... I googled my name. Not my whole name, just "emily." And after a little bit of scrolling I found a blog. It's called "Sex with Emily." Naturally I was intrigued. So I started reading and I think she's brilliant. She doesn't espouse ridiculous touchy-feely opinions or provide 101 Ways to Turn Your Man On or go on some uber-feminist tirade against men. In short, I love it.

As the Comm major I once was I couldn't help but be dragged into a research frenzy after reading one of her blog entries. "Be the person you want to find" She recommends that you cultivate the things you want from someone else in yourself.

Makes sense right? If you want someone smart, motivated, energetic, outdoorsy, and well-dressed then you should probably look smart, act motivated, do something kinetic, hang out under a tree and wear socks that match. On a superficial level that works brilliantly... but what about then you start getting into more depth after covering a wide breadth of subjects? This brings us to my very favorite communication theory... the Social Penetration Theory. Once you get into your deeper feelings on a subject do you really want to find someone who is like you?

Here's the part where we break out the therapists chaise-lounge and see what you really like (or not) about yourself. Now don't give me that "Uh, I'm a happy well-adjusted person so of course I like myself." I know SexWithEmily says you should cultivate what you want from a person you date but what do you do if you're conditioned to look for exactly what you don't like about yourself? How many people have horrible significant others with the same horrible traits they have? How many boyfriends did I go through that drank too much as a distraction, spent too much time on their unneccessary hobbies, and were really horribly untidy because they didn't care? In recent history my own deep dark dirty habits have changed a bit. And though I could never fathom dating myself (Sometimes I'm difficult like whoa), I can certainly see how the positive things I've cultivated in myself are major traits in the amazing significant other I have now (and luckily, he's better at being those things than I am).

So here's to girl's of my namesake who make sense, write great blogs, are objective and cause me to further appreciate the changes I've made and the wonderful people around me who I am so very fortunate to have.

__________________________

In Other News, I forgot to update $1000 yesterday so I'm off to do that right now. Despite my up-beat mood and rather positive outlook I kind of feel like a blue whale today (in size, not color or biological classification). I've been doing a ton of research lately and it make my brain feel good though. Also, my toes have fallen asleep in my heels and even though I'm really hungry and want to go make some lunch I can't stand up without practically falling over. If you work for a delivery restaurant and are reading this. Help.

As always, some pretty fun links connected throughout the whole thing. Enjoy :)

National Day of...

2009-05-06T22:15:00.004+03:00

Whining... is what it seems like; instead of the National Day of Prayer (which is tomorrow).

Apparently some religious groups are upset that Obama will only be noting the occasion with a "paper proclamation" as opposed to a public address. In keeping with my theme I'd like to say, "Who cares?" The point is he's still taking part of it and prayer is a personal thing anyway. Quite whining about it and go do some praying for a different President if you feel like this one has done you wrong. Quit throwing a fit and go pray for some tolerance from everybody. Or you could just shut your mouth, pray, and thank God that the National Day of Prayer is even recognized in a society where religion is more and more frequently ostracized.

___________________

In Other News, I've been updating another blog as well as this one. The other one is an experiment where we (my significant other and I) try to live off $1,000 a month. The 'poverty line' for a two-person household is set at $1,166 a month so we're trying to help ourselves to live more frugally and tracking it in public seems to help. Little sister left for Italy on Tuesday and arrived safely. Oh! And last weekend (Birthday weekend for those of you who didn't know) was phenomenal. We didn't end up going to the Derby. Partly because it rained and partly because we didn't want to spend four hours in the car, end up super drunk, sleep in the 'Burban, and then wake up early to drive another four hours back. So we found a nice quiet little town and spent Saturday night there. Logansport is adorable and has some seriously cool old buildings in it. We came back perfectly relaxed, and a little sunburned and went to Sol Fest. Rounded out the weekend curled up on the couch with the greatest guy ever watching The American President (or at least half of it before we fell asleep). This weekend, you ask? Eh, probably not a lot. Maybe going to see Grandma (his) for Mother's Day. Maybe a trip to the range? Maybe just snoozing and trying not to spend any money?

Brand New

2009-05-04T21:31:00.001+03:00

$1000

It's an experiment. Help a sister out and leave me some feedback :)

Seriously?

2009-04-30T16:29:00.004+03:00

I'm still in the phase where I'm giving this President a chance. Yes, I'm tired of hearing about his dog and his wife's shoes. Yes, of course I'm certainly not a fan of some of the legislation he has pushed. And if I see another headline declaring his ubiquitous popularity I'll gag. But there's one thing this morning that made me feel just a bit better... kind of like I'm not the only one left questioning his capabilities. Oddly enough my reassurance came from the Washington Times of all places; granted it's not the most liberal newspaper on the planet but it's certainly not a conservative bastion.

"President Obama's media cheerleaders are hailing how loved he is. But at the 100-day mark of his presidency, Mr. Obama is the second-least-popular president in 40 years."

His 56% approval rating is still more than half but that means a little less than half of the country still doesn't understand what he thinks he's doing. I know Glenn Beck is on this "You are not alone" campaign with the 9/12 project. But it's hard to see us all 'bonding together' so our 'angry voices can be heard'. It just doesn't look like it's happening... it looks (and feels) like I'm swamped by a bunch of brain-washed zombies who are enamored with a media-manufactured Manchurian Candidate. This all becomes even more frustrating when I see fact check lists like this. Last time I checked embellishing the truth is also considered lying... kind of like a lie by omission. My favorite 'fact'?

OBAMA: "We began by passing a Recovery Act that has already saved or created over 150,000 jobs." -- from news conference.

THE FACTS: This assertion is dubious on several levels. For starters, the U.S. has lost more than 1.2 million jobs since Obama took office, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Even if Obama's stimulus bill saved or created as many jobs as he says, that number is dwarfed by the number of recent job losses.

Seriously? Just lay it out flat for us, Mr. President. Just because you think we're all stupid doesn't make it true. If the government isn't scaring us into believing things we actually handle it pretty well. Anybody remember how we reacted when FDR said 'look we're going to war and we all need to work together?' (ok, well sort of said exactly that) All we need is someone to stand up and say "Look the economy is crap and we all need to work, literally, together. No hand-outs, just plain old American work ethic and ingenuity."

I really think I'm going to hate (with a passion) the incoming Socialist onslaught.

_____________________________

In Other News, the Kentucky Derby is this weekend! I'm really, really anxious to go but... I think because of the weather and the lack of usual birthday festivities I'm not as excited as I want to be. It's not the family I miss this time... it's the week of ridiculous birthday things that I got used to over four years. And possibly the fact that nobody withing 100 miles of me thinks the day is nearly as important as I do. I don't know. I sound unbelievably spoiled but that's because I am. Moving on... my grad school application is very close to complete and I cannot wait to turn it in. I'm a bit worried about balancing school and work but I don't believe it's going to be an issue. With work during the day and a few classes at night I'll just have to cut back on my Prison Break watching time. (Do not start watching that show... it's addictive) Anyway, here's to having adult birthdays where people don't fawn all over you and wonderful guys who take you on amazing road trips. Derby Day here we come!

I'm in love... again.

2009-04-22T19:39:00.005+03:00

Remember last November when I fell in love?

Yeah, that one has officially been replaced as of now. And I think this one would love me unconditionally too.
[insert swoon here]

I apparently have expensive taste, but thankfully this doesn't happen terribly often. Twice in five months isn't bad! Yes, yes I know. I'm hopeless. On the other hand, at least this keeps me from rambling on about political things no one gives a damn about. :)

While I'm at it I'll just tag the "In Other News" on right here... it's not like any of this was really relevant to my usual anyway. T-minus two days and counting until my baby Sis and Grandma (!) are in town. I'm actually really excited about having four of us in our adorable little apartment. T-minus ten days and counting until the Kentucky Derby! And then eleven days until I turn another year older. Officially, I'm not out of my slump yet. I still feel like a huge pile of "ugh". But I started refusing to let it control my entire day... you can only mope for so long. Granted I'm not exactly happy go lucky but I'm sure as soon as I sort through the wreck in my head that's causing all this stress it will all get better.

One more update, I gave up on my experiment. I'm still trying to understand other relational styles but changing mine was just far too difficult and caused way too many issues for me. In short, I'm still a girly-wreck-of-a-mess who requires probably more attention than I'm worth. Moving on, I can't wait for this weekend and next. Not only do I get to see the most amazing sister anybody could ask for but then I get to take the birthday trip of my dreams with the greatest guy anybody could ask for.

Back bone.

2009-04-20T18:33:00.003+03:00

Miss California is currently being ripped to shreds in the media for her answer to whether or not she believes in gay marriage.

Some where along there somebody is missing the point.... they asked her what her thoughts on it were. They didn't ask "Please spout the most politically correct answer possible to whether gay marriage should be allowed in all 50 states." They didn't ask "Please give us the majority of the population's thoughts on gay marriage." The openly-gay judge asked if she thought gay marriage should be allowed in all 50 states and he got exactly what he asked for as an answer... her opinion.

Thank goodness this girl stuck to her guns and was honest with her ideals on the subject. Thank goodness there are still girls out there with a back bone who don't mind standing up for what they believe. Do you need to agree with her? Absolutely not, but that's your right. Do you need to hate her for having a different opinion? Absolutely not, then you're asking her to not exercise her right to an opinion. Nobody asked her to make everybody happy... and now they're all whining that she's "stupid" and a "bigot." I think she's just a conservative young lady with a background in the church and a family who stands behind her.

Do I agree with her? Not entirely. Yeah I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman but if some guy would like to go marry his boyfriend then who am I to judge? It's your life, they're your decisions and there's somebody standing outside a set of pearly gates that gets to do the judging. Don't screw with my rights and I won't screw with yours.

So rock on, Ms. California and thank you for sticking my your values. I've got no idea who you are but you'd certainly have my vote... or something.

________________________________

In Other News, I have just been notified that my baby sister will be coming to visit me for her birthday this weekend :) It would be uber-difficult to explain exactly how excited I am about this. Had an awesome weekend with a random adventure on friday, Tea Party demonstration and a day at the lake on Saturday, and a relaxing pretty slow sunday. Having a bit of a sun burn and such a wonderful (read: absolutely amazing, wonderfully fun and equally good-looking) adventure companion felt sooooo good (the latter of the two being a perpetual thing). This weekend, however, will not be nearly so quiet. I believe we'll call it a birthday adventure to end all birthday adventures. Ok, that's not exactly catchy... I'll work on it.

2009-04-15T18:07:00.003+03:00

"In other news, USA TODAY's Susan Page reports that most Americans support Obama's expansion of government during the economic crisis -- but by 3-to-1 they want it rolled back when the crisis is over."

You cannot have your cake and eat it too.

You cannot say "Yes, Government, Save Me!" and then when you're rescued say, "Oh well, you can leave now. Thanks. Don't let the door hit you on your way out."

The general public is stupid. You are not entitled. You do not "deserve" anything. Get over yourself, be smarter with your money, and tell your government to stick to what it is they do best. Keeping out of your life and protecting the country; not from itself but from outside factors that could inhibit your ability and God-given right to live your life as freely as you choose.

____________________________

In Other News, I am in a slump. That is all.

Napoleon, Snowball & Squealer

2009-03-25T17:03:00.003+03:00

Lots of links... don't get too distracted. You're welcome :)

After a really fantastic (and rather educational) walk last night the most brilliant (and incredibly good looking) man I know and I ended up at a bar (go figure, right?). As usual our conversation drifted to politics and somehow the subject of Animal Farm came up. Neither of us could remember the exact details but we had the premise and message of the story right. What it came down to was trying to figure out why the book is still required reading in most middle schools even though it's obvious that the lessons Orwell was teaching are ignored. Back in the late 70's and the 80's it was a testament against communism and tyranny. It was a statement against Populism and explained the idea that Populists (as it's traditionally defined) are not in it "for the good of the people." And now?

Now we have a populist as President. (that one's a cartoon... click it) He's a man who captivated enough Americans to win the election, promised a change that would be in the best interest of the people and had the charismatic, laid back, coolness that people flock towards. Sixty-two days into this and we've got a man who had hand picked lobbyists for his cabinet despite promises not to, has not followed through on his promise to publish for five days on the internet everything he plans on signing into law, and apparently has to spend four or five days to "know what he's talking about" before he comments on something the American public has been raging about since the beginning.

Just like in Animal Farm, Napoleon the Pig and his buddies start off creating change (sound familiar?) and end up with Napoleon taking the entire farm over and everything being worse than it began. Obama is exactly what every other poor (not financially, but behaviorally) politician and the transformation from Fearless Leader to Worthless Self-absorbed Authoritarian hasn't taken long. To top it all off...

"Squealer, Napoleon's propagandist, justifies every action to the other animals, convincing them that Napoleon is a great leader and is making things better for everyone—despite the fact that the common animals are cold, hungry, and overworked."

And if I have to explain to you that Squealer is synonymous with Robert Gibbs you may want to start paying more attention.

____________________________

In Other News, my experiment continues although I've altered it a bit. Instead of trying to alter my current relational styles I'm simply going to try to expand. Who says people should only have two main styles? Why not rely on four of them? It seems to be working pretty well (read: I feel a better despite still struggling a bit), expanding is so much easier than a complete conversion. And who doesn't want to be touched and verbally affirmed anyway? Well, I can think of one but he's not the norm (thankfully) and that's not the point. Moving on! I painted my nails a weird color just now and it's really getting on my nerves. I could bite it off but that would ruin an entire week of work. I started volunteering at a Horse Rescue Shelter and it breaks my heart. I've started working with the three studs to get them lead broke so we can lunge them after they're gelded but unfortunately, I just don't have the time or money to be out there as often as they need training. Doesn't help that I'm in love with half of them now and want to just love on all of them. Finally, I miss my Mommy. Tune in next time when I tell you about our first home-brewed batch of beer (Unreasonable Red) and more experiment findings.

The First 100 Days

2009-03-17T17:51:00.003+03:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, for your reading pleasure I'd like to present the only "First 100 Days" list worth reading.

The Onion has developed their own list. Is most of it ridiculous? Yes. Is 99% of it completely fabricated? Certainly. (One of my favorites being.... "DAY 10: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Donovan wonders if they mean "urban" like "city" or "urban" like "black.") Is it worth your time to read when compared to FoxNews or CNN's versions? Absolutely.

Ok so maybe FoxNews and CNNs' lists are more relevant and actually contain information that would enhance your political perspectives and keep you up to date. (Another good one... "DAY 40: President Obama forwards the link to the new Star Trek movie trailer to the entire staff. Again.") But did dying the White House fountains green have to be the update for today (Day 57)? Now, why on earth the first 100 days are so important is well beyond me, but if you're going to read one at least it should be entertaining. (last but not least... "DAY 51: Reaching a milestone common for new presidents, Obama spends the afternoon seeing who is the most important person he can get on the phone in under five minutes.") So take a deep breathe, forget about the political wreck of a mess that is D.C. and go read the list. And when you're done jump on John McCain's Twitter... he's got an interview on there at Noon. And shut up, I know I'm obsessed. Thank you very much.

___________________________

In Other News, I want a puppy. A free Boxer-Coonhound Puppy from the Ad Pages to be specific. Am I getting one? Yeah, right. But a girl can wish right? Oh, and a house. A limestone house with a pond, a pole barn and probably vaulted beamed ceilings. Not getting that one either though. I've been doing an experiment for about the past week. It's a personal experiment and I'm actually not torturing somebody else this time. Ever tried to change your relational style (aka love language)? So far the first week has gone badly. I'm still overwhelmingly sensitive to verbal affirmation and touch but I'm trying to be better at the quality time and acts of service thought process. Although, I should have expected the results (frustration, disappointment and a bit of withdrawal) because a week of making a concerted effort itsn't going to outweigh 22 years of conditioning. Hm, this all seems like a bit of an over share. Thankfully, Staci's the only one who reads this... I love you :)

Bastards.

2009-03-10T16:15:00.002+03:00

"The five detainees at Guantanamo Bay charged with plotting the September 11, 2001 attacks have filed a document accepting responsibility for the deaths of nearly 3,000 people and expressing pride at their accomplishment, the New York Times reported late on Monday."

And how long have they been sitting down there living off American tax payers' money, torturing the men and women who have to guard them?

The worst part about it is that there are still a number of liberals, democrats, socialists, and left-wingers who think it's wrong that we have them there at all. And you know what... I agree. It is wrong that we are holding them in Guantanamo Bay. They should have been put to death years ago.

Yes He Is.

2009-03-06T20:22:00.005+03:00

Is Obama a DOW Downer?

Yes. But only because he wants to be.

The more times he screams "economic crisis" and uses words like "disaster" the worse it's going to get. Somebody brilliant (and coincidentally also ridiculously good looking) pointed something interesting out to me the other night. Eight months ago the only thing that was failing was the banks... not every other company that happens to exist. Coincidence? Casualties of an "economic crisis"? Or the unnecessary by-product of politicians who are scaring the market into oblivion so they can pass a bill that funds all of their pet projects, puts them in control of just about everything and delivers an entire country of people into their worthless manipulative hands? I've been following John McCain's Twitter account since it was brought to my attention (it's Maureen Dowd's fault). He keeps posting updates that plain as day state the project that the Senate has kept in the bill and the cost. It makes me sick the junk they're having tax payers fund in the middle of a bailout. A recreation park and fair ground? Pleasure Beach Water Taxi? Money for the Historic Jazz Foundation in Kansas? SERIOUSLY?!

I thought we were supposed to be creating jobs, and stimulating the economy not just paying to amuse ourselves? Part of the reason we're in this mess is because a large group of people is too lazy to work and wants the government to take care of them. So what's the logical solution? Ah, yes, amuse them so they're distracted from how much of a drain they are on Capitalism-loving, hard-working Americans.

In other sickening news, while waiting for my hair appointment (it now looks fantastic thank you for asking) I saw this headline.

Does no one else see an issue with a WORKER TAX for a JOBLESS FUND? I work to support me. Not me and someone who doesn't have a job and does not a damn thing. If someone comes and works for me... yes, I will gladly pay them. Until then I am so tired of paying for people who haven't earned a single penny that I really don't know what to do with myself.

And on top of all the economic crap there's a Professor who called the cops on a College Senior for talking about guns. TALKING about guns. The full article is right here... because if I keep typing I swear my head is going to spin around and I'll start spitting tacks.

Somebody tell me I'm not the only one who feels like this isn't the America we were raised in...

where did it go, why and when the hell can I have it back?

___________________________________

In Other News, spent a weekend with the family before they left for Italy. It was amazing :) Then I spent the week following being sick with the plague. It sucked, but I lost 10 pounds! The weather is lovely today despite being a bit windy and I have a wonderful Friday night planned. Yoga has been amazing recently... I love being back in a class and the studio I go to is a perfect little yoga haven. Also, I desperately want to go to the Kentucky Derby this year... sit on the in-field and participate in the mint-julep-fueled drunk fest that happens the day before my birthday. Who wants in?

They're Called Illegal for a Reason.

2009-02-09T21:44:00.003+03:00

Immigrant Sex Offender May Be Released in North Carolina Untreated Due to Illegal Status

Why wasn't he shipped out as soon as they found out he was ILLEGAL? Why have our tax dollars been paying for someone who isn't even allowed to be here? Why on earth would we even consider paying for his treatment when a $600 plane ticket would have taken care of this a long time ago?

Send him back to his own country and see how they feel about people who rape handicapped 5-year olds. Instead this guy is going to be roaming freely around North Carolina... and wherever else he pleases... as close to people's children as he wants to be. This is just stupid.

Didn't See That One Coming.

2009-02-04T23:22:00.004+03:00

Dear Over Zealous Human Right-ists Who Fight for the Rights of "Innocent" Detainees,

There are 11 ex-Gitmo Detainees on Saudi Arabia's most wanted list.

Should have tried them, put them on the executioners block, and had it done with. Or sent them back to their respective countries and let them punish them, instead of just release them because they said they were just harmless citizens in the wrong place at the wrong time.

They were in there for a reason, and are now out committing other crimes. Possibly killing people who deserve their rights and are actual harmless citizens.

Good job, morons.

My Very Best,

The Girl Who Would Have Given Guns to the Families of the People They Killed & Said Have Fun! Would You Like Your Kill Mounted or Stuffed?

_______________________________

In Other News, I've been a real grump lately. Sorry about that. I'd like to blame part of it on stress, part of it on me being kind of dumb, and part of it on some very silly (read: annoying and stupid) people. On the upside, I have another road trip coming up soon. I'm heading to Pennsylvania in about 16 days to see the family before they abandon me for good (read: leave for italy). Tonight I'm going to try really really hard not to be grumpy but thus far today it's been difficult. Wish me luck or stay the hell out of my way. (Preferably the first one.)

For those of you who have left "anonymous" comments and then had me guess at who you are... I have no idea. Sorry, but luckily I am blessed with more than one intelligent, well-spoken friend and frankly, I'm not sure which one you are. If you wouldn't mind filling me in I would be quite grateful. And could then thank you personally for being pretty hilarious. Until next time... anybody notice the new title block? Thoughts?

Just A Thought...

2009-02-04T01:50:00.001+03:00

My Google says this today....

"A great empire, like a great cake, is most easily diminished at the edges."
Benjamin Franklin

At the edges... like the East coast and california? Which happen to both be liberal bastions of ridiculousness? I wouldn't mind if those edges started diminishing. Hell, if they're actually cake I'd volunteer to eat most of the City of Berkeley. I bet it'd be fruity cake too...

Red & Yellow, Black & White

2009-01-30T22:59:00.004+03:00

I do not care what color the president is.

He could come out with a statement tomorrow saying that he's not half black-half white, he's half American-Samoan and half American-Albino and I would not care.

A dear friend of mine posted this... "My PRESIDENT is black, in fact hes half white, so even in racist minds, hes half right...Martin luther walked so Obama can run..." as their status on MySpace. There is part of me who wants to tell her that Martin Luther did a lot for everyone but I sincerely doubt it aided Obama's motor skills. Martin Luther did, however, help people break away from what were considered tyrannies of the Catholic Church. And I'm sure religous freedom has helped Obama become the man he is today, somehow. That's what she meant, right? ( that was dripping with sarcasm, by the way... I just wished people spoke completely intelligently about what they're soap-boxing about)
After I got a few (ok, only three) emails telling me to "give the black president a chance" and to "stop being a racist, you're ridiculing our president because he's black" I had a serious discussion with a friend. We talked about how ridiculous it is that people are making such a huge deal about "black people finally making an impact" or "black people being recognized" and why we get criticized for moving past that to the issues straight after the inaugeration. I understand the first president who isn't an old white guy is a big deal. But he's elected... move on. There are much bigger and more important things going on that have absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the president is of whatever race he is. Be excited, I'm glad you get excited about something but can't the masses focus on something a little less qualitative?

Moving on. What I care about is that Obama is trying to close Gitmo and put millions of Americans in danger. Need an explanation on why? How about you read just ALMOST EVERY BLOG I'VE EVER WRITTEN. The men detained at Guantanamo Bay live for killing Americans, they die for killing Americans, their entire being is obsessed with ridding the earth of America. So yeah, let's just let 'em all go elsewhere and re-join the fight and be martyr'd. Please. Sounds like a really... great... idea.

Also, this whole Obama staring down the journalist thing is just crap. Answer the damned questions. If you can't answer a simple question about why he picked a former lobb you made without a formal press conference and prompting then what are you doing being the president. It didn't have to be so serious and earth shaking... you could have just answered the question by saying "because no matter his background I think he is the best man for the job." Done. But no, it takes hoopla and media hype to convey that he was just visiting the press...who are PAID to ask questions of him. Huh. So much for "an open president for the people."

I will not ever care what color the president is. I do, however, care about whatever he's got going on with his staff choices and policies. So, as my Aussie boss says, "bug off" and quit trying to tell me I only bag on Obama because he's black. You're dumb.

The Audacity of....

2009-01-29T20:55:00.003+03:00

People who write editorials that spout the party line so that someone will pay attention to them.
Nevermind that they author is blaming Rush Limbaugh for doing the exact same thing (saying things for attentions.)

The Audacity of Rush Limbaugh's Hope is an article berating Rush for saying he "hopes" Obama fails. Well, Rush, here's me taking one for the team. Me too.

If Obama fails that means that socialism isn't one step closer to taking over what still is and can be the Greatest Nation on the planet. If Obama fails it means not everyone in the country is going to be forced to accept the stimulus package that's simply a euphemism for "everyone's on welfare now!" If Obama fails then maybe Americans will realize you have to work for yourself to benefit yourself. Not the government has to work for you so you can benefit and keep your cushy job.

I hope Obama fails... in seamlessly integrating "democratic socialism." But I sincerely hope that he succeeds in realizing that America needs to pull itself out of this and not hope that throwing money at the situation will fix everything. There is no quick fix. This is a long term, the repercussions will be seen in 20 years situation. I hope socialism isn't around when those repercussions hit because if that happens... well, there will be nobody to pick your welfare-hungry, expanded-government-loving self up off the ground.

__________________________

In Other News, it's been a million years... I know. Work has been crazy busy. I spent two weeks in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show which was awesome. I've got a nice cozy itty bitty apartment and it's amazing. Going on a roadtrip this weekend with my the most amazing man I know and I cannot wait. It snowed like crazy two nights ago and I had the pleasure of shoveling snow for the first (and hopefully, last) time last night. After that experience, I can safely say I am so very ready for a warmer climate... or maybe I'll just buy a sun lamp.

Nothing Has Changed

2008-11-20T00:50:00.003+03:00

While reading an article about al Qaeda's comments on Obama I was surprised to read that a U.S. Counter-terrorism Official said ...

"The way they're dealing with the change represented by the election of an African American as president of the United States is to insist that nothing has changed."

DUH.

Of course nothing has changed. We're not trying to change al Qaeda. Also, al Qaeda is not a representative sample of the general Iraqi or Afghani population. Things concerning the civilian public have changed. Look at the elections, the number of Iraqi women in schools, the children who are being sent to schools instead of training camps.

So what are we doing if we're not trying to change al Qaeda? We're trying to wipe every single one of them off the face of the planet. That way they won't be able to hurt American or Iraqi or Afghani soldiers or citizens. Does no one understand that they're not just some group of people with guns? They're a terrorist group whose entire obsessive goal in life is to kill Americans. How did America end up forgetting this?!

Iraq is slowly becoming a better place because of America. It's slowly going to be able to stand on its own and that's going to be an absolutely amazing thing.

I'm in love...

2008-11-17T21:46:00.005+03:00

And fortunately, they love me back unconditionally no matter how much dirt I drag them through.

Anyway, I'm so tired of politics that it's making my head spin. I find more and more things everyday to be ever so frustrated about.

__________________________________

In Other News, my friend Jesse is a Saint. January is going to be insane. December may just be the happy month of the whole year. I have an unbelievably amazing job. My personal wardrobe assistant is also my personal breakfast maker and certainly deserves a raise. Details on most of that later.

Job err, Blog Security

2008-11-06T21:39:00.005+03:00

At least I'll probably have something to complain about for the next for years. John Stewart is going to run out of fodder... maybe I can replace him.

I do appreciate those of you who didn't text message me Tuesday night around 11pm gloating about the election results and being exceptionally condescending. You're lovely adults and wonderful Americans. The rest of you. Ugh. And that's all I have to say about that.

Anyway, yes, I'm saddened that modern America thinks that the government should take care of everyone. I'm saddened that millions of people voted to have their money redistributed by someone else. I'm saddened that people voted because they wanted to make history, and not necessarily because it's actually a good direction for the country. Do I want Obama to work out beautifully? Sure. Absolutely. If the country ends up in a better spot then I'm all for it. Do I think that if he accomplishes half of his policies we'll be in a better spot? Oh Hell No.

My hard earned money pays for enough welfare junkies as it is. I don't want to be paying for welfare junkies, and people who kind of need it, and people who think they need it, and people who think they deserve it. I don't want my tax cuts going to some girl who gets her school paid for, children fed, and pays her bar tabs with government money because she's got no job and can't keep her legs shut. I work my butt of so that I can get by. I'm living fairly comfortably because I EARN it. Our new President-Elect wants to hand things to people. Work for it.

The idea should be that the harder you work the better you and those around you will do. For instance, if I work my butt off here... then the company benefits from my zealousness... which means we make more money... which means I get a raise. Conversely, if I were to sit here blogging ALL day and not do anything then the Company would not benefit... no one would no about our products, we'd make no money and I'd be out of a job. Get it?

On that note, my lunch is 90% gone and I've got some photoshopping to do. I'm willing to give Obama a chance. But as soon as this socialism thing starts picking up I'm done. Goodbye cold, cruel USA.... Hello foreign country that likes Democracy.

______________________________________

In Other News, went to Chicago last weekend with one of the greatest people on the planet. Saw Kings of Leon and now I'm obsessed. I mean completely. I even know their names. Yikes, I'm creepy. We did a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie house, too. I highly recommend seeing it. Gorgeous house. Ask for Brad, he's quite the tour guide. I'm slightly upset today because I was allowed to walk out of the house looking like this... I have a saggy butt because my pants don't fit. Pro: I'm losing weight. Con: My pants don't fit and I have to buy new ones. To donate to the Buy Emily Pants that Fit Fund please click the following link.

Should Have Said It.

2008-10-16T22:03:00.003+03:00

Senator Obama, your campaign has used words like "erratic," "out of touch," "lie," "angry," "losing his bearings" to describe Senator McCain.

Senator McCain, your commercials have included words like "disrespectful," "dangerous," "dishonorable," "he lied." Your running mate said he "palled around with terrorists."

Are each of you tonight willing to sit at this table and say to each other's face what your campaigns and the people in your campaigns have said about each other?

And McCain should have turned around and said,

"Senator Obama, with all due respect to a man who has been elected into a public office by American citizens from the state of Illinois, I believe you are a dishonorable, inexperienced, liar who is dangerous because of your association with terrorists and your flippant attitude towards the questions raised about the quality of your political relationships."

And then maybe...

"I also believe it is dishonorable and underhanded that you have not released your birth certificate to answer the question about you being a natural born American who is able to run for President. I believe it is ridiculous that you call yourself a Democrat when it is perfectly evident that you are nothing more than a smooth-talking Socialist. Finally, I don't care if you've decided to say you will have "pre-conditions" when you meet with foreign leaders; they don't have a single care about your pre-conditions... they want to see you dead because you are an American. Stand up like you're an American, have a back bone and say what you mean. Show the naysayers and bigots who call you a terrorist and a commie fag that you're a proud blue-blooded, natural born, vision driven American. Until that time, please stop lying and manipulating the American people. Do not coerce them into getting swept up into your temporary limelight. Be a great American and ask what you can do for your Country... because the answer is to drop out of this race and let someone who is angry, erratic, passionate and determined get this country back on track.

Senator Obama, you are not the man for the job."

And then I would be ridiculously happy to have watched the debate last night and thousands of Americans would be stirred into consciousness by the fact that at least one of our politicians isn't just a campaign puppet spitting out what's "middle of the road" and diplomatic.

Seriously kids, Emily for President 2028. You're Welcome.

Nobody Likes You

2008-10-07T23:24:00.004+03:00

Some idiot, I mean Judge, ordered the release of Chinese Muslims from Guantanamo Bay today. Get this...

"They have been in government custody for seven years, and have been cleared for release for the past four years to any country willing to take them. No countries have volunteered."

No Countries Have Volunteered

Wanna know why?... because they're dangerous men that no one wants because to invite them into your country is to invite in terrorism. Hippy Freak Pinko Liberal Commies don't care. Let everyone into the United States! Who cares that their entire goal in life is to kill infidels, a.k.a. Americans.

People can be so stupid, don't bring them on to U.S. soil unless you're going to keep them under lock, key and M16 in your own backyard. Keep them in Gitmo. I actually don't mind you spending my tax dollars to keep dangerous terrorists as far away from any civilian on the planet as you can.

Somebody should give me a Nobel Peace Prize for my humanitarian concern.

Not Sure How I Found This

2008-10-07T17:04:00.003+03:00

Ok, so I was doing some campaign research. Just trying to keep up to date, you know? And I found Drew Barrymore's opinions on politics, Obama, McCain, the whole gamut. And I have come to one conclusion.

She'd be happy if we were socialists.

Happy, communal, everyone-should-take-care-of-everyone, let's not give anyone personal responsibility because we're all one big happy group socialists.

And here's my proof, “I can’t imagine why we all don’t want desperately to take care of each other. We need to be passionately inspired by the fact that we can take our environment and our country back.”

Um, I can imagine why. Because I'm not responsible or in charge of you. Because you are your own person and looking out for your own well-being is the greatest thing you can do for the planet. You don't know what's best for me. I do not want you taking care of me, I do now want you making decisions for me. What's good for you and your family is not good for me and mine. I desperately want to take care of my family and friends. End of story. That's it. I don't feel any ridiculous need to take care of the whole population. I don't want to hold hands with you and sing a song so we can save trees, have the right to kill unborn babies, and give welfare to undeserving idiots.

Take our country back? Really? Where did it go? Last time I checked I'm still firmly standing on American soil and nobody has taken any part of it away from me. America's still a sovereign nation that is in control of itself. The only way that your country has been taken away from you is if you handed it to somebody else and relinquished your rights to it. I haven't handed away my rights to someone else so they can "make a good decision for the common good." There is no common good. There is only individual good that can eventually sum up to being a good system for those who are willing to use it.

Democracy, capitalism and personal responsibility are good things that do not require looking out for anyone else. If everyone did what was good for them, the whole world would be a better place. For instance, if I own a business and it is good for my business to offer a high quality product at a decent price then that's what I'm going to do. I'm not going to offer my same high quality product for a hell of a lot cheaper because Mommy McFoodStamps can't afford it. It's not good for her for me to just hand her what she wants, and its not good for my business to under-sell myself. One more example and I'm done. Relationships. If everyone looked out for their own well-being in relationships there would be a much smaller divorce rate. If you inform your partner of what you require from them, the needs you have, and the things you want they'll understand you more. Then when you both accept each others needs and find they're compatible you have a working relationship. Don't expect the other person to pander to you and give you what you want. Go get what you want, look out for yourself, your feelings, your needs. No one is responsible for your happiness except you.

Drew, get off your liberal high horse. Stop expecting people to work together and build a happy little socialist country. Not happening. Go read the Virtue of Selfishness and Shut Up.

You're Welcome.

______________________________

In Other News, my Sister left this morning. I'm a bit not happy about that at all :( Dammit. And I'm hungry. And the coffee maker broke. On the up side, I slept really well last night and woke up just as happy.

Superfluous

2008-10-06T18:14:00.004+03:00

Yes, that's officially what I think any kind of Presidential/Vice Presidential debate would be at this point.

However, if they had said anything of meaning, depth, importance or anything beyond ambiguous and vague I would change the name of this particular blog to "Remotely Helpful" or maybe even "Poignant." The latter would only occur if the candidates made a concerted effort to truly define their ideals and their intentions. As opposed to dancing around the issues like trained ponies.

Ugh. This whole thing is rather disappointing. So much for being Mavericks, or the "Change America Needs." Nobody's changed a damn thing. Nobody's said anything different. And nobody's going to.

This whole presidential race is kind of like watching a bag of unwanted kittens drown slowly. In the end something is accomplished but everyone is still standing around looking really sad.

Click the title for a link to the full VP debate. It's worth watching, but only because as a citizen who wishes to be informed you really ought to despite the mundane nature of it.

____________________________

In Other News, My amazing Baby Sister got to visit this weekend :) She leaves tomorrow which is going to make me terribly sad. Seeing her has been so unbelievably good for me. I started a quilt out of old t-shirts, and I'm hoping I get it done before it gets to be too cold around here. Work is still going fantastically. I still have the greatest bosses on the planet. I happen to be involved with the most brilliant, thoughtful, understanding, logical and good-looking man on the planet (besides my Daddy) and I just thought I'd state that fact. Finally, I kind of miss the crap out of my college friends. They were all at a wedding last weekend and I missed out (1 - because I wasn't invited [though i could have gone as someone's date!], and 2-because I'm out of state).

p.s. Sorry about the word verification thing, Chelsea. I don't even know how that got there. I'll work on it though :)

Breast Milk Ice Cream. Yum.

2008-09-24T23:14:00.004+03:00

I had this sent to me... because well... PETA is dumb. It's about a letter they wrote to Ben and Jerry's to encourage the company to use human breast milk in their ice cream as opposed to cow milk. I don't care where in the world people are substituting dairy cow milk for breast milk that's just weird. Besides, since when does anybody ever do what Switzerland does? Yeah, never.

Also, PETA, just for the record. NOT milking dairy cows actually happens to be really, really bad for them. Those horrible farmers are not depriving baby cows of necessary nurishment, they're instead relieving the dairy cows of the excruciating pressure that comes from gallons of fluid building up in their extremities... kind of like a human who has gout or a guy with "blue balls." Get it? Human breast milk is actually meant to supply a human baby with food.

I don't know about you but there's already plenty of starvation in the world for my taste so I'm going to go buy a gallon of ice cream with the milky goodness of cow milk in it and not deprive a baby of a healthy future.

PETA, practice a little species-ism and root for your own team a time or two. Morons.

UPDATE: here's the new link. Hopefully this one works!

Getting Closer....

2008-09-23T18:38:00.001+03:00

The Revenge Designs GTM Super Car "Coming Soon" Tees are here! Aren't you proud of us? :) I'm excited... had to share. Thanks guys :)

Revenge is Sweet. by RevengeDesignsInc
Design a Custom T Shirt With zazzle

Photobucket is My Friend

2008-09-09T20:48:00.003+03:00

How many words is a picture worth?

Yeah. See. It's so much easier when other people makes jpgs out of what I'm thinking.

Oh. And John McCain was hot. You're welcome.

F'ing YouTubers

2008-09-04T16:08:00.003+03:00

Ok, so I don't have a TV. Yes, laugh it up Chuckles I'm probably the only house on the continental US without a television. Anyway, my Mom calls and tells me I have to watch Sarah Palin's speech from last night so I get to work and jump on YouTube. Then as I'm listening to her speak I scroll through some of the comments people are making and I find this.

"I agree with Darkknight, McCain is broken. We need a real man that can at least raise his arms. What a pussy, got his ass kicked by a bunch of tiny little asians. All his POW experience shows is that hes a shitty pilot. Put him in a retirement home where he belongs so he can drool on himself and stop fucking up the country."

Really?! How about we drop you off in North Korea and see how well you do, Scum Bag. How about you get off your flight simulator on your computer, join the military and see how well you do. Stop hiding behind your computer monitor safety net and demeaning people who have done more for their country in one deployment than you'll ever do in your entire worthless, pathetic, mindless life. Let's put you in a retirement home so no one has to listen to your regurgitated illogical rhetoric. Yes, McCain is old. Big Deal. Sure, he can't raise his arms above his head. You should be thanking your lucky stars that you were born in America, the kind of country where men make that kind of sacrifice [you probably don't even know the meaning of that word] year after year in order to ensure that you've got the freedom to think it's okay to call another person a "pussy" for defending their country.

Let me guess, you want Saint Obama to come in a rescue the US from all the horrible Republicans? That's not going to work. The man keeps telling us we "can" do all these things. HOW? How are we supposed to accomplish political reform with nothing but hopes, dreams and good intentions? Not going to work.

I'm completely going to eat my words from yesterday about this being a "best of the worst" year in voting. It's not about being a republican, a libertarian, a democrat or a liberal, a Christian or an Athiest... it's about being an American. An American who knows that nobody is exactly right for the job but knows the difference between what's rational and what's not.

So count your blessings you blathering idiot because I'm a law-abiding American citizen and fairly good Lutheran girl who isn't going to come find you and stomp on your arms until you can't raise them ever again.

I Have a Muse

2008-09-03T18:29:00.004+03:00

And her name is Staci. I love you ♥

But first, let's get the obvious out of the way. I'm a fan of Sarah Palin's. (because you didn't see that coming, right?) She's got spunk. Yes, I understand that's not exactly one of the higher ranking leadership qualities on the usual list but it's not a bad one. She seems pretty uncompromising, which I think is necessary because there are too few people in the country who use their spine. And despite her fundamentalist christian ideas, her daughter made a mistake and she's still standing behind her. Because that's what good parents do. (Thank you Mom & Dad)

Yeah, I know she's got the "foreign policy experience of Aunt B" [thank you, Dr. Jones] but maybe that's where we need to start... with somebody who is paying attention to what's going on in-house and not all over the world. Yes, we've got diplomatic relations to keep up but is shaking hands and handing out foreign aid grants all that difficult that we can't trust someone with "no experience" [except being the governor of a fairly large state] to grasp the concept?

Finally, she seems normal. She's got kids, her husband works, she did silly girly pagaent things when she was younger. I like normal. Normal, spunky and spine-having. She's got my vote.

Oh, and she's good with a gun. I say she goes to the range with Chavez first.

Although, I think the voting this year is more a "best of the worst" deal again... but that's for another time.

___________________________________

In Other News, I've been getting a lot of work done on my case study and it's going swimmingly. I love feeling like my brain works. More importantly, despite my Mommy being in a different state I have the greatest intercontinental support system on the planet (not that I haven't always had the greatest family support system, but I'm talking about people who are lucky enough to not be blood related to me). The people I consider closest to me have the most impeccable timing. Not only that but they know the exactly right thing to say. And, thankfully, they have successfully hip-checked me back into reality, put a smile back on my face, and calmed my nerves. And I'm not sure they even know it. So for now I'm going to get back to doing a job that I love and contemplate the best way to inform my gloriously perceptive friends that they're the greatest people walking the planet.

Revenge is Sweet...

2008-08-20T17:38:00.001+03:00

Finally getting to sell the #001 Revenge Edition GTO.... :)

I love my job.

check it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trkparms=tab%3DSelling&viewitem=&item=260276522605&_trksid=p3907.m32

Revenge Designs Inc

2008-08-04T23:19:00.003+03:00

Today is my first day as Marketing/Promotions Manager for Revenge Designs Inc and it has been ridiculously awesome.

Not only are the investors already buzzing about me [click the link and scroll almost the whole way down] but I've had the best time being productive...and it feels good :) The power went out for about an hour so we just sat around bouncing ideas off each other until the power company got here and fixed us up.

Yes, I know this could just be the adrenaline of the first day but with as many post-it notes and to-do's that I've written I'm going to be busy like this for the next eight months until I get this done. Ugh, I love this.

I've got the most adorable house in New Haven, IN. My newest roomie is absolutely the wonderful. My job makes me feel like I'm not even working. I've dropped a couple of pounds. And I smile constantly for really no particular reason other than me being unbelievably happy.

Totally worth all the stressing and what not that was the beginning of the year. Next task: Learn Russian and look hot walking into work so the shareholders don't think I'm funny looking. While the latter of the two is a more immediate goal, I definitely think they're both quite feasible. Man, I'm so excited I'm not even making sense :)

Ugh, It Makes Me Want to Shoot Someone

2008-06-29T14:25:00.002+03:00

Recently, firearms have been a touchy subject. All those big, wonderful, all-knowing, hippy freak, pinko, commie, irresponsible, wimps are complaining that the second amendment was upheld in the Supreme Court. So some idiot, I mean respected journalist, at the LA Times decides who write an editorial that should really be titled "How To Blame An Inanimate Object for the Misdeeds of My Crappy Fellow Men." Catchy, huh?

A GUN IS AN INANIMATE OBJECT! It doesn't kill people...unless a PERSON picks it up and POINTS it at another human being and then PULLS THE TRIGGER.

Automatic weapons (which are way illegal), or any weapon at all, don't stand themselves up and say, "Why, I believe I'll shoot an upstanding citizen today." No. Some assbag picks up his illegally obtained weapon and then wields it around like he's 50cent or something.

When a normal person with a functioning brain and moral compass picks up a gun, they aim it at something they're going to eat, sell, or use as target practice (I have my Bin Laden paper target somewhere around here.....) then proceed to shoot it. There is so much more wrong with society than it having guns. Tackle a bigger issue. How about instead of taking away guns and causing people to use other methodology to kill their neighbors why don't you put your time and effort into improving our public school system so that the kids will be smarter, actually make something of themselves and then NOT GO AROUND SHOOTING PEOPLE. I'm not saying that's going to fix everything but it would be a more proactive and useful start than throwing a fit because Mr. Jones next door has a gun locker. (Which by the way, is the safest most responsible way to keep your firearms.)

In short, quit blaming everyone else you liberal moron. Take some responsibility for yourself and your country and actually do something about the people dying instead of thinking that guns are the culprit behind all of this. My recommendation... the only way to improve human nature is to start with yourself. Go read a self-help book and stay the hell away from my gun before it points itself at you and shoots you in the head.... repeatedly.

(p.s. okay, so maybe it's my metaphorical gun but still...)

Scrubs = Infinite Wisdom

2008-06-26T22:57:00.002+03:00

As I was sitting on my ass watching my umpteenth episode of scrubs eating a coffee cup full of baked beans I took a bit of that particular episode to heart. Dr. Kelsoe (spelling?) was telling some girl who wanted gastric bypass surgery at 25 that life is scary and taking the easy way out is not an option because there is no magical fix all.

Yes. Taking advice from a Scrubs episode may not be the most logical thing I've done lately. And yes, I am probably taking it way out of context and applying it to my own situation simply because I want it to fit. But the point is that the reason I've been so impatient about this Indiana job is because I figured it would be the easy fix-all that I need.

Instead it's required patience, and getting up at 4am, flying for five hours, driving for five cumulative hours, spending money I don't have and staying awake for 22 hours because I'm traveling, interviewing and then subsequently freaking out. Although I think I handled it pretty well, and this whole opportunity kind of fell into my lap, it's been kind of hard. I want the job so desperately and feel like there's nothing I can do to push their hand and make them give it to me. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the hard part. I can usually get whatever I want with just a little bit of effort and I usually have a modicum of control over the situation. This one is almost completely out of my hands. I'm not okay with that but, I think I'll take a deep breath and just pray for the best.

Now that I'm sitting in my computer chair, on my lazy ass, with my dishes in the sink I think I'll get back on top of this whole job situation and keep applying other places. Gotta be proactive right? Just because I want it doesn't mean I get it. Yikes. That one's going to be a lot harder to actually understand than it was to type.

Wish me luck guys. Pray if you are so inclined. Write letters to the company telling them how desperately they need me if you're really feeling froggy. Either way, I'm hoping for good news sometime today or tomorrow. Or if not... good news from somewhere else, right?

lack of anything

2008-06-21T06:22:00.000+03:00

A lack of understanding stems from a lack of passion. Passion is a genuine interest in a noun. Being complacent about anything happens because you have no interest and thus, do not care to understand.

Americans are famous for being revolutionary, top of the game, forward thinking people. Whick is really only true about maybe 1/1000th of the population. The rest of us assume that because someone else is an expert we don't have to be. Not true.

In order to actually be involved in your own life it is imperative that you understand the world around you. People ought to have at the least a passion for existence. So many of us let our lives go down the drain because there was a lack of understanding about some aspect. Actively involve yourself in your life, be passionate about what you do and see so you can avoid misunderstandings that cause failure.

Its so disappointing that I feel like both our presidential candidates lack a passion for people. They don't seem to understand what the American public wants. They just regurgitate what they think we want to hear without really wanting to help. They're running for president to accomplish something for themselves instead of to be help the American people who lack the understanding they have. That's why we have experts, but doesn't relieve you of your caring duties.

I want a President who is passionate about something to the point of standing in the face of an entire angry mob because of the depth of their belief. McCain got close a couple decades ago, being passionate to endure literal torture for the concept of America. Now he needs to show me that same fire again. And soon. Or i'm moving to Russia.

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In other news, i'm blogging from my blackberry in the back of my suburban. I got back from Indiana earlier today. The interview went really well. Keep praying that I get the job, I want it so badly. I'm in Pennsylvania for a few days, I love seeing my grandparents :)

Another Lesser of Two Evils?

2008-06-13T18:58:00.003+03:00

Although I think John McCain is simply a Senator who played the numbers in order to get this nomination (i.e. You can only run so many times and be denied before they say, 'ok, John, we'll let you run for President.') On the other hand, I got onto his website and it was nice to see that the man who rides in the "Straight Talk Express" actually gave me answers on HOW he plans to do the things he wants to do. What a concept.

I'm still not convinced that he's going to be any good though. He's gone through like three wives so the man obviously can't make a solid decision and stick with it, his voting record throughout the past eight years of legislation has been ruled by a "support the President" policy, and not a "what John really thinks is best" policy. Yes, he's got real experience. The man was a POW, which deserves the utmost respect from every man, woman and child who has the opportunity to use their freedoms and rights. But then again, after toughing it out in the Hanoi Hilton you would expect for him to tough out his voting decisions as well. I like that he's lead a pretty respectable campaign; denouncing that radio guy when he was saying ridiculous things, not firing back when Hillary was making directly derogatory comments and John tried to keep answering the actual question.

Here's where my biggest speed bump comes from. Although he gives me answers on HOW he's going to fix everything. I'm not so sure they sound logical. For instance, he wants to suspend the summer gas tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day. However, as soon as that happens most of the construction to repair our roads and highways will stop because that's part of what the gas tax supports. I don't know about your local roads but there's so much construction going on around Norfolk that if it stopped traffic would be even more of a monstrosity than it already is. Another example would be this concept on international trade. Of course selling our stuff to other people is good and will make us money. But that then makes us very reliant on their economies and fads. Why not do a little isolationism, promote buying American and stabilize ourselves? You can't ask for other people to take care of you when you won't take care of yourself.

I really like that McCain isn't willing to sit down with terrorists in order to negotiate. Those people do not understand diplomacy. For cultures like that diplomacy is a sign of weakness. Obama wants to, without conditions, sit down with Kim Jong Il, Castro and all those other scumbags shake hands and work it out. Anyone of those leaders would rather have an American President killed inside the palace walls and hung on display than sit down and come to "an accord."

But... both candidates want to close Guantanamo Bay. If you've ever read my blog at all you should know where I stand on that. I'll take any bet you want but I guarantee that if the illegal enemy combatants detained at Guantanamo Bay are released you're going to see a hell of a lot more dead Americans than this War on Terrorism has ever produced.

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Tune in next time for why lacking passion equals a lack of understanding. It's going to be good.

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In Other News, I got a wonderful text message this morning from somebody quite nice. We'll see where that goes. Beach house tomorrow. Yay :) Keep praying, hoping, sending good energy toward the Indiana job working out. One of these days I'll make it back to Texas.

Because Texas needs more billionaires.

2008-06-13T05:02:00.005+03:00

I love when my titles have little to nothing to do with my blog except for being an excerpt from a ridiculous video... read on, faithful sidekick.

So there's this video on YouTube (which by the way I have recently become an addict of.) Not the point. The point is I love free speech. I love being able to get on the internet and write down what I think and feel like it's the gospel word. I love that random people sometimes stumble upon it and argue with me. I'm also a huge fan of making fun of people. It's like the greatest cheapest form of entertainment since the beginning of time. That being said. This video is funny... and here's why...

1 - because it's just plain wrong.
2- because it perpetuates every misconception about being "a republican"
3- it takes every middle/upper class American stereotype and plays it up

4- because it proves my "silent majority" theory.

The Silent Majority is a group of people who go to work everyday, maintain our economy, pay the gas prices without bitching, are trying hard to raise their children properly, aren't buying into all the bipartisan bullshit, support the men and women overseas, and pray every night for the world to not lose it's mind. At the end of the day the squeaky wheel doesn't always get the grease, and that silent wheel on the back of the bike works hard enough to keep the squeaky wheel moving forward.

People on the opposite end of the political spectrum can make as much noise as they like but mark my words, Americans don't like change. Americans have been voting rich white guys into office for decades not because the opportunity for something different hasn't presented itself but rather because we like stability. Sure, there's a black guy who is successfully running for President now. Which is a great move forward for America in the global political spectrum because other countries have been voting black men into office for decades. However, he doesn't have much more going for him than "Hope" and being black.

He can pick on 'republicans' all he wants, telling the whole world that they only want to stifle normal Americans in an effort to make a buck for people and companies who don't need it. But when it comes down to defining his plan for what protocol to use to actually solve the problems his responses are quite lackluster. He "will" do this, and he "will" do that.

For heaven's sake, tell me Barack, how?

How are you going to restore habeas corpus, and where did it go? How are you going to keep small neighborhood stores open? How are you going to advance medical research? How are you going to keep the rights of women in the hands of women? and how the hell do you plan on keeping class sizes small? How do you plan on keeping the environment clean?

That video points out all of the things Barack wants to do... now make a follow up video and tell me how.

The follow up video would be short. It would go something like this...

"Obama will fix everything... by stopping the war, cutting our defense funding, making Americans twice as vulnerable as they are right now by releasing the men whose passion in life is to eradicate the world of Americans and throwing money at all the issues my political platform says I should."

I should be a director or something... there's an emmy somewhere in that script I can feel it.

Tune in next time when I explain why John McCain isn't much help either.

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In Other News, I'm headed to Indiana on the 19th of this month for a job interview. DTE Powertrain is flying me to Indy for an interview and to see if I like the company and the people. Indiana isn't the greatest state in the union but the job seems like it's perfect for me. I'm way excited and nervous like crazy. Also, right as I (hopefully) am about to leave I start having guy issues again. I'm not a fan. Oh well, so it goes right? I've also been on a kind of diet for three weeks now and exercising like crazy, and I'm pretty sure all it's done it make me cranky. Ugh. Anyway, Gloucester tomorrow with Evan and Jer, beach house this weekend, William & Bro's in town next week, Mommy (and my Baby Bro's) in town on Tuesday, two stepping on wednesday, and Indy on Thursday. Life, my dear friends, is good.

Dumbass.

2008-06-08T17:22:00.002+03:00

Ok, Mr. Samir Khan. You were born, raised, and taught under every American ideal that makes our country great, despite whatever flaws it may have. You live in some up scale, rich, quiet suburbia. Which apparently gives you some smug sense of security which leads you to practically defect and write about supporting the killing of American troops in Iraq.

The men and women who are fighting for your freedom to write that bullshit are the ones you want dead. I don't care if you represent "Islam" or "Muslims," you're an American who should not want your fellow Americans dead. You've said the Pledge of Allegiance before, you've sung the National Anthem, you're exercising all of your God given rights that the USA provides you an opportunity to use (unlike your own country) and all you do is wish the rest of us dead?

And, really? The "arrogance" of the media? How about your own self-righteous arrogance. Open your damn eyes and see that people have differing opinions and the fact that you're allowed to open your dumb mouth and present yours is exactly what makes America so diverse. Whether I agree with it or not everyone is entitled to their opinion. But don't you dare get indignant when your opinion garners attention and causes reporters to come knock on your door.

Jarret Brachman said it best... “To be unhappy with U.S. foreign policy is one thing, but to advocate violence by promoting Al Qaeda is another,”

Amen. Now Mr. Khan, go screw yourself.

things I've noticed in the past week.

2008-06-01T17:41:00.000+03:00

1. Just as I start doing something right I screw it up ten times worse than how it started.

2. I am infinitely more stupid than I assume I am.

3. I'm better organized and cleaner when living out of a suitcase.

4. My contacts hate being left in overnight.
5. I do ridiculous dumb things in the name of being fun.

6. I should stop worrying about disappointing other people and start worrying about how much I disappoint myself.

It Is What It Was.

2008-05-30T05:05:00.003+03:00

Ok, admittedly, I'm the worst blogger ever. It's been a million years (or well two weeks) since I last wrote on this thing. There have been a number of ponderings that I've actually written down and fully intended on expounding upon... however, I've been in a bit of a slump. However, that's neither here nor there. Here goes...

I hate when people say "It is what it is." No, as a matter of fact, it isn't. There's always something that you can't see from your point of view that skews exactly what something is or isn't. Instead people should start saying "It is what it was." Mainly because hindsight is always 20/20.

Don't tell me your frustrated about something or bothered and then shrug and say "it is what it is." That's not an excuse you can use for things sucking. Pick yourself up by the proverbial bootstraps and do something about it so that your situation is what you want it to be... not whatever it "is."

And don't give me that bullshit-President-Clinton "That depends on what your definition of is is" argument because it makes me want to beat you with the righteous frying pan of frustration. Situations, people, jobs, friends, events are always what they were. There is no solidity to anything that is going on as we speak. Everything is continually changing until it's over with. Then you can go back and say what it was.

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In Other News, I thought I would have some fantastic news for you guys by this point but I don't. I got my hopes up about moving to Los Angeles for a job I was talking to someone about but that fell through... and the only reason I can think of is because other people are unreliable and unpredictable. Anyway, I've got a new opportunity coming up. I'm hoping and praying this one works out. Being home a lot means my room is clean though! Alright. Wish me luck, pray, send me good karma thoughts... you know what I mean.

keep your head up

2008-05-16T05:02:00.000+03:00

I'ce noticed recently that a ton of my friends are having babies. And so they tell me about them. In sometimes gross detail. Recently my best friend told me she was so proud that her baby could keep her head up... And that got me thinking.

Why is it that lifting our heads up is such a big deal? Other than the pbvious fact that you've started to have muscle control. My other reasoning is that lifting your head up is a big deal because it's something you're supposed to do for the rest of your life.

So many.people walk around with their faces toward the ground for apparently no good. Reason at all. People take this monumental thing and kill it by allowing bad luck or a bad day to ruin that thing that made your mom swell with pride. I've noticed that lately it doesn't matter what gets thrown my way as long as I keep my head up and keep going.

It was important when we were babies and its important as adults. I just think we never make the connection.

There's a ton of IN OTHER NEWS updating for me to do but its hard to type on my blackberry and my mom's telling at me. It'll happen soon though :) but possibly not before I get to LA.

In Other News.

2008-04-28T17:35:00.001+03:00

This is just a simple update... because honestly, I'm far too exhausted to actually think.

1 - I got fired from Tanner's Creek... I guess when I told her I couldn't really work weekends she didn't get that.

2- We had an awesome time at competition... even though the car caught fire.

3- My birthday is this coming saturday... and I'm already feeling old.

Love you guys....

Greatest Honor Ever...

2008-04-23T22:05:00.001+03:00

My greatest wonderful friend Staci has bestowed upon me the honor to end all honors....

Yup, I'm somebody's hero. I think it's official... my day has been made :)

Lazy.

2008-04-18T18:33:00.005+03:00

"Take one minute of your time and sign this petition. Forward to everyone you know.
This is an issue we CAN control with very little effort!"

This was part of a Facebook group description that I got invited to join today. I decided to ignore the invitation... no matter how good the cause. Yes, that sounds stupid. Why would I let some silly wording get in the way of doing something good?

Because it's just people being lazy to try and stop something trivial so they can feel good about themselves later.

The group was trying to stop an artist in Venezuela whose exhibit includes starving a dog to death. Yes, that's sad. I really like dogs and think they should be treated well and I think it's a travesty that some people consider a dying dog "art". However, there are much worse things going on in the world right now but people aren't willing to stand up and do anything about it because those aren't things that we "CAN control with little effort!" There are also things that are just as trivial and located right in our neighborhood, but because of the effort it would take no one is willing to do a damn thing.

Get off your lazy, comfy American ass and go do something more than sign a petition.
I hate to break it to you, but signing your name on something doesn't mean shit.

Sort through your clothes and go donate it to a shelter so somebody can dress themselves. Buy a couple extra cans of food at the grocery store and take it to a food bank. Pick up the trash on the street that you walk by on your way to/from class. See, I'm not completely heartless. Quit trying to fix the rest of the world when there is so much that is right at your front door that can be helped even if it takes that extra effort.

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In Other News, I'm way fed up with trying to graduate... ugh. Also, this whole looking for a job thing really blows. I'm going to end up putting as much of my stuff as I can in the back of my truck and just going... then praying for the best when I get there. I finished my application/paperwork for grad school today. I also turned in my resume to a race team. Either one of those would make me the happiest girl alive. Pray that I get one? Thanks guys. Last but not least, I received confirmation yesterday that this guy I used to kind of date is completely and totally the biggest assbag in the world. Man, I sure know how to pick 'em.

The Hardest Thing You Can Do

2008-04-11T20:57:00.005+03:00

Ayn Rand is my hero. She writes brilliantly, has an ideology that's beyond reproach and wraps it all up in the most fantastic books in the world. There have been hundreds of quotes from her books that have caught my attention but yesterday one stuck out in particular .

"But a desire to choose the hardest might be a confession of weakness in itself."

"Of course, Mr. Roark. But it's the lease offensive form of confession."

"If the weakness is there to be confessed at all."

There's always a weakness to confess, we're human it's inescapable but what if the weakness you're confessing is that of other people? What if its not your own weakness you're defining by taking the road less traveled? Is it possible to be throwing it back in everyone else's face that they are the weak ones for accepting mediocrity and not appreciating the opportunities they've been given? Lately I've been looking for post graduation jobs. I've gotten two. They both pay very well. I don't want either of them. I know I can get a job doing things that I'm "supposed" to do with my degree after college. So many communication majors are pigeon-holed into Sales jobs after school. I can't do it, I won't do it, I absolutely refuse. I'll work in a bar the rest of my life before I embarrass myself by becoming the "Sales Associate" that I've been told I ought to be. I don't care if I'm good at it, and I don't care if it's really easy money. I am not mediocre, I have not spent four years working myself crazy to graduate on time with a respectable GPA to hold a job that someone who has a GED also does.

My desire to choose the hardest path I can will lead to me being the happiest person in the world once I get it. Does that possibly admit my weakness of an insecurity about being weak? Possibly. Does it possibly admit their weakness of a lack of drive and accomplishment? Potentially.

"And it is said but for the spirit of a dozen men...none of this would have been possible."

People who seemingly admitted their weakness, a fear of possibly being weak, overcame it and built some of the greatest ideas, concepts, tangible edifices declaring their fear of being weak. I think it can be assumed that having a weakness and challenging it gives you a purpose in life. Lacking purpose is disappointing.

Either way you look at it, anytime we accept a challenge the entire reason it is the hardest thing to do is because we are provoking our weakness to try and beat us. And every time you do it you either win, and move on to another weakness or you lose and have to try again. But damn, does it feel good when you win.

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In Other News, go read the Fountainhead, it's good for you :) Also, after weeks of detestable weather the sun is out and it's 80 degrees. Thank God! I read my book in the sun on the back porch and now have a sun burn that feels good. I love feeling like I don't suck at life :)

So My Friend is Writing This Book...

2008-04-10T20:53:00.006+03:00

...And it's all about the idea that women are the ones who actually have no idea about men rather than men being clueless. There's actual research involved so don't start throwing a women's lib fit just yet. There's going to be an actual survey that women will fill out stating the 3 things you've learned from your previous boyfriends, and the 1 thing you wish you knew. But it's not an open invitation for a bad-boyfriend-bashing session. The survey is meant to be taken seriously with a pretty intense amount of thought. I'm the first victim of the survey and have been thinking about the questions for about five days now and here's what I've come up with...

Three Things I've Learned from the Guys I've dated.

1- You really cannot change a man.
Doesn't matter how idealistic you are, what approach you take, how nicely you beg. You can't change them. They grow and change on their own and the only hope you have is setting a good example or kicking them to the curb until they realize what was the problem and either fix it or find a girl who's willing to put up with it. Saying "it's okay, baby" and then praying for a change or different behavior doesn't help, it just trains them that what they did actually was okay. Training, by the way, isn't change. It's just a classical conditioning procedure that can and will be undone by instinct and subversive interpersonal cues. There's no communication theory that helps, there's not test that helps, and there's no amount of crying that helps. They just don't change on your terms and you have to understand, accept and be patient about it.
2 - Destructive Is as Destructive Does.
Destructive men don't hide it easily. Watch how they respond to heavy traffic, making a mistake or basic stress. If any of it involves hitting, throwing, kicking, yelling or breaking something you're in trouble. As a general rule if they throw things when they're mad about trivial things, they'll throw stuff when they're made about not so trivial things. Angry destructive men don't turn soft for a certain woman, they just tone it down and try to control it. However, the destructiveness usually manifests itself in other ways. Be it turning to verbal destructiveness, negative emotional issues, or just general irritability they're still as frustrated as always. And it always escalates, the first time you let him get away with a bruise turns into a bigger bruise next time. The first time there's a bruise, or a shoe flying by your head, or a broken windshield get out. There is no such thing as "He won't ever do it again."
3- The good ones don't care what you look like naked.
The two men I've been around in my life that I honestly felt good around a) didn't care when he got to me in bed he was perfectly happy waiting and being wonderful with me, and b) seemed to actually value my time, and my interests. It's like they make you feel better and more comfortable about yourself and your body image because they're happy hanging out with you in jeans and a big hoodie. It's incredible how amazing it is to be taken care of simply because someone cares, and not because they've got dirty lingerie for you to wear later. There is no planned surprise in the world that could be better than the shock you get from realizing that somebody listened to what you were saying in some random conversation, picked up on a detail or two, and actually learned something about you. There are things to do, places to go, people to see, and pictures to take that require not having to wash the sheets later. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure those two guys are happy I'm not 300 pounds, but there were other things about me that they thought were more important. The funny thing about it is that by actually caring it makes them even sexier every time they do it.

The One Thing I Wish I Knew.

1- Why do the bad ones always leave a much longer, deeper impression than the good ones?
No matter how recently a woman's been treated well by a wonderful man she still maintains the insecurities she learned (taught herself) from a bad boyfriend. This could happen for years, there are hundreds of communication case studies that show women inadvertantly hurting great relationships because of behaviors they've developed from insecurities they have. Some women hold themselves back from any kind of interpersonal relationship because their terrified that the next guy could be just as bad or worse than a previous one. And no matter how nicely we play, there's always that doubt and restraint that holds us back from really involving ourselves in what could be a great relationship. All the theories say its just a conditioning issue that can be fixed over time with "positive saturation". The Social Penetration Theory believes that when applied to negative relationships there's a lot of depth to the involvement but not a lot of breadth, which in turn limits breadth and depth in later relationships. However, the social penetration theory has never been thoroughly explored in negative relatshionships. Call it being overcautious or too logical or just scared either way I don't understand why the bad ones make such a big impression.

I now feel mentally/emotionally exhausted. It's amazing how much a little bit of thinking can bring up. Frustration ensues. But not for long... I'm in too much of a good mood to let a bad ex or six get me down.

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In Other News, I had a fantastic week with a wonderful friend and feel completely reassured again. I love knowing that I'm not crazy and somebody else at least understands what I'm trying to get at. Graduation is exactly 30 days away (it's 2pm right now and the ceremony is at 2pm May 10th). I am terrified. I don't have a job yet, I don't know where I'm moving too, I just know I want to get out of here... and make money doing it. I also have about a million things on my daily to-do list, and apparently only 30 days to accomplish any of it. Add that to the heart-strings issues I'm wrestling with and this could prove to be a pretty crazy month. Finally, I started teaching Yoga at ODU for the Recreational Sports Department and I love it. Class is at 7pm Mondays & Thursdays, Noon on Fridays. See you there :)

Dry Spell

2008-04-07T06:26:00.004+03:00

Welcome back. I spent the entire month of April being complacent with my situation, my relationships, and my direction in life. However, a very good friend of mine has not only reminded me of my purpose but also of my passion.

Staci Wantuck, you darling, are brilliant.

Staci has reminded me that it doesn't matter how many people are affected by what you're doing as long as you love it. You are the reason I will continue to write. I stopped writing because I suffered a set back from one of my nay-sayers. My sense of purpose has been re-instilled because Staci has reminded me that I once said that people all have a passion and to follow them. For a few weeks I was certainly not practicing what I preach. Her simple tribute to my blog (on her MySpace blog) has brought me back to where I need to be.

And honestly, it couldn't have come at a better time.

I'm 35 days from graduation, applying for jobs in different places, burnt out at work, broke, and taking the GRE (grad school test thing) in about nine hours, and have a friend who I'm passionate coming to visit. So here goes. My purpose is to utilize the brain God gave me and my passion is to enjoy every bit of everything I do.

"I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult."

Amen.

Pot Calling the Kettle Black

2008-03-01T07:49:00.003+03:00

Hillary Clinton released an ad in Texas that focuses on handling a crisis. Her ad says something to the effect of "who do you want answering the phone" when a crisis comes. And then she says..... “We need a president who is tested and ready to lead in a dangerous world and who can draw on years of real-world experience,” Clinton said at the Waco rally. “There’s a big difference between giving a speech on national security and giving orders as commander in chief.”

Ok.

Great.

Brilliant deduction.

Moron.

WHAT CRISIS EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE?! New York has been crisis free since the 9/11 days, and when her Hubby was in office there wasn't a single major U.S. crisis to think about, and even the international ones were minuscule compared to what's happened in the past eight years. Sure, ok, she's been a Senator and helped deal with the war. Big whoop. She's never had to make an executive decision in her life, she's never been anything more than a 1 in 100 yes or no vote, she's never had to make an on-the-spot, shit-may-hit-the-fan-when-i-do-this-wrong call.

Eleven people have gone into the White House without 'defense crisis experience' Excepting all those wonderful President's who served in various branches of the military, there are a couple of people who didn't any defense experience at all. Thank you all 32 Presidents who did . And for the record, Bill Clinton wasn't one of them so Hillary can't even claim Military Wife experience in dealing with defense emergencies.

So, Hillary Clinton, my Sir-Points-Out-the-Obvious-A-Lot Award of the Day goes to you. Because you're right. There's a huge difference between giving a speech on National defense and giving orders as commander in chief" and hot damn, i hope the buck doesn't stop with you. If you're in Texas and are a democrat.... which shouldn't happen in the first place, just kidding! anyway.... will you please vote for Obama in the primary? Ugh.

In Other News...

2008-02-23T23:40:00.002+03:00

This one's all personal... I'm so sublimely happy that I have to share :)

Thursday night Bri picked me up from the airport and we went to Sherlocke's and had a few (too many) beers. The band was awesome, we did some kick butt dancing. Friday morning we woke up late and feeling like death but still made it to my interview and work (for Bri). For the record, I got the job but don't know if I'm taking it. It's a long story.

I went to Billy Bob's last night with Bri and Dean. It was mind-blowing. Reckless Kelly played and we drank awesome Shiner beer and I danced with some ridiculously good-looking cowboys and got my boobs signed by the band... pictures come later. I was absolutely in heaven... although, particularly missing a certain somebody.

Bri and I are now working on showering and getting out of the house. We're headed to the Art District to look around and go see cool stuff. Then tonight it's off to Greenville for some bar hopping and more ridiculousness.

I love the way this place feels. Even when we were sitting in traffic on 35S it doesn't feel as constrictive or looming as Norfolk. Walking in between huge skyscrapers doesn't give you the feeling of being small because its all so wide open and amazing.

Alright, time to go out :) I miss you all!

Harold & Kumar Suck.

2008-02-19T20:43:00.002+03:00

Ok, so you've heard me rant about that new Harold & Kumar movie. [reference: I'm speechless Dec 2007?] Well, the New York Times has picked up the story. Their story focuses on the idea that Guantanamo has made its place in pop-culture an irrevocably negative one. But Gitmo hasn't made its place at all... the media has made Gitmo's place. If Gitmo had any say in the matter everyone would understand the truth and I wouldn't have much subject matter for this here blog-thing.

Admiral Buzby is quoted in the article saying something to the effect that the media has "turned up the gain" to distort the truth coming out of Gtmo. Which is exactly what happens. They take the menial details that could be construed as negative (i.e. fences, uniforms, dirt in the recreation area) and turn it into a huge issue. Yeah, there's wire fences, after all we are detaining these people for the safety of the public. Yes, Gitmo has banana rats and lots of iguanas. Yes, some of the detainees are kept in cells. But they're not running around in orange inmate wear. And the banana rats are actually kind of cute.... and vegetarians; who also make a squeaky sound when you accidentally run them over in your suburban at night because they're crossing the road in hordes. Anyway, the point is... The New York Times spends 3/4 of the article focusing your attention on the bad press that Gitmo is getting. I would pay good money to see the New York Times print the news releases that actually come out of Gitmo and all the things that Admiral Buzby says about Gitmo. A sound bite would be even better! Mainly because the Admiral has a voice like God, and who doesn't believe a man who sounds like that?

Anyway, if the New York times wants to run around stating the obvious.... Gitmo gets bad press. And perpetuate that cycle its their right to do it. Also, if they want to quote people who feel sympathy for the detainees that's there right too. I will simply exercise my right to laugh at them. A lot. And to laugh at those people who are being sucked into the negative propaganda trap that the detainees create through their lies. Those detainees, and their cohorts, would not hesitate to murder every bleeding-heart-sympathy-having-lie-believing-pity-feeling-person out there.

Finally, Gitmo is not a prison. It is a detention center. I've been over this before [reference: legally & transparently, Jan 2008]. If it were a prison they would all be convicted men... on their way to the chair (ok, that last part is wishful thinking). It's a detention center that complies to every clause in the Geneva Convention to the letter. It is transparent, it is humane, and in a couple of years somebody will thank the men and women who are keeping it open and operating properly.

p.s. The article mentions that the people who are stationed at Gitmo drink to much. As a former bartender in Gitmo all I can say about that is .... Uh.... Duh. It's a bunch of twenty-something year olds who behave the same as anybody else their age . Just about every where you go 20-somethings drink too much. That goes for any civilian community or any military installation.

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In Other News, I got to talk to a good friend of mine last night and that was awesome. I love feeling reaffirmed in the fact that I'm not crazy and the world isn't completely without hope. Dr. Lefever also helped reaffirm my hope in the human race this morning. God Bless her, she's brilliant. Dallas in two days. I am more excited than I could possibly explain. Also, I've got a few job interviews coming up in other places out of town, stay tuned for details. :)

Still Poignant

2008-02-16T19:00:00.000+03:00

I've decided that one of our objectives while living is to find something that really gets you going. Something you get more than just excited about, something you feel more than lukewarm about, something that pulls your heartstrings. Maybe some noun or concept that makes your eyes light up.

Either way, whatever it is, its yours and you stand by it. Something you're devoted to because you whole-heartedly believe in it. It could be your cat, your mom, your toe ring, your president, your senator, or the idea of clean air. It could be that feeling when you walk out of your front door in the morning. I don't care what it is... you just need something to be passionate about.

This all goes along with the concept that the worst kind of human is a man without a purpose. That's not 'icky' wisdom. I don't mean for it to presuppose anything. I read it as the kind of wisdom that causes you to actually make something of your beliefs and yourself. The kind of wisdom that requires you to develop a real sense of living and feeling. To be without a purpose and a passion is to be a lackluster person. "You only live once" so why do people allow themselves to roam aimlessly through life without something to keep you going... without a purpose.

When you wake up in the middle of the night, or randomly float upon the idea it needs to get you going. That is what your passion is. Something you could talk excitedly about until you lost your voice or something you could listen about until your ears fell off.

Whatever it is you ought to feel accomplished if you've found it... if not then go find it. after all, it's yours.

p.s. this blog is from an old one... yeah I know, I'm cheating. On the upside, i did revise and add to it. Yes, new and improved. Go me.

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In Other News, I took the exit exam this morning and wrote a rousing essay on why I would give Time Magazine's Person of the Year award to the Guards at JTF GTMO. If I can get the writing center to give me a copy I'll post it up, unless of course I failed the exit exam. In that instance, I may give up on writing completely :) Dallas in FIVE days. God Bless Texas.

Let the Commissions Begin

2008-02-13T23:18:00.004+03:00

A very good friend of mine loves me enough to send me a very special link. It's a pdf version of the official paperwork used to charge the men with their crimes. It details their names, the people charging them, and the reasons why they're being charged. Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, eight men who are detained at JTF Guantanamo Bay have been officially charged with their crimes. Marking the beginning of the court proceedings of the commissions. I wish desperately that I could be in Gtmo for this but, alas, I'm stuck at school until May. Anyway, go click the very special link, read and enjoy. You can thank me later.

The charges are quite a big deal, but the media decided to give the story one average looking headline. There was nothing sensational about it, nothing eye catching, just "8 Men Charged with 9/11 Crimes" Then, in the story, there was minimal detail on the charges and LOTS of detail on the "torture" that one of the unlawful enemy combatants has gone through. Don't even get me started on that one.

As a follow up on my Berkeley City Council blog... they re-did the whole vote and are now reversing the order they made and "voicing support for the troops". I guess being a hypocritical bastard catches up with you and makes you realize that the people fighting for your right to pass "anti-discriminatory laws" ought to be allowed in the city too.

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In Other News, school is going very well. Work is going just as well. I do believe I have lost my cotton-picking-mind. And I leave for Dallas in 8 days. Hell Yes :)

Berkeley's City Council Sucks. A Lot.

2008-02-01T10:39:00.001+03:00

This is retarded. Who in their right mind would actually vote to remove a Marines recruiting station from their city? What kind of hippy-freak-pinko-commie-bastard take action against the Marines and grants a protesting permit to some anti-war protest group? Who the hell do they think they are to tell their fellow American that they're not welcome?!

Anti-Discrimination Law in the City means that the military with a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy needs to be kicked out?! ANTI-DISCRIMINATION ISN'T JUST FOR GAY PEOPLE. Anti- discrimination is supposed to help all people feel like we're all humans. Not just make the ones who dress in drag feel better. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (to any normal human being) simply translates into "Please Don't Wear Glitter Into Work or Hit On Your Superiors" Is that really so hard?!

The Marines are the men and women who defend Berkeley, California's right to say all that bullshit... so how do they thank them?! By making them un-welcomed second class citizens. Extremism and condescension won't fix a damn thing in your ridiculous liberal city. I hope the Marines do NOT abandon their post at the recruiting station and that a number of protesters end up really angry because they see their young men and women walking into that office to volunteer their lives and time to a cause much greater than any petty liberal agenda.

That City Council is the most ridiculous group of tunnel-visioned-extremist liberals in the world right now. The bigger picture is that your stupid city needs to be well-rounded and accepting of all people... not just the bleeding-heart-gay-social programs loving-"anti-discriminatory" liberals.

God Bless that one man who voted against the other eight.

Berkeley, California's City Council can go SCREW Themselves.

UPDATE: Here's the response of S.C.'s Senator to the debacle... and the ramifications for the City Council making the Marines into "uninvited and unwelcomed visitors." Check it.

The Reasons I Want to Marry Hank Rearden

2008-01-31T22:26:00.000+03:00

In an effort to keep my reasons from droning on and on (because I'm obsessive over a fictional character) I have compiled another one of my ever so (almost) famous lists.

1 - Hank Rearden is the epitome of Republican Capitalist strength. He builds his entire life on the concept that he works for his own good and no man deserves anything that he hasn't earned.

2- He carries the philosophy that the most despicable kind of human being is a human without a purpose. I don't mean a purpose you serve to other people (i.e. Some people exist to make me feel better about myself because they suck). I mean the kind of purpose that gives someone the drive, dedication, passion and responsibility to take control of their own life and make something of themselves.

3- The personal relationship he maintains in the book is because it makes him happy. In turn, his girlfriend is made happy because she knows that everything he does for her is to make himself happy. It sounds ridiculously selfish but what could be more wonderful than being the something in someone's life that they want and need in order to make them happy. Being the pivotal point of happiness for your significant other should be the greatest accomplishment. They should return the favor by being the something that you desire to make yourself happy.

4- The way Ayn Rand makes Hank Rearden speak, the strength in his principles, and the unapologetic nature with which he regards his success and happiness is ridiculously attractive.

I'm perfectly alright with him being a heartless, success-driving, profit motive loving, businessman. Because when you read between the lines of all of those qualities what you get is a man who is responsible for himself and his actions and expects other people to be. He's also a man with a passion which I consider one of the most respectable but rarely encountered qualities in a person.

I'll confess, if I were a lesbian, I would totally want to marry Dagny Taggart... she's basically Hank Rearden in a skirt. For the time being, wanting to be her will have to suffice :)

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In Other News, I leave for Dallas in 21 days. How sweet is that? Work, at Tanner's Creek, is going really well. And I think next week I'm going to go and volunteer with the EquiKids program. It's been far too long since I've seen a horse. I miss Jazz : ( I'm working on that too, unfortunately my schedule and Jazz's owner's schedule don't coincide well. Finally, it's been forever since I've talked to my sister. I miss her.

I'm Not a Republican

2008-01-23T04:22:00.000+03:00

I've been reading quite a bit on existentialism lately, and then Dr. Lefever (one of my favorite people ever) talked about it today in class. This has brought me to a new conclusion. I'm not a Republican, not really a conservative, I'm an Existentialist.

And actually, I'm an Existentialist of the worst sort. I'd say that I belong to the camp of Nietzsche-style existentialism. Although he never actually used the word "existential" his concepts pre-dated the word by a good hundred years and contributed to the theory. Yeah, I know, he was into communism but if you read his work his hatred of democracy and capitalism were nothing more than an adventitious side-note. He also really didn't like Christianity but I dig his concepts on questioning everything possible and accepting something as truth only if it was a personally developed belief or choice.[Another thing I dig... his style of writing is pithy, to the point and lacks the usual run around euphemisms.]

Before you start thinking I've gone crazy, allow me to elaborate. Dostoevsky (one of the few Christian Existentialists) defined existentialism as "A philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one’s acts."

I definitely think that people are basically stuck in an "indifferent" world, all of us experiencing a lot of the same problems but not caring what our fellow humans are up to. I'm not sure about the whole human existence being unexplainable thing but I completely agree that freedom of choice and responsibility should be the focal point of any school of thought.

I've been saying for years that people should take full responsibility for their actions and their misfortunes. People should also take responsibility for the good things that happen to them, because they exercised their free will, made a good choice and are reaping the benefits. Existentialism stresses responsibility which means you have to accept your actions, not blame somebody else. When you can't blame somebody else that means you can't turn yourself into a victim or yours, or anybody else's, action.

The most basic of my political beliefs are founded in the idea that people should take responsibility and action for the things they believe to be right, and then stand by those beliefs. Which is why you'll never see me apologize for something I believe in or have chosen to do. Give me any political issue and I bet my belief is founded in taking charge of yourself and your actions.

Economics? Take care of yourself and ensure your future. Pay your taxes, taking care of your country = taking care of you.
Abortion? You made the choice, so now its your responsibility to take care of a baby.
Gun Control? Screw that. Just be mature enough to know how to handle a weapon and when you screw up... well, its your responsibility to man up.
War in Iraq? Not necessarily a good idea in the first place, but now we've got a responsibility to clean up what we started.
Welfare? Are you kidding? Take care of yourself and your family.

The concept of personal responsibility is why I'm an Existentialist. Screw being a Republican, it all sounds well and good but there's too much bullshit 'this will get me elected' jargon. Democrats are the same way.

My friend who hates Hillary, Mom & Apple Pie said that my comment on uniting the country and taking responsibility for what's been done or will happen sounded like election talk ("What's going to unite the country is understanding that some poor decisions have been made and moving past those decisions and making proactive movements towards the goal we've made for ourselves. You can't scrap the entire country because you don't like what someone else did with it") And dammit, it is. Vote for Emily and Existentialism in.... uh, 2024.

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In Other News, I've got a trip to Dallas planned for February 21st - 25th. I've got a few job interviews to do, but when I'm not at those I'd love to catch up with those of you down there. I absolutely cannot wait to go. Also, I dropped the hippy-freak-liberal-pinko-commie Diplomatic Communication class. I should have stuck it out and argued with the professor in order to get the truth about Guantanamo Bay out there... but I made the decision to not have to struggle through my semester because of some jerk-face's ideological bias. Ugh. I also did some fantastic yoga today. Gotta love it.

A Clinton By Any Other Name Would Suck Just as Badly

2008-01-10T21:10:00.000+03:00

Why on earth do people think that Hillary Clinton is going to be any better of a President than her husband?

It is my speculation that during Bill's presidency, Hillary was running everything except for maybe his social life. And for all you Liberals sitting there thinking "Well, Bill's presidency was pretty great, why not do it again?"

Why not?! Are you serious? The man couldn't do anything worthwhile to save his life. The surplus we had in the budget was because of the Reagan-omics that had been established years before. There was international peace because all Bill could do was walk around smoking cigars, kissing up, and being diplomatic. And the whole country got to sit back on their laurels and listen to Bill play his saxophone while giving negative credit to the Republicans who set him up for success.

Also, another reason why Hillary would suck just as much.... she's polarizing. There's no middle ground with this woman. She's trying to desperately to be as anti-Bush as possible that I honestly think she'd flip our whole government upside down in an effort to spite him... and she'd call it "taking a different path." You cannot unite a country through polarization. What's going to unite the country is understanding that some poor decisions have been made and moving past those decisions and making proactive movements towards the goal we've made for ourselves. You can't scrap the entire country because you don't like what someone else did with it.

Finally, Hillary would be a much worse President than Bill because she's a woman. The international community that we're dealing with currently doesn't have enough respect for women to take Hillary seriously. Remember what happened to Bhutto? That's most certainly going to at the least be attempted by some Middle Eastern Fundamentalist group. Also, she cried during one of the debates. Be a real woman, suck it up, and debate it like you have a spine. Crying in public is for wimps and babies.

Until I have further evidence that's really all the reasoning I have for why Hillary Clinton sucks. Review and tell me what you think.

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In Other News, a very good friend of mine is moving from California to Virginia for work and I am so excited! Also, I got a job today.... yay! I'll be bartending at Tanner's Creek just down the street from my house. I start Sunday, come in and see me!

2008's Resolutions

2008-01-10T03:33:00.001+03:00

I figured, it being the 9th of January that I should develop a few New Year's Resolutions. Maybe the ones this year will go better than last years. As a refresher... here's last years list.

1 - Be less selfish.

Someone told me once i'm a self-centered little princess and now, i'm determined to be the opposite.

2 - Be more conscientous of what is going on.

I have a habit of not paying attention sometimes and then I screw things up, or not understanding.

3 - Make it to El Paso at least once this year.

Gracious, i hate being homesick.

4 - Find more time for my hobbies.

I've got lots of great ones... I just never pick them up.

The reason that there are four of them is because if I only have one then I've got more of a chance of breaking it. However, with four I've got a higher chance of actually succeeding in one way or another.

And here's this years....

1 - Be less selfish.

Someone told me once i'm a self-centered little princess and now, i'm determined to be the opposite.

2 - Make time for the things and people you love.

I make way too much time for things and people I really couldn't care less about.

3 - Make up for the road trips you missed last year.

Life's short...spend your savings on a trip, otherwise you might never get to use it.

4 - Be happier alone.

I'm going to be moving away from my college friends in about six months, I need to start learning to be happy by myself. Right now... I'm not so good at that... at all.

And that, folks, is the list. Happy (belated) New Year. I hope your Resolutions work out wonderfully. Also, if you missed the last blog "Legally & Transparently" go read it. Not because it's an amazing piece of writing, but because it's something I believe passionately in and think everyone ought to know about.

Legally & Transparently

2008-01-04T10:57:00.000+03:00

On January 2nd this year, I did one of the coolest things I've ever done in my life. I got to take a tour behind the wire of the Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay (JTF). What that means is that at about 1030am, January 2nd I was standing not more than ten feet from a group of "unlawful enemy combatants" (a.k.a. the men who would have killed me and the entire tour group and guards if the fence and some M16's weren't in the way) who were praying in their recreation area. It was absolutely the most moving, reaffirming, empowering event that I've ever experienced.

We started the day with a briefing in one of the administrative buildings that is behind the Roosevelt Gate, which separates Naval Station Gitmo from JTF Gitmo. The briefing was the same brief they give to the men and women who come to work at the JTF, just minus the classified information. The Chief of Staff and every other major player in the running of the camps was there to inform our group of what exactly their section does and how they do it. We reviewed the meals, medical, and recreation of the detainees extensively. We also got to eat the same lunch that the detainees were eating that day. And, if I may say so, it was actually great food. Meatloaf, veggies, wheat bread, cake, an orange, apple juice, salad, and water. All of this is just one part of the 5000 calorie a day- religious and health conscious- diet the detainees get.

Speaking of health conscious, the detainees get the greatest health care on the planet. There is a fully staffed hospital with all the latest in modern technologies inside. A detainee died recently from colon cancer.... but it wasn't because it couldn't be treated, it was because he refused treatment in hopes that his death could make the JTF look bad. Everything from advil to muscle relaxers to x-rays to full surgical procedures can and has been performed on detainees who have needed medical help. There is no expense that is spared and no second wasted when one of the detainees has an ailment. On the other hand, the United States Residents of Guantanamo Bay often have to wait days to get on a plane to go see a specialist in Jacksonville if anything goes wrong. In particularly dire situations sick Americans can be Med-Evac'd over Cuba to a hospital but that's a last resort. I find great irony in the fact that the citizens the detainees want to kill have a lot more trouble keeping themselves healthy than the detainees do. But if we didn't their lawyers would hear all about it and we'd be the bad guys.... fortunately that's not the case.

During the briefing they explained that the JTF GTMO is not a prison, it is a detention center where things are operated "legally and transparently". Basically, a place where people who are a danger to the missions can be held until the fight is over.... just like the Geneva Convention says. They also explained that people (cough, cough liberals) often make the mistake of saying they want to close Guantanamo Bay. Closing Guantanamo Bay means they want to shut down the world's oldest overseas military base, and the only U.S. Military installation on the soil of a country with which we have no diplomatic relations. Basically, if you want it closed, at least know what you're talking about... they want the JTF closed, not Guantanamo Bay.

We reviewed some of the bad press that the JTF gets, the Chief of Staff informed us that anyone who has asked for a tour and briefing about the facilities has gotten it. Also, many of the groups who bad mouth the JTF have been sent numerous invitations and turned them down (hint: it rhymes with Amnesty International).

One particularly interesting fact they gave us is that the United States has never, ever released detained enemy combatants during a time of war.... never. Until JTF Gitmo was opened, now the US has released more detainees than it keeps. Although a few have gone back to the fight, an overwhelming amount return to their lives.

The final thing that was stressed in the briefing was that no matter how many concessions we have to make for these men, no matter how normal their everyday lives seem, no matter how much they try to convince us they're normal... they are dangerous men who want(ed) to kill Americans.

The briefing took about an hour then we started the tour. We began in Camp 4 which is the most "compliant" of the camps. Meaning that in Camp 4 the detainees are given the most freedom possible without sacrificing the safety of the guards or the mission. Camp 5 is a maximum security camp, as is Camp 6. Although Camp 6 was originally built as a "medium security facility" the Government learned very quickly that there is no such thing as a medium security terrorist. The detainees are constantly trying to find ways to harm and humiliate the guards, they're constantly trying to find ways to harm themselves so that it gets into the media, and they're constantly working together.

Because of the no isolation, no incommunicado, no solitary confinement policy the detainees are allowed to talk to each other all of the time. In fact, I even got to hear some of them talking to each other. Their ability and right to communicate with each other allows for the detainees to maintain their plotting and planning at JTF Gitmo. The same organization that is hidden in the mountains of the middle east, makes it's way 5000 miles across the globe to manifest itself in the place where the entire mission is to stop that group. Thus comprimising the safety of the guards.

It's mind-blowing to me to think that there are men and women down in the JTF who walk the same fifty feet of hallway for ten hours a day, being taunted, yelled at, unable to retaliate, bored out of their minds and sacrificing their safety for the rest of us and who in the US really cares? Not a whole lot of people. We go about our nice lives never stopping once during the day to pray for a single soldier, or think about finding someway to contribute to the effort.

Anyway, in Camp 5 the tour group walked into one of the pods (one of those 50 ft long hallways with the cells in it) to look at one of the living spaces. At the end of the hallway one of the detainees starts yelling, "It is so cold! I am so freezing! ...... what group is it?" He's whining and complaining about having air conditioning and then wondering what group is listening to him. Once he finds out which group it was he'll be sorely disappointed. The point of whining that loudly is so that the media or whomever is coming through thinks he's got it so bad down there. Fortunately, his complaints fell on deaf ears, I was with a group of the wives and daughters of the men who work in the camps and we couldn't care less how cold he is.

Its hard to put into words the impression that the tour made on me. It's one of those things where "wow" isn't even an ambiguous enough word to encompass everything that goes through my mind about what happens inside that wire. "A war is being waged mentally and emotionally everyday" and that's just astounding. My passion and fervor for my personal crusade to support the JTF has been refueled and is even more important to me than ever. I feel like I have the information and the experience to shoot down anybody who is fabricating seditious lies about the operation. Freedom is actively being defended at the JTF, and it's comforting to know that the entire operation from the top down and vice versa is a well-thought out, constantly evolving operation. Despite the long work hours, and the discouragement that comes along with dealing with detainees day in and out I hope that one day the people who work there can look back and realize what a service they have done for their Country.

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There's no In Other News this time around.... simply because my blog was just that important.... go read it again. :)

"Alternative Metal" & Yoga.

2007-12-28T07:50:00.000+03:00

Rage Against the Machine is, conclusively, one of the top five* musical groups to listen to while doing yoga.

Because of the musical influence of a certain person I've been hanging out with, I've been re-examining the merits of the group. And despite the pinko-liberal political influence of the band, it's awesome stuff. Sure, I'm pairing some pretty hard hitting "alternative metal" (p.s. that's why iTunes calls it) with some purposely relaxing pranas (p.p.s. that's what you call yoga poses)... but doesn't that disparity between the two make this even better?

This is going to sound crazy, and probably a bit ridiculous but I think that the two things being emotionally profound in different ways helps you to you find yourself centered somewhere in between the two.

I think the part that really gets me is the guy singing (somebody google that name for me... I'm lazy) honestly sounds like he feels what he's singing. Maybe I'm getting that impression because I want to but either way, he sounds passionate... and you know how I feel about passionate people. (errrr, faithful reader, you should know)

When you couple that kind of intensity with the fact that my yoga sessions themselves are intense on their own; it's pretty aggressively emotionally and physically absorbing. It doesn't help that I whole-heartedly believe that yoga is one of the greatest things a person can do for themselves, second only to buying an amazing pair of brand new blue jeans.

Anyway, this all makes me sound like some new-wave-alternative-healing-mumbo-jumboee. However, I simply can't ignore the fact that I had one of the greatest most intense, relaxing, re-centering, soothing, paramount yoga sessions I've had in quite some time while listening to Rage Against the Machine.

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* Top 5 Musical Groups to Listen to While Doing Yoga.
In NO particular order.

1- Sneaker Pimps
2- Rage Against the Machine
3- Gary Allan/Dierks Bentley
4- Laika
5- Dropkick Murphy's

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No, In Other News, today, kiddos. Nothing to really update. However, my two darlings, you'll be getting another call here soon :) Love you!

CNN = Liberal Political Agenda

2007-12-24T07:13:00.000+03:00

So there's all this hub-bub (I'm pretty sure I just made that up) about those destroyed CIA tapes. First, who cares? People beat people senselessly all the time, and for much worse reasons than national security. Secondly, why do I get a play by play update on nothing! Yes, I understand there are going to be developments in the case but I don't need a new news headline every time some Senator decides to have an opinion about it.

Third, (this is the part that really bothers me) why on Earth is CNN showing pictures of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in the background when they're reporting about these tapes. Yes, I know a lot of really dumb people equate Guantanamo Bay with torture. However, once it's been established that those tapes have no connection at all to this hemisphere why would those pictures stay up?

Want to know why? Media = Liberal Political Agenda. That's it in a nutshell. Repetition and reenforcement of ideas is the best way to get someone to remember something. So if CNN keeps showing pictures of Gitmo any time the word "torture" comes up, eventually they'll convince someone that Gitmo needs to be closed because of all the horrible things being done to people down here. Which means all the detainees get either a) shipped home or b) stateside. If you chose B you're probably correct. All their 'homelands' would kill them quickly after they're sent back, because well..... they've committed war crimes. Which means that all those Habeas Corpus lawyers would throw a fit until each one is given a trial. (which, by the way, we're in the process of working on... you should see the courthouse, it's sweet) ... however, I digress. Back to my original point.

CNN is in my opinion one of the most useless form of news acquisition around.

They're website doesn't do a bad job. Thankfully they have pictures of judges and senators attached to their articles on this subject. I guess my point would be, don't watch CNN... actually go and read it. But only if you really have to.

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In Other News, I stuffed stockings and made Christmas cards to the Troopers down here who have duty on Christmas. It felt good to have a way to tell them that I'm thankful for what they're sacrificing so that I can have a peaceful morning with my family... well, until Daddy has to go to work right along side the Troopers. The only problem was feeling like I should do things like this more often... not just around Christmas. I know I'm always writing on this thing about how much I appreciate the people who defend all our freedom's but that just doesn't seem like enough. Ideas?

I played a pretty cool game of paintball tonight. Ended up with a sweet bruise on my shoulder. Also, one of the most amazing people I've ever met in my entire life just keeps getting more and more amazing. Dammit. I wish they would give me a reason to hate them.... that would make not seeing them every again after I leave so much simpler. Ugh, because that sounds soooo optimistic. : ( Enough about me. Even if you're not the praying type... go pray or think about or make a wish on a star for the people out there giving you the right and ability to sleep quietly and enjoy your families.

No Concessions for the Commissions

2007-12-18T18:18:00.000+03:00

I've been down here in Cuba for about four days now. And I love it, as usual. On sunday night I was hanging out with a few of the Air Force Engineers who are building the Courthouse and complete facility (Camp Justice) where all of the commissions will be going on. Thus, I got a tour.

There's a huge trailer for the defense , a huge trailer for the prosecution , a huge trailer for the security detail and a gigantic Courthouse. Right now they're working on putting together the insides of the buildings. The defense, prosecution and media will all be staying in tents right outside the facility.

Here's my favorite part about it. As we're sitting on top of the hanger control tower my friend starts to tell me that the project started out as a $125 million dollar project that involved hotels, restaurants and shops. All kinds of comfy, cooshy things for the civilians coming down to appreciate. However, congress paired it down to a $12 million dollar project... cutting out all those niceties.

The reason this makes me and some of the soldiers down here pretty happy? Because now all those condescending media types, stuck up lawyers, and damned habeas corpus defenders have to sleep on little cots just like the soldiers and airmen who are down here building this place. They'll all have to live just like the guys who are defending our freedoms all over this world. They have to shower and have bathrooms in huge communal tents like all our men and women in uniform and they'll have to eat at the Galley just like all our men and women in uniform.

I want to see just how long they keep up the passion they have for their cause when they're not functioning out of they're wonderful plush offices. How long can they handle what our soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen have been using for years? And not just using... but making the best of. You know what the Air Force Engineers did with their situation? They improved it. How? They built themselves a bar. I'm talking a real keg-having, water-running, double refrigerator, indoor-outdoor bar with a dart board and pool table...... bar. With a christmas tree and a fire pit and hot damn am I proud of these guys.

Even though congress didn't do it on purpose and they're really just trying to save some money. I'm glad that there are little to no concessions for the people working the commissions. This whole mission is dirty, dirty work. Everything from the stress to the literal dirt (or other things if a detainee throws stuff at you) on your uniform is hard to handle.

God Bless these United States Military Men and Women. And God Bless Congress for (unintentionally) doing something right. :)

Stupid Headlines

2007-12-13T21:44:00.001+03:00

Sorry, it's been so long. Yes, I know you missed me ranting. And I know you're all thankful I'm ending my four day hiatus... I'll just say it now, You're Welcome. :) P.S. Lots of neat links in the following blog... Enjoy!

I opened my iGoogle this morning to check the weather so I could go appropriately dressed to take over the world, and I noticed something odd. Among the usual headlines was something that stuck out. It didn't stick out because it was so astoundingly important, it didn't stick out because it was shocking, it stuck out because the first thing that crossed my mind was "Who the Hell Cares?!"

Model Claims Tony Parker Cheated on Eva Longoria With Her

What terrifies me is that someone is out there thinking... "Ooooooh! Ahhhhhh! Oh My Goodness, I wonder if Eva is alright?! "

WHY IS THIS NEWS?

Why on earth wasn't the Federal Raid of Al Sharpton's office a headline? Why isn't the story about the Global Warming Charts kind of being a mistake a headline?

WHY CAN'T I FIND ANYTHING WORTH READING IN MY HEADLINES?!

(yes, i'm typing in all caps because in my head I'm yelling)

There are just as many stories in the sidebar on FoxNews.com about celebrities as there are about anything actually relevant. I can find out that Katie Holmes told some magazine what turns Tom on. and that Paris Hilton is covered in gold paint for no damn good reason.

Where did the real news go? And why does no one care about it? Are we so apathetic about our own world that we'd rather read about other people's lives? Is there nothing about the politics of our world that is interesting? Don't people like knowing that Al Gore is wrong?! I will be keeping my iGoogle. However, in an effort to expand my exposure to real news I will be adding Yahoo! News, CNN News, and the News Busters Blog to my homepage.

Where exactly has all the real news gone? : (

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In Other News, a Doctor who has written two books, is in the process of writing another and went to UT (Longhorns, woot woot) loved one of my papers so much that he wants a copy. He said it was a "pleasure to read." Man, I'm good. Also, I leave for Cuba in less than 36 hours. This is exciting and sad at the same time, one of those bittersweet things that just makes you appreciate what you've already got and potentially will have. But never fear! I will be back! and I'll also keep writing while I'm in Cuba. I'm going to miss the greatest friends on earth desperately.

I Condone Decadence

2007-12-10T02:00:00.000+03:00

this counts as my regular blog and my In Other News section... because it's an exceptionally important subject to me.

America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between. - Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)

And God bless us for it.

On Thursday, I got to curl up and be comfy with a wonderful friend of mine, and indulge in some comfort.

On Friday I had the most amazing mind-blowing dinner and drinks with some of the best company in the world.

On Saturday we got dressed up and went out and had a good time. Spoiled ourselves by playing at someone's ever so extravagantly set-up house.

And had a damned good time doing it. I love having the freedom to enjoy myself, having options on a friday night, and having the greatest friends in the world to do it all with.

As a side note, I have officially curled up/gotten close to more Gay Men in the past year than Straight Men. Wow, I am on a role. :)

Mean Something.

2007-12-05T23:20:00.001+03:00

Again, Dr. Lefever is my muse. [Reference: November Post... Dr. Lefever Cried in Class Today]

She gave quite a rousing speech for our last day of class this morning. Some particularly interesting points in her appeal included the fact that a large portion of her generation is comprised of "big whining babies", the astounding "hollowness" of a Me-Me-Me mentality, that "following your heart" can be one of the most dangerous and detrimental things a person can do and the fact that courage is one of the most impressive and useful traits a person can possess.

What really struck me, however, was an exercise she had the class do at the end...

1- Get out a piece of paper.
2- Tear it into three portions. (They don't have to be pretty)
3- On the first piece draw a picture of an ugly, gross bug.
4- On the second piece draw a picture of a food you hate.
5- On the third piece write the word for what you call your mother.

(yes, i think spiders are ugly and gross. yes, i absolutely detest bananas. and yes, i call my mother "Mommy". )

6- Put the first picture on the ground and stomp on it.
7- Harder.
8- Put the second picture on the ground and stomp on it.
9- Harder.
10- Put the third picture on the ground and stomp on it.

Wait, What? You can't stomp on your Mom? Why is that? Dr. Lefever's point was that

words mean something.

My point is that it's not just words. It's words and pictures and concepts mean something. You are accountable for everything that your mouth, hand and mind produce. I think that's why my blog, my journal, my myspace, my facebook, my emails and my school work really have significance for me.

I value what I create. I appreciate the meaning for what I'm producing. I have a passion for what I say, think and do. Everything that I type into this blog is something that I have thought about and whole-heartedly stand behind. Granted, some of it is simply the rantings of a slightly unstable hot headed twenty-one year old... however, that twenty-one year old still means it.

I put my meaning, my thoughts, my concepts and my passion into black and white (and sometimes colors, and italics, and large print... and you get the point). And it makes me feel like a real person. Like I have something to stand for. I've said it before and I'll say it again "Man, I love being a turtle." [just kidding... TMNT reference, anybody? ok, well i thought it was funny]

Actually, what I've said before is that I love feeling like my brain works... and having a passion, having words that mean something help me feel that way.

Thank you, Dr. Lefever for contributing not only to my education but to my agglomeration of advice and wisdom that's going to make me one of the smartest twenty-somethings out there.

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In Other News, I will be heading to Cuba in precisely ten days.... YAY! I love a Caribbean Christmas. Also, my room is an absolute wreck. They say, "Move Your Stuff... Change Your Life". Well, my stuff has moved and my life seems to be just as messy as the clothing on my floor. Note to self: Organized room = Organized life. I have a whole semester's worth of notebook due tomorrow at 8am for ceramics. Wish me luck. I will be inventing a semester's worth of notes on pottery tonight. Also, according to the calendar on my desk it has been two months, one week, and two days since I had a real planned date with a single man whom I met randomly (that one weird thing with that one weird guy doesn't count). I'm feeling a little bit like a loser, but I think I can handle it... yoga and a few beers cure any single girl's ailments.

I'm speechless

2007-12-04T04:31:00.000+03:00

Which is why this post is only going to be about a sentence long.

Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.

The synopsis says... Follow the cross-country adventures of the pot-smoking duo as they try to outrun authorities who suspect them of being terrorists when they try to sneak a bong on board their flight to Amsterdam. trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/trailer/me60791803/

You have absolutely got to be kidding me. Remind me to go kill whoever is producing this.

p.s. After another minute of research I found out that in the Trailer and other promotional things it's called "Harold & Kumar 2" ..... that is a whole lot easier for me to handle.