Sunday, May 25, 2003

The NYT reports some lame group (my description - not theirs) named Smile Mania is having an event calling the Great American Grump Out. Bite Me !!!! 'Negativity makes us sick and keeps us sick', says some member, possibly the founder. Fran Lebowitz says she prefers the term 'realist' - which made me laugh b/c that's the term I've been using for myself for years. Ask anyone who's interviewed me (and there have been plenty of those). It's not denial - it's the truth. The only thing I don't like about the idea of being a Grump is being lumped in with the likes of Andy Rooney, Dennis Miller and Gore Vidal (as Lisa Simpson says - he's already kissed more boys than I ever have). Surely there's better company than that. ...or maybe I'm just being grumpy.

Friday, May 23, 2003

Morrell Wine (and Morrell Wine Bar) has opened a new restaurant in the Flatiron district. The NYT has given it a favorable review. Oh - did I mention that it is owned by my brother-in-law and his family? I guess this is a shameless plug. Oh well....... it's my blog, I can do as I please.

Thursday, May 22, 2003

A few interesting stories via NPR's Morning Edition in the last day. There are two sort of interconnected as the gov't piddles aways any real attempt a homeland security: one dealing with airport security (or the lack thereof) and the second about the missing Texas democrats. Scroll down to stories 11 & 12 respectively

Also Marketplace had a great news story on the breakdown of what the $350 billion dollar tax break won't get you (story #2)

I can't even bring myself to talk about yesterday's NPR story on the U.S. plans to manufacture small nuclear weapons that are detonated well below the earth's surface to blow up anyone hiding in a shelter of any kind. Who says the Cold War is over?

Sunday, May 18, 2003

Denton and I went to go see A Mighty Wind last night. It was cute - but not as accessible as Best In Show. We decided it probably gets funnier w/each viewing ala Waiting For Guffman. I'm assuming one of the reasons the theatre was empty was b/c of The Matrix Reloaded opening weekend. Though, the only other two people in the theatre when we got there did think I was funny when I walked up to their aisle and asked if they could move down.

...and upcoming previews - oy! what a bunch of crap that's coming out!!! Kate Hudson. Luke Wilson. "When Harry Met Emma" - or such some sh*t. Who greenlights this stuff ?????

Saturday, May 17, 2003

I said this when it happened a month or so ago - but Cox New Service is reporting that BBC Correspondents will report that the Jessica Lynch 'rescue' was more a staged Hollywood stunt. Even a doctor who treated her initially is saying though she had some broken bones - there was no evidence of any gunshot wound. I can't believe the Bush administration didn't insist on having her shot first before 'saving' her (on video, i might add) and parading the story to anyone and everyone who would carry it. ...and naturally, the story is buried on page 11A of the Plain Dealer - and I can only find it on-line in a Salt Lake City newspaper.

Thursday, May 15, 2003

I've been reading a book called The Nose. I'm not too far into it, but I've already covered biblical references and some history of smells (did you know g-d had a favorite smell?). Right now I'm at the middle ages where we are going through the bubonic plague (or Becky, is it plaque?). Though we've all read about the plague being passed via fleas and rats, I surely would have remembered if more vivid descriptions of conditions were ever given. In The Nose, there are very vivid portraits of the times. I can't believe that it hasn't given me nightmares.

Wednesday, May 14, 2003

We had a disaster drill this morning. I won't say we failed miserably - but I wouldn't call it an overwhelming success. Of course, with this type of drill, there is no way of declaring successful - so I just have to get over that right now! Normal drills used to be tornadoes, bus or plane crashes. Now, they are bombs, bio-terror agents, and this time - a Smallpox or SARS like scenario. So you have multiple people presenting w/vague symptoms on-going during the day. Most symptoms are the same as colds, flu, etc - so by the time someone notices a pattern BOOM: you, your staff and your organization have been exposed. ....and the real sad thing is: the adrenaline rush of doing a drill w/multiple would victims just wasn't there.....

Tuesday, May 13, 2003

Thank g-d, the sunroom is pretty much done. Painting the ceiling and walls took only hours. Painting the trim and 156 window panes another two weeks. Even ordering the carpet in advance didn't speed things up since it took 3 wks for installation. But it's in now and we moved the furniture back in tonite. It looks so different, and so nice. And we have that new carpet smell. ...and the cats are happy. What more could we want? Now onto the deck, or living room, or kitchen.
It's been forever since I've been on here. Gotta get going on this - and updating my site, overall. But for the few who do access this page - I thought they might enjoy this Bizarro comic.

Tuesday, May 06, 2003

It's been a bit since I've blogged - but haven't had much to say. Well.....that's not true, but what I've wanted to say about one of my family members I couldn't put in print. Well...that's not true either. Anyway - here's an fun editorial from the NYT from Paul Krugman.

Thursday, May 01, 2003

(AP) WASHINGTON, April 30 — Ten days before Timothy J. McVeigh was executed for the Oklahoma City bombing, lawyers for F.B.I. laboratory employees sent an urgent letter to the attention of Attorney General John Ashcroft, saying a crucial prosecution witness might have given false testimony about the security of forensic evidence

YIKES! Ok - do I think McVeigh was probably guilty as hell? Yes. Do I think it's probably one step closer for Ashcroft & Co to diminish any and all of our civil liberties? Abso-f*ckin-loutely!!!!