Wednesday, June 29, 2005

SITE OF THE MONTH

By the hair of my chinny-chin-chin I am getting in a site of the month posting. It's not an out of the park (that's a baseball reference Jon) link - but it's been a year since I was part of Spencer Tunick's Cleveland installation.

The photos are not done by Spencer, but some media person who was at the event. They look a little more harsh than Spencer's work, but they do capture the day. And still, I would do it all over again.

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Best Headline of the Day.......or maybe EVER!

Tsunami Relief? Forget about it.
World Hunger? Nope.
War Time Atrocities? Not even close.

Abdul Urges Tough Nail Salon Standards

I guess we all have our battles to fight. Paula rages against the injustices of a bad french manicure and the possibility of having to use Lamisil.

Monday, June 27, 2005

NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY

Today is the day. I didn't even know they HAD one...but they do. Get tested, it can't hurt - literally. They now do it w/urine samples or oral swabs. No needles. To find where to get tested (if you so choose) click here.

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

AFI Movie Quotes

The American Film Institute had some g-d awful show on last night where they ran down the 100 best movie quotes. Most so predictable it is not funny, some so not famous at all ("On Golden Pond"?, "White Heat"?? - puhleeese!) But clearly they missed some classics:

- I want my two dollars
- MEESSAAAA CHICKOBEEEE
- Flying this plane is something different altogether
- What the hell are you bitchin' about? I gotta sleep under some Chinaman named after a duck's dork
- Read your bloody book
- Paging Mr. Herman! Mr. Herman, you have a telephone call at the front desk!
- It's the times. They are a-changin'. Something's blowing in the wind. Fetch me my diet pills, would you?
- Hi, Eric Stratton, Rush chairman, damn glad to meet you

Ok. I'm sure I'm missing more. Feel free to add in the comments section.

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

STATE OF THE GOP

I don't often agree w/a lot that Andrew Sullivan has to say, but he can make some interesting observations (along w/a lot of other people).

Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush have just given us an interesting insight into where the Republican party is headed. Romney's position on marriage rights has always been that gays should have none; he supported a state amendment that would have granted them civil unions instead. But his party's base is insistent that gays get nothing whatever, that they be kept shut out of the family and of any legal protections for their relationships. So he now backs a referendum that would ban marriage and civil unions - timed for the next presidential election year. Meanwhile, Jeb Bush, having been humiliated by the autopsy into Terri Schiavo's death, wants to re-open ancient arguments about Michael Schiavo's actions the night he found his wife unconscious. Has he lost all sense of perspective? The sheer immoderation of these people is staggering. But their base is adamant. They are now using arguments about gays - that they are diseased, and spread literal and figurative poison througout society - that were once echoed almost exactly by the most vicious anti-Semites against Jews:

Their passion comes from their conviction that homosexuality is a sin, is immoral, harms children and spreads disease. Not only that, but they see homosexuality itself as a kind of disease, one that afflicts not only individuals but also society at large and that shares one of the prominent features of a disease: it seeks to spread itself.

Ah, yes. The danger of the Jews/Gays spreading their disease throughout society, their enormous power despite tiny numbers, their ability to pass, their threat to children, their flaunting of their disagreement with the New Testament. It's all so familiar. I think the arguments now made by some Christianists are replicas of the old anti-Semitism, peddled by so many Christians in the past: that Jews are to be loved, but loving them is dependent on their conversion to Christianity; that you can love individual Jews while disdaining Judaism; that Jews' stubbornness in resisting conversion is evidence of their inherent evil; that such evil, at some point, has to be segregated from mainstream society as much as possible. Gays are not the new blacks. They're the new Jews. And the Church, in both Catholic and Protestant variants, is dredging up its old anti-Semitism in new guises. The GOP is along for the ride.

If you read further down on his blog, he has some interesting comments on why gays can probably marry until 2008 (instead of the intended 2006 vote).

Oh hell, I'll just post it here. Don't sue me Andrew!

The decision of anti-marriage equality forces in Massachusetts to forego a compromise constitutional amendment (that would create civil unions) set to be voted on in 2006 and instead work for another amendment to be voted on in 2008 that would ban same sex marriage (and not create civil unions) should be seen in the light of Governor Mitt Romney's Presidential ambitions (and his likely decision, I think, not to run for re-election at home). To appeal to the out-of state Republican right, Romny has moved far to the right in the past several months in terms of abortion and stem cell research. He has visted red states projecting an anti-Massachusetts Liberal image for himself. He seems now more opposed to civil unions. Not surprisingly, his local poll numbers have accordingly dropped. The proposed amendment in 2006 would be a political nightmare for Romney. If the 2006 amendment were to pass, Massachusetts would constitutionally create civil unions on his watch. If the 2006 amendment were to fail, which looks increasingly likely, Massachusetts would have voted for gay marriage on his watch. Either way, it would be a hard sell to the right wing Republican base. He would look weak or too liberal. Romney is far better off to back a clear cut ban without civil unions that couldn't be voted on until 2008. That way he doesn't have to live with the consequences of 2006 and he can maintain he was always opposed to both gay marriage and civil unions.

Monday, June 20, 2005

Save NPR/PBS From Bill Frist !!!

Ok...a cheap shot at Bill...but he wants to put a public face on congress he needs to take the heat. Congress is planning on cutting funding to NPR and PBS. Do you know how many more pledge drives we will have to endure? How many more viewings of Riverdance or Josh Groban concerts !!!

Sign the petition !!!

Sunday, June 19, 2005

I Got Nothin'.....

I mean - what else IS there to say....?

Saturday, June 18, 2005

FRIST FUCKER

The 2008 Presidential hopeful has hopefully got a good dose of his own medicine. Pun completely intended.

Bill Frist denied he contadicted doctors who reported that Terri Shivo (still Terri Whatshername to me) was in persistent vegetative state. "I never made the diagnosis," Frist told reporters. "I wouldn't even attempt to make a diagnosis based on a videotape."

But schwing, Democrats finally (!!) pulled a GOP tactic that publically calls him out. I'm sure Frist doesn't think anyone watches C-Span, but is he really idiotic enough to not realize that every major new organization showed him on the senate floor pretty much givng his tele-second opinion: "That footage (some Terri video footage from probably her 15th bday party), to me, depicted something very different than persistent vegetative state." Um...he is a cardiologist by training, correct?

This FristFlub could be taken a step further by the DNC if they so chose. How can Frist run on any healthcare issues when he completely shows himself as a sub-standard doctor who:

a. misdiagnoses someone he's never seen or met via videotape while...
b. simultaneously pushing his religious/medical beliefs (in that order, I might add)all for furthering HIS career?

Time to run him into the ground folks. It's the only way.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Whacko(ff) Jacko

Remember when the NY Post used to have fun headlines/covers? Soooo many places they could have gone w/this one...and all you get is the NY Daily News!

jackcovers.jpeg
International Webloggers Day

FINALLY!
I can't believe gov't offices and banks haven't closed for the day.

Monday, June 13, 2005

Kid Helps Michael Jackson Get Off

Oh...wait...that can't be right! Or can it?

I've watched enough Law & Order to know that though Jackson is probably guilty as sin (and most definately a perv at best), that the prosecution had unreliable witnesses and in no way could obtain a conviction. That is unless each jury member just couldn't stand "Wanna Be Startin' Something". (Had they hammered away on "Say Say Say", "PYT" or "The Girl is Mine" they probably could have gotten the gas chamber for him!)

Anyway, the kid in someway probably got Jackson off in the privacy of his own bedroom and now through weak testimony.

I'm guessing 5 more days of media fall-out from this crap and then we'll be on to something new. Like Tom Cruise and his failing heterosexuality.

Thursday, June 09, 2005

Experts Decode Coldplay's Album Cover Art

LONDON - Is Coldplay trying to tell us something with that multicolored symbol on the cover of their new album? Cubelike images adorn the packaging, both on the cover and the liner notes, of "X&Y," the British band's much-anticipated third album that was released Tuesday.

I mean - who gives a shit??
Cardinal introduces Alaris® Tri-Site Thermometer

Cardinal Health Inc (Dublin, OH) announced the release of the Alaris® Tri-Site Thermometer, a new tool for temperature measurement. The Alaris® Tri-Site Thermometer features a new smart "adaptive" algorithm that adjusts to the heat transfer characteristics of the appropriate body site, thus providing fast and reliable temperature predictions without dependence on the patient's age. The device comes standard with backlight, pulse timer, anti-theft protection, long cords and a three-year limited warranty. Additionally, Cardinal Health offers the Alaris® Tri-Site Thermometer as dual integrated probes for environments where oral, axillary or rectal measurement decisions often occur at the bedside.

I'm assuming it only becomes anti-theft upon first rectal usage! Just a hunch.

(thanks to Denton for sharing this press release from his former parent company.)

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Damn Ashcroft!

Yes, he's gone and still reeking havoc in all our lives. Completing paperwork for the title on the new and old houses has become even more time consuming due to the Patriot Act !!! Yes the very one that likes to infringe on your civil rights all in the *possible* name of freedom and security.

Maybe Al Qaeda is smarter than I am (no, actually, i'm sure they are) - but I never would have thought of laundering money through the buying and selling of houses and wiring the proceeds to a pre-established bank account. I also wouldn't have though to use Microsoft's Flight Simulator to teach me to fly into the WTC.

Social Security Cards are now needed at the time of transactinos along with two forms or picture identification - which the title agents took digital pictures of !!!

I don't know we exchanged enough money that could have purchased a shoulder-to-air-missle, though I don't know what they really go for on the market (eBay never has them). And w/the money we had, I don't know any dirty bomb could be built that would do any damage to more than, say, the Chittenden area at Ohio State (and really - doesn't look like one has already gone off there?).

So if you don't think your government isn't watching you - watch out. They are.

And AG Gonzalez, since I'm sure this will be brought to your attention, you know where to find me. Just ask Erie Title and Realty One Title.

Monday, June 06, 2005

The Move is Over

We're done. We're in. We're tarred!

Movers did a great job getting us into the house and we are well on the way to being set-up in all rooms. This does not include wallpaper removal, painting renovating. (Denton goes on night one: "We need to deflower the bedroom." I replied: "I already told you, no sex! I'm exhausted!" Oh how we laughed!)

Kitties were slightly traumatized by the 3.3 mile trip. Oh, and the new surroundings - but they are making their way around and checking things out. They disappear for hours on their adventures.

Rydalmount is cleaned and ready to be moved into. All we have to do is sign the title papers in the next day. The new folks do a walk-through tomorrow and take posession on the 10th. It was sad to walk out of there for the last time. It was a great house We'll miss it. Or aspects of it.

Thursday, June 02, 2005

The 80s are DEAD

Sure, it's been 15 years since they've been over, but I just about blanched having to hear Madness' "Our House" as a coffee ad. I mean - I never liked the song that much in the first place, but it is painful to have to listen to in that format.


On another note: we have completed quite a bit today. Gas is on. Cable is hooked-up (though the place isn't networked yet). Kitchen is mostly set-up. Furniture gets moved tomorrow. I'm sure we'll have little stuff here and there left over tomorrow afternoon - but we'll burn that bridge when we get to it.

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Long, Busy & Embarrassing Day

We were up before the crack of dawn for the inital move. Just us and U-Haul. Had to move a breakfront that was my great-grandmother's and whom my grandmother insisted I have right before she died 20yrs ago. My sister was holding it for all those years. Also we took everything we had boxed up - and all the garage belongings.

All in all, I'd say we got about 50% of what the house holds into the new house. Tomorrow we'll do another 20% or so - and the rest by movers on Friday. The plan was NOT to get new appliances immediately (though soon), but the refrig smells SO rank, I believe we will be ordering one tomorrow!!!!! Yeah - THAT bad.

Anyway - a long day. And then I had to head to a staff meeting which started @ 5p. Since i cancelled the last one and they're only quarterly, I felt I had to be there. The room was full. I walked across it to close the door - and I don't know what happened, but fell FLAT on my face after taking down a chair in the process. The only thing hurt was my pride. Oy vey.