iPOD PLAYLIST



Posting iPod playlist is the placeholder for blog postings. It's an easy-out. You get your posting in w/out having to actually think of anything to say. It's not that I'm quite to that point, but it's a Sunday - and who is really reading this on a weekend?

That being said - I do love my music. I've seen the Desert Island Disk lists and the opposite where people have disclose their most embarrassing music or guilty pleasures. I've got both. One man's embarrassment is another's favorite music - so who is to say.

My friend Josh told me a few months ago, he finds no music to be bad music. At first I discounted that theory - and still might (I have seen his entire catalogue). However, I learned years not to part w/ my music. At some point I'll want to play it, even for the cringe factor.

Another friend, Jon, talks about selling or donating his old CDs since his is all captured electronically. I've stored all mine this way as well, but can't seem to part w/the physical disks....at least yet.

So here we go - there is the last playlist I created. It's all over the place as most of my mixes and entire music collection tend to be. I think the oldest is Rickie Lee Jones' "Coolsville" (1979) and the newest being Rosanne Cash.

I Saved the World Today - Eurythmics
Let Go - Frou Frou
It Dawned On Me - Calla
Sorry - Madonna
Precious - Depeche Mode
4ever - Veronicas
Little Bombs - Aimee Mann
Further On (Up the Road) - Bruce Springsteen
Forever Lost - The Magic Numbers
Path of Thorns (Terms) - Sarah McLachlan
Coolsville - Rickie Lee Jones
Laid So Low (Tears Roll Down) - Tears for Fears
War Child - Blondie
I Told You - Thorns
Give Me Your Eyes - Cardigans
The Unforgettable Fire - U2
Borderline - Alison Krauss + Union Station
World w/out Dreams - Rosanne Cash
i remember - Damien Rice
Room w/a View - Marti Jones

NIGHT OUT

Last night I went to a party for a former boss who was unceremoniously let go a few weeks ago. Normally I don't socialize w/my co-workers (or former ones). The place was a converted old theatre, turned into a sports bar (ugh!). Huge, but such a horrible conversion of great space. The movie screen was projecting March Madness. More than a few people laughed in the final 2 minutes of the BC/Villanova game (which lasted 15 w/all the timeouts and commercials) when I asked if anyone knew if 'Desperate Housewives' was on. "Who has the remote?!!!"

But I went b/c Nancy had been so good to me in the 9yrs I spent in my last department. Though we had issues now and again, she provided me many opportunities. ...and she is one (if not the) smartest persons I've ever met. The people who were there were similar to me in the fact that we were 40-ish and been mentored in some way by Nancy. Since there were about 65 of us - not much time w/the honoree, so there was a core i hung with whom things are just fun and easy.

Ok...except one. This person in ITD (who are always the life of the party! NOT!) said I must be happy in my new job (new? it's been 16 mos!) - that I seemed happy and that before I was a 'sourpuss!'. I laughed it off, but have been giving it plenty, or too much, thought since. I'm the guy who thinks everything is funny. Granted, I was the most hated man in my last position - but that's why it was given to me: b/c I could handle it. All 1100 doctors hated me. All 4000 nurses hated me. As did patients and families. Most support services disliked me. It was a no- win position except for the front office. Though a serious job, I was light-hearted about it most of the time or I would have slit my wrists. Oh well......the people at the bar I relayed the story to just laughed.

Man - I only had 5 (or was it 6?) beers. Granted that is nothing compared to my past lives - my Poplar-life and my early working in Cleveland life. 5 or 6 were a warm up and I'm guessing that'd be 4 nights out a week. And I mean OUT.....til closing. Remember the days you could get home at 2:30a and still roll into work by 7a no worse the wear? Those days are gone for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy being 42 (and let's face it - who of us thought I'd live this long), but where did the stamina go?

My email group was discussing just yesterday how they wished we could go back to being burnouts. The reality is - we never were (well....I don't think....@ least since I've known them). Hell, I barely smoked pot....and isn't that where the term came from? It was so much easier to drink, or ingest and snort my drugs! This was a life before boyfriends, husbands, kids, mortgage etc. This is the same group who was here at xmas, and I believe we were all in bed by 12:30a. Ok ok ok.....YES, we started drinking at 4p, but that's not the point....or is it? Maybe there is no point.

Maybe the point is - I never thought I'd be standing in a bar watching basketball w/a bunch of mid and upper level managers...let alone BE one of them. Welcome to my life!

SpongeBob SoiledPants

Dith just doesn't get enough props in this blog. ....and if she continues in this vein, she might not!
On the other hand, it kind of made me laugh!

SEPARATED AT....UM....UM.......

Is it just me - or are there really eerie similarities between The Kramer and the crappy phone-pic I took of Al Lerner's portrait?

Man in Custody After White House Scare

that was an AP headline a little while ago today.

Apparently it doesn't have anything to do w/the arrest of Shrub after he holds the country hostage from the WH for the last 5.5 yrs. ...it's a shame really.

Deep Brain Stimulation

I don't write about work a lot. I try to keep it off the blog for the most part. It seems the right thing to do. But now and again we get national exposure (in a good way) and I like to be proud of what I do and share the good work we actually accomplish.

CNN.com (this is not on any of their actual tv stations) is running an article on the chairmen of my department. The article, to the lay person (no offense to you readers), is only half as interesting as what we actually do here. As w/most media, they think they have to dumb stuff down to get talking points across to their readers/viewers. I don't subscribe to that thought - but I'm not in media relations.

It is a decent though not great article, but it the text isn't nearly as inclusive as what we actually do here.

HOWARD DEAN

The Daily Kos had a poll yesterday asking if readers approved of the way Howard Dean was doing business w/the DNC. I was a little surprised at the results (though I believe you can still vote).

Loyal readers (or new ones who are bored enough to read my archives) of Blobby's Blog know I was a huge Dean supporter prior to and during the 2004 primary season. I never saw the implosion coming. I still don't understand how one scream can take down a campaign (though I still blame a 24 new cycle who has nothing else to show). What I would have expected was his approach - almost non-political and pro-logic - to be his undermining. But it was refreshing to have him in the race.

After the Dems surrendered their spines and nuts to the president post-9/11, I stopped all $$$$. Every mailing they sent me I sent back w/an explanation on why there was no check enclosed. They didn't get it. When Dr. Dean became head of the DNC, I finally began contributing money to the organization again.

So, it pained me that I actually voted 'undecided' in the above poll. Clearly I'm in the minority (as always!). Dean, as usual, came out of the gates raring to go and controversial in his attacks on the current administration. Great!

What I don't see him doing it rallying the democrats to have more gonads than they have had in the last five years. Sure the Dems have their Feingolds (censure!) and Schumers (ports!) - but most fly under the radar just hoping to get re-elected.

...and it's a fine line, this re-election thing. I understand this. Needing to play it safe until 2008. But at what cost?

SPAETZEL OR RICE????????? (or more Shopping w/Blobby!)

You're there in line at the grocery just thinking you'll get both. Then the shopkeep comes up and tells you that you can only have one. Which one will it be? WHICH?

CHOOSE NOW!!!!!!!!

NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A YEAR WORTH OF ENTRIES

....and it's only taken me 3 years.

Obviously I haven't been blogging daily. Lately I have - but in the past it's been hit or miss. I had been doing really well around election times and things like that - but if I had to rely on my random thoughts, I stymie myself. It's great to be funny and insightful all the time, if you can pull it off - but I'm probably not that guy. Let's face it - the subtitle of the blog is 'stuff & nonsense'.

Becky is probably right that doing this daily makes you a better writer - and maybe eventually that will come. Readership is up..and I guess that makes sense. The more consistent I do an entry - the more reason to come back. It's not so random. I've actually branched out from my four original readers - and average maybe 3-4 dozen hits per day. Yeah - it's not gonna win me a Bloggie or anything, but.......

I guess in the coming weeks, I will (should?) expand my blogroll. There are a number of good and/or funny blogs out there. Ones that I read daily. Would it be wrong for me to hold out putting them on my site unless they put me on theirs??

BLOG CLOUD

I thought this was a kind of neat thing. Below is my Blog Cloud. The site is a bit intrusive, as it searches through my already written blog entries and pulls out words here and there. You can actually go in and delete/substitute words you don't want to show up, but I like the randomness of it all.

I did not, however, pay $22 to get a t-shirt made of image. (the words cheap, crowbar, miser do not appear in my cloud!)

ST. PATRICK'S DAY - Who Cares????

This is where I'd normally put a link or quote from Kent Brockman on his commentary on SPD. But I'm fairly sure that most folks I know are tired of me doing it year-in/year-out.

The above is something Kris L-S-R-H sent my way the other day. It's as close as to anything Irish that you'll see here. (You can visit all the related products just where you think you might: sweetjesusihatebilloreilly.)

Being part Irish I can say this: St. Patrick's Day, to me, less of a holiday Arbor Day. Parades to me are one step away from circuses. And Blobby hates a circus.

Sure it gives anyone who thinks they might be Irish (or who maybe once saw an Irish person) the opportunity to drink green beer, get drunk and puke. But who needs a special day for that? We call that our teens and 20s. Possibly early 30s. (full disclosure: I think I have only puked once twice from drinking. I'm good at holding my liquor.)

WWND (what would Nick do)

Jessica Simpson snubs Bush

Love her or hate her (ok....I'm kidding on the former!) you have to love the story lead-in.

'It's never been a problem for Bono,' NRCC spokesman responds

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Concerned about politicizing her favorite charity, singer-actress Jessica Simpson Wednesday turned down a invitation to meet with President Bush, a snub that left Republicans dismayed.

This girl has been pretty much a media whore (Jessica, not George........well....ok...George too), so you kind of have to applaud that she turned down a White House invitation on so many levels.
I'm sure the Swift Boat ads against her music (if that's what one calls it) are in production as we speak.

CNN Headline Follow-Up

Deaf beauty queen was text-messaging when hit by train

I think it's safe to say that she wasn't talking on the phone when it happened. Ok - she could have been talking on the phone, but it'd pretty much be a one way conversation as far as she was concerned - no?

(Evil on the rise!)

Censure Shrub

My blog entry from March 1st seems have gotten some momentum. Ok, not my blog entry - but then again, maybe it was! You have to love bloggers and the internet (no....really......you do!).

Many a site have popped up - and many a political organizations have stepped up to the plate. FINALLY. ...and it provided me w/that little banner at the top o'the page.

I suggest you visit/read/show support/contribute whatever you can do. Will it do anything? Probably not. But hell, Clinton had a higher approval rating when he was censured. Let's take away W's political capital he thinks he earned in the last election. Let's make this lame duck a dead duck....along w/all his cronies.

G-d bless Russ Feingold for making this not go away.

Act For Change
DNC - Stop Attacking Russ
Impeach Bush
John Conyers Jr.
Move On
United Coalition of Blogs for the Impeachment of GWB
Your Representative

Headline from CNN (today)

Miss Deaf Texas struck by train, killed

Ironically - her 'cause' was safer railroad crossings!!! No....No......I kid!

(what? My evil score just sent to 48% you say??)

STARF'INBUCKS

I am not a coffee drinker myself. Sure - I'll eat coffee ice cream anyday, but drink it - nah, not for me. But the idea of Starbucks escapes me. Maybe the coffee is actually better there than at the Stop N Go - but how much better could it possibly be.

The guy in this video drops the f*bomb once or twice. (ok...maybe a few more times than that!) I found it funny.

*Probably shouldn't be playing in an office where anyone offended by 'that word' might hear. Visually - nothing inappropriate!

POSTSECRET

I have yet to submit one (though I still think we all should!), however, this one kind of spoke to me. Don't ask me why. I'm such a Leo in so many ways - but so squirmy at other times when attention is bestowed upon me.

VOTE QUIMBY CHANDRA

I met our new next door neighbor(s) yesterdee. They actually closed on their house the week after we did last year. Not sure the deal they actually struck - but the old owners didn't move out until maybe November - then so much of the house was gutted. Dumpster after dumpster was hauled away. I'm guessing the carpeting and everything was a part icky and part not the new owner's taste.

So the wife come over yesterday w/her triple stroller!!!! Yes, you heard right. Triplets. 24 mos old (or in non-parent terms: 2yrs old!) Two identical...one not. Cute little kids. I mean - for kids. Kids who are not related to you in anyway shape or form.

Meena is the wife's name. Her husband is Subodh. They are both lawyers - she being a civil rights attorney, he is running for the Attorney General of Ohio as the democratic candidate!!!! YAYYYYY. Someone has to beat that wench Betty Montgomery! My fear is: this is Ohio. What chance does a minority (Indian) have a chance to win this thing?

Since she had the stroller and the three kids - I didn't really invite her in, though we stood and chatted for maybe 20 min. She'd already seen the house though. She and her husband and put in a bid on it months before we did. They got turned down (obviously). But we have in common that we think the previous owners were douchebags. Meena admitted that they low-balled the offer, as did we. However, they were like the 4th couple to low-ball them. I think that's what got the previous owners to get it into their heads that they were being unrealistic about price.

Both Meena and I agreed it will be good to have nice neighbors (I don't know where Denton disappeared to, but he didn't get to meet her).

The good news is - we have nice neighbours. Possibly 'connected' neighbours. And most important - democrats as neighbours (but let's be fair: this is Cleveland Ambler Heights. How many republicans do you think actually live here?

BLUE POST

Not 'sad'. But blue. Like off-colour humour. So, not to read if you offend easiry (not a typo).



I found the entire 'memo' (above)hilarious on so many levels:

• That they'd had to draft it (and you know it wasn't the first draft) in the first place
• That the university can identify the possible culprits to do DNA testing on them
• That the university has funds to conduct DNA testing (I see an increase in student fees!)
• That the university provides alternatives/suggestions to self-love (and care for their student's comfort!)
• ...and finally, that the university thanks them

But most of all, I find that the university fails to address the sub-standard plumbing system. Let's place blame where it is due! Please look in the mirror you - the dept of Estates and Buildings!!!

For SHAME!

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

It simply amazes me that record companies can be so far behind in their thinking when it comes to their business models. Maybe I shouldn't be. They've never really been proactive in anything other than price-hikes.

Technology has driven changes in music formats. If left to the record companies - we'd still be playing our 78 rpm acetate disks. The two biggest shakers in the last decade have to be Steve Jobs and Shawn Fanning (not necessarily in that order).

Napster (I won't hyperlink - since it's not that Napster to which I refer) completely changed the way music is record, distributed and played. Except for Edison, who can say that? Jobs, at least to date, as pretty much invented the ultimate player(s) and legitimate digital music store.

So it floors me that in yesterday's New York Times, I see this in an article on music downloads:

Breaking from the music industry's current custom, the singer's label — Island Def Jam — decided not to sell "So Sick" as an individual song before Ne-Yo's album hit stores last week. Label executives worried that releasing the track too early might cut into sales of the full CD — a fear that figures heavily in the music world's lumbering entry into the digital marketplace.

Are they kidding? I don't know anyone who buys an entire CD for one song. A disk has to be pretty damn good, or an artist w/a consistent reputation for me to buy a full disk. Either way - this isn't the 70s. The market is way different. Why go back?

"The labels are shooting themselves in the foot," said Tim Quirk, executive editor of the Rhapsody music service. To the labels, Mr. Quirk advises, "every single track that you are worried about is available for free whether you want it to be or not."

"You need to take advantage of every possible opportunity for people to pay in legitimate ways," he said.

At least someone in the industry isn't totally blind...though to be fair, Rhapsody is a digital music outlet. Do the record execs not realize that Napster flourished b/c of the buying public's frustration w/music distribution? They focus on their dying retail market - whereas 5 yrs ago it was piracy. What goes around comes around.

My g-d, last month iTunes sold their 1 billionth song. I've never purchased an entire disk of music from iTunes. It has always been individual songs. Though I've never seen any stats on it - I would venture to guess I'm no different than the majority of their consumers.

Even Stevie Nicks said in a recent interview that she does not see putting out another album as has been done traditionally. It is more to her advantage to release a few good tracks via services like iTunes than put out a mediocre album (and it could be argued that she's only put out mediocre albums). Oh - and she's gotta be 60 - right? Or pushing it. How is it someone in the grandma age-range has more insight to how business should be done than an MBA?

SITE OF THE MONTH

Hey! I'm not even waiting until my blog-clock ticks out to add the site o'the month for March!

Denton turned me onto the Flash Mind Reader - and it's weird. Creepy Weird. I have done it maybe a dozen times - and it gets it right every single time. I mean - it's not like I say my answer out loud so the guys who are hiding behind the screen on the internets can hear me!

To quote/paraphrase that old thermos joke: "how it know?"

Though there are 100 numbers, there are only 23-24 symbols. So there must be some mathematical equation behind it. As if taking two numbers, adding them, then subtracting them isn't enough to tax the mind (yes Morty you heard me - we have to do math!).

....but still........the right answer every single time? There! There!!! It just did it again!

SHOPPING W/BLOBBY

I had no idea that vegetable broth is what was used to make the gals have fuller looking lips. If you axe me, I think plastic surgeons/dermatologists are way overcharging their patients.

I'm Not Nearly As Bad As All You People Think!

You Are 44% Evil

You are evil, but you haven't yet mastered the dark side. Fear not though - you are on your way to world domination.

How Evil Are You?

Post-OSCAR

Ok - except for Ang Lee and Reese Witherspoon, I pretty much struck out on my award winners. ...and at least Wallace & Gromit won.

The awards will officially end my posting of Brokeback parodies. Well, the two below actually end the postings.

Brokeback Island is LOST entree and not too bad either.

But the best of the bunch - and I do mean all of them that I've posted - the one Becky sent me last night is the stand-out. And it is the shortest and is done w/animated bunnies.

Growing Up

This morning the phone rings at 7:00a. It's Sunday. I see almost no scenario where this can be good news. No one is calling to arrange dinner at 7:00a. ....and it wasn't.

My father was being taken by squad to the emergency department w/chest pain. The call was from one of my sisters. He had been working alone doing some water plant business. Physical work. Way too physical for an 85+ yo man. He knew enough to get home, take aspirin as if he was having a heart attack. And both he and my mother were smart enough to call 9-1-1 and not try to navigate the hospital transport on their own.

As it turns out the docs ruled out an MI, but they're keeping him overnight....at least one night. The staff was great - much better than @ my hospital.

Nothing makes you feel more grown-up than taking care of your parents to whatever degree. A car, house and job don't do that. Making your own will, becoming your parent's power of attorney or navigating them through the healthcare system thrusts you into immediate adulthood. Anyone who knows me will easily admit that I am grounded in my adolescence.

In the last few months, as morbid as it sounds, I've envisioned the situation where I'd be the one who would have to deliver a eulogy at the funeral or either of my parents. Not only do not think my sisters wouldn't do it - I don't think they could. Of course, this would go along w/having to make all the arrangements. I'm a realist this way: my parents are in their late 70s and mid-80s. Time is precious - yet limited. Something my sisters have trouble realizing and struggle with. Even if my parents live to 100, I swear my sisters will have never seen it coming. (a somewhat funny side note: I had no desire to call my other siblings to fill them in - but promised my mother I would. I attempted to get my younger sister to call one an older one - which nobody would want to do. I told her I'd pay her a dollar. Her response was, "sure. times one million!" I made the call.)

I've had this conversation before - but how did the seemingly 'black sheep' of the family become the responsible one? Maybe I seemingly deal with these things ok (maybe not - we really don't know yet, do we?). Maybe it is my work background. Maybe it is because I'm a realist.

....or maybe I'm just finally an adult.

OMG

Not that I had ANY desire to see Hairspray - the musical....since I heart the original movie so much, but I reallllllllllllllly have no intention of seeing the new movie of the musical (ala The Producers). Just read this tidbit from Billboard:

Queen Latifah and John Travolta (!!!!!) are the first stars cast for New Line Cinema's film adaptation of the smash Broadway musical "Hairspray." Latifah will portray Motormouth Maybelle, while Travolta will transform into the lovably large Edna Turnblad, a role originated by female impersonator Divine and updated on Broadway by Harvey Fierstein.

The exclamation points after Travolta are mine - not the magazine's. At least Divine and Firestein could play Edna a little tongue in cheek and not for the paycheck. But the bigger question is 'why Why WHY???? !!!!!!!!!!!' Hell, throw a muumuu on Kirsty Alley (well...you'd almost have to!) - and she could pass for a man dressed as a woman. Sure it still has that weird Scientology angle....but swing a dead cat in Hollywood and you'd hit one of those. Can't be avoided. (of course w/Travolta you still get that weird gay vibe!')

At least we'll always have the original movies w/Debbie, Sonny , Ricki and the guy who played Corny Collins! Do yourself a favor - buy it!

Feel free to use the Comments section to cast the other roles in the movie. LL Cool J or Chris Rock to play Seaweed? Anyone? Anyone???

OSCAR Predictions

Ok - so I haven't seen all (or many) of the movies up for Oscar contention. Does that mean I can't make predictions? The hotly contested races won't even be televised ....like who will win Best Best Boy or Key Grip?????? As it turns out - they're not my predictions of who would win - but who i'd want to win.

Picture - Brokeback Mountain
Director - Ang Lee
Actor - Heath Ledger
Actress - Reese Witherspoon
Supp Actor - Matt Dillon
Supp Actress - Michelle Williams

As the Oscars approach...

(this morning's song in my head upon waking was "Romanticide". For the life of me I don't know who did it - and it's not really worth Goooooogling.)

I figure I'd leave you with a few more Brokeback mash-ups. I'm assuming they'll be my last ones - but I've said that before. Clearly they are being run into the ground.

Brokeback MountDoom
Clearly could have been funnier. In my own mind, I'm playing all three LOTR movies in my head - and there are way more 'brokeback' type scenes between Frodo and Sam than what is represented here.

Brokeback to the Future
eh. It's just ok.

Star Wars: The Empire Brokeback
see: Brokeback MountDoom

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Brokeback
Yes, similar title. Different trilogy.

Brokeback Top Gun
...as if the original movie wasn't homoerotic enough!

Brokeback Dumb and Dumber
Guess what? I never saw the original movie. I've got nothing to say about it.

OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

H.R. Pufnstuf died!!!

If they truly go in threes - I can only imagine that Sigmund is next....followed closely by someone in the cast of Lidsville.

(btw....I was never a fan, but when it was played a few years ago on Nick@Nite, I happened to catch a few minutes of it. My first thought was - 'man that was some acid trip Sid & Marty Krofft were on. Turns out Morty saw the same thing at the same time and thought the same thing!)

Another Nail in the Shrub Legacy

Is it wrong to internally gloat at W's misfortunes? During Congressional hearings the administration tried to play down what they knew, when they knew it and the importance levee at which they knew it.

In a government video briefing the day before Hurricane Katrina struck on Aug. 29, Bush didn't ask a single question during the final briefing before Katrina struck on Aug. 29, but he assured soon-to-be-battered state officials: "We are fully prepared."

Whooops!

"I'm concerned about ... their ability to respond to a catastrophe within a catastrophe," Brown told his bosses the afternoon before Katrina made landfall.

For all the flack we have given Michael Brown as being a doofus (and I'm not convinced he isn't) I think he was definitely being made THE scapegoat.

The White House and Homeland Security Department urged the public not to read too much into the video footage. "I hope people don't draw conclusions from the president getting a single briefing," presidential spokesman Trent Duffy said, citing a variety of orders and disaster declarations Bush signed before the storm made landfall. "He received multiple briefings from multiple officials, and he was completely engaged at all times."

Umm....doesn't this make Shrub's ignorance inherently worse?

If he was completely engaged - which I doubt - his lack of understanding and compassion have sunk to a new level. I also find it laughable in this 24 news-cycle-world that a few weeks earlier the White House can refute the things Brown was saying under oath and that this wouldn't eventually surface....and that months before that, an aide was quoted as saying he had to beg Bush to watch news reports of what was going on down in New Orleans.

A very overlooked news clip of the week: Bush will have 5,000 people protecting him on his trip to India. FIVE THOUSAND. If that doesn't say: the most reviled man alive today, I don't know what does.

(I couldn't let these timely news pieces pass and seem like an after-the-thought blogger. Unfortunately, my funnier post will have to wait.)

In Like A Lamb

Mostly just ramblings today.

It's somewhat sunny out today. Chilly, but sunny. No storms. The leg doesn't hurt so much (but it predicts a shift in weather in the next 24-48 hrs). So this is the lamb - right? Meaning end of month should be a doozy.

I woke up w/"Lily of the West" playing in my head. I believe it's a Dylan song (Bob - not Thomas), though I've only heard Johnny Cash do it, then his daughter, Rosanne. By the time I got out of my car @ work, the song in my head morphed into "Troy" by Sinead O'Connor. This is what still resides in my grey matter.

Though I'll try to get the banner up in my blog (and it seems to take up a lot of bandwidth - making it slower for you to reach the sunny destination which is Blobby's Blog!), The United Coalition of Blogs for the Impeachment of George W. Bush is in full function.

The above is a noble, albeit doomed, endeavors. No republican congress is going to impeach one of their own. And even IF they did - at least Agnew resigned before Nixon was gonna get tossed. Giving Cheney the reigns (officially) would invariably be worse.

Shurb Shrub Shrub

For fun and games - you can create your own soundbyte or speech in the fashion of W. That is...if you can stand it.

On a better note: a recent (as in today) CBS poll has Shrub at his all time lowest approval rating - 32%. That surpasses his 35% low of his Katrina days (not his days in Katrina & the Waves). And dropped a whopping eight points in the last month!!!

Only 21% of folks think that it's ok for Dubai to be running the 6 U.S. ports. Though it doesn't say it - I'd almost bet that faction surveyed live in some landlocked area like Nebraska, Oklahoma or Idaho. Red. Dry. Stupid.

Bush is also losing ground in selling the stability of Iraq (36% think things are going well) and only 18% of those polled have a favorable opinion of Cheney.

This is just factoid since nothing is going to happen to change his administration. Let's just hope it continues onto the '06 elections and we take back the House, if not the Senate.

....AND WE HAVE OUR THIRD!!!





They say they go in 3s. Of course, Ralphie's dad will be missed the most. But there's something to be said for Weaver's 'The Duel'. It was a great movie to watch on the Ghoul!

There has got to be a way ala 'Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon' to put these three together. But I'm afraid it might involve Tobey McGuire. Using "Monty Python's Meaning of Life" scene involving Death is just plain out cheating!

....and (k)not(t) a moment too soon

The man who creeped out millions in the '70s (and I was not a fan of Andy Griffith either)


peaked as an aminated fish in the late '60s

but if nothing else, begat someone sleazy and funny (the latter being difficult for SNL)

SITE OF THE MONTH

Though I haven't used it much, Becky turned me on a few mos ago to Pandora.

It is a non-charge music listening service which builds the playlist upon your preferences. Interestingly enough you can only fast fwd through so many songs per hour....ok, that part isn't interesting, but the part that is, is b/c to be able to control what you listen to makes them a music-on-demand service - which they're not.

Play w/it. You might like it. (oh, if I had a dime for every time I heard that!!)

Gay Adoption

You gotta hand it to Rove. The best way to polarize U.S. politics is w/the gays. We are the go-to guys when your party is faltering and in need of distraction from true issues. If not marriage, then civil union. If not civil union, then why not put a ban on adoption by the homos. It sure takes the heat off of , oh, let’s see….war, economics, declining poll numbers (he he…I said ‘pole’), Cheney shooting someone in the face (thanks for the link Mr. Green!), Valerie Plame, giving up our ports to the UAE, Katrina….shall I go on?

And middle America (which, btw, I live!) will eat this shit up.

Natch the GOP launches this as the 2006 election cycle starts brewing. Oh – and don’t think they won’t be trotting out JebShrub for this. Florida already has this on the books. And it’s a perfect way to kick-off his bid for the 2008 presidential election (oh c’mon – you didn’t really think the GOP would pick McCain, did you???).

Ruckiry, I’ve never wanted children myself (a stint at babysitting my younger sister, where I chased her around the house w/a butcher knife gave me that epiphany. Oh yeah – and girls: ewwwwwwww!!). But for those who do, states (16 more are considering it) could put into law that would easily thwart legally adopting a child if you are gay.

Here in the Buckeye state, Rep. Ron Hood, the Ashville republican sponsoring the bill, said he believes children raised by gay parents have increased risk of physical and emotional problems and might question their own sexuality. Um…..yeah, b/c my non-gay parents really deflected that risk for me!

There is a little good news for the state that put Shrub in power for another 4 yrs: House Speaker Jon Husted, (a REPUBLICAN) dismissed the bill as discriminatory. Oh – and then topped it off and stunned a few people in the process by saying, “I’m adopted!”. Schwing!

And I’m assuming what was tongue-in-cheek, democrat, State Sen. Robert Hagan sent out e-mails to fellow reps, stating that he intends to "introduce legislation in the near future that would ban households with one or more Republican voters from adopting children or acting as foster parents."

Ohio has about 3,000 children who are available for adoption because their parents' rights to them are severed. Let’s multiply that by 17 (the 16 states thinking of this same route, plus Florida who already has it in place). 51,000 kids minimally (figuring w/Ohio’s ever declining population, other states have the same or higher foster child rate).

So, let’s put this into GOP perspective:

- Ban sex education in schools
- Ban condom distribution
- Children/unmarried couples practice abstinence only (b/c that works so well)
- Limit/Eliminate abortion
- Limit adoptions to healthy families with both mother and father who are heterosexual
- Cut funding and Medicaid to the needy who are most likely raising children or taking in foster children as a mean of support from the state

Yeah – those kids should be snapped up in NO time! And well provided for. And no new ones coming down the pipleline. Problem: solved!

Paul and Frank are NOT Gay !!!!!

Overall, my blog is pretty PG-13. Sometimes borderline R.

It's never NC-17. Well - never say never. But a friend supplied me with a video that I have debated whether or not to share. I can't offend the masses if I don't get masses visiting my site - can I? We're only talking 2 dozen hits per day. I've opted to share.

That being said - I'm not out to offend the masses. Besides my occasional rant - let's face it - I'm in it for the humour. This my dear readers is meant for the humour.


Let's start of w/this:

* This video clip is not suitable for work! (Maybe if you have a private office - w/your door shut and volume down. Maybe!)

* This video clip contains some pixilated nudity and simulated sex acts.

* This video clip contains some vulgar language and derogatory comments.

* This video clip requires Quicktime for viewing.

* This video is funny as hell.

Patrick Leahy? Harry Whittington? Oh Hell - Why Not Both?

You gotta love Cafepress. Though they seemingly lean to the left - make no mistake, they are a money making venture w/no partisan ties. I don't go to the site often, but Kris Royer directed me to this yesterday. (IMO this was the best product.)

In other news, Brit Hume is an assh*le. I know........you're all SHOCKED!

WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE IT IS..............?


Creme de Klink? Semen ala Schultz?
And what would you possibly use it for? On second thought - don't even answer that.

Either way - I saw it when I was searching out mandarin oranges (so much easier to get than mandarin babies!) and saw it. My trusty camera-phone let me capture the moment. I'm going to have to use that phone feature for this blog a lot more often.

M***y/Not M***y

I have this 'friend' who must get more things on PostSecret than anyone I know. (ok - I don't know of anyone who has actually been put up there.) It's probably not him. PROBABLY.

One could well be though. Anyone knowing M***y would know that one of them is definately NOT.

IRAQ WAR DEAD & MY BLOG

It should be noted that as we approach the beginning of the 4th year of Bush's little diversion of not catching bin Laden, and nearing the beginning of the 4th year of my blog, that the hits on my blog in the next day or so will reach the U.S. casualties in IraqU.S..

Though that is clearly a coincidence (and a matter of timing - depending on when you read this) it is not insignificant. While I love the inquiries/visits and the validation that someone/anyone read this, the thought that an equal number of lives have been lost on this little extracurricular of Shurb's sickens me. (You could scroll down to see the number of wounded in action - but it's expoentially worse!)

Lately I've coming back to Colin Powell's little Pottery Barn comment - and though more reasonable people knew it to be true, those frickin' people who 'bleed red white and blue' never gave it consideration. I still think they don't. The irony is that it is their children/family who are the ones taking up arms and being killed. ....and we do own it and are there for years to come.

You almost cannot blame them for continuing to stand behind the president. If they opted not to, mentally they have to reconcile that their loved ones may have died in vain - and that has to be very tough to justify.

I GOT NOTHING.......

Sure, there are thousands of Cheney cheap shots to take (oops...one right there). But the news is just too fucking odd.

Between Libby saying his leaks were ok'd by 'superiors' (effectively letting Cheney and Rove off the hook w/the statement's cloudiness) and Chertoff/Brown ping-ponging their Katrina failures and blames - to be honest, if it's not Family Circus I just can't read the paper.

Ok - that last part is a lie. Mark Trail or Apartment 3G perhaps - but I'd never read Family Circus. Hell, I won't even link you to it just as a joke.

But I have nothing of huge interest to blog here. I guess I could tell you about the chicken I made for dinner last night. My valentine's dinner that I ate alone. Booo-Hoooo. That could lead me into a piece on "Alone Again, Naturally", but that would naturally segue into Gilbert O'Sullivan (g-d help me - there IS a official website) and was that his real name? I mean, did he change it to have name recognition w/Gilbert & Sullivan - and if so why? What part of early '70s pop buying demographics related to operettas about duty? He he....I said 'duty'.

Ok, no crying - it was kind of nice to have the place to myself (not that Kylie or Tovah would ever let me BE alone). So I obsessed over rebuilding/refining my iTunes liberry while the Olympics were on (muted).

I will leave you w/this that I came across awhile back (sorry can't remember a reference to which to link you) that I found amusing:

Some people are like Slinkies---not good for anything, but still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

BROKEBACK GROCERY LIST

Yes - another funny, provided by Tom Green as told to him by somoene else. I mean let's face it, the man is funny, but not THAT funny. In lesser hands than Mr. Green's - it wouldn't be AS funny.

WEEK ONE
Beans
Bacon
Coffee
Whiskey

WEEK TWO
Beans
Ham
Coffee
Whiskey

WEEK THREE
Beans al fresca
Thin-sliced Bacon
Hazelnut Coffee
Sky vodka & Tanqueray gin
K-Y gel

WEEK FOUR
Beans en salade
Pancetta
Coffee (espresso grind)
5-6 bottles best Chardonnay
2 tubes K-Y gel

WEEK FIVE
Fresh Fava beans
Jasmine rice
Prosciutto, approx. 8 ounces, thinly sliced
Medallions of veal
Porcini mushrooms
1/2 pint of heavy whipping cream
1 Cub Scout uniform, size 42 long
5-6 bottles French Bordeaux (Estate Reserve)
1 extra large bottle Astro-glide

WEEK SIX
Yukon Gold potatoes
Heavy whipping cream
Asparagus (very thin)
Organic Eggs
Spanish Lemons
Gruyere cheese (well aged)
Crushed Walnuts
Arborio Rice for Risotto
Arugula
Clarified Butter
Extra Virgin Olive oil
Pure Balsamic vinegar
6 yards white silk organdy
6 yards pale ivory taffeta
3 Cases of Dom Perignon Masters Reserve
Large tin Crisco

Driveway Fame

It's gonna live forever!

So, Denton pointed me towards the Peppe and Sons site. They were the ones who did our driveway last autumn. I didn't know that Denton allowed them to use our drive for their site.

Had I - well, I might have negotiated a discount of some sort.

BrokeMac Mountain

I wish I could quit this. I swore I would stop w/the Brokeback Mountain jokettes.....but I can't. This is one for all the Apple folks out there.

THE BLOGGIES

Apparently I have been overlooked by the academy for my 'body of work'. Well screw them! They lie - it's NOT an honor to just be nominated. It's an honor to win. There is no honor in losing (do you hear me Matt Dillon????)

I'm off the subject. Ok......so Blobby's Blog is a little too under the radar. So be it.

However, you can vote for more popular blogs that are out there. If you have to sink to the selections they put in front of you, that is...............

1/12

One month down - 11 more to go.

The holidays seemed like a lifetime ago. Summer seems like a lifetime away. Not to be too philosophical (or morbid) about the entire thing but........................I woke up this morning w/the 'why bother' attitude. (Sorry Dith - didn't mean to steal your thunder!)

I mean - so I get up and go to work. Why? Forced to go to work to pay for things until I die. Who the f*#% came up w/this system??? Is this our greatest meaning/purpose in life?

With all the creation in the endless and expanding universe - the miracle of space/time and here we are in the salt mines (but not the WV coal mines!). I mean - I do have it better than many. I'm not cleaning septic tanks for a living or anything.

I'm not so sure the dozens of theories that surround Lost are way off. Maybe this isn't life. Maybe it is our afterlife. Our purgatory. Or our hell.

Maybe it's just performance evaluation time and I have to write and administer 22 of them. I guess that shouldn't be ruled out.

What is up w/Thin Mints?

It's the only thing I can attribute to my dreams. It happened again after eating a 'few' (hey! it's all relative!!!!) thin mints. Last night was even worse than before. Ok - maybe not 'worse' - but strange.

Carly Simon (in dress and heels) doing the laundry for a guy named Ehrhard Langer. Ehrhard and I went to school from 4th to 8th grade. I've never seen him since. Ehrhard was always a big kid for his age - not fat. Just big. But last night I found the secret to his size. He wore padding everywhere. I found this out as Carly was getting ready to do his wash. We laughed that I knew his secret.

Somewhere later, it segued to two of my sisters. One was drawing this on her walls:

The other sister was altering it behind her - w/out the other's knowledge.

There were other parts to the dream. I know I should have written them down when I woke up - but I didn't.

But really - how can you top Carly Simon doing someone else's laundry? At least she wasn't singing!

Now Here I Go Again.....

Ah dreams. So weird. Rarely wonderful.

So, last night I was intent on catching this little little scorpion. I could hear it. He talked. He was almost microscopic and people were afraid he would get stepped on. But I scooped him up on a piece of paper the way one would do to a spider they planned to set free. He wanted and needed to be rescued. But stung me anyway...then scampered off.

Naturally I thought about the scorpion and the frog tale. I had only myself to blame. And I swear I could feel my one hand going numb - but that was probably just Tovah sleeping on it, as she is apt to do.

You'd think that'd be enough. But there was at least one more dream - possibly two. I can't be sure if they were part of the same dream or separate.

I was crossing a stream that became a huge flowing body of water. Could feel myself getting pulled w/the current, knowing if I lost my balance, I would go downstream. The water was brown and murky. It looked cold. There were other people doing as I was - but all were women in dresses. Professional dress. Possibly on their way to work at the building on the other side of the water. (yes! I had to pee very very badly when I woke up! what of it??)

I believe it was that building where I walked into the glass offices. It was me - but clearly not me. You know - it WAS a dream. I knew I didn't officially work at said office, but I could hear the boss-like man telling others he didn't want me there. But he got protests b/c I gave such great massages.

Did I mention that my Girl Scout Cookie order came in yesterday - and that I had maybe 5 thin mints before bedtime?

VISITORS

My little statcounter is great. Not only do I know how many people have been visiting the site - I can drill down to states/countries that have visited me. It does make me proud.

It also makes me wonder how you all got here. Mostly a fluke, I would imagine. Your Google searches for certain topics, probably bring up some key word or phrase I've been ranting about. Then you click on it to see and then the inevitable 'hey! what the hell?'.

Out of the last 100 hits to the site - you came from 21 different states and 9 different countries (a shout out to the folks in the UK, Israel, Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, Italy, Canada, France and of course, the U.S.). Now that I know I have an international fanbase, oh the pressure should be on. But it's not. I just have to be the same old Blobby I've always been. Can't let this go all to my head ya know.

Oh Marky Mark

Sorry - but is there anyone hotter in show business than Mark Feuerstein? Ok....probably. But still! Not quite sure what this is all about - but at least he shows his hairy hairy chest (albeit briefly).

More Brokeback Crap

A Texas newsman raised some eyebrows — and some hackles — with some off-color jokes about “Brokeback Mountain” stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.

While discussing movie awards, KENS-TV anchorman Chris Marrou of San Antonio quipped “Why didn’t they just give one of those guys from ‘Brokeback Mountain’ best actress?”

Executive News Director Kurt Davis called the comment “unscripted” and apologized “for whatever statement that may have offended any segment of our audience,” according to MySanAntonio.com

TRUER WORDS........(part II)

...and if there is any doubt of me burning in hell.

TRUER WORDS........

I mean - if you believed in Chr-st at all. (though the likness of the non-chr-st guy to Reagan is more than a bit creepy!)

Site of the Month

Provided to me from Benton ummm....Denton. Google has some new mash-ups that are kind of cool.

Go ahead. Click anywhere on the map. And then a second time. It will calculate the best route (mostly) from point A to B. I have found some ways that are better - but still not a bad little tool. And works on cellphones too - though it's tough to navigate a map via cellphone.

Black Cadillac



Rosanne Cash has a new disk coming out next Tuesday (1/24). Granted, I've only heard three songs from it - but it seems pretty decent and she usually puts out a good disk.

Capitol's website has the three songs for sampling along w/a streaming video on the disk - the making of said disk and the death of her parents (Johnny was her dad, ya know) and how it related to the content.

Personally, I love the title track. The bass line alone is great. But the horns that are brought into it at the end are very "Ring of Fire"-ish.

EXIT STRATEGY

I'm rubber............

Brokeback...again

Nothing against Jack H's submission for the earlier poster. This one is similar - but a cuts a little more to the core, which naturally makes it funnier!

San Jose

I'm sitting here w/cable radio on in the background and Dionne Warwick (you know - the Singing Skull) is singing. To be honest, I know the words - but never really listened to the words.

Though it's not her fault - did no one get Burt Bacharach an editor or question his storytelling skills? "I was born and raised in San Jose". "I've got lots of friends in San Jose".

Then what the f*ck is she asking directions for? ...just something to ponder.

Brokeback

Yes, we saw it (actually weeks ago - I'm just late in posting this). Yes we loved it. Go buy a ticket. I joked that I was going for the cruising.

It was quite odd in a way. Cleveland only has 3 theatres showing the movie. Turns out Cleveland isn't Chicago, NYC, L.A. or DC. 40 people in the theatre. Granted it was a 12:30p showing....but still. Everyone getting tickets appeared to be going to see 'Cheaper by the Dozen II' (so good they had to make a sequel of a remake!). It was almost like going into a porn movie...um......I've heard!!!! "Two for 'Brokeback Mountain' please" - and just two guys going in together.

Odd that the person selling popcorn asked what movie we were there to see. WHEN has any concessions attendant asked you anything but 'would you like to have a large popecorn - it's only $0.50 more'?

But the movie is good. Very good. And though no one snickered, laughed or 'ewwwwwed' at any of the scenes, the jokes start coming. Here are two visual ones
.
The Shrub one courtesy of Jack H. in Chicago. The Marlboro and Skeletor ones just come from somewhere on-line.

Jon Stewart on the Acadmey Awards



I missed this on The Daily Show, but caught it as a snippet in the 'Week in Review' from the NYT. Just made me bust out laughing.

I was allowed to host the Oscars this year, and I'm very excited about that. It feels like winning the Heisman. No guarantee of how you're going to do in the ballgame or in your career afterward, but it is something they can't take away from you, unless you go crazy and kill your ex-wife and a waiter. And even then, it is pretty hard to take it away from you.

Hurricane Aftermath

Months later and the media coverage is unrelenting. Here is just a little more of the devastation that Katrina has brought. Will the hell never end???

(thanks to Tom G.)

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT

I know that nobody has seen this or the ones who have think it's funny. But it is. It's actually frickin' funny. Fox will most likely cancel it while keeping Pam Anderson's boob-fest running, even though it has lower ratings. I guess tits sell. I mean.......what would *I* know about that.

But if you don't watch it - at least visit the website to save the show. If nothing else, maybe Showtime will take notice and pick it up.

Do it for the children. And by children, of course, I mean ME!

Oh - Screw Lance Armstrong

Finally!!! A frickin' rubber bracelet for the rest of us!!!!!


Oh - and hope everyone had a great 2005!!! More fun, more love, more blogging in 2006!!!

Damn That Paparazzi !!!

Ricky Martin and his brother, colleague, fuckbuddy friend can't seem to take in a nice relaxing day at the beach w/out someone taking their pictures while they try to work off all that excess holiday weight.

Teamwork!

No one can say I don't promote a cohesive team. What other workers do you know that systematically have a watch-out person to see when another co-worker leaves her office? Then the other one swipes her iBook? And for good measure - gets her credit card number (but not taking the card)?

(Un)Fortunately, that's where their big scheme and brains seemingly stopped. Purchasing airline tickets is a tough thing now-a-days. I mean...you have to use your name to go along w/the ID you have to show to the TSA. So tracking it back isn't ALL that difficult.

But then setting up an SBC account for your DSL line in your name along w/your wireless phone service isn't the brightest idea either.

The joke is - they are seemingly unaware that I know and the police know that we are on to them. As the investigation silently goes forward - they just show up to work and do their job (which they are about to lose).

To my credit - I didn't hire them. I inherited them.

Unfortunately, now I fear patients who present credit cards for payment might also be subject to some theft. No complaints - but wouldn't it be foolish of me not to be proactive to ask the police to look into that?

Mon Dieu

There Is A War Going On People!

The one in Iraq?? Don't be silly. The war over Christmas! How DARE someone not say 'Merry Christmas' at every stop I make after decorations go up on October 14th!!!! The lives being lost overseas are nothing compared to the infidels who won't acknowledge the birth of some people's l-rd and saviour.

I was doing so well at blogging daily this month...or almost every day. But the holidays, parties, friends, family - well.....they kind of distract you from a blog entry or two. Having friends over was the nicest present - even if all could not be here (they were in spirit and conversations).

Alas, much of it is done and we might get a day or so of relaxing in before heading back to work.

Street Cred Nutcracker

This puts the Cracker in Nutcracker.

A Very Chewy Xmas

Nothing - and I do mean NOTHING - says Xmas like Chewbacca.
George Lucas and fans......thank you thank you thank you!!!!

I Have No Fitting Title




It does amaze me that W has some of his polling numbers on the rise. I can't gather any reason as to why. Either the polls were taken prior to the spying news/dictatorship was reported or whether polled americans are that blind to the phrases '9/11' and 'terrorism'. My fear is - it's the latter. Doonesbury makes fun of that constantly - and I see Bush use it more and more.

You have to love a leader who rules by fear.

Morty George sent me this image a few weeks ago - oddly enough before any of this new had broke. But this last reported incident is just a pattern of this administration. So now seems as good a time as any to post the image.

All in All - it is an Incentive to Relocate

Iran bans Western music
Ruling takes country back to Khomeini days

Monday, December 19, 2005; Posted: 9:18 p.m. EST (02:18 GMT)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has banned Western music from Iran's radio and TV stations, reviving one of the harshest cultural decrees from the early days of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Songs such as George Michael's "Careless Whisper," Eric Clapton's "Rush" and the Eagles' "Hotel California" have regularly accompanied Iranian broadcasts, as do tunes by saxophonist Kenny G.

It must be a magical place to live!!!!! If I never had to hear ANY of these songs/artists again, I'd be a happy happy man. Throw in the Beach Boy's "Kokomo" and I'll get my passport/visa updated!

Nomar NoMore

Oh sad is the day for Blobby. Mr. Garciaparra has opted to stay in Los Angeles with his pseudo-lezbo soccer player wife - just b/c she is based out SoCal.

The economic impact is unfathomable. No season tix purchased for the Indians season. My possible purchases for monitoring devices, telephoto lenses and website fan page membership fees will never be realized. The GNP is gonna tank this last quarter.

Thanks for nothing Nomar!

INTELLIGENT DESIGN - Cartoon Form!

Doonesbury made me snort this morning.

Shrub Sickens Me

Just as W was doing all the things the media said he should: fireside chats, admit mistakes, etc to turn around his 2nd term, he gets caught w/his pants down - but not in a Clintonian way. Now the schmuck does what comes naturally - fucking around w/the law and being, not only completely unapologetic, but vowing to continue in his probable illegal actions.

...and I'd never thought I'd say this, but thank g-d for Arlen Specter. He vows to look into this in depth, just as he is w/the indictment of Jose Padilla on charges just to avert constitutional law and a supreme court decision.

Though W tries to cloak this all in 9/11 - I'm hoping most will see through it. He is already calling the media unpatriotic for reporting the story - and 'breaking' national security. Again - completely unaware and unapologetic to his actions. What a dumb, yet typical, motherfucker!

I do have issues w/both Frist and Pelosi knowing this was going on - especially the latter. To feign indignation is quite hypocritical. Tying any vote to the Patriot Act on this is a HUGE joke. At this point, why would we think that any yes or no vote would stop Shrub from doing what he g-ddamn wanted to in the first place?

I did smile @ Russ Feingold's comment: "Last I checked, it was President Bush, not King Bush!"

NOMAR

That the Clevleand Indians may be acquiring Nomar Garciaparra.

If so....Blobby just might have to become a season ticket holder. Sure his career has kind of been in the dumps since being booted out of Boston. Sure he married some pseudo-lesbian soccer skank. But does that make my stalking any less important or meaningful?

Je think not!

SITE OF THE MONTH

Popword: It's like internet Boggle meets Tetris.

Use a series of letters to spell words in a limited amount of time. Across. Down. Diagonal. Plus you can connect in any form (i.e. one letter across, then down, then diagonal, then up and across again). of the previous as long as letters connect.

Each level is a little different....and of course for each subsequent level, letters drop a little faster.

Tick Tick Tick...........

Renovations on the bedroom are much more turle's pace than I think they should be. I am always this way w/any updating or construction. Naturally, I immediately find fault w/the contractors, but it really is my own perception that needs adjusting.

We had gas logs installed today. I'm never hauling wood and starting a fire. Never. And less likely to clean the crap up after it's all burned. Traditional fireplace, however romantic blah blah blah are highly inefficient. The gas logs are easy, there's not clean up, and they actually heat a room! And there's no waiting for all the embers to die off before being able to go to bed.
So, that was a slam-dunk and I was very happy when I got home and they were installed.

My elation was dashed when I went to check on the bedroom progress. I knew, deep down, it had to look worse before it looks better.......but........but.........oy. The lighting was ancient, and the wiring worse. So the update of the lights, meant upgraded wiring....which means parts of the ceiling and walls are ripped up.

There is still a week to go before replastering and painting HAVE to take place. I mean - carpet and a new bed are being delivered next Thursday. Guests arrive on Friday. EEEEK.

Naughty or Nice??

Tis the season and all. So going to Santa's website, you can type in to see if you have been a good boy/girl, or a bad one. I did a few of my friends and it seems most everyone gets some pretty high marks from St. Nick and his database. Being the good manager that Santa is - he usually has some goals to make you a better you!

Then I started questioning the integrity of the data. So this what came up when I typed in:

Charles Manson - Still very much on nice list, but must continue good behavior. Should eat more vegetables instead of junk food. Was very polite last Thursday! When doing chores, needs to do them as well as possible. Often exhibits good behavior.

Adolph Hitler - Overall, niceness outweighs naughtiness. Was good a lot last month! Politeness often good, but has room for improvement. Could help around house more instead of watching so much TV. Expected to move even higher up "nice" list.

George W. Bush - Nice, with a few exceptions. Needs to be nice to everyone not just friends. Could try a little harder when things are tough. Good sense of humor. Made list last year. Needs to be good all December.

Shrub's was actually funnier than the first two. He *does* need to be nicer to people who don't necessarily insulate him. And he does need a good December if those poll numbers are to improve*.

*Unfortunately, poll numbers are rising a bit. The blatant speech yesterday on the war dead - clearly a ploy to humanize himself w/the American public for nothing other than increasing his popularity. No doubt to push through some other diaboloical plan he has up Karl's sleeve.

Xmas Cards

Apparently, Morty finally got one of his PostSecret submissions accepted.

REAL AGE

So, I was checking my Real Age (see the big orange circle and click on it!!!.

Overall, I know my health is ok, but probably just ok. This just confirmed it. Chronoglically I am 42.4 years old. Healthwise I am 41.9. I'm sure my lack of physical activity is killing that score. It seems I need more folic acid and vitamin C & E (HEY!! I take a multivitamin!!!!).

Reduce my red meat consumption to one time per week??? To only 4oz? I only really eat red meat 1-2 times per week as it is. 10 items containing cooked tomatoes is recommended. I think one pizza per day is called for.

The plan on how to get healthier goes on and on. And on.

I guess it could be worse. My real age could be 57.6.

Young Hobbits in Love

So The Two Towers was on TV last night. Not that I hadn't seen it before - several times, but there was nothing else on and I was vegging. Denton had walked in during the last 30 minutes of it - just as Sam, Frodo and Gollum were about to be turned over by Faramir to his father.

To further set-up the scene: Frodo presents himself in front of the Nazgul and about to put the ring on. Sam, seeing this, tackles him and they tumble down a staircase, where Frodo proceeds to draw his sword and hold it to Sam's neck. "It's ME - your Sam!!" After realizing what he's done, they have a little tete a tete...blah blah blah 'friendship'....blah blah blah 'good in the world'.....

...then Denton chimes in "it's Brokeback Mountain for the geek set." He made me ROR.

Counter

....not kitchen. Scan up the page just a tad! I finally figgerd out how to put up a counter (and of course it's free). The number of hits I started w/is a lowball (yes, Morty....I said 'low balled"). Sure I could have put in 00000000, but blogging is all about the gratification and validation that someone is actually reading this crap.

So, I counted up my posts and the number of comments that were contributed. I figured each post go read at least once. Each comment meant someone was there for each of those. Mind you - I lost lots of comments (ok....maye not LOTS) months ago, so I can't count those.

This will either be sheer elation for me - or nothing but disappointment.

Hi Jack!

Regarding the shooting of a passenger suspected of potentially having a bomb:

"The system worked exactly as designed," said Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House aviation subcommittee. "Right now we are on edge about anyone having a bomb."

Geee. If shooting/killing a guy for possibly having a bomb on board is exaclty the way the system is supposed to work...what are all those billion dollar check-points and pat-downs for? Thrills???

Ohio Governor

IF you can stomach it - Jim Petro is running ads already in his bid for governor of Ohio. I cannot find a link to the actual commercial that is running - but you can get the gist of it at his site. I feel dirty just googling it.

Personally, I love (read: loathe) the fact that he is running on family values and against gay marriage..................which happened a full two years before this upcoming gubernatorial election. Way to be a man of the current issues Jim!!!!

The other choices for the head of the state are just as loathesome....and seemingly all republican. If there is a democratic candidate slated to run - I have not heard one. At least not since Michael Coleman (CMH mayor) dropped out of contention.

As Ed Grimley would say: "we're as doomed as doomed can be!" (of course, you have to say it in his voice).

War & Peace

War
I am constantly struck by the stubborness that is our current administration and their lack of logic in ending what we've gotten ourselves into. We are in a war we cannot win (let's not even get into IF we should or HOW we got into it) - yet the heels are dug in and thousands will die (currently dead: 2131 in Iraq, 246 in Afganistan) due to Shrub, Dick and Rummy's inability to see the we will never 'win' this.

You know - to set a timeline to leave Iraq is demoralizing to the troops. Not setting a timeline is demoralizing to the country. Both countries. And to Shrub's poll numbers.

Peace
Kitties make everything better!

Bush Called for Jury Duty in Texas (AP)

All I can say is - the defendant better hope it is not a death penalty case.

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

I thought I should pass it along.

Check your drivers license. Now you can see anyone's Driver's License on the Internet, including your own! I just searched for mine and there it was.. . picture and all!! (Thanks Homeland Security!).

Go to the web site and check it out. Just enter your name, city and state to see if yours is on file. After your license comes on the screen, click the box marked "Please Remove". This will remove it from public viewing.

I definitely removed mine. I suggest you do the same. . .

Shame on You, Jean Schmidt

The DNC is putting up billboard(s) in Jean's district
to call her on the carpet and hold her accountable for
her little crappy tirade on the floor last week.

I've given lots of money to the DNC, moveon.org and
individual candidate - but never for something like this.
At least that I can recall. I'm not sure I will give to this.
It is such a GOP thing to do. I'm thrilled and appalled
at the same time. I guess it's kind of like sex.....

Your Kisses Kill Me

No - not just another Mr. Larry drag number (and trust me, it was), but a cautionary tale about teen sex.

Supreme Court Falling Apart

No - where you went in your mind is just wishful thinking. The place is actually falling apart - not unlike OSU Stadium during a Pink Floyd concert (and the scary thing is - I didn't even really have to dig back in my memory for that one). The building actually dropped chunks of stone today. Though the NYT article doesn't state it - the pieces were picked up and carried off by Columbus students visiting DC.

But really - isn't this just symbolic of what is really happening to the court? They've made some questionable decisions throughout it's lifespan - but since the 2000 election, I just have a hard time w/almost any decision they make (eminent domain? c'mon!). I see further decay with Roberts and (most likely) Alito on the bench.

You know - the Columbus kids can have them too.

Vatican: Sexually Active Gays Unwelcome (AP)

However, sexually active "straight" priests come apply! PLEASE!

PlameGate

Man - this just gets slightly more odd w/each passing day. I can almost understand Bob Woodward holding out his information due to the fact that his source hasn't allowed him to reveal their conversations. Almost. After Judith Miller - I suspect most everyone. Of course, I really suspect the Bush administration of using the press to not only leak information - but to do it in a way where their damage gets done, but enough question remains to let everyone involved off the frickin' hook! Sounds like the mastermind of TurdBlossom himself (que sinister music)!

What I do not get is Scooter's lawyers saying this basically supports his defense. Two, count em, two sources (Matt Cooper and Miller) have sited him as a source. In which he allowed them to release his name. Do we (should we) care that Woodward might have another source? Well, we should - b/c I'm guessing it's not Libby. But that there might be another source doesn't make Scooter any less complicit.

One can only hope that it is Karl or Dick. But I don't discount Colin Powell and that he blabbed on the premise to expose false and unethical information that he knew the things he was forced convey to the UN by his boss.

On one hand though - the longer this drags out, the longer the administration and GOP will be forced to show who and what they are. Right up until the next few election cycles.

Post Secret

Dity turned me onto Post Secret a few month (a year?) back - which I believe she found via an NPR story.

At first I was completely turned-off by it and thought some things were quite creepy. But the more I read it the more I was intriqued by people's behaivour and thoughts. They post new mailings every Sunday. Personally, I think we should all submit one. My issue is.....how do I narrow it down?

That being said......and going back to some of them being disturbing....this might be the winner of all time.

Intelligent Design

So, I guess my question is this....if the religious right (or anyone else) actually truly believe in Intelligent Design - or taking it out further to Adam & Eve - they should be ok w/incest too then, right?

I mean if it were only Adam and Eve and we all came from them...at some point, to procreate, Cain fucked whomever his sister was (Abel was dead...right?) and then brothers/fathers kept fucking sisters/daughters until...well, here we are.

Maybe that's why the deep south is so right w/g-d. It's ok to bone your cousin who is also your sister to have your grandbabies.

And if anyone doesn't believe in evolution, take a look @ the attached pic provided to me from Doug G.

Why Stick People Shouldn't Have Sex

I am a Communist



...at least every now and again.

Laurie Anderson

We went to go see Laurie Anderson last night - again. I believe this is my 6th time seeing her, which ranks her up there w/artists I've seen most times in my life (oh, Michael Stanley Band - you'll always be #1 !!!).

As always, she was very good. The themes were Beauty and Time mostly. She played some beautiful violin pieces, but started out w/what possibly the most disturbing piece of music I had ever heard (that goes for you Stacey Q!). Great stories that sometimes led nowhere, or sometimes came back around after an hour to tie together what seemed to be streams of conciousness. Some really great experiences as NASA's first and only artist in residence along w/some 9/11 pieces.

What always continues to amaze me is her demographics. When seeing her in Columbus umpteen years back, it was a college crowd. The arty. The hip. The too-cool-for-school crowd. And the gays. 18 yrs later it still is - though many of these crowds have gotten older, as has the artist. Pushing 60 she is. Many in the audience were too. It is always the most quiet I ever hear an audience - as they hang on her every word.

As we stood in the lobby afterwards, her themes of beauty and time kept coming through the doors - one at a time or in small clusters. If you ever have the chance to catch her - see her. Her disks are good, but they don't necessarily do justice to her live pieces.

Site of the Month

I didn't have one in Sept or Oct. Nothing was worthy - at least that I came across. But it's budget and APR season, so surfing was limited.

This one has to do w/T-giving. I think most know my distain for the fud. Possibly the blandest meal this side of bread & water. I'm fine w/broiled and salted turkey skin - but the rest...I can pretty much leave.

And of course, NOTHING says T-giving like Gloria Gaynor. Oh - and you all have York to thank for this one. I take NO credit. None. Zip. Zilch.

Romance of the Jedi

Forget Brokeback Mountain (and it's inevitable gay porn title). In space....no one can hear you kiss!

Bird Flu and Bird Brain

Shrub wants $1.2 BILLION to combat the bird flu for 20 million americans (nevermind that there are 250 million in the U.S.). Mind you the bird flu has not hit the U.S. and has most likely only caused less than 200 deaths world-wide.

According to the CDC, healthcare-associated infections in the U.S. are the cause of 90,000 deaths annually!! That is almost 247 deaths per day!!!!

Perhaps if he put some funding into education on site of service infection rates, we could reduce those numbers instead of pandering to media alarms and his overreaction to his own fuck-up of the flu vaccine of 2004/2005. (Granted, I am the first to admit that healthcare workers *should* know how to prevent most infections - let alone diagnosing them before becoming fatal.)