I've torn/re-torn my rotator cuff about 4 times.
I went to physical therapy in lieu of surgery (which I couldn't afford due to lack of insurance), and when I found that I couldn't afford that, either, I decided to just try to do some exercises on my own, while taking it easy on my shoulder to keep it from tearing itself in half again.
I worked out vigilantly with weights earlier this year in a weight-loss effort that has stalled due to a decided lack of facilities in my immediate living area. I was careful not to lift any more than my shoulder told me I could. I spent a lot of time looking like a puss, but no injuries happened, and I was able to get to 55-lb tricep curls, which I viewed as a pretty big accomplishment, all things considered.
Apparently the weights strengthened the muscles enough that they were able to heal, which is nice, because I can lift things with both arms again. This is an ability which made moving out of my dorm that much easier earlier this month, and something I was excited about.
Well, apparently everything healed in the wrong position, and now I'm having what I assume to be nerve-damage-related pains. Funny that these never happened while I was working out.
I thought about AD's adventures with pain-med seekers when someone said to me this morning, "Honey, are you okay? You're white as a sheet!"
The good thing about the pain is that it's not constant, though my muscles tensing up at the first onset is causing some pretty heinous knots to form in my back and neck on the right side .
The bad thing is that it doesn't respond to anti-inflammatory medication...or NSAIDs, or whatever you call them. One night a few weeks ago I spent two hours in a luxurious hotel bed, unable to enjoy my surroundings or sleep because I was in so much pain I couldn't see straight. I had taken 550mg of naproxen (the prescription my doctor gave me when I told him I was bedridden with cramps...thanks, doc, it didn't help a bit) along with 2 extra-strength Tylenol. My liver was twitching, but my shoulder's condition didn't change.
The pain comes when it wants, and leaves when it wants. No amount of positioning or stretching will hasten its departure.
I need a massage for these knots, but I'm afraid of what will happen when someone digs their elbow into my shoulder blade. Will it set off a chain reaction in the nerves that will cause my shoulder to start hollerin' again?
The part, for me, that causes the most frustration is that I don't know when the pain's going to happen. It's happened 3 times today. Sometimes I can go weeks without feeling it. There is no list of set activities that I can avoid to keep from being in pain. And when it hurts, I can't do anything but sit there and try not to throw up.
I mean, the endorphin rush I get when the pain finally dissipates is pretty cool, but damn. :-P
Edit: I should mention that there's some irony here that people who aren't around me all the time wouldn't automatically "get": I work in the biologics department of one of the world's biggest suppliers of prosthetic items to repair broken bones and damaged tendons, including a product that's apparently been blessed by Jesus (sarcasm...don't come lynch me) because when used in rotator cuff repair, it has no equal in terms of how it helps the patient heal.
I broke my toe last May while working here. Guess what else they manufacture? Yep: prosthetic toes and screws to repair that sort of thing.
O GOD MY LIFE.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
No one tagged me, but I wanted to try this meme out.
1. Go to the Billboard #1 Hits listings
2. Pick the year you turned 18
3. Get yourself nostalgic over the songs of the year
4. Pick 5 songs and write something about how these songs affected you
5. Pass it on to 5 more friends
I turned 18 in 2001. Stop laughing. No, seriously...I know I'm a youngin'. Shup.
That was a BAD year for music, but I'll try my best.
1 - "Follow Me" - Uncle Kracker: I remember hearing this song on a bus in Chattanooga while on a band trip. My friend turned to me and said something like, "My boyfriend says this is our song." We then proceeded to crack up, because this is a song about an adulteress who has a possibly abusive husband and is fooling around with the narrator. Now every time I hear this song or "Lips of an Angel", I can't help but laugh at the fact that someone thought those songs were appropriate for soft-rock love stations, and high-schoolers everywhere are listening to nothing but the chorus and using these lyrics to proclaim their undying love to someone they might date for another 2 weeks before deciding that they're "over it" (as my friend and her boyfriend ended up doing).
2 - "Fallin'" - Alicia Keys: I LOVED singing this song. I hated the video, but the song was really fun to sing. I'd stand at the stove when no one else was home and belt it out while making my lunch...and when I hit the part that goes, "...I start faaaaaalllin' back in love with you...", my grandfather's cat would rush out from wherever she was and start biting my foot. It never failed. So I stopped wandering around the house barefoot, and after the first chomp of the rubber on my shoe, the cat stopped trying.
3 - "Whenever, Wherever" - Shakira: My boyfriend-at-the-time and I were watching this video one day while eating, and he suddenly stopped, put his pizza on his plate, and said, "She has a really big ass", then went back to eating as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
4 - "Drops of Jupiter" - Train: Let me get this out of the way - ever since "Meet Virginia", Train has been on my shit list as far as bands go. They're annoying, the lyrics are horrible, and they're so formulaic as to make me want to puke. Sure, I like songs by bands who do this same thing, but they're not so damned smug about it. Anyway, I'd never really paid attention to any of the lyrics of this song, but my BATT's best-friend's girlfriend (didja get that?) pointed out to me that the guy's singing about fried chicken and soy lattes. After that, I'd change the station when the song came on rather than blankly hearing it and waiting for the next song.
THEN, at karaoke one night, a regular got up and sang it, and boy was she into it...and I kind of made a crack about it to a guy friend (also a regular), and he said in a VERY serious voice: "She sings that song for her brother. He died last year." Whoops.
5 - "Hanging by a Moment" - Lifehouse: This was the song that BATT and I attributed to ourselves. I still get a twinge of sadness when I hear it, because our relationship ended under really stupid and preventable circumstances - but it's one of those "formulaic" songs that I still keep on heavy rotation on my iPod simply because I like it, regardless of its prior meaning. Did I mention I can totally rock out a baritone voice range? It's fun to sing to, as well.
I'm not tagging anyone, because no one tagged me. I have a feeling that everyone who was going to participate already has, so I'll say that if you haven't yet posted this, feel free to at your leisure.
2. Pick the year you turned 18
3. Get yourself nostalgic over the songs of the year
4. Pick 5 songs and write something about how these songs affected you
5. Pass it on to 5 more friends
I turned 18 in 2001. Stop laughing. No, seriously...I know I'm a youngin'. Shup.
That was a BAD year for music, but I'll try my best.
1 - "Follow Me" - Uncle Kracker: I remember hearing this song on a bus in Chattanooga while on a band trip. My friend turned to me and said something like, "My boyfriend says this is our song." We then proceeded to crack up, because this is a song about an adulteress who has a possibly abusive husband and is fooling around with the narrator. Now every time I hear this song or "Lips of an Angel", I can't help but laugh at the fact that someone thought those songs were appropriate for soft-rock love stations, and high-schoolers everywhere are listening to nothing but the chorus and using these lyrics to proclaim their undying love to someone they might date for another 2 weeks before deciding that they're "over it" (as my friend and her boyfriend ended up doing).
2 - "Fallin'" - Alicia Keys: I LOVED singing this song. I hated the video, but the song was really fun to sing. I'd stand at the stove when no one else was home and belt it out while making my lunch...and when I hit the part that goes, "...I start faaaaaalllin' back in love with you...", my grandfather's cat would rush out from wherever she was and start biting my foot. It never failed. So I stopped wandering around the house barefoot, and after the first chomp of the rubber on my shoe, the cat stopped trying.
3 - "Whenever, Wherever" - Shakira: My boyfriend-at-the-time and I were watching this video one day while eating, and he suddenly stopped, put his pizza on his plate, and said, "She has a really big ass", then went back to eating as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
4 - "Drops of Jupiter" - Train: Let me get this out of the way - ever since "Meet Virginia", Train has been on my shit list as far as bands go. They're annoying, the lyrics are horrible, and they're so formulaic as to make me want to puke. Sure, I like songs by bands who do this same thing, but they're not so damned smug about it. Anyway, I'd never really paid attention to any of the lyrics of this song, but my BATT's best-friend's girlfriend (didja get that?) pointed out to me that the guy's singing about fried chicken and soy lattes. After that, I'd change the station when the song came on rather than blankly hearing it and waiting for the next song.
THEN, at karaoke one night, a regular got up and sang it, and boy was she into it...and I kind of made a crack about it to a guy friend (also a regular), and he said in a VERY serious voice: "She sings that song for her brother. He died last year." Whoops.
5 - "Hanging by a Moment" - Lifehouse: This was the song that BATT and I attributed to ourselves. I still get a twinge of sadness when I hear it, because our relationship ended under really stupid and preventable circumstances - but it's one of those "formulaic" songs that I still keep on heavy rotation on my iPod simply because I like it, regardless of its prior meaning. Did I mention I can totally rock out a baritone voice range? It's fun to sing to, as well.
I'm not tagging anyone, because no one tagged me. I have a feeling that everyone who was going to participate already has, so I'll say that if you haven't yet posted this, feel free to at your leisure.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
YGTBKM
Wisconsin city planners don't know how to spell.
This isn't world news or anything particularly important. I was doing data entry and realized that someone, in their infinite wisdom, had misspelled the name of a common midwestern bird. I sat there staring at Mapquest for a good 3 minutes trying to figure out who in their right mind would have let that street name request go through.
Another highlight of the data entry? The overwhelming substitution of "there" for "their".
*headdesk*
___________________
Cindy Sheehan gives up after 2 years of protests against the war in memory of her son, Casey.
Just read it. As someone said to me earlier, the Democrats used her, then turned on her and shit on her when her protests no longer aligned with what they wanted.
And think about it: there are so many other parents, brothers, sisters, wives, husbands, and children who are going through the SAME THING Cindy did. And she cared enough to stand up and try to figure out why.
___________________
Bar in Australia bans heterosexual patrons.
If that's the owner's preference, then that's fine...I mean, whatever. You own the building, so do what you want.
Here's my issue: how in the hell can you TELL? "You don't dress well enough to be gay..." or "...you're not butch enough to be a lesbian"? What the hell?
___________________
Tennessee wants tolls to help with road repairs.
Tolls are cited as an alternative to raising gas taxes, which people have been complaining about.
Think about that for a minute.
We're not going to get any relief anywhere else. They're just going to tack on more money to travel in this state. People aren't going to complain about that?
And we already have a $700 million dollar SURPLUS.
What the hell are they doing with that money? I don't get it.
___________________
U.S. Citizens will be required to undergo security checks for proof of eligibility of employment after that stupid immigration bill goes into effect.
The best part is that if they make a mistake on your record, and it's in there that you're not eligible to work, the mistake likely won't get fixed.
Nice, huh?
___________________
New tell-all book (sounds like a tabloid, eh?) outlines U.S. plans to trick Americans into wanting to go to war with Cuba in the 60s.
I'll echo someone else on this, too: what makes you think they're not doing the same thing now? Obviously they're capable, and with all of the cover-up, shut-up-and-be-a-good-american, don't-defend-the-constitution bullshit going on, it's entirely possible that this has already happened.
Not to sound like a conspiracy theorist...but the drama practically writes itself.
___________________
Why richies shouldn't be in charge of government spending.
Did you see that number? 1.3 TRILLION dollars in debt. TRILLION.
I'm kind of sick.
___________________
Restauranteers claim that Jack in the Box alludes to Angus beef being from a cow's ass. So they're suing.
Here's my deal with this: if JitB wanted to allude to themselves being any better than another restaurant for their choice of beef, don't you think they would NOT use Angus after calling it cow's ass?
Someone making a circle with a pen while saying "Angus" doesn't mean "anus", dumbasses.
Get a clue.
___________________
Illinois steals money from welfare program to pay for unconstitutional legislation.
That legislation that says that video games should be restricted (something along those lines...it's something really stupid that the people who say video games cause murders wanted to put through) was short some money this year.
So the government, in its infinite wisdom, raided the money used for Welfare to pay for the program.
...buh?
I don't agree with Welfare, but, uh...if you're going to have it in place, shouldn't you honor it above something that's unconstitutional?
Oh, wait...that would be un-fascist of you. Carry on, then. *rolls eyes*
This isn't world news or anything particularly important. I was doing data entry and realized that someone, in their infinite wisdom, had misspelled the name of a common midwestern bird. I sat there staring at Mapquest for a good 3 minutes trying to figure out who in their right mind would have let that street name request go through.
Another highlight of the data entry? The overwhelming substitution of "there" for "their".
*headdesk*
___________________
Cindy Sheehan gives up after 2 years of protests against the war in memory of her son, Casey.
Just read it. As someone said to me earlier, the Democrats used her, then turned on her and shit on her when her protests no longer aligned with what they wanted.
And think about it: there are so many other parents, brothers, sisters, wives, husbands, and children who are going through the SAME THING Cindy did. And she cared enough to stand up and try to figure out why.
___________________
Bar in Australia bans heterosexual patrons.
If that's the owner's preference, then that's fine...I mean, whatever. You own the building, so do what you want.
Here's my issue: how in the hell can you TELL? "You don't dress well enough to be gay..." or "...you're not butch enough to be a lesbian"? What the hell?
___________________
Tennessee wants tolls to help with road repairs.
Tolls are cited as an alternative to raising gas taxes, which people have been complaining about.
Think about that for a minute.
We're not going to get any relief anywhere else. They're just going to tack on more money to travel in this state. People aren't going to complain about that?
And we already have a $700 million dollar SURPLUS.
What the hell are they doing with that money? I don't get it.
___________________
U.S. Citizens will be required to undergo security checks for proof of eligibility of employment after that stupid immigration bill goes into effect.
The best part is that if they make a mistake on your record, and it's in there that you're not eligible to work, the mistake likely won't get fixed.
Nice, huh?
___________________
New tell-all book (sounds like a tabloid, eh?) outlines U.S. plans to trick Americans into wanting to go to war with Cuba in the 60s.
I'll echo someone else on this, too: what makes you think they're not doing the same thing now? Obviously they're capable, and with all of the cover-up, shut-up-and-be-a-good-american, don't-defend-the-constitution bullshit going on, it's entirely possible that this has already happened.
Not to sound like a conspiracy theorist...but the drama practically writes itself.
___________________
Why richies shouldn't be in charge of government spending.
Did you see that number? 1.3 TRILLION dollars in debt. TRILLION.
I'm kind of sick.
___________________
Restauranteers claim that Jack in the Box alludes to Angus beef being from a cow's ass. So they're suing.
Here's my deal with this: if JitB wanted to allude to themselves being any better than another restaurant for their choice of beef, don't you think they would NOT use Angus after calling it cow's ass?
Someone making a circle with a pen while saying "Angus" doesn't mean "anus", dumbasses.
Get a clue.
___________________
Illinois steals money from welfare program to pay for unconstitutional legislation.
That legislation that says that video games should be restricted (something along those lines...it's something really stupid that the people who say video games cause murders wanted to put through) was short some money this year.
So the government, in its infinite wisdom, raided the money used for Welfare to pay for the program.
...buh?
I don't agree with Welfare, but, uh...if you're going to have it in place, shouldn't you honor it above something that's unconstitutional?
Oh, wait...that would be un-fascist of you. Carry on, then. *rolls eyes*
Monday, May 28, 2007
Aaaaaaand we're back.
The wedding was awesome. I went to an actual Ren Faire. Then I ate Greek food that didn't make me want to gag.
Then Danny and I drove allllllll the way home with no air conditioning this morning/afternoon.
And I wonder why I started having dizzy spells several hours ago. It's okay - a nap fixed it.
____________________________________
People are horrified left and right by my desire to exercise my 2nd Amendment rights.
I feel like Cartman in the South Park movie: "What's the big fuckin' deal? It doesn't hurt anybody."
I mean, obviously a gun CAN hurt someone, but you get my drift. Carrying a weapon in and of itself does not guarantee that someone will become injured.
When I'm asked if I'm nervous about carrying a gun, I ask a question back: "Why should I be?" It's an arrogant a flippant retort, yes, but it encourages them to tell me what's on their minds...what do they envision a gun owner to be? And most importantly, why would they think that I, of all the people they know, should be nervous?
The reply I get back, almost every time (with some variation) is: "Aren't you afraid of shooting innocent people?"
Would a *headdesk* be inappropriate here?
I'm aware that, with as crime-riddled as Memphis is, a lot of people freak out at the sight of a gun even in just a photograph, because to a lot of us here, gun = robbery. Gun = senseless murder. You get my drift. This isn't the best city in which to be a young, unarmed female. I'm not a small person, but due to my genetic propensity toward looking as though I'm ripe for baby-bearing, people assume that I'm weak and/or promiscuous, even though I don't dress in much other than jeans and men's tee shirts.
And when, like me, the added risk of a stalker is added (ex-military, at that), the question of safety really starts to become an issue. And while people can understand the fear aspect of that equation, they can't understand my desire to protect myself.
The mind, it boggles.
Just as an aside, but still on-topic, a law was just signed into effect in Tennessee (like, literally 5 days ago) that says that any Tennesseean has a right to defend themselves in any area in which they have a legal right to be. It's touted as a "castle doctrine", but the wording suggests that if you're on a public street and someone accosts you, you can defend yourself in any way necessary without prosecution. It's a law that gives victims the benefit of the doubt.
Why is this significant for me to write in here? Because it means that being able to carry a concealed weapon is now worth something more than it was prior to that law coming into effect.
Now, if I'm out and about and happen to be alone (or with someone...whichever...though this particular scenario is more likely to happen if I'm by myself, because this guy's kind of a puss), and my friendly neighborhood Stalker Ex-Boyfriend happens upon me with no good will in mind, I can LEGALLY, without question, take matters into my own hands should he decide to try to physically harm me. That's a large weight off of my shoulders, especially given the history of this particular person's harassment methods (staying JUST within the law, which he told me via email that he intended to do...not that that helps me where the police are concerned).
It's the little things, yo.
And I really do hope that the only place I ever shoot a gun is in a range. I hope I never HAVE to use it.
Then Danny and I drove allllllll the way home with no air conditioning this morning/afternoon.
And I wonder why I started having dizzy spells several hours ago. It's okay - a nap fixed it.
____________________________________
People are horrified left and right by my desire to exercise my 2nd Amendment rights.
I feel like Cartman in the South Park movie: "What's the big fuckin' deal? It doesn't hurt anybody."
I mean, obviously a gun CAN hurt someone, but you get my drift. Carrying a weapon in and of itself does not guarantee that someone will become injured.
When I'm asked if I'm nervous about carrying a gun, I ask a question back: "Why should I be?" It's an arrogant a flippant retort, yes, but it encourages them to tell me what's on their minds...what do they envision a gun owner to be? And most importantly, why would they think that I, of all the people they know, should be nervous?
The reply I get back, almost every time (with some variation) is: "Aren't you afraid of shooting innocent people?"
Would a *headdesk* be inappropriate here?
I'm aware that, with as crime-riddled as Memphis is, a lot of people freak out at the sight of a gun even in just a photograph, because to a lot of us here, gun = robbery. Gun = senseless murder. You get my drift. This isn't the best city in which to be a young, unarmed female. I'm not a small person, but due to my genetic propensity toward looking as though I'm ripe for baby-bearing, people assume that I'm weak and/or promiscuous, even though I don't dress in much other than jeans and men's tee shirts.
And when, like me, the added risk of a stalker is added (ex-military, at that), the question of safety really starts to become an issue. And while people can understand the fear aspect of that equation, they can't understand my desire to protect myself.
The mind, it boggles.
Just as an aside, but still on-topic, a law was just signed into effect in Tennessee (like, literally 5 days ago) that says that any Tennesseean has a right to defend themselves in any area in which they have a legal right to be. It's touted as a "castle doctrine", but the wording suggests that if you're on a public street and someone accosts you, you can defend yourself in any way necessary without prosecution. It's a law that gives victims the benefit of the doubt.
Why is this significant for me to write in here? Because it means that being able to carry a concealed weapon is now worth something more than it was prior to that law coming into effect.
Now, if I'm out and about and happen to be alone (or with someone...whichever...though this particular scenario is more likely to happen if I'm by myself, because this guy's kind of a puss), and my friendly neighborhood Stalker Ex-Boyfriend happens upon me with no good will in mind, I can LEGALLY, without question, take matters into my own hands should he decide to try to physically harm me. That's a large weight off of my shoulders, especially given the history of this particular person's harassment methods (staying JUST within the law, which he told me via email that he intended to do...not that that helps me where the police are concerned).
It's the little things, yo.
And I really do hope that the only place I ever shoot a gun is in a range. I hope I never HAVE to use it.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
I take lots of pictures of the sky.
This one was Friday afternoon, somewhere in Arkansas. West Memphis? Who cares. It was pretty.
Sign in Missouri: "Angry Bees Ahead. Do Not Stop."
Friday, May 25, 2007
YGTBKM, and another absence...
Cleric calls it like he sees it regarding the war in Iraq.
Is it bad that I totally giggled? Not out of disrespect for this guy - I believe he has a somewhat valid point - but the fact that he's so POLITE about it: "hey guys, those people from that other country are trying to stay here as long as possible, and we really don't need that. so can you stop fighting with them, please? yeah, that'd be greeeeeat."
--------------
Gas station owner stages protest against high gas prices by closing his pumps for the day.
Remember that whole "Don't Buy Gas on May 15th!" thing? Do you know anyone who paid attention, save a few college-aged and high-school-aged kids who don't pay for their own gas, anyway? Me, either.
I have a Facebook, and I saw a TON of people sign up for a group devoted to that particular protest, and in response, I wrote a note basically saying that it was the dumbest thing I'd ever heard of.
Look at the facts: if EVERYONE in the country doesn't buy gas on one day, they're going to fill up some other random day, anyway, so no one really loses any money. You're just delaying the money's imminent arrival by a day or so...or even not affecting it at all, as some people will fill up their tanks in anticipation of the protest, because no one wants to be stranded for the sake of a Hippie Gas Holiday.
To me, this guy's effort is going to have the same result. People will fill up at his station the next day, or within the next week or so, and things will be business as usual.
I would LOVE to see some sort of protest actually work, because I know that gas prices right now ARE artificial. I could believe them being like, $1.50 per gallon, MAYBE. But we're not running low on gas right now, y'all. We have a refinery down, but there's no freakin' way it would drive costs up that much.
Personally, I only buy gas from independent stations. I don't buy from Shell, Exxon, BP, or any of the other big names. I know the smaller stations get their gas from the same sources. It might not make any difference at all, but it makes ME feel better even while my bank account is being raped.
--------------
Another Ohio execution is "botched" as staff struggle to search for veins in 250+lb condemned inmate.
I have some advice for them: get someone from Lifeblood to do the sticking for you.
Their JOB is to find veins. And if they can get a gusher on me, someone who's notorious in doctors offices for being a 30-minute stick job, then they can sure as hell find a vein on anyone else.
In the meantime, maybe the electric chair should be brought back. There seems to be a decidedly smaller margin of error on those things.
--------------
Smoking not allowed in 84% of homes, by choice of the homeowner.
And someone's going to cite this as a good reason for smoking to be banned everywhere, even though the example I get from it is that property owners are more than capable of choosing what they want done in their buildings.
--------------
I will, once again, be out of town this weekend for a wedding. And, again, you will probably not hear anything from me until next week. I have no cute animal pictures to post here to sate you until then...sorry.
I will probably have some photos to post when I get back, though. St. Louis (again), ahoy!
"Pay attention: This is an important point," he said. "As far as I know, the occupation is behind this, creating an excuse for it to stay in our beloved Iraq. So don't give it a reason, please."
Is it bad that I totally giggled? Not out of disrespect for this guy - I believe he has a somewhat valid point - but the fact that he's so POLITE about it: "hey guys, those people from that other country are trying to stay here as long as possible, and we really don't need that. so can you stop fighting with them, please? yeah, that'd be greeeeeat."
--------------
Gas station owner stages protest against high gas prices by closing his pumps for the day.
Remember that whole "Don't Buy Gas on May 15th!" thing? Do you know anyone who paid attention, save a few college-aged and high-school-aged kids who don't pay for their own gas, anyway? Me, either.
I have a Facebook, and I saw a TON of people sign up for a group devoted to that particular protest, and in response, I wrote a note basically saying that it was the dumbest thing I'd ever heard of.
Look at the facts: if EVERYONE in the country doesn't buy gas on one day, they're going to fill up some other random day, anyway, so no one really loses any money. You're just delaying the money's imminent arrival by a day or so...or even not affecting it at all, as some people will fill up their tanks in anticipation of the protest, because no one wants to be stranded for the sake of a Hippie Gas Holiday.
To me, this guy's effort is going to have the same result. People will fill up at his station the next day, or within the next week or so, and things will be business as usual.
I would LOVE to see some sort of protest actually work, because I know that gas prices right now ARE artificial. I could believe them being like, $1.50 per gallon, MAYBE. But we're not running low on gas right now, y'all. We have a refinery down, but there's no freakin' way it would drive costs up that much.
Personally, I only buy gas from independent stations. I don't buy from Shell, Exxon, BP, or any of the other big names. I know the smaller stations get their gas from the same sources. It might not make any difference at all, but it makes ME feel better even while my bank account is being raped.
--------------
Another Ohio execution is "botched" as staff struggle to search for veins in 250+lb condemned inmate.
I have some advice for them: get someone from Lifeblood to do the sticking for you.
Their JOB is to find veins. And if they can get a gusher on me, someone who's notorious in doctors offices for being a 30-minute stick job, then they can sure as hell find a vein on anyone else.
In the meantime, maybe the electric chair should be brought back. There seems to be a decidedly smaller margin of error on those things.
--------------
Smoking not allowed in 84% of homes, by choice of the homeowner.
And someone's going to cite this as a good reason for smoking to be banned everywhere, even though the example I get from it is that property owners are more than capable of choosing what they want done in their buildings.
--------------
I will, once again, be out of town this weekend for a wedding. And, again, you will probably not hear anything from me until next week. I have no cute animal pictures to post here to sate you until then...sorry.
I will probably have some photos to post when I get back, though. St. Louis (again), ahoy!
Common Sense. Where did it go?
An email has been circulating up here at work with the common, "Read this! It could save your life! This is for real!" subject line and body.
The basic story is this: Women stopping at gas stations or coming out of stores have been stopped by people asking what kind of perfume they wear. The jig, apparently, is that the people doing the asking will hand the woman a sheet with perfume "samples" on it, but OMG they aren't samples at all! They're ether! You sniff the sheet, pass out, they rob you, and you're left with no memory and no money! O NOES!
Luckily, I've learned the value of snopes.com.
In fact, the exact email that was forwarded to the email account I'm using right now was listed on the page with the debunking information.
So, of course I hit "reply all", pasted the link with a short message saying, "FYI - this is fake". Because that's what I do.
I'm not a big fan of people hawking their wares in parking lots, because it DOES seem suspect, but reporting someone to the police for offering up a sample of something based on a forwarded email is really, really stupid. Let's just arrest all of the Costco sample ladies while we're at it, because a friend of mine told me that her friend's mom's ex-boyfriend's cousin's girlfriend found a mouse turd in a crab rangoon once at a Costco in Arkansas, which we all know is just a DIRTY STATE, anyway. So DON'T EAT SAMPLES AT ANY COSTCO, OKAY? This is for real. This could save your life.
*headdesk*
The basic story is this: Women stopping at gas stations or coming out of stores have been stopped by people asking what kind of perfume they wear. The jig, apparently, is that the people doing the asking will hand the woman a sheet with perfume "samples" on it, but OMG they aren't samples at all! They're ether! You sniff the sheet, pass out, they rob you, and you're left with no memory and no money! O NOES!
Luckily, I've learned the value of snopes.com.
In fact, the exact email that was forwarded to the email account I'm using right now was listed on the page with the debunking information.
So, of course I hit "reply all", pasted the link with a short message saying, "FYI - this is fake". Because that's what I do.
I'm not a big fan of people hawking their wares in parking lots, because it DOES seem suspect, but reporting someone to the police for offering up a sample of something based on a forwarded email is really, really stupid. Let's just arrest all of the Costco sample ladies while we're at it, because a friend of mine told me that her friend's mom's ex-boyfriend's cousin's girlfriend found a mouse turd in a crab rangoon once at a Costco in Arkansas, which we all know is just a DIRTY STATE, anyway. So DON'T EAT SAMPLES AT ANY COSTCO, OKAY? This is for real. This could save your life.
*headdesk*
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Huh.
So yesterday my boyfriend, Danny, informed me that there was an "orange alert" concerning air quality in Memphis due to the fires in Georgia.
Me being, well, ME, I mentally rolled my eyes and kind of went on with stuff.
Well, this morning I woke up with a sore throat. I'm thinking this is the reduced air quality, because while I felt really crappy this morning, as though I was coming down with a fever, now I'm just tired, with itchy eyes and an itchy throat. And a headache like WHOA. Seriously, I wasn't aware that my EARS could ache along with a migraine.
It doesn't help that there's apparently a fire in Bartlett (though I can't find a news source, a friend of mine came directly from that area to meet me for lunch, and she had to be re-routed - she saw smoke billowing from an area close to the gym she visits), and there's a decidedly large haze coming from that area, which is maybe 5 miles away from me while I'm at work.
So who in the Southeast could go for an area-wide 3-day-long rainstorm right about now? Show of hands? Anyone?
Me being, well, ME, I mentally rolled my eyes and kind of went on with stuff.
Well, this morning I woke up with a sore throat. I'm thinking this is the reduced air quality, because while I felt really crappy this morning, as though I was coming down with a fever, now I'm just tired, with itchy eyes and an itchy throat. And a headache like WHOA. Seriously, I wasn't aware that my EARS could ache along with a migraine.
It doesn't help that there's apparently a fire in Bartlett (though I can't find a news source, a friend of mine came directly from that area to meet me for lunch, and she had to be re-routed - she saw smoke billowing from an area close to the gym she visits), and there's a decidedly large haze coming from that area, which is maybe 5 miles away from me while I'm at work.
So who in the Southeast could go for an area-wide 3-day-long rainstorm right about now? Show of hands? Anyone?
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
In honor of Tourette's Awareness Week
The best moment comes at around 3:12 (if it counts backwards, move the slider up until you have about a minute left).
Obviously, this is not work safe.
I laughed so hard I cried.
Edit: And I just almost peed on myself, for real.
I'm so going to hell.
Technology
Portland tries to make entire city a Wi-Fi hotspot.
This makes me nervous. When I'm out and about, I want to be OUT AND ABOUT. I spend a lot of time on the computer, but when I'm not near a computer, I don't care about checking my email and whatnot. If I'm carrying my laptop around, it's just a hunk of metal and plastic until I get it plugged into a wall. Granted, when it's open I want to have internet access, but as far as using it outside of my home, it just doesn't happen.
This, like cell phones, is a sign of a time in which people can't stand to be alone. Everyone wants to always be sure that someone is out there ready to either answer a text, answer an email, or read and respond to a blog entry. Do you know how long it's been since I've gotten a letter from someone in the mail that started with something other than "Dear Valued Customer" or "You're Approved for X amount of Credit!!"? A long damned time.
I mean, kudos to technology for getting as far as it has, but I think people are starting to lose sight of what's important in lieu of what's entertaining.
I include myself in this category.
And this is where the blog goes from "informative" to "personal".
I would say I have a situational addiction to the internet. I check Google Reader compulsively, refresh my email page a lot, and can usually be found on the computer in my boyfriend's house if I'm not eating or doing something that was previously planned. I don't have quiet-time any more: I have internet-time.
I say "situational addiction", though, because if I know I'm not going to have internet access for a while, I will go through that weird short-lived withdrawal process (it lasts for maybe a couple of hours), and then I'm okay for the rest of the time I'm AWOL.
I deleted many entries on my Vox yesterday, and announced to my friends there that I'm cutting things off. I haven't read that branch of the blogoshere in weeks.
I'm tempted to do the same with my Livejournal, though I still check it every day. My deal with LJ is that there are people on there I actually know IRL and care about, who's lives I'd like to be caught up on. There are also out-of-towners whose lives I like to keep up with. But there's email, right?
The other reason I likely won't delete my Livejournal account is because that's where I write about my personal things for feedback. Since it's "friends only", I can choose who reads my stuff, and thus ensure that, unless they decide to be jerks and forward the text to someone via copy-paste, they're the only ones seeing it.
My point is that that article above kind of made me realize that I really do spend waaaay too much time online. While I'm at work...fine, whatever. Sometimes I just don't have anything else to do. But at home, I should only really be reachable by phone, unless I'm expecting a message from someone.
I think I'm going to close my laptop when I get home. I have plenty of time during the day right now to keep up with everything, so I'll be around. That will probably change next week, but I'll deal with that when it happens.
And now, lunch time.
This makes me nervous. When I'm out and about, I want to be OUT AND ABOUT. I spend a lot of time on the computer, but when I'm not near a computer, I don't care about checking my email and whatnot. If I'm carrying my laptop around, it's just a hunk of metal and plastic until I get it plugged into a wall. Granted, when it's open I want to have internet access, but as far as using it outside of my home, it just doesn't happen.
This, like cell phones, is a sign of a time in which people can't stand to be alone. Everyone wants to always be sure that someone is out there ready to either answer a text, answer an email, or read and respond to a blog entry. Do you know how long it's been since I've gotten a letter from someone in the mail that started with something other than "Dear Valued Customer" or "You're Approved for X amount of Credit!!"? A long damned time.
I mean, kudos to technology for getting as far as it has, but I think people are starting to lose sight of what's important in lieu of what's entertaining.
I include myself in this category.
And this is where the blog goes from "informative" to "personal".
I would say I have a situational addiction to the internet. I check Google Reader compulsively, refresh my email page a lot, and can usually be found on the computer in my boyfriend's house if I'm not eating or doing something that was previously planned. I don't have quiet-time any more: I have internet-time.
I say "situational addiction", though, because if I know I'm not going to have internet access for a while, I will go through that weird short-lived withdrawal process (it lasts for maybe a couple of hours), and then I'm okay for the rest of the time I'm AWOL.
I deleted many entries on my Vox yesterday, and announced to my friends there that I'm cutting things off. I haven't read that branch of the blogoshere in weeks.
I'm tempted to do the same with my Livejournal, though I still check it every day. My deal with LJ is that there are people on there I actually know IRL and care about, who's lives I'd like to be caught up on. There are also out-of-towners whose lives I like to keep up with. But there's email, right?
The other reason I likely won't delete my Livejournal account is because that's where I write about my personal things for feedback. Since it's "friends only", I can choose who reads my stuff, and thus ensure that, unless they decide to be jerks and forward the text to someone via copy-paste, they're the only ones seeing it.
My point is that that article above kind of made me realize that I really do spend waaaay too much time online. While I'm at work...fine, whatever. Sometimes I just don't have anything else to do. But at home, I should only really be reachable by phone, unless I'm expecting a message from someone.
I think I'm going to close my laptop when I get home. I have plenty of time during the day right now to keep up with everything, so I'll be around. That will probably change next week, but I'll deal with that when it happens.
And now, lunch time.
YGTBKM
Oprah is upset to learn that her father is writing a book about her.
Sorry, honey, but when you're THAT famous and THAT rich, someone's bound to try to cash in, and why not let it be your dad? You've said nothing but nice things about how he raised you, so what do you have to be afraid of? Quitcherbitchin' and endorse it, then get in on the royalties. It's sure to be a best-seller.
----------
FDA okays pills that completely stop a woman's period.
I suffer from endometriosis, so this got a cheer (albeit a quiet one, since I'm at work) from me. However, I feel the need to make a very important correction:
And they're right - it's not for everyone, and if you have a family history of any sort of heart problems, you should probably just let your body do what it's supposed to.
For people like me, though, this is a welcome alternative to depo provera, which causes women to gain an average of 30 pounds. No, thanks.
----------
Husband bites off wife's lip after she calls him short.
Dude...GROW A PAIR.
----------
4 women fired for gossiping about their boss in New Hampshire.
I'll say this again to THEIR boss: Grow a pair.
Also, if you're so worried about negative rumors reducing your quality of life, address them in public and let everyone know the truth rather than firing the people you suspect to be spreading those rumors.
The fact that you did the latter leads me to believe you had something to hide.
So you know what I think? I think you WERE diddling what'shersname. If you weren't, tell people. It's really very simple. Since the rumor's out anyway, you can't cite not wanting to divulge private matters to the public. You'd just be clearing up a misconception.
Right?
----------
"Scientists report virgin shark birth".
So...sharks are asexual when circumstances arise that warrant it? Is that what you mean?
Jeez. Talk about dramatizing something in the name of drumming up interest.
I will say, though, that that's pretty damned cool.
----------
I have one more link, but it constitutes quite a bit of commentary from me, so I'll be posting it later.
Sorry, honey, but when you're THAT famous and THAT rich, someone's bound to try to cash in, and why not let it be your dad? You've said nothing but nice things about how he raised you, so what do you have to be afraid of? Quitcherbitchin' and endorse it, then get in on the royalties. It's sure to be a best-seller.
----------
FDA okays pills that completely stop a woman's period.
I suffer from endometriosis, so this got a cheer (albeit a quiet one, since I'm at work) from me. However, I feel the need to make a very important correction:
-Seasonique is not an "updated version" of Seasonale. It's a generic. There's a subtle difference, one which cause me to be violently ill on Seasonique while Seasonale did simply what it promised to do.
And they're right - it's not for everyone, and if you have a family history of any sort of heart problems, you should probably just let your body do what it's supposed to.
For people like me, though, this is a welcome alternative to depo provera, which causes women to gain an average of 30 pounds. No, thanks.
----------
Husband bites off wife's lip after she calls him short.
Dude...GROW A PAIR.
----------
4 women fired for gossiping about their boss in New Hampshire.
I'll say this again to THEIR boss: Grow a pair.
Also, if you're so worried about negative rumors reducing your quality of life, address them in public and let everyone know the truth rather than firing the people you suspect to be spreading those rumors.
The fact that you did the latter leads me to believe you had something to hide.
So you know what I think? I think you WERE diddling what'shersname. If you weren't, tell people. It's really very simple. Since the rumor's out anyway, you can't cite not wanting to divulge private matters to the public. You'd just be clearing up a misconception.
Right?
----------
"Scientists report virgin shark birth".
So...sharks are asexual when circumstances arise that warrant it? Is that what you mean?
Jeez. Talk about dramatizing something in the name of drumming up interest.
I will say, though, that that's pretty damned cool.
----------
I have one more link, but it constitutes quite a bit of commentary from me, so I'll be posting it later.
Blogroll Updated, and other stuff.
There are some folks on the new blogroll whose blogs I've been perusing with the help of Google Reader, but I've neglected until now to add them to this site.
I have a new addition who's Spanish-speaking, and while I can only grasp about 50% of what he's writing, I figure there might be someone who reads my blog who knows some Spanish and might enjoy what he has to say.
From what Babelfish tells me regarding what I can't translate on my own, he's a pretty pleasant guy with a decent blog. Just take a wild guess where he is on the blogroll.
In other news, when I'm not busy at this job, I want to jump off a building. I really hope the anthropology thing works out after I graduate, because wandering around taking notes on people and researching their behaviors is a hell of a lot more interesting than sitting at a desk waiting for emails to come into your inbox so that you can stop trying to claw your eyes out from boredom. Don't get me wrong...the people here are great. But I'm just not cut out for office work.
I have a new addition who's Spanish-speaking, and while I can only grasp about 50% of what he's writing, I figure there might be someone who reads my blog who knows some Spanish and might enjoy what he has to say.
From what Babelfish tells me regarding what I can't translate on my own, he's a pretty pleasant guy with a decent blog. Just take a wild guess where he is on the blogroll.
In other news, when I'm not busy at this job, I want to jump off a building. I really hope the anthropology thing works out after I graduate, because wandering around taking notes on people and researching their behaviors is a hell of a lot more interesting than sitting at a desk waiting for emails to come into your inbox so that you can stop trying to claw your eyes out from boredom. Don't get me wrong...the people here are great. But I'm just not cut out for office work.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
YGTBKM
When I think "terrorist", I think someone who, well, causes terror. On purpose, specifically. A terrorist really can be anyone...those stupid lists have THAT much correct, though they need to get rid of the slant towards people who give a damn about defending their country non-confrontationally.
My sister's old neighbor who used to scream at the voices in his head while mowing her lawn unasked (because it was too high for those voices to take, apparently)? Terrifying, but not a terrorist.
Now, if his version of mowing the lawn was to burn it to teach her a lesson about keeping up with the aesthetic value of her grass, then I would probably put that in the "terrorism" category. As it was, though, he just kind of startled us when he'd tell himself to shut up at top volume.
My point is that the government and the ME-dia have opted to paint terrorists as a specific race (and usually gender) of people from a very specific area of the world. They won't say where terrorists are from in articles any more. We're just supposed to assume that these terrorists are Middle Eastern in some way.
I have news for you. Someone robbing a bank is a terrorist. People running around vandalizing cars are terrorists. Set fire to anything that's not yours on someone else's private property (or TO someone else's private property)? You might be a terrorist.
The following quote by Turkey's prime minister from this article kind of made me feel a little indignant:
"We have to unite against terrorism," Erdogan said. "We have to create a global platform against terrorism."
Uh..."uniting" against something gives the impression that there's one country or class of people who are doing ALL of the terrorist acts. That's simply not the case.
Not to mention that he sounds like a parrot of Dubya.
bawk! "Global war on terrorism!" bawk! "Stop the insurgents!" bawk!
My sister's old neighbor who used to scream at the voices in his head while mowing her lawn unasked (because it was too high for those voices to take, apparently)? Terrifying, but not a terrorist.
Now, if his version of mowing the lawn was to burn it to teach her a lesson about keeping up with the aesthetic value of her grass, then I would probably put that in the "terrorism" category. As it was, though, he just kind of startled us when he'd tell himself to shut up at top volume.
My point is that the government and the ME-dia have opted to paint terrorists as a specific race (and usually gender) of people from a very specific area of the world. They won't say where terrorists are from in articles any more. We're just supposed to assume that these terrorists are Middle Eastern in some way.
I have news for you. Someone robbing a bank is a terrorist. People running around vandalizing cars are terrorists. Set fire to anything that's not yours on someone else's private property (or TO someone else's private property)? You might be a terrorist.
The following quote by Turkey's prime minister from this article kind of made me feel a little indignant:
"We have to unite against terrorism," Erdogan said. "We have to create a global platform against terrorism."
Uh..."uniting" against something gives the impression that there's one country or class of people who are doing ALL of the terrorist acts. That's simply not the case.
Not to mention that he sounds like a parrot of Dubya.
bawk! "Global war on terrorism!" bawk! "Stop the insurgents!" bawk!
Uh. Okay. I won't argue with that.
I can't go into details because this is a public forum, but I would just like to say that it's extremely frustrating trying to deal with police on an issue in which the person you're trying to file a complaint about isn't technically breaking the law, but is doing everything he can within his "rights" to make your life a living hell.
The fact that this person has researched his limits in terms of harrassment doesn't mean anything to them, nor the fact that I have his statement of having done that research in writing.
Nor does the fact that I haven't spoken to him since December, when I explicity (I don't mince words, as you guys know) told him his attention was not welcome. He last contacted me on Sunday.
However, a moment of humor/justice came when the police officer I talked to this morning asked me for the guy's name so that he could ask his superior about possibly filing a simple complaint request. When he heard the name, I noticed him sounding more diligent about indeed talking to his supervisor and getting things taken care of.
They're going to deliver the letter directly to my mailbox (it's a small town...the patrolmen don't often have enough to do), and I will find it waiting when I get home. When my harrasser contacts me again, I can just send a copy to him letting him know that someone's been made aware of his actions, and they have record of it now.
The kicker? His name is Arabic.
Can I be completely and totally uncouth/rude/insensitive and say that this is the only positive effect that 9/11 and the ensuing poor excuse of a war has had on my life?
Until further notice, commenting is going back to word-confirmation and email approval on both of my blogs. Just a heads-up.
The fact that this person has researched his limits in terms of harrassment doesn't mean anything to them, nor the fact that I have his statement of having done that research in writing.
Nor does the fact that I haven't spoken to him since December, when I explicity (I don't mince words, as you guys know) told him his attention was not welcome. He last contacted me on Sunday.
However, a moment of humor/justice came when the police officer I talked to this morning asked me for the guy's name so that he could ask his superior about possibly filing a simple complaint request. When he heard the name, I noticed him sounding more diligent about indeed talking to his supervisor and getting things taken care of.
They're going to deliver the letter directly to my mailbox (it's a small town...the patrolmen don't often have enough to do), and I will find it waiting when I get home. When my harrasser contacts me again, I can just send a copy to him letting him know that someone's been made aware of his actions, and they have record of it now.
The kicker? His name is Arabic.
Can I be completely and totally uncouth/rude/insensitive and say that this is the only positive effect that 9/11 and the ensuing poor excuse of a war has had on my life?
Until further notice, commenting is going back to word-confirmation and email approval on both of my blogs. Just a heads-up.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Ladies, your suggestions, please (holsters).
I'm a curvy gal (38-31-41) with a high waist. I wear jeans that fit me just above my hips, and work pants that fit just below my waist. I rarely wear belts, though that will probably change soon (weight shift because of desk job...ick).
Holsters that fit inside the waistband have been suggested to me by TD, but obviously he can't help me find one that would be less detectable with my body type.
Also, obviously, I'm going to have to likely GO somewhere once I get a weapon and try these out, but as with the suggestions for the guns, I would like suggestions for holsters now so that I can kind of narrow my field a bit. I hate going on wild goose chases, and with so many knowledgable people at my disposal here on teh intarwebs, how can I resist asking?
It seems to me that the holster should fit on your dominant side (i.e. right side since I'm right-handed), just behind your hip bone. Is that correct?
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
Holsters that fit inside the waistband have been suggested to me by TD, but obviously he can't help me find one that would be less detectable with my body type.
Also, obviously, I'm going to have to likely GO somewhere once I get a weapon and try these out, but as with the suggestions for the guns, I would like suggestions for holsters now so that I can kind of narrow my field a bit. I hate going on wild goose chases, and with so many knowledgable people at my disposal here on teh intarwebs, how can I resist asking?
It seems to me that the holster should fit on your dominant side (i.e. right side since I'm right-handed), just behind your hip bone. Is that correct?
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Movie Moments for the Scrapbook
I spent this weekend taking production photos for Slacker Central Productions, which is a high school friend's independent film company.
Several moments occurred which I thought I'd share, as it seems people in the world of teh intarwebs can usually use a laugh.
---------
First, I'm working with a moderately well-known child actor from the Memphis area. This story about him is from the last movie we shot (a zombie film, back in April).
We were trying to figure out how to make the kid look gross, and we put some sort of epoxy on his face to look like rotting flesh. It didn't work, so we had to try to remove it. That stuff was like super-glue, and held fast.
The producer was gingerly scraping at the kid's chin, trying to get the little hanger-on pieces of the dried goop off, and the kid said, "Hey...be careful! Don't mess me up!"
After a couple more minutes, he said, "Don't mess up my skin! I have to film with [REALLY well-known film star] soon!"
I laughed, because he sounded like SUCH a little diva. I mean, he's around 12 years old. Come ON, you know?
He heard me laugh and turned around, and in a completely condescending tone of voice, he asked, "Do you even KNOW who [REALLY well-known film star] IS?!"
That totally broke me up...I laughed and told him I had NO idea who the actor was, and had never seen any of his movies, because I was not only sheltered, but I was also just born yesterday.
The sarcasm kind of escaped him, but I think he got the point that I did, indeed, know who the actor was, and he returned to having his face scraped.
Funny kid. :-)
---------
Saturday, we're working on a short film that a friend of the director's had written, and it involved a "friendly giant" who had passed out in a field. He's discovered by our child actor, and they talk and hang for a bit. Well, our friendly giant is a black 6'7" former basketball player. He's a BIG guy (not fat...BIG).
Well, as I mentioned, the giant is discovered passed out in a field by a small child. So we spent 2 hours filming the sequence where the giant is discovered, then helped up, by our child actor.
Let me mention now that our entire film crew is white. This is an important detail. Also, we were in Mississippi.
People stopped to ask us if we were alright a few times, because there were no cars on-set, so it probably looked like we were a bunch of eccentric drifters.
One man, however, stopped our kid-wrangler to ask her if "that man" was okay. Oh, we knew who he was talking about.
Now, look at this photo:
All that scene needs is some white hoods.
Am I wrong? MISSISSIPPI, people!
So that was fun. Especially when a Sheriff stopped by to see if we needed any help. :-P
---------
Today we were filming at a gas station. One of the crew and I were sitting on one of the concrete steps that surrounded a gas pump, and a larger black woman came over to us as we watched filming occurring in a phone booth about 25 feet away.
"Whatchy'all doin'?"
I answered, "Making a short film."
She stared at me so long I wondered if she had heard me at all.
"What? Y'all makin' a sandwich?"
I answered her again, and added that we were an independent film company. She stared at me a while longer, and then went over to her car, presumably to tell them we were making a movie about a sandwich.
You can't make this stuff up, folks.
Several moments occurred which I thought I'd share, as it seems people in the world of teh intarwebs can usually use a laugh.
---------
First, I'm working with a moderately well-known child actor from the Memphis area. This story about him is from the last movie we shot (a zombie film, back in April).
We were trying to figure out how to make the kid look gross, and we put some sort of epoxy on his face to look like rotting flesh. It didn't work, so we had to try to remove it. That stuff was like super-glue, and held fast.
The producer was gingerly scraping at the kid's chin, trying to get the little hanger-on pieces of the dried goop off, and the kid said, "Hey...be careful! Don't mess me up!"
After a couple more minutes, he said, "Don't mess up my skin! I have to film with [REALLY well-known film star] soon!"
I laughed, because he sounded like SUCH a little diva. I mean, he's around 12 years old. Come ON, you know?
He heard me laugh and turned around, and in a completely condescending tone of voice, he asked, "Do you even KNOW who [REALLY well-known film star] IS?!"
That totally broke me up...I laughed and told him I had NO idea who the actor was, and had never seen any of his movies, because I was not only sheltered, but I was also just born yesterday.
The sarcasm kind of escaped him, but I think he got the point that I did, indeed, know who the actor was, and he returned to having his face scraped.
Funny kid. :-)
---------
Saturday, we're working on a short film that a friend of the director's had written, and it involved a "friendly giant" who had passed out in a field. He's discovered by our child actor, and they talk and hang for a bit. Well, our friendly giant is a black 6'7" former basketball player. He's a BIG guy (not fat...BIG).
Well, as I mentioned, the giant is discovered passed out in a field by a small child. So we spent 2 hours filming the sequence where the giant is discovered, then helped up, by our child actor.
Let me mention now that our entire film crew is white. This is an important detail. Also, we were in Mississippi.
People stopped to ask us if we were alright a few times, because there were no cars on-set, so it probably looked like we were a bunch of eccentric drifters.
One man, however, stopped our kid-wrangler to ask her if "that man" was okay. Oh, we knew who he was talking about.
Now, look at this photo:
All that scene needs is some white hoods.
Am I wrong? MISSISSIPPI, people!
So that was fun. Especially when a Sheriff stopped by to see if we needed any help. :-P
---------
Today we were filming at a gas station. One of the crew and I were sitting on one of the concrete steps that surrounded a gas pump, and a larger black woman came over to us as we watched filming occurring in a phone booth about 25 feet away.
"Whatchy'all doin'?"
I answered, "Making a short film."
She stared at me so long I wondered if she had heard me at all.
"What? Y'all makin' a sandwich?"
I answered her again, and added that we were an independent film company. She stared at me a while longer, and then went over to her car, presumably to tell them we were making a movie about a sandwich.
You can't make this stuff up, folks.
Friends Don't Care - thanks toTD for bringing this to my attention.
by Michael Z. Williamson
daggers@indy.net
July 4, 2001
I can be your best friend.
Not because I care, but because I don't.
I don't care what church, if any, you go to. I don't care if you are Church of God, Church of Christ, Church of God in Christ, Church of Christ reformed, Church of Christ Scientist, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Byzantine Catholic, Roman Catholic, Jewish Congregationalist, Hindu, Shinto, Islamic, Buddhist, Greek Orthodox, Native American, Irish Druidic, Scandinavian Druidhe, Pagan, Wiccan…Hell, I don't care if you worship the Great Pumpkin. Or no deity at all. How you spend your Sundays, Saturdays, Fridays, Tuesday evenings, full Moons, or eclipses is up to you.
I don't care if you have sex with men, women, both, or neither. If it's in private, and they are freely consenting adults, it's your business. I may not like it myself, but I don't care about you.
I don't care what brand of beer you drink or not, if you drink wine or not, liquor or not. I don't care if you brew your own, grow your own or roll your own. I don't care if you smoke dope, rope, or nightshade. It's your body, poison it any way you wish. Just keep the residue in your own home, okay?
Vegetarian? Okay. Vegan? Great. Rare steak only, or raw rattlesnake? Cool. Squid with the tentacles still wiggling? Suits me just fine.
Are you skinny? Fat? Ugly? Overdressed? Underdressed? Naked? Hey, it's your life, do what you wish. If I don't like it, I won't watch.
I am a politician's worst nightmare. I can't be made to hate, I can't be panicked by the strange, and I'll react ungraciously to attempts to inspire me so. I vote on issues, not on smokescreens, and no Orwellian pigs in suits need apply.
I'm not part of a vast conspiracy to put Candidate X into office--Candidate X is an idiot, and so is Candidate Y. I voted for the Manchurian Candidate myself, because I don't care. I don't belong to the Hate Group of the Month Club on the Evening news, because I don't care. How can you possibly think I have anything in common with them?
Oh, right. I own guns. So do they. I'll bet a bunch of them read Doctor Seuss growing up, too, as did I. I don't see how that's relevant, either.
So that's it. Power scares you. And by not being a pawn, by being able to think, and by daring to think differently from you, I scare you. Well, relax, because I don't care.
Read the papers of the country, or for that matter, the world. You'll find me right there defending the unpopular in letters to the editor, in marches, in protests and sit-ins. I don't care so damned much that I'll go far out of my way to prove it. When your oppressors refuse to believe I don't care, I'm willing to reinforce the point…WITH force.
The only actions of yours I care about are those that actually affect me. Try to rape my wife, and you die. Try to assault me, and you die. Touch my children…Well, then you'll die slowly, as a lesson to others.
Try to take my guns away, or send someone else to do so…well, then I care. Keep in mind--they protect you, too. The people who DO care about silly details of your life DO have guns, whether you call them extremists, fanatics, cults, militias, or Federal Agents. It's easy to hate a name, isn't it? I'd hate the names, too, if it would make any difference, but it doesn't. Hateful people hide everywhere, and I don't care. Only when they ACT on that hate do I become aroused. By acting on hate, they interfere with my ability not to care. And that just ruins my whole day. Sometimes it takes the threat of force to prove I don't care. That's why I have the guns.
Why would you want to take my guns away, knowing I don't care? I'm no threat. I'm your best friend. I don't even care if THEY have guns. I don't even care if YOU have a gun. I care even less if you don't like ME having a gun.
So do me a favor and don't come to my door asking me to turn over my tools of reason.
Because I don't care who interferes with my right to not care.
And neither do my guns.
Copyright 2001 by Michael Z. Williamson. Permission is granted to copy in whole for non-profit purposes, provided due credit is given. Please inform the author directly at daggers@indy.net or through http://www.KeepAndBearArms.com when you do. Mr. Williamson's online archive is found here: http://www.KeepAndBearArms.com/Williamson.
A-FREAKIN-MEN.
I've posted the article in its entirety here, but if you'd like to save the link for yourself for reference, it's http://www.keepandbeararms.com/information/XcIBViewItem.asp?ID=2181
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Added to the list.
Thanks to Say Uncle! for the info...
...In addition to Phoenix, Texas, and Virginia, now Pennsylvania has a list of suspected domestic terrorist acts.
These include defending the Constitution.
Well, shit. You might as well put me on that list, then. I refuse to be a victim, though. Consider that a warning. NOT a threat, mind you...just a heads-up.
...In addition to Phoenix, Texas, and Virginia, now Pennsylvania has a list of suspected domestic terrorist acts.
These include defending the Constitution.
Well, shit. You might as well put me on that list, then. I refuse to be a victim, though. Consider that a warning. NOT a threat, mind you...just a heads-up.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Vitamin Water and Sheep.
I don't know if any of you have seen that commercial for Vitamin Water where that basketball player takes a sheep and heaves it around, ultimately tossing it yards away, where the sheep ends up bouncing on the grass and standing up wearily to stagger around, bleating.
That commercial makes me sick.
As I've seen on several blogs this week, think of the average IQ. Then remember that half of all peoples' IQs are lower than that.
Then watch that commercial again.
Can't you just see some kid drinking some vitamin water and then trying to launch the family dog across the yard? I can.
Especially in light of stories like this. 3 guys kicked a small dog. One of them drop-kicked it down the street. Shit like this DOES happen.
You take a person with no respect for life, add a small capacity for rational thought (which, to me, goes hand-in-hand with the lack of respect), and show them a commercial like that, do you think they're going to read the fine print that says, "dramatization"? Do you think they're going to give a shit? No, they're not.
If a 23-year-old is capable of drop-kicking a dog for no good reason, some kid is more than capable of throwing an animal around if he thinks some drink is going to make him stronger.
Call me dramatic, but this is the kind of shit that fucking pisses me off to no end. People don't THINK for themselves any more.
So I sent an email to the company. Told them as such. Included the link to the article and expressed my concerns that those less-intelligent members of society would be inclined to try this stunt at home, regardless of warnings.
This is the unedited version (with some omissions, of course) of the email I received back from them:
hello Bonnie,
thank for taking the time to contact us.
we appreciate your feedback and want to let you know that
absolutely no sheep were harmed or mistreated during the filming
of the commercial. to ensure sheep safety, a representative
from the american humane society was present throughout the
entire process. we also added the words “dramatization” or
“fictionalization” as well as “no sheep were harmed” to the
commercials to make viewers aware that this was in fact not an
actual sheep toss.
the television commercial is intended to convey the benefits
vitaminwater® provides in a lighthearted and humorous way.
we certainly appreciate your feedback and have forwarded your
concerns to our marketing team for consideration in future
advertising decisions.
sincerely,
jamie
consumer relations manager
glacéau
www.glaceau.com
Unedited, people. If you can't be bothered to hit the SHIFT key, how the hell am I supposed to believe that you give a shit? I think they're trying to be "lighthearted" and "down with the kids", but for FUCK'S SAKE, you're a CRM! TRY to look intelligent!
I'm also aware of the methods used for filming animal-related things is stringent, so I'm not concerned about the welfare of the sheep in the commercial. I'm just too aware of how stupid people can be - I live in Memphis, after all. You want to see stupid, just go to Wal-Mart and stand in any aisle for 3 minutes.
If I saw a story on the news soon of someone tossing an animal around, I would shake my head, get pissed off...and not be a bit surprised.
I appreciate her writing me back, but I don't appreciate the insinuation that I'm of less-than-average intelligence that comes from her typing and the content.
And I still fucking hate that commercial.
That commercial makes me sick.
As I've seen on several blogs this week, think of the average IQ. Then remember that half of all peoples' IQs are lower than that.
Then watch that commercial again.
Can't you just see some kid drinking some vitamin water and then trying to launch the family dog across the yard? I can.
Especially in light of stories like this. 3 guys kicked a small dog. One of them drop-kicked it down the street. Shit like this DOES happen.
You take a person with no respect for life, add a small capacity for rational thought (which, to me, goes hand-in-hand with the lack of respect), and show them a commercial like that, do you think they're going to read the fine print that says, "dramatization"? Do you think they're going to give a shit? No, they're not.
If a 23-year-old is capable of drop-kicking a dog for no good reason, some kid is more than capable of throwing an animal around if he thinks some drink is going to make him stronger.
Call me dramatic, but this is the kind of shit that fucking pisses me off to no end. People don't THINK for themselves any more.
So I sent an email to the company. Told them as such. Included the link to the article and expressed my concerns that those less-intelligent members of society would be inclined to try this stunt at home, regardless of warnings.
This is the unedited version (with some omissions, of course) of the email I received back from them:
hello Bonnie,
thank for taking the time to contact us.
we appreciate your feedback and want to let you know that
absolutely no sheep were harmed or mistreated during the filming
of the commercial. to ensure sheep safety, a representative
from the american humane society was present throughout the
entire process. we also added the words “dramatization” or
“fictionalization” as well as “no sheep were harmed” to the
commercials to make viewers aware that this was in fact not an
actual sheep toss.
the television commercial is intended to convey the benefits
vitaminwater® provides in a lighthearted and humorous way.
we certainly appreciate your feedback and have forwarded your
concerns to our marketing team for consideration in future
advertising decisions.
sincerely,
jamie
consumer relations manager
glacéau
www.glaceau.com
Unedited, people. If you can't be bothered to hit the SHIFT key, how the hell am I supposed to believe that you give a shit? I think they're trying to be "lighthearted" and "down with the kids", but for FUCK'S SAKE, you're a CRM! TRY to look intelligent!
I'm also aware of the methods used for filming animal-related things is stringent, so I'm not concerned about the welfare of the sheep in the commercial. I'm just too aware of how stupid people can be - I live in Memphis, after all. You want to see stupid, just go to Wal-Mart and stand in any aisle for 3 minutes.
If I saw a story on the news soon of someone tossing an animal around, I would shake my head, get pissed off...and not be a bit surprised.
I appreciate her writing me back, but I don't appreciate the insinuation that I'm of less-than-average intelligence that comes from her typing and the content.
And I still fucking hate that commercial.
YGTBKM
Since I usually say "You've GOT to be kidding me" at least once a day in reference to the current news, I've decided that my daily conglomerations would be named as such. But just the first letters. Because I want to be cool like WWTDD.com and IDLYITW.com. Har har.
With that settled (for now), on with the stupidity:
From Say Uncle:
Tennessee signs agreement with 8 bordering states to crack down on seatbelt "offenders".
There was a dealio a while back where they said they wouldn't stop you specifically for not wearing your seatbelt, but if you were stopped for some other reason and happened to not be strapped in, they'd give you a ticket. I remember this well, as my mom always rode around without her seatbelt (while insisting that we wore ours, which I think is an appropriate metaphor for most government functions), but would put it on if we were ever stopped, which happened...twice, I think, when I was riding with her. The cops somehow never noticed that she put her seatbelt on while they were walking toward her window. You'd think they've be more diligent since she had kids in the car, but whatever. I honestly don't care, because obviously we all survived.
Then came "Click-it or Ticket", the catchy new slogan that basically meant, "If we see you driving without your seatbelt, we'll invent another reason to pull you over and then ticket you for the fake infraction AND your lack of seat belt".
Now they're making it mandatory to wear a seat belt. I usually wear mine, because I feel less in control of my vehicle if I'm not strapped in (I'm a very active driver...you'd have to see me to understand...no seatbelt, and I'm liable to start dancing along with the radio and forget to shift), but I know people who take jaunts to the store without strapping in, and other than the lack of a seatbelt (in the eyes of the law, I mean), there's absolutely no reason for them to be viewed as criminal drivers. They stop correctly, yield correctly, watch out for other drivers and for pedestrians, and are conscientious about what they do. Sure, you can't account for other people on the road, and if the conscientious citizen got smacked by a stupid citizen and died because they weren't wearing a seatbelt, that would really suck, but it's THEIR decision not to wear that belt. All you can do is let them know the risks, but ultimately people are going to make their own decisions about how to live their lives, and if that means they might die, well...it's their choice. I know just as many cases where a seatbelt being worn caused the person to die in the wreck, mostly of internal injuries caused by the contriction of the lap belt during application of the brakes. You can never tell what's going to happen.
It's like banning smoking in bars. If people know that smoking is going to happen in a bar, they can CHOOSE not to go. OMG A CHOICE HOW DOES THAT WORK?!? Well, it's very simple. You THINK about something, and you figure out what's best for you vs. what you'd like to do. If you're willing to take the risk to do something that might not be best for you even though it's what you'd rather do, you've just made a decision. If you choose to do something that's better for you, even though it's not what you'd like to do, THAT'S a decision, too. See how EASY it is?
I sing opera. I sing for my school choir. I take voice lessons. My throat is really sensitive, and I have to be careful with my vocal chords. I also like to do karaoke, and in a karaoke bar, there's...you got it: smoke. So when I want to do karaoke and sing and be goofy, I have to think about whether or not I have anything to do in the next few days that would be affected negatively by my not being able to sing (or speak for long periods). If there's something I have to do, I'll decline going. If there's not, I'll go. It's that simple. And it's MY decision.
------------------------
Manager for juiced-up biker threatens OTHER biker with public embarrassment if OTHER biker shows up to court to testify against juiced-up biker.
So Landis does some steroids and wins the Tour de France. Okay. That was stupid and probably not very fair, but whatever. I'm not a fan of the sport, so I kind of don't care. LeMond, a fellow biker, decides to testify against Landis in court. Landis' manager said, "Dude, if you come to court, I'll tell everyone that you were diddled as a child."
I don't see what that has to do with anything. I understand that people have a sense of shame and responsibility when they've been abused, but I don't understand why that sort of thing has to be brought up in conjunction with a case. The fact that LeMond was abused has NOTHING to do with this situation.
This, to me, is another example of just how stupid desperate people will act to get their way. It's like picking up cat poop out of the sandbox and throwing it at someone else because they called you out on putting sand down Susie's shirt.
-------------------------
LAX evacuated due to sprinkler in luggage mistaken for pipe bomb.
I have nothing more to add.
-------------------------
P.E. required in Florida elementary schools by law.
Part of me is like, "eurgh..." at this, but a bigger part of me thinks back to when I had P.E. in school, and how much I looked forward to it, even though I'm not athletically inclined. I truly believe, also, that the required P.E. my freshman year of high school is what kept me from ballooning after marching band ended in the spring. Proof positive of that fact for me was that I ended up gaining 30 pounds in the spring of my sophomore year. True story.
So I dunno. While I think the health of a child is up to the parents, and their total responsibility, I can't fault the school system for implementing this. I think that more activity during the day will help all those kids who supposedly have ADD, as well.
-------------------------
School sued for allowing bibles to be distributed to students.
As someone who's had someone throw a Gideon bible through their car window on the way into their high school parking lot (they technically followed the rules by standing on the road, but I'm not the only one who got smacked with a bible, and you bet I complained to some higher-ups, and it never happened again), I can sympathize.
That's different than being told by a teacher to go pick up a bible, however. That's inexcusable. I don't give a crap (at work again) what your beliefs are...you keep them to yourself and do your job, which is to educate kids on things that are based in fact and history, not theology. They can do that kind of thing when they're in college, if they so choose.
This is longer than usual, and I've just gotten some work dumped on my desk (welcome, welcome), so that's all for now.
With that settled (for now), on with the stupidity:
From Say Uncle:
Tennessee signs agreement with 8 bordering states to crack down on seatbelt "offenders".
There was a dealio a while back where they said they wouldn't stop you specifically for not wearing your seatbelt, but if you were stopped for some other reason and happened to not be strapped in, they'd give you a ticket. I remember this well, as my mom always rode around without her seatbelt (while insisting that we wore ours, which I think is an appropriate metaphor for most government functions), but would put it on if we were ever stopped, which happened...twice, I think, when I was riding with her. The cops somehow never noticed that she put her seatbelt on while they were walking toward her window. You'd think they've be more diligent since she had kids in the car, but whatever. I honestly don't care, because obviously we all survived.
Then came "Click-it or Ticket", the catchy new slogan that basically meant, "If we see you driving without your seatbelt, we'll invent another reason to pull you over and then ticket you for the fake infraction AND your lack of seat belt".
Now they're making it mandatory to wear a seat belt. I usually wear mine, because I feel less in control of my vehicle if I'm not strapped in (I'm a very active driver...you'd have to see me to understand...no seatbelt, and I'm liable to start dancing along with the radio and forget to shift), but I know people who take jaunts to the store without strapping in, and other than the lack of a seatbelt (in the eyes of the law, I mean), there's absolutely no reason for them to be viewed as criminal drivers. They stop correctly, yield correctly, watch out for other drivers and for pedestrians, and are conscientious about what they do. Sure, you can't account for other people on the road, and if the conscientious citizen got smacked by a stupid citizen and died because they weren't wearing a seatbelt, that would really suck, but it's THEIR decision not to wear that belt. All you can do is let them know the risks, but ultimately people are going to make their own decisions about how to live their lives, and if that means they might die, well...it's their choice. I know just as many cases where a seatbelt being worn caused the person to die in the wreck, mostly of internal injuries caused by the contriction of the lap belt during application of the brakes. You can never tell what's going to happen.
It's like banning smoking in bars. If people know that smoking is going to happen in a bar, they can CHOOSE not to go. OMG A CHOICE HOW DOES THAT WORK?!? Well, it's very simple. You THINK about something, and you figure out what's best for you vs. what you'd like to do. If you're willing to take the risk to do something that might not be best for you even though it's what you'd rather do, you've just made a decision. If you choose to do something that's better for you, even though it's not what you'd like to do, THAT'S a decision, too. See how EASY it is?
I sing opera. I sing for my school choir. I take voice lessons. My throat is really sensitive, and I have to be careful with my vocal chords. I also like to do karaoke, and in a karaoke bar, there's...you got it: smoke. So when I want to do karaoke and sing and be goofy, I have to think about whether or not I have anything to do in the next few days that would be affected negatively by my not being able to sing (or speak for long periods). If there's something I have to do, I'll decline going. If there's not, I'll go. It's that simple. And it's MY decision.
------------------------
Manager for juiced-up biker threatens OTHER biker with public embarrassment if OTHER biker shows up to court to testify against juiced-up biker.
So Landis does some steroids and wins the Tour de France. Okay. That was stupid and probably not very fair, but whatever. I'm not a fan of the sport, so I kind of don't care. LeMond, a fellow biker, decides to testify against Landis in court. Landis' manager said, "Dude, if you come to court, I'll tell everyone that you were diddled as a child."
I don't see what that has to do with anything. I understand that people have a sense of shame and responsibility when they've been abused, but I don't understand why that sort of thing has to be brought up in conjunction with a case. The fact that LeMond was abused has NOTHING to do with this situation.
This, to me, is another example of just how stupid desperate people will act to get their way. It's like picking up cat poop out of the sandbox and throwing it at someone else because they called you out on putting sand down Susie's shirt.
-------------------------
LAX evacuated due to sprinkler in luggage mistaken for pipe bomb.
I have nothing more to add.
-------------------------
P.E. required in Florida elementary schools by law.
Part of me is like, "eurgh..." at this, but a bigger part of me thinks back to when I had P.E. in school, and how much I looked forward to it, even though I'm not athletically inclined. I truly believe, also, that the required P.E. my freshman year of high school is what kept me from ballooning after marching band ended in the spring. Proof positive of that fact for me was that I ended up gaining 30 pounds in the spring of my sophomore year. True story.
So I dunno. While I think the health of a child is up to the parents, and their total responsibility, I can't fault the school system for implementing this. I think that more activity during the day will help all those kids who supposedly have ADD, as well.
-------------------------
School sued for allowing bibles to be distributed to students.
As someone who's had someone throw a Gideon bible through their car window on the way into their high school parking lot (they technically followed the rules by standing on the road, but I'm not the only one who got smacked with a bible, and you bet I complained to some higher-ups, and it never happened again), I can sympathize.
That's different than being told by a teacher to go pick up a bible, however. That's inexcusable. I don't give a crap (at work again) what your beliefs are...you keep them to yourself and do your job, which is to educate kids on things that are based in fact and history, not theology. They can do that kind of thing when they're in college, if they so choose.
This is longer than usual, and I've just gotten some work dumped on my desk (welcome, welcome), so that's all for now.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
I missed the news today.
And I don't feel like going back to catch up.
Is that bad of me? Heh.
That temp job that was supposed to just be answering phones? Well, apparently the lady who answers the phones now wasn't comfortable with taking over her supervisor's position for the week, so the supervisor asked me if I would mind being the sales admin for a week. Then she asked me if I'd like a pay raise to go along with it.
Uh...I felt I was being overpaid for just answering the phones and filling out a few invoices. For just a bit more work, I feel I'm being paid fairly, so I politely declined a raise. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!? Oh, right. I'm honest. Dammit.
I've gotten a very generous offer from t3rrible to test out some guns, since we both live in the same area. I also have a group of people who want to go to the range with me, anyway (5 people, in fact...I wonder if they give group discounts?), and one of those people actually has a fair collection of guns, so between the two gun-lovin' guys, I should be able to get a fair idea of what's comfortable for me.
Again, I want to thank everyone who visited and commented. It makes me happy to know that if I have any sort of question on this sort of issue, all I have to do is type a few words, and I practically have a slew of answers and suggestions at my disposal.
Now I just have to figure out a time to visit the gun range. It might have to happen on a Sunday, because that seems to be the only day that I'd have enough time.
Legally Blonde is on. I've been getting distracted. Please don't judge me, but I love this movie.
Is that bad of me? Heh.
That temp job that was supposed to just be answering phones? Well, apparently the lady who answers the phones now wasn't comfortable with taking over her supervisor's position for the week, so the supervisor asked me if I would mind being the sales admin for a week. Then she asked me if I'd like a pay raise to go along with it.
Uh...I felt I was being overpaid for just answering the phones and filling out a few invoices. For just a bit more work, I feel I'm being paid fairly, so I politely declined a raise. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!? Oh, right. I'm honest. Dammit.
I've gotten a very generous offer from t3rrible to test out some guns, since we both live in the same area. I also have a group of people who want to go to the range with me, anyway (5 people, in fact...I wonder if they give group discounts?), and one of those people actually has a fair collection of guns, so between the two gun-lovin' guys, I should be able to get a fair idea of what's comfortable for me.
Again, I want to thank everyone who visited and commented. It makes me happy to know that if I have any sort of question on this sort of issue, all I have to do is type a few words, and I practically have a slew of answers and suggestions at my disposal.
Now I just have to figure out a time to visit the gun range. It might have to happen on a Sunday, because that seems to be the only day that I'd have enough time.
Legally Blonde is on. I've been getting distracted. Please don't judge me, but I love this movie.
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!
Some general information for those who asked, and for those who might ask in the future:
I'm 5'8" and 180lbs. Stocky, heavy bone structure, huge hands (4" of palm from wrist to bottom of pointer, 3" of pointer). No dainty lass, I. So think of a gun that can be held by a German man who's about 6'...that's the kind of handle size I need.
However, a shoulder injury doesn't allow me to do any high stress activities with my dominant hand. My upper arm and back muscles can compensate for a few instances of recoil and whatnot, but after that my shoulder start complaining in a big way (I shot a couple of years ago with several gun, which is how I found this out...a .44 magnum was pretty much a no-go). So something I can practice with a lot (i.e. wouldn't hurt me too badly) would be good, in addition to being something that will be easy to carry (I do intend to get my CCW license). I intend to take whatever gun I purchase to the range to get really comfortable with it so that when it comes time to actually use it (god forbid), it won't be an issue.
I've heard a lot of talk about S&W, and several people have mentioned Glock. For someone who likes to wear jeans and tee shirts, and isn't a skirt-lover (if it has pockets and legs, I'll wear it), which guns should I be on the lookout for that would be easy to conceal in these types of outfits without having to get a holster? I'd prefer to carry in-pocket, if possible.
I'm trying to get ideas as to easily-concealed guns so that I can practice with these types to narrow my field of choice even further. I do NOT intend to purchase a gun without first practicing with it quite a bit to make sure that it's going to be comfortable for me, due to my shoulder.
I realize that, when it comes down to it, recoil isn't going to be a huge deal after a while, but if I can't even shoot a gun enough times to get used to the recoil because of my shoulder, then it's just not going to work.
I'm getting the idea that the Ruger SP101 is a great gun for in-home security, but is not easily concealed. Fair enough. So any other suggestions for easily-concealed guns (aside from the ones that have been suggested...I'm making a list to take to an actual gun shop, not a sporting goods store) would be more than welcome. Revolver or cartridge, doesn't much matter to me. I can load and shoot both, and I plan to take a class, anyway, so I will become accustomed to whatever comes my way.
Again, thanks to you all who've commented so far, and thanks to Tam and Say Uncle! for the referrals. I really appreciate any and all help I can get in this area, so that I'm prepared as possible (i.e. don't look like a total n00b) when I get going on this route.
I've been looking at Cornered Cat, as well, and have found valuable information on grip and whatnot.
Thanks again! :-)
I'm 5'8" and 180lbs. Stocky, heavy bone structure, huge hands (4" of palm from wrist to bottom of pointer, 3" of pointer). No dainty lass, I. So think of a gun that can be held by a German man who's about 6'...that's the kind of handle size I need.
However, a shoulder injury doesn't allow me to do any high stress activities with my dominant hand. My upper arm and back muscles can compensate for a few instances of recoil and whatnot, but after that my shoulder start complaining in a big way (I shot a couple of years ago with several gun, which is how I found this out...a .44 magnum was pretty much a no-go). So something I can practice with a lot (i.e. wouldn't hurt me too badly) would be good, in addition to being something that will be easy to carry (I do intend to get my CCW license). I intend to take whatever gun I purchase to the range to get really comfortable with it so that when it comes time to actually use it (god forbid), it won't be an issue.
I've heard a lot of talk about S&W, and several people have mentioned Glock. For someone who likes to wear jeans and tee shirts, and isn't a skirt-lover (if it has pockets and legs, I'll wear it), which guns should I be on the lookout for that would be easy to conceal in these types of outfits without having to get a holster? I'd prefer to carry in-pocket, if possible.
I'm trying to get ideas as to easily-concealed guns so that I can practice with these types to narrow my field of choice even further. I do NOT intend to purchase a gun without first practicing with it quite a bit to make sure that it's going to be comfortable for me, due to my shoulder.
I realize that, when it comes down to it, recoil isn't going to be a huge deal after a while, but if I can't even shoot a gun enough times to get used to the recoil because of my shoulder, then it's just not going to work.
I'm getting the idea that the Ruger SP101 is a great gun for in-home security, but is not easily concealed. Fair enough. So any other suggestions for easily-concealed guns (aside from the ones that have been suggested...I'm making a list to take to an actual gun shop, not a sporting goods store) would be more than welcome. Revolver or cartridge, doesn't much matter to me. I can load and shoot both, and I plan to take a class, anyway, so I will become accustomed to whatever comes my way.
Again, thanks to you all who've commented so far, and thanks to Tam and Say Uncle! for the referrals. I really appreciate any and all help I can get in this area, so that I'm prepared as possible (i.e. don't look like a total n00b) when I get going on this route.
I've been looking at Cornered Cat, as well, and have found valuable information on grip and whatnot.
Thanks again! :-)
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Why do I hate Memphis? Also, suggestions needed.
This article in the local paper outlines just ONE of the problems.
Our crime rate is ridiculous. I felt safer walking down the street at 2am in Queens, NY than I do walking across my campus in the evening. I've been harassed so many times by thugs in this city that it's become a game of tug-of-war with myself to get out and actually do anything. Beale Street? Hah. Only if I'm with a group that includes at least one guy. Midtown? Same thing. Even certain parts of Collierville and Germantown are pretty scary after dark. They only come out at night, y'all. The days are much too bright.
For those of you who didn't read that article, or don't feel like reading it, let me outline something for you: 11 rapes in Memphis over Mother's Day weekend. Memphis is a pretty large area, but compared to someplace like Atlanta, it's small. While 11 rapes in a larger city would be considered a good day, in a place like Memphis, IN TWO DAYS' TIME, 11 rapes is horrendous.
I'm very much looking forward to my gun purchase now.
Speaking of which, I don't know if I've asked anyone here: How do you guys feel about a Ruger SP101 .357? That's the gun I've got my eye on. I'm going to shoot it first to get a feel for it (yay, gun range!), but I like the size and the heft, and I want something that's not just going to make someone pissy if I shoot them with it...I want it to get results. I have larger hands, but a weak right shoulder (nerve damage), so I need something that doesn't have TOO much kick, but that I can hang onto easily. Suggestions are welcome.
Our crime rate is ridiculous. I felt safer walking down the street at 2am in Queens, NY than I do walking across my campus in the evening. I've been harassed so many times by thugs in this city that it's become a game of tug-of-war with myself to get out and actually do anything. Beale Street? Hah. Only if I'm with a group that includes at least one guy. Midtown? Same thing. Even certain parts of Collierville and Germantown are pretty scary after dark. They only come out at night, y'all. The days are much too bright.
For those of you who didn't read that article, or don't feel like reading it, let me outline something for you: 11 rapes in Memphis over Mother's Day weekend. Memphis is a pretty large area, but compared to someplace like Atlanta, it's small. While 11 rapes in a larger city would be considered a good day, in a place like Memphis, IN TWO DAYS' TIME, 11 rapes is horrendous.
I'm very much looking forward to my gun purchase now.
Speaking of which, I don't know if I've asked anyone here: How do you guys feel about a Ruger SP101 .357? That's the gun I've got my eye on. I'm going to shoot it first to get a feel for it (yay, gun range!), but I like the size and the heft, and I want something that's not just going to make someone pissy if I shoot them with it...I want it to get results. I have larger hands, but a weak right shoulder (nerve damage), so I need something that doesn't have TOO much kick, but that I can hang onto easily. Suggestions are welcome.
Ron Paul does well under fire.
This is a video of Hannity and Colmes getting a hold of Ron Paul after the debates last night. They don't let him finish a sentence, and they lead him like a pair of prosecuting attorneys in the 1950s trying to convince a jury that because someone is black, that's reason enough for them to have committed the crime.
I couldn't watch to the end (I get angry when someone's getting interrupted while saying something I'd like to hear, and I can't do anything to stop it), but Danny tells me that Paul's attitude is like, "you fuckers...I can't believe you just did that". But from what I see, he handles the situation well and with good humor. If he gets the nomination, I think he's going to get my vote.
Here's his election website. Note on the "daily updates" that he came in 2nd on the texting poll that Fox did. Considering that he had a 20% lead when we turned stuff off and went to bed around 10-ish, I smell a rat, but what are ya gonna do?
Oh...another thing Danny just sent me...wait for this to load, and then skip ahead to the 3-minute mark (if the countdown is backwards, go until you have 2:26 left) and listen to this fucktard (Michael Steele, the GOPAC Chairman) throw his own party member to the lions. This kind of shit is why I hate politics with a passion. And Hannity and Colmes encourage it, which is REALLY weird to me, even though it IS Fox. It's not their place to further the debates. Fucktards.
I couldn't watch to the end (I get angry when someone's getting interrupted while saying something I'd like to hear, and I can't do anything to stop it), but Danny tells me that Paul's attitude is like, "you fuckers...I can't believe you just did that". But from what I see, he handles the situation well and with good humor. If he gets the nomination, I think he's going to get my vote.
Here's his election website. Note on the "daily updates" that he came in 2nd on the texting poll that Fox did. Considering that he had a 20% lead when we turned stuff off and went to bed around 10-ish, I smell a rat, but what are ya gonna do?
Oh...another thing Danny just sent me...wait for this to load, and then skip ahead to the 3-minute mark (if the countdown is backwards, go until you have 2:26 left) and listen to this fucktard (Michael Steele, the GOPAC Chairman) throw his own party member to the lions. This kind of shit is why I hate politics with a passion. And Hannity and Colmes encourage it, which is REALLY weird to me, even though it IS Fox. It's not their place to further the debates. Fucktards.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Today is apparently the day for babies to be born.
An emergency C-section this morning for a co-worker's wife.
A co-worker's grandson is due today...the daughter is in that weird high-risk phase, so they may induce her.
The previously-mentioned woman is possibly being induced today.
Munchkin Wrangler just had a new addition to his family. (congrats!)
One of my co-workers celebrated her birthday today.
...one of my best friend's children is going to be 5 tomorrow. Poor kid missed the May 15th train.
A co-worker's grandson is due today...the daughter is in that weird high-risk phase, so they may induce her.
The previously-mentioned woman is possibly being induced today.
Munchkin Wrangler just had a new addition to his family. (congrats!)
One of my co-workers celebrated her birthday today.
...one of my best friend's children is going to be 5 tomorrow. Poor kid missed the May 15th train.
Jerry Falwell is dead.
In my experience (just had to put that up there first, because I don't want people thinking I'm making a generalization about people I've never met), born-again Christians have a tendancy to be more militant and intolerant of people who don't think exactly along the lines that they themselves do. I think I know two people who don't fit that stereotype, and they're within my personal blog circle (if you know of any more, please point them out - I'm always on the lookout for nice people).
I think Jerry Falwell fits into that (personal) stereotype better than anyone else I've ever heard about or met. And I live in the Bible Belt, so I know a LOT of born-agains.
Anyway, it'd be mean to say "good riddance", and nothing's going to change what's already been done, but I really wish there was a way to keep people from trying to atone for their sins through the persecution and judgement of others. That's just not What Jesus Would Do, y'all.
In my experience (just had to put that up there first, because I don't want people thinking I'm making a generalization about people I've never met), born-again Christians have a tendancy to be more militant and intolerant of people who don't think exactly along the lines that they themselves do. I think I know two people who don't fit that stereotype, and they're within my personal blog circle (if you know of any more, please point them out - I'm always on the lookout for nice people).
I think Jerry Falwell fits into that (personal) stereotype better than anyone else I've ever heard about or met. And I live in the Bible Belt, so I know a LOT of born-agains.
Anyway, it'd be mean to say "good riddance", and nothing's going to change what's already been done, but I really wish there was a way to keep people from trying to atone for their sins through the persecution and judgement of others. That's just not What Jesus Would Do, y'all.
Ah, that's better.
I'm on my lunch break right now. I was BUSY this morning, even without the phones. Itineraries, vouchers, filing...that's more like it.
One thing I can do without is people calling and requesting to be transferred to voice mail, then changing their minds and calling me back to hand-deliver the message, "just in case". *rolls eyes* Honey, trust me. The voice mail isn't going to get distracted on the way to deliver the note and forget all about it 2 minutes after it was written down. ADD in electronic applicances isn't very common.
-------------------
Approval ratings for Congress and the Prez continue to be low.
I didn't realize the approval rating for Congress was THAT low. Not surprised, but damn.
-------------------
Look at this headline, then read this story.
That is an example of an unnecessary and stupid headline. Future journalists, please take note.
-------------------
Miami is location of worst road rage.
The article says that St. Louis is listed as one of the friendliest cities. I beg to differ. And Memphis isn't even on the rage list. I'm going to beg a difference of opinion on that one, too. People in St. Louis are arrogant about their driving, and very stupid about left turns. I used to get fists shaken at me all the time because I actually STOPPED at stop signs, rather than doing a rolling pause, which is what most St. Louis residents do.
Memphis drivers seem to THRIVE on honking their horns at each other, flipping each other off, and generally being jerks no matter where they go. They ALSO drive like they're missing the entire front half of their brains. Dur-duh-durrrr.
And why are people in Florida so angry? I think Atlanta should be at the top of that list.
-------------------
Student financial aid director fired for engaging in activity that was against the interests of...well, everyone but himself.
I wish someone would investigate the FA department at my college. I have NEVER in my life encountered so much stupidity (can you tell I'm at work again? No cursing) in only 2 people. Amazing, really.
-------------------
As a sort-of random aside, does anyone have any opinion on non-necessary birth induction? I know someone who's not even due until next week, but due to her association with a medical field, she's become afraid to go past her due date (she apparently thinks that if she's even a little late, the baby will die, which is ridiculous, because due dates are a guesstimate, anyway). So she's scheduled an induction for today.
I obviously disagree with it, for reasons of common sense: Women were sort of, you know, made to give birth. Forcing that process, especially on your first child, is liable to cause problems with births later on. If you're late and you have toxemia or something, or the baby is in distress, by all means get it out of there. But if mommy and baby are healthy? Why ruin a good thing?
What do you guys think?
One thing I can do without is people calling and requesting to be transferred to voice mail, then changing their minds and calling me back to hand-deliver the message, "just in case". *rolls eyes* Honey, trust me. The voice mail isn't going to get distracted on the way to deliver the note and forget all about it 2 minutes after it was written down. ADD in electronic applicances isn't very common.
-------------------
Approval ratings for Congress and the Prez continue to be low.
I didn't realize the approval rating for Congress was THAT low. Not surprised, but damn.
-------------------
Look at this headline, then read this story.
That is an example of an unnecessary and stupid headline. Future journalists, please take note.
-------------------
Miami is location of worst road rage.
The article says that St. Louis is listed as one of the friendliest cities. I beg to differ. And Memphis isn't even on the rage list. I'm going to beg a difference of opinion on that one, too. People in St. Louis are arrogant about their driving, and very stupid about left turns. I used to get fists shaken at me all the time because I actually STOPPED at stop signs, rather than doing a rolling pause, which is what most St. Louis residents do.
Memphis drivers seem to THRIVE on honking their horns at each other, flipping each other off, and generally being jerks no matter where they go. They ALSO drive like they're missing the entire front half of their brains. Dur-duh-durrrr.
And why are people in Florida so angry? I think Atlanta should be at the top of that list.
-------------------
Student financial aid director fired for engaging in activity that was against the interests of...well, everyone but himself.
I wish someone would investigate the FA department at my college. I have NEVER in my life encountered so much stupidity (can you tell I'm at work again? No cursing) in only 2 people. Amazing, really.
-------------------
As a sort-of random aside, does anyone have any opinion on non-necessary birth induction? I know someone who's not even due until next week, but due to her association with a medical field, she's become afraid to go past her due date (she apparently thinks that if she's even a little late, the baby will die, which is ridiculous, because due dates are a guesstimate, anyway). So she's scheduled an induction for today.
I obviously disagree with it, for reasons of common sense: Women were sort of, you know, made to give birth. Forcing that process, especially on your first child, is liable to cause problems with births later on. If you're late and you have toxemia or something, or the baby is in distress, by all means get it out of there. But if mommy and baby are healthy? Why ruin a good thing?
What do you guys think?
Monday, May 14, 2007
Thanks, Hammer.
By Ted Nugent
Zero tolerance, huh? Gun-free zones, huh? Try this on for size: Columbine gun-free zone, New York City pizza shop gun-free zone, Luby's Cafeteria gun-free zone, Amish school in Pennsylvania gun-free zone and now Virginia Tech gun-free zone.
Anybody see what the evil Brady Campaign and other anti-gun cults have created? I personally have zero tolerance for evil and denial. And America had best wake up real fast that the brain-dead celebration of unarmed helplessness will get you killed every time, and I've about had enough of it. Nearly a decade ago, a Springfield, Oregon, high schooler, a hunter familiar with firearms, was able to bring an unfolding rampage to an abrupt end when he identified a gunman attempting to reload his .22-caliber rifle, made the tactical decision to make a move and tackled the shooter.
A few years back, an assistant principal at Pearl High School in Mississippi, which was a gun-free zone, retrieved his legally owned Colt .45 from his car and stopped a Columbine wannabe from continuing his massacre at another school after he had killed two and wounded more at Pearl.
At an eighth-grade school dance in Pennsylvania, a boy fatally shot a teacher and wounded two students before the owner of the dance hall brought the killing to a halt with his own gun. More recently, just a few miles up the road from Virginia Tech, two law school students ran to fetch their legally owned firearm to stop a madman from slaughtering anybody and everybody he pleased. These brave, average, armed citizens neutralized him pronto.
My hero, Dr. Suzanne Gratia Hupp, was not allowed by Texas law to carry her handgun into Luby's Cafeteria that fateful day in 1991, when due to bureaucrat-forced unarmed helplessness she could do nothing tostop satanic George Hennard from killing 23 people and wounding more than 20 others before he shot himself. Hupp was unarmed for no other reason than denial-ridden "feel good" politics. She has since led the charge for concealed weapon upgrade in Texas,where we can now stop evil.
Yet, there are still the mindless puppets of the Brady Campaign and other anti-gun organizations insisting on continuing the gun-free zone insanity by which innocents are forced into unarmed helplessness. Shame on them. Shame on America. Shame on the anti-gunners all. No one was foolish enough to debate Ryder truck regulations or ammonia nitrate restrictions or a "cult of agriculture fertilizer" following the unabashed evil of Timothy McVeigh's heinous crime against America on that fateful day in Oklahoma City.
No one faulted kitchen utensils or other hardware of choice after Jeffrey Dahmer was caught drugging,mutilating, raping, murdering and cannibalizing his victims. Nobody wanted "steak knife control" as they autopsied the dead nurses in Chicago, Illinois, as Richard Speck went on trial for mass murder.Evil is as evil does, and laws disarming guaranteed victims make evil people very, very happy. Shame on us.
Already spineless gun control advocates are squawking like chickens with their tiny-brained heads chopped off, making political hay over this most recent, devastating Virginia Tech massacre, when in fact it is their own forced gun-free zone policy that enabled the unchallenged methodical murder of 32 people.Thirty-two people dead on a U.S. college campus pursuing their American Dream, mowed-down over an extended period of time by a lone, non-American gunman in illegal possession of a firearm on campus in defiance of a zero-tolerance gun law. Feel better yet? Didn't think so.
Who doesn't get this? Who has the audacity to demand unarmed helplessness? Who likes dead good guys? I'll tell you who. People who tramp on the Second Amendment, that's who. People who refuse to accept the self-evident truth that free people have the God-given right to keep and bear arms, to defend themselves and their loved ones. People who are so desperate in their drive to control others, so mindless in their denial that they pretend access to gas causes arson, Ryder trucks and fertilizer cause terrorism, water causes drowning, forks and spoons cause obesity, dialing 911 will somehow save your life, and that their greedy clamoring to "feel good" is more important than admitting that armed citizens are much better equipped to stop evil than unarmed, helpless ones.
Pray for the families of victims everywhere, America. Study the methodology of evil. It has a profile, a system, a preferred environment where victims cannot fight back. Embrace the facts, demand upgrade and be certain that your children's school has a better plan than Virginia Tech or Columbine. Eliminate the insanity of gun-free zones, which will never, ever be gun-free zones. They will only be good guy gun-free zones, and that is a recipe for disaster written in blood on the altar of denial. I, for one, refuse to genuflect there.
A-FREAKIN'-MEN, Ted.
Zero tolerance, huh? Gun-free zones, huh? Try this on for size: Columbine gun-free zone, New York City pizza shop gun-free zone, Luby's Cafeteria gun-free zone, Amish school in Pennsylvania gun-free zone and now Virginia Tech gun-free zone.
Anybody see what the evil Brady Campaign and other anti-gun cults have created? I personally have zero tolerance for evil and denial. And America had best wake up real fast that the brain-dead celebration of unarmed helplessness will get you killed every time, and I've about had enough of it. Nearly a decade ago, a Springfield, Oregon, high schooler, a hunter familiar with firearms, was able to bring an unfolding rampage to an abrupt end when he identified a gunman attempting to reload his .22-caliber rifle, made the tactical decision to make a move and tackled the shooter.
A few years back, an assistant principal at Pearl High School in Mississippi, which was a gun-free zone, retrieved his legally owned Colt .45 from his car and stopped a Columbine wannabe from continuing his massacre at another school after he had killed two and wounded more at Pearl.
At an eighth-grade school dance in Pennsylvania, a boy fatally shot a teacher and wounded two students before the owner of the dance hall brought the killing to a halt with his own gun. More recently, just a few miles up the road from Virginia Tech, two law school students ran to fetch their legally owned firearm to stop a madman from slaughtering anybody and everybody he pleased. These brave, average, armed citizens neutralized him pronto.
My hero, Dr. Suzanne Gratia Hupp, was not allowed by Texas law to carry her handgun into Luby's Cafeteria that fateful day in 1991, when due to bureaucrat-forced unarmed helplessness she could do nothing tostop satanic George Hennard from killing 23 people and wounding more than 20 others before he shot himself. Hupp was unarmed for no other reason than denial-ridden "feel good" politics. She has since led the charge for concealed weapon upgrade in Texas,where we can now stop evil.
Yet, there are still the mindless puppets of the Brady Campaign and other anti-gun organizations insisting on continuing the gun-free zone insanity by which innocents are forced into unarmed helplessness. Shame on them. Shame on America. Shame on the anti-gunners all. No one was foolish enough to debate Ryder truck regulations or ammonia nitrate restrictions or a "cult of agriculture fertilizer" following the unabashed evil of Timothy McVeigh's heinous crime against America on that fateful day in Oklahoma City.
No one faulted kitchen utensils or other hardware of choice after Jeffrey Dahmer was caught drugging,mutilating, raping, murdering and cannibalizing his victims. Nobody wanted "steak knife control" as they autopsied the dead nurses in Chicago, Illinois, as Richard Speck went on trial for mass murder.Evil is as evil does, and laws disarming guaranteed victims make evil people very, very happy. Shame on us.
Already spineless gun control advocates are squawking like chickens with their tiny-brained heads chopped off, making political hay over this most recent, devastating Virginia Tech massacre, when in fact it is their own forced gun-free zone policy that enabled the unchallenged methodical murder of 32 people.Thirty-two people dead on a U.S. college campus pursuing their American Dream, mowed-down over an extended period of time by a lone, non-American gunman in illegal possession of a firearm on campus in defiance of a zero-tolerance gun law. Feel better yet? Didn't think so.
Who doesn't get this? Who has the audacity to demand unarmed helplessness? Who likes dead good guys? I'll tell you who. People who tramp on the Second Amendment, that's who. People who refuse to accept the self-evident truth that free people have the God-given right to keep and bear arms, to defend themselves and their loved ones. People who are so desperate in their drive to control others, so mindless in their denial that they pretend access to gas causes arson, Ryder trucks and fertilizer cause terrorism, water causes drowning, forks and spoons cause obesity, dialing 911 will somehow save your life, and that their greedy clamoring to "feel good" is more important than admitting that armed citizens are much better equipped to stop evil than unarmed, helpless ones.
Pray for the families of victims everywhere, America. Study the methodology of evil. It has a profile, a system, a preferred environment where victims cannot fight back. Embrace the facts, demand upgrade and be certain that your children's school has a better plan than Virginia Tech or Columbine. Eliminate the insanity of gun-free zones, which will never, ever be gun-free zones. They will only be good guy gun-free zones, and that is a recipe for disaster written in blood on the altar of denial. I, for one, refuse to genuflect there.
A-FREAKIN'-MEN, Ted.
Liberty Magazine, May 2007
Do any of you subscribe to this magazine? And if so, did you see the article entitled, "Smokey & His Bandits"?
I read two pages, and it literally gave me a headache. Not the article itself, but the stupidity contained therein. You've GOT to be kidding me!
I'm trying to see if I can accurately sum it up without making anyone's head explode.
Okay. Here are some basic highlights of the article (what I've read so far...seriously, guys, HEAD ASPLODEY):
-The Forest Service was encouraged by Congress (not that they argued) to sell timber to raise money for "conservation". Think about that for a minute.
-When that fell through (due to environmentalists stating the obvious oxymoron), they started fabricating information to present to Congress to get more funds for fire prevention - because, hey, prevention was the name of the game at that point. The cheer of the FS at that point was, "Hooray, Hippies!"
-This resulted in a lot of money being given to the Forest Service in order for them to tell rural residents to NOT light maintenance fires on their property, which in turn resulted in MORE devastating fires than there had ever been before in those areas. The Forest Service blamed this on "superstition".
-A professor said, "Hey, guys? You know, you HAVE to burn small maintenance fires every so often to keep fuel (i.e. dead matter) from accumulating, right?" The FS answered, "LA LA LA LA WE CAN'T HEAR YOU!!" Then, when FS found out the same information, they stuck fingers in each other's each and chanted that phrase within the company.
-They also denied to the public that these findings were, in fact, true. What a great agency.
-At some point during all of this, Congress issued a "blank check" policy to the FS that was basically like this: If FS used any money fighting emergency fires, Congress would pay it back in full. BAD idea. FS decided that they would implement a "10am" rule: If the fire was discovered on a Tuesday, and it wasn't out until the next day (Wednesday) at 10am, then it was declared an emergency. Thus, they could get their unlimited funds from Congress sooner.
-These funds were partially used to pay employees that FS had hired outside of their normal budget.
-"Security" measures were implemented for fire fighters to not have to get near the wildfires, so that fewer men/women would die while, erm, fighting the fires. How did they do this? By setting "backfires" to burn the fuel before the wildfires could get to it. Uh...wasn't that what maintenance fires were supposed to do to begin with?
-These "backfires" caused up to 30% of fire damage, and one memorable fire ended up burning 400 homes in Los Alamos. Inexplicably, after this disaster, Congress INCREASED the budget for FS.
That's as far as I've gotten. I feel things so viscerally when I read them sometimes that it makes me physically ill, or actually angry, and I'm too tired to be able to keep that sort of thing in check right now. It's amazing how sitting around and doing nothing will wear you out. I guess it's from constantly being on alert for something to possibly do.
Anyway, back to the article - WTF. That's it. That's my commentary. I hope I summed it up enough for you. I wish I could link to it, but for some reason the magazine doesn't have it printed on the website in the archives (which you can find here).
I'm just totally flabbergasted.
I read two pages, and it literally gave me a headache. Not the article itself, but the stupidity contained therein. You've GOT to be kidding me!
I'm trying to see if I can accurately sum it up without making anyone's head explode.
Okay. Here are some basic highlights of the article (what I've read so far...seriously, guys, HEAD ASPLODEY):
-The Forest Service was encouraged by Congress (not that they argued) to sell timber to raise money for "conservation". Think about that for a minute.
-When that fell through (due to environmentalists stating the obvious oxymoron), they started fabricating information to present to Congress to get more funds for fire prevention - because, hey, prevention was the name of the game at that point. The cheer of the FS at that point was, "Hooray, Hippies!"
-This resulted in a lot of money being given to the Forest Service in order for them to tell rural residents to NOT light maintenance fires on their property, which in turn resulted in MORE devastating fires than there had ever been before in those areas. The Forest Service blamed this on "superstition".
-A professor said, "Hey, guys? You know, you HAVE to burn small maintenance fires every so often to keep fuel (i.e. dead matter) from accumulating, right?" The FS answered, "LA LA LA LA WE CAN'T HEAR YOU!!" Then, when FS found out the same information, they stuck fingers in each other's each and chanted that phrase within the company.
-They also denied to the public that these findings were, in fact, true. What a great agency.
-At some point during all of this, Congress issued a "blank check" policy to the FS that was basically like this: If FS used any money fighting emergency fires, Congress would pay it back in full. BAD idea. FS decided that they would implement a "10am" rule: If the fire was discovered on a Tuesday, and it wasn't out until the next day (Wednesday) at 10am, then it was declared an emergency. Thus, they could get their unlimited funds from Congress sooner.
-These funds were partially used to pay employees that FS had hired outside of their normal budget.
-"Security" measures were implemented for fire fighters to not have to get near the wildfires, so that fewer men/women would die while, erm, fighting the fires. How did they do this? By setting "backfires" to burn the fuel before the wildfires could get to it. Uh...wasn't that what maintenance fires were supposed to do to begin with?
-These "backfires" caused up to 30% of fire damage, and one memorable fire ended up burning 400 homes in Los Alamos. Inexplicably, after this disaster, Congress INCREASED the budget for FS.
That's as far as I've gotten. I feel things so viscerally when I read them sometimes that it makes me physically ill, or actually angry, and I'm too tired to be able to keep that sort of thing in check right now. It's amazing how sitting around and doing nothing will wear you out. I guess it's from constantly being on alert for something to possibly do.
Anyway, back to the article - WTF. That's it. That's my commentary. I hope I summed it up enough for you. I wish I could link to it, but for some reason the magazine doesn't have it printed on the website in the archives (which you can find here).
I'm just totally flabbergasted.
On a (sort of) personal note...
...what's the use of having a job if you're not doing anything?
Actually, I'm pretty okay with not being busy on my first day, but I felt the need to snark. I've had to be polite all day. It's not something I'm used to. School has spoiled me.
The phone's been really quiet for a Monday. That scares me. Tomorrow's going to be bad, I just know it.
Still...I got paid really well to sit here and "learn" how to do things. So I'm NOT complaining in the least. Like I said...I miss the snark. I will have to look up more news when I get home and go to town.
I will catch up with comments tonight, too. I actually got some...shocking!
Actually, I'm pretty okay with not being busy on my first day, but I felt the need to snark. I've had to be polite all day. It's not something I'm used to. School has spoiled me.
The phone's been really quiet for a Monday. That scares me. Tomorrow's going to be bad, I just know it.
Still...I got paid really well to sit here and "learn" how to do things. So I'm NOT complaining in the least. Like I said...I miss the snark. I will have to look up more news when I get home and go to town.
I will catch up with comments tonight, too. I actually got some...shocking!
And...stuff.
I'm answering phones this afternoon, and I'm pretty well caught up with your blog entries (even though I'm unable to comment right now due to sheer volume of entries vs. my timeline here at work), so no worries there.
And now, on with the news as I see it. Because that's all that matters in my universe, right?
Pardon the non-colorful language. I have to be articulate today because there's no telling what the intranet will do up here if I slip up and say something verboten.
---------------
Group of "insurgents" (or something, who knows) posted in a message board that U.S. troops are to call off their search of those missing soldiers.
Anyone else feel like this is some sort of ploy to keep our soliders from discovering something ELSE during all this searching? Or am I just being paranoid? Hrm.
I hate to be an eternal pessimist, but I have a feeling that if these soldiers HAVE been captured, they're going to be used as an "example", so there's nothing our troops can do for them now if that's the case. You can't reason with that sort of violence, ya know?
---------------
Nudist camps recruiting younger members, "luring" them with discounts.
Is anyone surprised that young people don't want to wander around naked? We're raised to be ashamed of our (perfectly normal) bodies if we're over a certain weight, and some people even go so far as to raise their children to be afraid to walk down the street for fear of being raped (*ahem*). Why would they want to wander around naked in front of a group of people who are practically strangers?
Having gotten that out of the way, I think it's great that these people are so comfortable with themselves, and I wish everyone could have that sort of self-esteem. Let's face it: the more comfortable people are with themselves, flaws and all, the less likely they are to be violent towards others in those senseless crimes that involve rape and whatnot. I mean, the world could use a little less self-loathing, and a little more self-love.
---------------
Military blocks use of MySpace, YouTube, and other recreational sites for those serving overseas.
I can understand their reasoning, but if someone has the means to electronically keep up with their loved ones, they're not going to want to revert to writing paper letters. Then again, the article says that they can use their personal computers and networks (that kind of gives me pause...what other network would a soldier HAVE in Iraq than the one provided for them?) to access the sites, so whatever. Can you tell I'm tired today?
Sometimes when you're on the run, you don't have time to do more than send a quick comment on MySpace or something. A long email might not work for you. Same with receiving stuff. Obviously I'm biased toward the internet, but you get my meaning, right? Obviously they can live without it, but it'd be nice if they could get some sort of alternate means of fast communication, because that's what they're using it for, for the most part.
---------------
So...WHEN are we going to be able to separate church and state? Never? Okay, I can buy that, but I don't like it.
I think Mormons are kind of weird, too, but that doesn't mean a Mormon man couldn't be a good leader. I have a good friend who's a SERIOUS Mormon, and she's really cool. I mean, people are people. Can I hit Al Sharpton? Please?
---------------
Gore supporters hope he runs in '08.
Can I just say again: WHY IS THIS NEWS? Of COURSE people who support Gore are going to hope that he runs. A better headline/story would be, "Gore a possibility for '08...again." You know, WARN us without sounding stupid.
---------------
The formatting on IE is a nightmare. So I'll stop now.
And now, on with the news as I see it. Because that's all that matters in my universe, right?
Pardon the non-colorful language. I have to be articulate today because there's no telling what the intranet will do up here if I slip up and say something verboten.
---------------
Group of "insurgents" (or something, who knows) posted in a message board that U.S. troops are to call off their search of those missing soldiers.
Anyone else feel like this is some sort of ploy to keep our soliders from discovering something ELSE during all this searching? Or am I just being paranoid? Hrm.
I hate to be an eternal pessimist, but I have a feeling that if these soldiers HAVE been captured, they're going to be used as an "example", so there's nothing our troops can do for them now if that's the case. You can't reason with that sort of violence, ya know?
---------------
Nudist camps recruiting younger members, "luring" them with discounts.
Is anyone surprised that young people don't want to wander around naked? We're raised to be ashamed of our (perfectly normal) bodies if we're over a certain weight, and some people even go so far as to raise their children to be afraid to walk down the street for fear of being raped (*ahem*). Why would they want to wander around naked in front of a group of people who are practically strangers?
Having gotten that out of the way, I think it's great that these people are so comfortable with themselves, and I wish everyone could have that sort of self-esteem. Let's face it: the more comfortable people are with themselves, flaws and all, the less likely they are to be violent towards others in those senseless crimes that involve rape and whatnot. I mean, the world could use a little less self-loathing, and a little more self-love.
---------------
Military blocks use of MySpace, YouTube, and other recreational sites for those serving overseas.
I can understand their reasoning, but if someone has the means to electronically keep up with their loved ones, they're not going to want to revert to writing paper letters. Then again, the article says that they can use their personal computers and networks (that kind of gives me pause...what other network would a soldier HAVE in Iraq than the one provided for them?) to access the sites, so whatever. Can you tell I'm tired today?
Sometimes when you're on the run, you don't have time to do more than send a quick comment on MySpace or something. A long email might not work for you. Same with receiving stuff. Obviously I'm biased toward the internet, but you get my meaning, right? Obviously they can live without it, but it'd be nice if they could get some sort of alternate means of fast communication, because that's what they're using it for, for the most part.
---------------
So...WHEN are we going to be able to separate church and state? Never? Okay, I can buy that, but I don't like it.
I think Mormons are kind of weird, too, but that doesn't mean a Mormon man couldn't be a good leader. I have a good friend who's a SERIOUS Mormon, and she's really cool. I mean, people are people. Can I hit Al Sharpton? Please?
---------------
Gore supporters hope he runs in '08.
Can I just say again: WHY IS THIS NEWS? Of COURSE people who support Gore are going to hope that he runs. A better headline/story would be, "Gore a possibility for '08...again." You know, WARN us without sounding stupid.
---------------
The formatting on IE is a nightmare. So I'll stop now.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
I hope I answered their question.
There was another search this weekend: "squeaky wheel needs grease". Har har.
The trip was good. We had a party, saw a bunch of family members, and stayed at a 3-star hotel for 1/2-star prices. Priceline.com is awesome, folks. William Shatner IS the Priceline Negotiator.
I've been kind of ignorant of the news this weekend.
Sooo...that's all for now. I need to go to bed. I have to get up about 3 hours earlier than I'm used to tomorrow. Wheeeee, job.
Friday, May 11, 2007
I refuse to quote Willie Nelson's songs in my blog titles.
I'm leaving town for a few days for a family function.
I will likely not be updating, nor will I be commenting on your blogs until after I get back.
And then, of course, on Monday I will start that new job, so that limits my internet time considerably (which is probably a good thing, if my reaction this morning was any indication).
Just FYI. Just because I don't post for a few days, that doesn't mean I've abandoned Blogger. Take heart and wait for me? Just for a little while? I'll miss you. I'll sleep with your picture under my pillow every night I'm away:
Okay, that's one of my guinea pigs. But you get the idea.
I will likely not be updating, nor will I be commenting on your blogs until after I get back.
And then, of course, on Monday I will start that new job, so that limits my internet time considerably (which is probably a good thing, if my reaction this morning was any indication).
Just FYI. Just because I don't post for a few days, that doesn't mean I've abandoned Blogger. Take heart and wait for me? Just for a little while? I'll miss you. I'll sleep with your picture under my pillow every night I'm away:
Okay, that's one of my guinea pigs. But you get the idea.
HAHAHAHAH!
Turn your volume down if you work someplace where listening to stuff on your computer is frowned upon. But not ALL the way down.
MY BAD HERE'S THE CORRECT LINK I M SMRT HAR HAR:
LINKAGE TO HA HA FUNNY STUFF!
MY BAD HERE'S THE CORRECT LINK I M SMRT HAR HAR:
LINKAGE TO HA HA FUNNY STUFF!
So...I'm a terrorist? What?
This has been going around on the blogs lately, and of course I want to put in my $0.02.
An item that's been listed in several FBI pamphlets that points to terrorism is "defense of the Constitution against the federal government".
Uhhhh.
Here's a list of links where you can read the documents themselves, as well as the opinions of some fellow bloggers (thanks to Say Uncle! for the links, and the original heads-up):
MY opinion? Pretty much the same as Danny's: Fascism doesn't like competition.
And, of course, I have to check myself against the lists to see if I'm a terrorist according to these guys. Things in bold are what I identify with. Things crossed out are things that don't apply to me. Things left alone are too stupid for me to bother with, don't apply to me, or are so vague and general that I can't tell what the hell they're referring to. (Oh, wait...that's the whole list...)
Here's what Phoenix thinks a terrorist is:
Uh-oh. Not looking good for Yours Truly.
Virginia says that these types of people can be terrorists:
The same Virginia manual says terrorists carry the following:
Texas? What do you think? What are the characteristics a terrorist might display?
An item that's been listed in several FBI pamphlets that points to terrorism is "defense of the Constitution against the federal government".
Uhhhh.
Here's a list of links where you can read the documents themselves, as well as the opinions of some fellow bloggers (thanks to Say Uncle! for the links, and the original heads-up):
Phoenix FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force pamplet (.pdf file)
No Quarters checks himself against the list.
Mother Jones is apparently a prime target.
Say Uncle! reflects on the implementation of religious institutions in the fight against individual opinions about the government.
Info Wars points out that, apparently, if you're a nice guy who wears Levis and travels with your kids, you're a terrorist.
Another reflection by Info Wars on the specifics of the pamphlets.
Prison Planet: "Believe in Property Rights? You're a terrorist!"
MY opinion? Pretty much the same as Danny's: Fascism doesn't like competition.
And, of course, I have to check myself against the lists to see if I'm a terrorist according to these guys. Things in bold are what I identify with. Things crossed out are things that don't apply to me. Things left alone are too stupid for me to bother with, don't apply to me, or are so vague and general that I can't tell what the hell they're referring to. (Oh, wait...that's the whole list...)
Here's what Phoenix thinks a terrorist is:
- Defenders of the U.S. Constitution against federal government and the UN
- Groups of individuals engaging in para-military training (Uh, does shooting at a range count?)
- Those who make numerous references to the U.S. Constitution
- Those who attempt to police the police
- Lone individuals
- Rebels
Uh-oh. Not looking good for Yours Truly.
Virginia says that these types of people can be terrorists:
- Members of anti-government and militia movements
- Property rights activists
Members of racist, separatist, and hate groups- Environmental and animal rights activists (though I'm not PETA-level...those people are fucking insane)
Religious extremistsMembers of street gangs
The same Virginia manual says terrorists carry the following:
- Sketch pads or notebooks
- Maps or charts (I HATE getting lost...it's a fear of mine.)
- Still or video cameras
- Hand-held tape recorders (I'm a VOICE student. We're required to record ourselves and listen to recordings, for fuck's sake)
SCUBA equipment- Disguises (Does a pair of sunglasses in your purse count?)
Texas? What do you think? What are the characteristics a terrorist might display?
- Focused and committed (well, when I want something)
- Team-oriented and disciplined
- Familiar with their physical environments (Again, the getting lost thing...)
- Employ a variety of vehicles and communicate by cell phone, email, or text messaging
- Try not to draw attention to themselves
- Look like students, tourists, or businesspersons (Uh, I AM all of the above)
- Travel in a mixed group of men, women, and children (I have a big family)
- Avoid confrontations with law enforcement (Am I supposed to punch cops or something?)
- Use disguises or undergo cosmetic surgery
That list sounds, alternately, like a job description for a stockbroker, politician, and porn star. Well, fuck...that's most of America, and all of Washington, D.C., not to mention Hollywood (why hasn't Alec Baldwin been arrested yet?).
I'm a loner, I've been described as a "rebel" (because I'm not a conformist), I like my sketchbooks and journals (to draw and record quotes in, because I have ADD, and it keeps me occupied so that I don't get antsy), I believe that our Constitution is in place for a reason, and I intend to defend it until the day I die. I believe that every American should be able to own a gun not only to defend themselves from the everyday variety of homo erectus, but also the governmentus fucktardius, a rare creature that's becoming more prevalent as the years wear on. That's what the Second Amendment is for, actually, to give people the right to form a militia should our government get out of hand. Our forefathers predicted this bullshit. How about that? You'd think they'd seen it before...oh, yeah. They came from England.
I'm a Libertarian because I LOVE MY COUNTRY. If someone directly threatens the ideals by which this country was founded, of COURSE I'm going to raise a stink.
It would be UN-AMERICAN not to.
So fuck you and the horse you rode in on. I'm not changing my ideas for your agenda. I refuse to be a sheep, and I refuse to be a victim to the government that's supposed to be protecting me with THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Oh, yeah...this is me exercising my First Amendment rights, so fuck off if you're going to try to threaten me. THIS is the only rulebook I need, and the only one I need to follow, thanks.
And there are more of us than you think. So pay attention and listen to us. You might learn something.
Daily Mash-Up (I have GOT to find a regular title for this crap)
Giuliani plans to outline views on abortion rights.
I can commend his view, because it's the same as mine (though mine's a little more, uh, personal): *I* wouldn't choose to do it, but if someone feels that that's the best route for them to take, then that's their decision, and it's not my place to tell them what to do.
I just don't know why this is being debated during elections. The main reason people argue about it is for religious reasons. Isn't this why separation of church and state was supposed to be upheld? To prevent bullshit arguments from surfacing to sway people based on their faith rather than their common sense and values? And yes, there IS a difference between faith and values. I have a pretty strong moral compass, but I'm not religious. It IS possible.
----------------------
GOP pulls in lowest amount of money for their gala in years.
Aww, puddin'.
----------------------
Did somebody die on "Lost"?
Does anybody give a shit?
----------------------
Gay Bishop to hold civil union ceremony with partner of 18 years.
Fuckin-A, dude. Good luck to you.
----------------------
Japan opens drop box for babies.
Okay, so it's not the country, it's actually just one hospital. But that's...weird. I guess whatever works, though, to keep people from drowning unwanted kids.
----------------------
Speaking of drowning, flood waters are rising again in Missouri.
My family's from Missouri, so this is something I pay attention to, but I wonder if I'm the only non-resident who has noticed the frequency of the major floods increasing ever-so-slightly? 20-ish years between the flood they had in the 70s and the one in 1993. Now, 14 years. Hrm. Well, I guess it's not THAT much of a difference, it must just seem that way to me, with my warped sense of time.
Hopefully they can get people outta there. I have a feeling the residents are like, "Ho-hum, another flood...honey, grab the dog and the ammunition!", but still - it never hurts to have a few more helping hands present.
----------------------
STOP REFERRING TO POLITICAL PARTIES IN A RELIGIOUS SENSE! Jesus Fucking H. Christ on a Cracker! Seriously!
----------------------
And because I like to end things on a personal note, I have secured summer employment, making twice as much as the job itself is worth. America: Fuck yeah.
I can commend his view, because it's the same as mine (though mine's a little more, uh, personal): *I* wouldn't choose to do it, but if someone feels that that's the best route for them to take, then that's their decision, and it's not my place to tell them what to do.
I just don't know why this is being debated during elections. The main reason people argue about it is for religious reasons. Isn't this why separation of church and state was supposed to be upheld? To prevent bullshit arguments from surfacing to sway people based on their faith rather than their common sense and values? And yes, there IS a difference between faith and values. I have a pretty strong moral compass, but I'm not religious. It IS possible.
----------------------
GOP pulls in lowest amount of money for their gala in years.
Aww, puddin'.
----------------------
Did somebody die on "Lost"?
Does anybody give a shit?
----------------------
Gay Bishop to hold civil union ceremony with partner of 18 years.
Fuckin-A, dude. Good luck to you.
----------------------
Japan opens drop box for babies.
Okay, so it's not the country, it's actually just one hospital. But that's...weird. I guess whatever works, though, to keep people from drowning unwanted kids.
----------------------
Speaking of drowning, flood waters are rising again in Missouri.
My family's from Missouri, so this is something I pay attention to, but I wonder if I'm the only non-resident who has noticed the frequency of the major floods increasing ever-so-slightly? 20-ish years between the flood they had in the 70s and the one in 1993. Now, 14 years. Hrm. Well, I guess it's not THAT much of a difference, it must just seem that way to me, with my warped sense of time.
Hopefully they can get people outta there. I have a feeling the residents are like, "Ho-hum, another flood...honey, grab the dog and the ammunition!", but still - it never hurts to have a few more helping hands present.
----------------------
STOP REFERRING TO POLITICAL PARTIES IN A RELIGIOUS SENSE! Jesus Fucking H. Christ on a Cracker! Seriously!
----------------------
And because I like to end things on a personal note, I have secured summer employment, making twice as much as the job itself is worth. America: Fuck yeah.
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