The War on Christmas
This whole War on Christmas hysteria really needs to stop. Those who are caught up in it are doing nothing but make themselves look like jackasses and help John Gibson and Bill O'Reilly make more money. Why does there need to be a "war" about this, anyway? Could we please tone down the catchphrases? No, of course not, because that doesn't sell as many books or commercial time.
Yesterday, one of our reps called me to ask a question and he started out by saying, "Merry Christmas or Happy Hannukah or - well, I just don't know what to say anymore, so Happy Holidays." I told him he couldn't say that either because that would mean that he's helping in the War on Christmas. He laughed, as well he should, because it's DUMB.
And then today I opened our free local newspaper and saw this gem of a column from our resident right wing apologist. He's usually good for little more than a somewhat shrill recap of the week's talking points and this week was no exception. I won't recap it, the link's there if you want it, but I mention it because it really was the final straw. There is no war on Christmas, there is just a recognition by most everyone that there are millions of people who celebrate different winter holidays. It's that simple. Someone saying "Happy Holidays" to me suggests that they respect the possibility that I might not be Christian, and I appreciate that. Those who whine about a War on Christmas probably don't give a damn that others may not be Christian and their insistence on "Merry Christmas" being the default message is highly disrespectful. Beyond that, it's petty and stupid and I think Jesus would be ashamed of His followers for their behavior.
So ... now I have to go write a letter to the editor.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Cell Phone Rudeness
Last night I had an opportunity to teach my 10 year old son a valuable lesson. At first it appeared that the lesson would simply be about cell phone etiquette (timely, since he had earlier asked if he could have a cell phone with actual local access and not just the old one we gave him with 911 access to see how long he could go without losing it), but very quickly I realized that it was really about much more than that. It was about people just being completely unaware that the universe, as our mothers all told us when we were little, does NOT revolve around us.
I know that every generation feels that the next generation's values & manners are in a sad state and I hate to sound like a codger at the tender age of 36, but dang if it doesn't appear to be true. If it's any consolation, my opinion of my own generation is pretty low as well, especially out here in suburbia where the sense of entitlement is overpowering and the coddling of precious can-do-no-wrong-aren't-they-so-CUTE-when-they-screech-like-that children is almost a competition among the SAH's (Stay At Homes). But I digress.
Here's what happened: Last night, EasyE and I went to WallyWorld to try to find a Christmas present for his stepdad. We didn't find anything, but I did pick up some cough drops for a co-worker who has been battling a severe cough this week, and a 2 liter of soda. Since we only had the two items and every lane had quite a line, I figured we'd give the scan-it-yourself lanes a shot.
Now, I have to go into what might seem like a subset issue of this whole thing when it comes to the scan-it-yourself lanes, but it's really all part and parcel of the big problem. In a nutshell, if you've never tried using one of these lanes, the time to NOT do it is when there is a line. If it's really on your list as one of life's must-try's, give it a go on a Monday afternoon at the grocery or something - not on the weekend, and not during the holiday season after work hours. Ditto for letting your kid work the scanner. It's fine to do so if there is nobody waiting in line, but the minute people are going to have to wait for your child to drag that can of soup across the scanner for the fifth time, it's time to take over and wrap up that transaction.
So - back to last night. There were only four stations open for self-serve, which kind of baffled me until I remembered that Wally's self-serve stations don't really work and there is an attendant constantly in motion voiding this, overriding that, and looking vacantly at the monitor with no idea what to do the rest of the time. There was only one woman so I suppose more than four stations would have been difficult.
At one station I pondered going to, there was a woman with at least 25-30 items (limit 20!), having a lot of trouble and getting flustered by her inability to scan. I chose to get in line behind one couple who were finishing up, a cute blonde girl in riding attire (horse, not bike), and another young hippie-ish girl. No problem, we'd be out of there in a flash!
Wrong. As Equestigirl stepped up to start scanning her items, she took her cell phone out and CALLED someone. She didn't answer a call, she dialed and started talking. The other girl in line looked at me with the ever readable facial "what the hell?" look, and then we both settled in to watch this completely unaware person check out her stuff. Unfortunately, she had a bunch of bags of candy, which meant that she didn't have clear, flat surfaces to run over the scanner. This wouldn't be a problem with two hands but she didn't HAVE two hands. She had to struggle with trying to do all of this with her free hand, and of course it didn't work well.
On her second bag, the machine wigged out and went into "call attendant" mode, which took a few minutes because of the aforementioned worker chick's other lane obligations. OK. Try again. One bag scanned, next bag - not so much. Call attendant. This time she had the good grace to at least take the phone away from her ear while she talked to the attendant with the obligatory looks of innocence and bewilderment as to why this wasn't working, she didn't know what happened, etc. Next. At this point, I did say to the girl ahead of me, in a voice that I hoped was audible but not obnoxious, "bet this would be easier with two hands." She snorted.
Time to pay for the purchase. This prompts her to end her call, which I will be doubly grateful for in a moment. Oh, would this be a good time to get out your card? Apparently so. Now me, I have it out before I even get to the scanner but I'm starting to think I'm in the minority with this. She opens her purse, gets out her dayplanner, gets out her card, and swipes. She then extracts her checkbook reconciliation book. She writes in the date ... and "WalMart" (I assume) ... and the amount ... and then does her subtraction ... and puts her card back in her dayplanner, puts it back into her near bursting purse, zips it up, and then looks at the screen which has been waiting for her all this time so that she could - enter her PIN. She gives a bit of a look of surprise, which is completely baffling since I find it hard to believe she's never used her debit card given how many pages of transactions were in her checkbook, enters her PIN, waits for the signature prompt, gets her receipt and bags and turns to us and says, "sorry."
Girl in front of me gets her transaction done in warp time, and we get ours done at similar speed. The guy behind me waited probably half the time for two people to do their stuff as we all did for her.
So, several points of rudeness here. Her cell phone call starts everything off on a bad note and while there is actually a part of me that gives her some benefit of the doubt that she is unsure of the technology and would prefer to look rude over looking slow and stupid, I just don't think that's the case. Cutting her call short as soon as her scanner started acting up would have helped the situation but she chose not to do that - point two. And again, who knows, maybe she was checking in on her terminally ill mother at some predetermined time to make sure that Mom took her medication and was doing OK. Or maybe not. Taking the time to write down her transaction instead of waiting until she was done and out of line? Totally rude. I'm pretty sure that in the time she walked to her car she would not have forgotten the date, the place of the transaction, or how to subtract. She even had a handy dandy receipt that would have reminded her of two of those variables, plus the amount of the transaction. And finally, the lame "sorry" that she gave when she finally left. She didn't give a rat's patootie about her behavior up until then, so the "sorry" rang a little hollow.
In the grand scheme of things, this is not a big deal. It's not earth shattering, and I get that. This one experience is not the issue, it's the aggregate impact of millions of people doing this that causes the problem. Whether it's a matter of truly and consciously feeling that nobody else matters or it's completely oblivious behavior, it's still rude and points to a lack of proper upbringing. And worse, the next generation will be brought up with an even lower expectation bar.
On the other hand, I started this post with the note that I had a chance to teach my son a lesson, so maybe she did me a little favor. And so it goes...
Last night I had an opportunity to teach my 10 year old son a valuable lesson. At first it appeared that the lesson would simply be about cell phone etiquette (timely, since he had earlier asked if he could have a cell phone with actual local access and not just the old one we gave him with 911 access to see how long he could go without losing it), but very quickly I realized that it was really about much more than that. It was about people just being completely unaware that the universe, as our mothers all told us when we were little, does NOT revolve around us.
I know that every generation feels that the next generation's values & manners are in a sad state and I hate to sound like a codger at the tender age of 36, but dang if it doesn't appear to be true. If it's any consolation, my opinion of my own generation is pretty low as well, especially out here in suburbia where the sense of entitlement is overpowering and the coddling of precious can-do-no-wrong-aren't-they-so-CUTE-when-they-screech-like-that children is almost a competition among the SAH's (Stay At Homes). But I digress.
Here's what happened: Last night, EasyE and I went to WallyWorld to try to find a Christmas present for his stepdad. We didn't find anything, but I did pick up some cough drops for a co-worker who has been battling a severe cough this week, and a 2 liter of soda. Since we only had the two items and every lane had quite a line, I figured we'd give the scan-it-yourself lanes a shot.
Now, I have to go into what might seem like a subset issue of this whole thing when it comes to the scan-it-yourself lanes, but it's really all part and parcel of the big problem. In a nutshell, if you've never tried using one of these lanes, the time to NOT do it is when there is a line. If it's really on your list as one of life's must-try's, give it a go on a Monday afternoon at the grocery or something - not on the weekend, and not during the holiday season after work hours. Ditto for letting your kid work the scanner. It's fine to do so if there is nobody waiting in line, but the minute people are going to have to wait for your child to drag that can of soup across the scanner for the fifth time, it's time to take over and wrap up that transaction.
So - back to last night. There were only four stations open for self-serve, which kind of baffled me until I remembered that Wally's self-serve stations don't really work and there is an attendant constantly in motion voiding this, overriding that, and looking vacantly at the monitor with no idea what to do the rest of the time. There was only one woman so I suppose more than four stations would have been difficult.
At one station I pondered going to, there was a woman with at least 25-30 items (limit 20!), having a lot of trouble and getting flustered by her inability to scan. I chose to get in line behind one couple who were finishing up, a cute blonde girl in riding attire (horse, not bike), and another young hippie-ish girl. No problem, we'd be out of there in a flash!
Wrong. As Equestigirl stepped up to start scanning her items, she took her cell phone out and CALLED someone. She didn't answer a call, she dialed and started talking. The other girl in line looked at me with the ever readable facial "what the hell?" look, and then we both settled in to watch this completely unaware person check out her stuff. Unfortunately, she had a bunch of bags of candy, which meant that she didn't have clear, flat surfaces to run over the scanner. This wouldn't be a problem with two hands but she didn't HAVE two hands. She had to struggle with trying to do all of this with her free hand, and of course it didn't work well.
On her second bag, the machine wigged out and went into "call attendant" mode, which took a few minutes because of the aforementioned worker chick's other lane obligations. OK. Try again. One bag scanned, next bag - not so much. Call attendant. This time she had the good grace to at least take the phone away from her ear while she talked to the attendant with the obligatory looks of innocence and bewilderment as to why this wasn't working, she didn't know what happened, etc. Next. At this point, I did say to the girl ahead of me, in a voice that I hoped was audible but not obnoxious, "bet this would be easier with two hands." She snorted.
Time to pay for the purchase. This prompts her to end her call, which I will be doubly grateful for in a moment. Oh, would this be a good time to get out your card? Apparently so. Now me, I have it out before I even get to the scanner but I'm starting to think I'm in the minority with this. She opens her purse, gets out her dayplanner, gets out her card, and swipes. She then extracts her checkbook reconciliation book. She writes in the date ... and "WalMart" (I assume) ... and the amount ... and then does her subtraction ... and puts her card back in her dayplanner, puts it back into her near bursting purse, zips it up, and then looks at the screen which has been waiting for her all this time so that she could - enter her PIN. She gives a bit of a look of surprise, which is completely baffling since I find it hard to believe she's never used her debit card given how many pages of transactions were in her checkbook, enters her PIN, waits for the signature prompt, gets her receipt and bags and turns to us and says, "sorry."
Girl in front of me gets her transaction done in warp time, and we get ours done at similar speed. The guy behind me waited probably half the time for two people to do their stuff as we all did for her.
So, several points of rudeness here. Her cell phone call starts everything off on a bad note and while there is actually a part of me that gives her some benefit of the doubt that she is unsure of the technology and would prefer to look rude over looking slow and stupid, I just don't think that's the case. Cutting her call short as soon as her scanner started acting up would have helped the situation but she chose not to do that - point two. And again, who knows, maybe she was checking in on her terminally ill mother at some predetermined time to make sure that Mom took her medication and was doing OK. Or maybe not. Taking the time to write down her transaction instead of waiting until she was done and out of line? Totally rude. I'm pretty sure that in the time she walked to her car she would not have forgotten the date, the place of the transaction, or how to subtract. She even had a handy dandy receipt that would have reminded her of two of those variables, plus the amount of the transaction. And finally, the lame "sorry" that she gave when she finally left. She didn't give a rat's patootie about her behavior up until then, so the "sorry" rang a little hollow.
In the grand scheme of things, this is not a big deal. It's not earth shattering, and I get that. This one experience is not the issue, it's the aggregate impact of millions of people doing this that causes the problem. Whether it's a matter of truly and consciously feeling that nobody else matters or it's completely oblivious behavior, it's still rude and points to a lack of proper upbringing. And worse, the next generation will be brought up with an even lower expectation bar.
On the other hand, I started this post with the note that I had a chance to teach my son a lesson, so maybe she did me a little favor. And so it goes...
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Customer Service
Honestly. I'm so sick of dealing with customer service folks. It's getting to the point where I'm beginning to wonder if I have offended the karmic customer service gods or something. Maybe this is my life test - to learn how to go through an hour of phone transfers, reps, disconnections, "enter your phone number" instructions, hold messages, neckaches, smooshed ears, etc., without just completely losing it on the poor person who eventually ends up with me on the line.
Today's adventure was the culmination of a six month hate affair with Packet8, a VOIP provider. It also involves Comcast and Verizon, to some extent, which means I'm a broad phone spectrum hater, I guess.
More later..
Honestly. I'm so sick of dealing with customer service folks. It's getting to the point where I'm beginning to wonder if I have offended the karmic customer service gods or something. Maybe this is my life test - to learn how to go through an hour of phone transfers, reps, disconnections, "enter your phone number" instructions, hold messages, neckaches, smooshed ears, etc., without just completely losing it on the poor person who eventually ends up with me on the line.
Today's adventure was the culmination of a six month hate affair with Packet8, a VOIP provider. It also involves Comcast and Verizon, to some extent, which means I'm a broad phone spectrum hater, I guess.
More later..
Monday, November 14, 2005
Quiet month?
Wow, it's been over a month since I've visited here. Odd, considering how often I think about something that I want to mention. There are plenty of events that have made me simmer, but I don't feel like getting into those today. Instead, I think I'll ponder my son's 10th birthday.
I'm sure every mother feels and says this but wow - ten years sure went by quickly.
There are so many things I wish I could have done differently for him, and I'm constantly amazed at what a wonderful kid he is in spite of me. He's healthy, intelligent, polite and (generally) kind. He's the only child in his fourth grade class who goes to the fifth grade room for both reading and math, he has a good circle of friends who are generally "cool" - from a Mom's perspective, that means polite, articulate, and generally not trying to hard to impress.
As he gets older, I've noticed that he's getting a lot more affectionate. It's almost like he's got some understanding that soon he'll be out of that time in his life where he will be able to cuddle on the couch and he'd better get what he can now. I also think he realizes that he missed out on a lot of snuggle time when he was younger - back in the days when I was in a marriage that was unhappy and I was emotionally unavailable a lot of the time, and also just because he was never an overly touchy/feely kid.
There's so much more I could go on about here, but I won't because it'd turn into a big mess. I'm practically crying as it is, and that's just thinking about the past. If I start pondering too much about how the next ten years will likely whip by just as quickly and then he'll be gone and out of the house ... well, I just can't have that happening while I'm at work, so maybe I'll add more later. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to leaving here in an hour and a half so I can go home and give him a huge hug.
Wow, it's been over a month since I've visited here. Odd, considering how often I think about something that I want to mention. There are plenty of events that have made me simmer, but I don't feel like getting into those today. Instead, I think I'll ponder my son's 10th birthday.
I'm sure every mother feels and says this but wow - ten years sure went by quickly.
There are so many things I wish I could have done differently for him, and I'm constantly amazed at what a wonderful kid he is in spite of me. He's healthy, intelligent, polite and (generally) kind. He's the only child in his fourth grade class who goes to the fifth grade room for both reading and math, he has a good circle of friends who are generally "cool" - from a Mom's perspective, that means polite, articulate, and generally not trying to hard to impress.
As he gets older, I've noticed that he's getting a lot more affectionate. It's almost like he's got some understanding that soon he'll be out of that time in his life where he will be able to cuddle on the couch and he'd better get what he can now. I also think he realizes that he missed out on a lot of snuggle time when he was younger - back in the days when I was in a marriage that was unhappy and I was emotionally unavailable a lot of the time, and also just because he was never an overly touchy/feely kid.
There's so much more I could go on about here, but I won't because it'd turn into a big mess. I'm practically crying as it is, and that's just thinking about the past. If I start pondering too much about how the next ten years will likely whip by just as quickly and then he'll be gone and out of the house ... well, I just can't have that happening while I'm at work, so maybe I'll add more later. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to leaving here in an hour and a half so I can go home and give him a huge hug.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Snnnnnnnnlush! And Corn, and W&G ...
The first slush of the season has arrived. We knew it was coming, there's been a winter storm warning out for a few days already. Saturday was gorgeous, one of our usual unreal blue sky days, high of about 80, then yesterday it started to cloud over. It started to rain as we were driving over to the
Corn Maze, but that was OK since gloomy fall weather is what you SHOULD have when you're walking through dried up corn fields, right? Unfortunately, the lowest common denominator factored in and the Maze was closed down about 20 minutes after we went in - turns out that someone in the past has fallen in the mud and gotten hurt, so of course if there is any sign of slipperiness, everything must shut down. Stupid logic as I'm guessing that lots of unsafe activities have gone on in the maze - mostly after dark, if you catch my drift - but oh well. They were cool enough to give us our money back, so I was happy.
With some time on our hands, we decided to go check out Wallace & Gromit. At 95% on the Tomatometer, I figured it was a slam dunk. Plus, I didn't want to see Corpse Bride, after being underwhelmed by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I wasn't about to get away from Helena Bonham Carter, though - she's in W&G too, doing the voice of Lady Tottington. Anyhoo, it occurred to me as we were walking into the theater that reviewers might favor W&G simply because it's supposed to be more intelligent, and that might mean that it's really just dull. The first half of the movie served well as proof of this theory, offering up only a few chuckles. After that, though, it tipped to the funny side and I woke up (literally - I leaned over on Bill's shoulders and closed my eyes a couple of times). There were quite a few roars of laughter from the adults during the second half of the movie, accompanied by looks of confusion from the kids who didn't know what had gotten into the parents. Bottom line - funny, but doesn't need a big screen, especially if you don't have kids.
So then about this snow. It's a messy sort of snow, not something that gives over to visions of sleigh bells and hot chocolate - more like dreams of car washes and mud room additions. One of our apple trees is now a goner, split down the middle from the weight of snow on branches that haven't lost their leaves yet, and our front yard tree (no idea what it is) will suffer some damage but will make it through. Most of the other trees in the cul de sac look like they got hit a lot harder than ours. Usually the snow would have stopped and even melted by now, but this front is stalled. There's none of our usual Rocky Mountain sun and dry air to suck it back up into the atmosphere until tomorrow, so the drive home will be a mess. Still, it's the kind of weather that makes you want to curl up on the couch with a blanket and a kid, so it's not all bad, right?
The first slush of the season has arrived. We knew it was coming, there's been a winter storm warning out for a few days already. Saturday was gorgeous, one of our usual unreal blue sky days, high of about 80, then yesterday it started to cloud over. It started to rain as we were driving over to the
Corn Maze, but that was OK since gloomy fall weather is what you SHOULD have when you're walking through dried up corn fields, right? Unfortunately, the lowest common denominator factored in and the Maze was closed down about 20 minutes after we went in - turns out that someone in the past has fallen in the mud and gotten hurt, so of course if there is any sign of slipperiness, everything must shut down. Stupid logic as I'm guessing that lots of unsafe activities have gone on in the maze - mostly after dark, if you catch my drift - but oh well. They were cool enough to give us our money back, so I was happy.
With some time on our hands, we decided to go check out Wallace & Gromit. At 95% on the Tomatometer, I figured it was a slam dunk. Plus, I didn't want to see Corpse Bride, after being underwhelmed by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I wasn't about to get away from Helena Bonham Carter, though - she's in W&G too, doing the voice of Lady Tottington. Anyhoo, it occurred to me as we were walking into the theater that reviewers might favor W&G simply because it's supposed to be more intelligent, and that might mean that it's really just dull. The first half of the movie served well as proof of this theory, offering up only a few chuckles. After that, though, it tipped to the funny side and I woke up (literally - I leaned over on Bill's shoulders and closed my eyes a couple of times). There were quite a few roars of laughter from the adults during the second half of the movie, accompanied by looks of confusion from the kids who didn't know what had gotten into the parents. Bottom line - funny, but doesn't need a big screen, especially if you don't have kids.
So then about this snow. It's a messy sort of snow, not something that gives over to visions of sleigh bells and hot chocolate - more like dreams of car washes and mud room additions. One of our apple trees is now a goner, split down the middle from the weight of snow on branches that haven't lost their leaves yet, and our front yard tree (no idea what it is) will suffer some damage but will make it through. Most of the other trees in the cul de sac look like they got hit a lot harder than ours. Usually the snow would have stopped and even melted by now, but this front is stalled. There's none of our usual Rocky Mountain sun and dry air to suck it back up into the atmosphere until tomorrow, so the drive home will be a mess. Still, it's the kind of weather that makes you want to curl up on the couch with a blanket and a kid, so it's not all bad, right?
Friday, October 07, 2005
Brain Freeze
This morning we got our first really cold night - cold being barely dipping below freezing - and it knocked me all out of whack. I didn't think to turn on the heater last night so when I got into the shower this morning, it was a brisk 58 degrees INSIDE. Uh, brr. Seriously need to work on insulating the house better. And then once out of the shower, I realized that this weekend will have to include a little clothes shopping, as I have no winter office wear, and my distraction with a lack of wardrobe caused me to completely forget to put on makeup. Not even a smidge, I am completely nature girl here today. I didn't notice until almost 11 and have basically stayed hidden since then. It's not that I'm hideous without makeup, it just implies a lack of care about my appearance that I don't want emphasized.
Definitely ready for the weekend.
This morning we got our first really cold night - cold being barely dipping below freezing - and it knocked me all out of whack. I didn't think to turn on the heater last night so when I got into the shower this morning, it was a brisk 58 degrees INSIDE. Uh, brr. Seriously need to work on insulating the house better. And then once out of the shower, I realized that this weekend will have to include a little clothes shopping, as I have no winter office wear, and my distraction with a lack of wardrobe caused me to completely forget to put on makeup. Not even a smidge, I am completely nature girl here today. I didn't notice until almost 11 and have basically stayed hidden since then. It's not that I'm hideous without makeup, it just implies a lack of care about my appearance that I don't want emphasized.
Definitely ready for the weekend.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Miers
It's hard not to be cynical when you're thinking about politicians, but the nomination of Harriet Miers is just so bizarre that you can't help it. Bush has always done exactly what he damn well pleases and as a lame duck, you'd think he'd throw that into high gear. Instead, he's nominated someone not nearly conservative enough for his hard right base, and unknown enough to at least concern and/or baffle his moderate base and the Democrats. He's once again being accused of cronyism - something that we know doesn't really bother him but now seems so aggressive that even his supporters think it's over the top.
I haven't read a ton of blogs or articles about her (yet) but a few things have jumped out so far - no comment on the already beat-to-death debates on the lack of judicial experience and materials that could be used to figure out who the heck this woman is and how she thinks.
1. Cheney headed up Bush's quest for a running mate and then became his running mate. Miers headed up his quest for a Justice and then got nominated. Surely this isn't the case - please let it not be the case - but it almost looks like the man just gets lazy and tired of the process. "Hell, you just go ahead and do it."
2. She's known Bush for 20 years - I wouldn't put it beyond Bush's ego to want a direct personal impact on the court after he's gone. Her devotion to him has been noted several times, and he certainly loves attention.
3. She could be a "win" for Bush whether she's confirmed or not. If she IS confirmed, I've no real doubt that she'll fall to the right. Certainly you wouldn't expect Bush to nominate otherwise. It seems unclear what she'd do with Roe v Wade challenges, but I think it would be unwise to focus on that issue. It's so EASY to focus on it, which is why I wonder if there isn't a longer end game with some other cases in mind down the road. But if she is NOT confirmed, it still might be a win. Bush will be able to say that he tried to nominate someone moderate so as to reach out across party lines, and darn those Democrats, they just wouldn't cooperate. They're obviously obstructionist. And as for the right that he's alienated with this nomination? Well, it may come to pass that there are several midterm candidates who will end up beholden to him for awakening the sentiment out there for the hard right (and maybe even some folks who are conservative but are losing faith in Bush) to keep control of Congress.
In general, I'm disappointed in the reaction and focus on the weakest chinks in her armor. There's more to this, and I'd like to see some experts dig deeper - I think I'm feeling all Pelican Brief-y here - into what is way out on the horizon and why she's Bush's choice.
It's hard not to be cynical when you're thinking about politicians, but the nomination of Harriet Miers is just so bizarre that you can't help it. Bush has always done exactly what he damn well pleases and as a lame duck, you'd think he'd throw that into high gear. Instead, he's nominated someone not nearly conservative enough for his hard right base, and unknown enough to at least concern and/or baffle his moderate base and the Democrats. He's once again being accused of cronyism - something that we know doesn't really bother him but now seems so aggressive that even his supporters think it's over the top.
I haven't read a ton of blogs or articles about her (yet) but a few things have jumped out so far - no comment on the already beat-to-death debates on the lack of judicial experience and materials that could be used to figure out who the heck this woman is and how she thinks.
1. Cheney headed up Bush's quest for a running mate and then became his running mate. Miers headed up his quest for a Justice and then got nominated. Surely this isn't the case - please let it not be the case - but it almost looks like the man just gets lazy and tired of the process. "Hell, you just go ahead and do it."
2. She's known Bush for 20 years - I wouldn't put it beyond Bush's ego to want a direct personal impact on the court after he's gone. Her devotion to him has been noted several times, and he certainly loves attention.
3. She could be a "win" for Bush whether she's confirmed or not. If she IS confirmed, I've no real doubt that she'll fall to the right. Certainly you wouldn't expect Bush to nominate otherwise. It seems unclear what she'd do with Roe v Wade challenges, but I think it would be unwise to focus on that issue. It's so EASY to focus on it, which is why I wonder if there isn't a longer end game with some other cases in mind down the road. But if she is NOT confirmed, it still might be a win. Bush will be able to say that he tried to nominate someone moderate so as to reach out across party lines, and darn those Democrats, they just wouldn't cooperate. They're obviously obstructionist. And as for the right that he's alienated with this nomination? Well, it may come to pass that there are several midterm candidates who will end up beholden to him for awakening the sentiment out there for the hard right (and maybe even some folks who are conservative but are losing faith in Bush) to keep control of Congress.
In general, I'm disappointed in the reaction and focus on the weakest chinks in her armor. There's more to this, and I'd like to see some experts dig deeper - I think I'm feeling all Pelican Brief-y here - into what is way out on the horizon and why she's Bush's choice.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Bankrupt Citizen? Piss off. Oil Company? Step Right Up ...
I hate starting my day off angry.
Yesterday I posted a story regarding the new bankruptcy bill and how many hurricane victims are going to be subject to further insult and indignity because of this predatory and extremely transparent kiss ass to big lenders.
This morning, one of the first stories I saw posted on my politics list was about new Republican pushes to rollback environmental rules in order to increase oil production, and it's just appalling:
1. FLORIDA offshore drilling? Are you kidding me? Let's invest millions into more rigs that will get blown over next year, and the year after that, and the year after that?
2. Oil shale is still a pretty controversial prospect. Apparently Shell has developed a new extraction method that may not turn Colorado, Utah and Wyoming into ugly strip mined messes, but even the government recognizes that there are serious environmental issues that need to be addressed. There is also the matter of the tremendous amount of water that is apparently used in the extraction process. Even if there isn't an eventual loss or contamination of water (and I'll bet there is), there would still be diversions of water in order to use it for the extraction and in case nobody's noticed, one natural disaster we have out here is wildfires. Why? Because we don't have much WATER. My water bills for a mostly xeriscaped small lawn with drip lines and a house with low flow shower heads runs about $100/month in the summer, thank you very much - I don't need to see that rise just so we can delay the inevitable demise of the oil age. Besides, I kind of think Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah are pretty and I don't trust oil companies to keep it that way.
3. Sell national parks for energy development? No. How about responsible energy development that isn't based on destroying habitats, places of beauty and wonder, and entire ecospheres just so people don't have to worry their pretty little heads about maybe not buying an Excursion for every day grocery store trips. Besides, didn't Bush just ask us to conserve?
There's more to the article, go read it. And then contact your Representatives and Senators.
I hate starting my day off angry.
Yesterday I posted a story regarding the new bankruptcy bill and how many hurricane victims are going to be subject to further insult and indignity because of this predatory and extremely transparent kiss ass to big lenders.
This morning, one of the first stories I saw posted on my politics list was about new Republican pushes to rollback environmental rules in order to increase oil production, and it's just appalling:
House Republicans on Wednesday will launch a rapid-fire assault against environmental protections on the pretext of helping the U.S. oil and gas industry recover from hurricane damage, environmental groups charge.I hate to call the media on a liberal bias, but using the word "pretext" certainly implies this writer's opinion. Since I share it, I don't care.
The resources panel, led by Richard Pombo of California, wants to lift a ban on Florida offshore drilling, promote oil shale and sell a dozen national parks for energy development.Several things wrong with this.
1. FLORIDA offshore drilling? Are you kidding me? Let's invest millions into more rigs that will get blown over next year, and the year after that, and the year after that?
2. Oil shale is still a pretty controversial prospect. Apparently Shell has developed a new extraction method that may not turn Colorado, Utah and Wyoming into ugly strip mined messes, but even the government recognizes that there are serious environmental issues that need to be addressed. There is also the matter of the tremendous amount of water that is apparently used in the extraction process. Even if there isn't an eventual loss or contamination of water (and I'll bet there is), there would still be diversions of water in order to use it for the extraction and in case nobody's noticed, one natural disaster we have out here is wildfires. Why? Because we don't have much WATER. My water bills for a mostly xeriscaped small lawn with drip lines and a house with low flow shower heads runs about $100/month in the summer, thank you very much - I don't need to see that rise just so we can delay the inevitable demise of the oil age. Besides, I kind of think Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah are pretty and I don't trust oil companies to keep it that way.
3. Sell national parks for energy development? No. How about responsible energy development that isn't based on destroying habitats, places of beauty and wonder, and entire ecospheres just so people don't have to worry their pretty little heads about maybe not buying an Excursion for every day grocery store trips. Besides, didn't Bush just ask us to conserve?
Texan Joe Barton's energy committee wants to expand U.S. gasoline production by loosening federal rules that limit pollution when refineries or coal-fired power plants are expanded. U.S. gasoline supplies have tightened since hurricanes Katrina and Rita roared across the U.S. Gulf Coast, closing up to one-fourth of the nation's refining capacity.Ding ding ding ... Joe Barton. There's a surprise.
Bush specifically criticized the relatively obscure "new source review" rule administered by the Environmental Protection Agency as part of the Clean Air Act. It aims to protect public health by ensuring that refinery expansions do not increase acid rain and smog.I think I just got a little crush on Frank O'Donnell.
Environmentalists perked up their ears at Bush's remarks, noting that he rarely mentions the program.
"You know darn well that the president doesn't have a clue what new source review is," said Frank O'Donnell of Clean Air Watch. "It's clear that there's a coordinated effort between the White House and Congress to put key environmental protections on the chopping block."
There's more to the article, go read it. And then contact your Representatives and Senators.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Lay Back and Enjoy It
If you are a hurricane victim, have lost everything (including your job) and can't get back to your filing district by October 17, be prepared to get screwed. Big time.
The new bankruptcy bill takes effect on October 17th, you see, and unless you file before then, you're going to be subject to the new regulations, including having to pay back part or all of your debt if your income meets certain requirements (even if you no longer have that job).
You'd think that in extreme circumstances, our government would reconsider the effective date of this legislation or offer exemptions - and indeed, some have. But this gem of an elected official says it's a bad idea:
Now, when I was a teenager, we had this guy in Texas who ran for governor name Clayton Williams. He was amusing at times, but one statement got him into a big heap of trouble when he said, regarding rape, that it's kind of like a rainstorm - "If it's inevitable, just lay back and enjoy it." If rainstorm is to rape what Katrina and Rita are to bankrupt Americans, it looks like Mr Sensenbrenner would agree with old Clayton, and that just shouldn't be tolerated.
If you are a hurricane victim, have lost everything (including your job) and can't get back to your filing district by October 17, be prepared to get screwed. Big time.
The new bankruptcy bill takes effect on October 17th, you see, and unless you file before then, you're going to be subject to the new regulations, including having to pay back part or all of your debt if your income meets certain requirements (even if you no longer have that job).
You'd think that in extreme circumstances, our government would reconsider the effective date of this legislation or offer exemptions - and indeed, some have. But this gem of an elected official says it's a bad idea:
Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., R-Wis., the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, rejected the notion of reopening the legislation, saying it already included provisions that would ensure that people left "down and out" by the storm would still be able to shed most of their debts. Lawmakers who lost the long fight over the law, he said, "ought to get over it," according to The Associated Press.
Now, when I was a teenager, we had this guy in Texas who ran for governor name Clayton Williams. He was amusing at times, but one statement got him into a big heap of trouble when he said, regarding rape, that it's kind of like a rainstorm - "If it's inevitable, just lay back and enjoy it." If rainstorm is to rape what Katrina and Rita are to bankrupt Americans, it looks like Mr Sensenbrenner would agree with old Clayton, and that just shouldn't be tolerated.
Stop Driving!
Now that Bush has offered tax cuts to the folks who don't need them, spent a couple hundred billion on a war with no end in sight, approved a bulging pork sandwich of a transportation bill, told credit card companies he's fine with them crushing the customers they solicit relentlessly, continued to push his expensive medicare/medicaid program, and almost gotten his social security privatized, he finally has the answer for our economic woes ... STOP DRIVING!
Sure, the transportation bill sets aside a big chunk of money to develop public transportation, but it should have been addressed a long time ago. I'm willing to give Bush a bit of a pass on this one since science and industry have known for decades that oil shortages were going to be an issue eventually and we've just chosen to ignore it.
Of course, Bush & Co never really wanted us to conserve:
But that's all in the past. The American Way of Life can't ignore facts, apparently, and the facts are that we can't exist indefinitely at our current standard of spoiled rottenedness when the engine (literally) of our consumption is a finite resource.
So here's a big "duh" shoutout to all who voted for this guy based on his transparent lies and overtly greedy agenda - enjoy that Hummer, I hope you choke on your $1000/month gasoline bills.
Now that Bush has offered tax cuts to the folks who don't need them, spent a couple hundred billion on a war with no end in sight, approved a bulging pork sandwich of a transportation bill, told credit card companies he's fine with them crushing the customers they solicit relentlessly, continued to push his expensive medicare/medicaid program, and almost gotten his social security privatized, he finally has the answer for our economic woes ... STOP DRIVING!
With fears mounting that high energy costs will crimp economic growth, President Bush called on Americans yesterday to conserve gasoline by driving less. He also issued a directive for all federal agencies to cut their own energy use and to encourage employees to use public transportation.
Sure, the transportation bill sets aside a big chunk of money to develop public transportation, but it should have been addressed a long time ago. I'm willing to give Bush a bit of a pass on this one since science and industry have known for decades that oil shortages were going to be an issue eventually and we've just chosen to ignore it.
Of course, Bush & Co never really wanted us to conserve:
Mr. Bush's comments, while similar to remarks he made shortly after the disruption from Hurricane Katrina pushed gasoline prices sharply higher, were particularly notable because the administration has long emphasized new production over conservation. It has also opted not to impose higher mileage standards on automakers.
In 2001, Vice President Dick Cheney said, "Conservation may be a sign of personal virtue, but it cannot be the basis of a sound energy policy." Also that year, Ari Fleischer, then Mr. Bush's press secretary, responded to a question about reducing American energy consumption by saying "that's a big no."
"The president believes that it's an American way of life," Mr. Fleischer said.
But that's all in the past. The American Way of Life can't ignore facts, apparently, and the facts are that we can't exist indefinitely at our current standard of spoiled rottenedness when the engine (literally) of our consumption is a finite resource.
So here's a big "duh" shoutout to all who voted for this guy based on his transparent lies and overtly greedy agenda - enjoy that Hummer, I hope you choke on your $1000/month gasoline bills.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Friday, September 23, 2005
TEOTWAWKI
Just called my relatively well off, white friends in the Woodlands (just north of Houston) and they have decided to stay put. They've got full tanks of gas, batteries, food, beer, and most of their neighbors are staying as well so they have some support for each other in case a tree falls on someone's house. They do NOT have flood insurance, but I'm guessing they won't get flooded - their biggest threat will probably be trees or tree branches - "The Woodlands" isn't randomly named. They decided that the disaster that has been the I-45 evacuation just wasn't worth the hassle, even though apparently right now the roads are deserted. They're going to a friend's house to play poker and hang out tonight and generally sounded completely unworried about the whole thing.
Of course, up here in Colorado all we can do is watch these disasters and feel slightly guilty for our picture perfect weather. Sure, we have wildfires and the occasional snowfall, but our number one weather related killer is lightning - not something that usually sends the general public into a panic.
So, given that I can't wrap my brain around the immediate impacts of Katrina and Rita for those down on the Gulf Coast, I keep finding myself pondering the long term effects. Certainly I'm not alone, it's all over the media that gas prices will go to $4-5/gallon, but I wish they'd start talking about some of the more long term ripples. The incremental impacts of increased prices for anything that is made of a petroleum based product or relies on petroleum for transportation is just mind blowing. If I look around, I see that I am surrounded by petroleum in my clothes, my home, my office, my car - everywhere. The roads, consumer products, healthcare (tubes, syringes, IV bags). Heating and electricity for my home, airline travel to see my far flung family. Everything.
What's going to happen? What will happen to people who can't afford to heat their stupidly oversized homes (I'm guilty of owning one myself)? What will happen to people who are upside down on car loans for SUV's and can't afford to spend $200 to fill up their 40 gallon tanks but now can't unload them? What will happen to all of those people who have created a huge investor based real estate market but can't keep tenants because of energy costs or have to take losses on their investments and don't have any bankruptcy protection anymore? What will happen to Wal-Mart?
Long term, I think this is not all bad. I will be happy to see a return to more rationally sized cars and homes. My husband would love to have a cool Jeep type car but knows that the only time he'd use its "Jeepness" would be for a very occasional trip to the mountains - most of his driving is a commute and it doesn't make sense to pay more for gas just to commute. Both of us have wanted to get out of our big house for a while but financial circumstances don't allow it, oddly enough. We have to ride things out for a while and hope for the best, but we CAN look at making sure that we tighten up the efficiency of the home. My kids will have to learn what it was like when *I* was a kid - there was no turning up the heat, there was "put on a sweater," or "get a blanket" when it was cold in the house. We'll have to spend money to save money and start looking at compact fluorescents to replace lights in our home, motion detectors for the exterior of the house so we don't leave lights on all of the time, and super efficient appliances when it comes time to replace. Of course, making those investments may mean we end up staying in the house even longer since we'll want to see the eventual savings come back to us, but we'll see. We probably have another year that we can last in one car, maybe three in the other - hopefully by the time we start looking to replace, hybrids will be much more efficient than they are now (meaning - "not really) and society will have gotten over its penis compensating need for a huge car.
Looking even longer term, I wonder what will happen to families. Will they start moving back together? If we are looking at the beginning of the end of oil, will I just expect the boys to live with us through college? There is a community college within bicycle distance, will they go there for a couple of years and then transfer to another college to finish up? Will that be a bad thing or a good thing? I probably would have been better off in the long run if I had stayed home for a year or two, actually. Will families turn away from TV and towards tending a garden and canning? Will bicycle companies have record profits? Will obesity get better or worse - if food's more expensive, then highly processed crap may become more of a part of people's diets, but on the other hand, if people skip going to movies and spend more time taking walks, getting to know neighbors, taking up hobbies, maybe they'll eat less. Speaking of movies, will they get better or worse as movie companies clamor for audiences that have to become choosier about when they're going to spend $8 a ticket. Will movie makers shift more towards indie quality flicks (probably not - those can wait until the videos come out) or even bigger budget kablowie movies (more likely)?
Will Colorado, Wyoming and Utah become the new hope for oil with our vast oil shale reserves? Will it be the new fight with environmentalists? SHOULD it be done at all or should we just start moving towards alternative energies and give up on oil as soon as possible?
Who will fill in for the United States on the world stage if our economy takes a tumble, and will we ever regain our dominance again?
Or ... does any of this matter if the avian flu washes across the planet and takes out billions of people?
We live in interesting times...
Just called my relatively well off, white friends in the Woodlands (just north of Houston) and they have decided to stay put. They've got full tanks of gas, batteries, food, beer, and most of their neighbors are staying as well so they have some support for each other in case a tree falls on someone's house. They do NOT have flood insurance, but I'm guessing they won't get flooded - their biggest threat will probably be trees or tree branches - "The Woodlands" isn't randomly named. They decided that the disaster that has been the I-45 evacuation just wasn't worth the hassle, even though apparently right now the roads are deserted. They're going to a friend's house to play poker and hang out tonight and generally sounded completely unworried about the whole thing.
Of course, up here in Colorado all we can do is watch these disasters and feel slightly guilty for our picture perfect weather. Sure, we have wildfires and the occasional snowfall, but our number one weather related killer is lightning - not something that usually sends the general public into a panic.
So, given that I can't wrap my brain around the immediate impacts of Katrina and Rita for those down on the Gulf Coast, I keep finding myself pondering the long term effects. Certainly I'm not alone, it's all over the media that gas prices will go to $4-5/gallon, but I wish they'd start talking about some of the more long term ripples. The incremental impacts of increased prices for anything that is made of a petroleum based product or relies on petroleum for transportation is just mind blowing. If I look around, I see that I am surrounded by petroleum in my clothes, my home, my office, my car - everywhere. The roads, consumer products, healthcare (tubes, syringes, IV bags). Heating and electricity for my home, airline travel to see my far flung family. Everything.
What's going to happen? What will happen to people who can't afford to heat their stupidly oversized homes (I'm guilty of owning one myself)? What will happen to people who are upside down on car loans for SUV's and can't afford to spend $200 to fill up their 40 gallon tanks but now can't unload them? What will happen to all of those people who have created a huge investor based real estate market but can't keep tenants because of energy costs or have to take losses on their investments and don't have any bankruptcy protection anymore? What will happen to Wal-Mart?
Long term, I think this is not all bad. I will be happy to see a return to more rationally sized cars and homes. My husband would love to have a cool Jeep type car but knows that the only time he'd use its "Jeepness" would be for a very occasional trip to the mountains - most of his driving is a commute and it doesn't make sense to pay more for gas just to commute. Both of us have wanted to get out of our big house for a while but financial circumstances don't allow it, oddly enough. We have to ride things out for a while and hope for the best, but we CAN look at making sure that we tighten up the efficiency of the home. My kids will have to learn what it was like when *I* was a kid - there was no turning up the heat, there was "put on a sweater," or "get a blanket" when it was cold in the house. We'll have to spend money to save money and start looking at compact fluorescents to replace lights in our home, motion detectors for the exterior of the house so we don't leave lights on all of the time, and super efficient appliances when it comes time to replace. Of course, making those investments may mean we end up staying in the house even longer since we'll want to see the eventual savings come back to us, but we'll see. We probably have another year that we can last in one car, maybe three in the other - hopefully by the time we start looking to replace, hybrids will be much more efficient than they are now (meaning - "not really) and society will have gotten over its penis compensating need for a huge car.
Looking even longer term, I wonder what will happen to families. Will they start moving back together? If we are looking at the beginning of the end of oil, will I just expect the boys to live with us through college? There is a community college within bicycle distance, will they go there for a couple of years and then transfer to another college to finish up? Will that be a bad thing or a good thing? I probably would have been better off in the long run if I had stayed home for a year or two, actually. Will families turn away from TV and towards tending a garden and canning? Will bicycle companies have record profits? Will obesity get better or worse - if food's more expensive, then highly processed crap may become more of a part of people's diets, but on the other hand, if people skip going to movies and spend more time taking walks, getting to know neighbors, taking up hobbies, maybe they'll eat less. Speaking of movies, will they get better or worse as movie companies clamor for audiences that have to become choosier about when they're going to spend $8 a ticket. Will movie makers shift more towards indie quality flicks (probably not - those can wait until the videos come out) or even bigger budget kablowie movies (more likely)?
Will Colorado, Wyoming and Utah become the new hope for oil with our vast oil shale reserves? Will it be the new fight with environmentalists? SHOULD it be done at all or should we just start moving towards alternative energies and give up on oil as soon as possible?
Who will fill in for the United States on the world stage if our economy takes a tumble, and will we ever regain our dominance again?
Or ... does any of this matter if the avian flu washes across the planet and takes out billions of people?
We live in interesting times...
Monday, September 12, 2005
Hmm, so much for remembering to blog ...
I thought maybe if I had a blog, I'd do a better job of journaling. Apparently that isn't the case since it's been well over a month since my last post.
For the last week and a bit, I at least have an excuse - frankly, I just haven't had the heart to post much on Katrina and 9/11. Katrina's been done to death (I feel slightly guilty about being in Katrina Burnout mode) and I am just not interested in 9/11 anymore. It was tragic, but Bush's own hijacking has diminished it - and by that, I mean using 9/11 as the reasoning for the invasion of a country with no conclusive connection to the event. It's disrespectful to those who died and I'm afraid that has made me want to push it aside. I must also admit other distances - geographically I am nowhere near New York. Personally, although I am in the brokerage industry, the people who worked for my company were in the bottom of WTC5 and were all safe. The closest I got was a good friend and co-worker whose uncle, Jason Dahl, was the Captain of Flight 93. I did not know the man.
So. As for the last week and a half, it has been quite an eye opener. We have made some changes in our household already.
- Bill and I had already decided to buy bikes a few weeks ago and both cut out some local driving and add some more healthy time wasters to our schedules (riding instead of watching TV). That move seems even more sensible now that gas prices are up.
- I find myself feeling even more animosity towards the SUV crowd, except when I see them at the gas stations. That sight gives me a little perverse pleasure, especially when I see a mom with school aged kids and can picture her sitting in a carpool lane. My hatred of SUV's with "Support Our Troops" stickers on the back has reached an all time high.
- I feel more of an urge to get healthy than I've felt in a long time. There is some twisted Katrina logic going on here, some survivalist feelings and some realization that I'm incredibly fortunate to be in good health, living in a nice place, relatively well off in just about every manner ... and I'm wasting it. It's selfish.
- The TV has got to go. Ms. Coulter, if you read this - that's not a decision I made after the list's discussion today, it's something that has been simmering for a while. It's a waste of time and I'm of the mind that I'm just not a good parent if I let the boys watch this stuff. This weekend sealed the deal - I let the boys watch a Yu-Gi-Yo DVD we got at the library. I can't stand those shows, but Jake likes them. I realized that they were incredibly knowledgable about the rules of the Yu-Gi-Yo battles, and it made me sick to think that Jake can tell me what damned near every card means but hasn't mastered reading yet.
So - as tragic as Katrina was and as much as I wish it had never happened, I hope that I can at least hold on to the feeling of being so very, very fortunate because that's what's pushing this urge to change.
I thought maybe if I had a blog, I'd do a better job of journaling. Apparently that isn't the case since it's been well over a month since my last post.
For the last week and a bit, I at least have an excuse - frankly, I just haven't had the heart to post much on Katrina and 9/11. Katrina's been done to death (I feel slightly guilty about being in Katrina Burnout mode) and I am just not interested in 9/11 anymore. It was tragic, but Bush's own hijacking has diminished it - and by that, I mean using 9/11 as the reasoning for the invasion of a country with no conclusive connection to the event. It's disrespectful to those who died and I'm afraid that has made me want to push it aside. I must also admit other distances - geographically I am nowhere near New York. Personally, although I am in the brokerage industry, the people who worked for my company were in the bottom of WTC5 and were all safe. The closest I got was a good friend and co-worker whose uncle, Jason Dahl, was the Captain of Flight 93. I did not know the man.
So. As for the last week and a half, it has been quite an eye opener. We have made some changes in our household already.
- Bill and I had already decided to buy bikes a few weeks ago and both cut out some local driving and add some more healthy time wasters to our schedules (riding instead of watching TV). That move seems even more sensible now that gas prices are up.
- I find myself feeling even more animosity towards the SUV crowd, except when I see them at the gas stations. That sight gives me a little perverse pleasure, especially when I see a mom with school aged kids and can picture her sitting in a carpool lane. My hatred of SUV's with "Support Our Troops" stickers on the back has reached an all time high.
- I feel more of an urge to get healthy than I've felt in a long time. There is some twisted Katrina logic going on here, some survivalist feelings and some realization that I'm incredibly fortunate to be in good health, living in a nice place, relatively well off in just about every manner ... and I'm wasting it. It's selfish.
- The TV has got to go. Ms. Coulter, if you read this - that's not a decision I made after the list's discussion today, it's something that has been simmering for a while. It's a waste of time and I'm of the mind that I'm just not a good parent if I let the boys watch this stuff. This weekend sealed the deal - I let the boys watch a Yu-Gi-Yo DVD we got at the library. I can't stand those shows, but Jake likes them. I realized that they were incredibly knowledgable about the rules of the Yu-Gi-Yo battles, and it made me sick to think that Jake can tell me what damned near every card means but hasn't mastered reading yet.
So - as tragic as Katrina was and as much as I wish it had never happened, I hope that I can at least hold on to the feeling of being so very, very fortunate because that's what's pushing this urge to change.
Monday, August 01, 2005
Bolton
Bush's little cowboy move of appointing Bolton has me out of sorts this morning. This isn't a course of action that any President should take unless it's absolutely necessary. Bolton is not absolutely necessary unless the agenda is to further the destruction of our global relationships. The Democrats, the Independents, the moderate Republicans, the Greenies - everyone should be opposing this move right now. Done's done, but this should be the final straw. Nothing Bush wants done in his final years in the White House should be easy, the Democrats should stand up to every single nomination that doesn't meet with their 100% approval and nuclear options be damned. At least they'd show some spine.
Bush's little cowboy move of appointing Bolton has me out of sorts this morning. This isn't a course of action that any President should take unless it's absolutely necessary. Bolton is not absolutely necessary unless the agenda is to further the destruction of our global relationships. The Democrats, the Independents, the moderate Republicans, the Greenies - everyone should be opposing this move right now. Done's done, but this should be the final straw. Nothing Bush wants done in his final years in the White House should be easy, the Democrats should stand up to every single nomination that doesn't meet with their 100% approval and nuclear options be damned. At least they'd show some spine.
Monday, July 25, 2005
Analyze This
I didn't sleep well last night, which usually means that I'll remember my dreams. Last night's was just begging for some pondering.
So, I won a spot on the space shuttle Discovery flight in a raffle at my sons' elementary school. It's the day of the launch, and I need to head on over. The info sheet I have says that I'm expected at 8:00 AM and if I'm more than 10 minutes late, I won't be getting on the shuttle. No problem, it's way before 8:00 AM. I pack the boys up and we head over to a friend's house first, he's having a party. Pre-8:00 AM, mind you, but what's time in dreamland? Nothing except a plot device to cause you to freak out later, if your dreams are anything like mine.
So, we get to my friend's house, and it's a cute little stone place with lots of unnecessary spires and windows - very fairy tale like. We go in, get the boys settled with my friend's kids, and then we hang out for a while. Eventually, I need to head to the launchpad - plenty of time still - so I make my goodbye rounds. That always takes longer than you think it will, doesn't it? Then I need to find the boys, but of course they have disappeared. Now it's starting to get to the time when we REALLY need to be heading out, and I still can't find them.
They finally show up, all muddy and knowing full well that they are in trouble. I'm now running late, and if I don't make it for the launch, not only will I have missed my chance but I will have kept a seat from someone else who maybe could have gotten there on time. It's not all the boys' fault, I shouldn't have gone to the party..
So we head over, but I'm lost. My info sheet doesn't have a number for NASA, so I have to call the school to get the number to let them know that I was running late. The receptionist takes my name and number and says she'll call me back. Meanwhile, I figure out that I'm going the wrong way, so I pull an illegal U-turn and end up rear-ending someone (how I did that, I have no idea). Now I'm late, have smashed my car, and still don't have a phone number for NASA. It occurs to me at this point that I might be deliberately sabotaging my efforts because I am afraid of the shuttle blowing up. Still, I feel like I have to go there because my fear is probably irrational and besides, I feel obligated to go since someone else could have won the raffle and had this experience of a lifetime.
Finally, I get in touch with my mother, who comes and gets us so we can head over to the launch. Unfortunately, she has a few stops she wants to make on the way (this would be somewhat typical of my mother) and there is apparently some roadside historical monument on the way. It turns out to be a marking from when the Statue of Liberty went on a nationwide tour, and we are accosted by craftsmen hawking various replicas of the Statue. I notice that most of the statues have a malevolent clown look going and I'm very anxious to leave this place.
And then I woke up.
Lots going on here. Anxiety about the shuttle, obviously. Putting too many things on my plate that ended up taking me way off course. The whole Scary Statue thing. Maternal issues. Responsibility issues. Priorities. I dunno. More pondering.
I didn't sleep well last night, which usually means that I'll remember my dreams. Last night's was just begging for some pondering.
So, I won a spot on the space shuttle Discovery flight in a raffle at my sons' elementary school. It's the day of the launch, and I need to head on over. The info sheet I have says that I'm expected at 8:00 AM and if I'm more than 10 minutes late, I won't be getting on the shuttle. No problem, it's way before 8:00 AM. I pack the boys up and we head over to a friend's house first, he's having a party. Pre-8:00 AM, mind you, but what's time in dreamland? Nothing except a plot device to cause you to freak out later, if your dreams are anything like mine.
So, we get to my friend's house, and it's a cute little stone place with lots of unnecessary spires and windows - very fairy tale like. We go in, get the boys settled with my friend's kids, and then we hang out for a while. Eventually, I need to head to the launchpad - plenty of time still - so I make my goodbye rounds. That always takes longer than you think it will, doesn't it? Then I need to find the boys, but of course they have disappeared. Now it's starting to get to the time when we REALLY need to be heading out, and I still can't find them.
They finally show up, all muddy and knowing full well that they are in trouble. I'm now running late, and if I don't make it for the launch, not only will I have missed my chance but I will have kept a seat from someone else who maybe could have gotten there on time. It's not all the boys' fault, I shouldn't have gone to the party..
So we head over, but I'm lost. My info sheet doesn't have a number for NASA, so I have to call the school to get the number to let them know that I was running late. The receptionist takes my name and number and says she'll call me back. Meanwhile, I figure out that I'm going the wrong way, so I pull an illegal U-turn and end up rear-ending someone (how I did that, I have no idea). Now I'm late, have smashed my car, and still don't have a phone number for NASA. It occurs to me at this point that I might be deliberately sabotaging my efforts because I am afraid of the shuttle blowing up. Still, I feel like I have to go there because my fear is probably irrational and besides, I feel obligated to go since someone else could have won the raffle and had this experience of a lifetime.
Finally, I get in touch with my mother, who comes and gets us so we can head over to the launch. Unfortunately, she has a few stops she wants to make on the way (this would be somewhat typical of my mother) and there is apparently some roadside historical monument on the way. It turns out to be a marking from when the Statue of Liberty went on a nationwide tour, and we are accosted by craftsmen hawking various replicas of the Statue. I notice that most of the statues have a malevolent clown look going and I'm very anxious to leave this place.
And then I woke up.
Lots going on here. Anxiety about the shuttle, obviously. Putting too many things on my plate that ended up taking me way off course. The whole Scary Statue thing. Maternal issues. Responsibility issues. Priorities. I dunno. More pondering.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Kaizen
I read an interesting book this weekend. I was reminded of it when I was flipping through stations last weekend and saw What About Bob on television. Didn't really watch the movie but the scene where he's Baby Stepping out of the therapist's office was playing. He had been instructed to break everything down into small, manageable steps, and that reminded me of a sales letter I had received that mentioned this book - One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way.
As is my usual policy (that policy being "at least TRY not to buy something if you can get it for free somehow), I went to our little library's website to see if it was there and it was, so I rode on over and picked it up.
This is one of those books that really doesn't need to be written, but ... it does. It's common sense stuff, we hear it all the time. Hell, pick up any women's magazine sometime around March (spring cleaning) or November (Thanksgiving dinner) and you'll basically read the same thing - don't let huge projects paralyze you, break it down.
The only difference between Good Housekeeping and Kaizen Way is that in the book, it's explained how breaking it down works for us. In short, it bypasses the fear responses we have learned over the course of our evolution - or in the last 10,000 years, whichever is your personal belief, I really don't give a damn - because instead of "showing" our brain a huge, intimidating task, we're showing it little things that are simple. Easy. That's right, Mr. Fear Response, you just keep on resting quietly, don't mind us, nothing to see here.
So ... even though it's only been a few days, I've been testing this out. I've been pleasantly surprised. For example - my closet desperately needs attention, but because of wacky work schedules, I can't get in there on the weekends during the day. It's been really bugging me, but even during the times when maybe I could have done it (evenings), I have avoided that whole area of the house. Monday morning, I decided to take two pieces of clothing out of the closet that I knew I would never wear again, and put them in another room where they can be stored until it's time to go to Goodwill. I started out taking only two pieces, but it ended up being more like ten. Yay! But yesterday when I went to look for more, it wasn't so easy to pick out the dogs - so only two. This morning - two. Yes, that's only fourteen items ... but by the end of the month, it will be quite a pile, and it'll be more than if I'd decided to do it all at once at some vague point in the future.
I have another room that needs to be decluttered, and for this Baby Steps project, I enlisted the boys. Every day before school they have taken one thing out of that room and put it where it can be neatly stored. They do the same after school. It takes them about two minutes altogether but the room is clearing out noticeably.
And then there's exercise. I'd like to go walking at work but it's way too hot. WAY too hot. And besides, there isn't a lot of time. What I CAN do, though, is take a long route to and from the restroom and with as much water as I drink every day, that's adding quite a few steps.
So - we'll see how this works. I could see adding little things every day ... and I could see how with the "right" personality, this method could lead to some pretty OCD traits. Not being one to obsess over much of anything, I'm not too worried about it.
I read an interesting book this weekend. I was reminded of it when I was flipping through stations last weekend and saw What About Bob on television. Didn't really watch the movie but the scene where he's Baby Stepping out of the therapist's office was playing. He had been instructed to break everything down into small, manageable steps, and that reminded me of a sales letter I had received that mentioned this book - One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way.
As is my usual policy (that policy being "at least TRY not to buy something if you can get it for free somehow), I went to our little library's website to see if it was there and it was, so I rode on over and picked it up.
This is one of those books that really doesn't need to be written, but ... it does. It's common sense stuff, we hear it all the time. Hell, pick up any women's magazine sometime around March (spring cleaning) or November (Thanksgiving dinner) and you'll basically read the same thing - don't let huge projects paralyze you, break it down.
The only difference between Good Housekeeping and Kaizen Way is that in the book, it's explained how breaking it down works for us. In short, it bypasses the fear responses we have learned over the course of our evolution - or in the last 10,000 years, whichever is your personal belief, I really don't give a damn - because instead of "showing" our brain a huge, intimidating task, we're showing it little things that are simple. Easy. That's right, Mr. Fear Response, you just keep on resting quietly, don't mind us, nothing to see here.
So ... even though it's only been a few days, I've been testing this out. I've been pleasantly surprised. For example - my closet desperately needs attention, but because of wacky work schedules, I can't get in there on the weekends during the day. It's been really bugging me, but even during the times when maybe I could have done it (evenings), I have avoided that whole area of the house. Monday morning, I decided to take two pieces of clothing out of the closet that I knew I would never wear again, and put them in another room where they can be stored until it's time to go to Goodwill. I started out taking only two pieces, but it ended up being more like ten. Yay! But yesterday when I went to look for more, it wasn't so easy to pick out the dogs - so only two. This morning - two. Yes, that's only fourteen items ... but by the end of the month, it will be quite a pile, and it'll be more than if I'd decided to do it all at once at some vague point in the future.
I have another room that needs to be decluttered, and for this Baby Steps project, I enlisted the boys. Every day before school they have taken one thing out of that room and put it where it can be neatly stored. They do the same after school. It takes them about two minutes altogether but the room is clearing out noticeably.
And then there's exercise. I'd like to go walking at work but it's way too hot. WAY too hot. And besides, there isn't a lot of time. What I CAN do, though, is take a long route to and from the restroom and with as much water as I drink every day, that's adding quite a few steps.
So - we'll see how this works. I could see adding little things every day ... and I could see how with the "right" personality, this method could lead to some pretty OCD traits. Not being one to obsess over much of anything, I'm not too worried about it.
Several days of silence - I had lots of things I wanted to say but no real time to sit down and say them. Yesterday was another licensing exam, the day before was a class for the exam and studying at night.
So, after a decent night's sleep, I'm ready to start thinking about other things besides Investment Advisor registration requirements and ethics rules.
Won't bother with the Supreme Court nomination of John Roberts (I wonder what his REAL name is), except to say that I think the Dems would be wise to let him in with only a token fuss. If Bush gets another appointment opportunity, that will be the time to be stubborn because that will be the wingnut appointee. Damned activist Republican judges ...
So, after a decent night's sleep, I'm ready to start thinking about other things besides Investment Advisor registration requirements and ethics rules.
Won't bother with the Supreme Court nomination of John Roberts (I wonder what his REAL name is), except to say that I think the Dems would be wise to let him in with only a token fuss. If Bush gets another appointment opportunity, that will be the time to be stubborn because that will be the wingnut appointee. Damned activist Republican judges ...
Friday, July 15, 2005
Friday afternoon news that nobody will care about come Monday ...
So folks - how do we feel about jobless rates of 6-8%? We've been through joblessness in my house (a couple of years, actually) and were fortunate to have healthy IRA's and 401ks. Past tense. We burned through nearly $80,000 in retirement savings - which we paid a penalty on, natch - and are now having to start over. But let me tell you, that $300 tax break sure came in handy. Thanks Georgie, love ya - mean it!USA Jobless Rate Understated
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The current low U.S. unemployment rate probably understates the true level of joblessness by 1 to 3 percentage points, the senior economist at the Boston Federal Reserve says.Millions of potential workers who dropped out of the labor force during the recession four years ago have not returned as expected and are thus not counted in the official unemployment statistics, said Katharine Bradbury in a paper published by the Boston Fed.
...
Some policymakers have argued that the economy is close to full employment with the jobless rate at 5%, thus justifying higher rates to pre-empt inflationary pressures from building in a tight labor market.
While the official unemployment rate has fallen from a peak of 6.3% inJune 2003 to 5% in June 2005, the labor force participation rateremains close to 15-year lows of 66%.Typically, labor force participation rates rebound sharply following recessions, Bradbury found.
The official jobless rate understated the severity of the slowdown in 2001 and has overstated the strength of the recovery since then, she said.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Get back to work!
There are way too many ways to waste away a day on this site.
Go here only if you have nothing else to do for a few hours.
There are way too many ways to waste away a day on this site.
Go here only if you have nothing else to do for a few hours.
Why is it that I can't lose more than a couple of pounds a week but I go to New Jersey for 9 days and come home 10 pounds heavier? Shouldn't that be just as impossible? I mean, I know we're meant to conserve energy for lean times, we go into starvation mode if we don't eat, we have more food in these times and all of that ancestral evolutionary fiddle faddle, but it just doesn't seem right that I could actually gain a pound a day.
I'm thinking part of it must be that a lot of that stuff is still hanging out in my system, getting comfy in my innards and settling in for a nice spell. I am not OK with that, so for the next however-long, I'll be doing some cleansing. I plan on having plenty of time to catch up on my reading, if you get my drift. Can't do this again, I just don't have the time for that kind of commitment - although I recommend the process, it really was a great experience (that will sound nuts once you actually read about it). No, nothing that intense ... but I'll be looking around.
I've already noticed that since I got back from New Jersey, I've unconsciously gone almost entirely lacto-ovo, heavy on the green veggies. Haven't really had much meat at all, and maybe that's a good sign that I'm at least listening to my body a little. I definitely got plenty of meat out there and perhaps my system said "enough!" loudly enough to break through to my appetite.
So - as I do a little surfing, don't be surprised to see some odd posts about some of the cleansing/diet/health sites I come across in the next few weeks. Should be fun. It's going to drive Bill nuts.
I'm thinking part of it must be that a lot of that stuff is still hanging out in my system, getting comfy in my innards and settling in for a nice spell. I am not OK with that, so for the next however-long, I'll be doing some cleansing. I plan on having plenty of time to catch up on my reading, if you get my drift. Can't do this again, I just don't have the time for that kind of commitment - although I recommend the process, it really was a great experience (that will sound nuts once you actually read about it). No, nothing that intense ... but I'll be looking around.
I've already noticed that since I got back from New Jersey, I've unconsciously gone almost entirely lacto-ovo, heavy on the green veggies. Haven't really had much meat at all, and maybe that's a good sign that I'm at least listening to my body a little. I definitely got plenty of meat out there and perhaps my system said "enough!" loudly enough to break through to my appetite.
So - as I do a little surfing, don't be surprised to see some odd posts about some of the cleansing/diet/health sites I come across in the next few weeks. Should be fun. It's going to drive Bill nuts.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Tony Blair is SHOCKED. SHOCKED, I say.
Blair said it is "shocking" that the four suspected London suicide bombers are believed to be home-grown terrorists.Three of the men are thought to be from Leeds, with the fourth coming from Luton.
The Prime Minister told the Commons during PMQs that it was "shocking that they were brought up in this country".
... yeah, he's just gabberflasted. Nevermind that anyone with half a brain would figure out that it'd be easier to pull like this off without having to hassle with visas or general immigration issues. I'm more surprised that it wasn't four white guys.
Blair said it is "shocking" that the four suspected London suicide bombers are believed to be home-grown terrorists.Three of the men are thought to be from Leeds, with the fourth coming from Luton.
The Prime Minister told the Commons during PMQs that it was "shocking that they were brought up in this country".
... yeah, he's just gabberflasted. Nevermind that anyone with half a brain would figure out that it'd be easier to pull like this off without having to hassle with visas or general immigration issues. I'm more surprised that it wasn't four white guys.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
So another kid died in a hot car. That this still happens astounds and disgusts me. This woman, though, was drunk and on painkillers, the 35 year old grandmother of a 2 year old, her 20 year old daughter's second child (there is also a 5 year old granddaughter). It's just heartbreaking and makes me want to rush home and hug the boys.
DENVER - The grandmother charged in the heat-related death of a 2-year-old had been drinking alcohol and had taken pain medication the day the girl's body was found inside a sweltering car, according to an arrest affidavit.
Yvonne Mabry, 35, told police she couldn't remember putting Elizabeth Buchmiller in the car, according to the affidavit released Monday.
...
The girl's parents, Tim and Kristina Buchmiller, had sent their children to Mabry while they packed for a move to Illinois.
DENVER - The grandmother charged in the heat-related death of a 2-year-old had been drinking alcohol and had taken pain medication the day the girl's body was found inside a sweltering car, according to an arrest affidavit.
Yvonne Mabry, 35, told police she couldn't remember putting Elizabeth Buchmiller in the car, according to the affidavit released Monday.
...
The girl's parents, Tim and Kristina Buchmiller, had sent their children to Mabry while they packed for a move to Illinois.
Monday, July 11, 2005
Damned prissy women who perch above toilet seats! You know what, you germophobe psychos? Your splashback ends up on the seats for everyone else. THANKS. Put down some toilet paper if you must (it doesn't really matter), but stop with the hovering. Unless your ass is criss crossed with open sores (in which case, you need to stop worrying about other people's toilet hygeine) and you're sitting down on a seat within a minute or so of someone with oozing wounds who just spent their toilet time rubbing their cooch around the seat, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO CATCH ANYTHING.
At least clean up after yourself. Lord.
At least clean up after yourself. Lord.
Just testing out this whole blog world. Bound journals have never really seemed to work, I end up with a few pages of thoughts and then a mostly empty book ... and then when it occurs to me to add something (usually much later), I get the urge to go buy a fresh new one because THIS TIME I'm really going to be good about keeping up. Well - no more tree killing. From now on, my big lapses do nothing but perhaps make for some disjointed reading.
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