What will he do next?
Haha
From Slate.com
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Sabotage
Does it sometimes seem like someone on McCain's team is actually trying to sabotage him?
I mean, did someone actually think this trick this week would work? It feels so ridiculous, I stop and think, "No, it can't quite be real... maybe there is a traitor on the Republican team." Maybe, right? I mean, who says there isn't? Wouldn't that be crazy if there were such things as political Donnie Brasco's who sneak in, gain the confidence of the other side, hide recording devices in their boots during dinner at Japanese restaurants, and then betray them.
Could it be possible?
I mean, did someone actually think this trick this week would work? It feels so ridiculous, I stop and think, "No, it can't quite be real... maybe there is a traitor on the Republican team." Maybe, right? I mean, who says there isn't? Wouldn't that be crazy if there were such things as political Donnie Brasco's who sneak in, gain the confidence of the other side, hide recording devices in their boots during dinner at Japanese restaurants, and then betray them.
Could it be possible?
Economy and New England
This economy craziness... what to say? The only time I'm glad I'm not rich with lots of money in stocks and 401K. Whoo hoo, I'm low on money!
I'm typing on my Mac and using Mitch as an elbow rest. Ah, Mitchie.
My brother and sis-in-law got two cats. They named them Pancakes and Waffles bc that's Lesley's favorite food: breakfast food. If they got a third cat, it'd be named French Toast. Hee hee but for reals. Yey, more cats!
I'm getting excited about the New England road trip. I leave two weeks from yesterday. We have a rental car, places to stay, and some maps. That's kinda it. Sounds like a nice, relaxing, wandering trip. We have plans to 1) visit Ben & Jerry's HQ, 2) drive around and see beautiful fall leaves, and 3) eat lobster in Maine. I love not having many plans. I intentionally didn't buy the Lonely Planet book bc I wanted to wing it. But yes, me winging it, still involves lots of web research and getting free maps from www.visitnh.gov and other similar sites :) I feel like I'm going to fall in love with New England and want to move there. It just looks so beautiful.
Bye, furry armrest. You were good to me.
Is it just me or does Twitter not sound that interesting? Isn't there such a thing as info/communications/friend overload? I can't handle Facebook more than one day every couple of weeks.
I'm typing on my Mac and using Mitch as an elbow rest. Ah, Mitchie.
My brother and sis-in-law got two cats. They named them Pancakes and Waffles bc that's Lesley's favorite food: breakfast food. If they got a third cat, it'd be named French Toast. Hee hee but for reals. Yey, more cats!
I'm getting excited about the New England road trip. I leave two weeks from yesterday. We have a rental car, places to stay, and some maps. That's kinda it. Sounds like a nice, relaxing, wandering trip. We have plans to 1) visit Ben & Jerry's HQ, 2) drive around and see beautiful fall leaves, and 3) eat lobster in Maine. I love not having many plans. I intentionally didn't buy the Lonely Planet book bc I wanted to wing it. But yes, me winging it, still involves lots of web research and getting free maps from www.visitnh.gov and other similar sites :) I feel like I'm going to fall in love with New England and want to move there. It just looks so beautiful.
Bye, furry armrest. You were good to me.
Is it just me or does Twitter not sound that interesting? Isn't there such a thing as info/communications/friend overload? I can't handle Facebook more than one day every couple of weeks.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Really good NY Times interview on Palin
Wow, this kinda sounds like how Bush works - secrecy , blurring between personal and professional lines...
Guns
Who the HELL is in favor of semiautomatic weapons being legal?! For what f'ing purpose?
I don't agree with hunting for sport or keeping a handgun for personal safety but I respect that some people think that is important. I don't respect it so much that I wouldn't vote hell yes on making owning a gun illegal. I'm just saying I'm open-minded to understand differences.
But you tell me, to my face, that you want to kill a deer with a semiautomatic weapon or that you need one to defend your family. You tell me the reasoning behind that.
I was so mad when Palin said she supported them in her interview.
I don't agree with hunting for sport or keeping a handgun for personal safety but I respect that some people think that is important. I don't respect it so much that I wouldn't vote hell yes on making owning a gun illegal. I'm just saying I'm open-minded to understand differences.
But you tell me, to my face, that you want to kill a deer with a semiautomatic weapon or that you need one to defend your family. You tell me the reasoning behind that.
I was so mad when Palin said she supported them in her interview.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Palin
I'm not going to say anything new, that hasn't already been said.
My reaction to her speech was like, wow. She didn't hold anything back. I also thought as I watched kinda amazed she was so bold in her attacks on Obama. And stuff wasn't even true. Wow, you have a pair, woman.
But I also thought, ok, I can maybe understand how some ppl, esp those in the red states so to speak, could like what she's saying. But only in terms of leading America, which is actually only half of the job description of the presidency, which let's be honest, she's basically applying for that job. Old man McCain who?
What's the other half? Representing America and American interests in international relations. And how could anyone watch her and think she could wisely fulfill that half of the job? Two reasons why she can't: 1) Not only no experience bc Obama doesn't either and no candidate ever does, but no history of having to partner with other leaders. This is where a Senator trumps a Governor, who can do whatever the heck they want (yes you, Shwarze-I-Hate-you-governator) within reason. 2) She seems just like Bush - strong-willed, stubborn, clear opinion and focused. I don't want another Bush negotiating with our world leaders.
Which yeah, how exactly is the McCain/Palin ticket selling their campaign as opposite of Bush when they're just like Bush? Mavericks, trust them, they can lead. No, I want a leader who knows he needs a strong team with them bc that means he knows how to work with people and compromise. I'll take that over someone who sticks to their guns, sometimes literally.
My reaction to her speech was like, wow. She didn't hold anything back. I also thought as I watched kinda amazed she was so bold in her attacks on Obama. And stuff wasn't even true. Wow, you have a pair, woman.
But I also thought, ok, I can maybe understand how some ppl, esp those in the red states so to speak, could like what she's saying. But only in terms of leading America, which is actually only half of the job description of the presidency, which let's be honest, she's basically applying for that job. Old man McCain who?
What's the other half? Representing America and American interests in international relations. And how could anyone watch her and think she could wisely fulfill that half of the job? Two reasons why she can't: 1) Not only no experience bc Obama doesn't either and no candidate ever does, but no history of having to partner with other leaders. This is where a Senator trumps a Governor, who can do whatever the heck they want (yes you, Shwarze-I-Hate-you-governator) within reason. 2) She seems just like Bush - strong-willed, stubborn, clear opinion and focused. I don't want another Bush negotiating with our world leaders.
Which yeah, how exactly is the McCain/Palin ticket selling their campaign as opposite of Bush when they're just like Bush? Mavericks, trust them, they can lead. No, I want a leader who knows he needs a strong team with them bc that means he knows how to work with people and compromise. I'll take that over someone who sticks to their guns, sometimes literally.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
On a different topic
Ok, Mark, here's a post on a different subject...
My coworker is the sister of a famous lead singer of a well-known band. I used to not know this, and I now know this. I was at lunch with coworkers for one of the women's birthdays and we were chatting about famous men we find attractive. Brad Pitt's name got floated around quite a bit. Then someone said, "Well, you know Tina's [fake name] brother." The other women nodded heads and murmured, "Yeah, Tom [fake name] is pretty cute." I was confused. "Tom?" "Yeah, Tom, Tina's brother. Don't you know him?" "Well, uh, did her brother come into the office? How would I have met him?" I have to say that I had no idea who Tina's brother was and Tom's real name is kinda common. "You know, Tom [last name], from [famous band]."
What?? Tina's brother is Tom from Famous Band??
(Tina and Tom are so off their real names, it's weird to type it!)
The women continued, "Yeah, doesn't she look like him?" and described stories of their relatives visiting the office and being very impressed with meeting Tina. One women's niece knew who Tina was just by looking at her (and her hyphenated last name which has her maiden name included) because she's such a big fan, she has all the family members memorized. Creepy...
So I get back to the office, kinda in shock, and happen to pass Tina a few times that day. I try to secretly stare at her, trying to find resemblance to Tom. Kinda, I guess.
I've gotten a chance to talk with Tina more lately during four mile walks around the lake. I want to ask what it's like to have this famous brother but seems very blase about it. She'll mention him a few times here and there but only in context of her own life.
I find myself surprised by how I see her differently now that I know this. Why is she different because her brother is a famous musician? Fame is a funny thing, isn't it? Putting a camera on someone, broadcasting their image and/or creative expression to millions of people, makes you feel like you both know them intimately and that they're better or different or not quite like you. But they're still just a person, with the same emotions and weaknesses. And so with their siblings, also.
My coworker is the sister of a famous lead singer of a well-known band. I used to not know this, and I now know this. I was at lunch with coworkers for one of the women's birthdays and we were chatting about famous men we find attractive. Brad Pitt's name got floated around quite a bit. Then someone said, "Well, you know Tina's [fake name] brother." The other women nodded heads and murmured, "Yeah, Tom [fake name] is pretty cute." I was confused. "Tom?" "Yeah, Tom, Tina's brother. Don't you know him?" "Well, uh, did her brother come into the office? How would I have met him?" I have to say that I had no idea who Tina's brother was and Tom's real name is kinda common. "You know, Tom [last name], from [famous band]."
What?? Tina's brother is Tom from Famous Band??
(Tina and Tom are so off their real names, it's weird to type it!)
The women continued, "Yeah, doesn't she look like him?" and described stories of their relatives visiting the office and being very impressed with meeting Tina. One women's niece knew who Tina was just by looking at her (and her hyphenated last name which has her maiden name included) because she's such a big fan, she has all the family members memorized. Creepy...
So I get back to the office, kinda in shock, and happen to pass Tina a few times that day. I try to secretly stare at her, trying to find resemblance to Tom. Kinda, I guess.
I've gotten a chance to talk with Tina more lately during four mile walks around the lake. I want to ask what it's like to have this famous brother but seems very blase about it. She'll mention him a few times here and there but only in context of her own life.
I find myself surprised by how I see her differently now that I know this. Why is she different because her brother is a famous musician? Fame is a funny thing, isn't it? Putting a camera on someone, broadcasting their image and/or creative expression to millions of people, makes you feel like you both know them intimately and that they're better or different or not quite like you. But they're still just a person, with the same emotions and weaknesses. And so with their siblings, also.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Things I think we should bring back
Saying "That's so real"
High-jeans with belts and cropped shirts
Overalls with one strap hanging loose
Dressing like you're 35 when you're 16 (like wearing pantsuits)
Wearing see through shirts
Saying "Don't have a cow, man" and not sarcastically
Phones with looong stretched out cords that are twenty feet long
Flipped out, hairsprayed bangs
Having intense, overdramatic reactions to events causing simple things to turn into huge catastrophic emotional roller coaster situations... oh, wait, that was just fictional 90210.
Seriously, did they not sell tank tops in Beverly Hills in 1990?? I'm watching during a heat wave and I'm sweating watching these blazers and thick sweaters on ppl in LA. Can I go to the Gap, buy some tank tops, take a time machine to 1990, and hand them out to fictional tv characters? It's driving me crazzzy.
High-jeans with belts and cropped shirts
Overalls with one strap hanging loose
Dressing like you're 35 when you're 16 (like wearing pantsuits)
Wearing see through shirts
Saying "Don't have a cow, man" and not sarcastically
Phones with looong stretched out cords that are twenty feet long
Flipped out, hairsprayed bangs
Having intense, overdramatic reactions to events causing simple things to turn into huge catastrophic emotional roller coaster situations... oh, wait, that was just fictional 90210.
Seriously, did they not sell tank tops in Beverly Hills in 1990?? I'm watching during a heat wave and I'm sweating watching these blazers and thick sweaters on ppl in LA. Can I go to the Gap, buy some tank tops, take a time machine to 1990, and hand them out to fictional tv characters? It's driving me crazzzy.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
More thoughts on 90210
Wo, Brandon was a drama queen. He keeps butting into everyone's business and getting pretty passionately angry after like one person tells him one thing.
The fourth episode is kinda racist. Brandon is intimidated during basketball tryouts by these tall, good players including several black guys. Bitter Steve puts the angry bug in Brandon's ear that these guys are bussed in, aren't smart, and don't even show up for classes. That's an extreme argument even for an anti-affirmative action opinion. Brandon gets mad, investigates (remember he's also a journalist) that some of the guys are part of this assistance program but later finds out he was totally wrong about one of the black guys. In kinda apologizing and saying how everyone judges everyone else, Brandon says, "Well, I'm not a cowboy and you're not a gangbanger crackhead." Wow. TOTALLY the same kind of level of stereotype. WOW.
This show is like a made-for-tv special. Ah, special episodes, everytime.
Ok, watching the new show. I don't like the curly haired girl (eh), the supposedly lead guy seems like a wuss, and the main twin girl is super skinny. All these white people look the same, can you tell them apart? And I say that as a white chick!
OMG, my heart skipped a beat when an actor that had been on The Wire hugged the actress from Arrested Development. Ah, my tv worlds have combined! Kinda. And yes, she still does a great passive-aggressive bitter drunk.
The pilot echoes the pilot from the original 90210. I say that because I watched it last night, hee hee.
In the first scene, the dad says, "Family is the most important thing." Arrested Development, shout out!
These kids actually look like teenagers. Not 30yr old MEN (yes, you, Ian Ziering).
It feels like the OC a bit.
I'm waiting for Shannon Doherty to show up. Brenda, come out and play!
The fourth episode is kinda racist. Brandon is intimidated during basketball tryouts by these tall, good players including several black guys. Bitter Steve puts the angry bug in Brandon's ear that these guys are bussed in, aren't smart, and don't even show up for classes. That's an extreme argument even for an anti-affirmative action opinion. Brandon gets mad, investigates (remember he's also a journalist) that some of the guys are part of this assistance program but later finds out he was totally wrong about one of the black guys. In kinda apologizing and saying how everyone judges everyone else, Brandon says, "Well, I'm not a cowboy and you're not a gangbanger crackhead." Wow. TOTALLY the same kind of level of stereotype. WOW.
This show is like a made-for-tv special. Ah, special episodes, everytime.
Ok, watching the new show. I don't like the curly haired girl (eh), the supposedly lead guy seems like a wuss, and the main twin girl is super skinny. All these white people look the same, can you tell them apart? And I say that as a white chick!
OMG, my heart skipped a beat when an actor that had been on The Wire hugged the actress from Arrested Development. Ah, my tv worlds have combined! Kinda. And yes, she still does a great passive-aggressive bitter drunk.
The pilot echoes the pilot from the original 90210. I say that because I watched it last night, hee hee.
In the first scene, the dad says, "Family is the most important thing." Arrested Development, shout out!
These kids actually look like teenagers. Not 30yr old MEN (yes, you, Ian Ziering).
It feels like the OC a bit.
I'm waiting for Shannon Doherty to show up. Brenda, come out and play!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Beverly OMG Hills
Darn you, CBS.com! You got me hooked on Hawaii 5-0 in the spring and now you have the first three entire seasons of Beverly Hills 90210. I am becoming addicted even though I didn't really watch it in the 90's. And you have Family Ties and MacGyver!? I'm a goner... "Work, I'll be calling in sick for a few weeks..."
I am laughing as I watched the first two shows. Hee hee.
9 Things I learned while watching 90210 (get it? "9"):
1) Despite living in freakin' LA with a shining sun, the most appropriate clothing is jeans, long-sleeved shirts, and jackets. All kinds of jackets - blazers, denim jackets, a black suit coat with white shorts to a pool party (yes, I saw you, Steve Sanders), varsity jackets. Can't get enough. Mmm, jackets. Even going to the beach to TAN requires jeans, sneakers, and a jacket. Heaven forbid someone wear a tank top! (Seriously, was covering up "in" in 1990?)
2) If you move from Minnesota at the tender age of 16 to Beverly Hills, you also leave behind remembrance of any friends from your previous life. You never call, write, or even mention them. You are comfortable being uprooted entirely during HIGH SCHOOL, moving to an entirely different culture (kinda, just go with me), do not show any anger to your parents, and only have issues with how little money your family has (then why did you move to BH???). You perhaps got a brain transplant when you switched time zones? "I have no friends from Minnesota. I do not miss them. I am a blank slate, ready to be filled with new interesting character friends."
3) Is it weird that Ian Ziering is the best actor on the show?
4) If you surf drunk at 7am in the morning (hahahaha), Brandon Walsh will be around to save you.
5) If you look 30, you are actually a 16yr old in 1990.
6) If you are 16 during 1990, you think light denim jeans go well with a dark denim jacket. You are delusional.
7) Brandon Walsh finally gets decent hair gel and wears ok khakis by the end of the second episode and begins to look cute. The high-waisted jeans with a tight belt are good riddance.
8) The show does a surprisingly good job of showing the angst rich teens/kids must feel when their parents are never around and they don't call. Honestly, that would be pretty sad. It looks like freedom but it seems lonely.
9) If you are Brandon and Brenda Walsh, you make BFF's really quickly. Like in an hour. So close is your friendship you can say cheesy things like "I have next period free, let's go grab a burger" and "I want to be your friend." This was Brandon and Dylan, who btw enters the scene in the second episode which is very telling. There's always a big jump from the pilot to the second episode because they're shot about 4-8 months apart. Clearly, the producers were told to bring in a dangerous, rebel-y character. Dylan is perfect.
BH 90210 is all Monterey Jack and Cheddar - pure cheese, all the way.
With one of the best credit songs, too. Oh, how did I not watch you when I was 12-22??
I am laughing as I watched the first two shows. Hee hee.
9 Things I learned while watching 90210 (get it? "9"):
1) Despite living in freakin' LA with a shining sun, the most appropriate clothing is jeans, long-sleeved shirts, and jackets. All kinds of jackets - blazers, denim jackets, a black suit coat with white shorts to a pool party (yes, I saw you, Steve Sanders), varsity jackets. Can't get enough. Mmm, jackets. Even going to the beach to TAN requires jeans, sneakers, and a jacket. Heaven forbid someone wear a tank top! (Seriously, was covering up "in" in 1990?)
2) If you move from Minnesota at the tender age of 16 to Beverly Hills, you also leave behind remembrance of any friends from your previous life. You never call, write, or even mention them. You are comfortable being uprooted entirely during HIGH SCHOOL, moving to an entirely different culture (kinda, just go with me), do not show any anger to your parents, and only have issues with how little money your family has (then why did you move to BH???). You perhaps got a brain transplant when you switched time zones? "I have no friends from Minnesota. I do not miss them. I am a blank slate, ready to be filled with new interesting character friends."
3) Is it weird that Ian Ziering is the best actor on the show?
4) If you surf drunk at 7am in the morning (hahahaha), Brandon Walsh will be around to save you.
5) If you look 30, you are actually a 16yr old in 1990.
6) If you are 16 during 1990, you think light denim jeans go well with a dark denim jacket. You are delusional.
7) Brandon Walsh finally gets decent hair gel and wears ok khakis by the end of the second episode and begins to look cute. The high-waisted jeans with a tight belt are good riddance.
8) The show does a surprisingly good job of showing the angst rich teens/kids must feel when their parents are never around and they don't call. Honestly, that would be pretty sad. It looks like freedom but it seems lonely.
9) If you are Brandon and Brenda Walsh, you make BFF's really quickly. Like in an hour. So close is your friendship you can say cheesy things like "I have next period free, let's go grab a burger" and "I want to be your friend." This was Brandon and Dylan, who btw enters the scene in the second episode which is very telling. There's always a big jump from the pilot to the second episode because they're shot about 4-8 months apart. Clearly, the producers were told to bring in a dangerous, rebel-y character. Dylan is perfect.
BH 90210 is all Monterey Jack and Cheddar - pure cheese, all the way.
With one of the best credit songs, too. Oh, how did I not watch you when I was 12-22??
Are there nonRepublican humans?
I ask that because it often feels like Republicans don't think so.
I've been musing about why the Elephant party's flinging of poo usually works to turn America against the flinged-upon, even if the crime is not that dire or really that big of a deal. Damn, the Republicans make it into a big deal, don't they? Really, was Clinton sleeping with an intern as big of a deal as they made it? Oh, they say, it was the lying that made him worthy of impeachment. Oh, ok, lying, you want to go there? Do you really want to address lying when Bush and Cheney are still in power?
But then there are rationalizations for why Republicans lie. Or steal or cheat or are pregnant or whatever. I'm fine that Palin's daughter is pregnant (I agree wholeheartedly with Obama that this has nothing to do with her ability to govern) and besides being scandalized by the true scandal (that Gov. Palin's four-month-old is actually her daughter's son, which c'mon, look at the pictures - Palin really did not seem pregnant. Not sure if it was Brickel or Brislin or whatever her name's but it's VERY hard to believe it's the governor's son), I'm pissed at the reaction from the right.
Of course I'm happy they're not cussing them out and kicking them to the political curb bc she's only 17 and all, but this rolling over backwards to explain how this young girl's pregnancy actually matches all of the right's opinions is BS. OK, girls get pregnant, it happens. But don't use it as some kind of twisted way to show how kind and open-minded you are, Republican ppl. Because you know if happened to a Democratic leader's daughter, there would be no forgiveness. Only hate and judgement and hissing of "oh, look at how good your teaching about sex-ed was" and no open arms. No treating the ppl like humans.
It feels like Republicans think only they are humans, with the potential for mistakes and slip-ups and accidentally shooting ppl in the face. And "sorry" rarely comes or if it does, it feels like a dish thrown on the table and we're supposed to be happy we got apology dinner at all and we better eat it quick. We don't get to question. Or make mistakes.
So Republicans, are Democrats human? Can you give us grace for our sexual mistakes and hopeful-but-sometimes-flawed ideas? Or is every mistake and wrong turn only proof that our entire party, our whole belief system, is headed down the wrong road? Because when you Republicans mess up, it's only you as an individual that fell, not a party that only funds abstinence teaching. No, that's not it at all. It was one girl, probably just one night while we're at it, and she's getting married to him! So now we're supporting marriage. Go us.
I've been musing about why the Elephant party's flinging of poo usually works to turn America against the flinged-upon, even if the crime is not that dire or really that big of a deal. Damn, the Republicans make it into a big deal, don't they? Really, was Clinton sleeping with an intern as big of a deal as they made it? Oh, they say, it was the lying that made him worthy of impeachment. Oh, ok, lying, you want to go there? Do you really want to address lying when Bush and Cheney are still in power?
But then there are rationalizations for why Republicans lie. Or steal or cheat or are pregnant or whatever. I'm fine that Palin's daughter is pregnant (I agree wholeheartedly with Obama that this has nothing to do with her ability to govern) and besides being scandalized by the true scandal (that Gov. Palin's four-month-old is actually her daughter's son, which c'mon, look at the pictures - Palin really did not seem pregnant. Not sure if it was Brickel or Brislin or whatever her name's but it's VERY hard to believe it's the governor's son), I'm pissed at the reaction from the right.
Of course I'm happy they're not cussing them out and kicking them to the political curb bc she's only 17 and all, but this rolling over backwards to explain how this young girl's pregnancy actually matches all of the right's opinions is BS. OK, girls get pregnant, it happens. But don't use it as some kind of twisted way to show how kind and open-minded you are, Republican ppl. Because you know if happened to a Democratic leader's daughter, there would be no forgiveness. Only hate and judgement and hissing of "oh, look at how good your teaching about sex-ed was" and no open arms. No treating the ppl like humans.
It feels like Republicans think only they are humans, with the potential for mistakes and slip-ups and accidentally shooting ppl in the face. And "sorry" rarely comes or if it does, it feels like a dish thrown on the table and we're supposed to be happy we got apology dinner at all and we better eat it quick. We don't get to question. Or make mistakes.
So Republicans, are Democrats human? Can you give us grace for our sexual mistakes and hopeful-but-sometimes-flawed ideas? Or is every mistake and wrong turn only proof that our entire party, our whole belief system, is headed down the wrong road? Because when you Republicans mess up, it's only you as an individual that fell, not a party that only funds abstinence teaching. No, that's not it at all. It was one girl, probably just one night while we're at it, and she's getting married to him! So now we're supporting marriage. Go us.
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