Thursday, April 27, 2006

Two things

1. My dog is way sick.


Hastings' leg is wonkie. One of his back legs doesn't work right now. So he can't really get to his food or anything. He is better today than yesterday, but it is breaking my heart anyways.

Ouch.

2. Okay, I can only think of this. I heart my pup.

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Paul Liceria - mascot of the month

Australian Rules Football. I gotta watch more of it.



He is the subject of some really cool paintings that I like on Ross Watson's web site. Here is another picture of him.

Monday, April 24, 2006

You can't see me!

So.. this morning I figured out why boys love camoflague shorts.

Maybe you girls think that we harbor secret desires to be in the army or the CIA. We all dream of saving the worls undercover. Right? Camoflagueslet us feed our dreams and desires - we all look hot in camoflague right?

Wrong. Guys were camos because we don't have to match anything. As long as you don't wear camoflague pants and a camoflague shirt - you are good to go.

Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Better than Bob Dole and the Dog

I like this Viagra ad sooooo much better than the Bob Dole and his dog watching Brtiney Spears and saying "Down Boy"....



The V making the devil horns... nice.

Piss and Vinegar

One Trevor R. Puppie woke his ass up this morning. Awake with the full realization that it is PUPPIE TIME!!!!!

This is a relatively new discovery from TRP. He fully took advantage of this by pissing on the bathroom rug (twice), barking his little ass off upstairs ; biting humping and jumping on any moving object (read Ashford and Hastings), and generally being a pain in the ass.

Luckily Trevor R. Puppie is handy sized so he can be scoped up with one hand, operated out of one bleary eye.

I let the old dogs go pee out front and left them out there. Normally there is a whinging and scratching at the door. Instead they were both relieved the little monster was inside and they took a little snooze on the front steps.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Ahhhh... the reason

(NOT a rant, kind of funny)

So, from the official House Transcript of the Leaker in Chief Today said thus:

"I say, I listen to all voices, but mine is the final decision. And Don Rumsfeld is doing a fine job. He's not only transforming the military, he's fighting a war on terror. He's helping us fight a war on terror. I have strong confidence in Don Rumsfeld. I hear the voices, and I read the front page, and I know the speculation. But I'm the decider, and I decide what is best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the secretary of defense."

Well, I think that explains it. Particularly the "...I hear the voices..." part.

And, who says he doesn't read newspapers? He read the front page. Not the front pageS (plural), but so what. One paper is enough for a man with his button on the bomb.

It's in 3rd Person - Prepare to go off

One wonder's what the good of Human Resources is in the Modern world. So far, I believe that they accomplish the following goals:

1. Explain why this year's benefits are worse that last year's (and note that last year's complainers are no longer with said employer).

2. Create new buzzwords to cover laying people off ("right-sizing") and hiring cheaper labor ("on-shoring low skill)").

3. Pissing Ed off.

In category #3, HR has reached new heights. We have been trying to go forward on purchasing in the New York for a while. But you can't do anything until you have the offer letter and relocation. Doing something now will forfeit the benefits of the relo. But....

Eddie and I have found the house we want. But - as he has whine, winged, and screamed at HR, he can't put down the deposit until Relo is approved! So Ed has been pushing HR. That didn't work. Ed pushed his new boss, no good. Eddie spoke with 1 of the 7 CFO's of the world's 2nd largest company. Bupt-kiss. HR is, as we all know, the world's most immovable object.

Then today, Eddie was speaking with a colleague. In passing, Eddie mentioned his dilemma. (FYI- "in passing" in this particular case means he is bitching about this A LOT; he knows he is going to lose his new home). The colleague said, "Relo doesn't care about buying, just selling. The only thing about buying is that you won't get reimbursed until Relo is approved. As long as you have your agent approved by the company - go for it."

WHAAA?

Yes, Eddie has been running into the same brick wall over and over. He has explained what is trying to do every day for weeks. HR has noted the process takes what it takes. Eddie ran this bit of news by them, and they answered, "Well of course that is how it works."

You can't spell "wHo caRes" without HR.

Monday, April 17, 2006

Despite what right wing talk radio may say....

Over time, I have stopped listening to talk radio. And yes, my blood pressure is down. But I hear things every now and again as I toodle through the dial. This is not a rant, so don't worry.

But, I don't want "liberals" / "democrats" / "feel-goodies" , which is to say, me - I don't want to be defined by talk radio. They set up straw man arguments and opinions, ascribe them to anyone who may disagree with the president and then trash them. So, just a few words about what I do and don't think.

I don't think US Policy is the root of all evil in the world. I actually think that - in the main - we try to do our best and provide a lot of good in a lot of places.

I don't want Iran to have a Nuclear weapon. Just because I don't think we can "nukes their asses back to the stone age" (quoting Laura Ingram's show this morning), does NOT mean I side with the Imams.

I don't hate the troops. I don't think the troops are delusional. I don't "spit on their effort". I am in awe of men and women who put their lives on the line every day for the benefit of people they don't know. I could join tomorrow to protect my family. I could not join tomorrow to try to protect Iraqis' right to school and worship, but I admire and thank those that can. And I am getting awfully f*cking tired of radio people who perpetuate the this lie.

I don't want to have gay sex in front of you. I don't want to force you to marry us in your church. I don't want to tell elementary school kids about gay sex (or any sex for that matter). I struggle, same as most people, about how to discuss this with kids. I don't want to force you to watch two men or two women to kiss. I think their are sane and sensible limits to the discussion of private sexual actions (gay or straight).

Disagreeing with our President is NOT the same as agreeing with Jihadiis. Let me say that again for the benefit of everyone in radio land. Disagreeing with our President is NOT the same as agreeing with Jihadiis. For openers, Jihadiis are all up for stoning gay people to death. And for stoning woman who cheat on their husbands to death (based on the husbands word only). The stab and kill sisters and daughters that date someone they don't like. And that is when they are in a good mood. So just cuz I think Smarmy, the Leaker in Chief, should be run out of office does not mean I want to replace him with Bin Laden.

Okay.

I'll be funnier later today.

Finally; just as a reminder - I love this country. I mean, I love the opportunity. I love the openness. I love the fact that my BF and I aren't going to get stoned to death.

Friday, April 14, 2006

Chirp Chirp Chirp

In Africa we learned that bird songs in the morning are a way of say "This is my territory - keep out."

If I promise to keep out, will YOU SHUT UP AT 5 AM!!!

doodt Doodt DOODT

Tivo ("from which goodness and entertain come... ohmmmmmm") has won a patent lawsuit with Dish / Echo Star. And it is begger than that.

Tivo holds the patent for being able to watch a show from a Hard Disk and simultaneously record to the disk. That means if you want to watch a show and record another on disk - you gotta get a license from Tivo.

What does this mean to Scooter. The wonderful sound of "doodt DOodt DOODT" will not be going away. Tivo was a risk of going under. That is now going to happen... and all was right with the world.

Okay... all isn't right with the world. But all is right with my remote!

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Out of the Blue

Sometimes things come out of the blue to hit you in a weird way. So June Pointer died today of cancer. She was 52.

I love the Pointer Sisters - and being ancient myself - have a bunch of their early albums.

They did a song once calling "Dreaming as One" which is a love song about two people in love who end up dreaming of one future. And the song speaks to how you come to realize that this is a beautiful thing, as you age. Every Wednesday night for 18 months in the mid-80's the Revolver closed the bar to that song. I know because I used to VJ every Wednesday night and I played it.

People, times, places... they reach out to you in ways you never expect. You just get to be happy that you were effected by them. That you aren't so cynical that a love song and a hope can help you to get through the days.

So June Pointer, if that whole God thing works out, then fly on the wings of angels. You gave something back to the rest of us. Tonight, my dreams are for you.

Epitaphs

If Eddie and I ever are laid to rest we have chosen our finals words...

I Blame You
(for Scott)

I Told You So
(for Eddie)

Of course, we plan to move to New York, drink the essence of the pure of heart, but dark of soul and therefore live forever. So they won't be needed.

Happy Gross Holidays

Well, we are entering the Gross Holiday Period this next few days.

Tonight is Passover, where the Jewish people celebrate the slaughtering of Lambs to protect their first born and the killing of all the first born sons of Egypt.

Yeah.

And then on "Good" Friday, Christians celebrate the crucifixion of the son of God.

Yeah.

Luckily on Sunday the cave is empty and, ta-da, Resurrection. Horns blow, flowers bloom - pagans celebrate rebirth of a different kind. A big finish that Steven Spielberg would LOVE (except of course he is Jewish - so he has to create is own hideous sappy ending at the end of every movie he ever makes ("why couldn't I save more!!!!" - oy)).

Anywho, happy Gross Holiday to everyone.

Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys

You gotta admit, that is a great addition to the Lexicon, courtesy of The Simpsons. FYI- The Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys gave in to the students and Unions today. So you cannot get fired from a job, even for the first two years and you are fresh out of school. Good Luck getting hired Lucky Pierre.

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

I get allergic smelling Hay

Well, we're back. We were in New York for a short trip to look at places to live. The trip was a success. We have closed on a place (albeit - we don't have the relo yet) and hopefully we will get it.

It is in a new Condo building on 42nd street, right down from Time Square. It will (hopefully) be on the 37th or 38th floor. We will have at least one, maybe two extra bedrooms - so everyone can visit. It is a quick block to the subway (then 4 stops to Ed's work and 5 stops to mine). It should be ready in July.

The web site is www.orion42.com and it is very cool. We are excited and ready to go.

Anxious to go.

Hurry up already.

mmm... okay. Ready.

Friday, April 07, 2006

Good for the LA Times

From a new editorial...
---
There also is the issue of Bush's numerous previous statements, now making their way across the Internet at the speed of a DSL line, about leaking. One of the most popular is from Sept. 30, 2003: "Let me just say something about leaks in Washington. There are too many leaks of classified information in Washington. There's leaks at the executive branch; there's leaks in the legislative branch. There's just too many leaks. And if there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is. And if the person has violated law, the person will be taken care of."

Leave the legal issues about classified information and executive power to the constitutional scholars. The simpler question is whether Bush still believes, if he ever did, what he said in September 2003.

Are U Kidding Me!

This is not the fucking lead story on MSNBC?!?!?!?

--quote--
WASHINGTON - The White House on Friday declined to challenge assertions that President Bush authorized the leaks of intelligence information to counter administration critics on Iraq.
But Bush's spokesman, Scott McClellan, appeared to draw a distinction about Bush's oft-stated opposition to leaks. "The president would never authorize disclosure of information that could compromise our nation's security," Bush's spokesman said.
--unquote--

We had months and months of Clinton lied about getting a BLOW JOB!!!! Here the President declassified information to smear someone. Then lied to the press about it. Now, 4 years later, we find about it and people don't care! People don't care that the President declassified National Security Information in order to smear a man doing his job. He outed a CIA agent. Put lives in danger to protect a lie and no one cares! Then he went on TV to tell us he was going to get to the bottom of this and the leaker wouldn't have a job in this administration. And he lied. And no one cares.

How much has this administration screwed the people and the press to where this isn't news?

Signing off...

Tonya Harding!!!!

Okay, maybe it wasn't Tonya Harding. But it sure looked like her. Trashy, dirty blond hair, ciggy butt hanging out of her mouth, driving a Saturn Ion like a bat out of hell.

License Plate frame said, "My baby can beat the shit out of your baby." She wanted to say it so much she didn't get the bumper sticker, she got the license plate frame MADE for her.

Charming....

Plus this from my radio this morning.

"This just in... In Iraq the religion of peace just bombed another Mosque."

Thursday, April 06, 2006

An Idea from Drop Outs

So they talked to high school drop outs about what might help them stay in school. And they actually got a pretty useful answer.

I guess we have dropped "vocational" classes over the past years (decades) since I was in school. But "vocational" I think they mean things like auto shop and crap. Anyway the Irvine Group is doing a pilot in San Francisco to put vocational classes back in high schools.

Kids will be able to take classes dealing with Business Administration, Medical Assistance, Tourism, Legal support and other things (kind of like Bryman for Dummies).

I actually think it isn't a bad idea.

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Congrats Bruins

I say congratulations to the UCLA Bruins. There is now shame in coming in 2nd in the NCAA Tourney.

The guys worked their asses off and played 5 amazing games (and 1 not so amazing). And, to their great credit, they did a good defensive job on Florida - holding them below their averages for Field Goal % and Points Scored.

Maybe next year, Ben Howland could "coach" the team on a just a tiny bit of offense. I know that offense wins games and defense wins championships. And we did win the Pac10 Championship. However, when you are down by 13 at the half - you need a little offense (Gonzaga not withstanding). Since our "coach" apparently did not draw any quick offensive plays ("run down the court and I'll heave it to you" being the sole exception) our team looked pretty good. A step above chickens with their heads cut off.

Of course offense would be popular with the fans - and Ben Howland won't stoop to being popular. So next year be on the look out for the Bruins to hold teams to under 40 points a game - maybe then we can win it all. Yeah!

Monday, April 03, 2006

Fight Fight Fight

UCLA looked good Saturday. Well, in the first half they looked good. In the second half they were stiflingly competent. Great D (bad TV).

So tonight the balloon bursts for someone. Hopefully the Bruins will smile at the end of it all, and the Gators will be sent back tot he swamp. In any case Ben Howland has proved his is a very good coach.

I am really excited, but I don't want to get too up in case the result is not positive.

Go Bruins.