Last night watching the election results roll in, I found it interesting that MSNBC tripped over itself repeatedly to make sure you, the viewer, understood that Hillary's win in Florida didn't mean anything. Nothing. Zero. Hollow.
I honestly don't know how much less of a fanfare they could have made it. Even as and, after she addressed supporters, a standard on election nights, Matthews and Olbermann kept taking shots.
I am perfectly aware that we currently will have no delegates to seat, but what was the harm in thanking us? She did not campaign here, just like the other Dem candidates, but she did stop by last night to say thanks after a resounding victory votewise. I mean, we, the individual voter do count don't we?
I know I probably have a small chip on my shoulder regarding this issue right now, but it seems no matter what she does it is WRONG. I mean really, when was the last time you heard a positive story come out about her from any news channel. It's just getting old and predictable.

Florida Primary Day

Well, I guess you know this is the cutest thing I've seen all week...

Tomorrow, January 29th, is my primary voting day and I have decided to endorse Hillary. Check the Google news page later today for this press release. I'll be on The Rachel Maddow Show and Countdown with Keith Olbermann tonight as well. Fox News will no doubt spin it in this type of headline news story "g8rlane endorses Hillary in a Snub to Obama"

Separated at birth?

So has this presidential primary campaign turned into a battle of the Republican-middle-aged-washed-up-I-thought-I-was-an-action-hero-that-people-still-cared-about competition?

Stallone supports McCain

Norris supports Huckabee

Isn't it nice to know that some people, people you know, are looking to these two injected pillars to help them decide on a PRESIDENTIAL candidate! Yikes!

Rock on, Albert!

This morning driving to work I listened to The Bill Press Show on XM, and was absolutely giddy to hear the sound clip of Al Gore taking a stand, no parsing--no waffling, on gay marriage and equal rights for gays and lesbians.

“Gay men and women ought to have the same rights as heterosexual men and women — to make contracts, to have hospital visiting rights, to join together in marriage, and I don’t understand why it is considered by some people to be a threat to heterosexual marriage…”

I was also extremely happy to hear the question that evolved out of this story as well:
Do Gore's comments push the Democratic party to finally pick a stance?
No parsing. No waffling. Let's hope so.

Watch Al's awesome, inspiring, chest pounding comments here.

Buffet of ..

OK, I think we can all agree..it's the ". ." we're all worried about right?..

shudder

Toodles Fred!

What?! No More "Law and Border"?

I'm not kidding folks, this is one of Fred's bumper stickers. Unfortunately, I've seen it on trucks right here in town...tsk tsk (sadly shakes head)

Now really...did he ever have a chance with this kind of publicity?

The cheese factor is waaay too high.

thank you, Martin

still hot

Well, Season 5 of "The L Word" is under way and in case there was ever a question... yes, Jennifer Beals is still sooo hot. sigh.

Does anyone else remember the $300 check each of us received from George Bush right after he took office? It was meant to help ease our "tax burden". What it really ended up being was a limp, dehydrated carrot being dangled in front of us so we wouldn't notice the huge tax cuts he installed for the upper upper class.

Fast forward to current day, and here we go again. You most likely have heard that Bush has rolled out an economic stimulus plan for us commoners. It could result in and $800 shot into each of our bank accounts. Now, according to his plan, we are expected to run out and spend it, thereby boosting the economy. I won't pretend to understand how me spending even more money at Best Buy helps anyone.
(In truth what should happen is that we all put it into a high yielding money market account and watch it grow into something that can actually be used to help each of us in our later life, because most likely the money is coming right out of the Social Security coffers. fat chance on any of us doing that.)
This whole thing sounds like another case of Bush doing the easy thing as opposed to doing the right thing. Repealing tax breaks for the ultra wealthy, and ending the war are the real answers.
blah blah blah. SSDD.

Ahh, the sanctity of almost marriage...

Donkey

Anyone else find it interesting and hypocritical that the lead story on the network news Monday night was the fact that the perceived Ice Princess, Hillary Clinton, appeared to show some emotion while addressing supporters at a coffee shop stop in New Hampshire?

my thoughts:

• the media has been drooling for this moment. It's a win-win for them in the form of a two pathed storyline. #1 "The Robot Cries" or #2 "An Emotional Wreck" What freedom of choice!!!


• really, Hillary was screwed either way on this lapse of emotionlessness (word?)


• did any of us hear a peep about the fact that Mitt Romney cried THREE times in front of supporters including on "Meet the Press" in the last couple of months? Hmmmm...?


• do you think the emotion Hillary shared set her up for this moment?


• We will never be able to elect the first female president, whether it's Hillary or not, as long as we continue to choose the side of cattiness, hypocrisy, and insecurity. Women could very well be the group that puts Hill in the White House, but we could also be the group that eats it's own. Case in point: Maureen Dowd

Discuss.

makes my heart swell with pride

If you are watching all the debate and caucus hoopla, and find yourself confused about for whom to cast a vote of support, please remember and feel proud that this gem is no longer a choice. Remember to pause the music on the sidebar!

wow. we are really de-evolving aren't we?

Happy Birthday jennyb!

Lost Slide from "An Inconvenient Truth"

I'm generally not one to fall prey to negative attack ads between political candidates, but I will admit that the distasteful way Barack Obama has reduced Hillary Clinton's relationship with Benazir Bhutto down to "tea", rubbed me the wrong way.

If you don't have the experience, just avoid the topic. It works for Mike Huckabee.

"I am not consumed by personal ambition,"

Well I guess old "Lazy Like A Fox" just shot himself in the foot.

I know it seems like I am a bit obsessed with the recent assassination of Benazir Bhutto. (I hear the whispers.)
Maybe I am. But, these events have made me think about the adversity that greets those who want to affect change. Just take a moment to think of those in history that have been assassinated. Lincoln, Kennedy, King, Kennedy...it just makes me sad that another voice has been silenced, and worried for those who are still brave enough to speak for what is right.

I know that Bhutto's administration wasn't perfect. No politician, no matter where in the world, is perfect and clean. I think what matters is the intention. What are the intentions of our current leaders vs. the intentions of those willing to bring about change?

Winner of the most disrespectful use of a foreign leader's assassination for political gain:

Mike Huckabee

"Huckabee Warns of "Unusual Activity of Pakistanis" Coming Into the U.S."

crass. tasteless. rude. disrespectful. un-Christian.

The news from Pakistan the last couple of days has been grim. It is so hard to watch a country torn in two, and clearly experiencing a vast amount of pain.
Most look at the footage of the streets of Karachi and Rawalpindi and think that "those people are savages" and "uncivilized". I hear it uttered. You know you have too.
I submit another vision of the passionate demonstrations in Pakistan:
These people actually care about what is going on in their country. They want their voices to be heard. They realize the injustice that has been thrust upon them, and they need to let everyone know that they care.
They may be destroying millions of dollars in property, some lives are being lost, and ultimately nothing will bring their martyred leader back, but when the dust settles the people of Pakistan can feel proud of the fact that they spoke out and voiced their grief, outrage and concern.

It's more than I can say for those of us here in the Good Ole' US of A. If something like that were to happen here, we'd be in crisis over whether to tear ourselves away from Fox News or possibly miss American Idol or America's Next Fattest Fatty.

I find it interesting that one of the prevailing headlines today regarding Benazir Bhutto's death and our presidential hopefuls include how Hillary and Barack are benefiting from this tragic event. Much was made of statements from both candidates regarding the happenings although I expected as much. Each needs to show strength in regards to situations like these. I personally didn't find anything offensive at the onset. *more on that later*
I also found it comforting to know that John Edwards immediately made a phone call to Musharraf himself to urge the dictator to go ahead with the elections planned for January 8th. Nice touch. Also seen coming from a mile away was Rudy's brisk comments regarding the events. Surprise, surprise, he wasted no time linking extremism, terrorism, and 9/11 to this event thereby making him the best candidate with the biggest penis, er... I mean toughest stance on terror.

"Vote for me!"

In the meantime, not many are reporting on Republican frontrunner Mike Huckabee's reaction to Bhutto's death. This guy is a buffoon on foreign policy. Maybe that is why he is the GOP frontrunner...hmmm. Watch his reaction to Benazir's death.

Benazir Bhutto 1953-2007

This headline hit me like a ton of bricks.

I am so saddened by the cowardice of ignorant people.

I am so saddened by the fact that my second emotions over this event were fear and uncertainty.

Fear that this could occur anywhere.

Uncertainty that this could never happen here.

Merry Christmas!

It would be great if Christmas would hurry up and get here already! For the last 5 days I have been heard uttering the words, "I just have one more thing to do." The problem with that statement is that I get the one thing done and then 2 or more slip in to take up residency. As of this morning I have vowed to stop watching live television and not look at any sale papers!

I figure if I can sequester myself enough, Christmas will get here and I won't be tempted to go out looking for that "one more thing".

Nevermind the fact that I was fop slapped in the face today for getting shopping done last weekend (late shopping by most standards) when the Best Buy flyer boasted awesome sale prices on things I already bought at full price! So you know me, Scrooge McDuck, I went around getting price matches! (squeaking noise courtesy of my cheeks!)

Lucky me. I got to stand behind this guy at Best Buy for 10 minutes!

modern day mix tape

Wednesday, DEC 19th, 5:50am
It's my birthday. For the most part birthdays, especially my own, don't get me all giddy inside. I'm not the sort to walk around in anticipation the entire day hoping for a big surprise, or become crestfallen when none surface. I'm pretty low maintenance when it comes to my "special day" don't worry. I make up for it in other areas!
My girl knows this about me, but still manages to blow me away via the most simple tried and true method---music. It gets me everytime.
We've been together for almost 15 years. Back in the day, a part of our courtship included mix tapes. Remember those? As time and technology progressed our love letters moved to CD's. We've got many versions for many occasions. Music is a big part of our lives together.
I'm saying all that to say this: I'm sitting here since 5:15 am alone with my birthday present from my girl. A new iPhone. The box said to "hit the button and follow the instructions" What has happened in the last 45 minutes has to be one of the best ways to start any day, not to mention a birthday: a cavalcade of love songs that have made me bawl like a baby, laugh, and thank God I found her.
modern day mix tape.

Okay, I know I'm a geek, but I found the most intriguing site last week that, to me, is pretty cool and exciting. It's called Layer Tennis and this is it in a nutshell:

Two artists (or two small teams of artists) will swap a file back and forth in real-time, adding to and embellishing the work. Each artist gets fifteen minutes to complete a “volley” and then we post that to the site. A third participant, a writer, provides play-by-play commentary on the action, as it happens. The matches last for ten volleys and when it’s complete we declare a winner.

It really is fun and exciting to see what these artists can do in a span of 15 minutes per volley. The next match is Friday 2pm Chicago time. Check it out! If you can't catch it live you can still see the results. You can see results of earlier matches as well.

Just thought I'd share.

missed it by that much

I might be wrong in feeling this, but I can't help but think it was a blessing in disguise that Al Gore had the 2000 election stolen from him. (gasp!)

I mean read the headlines. Joe Lieberman, Al Gore's running-mate in 2000, has turned out to be a hard core Republican even though he insists he's an independent. He is set to endorse John McCain today for goodness sake!

Now that I think about it, today's announcement from Joe shouldn't really surprise me so much since my impressions of both Joe and John McCain are similar in nature. They are both like farts in a windstorm...you never know which way they will go.

The Law of Attraction

Okay, so some of you know that we have been watching the house across the street, which has been on the market for a few months, hoping that when someone finally buys it, they will be of a particular ilk, type, and style. (Don't look down on us! You all do it too. Whether it is a house, an apartment, a dorm room, or a seat at the movie theatre for that matter!)
Practicing the Law of Attraction, we devised a list of who would move in across from us and help keep our street cohesive (read: quiet, old, quiet, responsible, and quiet):

• retired, or empty-nesters
• a gay, male couple
• middle-aged
• childless
• big, burly, take-no-shit-retired policeman (to help with the doofs beside us)

Now, stand in amazement as I describe our new neighbors that will be moving into the house across the street from us in February:

• retired Navy Officer and his partner, Monroe
• a gay, male couple
• both appear to be in their 50's
• no children, two Boston Terriers
• average sized, but most likely knows how to be a no-shit-taker when needed being as he's retired Navy

People! I am not kidding you on this! I keep looking out the window to make sure "Monroe" is really a guy and not just a burly girl, (although that would work too!) but since Monroe has a beard, I'm guessing we are good on the guy part! This stuff works! We got exactly what we wished for!!

So here is proof that "The Secret" works! The Law of Attraction works! Quantum Physics works!

Bush clearly hates kids and leaves children behind.

Cinderella dressed in yella,went upstairs...

Most of my week blogwise has been spent trying to figure out when is the best time to enter in the game of jump rope currently happening on the campaign trail.

Just when I think I'm ready to say something, the headline changes and sometimes my mind changes. One thing that hasn't changed this week is the glaring evidence that we are just too damn focused on a candidate's religion. Jeeez! I'm so sick of reading/hearing about a candidate's faith. Good Lord! Does anyone remember the idea of separation of church and state? It seems to me that we've forgotten all about it in the last several years because the line has been completely erased. So this kind of behavior is just status quo.

If we're going to focus so much on the topic of a candidate's religion, let's keep in mind what that has gotten us in recent years. We've got a Supreme Court stacked with wingnuts, James Dobson roaming the halls of the west wing, and a president who most likely hides his coke vials in a secret compartment of his Bible, all the while hiding behind the cloak of religion. Walk the walk, big boy!

I'll take it

(please read this post with a hint of sarcasm!)

I have no idea how this is measured, but apparently my blog reading level is that of a GENIUS!

Whuuuut?!! You know guys, that makes you genius material as well because you read my blabber! Congrats!

So in case you were waiting for some validation/recommendation/referral to tell all your friends about my ranting, wait no more! It's official....we (me and all 5 of you) are smart!

Check out other sites you visit for their readability rating!

heads up

If tomorrow you are watching ___________ news show (fill in the blank with your show of choice) and my face appears, it will be because I have gone next door and killed the neighbor who thinks it is cool to leave her fucking dog outside to bark incessantly. Apparently SHE doesn't want to hear the dog bark either so she leaves it outside to annoy the shit out of everyone within earshot. Here's a tip Cookie---train the fucking beast and she will mind you and not bark in the house like some unruly wolfchild found in the wild.
I'm just sayin'.

Zombies vanquished...I think...

Okay, it looks like my PC is going to play nice at least for now. It may have had something to do with the fact that I threatened to take a Louisville Slugger to it if it didn't quit pretending to have been invaded by zombies (refer to previous post)

So with that, let me get right to the stupidity that is our president and his awesome press conference yesterday regarding Iran and the National Intelligence Estimate findings:

BIG FAT LIAR

"Nothing has changed in this NIE that says, `OK, why don't we just stop worrying about it?' Quite the contrary. I think the NIE makes it clear that Iran needs to be taken seriously as a threat to peace," Bush said. "My opinion hasn't changed."

So basically what this idiot is preaching is that the NIE is a load of crap because it doesn't come to the war drum, pick up a stick, and join the beating. We're supposed to believe him? Haven't we heard this song before? I know it's lame duck time, but this bunch needs to get a new bag of tricks. I'm bored.

Meanwhile, the new sweetheart of the GOP seems to be as equally informed on the subject of Iran. Hey Mikey! You might want to pick up a paper now and then or at least eavesdrop in the halls of Washington.

bowl of brains at the front door

My computer is on the fritz...again. I just got it back from the Geek Squad yesterday because it started doing the same stuff as it did last month so I took it back in. I'm trying to be patient, not at all my best feature, but it looks like they hooked it up to some diagnostics and assumed it was okay. Obviously not the case. As soon as I plugged it in at home it started the usual behavior. I admit that I may have called those kids at the Geek Desk a few names. Words were shouted. Blood pressure rose. Feelings were hurt. Mainly mine.

What's a girl to do when it seems her computer is a zombie?

just a simple apology is all it takes, apparently

Former Representative Henry Hyde (R) died this morning in Chicago. (sniff)

CBS News reports: "Hyde was chairman of the Judiciary panel during the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton in 1998. Salon.com reported in Sept. 1998 that Hyde had carried on an extra-marital affair in the late 1960s, for which Hyde publicly apologized."

So, what I'm getting is that in the Republican world, as long as you apologize after being caught all is forgiven, and being hypocritical and two-faced liars is the order of the day.

"When fascism comes to America,

it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross."

---Sinclair Lewis

Rescue TerraCycle!

In what seems to be the next step in the Scotts Company's attempt to dominate the world, they have brought suit against a little upstart company named TerraCycle for what amounts to using two of the same colors Scott's uses on their Miracle Grow product. You do the math:Do these packages look even remotely the same? I mean there are some similarities, but really, they are totally different. I hardly believe we have a rash of angry consumers returning to stores because they were duped into buying the wrong product!

Scott's has unleashed a pack of corporate lawyers to sue TerraCycle because its recycled packages have green and yellow labels! Last time I checked, corporations cannot own colors and most garden-care companies go for the color combination of green and yellow anyway. Could it be that Scott's, who controls 60% of the lawn and garden market, is a bit worried about a company that has figured out how to be truly "green" and give us as consumers a way to naturally treat our plants with the same results as synthetic Miracle Grow? Hmmm?

TerraCycle's product is an ecofriendly plant food made of liquified worm poop! Now before you gross out, it is also known as compost tea which is basically the nutrient rich by-product of good healthy soil. They have figured out a way to make this tea, and bottle it in recovered plastic drink and water bottles collected by schools and charities. How great is that for Karma?! The product is awesome and can now be purchased at Home Depot and Lowes.

So here is your call to action:
#1 Go buy a bottle of TerraCycle Plant Food, use it, watch your plants turn into The Little Shop of Horrors!
#2 Visit www.suedbyscotts.com to find out more

Happy Gibbons Ya'll

Happy 2 Year Blogiversary to My Brain!

Can you even believe it? Not only have I stuck with this crazy thing for two years, but so have you! Wow! You guys have got some kind of endurance to hang with me and my ramblings for this long!

Those of you that have been with me since the start know that things have come and gone, but one thing has stayed consistent---my disgust for George W. Bush!

So, let's raise a 40 to our Dumbass in Chief, thank him for all the material, and look forward to next November 21st when we have a new Democratic president!

well, duh...

This post over at Gay Gamer, a site where geeky-but-manly gay boys keep us up to date on all things gamely, made me laugh but didn't surprise me at all.

Conservatives Play Fewer Games Than Liberals

Now really, who thought that Conservatives would play games at all? I mean what with all the Hillary hating, Bill bashing, freedom destroying, baby saving, gay bashing, and ribbon wearing who would have time? I reckon their entire days are spent plotting how to blame the next natural disaster on the gays and hating Muslims! If I were that busy I'd never have time to pick up a joystick either!

Seems like lately Bush can't find the resting place for that veto pen. Check out this headline and link:

"Bush vetoes spending bill, tells Congress to cut the pork"

I get it that this is whole big game of politics and this is the way it goes when you lose majority power, but my complaint comes in the hypocrisy of it all. The spending bill he just vetoed is the funding for our run of the mill services like labor, education, and health. So where does the pork appear? Bush is teed off because it also messes with the taxes for individuals that make over 100K.

Oh! Well silly me! By all means let's not screw around with that part of the barnyard! That bunch just can't bear to carry their portion of the load. But, let's be sure to pass it on the small business when that bill comes due. They can handle it.

If you read the link above, how'd you like the cutesy little phrase Bush delivered about a "teenager with a new credit card"? What a dick. What a hypocritical dick.

Congratulations Angie & Yves!

Happy Birthday Karly B!

Would you like Freedom Fries with that?

Last I heard, we were supposed to hate France. We changed our favorite food's name even. (Now that's tough stuff right there! )

Never fear fried potato stick eaters! French Fries are back!

Now what are you going to do with that ridiculous bumper sticker?




Sales on Bill O'Reilly's Christmas Store were heard plummeting all around the world...

What the...?

I can't wait to hear how the conservative blowhards justify endorsing Giuliani even though he is Pro-Choice and Pro-Gay. Pat Robertson laid his crazy neck on the line today and endorsed Rudy officially.

This is going to be fun. Their choices are Giuliani & McCain. heehee

Read this frightening article from Reuters today. These people are crazy.

now then.

Raise your hand if you had the honor of hearing Dennis Kucinich's privileged resolution to impeach Dick Cheney read out loud not once, but twice on C-SPAN yesterday?

I caught it on replay on Rachel Maddow's show, and it was great to hear those words. Even greater to hear someone have the balls to say them.

In a surprising, but not really, moment the Republicans voted to NOT table the discussion of this resolution and in fact sent it to the desk of John Conyers for committee. It seems that everyone is in agreement that the Republicans are gambling that if this resolution actually makes it to the debate stage, we Democrats will look oh so silly as we seriously expect the Dark Lord to be impeached.

The Daily Kos has a somewhat short recapped version of what went down yesterday. Jump here to fully understand all the intricacies in easy to understand verbiage.

Good Monday Morning!

In celebration of the beginning of another week of trudging along through our dream jobs, and the time change that makes it impossible to get out of bed, take a look at the Top Ten Most Annoying Alarm Clocks!

Have a good week!

Ok, I may have found my long awaited warm fuzzy feeling for a presidential candidate in the primary. drum roll please.......Dennis Kucinich!

I know, I know...you are saying "WTF?!" where did that come from? She hasn't even mentioned him at all---ever! Well, you are right, but today I heard the incredible news that changed my mind and gave me someone to root for and someone who actually makes me feel good about casting a vote.

Coming this week, Kucinich will submit a resolution to

impeach Dick Cheney!

Can you come up with another name in the running that has the balls to do this?! Me neither. No other front runner has had the courage to entertain it much less actually draw up the resolution and present it to the floor. Bravo! To hell with having the first woman president, or having the first black president, how about a president that isn't afraid to use the pair God gave them or at least grow a pair!

I think that the primaries are the one time that you can let your little voting light shine. You get to make your voice heard for the little guy. After the nominations are announced, you have a limited number of choices for your vote. I have no idea who I will be behind once the primaries are over, but right now I'm going for Dennis.

Now here is what needs to happen, my minions, you need to write/contact your Reps and make sure they vote for this resolution. Let them know you are in favor of some action, any action, that would show someone else besides you and I care about the misdoings of this criminal administration. The link to contact your Representative is in the sidebar to the right. Go on...