"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?