Both Hands

Kerry-Haters for Kerry

This is great.

Just what you want to see...

...when you're looking at possibly purchasing a house in Tacoma, Washington.

What an incredible child, and a horrifically evil father.

I hate it when...

...you start reading a book and get reasonably far into it, and then realize that the book really sucks. And when I say sucks, I mean it has pulled me into a blackhole of whiny, dislikable characters and a horribly depressingly totally pointless plot. But now I'm 200 pages in. I read a few pages a day, thinking it will get better, and it's just not.

I hate to give up on it, because I really do want things to turn out OK in the end. I want to know that there was a reason for the characters to survive such a terrible story. Plus, it feels like I've failed to comlete what I've set out to do, which is just to read a simple book.

When I saw the cover it certainly seemed simple:

Doesn't it look like a fluffy, chick-lit sort of thing? Exactly what I need to give my brain a rest from all semblence of thought. I enjoy immersing myself in a world where the biggest problem is how to explain your honeymoon purchases to your new (rich and handsome) husband.

The back cover promised that Hunger Point would be "wickedly funny and heartbreakingly bittersweet." I wish it would have specified which page those things occurred on, because I'm still waiting.

Katie, this is for you:

Your Tifa! Sexy and Deadly. You seem to get the
guys. They might get intimidated by you but
you don't really care. Only problem is that you
might get too attached when you find that
special guy.


Which Female Character from Final Fantasy Vii Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

I Didn't Get the Job. Yay!

I get to stop stressing about moving to Michigan. I'm not going. Johnnie, my new best friend in the HR Department of Bob's Hogs and Weiner Pigs, contacted me to tell me that I was not selected for the position I had applied for. Relief washed over me and I allowed myself to stop thinking of reasons why I couldn't take the job. Truth be told--I just don't want to go. I would have been chasing a job, and since it's not my dream job, it's not worth giving up my family, my friends, and the sunshine in San Diego.

I must say, this was the nicest rejections I've ever gotten. After your interview is over and you don't get the job they always offer "feedback" on your interview(s). The interviewers really liked me and had nothing negative to say. They found someone who has a little more experience for the position. Most likely, this person also doesn't need relocation costs paid, and is able to start within the next couple of weeks--a couple of drawbacks to my being in California. The buzz is still good about me though. They offered me an interview for another position (which I turned down) and asked that I continue to interview for new positions that become available.

All in all, the very best ending to all this drama that I could have hoped for.

Yay!

PS--Sorry, Violet. I'm just not ready to live in a place that requires you to chip ice off your windshield for much of the year.

Dooce is a lucky woman

Check out Blurbomat's excellent post on gay marriage.

The Handmaid's Tale

Inspired by the banned book list I posted last month, I picked out a few books I wanted to read. This was the first from the list, and it was incredible. Overtones of 1984, from a woman's perspective. I've continued to think about this story days after finishing it.

Think I'll have to pick up the Blind Assassin next. Or maybe The Edible Woman...

The Eye Now Falls Upon Jon Stewart

Ok, so not really (I just wanted to use this great image that I found on Eden's blog) But the right wing blog world sure dislikes Jon Stewart. Check out the below:

Right On Red
IN DC
American Digest
Protein Wisdom
Ghost of a Flea
Hog On Ice

I'm sure there are plenty of others who are hating Jon for calling out Tucker Carlson and the rest of the Crossfire crew. I noticed that most of these blogs seem to focus on labeling Jon Stewart as a pompous ass and/or an idiot (or else it comes up in the comments). If you've ever read a real interview with Mr. Stewart (see the Rolling Stone with Stewart on the cover from a couple of weeks ago) you would know he has a pretty good head on his shoulders. I don't pretend to be politically knowledgeable in any way, but I think what the conservatives are more pissed off about is that he's not on their side (suppressing urge to nyah nyah and stick tongue out). I don't think Jon Stewart has any obligation to be fair to both sides. He has a political opinion and has made it public. I say more power to him. And he's lucky enough to have a television show.

Cutting

Apparently I'm not the only one who doesn't think that members of Congress need to be first in line to receive the much-in-demand flu vaccine right now. While I appreciate the fact that Seanators and Representatives say that they spend a lot of time hand-shaking and meeting with the public, I just don't think they should get a free pass to the front of the line.

I will not be getting a flu shot this year. I work in retail, and between myself and the 80+ people who work with me, we probably come in contact with hundreds, if not thousands of people everyday. Not mention their money. I will be washing my hands, occasionally using antibacterial hand lotion (I'm not a fan), and generally keeping my germs to myself as much as possible. I may get the flu, I may not, but I'm not likely to die from it, being in pretty good health and only 28 years old.

Doesn't much of the US come in contact with other people on a daily basis? Isn't this the same logic that the CDC is using to keep people from getting flu shots unless they:

are over 65 years of age
are under 2 years of age
have a chronic medical condition
will be pregnant during the flu season
are in a nursing home
are a health-care worker
are a child-care worker (who works with kids <6 mo)

I find it interesting that the same people who are encouraging the general public to hold off on their flu shots unless absolutely necessary seem to be OK "cutting in line" in front of the elderly, the infirmed, and the very young in our society. And isn't there a flu nasal spray that is supposed to work just fine on those who are considered "low risk" for the flu? Plenty of that available if you want it (and only approved for those in low-risk categories).

Well done, idiots.

So true

Seriously. I unconsciously look at this every time I see someone. When my husband tries on pants, this is the first thing I look at, every time. I wear large, clunky shoes that connect with my boot cut jeans perfectly, all for this same reason. It's all about balance, people.

Cool Checks

Since my last name change finally went through, I ordered new checks from coolchecks.com (plus, my old checks were vegetarian---Be kind to animals! Don't eat them!--and I haven't been one in over two years). It took a few weeks to receive them, but it was so worth it. I love my new checks!

What is this strange moisture falling from the sky?

It rained in San Diego today. In most places it rains and people just go on with their daily lives. Here in San Diego, people are loathe to give up their sandals, shorts, and tank tops and insist that they should act exactly the same as they always do.

Especially on the freeways.

298 car accidents since midnight on Sunday. 298!! Slow down people! I know we only see rain once in a great while, but learn from your neighbors' mistakes!

Just because we set a new dry spell record for San Diego (182 days!) before Sunday, I refuse to believe that you've all never seen rain; even if that 1/10th of an inch has inspired every news station in the county to lead off with their "Stormwatch 04!" coverage. (and just for the groovy music--check out this San Diego Stormwatch site)

Google, I love you.

Check it out:

On Google; search for "weapons of mass destruction" and hit the "I'm feeling lucky" button. You must include the quotes within the search.

Funny.

Please don't make me go back to Blockbuster!

Just when someone got it right, now they're going to fuck it up! I'm a big fan of Netflix and wouldn't be happy to see Amazon buy them.

Blockbuster, with their shitty selection and censorship policies, can suck my big toe.

Tip to HackingNetflix.

No Time to Blog

Busy reading this

And laughing my ass off.

Jon Stewart on CNN

Thank God this finally showed up online...I can't believe I missed it. How often do you get to see Jon Stewart call Tucker Carlson a dick?

Why is the truth such a bad thing?

I guess I don’t understand why so many people are pissed off that Kerry stated that Mary Cheney is a lesbian during the debate last night.

Lynne Cheney even made a statement, “The only thing I could conclude is that this is not a good man. This is not a good man. And, of course, I'm speaking as a mom. And a pretty indignant one. This is not a good man. What a cheap and tawdry political trick."

Why is such a horrible thing to state a fact? Mary Cheney is a lesbian! She's already out publicly (being a PR person for Coors and working on her dad’s campaign). The debate question asked was about homosexuality and Kerry did a good job of pointing out the hypocrisy of the Republican Party and the Evangelical support base of the President. Much of the religious right crowd uses the logic that gay people as a whole are godless, nameless, and faceless sex fiends who don’t deserve their relationships to be formally recognized. When you put a name and a face on the person it becomes a lot harder to condemn them.

I suppose that since I don’t equate being gay with being a bad thing, I can’t understand why this is such a big deal. The only people who are upset about it seem to be those who see Kerry’s “outing� Mary Cheney as a lesbian as some sort of horrible accusation, when it is only the truth.

I’m pleased to see that Kerry supports partner rights, and hope to see this issue addressed further in the future.

Update: More reasons why this should not be a big issue!

Sinclair Broadcasting makes me sick

So, when Ted Koppel reads the names of the fallen soldiers in Iraq on regular old Nightline it's too "politically slanted" to run on Sinclair Broadcasting stations. However, pre-empting prime time programming to air a 60 minute "documentary" aimed specifically at smearing John Kerry isn't politically motivated? The thing that really gets me is that Sinclair insists that this is a news story.

The comparisons to "Farenheit 911" are credible, but not quite the same. As Andrew Sullivan wrote here, "If CBS announced they were pulling regular programming to air 'Fahrenheit 9/11' a week before the election, do you think no conservatives would protest?"

I don't think I can make this any clearer than Josh Marshall's letter from Reed Hundt, Former Chair, FCC at Talking Points Memo.

Tell Sinclair how you feel:

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.
10706 Beaver Dam Road
Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030
410-568-1500 (Main Telephone)

Or better yet, tell their advertisers how you feel here. This website is great, as you can direct it to show national as well as specific local advertisers.

You can also sign a petition at the Democratic National Committee's website.

I feel like I need a new label--ahhh! Perfect!

I am a hybrid of: Girl Next Door Progressive Girl Click on the pictures below to read more: Take the 'What Kind of Girl Are You?' quiz at CookingToHookup.com

Found at All Things Jennifer

Poor planning

This morning while walking our dogs, Frinklin and I passed a house that has been undergoing a Halloween transformation over the last few weeks. On the first day of September this house suddenly attracted an alarming number of plastic ghosts, pumpkins, and inflatable spiders. White "cobwebs" are stretched over ever inch of available space.

Today, nestled among the fake tombstones and plastic skeletal arms reaching toward the sky, a "Bush Cheney 2004" sign peeked out as though part of the "scary" decorations.

I keep wondering if that was intentional.

New Addition

I'd like to take a moment to welcome Richard of Pearly Gates to my blogroll. He has an excellent grasp of common sense politics, and while we don't always agree, I always benefit from seeing his point of view. Oh, and he's into some baseball team or something...

Don't register at Robinsons-May

Since I work in retail, I feel the pain of other retail employees. I know what it’s like to be on both sides of a cash register. No matter what type of mood I’m in, or how crappy a day it’s been, I am expected to smile and be polite to any and all of my customers, no matter how awful and horrible they may treat me or my fellow co-workers. Because I hold myself to this standard, I expect a certain level of customer service when I shop. I don’t feel that it’s unreasonable to want courteous, friendly service, and I expect to be kept informed if there is a problem. In return, I promise to treat those assisting me with respect and patience. I will ask to speak to a manager to compliment or complain as necessary when I feel that the service I receive has been especially good or bad.

Robinsons-May employees, you are hereby warned.

Before our wedding reception, Frinklin and myself registered at several stores for gifts, as you do when you are about to be married (or after you eloped, as in our case). We registered at Target. We registered at Pottery Barn. And we registered at Robinsons-May.

At both Target and Pottery Barn the staff assisting us was helpful and knowledgeable about the wedding registry program and specifics. Registering was a simple task and it was kinda fun to use the laser gun to scan things. We decided to choose only stores that allow you to "manage" you registry online, as we are impulse registerers, and like to add and delete as we see fit.

The experience at Robinsons-May was not so smooth. I bring this up because every interaction I have had in the last couple of months at Robinsons-May has sucked really bad, and they really need some sort of instruction in that place.

Bad experiences include:

1. Going to register on a Saturday afternoon and finding that the registry coordinator (we learned shortly that they have a lot to apparently coordinate) is not there on Saturdays. Apparently, you must take time off work to register or suffer through 15 minutes of an older woman who is totally unfamiliar with the computer system attempting to set up your laser gun so that you may scan items into your registry.

2. Laser scanner inexplicably shuts itself off midway through the registry process, forcing us back to the older woman unfamiliar with the computer system. Older Woman then spends 10 minutes trying to access the registry to see it the scanner has saved our previously scanned items with no success. A manager is called to assist. Ten minutes later another manager is called over to assist. We are ignored during the entire process and eventually told that they "think it's all on there--we'll find out when you're done."

3. Once we have finished scanning, Older Woman struggles to download the scanner info into the computer system for approximately 15 minutes before again calling a manager over to determine that the cable connecting the scanner and the computer are bad and must be physically held in place with two hands while typing, which takes two peple. It takes 10 more minutes to reach this conclusion and perform the act of physically holding the cables in place while another types.

4. We must leave, as we have an appointment that we are now late for. I ask the Older Woman if we can access our registry online, as there were several items they were out of that I still wanted to add. She assures me that this will be no problem. I ask again to make sure, and am again reassured.

5. We get home that evening to add items to the registry. You cannot "manage" your registry online. All changes must be done in store.

6. Time passes. We receive two rice cookers purchased from Robinsons-May from two different friends. Registry at Robinson-May reads:

Rice Cooker
Wants 1
Needs 1

7. After the wedding reception, we head to Robinsons-May with the extra rice cooker and a sheet set that we registered for and decided we don't want (I told you we're impulse registerers) and a hideous crystal thing that we definitely DID NOT register for. New Older Woman attempts to return items for credit and is confused by the register system. A manager is called. The Manager explains the process to the New Older Woman, who still cannot complete the return. After 10 minutes of waiting, we are sent to another register and cashier in another department with our packages.

8. Manager decides to walk New Cashier though the returns process. Mistake. Start over. Repeat. Twice. 10 minute later, we have a gift card, but New Cashier has lost our registry paperwork that we must have to receive our 20% discount on items we registered for but did not receive as gifts. Paperwork hunt begins, and ends 5 minutes later when New Older Woman finds it.

9. We find several items to purchase and present our 20% off letter to yet another new Cashier (Cashier 3). Cashier 3 does not know how to apply discount and must wait for a Manager. Manager walks cashier through discount process, which must be manually applied to each item. Sale is punctuated by Cashier 3’s comments of, "Did I discount that? I better start over." Twice.

The registry still says we need a rice cooker.

I Love you, Violet

I love that Violet is so over "undecided" voters. She's ready to have the election now, Goddam it!

Why I should not be allowed to watch TV

Do you watch Lost? Because you should. Beacause it's the perfect mixture of freaking me out and fascinating me.

I have a few questions though:

(a few spoilers below--don't read if you don't want to know)

1. What the hell did Kate do? How can Jack NOT want to know? I mean, she'll still have done it when he knows what it is! My consolation is that the fat guy knows about Kate, and he will want to know what she did. I am the fat guy.

2. What's up with Locke, the creepy old bald man?

3. Korean couple--what's up with you two?

4. What happens when Charlie's stash runs out?

5. What the fuck is running around in the bushes? Seriously. The polar bear was strange and all...but what the hell else is in there?!?

6. Who is the French woman and where was/is she?

7. Why are the survivors on the beach seeing supposedly dead people in the jungle?

8. What's the story with Sawyer? I have the feeling he's that guy who really wants to be a hero. He's forever the guy who tries to do the right thing (mercifully killing the US Marshall), but ends up fucking it up (shooting the Marshall in the lung and increasing his suffering instead of killing him outright). Of course, he may be redeemed later on, despite looting the dead people's luggage for cigarettes. As soon as he becomes a reliable good guy, you can be sure he'll be dead soon.

9. Why/how did Sayid leave the Iraqi Republican Guard? How long ago?

I know I could go find this stuff on the internet. I'm bad about such things. But I really don't WANT to know. Y'know?

Separated at birth?

Why did George Lucas decide that Audrey from "Little Shop of Horrors" needs to be inserted into the Sarlac pit in "Return of the Jedi"?

Audrey:

Sarlac:

John Edwards

This post is in response to Mediocre Fred. It started out as a comment on his assessment of the VP debate, then it just grew to large...

I'd like to point out that while Frinklin is right leaning, I'm definitely left leaning, and I thought Cheney won. He appeared to be in command and took Edwards to task on several issues, despite blatantly lying more than once ("I've never alluded to a connection between Saddam Hussein and 911!" or some such load o' crap).

I may have been especially hard on Edwards because I want to like him. I'm begging to like him. But he has always struck me a smarmy, despite "fighting for the regular folks" as a trial attorney. I guess I wish he would really let go of those roots and do what America really needs when it comes to medical malpractice costs and leashing our litigious society--why can't it be "loser pay all" in the courts, including the attorney(ies) involved? That would stop most idiotic lawsuits immediately, including unnecessary malpractice lawsuits, which would help bring medical costs down...

I have to say, I heard much of the debate replayed on the radio this morning and it sounded much better than it looked. Maybe I am like most people and don't actually listen to what is said, but how it's said, and what the speaker is wearing/doing/expressing with his facial muscles while saying it. I take back (a little) what I wrote in my previous post about John Edwards. He can continue to speak.

Both sides seemed to do a "Well, he's brought that up (whatever "that may be), but look how bad he sucks!" instead of actually addressing the issues. Regular political BS.

And if John Edwards folds his hands together one more time and tells me he's going to "speak honestly with the American people..." Lordy, that's annoying.

And Fred, I totally agree with you on Gwen. She wasn't all that great as a moderator. She had an odd rapport with Dick Cheney, I felt, and didn't seem to have that with John Edwards. I probably wouldn't have wanted to question Edwards either. He seemed a bit on edge with his "I do?! Are you sure?? OK!!" and leaping out of his chair afterwards.

That would be my disjointed and largely incomplete assessment of the debates as I saw them.

Please, John Edwards...

...stop talking. Now.

Job update

Because of the combination of several things in my life (job interviews, Star Wars DVD release, Sims 2, sequals to various books I've been waiting forever for), I haven't had much time to blog.

But I'll take this moment to update you all on the job interview front:

I didn't get the job I originally applied for.

However, on the same call in which Human Resources at Bog's Hogs, Inc. informed me of my non-compatability with this particular job, I was also asked if I would consider applying for a different "Specialist" position that had also recently opened up. I told HR I would be interested, so now I have another interview for the new position on Thursday. This will be my third interview in as many weeks--all on Thursdays.

Ah--more opportunity to freak out over the possibility of moving to Michigan. Shaithis, if I promise not to root for the Wolverines, would it be OK then?

Seriously? Little Rock, Arkansas??

Inspired by my friend Shaithis yesterday, I checked out FindYourSpot.com to find out what areas of the United States are perfect for me. There's a questionaire and you have to enter you name and address (as you do everywhere...just opt out of the "special offers"), then you get a list of 24 places that fit within your preferences.

They do ask you what region of the US you would like to live in, but they don't ask you if there are any areas you would NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EVER, EVER, EVER live, like Texas, which seems to be the fatal flaw in the system (I want to apologize to anyone from Texas or in Texas who just loves Texas and can't stand to see it besmirched. I have a prejudice against Texas and I'm not afraid to admit it).

I also have a slight issue with most of the South. I'm not good with heat and humidity or hurricanes, so that wipes out much of that area. I'm from California and therefore have an automatic "thing" about Florida.

The most shocking thing, however, is that apparently my most compatible spot is Little Rock, Arkansas! What? Need I repeat that I'm not really a fan of the South? There were predictible answers like Honolulu, Palo Alto (where the median house price is $882,000--oh sure!), Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Portland, Santa Barbara, even San Diego. Hartford, CT showed up, as did two places in New Mexico (yay!). Then there were (again with the South!) Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Charleston, and Shreveport!

I really don't want to move, but with housing prices continuing to climb in San Diego (do I appear to be a person able to afford a $500,000 three bedroom house?), Frinklin and I are beginning to entertain the thought.

No Michigan at all, anywhere. Hm.

The second interview

So, the second interview came and went.

It actually went pretty well.

I'm not a huge fan of interviews, and especially of phone interviews, but I believe that the words coming out of my mouth made resonable sense most of the time. Occasionally I would have a moment while speaking when my brain had already completed telling my mouth what sounds to make and I thought to myself:

I am brilliant. This is the perfect answer to this question. It is thoughtful, insightful, and exactly the right answer to this question. I am connecting with these two interviewers on a deep and spiritual level.

Other times my brain stopped working completely and my mouth made no sounds for just long enough for the interviewers to know that my brain had completely stopped working. Instead of coming up with a thoughtful and insightful answer for the question being asked, my brain would go into panic mode:

What am I doing? What is the answer. Think! Think! Do they want specifics? General? Who? What? Think of two simple adjectives your supervisor would use to describe you!

It's the easy ones that would stump me. There was the inexplicable ending of one good answer with , "...and..." then silently freaking out, knowing that I had nothing to add and finally tacking on, "...I'm not sure where I'm going with that 'and,' so I'll leave it at that." The gentlemen on the other end of the phone laughed in a good way, not in a "what an idiot!" way, thank God.

We'll see what happens from here. They did tell me on the phone that I should look into the other Specialist positions at the Home Office, and that there was "buzz" and "interest" around my name. I interpret that to mean that I'm not getting this particular job, but that there might be another one out there with my name on it.

Thanks for the good wishes.