Please welcome Sir Jonathan Coogan!
He's little (7lbs), and rambunctious, and sooooo cute! All must love him!
It was very hard to take pictures of him, because he's normally bouncing about. Here, he's passed out with his e-collar on.
9.22.2005
9.14.2005
You can't take penguins away from us!
I hate opportunists. Especially Republican opportunists that try to ingratiate themselves to the public by tagging pop culture onto their conservative ideals. First it was rock songs, now it's penguins:
Obviously, they were not paying attention to the movie. Or not listening, which is very much their MO.
Sure, penguins are monogamous...for that year. After that, all bets are off. And as for child rearing--after the baby penguins get a second visit from their moms (the dads have already left for the ocean), the moms leave the baby penguins behind to fend for themselves all alone. The penguins haven't even shed their downy fuzz yet when their "dedicated" family abandons them. If the penguins don't know where to go (because mom doesn't wait for them), they DIE. That's family values for you.
I hate opportunists. Especially Republican opportunists that try to ingratiate themselves to the public by tagging pop culture onto their conservative ideals. First it was rock songs, now it's penguins:
Among a number of other conservative and Christian critics who praised its family values, Michael Medved said [March of the Penguins] is "the motion picture this summer that most passionately affirms traditional norms like monogamy, sacrifice and child rearing." Rich Lowry, editor of National Review, speaking at a gathering of young Republicans, said: "You have to check out 'March of the Penguins.' It is an amazing movie. And I have to say, penguins are the really ideal example of monogamy. These things -- the dedication of these birds is just amazing."
Obviously, they were not paying attention to the movie. Or not listening, which is very much their MO.
Sure, penguins are monogamous...for that year. After that, all bets are off. And as for child rearing--after the baby penguins get a second visit from their moms (the dads have already left for the ocean), the moms leave the baby penguins behind to fend for themselves all alone. The penguins haven't even shed their downy fuzz yet when their "dedicated" family abandons them. If the penguins don't know where to go (because mom doesn't wait for them), they DIE. That's family values for you.
9.08.2005
Pointing fingers
Here's my soapbox moment over this media chaos over who's to blame for the mess that is Louisiana. Look people--whoever dropped the ball, dropped it. Let's try and get all that we can in there and fix the problem at hand and stop with the finger pointing.
Let me clarify something too that the media is totally botching. From the military and legal perspective, the National Guard is activated under Title 32 of the US Code by state governors in cases of disaster relief, unless the National guard hasn't already been activated as reserve units overseas (as in this case of the those already sent to Iraq). It's the state governor's role to call them in and it's the state's money that pays for them. Otherwise, multiple states' guards can be called in by the President under Title 10, which makes them active military at that point and no longer under the state governors' orders, so they legally can't do any police work, hence the big mess with the LA riots a while back.
My pain with Pres Bush and republicans in general is that by having a "small government" and reducing dollars going to improving the domestic situation when concentrating on foreign problems, we are looking at a weak, unfunded, and undeveloped state/federal structure for dealing with domestic disasters. If they want a protected happy homeland, how about pumping some funds into the homeland, huh?
My solution for the future--forget this state/federal crap. This isn't the civil war, and states do not need separate militias to defend their territories. The federal government should create a comprehensive system where the national guards are funded by the federal government, but housed in each state, and may be used by the federal government in a common defense of the homeland. In case of natural disaster, state governments should have the authority to call them immediately to do policing duties en masse. The guard should not be used as a reserve for active duty. That is what the Reserves are for.
I won't even get into my rampage about getting rid of Title 10 and having one military with air, land, and sea capabilities. Talk about wasting money.
Here's my soapbox moment over this media chaos over who's to blame for the mess that is Louisiana. Look people--whoever dropped the ball, dropped it. Let's try and get all that we can in there and fix the problem at hand and stop with the finger pointing.
Let me clarify something too that the media is totally botching. From the military and legal perspective, the National Guard is activated under Title 32 of the US Code by state governors in cases of disaster relief, unless the National guard hasn't already been activated as reserve units overseas (as in this case of the those already sent to Iraq). It's the state governor's role to call them in and it's the state's money that pays for them. Otherwise, multiple states' guards can be called in by the President under Title 10, which makes them active military at that point and no longer under the state governors' orders, so they legally can't do any police work, hence the big mess with the LA riots a while back.
My pain with Pres Bush and republicans in general is that by having a "small government" and reducing dollars going to improving the domestic situation when concentrating on foreign problems, we are looking at a weak, unfunded, and undeveloped state/federal structure for dealing with domestic disasters. If they want a protected happy homeland, how about pumping some funds into the homeland, huh?
My solution for the future--forget this state/federal crap. This isn't the civil war, and states do not need separate militias to defend their territories. The federal government should create a comprehensive system where the national guards are funded by the federal government, but housed in each state, and may be used by the federal government in a common defense of the homeland. In case of natural disaster, state governments should have the authority to call them immediately to do policing duties en masse. The guard should not be used as a reserve for active duty. That is what the Reserves are for.
I won't even get into my rampage about getting rid of Title 10 and having one military with air, land, and sea capabilities. Talk about wasting money.
9.05.2005
Vacant, with a hint of sadness. Like a drunk who's lost a bet.
Hate shopping weekends and mostly avoid them. Idiot masses have come out of the woodworks and wander about town like zombies who have already fed. And then they unleash their children. Their screaming, running, sugared-up children. Yesterday I felt like I was in some videogame where I had to wander through a maze full of alien queens unleashing swarms of their brood.
Only I didn't have various weapons in my arsenal and unlimited ammo. Damn.
I am not antisocial and agoraphobic on my own. People make me this way.
Hate shopping weekends and mostly avoid them. Idiot masses have come out of the woodworks and wander about town like zombies who have already fed. And then they unleash their children. Their screaming, running, sugared-up children. Yesterday I felt like I was in some videogame where I had to wander through a maze full of alien queens unleashing swarms of their brood.
Only I didn't have various weapons in my arsenal and unlimited ammo. Damn.
I am not antisocial and agoraphobic on my own. People make me this way.
9.02.2005
Oh hell no.
An "interesting" article from today's Washington Post. Really really dislike the implications. I'm not ignoring racism or "reverse" racism, but I am ignoring the claims that people are marked for disaster because of their skin color and that aid has been slow because the victims are black.
Don't make this a racial issue. Disasters are not determined by color. True that most that suffer are the poor, but the poor are not all of one color. (*cough* indian ocean tsunami--over 300,000 killed, entire country in ruins)
*amendment*
Maybe the above article was just badly written--regardless it didn't portray the issues very well. This one is much better. And it wouldn't hurt to see Pres. Bush down there helping out--as if he would. Wouldn't that be a story--"President Bush arrives via helicopter in ground zero New Orleans and has been shot by looters--was it because he was an ineffectual President, a selfish rich idiot, or just plain white?"
An "interesting" article from today's Washington Post. Really really dislike the implications. I'm not ignoring racism or "reverse" racism, but I am ignoring the claims that people are marked for disaster because of their skin color and that aid has been slow because the victims are black.
Don't make this a racial issue. Disasters are not determined by color. True that most that suffer are the poor, but the poor are not all of one color. (*cough* indian ocean tsunami--over 300,000 killed, entire country in ruins)
*amendment*
Maybe the above article was just badly written--regardless it didn't portray the issues very well. This one is much better. And it wouldn't hurt to see Pres. Bush down there helping out--as if he would. Wouldn't that be a story--"President Bush arrives via helicopter in ground zero New Orleans and has been shot by looters--was it because he was an ineffectual President, a selfish rich idiot, or just plain white?"
8.31.2005
I'm a liberal, I swear!!
I love quizzes, but this one I had to fill out for my National Security Decision Making class, so it's not just fun, it's helps you understand why we just can't get along:
Are you a realist, liberalist, or idealist?
(It's good even though it's from the Christian Science Monitor and titled "Are you a neo-con?" Leading much?)
I'm a realist.
Not surprising considering I'm very cynical when it comes to politics and international relations. States can can espouse freedom, democracy, and human rights then get into wars based on national economic interests because that's how people work. Unless states can convince others that any action is to their benefit, this is how it will always be.
I love quizzes, but this one I had to fill out for my National Security Decision Making class, so it's not just fun, it's helps you understand why we just can't get along:
Are you a realist, liberalist, or idealist?
(It's good even though it's from the Christian Science Monitor and titled "Are you a neo-con?" Leading much?)
I'm a realist.
Realists…
Are guided more by practical considerations than ideological vision
Believe US power is crucial to successful diplomacy - and vice versa
Don't want US policy options unduly limited by world opinion or ethical considerations
Believe strong alliances are important to US interests
Weigh the political costs of foreign action
Believe foreign intervention must be dictated by compelling national interest
Historical realist: President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Modern realist: Secretary of State Colin Powell
Not surprising considering I'm very cynical when it comes to politics and international relations. States can can espouse freedom, democracy, and human rights then get into wars based on national economic interests because that's how people work. Unless states can convince others that any action is to their benefit, this is how it will always be.
Don't just watch, do something!
Trying not to worry constantly about the welfare of hurricane Katrina victims. It's amazing what weather can do in just a couple of days. So, I'll do my liberal, Sally Struthers plea:
Please donate to the Red Cross (overall disaster relief or hurricane fund) or other reputable local charity. There are over 290 million people living in the US and if we each give just a few dollars, that's significant. Share the wealth and alleviate victims' suffering because it could be you next time and you'd appreciate the help.
Trying not to worry constantly about the welfare of hurricane Katrina victims. It's amazing what weather can do in just a couple of days. So, I'll do my liberal, Sally Struthers plea:
Please donate to the Red Cross (overall disaster relief or hurricane fund) or other reputable local charity. There are over 290 million people living in the US and if we each give just a few dollars, that's significant. Share the wealth and alleviate victims' suffering because it could be you next time and you'd appreciate the help.
8.19.2005
Just needed to share the love.
For those who don't know them, these are my babies: The alien monkey and her friend the round orange floor cushion, aka Gipsy and Giles. Worship them!
For those who do, they have tons of fur saved up to rub on you for your next visit. Worship them!
I will miss them next week when I will be swilling das Bier and observing die Truppen. Very sad.
For those who don't know them, these are my babies: The alien monkey and her friend the round orange floor cushion, aka Gipsy and Giles. Worship them!
For those who do, they have tons of fur saved up to rub on you for your next visit. Worship them!
I will miss them next week when I will be swilling das Bier and observing die Truppen. Very sad.
8.18.2005
You know that overworked feeling? The feeling of being not so fresh?
I think I just found the solution to that very problem!
Use my annual leave! For vacation! For anything besides work! (Ta-da!)
This truly is a revelation because I've taken days off now and then, but I've been feeling very tired lately. Then I did some calculations after I discovered that I have over 17 days of leave saved up (and it's not even the end of the year). That's almost a month! Not including the 40+ days of sick leave and 2 days of award leave. Hell, I'll just take half the next year off, thank you.
Why the revelation? That means that I've haven't used a single damn day of leave this year. Instead, I've banked extra hours and have been taking those few days off because I've already worked them. Isn't this why I didn't become a lawyer? (And that whole bloodsucking thing.)
The sad thing is that it took me until August to realize this. Damn work ethic. I'm taking the rest of the day off.
I think I just found the solution to that very problem!
Use my annual leave! For vacation! For anything besides work! (Ta-da!)
This truly is a revelation because I've taken days off now and then, but I've been feeling very tired lately. Then I did some calculations after I discovered that I have over 17 days of leave saved up (and it's not even the end of the year). That's almost a month! Not including the 40+ days of sick leave and 2 days of award leave. Hell, I'll just take half the next year off, thank you.
Why the revelation? That means that I've haven't used a single damn day of leave this year. Instead, I've banked extra hours and have been taking those few days off because I've already worked them. Isn't this why I didn't become a lawyer? (And that whole bloodsucking thing.)
The sad thing is that it took me until August to realize this. Damn work ethic. I'm taking the rest of the day off.
8.12.2005
8.11.2005
8.07.2005
Sweet Revenge
Found out about betrayal of trust, and have been feeling a little out of sorts. Angry in fact. So, how do I get over this feeling without resorting to immature bout of violent bludgeoning? Will follow the lead of M: use Sims to live out my dreams.
The life and imminent death of one Miserable Bastard. After being surgically removed from his mother's teat at age four, has vowed to scorn all things female and emulate the pursuits of his dastardly father. Twenty-five years later, is married and lederhosened after getting wifey (former Miss Trailerpark California) knocked up with demon spawn Babs (who terrorizes the villagers with her cacophonous howls). Now lives in ramshackle hut (with outhouse) in style of industrial safari. In attempt to fix breakfast, catches house on fire and Death comes visiting while Wifey is taking a leisurely dip. Thus is the story of Miserable Bastard.
The End.
OK, feel tons better. Will move on.
Found out about betrayal of trust, and have been feeling a little out of sorts. Angry in fact. So, how do I get over this feeling without resorting to immature bout of violent bludgeoning? Will follow the lead of M: use Sims to live out my dreams.
The life and imminent death of one Miserable Bastard. After being surgically removed from his mother's teat at age four, has vowed to scorn all things female and emulate the pursuits of his dastardly father. Twenty-five years later, is married and lederhosened after getting wifey (former Miss Trailerpark California) knocked up with demon spawn Babs (who terrorizes the villagers with her cacophonous howls). Now lives in ramshackle hut (with outhouse) in style of industrial safari. In attempt to fix breakfast, catches house on fire and Death comes visiting while Wifey is taking a leisurely dip. Thus is the story of Miserable Bastard.
The End.
OK, feel tons better. Will move on.
7.28.2005
Beat that dead horse
I can't help it, I'm surrounded by this stuff daily. But tell me this isn't just a bit wrong...
"The memo says soldiers need precision-guided pistols, in addition to heavy-fire machine guns, to ensure that innocent people are not killed." --Washington Times article
It makes sense...supposedly, when guarding convoys from attacks, the soldiers are left with M-2s and grenade launchers (for which accuracy means blowing a hole in a building...or a crowd). And instead of having to lots of little holes in lots of people, they would rather blow one big hole in just a few.
OK, it doesn't make sense.
I can't help it, I'm surrounded by this stuff daily. But tell me this isn't just a bit wrong...
"The memo says soldiers need precision-guided pistols, in addition to heavy-fire machine guns, to ensure that innocent people are not killed." --Washington Times article
It makes sense...supposedly, when guarding convoys from attacks, the soldiers are left with M-2s and grenade launchers (for which accuracy means blowing a hole in a building...or a crowd). And instead of having to lots of little holes in lots of people, they would rather blow one big hole in just a few.
OK, it doesn't make sense.
7.27.2005
7.25.2005
Blah, blah, blah
Trying to blog surreptitiously at work is so fun. Even when I have nothing to blog about.
Nothing I'd like to blog about that is...Just read the NY Time article about the lady who fired her nanny after reading the nanny's blog. Had many mixed emotions about it too. First, oye, I want to be married and have kids, but damn, I don't want to be that righteous and awful. Second, what kind of an idiot is this girlie-girl giving her boss the address to her blog and writing about her sexual escapades and complaints about her boss's family? Third, blogs may be over, at least in the voyeuristic diary-type blogs that people read only for the outrageous crap that people do in their lives. You might as well be watching yet another season of the Real World, only the bloggers don't band together in other reality shows that show them drowning themselves and eating sheep intestines. No, that would be fun. Unfortunately, these penthouse forum bloggers are considered a step above tabloid trash because it's their life that they willingly put out there. Think the Washingtonienne. Blech. The humanity.
Fourth, I need to blog.
Fifth, must stop reading Harry Potter and have wild sexual escapades with next cute stranger.
Sixth, no. There are no cute strangers in this town. Have cute wonderful boyfriend. Must not think of Gary Oldman. Icky old nutty man.
Seventh, I'm getting old. Especially when I'd rather have Gary Oldman over any of those stupid ass little children with the smirky faces in 90210-lite sticky beach dramas such as OC and One Tree Hill.
Eighth and final. Am old. And writing this at work. Must stop now.
Trying to blog surreptitiously at work is so fun. Even when I have nothing to blog about.
Nothing I'd like to blog about that is...Just read the NY Time article about the lady who fired her nanny after reading the nanny's blog. Had many mixed emotions about it too. First, oye, I want to be married and have kids, but damn, I don't want to be that righteous and awful. Second, what kind of an idiot is this girlie-girl giving her boss the address to her blog and writing about her sexual escapades and complaints about her boss's family? Third, blogs may be over, at least in the voyeuristic diary-type blogs that people read only for the outrageous crap that people do in their lives. You might as well be watching yet another season of the Real World, only the bloggers don't band together in other reality shows that show them drowning themselves and eating sheep intestines. No, that would be fun. Unfortunately, these penthouse forum bloggers are considered a step above tabloid trash because it's their life that they willingly put out there. Think the Washingtonienne. Blech. The humanity.
Fourth, I need to blog.
Fifth, must stop reading Harry Potter and have wild sexual escapades with next cute stranger.
Sixth, no. There are no cute strangers in this town. Have cute wonderful boyfriend. Must not think of Gary Oldman. Icky old nutty man.
Seventh, I'm getting old. Especially when I'd rather have Gary Oldman over any of those stupid ass little children with the smirky faces in 90210-lite sticky beach dramas such as OC and One Tree Hill.
Eighth and final. Am old. And writing this at work. Must stop now.
7.14.2005
Well I never was in fashion.
It seems that the blogging fad is coming to an end. Be it too many opinions, too much happiness, too much depression, too much writing, too little experiences, ADD, or just sheer boredom. So, I say goodbye to Prodigal Blog and RHPT (otherwise known as "only-real-men-like-Hello-Kitty"). Ciao pazzi e tenere tue galline a tuo! May you forever comment on everyone else's blogs.
It seems that the blogging fad is coming to an end. Be it too many opinions, too much happiness, too much depression, too much writing, too little experiences, ADD, or just sheer boredom. So, I say goodbye to Prodigal Blog and RHPT (otherwise known as "only-real-men-like-Hello-Kitty"). Ciao pazzi e tenere tue galline a tuo! May you forever comment on everyone else's blogs.
7.08.2005
I can't think of anything original to say about how horrific the recent bombings were in London. Just remember that it is just one of many from Al Qaeda:
--Feb 1993 - 1st World trade center bombing (6 dead)
--June 1996 - Khobar Towers housing bombing (19 dead)
--Aug 1998 - US Embassy bombing in Kenya (247 dead)
--Aug 1998 - US Embassy bombing in Tanzania (10 dead)
--Oct 2000 - Bombing of the USS Cole (17 dead)
--Sept 2001 - World Trade Center/ Pentagon attacks (2973 dead)
--Dec 2001 - Attempted plane bombing from Paris to Miami flight (0 dead)
--Apr 2002 - Bombing in a Tunisia synagogue (19 dead)
--June 2002 - US Consulate bombing in Pakistan (19 dead)
--Oct 2002 - French supertanker bombed in Yemen (1 dead)
--Oct 2002 - Nightclub bombing in Bali, Indonesia (202 dead)
--Nov 2002 - Israeli owned hotel bombing in Kenya (16 dead)
--May 2003 - Car bombing in Saudi Arabian compounds (25 dead)
--May 2003 - Suicide bombers in various locations in Casablanca, Morocco (42 dead)
--Aug 2003 - Hotel bombing in Jakarta, Indonesia (10 dead)
--Mar 2004 - Bombings in Spanish trains (191 dead)
Let it be the straw that breaks the camel's back and create concensus worldwide that extremism and terrorism should not coerce us into isolation or fear of retaliation when a fellow nation gets attacked. I don't want to live in Israel-like conditions with my trusty AK on my side. Not that I advocate nuking the world to a parking lot, but we've got to stop bickering and thinking solely of our individual welfare and work together to end this. ARgh.
--Feb 1993 - 1st World trade center bombing (6 dead)
--June 1996 - Khobar Towers housing bombing (19 dead)
--Aug 1998 - US Embassy bombing in Kenya (247 dead)
--Aug 1998 - US Embassy bombing in Tanzania (10 dead)
--Oct 2000 - Bombing of the USS Cole (17 dead)
--Sept 2001 - World Trade Center/ Pentagon attacks (2973 dead)
--Dec 2001 - Attempted plane bombing from Paris to Miami flight (0 dead)
--Apr 2002 - Bombing in a Tunisia synagogue (19 dead)
--June 2002 - US Consulate bombing in Pakistan (19 dead)
--Oct 2002 - French supertanker bombed in Yemen (1 dead)
--Oct 2002 - Nightclub bombing in Bali, Indonesia (202 dead)
--Nov 2002 - Israeli owned hotel bombing in Kenya (16 dead)
--May 2003 - Car bombing in Saudi Arabian compounds (25 dead)
--May 2003 - Suicide bombers in various locations in Casablanca, Morocco (42 dead)
--Aug 2003 - Hotel bombing in Jakarta, Indonesia (10 dead)
--Mar 2004 - Bombings in Spanish trains (191 dead)
Let it be the straw that breaks the camel's back and create concensus worldwide that extremism and terrorism should not coerce us into isolation or fear of retaliation when a fellow nation gets attacked. I don't want to live in Israel-like conditions with my trusty AK on my side. Not that I advocate nuking the world to a parking lot, but we've got to stop bickering and thinking solely of our individual welfare and work together to end this. ARgh.
7.03.2005
Supervillainess Supreme
Supervillainess supreme
Bow down peons.
Try it out...feel the power.
Thanks Mellie for the link, because this was way too fun.
Bow down peons.
Try it out...feel the power.
Thanks Mellie for the link, because this was way too fun.