Senator Craig Arrested

Friday, August 31, 2007

Senator Craig Arrested

Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) was arrested for lewd conduct at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport for allegedly attempting to cruise an undercover cop in a public restroom. What do you think?

Liza Boors, Systems Analyst "I don't have any problem with his behavior, as long as he wasn't trying to marry the guy."

Tom Hawkins, Bus Driver "Are you thinking what I'm thinking? What was a senator from Idaho doing in Minnesota?"

Joe Palazzo, Meter Reader "This situation begs a much bigger question: Why is our police force so tempting?"

The Onion - America's Finest News Source

Gays Under Rocks, In Shadows, Literally Everywhere

Senator Craig appears to be off of CNN's radar but the local and gay media are still tracking in. Currently Craig's counsel is making the last few attempts to get the original guilty plea rescinded. Funny how this is still dragging on. After his carefully worded “I have never been gay” press conference. And after his adopted kids stepped onto Good Morning America with redirection from the “ZOMG is Dad the Gay?1!?” to this being exclusively about an “accusation of a lewd, immoral, illegal act.” Whatever.

Giggling about this over dinner with a friend when she pointed out something I hadn't even considered: tapping your feet in a public restroom does not constitute a lewd, immoral, illegal act. A lot more than that must have gone on… but what? Wish I could get my hands on the police report since I don't believe the “wrong place at the wrong time” claims. Desperate defenses and outlandish assertions aside, Craig plead guilty. A college-educated man with over 30 years experience in the political system made a crap shoot and lost. Time to move on, Senator.

The first comment on the original article still makes me smile: “Didn't I read this story yesterday and the day before and the day before that? Oh no wait those were all stories about other married republican conservative christians showing their family values to strangers in public bathrooms.” Politicians are going to be loosely representative of their constituency, which means a de facto 10% are homosexual. That 10% needs to fucking represent their minority. Hopefully (sic) there will be some decent human beings in the remaining 90% to back them up.

At a minimum, stop demonizing homosexuals and give us the civil rights we so richly deserve. Not as entitlement but as members of the human race. Regardless of what prophets or whores claim, we're normal people with jobs, dreams, hopes, CD collections, and all that life stuff. We're doctors, lawyers, baristas, grocery clerks, neighbors, friends and family members. Besides, we need room for hypocrisy in other, more pedantic areas… *snicker*

• Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps, for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are and what they ought to be.
  William Hazlitt

Current iCount: 1376 songs, 0 Videos, 2 Podcasts, 0 Pictures, 3 Games, 0 Contacts. (143gb free)

Madonna An 'Ambassador For Judaism'

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Madonna An 'Ambassador For Judaism'

Madonna, meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres, told him that she was an ambassador for Judaism, despite not being Jewish herself. What do you think?

Adam McCaulley, Marketing Executive "I hope Jews reject that claim. The economy of La Isla Bonita is still in ruins after her tenure as finance minister in 1987."

Jake Palley, Bouncer "I guess that explains why her private jet firebombed Lebanon on the way to Israel."

Shira Rosenthal, Data Secialist "As the self-appointed ambassador for Madonna, I will speak for her and say that she's lost her mind."

The Onion - America's Finest News Source

Mental, Drivel

Both Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Superman (Christopher Reeve) were born today. Coincidence? Or white supremacist conspiracy?

I'm 34 and only finding out today that confab is short for confabulation. This is distressing because a derivative of the root has different meaning in Psychology (confabulate: unconsciously synthesize or supplant fact with fantasy in one's memory). I never noticed the similarity.

• Trying to stop suiciders—which we're doing a pretty good job of on occasion—is difficult to do. And what the Iraqis are going to have to eventually do is convince those who are conducting suiciders who are not inspired by Al Qaeda, for example, to realize there's a peaceful tomorrow.
  George w. Bush, Washington, DC, 05/24/2006

End of the Five

The weather has been so temperamental. This morning the sun was out again like nothing happened. Yet it started getting dark again a little after lunch. Now it looks like it can go either way. Crazy. Will sneak in some kayaking this weekend if it stays bright for a few hours.

I have a few hours of work for sometime this weekend but I don't have many other plans. Tanning in a few minutes then seeing Jerome for bit. Then Junior Vasquez is spinning at the Saloon for $10 so I'm there. Other than that I'll be sifting music and gaming. Yay. Or something.

Current iCount: 373 songs, 0 Videos, 1 Podcasts, 0 Pictures, 3 Games, 0 Contacts. (147gb free)

Severe Weather

Apparently there were tornadoes out on the western border of the state this morning. Yet a little after lunch the sun was peeking through clouds occasionally. Driving home there were a few droplets on the windshield but it was really dark out west. Getting out of the car in the parking ramp I heard the siren. Kinda freaky but mostly annoying. Some old lady was in the foyer looking outside curiously.

The siren wound down but it just started up again. The rain has gone from sheets to near fog thickness. The radio is saying the tornado warning is for my county, but at the south. The occasional thunder sounds like car crashing in the streets below. Fun times! Sorta want to go out and walk around. Maybe later. =)

Money Well Spent?

Colby would be smirking at me right now, but thankfully he's a few times zones away.




It really is too expensive but I love ignoring cost when I want something. What started me iThinking was seeing RJ's alluring collection completely contained and how smooth the car-to-home transition is. My music tastes are finally maturing so there's a reason for all the space.¹ Not sure what pushed me over though. Being able to do the pictures and movies I suppose—nerd novelty.

The final barrier was my distaste for iTunes. The interface is too Mac plus I'm naturally adverse to anything that conceals data and enforces order. Yet I've been able to work with it in the past, even removing DRM with Colby's help.² It will do the album covers and lyrics, which are my minimal requirements so I'll acclimate.

Took six years to overcome my iPrejudice. Wonder if I'll ever get an iMac? Sure hope not.

Current iCount: 172 songs, 0 Videos, 0 Podcasts, 0 Pictures, 0 Contacts. (147gb free)

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1. All of my music prior to 2000 ripped to just over 12gb. In the last seven years that has more than tripled.
2. Hopefully that process has gotten smoother.

Signs of Age

Hard to believe that Robert Jordan died yesterday. I remember picking up The Eye of the World when I first moved to Salt Lake. It felt almost self-contained but then I found out there were another five fat novels waiting for me. I was planning to reread them all when the twelfth, A Memory of Light?, was published. Guess I'll do the eleven and see what happens.

Does make me feel older… along with other things. As of the 5^th of this month I've been at my job twelve years. More and more of the songs from my youth are being covered or their melodies are stolen by hip-hop artists. The “hot” porn stars and waiters look so damn young. Guys younger than me have been in relationships longer than I've been single. It takes more than one hand to count the important people in my life that have died.

Now there's so much in my brain that its randomness can be startling. Like getting into work I found myself singing INXS's Disappear out of the blue. Or the way seeing or hearing things in everyday life take me back to places more than two decades away. Nothing to do but *sigh*.

Never heard of Pat Monahan until this morning, but I've really enjoyed listening to Last of Seven which went on sale today. Despite the age thing, it's nice that there are still surprises.

• I am barely stable
  I am afraid to be alone
  I am sorry that I always enable
  And every day I try to find another way to you
  
  I can't admit to my addictions
  And wish that I could be a better friend
  I am three kinds of crazy
  And every day I try to find another way to you
  Pat Monahan, Someday

Random Street Person

Pulling out of the garage I noticed a cute guy walking along the sidewalk with an insulated lunch bag in hand. I saw him look toward me but I looked away to check traffic. As I merged onto the street I met his still-lingering gaze with a smile. Still find moments like that validating, even though they're meaningless. Got my Monday off to a good start anyway.

Honesty is Its Own Reward

Coworker back in Utah got a promotion so I felt obligated to congratulate her. I loathe doing so because she's sweet, genuine, self-effacing, and easily engaged. It's impossible to disentangle my self abruptly as per my usual since it's akin to whacking an innocent, doe-eyed bunny with a 2x4. *sigh* In her appreciative reply she asked how I was and if I'd read any good books lately. My response was:

Doing well, thanks! Little dating, little drinking, and a good bit of sleep. Enjoying the last spurt of summery warmth with cold temperatures just a month a way! *cheers* How about you? Have you killed anyone yet?

Last book I read was James McGreevey's autobiography. Currently working through David Eddings' "How I Write Books" book. Probably not things you'd consider too exciting. What have you read? Is it K-12?

Hope all is well and not burning!

I'm so passive-aggressive with my spite. I would stop doing it if I didn't find it so amusing.