VMA Blogging

8:01 Justin Timberlake opening the show . . . i didn't think guys were supposed to be able to move their hips like that.

8:06 Finally, "sexyback". But there are supposed to be like 20 girls up there doing some kick ass dancing routine. Not him working the stage like Bono.

8:08 Jack Black in a moonman suit!

8:09 Jack Black in an Elvis Suit!

8:11 Montell Williams? Was that really him? He was on camera for 1/2 a second.

8:12 Woah! The Raconteurs with LOU REED. He's so cool . . . Tonight the Raconteurs are the "house band". who knows what that means. . .

8:14 Charlie Bird is really enjoying this show. He laughs when people laugh, is thrilled with everyone applauding and bouncing to the music.

8:15 Isn't Lil Kim out of Jail? She's on stage in an orange jumpsuit and police escourt. Oh, they stripped her of the suit and she's announcing an award.

8:17 Best Male Video goes to James Blunt, Beautiful.

8:21 First commercial break. Disappointed with the opening overall. Expected so much more from Jack Black.

8:27 Black Eyed Peas win best hip hop video for My Humps. are they really hip hop? Oh god, they just plugged their website and Idlewile for Andre 3000 who presented the award.

8:29 The Rock announces a performance by SHAKIRA! Of course Wyclef is there too. oh man, she's wearing really cool traditinal sari-type belly dancing outfits. Charlie Bird is JAMMING and SINGING his squawking lungs out. DAMN, that girl can shake her ass! She looks like she is having so much fun . . . good for her :) I love the india thing they are doing. That was contagious, had to get up and dance for a bit. I think I wouldn't mind being her for a bit.





8:35 Jackass. Hey do they really do that stuff? Oh my god. There's blood!

8:36 Raconteurs again, sans Lou Reed.

8:41 My guy LL Cool J up there with 50 Cent. LL is a little blingy tonight - no the jewels, but the hoodie. The are announcing best female video. I don't know if it's a mistake or on purpose, but the backstage audio is playing over them. like "jennifer lopez to stage left" the same time they are talking.

8:44 Kelly Clarkson wins for Best Female Video for Because of You. She's not there to accept :( I like here. She would have been cute accepting the award.

8:45 Farell and Ludacris perform Shake Your Moneymaker. Cool opening. Girls dancing, fire shooting all over the place, and they walk out of a safe with huge gold bricks. But I'm not into this song so I can take a quick packing break. . . .

8:55 AWESOME Bob Dylan iPod commercial. Must be a song off his new album.

8:57 Jack Black in gold lamee! Tenacious D guy in crazy moonman suit.

8:59 Ick, Jessica Simpson. Wearin an short, short dress. Big surprise. She looks cute with her short hair though. Can she be any more annoying though? Oh god, she just said she's just a white girl who can't dance but can only "push her tush" and did some crazy booty shake. Then she fucked up reading the promt.

9:01 What???? Shakira DID NOT WIN BEST DANCE VIDEO? Come on! Hips Don't Lie totally makes you want to shake it. Pussycat Dolls won for Buttons. Puke. And they are all out on stage in various shades of Gold Lame. I guess it must be back. Uh, they're crapping how heavy the moon man award is. Now they are showing Shakira looking sad. This is just wrong. That definately has to be worst acceptance speech of the night. They are so annoying.



9:10 The commercials are as good as during the superbowl! I may be liking them better than the show so far - except for Shakira's performance.

9:13 Whe do they call Jack White, the snowboarded, the Chairman of the Board? Uh Oh, Jackass is on again. ooohh nooo. this guy stick out his tongue and lets a live lobster pinch it with it's claws. he's drooling all over the place. gross. they keep doing jackass stunts to get people to vote for the viewers choice awards.

9:15 Paris Hilton in some type of sassy 50's prom girl outfit with boots. She announces the All American Rejects performing Move Along. They are pretty good live.

9:19 oh my god, nicole ritchie's arms . . . she is so skinny. gross.

9:21 Pink wins Best Pop Video for Stupid Girl. That is a funny video. But another one Shakira lost. Pink is cool, she's so nonchelant. She totally reminds me of my cousin!

9:24 Charlie decides it snuggle time. He wants to snuggle and play!




9:29 Snoop Dog in the house. Walking on stage drinking a glass of juice . . . uh huh. LOL, he just called himself the dogfather. He's announcing Best Rap Video. Says he needs to smoke something but can't on tv so he's gonna drink something instead. a drink sounds good right now . . . wonder if i have any wine in the fridge. Chamillionaire won. Don't know if i saw that video or not. But i like him. He gave a nice speech.

9:34 Way cool! The whole place lights up with red police sirens on the screen. Beyonce came flying down from the ceiling in a trenchcoat. Some chick with a huge afro is playing some mean electric guitar. Then it gets ruined with a regular beyonce song. I'm afraid for her to take off the trench coat and see that kind of trashy outfit she has on. Uh oh, we're getting a peack of black leather hotpants and some kick ass boots. Performance = good. Song = bad. Uh oh, spoke too soon. Some military police people grabbed her and they are acting out some type of interrogation scene or something like that. But wait, things are improving . . .Why does it always look cool when 15 black girls stand in a group formation and are all wearing the same outfit do a bunch of dramitic dance moves together. Makes up for the lousy song - some fun choreography with just sound effects and no singing. The coat just came off and the outfit is pretty horrible but you know what, she's up on stage and performing here so it's okay. If she were just wearing it out on the street, no.

9:44 they announced that Shakira won best choreography in a video for Hips Don't Lie. Missy Elliott won for Best Special Effects in a Video for Run This. That is an awesome video. Guess those were presented before they aired the show. Too bad, I'd like to see Shakira give an acceptance speech. Maybe she'll win viewer's choice.

9:45 Puffy looking sharp. Had to throw in a plug for an album. The diamond in his ring is bigger than my thumbnail.

9:47 Hell Ya! Lean wit it. T.I. in an awesome performance with a word "King" in huge letter behind him. Sounds like a sing along. Oh, they have a ton of kids up on stage singing with them!

9:51 Taylor and Tristen decide it's play time! They are running all over the place.

9:52 Since when is Jared Leto so androgynous? I used to love him on that show with Claire Daines. He and the girl from Evanescence announce nominees for Best Group Video. The All American Rejcts win. They look SO HAPPY. Their moon man fell apart too.

10:02 They is actually an award for Ringtone of the year. In one way, cool because they are acknowledging new technology. In the other way . . . what the hell? Fort Minor wins for Where'd You Go. This totally reminds me of Chris missing CT.

10:05 Fall Out Boy is announcing . . . wait, is he wearin a cape? they are all in like 19th century sherlock holmes clothes or something like that. They announce Panic at the Disco who of course performs I write sins and not tragedies. This is a really cool set. They are in these goth kind of clothes. There are a ton of LCD screens with plack and white tere branches. Lead guy has on a huge tophat with red diamonds on it which matches his velvet vest. Girls come out all earling these 19th century ball gown and are dancing around. Kind of reminds me of that Pat Benetar video - love is a battle field. Okay, this is a great performance I expect on the VMAs. Really creative and entertaining. The band sounds good live too. I'm sure this one will pop up on you tube. Girls are showing their garter belts and confetti is dropping down from the cieling. how fun!

10:09 uh oh, fergie is up. charlie must like her because he's talking to her! she's announcing best new artist. the girl from the little mis sunshine movie came out and is trying to dance. i guess it's cute cuz she's a kid. she said she's excited cuz she just got to dance at the vmas - oh that is cute. She can't say the name of the song . . . Avenged Sevenfold wins for Bat Country.

10:21 oh god, prego britney and k fed. they don't even appear. it's some stupid prerecorded thing. Beyonce and Snoop Dog win it for Check on it. Wow, Beyonce looks good now. Actually classy in a glamorous dress. I think that's when sh e looks best cuz she's so beautiful.

10:24 Kanye West. He's so cool, just walking out on stage. He's presenting the video vanguard award. He's saying it is for the greatest "filmmaker" of all time and he claims that videos are actually films. It's for Hype Williams. I've never heard of him before but I guess the video makers aren't really as well known as the artists. looks like he did alot of rap and hip hop stuff. they're showing biggie, tupak, jay z, puff, and a ton of people i don't know at all. but the videos are all cool. mariah, gwen, j lo got flashed up there too. Cool! African dancers wearing DAY GLO WAR PAINT. How fun. What's uip with gold lamee? buster rhymes wearing a gold lame turban. this is a really cool presentation. they cut lots of videos. various missy videos on now.

10:29 MISSY ELLIOTT! she's continuing the presentation for Hype Williams with a kick ass live performance. She's in a black sumo suit and riding in a tiny kid electronic car.

10:31 Hype Williams takes the stage. Wow, he has alot of respect from all the performers there. That is nonice to see. The stage is packed and it looks like everyone is giving him a standing ovation.

10:35 Sarah Silverman reams Paris Hilton.

10:42 Christina Aguilera all marilyn monroe like singing. gorgeous red dress. uh oh, guess charlie bird likes her voice too.

10:47 Lou Reed and Pink. They are cool. but pink starts singing some "dear mr. president" song . . . what's that? Ha ha, Lou Reed asks MTv to play more rock and roll. People stand and cheer. They are presenting Best Rock Video. Love Lou Reed's tshirt. AFI wins for Miss Murder. They're totally jazzed that they are up on stage with lou reed and won. Wow, the lead singer has on a nice set of fake eyelashes and some snazzy blue eyeshadow.

10:51 The Raconteurs with Billy Williams, one of the guys with the long beards from ZZ Top.

10:59 Black Eyed Peas announce award for Best Hip Hop Fusion Video. Kyle from Tenacious D is up there with the Black Eyed Peas. He says he's in the peas now. Trying to be funny. Okay, but to see Jack Black running around the suit in a gold lame suit is hysterical. the rest of it i don't get. Tenacious D perform some type of goofy song but theyr'e good. Jack Black cracks me up when he sings.

11:02 I thought this show was going to done by 11pm. I'm going to be up forever!

11:04 The cast of jackass announce viewers choice award. i think this is the best award of the night because us little folks actually vote. i didn't this year. i should have. i'd have voted for shakira. she better win. . . guess we'll see in a few seconds. what's up with the crazy midget? Argh. Fall Out Boys win for Dance, Dance. That's annoying, Shakira should have won something she got to make an acceptance speech for. Jackass doesn't think they are on tv anymore since the show ran long, but they are . . . LOL! THe Midget is carrying one of the fall out boys around on his shoulders.

11:06 Queen Latifa. Wow. She looks GREAT! She's talking about some environmental stuff. What is Al Gore doing there? They just announced him - and he's getting A TON of applause. Oh god, he just made a "sexy back" joke. They've been doing that all night. He's talking about Global Warming. I think it's good that they talk about these environmental things on a show like the VMAs because it brings awareness to the younger kids who would be watching it. But they could do it in a more fun way. He's hyping think.mtv.com to help out with global warming.

11:17 Unless JLo is undergoing chemo treatments, why the hell is she wearing that scarf on her head? she has gorgeous hair. She's promotoing the new MTv Tres latino station and is announcing the winner of Video of the Year.

11:19 okay. if shakira didn't win, which she should have, then the chili peppers should have. dani california is an awesome video, they rock and the video plays homage to lots of great musicians. but no, panic at the disco wins. guess it's an emo world today.

11:21 Axl Rose? Hm, this seems random. He's presenting THE KILLERS!!!! Love them. Great choice as the last performer to close the show. The song starts off slow and then the whold place turns RED with some swirling lights. They are singing their new song, When You Were Young. I love the lead singer. I like watching him perform. Not sure why, he's kind of robotic but he totallly draws me in.

11:28 in conclusion, i'm trying to decide if it was a big waste of my time to watch, and sit here and blog it all too. jack black was disappointing. a few good performances but nothing really that blew me away like past years. but i feel up on pop culture since i'm sure there'll be highlight all over the place the next few days.

question of the day: superstitious

from question of the day:

What are you superstitious about?

i'm not really that superstitious, but when i have the option to go against a traditional superstition or not, i usually choose not. my grandma was very superstitious so i know most of them. i won't walk under a ladder unless there isn't any way around it. i won't put an umbrella over my head in the house unless there is a very good reason to. if a black cat crosses my path or a mirror breaks, i do think about the superstitions but then shrug them off. i think superstitions are more fun than anything else. they seem just like a crazy set of random rules.

i do believe in karma however and what comes around goes around. so i try to always be a good person an do random acts of kindness hoping that will come back to me. so i guess that is a type of superstition in itself.

thank god for long weekends

yeah! i'm getting excited to go to san francisco tomorrow. it finally hit me this morning. usually i'm totally stoked a while before a trip but i've been SOOO busy and crazy at work and with hurricane ernesto heading our way (completely a non-event). last night i packed a bit but was doing that while trying to install software and having major problems. i talked to my friend last night and then couldn't go to sleep cuz i started to get excited. that and i was starving. today i woke up in the best mood and i'm not letting any of this work crap get in my way.

tomorrow will be CRAZY! i will have to get up early to get in early so i can leave around noon. i have a 2:30 flight and who knows how security is these days. i can't find an airline that does a direct flight from tampa to san francisco so i always have to deal with a layover which makes the commute time even longer. at least this time i used my miles and it's for free. this time i am connecting in miami. so my first flight is one hour and i should land in miami at about 3:30 EST. then i wait. my next flight isn't until 6:15, but that's okay. Miami is a HUGE airport and it usually takes a while to get between gates and all that. i am not looking forward to traveling tomorrow since it is a holiday weekend. miami airport at 6pm is going to be INSANE. but once i get on that flight it's a 5 hr. 45 minute flight across the country to San Francisco. Hopefully I'll nap a bit but i may be too excited to sleep. I'm due in at 9pm on friday night in san francisco and as soon as i get there we have a party to go to! and i'm sure it will be a bit of a late night. HOLY SHIT! will i make it?

who says vacations and friend visiting needs to be restful? i'm pretty much happy no matter what i do with my friends :) can't wait - i totally need a weekend out of my house!

Ella Fitzgerald & Nat King Cole

green monkey wildlife reserve

VMAs

tomorrow night is the MTv Video Music Awards - hosted by JACK BLACK. It should be hysterical. Even though I'm over 30, i still watch them every year. Sometimes they have really cool performances. And I always like to see who wins. Some years, I hardly know some of the musicians who are nominated. This year though, I know them all. My picks are bolded below.

Video of the Year:
Christina Aguilera -- "Ain't No Other Man"
Panic! at the Disco -- "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
Madonna -- "Hung Up"
Red Hot Chili Peppers -- "Dani California"
Shakira feat. Wyclef Jean --"Hips Don't Lie"

Best Male Video:
James Blunt --"You're Beautiful"
Nick Lachey --"What's Left of Me"
T.I. --"What You Know"
Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx --"Gold Digger"
Busta Rhymes/Lloyd Banks/Mary J. Blige/DMX/Missy Elliot/Papoose
& Rah Digga --"Touch It"

Best Female Video:
Christina Aguilera -- "Ain't No Other Man"
Kelly Clarkson -- "Because of You"
Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland -- "Promiscuous"
Madonna --"Hung Up"
Shakira feat. Wyclef Jean -- "Hips Don't Lie"

Best Group Video:
All American Rejects -- "Move Along"
Fall Out Boy -- "Dance, Dance"
Gnarls Barkley -- "Crazy"
Panic! at the Disco -- "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
Red Hot Chili Peppers -- "Dani California"

Best Rap Video:
50 Cent -- "Window Shopper"
Busta Rhymes/Lloyd Banks/Mary J. Blige/DMX/Missy Elliot/Papoose
& Rah Digga -- "Touch It"
Chamillionaire -- "Ridin'"
T.I. -- "What You Know"
Yung Joc feat. Nitti -- "It's Goin' Down"

Best R&B Video:
Beyonce Knowles feat. Slim Thug -- "Check On It"
Mary J. Blige -- "Be Without You"
Chris Brown -- "Yo! (Excuse Me Miss)"
Mariah Carey -- "Shake It Off"
Jamie Foxx feat. Ludacris -- "Unpredictable"

Best Hip-Hop Video:
Black Eyed Peas -- "My Humps"
Common -- "Testify"
Daddy Yankee -- "Rompe"
Three 6 Mafia -- "Stay Fly"
Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx -- "Gold Digger"

Best Dance Video:
Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland -- "Promiscuous"
Madonna -- "Hung Up"
Sean Paul -- "Temperature"
Pussycat Dolls feat. Snoop Dogg -- "Buttons"
Shakira feat. Wyclef Jean -- "Hips Don't Lie"

Best Rock Video:
30 Seconds to Mars -- "The Kill"
AFI -- "Miss Murder"
Green Day -- "Wake Me Up When September Ends"
Panic! at the Disco -- "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
Red Hot Chili Peppers -- "Dani California"

Best Pop Video:
Christina Aguilera -- "Ain't No Other Man"
Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland -- "Promiscuous"
Madonna -- "Hung Up"
Pink -- "Stupid Girls"
Shakira feat. Wyclef Jean -- "Hips Don't Lie"

Best New Artist in a Video:
Angels & Airwaves -- "The Adventure"
Avenged Sevenfold -- "Bat Country"
James Blunt -- "You're Beautiful"
Panic! at the Disco -- "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
Rihanna -- "S.O.S."


Best Direction in a Video:
10 Years -- "Wasteland"
AFI -- "Miss Murder"
Common -- "Testify"
Gnarls Barkley -- "Crazy"
RHCP -- "Dani California"

Best Choreography in a Video:
Christina Aguilera -- "Ain't No Other Man"
Madonna -- "Hung Up"
Sean Paul -- "Temperature"
Pussycat Dolls feat. Snoop Dogg -- "Buttons"
Shakira feat. Wyclef Jean -- "Hips Don't Lie"

Best Special Effects in a Video:
Angels & Airwaves -- "The Adventure"
Beck -- "Hell Yes"
Missy Elliot -- "We Run This"
Pearl Jam -- "Life Wasted"
U2 -- "Origin of the Species"

Best Art Direction in a Video:
10 Years -- "Wasteland"
Common -- "Testify"
Panic! at the Disco -- "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
RHCP -- "Dani California"
Shakira feat. Wyclef Jean -- "Hips Don't Lie"

Best Editing in a Video:
All American Rejects -- "Move Along"
Angels & Airwaves -- "The Adventure"
Gnarls Barkley -- "Crazy"
RHCP -- "Dani California"
U2 -- "Origin of the Species"

Best Cinematography in a Video:
AFI -- "Miss Murder"
James Blunt -- "You're Beautiful"
Prince -- "Black Sweat"
RHCP -- "Dani California"
Ashlee Simpson -- "Invisible"

Viewer's Choice Award:
Chris Brown -- "Run It"
Fall Out Boy -- "Dance, Dance"
Kelly Clarkson -- "Becuase of You"
Rihanna -- "S.O.S."
Shakira feat. Wyclef Jean -- "Hips Don't Lie"

defeated by technology {geek alert}

i give up. i succumb to defeat. today is wednesday and the software i work with to write my code (IBM's Rational Application Developer) has been flakey since friday. well, it's been flakey forever, but really bad since friday. but that was late in the afternoon so i left it and went home this weekend.

i have made absolutely zero progress this week. every time i make a change, the application drops my connection to PVCS, publishes with errors and when it does compile and publish, it doesn't pick up my latest changes. so i have to throw away all my changes and get a fresh copy from pvcs and start all over again. i have already reinstalled a few components because i absolutely dread reinstalling the entire thing. but i might be at that point. right now i was trying to run some updates to patch my application but i'm blocked from my network at work so i'm waiting for them to set me up to be allowed to use the outbound proxy.

when i came in this morning, i was talking out loud to my co-workers and said "hopefully the RAD gods will be good to me today" and then i let them know i'm behind because of all this crap. i was explaining the strange behaviour hoping they'd have some input on what to try. and this nosey ass guy (who i hate but try not to hate but hate anyways) who does not even work on our project rolled his chair out into the middle of the aisle and said "will i get in trouble if i say it's acting just like a woman?" he was referring to my RAD. what an ass. and he looked me right in the eye and said it with a slimey smile on his face. I said "yes, especially if you say it to a woman" and ha, ha, ha'd it off. not like i care if people make comments like that if they do it in a funny way and i know they are just joking. i crap about boys being boys sometimes. but this ass had to quantify it because we all know he does mean it - he's totally old school. i think that's why i hate him. he has those chester molester eyes and i just get the willies from looking at him. AND he has the nerve to act superior around me, even though he is knew to the java web world and i have been working in it for the past 8 years.

i am annoyed!

urban forest project

Design Times Square: The Urban Forest Project "brings 185 banners created by the world’s most celebrated designers, artists, photographers and illustrators to New York’s Times Square. Each banner uses the form of the tree, or a metaphor for the tree, to make a powerful visual statement. Together they create a forest of thought-provoking images at one of the world’s busiest, most energetic, and emphatically urban intersections." Including work by Milton Glaser, the Walker Art Center, and many, many others. Via Speak Up.

government whistleblower on youtube

this amazes me. people are finding the darndest things to post on youtube. it really is becoming a very unique source of communication.

The Washington Post posted an article about a government worker with insider information telling his story on youtube. I have been reading lots of news articles about YouTube because I am interested in the various ways people use this medium. But this one really is interesting. Someone working on a US Government contract posted a video discussing some problems he has discovered. He is an engineer who worked on a multi-billion dollar contract job with the US Coast Guard. In his video he discusses security flaws because they were ignored after he complained to his managers, congressmen, and government investigators. This is the only way he felt he could be heard.

YouTube.com and other sites have become an alluring venue for insiders like De Kort who want to go directly to the public when they think no one within the system is listening.

"This is an excellent example of the democratization of the media, where everyone has access to the printing press of the 21st century," said Dina Kaplan, co-founder of Blip.tv, a site that hosts grass-roots television programming.

how to speak 19th century

Eric Furguson came up with a type of dictionary of 19th century phrases. when reading old books, sometimes one comes across words or phrases that we no longer use in modern language. To create this list of definitions, he combed through a book from 1830 called Private Yankee Doodle. There are so many I have never heard of before. Two that come up in some of the historical fiction books I read (yes, romances) are shirtsleeves and fortnight. I still am not clear on exactly what those mean. i am glad he included the word ragamuffin because i still use that one. some interesting phrases from the 19th century:

Hammer and Tongs; having a serious intent, angry, acting energetically. "The old gentleman came at me, hammer and tongs, with his six-feet cart whip."

Risibility; sense of humor, ability to laugh.

Palaver; useless talking

Tight scratch; difficult fight. "...we had a considerable tight scratch with about an equal number of the British..."

Elbow relation; distant relation, like a cousin-in-law

Belly timber; food. "...we began to contrive how we were to behave in our present circumstances, as it regarded belly timber."

Pretty well over the bay; drunk

Seasoning; drunkenness

Raised his ideas; made him angry, aggressive.

Ragamuffin; dirty, ragged individual

celebrity duets

oh my god, this show sucks! i was optomistic of the concept of celebrity duets, but it is nothing at all like american idol. i think what i like best about american idol is that everyone is unknown and you are so surprised that someone can sing as good as they do and not have a record contract yet. i really don't care if lucy lawless can sing or not. what a waste of six minutes. i had to turn it off. ick.

around barbados

i finished this layout last night. i just threw it all together with no pre-plan. i think there a few things i would have done differently, but i was trying to just go with the flow and not correct any "mistakes". accept everything as okay. it was kind of fun that way.

the pictures are from the afternoon excursion my mom and i took around barbados. our group rode in these big jeep type things. it was covered, but i was sitting in the back and was in the full sun. the sun was killing me that day and i got kind of sick from it. my sister and i had spent the morning out on a boat and snorkeling. i was able to handle the sun at the other places on our cruise but not there. so my mom had to change seats with me. we went to one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire world. there were huge rocks there, some about 30 feet tall. we then went past some of the sugar cane mills and over to a special reserve to see the green monkeys. before we got to the reserve we stopped at some guys place where he had baby green monkeys we could actually hold. they moved so fast when they wanted to move and were really playful with each other.

today's goodies

i got some more goodies in the mail today. a bunch of scrapping stuff i got online at a super clearance sale. it's always a big to do when i get packages because the dogs are jumping on my happy that i'm home. i have to calm them down before i can open my stuff. then i love to open it and play with everything. this kills charlie bird because he always wants to help. even though i had his wings clipped a few weeks ago, he can fly again. so tonight he flew from his cage over onto the counter. he's so cute. too bad it's too dangerous for him to fly with my cieling fans and the dogs.

wu orleans

mashup: Bastard pop is a musical genre which, in its purest form, consists of the combination (usually by digital means) of the music from one song with the acapella from another. Typically, the music and vocals belong to completely different genres. At their best, bastard pop songs strive for musical epiphanies that add up to considerably more than the sum of their parts.

I found another neat mashup! This time it's the vocals from the Wu-Tang Clan over some classic dixieland jazz tunes created by djbc. It's really interesting to hear because who would have thought to combine those too. Online for free, and probably only until the cease-and-desist letter comes.

I think my favorite so far is "Dirty Brass" because it is so much fun. But "When The Meth Comes Marching In" is really cool because of the unlikely pairing of Louis Armstrong and Method Man. I am a huge Louis Armstrong fan.

blogging during wartime

Yesterday, the Washington Post took a look at how civilians in Lebanon and Israel used their blogs during the recent fighting. Its worth reading. I especially liked the writers take on why blogs became the outlet and refuge that they did:

The Lebanese government forbids its citizens contact with Israelis. But keeping a lid on the Internet is a bit like trying to shovel sand with a sieve. And in the midst of war, scouring online for views from the other side has been one way for Lebanese and Israelis to alleviate the terrible sense of the impotence of standing by as their countries bled. Thousands of people, often posting in English, seem compelled to try to make some sense of the chaos or, through personal narratives, to help debunk stereotypes and misperceptions.

"I think it's the start of something. In a way, it's a revolution," said Mustapha Hamoui, the blogger behind Beirut Spring. "Communication is never bad. It's better to tell someone, 'I hate you.' Then you have to ask, 'Why do you hate?' Then you have to have a conversation."

Hezbollah Leader: "If I Had Known..."

According to an article in the Huffington Post, the Hezbollah Leader says he would not have conducted the kidnapping operation if he had known it would lead to the war it has become.

"We did not think, even 1 percent, that the capture would lead to a war at this time and of this magnitude. You ask me, if I had known on July 11 ... that the operation would lead to such a war, would I do it? I say no, absolutely not," he said in an interview with Lebanon's New TV station.

This is one of the first positive things i have read in a while. it seems like the Hezbollah has been screaming "bring it on". Now it seems like this horrible war with Israel may actually have some positive type of outcome. If the Hezbollah may beginning to realize that their terrorist behavior actually has consequences. Maybe next time other terrorist organizations may have second thoughts.

ernesto's coming

it's monday morning and i feel like i work in a weather station instead of an I/T department. all everyone talks about is hurricane ernesto. everyone has the storm tracking up on their PC and there are little groups of people huddling. it's like no work gets done.

actually, for my company there is a ton of work to do to prepare for a hurricane. we are in a phosphate plant right on tampa bay. gypsum is the byproduct of potash and we have huge mountains of gypsum. it's slightly radioactive and we have to take major preparations to make sure it stays put and doesn't get blown away. in a 2004 hurricane part of it spilled into the bay and there were environmental implications. also, our product itself is just a bunch of tiny rocks piled up and we need to make sure it doesn't blow away - we need to sell this stuff.

ernesto is supposed to hit us tuesday evening. we are all prepared to be home on wednesday. it is only category one which will be lots of wind and rain. they will close schools. we can't be at work because our plant is in an evacuation zone since it is right on the water. right now it looks like it will hit near miami.

for me, this is a bit touchy, i am supposed to be getting on a plane on friday. i go from tampa to miami to san francisco. the predictions right now look like the winds will still be around miami on thursday. if this path stays and the storm slows down at all, i may have a problem going away for the weekend.

surprise

i just saw the best part of the emmy's. all three of the original charlie's angels just appeared together! they presented a tribute to aaron spelling. oooh, i want to be back in my bed as a little kid with my grandma from florida in town letting us stay up late to watch charlie's angel's, love boat, and fantasy island on our little black and white tv we had in the bedroom i shared with my sister.

Parrot Assault - love or hate?

i gave charlie bird all his toys and hung some on the outside of his cage. i'm not sure if he likes this one or not. i can't tell if he's pissed off or having fun. he is making SO MUCH NOISE!!!

tonight's emmys

the emmy's are on tonight. i'm in the mood for an award show. but i realize looking through the list of nominees i don't watch 3/4 of these shows! where the hell is Lost? well, i still have an opinion even if it's uneducated. i've bolded the ones i'm rooting for below!

my friend and her girls are coming over to watch the pre-show so we can gab about what everyone is wearing and the obnoxious interviewers.

Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series

    * Larry David - Curb Your Enthusiasm HBO
    * Kevin James - The King Of Queens CBS
    * Tony Shalhoub - Monk USA
    * Steve Carell - The Office NBC
    * Charlie Sheen - Two and a Half Men CBS


Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series

    * Christopher Meloni - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit NBC
    * Denis Leary - Rescue Me FX
    * Peter Krause - Six Feet Under HBO
    * Kiefer Sutherland - 24 FOX
    * Martin Sheen - The West Wing NBC


Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie

    * Charles Dance - Bleak House (Masterpiece Theatre) PBS
    * Donald Sutherland - Human Trafficking Lifetime
    * Ben Kingsley - Mrs. Harris HBO
    * Jon Voight - Pope John Paul II CBS
    * Andre Braugher - Thief FX Network


Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series

    * Lisa Kudrow - The Comeback HBO
    * Jane Kaczmarek - Malcolm in the Middle FOX
    * Julia Louis-Dreyfus - The New Adventures of Old Christine CBS
    * Stockard Channing - Out Of Practice CBS
    * Debra Messing - Will & Grace NBC


Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series

    * Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer TNT
    * Geena Davis - Commander In Chief ABC
    * Mariska Hargitay - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit NBC
    * Frances Conroy - Six Feet Under HBO
    * Allison Janney - The West Wing NBC


Outstanding Lead Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie

    * Kathy Bates - Ambulance Girl Lifetime
    * Gillian Anderson - Bleak House (Masterpiece Theatre) PBS
    * Helen Mirren - Elizabeth I HBO
    * Judy Davis - A Little Thing Called Murder Lifetime
    * Annette Bening - Mrs. Harris HBO


Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series

    * Will Arnett - Arrested Development FOX
    * Jeremy Piven - Entourage HBO
    * HBO Bryan Cranston - Malcolm in the Middle FOX
    * FOX Jon Cryer - Two and a Half Men CBS
    * Sean Hayes - Will & Grace NBC


Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

    * William Shatner - Boston Legal ABC
    * Oliver Platt - Huff Showtime
    * Michael Imperioli - The Sopranos HBO
    * Gregory Itzin - 24 FOX
    * Alan Alda - The West Wing NBC


Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie

    * Denis Lawson - Bleak House (Masterpiece Theatre) PBS
    * Hugh Dancy - Elizabeth I HBO
    * Jeremy Irons - Elizabeth I HBO
    * Robert Carlyle - Human Trafficking Lifetime
    * Clifton Collins, Jr. - Thief FX Network


Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series

    * Cheryl Hines - Curb Your Enthusiasm HBO
    * Alfre Woodard - Desperate Housewives ABC
    * Jaime Pressly - My Name Is Earl NBC
    * Elizabeth Perkins - WeedsShowtime
    * Megan Mullally - Will & Grace NBC


Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series

    * Candice Bergen - Boston Legal ABC
    * Sandra Oh - Grey's Anatomy ABC
    * Chandra Wilson - Grey's Anatomy ABC
    * Blythe Danner - Huff Showtime
    * Jean Smart - 24 FOX


Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Miniseries Or A Movie

    * Kelly Macdonald - The Girl In The Café HBO
    * Shirley Jones - Hidden Places Hallmark
    * Ellen Burstyn - Mrs. Harris HBO
    * Cloris Leachman - Mrs. Harris HBO
    * Alfre Woodard - The Water Is Wide CBS


Outstanding Individual Performance In A Variety Or Music Program

    * Barry Manilow - Barry Manilow: Music And Passion PBS
    * Stephen Colbert - The Colbert Report Comedy Central
    * Craig Ferguson - The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson CBS
    * David Letterman - Late Show With David Letterman CBS
    * Hugh Jackman - The 59th Annual Tony Awards (2005) CBS


Outstanding Comedy Series

    * Arrested Development FOX
    * Curb Your Enthusiasm HBO
    * The Office NBC
    * Scrubs NBC
    * Two and a Half Men CBS


Outstanding Drama Series

    * Grey's Anatomy ABC
    * House FOX
    * The Sopranos HBO
    * 24 FOX
    * The West Wing NBC


Outstanding Miniseries

    * Bleak House (Masterpiece Theatre) PBS
    * Elizabeth I HBO
    * Into The West TNT
    * Sleeper Cell Showtime


Outstanding Made For Television Movie

    * Flight 93 A&E
    * The Flight That Fought Back Discovery Channel
    * The Girl In The Café HBO
    * Mrs. Harris HBO
    * Yesterday HBO


Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series

    * The Colbert Report Comedy Central
    * The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Comedy Central
    * Late Night With Conan OBrien NBC
    * Late Show With David Letterman CBS
    * Real Time With Bill Maher HBO



Outstanding Special Class Program

    * Dance In America: Swan Lake With American Ballet Theatre (Great Performances) PBS
    * Jazz At Lincoln Center - Higher Ground Hurricane Relief
      Benefit Concert (Live From Lincoln Center) PBS
    * A Lincoln Center Special: 30 Years Of Live From Lincoln Center PBS
    * South Pacific In Concert From Carnegie Hall (Great Performances) PBS




Outstanding Nonfiction Special

    * All Aboard! Rosies Family Cruise - HBO
    * How William Shatner Changed The World - The History Channel
    * Inside 9/11 - National Geographic Channel
    * Rome: Engineering An Empire The History Channel
    * Stardust: The Bette Davis Story TCM


Outstanding Nonfiction Series

    * American Masters PBS
    * Biography A&E
    * Deadliest Catch Discovery Channel
    * Inside The Actors Studio Bravo
    * 10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America The History Channel


Outstanding Reality Program

    * Antiques Roadshow PBS
    * The Dog Whisperer National Geographic Channel
    * Extreme Makeover: Home Edition ABC
    * Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List Bravo
    * Penn & Teller: Bullshit! Showtime


Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

    * The Amazing Race CBS
    * American Idol FOX
    * Dancing With The Stars ABC
    * Project Runway Bravo
    * Survivor CBS

Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series

    * The Comeback Valerie Does Another Classic Leno HBO
    * Curb Your Enthusiasm The Christ Nail HBO
    * Entourage HBO
    * Oh, Mandy HBO Entourage HBO
    * Sundance Kids HBO My Name Is Earl Pilot NBC
    * Weeds Good S*** Lollipop Showtime


Outstanding Directing For A Drama Series

    * Big Love Pilot HBO
    * Lost Live Together, Die Alone ABC
    * Six Feet Under Everyones Waiting HBO
    * The Sopranos Members Only HBO
    * The Sopranos Join The Club HBO
    * 24 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM FOX
    * The West Wing Election Day NBC


Outstanding Directing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Program

    * 78th Annual Academy Awards ABC
    * American Idol Finale FOX
    * The Colbert Report Episode #110 Comedy Central
    * The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Episode #10140
    * Saturday Night Live Host: Steve Martin NBC


Outstanding Directing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special

    * Bleak House (Masterpiece Theatre) Episode 1 PBS
    * Elizabeth I HBO
    * Flight 93 A&E
    * The Girl In The Café HBO
    * High School Musical Disney
    * Mrs. Harris HBO


Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

    * The Amazing Race CBS
    * American Idol FOX
    * Dancing With The Stars ABC
    * Project Runway Bravo
    * Survivor CBS


Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series

    * Arrested Development Development Arrested FOX
    * Entourage HBO
      Exodus HBO Leverage and Closest to the
    * Extras Kate Winslet HBO
    * My Name Is Earl Pilot NBC
    * The Office Christmas Party NBC


Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series

    * Greys Anatomy Its the End Of The World, As We Know It (Part 1 & 2) ABC
    * Greys Anatomy Into You Like A Train ABC
    * Lost The 23rd Psalm ABC
    * Six Feet Under Everyones Waiting HBO
    * The Sopranos Members Only HBO


Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or
Comedy Program

    * The Colbert Report Comedy Central
    * The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Comedy Central
    * Late Night With Conan OBrien NBC
    * Late Show With David Letterman CBS
    * Real Time With Bill Maher HBO


Outstanding Writing For A Miniseries, Movie Or
A Dramatic Special

    * Bleak House (Masterpiece Theatre) PBS
    * Elizabeth I HBO
    * Flight 93 A&E
    * The Girl In The Café HBO
    * Mrs. Harris HBO


Outstanding Writing For A Comedy Series

    * Arrested Development Development Arrested FOX
    * Entourage HBO
      Exodus HBO Leverage and Closest to the
    * Extras Kate Winslet HBO
    * My Name Is Earl Pilot NBC
    * The Office Christmas Party NBC


Outstanding Writing For A Drama Series

    * Greys Anatomy Its the End Of The World, As We Know It (Part 1 & 2) ABC
    * Greys Anatomy Into You Like A Train ABC
    * Lost The 23rd Psalm ABC
    * Six Feet Under Everyones Waiting HBO
    * The Sopranos Members Only HBO


Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or
Comedy Program

    * The Colbert Report Comedy Central
    * The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Comedy Central
    * Late Night With Conan OBrien NBC
    * Late Show With David Letterman CBS
    * Real Time With Bill Maher HBO


Outstanding Writing For A Miniseries, Movie Or
A Dramatic Special

    * Bleak House (Masterpiece Theatre) PBS
    * Elizabeth I HBO
    * Flight 93 A&E
    * The Girl In The Café HBO
    * Mrs. Harris HBO

best songs about space

yesterday, pluto, one of the nine planets we have come to love and know, was downgraded to a mere drawf planet. we no longer have 9 planets! only 8. this bugs me a bit. i can understand adding new planets. as time goes on better technology is available we may find more that we have not known about. i guess they made a mistake if pluto truly does not revolve around the sun, but it seems that learning all about the nine planets was a basic thing learned in elementry school by all of us. and now that's wrong. so that is uncomfortable.

well, in fun, based on this news, yesterday rolling stone's rock and roll daily blog published farewell pluto! in tribute: best songs about space. their list includes:

• “Hey Mr. Spaceman,” the Byrds
• “Life on Mars,” David Bowie
• “Another Girl, Another Planet,” the Only Ones
• “Ladies and Gentleman, We are Floating in Space,” Spiritualized
• “2000 Light Years From Home,” the Rolling Stones
• “Astro,” the White Stripes
• “Planet of Sound,” the Pixies
• “Sex Dwarf,” Soft Cell
• “Planet Telex,” Radiohead

Even though they have a David Bowie song listed, I think Space Oddity is a better song.  Not sure if they are the best songs about space, but other I can thing of are:

Eclipse  Pink Floyd
Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd
Starman - David Bowie
Across the Universe - The Beatles
Rocket Man - Elton John
A Space Boy Dream - Belle & Sebastian
Cosmic Charlie - Grateful Dead
Come Sail Away - STYX
Third Stone From the Sun - Jimi Hendrix
Eight Miles High - The Byrds
Space Cowboy - Steve Miller Band
Eye In the Sky - Alan Parsons Project

perfection

Billie Holiday - The Blues Are Brewin'

change of plans

this evening i came home, got in my pjs and prepped my couch with pillows, etc. so i could cuddle up and catch up on some old movies i recorded. my friend called me about 7pm. i had just started a movie and had a pizza in the oven. she wanted to go for a drink and some dinner. i told her i had a pizza in the oven and was going to tell her i'd meet her after i finished and just then the timer went off. while we were talking, i was taking the pizza out of the oven and it fell out of my hands, flipped over and landed on the floor! so i was saying, "oh no" and she laughed and said "good - now come join me for dinner".

we went to a place where i had been before, but didn't really like the first time. i had been there before during the week and it was totally dead. but being a friday night, tonight it was packed. it was nice though because there was enough room to get a seat, but it was also crowded and great for people watching. there was a band playing outside, the food was good and they had a great variety of beer. after we ate, i went with my friend to pick up her daughter at gymnastics and it was neat to see how good she was at it.

and the best part was after she was done at practice, she wanted to go into this one part of the gym where you could run on a trampoline thing and then jump in a pit filled with big foam objects and pillows. And after I saw her jump in i wanted to do it and then my friend did too. so all of us jumped in a few times. it was AWESOME stress buster.

we had fun just talking and laughing so it was a fun night. now i'm back to finish off my movie. i'm watching an old orson wells movie called the magnificent ambersons which got four stars back in the day. after the movie, i might just go to bed early tonight and catch up on some sleep so i don't end up sleeping the day away tomorrow. will depend on my mood i guess . . . i love having no plans.

best tv characters ever

Earlier this week, Mr. Gunn provided a list of 25 FAVORITE TV CHARACTERS EVER on his myspace page. Then he copied the list to his regular website. This guy is a director (Slither) and apparently his list has provided some controversy in the entertainment industry and all sorts of entertainment industry bloggers are now coming up with their own lists.  Of course this wants to make me come up a list of my own.

His RULES

    * No puppets or cartoons, otherwise Kermit and Homer would definitely be on this list.
    * No mini-series, otherwise I'd definitely include Philip Marlow from THE SINGING DETECTIVE.
    * No reality show people, otherwise Matt Kennedy Gould from THE JOE SCHMO SHOW would be on here.
    * All characters must be regulars on the show. Okay, here we go

My list is below, in no particular order. Just whoever I thought of first.

1.  Elaine - Seinfeld
2.  George Kastanza - Seinfeld
3.  Kramer - Seinfeld
4.  Archie Bunker - All in the Family
5.  John - Ally McBeal
6.  Lucy - I Love Lucy
7.  Miles - Frasier
8.  Fonzie - Happy Days
9.  Cliff Huxtible - The Cosby Show
10. Alex P. Keaton - Family Ties
11. Lenny - Law & Order
12. Phoebe - Friends
13. Al Bundy - Married With Children
14. Kelly - Charlie's Angels (i wanted to be her)
15. Julie - The Love Boat (i wanted to be her too)
16. House - House MD
17. Jack Tripper - Three's Company
18. John Locke - Lost
19. Tony Soprano - The Sopranos
20. Christopher - The Sopranos
21. Al Swearengen - Deadwood
22. Quincy - Quincy
23. Hawkeye - Mash
24. Ray - Everybody Loves Raymond
25. Ralph Cramden - The Honeymooners

i'm getting a cold

i'm getting a cold and it sucks. the girl that sits behind me has been sick all week with a cold and today i woke up with the beginnings of one. one half of my nose is all stuffed up and my throat hurts and i'm coughing. my body feels like i partied too hard last night but i was asleep by midnight. anyways, i suppose this means i'm going to be crabby and tired all weekend. i tried to ignore this girl because i knew she was sick and we barely had any contact. this just proves my theory that i am susceptible to EVERYTHING!

forbes update

yesterday i posted about a horrible article published in Forbes called "Don't Marry a Career Woman."  I went back to the link today and they have updated their website.

Now there is an "debate" type page of he said, she said.

Point: Don't Marry Career Women

Counterpoint: Don't Marry A Lazy Man

check out the update here. one of the female writers on staff at forbes sent in a rebuttal. thank god!

the morning after pill

horray! i just got this news alert in my email from ABC News:

FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE APPROVED SALES OF THE SO-CALLED MORNING-AFTER PILL WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION

i think this is a good thing. i know it's a touchy issue, but i am pro-choice and not ashamed of it at all. i think this morning after pill is the best thing out there. in my mind, you will never get in a position to have to make a difficult decision. if a women makes a mistake the night before and doesn't use proper protection, she can freely take one of these pills. the average woman can keep them in her medicine cabinet right next to her bottle of advil. an if she ever needs it no problem. one time i tried to get some of these and i couldn't even get in to get an appointment by the time i needed to take the pill. so i just crossed my fingers.

i think this is a great step forward for woman's rights! is good to see after that god awful article in forbes yesterday.

question of the day: ATM fees

from question of the day:

What is the most that you are willing to pay in ATM fees in order to withdraw $20 from your bank account?

willing? $0.00. but in an emergency, I think I've paid up to $4.50 before but no way that was only for $20. god bless my debit card!

no reservations: beirut

i LOVE anthony bourdain. he's like a sophisticated bad boy of food and travel. i recorded his show on monday night and just got around to watching it. he was filming No Reservations: Beirut and the first day of filming the Isreali's were kidnapped and killed. The travel channel thought they'd stop filming the show and needed to get them out of there. but the next day the airport was bombed and anthony bourdain and his crew were stuck there. they turned the show into something else entirely different than their normal format.

it was so interesting to watch this show. the first fifteen minutes or so you got to see how life really was in beirut. there are so many people from different religions and cultures there. one guy took him to a traditional beirut restaurant and the food and spirit of the place looked great. it was definately different than what i pictured. that first night he went to a nightclub, skybar, and all the rich kids out at the club were hanging out even though isreali planes were flying overhead. the next morning things and changed and everyone in beirut realized how bad things were going to be.

anthony and his crew were taken to a different hotel close to the embassy and in a safer place. then they just spent the next week hanging out at the pool with everyone else and watching the war from the balcony. it was so surreal. one by one the countries evacuated people and no work came about america. he said at the time, when all they wanted was direction, the news kept playing the only clip by george bush - him eating a roll while tony blair was trying to get his attention. the one where bush's microphone was accidently left on. and that was it. he explained how disheartened they were as americans.

at one point he went down to the kitchen of the hotel and worked with the staff there to prepare a meal for his camera crew. for him it helped to get his mind off of things. they filmed their evacuation process and how chaotic it was to get on one of the american boats. once they were on the boats the marines were great to everyone there. not only americans were on the boat. many people were evacuees who had just lost everything.

this was  a really great show. you got a glimpse of daily life of beirut before all this happened. and you also got to see the step by step process of how it effected beiruts visitors at the time.

sun goddess

this is a layout i made from one of our excursions while on the cruise this past march. we were in barbados this day. my sister and i were on an excursion where we sailed on a catamaran and got to go snorkeling. the first snorkel with with wild sea turtles and it was really neat. then they took us over to a sunken shipwreck. they anchored the boat over thousands of jellyfish! were were tired anyways and decided to nap in the sun on the boat instead of get in the water. jellyfish freak me out anyways. then they took us to a resort beach. the water was so warm and wonderful there.

it was so HOT in barbados. after we got back i looked on the map and noticed that it is close the equator. margie was soaking up the sun but i had to put on my long-sleeve t-shirt and wear it into the water because it was so powerful even sunblock didn't stop it.

watching tv

charlie bird now watches tv with me. this is when i'm on the computer and have the tv on. half the time he hangs down and watches.

cleaning a bathtub

my latest challenge has be cleaning my bathtub. yup, go ahead and laugh - shake your head. i do it to myself. sometimes i'm just plain ignorant on things. mostly, they have to deal with household tasks. and usually, i feel just dumb and i hate that.

here's the deal. when i was young my mom taught me to clean things her way. so to clean the bathtub, i'd kneel in front of it, clean it with comet and a sponge, rinse it out with water from the faucet. so this is how i know how to clean a tub. i have rarely had to clean a bathtub in the past 10 years because i rarely took a bath or my ex would do it after he gave his kids a bath or the cleaning people would do it.

the problem i am having now that i have to clean my own, is that the tub is too big. it's one of those triangle shape tubs that go in the corner - i think it is called a garden tub. so i can't figure out how to clean it because i can't reach to the other side. i can only reach about 1/3 when i'm kneeling in front of it. am i supposed to get in the tub? i will just make a MESS! i'll be covered in comet and get soaking wet. so i figure there has to be a better way but i can't think of it yet so it poses my challenge. and hence, i do not clean my tub and can't take a bath. and actually, i ponder this between other thoughts each evening for a few nights.

so yesterday i'm talking to my sister who apparently is a much better cleaner than i am. she laughed at me - as expected - when i told her i really wanted to take a bath last night but i'd have to clean my tub and i'm too tired and also can't figure out how. she gave me a great solution! she told me to spray the tilex cleaner i use for my shower in the tub and then just rinse it out. i NEVER would have thought about that - even though there is a bathtub picture on the bottle. i'm SO glad she told me about it. i tried it this morning and all the stuff just came right up and floated down the drain. the tub looks shiny and clean and brand new! i would have been in that tub, getting comet chunks in between my toes, the bleach in it would have hurt my skin and i'd get soaked! sometimes i think i should be on i love lucy.

journaling the truth

i find this interesting as lately i have been really into journaling. and of course i blog all the time which is similar. so far, i have not even thought about lying either in my blog or in my journal. what's the point. i often omit things, but don't make things up. but i wonder how many people out there do bend the truth. it's interesting. maybe it's not quite lying since it's your own journal. maybe it's more like creative writing. and journaling anything is fine. but i keep picturing my one psycho friend from high school and how she'd sit and journal all the time because her doctors told her to. i wonder if she told the truth. i dont' think so.

another challenge for career woman

"Guys: A word of advice. Marry pretty women or ugly ones. Short ones or tall ones. Blondes or brunettes. Just, whatever you do, don't marry a woman with a career."

i don't even know what to think about this article published by Forbes Magazine. Don't Marry Career Women. The article basically says that a woman with a career will lead a man into a life of troubles. That the more successful a woman becomes, the less happy she is with her husband. I am completely shocked. I am no feminist. But I am a woman and I have a career.

"To be clear, we're not talking about a high-school dropout minding a cash register. For our purposes, a "career girl" has a university-level (or higher) education, works more than 35 hours a week outside the home and makes more than $30,000 a year."

That is the typical female that I know. Most of my friends make over $30K a year and work at least 40 hours a week. What choice do we have? I can not survive without a job. I do what I enjoy doing. And right now I work for a large corporation and have a defined career path. It is hard juggling a career, a household and a marriage, but why is it different from what a man has to do with his career and marriage? I don't even see how two people can make it today if they decide to have kids and both people don't work. In the rare cases where one spouse (typically the man) makes a superior salary, then fine. But that is just not the norm. I'd think that a man would have to make about $150,000 to be able to support his family on his own. That's a lot of money!

The article goes on to say that not only will be husband be unhappy, but the the kids will too. As for women who choose not to work before they have kids, I look at then as somewhat weak. Staying home with the kids is fine. But once they are grown enough to go to school full time, back to work it should be - or start a small business on their own where they can work from home. I have some friends that did indeed go to college and then got a job. But nothing with any substance. They did want to get married and have kids. They were always happy to do that and have someone else support them. But who wouldn't? Shit, I'd love to not have to get up and go to a job every day. Be able to take care of things for me, like my house and kids, instead of spending all my energy and brain power on a project at work that adds considerable stress in my life. I'd love to spend that energy on people I love like kids and husband. But it is just never been an option to me. I've always been the one with the steady job that has health insurance and a 401(k).

so many aspects of this article are ridiculous i can't imagine why i continued to read it all the way through. they actually claim that a woman with a career has a higher chance of leaving her husband to run off with a co-worker. the woman that would run out on her husband is the problem. if she didn't find this other man at work, she'd have found him at the grocery store or someplace else because she was obviously looking.

i'm all for free speech and opinoins, but i'm offended by this and surprised that forbes magazine would publish this. the tone of this article is a complete slight at career woman and that makes up a significant amount of their readers. they comment that these are the results of a study, but it really is phrased like an opinoin piece.

10 ways to be an angel

Today is Be an Angel Day. Since 1993, when Reverend Jayne Howard Feldman founded this special day, people across the country have taken time to bless a loved one, friend, or stranger with acts of kindness. We have all had angels (earthly and spiritual) touch our lives, so why not return the favor by being one for a day? Beliefnet provides a list of ten ways to be an angel. I wish I was good enough to do all of these. I only do 4, 6, 9 and 10.

1. Invest in Someone. Donate to a charity or provide financial support (whether temporary or ongoing) to someone who needs a money miracle. When your heart nudges you to offer a check or cash, listen to it! Don't only give to get something in return.

2. Adopt a Soldier or Sailor. Remind soldiers and sailors of home by sending letters and care packages filled with fun, practical, and personal items like postcards of their hometown or their favorite gum. Send what they may not be able to find overseas.

3. Lend an Earful of Love. Remember to be patient and just listen when a friend needs you. Don't be eager to offer advice or be quick with your opinions. Instead, remember that sometimes, listening can speak more than talking.

4. Save our Pets. Homeless pets need love and help in finding food and shelter. Get involved with your local ASPCA or adopt a pet from an animal shelter or from a friend who can no longer take care of it. Sandra M. Williams of Swansboro, NC also suggests, "Feed your friends' animals while they are on vacation."

5. Lighten Up a Hospital. Want to provide for someone ill and in need of more than medical care? Join a group that organizes visits for patients in hospitals, such as St. Jude's Research Hospital Volunteers, or visit someone you know who is ill. Instead of flowers and balloons, offer prayer sessions, a jigsaw puzzle, or favorite CDs.

6. Be a Kindred Spirit. Slowly break out of your comfort zone by offering coffee to a coworker or asking a neighbor to join your book club. A best friend may be waiting for discovery in the cubicle next to you or in the next pew at your house of worship.

7. Sign Up for a Prison Pen Pal. Want to put your stationary and stamps to good use? Rediscover snail mail by writing to men and women in prisons. Proceed with caution and join a safe, established organization such as Prison Fellowship or Jewish Prisoner Services International that provides friendship and help to inmates.

8. Tuck Away an 'Anyday' Gift. Gifts don't have to be big (or for a holiday) in order to elicit a brilliant smile. See a bookmark or a box of tea that reminds you of someone? Buy the item and give it to that person—just because.

9. Start a Blessing Chain. "Pay it forward" by being part of a domino effect of cascading kindnesses. As an old adage reminds us, "a little goes a long way." Offer someone a blessing and tell them to pass it on.

10. Surround Someone With Wings. It might be awkward to hug a stranger. Still, any form of gentle touch, especially hugs, has the potential to promote a calmer, less anxious society. Even if you don't want to bear-hug the person next to you in a movie theater, try giving him or her a "mental" hug by radiating positive energy their way.

10 things i'd like to do everyday

in response to a journaling exercise, below is a list of 10 Things I'd Like to Do Everyday. A few came to me early but it was kind of hard to come up with the entire list because i didn't want to commit to anything - even to myself. but i did finish it after thinking for a while and i'm happy with it. i truly would like to do these things everyday, but right now i do not.

1. Morning Yoga
2. Afternoon or Evening Meditation
3. Stay Hydrated
4. Laugh
5. A Random Act of Kindness
6. Something Creative
7. Play with my Pets
8. Get Enough Rest / Sleep
9. Accomplish at least One Thing
10. Love Myself

sometimes fiction can't get better than real life

today the NY Post published a very interesting article highlighting some of the claims made by Kola Boof in her autobiography, "Diary fo a Lost Girl." It made the news today because of an excerpt of her book which will be published in the September issue Harper's magainine. This girls life leads like a juicy and crazy piece of fiction. She claims to have once been Osama bin Laden's sex slave. That is the part that gets my attention.

Kola has been published before. She is a poet and novelist. She used to write for Days of Our Lives. She has led an amazingly interesting life in which she witnessed both her parents being killed when she was a small child. She had to go through female circumcism. She was adopted by African Americans and raised in the US. It just goes on and on. Any one of these points would make a great piece of fiction, but here it is - her real life.

The sensationalism that the press is picking up on is that she claims Osama bin Laden is obsessed with Whitney Houston. So obsessed in fact that he considered placing a hit on Bobby Brown!

"In his briefcase, I would come across photographs of the Star [magazine], as well as copies of Playboy. It would soon come to the point where I was sick of hearing Whitney Houston's name," Boof writes, adding that bin Laden would go on about "how beautiful she is, what a nice smile she has, how truly Islamic she is but is just brainwashed by American culture and by her husband -- Bobby Brown, whom Osama talked about having killed, as if it were normal to have women's husbands killed."

I hope this one comes out on audiobook because I'm definately going to add this one to my "reading" list.

ten rules for being human

Dr. Cherie Carter-Scott’s rules for life - also known as ‘Ten Rules for Being Human‘ are a map for understanding and pursuing personal development, and for helping others to understand and develop too.

1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it’s yours to keep for the entire period.

2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, “life.”

3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The “failed” experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately “work.”

4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.

5. Learning lessons does not end. There’s no part of life that doesn’t contain its lessons. If you’re alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.

6. “There” is no better a place than “here.” When your “there” has become a “here”, you will simply obtain another “there” that will again look better than “here.”

7. Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.

8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.

9. Your answers lie within you. The answers to life’s questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.

10. You will forget all this at birth.

gnarls biggie

okay, this is AWESOME!  It's a mashup of Gnarls Barkley and Biggie Smalls. The mashup artists at Sound Advice have combined (mashed up) Gnrals Barkley's St. Elsewhere album with Notorious BIG tracks. The end result is an album called Gnarls Biggie. They are really interesting to listen to. I really like Can I Get With Ya Crazy Butt, which is a take on Gnarls Barkley's Crazy, and Smiley Faces Hypnotize. But of couse I like the two original Gnarls Barkley songs. All the songs are here at the gnotorious webiste.

tense workday

today is a big day for us at work. we partner with a company called Saskferco and our team is traveling up there today to do a demo with them. the partnership is so important, they have a go/no-go call on our entire multi-million dollar project launcing on 10/1/06. so this week HAS to go well. the pressure for our team, is that the only way that Saskferco can see and trace their orders is through our website. we spent all of last week testing and finalizing everything to make sure this goes as smoothly as possible.

last night the guy who is on his way up was doing some testing and all of a sudden the data as not there. so this morning we came into a bunch of urgent emails and we are to figure it all out while he is on the plane ride there. demos start this afternoon.

it ends up the people with the back end SAP system decided to do maintenance and whiped everything out. we sent several emails with our schedule and everyone knows how important this is to the entire project. Oops on their part. now we have to wait until they are done with their maintenance and reload everything. guess it will be a good test of the system, but this is NOT the time to keep testing. oh man, the pressure is on.

questions of the day

a few questions from question of the day:

Ring Ring
How many rings until you answer the phone?

i have no idea. sometimes i don't even answer the phone because i don't feel like it. i guess i'm a three-ringer because it probably takes me that long to figure out i want to answer it and then find the phone.

Alone
Have you ever gone to a movie theater by yourself?

yes, and it's kind of fun. the first time i went alone was right after i found out i was getting divorced. i was in new york for a business trip and i was having a really hard time. the hotel i was staying in had a movie theater attached to it and i thought it would be a good idea to go to a movie so i wouldn't think how miserable i was and that hopefully i could stop crying for a few hours. i felt like SUCH a loser. but it ended up that there were several people alone in the movie theater which i had not noticed before. actually, the only thing that i found stressful about it was that i couldn't figure out how to carry both a popcorn and pop along with my purse and other stuff. i was used to going with someone else and they would carry one thing and i'd carry the other. with both my hands full i couldn't open the door. i ended up going up to a movie three times that week because i loved it so much. i ended up buying smaller popcorn and pop next time - i was solo anyways :) now i find it very peaceful to go to movies by myself.

chick proof 2

i just got an email from claire with my updated chick graphic. i LOVE IT! she did such a good job on the hair. isn't it cute. the only other thing i asked for is to change the color of the shirt to brown. i'm so excited! it's just adorable.

personality type: infj

i took the myers-briggs personality test. i'm an INFJ. one article said that only a small amount of people are INFJ's - 1%. Shriley McClaine, Martin Luther King, JR. and Jimmy Carter are famous INFJ's.

What makes an INFJ tick?

The Dominant function is the perceptive one of iNtuition. Characteristics associated with this function include:

* Likes looking at information from a global viewpoint, spotting patterns and relationships, that lead to an understanding of the key issues
* Focuses more on possibilities for the future than the here-and-now
* Enjoys change, challenge, and variety

The perceptive iNtuition function is introverted. That is, iNtuition is used primarily to govern the inner world of thoughts and emotions. The INFJ will therefore:

* Seek to develop a understanding of how the world is, or can be
* Seek to understand the patterns underlying his/her observations
* Be strategic in nature, wanting to establish a clear vision towards which the INFJ is working
* Not involve others in the development of that vision

The iNtuition function is primarily supported by extraverted Feeling judgement, That is, Feeling judgement is used primarily to manage the outer world of actions and spoken words. This will modify the way that the iNtuition is directed, by:

* focusing the (inner world) iNtuition on ideas and possibilities that relate to people
* expressing appreciation for the contributions of others, particularly where they have done or said something that supports the INFJ's ideals
* making decisions on the basis of values that support the INFJ's understanding of the world, and conform to his/her vision.

The classic temperament of an INFJ is Apollonian, or Choleric, for whom a basic driving force is the search for meaning or purpose.
Contributions to the team of an INFJ

In a team environment, the INFJ can contribute by:

* observing and understanding the team dynamics, and encouraging the team to recognise them and take appropriate action
* listening carefully to various viewpoints, and being able to identify potential areas of agreement to be used as a basis to move forward
* being trustworthy, meeting commitments to a consistent standard
* contributing creative ideas, particularly those involving people
* bringing the team to make decisions about important issues
* promoting harmony and co-operation

The potential ways in which an INFJ can irritate others include:

* not including others in the INFJ's process of developing ideas and vision
* not giving criticism or expressing disagreement when it is appropriate
* ignoring current reality in pursuit of insight and meaning - perhaps overlooking some tasks that need to be done
* making errors of fact
* not promoting their ideas in the group
* wanting to pursue ideas without fully thinking through the consequences in, say, cost terms

Personal Growth
As with all types, the INFJ can achieve personal growth by developing all functions that are not fully developed, through actions such as:

* being prepared to declare the INFJ's own personal vision or goals
* investigating and recognising the facts before interpreting what they mean
* changing his/her vision to fit more closely with what is possible
* allowing others to participate in the process of development of the INFJ's vision or ideas, in order to gain their commitment or get a realistic, objective assessment
* learning to promote the INFJ's ideas to others, recognising that others may well find them valuable
* listing options and undertaking a formal process of evaluation against criteria, including a cost benefit analysis

Recognising Stress

As stress increases, 'learned behaviour' tends to give way to the natural style, so the INFJ will behave more according to type when under greater stress. For example, in a crisis, the INFJ might:

* find a place of solitude in which to think and work
* tell everyone else how well they are coping
* try to solve the long term problem, and neglect the short term
* make errors of fact, or ignore routine matters that might nevertheless be essential

Under extreme stress, fatigue or illness, the INFJ's shadow may appear - a negative form of ESTP. Example characteristics are:

* acting very impulsively, making decisions without thinking them through
* doing things to excess - e.g.: eating, drinking or exercising
* being critical of others, and finding fault with almost everything
* being preoccupied about unimportant details and doing things that have no meaning
* acting in a very materialistic and selfish way
* cutting corners, breaking the rules, and even contradicting the INFJ's own values

The shadow is part of the unconscious that is often visible to others, onto whom the shadow is projected. The INFJ may therefore readily see these faults in others without recognising it in him/her self.

The Protector

As an INFJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you take things in primarily via intuition. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit with your personal value system.

INFJs are gentle, caring, complex and highly intuitive individuals. Artistic and creative, they live in a world of hidden meanings and possibilities. Only one percent of the population has an INFJ Personality Type, making it the most rare of all the types.

INFJs place great importance on havings things orderly and systematic in their outer world. They put a lot of energy into identifying the best system for getting things done, and constantly define and re-define the priorities in their lives. On the other hand, INFJs operate within themselves on an intuitive basis which is entirely spontaneous. They know things intuitively, without being able to pinpoint why, and without detailed knowledge of the subject at hand. They are usually right, and they usually know it. Consequently, INFJs put a tremendous amount of faith into their instincts and intuitions. This is something of a conflict between the inner and outer worlds, and may result in the INFJ not being as organized as other Judging types tend to be. Or we may see some signs of disarray in an otherwise orderly tendency, such as a consistently messy desk.

INFJs have uncanny insight into people and situations. They get "feelings" about things and intuitively understand them. As an extreme example, some INFJs report experiences of a psychic nature, such as getting strong feelings about there being a problem with a loved one, and discovering later that they were in a car accident. This is the sort of thing that other types may scorn and scoff at, and the INFJ themself does not really understand their intuition at a level which can be verbalized. Consequently, most INFJs are protective of their inner selves, sharing only what they choose to share when they choose to share it. They are deep, complex individuals, who are quite private and typically difficult to understand. INFJs hold back part of themselves, and can be secretive.

But the INFJ is as genuinely warm as they are complex. INFJs hold a special place in the heart of people who they are close to, who are able to see their special gifts and depth of caring. INFJs are concerned for people's feelings, and try to be gentle to avoid hurting anyone. They are very sensitive to conflict, and cannot tolerate it very well. Situations which are charged with conflict may drive the normally peaceful INFJ into a state of agitation or charged anger. They may tend to internalize conflict into their bodies, and experience health problems when under a lot of stress.

Because the INFJ has such strong intuitive capabilities, they trust their own instincts above all else. This may result in an INFJ stubborness and tendency to ignore other people's opinions. They believe that they're right. On the other hand, INFJ is a perfectionist who doubts that they are living up to their full potential. INFJs are rarely at complete peace with themselves - there's always something else they should be doing to improve themselves and the world around them. They believe in constant growth, and don't often take time to revel in their accomplishments. They have strong value systems, and need to live their lives in accordance with what they feel is right. In deference to the Feeling aspect of their personalities, INFJs are in some ways gentle and easy going. Conversely, they have very high expectations of themselves, and frequently of their families. They don't believe in compromising their ideals.

INFJ is a natural nurturer; patient, devoted and protective. They make loving parents and usually have strong bonds with their offspring. They have high expectations of their children, and push them to be the best that they can be. This can sometimes manifest itself in the INFJ being hard-nosed and stubborn. But generally, children of an INFJ get devoted and sincere parental guidance, combined with deep caring.

In the workplace, the INFJ usually shows up in areas where they can be creative and somewhat independent. They have a natural affinity for art, and many excel in the sciences, where they make use of their intuition. INFJs can also be found in service-oriented professions. They are not good at dealing with minutia or very detailed tasks. The INFJ will either avoid such things, or else go to the other extreme and become enveloped in the details to the extent that they can no longer see the big picture. An INFJ who has gone the route of becoming meticulous about details may be highly critical of other individuals who are not.

The INFJ individual is gifted in ways that other types are not. Life is not necessarily easy for the INFJ, but they are capable of great depth of feeling and personal achievement.

my fight with the swiffer

sometimes, i'm just really, really dumb. i bought a swiffer wet-jet last week. i opened it up yesterday morning to clean the floors. i was challenged in how to put the pad thing on. but the real problem was the bottle of cleaning liquid that it came with. i couldn't get the damn bottle open. every time i walked past the bottle, yesterday and today i tried to turn the cap and it wouldn't budge. then i finally read the bottle and it ends up the cap is not supposed to come off! you just turn it upside down and put it in. then i tried to use it and it wouldn't work. it ends up it needed batteries. that took me a while longer to figure out. i guess i don't have my smart cap on today. i just suck at all domestic duties except cooking. anyways, i got it to work and it's awesome! i love it.

charlie and the peach

i gave Charlie Bird, a blue crown conure, a peach. it is hanging from his cage on a stick. he talks to it and sings with it for a white. at one point, when he stands on it, his weight it too much and he falls.

that caribbean vibe

"look into my eyes . . . "

i just watched abbott & costello meet frankenstein. i never saw it, even as a child. This movie is hysterical! Anyone who thinks old movies can’t be belly-laughing funny are wrong. Sure, the special effects are cheesy adn the acting is a bit rough, but Lou Abbott is a genius! Definately worth the watch.

Small Parrot, Smaller Bath Tub

jacko brings sexyback

justin timberlake annoys the shit out of me but i can't help liking this damn song. and no matter what you think of mj, he can do some really cool stuff. the blending of these together was a great idea - and it's somewhat nostalgic.

questions of the day

two questions today from http://indigobluegreen.blogspot.com/:

Only 3 parachutes ~ the Michael J. Fox version

You've been given 3 parachutes, but there are 4 people who need them. Who will you not give one to: Alex P. Keaton, Marty McFly, Deputy Mayor Mike Flaherty, or Brentley Foster/Carlton Whitfield?

Deputy Mayor Mike Flaherty. I never knew him becaue I didn't watch Spin City.


10 years!

In October we are celebrating our 10 years of wedded bliss, and we are hoping to get away for a few days together. If you had limited funds and only about 3-4 days to get away, where would you go?

I suggest Toronto. It's a great city with alot of different culture. Things are cheaper there because it is in Canada, but it is still close to the United States. They have great museums and a wonderful Chinatown and Greektown. It's a great place to spend a few days.

rain forest { st. lucia }

i have realized a few things about scrapbooking freestyle. most of the sample layouts only feature one pictures. maybe two. but i usually scrapbook my vacations and i have a ton of pictures. overall, i'm happy with this layout. i spent a little bit of time over three nights on it. to have more freedom with the photos, i printed them on matte photo paper so i could ink them or write on them if i wanted too.

i like the first page of this layout on its own. i think it is very overpowering when looking at both pages. but it was fun to cut up the photo and write some journaling around the warning sign on the second page.

goodies!

i got some of my scrapbooking goodies today. . . yeah! i think i can open a shop :)

Parrot Trouble

Peek-a-boo Parrot (he's getting better)

international aids conference

on the way to the silver ring cafe to get one of their amazing cuban sandwiches for lunch, i was listening to a public radio broadcast. they were highlighting the international aids conference currently going on in toronto. they had some very interesting conversations. it is strange that aids has been around and on the news now for about 20 years and there are still so many people contracting it. i'm not sure of the exact statement, but they said that aids is the number one killer of african-american women between the ages of 21 and 34. i find that horrible! also, they claim that 25-50% of people who have aids do not even know it.

these figures are somewhat shocking. american schools and ad campaigns have been preaching about safe-sex for a long time now. i find it hard to believe that americans can claim they are not educated about it. i do understand that lapse in other parts of the world.

one interesting conclusion drawn from the conference is that the scientific and humanitarian community recognises a relationship between aids and hunger. i guess that is something that is known, but i guess i never really put two and two together. i always associated aids and poverty.

i heard an interview with an activist who is part of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in Africa. Their group stormed the South African exhibit at the conference. Apparently, the South African Health Minister prominently displayed things like garlic and lemonjuice in the booth as tools used by South Africans in healing AIDS. The TAC members found this ridiculous and staged a protest at the exhibit. It was interesting to hear her perspective. I believe the real issues is that they want to Health Minister to step down.

reality fun

i heard about a new show today called celebrity duets. it will debut next tuesday on fox and the concept is that a famous singer will be paired with another celebrity who is not known for their singing.

The network announced that the golden-throated competitors are WWE wrestler Chris Jericho, Lucy Lawless, Cheech Marin, Olympic gymnast Carly Patterson, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum Alfonso Ribeiro, Queer Eye's Jai Rodriguez, Queer as Folk's Hal Sparks, and Lea Thompson. (They'll be paired each week with pros who should know better, including Clint Black, Michael Bolton, Belinda Carlisle, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Kenny Loggins, Brian McKnight, Aaron Neville, Smokey Robinson, Randy Travis, and Dionne Warwick.)

this seems like it will be fun. i like music so pretty much any show where people sing is worth putting on while i'm doing other things. if it's any good i'll actually sit down and watch.

the effects of terrorism

"U.S. authorities are advising women not to wear gel bras on airplanes as information developed in the foiled London plot points to an expanding role for women in smuggling explosives on to an aircraft."

are we kidding? first of all, i have no idea if i own a gel bra. and when i'm getting dressed in the morning or packing my carry on, i don't think, hm, this is a gel bra so don't bring it on the trip. what if the only bras i wore were gel bras?

ter·ror·ism
n.

The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.

the thing is, the terrorists are having the effect they want even without killing people. it seems as all they have to do is come up with a plot and leak it and the rest of the world will jump.

after the terrorist attacks of september 11th, our american world completely changed. we can not travel the same and can not just walk around freely anymore. metal detectors are popping up everywhere. people are more hesitant of flying. then there were subway attacks and people are hesitant of traveling underground on metropolitan commuter systems. now, after the terrorist plot foiled in the UK last week, we can't even bring our own bottled water on planes. and an entire new set of people became afraid to fly again.

the purpose of terrorism is to make people afraid. they like it when people have to change their lives because of the effects. so in essence, they are winning because when they say jump, we say how high.

almost ten years later

a suspect was arrested in the jon bennet ramsey case. i remember it well because it was right at christmas-time and that was one of the reasons it was so horrible. on december 26, 1996 the beautiful little six-year-old was found brutally murdered (and sexually violated) in the basement of her home. at first they thought she was kidnapped because there was a ransom note, but then they found her body. her father was a suspect for a while and we were all wondering how someone could do something like that to their own daughter. it ended up being someone who lived in the area that no one in the family knew. just a crazy stranger.

questions of the day

a few questions today from question of the day:

An invitation to dinner

If you could invite anyone in the world to your house for dinner, whom would you invite and what would you serve them?

Shriley MacLaine because i would have a million different questions for her about Hollywood and her career. I'd also like to discuss her reincarnation beliefs. I would serve us a wonderful meal with all sorts of Indian food so we could try several new things and have a worldly feel.


Only time for one section

If you only had enough time each day to read one section of the newspaper, which section would you choose to read?

The Friday Section. I like to see what is going on in my area and what movies have just come out.


Gift

If Christmas were tomorrow, what gift would you want most?

I would like a big pack of Zig pens. I want to use these for scrapbooking and they are expensive - $2.99 per pen. The full set of 48 pens costs about $120. I spend so much money on scrapbooking stuff but i can't bring myself to spend $120 on colored pens. So it would be a nice gift because I would not buy them for myself, but I really want them. 

A Love Story You Will Never Forget

August, 1942. Piotrkow, Poland. The sky was gloomy that morning as we waited anxiously. All the men, women, and children of Piotrkow's Jewish ghetto had been herded into a square. Word had gotten around that we were being moved. My father had only recently died from typhus, which had run rampant through the crowded ghetto. My greatest fear was that our family would be separated. "Whatever you do," Isidore, my eldest brother, whispered to me, "don't tell them your age. Say you're sixteen." I was tall for a boy of 11, so I could pull it off. That way I might be deemed valuable as a worker. An SS man approached me, boots clicking against the cobblestones. He looked me up and down, then asked my age.

rest of the story . . .

a night at the opera

i watched a night at the opera this evening. i have been watching a few marx brothers movies lately. this one surpassed them all. there are some classic scenes . . . especially one where they cram about twenty people into a tiny ship cabin that is exceptionally funny. this film has alot of physical humor. they were true geniuses. i highly recommend it, especially if one has not seen a marx brother picture before. they are some of the american greats and this movie really personifies their talent.

did you know?

Chimpanzees share 98.4f their DNA with human beings.

Tortoises are the only animals that normally live longer than man. The oldest tortoise ever known was an Aldabra tortoise that was approximately 152 years old.

One in every four pets in the United States is obese.

For every person born in the United States, 15 dogs and 45 cats are born.

Wild cats are found on every continent except Antarctica and in a diversity of habitats ranging from desert to swamp to rain forest to mountain ranges.

About six million vertebrate animals are dissected yearly in U.S. high schools alone.

Unlike other raptors, the osprey -- also known as the fishing eagle or fishing hawk -- has four equal toes, allowing the bird to seize its prey with two pointing forwards and two pointing backwards.

The duck population in the United States and Canada dropped 11 percent in 2003 as drought dried up breeding grounds.

Venomous snakes can control the amount of venom they inject in a bite, a behavior herpetologists call "metering."

Polar bears - the largest of all bears - carry four-inch layers of fat to retain their body heat.

i found the above facts when searching for animal charities at charity navigator, a website just listed by Time Magazine as one of the 50 coolest websites of 2006.

questions of the day

a few questions to answer today from question of the day:

Do you think that flip-flops are ever too casual to wear?

i live i florida now so thankfully flip-flops are okay everywhere! even at work. in fact, sometimes you can't even find shoes that are not open toed. however, even in florida i do not think that flip-flops are okay to wear to more formal events like a fancy evening wedding, a funeral, a job interview, etc.

Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?

of course i can't be creative in answering this one and have to be literal . . . 

Go visit a museum. The New York based Strong Museum of Play has created a Sesame Street exhibit called Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street. Here, visitors actually can walk dow a replication of Sesame Street. This exhibit will be traveling around the United States. 6/17/06-9/10/06 The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 10/7/06-3/4/07 Omaha Children's Museum, Omaha, NE 3/31/07-9/9/07 Imagine It! Atlanta Children's Museum, Atlanta, GA 10/6/07-4/27/08 Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul, MN

life imitating art?

did anyone see proof with anthony hopkins, gweneth paltrow and jake gyllenhaal? my sister hated it but i kind of liked it. anthony hopkins plays a brilliant mathemetician who is famous for some of his mathematical "proofs" which he published in his early twenties. then he went crazy. the kind of crazy that happens to brilliant people. his daughter is gweneth paltrow and she has been gifted with her father's mathematical genius.

i found this blub on the arts journal website:

A Landmark Of Human Thought? A Russian mathematician solves one of the great proofs an then disappears. "Mathematicians have been waiting for this result for more than 100 years, ever since the French polymath Henri Poincaré posed the problem in 1904. And they acknowledge that it may be another 100 years before its full implications for math and physics are understood. For now, they say, it is just beautiful, like art or a challenging new opera." The New York Times 08/15/06

the article they feature links to the new york times which i do not have an account for. i am too lazy right now to create one. actually, i know i have one but can't remember it. i hate their online edition because they make you sign in to view the articles. anyways, it seems interesting and it is just like the movie! no one went missing, but the solving of the impossible proof part and the fame that comes with such a feat is a key plot point.

coveting poppets

i really want some poppets! they are whimsical illustrations of internationally known collage artist Claudine Hellmuth which come in scrapbook materials and stamps.




they allow you to make "paper dolls" for your scrapbook pages. they sell the clothes as paper. the legs, arms, hats, etc. are stamp sets. the stamps are sold out everywhere! and of course since i can not have them, i really, really want them!

A story about "Big Night"

Big Night

by Campbell Scott

It took me a little bit to get into this one, but it was definately worth the watch. actually, it was a joy to watch this movie. but be warned, it may make you hungry! the movie was as delicious as the big meal the prepared as a highlight of the film.

See more about Big Night

american media

this afternoon i read an article in the online edition of The Independant, a UK newspaper, about what other countries think about American media.

There are two sides to every conflict - unless you rely on the US media for information about the battle in Lebanon. Viewers have been fed a diet of partisan coverage which treats Israel as the good guys and their Hizbollah enemy as the incarnation of evil.

The article analyzes our media and how the 24-hour-cable channels are the worst at slanting the news towards Isreal. They state how reporters are in Isreal identifying each and every attack. But few are in Lebanon accurately presenting the damage done to that country. They claim this is because the news channels are supporting the Bush administration's views and persecute anyone else.

Essentially, the line touted by cable news hosts and their correspondents - closely adhering to the line adopted by the Bush administration and its neoconservative supporters - is that Hizbollah is part of a giant anti-Israeli and anti-American terror network that also includes Hamas, al-Qa'ida, the governments of Syria and Iran, and the insurgents in Iraq. Little effort is made to distinguish between these groups, or explain what their goals might be. The conflict is presented as a straight fight between good and evil, in which US interests and Israeli interests intersect almost completely. Anyone who suggests otherwise is likely to be pounced on and ripped to shreds.

I do find it hard as an American to find the truth of what is going on. It is very difficult to learn about the different governments and sects and how they relate to each other. The middle-east has a very different approach to some of our fundamental and basic principals when it comes to church and state so the typical American gets confused.

The article also discusses the Detroit protests that have been going on between the Arab and Jewish Americans. I had not heard about this, but I am not a big news buff because I never feel I'm really getting all the facts so I just don't watch. I searched google for "Detroit Protests" and didn't get back any search results from any of the top news sources. The top search result was to an article from the Detroit Free Press, but no national resources.. I then went to CNN.com and did the same search - there are no articles there.

This is disappointing to me and goes to show how our press only reports on what they want to report on. I'm surprised that we are focusing on what is going on over there and we do not give equal weight to how it effects our own citizens. It's a pathetic representation of our country to the rest of the world. No wonder there is a lack of respect for Americans.

question of the day: pick a fight

from question of the day:

If someone wanted to get under your skin and pick a fight with you, what would be the surest way to do so?

My ex used to tell me to "knock it off". I have one friend that says "relax" as if i'm freaking out or something. so basically, whatever i'm talking about and if people tell me to shut up in some way before I am finished, i get enraged. it could be about any topic.

what kind of internet user are you?

Slate.com recently published an article called You Are What You Search which discusses the seven ways people search the internet. Using the search criteria provided in the AOL data leak last week, Slate identifies seven different types of internet users and how people search the internet.

The Pornhound
The Manhunter
The Shopper
The Obsessive
The Omnivore
The Newbie
The Basketcase

I'm the Omnivore. I'm never into anything all that much. My searches are all over the place depending on what I am into on that particular day. And of course I'm online alot. One thing I do search for alot are song lyrics. I buy alot of new songs from iTunes and like to check out the lyrics. I also probably try and search for various scrapbook techniques that I see in magazines. If I have a vacation coming up I'll search alot for things to do or hotels or restaurants to that area.

YouTube Growth

my computer is supposed to be offline, but i heard it making some noise and i came in to check it out. low and behold the internet is back. of course it's bed time but i had to check out youtube for a bit.

last week i posted a myspace bulletin showing a video from geriatric1927, a 78-year-old man in the UK. his first video was posted on 10/5 and today, 10/14 it has had over 850,000 views. that is amazing! and that is only one of his videos. he has been posting almost daily in response to his huge fan-base. i just checked out one he posted only 10 hours ago and it already has over 32,000 views. And that's not even highlighted on the homepage or anything.


And one of the nice features about youtube is that someone can post a video and others can respond to that video. for example, renetto posted a video called "who are you . . . who, who, who, who?" asking who are all these people on youtube. and he speculated that there are many randoms who just surf around and find the latest highlighted videos, but also an entire community of youtubers. these are people that enjoy being unique or goofy on camera. many of these people have some sort of character or alter-ego they portray. they can not explain it to any of their friends. their friends just don't get it - the only people that get it are other youtubers. there are tons of responses to renetto's video, and even geriatric1927 created his own response as his 3rd video.

today i noticed several other people responded to geriatric1927's first try video. and alot of them are older guys too. i think it's great and absolutely amazing to see such a wonderful age group out there. and it's not really seeing him i suppose, but reading through all the thousands of comments posted to him. they are by people like you and i of all sorts of different age groups thanking him for posting and sharing his life. not obnoxious and childish comments that are on so many other posts. you realize how many other normal people actually participate in the youtube community. and the best part is that it took this 78-year-old guy to post out there for many others to do their first post as well. i'm sure each and everyone of them felt a bit stupid about it . . . as most of us would the first time we just sit down in front of a camera and talk. but it also is a wonderful combination of expression, creativity and technology and i just totally love it!

it's fun to be alive and online now with so many cool things going on. i got my mom editing her own photos . . . next step is to get her to make her own videos!

new dancing stars

finally we are getting closer to the fall season and my fav tv shows will be coming back. dancing with the stars wasn't really a favorite, but it was fun to watch and i kept track of it for most of last season. this morning, good morning america announced the new celebrities who will be participating in the new season which starts on 9/12/06.

all i have to say is JERRY SPRINGER! how funny will it be to see him ballroom dancing - doing the fox trot or the quick step? that alone will make me check it out. i feel bad for that poor girl he is partnered with - i'm sure he'll be sweating all over her. the dancers are:

TUCKER CARLSON -MSNBC news anchor -- and often controversial -- conservative political TV pundit and columnist. He will be partnered with professional dancer Elena Grinenko, who makes her series debut this season.

MONIQUE COLEMAN -Actress and teen idol from Disney Channel's smash hit High School Musical. She will be partnered with professional dancer Louis Van Amstel, who returns for his third season. Van Amstel danced with Lisa Rinna and Trista Sutter in previous seasons.

SARA EVANS -Country Music Award-winning and top-selling singing sensation. Sara will dance with Tony Dovolani, who partnered with Stacy Keibler in the second season.

WILLA FORD -Singing sensation and self-professed "bad girl of pop." Professional dancer Maxsim Chmerkovskiy, who teamed up with Tia Carrere last season, will be her professional dance partner.

VIVICA A. FOX -Stunning film and television actress/producer who has starred in several major blockbusters including Kill Bill and Independence Day. She will be partnered with professional dancer Nick Kosovich, who returns for his second season. He was previously paired with Tatum O'Neal.

HARRY HAMLIN -Film and TV star of the hit, award-winning drama series L.A. Law and husband of Dancing with the Stars alumna Lisa Rinna. Professional dancer Ashly Delgrosso returns to the series for her third season. She was previously paired with Master P and Joey McIntyre.

JOE LAWRENCE -Actor and former teen heartthrob. Professional dancer Edyta Sliwinska, who returns for her third season, will be his partner. She previously partnered with George Hamilton and Evander Holyfield.

MARIO LOPEZ -Actor and TV host. He will be partnered with professional dancer Karina Smirnoff, who makes her series debut.

SHANNA MOAKLER -National beauty queen, actress, model and reality television star. Professional dancer Jesse DeSoto joins the cast for the first time this season as her partner.

EMMITT SMITH -An NFL legend and three-time Super Bowl champion who holds the world's all-time leading rushing record and is considered one of the greatest football players to ever play the game. He will be partnered with Dancing with the Stars season two professional dance champion, Cheryl Burke.

JERRY SPRINGER -Notorious TV talk show host of The Jerry Springer Show, talk radio broadcaster and politician. He will be partnered with Australian beauty, professional dancer Kym Johnson, who makes her series debut this season. Kym was the champion of the Australian Dancing with the Stars.

internet astray

last night i was mindlessly updating my song on my myspace profile and all of a sudden my internet connection went down. the "internet" light on the modem was out so that tells me there is a problem with the main internet signal. i called brighthouse, my provider, and spent over an hour on the phone with them. i got all the way up to tier-3 support. i don't think tier-3 knows any more than tier-1 because they both just read off of some manual about what to do. i have someone scheduled to come out for repair tomorrow night. all this happened starting at around 10pm and that got me all riled up. so of course i couldn't go to sleep.

tonight, i will be internet-less!!! it's not that i HAVE to be on the internet, but I usuallly always am. Every once and a while i purposely take a computer break. But other than that, I live online. At work and at home. anyways, guess i'll be watching tv and maybe scrapbooking tonight.

question of the day: king tut

from question of the day:

Next month I'm going to see the King Tut exhibit at the Field's Museum in Chicago, Illinois (USA). How do you think King Tut would feel if he knew that his treasures had been dug up and were on display? Do you think it's okay that we've dug up what is essentially a grave?

hmmmm. interesting question. i think that king tut would like that his items were dug up and honored and explored by all. being a king, i assume he had a healthy does of self-importance. it be a very powerful feeling to know that thousands of years in the future people would go through my things, using them as a focal point to analyze and discover the time and place that i lived. it is kind of like living on forever.

land locked

i got home from the grocery store just in time to beat the rain. i could hear the thunder as i shopped. and a hell of a storm it turned out to be. i love the rain. it is my favorite thing about living in florida. daily rain storms in the summer. however, poor taylor hates it. she is funny as she tries to stay by me but hide at the same time. today she crawled under the bottom shelf of the pantry as i was putting things away. i opened up the sliding glass doors to hear the rain. charlie, tristen and i went out for a while but is was blowing all over the place and we started getting wet, even under the lanai. i had a headache so i did one of my favorite things, lay down and listen to the storm. charlie and tristen came with me, but taylor choose to hide in the closet.

then it really started to come down. no wonder taylor thinks the world is ending - today it really sounded like it. i was doing that thing i did as a kid . . . see the lightening and count seconds until you hear the thunder. it kept getting closer and closer and for about ten minutes it would all strike at the same time so i know we got the worst of it. it was so bad it even freaked out tristen and charlie. tristen came and cuddled so close to me he was half on top of me. when it would thunder he'd jolt his ears up and then look at me. charlie would dig his claws into me and have his eyes wide open. at one point it was so cute i wish i had my camera in bed with me. tristen was laying all curled on the inside of my body as i was laying on my side. he laid his head on the crevase of my waste and i had my arm around him. charlie was on my shoulder and was holding on to the sleeve of my shirt on my shoulder. i leaned down against me and was actually laying down over my cheek and ear. i was in heaven :)

after about an hour i got up. my headache started to clear and i wanted to do a few things. i noticed the backyard of my neighbor's homes were flooded. it usually doesn't do that. as i walked toward the front of my house, i saw a white truck out in the middle of the street and a bunch of my neighbors out there. i looked out front and the entire front of my house was flooded. it came all the way up to my front walkway and flooded the landscaping in front. all the wodden things they put out down here for the landscaping had floated all over the yard and driveway. the sewers couldn't handle all the water falling as fast as it did. the truck was stuck in the water. i looked at the bottom of my driveway where my car was this morning after i rolled it out of the way of the truck. it was up to my knees! can you imagine what would have happened if my car didn't start and it was down there with all that water! wow, that really would have sucked.

wine stash

well, the cubbard has been bare for a while so today i finally got to restock it. i picked out a bunch of yummy wines. of course i got suckered into some ones that have funky lables but that i have no idea what they taste like. the pink pinot grigio just jumped out at me! talk about marketing. that is totally for girls. it's so cute . . . i just had to try it. i have no idea what it will go with, i assume the same things pinot grigio goes with. and how awesome is the name three blind moose? the new george dubeuf bottles are gorgeous and so colorful i had to get some of those as well. one bottle was too fat to fit into my wine rack so i guess i'll have to drink that one first.

car maintenance and sweetbay

alan came over and jumped my car. it started up right away which i was surprised since the check engine light has been coming on for a while. he told me to take it over to a pep boys type of place, or walmart or sears to get a new battery. this was not in my plans! i don't know why, but for some reason i assumed that he wouldn't be able to get my car to start and i'd be using sharon's truck. ends up we couldn't even figure out how to get the hood open on hers. anyways,i was supposed to stay home and scrapbook all day. not go deal with car issues. i figured i'd have to have it towed and deal tomorrow. anyways, i went to the pep boys type of place. right as i was pulling in, i noticed that my car light was on. i never turned it on but i figure that is what drained my battery. i must have hit it somehow on friday when i was putting some of my shopping bags in the back seat. the first guy i talked to at the car place came out right away to the parking lot with some machine and ran a test. it showed that it could use replacing. so he looked up the battery for my car and i purchased that with a 3-year warranty and a car freshener thing from yankee candles. he went out to the parking lot and put it right in. the whole thing took about 15 minutes. i couldn't believe it. if i had a battery problem in chicago, it would be at least a two-hour process!

on my way home i went to sweetbay, the new grocery store. they took over all the kash 'n karry stores and they are awesome. they are starting to get in all the yuppie food i got used to in chicago and i couldn't be happier. i've had to go an entire year without blue corn chips or any imported foods. so today i got lots of yummies and i think i'm going to make a cake. i stocked up on dog food of course. i also got some other yummy things i've been holding out on since i was trying to budget before i rearranged my finances. i finally got a swiffer wet-jet since i'll no longer have a cleaning service and there is no way in hell i'm getting down on my hands and knees to clean the floor like my mom does. i also got some new thing that will hopefully get the dog hair off my couches. dark purple couches + white long dog hair is just nasty.

everything's dead today

i stayed up late last night so i got up too late this morning to get to the photography seminar today. i actually wanted to go to this one and contemplated just going for the afternoon. but i settled on getting up, taking a shower, getting dressed and going grocery shopping. my dogs have absoolutely no dog food left. last night they each got an entire chicken breast - they were not complaining. i go out front and it's a STEAMER down here in tampa today. i clicked the unlock button on my keys and the car made some strange sound. i got in the car to start it and it won't even turn over. just a click. uh oh. i think it's time for a new battery. the check engine light has been going on and off since march and i have neglected it.

lucky thing i have access to a second car. my friend's sister is over working in kuwait and i have her car in my garage so she didn't have to pay to store it someplace. it has been here since january or february and i haven't ever driven it yet. the only problem is that my car is parked right in the middle of the driveway, blocking where i could pull my friend's truck out of the garage. so i figure out how to just reverse my car and roll it back down to the end of the driveway. it's blocking the sidewalk but i can still get the other car out of the garage.

after all of that, i go in and find the keys for her truck, open the garage door and get in the car. i go to start it and that one doesn't even click. it just shows a service engine soon light. i called my work friend and alan because he's managing my project and i'll be totally stuck tomorrow. he said it's possible for the battery to die in her car because it has just been sitting there. mine we know is my own fault because i haven't taken the time to be inconvienced on a saturday to go have them look at it - and i've been broke. he's going to stop by later this afternoon or tonight when they are running errands with his jumper cables and try to get one of the cars started. but i don't want to go to the store then because what if it dies while i'm at the store!

now the challenge of what to do about my car. the guys i use to fix my car are not open on sundays. i remembered i have AAA so i went to find my card. i figure maybe i can have it towed to the garage for free and then call the garage tomorrow and tell them my car is there and have them look at it. so far i have only had AAA just in case and use it mostly for discounts at hotel and other travel things. it ends up AAA expired on 8/1. of course. i didn't renew right away because my ex-husband is still listed on there and i am expected to pay an additional $52 for coverage for him. so i need to get that removed. then i went online to pay my dues but it automatically includes his fee. i went to call them and the battery on my cordles s phone is dead too! it's been in the charger over night but was not sitting right. that thing is flakey.

so anyways, what a bummer. i was all fueled with creativity today and this stuff just sucks. plus, my dogs are walking around crying at me because they are starving. well, really only taylor resorts to those dramatics. tristen just wags his tail and looks cute. i guess i'll make some pasta. i wonder if they'd prefer an artichoke-tomato or vodka cream sauce? if not that, i'd have to feed them bird food.

sympathique by pink martini

i have fallen in love with pink martini - i just found them. their new album is called Hang On Little Tomato and it's really good. the song in have on my myspace profile today is from an older album - it is called "Sympathique" and it is sung in french.  the translated lyrics are below.



My room has a shape of a cage
The sun passes its arm by the window
Hunters at my door
Like the little soldiers
Who want to take me

I don't want to work
I don't want to lunch
I want only to forget him
And then I smoke

Already I knew the perfume of love
A million roses don't embalm as much
Now only one flower in my entourages
Make me sick

I don't want to work
I don't want to lunch
I want only to forget him
And then I smoke

I am not proud of that
Life who wants to kill me
It is splendid to be sympathetic
But I never knew it

I don't want to work
No
I don't want to lunch
I want only to forget him
And then I smoke

I am not proud of that
Life who wants to kill me
It is splendid to be sympathetic
But I never knew it

I don't want to work
No
I don't want to lunch
I want only to forget him
And then I smoke

old street st. martin

with this attempt i am trying to merge my usual linear style with freestyle. i'm thinking that square pictures don't go with the freestyle. i need to start doing something unusual with them. maybe rounding the corners or cutting them out to make it more funky.

freestyle: bloom . . .

this is my first attempt at a scrapbooking style called freestyle. you do alot of scribbling and random things. you just throw it all together with no rigid format.

naptime at my house

atheists aren't so bad

i find this very interesting . . .

inspiration and icecream for breakfast

this morning i feel like my brain is the tip of aa lightning rod. all these zaps of creative ideas keep running through my head. there is no way i have time to do them all but i don't want to forget them so i'll have to write them down. i get these creative bursts every now and then where i just have to "play" and scrapbook or do something creative with my hands. the last several weeks i've been in the creative computer mindset and playing with pictures and video. then yesterday about 3:30 something just happened.

actually, i know what triggered it. i got an email that my favorite scrapbook line, basic grey, just released two new paper lines. the company that emailed me, embellish it,  sells the packs of basic grey paper and packs of plain cardstock that perfectly coordinates with basic grey and they were all on sale. so i ordered some of those and then went to another site to look at the other new products and order a few things i wanted to get. so that put me in the scrapbooking mode. then i knew i had to go to staples to get the ink for my printer so i could scrap a few things this weekend since i am in the mood. staples is right by michaels and michaels has scrapbook stuff. i only got a few things from michaels, but michaels has books and i spent some time going through the scrapbooking and paper craft books and left with lots of ideas.



this morning i woke up at 7 and while trying to wake up and decide if i want to stay home and play or go to the photography seminar i signed up for, i put on the world music playlist i made on my iPod. it's something about this music. i haven't heard most of it before. iTunes had a sampling of Indie World Music with stuff from all over and i got a bunch of songs from India, China, Russia, Africa, The Caribbean, Spain, etc. I also bought the Festival in the Desert soundtrack (man, i'd like to go to that one day). Then I found a few more cocktail hour type french and italian songs. I put all that together with my Irish Riverdance soundtrack, some mob hits classic italian and opera, and a bunch of gypsy music and spanish guitar I alreay have . . . i am lying here in bed listening to all these wonderful sounds and getting all these awesome ideas and not knowing where to start. i don't know if i want to dance around and play with my pets, cook up a fabulous meal, draw, scrapbook, try some new photo altering techniques, go on vacation, or just lay here and listen.

but, right now i'm craving the mint chocolate ice cream snack things i have in the freezer, so i think that'll be breakfast! time to get up . . . it should be an interesting day. 

aahhhh, friday . . .

after work i ran a few errands and got a few things i have been holding out on. i alocated some of my bonus towards these splurges. not that i have to explain anything, cuz it's my money and i don't have to share it!!! that's the first time i've ever got a bonus that i haven't had to share it with a guy - ha, ha! sooo, of course i got some scrapbooking stuff i've had my eye one (went a bit overboard i suppose), a gift for a friend, some new toys for my parrot, an oragami book and some paper so i can check it out, a dog training book, some books for my friends son, an i-o-u belated bday present for my sister and ink for my printer. i haven't been able to print any pictures in a while :( i also got a family dinner meal from boston market. rotissiere chicken, three sides, corn bread and a whole chocolate pie dessert thing.

we all just ate - dogs and birdie too. then i changed charlies cage around and hung all his new toys. i got him this one expensive one that is $26 but it will last him a LONG time. it's a big yellow puzzle box kind of thing that he has to stick his claws and beak in to fish out cut up pieces of leather. he loves to chew on those. right now he's scared of all his toys so it's kind of funny to watch him check them out. but parrots are smart so you have to keep them mentally stimulated with new toys or switching the toys around and in and out of the cage every few weeks. all his have been raggedy for a while cuz he chews them all!

so, now i'm full of energy and want to play with my new stuff. i'm going to scrapbook, scrapbook, scrapbook!!!! i've got get through the cruise still from back in march! so i have the whole summer and a few other trips too. also, i'm going to work with tristen on some tricks. hopefully will give him something to do other than chewing my stuff. oh, i also got a bunch more songs from iTunes and made a mix so i can blast music while i'm futzing around. it's katherine hepburn night on the Turner Movie Channel . . . so much fun stuff to do! i wish i didn't have to sleep.

randoms and IM do not go well

this is an actual IM from a random i just got:

dhbtsifva: Hello. I am Logan in Tampa and I have a unique question for you and its not meant to be offensive. If you had an opportunity to have a attractive male be domestically submissive to you....would you consider it if you knew more?
Rachel: nope

this annoys me to no end. i don't know what i did but somehow all these randoms are im'ing me. at least 3 a day and they are all queer like this. what is up with people?

bill biggart's final exposure

i haven't gotten misty eyed over something on the web in a long time - if every. today i saw an article at digg.com and it is so touching. yes, another 9/11 thing which i am usually sick of, but in this case, a civilian photographer was the one who perished. they found his camera with his body and they were able to get 150 pictures off of it. through the pictures you see the last hour of his life. he, along with all those others had no idea that the second tower would fall.

"And then you see the last frame that nobody else will ever have. You see the honeycomb pieces of the first building... and we see half of the hotel that was destroyed as well. After the second building fell, the hotel, the Marriott I think, was gone. You see it cut in half from what fell from the first building and it is time stamped 10:28 and 24 seconds. Basically that time stamp is the end, because at 10:30 is when the second building came down."

Bill Biggart's Final Exposures tells the story and displays some of the images found on the camera.

here we go

aren't judges supposed to like the first amendment?

Techdirt: Judge Says Blogs Are Guilty Of, Well, Just Guilty Dammit!

weekend photographer

a few months ago i signed up for two seminars sponsered by Nikon. I paid $99 to go to both. They are all day on Saturday and all day on Sunday. now I am being lazy and do not really want to go. It's like I will miss an entire weekend. not that i have any other plans but i just feel like hanging out at home. lately i've become very introspective and i'm actually enjoying it. i used to enjoy being alone, but that is because i had a ton of little things planned. but now i'm just starting to enjoy having nothing to do and taking the weekend as it comes. i want another weekend like that - not one where i'll be at seminars out by the airport all day - both days.

Saturday: BILL HATCHER'S PROGRAM: Bill Hatcher is no stranger to remote places. With camera in hand he’s explored the world's wildest regions, with outdoor sports photography to show for it. When viewing his images, not only are his immaculate photography skills apparent, but his skill in climbing, skiing and boating as well. He prides himself on outdoor abilities that let him stay close to the action, where great shots can be found. Hatcher's exquisite photography has appeared in numerous U.S. and overseas publications, as well as on over 40 magazine covers, including National Geographic. His dedication is contagious and he offers a great deal of knowledge about working under pressure and in imperfect conditions.

Sunday: BRUCE DALE'S PROGRAM: With over two thousand photographs published by National Geographic alone, Bruce Dale's vision and creativity have twice earned him the title “Magazine Photographer of the Year.” Dale has photographed in over 75 countries throughout the world and the world itself, on board the NASA Voyager spacecraft. His innovative work with digital imaging has earned him honors from the Smithsonian Institution. A unique, coveted style of natural spontaneity serves as a signature to his photos. In the field, Dale exemplifies patience, problem-solving ability and experience in working with “real people” and, accordingly, can teach how to create astounding images.

the one on Sunday seems more interesting than the one on Saturday. I love outdoor photography. So I haven't decided if I'll skip saturday or just go on saturday and leave at lunch if i don't like it or not go at all. i'm flaking on myself and it makes me uncomfortable because this is one of the things that i don't like about myself. sometimes i blow things off and it makes me feel guilty.

challenge: goals

from twopeas:

weekly blog challenge:

list 5 goals you have completed so far in life, and 5 that you would like to complete in the next 10 years.

accomplished goals:
1. bought a house
2. working at a career I enjoy
3. been married
4. traveled to europe
5. have a good relationship with my family

future goals:
1. improve my photography skills
2. travel to mexico or south america
3. find an association i like where i can continually volunteer
4. learn how to garden
5. become good at meditating. it's hard to quiet my mind.

question of the day: boo hoo

from question of the day:

Do you ever cry to get your way?

um, no. who would i cry to? my boss? my mom? my friend? someone i'm dating? what's the point of that? if they don't want to do something i want to do, then i just do it without them. everything else is compromise and i'm a good compromiser.

paradise now

i just watched a movie i think every american should see. it is the story of two suicide bombers. you meet two palestine friends living their normal daily lives. they become recruited by an extremist group for a suicide bombing mission. the movie takes you through the preparations for their mission - both the actual preparations and the mental preparations that each goes through. things go wrong at the border while crossing into israel and they become separated. one maintains his purpose to carry out the attack and the other begins to have doubts.

Parrot Nurse Charlie

I was home sick today and charlie bird wanted to make me feel better. i worked half the time, watched the terror alerts all day and a few old movies. my dogs just slept and didn't bother me, but my parrot charlie seemed to think i was home just to play with him.

and then, he bit me on the nose!

the hippo and the tortoise

this made my day . . . a friend sent me the email. i have no idea where the original source came from.


The Hippo and the tortoise... from the tsunami
"Much of life can never be explained but only witnessed."
- Rachel Naomi Remen, MD



NAIROBI (AFP) - A baby hippopotamus that survived the tsunami waves on the Kenyan coast has formed a strong bond with a giant male century-old tortoise, in an animal facility in the port city of Mombassa , officials said.

The hippopotamus, nicknamed Owen and weighing about 300 kilograms (650 pounds), was swept down Sabaki River into the Indian Ocean , then forced back to shore when tsunami waves struck the Kenyan coast on December 26, 2004 before wildlife rangers rescued him.



"It is incredible. A-less-than-a-year-old hippo has adopted a male tortoise, about a century old, and the tortoise seems to be very happy with being a 'mother'," ecologist Paula Kahumbu, who is in charge of Lafarge Park , told AFP.



"After it was swept and lost its mother, the hippo was traumatized. It had to look for something to be a surrogate mother. Fortunately, it landed on the tortoise and established a strong bond. They swim, eat and sleep together," the ecologist added. "The hippo follows the tortoise exactly the way it follows its mother. If somebody approaches the tortoise, the hippo becomes aggressive, as if protecting its biological mother," Kahumbu added.



"The hippo is a young baby, he was left at a very tender age and by nature, hippos are social animals that like to stay with their mothers for four years," he explained.




This is a real story that shows that our differences don't matter much when we need the comfort of another. We could all learn a lesson from these two creatures of God. Look beyond the differences and find a way to walk the path together.

bad name for bloggers?

joe lieberman's lose of the connecticut democratic senatorial primary this morning was the top story on good morning america. the feature suggested that bloggers were mainly to blame. my ears perked up at that one. i think that they have skewed people's perceptions of blogging in a negative light.

There is also no question that bloggers — those online diarists simultaneously celebrated as a bold, new generation of citizen activists and derided as nasty socially challenged scribblers on a virtual bathroom wall — played a major role as well.

On highly trafficked national Web sites such as the Daily Kos, bloggers sent Lamont money, roused activists, drew attention, and influenced public opinion.

i can't believe they defined bloggers as "nasty socially challenged scribblers on a virtual bathroom wall." this PISSES ME OFF. the ignorant american who knows nothing about blogging and the freedom it allows will become prejudiced against it.

i blog, but just about whatever i feel about at the time. there are several blogs i read, but i know i am reading people's opinions. what is the difference between reading someone's blog and reading an editorial column on the newspaper? are the editorial writers more acceptable because they are paid professionals? hello - freedom of speech. each american has it. and if we want to write about it on our blogs, that is a great thing. it is a wonderful way to express ourselves. people don't have to believe what they read. but they should have the freedom to read it as much as the bloggers should have the freedom to write it. there are many political blogs out there and the people that read and comment on them know what they are getting involved in. i actually think that it is great that bloggers and the internet in general will help influence elections. it lets americans learn about and discuss other american's opinoins. not just what the press tells us.

youtube getting mainstream

this morning, good morning america announced a new weekly feature that will be on each wednesday. it's the best of youtube. it will highlight some of the most popular videos of the week.

i think it's great that more people will become aware of youtube. i love the freedom of it all. but i worry that as it becomes more mainstream that we will run into another napster situation. i hope the movie and tv companies don't crack down too hard and that they go about this well. some people take video clips from tv or movies and make spoofs of them. the companies claim this is copyright infringement or something like that. but i think that it just makes people more aware of their products - even if the companies view it as bad marketing. for example, some of the spoofs i've seen are funny and they have cause me to watch a movie or tv show that i had not seen before. i did it mostly to compare with what the spoof is about. it's kind of reverse flattery. i love youtube and hope it gets to stay close to as free as it is now.

question of the day: sites, sites and more sites

from question of the day:

What is your website (not blog) of choice these days?

so many!

• myspace
• flickr
• you tube
• last.fm
• del.icio.us
• 43 things
• list of bests
• all consuming
• 43 places
• igougo
• technorati
• diigo
• hollywood stock exchange
• techcrunch
• digg
• keri smith's website
• lonely planet's bluelist
• the huffington post
• blogher

and LOTS of blogs. if i have to pick only one, it's all consuming.

the end of the world?

I just was reading this article, War in the Middle East, about the possible impending apocolypse. I find it hard to believe that there are people out there the are truly afraid that this conflict in the middle east right now will lead to the end of the world. are they ignorant, or am i?

just for the hell of it, i checked the doomsday clock and they haven't updated it lately. It's still seven minutes until midnight where it has been since 2002.

funny bird

This morning my parrot Charlie was soooo funny. He keeps sneaking out of his cage while I am at work. He opens the doors that lift up and down so I can take his food and water dishes in and out to fill and clean them. He use to stand on his food in the dish and then lift up that door and get out. Then I tied that one down with a twist tie and within a week he decided to do it by standing in his water bowl. Yesterday I took off the twist tie things I use to lock down door by his food so I could wash the dishes. This morning I went to put him in his cage and I started putting on the twist ties - this time on both doors. I got it done on one of the doors and he defiantly walked over to the other door and lifted it up. Kind of showing me - ha, ha. So then I tied down the second one. He tried to open it and realized he couldn't. he gave me the dirtiest look, his pupils got real dilated then real small than real big and every feather on his body stood straight up. He was pissed! I had to turn away and laugh. Then he went and sulked in the corner of his cage. Poor Charlie . . .

Beware user 17556639

from: AOL Search Data Shows Users Planning to Commit Murder


http://research.aol.com released a list of 20 million + searches by 500,000 AOL users. Contained in this list are social security numbers, credit cards and other personal information. There are some truly scary things in this database.

There are hundreds of searches from people looking to kill themselves and even more scary are searches from users that seem to be looking to commit murder.

Check out the search history for user 17556639, most recent search is at the bottom of the list.. Does this look like the search history of a user wanting to do something bad?

17556639 how to kill your wife
17556639 how to kill your wife
17556639 wife killer
17556639 how to kill a wife
17556639 poop
17556639 dead people
17556639 pictures of dead people
17556639 killed people
17556639 dead pictures
17556639 dead pictures
17556639 dead pictures
17556639 murder photo
17556639 steak and cheese
17556639 photo of death
17556639 photo of death
17556639 death
17556639 dead people photos
17556639 photo of dead people
17556639 www.murderdpeople.com
17556639 decapatated photos
17556639 decapatated photos
17556639 car crashes3
17556639 car crashes3
17556639 car crash photo

Creepy stuff starting to turn up in the aftermath of AOL's huge weekend snafu. Beware user 17556639!

my opinion: it's a free world and people can search the internet for what they want. the problem is not necessarily the people searching, it's the people who put the content out there.

from google when searching for "wife killer":
Results 1 - 10 of about 24,100,000 for wife killer. (0.48 seconds)

but the best thing about the internet is free speech. if someone wants to know how to kill their wife, they can cause enough problems already in their head without turning to the internet.

but i do love knowing what everyone else is searching for so it will be interesting to see what else is released about this.

elephant armor

i'm watching a show on the history channel about the mughals. i never even heard of the mughals or the mughal empire. i've heard of the mongols, but not the mughals. the mughals were in india and persia (more commonly known as the persian empire). i swear when i was growing up there was some conspiracy not to teach us anything about india because all i learned about india was that it was part of the british empire and that is where ghandi was from.

anyways, it is the most interesting show! they are going into detail about the weapons the mugals used. they compared the mughal bows with the typical crossbows. and they were some of the first to use gun type weapons that fired.



the wildest thing though is how they used the elephants in warfare. i knew that elephants were used, but i thought mostly like horses. as a means of transportation. but they trained the elephants to be killers! one leader had owned 50,000 elephants personally and had another 40,000 at his disposal from around his kingdom. can you imagine 90,000 elephants! i don't think anywhere near that many elephants are even alive today. anyways, they would spend thousands of man hours making armor for the elephants. something like 1200 hours for each elephant. and they made special weapons for the elephants too. they would saw back their tusks and attached these huge daggar like weapons. they would teach the elephants to wrap their trunk around on guys leg and step on the other let or something and literally rip the guy apart. and they could run into the men or their horses with the daggars. sometimes when men were sentenced to death, they'd have an elephant place it's foot right over the guys sternum while he was laying on the ground and when the elephant stepped down it would literally squash the life out of him.

i just can't get over the amazing armor for the elephants. they were showing some in a museum somewhere. now i'm dying to find a museum that has some so i can go check it out. they would decorate it all with flowers, elephants and birds. but they didn't treat the elephants well. the "drive" would carry some type of spear with him so that if he lost control of the elephant he could sever the elephants spinal cord and kill it. can you imagine? i am totally disturbed by the treatment of the animals but completely amazed at the use of them in warfare.

peanut fried rice with fish

a long time ago i signed up on a mailing list for A Taste of Thai which is a Thai Food company (like a version of Kraft or something). Today I got an email from them with a recipe for Peanut Fried Rice with Fish. Does that sound disguisting or what? But it sounds so gross that i totally want to try it because I bet it is actually yummy. It looks kind of good.

The email says:
This is the perfect recipe for turning cold rice and leftover fish
into an innovative meal. Peanut Sauce Mix coupled with ginger
and garlic transforms yesterday’s dinner into a new culinary
experience. It’s delicious served as a main course, or as a
side with another fish entrée.

when does anyone have left over fish? i can understand leftover cold rice. oh well, if anyone tries it, let me know how it turns out!

question of the day: what one thing

from question of the day:

If money were no object, what one thing would you buy to give to your significant other?

I don't have a significant other right now, so I'll choose my mother. I'd give her a housekeeper that comes in each weekday while she is at work. My mom actually enjoys cleaning so she would never get this for herself. However, she spends so much time on it, she rarely just sits down to read a book or watch a movie. Or learn a new hobbie. So if she had the extra hour or two each night that she spends tidying up the house, doing laundry and doing dishes, then she'd have more time for herself. So in essence, i'd be giving her more time (not the maid).

screen names

what's up with some people's screen names. someone on yahoo that i do not know just IM'd me. his screen name is tpaman2makeucum. what's up with that? tampa man to make you come . . . why would i even bother talking to a guy like that? he could be nice but what the fuck? i'm not gonna find out. don't people know about first impressions. names like that just scare me. what do boys think? it is just stupid. i hate instant messenger when randoms find you. ok, i'm done ranting.

A Sunday in my muumuu

One of the greatest things about living on my own and not being in a relationship is that I can do whatever I want, whenever I want. I have decided that today, I will do nothing of consequence. I will just sit around in my muumuu all day. Well, it's not actually a muumuu, it's a long nightshirt. But I call it my muumuu because it is kind of the same thing. Today I am giving myself permission to just be comfortable and not follow any of my normal rules.

I am not going to shower or even brush my hair. The most aggressive thing I will do is brush my teeth. I will eat out of the refrigerator whatever I want. I can eat junk food all day if that is what I feel like. I do not need to cook any "meal" unless I want to. The couch will be my "captain's chair" and I will stay on it all day. From the couch I can surf online with my laptop, watch TV or DVD movies, hook my iPod up to the surround sound system if want to listen to it, read, blog, write in my journal and even take a nap.

I do not plan to leave the house today except to run out front and grab the Sunday paper. This poses a muumuu challenge. I have to look out the windows and make sure none of my neighbors are outside and then I have to make a mad dash to go get it before they see me. That is about the biggest excitement I have planned for today.

Today I will just be and I plan to enjoy every second of it!

I haven't been here, you haven't seen me, and she hasn't been out of the house all evening.

The Big Sleep

by Howard Hawks

wow. all i have to say is that if you have not seen this movie, rent it and see it right away.

Film noir is one of my favorite genres. The Big Sleep is film noir at its finest. And i thought there could be no better film noir example than Laura. However, The Big Sleep is just as good. And since Laura is my favorite movie of all time, that is a very big complement.

This movie highlights some amazing chemistry between the stars, bogie and bacall. Bogie plays Philip Marlowe, private investigator. The Big Sleep is filled with suspense which is highlighted by the performance of these fabulous actors and the black and white film. The Big Sleep is filled with questionable gun shots, murders, blackmail, guys in trenchcoats, rain storms, foggy nights, dramatic lighting, intense music/sound effects and lots of mysterious circumstances.

the meaning of web 2.0

business2blog: B2Day : What Does Web 2.0 Mean to You?

to me, web 2.0 means easy sharing of content. everyday users can access content from all over the web. this is done mostly through rss feeds. in addition, they can comment on web content in a variety of forms. blogging is an obvious choice, but also sites like del.icio.us, digg.com, flickr, youtube and myspace allow for people to comment on content of the web. the web we know today has a huge social aspect to it thanks to web 2.0.

question of the day: would you ever

from question of the day:

Would you ever legally change your name?

I am just finishing up legally changing my name for the fourth time in my life. I'm in no hurry to do it again! Married, divorced, married, divorced.

the stuff dreams are made of

The Maltese Falcon

by John Huston

I just watched the Maltese Falcon for about the third time. Even though I know how it will end, this movie keeps me enthralled with each viewing. Bogie is great as Sam Spade – constantly whipping out smart remarks. He is the kind of guy you want on your side. The plot of the movie has several twists and turns. It is no wonder this movie is known as a film noir classic.

This movie has interesting characters, a bit of mystery, a bit of romance and every bit of it has you questioning just who is telling the truth.

See more about The Maltese Falcon

the heavy-metal era

The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years

by Penelope Spheeris

I didn’t realize this movie was made back during the 80s hairband days! It is a nostalgic look back at the heavy-metal headbanging days. They all look so young! Ozzy can still talk. Aerosmith recently united. Gene Simmons is a riot. Alice Cooper was still Alice Cooper. And all the younger groups were in their hey-day. Nobody was trashed yet from drugs and booze, as they would be a few years later. The guys would openly drink alcohol while being interviewed on camera and all swear that they did not do drugs (remember, this was during the Reagan “just say no” era).

it’s actually fun to watch because today we look back at those bands during that time and forget why we were attracted to them and wonder how they were so popular. The performers at that time were all full of themselves and loved their big hair and style. Several bands, like Poison who were thhe new thing at the time, claim they weren’t into it for the money, just for rock ‘n’ roll. Struggling performers are also interviewed and they discuss what they go through to try and become known. Many people interviewed also talk about the heavy-metal lifestyle and the social difficulties of being a guy who wears makeup and teases his hair. Or the stereo-typical qualities of the groupie girls who were into those bands and that lifestyle.

one interesting thing for me, since I just watched New York Doll the other day, was the Aerosmith interview. Aerosmith is portrayed as the pioneers of the generation. Steven Tyler said he was greatly influenced by the New York Dolls. He said that when they were starting out people used to say he was trying to be like David Johansen and Mick Jagger.

Overall, it is an interesting retrospective and a good watch if you want to see or remember the metal-scene of that era. But anyone who has already lived through it might just want to turn on VH-1 classics instead.

See more about The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years

introduced to the marx brothers

Duck Soup

by Leo McCarey

I wathced this movie because it is listed on several lists as a classic. It was on TCM and right before the movie, they gave a little context about the film. It was released during the 30s, with post-Hitler Europe. The plot of the film is about a ruler of a country and consequently there is a lot of political satire of that time. I think I appreciated the movie more because I knew this. It helped me watch the film and try and think of what life was like during that time.

The was the first Marx Brothers movie I have watched all the way through. There is alot of slapstick and whitty humor. I laughed out loud at least ten times.

The movie is only about an hour and a half. I think it is worth watching for all movie loves, just to go back and time and get familiar with they style of these Hollywood legends.

See more about Duck Soup

Bush at Booker Elementary 9/11 - uncut

wow, this was it happening real time. his entire experience. at first i kind of felt bad for him. that PR stuff must be one of the worst parts of his job. but i can't imagine hearing the U.S. has just been attacked and keeping on.

A story about "Bubble"

Bubble

by Steven Soderbergh

Everything about this movie is somewhat strange. First of all, I’m a netflix subscriber. I did not even order this movie. It came by mistake. I knew nothing about it, but I recognized the name Steven Soderbergh so I figured I’d give it a try. It also said on the DVD cover that he made this movie with no-named actors.

I watched the movie and it was just okay. They are no only no-named actors, these people aren’t even real actors. So I wasn’t sure what to make of it while I was watching. However, it didn’t bore me. It’s like watching and arty, independant film. So be prepared for that. You get to know three people who live in a small town in America. Non-glamorous people just living their every day lives. I think none of them are happy.

By the end of the movie, I thought it was just okay. Kind of because I didn’t get the whole, non-actor thing, but it added some realness and grittiness to the movie. Then I watched the extra features on the DVD. It ends up that these are real people that live in that town. They all have similar lives to these characters and it is just a dream of their to act. I get the impression that there was no real script. That the people were given situations and they made up their own dialoge. And many things about the characters in the film are from the actors real lives.

So, based on this, I think this movie is really unique and I think it is worth watching for people who enjoy movies.

See more about Bubble

Hips Don't Lie Spoof

i'm in love with YouTube right now. This video combines several of the elements of the YouTube culture that I like. YouTube is filled with tons of videos. Most of them are random things that people shot just in their own life. Lots of people lip synch to songs or make their own mini-videos. Hips Don't Lie by Shakira is one of my favorite songs right now. As you can tell, tons of people made their own video versions. This is a great mix of many of those.

questions of the day

lots of questions today from question of the day:

Midnight snack
What is your favorite midnight snack?

I always keep some sliced genoa salami and cheese on hand. Either sliced provolone, muenster or gouda. I take half a piece of cheese and a thin slice of salami and roll it up. I ususaly have two or three of these and give one split in half to the dogs. last night i had salami with gouda and it hit the spot!

Three things
What three things are you thankful for today?

Today I am thankful for my job, my happy attitude for life and my family. I am loving work lately. Not the politics of it, but the daily tasks are fun. I have been in a good frame of mind and am enjoying life right now. And of course, I always appreciate my family.

Black and white
What is your favorite black and white movie?

Laura. It's my favorite movie so naturally it's my favorite black and white movie. I recommend everyone see it. Preferably on a rainy night or afternoon when you can be snuggled on the couch. Even though it's my favorite, I don't have the DVD (early christmas present hint).

my morning

The ADT guy came today. Some battery on my alaram system went out and it was beeping uncrazy. This happened while I was in San Francisco. My pet sitter unplugged the entire alarm system. While I was home between San Francisco and Chicago I noticed the big thing unplugged and hanging down the wall. The alarm system is in one of my closet's. It was my ex's closet so it's still kind of empty or has some junk in it so it was really east to see. Anyways, when i plugged it back in that day, right before i was leaving to get onto the plane for Chicago, the alarm went off. Blah, blah, I had to make an appointment for someone to come out and provide the new battery. They were supposed to come Tuesday morning and they blew me off so they came back today.

The guy got here aroun 8:15. My dogs were so funny. Tristen is best friends when anyone who comes in the house and wants to jump and snuggle and play with them all. Taylor is curious and wants to watch every little thing they do. So i was trying to keep the dogs away but Taylor would just lay down in the middle of the room and have her head watching the closet door or be looking at me but having her ears turned back listening to what they are doing.

I got an annoying surprise last night when I went to bed. It was abuot 12:30 and I climbed into bed, and I realized Tristen pissed on my bed! I know it was him cuz it was only a little but and I'm sure he got up there and lifted his leg to leave his mark. and it's right on the place where i sleep! It only got on my quilt and my down comforter but I was all ready to snuggle under that comforter! So this morning I had to change all the sheets and wash my quilt. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the down comforter. Last time I washed it, it didn't dry well and it ended up smelling kind of moldy. I got it dry cleaned which got rid of the smell and turned out really good, but it cost a fortune! damn dog.

surfing, a bath and jerk chicken

i made jerk chicken tonight. i was so excited for it. i bought it all ready to go from publix. but i've been eating out of the pantry for so long trying to eat what i already have, that i was psyched for something new from the store. and a bit feast for only about $5. i think i can get three meals out of it. actually, it'll probably be two meals for me and one for the doggies, but who knows.

while dinner was cooking i got sucked into the internet. i've been playing on AllConsuming and 43 Things. Since i love making lists, these sites are totally for me. And AllConsuming lets me list the books i'm reading and movies i'm watching. later i can comment on them. i also watched that movie below while surfing online.

i spent alot of time today on Diigo. it's a funky service that lets you surf the web and highlight stuff you find online and quickly post it to your blog or email it to a friend. it's really cool.

around 8pm i decided to take a bath. i saw a storm coming in. on one side of my house you could look out the window and see the colorful sunset. on the otherside it was all purple-grey storm clouds. so i got the tub ready, wheeled charlie bird in, light some candles and chilled out. it was really cool because the storm came over as the sun was setting and then there was a magical lightening storm.

after i got out of the bath i called chris back. he got the superman suit i got coltrane. he was so cute. so we talked on the phone for a bit. just when things were getting better with him, something else comes up. he has to leave alex's by the end of the month. so now he is basically homeless with no place good to leave coltrane. he may have to give him to bleu for a month while he stays with a friend and gets enough money for a shitty apartment. he's spending the little money he has on an attorney and legal aid for their custody case coming up in october.

so he's going to be bumming out for a bit. but he seems to have a pretty good head on his shoulders on it. he is accepting it all. accepting that it just sucks. and it's okay if he wallows for a bit cuz it's just so frustrating and out of his control. but i think overall he has a plan and is being as calm about it as he can. i miss him and my natural instinct is to totally worry about him and about what's going to happen to coltrane due to this. but i have to tell myself these are not my problems. i am there to be his friend and support him. but not to get sucked down.

the one bad thing, which i didn't remind him of, is that i was going to come over labor day to visit. and that will have to be the weekend he moves out of there. i think i'll find an embassy suites or somthing up in northern california where can go see the sequoia's and bum around nature. i can always cancel and still not go. but i'm going to get that set up and then tell him my plan and remind him which weekend that is. if it's too much for him then i won't come. but hopefully he could use a nice weekend away from it all.

couldn't get into it

Bound for Glory

by Hal Ashby

I really wanted to like this movie because it is about Woody Guthrie and it was nominated for all sorts of awards. But i just could not get into it. Actually, it was so boring I got a headache. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for a drama or something. Be prepared if you are going to watch this that is a story about a person’s life. He is a famous folk singer so I thought it would be more about his musical career. but there was a lot to do with forming unions and other politics of the 30s. And his wife was such a nag. Women must have been really bored back then. Nothing to do but hang out at home.

See more about Bound for Glory

reliving mtv's first moments on earth

MTV, 25 years later. By Troy Patterson

As every pop-cultist, trivia geek, and hip person knows, the first music clip to air on MTV was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles. Yesterday, on VH1 Classic's 24-hour replay of the mother ship's launch, MTV Day One (which repeats on Saturday at 9 a.m. EST), the video still slayed: An intro where the moon's reflection shimmers on a latex sea, a firm command of irony, the capable theft of Devo's aesthetic, the restrained deployment of both youth-revolt iconography and explosives. … It still looks like a Flash Gordon future.

But what of the clips that immediately followed "Video Killed the Radio Star"? Have they aged well? Which now wear an aura of innovation? Do ya think Rod Stewart's sexy?

MTV's second video was "You Better Run," wherein Pat Benatar wears a black-and-white striped shirt of the sort that was quite fashionable the last time I went outside. Benatar, yet to create the epic "Love Is a Battlefield," carries herself as if she's wearing a pint of blush, which she is. The third video was Stewart's distinctly primitive "She Won't Dance." Stewart shakes his bottom like a naughty schoolboy and splays his legs when he leaps, the better to leapingly hump his guitarists. He accomplishes all this while wearing a jumpsuit the color of medical scrubs. The suit's asymmetrical neckline dares to venture down near Rod's right hipbone. It's all too plausible that some hipster in northern Brooklyn will slip into such an outfit this Saturday evening.

If you watched MTV on Aug. 1, 1981, you would have seen Stewart leaping and humping quite a bit. Perhaps the only artists in heavier rotation were the Who—whose operatic instincts led them to outclass their peers at the dawn of the video age—and a trio of arena rockers: REO Speedwagon, .38 Special, and Styx. It is somehow comforting to know that Stewart, a 35-year-old in girly pants, was MTV's first pretty boy.

MTV's fourth video, an excursion deeper into its art-school side, was Ph.D's "Little Susie's on the Up." Rigorously nonsensical, it features pigs in a butcher shop and poodles in tutus, and it looks like the work of a film-school student assigned to make a film that looks like a documentary on ballroom-dancing competitions directed by Luis Buñuel.

As demonstrated by Todd Rundgren in "Time Heals"—No. 6, just behind "Brass in Pocket," where Chrissie Hynde gives it a little Lily Tomlin when playing a diner waitress—you shouldn't go around talking about Modernist art just because you think you like it. Rundgren's crudely trippy clip, which inserts the singer into paintings by the likes of Magritte and Chirico, is a tribute to Surrealism made by someone with a brazenly superficial knowledge of it. (Meanwhile, one side effect of MTV's early embrace of absurdity and aggressive dream logic is that nobody pays any mind when a video that's maybe supposed to make sense is sloppy with narrative disjunctions.)

For the record, MTV's first bit of programming—the appetizer for the Buggles that stands as its real moment of self-definition—was a tremendous bit of found art, an approximate quarter-hour of documentary footage of the countdown to a space shuttle launch. Nothing happens until blast-off, when the shuttle film switches to footage of an Apollo rocket and an astronaut plants MTV's flag on the moon; it's just tape of mission control and the launch pad and the chase planes that's narrated in an engineer's nasal Midwestern drone. You will zone out, but you won't leave your seat: No one turns away from an exploding rocket.

question of the day: sure thing

from question of the day:

Almost everyone has something they consider a 'sure thing'. What is your 'sure thing'?

a good italian spaghetti meal. you can never go wrong with this. it can have any type of a variety of sauces. sometimes alfredo, sometimes something spicey, sometimes lots of mushrooms and capers in it. this works for any meal or for any feeling. happiness? spaghetti! stressed? spaghetti.

feeling good

taking chances

You miss 100% of the shots you never take.
-Wayne Gretzky, hockey player

i just like this quote. some people say i'm impulsive about things. but usually, i just follow my gut.

margie . . . missing?

just as i was getting ready to go to bed, my mom called me. she said marcos called her and said he hadn't heard from margie and was worried about her. of course this got my mom all worried cuz it's 9:45 and she's not home yet and she never said that she was going to do something tonight. we all called her cell phone and she didn't pick up. so we all have a bad feeling. i figure the two worst things that could have happened are that she got kidnapped or in an accident. the kidnap thing is kind of a slim chance. and the accident thing my mom says she has enough identification on her so the police would call her. aren't we a bunch of over-reactors? but of course now i won't be able to sleep. told my mom to call me when she gets home. she's usually home early because she gets home up so early in the morning to go to work.

UPDATE: margie called me 20 minutes after i turned off my computer. she just went out after work. all is fine. she had fun.

mel gibson - who cares?

why the hell is mel gibson over the news so much? he got busted drunk driving. so what. a quick media blurb is all that deserves. but it has been non-stop all week. who cares he made anti-sematic slurs. he was drunk! and tons of people say things they shouldn't or don't mean. not that i'm a huge fan, but i don't hate him or anything. he's apologized and is even going into treatment. and he is going to have charges drawn against him. but what is with all this talk about him being blackballed from hollywood? ABC cancelled a miniseries he was working on about the holocost. he usually does good stuff. i don't get it.

new york doll

last night i watched New York Doll. i didnt know for sure what to expect, but i guess i thought it would be a documentary and i would learn all about the New York Dolls. and that is partly true. But this documentary focuses on the base player Arthur "Killer" Kane and the Dolls Reunion Show in London at the Morrissey Meltdown summer 2004. It was kind of hard to watch because it is mostly from Arthur's perspective. He is a bitter musician whose band fell apart 30 years prior. It was awkward because you kind of felt bad for him. I couldn't figure out if he was burnt out from too many drugs, had mental issues or what. He was wierd. He became a morman several years ago and works at their library. So this rock and roll guy is now working with old people in a library and taking the bus to work. He was all excited when he found out the band would reunite. When he got to his hotel, he was in a normal room, but he kept talking about how nice the maple desk was and that the chairs in the hotel room were nicer than the furniture at his house. It was kind of disturbing.

So half of the movie was spent on Arthur and the other half discussed The Dolls and how influential on so many people. I guess when they came out in 72 or 73 music was really, really bland and they totally shook things up. Almost everyone in the band is bitter because they never made any money and all the other bands that came out after them made tons of money. Especially all the hair bands in the 80s.

This movie twists about a bit though. I cried at this movie. I very rarely get teary-eyed at movies. But this one, i actually cried. It was truly touching.

I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys music. You do not need to be familiar with the New York Dolls to enjoy this movie.