Feeling the Space...

I know somethings going on...

2007-09-06T22:06:00.000-07:00

Something is up. First there is the "accidental" shipment of nukes from ND to LA by B-52 (the ONLY reason we even know about this is because there is a whistle - blower). Which JUST HAPPENS to be a likely staging area for military operations heading overseas (much more so than ND). Now we're treated to ANOTHER Osama Bin Laden teaser. Sorry - but, I am convinced that Bin Laden is/ has been dead - for quite some time.

Tonight, I was listening to Mike Malloy in the car coming back from the *NEW* Glisan St. Fred Meyer (VERY nice store). There was just the most idiotic ABC radio news break (I really HATE the Evil Disney Corp) and there was a story - supposedly(wink-wink) there may be a NEW VIDEO from Osama Bin Laden that just might(wink-wink) be released on the anniversary of 9-11. BUT - I mean *BUT* - they have a "still photo" from the video (which they JUST said they don't know for sure exists - GOD they think we're ALL idiots) and -- BE PREPARED -- Bin Ladens beard is different! It's not gray anymore - now it's BLACK!!!
OK. Now ABC cuts to the "specialist" to give us more info on the Bin Laden beard switch - GET THIS! - all he says is (and I am quoting) - "the color of Bin Ladens' beard is not important. What is important is the message in the video." !! I almost crashed into a ditch at this point. The "specialist" says the important part is the "message" of the video, (remember - we still don't know whether it exists) not that the beard is now black. I hear that happens when you're dead...
I really REALLY have the feeling that we're being prepped for something that's going to happen. The sheer overt brevity of f-ing ABC to TELL US WHAT TO THINK!!! I'm just stunned....

Osama bin Laden : the newest fake

Things I did last "summer"

2007-08-29T14:20:00.000-07:00

Now that we're getting near the end of it.

Let's see...

From last April -->

Happy Birthday!
to MEEEEE! & Ms. Flameskirt... 39 years old...

The *new* front yard landscaping:

I like to call this look - "dirt".

Our 7th Anniversary (Aug 6th - Hiroshima Day):

Oy! Do we look old. And tired. Of course we really were tired - That was a workday for me - started at 3 am -also had an eye infection so my eyes look simply awful. Still - had a GREAT time! Visited the Portland City Grill (as seen here) then to Ciao Vito on Alberta (had a wonderful Maserati Margarita) then to Acadia on Fremont for an INCREDIBLE dinner. The went back to work at 5 the next morning. AAargh...

A trip to McMinnville to visit friends and do some wine tasting. The nice thing is that having friends already in wine country means they already have found the really really good places to go. All we had to do was get there!

Along Wilsonville road heading for Newberg:

Alan at the wheel (I don't have to drive! WHEEE!)

Almost at Newberg - HORSIES!

And we're there - Lloyd was more than happy to escort us around our wine tasting experience. We weren't disappointed!

Alan & Lloyd:

Alan & Me: (why are we tilting to the left? This was the last stop on our tasting tour...)

Even the car seemed right at home in this environment...

What a great view...

Dinner at Nick's in McMinnville. yes, our socks were knocked off!

(that's not a flower. It's my beet salad! I was too busy eating to photograph the rest!)

But I'm not dead yet...

2007-08-29T13:33:00.000-07:00

Yeesh, what a summer.

Wait, wait - rephrasing that.

WHAT SUMMER!

There we go.
I'm actually still on the line for the "new" job that was supposed to be starting in April. They want me. I want the job. The deal is - they're only going to make an *official* offer once they have complete (5 years out) funding. That's fine with me. I've got 2 of my 10 fingers crossed.

I've been back at the whole job full on full time fully crazed...
I have yet to work a normal week since the "new" job collapse back in April. The month of July was a six day work week month. (for the math - 10.5 hour days * six * 4 weeks of July... equals 283.5 hours working)

Now I'm back to a lazy 5 day week in August - merely 52.5 hours a week.

And what do I have to show? I earned enough to pay for the repairs to my car and a rental while it was being fixed after being stolen, of course.

Other that that, I should be overdrawn by the time I receive my next paycheck. Before I left work on Monday, an *emergency* meeting notice went out for Friday the 31st. We've been informed that our health insurance plan was changing. From 100% employer paid (trust me - one of the FEW -well the- ONLY real benefit my employer offers) to very expensive employee paid plan. This means I've just taken a pay cut right at a time when we're struggling out of an Adjustable Rate Mortgage trying to get onto a Fixed Rate Mortgage - the only thing we're getting out of a re-fi is a fixed rate. No home improvement loan, no rolling debts into mortgage... all for about $200 MORE per month. I'm sure, REALLY SURE that my 27.5 cent raise this year is not going to cover this.

FUCK the Bush economic recovery.
I'm sure everyone else is still waiting for the so-called recovery to happen. I can't even remain stationary without sliding backwards...

Meanwhile...

others lives have gone on (and continue)

I felt like such a helpless gawker when I found out that Flameskirts' mother passed away. A very sad end to a remarkable woman's life. I think her daughters love & attention meant so much more (to her) than was understood -maybe than was communicated -?

I have an amazing set of friendships that have continued for quite some time 27 years, 17 years, 15 years, this January will mark the 9th year since my partner (to be) will have first met.
Watching these people grow and evolve and change as various parts of life affect (effect?) them has been amazing to see.

I've witnessed a very beautiful complex flower grow and begin to bloom. I'm anticipating how it's going to develop in the future. I have a feeling it's going to be an amazing sight.

If I could only manage to turn the lens around. I saw a photo of myself from 20 years ago! Aside from the truly bad 80's hair... I was SO YOUNG! OMG!
Now I'm so old...

I found myself backtracking. letting my memories come back of experiences over the last 20 years. I can almost pick out the crossroads. I had a small choice to make - this way or that - that led to a change that affected the rest of my life. Where will I be in 20 years? I guess I have made more progress. I am so much more aware of the decisions I make and where they might lead.

The Truth about 9/11

2007-05-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

I found a notice about a lecture at Portland State University by David Ray Griffin. I managed to go, having been up since 3 am made it quite a chore. The Smith Center ballroom was SRO! I'd guess 700-800 people (from ALL walks of life) in attendance.

I've been studing the events of 9/11 since 2002. I think the nation as a whole was in a 'state-of-shock' for a long time (far too many still are) after that date. I started to slip out of the coma when Bush stated up the war machine in 2002. I knew the election of 2000 was a fraud. I knew Bush was a COMPLETE liar. So, when Iraq, Iran, N Korea suddenly came up on the scope all of my internal fire alarms / red flags / sirens started going off. I hadn't yet discovered the internet as far as being a useful source of information/unfiltered news/opinion at the time. I was looking all across the TV for any ANY source of "real' news. All I could find was corporate propaganda - Good Morning America just acted as a mouthpiece for the Bush Admin (between segments of crap like Diane Sawyer being sung to by a corporate logo sock-puppet...). All I could come up with was The Daily Show - Jon Stewart and his complete dis-belief/outrage over what the corporate media was feeding us in the runup to the war (presented as comedy, of course), and Democracy Now (on one of the 3 locally run cable access channels that Comcast has graced Portland with). That's 1.5 hours per day of some kind of realism to be found on the spectrum television has to offer. Sometime during 2002 my television got turned off. For good. During the countdown to the attack/invasion/occupation/destruction of Iraq, I finally turned to The Internet. I just started searching. I found Altercation, DailyKos, Eschaton, TBogg. Then I also found WhatReallyHappened. I found sites that asked questions about 9/11 and highlighted the inconsistencies over the timeline of events. It really was an experience like The Matrix. Oh My God! I've taken the red pill by mistake! I had an experience that was a combination of dizziness/nausea/migraine-like that I feel constitutes the 're-awakening'. Once you're here you can never go back.
At this point I've seen the 9/11 Commission report deflated and exposed. This isn't a "conspiracy theorist"(whatever that is supposed to be...) position or organization. It's actually exposing and bring the FACTS to light. Once the TRUTH is exposed, the make-believe (government -neo-con fantasies we've all been fed) just simply can't hold up.
I went throught 2003 and the start of the war on Iraq trying so desparately to tell friends/ relatives that we've been lied to! The war is a fraud! The responses I got in return were so sad. "What about 9/11?" "What about the terrorists?" etc, etc, etc. In fact I STILL get those responses. In 2007!
Farenheit 9/11 was released in 2004. That really helped. many people I knew were suddenly jarred into reality. Even those that had voted for/ supported Bush!

Anyway, what this is really leading up to, is that -as someone that considers 9/11 to be a completely staged event - there are some recent happenings that I find - that ARE truly frightening.

> May 9, 2007< Presidential Directive that allows Bush to assume dictatorial powers in the event of a terrorist attack or another hurricane Katrina or some other "emergency".
I originally found this on the Progressive website, which now appears to be down!?!

Still Here...

2007-05-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

What a spring.
Had a great B-day. Met with Ms. Flameskirt for breakfast(it was her b-day too). The next day, I had a job interview. Not the best option, but seemed to be promising start with a small company offering a decent starting salary, benefits, as product support role for an interesting - even ingenious - product for contolling/safeguarding prescription meds at hospital/care facility level. Went great! Was offered the position. I went to work on that Friday, wrote up my 2 week notice. Finished off my exit interview paperwork (2 full pages written on everything wrong/right about my job, and why I'm leaving it).
Down to 4 days before starting the new position, 1 day left at the old job. I 'm out on my *NEW* Trek Mtn bike (b-day present!) when my phone goes off. I stop, answer. It's my "new" HR manager, sounding really weird. She's not happy. Needs to inform me that they're withdrawing the offer. But "it's not you". But, "I've already quit my job". But, "Maybe they'll hire you back".
UGH.
Gloom, despair. I'm in the middle of nowhere. trying not to lose my breakfast that I'd had earlier w/ Lisa & Eddie.
!st things 1st. Dammit!
I finished my bike ride. It got longer & longer. Had to go home eventually. 8 hours later and 5 free drinks at the Chinese Village from Kenda and 1/2 of the regulars there, I had to give my glorious news to Alan. "Uhm, well, ... so. I have no job to go to on Monday. They withdrew their offer." Ouch. I'm NOT good with bad news.
Other wise, old job was THRILLED that I was back. Got LOTS of hugs & "sorry that SUCKS" from everybody including old/same boss! Now it's just like it never happened, working so many hours my head is spinning. But I need that overtime if I'm going to make the mortgage...

Trying to get back on that job search horse is the hard part now. How do I say... my hearts just not in it?

WTF!?! from GARRISON KEILLOR?!?

2007-03-15T10:13:00.000-07:00

I'm (almost) too stunned to comment on this! From Dan Savage : "... country has come to accept stereotypical gay men—sardonic fellows with fussy hair who live in over-decorated apartments with a striped sofa and a small weird dog and who worship campy performers and go in for flamboyance now and then themselves. If they want to be accepted as couples and daddies, however, the flamboyance may have to be brought under control. Parents are supposed to stand in back and not wear chartreuse pants and black polka-dot shirts..."
(bolds are mine)
OMG!!! Now I have to throw out ALL of my chartreuse pants and black polka-dot shirts!!! How WILL anybody recognize me???

HEY! It's (almost) a new record between posts!

2007-03-15T09:56:00.000-07:00

I've been busy applying for jobs again. Off to a promising start. I've had 2 interviews from the first 2 applications! Not bad for the first 2 in about 2 years!

One thing I've noticed is that the 21st century economy really sucks!! A great many % of the postings I'm seeing are paying wages $12 an hour or less. These aren't entry level jobs, either. My mother sent me an article from her newspaper, the Tri-city Herald (which is owned by McClatchy news service) which is just wonderful - far better than the Oregonian, about wages - showing in great detail that a living wage is far above the minimum wage (that's Oregon - Washington not Federal) right about $15.00 an hour. I currently earn less than $12 an hour. Every time gas prices go up 15 cents a gallon I really notice. Suddenly I can't make it from one paycheck to the next. I've been taking out "payday loans" to get an advance to the next paycheck. That really sucks AND is humiliating all at the same time! And to think: If I work really really hard I can get a 27 cent an hour raise this YEAR!

Brought to you by the same group that gave us the "Defense of Marriage" ammendment

2007-02-07T10:40:00.000-08:00

Oh this is good. Right-wing crazies that just love to tell you how they're all for getting government off the backs of the people bring us this latest doozy: the "Have children or else" amendment!

360 tons of CA$H?

2007-02-07T10:18:00.000-08:00

ugh..hmmm, I'm trying to get my noodle around this: OK. 360 tons of $100 bills. ouch.

OK. I didn't leave the house yesterday. I won't be leaving today. I can't afford to drive unless it's to & from work. I can only eat, at this point, if it's from scratch. No Taco Bell, no Starbucks. Yet my own government shipped 12 billion dollars! to Iraq?? The same government that I have been paying $2500 in back taxes to - or else have my bank account confiscated(I was unemployed for 26 out of 48 months - didn't have "taxes" withheld from my "income")!?
It's amazing - that me - hard worker, non-trouble-maker - is so much less important then throwing money at this middle eastern debacle of our own making - with the hope that some of it ends up at the right place.
So incredibly dis-heartening.
Thanks George Bush.

And the hearings continue...

2007-02-07T10:02:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to reduce information as to what's been going on out the media reports on "Scooter" Libby trial. I have read transcripts and really haven't been able to deduce that much of what's happened. I just read other's writings and gather up what information I can retain (not much there either). I do know that what has come out so far is that : When pResident Bush gave the 2002 State of the Union address and informed us that Iraq was attempting to buy nuclear materials... - surprise - he was LYING. That he had indeed been told that the whole - yellowcake from Niger 'load of crap' - had indeed been proven false. That didn't stop him from getting up in front of the American people and both houses of congress and deliberately lying.
Hmmm. I wonder what the penalty for lying to congress AND the American public at the same time is? Or better yet- What would the penalty be for a Democratic president? I'm sure this is just one of MANY outright lies to be uncovered at this point...

There goes our reputation...

2007-02-07T09:54:00.000-08:00

The United States' standing in the eyes of the world continues to plunge...

Post-Holiday Recovery going well...

2007-01-10T12:51:00.000-08:00

public transportation rocks!

It's really amazing how the holiday time in December and January takes up so much of the year - all the planning, travel, shopping, etc. Yet when it's all over it seems like it all went by like a blast of wind - it came & went - now just a memory.
Our "vacation" was jam-packed with activity planned for every moment.

po-dunk county courthouse that started it all

We had a great time inPhilladelphia. Everything is so old I really wanted to see everything, unfortunately, not in 2 days...
Taking the tour of Independence Hall is defintiely a must-do. The park rangers the guide tour groups must have degrees in history to be able to do their jobs. The guide that led our group would mention certain points - several times - I don't know who else in our group received the same impressions left on me - discussing the formation of the 1st congress and the separtation of powers - we were told repeatedly -"the President is given one job and only one job - to protect & defend the constitution"... I thought - how timely - our current "president", by allowing changes to the constitution, has violated his oath of office. Impeachable? MESSAGE RECEIVED!

shouldn't I be signing something in here?

Standing inside Independence Hall was another awakening to reality- what a tiny building! In fact, a county courthouse where a bunch of transplants from europe met to plot a revolution. Hmmmm, now what would todays Republican Party say about this group of yay-hoos....? I'm sure British-owned Fox news would be labeling every one of them a terrorist. Dangerous, every one of them! Lock them up! Off w/ their heads! And when the yay-hoos weren't using the space (most of the time) it was the Pennsylvania state legislature... (and courthouse).

not exactly for Judge Judy...

the fragile foundation of our founders

I'm left with such a felling of fragility - the concept of what was intended at the start of this great experiment of democracy - and how it can all be gone and over with before we, as a society, even realize what's happened.
I can't help but wonder if it's not too late.

The East coast was so surprisingly easy to travel in. It worked out that we were staying just a few blocks from the end of the SEPTA R7 line. We could take that all the way to Trenton, make an easy transfer to NJ Transit Authority, then stay on board right into Penn Station! We caught the MTA subway up to 77th st& 5th ave, then just walked with our luggage (nobel prize to the person that put wheels on suitcases) over to 84th st & 1st ave. Once on E 84th we spotted the bldg where Jessica lives...

looking North at 1st Ave

looking NorthEast across the East River

looking directly East

same views at night

this is the view FROM THE BED!

This was just a stunning apartment, er, make that penthouse. I'd guess about 1500 square feet. Maybe. About 1/2 the size of our house in Portland. But enough that if we were renting, it would've cost us $690 PER DAY for our 2 day stay there. Needless to say, we volunteered to come and do cat-sitting for Jessica whenever she's in need. We won't even charge for it!

Even with the amazing crowds during the holidays in NYC I know why people fall in love with this city.

something funny was about to happen here at the Shubert

breakfast w/ Jessica on Park Ave.

my pilgramage to The Dakota is finally realized...

of course, Strawberry Fields...

If this is any indication, we are truly doomed (on Rockerfeller Plaza GE/NBC, etc. bldg)

Of course, no trip would be complete for me if I didn't manage to come down with some kind of horrible virus/infection/pheumonia/etc... I manage to get a really nasty bug, by the time we hit New York City - I had completely lost my voice. I went to a 24hr pharmacy (lots of them here) and survived by the over-the-counter miracle that is Zicam.

Worst President Ever

2006-12-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

Wow! Now even the Wash Post is saying it!

Another reason I love Arianna

2006-11-28T17:08:00.000-08:00

"it's going to take a hell of a lot of money to try and perform the political alchemy of turning Bush's legacy of tragic failure into something future generations won't need a gas mask and an air sickness bag to study" the rest here .

Time for something to happen...? We'll see.

2006-11-28T12:54:00.000-08:00

I've been posting very very lightly over the last month+. Obviously. I've been working overtime at least one extra day per week. One 11 hour day extra. I'm waiting for 2007 to arrive. Then the job hunting can get serious. Not that my job is really that bad. It's just difficult. And strenuous. I have a need to feel some sense of accomplishment at my work. That has been missing for the last 3 months. All I'm receiving is some very low pay / per amount of work.
Resume is updating.
Energy is building.
I'm back on the "ladder".
Having survived from 9/2001 to 8/2005 with only 22 month of employment during that time, it is really nice to feel as though I'm getting somewhere. I just don't want the stress/exhaustion/ insanity for at least a few more $ per hour. I'm always trying to stretch the budget a little further. I know the difference just 1$ per hour would make. I'm sure everyone has been at that place where you're just falling a fraction short. Short of paying off that bill, or short of having enough for whatever it might be. I'm almost there. I can feel the upward momentum.
I have a very positive feeling about there near future.

What the *@#! is with this anyway?

2006-11-28T12:13:00.000-08:00

The puffy lizard from Connecticut managed to "win" the election. I won't call it "re-election". The lizard lost the CT Democratic primary to his challenger. So... the answer is : form your own political party (Connecticut for Lieberman) and run in the general election. Now, actually, the puffy lizard had this plan setup in advance - before losing the primary to Lamont. What kind of big, swollen puffy lizard head do you have to have to be so certain that you are going to win that you have to get yourself on the ballot in any way possible - even with an idiotic name like "CT for Lieberman"? Lamont won the primary by a 52% to 48% margin. In the general election the puffy lizard "won" by a 50% to 40% margin - the "Republican" candidate getting 10%. Anyone that monitored this race must find it amazing. On the campaign trail, Lamont had HUGE turnouts. The puffy lizard had a few white guys in suits at his events. Where did Lamont's supports go during the general election? Did they not bother to vote in the primary, just to RUN to the polls to vote for the lizard running as the "CT for Lieberman" candidate? I really find it hard to believe that CT voters are that stupid. Even the Republican ones (I'm sure there's far too few to number into the thousands).
Now, what is really disturbing is the actual number of votes that Lamont received in this election : 448,077. Page back to the last Senate election - CT in 2000. The lizard was running against a Republican, the results were : Republican lost with 448,077 votes. Has this ever happened before? Anywhere? Did the exact same people who voted NO to the lizard in 2000 turn out to vote against his opponent this time?? Did the Republicans show up at the poles in unheard of numbers to vote for the CFL candidate instead of the Republican running? What the h-e-dbl-hockey-stick happened? Why isn't this under some kind of review? Questions, anybody? Questions? I think, seriously, that lizard was guaranteed the senate. All he had to do was get on the ballot.
Now the people of CT have a true chameleon (lizard) for their senator. He can be a Democrat OR a Republican. I will never trust him either way. His one true allegiance is to the CT-for-himself party. In 2008 when the Democrats can pick up at least one more senate seat we can relegate the puffy lizard to the trash heap of history - right along with GW Bush.

Election results and other such speculations

2006-11-28T11:46:00.000-08:00

Florida, Sarasota County: If your voting machines screw up (MASSIVELY), well, just sell them to other states! Yeah! That's it! from DailyKos.

Here's some updates on the house races in OH, NC, LA, & TX that have been too close for comfort (again from DailyKos).

I really hope that a priority with our new, improved congress will be to set some new standards (Federal standards!) for voting. No more paperless voting, no more stupid state laws designed to disenfranchise voters (make that minority voters), a national holiday for election day. I'm all for vote-by-mail like we have here in Oregon. There's nothing like getting your ballot 2-3 weeks in advance and taking you own sweet time to fill out out. I really makes life hell for candidates trying their best to buy the vote. When do they start the TV ad saturation? When should the extra mailers go out? And for who? Who hasn't voted yet? Who voted early?

Getting my 'sea legs' back

2006-11-28T11:20:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking of a subject for a post. And thinking some more... So many changes, such little time...
I'm still reeling from the election results (almost a month ago!). I'm not used to "winning".

Shocking to realize that the last "win" was November 1992! That was moving day. Lisa and I were sharing an apartment in NW Portland. Between trips to & from the truck, the election was called for Clinton. Wow! 12 LONG years ago! Of course he was re-elected in 1996 - but the Republican congress was also reinforced in that election cycle. By that time the already long-winded Whitewater time&money waster was about to spin into "Monica-gate" or whatever you want to refer to that as.

This is the most politically aware I've ever been, and the most involved. I don't mean as in a campaign or a cause but as in personally having so much at stake - we all do. The freedoms and values that we've always been taught that this country stands for are at stake for our future and especially the future of the next generation. I don't/won't/can't have children, but I have plenty of children in my live. Love & care for each & every one as if they were my own. I hope they get to live in a world without surveillance of their every move and thought. I hope they will not accept a world like that. We can never allow ourselves to be complacent again. We've seen what 10 years of a Republican congress can accomplish. We've seen what 6 years of Republican control of every branch of government will bring. Please. Never again!

FRIENDSHIP timeless and eternal

2006-11-22T14:02:00.000-08:00

When I was in high school - way, way, WAY back to the 70's / 80's - I wasn't really one of the "popular ones", in fact, to this day I've never had contact with anyone I went to school with. At the time, one of best Friends was my neighbor. We've always kept in contact - maybe not for 1, 2, 6 months, etc. at a time- but always kept in touch, even when the distance grew to 3 (or was it 4?) states away. Debra's birthday was the end of September, she called up and said she couldn't think of anywhere she'd like to be other than here with us for her 50th. Fifty! That is one more of those statements that bounces around in your skull like a bell clapper. OK. I'm willing to admit that some time has passed and I have, uhm, er, well - matured. So, we got to spend the weekend together, her son, Ian, driving in from Tacoma. The Pacific Northwest weathergods smiled upon us. Absolutely perfect weekend. Not one of those Fall comes-in-like-a-big-wet-curtain events that we've been presented with - summer ends August 25th, etc.
We went off to Cannon Beach for a stay at the beach house - ahh, what a good idea!

Alan & Debra out on Tolvana Beach. Cannon Beach, OR. Talk about picture perfect...

The spectacular view of Cannon Beach from Ecola State Park.

Dinner at The Wayfarer restaurant in Cannon Beach. Really one of the best the Oregon Coast has to offer.
that's me, Alan, Debra, and Ian

I consider it an honor that someone would choose to spend their "milestone" birthday/ anniversary/event with me, and in fact it did turn out to be a wonderful weekend with wonderful friends.

Eeeeyuu... October... Lets see ... I was knocked flat by another seriously nasty sinus infection. Not much to remember there. I managed to get some good shots from Rocky Butte.. (hell-o Autumn)

And then again...

Postcard anyone?

This is a nice over view of (part of) my neighborhood (our house is out of view to the right -North- in this shot) with some Autumn colors beginning to show up.

back from the (extended) break

2006-11-22T13:55:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted since when? Geez, doesn't seem like that long ago... Well, here's a slightly new look (thanks Lisa).
Looks like I've got some catching up to do...

This is it! The BIG Bounce.

2006-09-21T10:31:00.000-07:00

I was flipping channels this morning (waiting for the Daily Show to start) and I grabbed a few seconds of CNN. They were announcing the latest surveys results - and announcing that "all 3 major polls showed a bounce in Bush's' approval rating". Having just read the NYTimes/CBS results, which have Bush at 37% approval, while LATime/Bloomberg show Bush at 45% and USA Today/Gallup have a 44% approval. The media is spinning this for all it's worth. 37% would mean unchanged since January. The others (I'm going to assume a 5-6% moe) aren't any better news - this just means that Bush has come back to the position he was at a year ago! That's not a bounce! That's embarrassing! This is the approval level of Nixon during Watergate, worse than Reagan during Iran-Contra, worse than Johnson during Viet-Nam, worse than Clinton (much, much worse) during the impeachment hearings in '98. Yet here's our librul media proclaiming that Bush & the GOP are on some kind of "upswing"! Now this is what is called
oppositeland!

Here's a graphic (courtesy of NYTimes).

I think the major indicator of a possible change occurring this year, is the questions concerning "your own representation" in congress. People have been bitching up a storm for decades about how much they hate the 'do nothing' congress, then when asked about their own representative the answer is always: 'well, my rep is doing just fine in congress'. As usual; the average American is showing their dim-witted-ness and inability to do any analytical thinking. However, in this new poll the majority is now saying it's time for someone new - even in their own district!

Sooo.., now it's "(Not)Supernova"??

2006-09-21T10:01:00.000-07:00

Ya know, ya just can't create a fake rockband with lots of money and a bunch of TV airtime. Really, did anybody involved EVER think - "There's already a band with this name, maybe we should think of another." Or what? In fact the last project just hit a big bump, too...
We'll see if there is another "reality" make-a-band tv show again...

It's the end of the world as we know it... and I feel fine

2006-09-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

To quote REM, anyway. This post over at Billmon's is a little more ominous. I am going to be optimistic about this - Al Gore said, in the movie, that we are not past the breaking point yet. We can still recover. And what the heck - what if I'm wrong? I've always said that if man goes to war with nature that man is going to lose. I guess that means thatof course the earth will continue on, and maybe in another however-many-million years, when the next intelligent(?) species evolves and civilization develops - maybe, just maybe, they'll have more common sense.

Remembering Ann Richards

2006-09-14T20:52:00.000-07:00

When I listened to the radio in the car today, I heard the clip of her keynote address at the 1988 Democratic convention. Her speech made such an impact, was so stunning in the delivery and humor, and I remembered it so well, that it just didn't seem that far off. This woman really had style she was real Texas. Not phony Texas like the political yay-hoos that have taken over that state. For a while I just couldn't believe that was 1988. That just sounded like... 1988? almost 20 years ago? ...too long ago. But, no, it has been almost 20 years since Ann Richards wowed the country at the 1988 Democratic convention, in fact, it just made the election of Michael Dukakis that much more improbable. Jesse Jackson also made a terrific delivery when he was on stage - making Dukakis really pale by comparison. If only we had been able to vote for Ann for president! I read her convention keynote speech, while listening to the audio. I am amazed at how completely relevant it is to today. The same issues, only to a much greater degree, are relevant right now, today.

Path to Boredom

2006-09-13T22:10:00.000-07:00

Evidently ABC's "not-a-documentary" didn't do too well... Looks like it made the top for it's time slot, but with approx 10 million "viewers"(probably sleeping soundly), that's not much to write home about.

What Time Is It?

2006-09-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

It's so nice to have my computer back! It's been hanging out in the back of the car at the shop all this time. Wow. My last post was when?
I picked up the car today. now $1200 poorer...

I have got to be THE lamest TV watcher EVER!
So, I get all ready for bed so I can settle in and watch Rockstar. It's 8:55 - I turn on the tv to catch the last 5 minutes of the show. Now, this is why I don't watch television!

Time for Rockstar Supernova

2006-09-06T19:44:00.000-07:00

Gotta go get ready to watch!

It's getting worse

2006-09-06T17:47:00.000-07:00

Now members of the Clinton administration, as well as the former president himself are denied copies of this insipid mini-series docu-drama pile of shit. The same can't be said for the right wingnut o'sphere.
I just want to scream about this! We're being re-educated! They're changing history! Our fascist corporate-controlled military-industrial complex media is doing it right in front of us! Or is this the "Ministry of Truth"? Look here for more Newspeak.

More on the "Re-Education of America"

2006-09-06T17:33:00.000-07:00

This time from CBS: Katie's Cross Purposes. SOooo, you're going to have a drug-addled (should be a) felon who just got caught bringing prescription drugs into the U.S. (in his Dr.s' name, no less), that has a history of being one of the loudest right-wing nut in the hate-machine, bring "civility" to the discourse.
ok.

AAAARRGH!! the story of one crappy day in the life

2006-09-06T13:44:00.000-07:00

Ever have 'one of those' days?
Yesterday was one. I had 3 days off work left to enjoy, I loaded my laptop/digital camera gear into the car to go far a drive - about a mile away I start getting this high-pitched 'squeal' from the rear area of the car - thought it was feedback from the radio - maybe sound from another car. Oh no. It was the SAAB fuel pump. On it's last stand. I barely made to the dealer. This is the same dealer where I picked up that car on Friday of last week - in the process writing a check for $6-something hundred. Needless to say - they recognized me when I pulled up, car heaving and sputtering it's last gasp to get into the service bay.
Hoofing it home - up glamorous 82nd Ave., I was spotted by Rachel (actually kids Anna & Cody - the backseat passengers) and a ride magically appeared in front of me. So, I got commandered into the 'errands' - not that I minded - now having no place to go and all. I got to spend a few hours helping shop for cell phones at Lloyd Center. I now know more about cell phones and companys and plans and service coverage than I'd EVER thought possible... So leaving (with new phones for the family intact) to discover the car w/ window broken out, kids portable Nintendo (WOW are those Expensive!) stolen as well as 1st days worth of new Japanese textbooks all stolen. Mom in tears and well - one kid in tears (guess which) kind of put the cap on that day. And the full moon hasn't even arrived yet!
So, answer the question of "How much crap can happen in one day...?" Quite a lot, evidently.

It's happening again...

2006-09-05T12:47:00.000-07:00

All you need to know about the ABC 9-11 "mockumentary", supposedly based on the 9-11 commission findings, can be found over at Americablog. I have been paying close attention to the subject of the "9-11 Commission", and it really is the Warren commission of our generation. Now we are getting the whitewash of history. And our youth are being re-educated. The corporate fascist (please please look up Webster's definition of this word) . Now it's Clintons' fault. Not only is this broadcast on ABC on the (dreaded) 5th anniversary, but this is going to be taught in our schools! Remember the movie "Flight 93"? It was pushed by the wingnut brigade as factual and "historic" even though there is not one shred of evidence supporting anything that happens in this insipid film really took place! There is just as many(more?) questions and question-able issues concerning flight 93 than the "official" story.
Now we've been treated to re-enactments of all of the 9-11 events on film and television, now it's time to re-make our commander-in-chief - amazingly enough - just in time for the 2006 election cycle! Yet another amazing coincidence (for republicans)!

(update) God, I'm such a "conspiracy theorist/nut whatever...

Coffee-Blog spot o' the week...

2006-09-05T12:05:00.000-07:00

Back at Jim & Patty's on Fremont. Talena left Fairly's for a position w/ American Red Cross... Happy for her, but DRAT for me!

So, I'm back in the old neighborhood...

So much for a coffee location within walking distance of the new home...

WOW! Love this Economic "Boom"...

2006-09-05T11:44:00.000-07:00

I found this link to the Map of Suck over at Atrios.
Lets see; I've had a drop in income of only about, uhm, let's see here, (scribble, scribble... mutter, carry the 2, mutter...) %50 in the last 5 years! Now, mind you, I'm doing better this year than last, and definitely better than the year before that, etc. So this map isn't as sucky as the last 4 years, - probably... It still sums it up that this new millennium as SUCKED (see previous post...) so far. Yeah! The "Project for the New American Century"! So, how's that working out so far for you? (apologies to Stephen Colbert for stealing that line)

Couldn't have put this any better...

2006-08-31T21:17:00.000-07:00

From Americablog: more feeble jobs numbers...

As one who has received a whopping 2.5% wage increase this year (enough to almost buy a tank of gas per month) I know that the numbers games are flying when it comes to evaluating inflation - and NOT taking into account fuel costs, housing costs, and food costs (what the #%&! is left?) that I'm one of (probably) the majority of americans struggling to tread water in this economy. And let me tell you - it has SUCKED SO FAR THIS MILLENNIUM! -sigh- I miss the 90's...

Backyard blogging thursday (with cats)!

2006-08-31T12:40:00.000-07:00

Sitting-out-back-blogging with help from Carl -

I've included some gratuitous rose shots, too...

Here.. ----

And here... ---

Here's a bonus shot of the backyard "view" such a "work in progress" And I mean a LOT of WORK...

Is our corporate media great, or what?!

2006-08-31T11:48:00.000-07:00

How many times has this been in the news lately? "There are no hereditary kings in America and no powers not created by the Constitution," (more here) - probably not as much as this story (caution - story may require NYT user login).

So, here's what I noticed -

I was watching Supernova last night - (YIKES) Storm (my favorite) made the bottom 3! They dumped Ryan - it's getting really weird now - they are ALL very good so when one gets sent home it is sheerly subjective. So far ALL of the contestants have been/are great - the goal is to be the front man(woman) for "Supernova" consisting of Tommy Lee, Dave Navarro, et, al... Not a band I'm going to go out and buy tickets for. I will certainly see any of the contestants on a small stage with an acoustic guitar in hand or in front of their own band. That would be worth seeing...

So, I flipped channels to see what's on - and found that all of the news networks - I do mean ALL - had the Karr/Ramsey saga(or lack thereof) on full bore. Only it's the other shoe now. The story is that the DNA tests mean he's off the hook! Hey - is that any surprise to ANYONE who was paying attention in the first place? Sure, it's convenient, but why did this require dept. of Homeland Security intervention?
Now, does anyone remember a small sidebar to the Karr story? That the "homeland security agent" went to Thailand to accompany Karr back to the U.S.? Here's Thom Hartland (from Portland, even!) all over it.
Alan , while he was at work, remarked to someone that this was "the plan" - to dredge up the whole JonBenet thing and let the media have their feeding frenzy. It's completely overshadowed the current ruling which makes George Bush a criminal subject to prison time! - if it stands. The response he received was the standard "you're just a conspiracy theorist..." drivel that is used to wash out any subject from JFK - to questions about the WTC "collapse". All I could say was ... "welcome to the club"... now you're a conspiracy nut, too.

Airline "Terror Plot" a fake?

2006-08-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

Of corse, this is nowhere to be found in American media...
Mass murder in the skies: was the plot feasible?

The average American would know little to nothing about how a liquid explosive is actually made (and is probably not going to bother to research it either). That's even better for the US media. When it's all about all fear all the time...

Oh yeah! That's it! It's "Armageddon" day!

2006-08-22T17:38:00.000-07:00

How could I have forgotten about the End of the World? And here I was SO concerned with making sure I had flowers delivered to my sister for her birthday... jeez, now what?

how, uhm, ...embarrassing

2006-08-22T16:33:00.000-07:00

Great. The "leader" of the "free" world:

From USNews.com:
Animal House in the West Wing
He loves to cuss, gets a jolly when a mountain biker wipes out trying to keep up with him, and now we're learning that the first frat boy loves flatulence jokes.
A top insider let that slip when explaining why President Bush is paranoid around women, always worried about his behavior. But he's still a funny, earthy guy who, for example, can't get enough of fart jokes. He's also known to cut a few for laughs, especially when greeting new young aides, but forget about getting people to gas about that.

Great. What an impression...

Who's a Helen Thomas fan?

2006-08-22T11:55:00.000-07:00

I am! --> "Rice is out of her league and seems to have little knowledge about the Middle East. Her expertise was always on the now-defunct Soviet Union and the Cold War." It's nice to read someone else's take on how out of her depth Condi is. I think I've been saying this for the last 5+ years...

This is from the wingnut "NewsMax" site - part of the "weasel deck" I think it should be renamed "truth deck".

Oliver Stone: part of The Big Lie?

2006-08-17T12:31:00.000-07:00

I had to rub my eyes, slap myself across the face, have a shot of tequila, and try again when I read this - from Altercation, of all places!
Okay, so Stone should have mentioned the "fact" of Osama Bin Laden and "al-Qaeda"... But, wait a minute, even our president seems to have forgotten about Osama. Not to mention that as of Sept. 12, 2001 Osama Bin Laden released a statement denying any responsibility for the 9/11 attacks. We also (should) know that Bin Laden was suffering from kidney failure and was on dialysis. (As someone who works in mass public transportation - transporting dialysis patients is not easy. They -for the most part- just don't feel good much of the time.) So, how this person who would've been hooked to a dialysis machine for 12-15 hours a week orchestrated the greatest attack in our countries history - then just to deny doing it? So it's Oliver Stone that's going along with "the Big Lie"? And Eric Alterman is going to use this as an excuse NOT to actually see the movie? Oh Yes, the other problem is the epilogue concerning the ex-marine where the audience is informed that he went on to perform 2 tours in Iraq. And this triggers more outrage? Huh? That is a fact, not a lie, I don't think that it's supposed to impart some kind of connection between Iraq and 9/11. Although, I think that a thinking person would see that fact as a point of our countries misguided response to the WTC attack. After 5 years since 9/11 - we've seen denials and avoidance and lies pouring out of this administration, yet here we go - Oliver Stone is the bad guy!

Coffee Blogging

2006-08-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

Excuse me while I clean up all the coffee

That just came out my nose... because of this.

Here we are in the glamorous 21st century...

Welcome to the Bush economy. Is this what we have to look forward to?

Yes, more Joe... (is it Joeicide?)

From This Modern World
When WILL it end? Where? CT!

Answering the questions of a previous post...

That WAS Ali G singing the notorious rendition of the Natl. anthem at the rodeo...

Terror, terror, & more terror...

I just read this article today - The UK Terror Plot: What's Really Going On? I find it fascinating that once again we've been given the big "Ooga Booga" and are supposed to run squealing, back into the arms of the GOP... our brave protectors! Only, wait, just a minute, hold on... It seems that many airports are taking any "unsealed" items - toothpaste, toiletries, etc. and donating them to the needy. I don't mind that. Throwing stuff away is senseless. But wait! This is the same stuff that's SO DANGEROUS you don't DARE take on a plane! So... you can take the same possibly dangerous items (unopened, mind you) and give them to the needy??
Then I saw a photo of the "repository" where travelers are instructed to dump all open beverages, etc. It's just a large trash bin!! Now, mind you, I performed miserably in chemistry all the way through school, well, until college anyway. Yet, even I would know that if you are REALLY suspicious that some liquid thing could be dangerous, the LAST thing you would do is have everyone dump the contents in the same container! Passenger 1 has a coffee cup full of bleach. Here comes passenger 2 with a coffee cup full of ammonia. Presto! EVACUATE THE AIRPORT! TERRORIST ATTACK!! Well, duh. Anyone with ANY common sense is going to see through this (yet another) convenient event for the Bushco regime. Now here's the rub: the "plot" consists of an interrogat-ee in Pakistan - let's not use the 'torture' word here - but, needless to say, torture victims are much more likely to say what is wanted to be heard than the truth. And the rest of the "plotters" were all under surveillance in the U.K. because of the color of their skin more than anything else.
How many more of these "terror alerts" can be pulled out of the hat until every American finally figures out how the magic trick is done, and that we've seen it all before?

Here at the soda fountain:

Live from Fairley's Pharmacy. It's become my weekly habit to come in with the Thinkpad and blog/surf while visiting with Talena.

Post Primary blogging

2006-08-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

Looks like we made it!

It's nice to see an election come through "as expected", no surprises there (for once). Now, if only the smarmy, self obsessed wilted little weasel would quit for the good of the state, the party and himself.... Enough of this "independent candidate" bull****.
And of course, done as only the Daily Show can do...

11th of Sept, Ad Nauseum

Are we ready for 9/11/06, which the anniversary of ... what? Speaking of TWAT (The War Against Terrorism), I find this suspiciously smelling like an October Surprise (notice the prominent usage of the ALLEGED word...). Anybody remember the summer/fall of 2004? How many times did the sliding terror/color scale change? How many time has it hit green/blue since being invented?
that's right!
Great big 0!

So, good luck getting to Minnesota by air today, Lisa!

traveling in the Willamette Valley -

- Took us to McMinnville Tuesday So Al could golf w/ Lloyd - I got to drive the cart, which showed a huge amount of trust from the others (particularly Alan, my passenger). I'm not a much of a golfer (I get SO frustrated - especially when the &%@* ball won't go through the windmill...). So, after my 3rd beer & the 9th hole, I made it a goal to try and pitch my (unsuspecting) passenger out by testing the handling capabilities with some sharp turns.
We (thankfully) cut the golfing short, and went back to Lloyds for some incredible blueberry-infused Gray Goose cocktails and a few select wines (I can only seem to remember the Blackwood Canyon red, at the moment - must've been the vodka...) to go along with bbq'd steaks, homemade crostini, fabulous rice dish & homemade peppermint ice cream!

Oh yes- enjoyed while sitting by the pool...

CT bellwether?

2006-08-08T12:05:00.000-07:00

Today is the Connecticut primary. I'm really hoping for a Lamont win. This could be a sign of the new emergence of a new Democrat Party - one in which there is backbone and ideals that will stand up to the fascism of the Neocons that seem to have a death grip on all three branches currently. I'm worried about things, though. Is CT a state controlled by Diebold? ESS? Do they have touch screens? Optic scan systems? What if every state becomes another Ohio? (Here in Oregon we have 100% vote-by-mail elections. All paper ballots. I have no idea how/if my vote is counted. I'm supposed to have an "official" signature on my ballot. Well, I've seen my signature for several years now. I want to know who is going to look at that signature and determine whether or not it's valid.) ... OK. Away from OR and back to CT. Does Lamont losing mean that the mainstream media is going to paint the anti-war Demorats as losers? I think there could be repercussions for the current admin that there may be some undue influence on the outcome of this election. I'm just nervous.

update: finally added image- blogger was being cranky and wouldn't do it before.

August 6, 1945

2006-08-06T18:08:00.000-07:00

This isn't anything new, but appropriate especially with what's going on - having the "birth pangs" of the "new middle east" and all. Just a short article about trinitite.

Happy Hiroshima Day

2006-08-06T17:36:00.000-07:00

Aside from that horrific event in world history, August 6 happens to be the day of our anniversary celebrating successful co-habitation, or partnership, or togetherness, or -well, pick a term- (just don't call it marriage). Anyway we're now at 6 years and counting!

We made a trek to Mt. Angel for dinner yesterday. It really was a nice day for a drive - although more on the hot side for my liking - it felt like 95 degrees by 5 pm. The Angels Table restaurant is owned by a nice couple that are customers of Alans' at the MAC. It worked well that they ordered wine, so now they're clients, too. I enjoyed this business trip, especially the Asagio cheese & Garlic ravioli with a nice Erath pinot noir. yum!

The more you watch FOX NEWS the less you know...

2006-08-06T17:20:00.000-07:00

It is simply amazing, but here it is again - 50% of americans still believe that Iraq had WMD's. Do you suppose it's the same 50% that thinks Iraq helped "Al Qaeda" on 9/11...?

Our Congress, in all of it's glory...

2006-08-04T20:10:00.000-07:00

voted down the minimum wage increase! This a a nice (short) summary. I got to watch our own Sen., the (dis)honorable Gordon Smith (R-shithead) give a speech and LIE, twist, misrepresent for all it's worth in calling for the Paris Hilton Tax Relief Screw the Service Industry Employees bill' passage.
note to self: work my a-- of in 2008 to help this guy get un-elected!

JACKASS II ?

2006-08-04T19:55:00.000-07:00

WTF? This is just so ever in bad taste. And creepy, sort of... ok, maybe sort of funny too. Kind of like that "Jackass" movie from a few years ago. Hmmmm.... maybe it was Johnny Knoxville?

whoops!! link is fixed...

JoJo-A-GoGo?

2006-08-03T11:46:00.000-07:00

Now this is a good reason for a party!

This is interesting in many fronts and dimensions. For instance, check out this photo of Ned on the campaign trail.

The "mainstream" Democrats (that tend to think ofLieberman as what the party should work toward) are busting a brain cell analyzing the support for Ned and his anti-war views. Look who is behind him in this photo. These are THE PEOPLE, the Americans, that will have be the ones who actually have to strap on the boots and gear and hold a weapon and do the real fighting in this miserable war. Not the "Joe Liebermans". Speaking of, where are Joes supporters? They're busy. Behind the keyboards, maybe? I hope, really hope, this is the start of the new wave of the democratic party. Give us democrats that can lead and stand for something! Like Ned!

We'll see on Tuesday...

Here it is...

2006-08-03T11:18:00.000-07:00

Not much to say, really. Just share some (random?) thoughts and probably share & connect to others. Probably more defined and refined than mine!