Odessa

I would really like to see the following question asked of all the pathetic . . . I mean presidential candidates: "What job(s) did you have that didn't require a suit?"

I do not currently work at a job that is physically demanding for crap pay, but I did. I worked at a supermarket, a fast food restaurant and an answering service, and as a flagger and bartender. I have a clue what it is like. I think we should expect no less of our leader and chief. Many people in this country work for crappy wages and crappy (if any) benefits. I think back to G.W. Senior and how he didn't know what a bar-code was. I want a president who has a clue what the little people do. Some of us come home grimy and physically broken at the end of the day. Some of use could use a really good foot massage. Some of us want to slap our petty boss who is a nasty bastard to their staff because they can be and he/she knows we need the job. Some of us endure the mind numbing frustration that is "rush-hour". Some of us just want to get warm/cool because we work outside and it is too hot/too cold. The list goes on.

Even now with a good job, I frequently come home with my eyes burning from reading reports and/or my back hurting from lugging my laptop and luggage with me on a business trip. I'm not saying president is easy, but he gets way more help then we do.

Presidential candidates can wear all the plaid and fleece they want, it still doesn't mean they know what the citizens in this country do everyday. So, presidential hopeful, ever had a little dirt (or worse) under those neatly manicured nails?

A while back, I pointed out that Britney's Mom is writing a book on parenting. Link:

http://www.worldofsuck.net/index.php/Odessa/2007/11/03/move_over_dr_spock#comments

I just wonder what the news of her little 16 yr old darling becoming a Mommy herself will do to her book sales . . . especially considering that she will be due around the time the book is released. The little darning couldn't have planned it better! Just a little something to make me go "hmmm..."

While he is pointing fingers at Romney and his religion, the Baptist minister has a skeleton or two in his closet. His son was suspected of hanging a stray. The animal was sick, so I guess it was all right to kill it by hanging. Then Daddy helped make any animal cruelty charges go away - how convenient. Nice when your Daddy is Governor.

Link: http://www.newsweek.com/id/78241

http://gothamist.com/2007/12/21/stiffer_penalti.php

Once while I was eating dinner at TGIFs in Time Square this guy flashed a chick through the window between the lobby and the bar, then went outside and did it again. I almost went out and told him that if he wanted to impress her, he sure as hell wasn't going to do it that way. I guess now he might get a stiffer penalty.

and the city wants delis to "fire" them. They complain very little, don't demand vacation time or O/T pay, and may even put a smile on a few customers' faces. They are the deli cats.

http://gothamist.com/2007/12/21/cats_in_delis.php

I have been in delis with cats. I would much prefer a well behaved cat over mice and rats in a deli any day of the week, but alas, NY State and NYC law forbids animals in establishments that serve food. I would make a lousy health inspector since I think the law is silly.

I have cats and I'm not suffering from any illnesses from having them share my house - including the kitchen and dining room. Since my one cat has figured out the whole catching mice thing, I don't find mouse poop in my basement - I like that.

I think we can all agree that he obviously has little regard for the lives of the dogs he had, raised and fought. Now all of a sudden, a black author equates outrage over his crimes to racism.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/20/ED6BU1EKB.DTL

Pamela M. Johnson is a fiction author. Perhaps she needs to stick to fiction, since she can't keep her facts straight. Obviously the San Francisco Chronicle is a rag and has no common sense in printing this piece of crap. I know I am not alone in my opinion, I read the blogs - not ONE person agreed with her assessment.

Fact is, I don't care what color Michael Vick is, he is a degenerate thug who derived pleasure out of another creature's pain. He surely can not claim that he needed the money, so it was obviously a grizzly hobby. Furthermore, stating that our condemnation of Mr. Vicks actions is racist is nonsense - the man is a celebrity. All celebrities are scrutinized.

Ms. Johnson's equating Mr. Vick's actions to anything an African American suffers in this country today is laughable. If someone were to take a black man, put him in a cage, only bring him out to train or fight to the death, the person subjecting him to those atrocities would be guilty of kidnapping and possibly murder among many other crimes. They would be going away for longer than Mr. Vick will be - so then, how is a dog treated better than a black man?

Ms. Johnson, hate to burst your bubble, but there are some things that have nothing to do with race.

A few days ago someone had a gripe about Romney. I have a gripe about Huckabee. This former Baptist minister asked Romney if Mormons (by the way, it is actually LDS) believe that the devil (Lucifer) and Jesus are brothers. It would be so nice if these two could leave religion out of it. Does it really matter if Jesus and Lucifer were bothers? Neither one of these bozos get my vote.

This little slogan has the panties of a few feminists in a bunch. Why? Because it was printed on the front of undies for pre-pubescent girls - "When you have Santa" was printed on the back. They thought it sent a message to young girl that they could use what was between their legs as currency.

"There's nothing quite like telling adolescent girls that they don't need to worry about finances since they have their very own moneypot between their legs," Jessica Valenti, the executive editor of Feministing.com, wrote on the panty blog post.

Me thinks someone needs to lighten up . . .

The blog in question: http://www.feministing.com/

I really dislike the whole celebrity worship mentality and I typically pay it no attention. I never realized that the budding fashionistas, the Olsen twins, were shamelessly bringing fur to a whole new generation. A generation that doesn't know the cruelty that is truly involved in the whole fur industry. PETA is leading the charge to try an educate them and their mindless minions - and this is a humorous way to do it, in my opinion.

http://www.peta2.com/trollsens/dress_up.asp

Even if you believe that animals should have no rights, you should be aware of how the animals are treated if you wear fur and make your own ethical decisions. I personally do not want to know the person who willfully causes pain and suffering to animals. There is a big difference between using animals for our benefit and being cruel. Over the last decade PETA has been pretty loonie - marginalizing themselves by trying to encourage people to adopt a vegan diet, etc., rather than focusing on the "ethical" part of their organization's name. I think this is a step back to their original roots.

We have a history making presidential race here in the US - a white woman and a black man are strong candidates for the democratic party. The closest we had come previously was Mondale/Farraro - and that would have been a woman vice-president.

We also have Oprah, who is revered to cult-like proportions. Her favor can make or break a book, a movie or a movement. Until recently, she kept her political leaning low-key. That was until now. Her sudden interest does make one take pause.

She typically rallies behind women's issues - Is Hillary not woman enough?

Is she only coming out to support Obama because he is black or because she sees something unique in his character that transcends color?

It's just something that makes me go "hmmmm..."

I appreciate when the doctor's office calls to remind me of an appointment. However, calling and leaving a message on my answering machine at home about an appointment that is the next business day is stupid, especially with that little caveat that if I need to cancel I should call, blah, blah, blah. Here it the problem - I get home and get the message AFTER you have closed, so what good does it do me? I tell every doctor I have to call me at work, cause that is where I am when they are open. Most do not listen giving me the most people don't want their doctor calling them at work bullshit. I just told you to call me there, its not a problem. If you really want to do me a favor, call me two days ahead - that way I get the message and I still have a whole day to call you back.

I am really getting sick of seeing those little dancing people, real or animated, on the mortgage ads. I get it - your rates are so wonderful they make people want to dance. I just want to whack those little people over the head to make them stop doing the same retarded dance.

There are a few states that have laws pertaining to "fetal homicide". I agree that assaulting a pregnant woman in such a way as to intentionally cause a miscarriage is awful and more insidious than merely assaulting her. However, a "fetal homicide" law in a country where abortion is still legal seems odd. Homicide should pertain to a human, one that has been born. Perhaps assault with mitigating factors might be in order.

A case in Michigan, a man snuck a RU-486 mickey to his pregnant girlfriend, the man is being charged with "fetal homicide".

( http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,313882,00.html )

I think this lout had more than enough criminal charges lodged against him that the "fetal homicide" was not needed. He's a bastard and a criminal, but homicide? Since it was premeditated, maybe it should be murder?

In Sudan, an English teacher asked one of her students what they should call a teddy bear that is as part of a class project. The 7 yr old student thought his name was a good name and so did most of the class. The problem is the student's name is Muhammad. The religious in that wing-nuts in that country have a problem with this since it just happens to be their prophet's name as well and they want the teacher punished with 40 lashes - For naming a bear - Some one's got their rag on a bit too tight.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,313426,00.html

P.S. It was reported that her sentence is 15 days and deportation. She has already served 5 so she has 10 more remaining.

There are those people you are born related to and those you chose to be with. I for one am not terribly close to those I was born related to. I gave up long ago on trying to have a relationship. I think the following from USA today sums it up nicely (link: http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/11/lifes-real-boun.html#more)

'Our chosen family'

Everyone has gathered best friends — an old school chum here, a trusted colleague from work there, or some wonderful person met by pure happenstance. These friends are people we can confide in, speak our hearts to — and to whom we listen intently for solace, inspiration and advice. They are our chosen family — the brothers and sisters of our souls — who clarify and define who we are, what we are doing. And these friendships never change: To speak after a decade's separation is the same as speaking just yesterday, time and distance rendered meaningless in our life journey together.

When we sit down to our feast of Thanksgiving this year, we should give thanks for that other family, that chosen family — our human harvest of enduring friendships. And they're easy to name, too. They're the ones who made a difference. "No love, no friendship," wrote Nobel Prize winner Francois Mauriac, "can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever."

So who says you can't pick your family?

A couple weeks ago I posted about a $1000 bagel. Some commented about a $25,000 dessert. This a follow up on that cool 25 big one dessert:

Bad week for: Hubris, after a Manhattan restaurant that introduced a gold-laced, $25,000 dessert as a publicity stunt last week was shut down when health inspectors found the kitchen infested with live mice, flies, and dozens of cockroaches. A red-faced Steven Bruce, owner of Serendipity 3, said, “We’re rectifying it as quickly as we can.”

Just cause ya pay more, don't mean its clean!

MTV Arabia has been launched! They are obviously limited on the music videos they can show considering the amount of sinful female flesh is shown in most music videos.

Hmmm, I can just see Shakira gyrating in a burka now . . .

I needed cat food so off to my favorite pet store I go. Its Saturday and they are having an adoption clinic and it is wall to wall dogs and corner with a few cats. A woman is talking to the lady with the cats and I over heard most of the conversation. The woman is taking issue with adopting a pet from or donating money to the organization the lady is with because they kill too many cats. She eventually leaves in a huff.

There are so many in the rescue world who are "no-kill" and sit on their high mountain tops looking down their noses at the rest. It must be nice being so sanctimonious when you leave the dirty work for someone else. Furthermore, for every "difficult" case you take in that may never get a proper "forever" home because they are so screwed up, there may be two well-adjusted very easily adoptable pets in the shelter that may get put down because no one wants to go to the death house.

Fact is, you can not blame shelters for euthanising unwanted cats, dogs and other creatures. They are not the idiots who didn't spay or neuter their pets before they could produce large quantities of cuddly kittens and puppies who then become cats and dogs no one wants. They are just the ones left with the unpleasant task of killing the ones that no one wants.

Time recently ran an article written by a doctor about people who do research before going to the doctor - he calls them "Googlers" and "brainsuckers".

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1681838,00.html?imw=Y

On one had, the patient he decides to use as an example is an extreme case. However, I am sure his condescending attitude is not reserved for pushy, mouthy patients.

Every doctor knows patients like this. They're called "brainsuckers." By the time they come in, they've visited many other docs already — somehow unable to stick with any of them. They have many complaints, which rarely translate to hard findings on any objective tests. They talk a lot. I often wonder, while waiting for them to pause, if there are patients like this in poor, war-torn countries where the need for doctors is more dire.

Does this imply that we should all be grateful for a doctor's care and shut-up and take anything they dish out, like they do in third world countries?

Nurses are my favorites — they know our language and they're used to putting their trust in doctors. And they laugh at my jokes.

Ah, he prefers complacent bobble heads. I'm sure if a nurse questioned him, he'd be equally annoyed at having his authority questioned.

But engineers, as a class, are possibly the best patients. They're logical and they're accustomed to the concept of consultation — they're interested in how the doctor thinks about their problem.

As long as the engineer sits in rapture on every word, too, I'm sure.

I'm a Googler and damn proud of it. I'm not in-your face like the woman he critiques, but I go in doing my homework. I may not dismiss the doctor out of hand if I disagree, but I will come home and research what I have been told to see if it makes sense. I realize medicine is an art - something I think was missed by the pompous egomaniac.

I consider any doctor a service provider - he/she provides a service. If I do not like the service I go else where. I have found through word of mouth good doctors. I may not always agree with their approach or they with my opinion, but they are willing to try my suggestion if it will do no harm. Sometimes I'm right, sometimes they are.

We do not live in a third world country. Medical expenses are high and even for those of us with insurance less and less is covered. We should demand good service for our hard earned money. Too many doctors treat patients like petulant children who need to be kept in line. Doctors have the right to be treated like professionals, and we as patients deserve to be treated like valued clients.

Well, and maybe smokers, too.

Some people seem to think that junk food it the sole reason for obesity. From the Los Angeles Times - "Forget Smokers, Tax Snakers", by Tina Dupuy.

Americans get really weird when we talk about obesity. We treat fat people like anorexic teenage girls. We don't want to freak them out or hurt their feelings. It might turn them into cutters.

Not from my account. Tina is obviously some skinny bitch who doesn't think that fat people see the disdain in her eyes - we ain't blind bitch.

I have a better proposal: a snack tax. We had one for about 18 months in the early 1990s. Granted, it was shot down in the polls by a huge margin, but that never stopped George W. Bush or Richard Nixon, or Dennis Kucinich for that matter, from making a comeback. In fact, a tobacco tax also was voted down here last year. So we're clearly not afraid of reruns.

Bring it on. For the amount of junk food I eat, this might increase my monthly budget by, oh I don't know, $5? I admit I'm not a saint - I love chocolate. But not all fat people sit eating cheese doodles and ring-dings all day.

But it's really unpopular to bring that up. We can sin-tax smokers all day long. Don't let them smoke in public areas; don't let them smoke in their apartments. Fine them if they smoke in their cars when there are minors riding with them. Shame them into being social pariahs.

I detect a bit of sensitivity here - Think Tina might be a smoker? I do agree that the politicians have grown a bit too fond of bitch slapping smokers around. They tax the shit out of cigarettes and most states slip that money into the general fund rather than smoking cessation and health care - where it belongs.

Since junk food may be contributing to health problems, maybe it should be taxed more heavily (many states already tax snack foods and soda). However, it is doubtful that the revenues will be put into health care. Rather it will be yet another way to give a slush fund to the politicians.

There is one big difference between cigarettes and junk food. One does not need to smoke - one does need to eat. It is simply a matter of what one chooses to eat that makes the distinction here. And lets not forget that the ingredients in the junk foods can be used to make healthful foods - so this tax would in no way help the Betty Crockers of the world. I may have to pay a tax on chocolate chips, but not on the flour, butter, baking soda, and sugar. Unless of course you tax the offending ingredients as well.

So, go ahead, bring on a snack tax. It will matter little more to me than the cigarette tax. However, if anyone thinks this will be a panacea for obesity they are fooling themselves. Are there people who eat themselves into oblivion? Sure. Does every fat person? No.

The Week Daily - FROM THE MAGAZINE

Good week for: Grotesque excess, after Manhattan chef Frank Tujague unveiled his version of a bagel with cream cheese. Topped with white-truffle cream cheese and gold-leaf-flecked goji jelly, the bagel is on the menu at the Westin New York hotel for a mouthwatering $1,000.

And he chose this combination because ....?

He wanted to make the most weird and disgusting combo he could manage on a bagel?

He wanted to be able to justify selling a bagel for a grand?

beats me. All I have to say is ewww.

Britney's mom is writing a book on parenting. Lynne Spears has signed a deal with Christian book publisher Thomas Nelson Inc. to co-write "Pop Culture Mom: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World" with author Lorilee Craker. The memoir is scheduled to come out on Mother’s Day 2008.

This is priceless - and bound to sell many books. Just due to the name alone will put it in the best seller list. I can just see the chapters now: "Taking your daughter from virginal good girl to cheap slut in six short months", "Mixing meds", "Helping your daughter find a loser to marry", and "dressing skimpy with baby fat" and many other captivating topics.

Several things are amusing - first, a Christian publisher???? Next, not only is her daughter a train wreck, she's bad at it. Paris and Lindsey know how to party hardy and not completely dissolve into a puddle (yeah, yeah - rehab, jail, I know)- Britney crash landed and disintegrated. You know its bad when you even fuck-up being a fuck-up.

"The Week" FROM THE MAGAZINE

Good week for: Animal solidarity, after James Harris of Illinois was shot by his own dog during a hunting trip. Harris left his shotgun on the ground as he went to retrieve a downed pheasant. The dog then apparently stepped on the weapon’s trigger, successfully shooting Harris in the leg.

Hollywood writers announced that they plan to go on strike. The union contract between film and TV producers and the 2000-plus members of the Writers Guild of America expired at midnight on Oct. 31. Writers want a larger share of residual payments for work that’s released on DVD and work distributed on the Internet. Producers think the writers demands are unreasonable and no one is budging.

I am supposed to be moved by this news? TV and movies take away from my gaming, web surfing and blogging - so doubt I'll notice if there are re-runs of Joanie Loves Cha Chi in place of the huge void that will be present. Granted, California's economy may take a big hit. I feel bad for businesses outside the direct entertainment business. However, the Hollywood big cheeses need to iron this out on their own.

And what gems have they created lately? I'm sure it takes a lot of skill to write a script for putting a bunch of misfits together in a house/on an island/in a talent contest/in an office. Pure genius I say! And the sops in this country lap it up! Gee, reruns of Married ... With Children are looking really attractive right now. . . But I digress.

Are the big moguls that run the studios greedy bastards? - Sure they are. Are they going to part with any more loot than they have to? - Nope. If they go without writers - They could tell the misfits to write their own scripts, it is reality TV so they do anyway, right. And wrestling is real, too, right? Maybe they can dust off some previously rejected drivel from the back of the closet.

Fact is, the fat cats will keep the studios cranking out the crap they have been. There may be a hiatus, but when enough of them need to re-teak their yachts and their mistresses need boob jobs, they will find a way. And all will be well in the land of fruit and nuts.

Herr Eliot Spitzer, Governor of New York, thinks its a keen idea to give illegal aliens a drivers license. The plan is to suspend the need for a social security card to get a driver's license. The State Assembly Leader, Jim Tedisco, is suing the Gov since it violates and existing State law. Herr Spitzer is quickly becoming known for his "my way or the highway attitude" and that can set a few folks on edge. Furthermore, on the surface, any one can understand the "we don't want to encourage these darn illegals to come and stay" attitude.

HELLO!!!!!! They are here. They are driving. Its not like Herr Spitzer is proposing to stand at the border and pass out licenses like party favors. Also consider - with how lovely the pictures on the licenses are, one wet-back looks like another and I've heard of one illegal getting a fake license and passing it around to his hermanos. Some households may share a car, well, damn, why not share a driver's license, too. Put it in the visor, kinda like the garage remote. So illegals ARE driving with "licenses", "licenses" that are good enough fakes to fool your average beat cop.

So, to me, here is the real choice - The status quo, where illegals are driving, uninsured and with out a proper license OR give illegals who can produce proper identification a respectable, albeit limited, driver's license. So which is it?

The Week Daily:

FROM THE MAGAZINE

Only in America

A Pennsylvania woman is facing up to 90 days in jail for swearing at an overflowing toilet in her own home. Dawn Herb admits she used some four-letter words near an open window when she discovered that her toilet was leaking down into her kitchen. Her neighbor, a police officer, took offense, and had her cited for disorderly conduct. “It doesn’t make any sense,” says Herb. “I was in my house. It’s not like I was outside or drunk.”

Guess I better make sure my windows are closed if I feel a fit of potty mouth coming on !!!

Author J.K. Rowling stated, when a young fan asked if the solitary Dumbledore would ever find true love: “I always thought of Dumbledore as gay.” I'm not up on my Harry Potter lore, but I gather that Mr. Dumbledore has had terrible luck in the love department. If he never had a romantic (or lusting after someone) scene in the entire series, how is his sexuality relevant? And she chooses now to make this revelation now because???

There are many gay people that are in very happy relationships; therefore, being gay does not prohibit someone from finding true love. Her answer does not answer the question posed to her. Perhaps his loneliness is the result of a terribly broken heart (which from what I understand is eluded to), which can happen to homo- and hetero-sexual people alike.

In addition, one joy of books is filling in some of the blanks yourself. Also,we don't always know the private lives of everyone in our life. For example, I don't know with surety the sexual orientation of all my co-worker, my dentist, my docter, my old teachers, etc., etc. Should be likewise with characters in a good book. Maybe Ms. Rowling misses that point.

Furthermore, although many are claiming that this helps an attitude of tolerance toward gays, I see it as almost the opposite. How does a lonely old gay guy, who may have not ever had a meaningful relationship foster tolerance? To me it is says: "Gay people are doomed to grow old, alone, and without love." Tolerance, but only tolerance of someone who is effectively asexual in their homosexually - kind of like how gay priests are supposed to be, and we all know how well that works out in most cases.

Ms. Rowling, have your books not created enough controversy? Need to create a bit more with this little gem? Witchcraft and fags - the Christian right wing-dings now have more or a reason to use your book for kindling.

I have a friend who is a great guy. He is hard working, intelligent, thoughtful, and trusting. He is dating a woman. That woman's sister said "What are you doing dating a black man?" Yup, my friend is black and his new girlfriend is white. They are both well into their 40's and definitely able to decide for themselves what human beings are worth spending time with. When he recounted this story to me I told him that unfortunately the media has painted black males in particular harsh tones. His girlfriend needs to set her sister straight.

Think about it. While most African-Americans in this country are overcoming and surpassed all kinds of awful stereotypes, the media clamors to a few bad apples. And stupid teenagers of all races are using the few bad apples as role models. However, thankfully, I have heard that "gangsta" rap sales are down - way down.

Perhaps the novelty of calling women bitches and 'ho's and glorifying violent crime has passed. One can hope. Maybe now people can get to living their lives in harmony rather than acting like a bunch of felons. I'm not so naive to think it will happen, but one can hope, can't one?

Ellen DeGeneres adopts a dog named Iggy. Iggy and the household's cats don't get along. Ellen's hairdresser takes Iggy in. Here's the rub, Mutts and Moms, the pet adoption agency Ellen got the dog from has an issue with Ellen giving little Iggy to her hairdresser. They take Iggy back.

Many pet adoption agencies have many rules that they wield with an iron fist. I chose to adopt my cats from the humane society rather than one of these adoption groups because of their rules and long list of questions. Ask anyone who knows me and they know my cats are my 4-legged, furry children. However, for example, I was not going to have someone tell me that I couldn't de-claw my cats if they became destructive. All of the adoption groups seem to have extensive "rules" to which adoptive human
mommies and daddies must adhere.

I am not disputing these groups rights to make rules. However, do any of the people running these places ever ask themselves whether finding a home that adheres strictly to their guidelines will make their furry charges happier than finding a home that might be a bit less than what they, the human operators of these groups , would find purrr-fect? I think it comes down to pure arrogance on the part of many of these people.

Lets use my de-claw example - If you were a cat, would you rather be de-clawed living in a warm home with ample food and clean water or stuck in a 3 ft by 3 ft cage hoping someone finds you cute? People like me, who would provide and nice safe home to an animal companion are turned away in favor of leaving the animals in cages or less than ideally "homelike" foster homes where people may be taxed to the brink with the number of foster animals they have. Doesn't make much sense to me and the reason I went elsewhere.

I hope Iggy winds up in a good, stable, home.

I went to the human society instead of one of these pet and I couldn't be happier with my furry companions. Oh, and by the way, everyone should do their part to limit the number of unwanted dogs and cats and spay and neuter you pets. There is nothing macho or cool about letting you pets procreate unless you are a professional breeder.

On another blog, a post about former Iranian president and current Chairman of the Assembly of Experts statement that Hitler’s treatment of Jewish people in Europe was due in part to their being “a pain in the neck" quickly became a post about the Holocaust. I posted the following.

I think one message that could be learned from the holocaust that gets forgotten is - Don't isolate yourself.

A relative of mine lived in Germany until the late 1940's. She said that she personally didn't know any Jewish people so she was frankly unaware that any were disappearing. They were around, but at the periphery of her life. If someone that never speaks to you and avoids any real interaction with you disappears, how likely are you to ask where they went? Also consider that many Jews that survived the holocaust survived because they interacted with others, because their friends were not limited to those of their own faith.

Many people still have not learned this lesson. I have gotten down right distrustful, just this side of hostile, stares in Hasidic communities, even when I smile and say hello. The stares made me feel very uncomfortable and self-conscience. I doubt I would be aware if any of the people in those neighborhoods were to start disappearing and I wouldn't much care. Although cruel, it is human nature to care less for people treat you with disdain than those that treat you with kindness. Nor do I suspect, given how they seem to regard me, they would give a hoot if I were to disappear. Replace "Hasidic" with many other groups and the result is the same - it is a "we" / "them" mentality.

Even in less insular communities, our life styles isolates us. How long would it take for you to know if your neighbor disappeared? I live in a small village and I would have no idea if any of them disappeared for quite a while. And if I disappeared? My neighbors wouldn't have a clue for at least a month - until the grass got long. The only people that might notice sooner or care are my friends, who are busy with work during the week, and my co-workers. Who would miss you?

The smoking bans have reached epic heights. Let me just say that I personally hate cigarette smoke and I would love it if everybody quit. But I am a realist, the 20% of Americans that smoke are not just going to quit. However, I do have a bit of sympathy for someone who is told they can not smoke in a place they OWN.

For many years, landlords have banned smoking. My parents owned a rental property about 20 years ago and would not rent to smokers after renting to one for 3 yrs. From a purely business perspective this makes sense. Smoking is a fire hazard so insurance is higher. Smoking makes the windows and walls completely gross and cleaning up after a smoker who has moved is time consuming, smelly and thankless. Furthermore, smoke-free appeals to the 80% who do not smoke. However, smoking bans aren't just for tenants anymore.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-10-02-nosmoke_N.htm

Now some condo associations are banning smoking. Since most don't grandfather people in, it doesn't matter if you bought your unit 3 months ago or 10 yrs ago. If one buys a condo or a home in any other restricted community, one realizes that they will have rules to live by in their own home. However, should those rules be changed on someone? Now some municipalities are passing laws banning smoking in apartments and condos. I do not think its fair, no matter how much I hate smoking.

Think about this - the government is passing a law on what you can do within the four walls of the home you own. Something that is not inherently illegal. People tend not to squawk unless the right being taken away is something they like having the right to do. If the government can ban smoking in someone's home, a privately owned residence, where will the erosion of our rights end?

FROM THE The Week

It must be true ... I read it in the tabloids

Adulterers in France can now enlist professional help in deceiving their spouses. A new agency, Alibila, provides clients with convincing cover stories for their trysts—calling their homes with fake emergencies, for example, or sending invitations to imaginary out-of-town events. For an extra fee, the company will also arrange for hotel rooms and romantic gifts for the mistress. The company says its services will actually help maintain marriages, because men “need a little freedom.”

Think they have gift certificates?

From the Gainesville Sun:

Toward the conclusion of Kerry's UF forum, 21-year-old Andrew Meyer approached an open microphone at University Auditorium and demanded Kerry answer his questions. Meyer, a UF student in the College of Journalism and Communications, claimed that University Police Department officers had already threatened to arrest him, and then proceeded to question Kerry about why he didn't contest the 2004 presidential election and why there had been no moves to impeach President Bush.

A minute or so into what became a combative diatribe, Meyer's microphone was turned off and officers began trying to physically remove him from the auditorium. Meyer flailed his arms, yelling as police tried to restrain him.

He was then pushed to the ground by six officers, at which point Meyer yelled, "What have I done? What I have I done? Get away from me. Get off of me! What did I do? Help me! Help."

Police threatened to use a Taser on Meyer if he did not "comply," but he continued to resist being handcuffed. He was then Tased, which prompted him to scream and writhe in pain on the floor of the auditorium.

I've had to deal with disruptive, ranting individuals at public forums. I have never had a situation where I would considered tasering someone acceptable - and I have dealt with far worse and longer rantings than the one of this man. This was an open forum for someone running for President, right? New strategy to win votes? I personally don't think its a winner - just my opinion.

I have also had to deal with University Police - those wannabe cops who probably can't pass the psych eval to be allowed to carry a gun. They should be ashamed of their pathetic abuse of power, but knowing the mentality of most of these misfits, they won't see anything wrong.

Now they can grow ovaries and eggs in mice. I know, that doesn't sound special, but they are HUMAN ovaries and eggs. Now do I have your attention?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,296800,00.html

Although it would not be "ethical" to fertilize those eggs, just think of the possibilities . . . and how the religious wing-nuts are going to react.

Anyone know any really good websites to post this so we can beat some religious zealots into a total froth?

ROTTERDAM -- Two Schenectady women have been accused of brutally beating an 88-year-old woman, including throwing bleach in her eyes, after following her home from a town shopping plaza to rob her, town police said today.

Police said the women identified as Tiffany Tolliver, 21, of Albany Street, and Dominique Lucas, 21, of Maple Avenue, followed the victim to her Rotterdam apartment, leaving Tolliver's 2-week-old child in their car.

Tolliver and Lucas then allegedly went inside, beat the woman, stole her purse and threw the bleach in her eyes. A neighbor saw them leaving in a white Cadillac, which police found later at the Hannaford Plaza off Altamont Avenue in Schenectady. Tolliver and Lucas allegedly had already bought $450 in clothes from the A.J. Wright.

And it gets better . . .

Tolliver and Lucas have been charged with first-degree robbery and are being held in Schenectady County Jail without bail. Besides the 2-week-old found in the Cadillac, police later found Tolliver's 17-month-old toddler alone at her apartment. Both children were taken into the state's protective custody. Also, Lucas is eight months pregnant, according to police.

Plus, one had an outstanding warrant and the other pending charges.

So they are dirt bag criminals AND bad parents. Delightful members of society, huh?

Someone was visiting / meeting with a person who sits near me. I could hear his big mouth periodically through the closed door, but not enough to really bother me. Then I hear the door open, but I am not paying attention until . . . He talks, I mean shouts, into his cell phone. He was maybe 15 feet away from me. I figure 1) He is deaf, or 2) His cell phone is a hunk of crap. If it is 2), there were no less than 4 empty desks with phones surrounding him - any of them would have worked if his phone wasn't working right. However, I believe it was 3) He is a total fucking prick. Why? When he startled me I jumped and then shot him an annoyed look. Fuckwad then proceeded to pace, back and forth, by my desk. I will be asking who he was tomorrow and I will tell him off next time he acts like that. I don't care if he is the right hand man of God himself, there is not excuse to yell in an office.

I and a couple other co-workers are "temporarily" relocated to another part of my building - away from our office mates. Usually it is fine. Relatively peaceful, in fact. However, the group who we are sitting near frequently has conference calls, out in the open, loudly. A couple of guys insist on using the speaker phone even when either one is the only person on his end. It is distracting.

Then lets not forget the daily sports talk. Watching the game was simply not enough, discussing it for an hour is necessary.

Then there is the secretary who has Poison as a ring tone at the highest possible setting.

Someone in this group complained about our "kitchen" - a fridge, coffee maker, electric kettle and toaster. The only thing slightly unusual is the toaster and I use the kettle may once a month. So the toaster got put in the proper kitchen and the kettle got stowed. Besides the "safety issues" - the kettle is only plugged in when used, the coffee maker has a timer, the toaster is only "on" when the little lever is pushed, and I never heard of a refrigerator causing a fire - the complaining party (who did not sign their letter to management) cited a "distracting atmosphere".

Hello!!!! I know Dick's kid just started at the local community college. I know the Yanks are in the toilet. I know Will just bought a house. I know some chick that I have never seen is moving to Arizona. I know way too much about the secretary's social life. I know someone in large city is fucking up an important program. I hear things I know I shouldn't know and might have bright lights shown in my eyes if anyone realized I knew them. And it goes on. How do I know this stuff? Certainly not cause anyone ever told me directly. And headsets can only go so far.

So, who are the distracting ones? The people who carry on all day about everything, private and work-related, or the people who might yap for all of about a half hour while getting their morning coffee and might occasionally confer with each other? I realize I may not be the most quiet person, but the volume coming out of all of your pie holes is not on whisper either and I'm also not the one bitching to management. Cubicle hell offers little privacy - deal with it.

Oh and by the way - the fridge and the coffee maker are staying. Whoever complained can go fuck himself.

Today, there were many people without power due to damaged equipment and downed power lines from storms that went through the area yesterday. Then today we were oppressed with 90+ F temperatures. Between a weakened infrastructure and higher than normal demand, someone had to pull the short straw and lose power.

My city pulled that short straw and at 11 am National Grid plunged it deep into our rectums while they plunged us into non-air conditioned darkness without so much as warning or advisory on how long they expected it to last. At City Hall, new police cadets were being sworn in. Businesses, who struggle in this post-industrial city and rely on daytime customers, were getting ready for lunch rush.

My gripe isn't that we had to lose power for the greater good - my gripe is that the arrogant bastards at National Grid decided to pull the plug without even a courtesy call to the city mayor and the larger office buildings. Its not like this was an outage caused by outside factors - it was a conscience decision.

No one should ever be willfully forced into an "emergency" situation. If they had given a mere hour's notice to officials: The city could have gotten police to direct traffic at affected lights. Larger commercial structured could have removed the less mobile out of the buildings more safely. Area businesses could have prepared by sending home unneeded staff and food establishments could have made less food. Their careless act could have endangered our community's safety and cost businesses money in a town were times are tough.

A big fat boo to you National Grid!

I shop at Walmart frequently, more due to convenience than adoration. My neighborhood Walmart has a "No Solicitation" sign posted prominently on the two main front doors. Clear enough, not that I am selling anything. However this sign obviously means "Solicitation with management's approval only" since I am frequently accosted, especially on weekends, by this or that local charity on my way in. This afternoon was no different. It was yet another kids sports group asking for donations. Call me a crumugen if you like, but I am not inclined to donate money so little suburban kids can walk around in professional looking uniforms. My money, my prerogative and I find the local homeless shelter a more deserving charity. What was different about this afternoon was that two of these little darlings, gazing pleadingly with big blue eyes, were flanking the door. Flank is a generous statement, I nearly had to turn sideways to get through the pig-tailed gauntlet.

I quickly said "Sorry, no" as I scurried into the store. Then as if my entrance wasn't bad enough, I had to repeat the process on the way out (I knew I should have went the long way and checked out the at the garden center). My emotions were somewhere between guilt and annoyance. Guilt for not throwing in a few cents, annoyance for having to deal with it every weekend I go to pick-up a few things.

My question is: Walmart, who are you trying to prevent from solicitation? Seems to me you let every freakin group in the area come and beg on your door step. I can understand, if you let one you must let them all, but can ya give us a break????

On 6/24/07, U235 discussed SUV's backing over of children in "No Sympathy, None Whatsoever". I am finally reading April's issue of Reader's Digest and low and behold - an article about just that - the tragedy of kids getting crushed by SUVs.

Guess what? There is a web-site: kidsandcars.org ; that asks you to go to another website to support legislation: safecarsforkids.org

Like all legislation, there are portions that I support, like windows that won't just keep closing even if there is an obstruction. My answer would be to remove the one-touch closing feature on many cars. Then it is up to the operator (driver or passenger nearest the window being closed) to know if there is an obstruction. Wait! That's right! This is for people who don't want the responsibility to think.

And anti-rollaway? Does that mean my beloved standard transmission will become a thing of the past? People with standard transmissions accept rolling as a fact and use it to their advantage at times.

I modified my message to read:

Since 2000, over 1,100 children have died and thousands more have been seriously injured in non-traffic incidents involving vehicle backovers and power window strangulations. And this is a tragedy.

Many vehicles have large and dangerous blind zones, power windows that can inadvertently close on necks, hands, and fingers, and brakes that can easily shift out of gear. These are issues of which consumers need to be aware, but legislation that increases consumer vehicle costs considerably are not needed. I am writing to ask your to modify the bi-partisan child safety legislation, the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007.

This legislation would require the federal government to issue a rear visibility standard to ensure a driver can detect the presence of a child when backing up - Rather auto retailers should be required to offer this equipment to people who wish the convenience as an alternative to getting out and looking behind their vehicle.

The bill would also direct the government to consider a safety rule on the need to require power windows to automatically reverse direction if there is an obstruction in the path of a power window or panel. This is similar to technology already mandated by the federal government in automatic garage doors to stop children from being killed or injured - Rather, automatic closing windows should be banned and the responsibility of knowing if the window can be safely closed placed on the operators shoulders

Another provision in this commonsense legislation will save lives by preventing vehicle rollaway that occurs when a child easily shifts a parked vehicle into gear. Finally, the legislation calls for data collection and a consumer information program alerting the public to these dangers.

While it is a tragedy when a child dies, much can be done through education.

Perhaps, you too, wish to participate in the political process.

We recently got voice mail in my office. We have still been instructed to only give out our secretary's phone number. I work for a state agency and we are a bit behind the times. Somehow, some numb-nuts from a federal agency got my desk phone number - Correction - OLD desk phone number, where I haven't sat in about four months. Perhaps there is logic to only using the secretary's number!

The numb-nuts asked the guy who is now sitting there to transfer him to MY supervisor (not to be confused with the guy who is in my old cubie's supervisor, since we don't even work for the same people). The guy in my old cubie tells me numb-nuts called when I get back to my desk. I asked if numb-nuts left a last name or phone number, to which the guy shakes his head no. I guess numb-nuts thought that he was so memorable that I would remember him merely from his first name and agency he worked for, so memorable that he would stand out from the hordes of people I must deal with daily. Later, I get an e-mail from a person who I deal with frequently that originated from the numb-nuts (well, sam