Oh well. Two days missed. I've got 104 emails to sift through. People talk a lot.
I am so freaking hungry.
Wow, I'm boring.
I don't have anything to talk about. Odd thought of the day, though - they (you know they) found traces of perchlorate in milk in California. Nobody seems to know how it got there (although I read a theory that since it's been found in the drinking water of 17 states (!!!) that the cows probably drank it first) but the thing that gets me is that there's an "acceptable" level! It seems that levels of perchlorate don't harm humans until they reach levels of 6 parts per billion (or, as high as 100 parts per billion, depending on the research you want to believe [doh2]), so as long as the level of a chemical used in rocket fuel that you are consuming is below the hazardous mark, it's perfectly fine. Shouldn't it be unacceptable to have any??
In other news, I HATE the fact that I can't go online at work.
Saturday, June 26, 2004
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Yes.
"The values of this country are such that torture is not a part of our soul and our being." ~ George W. Bush
The question is, is he delusional or just ignorant?
The question is, is he delusional or just ignorant?
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Namely, freedom.
I'm amazed that this story hasn't been discussed on the WD yet. Every other political thing is. I guess it'll pop up eventually. I'm just kinda surprised that it hasn't already.
And, yeah, it pisses me off. But meh. I'm not in the mood to debate it. I did dream (I think) last night that I gave a police officer a false name when I was asked, so it obviously got into my subconcious.
I think I'm too frustrated and irritated right now to blog.
And, yeah, it pisses me off. But meh. I'm not in the mood to debate it. I did dream (I think) last night that I gave a police officer a false name when I was asked, so it obviously got into my subconcious.
I think I'm too frustrated and irritated right now to blog.
Monday, June 21, 2004
The longest day
Get it? Cuz today is the solstice, so we get more hours of sunlight today than any other day.
Also, it's been a really long day because last night I worked an overnight shift. (!!!) I haven't worked that shift in four years, and wasn't sure if I'd be able to do it, but I pulled it off. The 8 hours flew by, mostly due to the fact that I was able to stay busy the entire time. Well, that and the 64 ounces of Pepsi.
I got home shortly after 7am, and went to sleep until 10:30. That's all the sleep I've had. But! The amazing thing is, I'm not UTP@!!
Oh, wait, I slept again after the pool. See, at 11, the Las Vegas Life Learners (the local Unschooling group we belong to) had a Summer Solstice party at a pool. We spent five hours there. Five HOT hours. And despite the fact that all of us are more tan (or burnt) than when we first arrived, we all had a very good time. Sandra and Holly Dodd were there, and we actually got to talk to her for a while. She's an incredibly nice lady. And Saren bonded very well with Holly.
I'm glad that this group was started. The Homeschool Melting Pot group that we were members of ....I don't know. I guess it's simply too big. Everytime we attended something with that group, it felt (to me) like we were outsiders looking in on a clique. This group is different. Partly due to it's smaller size. Partly due to it's newness. Partly due to the fact that the members are unschoolers, rather than just homeschoolers. In short, they're good people.
So after the pool, we came home, and I took a short nap. I had weird half-awake-half-dreaming type of thoughts that I can't recall now. Something about boundaries, and how they're flexible and amorphous and arbitrary and ...you know. I'm not talking just land-based boundaries. But learning boundaries as well. Maybe all boundaries. I can't explain it, mostly because it was all jumbled in my head as I was sleeping anyway. Hmmm. I know I said I wasn't UTP@, and I'm not, but perhaps I'm bordering on becoming him. I'm in that nebulous grey area between P@ and UTP@. And that makes a lot of sense to me. Which probably proves nothing, but there ya go.
In other news, I need to come up with a lot of questions for the month of July. People should email me.
Also, it's been a really long day because last night I worked an overnight shift. (!!!) I haven't worked that shift in four years, and wasn't sure if I'd be able to do it, but I pulled it off. The 8 hours flew by, mostly due to the fact that I was able to stay busy the entire time. Well, that and the 64 ounces of Pepsi.
I got home shortly after 7am, and went to sleep until 10:30. That's all the sleep I've had. But! The amazing thing is, I'm not UTP@!!
Oh, wait, I slept again after the pool. See, at 11, the Las Vegas Life Learners (the local Unschooling group we belong to) had a Summer Solstice party at a pool. We spent five hours there. Five HOT hours. And despite the fact that all of us are more tan (or burnt) than when we first arrived, we all had a very good time. Sandra and Holly Dodd were there, and we actually got to talk to her for a while. She's an incredibly nice lady. And Saren bonded very well with Holly.
I'm glad that this group was started. The Homeschool Melting Pot group that we were members of ....I don't know. I guess it's simply too big. Everytime we attended something with that group, it felt (to me) like we were outsiders looking in on a clique. This group is different. Partly due to it's smaller size. Partly due to it's newness. Partly due to the fact that the members are unschoolers, rather than just homeschoolers. In short, they're good people.
So after the pool, we came home, and I took a short nap. I had weird half-awake-half-dreaming type of thoughts that I can't recall now. Something about boundaries, and how they're flexible and amorphous and arbitrary and ...you know. I'm not talking just land-based boundaries. But learning boundaries as well. Maybe all boundaries. I can't explain it, mostly because it was all jumbled in my head as I was sleeping anyway. Hmmm. I know I said I wasn't UTP@, and I'm not, but perhaps I'm bordering on becoming him. I'm in that nebulous grey area between P@ and UTP@. And that makes a lot of sense to me. Which probably proves nothing, but there ya go.
In other news, I need to come up with a lot of questions for the month of July. People should email me.
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Target is all sold out
You know how you can get all kinds of stuff at Target? Towels, pots and pans, DVDs, milk, notebooks, and so on and so on?
Wouldn't it be great, he asked rhetorically, if Target (or some place) sold inspiration? Or ideas?
Yeah. It would be. I'd make sure I stocked up, so that I'd never be experiencing this lack of motivation again.
Wouldn't it be great, he asked rhetorically, if Target (or some place) sold inspiration? Or ideas?
Yeah. It would be. I'd make sure I stocked up, so that I'd never be experiencing this lack of motivation again.
Saturday, June 19, 2004
I have decided thusly:
- Kim Carnes needs to revitalize her career. I think she should release a song entitled "Forrest Whitaker Eyes".
- Panda Express is pretty damn tasty. I believe the secret ingredient is crack.
- There are simply not enough hours in the night.
- I have issues.
- Barenaked Ladies are a good band. They make good dish-washing music.
- When I get diabetes or cancer or an ulcer or whatever it is that I get as a result of "progress", I'll make sure I enjoy every minute of it.
- Mayor Oscar Goodman is a complete and utter dick.
- I need to leave comments on people's blogs more. I've been really lax in that department.
- I must hold off on the political post that has been brewing in my head for the past ...three months? for a little bit longer.
- Bullet points are cool. I should use them more often.
Friday, June 18, 2004
Dumb.
Me.
Ya big dummy!
Hee.
So, anyway. A lot of people are. Myself included. You are, too!
The title, though, has multiple meaning today. (I like when I can arrange that. Makes me feel clever.) I met Sandra Dodd today. And, for the most part, I was stupidly tongue-tied. It was enough to simply listen to her speak. I didn't attend her actual speech (the girls weren't allowed in the room [due to the fact that the speech was being recorded and they didn't want children disrupting the audio, which makes sense, but you've got to marvel at the irony of children not being allowed at a homeschooling conference] so I took them to the park while Steph stuck around), but did get to sit with her for about 10 minutes afterword, where I simply sat there, not adding to the conversation at all. I'm so socially retarded.
She's speaking again tomorrow, and the plan is for Steph to go somewhere with the girls while I attend. I'm looking forward to it. Heck, maybe I'll even find it in myself to say something. Although if I do, it'll probably be something dumb.
Ya big dummy!
Hee.
So, anyway. A lot of people are. Myself included. You are, too!
The title, though, has multiple meaning today. (I like when I can arrange that. Makes me feel clever.) I met Sandra Dodd today. And, for the most part, I was stupidly tongue-tied. It was enough to simply listen to her speak. I didn't attend her actual speech (the girls weren't allowed in the room [due to the fact that the speech was being recorded and they didn't want children disrupting the audio, which makes sense, but you've got to marvel at the irony of children not being allowed at a homeschooling conference] so I took them to the park while Steph stuck around), but did get to sit with her for about 10 minutes afterword, where I simply sat there, not adding to the conversation at all. I'm so socially retarded.
She's speaking again tomorrow, and the plan is for Steph to go somewhere with the girls while I attend. I'm looking forward to it. Heck, maybe I'll even find it in myself to say something. Although if I do, it'll probably be something dumb.
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Wake up call.
Figured I'd give a little more detailed explanation of yesterday's events with my father, since I have some more time (and more info available).
So, yeah, yesterday morning, around 10:20, I got a call from Vicki, who works with my dad. She didn't have a lot of information available - she was simply the messenger, and (I'm assuming) was not actually present when the ambulance was called. Basically, she was simply going down the list of emergency contact numbers from my father's list, trying to contact people.
My mom was non-reachable at the time because she was (ironically enough) at a doctor's office, and they had a "no cell phone" policy, so she'd turned her phone off.
Anywhat - Vicki told me all she knew, which wasn't much: That my dad had had an ambulance called, that they had administered oxygen (but that that was standard procedure), and that he was in good spirits when they left. I gave her my mom's cell phone number, she gave me the number to the hospital my dad was going to (although, she said, he probably hadn't arrived yet), and her own number (!!) and we hung up.
I immeadiately called my sister, but got her answering machine. I left a brief message and ended it with, "I'll call you when I know more."
About 5 minutes later, the phone rang. It was my sister, saying that she was at work, but her husband had gotten the message and called her, telling her to call me for more info. I relayed what little information I knew, and while that was going on she got yelled at by her supervisor for being on the phone!! (Sheesh! A family emergency doesn't warrant a relaxation of some stupid phone rules? Whatever.) We commented on the fact that my dad (most likely) in the hospital due to his hiatal hernia. (I don't think I blogged about it, but when my folks first moved to Arizona, my dad had an episode with his hiatal hernia then as well)
Long story short, yes. That's what it was. My father has been working 7 days a week (until just recently, when he's finally decided to start taking Sundays off), and doing a lot of manual labor. It caught up with him yesterday.
My mom called me today at work and gave me more of an update. The hernia did cause the fainting/dizzy spell that put my dad in the hospital to begin with, but he's home now. The doctors have ordered him to start exercising, and my dad has said that he's going to quit drinking coffee altogether.
Scary stuff, but everything is okay.
Thanks, everyone, for your concern for my dad.
So, yeah, yesterday morning, around 10:20, I got a call from Vicki, who works with my dad. She didn't have a lot of information available - she was simply the messenger, and (I'm assuming) was not actually present when the ambulance was called. Basically, she was simply going down the list of emergency contact numbers from my father's list, trying to contact people.
My mom was non-reachable at the time because she was (ironically enough) at a doctor's office, and they had a "no cell phone" policy, so she'd turned her phone off.
Anywhat - Vicki told me all she knew, which wasn't much: That my dad had had an ambulance called, that they had administered oxygen (but that that was standard procedure), and that he was in good spirits when they left. I gave her my mom's cell phone number, she gave me the number to the hospital my dad was going to (although, she said, he probably hadn't arrived yet), and her own number (!!) and we hung up.
I immeadiately called my sister, but got her answering machine. I left a brief message and ended it with, "I'll call you when I know more."
About 5 minutes later, the phone rang. It was my sister, saying that she was at work, but her husband had gotten the message and called her, telling her to call me for more info. I relayed what little information I knew, and while that was going on she got yelled at by her supervisor for being on the phone!! (Sheesh! A family emergency doesn't warrant a relaxation of some stupid phone rules? Whatever.) We commented on the fact that my dad (most likely) in the hospital due to his hiatal hernia. (I don't think I blogged about it, but when my folks first moved to Arizona, my dad had an episode with his hiatal hernia then as well)
Long story short, yes. That's what it was. My father has been working 7 days a week (until just recently, when he's finally decided to start taking Sundays off), and doing a lot of manual labor. It caught up with him yesterday.
My mom called me today at work and gave me more of an update. The hernia did cause the fainting/dizzy spell that put my dad in the hospital to begin with, but he's home now. The doctors have ordered him to start exercising, and my dad has said that he's going to quit drinking coffee altogether.
Scary stuff, but everything is okay.
Thanks, everyone, for your concern for my dad.
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Ways that are not fun to wake up:
Around 10am, after a restless night of about 6 hours, get a phone call. The phone call is from a stranger. This stranger knows your name.
She then indentifies herself as "Vicki" from [some name], which is where "your father works."
Vicki then tells you that "Your father was taken to [some hospital name] at 10 o'clock this morning, and we are trying to reach your mother."
That type of phone call certainly gets your attention, no matter how little sleep you've had.
Not to worry, my dad is okay. It boils down to the fact that he's a workaholic (no, really) and he's getting older.
She then indentifies herself as "Vicki" from [some name], which is where "your father works."
Vicki then tells you that "Your father was taken to [some hospital name] at 10 o'clock this morning, and we are trying to reach your mother."
That type of phone call certainly gets your attention, no matter how little sleep you've had.
Not to worry, my dad is okay. It boils down to the fact that he's a workaholic (no, really) and he's getting older.
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
What the world needs now...
... is love, sweet love. That's the only thing, that there's just too little of.
True.
Other song lyrics that are true:
I used to be a little boy.
One and one and one is three.
"No!" means "No!" "No!" is always "No!" If they say "No!" it means a thousand times "NO!"
Heh. Songs are smart.
True.
Other song lyrics that are true:
I used to be a little boy.
One and one and one is three.
"No!" means "No!" "No!" is always "No!" If they say "No!" it means a thousand times "NO!"
Heh. Songs are smart.
Monday, June 14, 2004
you're older than you've ever been
And now you're even older.
It's been a very mellow day.
Aside from needing a Pepsi, I can't think of anything I want. Just spent the day with the family, playing BanjoKazooie and posting here and there on the WD. Staying inside from the triple digit weather is a good thing.
Later, I'll probably take the girls to the library. The libe is having a reading campaign for the summer - if the kids read a certain number of books, they get prizes. (5 for a free bag, 10 for a coupon to Dairy Queen for a free ice cream, etc) Saren cashed in on hers yesterday, but Harper didn't have an entry form, so we grabbed one then. Today she spent the morning reading her books and is all set to get her free gifts.
Thankfully tomorrow is payday. We are BROKE.
Unthankfully, tomorrow I have to go to work. Another 8 hours of my life (9 if you count driving time) devoted to someone other than me and my loved ones. [sigh]
But! Thankfully, I have Friday and Saturday off. (Homeschooling conference! Sandra Dodd!)
I think I'll go get ready for the library. And maybe take the girls out to get ice cream.
...And now you're older still.
It's been a very mellow day.
Aside from needing a Pepsi, I can't think of anything I want. Just spent the day with the family, playing BanjoKazooie and posting here and there on the WD. Staying inside from the triple digit weather is a good thing.
Later, I'll probably take the girls to the library. The libe is having a reading campaign for the summer - if the kids read a certain number of books, they get prizes. (5 for a free bag, 10 for a coupon to Dairy Queen for a free ice cream, etc) Saren cashed in on hers yesterday, but Harper didn't have an entry form, so we grabbed one then. Today she spent the morning reading her books and is all set to get her free gifts.
Thankfully tomorrow is payday. We are BROKE.
Unthankfully, tomorrow I have to go to work. Another 8 hours of my life (9 if you count driving time) devoted to someone other than me and my loved ones. [sigh]
But! Thankfully, I have Friday and Saturday off. (Homeschooling conference! Sandra Dodd!)
I think I'll go get ready for the library. And maybe take the girls out to get ice cream.
...And now you're older still.
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Ch-ch-ch-changes
As you can see, the template is now one of those handy-dandy premade specials that Blogger provides. And I've got Blogger comments! That's what I'm most excited about. Finally, the feedback I receive will actually remain there for longer than a month! (Haloscan deletes comments after you fill up 40 pages, or about a month)
In other news, I turn 29 in less than two hours. 29 is an odd age. 28 is too, numerical differences aside. Those ages don't have anything...remarkable about them. Maybe that's why I'm so blase about them. Or maybe I'm going through an early midlife crisis. Or perhaps I'm experiencing cognative dissonance. Or maybe I can't spell. Or, most likely, I'm just rambling to fill up space. Whatever.
I think the sad truth is I'm bummed because we don't have money right now.
What a shallow individual I am sometimes. Some things never change.
In other news, I turn 29 in less than two hours. 29 is an odd age. 28 is too, numerical differences aside. Those ages don't have anything...remarkable about them. Maybe that's why I'm so blase about them. Or maybe I'm going through an early midlife crisis. Or perhaps I'm experiencing cognative dissonance. Or maybe I can't spell. Or, most likely, I'm just rambling to fill up space. Whatever.
I think the sad truth is I'm bummed because we don't have money right now.
What a shallow individual I am sometimes. Some things never change.
Saturday, June 12, 2004
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
This shoulda been done a few days back, when I actually met the guy, but I saved it for a time when I had nothing else to blog about.
Honestly, I don't have much to say about him now either. My skepticism seems to have been dead on, though. I don't care for him much as a person. It remains to be seen how he'll be as a supervisor.
Hypothetical situation - I wonder if my blog were discovered by someone from work if I could be fired for writing that I believe the guy's a sleezeball. Probably. Tack that on to the list of reasons that work is utter crap.
Honestly, I don't have much to say about him now either. My skepticism seems to have been dead on, though. I don't care for him much as a person. It remains to be seen how he'll be as a supervisor.
Hypothetical situation - I wonder if my blog were discovered by someone from work if I could be fired for writing that I believe the guy's a sleezeball. Probably. Tack that on to the list of reasons that work is utter crap.
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy fun fun fun fun fun!
We went to SkyMania again today. Despite having to wake up at 8:00 ("They make an 8AM?"), it was a lot of fun. My hair went wild!
The number of kids there this time was probably doubled what it was from the first time, but it was still enjoyable. Oddly, I was the only adult (male) there - aside from the employee guy - so a lot of the younger boys asked me to play games with them. Hee! I'll be happy with whatever the child (Iffington!) ends up being, but I'm really hoping for a boy.
I was going to use Stephoid's Hello thing to put up a picture, but I've got to shower before going to work, and I don't have time to figure out how to work it right now. So maybe she'll put an image up.
Oh, and Jupe, I'm all for your idea. So...when I get to it, I'll most definitely do that. Unless I chicken out.
The number of kids there this time was probably doubled what it was from the first time, but it was still enjoyable. Oddly, I was the only adult (male) there - aside from the employee guy - so a lot of the younger boys asked me to play games with them. Hee! I'll be happy with whatever the child (Iffington!) ends up being, but I'm really hoping for a boy.
I was going to use Stephoid's Hello thing to put up a picture, but I've got to shower before going to work, and I don't have time to figure out how to work it right now. So maybe she'll put an image up.
Oh, and Jupe, I'm all for your idea. So...when I get to it, I'll most definitely do that. Unless I chicken out.
Monday, June 07, 2004
A week from today
Is my 29th birthday. Is that all? Only 29? God, I thought my twenties were over like 10 years ago.
Hmm. I can't seem to think of things to blog about on a daily basis anymore. Perhaps for inspiration, I'll simply answer my monthly boq questions each day. Maybe. Of course, I still have to get to work on July's. Doh.
I've got some post ideas, but they seem...bigger than they should. And I don't want to post them until I can figure out the stupid blogger commenting code. I want to get rid of Haloscam. I may just change the entire template.
Hmm. I can't seem to think of things to blog about on a daily basis anymore. Perhaps for inspiration, I'll simply answer my monthly boq questions each day. Maybe. Of course, I still have to get to work on July's. Doh.
I've got some post ideas, but they seem...bigger than they should. And I don't want to post them until I can figure out the stupid blogger commenting code. I want to get rid of Haloscam. I may just change the entire template.
Sunday, June 06, 2004
Choset tre Mognoin turns 38 today.
In two years, the world will end. Corrcection - the world as we know it.
I really ought to get off my lazy ass and write the stupid story. Really.
But I won't. Gord, I suck.
I have several self-appointed deadlines for online things and I just don't want to do any of them. What I really want is to simply go to sleep until the triple digit heat has passed, and oh, who cares?
The story has been in my head since 1998. I was just perusing my '98 journal and looking at some of the notes I'd written about it. Many aspects of it have changed - many haven't - but the main thing is that I still haven't written it. Whatever.
My head hurts.
I wish our computer were not so slow.
Hmm. Rereading ths, I'm not seeming very happy. Time to accuntuate the postives, eh? Let's see - library tomorrow! That's possibly a good thing.
Tuesday we're going to the SkyMania trampoline place again. That'll be fun.
Um.
The girls are clean. They had baths tonight, and are now running around, happily screaming. I don't show it enough, but I do love them immensely.
Forcing myeself to write doesn't seem to be a good idea.
I really ought to get off my lazy ass and write the stupid story. Really.
But I won't. Gord, I suck.
I have several self-appointed deadlines for online things and I just don't want to do any of them. What I really want is to simply go to sleep until the triple digit heat has passed, and oh, who cares?
The story has been in my head since 1998. I was just perusing my '98 journal and looking at some of the notes I'd written about it. Many aspects of it have changed - many haven't - but the main thing is that I still haven't written it. Whatever.
My head hurts.
I wish our computer were not so slow.
Hmm. Rereading ths, I'm not seeming very happy. Time to accuntuate the postives, eh? Let's see - library tomorrow! That's possibly a good thing.
Tuesday we're going to the SkyMania trampoline place again. That'll be fun.
Um.
The girls are clean. They had baths tonight, and are now running around, happily screaming. I don't show it enough, but I do love them immensely.
Forcing myeself to write doesn't seem to be a good idea.
Saturday, June 05, 2004
Somehow, I can't bring myself to care.
In case you hadn't heard, the country (by which I mean the United States) is "in mourning". Because of Ronald Reagan's timely demise.
My reaction upon hearing the news (I first heard at work. I then repeatedly heard at work...) was, "Well. That must be hard on his wife." And it probably is. Because, you know, she knew him.
I didn't.
Neither, I'm venturing, did half (or more??) of the country's citizens that are supposedly "in mourning".
I'm not sad. I simply don't care, because the guy didn't affect my life. (Just as I did not affect his) This type of thing is one of the myriad of reasons of why I HATE the Fucking News. It tells people how they should feel. It attempts to build a tribal sense of life among 260 million people. And it doesn't work. Or, rather, it shouldn't work.
But oddly enough, for a lot of people, it does.
I haven't been to the WD tonight yet, but I'm sure that there is a post about Reagan's passing. And in it, I can safely say that there will be condolonces given from people who never met the guy. (I can also safely say that there will be people who will badmouth his presidency and/or the guy himself. Even though those people (most likely) never met him either.)
If there is such a post, I will not participate in it. Because his death doesn't have an impact on my life. I would like to ask anyone who does respond to such a post if Reagan's dying truly impacted their life.
I mean, seriously, if I hadn't gone to work today, I probably would never have known about his death at all. If someone dies and you don't hear about it - that's pretty much a litmus test for how much influence they have on you. There's no rational reason to get upset at the ending of their life.
Getting back to what I was saying about the news and the creation of the false sense of community through television - I experienced the same thing with Saddam Hussein's capture. My step-mother said to me that it was a great Xmas gift (it happened around December, if memory serves). I shrugged, because I disagreed. But that type of thinking is kinda scary, to me, at least. The capture of someone in Iraq ...actually anything that happens in Iraq has no direct impact on my life. None. I don't know anyone over there, nobody over there knows me.
I don't care if the Iraqi people have democracy, tyranny, or anarchy. I don't think it's anyone else's concern, but the Iraqis themselves, no?
I'm oversimplifying a bit, I know, but I hope that some of my message is getting across. If you unplugged the television and ignored the internet headlines, would 99% of the "news" that goes on in the world matter?
I realize that this post most likely makes me seem like a heartless bastard. And while that statement has a kernel of truth to it, that's missing the point. The point is that it would be nice if people cared more about the things that truly impact their lives and less about those that impact their television viewing schedules.
My reaction upon hearing the news (I first heard at work. I then repeatedly heard at work...) was, "Well. That must be hard on his wife." And it probably is. Because, you know, she knew him.
I didn't.
Neither, I'm venturing, did half (or more??) of the country's citizens that are supposedly "in mourning".
I'm not sad. I simply don't care, because the guy didn't affect my life. (Just as I did not affect his) This type of thing is one of the myriad of reasons of why I HATE the Fucking News. It tells people how they should feel. It attempts to build a tribal sense of life among 260 million people. And it doesn't work. Or, rather, it shouldn't work.
But oddly enough, for a lot of people, it does.
I haven't been to the WD tonight yet, but I'm sure that there is a post about Reagan's passing. And in it, I can safely say that there will be condolonces given from people who never met the guy. (I can also safely say that there will be people who will badmouth his presidency and/or the guy himself. Even though those people (most likely) never met him either.)
If there is such a post, I will not participate in it. Because his death doesn't have an impact on my life. I would like to ask anyone who does respond to such a post if Reagan's dying truly impacted their life.
I mean, seriously, if I hadn't gone to work today, I probably would never have known about his death at all. If someone dies and you don't hear about it - that's pretty much a litmus test for how much influence they have on you. There's no rational reason to get upset at the ending of their life.
Getting back to what I was saying about the news and the creation of the false sense of community through television - I experienced the same thing with Saddam Hussein's capture. My step-mother said to me that it was a great Xmas gift (it happened around December, if memory serves). I shrugged, because I disagreed. But that type of thinking is kinda scary, to me, at least. The capture of someone in Iraq ...actually anything that happens in Iraq has no direct impact on my life. None. I don't know anyone over there, nobody over there knows me.
I don't care if the Iraqi people have democracy, tyranny, or anarchy. I don't think it's anyone else's concern, but the Iraqis themselves, no?
I'm oversimplifying a bit, I know, but I hope that some of my message is getting across. If you unplugged the television and ignored the internet headlines, would 99% of the "news" that goes on in the world matter?
I realize that this post most likely makes me seem like a heartless bastard. And while that statement has a kernel of truth to it, that's missing the point. The point is that it would be nice if people cared more about the things that truly impact their lives and less about those that impact their television viewing schedules.
Friday, June 04, 2004
Oops, I forgot to blog on June 4th.
Heh. I amuse myself.
As for the crypticness of the last entry, it was for national security. [/more crypticness....and self-amusement]
This blogging everyday thing would be a lot easier to do if I could blog at work. Or better yet, if I didn't have to go to work at all! I'm for that plan.
On the way home tonight, I was listening to AM radio (against my better judgment) and on some conservative talk show the host referred to the Iraqi prison torture as "hazing". Well. Huh. Makes me glad I didn't join any fraternities in college. It amazes me what blinders people will put on to defend their beliefs. I'm sure I've been guilty of it too.
Well, I have 23 emails to sift through, and it's seven minutes to midnight, so unless I want my blog title to be true... Publish Post time!
As for the crypticness of the last entry, it was for national security. [/more crypticness....and self-amusement]
This blogging everyday thing would be a lot easier to do if I could blog at work. Or better yet, if I didn't have to go to work at all! I'm for that plan.
On the way home tonight, I was listening to AM radio (against my better judgment) and on some conservative talk show the host referred to the Iraqi prison torture as "hazing". Well. Huh. Makes me glad I didn't join any fraternities in college. It amazes me what blinders people will put on to defend their beliefs. I'm sure I've been guilty of it too.
Well, I have 23 emails to sift through, and it's seven minutes to midnight, so unless I want my blog title to be true... Publish Post time!
Thursday, June 03, 2004
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
I would drive 500 miles. And I would drive 500 more.
Okay, the song is walk. And the amount needed to hit the mark is now less than 1000, but it was too close to pass up using the line.
So, yesterday was June 1st. I predicted long ago that on that day our car's odometer would hit 123456. It didn't. But it did hit the 122456 mark! I was off by a thousand! We're now at 122464 (I haven't gone to work today yet) so if you want to make your guesses, now's a good time. I'm thinking that it might hit on my birthday. That would be a nice present.
In other news, I cancelled the extended cable service today. The girls cried.
In other other news, there is a meeting at work today. We're to meet Greg's replacement (Greg, as you may recall, was our supervisor's supervisor. He left earlier this year when the company decided that he wasn't ...how did they put it? "Playing the game correctly"? That's not how they said it, but that's what it boiled down to.). I'm skeptical. If I blog about it, I'm sure you know what the title will be.
Other other other news? I'm sunburnt on my shoulders and back. We went to Lake Mead (aka Lake Pointy Ground) yesterday, and had a pretty good time, but like a doofus, I didn't put sunblock on after taking off my shirt. (I did put it on my arms and face before removing my shirt, so at least my farmers tan didn't get any darker.)
Friday we're going out to Sunset Park, armed with waterguns and a cooler filled with water balloons. Summertime can be fun!
Lastly, Saren's playing Paper Mario right now, which reminded me - the GameCube is coming out with Paper Mario 2 in October. Now I really want one!
So, yesterday was June 1st. I predicted long ago that on that day our car's odometer would hit 123456. It didn't. But it did hit the 122456 mark! I was off by a thousand! We're now at 122464 (I haven't gone to work today yet) so if you want to make your guesses, now's a good time. I'm thinking that it might hit on my birthday. That would be a nice present.
In other news, I cancelled the extended cable service today. The girls cried.
In other other news, there is a meeting at work today. We're to meet Greg's replacement (Greg, as you may recall, was our supervisor's supervisor. He left earlier this year when the company decided that he wasn't ...how did they put it? "Playing the game correctly"? That's not how they said it, but that's what it boiled down to.). I'm skeptical. If I blog about it, I'm sure you know what the title will be.
Other other other news? I'm sunburnt on my shoulders and back. We went to Lake Mead (aka Lake Pointy Ground) yesterday, and had a pretty good time, but like a doofus, I didn't put sunblock on after taking off my shirt. (I did put it on my arms and face before removing my shirt, so at least my farmers tan didn't get any darker.)
Friday we're going out to Sunset Park, armed with waterguns and a cooler filled with water balloons. Summertime can be fun!
Lastly, Saren's playing Paper Mario right now, which reminded me - the GameCube is coming out with Paper Mario 2 in October. Now I really want one!
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
It's a nice day to start again.
It's a nice day for a white wedding.
Apparently more weddings take place in June than in any other month. The reasoning? Weddings in May are "bad luck". Or somesuch. I don't know. The preceding info was hidden away in the deepest recesses of my brain, stored there after stumbling across it on some site months back. So I don't know how accurate it is.
But, yeah, I'm back online. And the plan (PLAN!) is to blog each day this month. I just made that plan up. We'll see how it goes. I'll keep you informed!
I'd share the big news about how the Steph is baking a bun in her oven. But you all knew that already.
Note to self: Learn how to end blog entries in an entertaining fashion.
Apparently more weddings take place in June than in any other month. The reasoning? Weddings in May are "bad luck". Or somesuch. I don't know. The preceding info was hidden away in the deepest recesses of my brain, stored there after stumbling across it on some site months back. So I don't know how accurate it is.
But, yeah, I'm back online. And the plan (PLAN!) is to blog each day this month. I just made that plan up. We'll see how it goes. I'll keep you informed!
I'd share the big news about how the Steph is baking a bun in her oven. But you all knew that already.
Note to self: Learn how to end blog entries in an entertaining fashion.
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