10/29/2006

The End


I couldn't let the end of Daylight Savings Time go unnoticed.
I hate to see it end. I have written a poem to mark the occasion.

If any publishers are reading and would like the poem for an anthology of some kind, please let me know. I can bang out more if you think a book of my own would be a bigger money-maker. We can also have lengthy discussions about my form and, of course, about the symbolism. I can talk about the symbolism for hours.

But only for money. I will not discuss my art for free. That's not how I roll.

I Hate EST and Poetry
I hate you Eastern Standard Time
more than I despise French mime(s)
If I hated mimes, I guess
They're just doing their best
Maybe I hate you like crime

And it's not just EST that I hate
I hate them all [CST,MST,PST] like mashed potate
os. I prefer Daylight time and more sun
Sun until nine! Sun until the fun
is over. SO maybe only until eight

That would do. I'm a little boring
I can't really fill the hour between 8 and
nine with anything exciting that requires sun anyway
blah, blah, blah
I hate Standard time like I hate
poetry
Poetry usually makes me cringe.
Especially...
Mine! Haha. I hope you've enjoyed this
This note to mark the end of the all the fun

Thanks to Cinderella Jenkins for getting the poetry juices flowing...

10/27/2006

Read This

Although I know no one will actually read this...

This is an interview with Camille Paglia. I think it's worth a look.

10/26/2006

:-(

Bush signs Mexico fence into law from the BBC

Immigration is a key issue in the run-up to the mid-terms elections
US President George W Bush has signed into law a plan for 700 miles (1,125km) of new fencing along the US-Mexico border, to curb illegal immigration.
Mr Bush said the US had not been in control of the border for decades.

Illegal immigration is expected to be a major question in next month's US mid-term elections.

Mexican officials have opposed the fence, with outgoing President Vicente Fox calling it "shameful" and likening it to the Berlin Wall.

About 10 million Mexicans are thought to live in the US, some four million of them illegally.

An estimated 1.2 million illegal immigrants were arrested last year trying to cross into the US via the border states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

'Nation of immigrants'

In signing the Secure Fence Act 2006 into law, Mr Bush said that his government would tackle illegal immigration by means of increased funding and numbers of immigration officials.

He said that remote cameras, satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles would also be used to create a "21st-century" border with Mexico.

"We're modernising the southern border of the United States so we can assure the American people we are doing our job of securing our border," he said.

"Ours is a nation of immigrants. We're also a nation of law.

"Unfortunately the United States has not been in complete control of its borders for decades. Therefore illegal immigration has been on the rise."

But Mr Bush promised to balance the tightening of the border with a temporary guest worker programme and moves to grant eventual citizenship to some of the illegal immigrants already in the US.

Many Mexican politicians are united in opposition to the fence

Those moves are opposed by many within his own Republican party.

'Not impenetrable'

The BBC's Nick Miles in Washington says that, though few US congressmen have questioned the need for some action to reduce illegal migration, many have queried how effective the fence will be.

TJ Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, a union representing patrol agents, told Associated Press that it would not be enough on its own.

"A fence will slow people down by a minute or two, but if you don't have the agents to stop them it does no good. We're not talking about some impenetrable barrier," he said.

Mexico has pledged to challenge the fence at the United Nations and on Wednesday presented a declaration against the policy to the Organisation of American States, supported by 27 other Latin American and Caribbean nations but opposed by the US.

'Unnecessary and offensive'

The BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Mexico City says the fence has united Mexican politicians in opposition.

Across the political divide, politicians have come together to condemn what they see as an unnecessary and offensive barrier, he says.

And they accuse the United States of hypocrisy for enjoying the benefits of cheap Mexican labour but not being prepared to offer Mexican people a chance to cross the border legally, our correspondent said.

Part of the funding for the fence is likely to come from the $1.2bn (£0.6bn) set aside for it in a recent homeland security bill, but the full cost may be greater and the source of the funding is still unclear, our correspondent says.

10/22/2006

Target v. Wal-Mart

I found this post today. It is a list of ten reasons why Target is better than Wal-Mart.

I particularly like "Why did the 911 hijackers buy their box cutters at Wal-Mart? Why do serial killers featured on Court TV buy duct tape and rope at Wal-Mart? Because they feel comfortable there. They’re with their people."

10/21/2006

Living Art

Today, I missed my chance to be living art.

Angie and I saw an ad on Craig's List to be a part of an art display at a local bar. WE e-mailed the guy and got some info and really planned to do it.

As the day drew near, I wanted to do it less and less. Yesterday, the artist called to tell us when to show up. He was really excited about his project and so I was a little more excited about it.

Well, we showed up at the bar today just after noon to try on our artistically painted jumpsuits as we were supposed to, but no one was there. It was empty and dark. So Angie and went and had lunch at the North Market and thanked God that we had an out...















(^^Not me^^)

10/17/2006

Help Wanted


Good old Al doing what he can to help a brotha out.

10/12/2006

Because I am Bored

Listen to other people's playlists

Webjay

10/11/2006

Back by Popular Demand

I found this video last December and today I found it agian. It's short and strange, but for some reason, I think it's hilarious.

HA!

Up to this point, I have never posted anything about the people of Thailand. I've never had a reason, although they seem like a very interesting people group. I have eaten Thai food and spoken to Thai people, sure, but I've never had a post-worthy experience or interaction.

Now things are different. I have heard a Thai-related story that deserves to be retold and discussed.

I heard the following story yesterday and I debated whether anyone else would want to know about it. In the end, I decided that it was hilarious, and everyone would be more complete if they heard it, too.

"just like i couldn't understand the people in the Thai restaurant in XX when i went and took a big dump, and the toilet almost overflowed. I didn't say anything b/c i was the ONLY person in the entire restaurant...and it was so embarrassing...plus, i didn't know if it was shameful to bring up the subject of poop to the Thai people...so i went and sat down for my meal...knowing what i had left in the bathroom, b/c there was no plunger..."

I refuse to divulge the name of the person who told me this story. Those in the know can probably guess who this was, but for his or her privacy, I've even removed the name of the stae in which these poor Thai people were so affronted.

10/09/2006

:-(

Condi Rice loves Saddam.

"Thank you very much. I appreciate very much that President Barzani of the Kurdish regional government has welcomed us here so warmly. It's wonderful to be in Erbil again."

Deuteronomy 13:4

“It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.”

10/08/2006

Whew!

I have been having a couple of laptop problems lately. First, my trackpad no longer works. I am not sure what that's all about. Second, my music is playing all funky.

With the trackpad, I've tried reinstalling the driver to no avail, so I am using a wireless mouse instead. No real problem, but I had gotten used to using the trackpad, and now I prefer it.

The music issue, though, has been a real problem. Everything sounds all fuzzy and weird. My first thought was that my speakers and/or soundcard were giving out. Turns out that iTunes was to blame.

I had to revert to an older version and recopy all the CDs I had copied in the last few weeks. Now, my music sounds as good as it ever did. Crisis averted!

I know this isn't the most exciting post, but it's great news for me.

The interesting thing that's been going on in parallel to my computer problems is that I'm also having church problems. Believe it or not Angie and I went to tonight's service and walked out before Tom gave the message. She has a lot of bitterness (my word, not hers) about how she was treated when she worked there and I have a lot of bitterness about the way the whole missions council thing went down last summer (and how it's literally "gone down" ever since).

I guess I think it's based in seeing what could be rather than what is and wishing that it was something else. I won't speak for Angie here, but there are a lot of people in the church with talents that aren't being nurtured and utilized. And, yes, I mean me here. But also .... Oh, I can't name names here. I don't know how readily people want to be associated with this rant!

How do I maintain my place in the community of the church when I am increasingly unable to get behind the structure of the church? How do I stay involved when I had to walk away from the one thing that I wanted to be involved in?

I am still going to home group (and enjoying every minute of it, I might add) and I went on a "missions" trip, and I continue to follow what's going on in cross-cultural ministry at the church, and....

...but I feel like I have more to offer. But I don't know how to do that within the structure as it stands. I feel like that is closed to me now because I stepped down from the missions council position. I feel like I was forced out of that. So now what?

How much of what I'm feeling is real? How much of it is bitterness based in pride? I mean, I think that I could run the missions council better than it is being run now and I always could have if I had ever been giving the freedom to do what needed to be done rather than mimicking what didn't work. Is that pride, or is it the truth?

I think I know the answer to that. Hence the bitterness.

Bitterness isn't quite the right word, but I think y'all understand me.

But, on the brightside, I can listen to Goldfrapp again without distortion.

10/02/2006

Welcome Back! (To me...)

Yes, the honeymoon was awesome. Thanks for asking.

And, yes, that's as much detail as you should expect.

I am taking a moment to post today because I have something very funny to share. I am aware that you don't know the context of the following, but it'll be funny to those who know some of the pieces.

This was sent to my sister, Brandi, and then edited by Vanessa. Vanessa was on a roll here. Everything is parentheses represents the actual meaning of the words had they been written by a certain ex who shall remain nameless here.

What are the elements of a long lasting relationship?:
A great, long lasting relationship is one where there is honesty in conversation (means: Even though you say you will never marry me, the voices in my head tell me to go get the engagement ring right now!), efforts in compromise (means: you will respect and let me wear my fanny-pack, plus adopt and love your own all lycra wardrobe), passion in feelings ( I can cry on every single date we have and you will think is because I am sensitive and not at all crazy), Trust in confiding in someone (means: I will tell people (other than yourself) how mean I think you are and to watch out), faith that you can go through any season of your own life, and they will be with you through it, because they care for you that much (means: When I am on trial for gunning down several people while screaming the name Brandi, you will meet me at the court and say "now I do love you").