6 minutes well spent

My boyfriend was playing this and I had to stomp into the living room and tell him to turn the bass down.  The apartments across the street would have taken issue with the disruption.

Let me begin with, I'm not really a Beatles fan.  I'm not a big Travelling Wilbury's fan either.  I commented on YouTube  "People go to church to feel this."

Prince makes it real at 3:30 seconds.  I love how Dhani Harrison, George Harrison's kiddo, nods for Prince to go forth and make a beautiful noise.  I never knew what a great guitarist Prince is.  I was always kind of disturbed by his attempts to be unique.

Prince, your ability to shred with such purpose and intensity makes you unique.

Moving

I am moving at the end of the month.

I have packed exactly one box.

I stopped when I realized I needed tape.

Fuck.

That is all.

cultivated expressions

"How's the novel comin'?"

"Fuck off!"

That is all.

Dogs Rule

My friend Paul sent me this picture to "cheer me up."  My boyfriend said the dog wants to eat the baby, but I think the dog is proud to have a bucket on his head.  That dog is saying, "Don't make fun of mah baby hoomin or mah bukkit."

I understand that some people don't like dogs, but I don't understand why.  More dogs are like this than evil or mean.  Granted my dogs wouldn't do this.  My dogs were bred to chase rodents and then later, to be cute.  Dogs that are bred to be cute are unfortunately sometimes limited to being cute.  Mine are great at being cute.

I think if more people loved dogs this world would be a happier place.  Dogs and humans evolved together.  Dogs are the only other mammal that can point.  Pointing is a social gesture.  They will be the next ones to talk.  There are dogs today who can translate a photograph of a toy into a toy.  It may seem little, but humans cannot do it until they are two or three years old.  

Primates have learned to use language to communicate their needs.  But there is a difference between "I want water," and "Can you give me water?"  It may seem subtle to us, but it's huge to them.  I make accommodations for my dogs and they make accommodations for me.  I like my dogs more than I like most humans.  That's saying a lot considering every dog I've ever had shit on my carpet at least once.

Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment is never okay

Is it too much to ask that we not be ruled by a bunch of men, they're predominately men, who try to justify sexual harassment in the workplace?

It wasn't okay when Clarence Thomas did it and he got appointed to the Supreme Court.  It wasn't okay when Bill Clinton did it, and he got elected.  Now Herman Cain is being raked over the coals because he did it in the nineties.

Quit justifying it guys.  It's wrong.  It's wrong to make inappropriate comments, view questionable "art", access dating websites, imply sexual favors are due for anything at work or make chauvinistic comments.  Don't blame my frustration on my period, of menopause or not getting fucked like I should.  Don't threaten me with my job because I won't perform for you or wear the clothes you want to see.

I woke up today a human first and a woman second.  I expect to be treated politely and with regard to my title and job description.  If you want to have a beer after work, ask.  If I say no, leave it.

And for the record, I had to "counsel" a "straight" man for making "sexually explicit suggestions" to a gay man.  That was awkward.  I talked to a woman, and actually fired her for making inappropriate gestures to another coworker.

SO across the board, sex has no place at work.  If you choose to take it outside of work, that's your own business but you risk your job if you can't handle yourselves at work.

Congressman Rand Paul

Oh, and one more thing.  Congressman Rand Paul you don't make jokes at work about sex because you have no sense of humor.  Have you ever smoked meth with a 14 year-old boy in Bangkok?  I was just joking.  Get it?  Did you notice what I implied by suggesting you were with a 14 year-old male prostitute in Bangkok?  Get it?  Bang-cock?!  Hilarious!  You said I should lighten up.  Now we can joke all you want. Get it?

More Cowbell

I saw a bumper sticker that said "More Cowbell."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/More_cowbell

I can't help myself.  I LOVE this.

Boo Boo Head

I was in a meeting with a senior analyst yesterday and she was explaining to us how we are to handle/host meetings.  She gave some excellent pointers like including the path to all documents on the bottom of every email we send or making sure to follow up to all questions and correspondence.

We were using gotomypc to access my computer because I have special software we're using for documentation.  I got a system generated email about a successful ftp.  She suggested I close my email because inappropriate content for the meeting may come up.  So, I closed my email.  I reserve my work email specifically for work purposes but it's no one else's business if my boss wants me to see him when I get back from my meeting.  Especially if it was to discuss a complaint he received about my unprofessional behavior.

While we were talking I got an IM from a former coworker and good friend of mine.  "Hi".

My senior analyst said, "Everyone say HIII."

Then my friend says, "Are you there my little boo boo head?"

There was a collective, "Boo boo head?"

I IM'd back, "I'm in a meeting.  Yes, everyone just saw you call me a boo boo head."

I then shut down my IM program and sat through the rest of the meeting being called boo boo head.

I got a text almost immediately, "ROFL!"  I know she was howling openly and may have needed to explain herself, but she got a tear rendering guffaw out of it.  I got a facepalm and a flush.

I talked to another friend and he said, "At least it wasn't 'what's up f***nuts?' like mine."

True.  That's much worse.  I'll survive but everyone in that room will call me boo boo head for the remainder of my career.

The Hour - BBC

My fella  turned me onto this show.  It's about a weekly news cast in the fifties.  Perhaps MadMen for England.  It's excellent.

The pilot was just enough to let me watch the second episode.  The second episode was good enough to keep me up all night watching the remainder of the season. It's all about freedom of the press in England and the conspiracy theorists that participate in its darker corners.

The way to my heart is through a good plot.  Keep your gratuitous sex and violence. I have guilty pleasures, but I recognize them for what they are.  Hell, I read the entire Sookie Stackhouse series of books. The show isn't much like them anymore, but both are trash either way.

If you want to feel like a better, smarter and more interesting person, watch The Hour.

Link to BBC America

WANT! something different

I am totally amused by the fact  that I said I wanted "Ice Cream Sandwich" by droid and it turns out to be software.  Guess what!  My phone upgraded automatically so now I have it.  Now I have to get used to it but it should be easy enough.

What I want is a badass-er phone than what I have now.  I want to give my phone the ability to rock it.  Okay my current phone can rock it, but the new wore off.  I've had it for 6 months now and it's no longer interesting.

I saw a therapist yesterday and he was entirely too calm for me.  He was a very peaceful man and I need more energy in a therapist.  I don't feel like we connected.  He's probably good for trauma victims.  I'm not.  I'm just a crazy person trying to stay un-crazy.  Or rather I'm trying to keep it all tucked in.

Speaking of weird... my dogs are eating right now.  I give them a bowl of food and together they will eat half of what was put out and save the other half for later.  I don't know what that's about.  There's no competition.  I don't know if they get equal amounts, but they seem to be taking turns.  Again, I suggest they are one dog with two bodies.

I have finally conceded I have to start checking out books from the library again... It is not as convenient but it is free and I am able to be entertained while I work... So it goes I suppose.

WANT!

Ice Cream Sandwich

I should be happy with my Droid 2 but I can't help it. Can anyone spot me $700 + or - ?

OWS disappointment

When animals get involved it's all over for me.  I don't care how righteous the message is.  I watched this video:
Horses "charge" OWS

The horses are freaked out.  I suppose the horse has to have a special temperament to work with the police, but still, they aren't having a good time of it.
The idiot bitches at one point because a horse steps on his foot.  Really?  REALLY?!  What kind of douchebag doesn't stay a few feet away from a frightened horse who doesn't know why its being yelled at by strangers?

No... neither side won this argument today.  I hope that asshole has to sit with his foot elevated and iced all night.  I hope that horse gets lots of treats and attention tonight.  There are certainly better ways to utilize it.

Left Hemispheres: America's 5 Favorite Ways to Ignore Jesus

Left Hemispheres: America's 5 Favorite Ways to Ignore Jesus: via MrsBettyBowers

Hilarious indeed!

Calling it like I see it

In order to protect life Republicans, who have courted the religious right for decades have agreed to legislate a woman has no right to say what happens in her body.

They won't educate her on birth control or disease prevention.  Premarital sex is wrong and abstinence is the only way to completely avoid getting pregnant.

The religious right have provided women with assistance during their pregnancies, but subsequently discard them.  The baby was saved.  That's all that matters.

The girl or woman is then left to fend for herself however she can.  In many cases she has to return to a government subsidized life.  She will get TANF, food stamps and S8 housing.   She may get medicaid.  Her child may get medicaid.   She will be sponsored by the state, likely for the remainder of her life. 

Her child will be hungry.  

Her child will be exposed to poverty and all the destruction that comes with poverty. 

Her child will learn how to live and thrive in poverty.

When her child goes to school he will learn how to read and how to do math and maybe science or history.  The No Child Left Behind legislation demands the school maintain a certain standard of excellence in order to educate their children to the highest standard of reading and math. 

  

The legislation does not provide accommodation to guarantee the student learns history, social studies, art, music, theater, humanities, foreign language or physical education.

The school is not obliged to teach her child how to think critically or express himself.  Music, history, social studies, art, theater, humanities and physical education would teach him how to read and how to use what he reads.

When he gets out of school he will know how to read and probably do algebra but the abstinence only education may have given him a child or two by the time he graduates, if he graduates.  Living in poverty he may have been exposed to other, more lucrative opportunities.  

The republicans don't want kids to have sex because premarital sex is a sin.  They don't want his mom to have an abortion.   They don't want to support a welfare state.  No child left behind was bipartisan, but President Bush signed it into law, and many critics state it leaves all children behind.   And the cycle starts again.

All I see is the Republicans are perpetuating this vicious cycle by combining religion and politics.  We are an enlightened, civilized society but so many people fall between the cracks because of a book that started a world-wide movement resulting in legislation that prevents people from doing more than just survive.  Do you honestly think girls want to have babies when their 14 years old?  Do you think they were really capable of making an informed decision about what was happening to them.  Humans are animals after all.  Oh wait, they don't know that because they were taught intelligent design.

As I see it the welfare state is a self-perpetuating cycle founded on ignorance, hate and intolerance.  

What if we educated those students all year?  What if we gave them the time they needed to study reading and math and reinforce it with history and language and music?  What if we paid for them to go to college?  

They would join the workforce educated and capable of earning a higher wage.  They would earn more money to tax.

In Republican terms, it would be a long term investment.

Economic Injustice

This is the mantra the OWS is using as a platform for their message.  There are very few specific demands.  I believe they are leaving the particulars to the policy makers.  Perhaps the OWS cannot directly impact the 1% but they can make the entire country stop and look at what injustices are taking place.  They can develop their own opinion. Liberals and progressives have been ignored and dismissed too long.

In an argument I had with a conservative friend he said, "Corporations need capital to invest in their companies and thrive."  How exactly will paying taxes prevent them from doing this?  That is why the government gave them money.  Then they turned around and used their wealth to support candidates that would lower their tax burden. How will using that money to help the working class get loans and invest in the economy hurt them?  In turn they will get interest paid on that money and that is profit.

Oh and Reaganomics trickle-down theory was disproved. I'll site sources in a subsequent entry if it becomes an issue.   

Media Contact Information and Tips

Media Contact Information and Tips

If you want to get the Media by encouraging them to keep their sponsors happy, here's a great place to start.

Let it be heard

I love RadioHead.  No really.  I do.  I don't like every song but every song I like has been listened to a thousand times.
http://www.colbertnation.com/full-episodes/mon-september-26-2011-radiohead

How we learn

I took a test a few years ago about my personality type.  I'm an "advocate" like Bill Moyer and Joan Baez.  I was like, whoa, that's cool.  I'm here to represent something.  And then I was filled with "what" am I supposed to represent? I still don't know, but the test was really freakin' cool.

I'm basically an expressive personality type with driver tendencies.  "Hey follow me guys!!" then a minute later, "HEY!!!" Thus far I have been fairly unsuccessful at the leadership gig, but I tried.  My leader was terrible.  He refused to accept me for who I am and chose, rather painfully to criticize and insult me.  So, I left.

I learn musically.  I am the girl you see driving down the highway screaming along at 90 mph.  I played the French Horn in junior high.  It sucked, but I wasn't bad at it.  I supposedly have perfect pitch, but it was never trained.  Now I just howl along and hit most of the notes.

Basically hearing is my primary sense.  I love music.  I love spoken word.  I love audio books.  Jeez, college was so much easier the second time since I could download books on my topic and listen to them while I was at work doing data entry.  I learned a lot and wrote the best papers.  I was able to earn my attitude.  My tech writing teacher was awesome.  Joe if you ever read this, you gave as good as you got.

Once I figured out about my brain <-> ear connection I started to figure more and more stuff out.

So in addition to my last post, I think perhaps the government should spend money on aptitude tests that teach us how best to improve the next generation's chance of success.  I may have gotten one in the 7th grade that said I would be a good writer.  I hope I'm good enough.  I've tried pretty hard and this is the first time I've decided to make a concerted effort. (Yes I see the irony between my ability to hear versus read, but I love words.)

If you like me, will you tell your friends?  I'd like to start a discussion.  How do we learn?  How do we fit?  How do we communicate our needs so that people and the government will listen?  I want to look President Obama in the eye one day and say, "Thank you for hearing us."  Right now, it's just me though.  So what do you say?

Occupy Main Street

The Occupy Wall Street guys have made enough noise to fill the main street or city hall of over 60 (+ or -) cities.  I have read commentary on both sides.  I have read their blog http://occupywallst.org/ and it's a little weird.  I think their organizers are a bit ambitious with regard to the socialist tendencies.  But I think the 1% need to realize it isn't just a bunch of college students looking for an excuse to get out of class for a few weeks.  There are WWII vets, a Nobel peace prize winner for economics, Joseph Stiglitz was there, and there also hipster college students.

This clip is a bit difficult to follow, but well worth it.

I told my boss a few months ago, while discussing Congressman Weiner that I was disappointed because he was a progressive Democrat.  I expressed the idea that even if we cannot get the progressive liberal agenda passed in congress or the senate, someone needs to say what that agenda is.  Very few people lean all the way left or all the way right.  There is a small percentage of the population that is unwilling to listen to the other side.  But most people will listen to either argument and make their own decision.

From the look of their blog I started looking for words like "comrade" and "soviet" or "Marx."  After listening to the YouTube video for Joseph Stiglitz I realized it is more about accountability.

Are we asking too much to have the rich pay as they are able?  Are we asking too much to have the corporations pay taxes?  I don't want to inhibit the deserving from any of their wealth, but all income should be taxed.  Liberals are not picking on the rich when we say they should pay more taxes.  I think we should reword it to say we would like the rich to be taxed at the same rate we are. Does that imply I am in favor of a flat tax?  I don't think a flat tax would solve all the problems, but I think a tax reflective of your ability to pay it would certainly be appropriate.

I suggest a few things:

• Bring the troops home.  I honestly think the Taliban needs to be wiped off the face of the earth, but it is not our responsibility to do it.  Colin Powell admitted he was too much of a coward to say that he wouldn't lie to the United Nations, after thousands of troops were sent to slaughter.  Congress should have pulled the plug right then on the Iraq war.  But it's too late.  Today, we should pack our bags and go home.  That's exactly what Iraq and Afghanistan want.  If we are participating in a conflict because of the auspices of NATO we should consider editing our involvement, but until then, stay within the scope of those auspices.
• Bring all the troops home.  Why are we in Germany, Okinawa, South Korea and the Philippines.  Their economies will not crumble if we back out.  Shut it down and come home. 
• Why do we have so many aircraft carriers? The US has the biggest fist of the planet.  Rather than beating our proverbial chests and developing new cities to float on the sea, let's give a new job to those engineers.  Replace Fossil Fuel.  Figure out a way to cover the south with solar cells.  Figure out a way to fill the midwest with wind generators.  Subsidize everyone who can justify the development AND implementation of this technology.
• Spend more money on education.  The military should be selling that crap we buy so your kid can play the French horn.  If you educate the next generation you've increased the earning capability and the tax base.  (That way we can leave the rich alone.)
• Encourage babies.  There are fewer babies born than there are surviving baby boomers.  You'll need the staff.
• The 1% should be looking into ways to keep the baby boomers happy.  Geriatrics are the next big thing in medicine.
• Subsidize anyone looking to be a nurse, respiratory therapist, nutritionist or social worker.  They will pay for their education.

Am I being unreasonable?  I am willing to listen to arguments.  I am willing to discuss it all.  Maybe we could come up with a plan.  I think the American Dream is a myth.  But maybe we could get the lives we deserve after all.  

Proper English Gentlemen

So, I got an email from Jordan today.  He told me how much fun he had while we were here and assured me that packing my mom really was not a big deal.  I miss them.  It took them about 10 minutes to become family.
The new place will be tight for 3 adults.  The next time they come to visit, I will just put the air mattresses in the hall or something. I can't wait to see the look on Lizard's face when Jordan walks through the door.  I'll have to put together another flick about the moment when their eyes meet.

Once Lu ran away because the door was open and why the hell not?  We were all distraught because we were worried about how Lizzie would survive without him.  We were all so dramatic.   Once I found out, I walked up stairs and announced to everyone we would spend the day searching for Lucas.   Oh hell no, do not mess up my dogs.  Mom came over. She stayed with Lizzie and we walked all over the neighborhood, making and posting signs and pictures.
Fortunately the local Westie Rescue people got involved.  One lady who was the most helpful was also acquainted with the craziest person I've ever met.  (No really, I'll address him in another blog.)  I had to laugh and smile and say, "Yeah, I work with him..."  and act like I don't think he ever acts inappropriately.
When we finally found him and brought him home we were like, "Oh goody, we'll have roses and angels will sing and make a beautiful noise."  And when they were reunited it was more like, "Yo."  They did a nose bump and life resumed as normal.  I'm not sure why I expected more.  I swear rather than Lucas running away Lizzie told him to leave.  I know that's advanced thought for dogs, but you don't know what a demanding little bitch she is.
I can't help but wonder though, when Jordan returns will Lionel Richie sing?
In related news, I found this.  It's a lot of fun:

Farewell dear friend

I let my ex-husband have Toki in the divorce.  He couldn't bear to be separated from any of his cats though he did give up Neko in the fight.  She was diabetic so I fought to put her to sleep because she was so sick, but the ex insisted he could handle it.
Toki got sicker.  He asked me for money once to buy her insulin.  Then he never said anything else.  I never asked.  I divorced myself from him and his life and the situations he encounters.  I have to trust  he did the best he could to care for her.
I still cried.  It's probably easier for me than him.  I lost her months ago.  When he called me I was able to see her for the shell of the cat she was.  She smelled like my dad when he was dying in hospice.  She was dehydrated and would have died soon, but why make what is left in her sweet little heart suffer?  It's sad.  I'm sad.  She was an awesome cat.  She was a spitfire, "just like her mom."
My stepdaughter said it best, I think.  "Toki loves Melissa, likes Dad and hates everyone else."  Leaving was the hardest part for me.  I lost 5 friends when I left and she was one of them.  But in the end I could no longer care for her.
I grew her.  I loved her.  Seeing her this afternoon was hard.  It hurts.  It burns.  My heart aches.  I searched in my heart to see if there was something I could have done differently and I don't think there was.  I took the Westies and they view cats as prey.  When Lizard starts barking at them I say, "No, hon, they taste like pain."
I told Toki to look for "Momma" our cat who died a few years ago.  I did that mainly for Tom.  I don't believe in heaven.  I believe her remains will be cast back to the earth and she will return to us only different.

So, Dear Toki, Farewell dear friend.  We loved each other well.  You were a beautiful, wonderful creature.  The karma police will look fondly upon you.  I hope to see you again soon.

Patty Griffin - Little God

love of a dog

And then there was love...

Tax evasion

Brief lesson in Unemployment: You work.  Your company pays unemployment taxes.  They terminate you.  You file and get benefits.  Your company's tax rate increases based on that claim for unemployment.  This is a rough sketch.
Your employer paid $1 billion dollars in wages.  (In Texas, there is only one employer that has paid $1billion in wages.) That's a lot of money.  Right?  So, if their tax rate is 6% that is $60 million dollars.  (I checked my math with 2 calculators. Yes. $60 million dollars.)  This goes into the trust fund.  If you file for unemployment in Texas you'll get $415 a week for 26 weeks. Honestly, I'm still stuck on that amount of money.  I mean just in taxes, that's a lot of money.  SO it's reasonable to think that a company might try to get around this.
Situation: A company has a contract with the U.S. Government to employee contractors in Iraq.  They pay these contractors $120k per year.  They employee 1,000 contractors.  That is $120 million in wages.  At the same rate, 6%, they would have to pay $7.2 million in taxes to support the  trust fund.
I found out today that a company who employs contractors in Iraq has set up an office in Dubai. A subsidiary  employs the contractors. When they return to the US and try to collect their unemployment they are told because their employer is in Dubai, they cannot collect unemployment. "But I signed my contract in Houston.  I have a W2."
The original employer, one of the largest in the world, is not liable for the taxes. This is a loophole that saves the company millions of dollars. The office in Dubai is slightly larger than a walk-in closet. There is a file cabinet, a computer and 2 employees to manage the logistics of hiring thousands of people.
This CHAPS me.

Okay I'm done.  On a cuter note, I've attached a picture of further spoiling of my dog by my English friend.

Spoiled Rotten

This is a picture of my dog in Jordan's arms. He has turned her into his dog. She ignores us now. She looks at me now only to give the look that suggests I should piss off.  My services are no longer needed. My fella says, "It's a dog. It doesn't care!" That earned him a good hearty smack upside the head. She's my dog and I care. Oh well. As long as she's happy, I suppose that's all that matters. Jordan is happy too, so it was worth the price of admission to hang out at my place with my dog.

Mexican Free-Tail Bats

We took the Brits to see the Congress bats.  The largest bat colony in the lower 48.  Last week the weather was reasonable and we stood there for an hour for a pathetic display of bat spirit.  There I was bragging about how cool Austin was because of the bats and they let me down.  The guys were cool about it but it was suggested we might try again later from a different vantage point.  Today we stood on the bridge and looked over the mass exodus.  It was certainly more impressive than it was beside the bridge.  BUT it was also 105 degrees today.  I sweat buckets.  BUCKETS!  It is Sept 26th and it's 105 degrees!  What happened to fall?!  On a funny side note sweet little Jordan got out of my car and said, "Aww, bloody hell! How do you live here?"  You were warned.  Living in Texas between March and November certainly ain't for sissies.

Deputy voter registration duty

I am going to the US Citizenship swearing-in ceremony in a bit.  It's really exciting.  I think it will probably give me that "Proud to be an American" feeling.  My friend suggested it would exceed my expectations and I hope it does.  As a liberal, I am even happy to register conservatives.  It takes a lot of effort to become a naturalized citizen.  I'm proud of these folks. 
Welcome to the family.  We're just as dysfunctional as your old one but we've got a lot of spirit.  I'm glad to have you.

Sorry Guys

Nothing quite as special as being the new girl in the middle of a huge family evaluating you for potential entrance criteria. I think I did really well. Of course announcing to his daughters that he was a candidate for getting me "knocked up" was a bit awkward seeing as they are both old enough to have two children each.  Yes.  I did feel like an idiot.  The look on their faces when they imagined what it would take to get them a brother or sister 25 to 30 years younger than them was a nice touch.
At least the bickering only lasted for the 3.5 hour trip up there.  And it wasn't helped by our secret desire not to have it out in front of our guests.  We chose rather to nit pick the entire way up there making it a thoroughly horrible experience for all of us.  (Sorry guys.)