The Morning After

Well, after my first day of school and new job. School went well - lots of homework, but fine. I christened my first day as full-time student by having a cheeseburger combo deal at the school "cafeteria." Very, very yummy, but we'll definitely have to keep that indulgence to a minimum. Mmmm, beef.

Work went well - I was stationed at the info desk. Talk about intimidating. But by the end of the evening, I was actually helping folks find things. I think it was a good first start.

Today in the Post there was a piece on the Weekly Standard's 10th anniversary. Snarky. Read it if you must. What does one expect from a left-leaning publication? Read a good piece in WS about the Minutemen by Matt Labash (good and humorous regular writer for WS), giving some balance to the whole secure borders group (instead of MSM's coverage of the illegal immigrants booster-types).

Anyhoo, gotta go work out and get to school...

Until then, the evening had gone so well...

Last night I attended orientation for my new part-time job. Very positive and I'm pretty jazzed about the whole thing.

So, I was heading home on foot at around 9:45pm, after having just agreed with a coworker that ours is such a safe neighborhood, when...I heard someone saying hello. So, being the trusting dork that I am, I respond "hi" and look where the greeting is coming from. Yeh, some guy from yonder bushes, exposing himself. Now, I just trucked on by and he didn't follow me. I was just a little shook up.

And pissed off. This is MY neighborhood and has been for the better part of twenty years. I like it, it's home and it's generally safe. And this pervert has to show off his sorry, hairy package so that he can get a sick thrill from my surprise. Hmm, if I was a quicker thinker, and had a taser to boot, I could demonstrate
just what I thought of his entertainment. I told Jeff that the next time I go to my job (night shifts), I'm taking a camera and catch the bastard on film - to share with my friendly neighborhood cops. Yeh, dude, I'd drop a dime on you so fast it would make your head spin. Heh.

Jeff, on the other hand, states that he WILL be walking me home from work. Good man.

Update: "Heard" - alright already. I'm thinking, yeh, catch the perve on film and maybe publish his photo on my blog. Bwahahahaha!!! Oh, that's just too funny. Sicko, take that! But also, Jeff's comment about stun-gunning is also worthy of a giggle.

To Friends & Loved Ones...

I know I've been terrible about returning calls and emails. Please forgive! These last few weeks of work have been busy and stressful. But - this is my last week of work at my present position and I'll catch up with y'all this weekend! Wahoo!

Oh, and I just got a part-time job at a neighborhood bookstore; I go in for orientation tomorrow evening. A little progress!

Notice

I first wish to thank new visitors to Ergonomic Zester! It's really exciting to be attracting new readers!

Second, on a more negative note, I've noticed that I've been attracting spammers to my comments sections. Let it be known that I take a dim view of such unsolicited advertising. So, all you bimbo siters, hot stock pushers and the like, be warned - I will delete your comments immediately. Stay away from my blog!

The Dove Misfire

Read a piece about those awful Dove ads – you know the ones – the “models” are “real women.” Evidently, this is code for “doughy” and the celebration of their doughiness. The article takes basically the same attitude I do – no reason we must be assaulted by images of these chunky females that we would never wish to emulate. Of course, that’s not the point; the aim is to make “regular” women feel better about their thick waistlines and big derrières.

Reminds me of a trend a few years ago (could be a decade for all I know) for gyms to hire overweight aerobic instructors to attract “normal” women. You know, not intimidate "regular" women by actual fit instructors. I felt the same way about that whole fad – um, yuck. How motivating is a chubby instructor – all that exercise must not be working too well. Or, maybe it is, but losing the battle against the hordes of evil Little Debbies.

The article mentions athletes (and their bodies) not being considered normal [by "normal" women]. True, those athletes have chosen goals that require a lean, muscled body. Doesn’t necessarily make them freaks.

Point is, I’d rather see and emulate those kinds of bodies than be pacified by ads geared to 1) make me feel better about myself looking just like those gals in the ads, or 2) make me feel good because those chunky monkeys look worse than I do. Either way, these ads aren’t presenting, in my mind, a particularly positive message. Just sayin’.

The Continuing Saga of the Herndon Site

The Herndon Town Council has approved the day laborer site. Loudoun County officials are threatening to block the building of the site.

I guess the former action was inevitable. The latter shows that non-supporters are not going to take this lying down.

Now, you know my position on this: I concur with those who oppose the site because it's tantamount to aiding and abetting illegal workers. And if the contractors want a nice site to pick up their cheap labor, why don't they foot the bill instead of relying on public funding (from supporters and opposition alike)? One word: profit, as in, funding the site would cut into theirs. Now, y'all know I'm for profit - but not at ANY price.

I also find the opinions and rationales of some of the supporters to be moronic and frankly infantile. Here's a time-honored fall-back:

Some supporters of the site countered with accusations of racism. (Washington Post, 8/18/05)

You know that whenever someone has no viable, reasonable or intelligent argument, they can whip out the old racism thang and everyone just magically shuts up.

Now this is a Kumbaya attitude:

Supporters cited the biblical exhortation to love thy neighbor and begged the council not to allow the community to turn its back on its less-fortunate members. (Washington Post, 8/18/05)

Were these folks lobotomized? First, illegals are not "members" of OUR society. They are essentially squatters. And, if these boneheads are SO concerned with the "less fortunate," they can take the next Aeromexico flight down to Fox's lovely country, you know the one, for which we (USA) are the pressure valve. I really don't know what drug they're smoking, but clearly it has nothing to do with the observance of OUR laws, OUR people or with the best interests of OUR country.

And, don't let me forget to mention that I personally know folks who have LEGALLY struggled to obtain green cards/working permits, etc., with all the red-tape that entails, to work here LEGALLY. Of course, they're professionals, thus an anathema to the whole illegal-boosters brigade. Those kind only cry for the undocumented underclass.

This is rich:

They said the problem is not immigration but a neighborhood conflict over noise, littering and safety. (Washington Post, 8/18/05)

Ok I just need to stop this post and go to bed.

Here's a badly needed clue: first, you actually enforce our immigration laws. That means not only on the federal level, but across the board, in every state, county and township. Yes, damn it, it's your problem (and responsibility) too. Then, if there are any legal day laborers left who are willing to work for slave wages, then you can charge the taxpayers for a covered area not dissimilar to a covered bus stop. Feel free to drop the social workers and language specialists along the way.

I'm sure I'll be saying more on this, but it's almost midnight and I have to do some comfort (fiction, mystery) reading. Buenos noches, amigos!

Little Bits

Quick and short bits of interest: news and otherwise. Today's going to be a long, busy day and I won't have time to post more than this.

There's a Sunday Washington Post article that I've been holding onto in order to tell you about it. A day late and a dollar short, as always. In the district a few months ago, construction workers found an intact coffin with what appears to be a 13-year-old who died of pneumonia in the 1850s. Now, the Museum of Natural History is gathering experts, including a clinical pathologist, to examine the body, which is very well-preserved. Wahoo! When I finally get my credentials, this is the sort of thing that I would LOVE to be involved in. I mean, how cool!

In today's Post, there's an article about the iPod revolution. Has two points of personal interest: 1) Jeff just bought me an iPod Mini for a "summer gift" (random, but I'm not complaining!) and I LOVE it (I can see why so many people are hooked); and 2) they mention a gal who works out at our gym in Clarendon. Never met her, but still cool. Anyhoo, I need to finish the article on the metro this morning.

I was recently on the metro, sitting next to this Asian gal. I looked down at her feet for some reason and noted that her toe nails were so long as to be talons. Now, I have see this "style" wherein women will let their toe nails grown long and have them pedicured. Between me & you, I can't stand the trend. I just don't think it's attractive to have toenails so long and pointy that they could be used as weapons. Looks kind of feral.

Well, that was a nice visit, but now I must shower and get my little iPodded self to work. Did I mention how glad I'll be to leave there?

Greenspan Adoration

Here's an entertaining cultural piece among the political rantings here at Ergonomic Zester. A UVA grad decided to do a little painting before heading to grad school. Her subject? Federal Reserve Board Chairman, Alan Greenspan. Evidently, she's causes quite a flurry of excitement with her portraits - they're selling like hotcakes! Actually they're pretty good.

One of Erin Crowe's twenty pieces. Source: Washington Post

Kilgore Knowledge Update

Well, I lied earlier when I said I didn't know anything else (beyond his views on illegal immigration) about Republican gubernatorial candidate, Jerry Kilgore. I had read this about his support for more scholarships in Virginia and an increase in a grant, VTAG, that has very personal relevance for yours truly. Here's a snippet:

He said his proposal to increase the state Tuition Assistance Grant would encourage attendance at private colleges, relieving some of the crowding at the state's public colleges and universities. The grants would increase from $2,500 per year to $4,000 per year, he said. (Washington Post, 8/3/05, emphasis mine)

This grant is THE ONLY FUNDING (besides loans) that I've rec'd to date. And if this guy gets elected, then I could potentially get a better sword with which to battle the tuition demon next year. Wahoo!

Smart & Similar Thoughts Out There

Please go check out LaShawn Barber's Corner for some excellent ranty-mcrants on the undocumented situation. She's even weighed in on the Herndon day-labor place issue, as have your (not-so-)humble narrator. Go Team!

Boredom as Toxic - All Too Familiar

In the Post Business Section today, there's an article that hits home, in a "duh!" kind of way. Read the whole thing here.

Why do you think I'm going back to school? I also think that I cannot stay at a place more than two years at a time. Yes, the boredom thing, but also, after two years you know the place well enough to become cynical and develop a supremely crappy attitude.

So...I finish my CJ:FS program in two years, get a GOOD (Get Out Of Debt) job for one or two years, then to grad school for two years (at which point I had damn well better get some funding), then work in my field, then go back to school for something, then...well, you get the idea.

Cheapskate Brigade

So, CVS is having a sale on its already value-priced spices. Good sized jars for 88 cents. My favorites are Garlic Pepper (excellent spice mix with vast and varied culinary applications) and Italian Spice mix (that just says it all, huh?).

Also: notebooks and composition books are 2/99 cents.

Well, at least there's some good news out there.

I'm Verklempt

More in the Post on the whole MS-13 stabbing saga: more arrests (good part). But more findings of illegalness AND felonocity in the arrested. Yep, bin here for years, committin' dem crimes. Still here, committin' more crimes. Ok, there was one slightly humorous part, the part which states that one of the arrested had a lengthy criminal record (no, that's not the funny part), which included conviction on the "...improper disposal of a human body..." (Washington Post, 8/10/05). Ok, so I'm the only one who found that funny.

So, when are we gonna get rid of all these scumbags? Seems to me we have enough of the citizen-type variety to be importing. Just sayin'.

With the present policies and praxy, the situation is only going to get worse. Period.

The Evils of Smoking

Insomnomaniac weighs in on smoking and its ills here.

Rock on, Girl, you say the truth!

Even More on Illegal Immigration...

- Follow-up on my earlier piece on the potential tax-payer funded day-laborer pick-up area in Herndon: Virginia gubernatorial candidate, Jerry Kilgore makes his opinion known about the issue:

Kilgore said the creation of publicly financed gathering areas such as the one proposed in Herndon undermines the rule of law and ‘denigrates’ citizens who immigrated to the country legally.

‘We face a fundamental decision in Virginia,’ Kilgore told reporters in a conference call. ‘Will we reward illegal behavior with hard-earned dollars from law-abiding citizens? I say the answer to this question should be an easy one: No.’ (Washington Post, 8/9/05)

I say, right on, dude. I don’t know much else about this candidate beyond his being Republican and anti-illegal immigration (a good start), but you can believe, gentle readers, that I will be well informed on his platform by November. Now, truthfully, it would be extremely unlikely for me to vote for a Democrat (again), but I’m not discounting the possibility of voting for a Libertarian or Independent candidate, PROVIDED he/she espouses enough of the same views I do on major issues (taxation, immigration policy and praxy, education, national and state security, for instance). That said I’ll probably be voting for Kilgore come November.

- Read more about the specifics of illegal immigration issues in Virginia here.

- In a related story, arrested MS-13 gang members who stabbed a bunch of students in Montgomery County, MD, are being held without bail. Good. Now, I understand that this gang has predominately Hispanic membership, so it surprises me not to read the following in this article:

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has filed documents to detain one of the suspects, Jose J. Cornejo, 25, an indication that he may have immigrated to the U.S. illegally. Wennar said Cornejo, who has prior convictions, would be tried in Montgomery before any handover to federal authorities. (Washington Post, 8/9/05, emphasis mine)

It doesn’t surprise me, but boy does it piss me off. Not only is he (come on now, he IS illegal), but also has a criminal record in this country. Yeah, where can we get more of these wonderful folks?! Well, our leaders in Washington, federal and local police, in addition to the pro-illegal lobby (racket), are making sure this country is the garden spot for such undesirables. Come on in, the water’s warm!

It’s Ben Kingsley Appreciation Day

You’ve all seen the compact British actor in various and sympathetic roles in movies such as Gandhi and Schindler’s List and I’d imagine, appreciated those portrayals, as have I. After seeing more of Ben Kingsley’s work, however, I’ve come to appreciate his talent in portraying darker and much less sympathetic characters. In fact, he’s quite genius in evoking a sense of pure evil and unspeakable menace.

A few nights ago, we watched the movie (on DVD), Suspect Zero, with Ben Kingsley, Aaron Eckhart (In the Company of Men, Your Friends and Neighbors, Erin Brockovich) and Carrie Anne Moss (The Matrix, Memento, Red Planet). This is a story involving FBI agents, serial killers and remote viewing. The themes and execution thereof were intriguing and the cinematography eerie, other-worldly and sinister, but the real reason to see the movie is Ben Kingsley and his portrayal of a man in the shadows, which the viewer cannot initially gauge as good or evil. What Kingsley brings to the role is an intensity of tightly bound chaos and the sense of destruction wrought should it be unleashed. Vicious killer or tortured soul, huh?

An even better film is Sexy Beast, wherein Kingsley plays a crime boss recruiting a former crewmember for one last heist. This character cannot be confused with the clever, outrageous and funny felonious operators in Guy Richie films (Snatch, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels). Kingsley’s character is a person of such depraved and thoroughly unrelenting evil, that you will find yourself wanting to forcibly extract him from the living – whatever it takes.

Before the character even enters the scene, his threatening presence is shown by the traumatized response of others as they learn of his impending visit. With a less gifted actor, the character’s entrance could be anticlimactic, fall flat or even come across as comical. Not here, buddy. Ben Kingsley brings out the heart of evil and displays it for you. You’re no longer a safe little viewer, removed from the horror – you’re forced to cope with it with the other unfortunates.

That, in a nutshell, is Kingsley’s gift: he can evoke fear, loathing and terror in the viewer by his intense, hypnotic, rattler-like performances. Yes, gentle reader, you don’t want to focus on what roils in the stygian black that is evil, but Ben Kingsley makes it worth your while when he compels you not to turn away.

(Proposed) More Coddling for Illegals

Here's a follow-up article concerning the proposed establishment of an official (and tax-funded) pick-up site for day-laborers in Herndon, on the Loudoun County Border. According to the article, and not surprisingly,

...some estimates say as many as 85 percent of day laborers in Herndon are illegal.(Washington Post, 8/5/05)

Project Hope and Harmony (that really just says it all, doesn't it?), the non-profit group behind the proposal, plans to have social workers on-site who would provide English language and job skills classes to the laborers waiting their turn for work.

Many residents (including LEGAL immigrants) are up in arms about this. I especially appreciate this guy's opinion:

'This is the United States of America, not the Diverse States of America,' said William Tirrell Sr., a commission member who introduced most of the conditions [to the proposal]. 'We don't segregate ourselves in little pods of people. I'm not a hyphenated American. I'm an American. We need to take these folks and make them part of us. But I will not support tax dollars being used to support an illegal enterprise.'(Washington Post, 8/5/05)

Ay.

Taking Money from Girl Scouts

In today's Washington Post is an article about a vile scumbag female who made off with over $4,000 in proceeds from the sale of Girl Scout cookies. Because of the theft, Troop 1868 won't be able to go on their planned trip to Hershey Park. I don't think it's out of the question to wish her tazed until dead.

First, just on the surface, it's heinous to participate (with her daughter) in the time-honored tradition that is selling cookies, to raise money for a special event, then skip town and rob the girls of that hard earned field trip. It's also theft and should be reported to the police and prosecuted as such; however, the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital are treating it like

...the many tens of thousands of dollars of bad debt that accumulates each year after their annual cookie sale: through a collect agency. (Washington Post)

Yeh, that'll work. The thief is - surprise, surprise - nowhere to be found, so um, how are you gonna get the money back? Essentially the Council is writing off the theft. So, the asshead is going to get away scot-free with her transgression, at the expense of some Girl Scouts. Aren't you boiling mad?

This story hit a nerve here at Ergonomic Zesterverse because in my youth I 1) was a Girl Scout who 2) sold cookies (thanks Mom for buying most of them!) and 3) went on trips to Hershey Park. Fortunately, we didn't have assheads who robbed us, just responsible Troup Leaders and helper Mommies who took us camping and other wonderful Scouting fare.

A pox on your head, foul robber of little girls' earnings! Shame, shame!

Screen on the Green

Just experienced “Screen on the Green” last night and really enjoyed it! For those uninitiated (as I was for years until last night), DC does free classic movies on the Mall for about 6 weeks during the summer, on Monday evenings. We saw Hitchcock’s Suspicion (weak ending, I’m afraid, but understand from DH Jeff that that wasn’t Hitchcock’s original intent; starred Cary Grant, which is bonus) last night. The event is very well attended, but remarkably, the hoards were very well behaved and stunningly quiet during the main event. The advertisement screen cover asks patrons to refrain from smoking in the viewing area and for the most part, patrons observed. All I really smelled was citronella candles, which I appreciated. Also amazing is how well people coordinate with their buddies to meet up there. Did I mention the events are really well attended? We had a little snafu meeting up with our friends, but have since formulated a winning strategy for the next time. If you’re in the area, it’s a happening social event, which won’t break the bank.

It's "Adopt an Undocumented Felon Day"! Wahoo!

Read this and gnash your teeth. I'll comment more after work.

Related: Check out Michelle Malkin's Immigration Blog, which documents the legion (heh) problems with unchecked illegal immigration.
--------
Ok, I’m back. It’s late, but I must rage. Impotently, but still. You know, I’m a bona fide AmCit (and taxpayer in the state of Virginia), but my rights pale in comparison to the legion illegals that roam the country.

Case in point, that which I linked to earlier today. Illegal El Salvadorian. Rapes & murders 16-year-old in Virginia. Makes sympathetic, bleeding heart friends at neighborhood “working class” bar. A patron notes, “A very nice guy, very nice…Oswaldo had a lot of friends in here after he started meeting all of us.” I guess Oswaldo forgot to gesture that he had raped and murdered a 16-year-old girl. Guess that just doesn’t come up naturally over crappy beer in a dive bar.

Cut to – tons of evidence linking Oswaldo Martinez to the rape and murder of Brittany Binger…but, guess what? Because O. Martinez is deaf and illiterate, he is “legally incompetent to stand trial” until such time as “treatment specialists…’restore competence.’” Ummm…how long do you think that will take, huh? How about “forever”? If he can effectively communicate with his defense lawyer about his actions, he can stand trial for the – did I mention? – rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl – then he will have a substantial and damning case against him. Whereas, in his present state of sub-Helen Keller, he gets 3 hots and a cot, as they say, indefinitely, as well as medical and dental care, education to the point of his ability to communicate (hah!), representation, etc, etc, etc.

So…what it comes down to is that Brittany’s friends and loved ones, as well as the rest of us in Virginia, will support, pamper and educate ol’ [illegal] wolf-boy Oswaldo until he drops dead of old age (which is just about when he’ll “become competent” to stand trial). Since his own [legally working] brothers couldn’t even stand to have him in their homes (they put him in a little shack beside their trailers), being in indefinite custody of the state must be like, um, heaven or something. He should never have been our concern in the first place; but after he’s committed a heinous crime, he’s our little disability poster boy and ward for life.

Questions:

1. How the hell did he get here in the first place if he’s so “linguistically incompetent”?
2. Could we (anyone? anyone?) discretely actualize the concept of “bullet” and “brain” in his case and save us all some cash? And you bleeding hearts may NOT say anything: you’ve condemned millions of completely innocent humans to violent deaths at the altar of Convenience. Non-starter.
3. Why is this horrendous and depressing story in the Style section of the Washington Post? Eh?