Book Review: Nickel & Dimed

I originally was going to (attempt to) do a well-crafted review of Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich, but if I take the time to that, I’ll never complete it and I’m bad enough at regular blogging anyway.

First the positive:
- Interesting premise: writer decides to try to live on the wages that unskilled workers (waitresses, home/hotel cleaners, department store [Walmart, for instance] clerks) earn to see if she can do it and see if she learns anything in the process.
- She exposes some very unethical (even illegal) employer practices such as withholding a worker’s first paycheck until the second pay period.
- She notes some of the problems experienced by low-wage workers that aren’t (or may not be) experienced at higher levels of employment (e.g., lack of healthcare benefits, being unable to live in an apartment because of cost-prohibitive security deposits, almost universal drug testing as prerequisite to employment, etc.)
- Funny anecdotes about her experiences on “the other side.”
- She appears to have done some outside research besides her own experiences and observations.

Then the negative:
- The reader recognizes immediately that this writer is a liberal, specifically a bleeding-heart socialist. To those of us on the right, this is a red flag: we know what in the end she’ll advocate. Besides, the dreck that comes from that ideology is just annoying.
- She makes comments about the nurturing aspects of smoking that I find vomit-worthy. Part of the whole getting-out-of-poverty thing is making some good choices – continuing an expensive nicotine habit isn’t one of them. Ms. Ehrenreich breezes past this obvious expense and instead philosophizes about it. Gaack.
- Ditto for children. I never buy the whole thing that poor people can’t (read: don’t have the brain-power or self-control to) limit their reproduction. Children are expensive and in having them (in a marriage or not) without thought to all the costs associated with merely keeping them alive, not to mention THEIR future, people are essentially dooming them to the same life and poverty that they currently experience. I mean, if you as a parent don’t have reliable healthcare it’s one thing, but your kids will definitely need it – so why are you jeopardizing their health? Oh, yeah – Medicaid.
- She has a permissive attitude toward drug use – and even admits to “an indiscretion” of that sort during her experiment. She buys and uses products that mask or flush evidence of the drug use. That whole business is not going to lend credibility to your whole argument – whatever the argument is. And drugs are an expense.
- She always has a car (“rent-a-wreck” in her words) during her experiment. Expense. Now, some of the locations she works do demand personal transportation, but she purposely steers clear of big cities with public transportation. Hmm.
- She never tries to coordinate/share living arrangements and pool resources. After all, she DOES have her limits in this experiment!
- The biggest problem with her experiment is that it is just an experiment – she can return to her comfy upper middle class life, while demanding that the government do something about the minimum wage and poverty.

Yeah, I could go on, but you get the general picture. I would give this read a C+ - readable, but there are some reservations.

Technorati topics: book reviews

Let's make a germ, shall we?

Back in my naïve days (not so long ago), I would bring up the topic of bioterrorism at the work lunchroom (ok, it’s more compelling than the latest bottom-feeding “reality” show), and be greeted with the kind of silence and stares reserved for bona fide Martians and the like. I learned to keep my ponderings to myself while at work. No one seemed to think that such things really existed or at least were of any concern to Americans.

Well, the Post today ran this article about artificial virus production. I mean, yoiks. Read it and tell me if you think we all should feel safe and protected in the present world and that I’ve just grown antennae.

Oh, yeah, evidently I left Las Vegas

Yep, I've returned uncorrupted by Vegas. Good thing I don't gamble. Anyhoo, the Wynn Hotel was fabulous, the 120-degree heat was um, HOT but amazingly tolerable without any humidity, The Family (no! not the Cosa Nostra - my inlaws, silly!) was fabulous as was our mini-tour of eatin's around town.

But - now back to reality. Job's in turmoil, sort-of. Don't know about that. Next week is my final exam with the latest class. Whirl-wind class, but interesting & informative, and such a pleasant change from the drudgery and frustration of Chemistry. Never again! So...late August I start a biology class. You just know I'm going to have to buy the latest edition of Campbell's Biology (I have an older edition from an earlier Biology class - weighs a ton, costs a fortune). Really feeling like I need to get serious & save money in a hurry. Uggh.

Well, gotta get some sleep - my new resolution.

Ten Days in Israel - Part II

Hard to believe my mom just returned from Israel a few weeks ago - and then all hell breaks loose there. Well, on some brighter notes than the current events, here's part II of Mom's Ten Days in Israel. Enjoy!
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Shalom everyone!

Thursday, June 22 ~ Tel Aviv/Jaffa

Early this morning, we were briefed/lectured while departing for old Jaffa on the places of interest that we were about to visit. More lectures on places of interest in Tel Aviv. We stopped at Rabin Square, the Mann Auditorium, and drove by the Tel Aviv Art Museum, arriving at Rothchild Blvd.

During the afternoon, we visited Independence Hall and relived Ben Gurion's very moving declaration of the State. We also examined the early leader's vision for the Israeli society. Later, we attended an impressive and informative overview of the amazing achievements of the Palmach (an elite Jewish underground striking force, founded in 1941), at the new exposition at the Palmach Museum. Afterwards, we visited the Diaspora Museum. Along the way, the beautiful Mediterranean Sea was breathtaking, to say the least!


Friday, June 23 ~ On the road to Jerusalem...

Firstly this morning, we departed for the Neot Kedumim (Biblical Landscape). We learned about the ecological and ancient agriculture of Biblical Israel, as well as experience workshops. In addition, we also spent the early afternoon in briefings by officials at the JNF (Jewish National Fund) to learn about Israel's reforestation and ecology programs. We even took time out to plant a pine tree in honor or in memory of a loved one and received a certificate for our efforts!

For over a hundred years, the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael/Jewish National Fund (KKL~JNF), has been involved in land reclamation, conservation and development of the Holy Land of Israel.

Their main activities are:

-Afforestation - more than 230 million trees have been planted

-Sustainable and environmental development

-Land preparation for agriculture

-Development of new water resources; 175 reservoires

-Rehabilitation of polluted rivers

-Building bypass roads

-Preparing recreation areas in the forests

-Savannization programs

-Ongoing research & development programs

-Wide range educational activities in Israel and abroad

These activities are made possible by sponsorship from their KKL~JNF friends worldwide for the improvement of the quality of life and the environment for the benefit of the population of Israel.

Now, onward to the Latrun IDF (Israel Defense Forces) Armored Corps center to view/examine the many tanks (Tank Museum at Latrun), and to learn how Israel works to remain on the military cutting edge. Here, the women in the corps do not participate in the actual maneuvers, BUT, must know all parts and information regarding the mechanisms. They do, however, perform such tasks as instruction for new recruits and also serve as tour guides. The regular military does permit women to fully participate in their endeavors.

We continued on to Mini Israel, a small-scaled, very intriguing, life-like replica of the country. We experienced a unique birds-eye view of more than 300 models of different buildings and sites in Israel. To our delight and surprise, we got to meet the architect and engineers of this pain-taking project, and even took photos! We then started back to our hotel, ascending, via Shar Hagai...on the road to Jerusalem.

Last, but definitely not least, we get back to the hotel to prepare for and attend a Shabbat (Sabbath) Dinner. This means "getting on your finest" for a very special occasion!

Shabbat is a religious festive day of rest, and entails ceasing from labor. It starts on Friday afternoon, lasting until Saturday afternoon. At that time at the hotels, all elevators are designated to stop at every floor. However, for the tourists' convenience, a couple of elevators were exempt from this ritual. The kosher meal begins on Friday, after sundown. Before the meal, the ceremony includes blessings, sharing/saying something special aloud with family and friends, breaking bread (challah bread: a sweet, eggy bread, shaped into a braid and covered with a cloth), drinking wine, and toasting each other. A very fine way to end a long day.

To be continued...

Viva Las Vegas

Ok, don't be too sad, but I'm taking off for Vegas in a couple of hours for a week's vaycay. See ya!

Ten Days in Israel (part 1)

Some months ago, my mom announced that she was going on a tour through Israel. My first thought was, “couldn’t you choose a somewhat less volatile and dangerous place to vacation?” Actually, I said something like that, but she was undeterred. Good for her. She’s back safe and sound with stories to tell of her very interesting journey. The good blogger in me jumped at the chance to publish some of her tales. And she graciously obliged. Here’s what hope will be the first of several segments on her Ten Days in Israel.
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Renee's mom’s Christian bird's eye overview of "The Holy Land experience."

"In the beginning... "

Yes, right from the start, my trip was no ordinary one! In spite of my many flight delays (going and coming [Renee: Mom flew from San Antonio, TX thru NYC to Israel]), luggage "misplacement," having to wear the same clothes for four days (some of the lovely women on the tour came to my rescue, however), I truly had a most enjoyable and memorable ten-day tour experience. This trip was definitely the highlight of my 2006 summer! I don't think anything could possibly top it!

Hopefully, I will share with you and your readers, a day-by-day account, and as much as I can recall of the many fun/wacky/silly-, and some not so silly occurrences.

Ours was an interfaith group, although our very gracious host, Michael Medved, is of the Jewish faith. The Medved tour took us to many wonderful and important Jewish sites, as well as optional Christian tours.

Although, Michael Medved lives and broadcasts his radio talk show from Seattle, Washingon, his father, as well as his brother and family live in Israel. They are all very actively involved in civics and public affairs, as well as enterprising business organizations, etc.

The tour took us to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem New City, Jerusalem Old City, the Dead Sea, Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee, Upper Galilee, Lower Galilee and the Coast Line, Nazareth, and even stayed overnight at a Kibbutz (a communal-type hotel). A very fully-packed trip to say the least!

We visited many historical and holy sites, museums, important buildings, churches and synagogues, excavations, Nasada National Park, The Shaare Zedek Medical Center, a hospital, Jerusalem College of Technology, the Israel Air Force Center Foundation, and we even planted a tree! We also experienced sabbath (Shabbat) dinners, which included their prayers, songs and thanksgivings. All this I will go into more depth about later on in the "series."

I was totally impressed by the bravery of the Israeli people, and their ability to carry on their daily lives. How much they enjoy life, are happy, outgoing, hard-working people, very devotedly religious and God-fearing, often "breaking into song." They're always beautifying and improving their country and I found them to be very friendly, welcoming, and wanting to share their traditions, customs, and way of life with all who will listen. All this, in spite of having to be forever vigilant of their many enemies surrounding them who are trying to obliterate them from the face of the earth.

Another impressive aspect of their society is that because their country is small, most citizens not only have one profession, but two, three or more, taking these responsibilities very seriously and non-complaining, not to mention serving in the military, and doing so with pride! They are for the most part, very well educated and are forever striving for greater achievements.

One of their very absolute resolutions which clearly stands out is: They will always BE! In other words, they will NEVER cease to exist. They are making sure of that! They are working diligently on that every day. Their average birthrate per family is six, and the hospitals that we visited make sure that the moms-to-be are very well cared for and pampered (their words).

To be continued…

Technorati Topics: travel, middle east

On another positive note...

...is a story a few days ago in the Post about diesel car owners who use used vegetable oil from local restaurants and bars in their cars for fuel. Yeah, they have to buy a converter & yeah that can cost a bundle (depending), but the oil burns cleaner and the best part is - it's free. Businesses have to pay to have it hauled away, so they're happy to supply individuals with it free to take it away. I just love situations like this that 1) are eco-sound, 2) creative alternatives to the usual business (esp. the fuel business), 3) community-centered, 4) show that individuals can do the right thing and 5) strengthen my philosophy of/argument for "mutuality" AKA "symbiosis" (not just for lower animals any more!).

Is self-regulating commerce a dream?

No, actually, it's not. I've had the very best experience ordering from Amazon.com used books. In fact, I just rec'd a large hard-bound book I ordered 3 days ago, and in perfect condition. Not only was the shipping time and condition great, but the book was a steal at just over $4 (that's including shipping). The "magic" of it, if you will, is the buyer feedback. I was lazy about that the first time, but now, I leave feedback every time. Why? Because I depend on the cumulative ratings from others to decide from which bookseller to buy (one usually has a variety to choose from) and buy only from those both with a high rating and who give a description of the product. I'm amazed at how well this system works. I shouldn't be, though, because those folks who really want to sell their books make sure that they make good on the deal. And that's what really counts. Some sellers even email you directly to let you know when they're shipping the item - now that's service!

For those of you who haven't used this service, look for the term "used & new" below the Amazon price (in this ad for the book I bought, it's above the Amazon price and called "best price"). You can browse thru the offerings & decide which one suits you. You can pay by credit card and/or Amazon gift certificates - not just with money orders. Now, I've only bought used books thru this service, but I'd imagine DVDs & CDs operate the same way. I've always appreciated Amazon.com for their excellent service and prices, & this is yet another reason to patronize their site.

Kinshasa on the Potomac

Yes, folks, your nation's capital IS in fact a 3rd world nation. We've had some rain and the whole city falls apart. Metro has been a disaster with many and long delays - one of the downtown stations flooded - and they can't seem to get it together.

Last night, coming home around 8pm, Metro first gave no info, then told us to switch sides to go in my home direction, only to switch us back to the regular side. The next available train was, of course, packed. It took me approx 45 minutes to get home. But that was nothing. On Monday, it took me 2 hours to get to work when it usually takes 30 minutes door-to-door.

Drivers fared no better - obscenely slow traffic conditions, poor-to-no drainage of rain.

Statehood? Folks, DC can't even handle a little rain.

Technorati topic: Metro

Book Reviews Galore, Part 2

Virus X: Tracking the New Killer Plagues, by Frank Ryan, MD. The book details various epidemics and outbreaks, the known or proposed vectors thereof and efforts of healthcare authorities (local, federal-CDC, and worldwide-WHO) to stop the spread and treat the victims. The topic is right down my alley, but I must say, this was 2/3 of a good book. I enjoyed the epidemiological discussions & the sleuthing aspect of them. I liked the discussion of co-evolution of species – namely that of some diseases and their hosts – to explain micro-outbreaks (e.g., Ebola) in other species and why some species don’t appear to be affected. Also, explaining why some germ hasn’t wiped out our species yet. What I didn’t like was Dr. Ryan’s P.C. treatment of HIV/AIDS and his goofy descriptions of the epidemiological players (researchers, physicians, etc.) – really gaack. He could have cut down the length of the text some too – at times he just went on and on with the tracking down of a virus in nauseating detail, and I just wanted him to come the punchline. I think Dr. Ryan was trying too hard to make the subject matter accessible for the layman, and it wasn’t altogether necessary. That said, for anyone who enjoys reading virus-hunter type stuff, it’s an interesting read.

I read Prey, by Michael Crichton, right after Virus X, and oddly enough, had an interesting connection to X. I’ll get to that. Prey is essentially one of those race to the finish, running out of time to save whomever type books. It’s about a very next-level artificial intelligence experiment and how it got away from its creators. The connection to Virus X was that in discussing the development of behavior in this artificial intelligence, the book made reference to co-evolution and viruses – how cool is that? Also it discussed “emergent behavior” in a programmed entity (or entities) that might follow anticipated activities, but might just surprise the heck out of you. I found it both a good page-turner, metro-appropriate entertainment, yet I learned a few things too.

For a very different read, try The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd. It’s a bittersweet story of a teenage girl in the civil rights-era South, trying to deal with the mysterious circumstances surrounding her mother’s death. It also deals with personal (as opposed to prescribed) and very interesting interpretations of religion and faith. It also involves a wonderful assortment of characters who this girl encounters on her path to understanding…stuff.

Blowing My Cover – My Life As A CIA Spy, by Lindsay Moran, was a quick, cheap ($6.50) read that we discussed at Book Club (B/C). It details Ms. Moran’s initial attraction to, training for, and ultimate disillusionment with The Company. The author comes across, I’m sorry to say, as a naïve, Peace Corps flaky (redundant?) lefty, who for some reason feels compelled to join the CIA. Well, she believes herself drawn to lying and travel, so she must be perfect for intelligence work! All that said, her observations of the dysfunctional and in various ways outdated (Cold War, anyone?) agency do ring true to someone acquainted with such bureaucracies.

In our B/C, we’ve read a bunch of books that deal with Islam in various aspects and countries. The last one we read was a novel called The Swallows of Kabul, by Yasmina Khadra (a pseudonym – the author is an Algerian army officer). Can I just mention how glad I am to be an American, especially seeing as how I’m a woman? Ok, just thought I’d bring that up. The story is set in Taliban-tormented Kabul. No one is having a good time. Khadra brings it home that life is so depressing and ghastly, so soul-sucking under this regime, that no one in his right mind would volunteer for this “life.” The book involves the lives of several characters – male and female – and how they overlap and intersect. Yes, this book is depressing, but well-written and well-paced, so that you finish it quickly, discuss it with your free compatriots & toast that freedom immediately.

Another in this genre, if you will, is Minaret, by Leila Aboulela (hope I haven’t already reviewed this book here), which we also read for Book Club. It’s about a well-off Sudanese woman who immigrates with her family to Great Britain after a change in government involves the execution of her father. This young woman is university educated, speaks fluent English and very capable, has a mom and relatives who are also educated, and very liberal by Moslem standards, but…that’s really where the story begins. I really enjoyed this book and as a B/C selection is really a stronger choice than Swallows of Kabul. In fact, this last Friday evening, the book came up at dinner with a fellow B/C member and friend – months after we discussed it at B/C – and we had a really good secondary discussion about it. Indicating to both of us, that this was a really good book because it had so many layers and elements to pick apart, if you will. Read it with your own B/C or with a friend and see if it doesn’t provoke some quality discussion and reaction to the characters.

Whew! Ok, that’s it for my book reviews today, but…I’m currently reading Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci’s The Force of Reason. Review to come! Hizzah!

Technorati topics: Book Reviews, Islam, Diseases

If you don't want the answer, don't ask the question

So, I'm laying peacefully, blissfully poolside in the sunshine, when the twenty-something beside me asks if I mind if he smokes. I said honestly, "I prefer you didn't." He replies, "Well, what if I just hold it over here (towards his buddy, who doesn't mind), to which I reply "I guess so."

Now, if you planned on taking the action anyway, regardless of my response, why did you bother asking me? You didn't care about my feelings on the matter. And therefore, that whole charade has nothing to do with courtesy or consideration, bonehead.

My feelings: it's your obnoxious habit, keep it to yourself.

Book Reviews Galore, Part 1

So, I've been reading a lot and now I'm finally getting around to reviewing them for you, dear readers. However, I'm going to have to publish them one at a time because I can't seem to get my act together (read: I regard laying out in the sun to be of higher priority than doing my book reports). But here is one...

Under the Tuscan Sun, by Frances Mayes, is a delightful, if sometimes rambling account of two college professors’ purchase and subsequent renovation of an old Italian farmhouse. The wife narrates – and actually the book is a result of her journal & all the notes and recipes that went into it – and describes all the pitfalls and triumphs (both large & small) in renovating (anything) in Italy. She also describes all the wonderful food and drink that they prepare and enjoy with their guests and family there. I think that’s my favorite part – just being inspired to cook (for me that means “for Jeff to cook & me to eat”) more and enjoy those simple dishes with fabulous, fresh ingredients. And, of course, the wine. So, although the book doesn’t have a plot as such, it’s still fun to read about the couple’s travails (that would drive us absolutely crazy) and their ultimate enjoyment of their Tuscan home.

Heavy Breathing

We were reading quietly before nodding off when I heard what sounded like heavy breathing. Loud and insistent. I asked, “Jeff, do you hear that?” He said “yes, what is it?” “I don’t know – but it sounds like it’s coming from inside our apartment.” At that point, we just looked at each other – a little fearful. I knew we shouldn't have moved to the second floor - now a homicidal maniac has escaped from the "justice center" across the street and we're done for!

I jumped up and went to the kitchen, wherein the breathing was louder. It was coming from the washer/dryer cabinet. I flung open the door and – at which point the breathing sounded mechanical. “Ah-ha,” said I, ‘it’s the running dryer plus clay pots that I’ve put on top (not the metal box of tools) that’s creating this weird and spooky effect!” Whew! Hey maybe we should record that sound for Halloween!

A little lame, maybe, but this what passes for excitement in our world!

On Manners...

...like this seems to be a hard concept for the Washington crowd to grasp. Case in point, we're (Jeff & I) trying to revitalize, along with a friend, our book club. And it's been an effort to attract people to come, but we seemed to be enjoying modest success as of late. And then, this time around, I sent a followup email to remind members of the date and time & to confirm if they were going to show. Well, I got one "oops, I'm flying in after it's already started, so I'm bagging," one who (at least) let me know ahead of time, one person I actually had to send another email to get a response, and a whole slew of others who have never even bothered to respond, period. Now, Jeff & I have hosted the last few times & our friend has volunteered for the next time. So, no worries about the meeting place (um, we couldn't be easier to get to - across the street from the metro, hello?). I've taken on the role of "club secretary" & dessiminate the information each month. The burden on members is essentially 1) let me know if you're coming (ie, indicate interest), 2) buy or borrow the modestly priced (usually around $10) book, 3) read it, 4) show up with some token food or beverage and 5) enjoy a pleasant discussion about the book while enjoying food and drink (most of which we provide). Boy, doesn't that sound taxing! You'd think we were asking for Dom Perignon and their first born.

Friends, I've tired of making effort and not having people do even the minimum courtesy of responding to emails. I've tired of this Washington (although I'm sure it's nation-wide) "college" (reads "kegger") attitude towards socializing. As in, if I don't have anything better to do, then I'll just show up. Oh, but I'll have something else scheduled that evening afterwards, so I'll keep my cell phone on and take calls during the meeting. And it'll be a huge imposition for me to bring some damn crackers, so, I'll buy some crap that no one likes to let you know that I resent having to bring anything besides my sparkling wit. Even though I'll drink your wine, eat your bread, cheese, olives, etc. Clearly, few parents are even bothering to teach basic manners anymore. Few people have any class of any kind any more. Of course, in our ever coarsening society, that's not really valued now is it?

I mean hey, our last book club (some members, any way), unceremoniously dumped us and evidently started their own little group. Mind you, they didn't convey this to us directly, we were just supposed to "catch on." I'm sure they considered their little maneuver totally acceptable behavior.

You know, I used to be careless about responding to invites, and then one day it occurred to me that people didn't have to invite me anywhere, at all - and that I should stop being a rude little infant. Clearly, many in this city haven't even gotten to that point of realization or ever will.

Is this a good trend?

In the Post today is an article about Latino immigrants and how some of them are drawn to Islam. Does anyone think this is a good trend?

They interview women for the article (although they do mention Latin men who've converted) and for them it's about devotion & respect. Respect meaning that which they supposedly receive from men when these women dress in the hijab. I think in this society it just means that you look like nun. I think for many of them, it's a way to rebel against Catholicism & be given specific parameters of behavior. Whatever, I think it's kind of creepy. I wonder why the guys are drawn to Islam?

Anyhoo, read the whole article here.

Home Sweet Home

Two articles in the Post today regarding two different kind of home issues. The first one (in the Metro section) concerned Central Union Mission’s plans to build a homeless shelter in an area of DC that is currently being gentrified from its seedy, run-down former life. Current residents there – both long-time and new – are protesting strongly. They claim lower property values and attraction of the former elements into the neighborhood as reasons why they don’t want the shelter there. Can’t say I blame them. When has the presence of a shelter raised property values, attracted any desirable elements or increased the safety of the particular area? I’d be out protesting if the same were considered in my neighborhood. I pay the rent I do, in part, because I don’t want be anywhere near the dregs of my society. I don’t care how they got there, that’s their problem. I don’t want to be reminded that a chunk of my tax dollars has in fact perpetuated the conditions that those tax-supported social programs were supposed to eliminate. Call it elitist or whatever, I don’t care.

The second article concerns the renovation of old buildings in alleys in DC – to be used as private dwellings – and how these owners are running into zoning problems. DC has an old law prohibiting the use of alley buildings for residences, dating back to a time when there actually were good reasons against that use. There was a time in which there were essentially shanty towns plugged into alleys (without plumbing – you draw the icky sanitary conclusions). Um, but those days are over and the zoning laws have not kept pace with the advent of indoor plumbing and heating, not to mention creative and perseverant home owners (some have to constantly discourage public urination, defecation, etc. in these alleys). Now, these folks are basically taking abandoned or decrepit buildings and giving them new life – and I would think, raising the property values in the area, generally. So…what’s the problem? It’s DC, folks. Draw your own conclusions. Or read the article and draw your own conclusions.

Incidentally, a smelly female vagrant solicited a dollar from me at my CVS. I said no. I should have said, “no, go find a liberal who gives a damn about your sorry, stinky life to give you a dollar so you can buy your smokes. And for the record, this is isn’t Southeast DC, so kindly find your way back.” That, or “so, when do I get to live off your labors, indefinitely?” “Pay any taxes lately?” “A year from now, will you still be in the same disgusting condition?” “I guess you must be pissed that illegal Hispanics are stealing your fire, eh?”

Woman Dumps Baby to Keep Boyfriend

A few days ago the Post (or as Michelle Malkin refers to it, "WaPo") ran this story, about a woman who has a baby in the bathroom, puts the girl in a bag and throws her in the garbage. So that her boyfriend won't dump her. Because the baby is a result of someone else's sperm donation.

To get an idea of callousness of this female read this:

At the autopsy the next day, a gruesome discovery was made, another detective testified. A mass of tissue paper, two inches long and an inch in diameter, was found deep in the baby's throat. (Washington Post, 5/24/06)

The new boyfriend unwittingly cleaned up the afterbirth, having no clue what it was. He had to have an interpreter translate his testimony in court. Both of these winners are probably illegals. Do we really need more of the same in this country? Callous baby-killers? Ignorant, irresponsible peasants? Legalize them? Be legally responsible (in the welfare state sense) for a huge, burgeoning and uncontrollable underclass?

Immigration bill hell

Senate immigration bill approved; in the words of the Borg Queen, "watch your futures end." This bill is going to be disastrous.

National Review Online opines on the bill.

Ignorant 3rd world hookers reject HIV meds

Again, we (as in, the US) are portrayed as Evil Empire, exploiting the Noble Poor. Prostitutes in Cambodia reject trials of tenofovir, an AIDS coctail drug with promise in fending off HIV infection if taken (by pill) daily. They organize and march against the trials, which are withdrawn and researchers thrown out of the country. Never mind that this drug has been thru testing and is currently being used to treat AIDS patients in this country. But these esteemed and well-read sex professionals (read: sparked up by such winners as ACT UP and other outside activist groups), don't wish to be used as lab animals. Uh-huh. Read the whole article and see support for just letting the 3rd world implode with disease and stupidity.

Vindication for conscientious

Here's an article about the local United Way, in trouble again. This time the CFO, hired to clean up things, leaves the org because of spurious practices of her bosses, that they were trying to get her to carry out. She said no. Board says she's disgruntled, but I'm inclined to believe her (without any evidence to the contrary) - and heck, if she's disgruntled, maybe it's because she couldn't do her job without pressure to do otherwise. Let's say, the circumstances ring true to me and it always pays to document well.

This is how much I count as a good customer

Great. I give my credit card to a local restaurant that we've frequented FOR YEARS in our neighborhood and my card is rejected. Now, gentle readers, do you think that it's because I'm delinquent on my payments? That's a big NO. I usually pay my whole balance each month. I'm regular as rain and taxes. Do you think that I'm over my limit? That's a big NO pardner, I know damn well what my limit is and I'm nowhere near it. Do you think it's because I've made some charges that may be viewed as suspicious? Maybe. A large purchase for household items...yet I reported my change of address weeks ago to my credit card company. So...might it follow that I'm just buying things for our new domicile. Yet, when I call my dear credit card company, they inform me that it's because I changed my business phone on one of the sites. Yet, I've left my home phone unchanged. This is the same home phone I've had FOR TWENTY FUCKING YEARS. Yet a change of my business phone is cause for alarm. And they're just looking out for fraud. My ass.

Yes, I'm embarrassed because I'm lumped with all the knuckleheads who are delinquent on their payments, who hope that the charge will go thru anyway as if by magic. I'm pissed because my buying power is being questioned. I'm not going to school full-time to get thru this stupid degree quicker because I want to live like a human being who's paid her dues over and fucking over again and all I want to do is pay for our dinner with my credit card. You're giving me trouble while LEGIONS get away with real fraud. Congratulations. You caught me.

Listen up

Read an interesting article today in the Post about how some (in this case, a priest) are advising Nicaraguans and Hondorans to renew their TPS (Temporary Protected Status) before the June 1st deadline so they can remain in this country legally. Now, whatever you think of the particular legislation (or it's repeated renewability), it's at least a legal vehicle by which some folks can stay and work here. And, it's refreshing that some are making an effort to get advise those in their sphere of influence to do the legal thing. With some of the targets, at least, it's making an impression. However, with many, it appears that there is this dumb optimism, encouraged in part by Bush and his wishy-washiness on immigration, that they can just wait it out until amnesty is bestowed upon them. Like, it'll happen just like that, any day now. Uh-huh. Do we really need more ignorant peasants in our country? Don't we have enough dumbasses as it is?

In praise of suit jackets

Today I participated in a Board meeting where I work. I had the good sense (unlike other times which shall fall into a memory hole) to wear a suit with jacket. Of course I was nervous and started to sweat immediately - however my trusty jacket (dark blue) covered evidence of my (constant) sweating. Renee finally got a clue as to why (besides decorum) folks always wear their suit jacket to meetings and functions. Yep, I'm kinda slow, but glad for the lesson to finally sink in.

Our house

Really, it's an apartment. But this time around, we're trying to have a theme and actually decorate it with that theme - instead of the themeless, half-baked college attempt at adult living.

Just yesterday we received some nifty leaning bookshelves, thanks to Jeff's parents (thanks guys!) and with their assembly and use (the bookshelves, not the parents), the place is starting to look - well - cool. Next, coffee tables from Target on the way. Never have ordered anything from them before, but if they work out, I might be going to the site again. Target actually has some cool stuff.

More on the minimalist Asian-inspired living room as it develops.

Column I can't link to

For those of you who have the May 22nd National Review lying around, there's a very funny The Long View, a satire column by Rob Long, about immigration. I took a quick long at the online version of the mag, but wasn't able to raise it, so no link. Basically it's a spoof of what our "intake centers" look like these days. Sample quote:

If you answered YES to either of the above questions: Congratulations! Your civil rights have been violated and you are eligible to participate in two class-action suits against the federal government. Please wave over a member of the Rights & Services Support Staff - recognizable by their sequined jump-suits - and point frantically to this section until you are handed money.

Clearly spoofy, but then a year ago I wouldn't have believed that illegals would be marching around my country demanding rights. Go figure.

Muslims in American Society

Not a whole dissertation, but a few comments. A few days ago I read an article about the creation/concept of Muslim sororities at colleges. Then while working out the other day at the gym, I spy a hijab'd woman taking a step aerobics class. And, of course, there are plenty of head-scarf girls at my small Catholic college.

Now, it seems to me that these things may be a sign of assimilation with the larger American society and culture, not necessarily an invasion. As long as those proposed sororities aren't havens or incubators for terrorists...you know where I'm going with that...can't Muslim girls socialize and join clubs that mirror their interest and sensibilities? Sure, why not? Can't a woman wearing a head-scarf exercise beside one in a t-shirt and shorts? Sure, why not? As long as both accommodate the other's presence. Can we as a culture accommodate difference in the individuals who make up that culture? Sure, we're good at it.

And the fact is, we have been doing that since our inception - accommodating differences. And yeh, Muslims have been assimilating for years - 9/11 brought the malevolent ones to the fore-front. I guess I just found it interesting and not necessarily threatening, these manifestations of faith(?) in the everyday.

Posting While Applying Make-up

I'm happy to report that I received an "A" for my Chemistry efforts! Yeah! Now, I'm totally free!

It's going to be rainy and 66 degrees out which makes me just want to go back to sleep in my cozy and dry bed instead of braving the elements. You know, (on a another random thought) I think I'll pick up a bunch of umbrellas today as I'm so likely to lose or destroy them. Might as well have a supply.

My herb seeds have sprouted. That's not code for anything, I just planted basil, etc, seeds and they're already showing and growing towards the sun in our lovely southeastern-exposed window.

Evidently, (according to DH Jeff), there's an article in the Post today about backlash regarding those stupid illegal marches. I'll have to link to it later, but must scurry to work.

Ciao!

Later: here's the link to the story referred to above. Shows all immigrants are not of the same mind as the marchers.

Phone Calls, Meetings, Double Booking & Tai Shan

I don't really like talking on the phone. I actually run out of things to say & if I like the person would much rather be chatting with them in person over wine and cheese. If I don't really care for the person, then a brief email would suffice. Come to think of it, emails suffice in most situations. There's a limit to my attention span - to my own ramblings as well - and I find it hard to just listen without actually seeing the person.

Mostly, this is how I feel about meetings in general. Most discussion items can effectively be covered in an email. There's no need for me to actually see you face to face. Now, if I like you then the wine-n-cheese model works just fine (or should) and we can cover business in about the first 2 minutes, then proceed to gossip, chatting, and in-depth analysis of the themes of redemption in the series "Angel." Truthfully, that last part only applies to DH Jeff, but I'm willing to entertain others' participation. Hey, I was a religion major, but I guess then we were discussing dharma and cosmology. Same deal, really. Meetings that go for more than 30 minutes (well, really, 15 minutes) really just try my patience and make me sleepy. Especially when the whole point of the meeting is to make yourself seem more important than the insect you really are - and aren't we all in the big scheme of things? To think otherwise is to kid yourself.

Now, there is another thing that's come up lately in my human interactions that I find rather offensive. That is the whole "double-booking" concept. A friend gets together with you only to have to rush off to some party or other get-together. That just makes me think that the next thing is so much more fun and interesting than being with me and mine. And if that's the case, then please, by all means, don't bother with me - go straight to your party or other plans. Frankly, it's insulting. No one has to feel that they are obligated to spend any amount of time with me. It's also a bit self-important - that you're such a hot commodity that you can afford to be rude.

On a much brighter note, DH Jeff, his folks & I went to see Tai Shan this weekend & we got a good glimpse of the little furry tike trundling about with his mom. So cute...and yet he offered a telepathic koan for our enlightenment. Such an evolved creature - it only appears that nothing's going on but bamboo-eating! Ok, if this paragraph didn't make any sense to you, stop at "...afford to be rude." It's a thing.

Free at Last!!!

I am now DONE with Chemistry!!! Yippee! I'll have to wait for next week for my grade, but it's DONE!!!

The last few weeks could not have been more stressful (without a complete nervous breakdown) with the move (of apts), starting a new job, trying to finish up with the class. At the end, I was so unmotivated to do the homework, labs, etc. But did I mention that it's done?

Back to some semblance of normalcy, regular work hours, regular workouts, decorating and perhaps enjoying life a little.

Whew!

Rant o' the Day

I had a mini-meltdown in chem lab this morning because I was so disgusted with the poor quality of the lab manual (the professor writes these) and of having to keep correcting old lab reports whereas if I knew how to do them in the first place, I would have done them right in the first place. And I guess I'm supposed to be happy about paying $2500 for this crap. Bonus: I have an exam tomorrow morning that I'm really uneasy about. My professor brags about putting them together in 15 minutes. No doubt there will be mistakes in her test or perhaps unsolvable problems. But who cares? She still has a job.

Yesterday it took me an hour to ride home in a cab from work because the marching illegals were clogging the metro & creating traffic problems. Metro spoke only Spanish over the intercom. Made me feel like I was in a third world shithole. Wait awhile, and it shall be so. These boneheads have no right to protest anything in this country - let them go back to their own screwed up countries and try protesting there. Plus, most of our "leaders" aren't doing a damn thing about this problem, just allowing it to get worse. The Post gleefully reported on how our illegals feel politically empowered. I'm not linking to any of these pieces - if you're that interested, go find them yourself.

I'm as stressed out as I can be, yet, I must head to work and look happy...then rush home and cram for this test. Is all my effort worth it? I'm thinking not.

Can you see why I'm livid - and despairing?

Today in the Washington Post is a front-page article about the immigrant protests against the legislation to tighten up immigration (starting with, maybe, actually enforcing existing laws?). I read the first few lines and saw the photo of these morons waving the Mexican flag in my country - and saw red. Why?

1. If you're in this country illegally, you have no right to protest anything.
2. If Mexico is so wonderful and you're so loyal, go back now and pull this crap there.
3. I understand that there has been burning of the American flag. If you hate this country so much, leave now. You're essentially burning what we stand for anyway every moment you're in this country without legal right, without buy-in or personal obligation to the WHOLE (read: legal and loyal) American thang.

4. Just because you've squatted here for a long time doesn't make you deserving of any consideration.

5. Although there have been efforts by some of the elected to shore up immigration law and security, our weak president and others still cling to this absurd Guest Worker program business. Absurd because it'll end up to be status quo: porous borders, no control over who comes in, etc.

Ok, I have to go to Chem lab. Read the whole article if you can stomach it.

Some interesting bits

1. In the Outlook section of the Post today is a piece called, "Marriage is for White People," which is actually an insightful look at why African Americans, especially women, are less likely to marry than their caucasian counterparts.

2. Also in the Outlook section (p.B2), a breakdown of the illegals' demographics, from Pew Hispanic Center. For some reason, I can't find a link to this from the online version. Here are the stats:

Solo, unaccompanied:
Male: 2.4 million
Female: 0.73 million

With spouses and/or children:
Male: 3.0 million
Female: 3.1 million

Children:
Unauthorized migrant children: 1.8 million
US citizen children: 3.1 million

3. Many of us grew up with the good night phrase "don't let the bed bugs bite" and thought that was pretty quaint. The Post Travel section gives a run-down on the very real and extant bed bugs, with some icky photos (at least in the print version).

Too tired & impatient to blog

This damn system is SO SLOW. By system, I mean AOL, BlOGGER, etc. By the time I get some movement, I've completely lost the motivation to blog. I mean, there are plenty of articles about my hot topics: illegal immigration, "drugs are dumb", etc.

Ok, since I'll probably never get to my insightful book reviews (I'm really tired but would like to do book reviews, but I need some sleep...), I might as well give some links to articles of the day:

illegals march w/impunity - they're here illegally, yet they demand rights. hmmmm. why don't they demand rights and consideration in their respective countries? oh, right - because they're countries are a bunch of corrupt shit-holes that issue pamphlets on how to get the most out of the U.S. welfare system - and our leadership does everything to reinforce that attitude. Shame, Republicans (not all), shame!

Snarky illegals and the true patriots (Minutemen) who oppose them and aforementioned non-existent Republican leadership. Article. For the Post, actually pretty even-handed.

Meth addicts. You just couldn't invent people this stupid. Even cocaine takes a while to make you look that bad. Law enforcement. More of wishful thinking. Get this straight: for all you dumbasses who are espousing the whole "drug addiction as disease" number, you can pay for all the damage these morons (choose to) do to themselves and others. Political "evolution" has made us "gentler and kinder" to losers like this, but we all suffer the price. Some (read: many) of these losers will never "recover"; yet, there seems to be this inexplicable sympathy (read: extortion of taxes) to fund treatment programs. What the hey? Those of us responsible, tax-paying, stable, etc, etc. (name your own stupid virtue), will be stuck with the bill.

So many books, so little room...

Washington Post Home section article details others who have found that their homes are just too small for their books. Eerie. Similarities...to US!!!!

Morning Lost

So, I studied like crazy yesterday (took the day off work even), got up early today, for a test I was supposed to have this morning. I check Blackboard, just in case the prof had postponed it and - nothing. So, I metro and grab the shuttle...go to the classroom...and a grad student walks in and tells us that the prof is out sick and our exam will be tomorrow instead.

So...I wasted an entire morning because of a completely irresponsible prof, whom I'm paying a lot of money for this stupid class and some notional professionalism. I tell you, every day she pisses me off a little more (make that A LOT more) and I lose even more respect for her. Worse, I have to get thru the class so that I can do the full degree, and after this, I have umpteen classes to go, plus what's likely to be an unpaid internship - before I can graduate. And get a real job in my field. Maybe. And probably still take a huge pay cut from what I was making at my last job. And the job satisfaction and sense of mission that I seek may still be non-existent.

And, I still have to find a job for when my contract runs out at the end of the month. And we might be moving apartments a month. No, no stress here. No depression and lack of motivation here. Everything's just peachy.

More Illegal Immigrant Boohooing

In today's Post is an article about some poor illegal who's been here for years with her family, trying to earn a degree in nursing from a community college, but can't qualify for in-state tuition and federal funding. That she can't take a full course load because she can't afford it. Wahhhhh! Cry me a river!

Her hope is that boneheaded Virginia will pass a bill that basically says if you've been here for a long time, you can get an exception to the rule and get in-state tuition. Doesn't matter if you're illegal. Wonderful. What's next?

Those of you who know me know at least 2 things about me: 1) I'm struggling to get through a Criminal Justice: Forensic Science degree so that I can finally have a meaningful CAREER and 2) I'm COMPLETELY against any benefits for people who have not earned the privilege of being in this country. Yeh, all I can get is a measley grant from the state in which I've been paying a shit-load of taxes for almost twenty years (yeh, count'em). I can't even get federal loans to cover my tuition fully. I applied for eleven scholarships/grants with criteria I certainly met and got one small grant. I'm taking one class this semester because I don't want to be in debt for the rest of my life; I have approximately FIFTY credit hours to go. Now mind you, my first degree I earned a 3.89 GPA and that was while working full-time.

Forgive the self-righteous whining, but I'm a taxpaying, loyal CITIZEN/good student and I can't get the support I need to do this degree (And before you say, well, you could just keep applying for scholarships, that takes TIME and ENERGY - all for notional funding). OH, but there's a heap of sympathy for the poor illegal bitch who's not evening seeking citizenship, just legal residency. While she's here, in this country, studying in my state.

This is hopeless - I might as well give up and just work at tedious, meaningless, jobs so I can support all the unfortunate undocumenteds in their quest for the American Dream - without the legality and without any real commitment or loyality to this country. Meanwhile, I limp on and worry.

News items today

First: the Supremes done good by upholding that whole thing about military recruiters on college campuses and withholding federal funds from the colleges who refuse to allow such recruiting. More eloquently and completely explained here. I just love that. Of course, you know all the hubbub came from law schools. Figures.

Second: Federal and DC law enforcement, et al, coordinate efforts to get the pimpin' dirtbags who recruit little girls. I fully support 1) getting the scumbags and throwing their asses in jail and 2) various entities cooperating to get said scumbags. Although, it does surprise me that DC in particular could get its act together to do anything particularly effective, much less cooperate with anyone else to do it...but that's probably a personal prejudice (I mean at times they have problems collecting garbage - literally). Read all about it here. The coordination is a positive thing, but when you read about the m.o.'s of these guys - well, it's just sickening and I recommend the "tazing until dead" option, but alas, the District doesn't have the death penalty and I doubt they would taze them anyway. Bummer.

Cell Phone Bandit will be doing some time

Saturday's Washington Post informed us that the (female) Cell Phone Bandit is sentenced to twelve years in the pokey. Bwahahaha! Dumbass. Yep both she (Candice Martinez) and her accomplice (Dave Williams), 20 and 19 y/o respectively, will be doing some serious time thanks to a one Judge Gerald Bruce Lee who put his thing down not once but twice in this case (charged separately). It's refreshing that a judge these days actually metes out punishment appropriately, instead of coddling criminals. Too bad these two boneheads chose to ruin their lives, now they're all sad and apologetic. Hahaha. Did I mention laughing and pointing? Only down side is we'll have to support their stupid asses during their punishment, but you can't have everything, can you?

An observation and a few pet peeves

If you want to try whiskey/scotch, drink it neat. Ice really messes up the flavor. Don't put soda in it either - it's gross.

A perennial favorite - slow and/or clueless people on the metro: move like you have a purpose, that you realize there are other people behind you, and that no one died and made you deity. Don't ever stand on the left, period. Further: don't do that and get miffed because others (who have a purpose and direction) are brushing past you looking very irritated. They have a reason.

Next: if you are at a store or stand-in-line restaurant (Cosi comes to mind) at a busy time, do NOT stand there counting out your change in pennies (or rooting around your purse/pockets for change) while herds of other customers are waiting. This would seem to be common sense, but alas, I see it on a regular basis. As in "I'm the only important customer here and everyone will just have to wait for my precious self to locate notional exact change." I'm surprised there haven't been violent incidents over this sort of behavior.

Finally, when I order a grande soy latte, don't give a grande hot soy milk, mkay? Clean out the ears and pretend you want to keep this job.

That's all for now. End communication.

Mystery Book Reviews

Read two mysteries lately with distinctly different responses to them. The first was Murder at The National Cathedral, by Margaret Truman and the second was The Sinister Pig, by Tony Hillerman. The former was nominally entertaining – set as it was in good ol’ Washington, DC – having to do with a possible conspiracy within the church – bigger picture stuff – that ultimately, in my opinion, fell flat. And the characters fell flat. I really wasn’t drawn into their plights, their lives, etc. Normally, a mystery involving the church, whether it be Catholic or other, is very compelling, but this was a let-down. Also, Truman’s heavy-handed characterization of characters based on their political bent was off-putting (e.g., conservative preacher is painted as by-the-book, unyielding, uncaring, more concerned with obedience to rules than caring about “the little people.”)

Hillerman’s book, on the other hand, had the effect of coming home to people you know and like, of becoming immediately engaged in their situations, loves, etc. Of course, I have the benefit of having read other Hillerman books prior – but one doesn’t voluntarily read multiple books from one author if they’re not enjoyable. And his stuff is good – one gets some idea of Navajo culture, how it relates to neighboring cultures, and how it’s expressed/experienced by the characters. Jim Chee, Joe Leaphorn. Good characters. If you haven't already read some of his stuff, give it a go!

Some charming news items...

Ah, I love my fellow man - um, mostly not so much. Anyhoo, reading the Post Metro section (my mistake) and came across these gems:

Asshead MS-13 members (I mean "suspected" members) caught robbing a brothel (run out of an apartment - evidently it's a trend) and having raped one of the workers. Undercover cop lady on an unrelated assignment, gets dragged into the apartment by said "suspected" gang members in their kind-hearted attempt to spread the love. She called her back-up and those alleged gang dudes were so busted. Read all about it here.

Woman kicks and punches to death her adopted two-year-old Russian daughter. She did this because the girl "...was not behaving and not listening and just crying." Because, you know that a good kicking and punching really makes 2-year-olds stop crying and behave. Of course, all you parents out there know this. Wow, there are no words sufficient...to describe what should be done to this heinous individual; prosecuter recommends 40 years in the slammer. Heh. Good. Full story here.

Cop fatally shoots drug dealer after drug dealer stabs another cop. Shooting cop is placed on administrative leave pending investigation. Huh? Well, DH Jeff says this is standard operating procedure. Hopefully, this is a formality and the officer will be allowed to return to duty within the day. Personally, who's really going to miss some scumbag pusher? Read all about it here.

Streams of Unconsciousness

So, you thought I'd given up on my blogging life, eh? Nah.

Got a 94% on that Chemistry test - no one more surprised (and pleased) than me!

Teacher got me royally pissed (as opposed to just commonly pissed) the other morning by starting the class early with no prior notification thereof. I walked in on time to find her whisking thru her transparencies.

Now we're gearing up for another exam. Oh joy.

I've come to a realization after having bored to death a guest with a rambling diatribe about abortion, fueled by way too much wine. Yeh, I should watch the amount I drink, but more importantly, I should drop that subject permanently. There is absolutely no point in bringing it up. I have my values, they have theirs - and never the twain shall meet. But, if it were truly a personal and private choice (to kill your kid), then no red cent of mine should ever go to supporting (any) abortion (e.g., healthcare/insurance that covers abortion, etc). Your mistake, your bill. Fat chance!

War on drugs? Same thing. Just a way for our govt to spend a huge amount of (our) money and man-power for no appreciable benefit. The constant is that Americans love their drugs & will find other means of acquiring them or, they'll just make them at home. Then demand that there be all sorts of "free" rehabilitation to salvage their useless lives. Your mistake, your bill. Nope, we pay for that too.

Wars run and international policies hatched, having the effect akin to creating antibiotic resistant strains of tuberculosis by sharing your meds. We pay on myriad levels for that, believe me.

I think I'm going to try to ignore all these things, adopt a positive if self-absorbed mental state, and attempt to make enough money to go to school and continue dining out when I want. Blah. My fury at these issues and how they're dealt with serves only to give me stomachaches (I've had a lot of those lately, but I suspect partly due to the gallons of coffee I drink daily, and the consequent erosion of my stomach lining). Anyhoo, there it is. Rambling diatribe sans alcohol.

Blah, blah, blah!

Still limping thru Chemistry class. Took first exam of semester on Thurs. Studied alot; pulled out hair; swore a blue streak. How'd I do? Anyone's guess. We'll see this week.

Liberal at the Post (heh) weighing in about the "hoopla" over putting in writing and law limits to damned illegals' acquisition of higher education in VA. About what you'd expect. Can't find story right now...will try tomorrow...

Tech guy at work acquired U.S. citizenship. Nice to see someone actually caring enough to become a citizen instead of just sneaking in the back door and grabbing what he can.

We socialized during the weekend and it was nice! Going to restart book club thank goodness.

Lots to say, no time to say it. Gotta go start Chem homework...

Life is getting cheaper by the minute

Post story: 38-yr-old grandmother shakes 5-DAY-OLD baby to death. Now, who of you thinks it's acceptable (and effective) to shake a newborn roughly in an attempt to quiet her? Clearly, these folks do. Except, a baby that small tends to inconveniently (or conveniently) die on you, suffering "...bleeding retinas and bruising on the brain." But hey, all part of the culture, eh? The mother is 19-yrs-old and was evidently present at the time of the shaking. Jeeze, that says it all, doesn't it? You know, a more cynical person (heh) might say, natural selection in practice...except the two perpetrators are still alive. And only one charged with anything.

Don't worry, though, I'm sure she'll get off and don't forget, at 38, she can create more children she won't raise with an ounce of sense. And her wonderful daughter, who clearly didn't raise a finger to stop the slaughter, still can squeeze out plenty of pups to kill. Why get all upset? The victims can't fight back.

The Las Vegas Story

Finally. Ok, here's the deal. Neither Jeff nor I are gamblers. We do, however, enjoy good food, accommodations, service, shows and hiking.

My lovely Jeff arranged everything. And boy, did he choose an excellent hotel! The Wynn is a beautiful, new, very tall hotel that he saw and liked the last time he was in LV. We had a room on the 57th floor, which had floor to ceiling windows with a view of the strip and environs - and a gorgeous view of the surrounding hills. The room was bright, cheery & spacious with fun floral-themed artwork, 2 flat-screen TVs (one of which was in the large bathroom across from the tub), and a bed with down everything. The display-phone shows your name, so does the main TV when you wish to check your bill details. Really spiffy! Did I mention the amazing gym the hotel has? It looked nicer and better equipped than many regular gyms I've seen!

We ordered room service multiple times, twice ordered a bottle of wine and snacks...which we consumed while in bubble baths for two (the tub was large)...and watching Chinese and Japanese game shows without subtitles. It's a game to see if we can actually tell what the object of the show is. Ha! Culture! Oh yeh, and the TVs get Fox News, so you just know we were watching the opening remarks in the Alito confirmation hearings.

Did I mention how much I love room service? The service was so pleasant! They ask you if you want them to open the bottle and pour you a glass, or pour you some coffee, and they set up the little table nicely and chat amicably. The cleaning staff is very good too, doesn't skimp on or forget amenities. In fact, the first night, while we were out at dinner, they came in and turned down the bed AND gave us more amenities.

We also ate at several very good restaurants. Maggiano's, which is a traditional, New York-style Italian restaurant, which Jeff said we just had to go to, and for good reason. Fabulous food, cozy atmosphere, good service. We also went to really good Korean and sushi restaurants, at Jeff's brother's recommendation. I just love Asian foods. Then, one afternoon, we lazily had lunch with wine at one of the casino restaurants. Cool.

We also went to a Cirque du Soleil spin-off production called Zumanity. This was a risqué review of acrobatics, contortionists, little comedy skits, and basically boobies (all apparently real and mostly small, if you'd believe it!). Fun! My favorite parts were the various overhead acrobatics (like - don't fall!), esp. one with a girl twirling multiple reflective hula-hoops while being hoisted up into the vaulted ceiling. One of Jeff's favorite pieces was the pink-haired girl in the revealing Catholic school girl outfit very effectively cracking a long bull-whip - go figure. Anyhoo, fun!

Jeff's brother kindly took us out to do some hiking in a place call Valley of Fire, with stunning rock formations - you would not believe the colors! It was a very nice introduction to a place I wish to revisit sometime soon!

Ok my maiden voyage to Vegas-Land was a total success! I do want to go back, but I'm not completely convinced that we should move there...we'll see!

Quick updates

I'll tell you all about Vegas tomorrow - I'm just too tired to write much.

Good news - my old employer asked me to do some consulting for them. Couldn't have come at a better time! This means I have a little more time to find a permanent job and some money coming in in the mean time. The only down side I can see is that the IRS will extort a huge portion of my earnings. Bastards!

Read a Post article about that book, A Million Little Pieces, that talks about a blog which is saying that James Frey, the author, falsified some of the details in the book. Bad, bad, bad.

I'm really tired, so I'm going to go take a bath. Until tomorrow...

And for tomorrow's entertainment...

"My First Trip to Vegas" & "updates on the Renee Saga." Heh - don't miss them!

Book Review: Jarhead (didn't see the movie yet)

Once upon a time I read a review of the book Jarhead, by Anthony Swofford, which peaked my interest. Jeff was thoughtful enough to pick me up a copy recently. I'm glad he's not a marine, or at least anyone like Mr. Swofford. Honestly, I kept thinking, "what a horse's ass this guy (Swofford) is." And, did I need any reminders that so many of our young marines will screw anything around - and I do mean anything? Especially while they're bemoaning their unfaithful women at home? But these items paled in comparison to the narrative close to the beginning of the book of what evidently was the desert version of a code red, only involving the rape of a fellow marine (because he "...[had] recently been a jerk or abused rank or acted antisocial, ignoring the unspoken contracts of brotherhood and camaraderie and esprit de corps and the combat family" - I kid you not) instead of just beating the crap out of him. I sincerely hope I misunderstood this charming narrative and will berate myself for my immediate gut reaction of "these guys are indeed expendable and it's a good thing we have so many stupid, violent, drunk, sexually diseased ones to throw at the enemy," if that is the case. Then the aforementioned hole-chasing philosophe whines at the end that he didn't get to kill anyone. At least it was a quick read.

Many thanks...

to all of you who are kind and generous in so many ways!

Today, for instance, I went to lunch with my former boss to catch up on the goings-on and the gossip. She surprised me by treating me to lunch! Such a thoughtful thing.

Some folks at my old employ - including some unexpectedly - were happy to see me and gave me hugs. I know, sappy, but there you go.

Anyhoo, these were just the most recent examples of kindness and generosity. Thanks to all of you who have shown me and mine that goodness!

Happy Wednesday!

Illegal-boosters back at it

Maryland lawmakers are introducing legislation that would make driving without a license punishable by jail time. The pro-illegal crowd objects strenuously, saying it would harm them. Jeeze, these folks are shameless! Read all about it here.

Hmmm…more information, please!

This article in the Washington Post on Saturday presents a “human interest” story about a woman, Michelle Armstead, who was fighting eviction from her Burtonsville, MD, apartment for repeated late rent payments. Some of her neighbors were facing the same issue for the same reason. Now, the apartment complex was using the fact that they were renovating the units along with the late payments as reason to evict (in lieu of relocating the tenants). Ms. Armstead rallied her fellow tenants to protest this. The Post characterizes her actions as “a lesson in individual initiative and why local politics matters.” (Washington Post, 12/31/05).

After reading the article, I’m not certain that I am willing to feel sympathy or as the writer intends, applaud Ms. Armstead for her chutzpah, strength or whatever. The piece glosses over many issues and I get the impression that Ms. Armstead believes that the apartment complex owes her lodging regardless of her payment record or others’ ability to pay their rent.

Now, the article states that she’s a single woman (without mention of any children) and takes home a little more than $2,000 per month from her job as a physician scheduler, which gives her a gross salary of more than $24,000 per year. In this area that’s on the low side, but it should be enough to cover her rent, which is stated as $800 per month. The article doesn’t say that the apartment complex is public housing and with a salary in the mid-twenties, I doubt she would qualify. Yet, she’s been late on her rent not once or twice, but admittedly many times. And if she’s having so much trouble paying rent, why not get a roommate? The article also states that she has a car payment of $486 per month. Is that all car payment or insurance too? If that’s just car payment, she may have a vehicle that is beyond her means. Does she think that the dealership or bank owes her transportation regardless of her ability to pay for it?

Ms. Armstead indicates that she was on disability for three months and as anyone knows and can understand, an unexpected medical problem can put one in the hole, but I don’t get the impression that all her problems have revolved around this episode. And generally, I believe, disability only kicks in after one has used up available sick leave. More questions, little information. The piece sums up by saying that her “initiative” yielded “bittersweet” results: she’s being offered a lease after paying rent on time for three months and at an increased rent of $1,008 per month. Now, who among you thinks these are outrageous terms (I dare you)?

As far as the information provided, it looks like the landlords want to have good tenants, ie, ones that pay their rent on time, and I see nothing wrong with that. Further, as much as we (renters) don’t like it, landlords are legally able to raise the rent every year unless prohibited by rent-control or –stabilization rules (which doesn’t appear to be the case here). Now, if the company was in violation of the lease agreements, that’s a different story, but that doesn’t appear to be the case here. I mean squatters’ rights? No.

My sympathies go out to those who have done everything right and responsible – and are being treated in an unethical or even illegal manner, but this article has raised too many questions about Ms. Armstead, by its omissions to make me feel that she has been wronged or that she is laudable for her stand against the apartment.

Updates & New Year's Resolutions

Well, I haven't visited in a while, but here I am again. Lots of stuff going on. Jeff & I had a conversation right before finals about my ability to continue as a full-time student in the Spring 06 semester, as in, having no ability to do that. Now, the good news is that I did very well in my 4 subjects, including the dread Chemistry, but alas, I'm all out of money to pay rent and expenses. If I would continue that would involve taking out the regular school loans, an additional loan for tuition that the fed loans didn't cover, credit card debt for textbooks and a loan to cover living expenses. And I would have a few more semesters of this. So, upon graduation, I would be so in debt that I could have gone to law school for the price, with only an additional undergraduate degree to show for it. So...because I DO actually want to finish this degree, I'm going to study part-time for a year, working at one or two jobs to pay bills and save cash for Spring 07 semester, wherein I would become a full-time student again. This semester I'll take the 2nd part of Chemistry to knock that out of the way.

Now, let me tell you how much this sucks. I'm very unhappy about this and the "poor-me syndrome" does apply here. Big set-back. I question every day whether all this hassle and stress is worth it. And, I'm paying $2,500 (by credit card by the way) for a class that I'll essentially have to teach myself. The truth is, though, that I should have started saving money 4 years ago and dispensed with the scholarship applications. While I'm sure there's lots of money out there theoretically, the only money that matters is that which I have in my hand. So...my first resolution is:

1. get a job or jobs that cover(s) expenses (ie, that pays considerably more than $7.00 an hour) and allows me to take time off for class (a whopping 6 hours per week for lecture and lab).

Certainly, something that would help alleviate cash-strain would be decreasing expenses, so my/our next resolution is:

2. move to a less expensive apartment.

Now, I'm not really all that jazzed about moving, but with luck we could move within the building, although that would involve losing a bathroom and possibly square footage. To that end, though, Jeff insisted that we clean out our store room and dispose of stuff we didn't need or sentimentally want. That was a good start to my/our next resolution:

3. decrease clutter

On a more positive side, I'm already engaging my next resolution:

4. blog more.

Keeps me writing which is good for school. Now, with the above in mind, you can believe I'll be suffering fools and illegals (and their proponents) even less than before. Few punches will be pulled.

This year, I will also:

5. learn to drive

Sad, isn't it? I have a valid driver's license, but need the actual skill set. Time to finally get with it.

Even given the aforementioned restrictions, my final resolution is a must:

6. have some fun and add interest to our lives (trips, book club revival, theater, etc)

Coasting hasn't made our lives fun or that interesting, so we'll have to put some effort in making them better. Jeff's the prime mover in this effort so far, organizing a long-weekend in Las Vegas for our first year anniversary. Can't wait - I've never been there!

Well, that's the skinny. Wish me luck!

Minutemen in Herndon - Yeah!

In the Washington Post today is an article of how the Herndon branch of the Minutemen are monitoring an informal day-laborer site (before the nice new formal one opens - at tax-payer expense!), taking pictures of the contractors vehicles and license plates who come around, in order to submit this information to the IRS. Now this is not something I thought of: that these employers don't pay any of the payroll taxes associated with regular employees. For shame!

Of course, the Post has to interview the poor illegals, to get the liberal-heart strings aquiver, about how because of the Minutemen scaring off potential employers, these guys won't eat today. Wahhhh! Who cares? These guys break the law coming here to work, also illegally, so in my mind, they take their chances. Eating isn't guaranteed.

The Minutemen are doing a job that federal & local governments and law enforcement agencies (that my tax dollars are supporting) refuse to do, and on their own dime. I say, keep up the good work, guys!

Butterstick Rules!

Go! Go see National Panda Baby, AKA Tai Shan, AKA Butterstick at Washington Post. You know you want to! You'll feel better! Click here!

Yet Another Book Review

Read Remains Silent by Michael Baden and Linda Kenney. Fun read for those of us who enjoy reading about forensics, especially forensic pathology. And for those of you who do, you probably recognize Michael Baden's name: he's the forensic pathologist (for real) who's often asked to talk about, well, forensics on cases, on various news shows. This book is a novel about a bunch of old deaths that need to be investigated and an old prof. who asks his former student to help with the investigation. It also involves a fashionable litigator, descriptions of whom at times are a bit far-fetched. But all in all, a good, quick read.

Two Quick Book Reviews

Just finished The Hillary Trap, by Laura Ingraham. Although it uses Hillary Clinton as an influential example, Laura is really taking liberals in general to task for inhibiting and "victimizing" women instead of liberating them, with their (liberals')insistence on dependence on big government as solution to every problem. She makes some very good points that I've realized myself. In general, the book is balm to those of us right-leaning women.

The other book I just finished is The Deep End, by Joy Fielding. Good suspense novel with a protagonist whom you want to slap at times and peripheral characters who aren't totally sympathetic either. A few years ago this was made into a film; I'd like to check it out to compare characterizations. Regardless of the format of the story, I do actually enjoy characters that get under one's skin.

You ask, when do I have time to read for pleasure? Well, I do have a lot of time on the Metro, waiting for Metro, on school shuttles, waiting for school shuttles, and of course, before bed-time to relax with a book I choose! :)

Anyhoo, speaking of time, I must get back to doing a lovely research paper for a criminology class and studying for yet another Chemistry test. The semester is thankfully almost over! Yippee!

Another Book Review....

This one's of A Million Little Pieces, by James Frey. Recommended to me by my former boss at the book store. Yeh, I know, it's an Oprah Book Club selection, but it's actually pretty good. And it didn't take me several months to read it either. Normally I would NOT be drawn to a book about a drug addict, but this guy said it was a good read, so...yeh it was.

Part of the readability is that 1) the story of addiction is SO extreme you wonder if anyone could actually do that much damage to him/herself (so, it's part train-wreck effect), 2) reading it makes you feel SOOOO normal and well-adjusted (yeh, even if you're an obsessive-compulsive like me who worries about everything). Part of it is the (true-to-life) story-teller becomes a sympathetic character, believe it or not. You actually want him to succeed. You may even become teary-eyed at parts - beware!

Ok, enough said, it's a quick read and not in any way academic. Yes, I would recommend this book.

I voted, did you?

I mean, if you had elections going on, of course. I went over at 6:30am, expecting at least a short wait as there has been a hubbub about the gubernatorial race in Virginia. I was 2nd in line. Ok, I hope that means that the rest of eligible voters in my area are voting later today. Cast your vote, darlings! You know I voted Republican (Kilgore, et al) unless there wasn't a choice, then I voted for whomever was listed. The main ones were Republican, though.

Just FYI: we in the Park Lane district of Arlington have very nice touch screen polling machines - easy to use, easy to revise your choices before you touch that HUGE button that says VOTE. I challenge anyone to screw up their vote on this system. Tax money well spent. Although, the last machines were just fine and dandy too - again - not hard to use. Thank goodness we never (ok - in all my voting time in Arlington this has never been the case) had those stupid chads or anything like it.

My only beef is that the signs outside the polling place were in English and Spanish. I mean, if you are eligible to vote, ie, a citizen, shouldn't you be able to read the sign in English? Of course, I have my doubts that that rule is strictly enforced, knowing what I know about Virginia and its lax enforcement toward illegals and such - who knows??? Hopefully if Kilgore gets to be Gov, he'll be more accountable about such things. One can hope.

Book Review: On With The Story, by John Barth

I can't remember when I've enjoyed a book less than On With The Story, by John Barth. You know it's not a good sign when you start a review that way. For a short book (257pp), it has taken me months to complete. Now to be fair, I'm not a big fan of short stories, but I'm willing to give them a chance.

The premise of this collection of short stories is that a married couple is on vacation or something, and is telling each other (or one is telling the other) a bunch of stories to pass the time during a thunderstorm. I think that's the premise. It seemed as though were written by an academic: pretentious and with many a GRE word, vacuous "stories" strung together with content-free banter segments. If that weren't irritating enough, none of the characters were sympathetic; that is, none of them were drawn (more like "sketched" like a stick figure) interestingly enough for the reader to care about them at all. This is a book of banality - overwhelming banality - with the possible exception of a certain criminal described towards the end of the book.

I'm so glad to have finished this book - for no other reason than to trash it to my readers. Now, the reason I picked it up i nthe first place was that I'd read something of his in a literature class several years ago which I recalled enjoying at that time. Word to the wise, if you enjoy all those aspects of which I've described above as not enjoying; that is, if you are a dyed-in-the-wool academic sort, who happens to be teaching a literature class on short stories, you might indeed get something out of this book.

AU Fiasco Update

Read this article about how Benjamin Ladner made out big-time, to the tune of almost $4 MILLION dollars. Yes, folks, crime and a complete lack of ethics does, in fact, pay and how! And take a wild guess who gets to foot that bill - yep, students. Not surprisingly, the students are up in arms about this.

Misc Update

Now that I'm unemployed, I've designated Saturday as "Super-Happy Fun Day," also known as "badly needed stress relief day, that doesn't involve school work at all." It will be a day to go to the museums, try new (reasonably priced) restaurants, etc. So, why am I hitting here talking to you? Because part of the fun is that I get to blog and vent about things!

Panda Love. This is an ongoing joke between Jeff & me: We look each day in the paper for those adorable photos of the panda baby at National Zoo. He's just so cute, looking like he's dubious about all the measuring and weighing procedures. Just so fluffy and cute! Ok, it's a silly diversion, but what the hey?

A Pleasant Friday

Yesterday I headed home without a stomachache, without nervous tension, but with the warm, fuzzy knowledge that I had aced my latest Criminology exam (remember, it’s not called a “mid-term exam,” just another exam) and with the distinct feeling that I had been really on top of things at Chem Lab and . After having lunch, I took a nap. Happy & sleepy was I.

Bush’s Stupid Immigration Plan

Washington Post gives us an idea of the amnesty program (called a “guest worker” program) proposed by Bush. I’m fuming as I’m typing this. What it comes down to is a completely unenforceable system that just means the status quo will be observed, minus billions in taxpayer dollars to support such a program. No increase in border security, no holding employers accountable for hiring illegals. Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colorado) has it right when he says,

Bringing workers out of the shadows is simply another way of saying we should legalize illegal immigrants…Yes, we should bring illegal immigrants out of the shadows, and then return them to their home country.

And shame on you employers for selling out your country! Shame on you politicians who institute and maintain safe-haven policies – also selling out your country!

Anyway, go read the article for yourself.

AU Debacle

A follow-up article in the Post about outgoing American University president Benjamin Ladner and whether or not the university should pay him up to $4 million dollars in severance or dismiss him for cause with nothing. This is the guy who, with his wife, spent lavishly on American University’s dime during his tenure as president of that university. For those of you unfamiliar with this story, while ago an anonymous letter was sent to the trustees questioning Ladner’s spending habits and thus, an audit was launched. You can only imagine the extent of the spending. As a result of the audit and its findings, the school board dismissed Ladner, but now they’re deciding what to do with him. AU is hemorrhaging trustees over this and frankly I don’t blame them. Students are up in arms because their tuition funded this lifestyle. Can’t say I blame them, especially since I’m currently paying an arm and a leg for tuition and it would incense me to know that the university president was living large while I was struggling to pay tuition. The worst part about this situation is that Ladner has this breathtaking sense of entitlement about past and potential funds and seems clueless about what all the fuss is about. I really think that university presidents should understand that they exist for students, not the other way around, huh?

Updated Lunacy

Well, it's not really a good sign when you leave class and the only development is a tight, hard knot in your stomach and a keen (keening?) sense of panic. Yes, you guessed it - chemistry will be my utter demise. I can't emphasize enough how much I hate it. Did I mention that I loathe and despise it? On the more adult side, I just sent an email to learning center at school seeing how to sign up for a tutor. I'm literally pulling my hair out because of this class - and have another delightful semester of it to deal with - assuming I survive this one. Hopefully the tutoring will help.

I made the decision to quit my job at bookstore. Sadly, I could definitely use the additional 8 hours on a Sunday for school work. I'm just going to tough out the semester and see if I can get a better schedule next semester to get a decent and unobtrusive part-time job. I meet with faculty advisor tomorrow to discuss my proposed school schedule.

It's official: school has taken over my life. Anyhoo, gotta eat something and study for 2pm stats test. Pray, gentle readers for my continued sanity.

School Observations

Curious how many of the girls at my small Catholic college wear the hijab. Just sayin'.

The student union burger place actually makes decent burgers and fries.

My criminology textbooks are riddled with typos...especially the text for my Juvenile Justice class. Makes you wonder if some delinquent offed the proof-reader in a fit as a result of Strain (heh. as in Agnew's GST. ok, it's sociology crap already, geeze).

I'm periodically freaking out still. I'm going to quit my job because, frankly, I'm more desperate for that eight hours time than the paltry sum I'm making for that eight hours. Next semester, I'm going to have a much better schedule without so many large gaps in between...which make getting a better paying part-time job that much easier and workable.

Ok, I must sign off and do lab prep. Did I mention I can't wear my contact lenses to lab - so I have to wear my glasses???!!! Beyond that, the lab is a shrill, shreaking nightmare.

Oh must I go now??? Yes. Reactions with copper await my conclusions.

Cosi Issues

This was totally unbelievable. I went into Cosi at Ballston Metro to get a latte before class. I had a frequent coffee-drinker card filled up (no surprise), so I was going to get my free-bee. Only they wouldn't honor it because in the words of the manager, it looked like a forgery. Yes, you read right - a forged stamped card. He said with an absolutely straight face that "see, all the stamps are facing the same direction, so it looks like a forgery." I was not pleased.

Almost every weekend, Jeff & I go across the street to Cosi for bagels and coffee. He usually finds a seat and I stand in line to pay and get my card stamped. I buy 2 coffees, I get 2 stamps. Makes sense, huh? Next week, same deal. Many of the same baristas are there every week, stamping with the same stamps. Does it really surprise you that the stamps look similar? That they face the same way? Well, the bonehead youngster who was so astute as to catch the nefarious forger saved his store a whopping $3.33...and lost a customer. Thanks, but I'll stick to the Cosi in my neighborhood, wherein the baristas remember us, accept full cards without the suspicion, and make an attempt at customer service.