Archive for the 'WhatNot' Category

Post Partem.

Posted in WhatNot on September 8th, 2010

It happens every year: We leave fantasy land and return to our daily lives and it just feels so … wrong.

It doesn’t help that today has been a bit stressful. Like the phones won’t stop ringing, I’m having trouble meeting a homework deadline, and someone backed into my love’s brand-new car kind of stressful.

What’s necessary is a trip to the gym - I’m already in my workout clothes - followed by a green chile bacon cheeseburger (no bun - we’re back on plan, after all), a beer, TV viewing, and an early bedtime.

Tomorrow, as they say, is another day.

One of only 358 to go.

Gone Baby Gone.

Posted in WhatNot on August 31st, 2010

You knew the event ’twas upon us!

In My Humble Opinion.

Posted in WhatNot on August 28th, 2010

The second assignment in this term’s English course involves the editorial page of the Denver Post.

I’m looking forward to reading the various opinions of columnists and professional writers (read: those actually paid by the Post or other news agency). That said, I am not relishing the idea of building an essay based on their work and the letters received by the paper about the original editorial.

This is because I think about 80% of people who bother to write letters to newspapers are idiots.

Not that people’s opinions don’t matter, mind you, but letters to the editor usually serve the purpose of a) preaching to the choir (what I call the “kudos” letter), b) attempting to change the hearts and minds of the opposition (the “beating your head against a wall” letter), or c) writing the same thing over and over - usually in relation to the reason in b) here - and expecting a different result each time (the “very definition of insanity” letter).

Most don’t make sense to me based on the above. It’s a waste of your time to write it and my time to read it, so why bother? To see your name? Anyone can do that these days.

This very website is a testament to the concept.

Worse, however, are the comments in the online forums for the editorials page, “conversations” which sometimes devolve quickly into name-calling and outright rancor. I’ve purposely avoided getting involved in such discussions for years, mainly because I witnessed (and was involved in, I’m embarrassed to say) more than a few “flame wars” in the early BBS days. I learned quickly that even the most adult debate, on the most innocuous topic, can and will degenerate into what amounts to a junior high school-level verbal war.

As a result, I rarely read blogs (unless something is just so good a friend posts a link to Facebook) and I rarely, if ever, respond or comment. The only exception to this rule is when I personally know the writer.

I also worked at a newspaper once upon a time, at the front desk, and had to deal with the opinionated morons who called to bitch or worse, came in to drop off their letters. I saw one so often I didn’t have to refer to him in e-mail as more than * (inside joke from Breakfast of Champions, which you really need to read if you haven’t already).

No, I prefer to leave the opinion writing to the professionals, because even if I totally disagree with them, they usually present a considered argument wrapped in a well-written piece.

The letters of * and others? Not so much.

Opinions are like assholes …

The Value of Time.

Posted in WhatNot on August 27th, 2010

I’m having a hard time convincing the love of my life that my time is as valuable as his.

He brings home the bacon, sure … or as I prefer to say it, he “keeps me in the manner to which I have become accustomed.” He also handles all mechanical problems, like cars and garbage disposals, and he is the one responsible for our lovely lawn and garden. I do the bookkeeping for the company, clean the house, go to school, and handle all aspects of our social activities, including dinners, special events, concerts, and travel planning.

I know, I know: I’m starting to sound like a 1960s housewife here when our duties are really about 50-50. But when I am forced to wait to get out the door for one flexible appointment (the gym) so we can get home in time for me to accomplish a few tasks before we head out to the inflexible appointment (the Denver Modernism Show) … well, I just feel like my time isn’t treated as important.

At all.

This is not whining, by the way. Whining would mean I had no way to deal with the issue and that I am simply writing this to complain. Not so in this case - I am going to have a chat with him about it, and soon, because the mad rush I’ll find myself in later will require I say something.

Girls expect their men to read their minds and get cranky when they don’t; women speak up because we’re not psychic, either.

W-OOOOO-M-A-N (say it again).

What’s the Harm?

Posted in WhatNot on August 26th, 2010

It’s a website where you can browse “a list of found stories where a lack of critical thinking has caused unnecessary harm, death, injury, hospitalizations, major financial loss or other damages.” Just the type of site a Skepchick needs on a daily basis.

Speaking of Skepchick, they’re offering pertussis (whopping cough) vaccinations at Dragon*Con this year. I’ve already written what I think of the people who believe childhood vaccinations cause autism, but now I’ve gone one step further and am getting adult vaccines. I’m telling you, too: Get your own vaccinations updated, even as an adult. The pandemic resulting from all those idiot parents is coming - the worst pertussis outbreak they’ve seen in 50 years has already hit California.

And if you’re one of the morons who believes the vaccination-autism link, open your mind a bit and please, Please, PLEASE watch this followed closely by this.

Science eleventy-billion, Jenny McCarthy 0.

George Orwell 1, Fourth Amendment 0.

Posted in WhatNot on August 26th, 2010

The court went on to make a second terrible decision about privacy: that once a GPS device has been planted, the government is free to use it to track people without getting a warrant.

Think you have rights against such a thing?

Not if you live in 8 western states, including California.

Start writing letters, kids.

Bloodletting for God.

Posted in WhatNot on August 25th, 2010

What happens when you stir up religious intolerance to the point of fear and hatred?

This.

Oh, and this.

[Added 8/26/10]: And this.

It’s like the Dark Ages never ended.

Don’t Second Guess the Moments.

Posted in WhatNot on August 24th, 2010

In a 1984 interview with People, [Martin Short] spoke of losing his oldest brother in an auto accident when Martin was only 12, and of the deaths of both his parents before he was 21.

On his parents’ deaths, Martin once remarked, “I never looked at it as if it was a tragedy — that I didn’t have them my whole life. You learn some sense of priorities. Our whole family took the attitude that if you have wonderful moments, don’t second-guess them, just enjoy them.”

Short’s wife of 30 years, Nancy Dolman, died today.

Don’t second guess the moments.

Just enjoy them.

So Sue Me.

Posted in WhatNot on August 24th, 2010

Evidently, people are now being sued for things they’ve said on their personal blogs.

If you find a post or comment here to be slanderous or libelous - two completely different concepts, by the way, and everyone should learn the difference - please notify me immediately.

Not because I’m worried about being sued, but so I can send the offending post to my attorney and have him decide.

Mine’s bigger than yours.

In Other Entertainment News.

Posted in WhatNot on August 24th, 2010

I try to change the channel when Showbiz Tonight comes on, but sometimes I miss my chance. This morning, it was a call that got in the way.

I hung up the phone, I turned off the mute button, and was presented with the bad news that Jennifer Aniston’s latest movie, The Switch, is a bonafide flop at the box office.

Besides the fact that this is not news in any way, shape, or form - a fact I find especially irritating since I’m supposedly watching a network titled Headline News and not The TMZ Channel - I have some rather pertinent questions:

Why isn’t it Jason Bateman’s flop? They have nearly the same track record on the big screen, yet it’s her flop, not his?

I’ve got to change the channel before I throw something at A.J. Hammer’s head …

It’s a new TV, after all.