2/26/2004
Lyric of the Day
There's a sadness here that moves me every time.
"Well, maybe there's a god above
But all i've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you
It's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah"
- Jeff Buckley, "Hallelujah", from Grace.
"Well, maybe there's a god above
But all i've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you
It's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah"
- Jeff Buckley, "Hallelujah", from Grace.
I'm pathetic. And Amazon.com is evil.
I really wasn't kidding when I said I love gadgets. I have absolutely no willpower when it comes to new, shiny, techie, "this will totally make my life easier" gadgets.
I succumbed to the ultimate in corporate electronic leashes today. I bought a Blackberry. For those who don't know, a Blackberry allows you to check your email wherever you go. Its like a pager but for email. Amazon, the crack dealer of the yuppie world, has a special deal where you get a $200 dollar rebate if you buy one. How could I resist that? I'm SAVING $200!
Of course, being the slacker that I am, my purchase is all part of a master plan. At my office there are two ways people can get a hold of you: Email and voicemail. Now I already get my voicemail forwarded to my cell phone, so if I'm out of the office, I'm immediately alerted that I have a message from work. But what about the email dillema? See, now I can be chilling across the street in a cafe or shopping in Union Square during the workday, and not only do I have access to voicemail, but I also have access to email. Genius! No one will ever know that I'm not at work!
I'll let you all know how this works out. The first step will be to figure out how to take that stupid "Sent from a Blackberry Wireless" signature off my email. That pretty much defeats the whole purpose.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent via my Blackberry Wireless Unit
I succumbed to the ultimate in corporate electronic leashes today. I bought a Blackberry. For those who don't know, a Blackberry allows you to check your email wherever you go. Its like a pager but for email. Amazon, the crack dealer of the yuppie world, has a special deal where you get a $200 dollar rebate if you buy one. How could I resist that? I'm SAVING $200!
Of course, being the slacker that I am, my purchase is all part of a master plan. At my office there are two ways people can get a hold of you: Email and voicemail. Now I already get my voicemail forwarded to my cell phone, so if I'm out of the office, I'm immediately alerted that I have a message from work. But what about the email dillema? See, now I can be chilling across the street in a cafe or shopping in Union Square during the workday, and not only do I have access to voicemail, but I also have access to email. Genius! No one will ever know that I'm not at work!
I'll let you all know how this works out. The first step will be to figure out how to take that stupid "Sent from a Blackberry Wireless" signature off my email. That pretty much defeats the whole purpose.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent via my Blackberry Wireless Unit
2/25/2004
Lyric of the Day
"The one's I loathe are the one's who know me best."
- No Doubt, "Magic's in the Makeup", from Return of Saturn.
- No Doubt, "Magic's in the Makeup", from Return of Saturn.
See it. Then we'll talk.
I saw an interview with Jane Kaczmarek (from Malcolm in the Middle) on Extra. She and her husband, Bradley Whitford, were asked for their thoughts on the Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion of the Christ". Jane went off and said "He should be ashamed to have made a movie whose sole purpose is to incite hatred." Now, I like Jane Kaczmarek. She's a great actress. But hearing her say that reminded me of the controversy surrounding Dogma when it was released. Catholic groups from around the nation were protesting this movie, and yet, NO ONE HAD SEEN IT YET! They just heard snippets and decided it was blasphemous.
Don't spout off about something you don't know. You come off as ignorant and irrational.
Don't spout off about something you don't know. You come off as ignorant and irrational.
2/24/2004
Lyric of the Day
"Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there I did not die. "
- Lizzie West "Prayer", from Holy Road.
I am not there I did not die. "
- Lizzie West "Prayer", from Holy Road.
Like it or not, its a great strategic move.
MSNBC - Bush endorses constitutional ban on gay marriage
After all the hoopla over Mayor Newsom's flouting of the law, President Bush has come out today publicly endorsing a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages. Huh? In the wha? Jigga who? A CONSTITUTIONAL amendment?
At first I thought, "Does he/his handlers not realize that the purpose of the Bill of Rights is to affirmatively guarantee rights, not deprive them? Besides, why would he say this? He should have just left it at 'Oh those crazy SFers.' Why would he openly address it and take such an insane position?" And then it came to me.
This is genius. A political strategists' wet dream, if you will. A recent poll shows that, at minimum, over 65% of Americans would support a ban on same-sex marriages. Now I'm not that good with math, but to me, that's a majority. Last time I checked, Republicans did not make up 65% of the population. So there are democrats out there that don't support same-sex marriages. I'm just saying. This isn't an issue that's cleanly divided by party lines.
Anyway, back to my point. In case you haven't noticed, the Democratic Party's silence or disapproval, on the issue of same-sex marriages has been deafening. Senators Boxer and Feinstein have not supported the Mayor's actions. In fact, Boxer is quoted as saying that she regrets Mayor Newsom bringing this issue up now, because its not the time. The Democrats cannot deal with this issue right now. Why? Because its an election year. They need to appeal to the voters in order to win.
President Bush, by openly endorsing a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages, has forced the Democrat's hand. He is forcing John Kerry (come on, we know Edwards doesn't have a shot) to come out and oppose such an amendment. But I don't think Kerry will do it. He can't. Know why? Because he has already openlyopposed same-sex marriage.
Basically, Bush is calling him on it. If Kerry changes his tune and supports such an amendment, he'll be seen as a politician flip-flopping for survival. And if he decides to continue to oppose gay marriage, he's done. No oval office for him. He will have to endure the backlash of the LGBT vote (who now have the Nader option) as well as possible minority backlash.
I suspect that Bush and his people know that the constitutional amendment thing is a load of crap. They know that it would never pass. Its just a strategic move. Politics at its finest. Or worst.
After all the hoopla over Mayor Newsom's flouting of the law, President Bush has come out today publicly endorsing a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages. Huh? In the wha? Jigga who? A CONSTITUTIONAL amendment?
At first I thought, "Does he/his handlers not realize that the purpose of the Bill of Rights is to affirmatively guarantee rights, not deprive them? Besides, why would he say this? He should have just left it at 'Oh those crazy SFers.' Why would he openly address it and take such an insane position?" And then it came to me.
This is genius. A political strategists' wet dream, if you will. A recent poll shows that, at minimum, over 65% of Americans would support a ban on same-sex marriages. Now I'm not that good with math, but to me, that's a majority. Last time I checked, Republicans did not make up 65% of the population. So there are democrats out there that don't support same-sex marriages. I'm just saying. This isn't an issue that's cleanly divided by party lines.
Anyway, back to my point. In case you haven't noticed, the Democratic Party's silence or disapproval, on the issue of same-sex marriages has been deafening. Senators Boxer and Feinstein have not supported the Mayor's actions. In fact, Boxer is quoted as saying that she regrets Mayor Newsom bringing this issue up now, because its not the time. The Democrats cannot deal with this issue right now. Why? Because its an election year. They need to appeal to the voters in order to win.
President Bush, by openly endorsing a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages, has forced the Democrat's hand. He is forcing John Kerry (come on, we know Edwards doesn't have a shot) to come out and oppose such an amendment. But I don't think Kerry will do it. He can't. Know why? Because he has already openlyopposed same-sex marriage.
Basically, Bush is calling him on it. If Kerry changes his tune and supports such an amendment, he'll be seen as a politician flip-flopping for survival. And if he decides to continue to oppose gay marriage, he's done. No oval office for him. He will have to endure the backlash of the LGBT vote (who now have the Nader option) as well as possible minority backlash.
I suspect that Bush and his people know that the constitutional amendment thing is a load of crap. They know that it would never pass. Its just a strategic move. Politics at its finest. Or worst.
Gadgets. Must live with them. Can't live without them.
Three I can't live without - CNET.com
Cnet has a section called "Digital Living" in which they have regular people (and some celebrities) detail the three gadgets they can't live without. My list is pretty simple, and if you know me, they're not a shock.
1. TiVo. Seriously, it will change your life. I've had friends look at me funny when I say this, but it does. You're no longer tied to your TV and the primetime schedule. I don't have to rush home to catch 24 on Tuesday nights at 9pm on Fox (watch it!) or cancel plans to watch Alias on Sunday nights at 9pm on ABC (watch it!), or stay at home on Friday nights and drool as I watch Dweezil and Lisa at some time on Fridays on the Food Network (see? I don't even know what time its on). I can watch TV when I want and how I want (no commercials!). And no, it doesn't make you watch more TV. I watch the same amount, maybe less. But it guarantees that I don't watch crap like Average Joe or Elimidate because there's always something on TiVo that I want to watch.
2. My iPod. I'm a musicphile. I love music. I love lots of music. But I'm also very finicky about what I want to listen to at any given moment. I could think I want to listen to Marvin Gaye's Gotta Give It Up, and then right after the bass line kicks in, I realize, "Nah, its a Madonna Borderline moment." This is why portable CD players never worked with me. I'd have to carry around all those CDs and swap them all the time. Thus, the iPod. Its perfect. It really is. Of course its a total luxury (whereas I really feel like EVERYONE needs TiVo). But it changes how you listen to music. I'm always listening to what I want to listen to, which keeps me in a better mood.
3. Something hooked up to the internet. I really don't care what the actual interfacing gadget is, but I need the internet. The ability to access information in seconds is revolutionary. I love it. I could spend hours surfing the net (and I have). Yes, there are times where I honestly think that I've "reached the end of the internet," but there's always so much you see and learn from other websites. I'm like a sponge that way.
Cnet has a section called "Digital Living" in which they have regular people (and some celebrities) detail the three gadgets they can't live without. My list is pretty simple, and if you know me, they're not a shock.
1. TiVo. Seriously, it will change your life. I've had friends look at me funny when I say this, but it does. You're no longer tied to your TV and the primetime schedule. I don't have to rush home to catch 24 on Tuesday nights at 9pm on Fox (watch it!) or cancel plans to watch Alias on Sunday nights at 9pm on ABC (watch it!), or stay at home on Friday nights and drool as I watch Dweezil and Lisa at some time on Fridays on the Food Network (see? I don't even know what time its on). I can watch TV when I want and how I want (no commercials!). And no, it doesn't make you watch more TV. I watch the same amount, maybe less. But it guarantees that I don't watch crap like Average Joe or Elimidate because there's always something on TiVo that I want to watch.
2. My iPod. I'm a musicphile. I love music. I love lots of music. But I'm also very finicky about what I want to listen to at any given moment. I could think I want to listen to Marvin Gaye's Gotta Give It Up, and then right after the bass line kicks in, I realize, "Nah, its a Madonna Borderline moment." This is why portable CD players never worked with me. I'd have to carry around all those CDs and swap them all the time. Thus, the iPod. Its perfect. It really is. Of course its a total luxury (whereas I really feel like EVERYONE needs TiVo). But it changes how you listen to music. I'm always listening to what I want to listen to, which keeps me in a better mood.
3. Something hooked up to the internet. I really don't care what the actual interfacing gadget is, but I need the internet. The ability to access information in seconds is revolutionary. I love it. I could spend hours surfing the net (and I have). Yes, there are times where I honestly think that I've "reached the end of the internet," but there's always so much you see and learn from other websites. I'm like a sponge that way.
2/23/2004
OK, so I have to get this off my chest.
Since I live in the Bay Area and work in the great city of San Francisco, I was not at all surprised last week with the barrage of emails from my more conservative friends regarding the "situation" in San Francisco. Here now, once and for all, is my POV.
It is one of my fundamental beliefs that the Government should stay out of my life. I just inherently disagree with the Government feeling like it has to right to tell me how to dictate my life. Of course I fully and freely recognize the importance of Government and all the great things that it can do, so don't go thinking I'm some raving anarchist. I recognize that Government regulations are necessary.
But to me, if the Government can tell me I CAN do something, it also has the right to tell me I CAN'T. This is why I'm pro-choice, even though I do disagree with the whole notion of having abortions. Bottom line: It is a choice that everyone should be allowed to have and the Government should not be allowed to regulate.
Which brings me to same-sex marriages. I have to say that in the past two weeks I've never been prouder to be affiliated with the "crazy" city of San Francisco. Whether Mayor Newsom has "broken the law" is up to the courts to decide. Is it breaking the law if the law you're accused of breaking is unjust and untenable? I don't think so. When the law says that everyone has the right to get married except for a specific group, is that just?
Now, I've been to church, I've read the bible and I've heard the arguments. But Christians should know better than to advocate legislation that is based on an individual's moral ideals. Whether or not you think that homosexuality is "wrong" should have nothing to do with whether you support same-sex marriage. If you believe that homosexuality is a sin, then answer me this: Which is more sinful: Allowing two people who love each other to get married, or treating them differently and denying them certain rights just because you disagree with the way they live their lives.
Logic and rationality (two things often missing in this debate) tell me that homosexuality is not a choice. I just don't see how anyone would actively choose to be a member of a class of people who are discriminated against in such tragic and inhumane ways. It is, in legal terms, immutable.
So how can we as a society continue to discriminate against LGBTs for being who they are? It just doesn't make sense. Are people afraid that if we let them get married that they're going to start running around "gaying it up" (CR Tina Fey), causing our children to think "Hey, that looks fun. Let's be gay!" Seriously? Is that what people think? I've got news for you: IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY!!!
In fact, you know what would happen? Our society would become more tolerant. Our children would grow up understanding that under absolutely NO circumstances is it OK to discriminate against anyone because of who they are. Hate is useless and serves no purpose in our society. Maybe, just maybe, we can start chipping away from that hate and be more loving and understanding of each other. Is that too much to ask?
How about that? Maybe this could be our generation's legacy. Less fear. Less hate. More compassion. More love. That wouldn't suck, right?
It is one of my fundamental beliefs that the Government should stay out of my life. I just inherently disagree with the Government feeling like it has to right to tell me how to dictate my life. Of course I fully and freely recognize the importance of Government and all the great things that it can do, so don't go thinking I'm some raving anarchist. I recognize that Government regulations are necessary.
But to me, if the Government can tell me I CAN do something, it also has the right to tell me I CAN'T. This is why I'm pro-choice, even though I do disagree with the whole notion of having abortions. Bottom line: It is a choice that everyone should be allowed to have and the Government should not be allowed to regulate.
Which brings me to same-sex marriages. I have to say that in the past two weeks I've never been prouder to be affiliated with the "crazy" city of San Francisco. Whether Mayor Newsom has "broken the law" is up to the courts to decide. Is it breaking the law if the law you're accused of breaking is unjust and untenable? I don't think so. When the law says that everyone has the right to get married except for a specific group, is that just?
Now, I've been to church, I've read the bible and I've heard the arguments. But Christians should know better than to advocate legislation that is based on an individual's moral ideals. Whether or not you think that homosexuality is "wrong" should have nothing to do with whether you support same-sex marriage. If you believe that homosexuality is a sin, then answer me this: Which is more sinful: Allowing two people who love each other to get married, or treating them differently and denying them certain rights just because you disagree with the way they live their lives.
Logic and rationality (two things often missing in this debate) tell me that homosexuality is not a choice. I just don't see how anyone would actively choose to be a member of a class of people who are discriminated against in such tragic and inhumane ways. It is, in legal terms, immutable.
So how can we as a society continue to discriminate against LGBTs for being who they are? It just doesn't make sense. Are people afraid that if we let them get married that they're going to start running around "gaying it up" (CR Tina Fey), causing our children to think "Hey, that looks fun. Let's be gay!" Seriously? Is that what people think? I've got news for you: IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY!!!
In fact, you know what would happen? Our society would become more tolerant. Our children would grow up understanding that under absolutely NO circumstances is it OK to discriminate against anyone because of who they are. Hate is useless and serves no purpose in our society. Maybe, just maybe, we can start chipping away from that hate and be more loving and understanding of each other. Is that too much to ask?
How about that? Maybe this could be our generation's legacy. Less fear. Less hate. More compassion. More love. That wouldn't suck, right?
Mix Tape of the Week
As some of you may know, I was a huge Debbie Gibson fan. She was my first concert experience, well, at least she would have been had I not been struck down by an unholy case of the chicken pox. Why God? WHY?
Well, upon stumbling on her Greatest Hits album on iTunes the other day (yes, Deborah does in fact have a Greatest Hits album), I came to a startling realization. It wasn't so much that I was a Debbie Gibson fan, its that I AM a Debbie Gibson fan. I'm sorry, but you can't hate on the OG Britney (which yes, makes Tiffany the OG X-Tina. That whole "I think we're alone now" song? That was the "Dirrrrrrrrrrrrty of the early 90's). She's peppy, she's positive, and more importantly, and this is where she distinguishes herself from Britney, she had talent. Let's not forget that she could play piano, flute, trombone, french horn, guitar, sitar, harpsicord, and a mean kazoo. With that, I give you my current Ipod Top 10.
1. No More Rhyme, Debbie Gibson
2. Are You Gonna Be My Girl, JET
3. I Believe In A Thing Called Love, The Darkness
4. Maps, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5. Toxic, Britney Spears
6. Starting Over, The Crystal Method
7. Delicate, Damien Rice'
8. Lightness, Death Cab for Cutie
9. Nothing Better, The Postal Service
10. Mine's Not a High Horse, The Shins
Well, upon stumbling on her Greatest Hits album on iTunes the other day (yes, Deborah does in fact have a Greatest Hits album), I came to a startling realization. It wasn't so much that I was a Debbie Gibson fan, its that I AM a Debbie Gibson fan. I'm sorry, but you can't hate on the OG Britney (which yes, makes Tiffany the OG X-Tina. That whole "I think we're alone now" song? That was the "Dirrrrrrrrrrrrty of the early 90's). She's peppy, she's positive, and more importantly, and this is where she distinguishes herself from Britney, she had talent. Let's not forget that she could play piano, flute, trombone, french horn, guitar, sitar, harpsicord, and a mean kazoo. With that, I give you my current Ipod Top 10.
1. No More Rhyme, Debbie Gibson
2. Are You Gonna Be My Girl, JET
3. I Believe In A Thing Called Love, The Darkness
4. Maps, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
5. Toxic, Britney Spears
6. Starting Over, The Crystal Method
7. Delicate, Damien Rice'
8. Lightness, Death Cab for Cutie
9. Nothing Better, The Postal Service
10. Mine's Not a High Horse, The Shins
The Addict hangs her head low.
A couple of months ago, I kind of went off on Katy Hnida, the former female kicker for the University Colorado football team. While I stand by my comments, that "picking on me because I'm a hot chick" is a lame thing to say, I do have to apologize to Ms. Hnida. As the numerous allegations of rape continue to flow out of Colorado, including her own, its apparent to me that Ms. Hnida endured a horrific experience at UC. Sadly, I have no doubt that her allegations, as well as those of the 6 other women, are true.
Back with a vengeance. As if you care.
Forgive me faithful, for I have sinned. It has been exactly four months since my last entry. During this time, I have lived, I have sinned, I have laughed and I have loved. I have also been working my ass off and getting fat. But that's besides the point. Kind of.
I was on Margaret Cho's website today and I found out that she had a blog. Imagine my surprise when I realized that not only did she have a blog, but she had TONS of entries. Like everyday. Which made me realize that saying that I'm busy is a lame excuse for not blogging more. And so, I pledge my attempt to blog regularly, at least once a week. I will depend on my vast audience (and by "vast audience" I do mean the two of you out there that actually care) to keep me accountable.
I was on Margaret Cho's website today and I found out that she had a blog. Imagine my surprise when I realized that not only did she have a blog, but she had TONS of entries. Like everyday. Which made me realize that saying that I'm busy is a lame excuse for not blogging more. And so, I pledge my attempt to blog regularly, at least once a week. I will depend on my vast audience (and by "vast audience" I do mean the two of you out there that actually care) to keep me accountable.
