WOLVE'S@TH'DOOR CONCERT RIDER

The smoking gun site runs concert riders for bands and singers that are amusing and sometimes outrageous. The latest is for Mary J Blige. Check it out if you wanna.
But it got me to thinking about our band, and what kind of rider we would have if we had not been overlooked we had achieved the fame and fortune of these spoiled motherfuckers. Would our rider be on a par with these stars? Oh yes...hell yeah. There's nothing like success to swell your head beyond safe limits. So I made up a rider for our band. Enjoy.

WOLVE'S@TH'DOOR / PACK MENTALITY LLC INC. CONCERT RIDER

1. TRANSPORTATION
Wolve's@th'door (WATD) travel together, on the same airline, IN FIRST CLASS. They will have seats together in a row, with the rows in front and behind left unbooked and empty.
Flight attendants will be 50/50 in regard to gender. They will be tattooed and pierced and dressed in the finest goth clothing available (NO EXCEPTIONS). The in flight meal wiil be chopped beef BBQ sandwiches, pickles,potato salad and ranch style beans and sliced onion from that old black guys BBQ trailer in Manor Tx. Beverages will include :
4 cases (96 bottles) of Shiner Bock beer.(Purchased from the brewery in Shiner Tx. as it comes off the belt.)
2 liters of monopolowa vodka.
3 quarts of HEB brand orange juice (NO exceptions...must be from the HEB at Congress and Oltorf in Austin Tx.)
1/2 Gallon of Jager...ICE cold. With shot glasses that have skulls on them...demon skulls.
The in flight movies will be The Devils Rejects and The Sound of Music.
***At some point during the flight, any member of WATD will be allowed to fly the plane.***
Roadies and techs will have identical accomodations, only in coach. They will not be allowed to fly the plane.

1a. GROUND TRANSPORTATION
The band and crew will be met at the airport by a fleet of tricked out vintage automobiles (1957 Chevy Bel Aires and 1956 Chrysler 300 with the A/C that blows your hair forward for ANN)
Each vehicle will be equipped with a period Craig 8 track player, a roadstar power amp (50 watts minimum) , and FOUR speakers.
Further, each vehicle will have the pink colored issue of Black Sabbath's "Masters of Reality" and the lime green issue of Jethro Tull's "Aqualung".
The drivers will be cholo homeboys with burr haircuts and gang tattoos ( gang membership is optional). They should also be sporting "grills like a mirror ball" (upper or lower, but ideally both.)
Each vehicle will be equipped with a sawed off 12 gauge shotgun, loaded with blanks, in case any memer of the group wants to "have some fun".

2. HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS
The top three floors of the most expensive hotel in town. Open bar, open 24 hour room service. And high dollar whores available 24 hours for our single members. The lower of the three floors will be reserved for groupies ( name list provided by our manager ahead of time ). Law enforcement not allowed to come any closer than a mile from the hotel, no matter what. NO EXCEPTIONS
*Televisions will be unbolted from the tables to ensure ease of throwing them out the windows if so desired by any member of the group.
1 microwave oven in every room (Magic chef brand, black and stainless, NO EXCEPTIONS)
2 -12 package Popcorn ( Orville Redenbacher's kettle brand) in every room.
2- 12 count county fair corndogs (HONEY battered, NO EXCEPTIONS)
1- 16 oz. mustard (MUST be YELLOW and made by FRENCHES...NO EXCEPTIONS)
1-16 oz HUNTS catsup. ( MUST be spelt with a "C" and not a "K"...NO EXCEPTIONS)
High speed internet in every room with no blocks.
1- 50 count pack of Club no gum rolling papers.
1- Smooth plastic waitress tray*
* Or a gatefold album cover...Grand Funk or Deep Purple ( NO SUBSTITUTIONS, DEFINITLEY NO KISS ALIVE II )
500 Reeses cups (ORIGINAL STYLE)
10 lbs. of Bakenettes pork rinds
1 pint of Louisiana hot sauce.
200 cheap paper plates...the cheaper the better.
Lots and lots of napkins
1 gross of peppermint rolaids...(NO TUMS! ROLAIDS BITCH!)
1 gross pipe cleaners...any brand, providing they are wire infused.

3. SOUND CHECK
What's that? Fuck sound check. When we play, we play. Techs and roadies will just hang out and party after they set up our shit.The arena will provide all beverages...mostly Guiness and Jager.
4. OUR SHIT
WATD will use the sound system The Dead used at their 1974 show at the horse racing track in Manor Tx. NO EXCEPTIONS. All on stage amps will be Sovtek (rob), Mesa Boogie (LT) and Peavey
(Ann) . Bill will play his vintage Ludwigs (Hand polished by stadium personnel) mic'ed with shure and altec mics. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Now THAT'S ROCK AND ROLL.

NO MORE SPEED, I'M ALMOST THERE

Ten more visits and we hit 20K!!!Woo-Hoo! Prizes? No... sadly, the only prize you get for being # 20,000 is to read this nonsense. And if you are # 20,000 for this post you are in for a treat.
Thanks, readers for helping us reach a milestone that we will screen capture, print and frame and hang in our livingroom, right next to the first dollar our band earned ( just kidding ).
On to the post...
We have sirius radio in the work truck, and the fm frequency we tune to to get it is a christian contemporay station in Round Rock ( a burb to our north populated by techies, and apparently, microcephalic baptists who run a radio station ). Sometimes the signal fades and we get to hear what's is being played at this station. It is amazing...they have christian bands that have covered popular songs ala' Wierd Al, changing the lyrics to project the christian "message".
Some examples:
(To the tune of Foreigner's "Urgent" )
"Virgin -virgin, she bore the seed"
(To the tune of Zep's "Stairway to Heaven")
" And he's showing a narrow way to heaven" It's apparently copped from the live version, because at one point in the song the "singer" yells " Does anybody remember JESUS ?".
(To the tune of The Who's "My Generation")
" Talkin' 'bout regeneration...got to stop artificial resucitation".(???)
You can also hear songs by The Beach Boys (Fun fun fun as "john 1:1"), The Monkees ( I'm a Believer as "I'm a Redeemer") , Billy Cyrus ( achy - breaky heart as "Don't tear the book apart" ).
It's frightening, but yet at the same time, HIGH-larious.
And you can listen to this shit live by going to KNLE-FM.*
Virgin-Virgin-She bore the seed...Priceless!
*Generally between 11a and 3p CST.

One month down....
I've survived my first month as a manager. I'm not very efficient at these new duties and much of it is still learn as I go so 12 to 15 hour days have been the norm with plenty of weekend work. There's no pressure from my employer to put in those kinds of hours; it's all my own doing because I'd rather put in the hours now and keep from getting too far behind than spend six months playing catch up. I don't expect next month to be much different except that I now have those first basic mistakes out of the way and I can breathe a little easier. There's plenty more mistakes to go, but those first ones are always the hardest.

DROWNING IN CONVOLUTION, DISGUSTED AND TREADING WATER

Main Entry: con vo lu tion
Pronunciation: "kän-v&-'lü-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : a form or shape that is folded in curved or tortuous windings

That's how M-W dot com defines convolutions. I've tried really hard to keep the issues seperated and keep the focus on what really matters, but today it got all fucked up in my head and came out something like gay and lesbian arabs react to denial of adoption rights, blow up mosque and riot at Afghani prison while passing anti abortion legislation in faraway So. Dakota. Plus there was the headline: National Guard reveals serious concerns about port security deal, but after lunch reverses themselves and says the comments were taken out of context. Taken out of what context and by who? They don't tell you that.
Plus, Don Knotts, Darren McGavin, and Dennis Weaver all died. If that's not a sign to back off the Bush administration I don't know what is. With the exception being that Elizabeth Taylor still lives and had a birthday. Let me break this down...Don Knotts = John Kerry, Darren McGavin = John McCain, Dennis Weaver= Howard Dean...See what they've done to my mind??? And of course Liz represents the grinding republican machine, or Micheal Jackson (who now lives in Bahrain...the UAE) Coincidence? I don't think so. 74 year old fat washed out actress who supports skinny washed out pedophile now living in the heart of terrorism...you do the math. Kids without pants, jesus juice, white diamonds, oil...you do the math.
Who the fuck knows anymore. But that Knotts / Kerry thing is intriguing...innit? Only allowed one bullet cause he shot himself in the foot once...once.
Oh god! There's a Johnny dangerously reference.
See what I mean? These republicans are evil good at the convolution.
They've been teached real good.

DISTRACTIONS

Right after this port issue came front and center, a number of things happened to distract the public. First and foremost in my opinion was the bombing of the mosque in Samara that touched off a firestorm of retaliation bombings and kidnappings and killings, which led to widespread hysteria/predictions about a civil war brewing in Iraq between shiites and sunnis. A civil war that the coalition forces would be stuck right in the middle.
Then, South Dakota put the kabosh on abortion rights for the women unfortunate enough to live there. This state legislation is an extention of a national agenda supported by the Bush administration, and is targeting the religio-nut voting bloc to come out in 2006 and vote for an abortion ban, plus a straight party ticket for the GOP. In addition to that, 16 states are pushing legislation to ban adoption rights to gays and lesbians...another ploy to bring the 40 or so percent of americans that should be summarily fed to lions out to the polls to vote for this legislation and,presumably, a straight party ticket for the GOP.
The GOP is in trouble, they break out the religio-facist-nutjob card.
Then they start the spin. I listened to this GOP asshole on one of the cable news channels (CNN I think) this morning who described the democrats raising the red flag on the ports security issue (remember that? or are you all wrapped up in this abortion/gay-lesbian adoption shit storm that just happened to come up?) as unconsionable, and described them as "falling over one another on the way to the podium to grab the latest soundbite" against the Bush administration. This asshat however, made no mention of the republicans speaking out against the port deal. Hmmmmm.
Also...Russia and Iran have reached a tentative agreement over the enrichment of uranium for Irans "energy needs". Yeah,ok...this doesn't stink of rotten fish heads. What with the current power in Iran issuing almost hourly edicts damning America and the west for anything and everything that is wrong in the world from immersion foot to the fucking clap. Plus, they are almost certainly fanning the flames of what's going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. Russia has most certainly got something up it's sleeve, probably a shiv. Whose throat it's pointed at remains to be seen.
Then there's the shit in Nigeria...their little war and ensuing propaganda managed to raise oil prices 2 dollars a gallon. Thanks Nigeria.
And the cartoon thing just won't fucking go away...people are continuing to riot and kill over these drawings. Drawings...images on paper that you can line a birdcage with or wipe your ass in a pinch. Ink on paper...nothing.
Speaking of the cartoons, I read about a british conservative party that's main platform is the growing number of islamic people living in England. They plan to use the cartoon of the turban bomb wearing Mohammed in their campaign material. That's really smart innit? You fucking idiots. They say they owe it to the children of Britain to help them remember their christian roots or some such bullshit.
Which brings me to the racist part of this equation. And back to the port security deal that happened before all this other shit. Racism is a mechanism of a politically correct world, when we have the luxury to pander to apologists and pretend that we all love one another. Don't get me wrong, Bosnia is a prime example: of ethnic cleansing, and a reason to intercede. We did. But so was Rawanda (we didn't) and currently Dafur (we haven't). Which would lead one to infer that racism is a completely arbitrary phenomena. Whatever fits, I guess. Or what's at stake, and the humanity of it rarely plays a more than miniscule role. To that end, our involvement in the Bosnia thing was about a reason to intercede on humanitarian principles. That was Clinton.
Bush is clearly money and opportunity driven, to the exclusion of anything else. And his ignoring of Darfur( and other similar situations foriegn and domestic) says more about his character than anything else he has done ( or not done) since he was elected.
Distractions abound. It's hard to stay focused on what really matters. You have to choose what lame assed issue to grasp onto.
But me...I just learned the Subhumans are playing in Austin in April. I've latched onto that, and my gun cleaning kits.

THE INSANITY V.3

The administration is jumping up and down about how, even though an Arab company will be running the show the employees will be american. These americans are longshoremen. Check out this quote ( source:CNN, 2/22/06):

The International Longshoremen's Association, which represents dockworkers at the affected ports, Wednesday joined calls to hold up the deal for further review. The union's president, John Bowers, said the group views the agreement "with great concern."
"We cannot adequately urge the administration to promptly reconsider its position on this inexplicable development and, at the very least, to revisit its consideration with open discussion and debate," Bowers said in a written statement. "The implications are simply too important and far-reaching to leave to the surreptitious disposition of an unaccountable panel."

Longshoremen...who'd a thunk it? Not the cavemen that muscle shit off of ships after all it would seem. If they're worried about this deal, what does that say about the GOP and the secret "panel' that approved it?

I started this post last night way past acceptable buzz...but what I said stands. And today...today. "Jezzy pete's" as that bitch who took the 8 years of my life I'll never get back used to say (actually it's JEEzy, not Jezzy, so that would be "Jeezy pete", which is some kind of derivitive of jesus christ, or something, but it's origins are from Ohio, and everyone knows there's something in the ground water in Ohio). But enough about those 8 years...good pussy, BAD karma.
Speaking of Bush, he said today that he was cool with delaying the sale of the port deal until congress is satisfied, or something to that effect. He also said that we as americans don't need to worry about security. Here's the quote:
Hold the phone Rastus!!! It seems the sale has been delayed...here's the link:IDJITS GET THE SMARTS REAL GOOD.
Will wonders never cease?
Stay tuned....

THE INSANITY V.2

So, roughly 22 or so hours have passed and a suprisingly bipartisan voice has risen up from the ashes of our so called democracy to cry foul on this port deal. And some surprising details have emerged as well.
But first, let me clarify my stand on this issue. I am not anti arab or anti muslim. And I don't disagree with this port deal because it's an arab company, I disagree with it because even an idiot can see there is some inherent risk in this deal. This purportedly stand up company could easily be infiltrated by the crazy arabs/muslims that would like to see us dead. Drawing yet another nugget from my years working in psych hospitals, there were a number of gang members working in the dietary department of one place I worked recruiting and stirring up shit in the patient population undetected, until there was an incident. Then it was dealt with, but after the damage had been done...the street gang culture had successfully infiltrated a place where kids were supposed to be healing and working out their issues, not picking what color their bandanna would be, and more importantly, to hate the other color without question. If a bunch of drug abusing punk ass bitches can break the walls of a secure psychiatric facility, imagine what a well financed group of dedicated terrorists could pull off with this port deal. It's a potential reality you just can't deny.
On to the revelations of the day.
Consider this: (from CNN)
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and House Speaker Dennis Hastert, both Republicans, urged the administration to place the agreement on hold until Congress could scrutinize it.
and this:
Across the aisle, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, called for hearings and accused the administration of approving the port agreement "in secret."
Democratic Sens. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, and Hillary Clinton of New York, have introduced a bill that would block the sale of U.S. port operations to other governments.
U.S. Rep. Peter King, a New York Republican and chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, already introduced a bill to put the deal on hold.
Now, that's how the democratic process should work, republicans and democrats working together toward the common good.Regardless of the issue and not towing the "party line" as they are oft to do.
Now let's deal with this "in secret" accusation...it's true. It's called the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States, and yes, they do meet in secret. Apparently so secretive that Bunnypants wasn't even aware ( sure he wasn't) of the approval until a few days ago ( this was widely reported by a diverse group of media ). My question is why are decisions about foreign investments in this country are decided by an elitist few (which includes representatives of several Cabinet agencies and the National Security Council.).and in secret?
There's something fundamentally wrong with this.We are clearly being misled and kept in the dark about decisions effecting the trajectory of the american people and it's livelyhood.
Now, I strongly believe that this administration is crooked beyond hope, but I saw this at BARTCOP.COMtonight, and even though it smacks of an almost paranoid bent, it's still worth mentioning:

This port issue is a pure political ploy.
Bush wants to take on Congress and have Congress win this by overriding his veto.
Why?

Because Bush, Rove, Cheney are deathly afraid that one House of Congress will flip to the Democrats
in the 2006 election. If that happens, hearing are going to be held on a ton of issues with the possibility
of Bush being impeached on the illegal wiretap issue. The way to stop this is to have the Republican
Congress "show" to the American people that they are independent of the White House.

Seriously -- this is a classic Republican political play. People like Rick Santorum will run ads saying:
"Santorum stood up to the President when he was wrong on the port issue. We need independent
leaders like Rick Santorum." We are in the middle of a failed Presidency. Bush has given up on the
American people and is just trying to preserve some kind of legacy that is not tainted with illegal
activities being uncovered.

I snipped the part about Jeb Bush someday becoming president, because that's just fucking crazy talk. If that EVER happened I would eat a gun.( not really, just for emphasis on what an asswipe Jeb is). Are they capable of this kind of chicanery? Hell yes!
But not likely...this whole deal probably has more to do with the money grab being perpetrated against the majority of americans by an elitist party and family (BUSH) and familiars.
It's criminal.
Tune in tomorrow and hear some more shit you thought you couldn't believe but is slapping you in the face.

THE INSANITY CONTINUES

AP New York
New York lawmakers stunned by Bush's ports veto threat



By DEVLIN BARRETT
Associated Press Writer

February 21, 2006, 7:14 PM EST

WASHINGTON -- President Bush stunned New York lawmakers on Tuesday with his threat to veto any legislation blocking the takeover of some U.S. port operations by a company run by the United Arab Emirates.
He said:"I want those who are questioning it to step up and explain why all of a sudden a Middle Eastern company is held to a different standard than a Great British company," . "I am trying to conduct foreign policy now by saying to the people of the world, `We'll treat you fairly."


Well, for starters, that great british ( does that mean the company is british and great, or is that another one of his verbal stumbles?) company didn't have a hand in taking out the world trade center and killing 1000's of innocent people in the name of the church of england. They don't wake up in the morning uluating "death to america" until they fall asleep at night.
Then there's the Bush/Saudi connection, which is well documented...Doing a google search using "bush/saudi connection" yields 1,740,000 hits...now I don't know about you, but to me that's a bunch of fucking hits.
They played an excerpt from a speech Bush gave today on the radio, it was along the lines of the above quote. But there was something in his voice...it was different from the usual bumbling chuck of a good old boy smarmy shit we usually hear. This was the voice of someone determined to pull something off. Something wrong . I was taken back to my days working in psych hospitals, dealing with the never ending conspiracies that occurred in that culture, and uncovering them. Frequently by the tone of the protestations coming from the guilty. The harder they come across, the more full of shit they are, and you can bank on it.
I read a detailed article the other day about "presidential signing statements". This basically allows the sitting president to sign a law and then side step it, by virtue of this "presidential statement".
Bush jr. has not vetoed shit, relying on the statement to sidestep or otherwise ignore laws and legislation. The anti torture bill is the most current example. The united states does not promote or condone torture, but the parameters of what constitutes torture is solely at the discretion of the president...In other words, fuck you, I do what I want.
But now, with this port operations deal, Bush is threatening a veto? What's up with that? What's so important about this port operations deal that would provoke the asshole in chief to threaten a veto of any legislation blocking it?
He's in it up to his fucking eyeballs...that's what.
And the harder he comes across the more full of shit he is...trust me, you can bank on it.

THE FOX IS GUARDING THE HEN HOUSE

If one ever needed more proof that this country is being run by a bunch of idiots, how about turning over operations of 6 major US ports to a company owned by the United Arab Emirates?
Remember...home to the flying Al Queda brothers? Known to support,harbor and otherwise deal with terrorists? Those guys.
I'm stunned at this latest boneheaded move, and you can be too, by clicking here:WTF?
Homeland security says they checked them out and are satisfied that they present no threat.DHS's track record speaks for itself and I'll leave it at that.

DEATH SQUADS...HE LEARNED IT FROM HIS DADDY.

We now have reports of "death squads" in Iraq...This takes me back to the good old days of when we were fucking around in central america...you know, Iran- contra times. The good old days of the corruption that chokes us nowadays.
In a chilling mirror of his fathers reign, Shi'ite death squads are carrying out killings of Sunnis in Iraq. Dressed up in the clothes of Iraqi police and military personnel they are killing the opposition.
Insurgent attacks in general have increased, with a climbing focus on Iraqi police and troops and citizens, seemingly in conjunction with the Iraquis taking more and more initiative on dealing with it than the coalition forces. Softer targets.
Insurgent attacks are up in an alarming rate, bolder, more devastating, I heard it on the radio today but ( lo and behold ) I couldn't find anything on the web to back up what my radio told me.
To my memory , insurgent attacks are up by about 49% and they are increasingly effective. meaning some people are killed as a result, and they continue to climb.
And now we have death squads running around the country killing people.
The war.
Insurgents.
Improvised explosive devices.
Death squads.
Burnt dead bodies, blood, guts and veins in my teeth.
Someone set me free....

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

On our way to a job site today, we were sitting at the intersection of Speedway and 21st street on the inner campus, which is by the bidness skool and perhaps the busiest intersection on the whole campus for foot traffic (kick the top off an ant mound and you'll begin to get an idea). You've got kids crossing everywhere on foot, on bikes, on skateboards...and since they have the right of way, our 3/4 ton truck is invisible to them. As the driver of this truck, I have to be hyper vigilant. So, I'm looking to the right and straight ahead (where most of the traffic comes from at this intersection) and all of a sudden Rusty hollers "Holy shit!!!" and I'm like whaaa? cause I don't see anything unusual, and he says "that guys having a seizure!" and points to the left. And sure enough, in a moving sea of college kids there's this guy very obviously having a gran maul seizure. Rusty gets on the phone to 911 and I jump out of the truck and head toward this guy. Meanwhile, a well meaning student is holding him down (wrong) and a crowd gathers around him (wrong) and some girl says "put a pencil in his mouth!" (very wrong) . By the time I got there cooler heads had prevailed and they had turned him on his side (right) and put something under his head (right) and let him ride it out (very right). He came out of the seizure and almost immediately went into another gran maul, poor guy. This one was much shorter and then the fire truck Rusty summoned with his call arrived.
When I worked at the state school I saw people having seizures all the time, but that was a long time ago. I was kind of freaked out by it. But I still knew what to do...but I was glad someone else with that knowledge got to him before I did.

'Harry was in the line of fire and got peppered pretty good'...Cheney shoots a lawyer

This is too good to be true...I couldn't embellish it better if I wanted to. Here's the link:

Cheney busts a cap in his ass

But what cracks me up the most about this whole thing is the ambulance that follows Cheney around wherever he goes. Thanks to it, the guy survived.
Why would an ambulance follow Cheney around? Because he's the heart attack king of the world, that's why.
Rich man, fucking RICH.....

DA BOMB

Here's a list of the countries that have nuclear weapons...read it and weep.

Countries with Nuclear Weapons Capability

* Acknowledged: Britain, China, France, India, Pakistan, Russia, United States

* Unacknowledged: Israel

* Seeking: North Korea,1 Iran2

* Abandoned: South Africa—Constructed but then voluntarily dismantled six uranium bombs. Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine—When Soviet Union broke up, these former states possessed nuclear warheads that they have since given up.

1. In Dec. 2002, North Korea revealed that it had violated its 1994 agreement to freeze its nuclear weapons program and has been developing a nuclear bomb. On April 24, 2003, North Korea announced it possessed a nuclear bomb but this claim has not been verified.
2. In Aug. 2005, U.S. intelligence estimated that Iran would possess nuclear weapons in the next decade. Source: U.S. State Department and TIME magazine.

Let's deal with this as it comes...

Britain. Yeah...they probably got it from us and it probably has a range to get it to, oh, I don't know...Ireland. Now if Ireland had one I might be concerned. The Brits I'm not concerned about, revolutionary war aside, we're allies and have been for quite some time.
Actual threat ( to countries other than Ireland ) : minimal.

China. If we couldn't nuke them back, they would plate glass us in a fucking nanosecond I gaurantee. Remember those old gangster movies where the Irish immigrant owed the Italian immigrant 500 dollars on the horses and if he didn't pay up he'd get his knees capped? That's us and China. They don't nuke us because we owe them our collective paychecks. For life. By the way, chinese womens vaginas are not sideways, despite the popular urban legends.
Actual threat: moderate ( unless they get a leader that's seen "The Devil's Rejects", then look out. )

France. HAHA-fucking HA.
Actual threat: HAHA-fucking HA.

India. These motherfuckers are making so much money from the outsourcing of american jobs, they'd be idiots to nuke us...that is until the companies themselves move to India, then look out.
They developed the nuke to intimidate...Pakistan. (see below).
Actual threat: India's nuke would spin up into the sky like a bottle rocket and shoot straight back down on India, destroying them and possibly Pakistan.

Pakistan. They are in competition with India for outsourced american jobs. Pakistan and India have been using Kashmir as a training ground for all out war with each other and when it gets close, they make up. which reminds me of the 8 years I'll never get back that I spent with Debbie, who has borderline personality disorder. A condition shared by Pakistan and India, which coincidentaly shares a borderline...how about that for coincedence? Crazy, huh? and I'll bet both countries have a snappin' pussy to draw each other back in, despite the craziness.
Actual threat: See India, only exchange bottle rocket with sparkler.Or smoke snake.

Russia. Russia could actually be a threat, but since the demise of the Soviet Union, they can't find any of their nukes cause they've all been stolen and bartered for vodka and heroin.Or sold to South africa...who should be buying grain and shit for christ's sake.
Actual threat: Minimal, have you ever tried to deploy a nuclear weapon trippin' on vodka and heroin? It ain't happening.Plus there's that whole cold war "mutually assured destruction" deal that Reagan "did away"with...Yeah, sure he did. Ask Bush about that at the next press conference and see what happens to your dissident ass. I dare you.

United States. The U S of fucking A can blow anyone up anytime, anywhere. We are the kings of nuclear capability. Bush has a chip in his brain that sends subliminal messages through his eyes that say: "Buy into my bullshit just a little bit or we'll turn you into a geographic etch-a-sketch...seriously...bitches". We have nukes out the ass. I even have one in my back yard, disguised as a keg-a-rator and aimed at Pakistan.
Actual threat: High...Bush has no regard for life, he proved that as the killingest governer ever in the history of the world when he was fucking up Texas on his way to fucking up the US and the world...if you think this asshole has any notion of restraint, think again. He's like a pedophile in a room full of naked 12 year olds and a gallon of ass lube.

Israel. They are "unacknowledged" in regards to having a nuke. An anti-semite would say it's "just like them fucking jews to get all gamey about having the bomb" I'm not an anti-semite, so I won't say that.
Actual threat: Who knows...they're jews....that's like asking if it's really a rolex.

North Korea. They have a plan, they have a crazy fuck for a leader, they have a Black Cat fireworks factory. Nuff said.
Actual threat: minimal...they have almost as much trouble feeding themselves as the south africans...no worries.

Iran. We should be concerned about these motherfuckers, but not worried, because Israel will take care of them for us with conventional weapons that they got from the US.
Actual threat: Minimal, unless they find some of the nukes Russia lost...but even then, see India and/or Pakistan.They could, however, burn the world in effigy, and boy would that smart.

South Africa.South Africa ate thier nuclear stockpiles when they ran out of shoe leather and dung beetles.
Actual threat: minimal, but you have to admit, they really got us with that aids thing back in the 80's. I'm referring to the Bob Geldolf concerts, by the way. The HIV thing was all about the chimps of South Africa. You've seen 28 days later, right?

Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine. Come on...Me and my friends could kick these countries asses with a keg of beer and a gross of 12 gauge slugs. They might have a dozen mircowave ovens daisychained together but that's it.
Actual threat: hahahahahahahahaha! None. None what so ever.

THIS DELAY THING HAS REALLY GOTTEN UNDER MY SKIN...AMONG OTHER THINGS "AMERICAN"

As I surf the "mainstream media" sites looking for news about the bugman's recent appointments to the house appropriations comittee and a subcomittee overseeing the justice department, I am bummed but not surprised to find that none of them are questioning these appointments on a few but inescapable points.
1. DeLay has been indicted for money laundering...the fact that he's been indicted for anything should prevent him from serving anywhere in government, much less the appropriations comittee.
2. The subcomittee to the justice department has been charged with investigating the Abramoff scandal...something that DeLay is probably connected to. A perfect appointment to moniter this investigation and share information with the other weasels involved. Why this hasn't been mentioned by anyone in the media anywhere to my knowledge is amazing to me.
3. He's a crooked crooked asshole of a man who deserves to be keel hauled. ( OK, that's just my opinion )
People should be shouting the obvious wrongness of this shit from the rooftops. But there he sits, making decisions on who gets the funding for a myriad of issues and pork, and sitting on a subcomittee overseeing an investigation into corruption that he's more than likely a key player in.
OK...I'm being redundant.
Let me just say this....AAAAAAAUUUUUUGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The GOP talks about eliminating corruption and then something like this happens. Everybody knows that talk is shallow and the most crystaline form of bullshit on the planet, but come on.
The US government is in ruins and rapidly caving in on itself, something everybody else in the world is aware of with the exception of the US government and 40 some odd percent of americans who still believe the Bush administration is doing a good job.
I'm not a supporter of Iran or Syria or any of those other Islamic countries that wake up and go to sleep chanting "death to america", I would suggest to them that they narrow their focus a bit, get over the fucking cartoons already, put the bombs and guns away, stop killing people in the name of allah or whoever and take a strong diplomatic stab at ridding the world of what Hillary Clinton rightly calls "the worst administration ever".
They could also take their ball (oil) and go home. America doesn't have the resources to deal militarily with something like that right now, and a stoppage of production would deal a crushing blow to an administration driven and controlled by the oil industry. These are just some suggestions...oh, wait, I forgot...we have nukes, I forgot about that for a second.Nevermind, middle east.
On the other hand, I seem to recall them having a striking effect on the war with Japan. As I recall, we blew the shit out of them and they surrendered.
But...If we did something like that, China and Russia would most likely retaliate, and while surviving a nuclear holocast and some viscious house to house fighting in my neighborhood sound exciting when I've been drinking and cleaning my guns, I'd really rather not have my dna altered and kill chinamen along my street.
So it seems we're back to where we started...in over our heads and basically fucked. What we need is a diplomat, a capable,reasonable diplomat to work all this out.
Maybe we'll get one in 2008.
HAHA...right.

PLEASE...SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THIS CAN HAPPEN...PLEASE?

TOP STORIES
Wednesday February 8 2006


10 43 pm


DeLay named to appropriations committee
2/8/2006 5:41 PM
By: Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Indicted Texas Congressman Tom DeLay has been named to the U.S. House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.

The embattled Republican from Sugar Land was forced to give up his House majority post last year after being indicted in Austin.

DeLay said he's innocent of money laundering charges linked to 2002 legislative races.

He also claimed a seat on the subcommittee overseeing the Justice Department.

The agency is investigating an influence-peddling scandal involving disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his dealings with lawmakers.

The subcommittee also has responsibility over NASA, a top priority for DeLay, since Johnson Space Center is in the Houston area.

I'm just having a little trouble understanding why a man who was removed from his post because he is under indictment for MONEY LAUNDERING manages to get a spot on the appropriations committee...appropraitions...that means where the money goes. And a subcommittee overseeing the justice department?

Can you say the fix is fucking in?
How can this happen?

CARTOONS ARE THE NEW 9-11

A french newspaper prints the mohammed cartoons, making some statement about freedom of the press I suppose, but I suspect riding the coattails of scandal and the wave of attention has more than something to do with it...much to the displeasure of the muslim/french. I predict more rioting.
Condoleeza Rice ( is nice, but I prefer a-roni *) points a boney, blaming finger at Syria and Iran, saying flat out that they are fanning the flames of violence for" their own purposes". Whatever that means. While Iran has not responded to Aunt Jemima, Syria has:
Syria's ambassador to the United States, Imad Moustapha, denied Rice's accusation and tried to turn the blame for the violence on Israeli and U.S. policy decisions unrelated to the cartoon row.
"We in Syria believe anti-Western sentiments are being fueled by two major things: the situation in Iraq and the situation in the occupied territories, the West Bank and Gaza," Moustapha said.
He added, "We believe that if somebody would tell Secretary Rice that Syria is not the party that occupies Iraq and is not the party that occupies the West Bank and Gaza, then probably she would know it is not Syria who is actually fueling anti-Western sentiments."
Right on Moustapha! Call it like you see it...even though you're probably lying through your hookah stained teeth. Which is not to say that you aren't right about the source of the problem, I see taht fan Moustapha, and your fanning with it.
And then there's Bush...urging governments to "quell the violence" while he continues to ride herd over the massacres in Iraq and Afghanistan and asking for another gazzillion dollars to fight the war on terror. What a hypocrite. This is almost as ridiculous as that whole Terry Shiavo thing, only deadly...embassys fire bombed, people killed, with our "government" calling out two countries that could make our lives even more miserable in Iraq.
And all of this because some people drew some pictures of mohammed in a less than shining light. Paper and ink...and ideas.
When I was manager of the emergency shelter I recall hearing a voc/ed counselor say to troublesome clients on more than one occasion " you're an embarrassment to your race". To those rioting and killing because of some percieved injustice to mohammed and islam I say: "You're an embarrassment to islam".
It's a cartoon idiots!
Just for fun...here's the Merriam-Webster definition of cartoon:
Main Entry: car toon
Pronunciation: kär-'tün
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Italian cartone pasteboard, cartoon, augmentative of carta leaf of paper -- more at CARD
1 : a preparatory design, drawing, or painting (as for a fresco)
2 a : a drawing intended as satire, caricature, or humor ....
I guess they can't take a joke...Pity.
*Clutch lyrics

TIMES CHANGE, I GUESS

Back when I was in my 20's and all wrapped up in that thing called punk, I ripped my own jeans and bought most of my punk rock band t- shirts from the band, after the show from the stage out of a cardboard box, usually for 5 bucks. I drove a 1971 or 2 volkswagon super beetle that had been prepped for a baja kit that it never got, the hood was held shut with a chain and a giant diaper pin. (really) I paid 475.00 for this rolling death trap. We were all poor and lived by the Gang of Four credo "to hell with poverty...we'll get drunk on cheap wine".
Tonight, while leaving the corner store, I turned and came face to face with Susie Sioux circa 1976...raccoon eyes, crazy hair, dead girl base, dressed to the nines in the best punk rock finery. I was rightly impressed until I walked out into the parking lot and saw her boyfriend waiting for her in the car, with liberty spikes and leather and chains and the affect...affect to spare. He was sitting on the passenger side of a 2006 ford escape...once again with effect a 2006 ford escape. He was looking so disaffected sitting in this monument to soccer moms, that for a split second I almost took him seriously.
I smiled when I once again had the realization that this town, city,travesty of itself is crawling with posers like these two. Punk ethos as fashion statement. I've got all the classics on CD too, the difference is I wore out my vinyl copies before I bought them. And I was born before they came out.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On a less cynical note...I was perusing the chronicle the other day and saw an ad for the South branch vet clinic offering discounts on a variety of services. At the bottom of this ad were photos of a kitten and a dog. The dog is none other than our Sullivan! Our three regular readers will recall that Sully ( and Theo ) both came from South branch...cause they knew we were suckers for black dogs in need. Pretty cool.

THE TRUTH HURTS

There's this giant uproar going on about some cartoons published in denmark, subsequently published in a few other european papers, that show islam in less than a favorable light. You know what islam? FUCK you. Get over it. After all the innocent people you've killed in the name of your faith, I'd think you'd have a thicker skin than that.
Fucking bitches. Truth hurts...dunnit???

THIS IS FUN

I haven't laughed this much in months! After putting up the last post, I typed in some friends names, Annabelle's and finally Bunnypants "his own sack of shit" commander and thief....
Enjoy...then type in your own names!

Ten Top Trivia Tips about Dubya!

1. Research indicates that dubya will be attracted to people who have recently eaten bananas!
2. The number one cause of blindness in the United States is dubya!
3. Dubya has little need for water and is capable of going for months without drinking at all.
4. Dubya became extinct in England in 1486!
5. American Airlines saved forty thousand dollars a year by eliminating dubya from each salad served in first class.
6. Dubya is the oldest playable musical instrument in the world.
7. Early thermometers were filled with dubya instead of mercury!
8. Some birds use dubya to orientate themselves during migration.
9. A thimbleful of dubya would weigh over 100 million tons.
10. Devoid of his cells and proteins, dubya has the same chemical makeup as sea water!

I am interested in - do tell me aboutherhimitthem

I CAN LIVE HOW LONG WITHOUT (A) HEAD???

Stole this one from the K-ster...ha!

Ten Top Trivia Tips about El robbo!

1. Only 55 percent of Americans know that the sun is made of el robbo.
2. The el robbo-fighting market in the Philippines is huge - several thousand el robbo-fights take place there every day.
3. Two grams of el robbo provide enough energy to power a television for over twenty-three hours.
4. 99 percent of the pumpkins sold in the US end up as el robbo.
5. There are more than two hundred different kinds of el robbo!
6. The book of Esther in the Bible is the only book which does not mention el robbo.
7. El robbo can be found on a Cluedo board between the Library and the Conservatory!
8. El robbo cannot be detected by infrared cameras.
9. El robbo can live for up to a week without a head!
10. El robbo can smell some things up to six miles away.

I am interested in - do tell me aboutherhimitthem

Wow...:)

SPREADING DEMOCRACY IN THE MIDEAST

One terrorist organization at a time. Of course, I'm talking about the Hamas win in Palestine in their recent election. A democratic election. On the way to work this morning, NPR was discussing this and the announcer said something to the effect of - I'm not sure this is what the Bush administration had in mind when it championed democracy in the middle east- and Cokey Roberts responded with what I believe was a chortle, followed by a confirmation that the administration was taken by surprise by the outcome.
So...democracy in the middle east is fine and dandy as long as the team the Bush administration wants in wins the election? That's sure what it sounded like to me...and that is not democracy.
Sometimes, you get what you pray for and it bites you on the ass George...You can't play the same shell game like it's Texas athletics on a world level, asshat.
Be sure and tune in for the State of the Union tomorrow, where you will hear six years of malfeasence and chicanery distilled into blue skies for everyone. Lame duck motherfucker...hopefully he won't destroy us all in the next 24 months...

I KNOW A ZIP CODE IN CHICAGO

And it's air america radio's fault, well, and that crime dog McGruff and his can't carry a tune in a fucking bucket nephew, Scruff. Thanks to the commercial that I hear at least 3 times on my 20 minute ride home, this abortion of a jingle pops into my head about 50 times a day. It doesn't make me want to take a bite out of crime however. It makes me want to kill scruff and his fucking uncle in a most painful and protracted manner. If you've not heard this little nugget of satan, click on the link below.
I dare you.
Someone shoot me PLEASE

JUST A RAMBLE ON WHATS GOING ON

We're putting in a breaker panel in the Hogg auditorium...the back wall is curved, and the conduit is exposed, so it has to be curved as well, to ride on the wall. As my foreman is oft to say "It's magic time".
And it was...I'm not sure exactly how he did it, but he put a bow in that one inch conduit that rode the wall like a fucking glove. Everything was going well until we started hammer drillilling the holes in the 7 inch, 80 year old, concrete floor. Rebar everywhere! And some hard ass concrete...not to mention that underneath you have to walk around like that giant in the earthlink commercials, all humpbacked and crooked. I'll throw up some pics tomorrow.Asbestos warning signs EVERYWHERE.EWWWW.
My son wants to come over and cook us hamburgers this weekend and I think Ann is working on sunday...the day he wants to do it. He wants to do it here because we have a grill...You know lockhart isn't that far away but it's far enough to limit the time we get to spend with the kids and Sean, and that bothers me...alot.
I talked to Billy boy today...There's a job open where he works that he thinks Ann could do...regular hours, M thru F...blah blah blah...He knows she just got promoted, but that's just Bill...always looking out. I told him I was gonna come by tomorrow and pay him back for the loan and he says to me " I hope you know that's not why I called"....Come on dude...I know why you called. If you were worried about the money you would have never lent it in the first place. I know the value of friendship and so do you and enough about that.
This guy I work with brought me some Ice Cube CD's today...yes...he's a black guy...but I don't care about that shit...he shared some culture with me. And that's cool...Ice Cube fucking rocks, but I think he says "nigga" too much, but maybe that's because I'm white:).
I have this pain in my elbows that's been going on for about a month now, and my hands are shakier than usual...not sure what's up with that, but I'm concerned and will go see my doctor in the next couple of weeks.
Had to balance out the Ice Cube with some mountain, and I leave you with a passage that has followed me around for 30 plus years....
"Travellin' in the dark...can't see a thing".
Here's another...
"The wages of sin are too hot to handle".
So true.

Working, working, working
It's been long days at the office followed by more working from home at night. This is all my own doing, a result of wanting to make the most of this brief training time. All too soon I'll be busy with actual floor manager shifts, staff supervision and other duties. The more I learn now, the less time I'll have to spend figuring out how to get the job done when it really matters. Today I managed the floor with an experienced manager at my shoulder. I was only managing the call queue and not all the other stuff that needs to be done, but still I'd had enough after about four hours. I guess I did okay for a first try, but I'm going to have to get a lot better than that before my first solo run.

Tomorrow's going to be a pretty exciting day. It will be my first visit to the call center where my new job is located. I'll get to meet quite a few staff I've never seen in person and check out my new digs. I'll also be working the evening shift and going to work in the afternoon is going to feel really weird. Though this might turn out to be awesome because I've never been a morning person despite 25 plus years of having to go to work at 7 or 8 AM. I'll be pulling at least one evening shift a week in February so this will be a good test run.

Well, I did my best to stay up late tonight in preparation for tomorrow, but after getting up at 5 AM and putting in a 14 hour work day, I'm too pooped to make it to midnight so adios, amigos. I'll update the next time I get a chance to catch my breath.

IT'S A SCARY WORLD...BUT WE STILL HAVE TO SHOW UP...

Look what I can buy on the internet, or at any gun show within driving distance of my casa. And this is just for the 12 gauge. The descriptions are priceless...I especially like the "try your hand at being a 21st century cowboy today" WOOHOO!!! Let me launch a bolo at you at 1500 feet per second...just like the gauchos used to do when they threw them at you.


12 Gauge Specialty Ammo I

*You Must be 21 Years Old and Have Never Been Convicted of a Felony to Purchase Ammunition from this Website."

12gaFlash_Thunder.jpg 12GA Flash Thunder Grenade Ammo
This highly effective 12 gauge round produces a stun/diversion effect by using a bright blinding flash with an extremely powerful concussion blast from a 12 gauge shotgun muzzle. This device is not restricted by the BATF and is used by some of the most elite special forces and SWAT units around the world. It produces 182dB bang, 1.5 to 2 million candlea flash and over pressure on 1.5 to 2 atmospheric pressure units. It is truely an awesome experience indoors and out. Cannot be shipped to: P. O. Boxes, APO, GU, FPO, IL, HI, AK or PR. 23/4" round.



12GAmachogocho.jpg 12 GA. "Macho Gaucho"
The device made famous by the Argentine Cowboy is called the "bolo". This device consisted of two heavy balls connected by a string and was thrown at and wrapped around an animals legs causing it to trip. Now this idea has been adapted for the 21st century in the form of a 12 Gauge shotgun round. This round consists of two lead slugs connected by a steel wire that whirls and twirls during flight devastating your target. Try your hand at being a 21st century cowboy today. 2 3/4" round. Cannot be shipped to: P.O. Boxes, APO, GU, FPO, IL, HI, AK or PR.

12GAPIRANHA.jpg 12 GA. "Piranha"
This 12 gauge round contains dozens of razor sharp steel tacks that blast out at high velocity which virtually guarantees that there will no response from the perpetrator. Each round is buffed with #12 shot thus creating a double shock to the wound area. Absolutely will not harm your shotgun. To be used no closer than 10 feet and no further than 50 feet. Cannot be shipped to: P.O. Boxes, APO, GU, FPO, IL, HI, AK or PR.. 2 3/4" round.


12 Gauge Pit Bull
Pure Power! The Pit Bull is a powerful 12 gauge round packed with six 00-Buck pellets topped with a heavy-duty 1.3 oounce slug! Loaded extra hot for MAXIMUM stopping power. Once it bites it won't let go. This is the number one rated ammo for home and self defense.


12GATERM.jpg 12 GA. Terminator-X

The lethality contained within the hollow core slug of our terminator 12 GA. almost can't be advertised. Upon impact, this slug mushrooms and expands to nearly 2 inches, stopping the slug from totally penetrating your objective. This rapid expansion forces the dozen of tiny pellets to spread through your objective like a cancerous disease, opening an area at the impact point equal to a softball! The cavity created has the shock effect of 95%! That means only 5% of any living being could survive this kind of hit.23/4" round.


12GAarnrprcing.jpg 12 GA. "Armor Piercing"

This awesome round houses enough power to penetrate the thickest car doors, commercial steel doors and most objects up to 1/4" steel plate. This slug has a steel penetrator button, boosted by a very hot charge, has an unbelievable velocity to slice through metal like a hot knife slices through butter. (Cannot be shipped to addresses from California, New York City, and surrounding boroughs.) 23/4" round.



12gaTRACRpattern.jpg 12 GA. "Tracer Pattern"
"TRACER PATTERN" contains a tracer ball that travels with your shot pattern to show where you are hitting. This tracer ball is ballistically matched and remains near the center of the shot pattern for the effective range of a regular shell. "TRACER PATTERN" allows your hand-eye coordination to develop more quickly, allowing you to adjust your aim, reduce training time and wasted shots-thus improving your accuracy! The composition of the tracer compound is non-phosphourus & are non-corrosive to your shotgun & is fully visible day or night. (CANNOT BE SHIPPED TO NEW YORK CITY OR SURROUNDING AREAS.) 23/4" round



12gaFLMETHRWR.jpg 12 GA. "Flame Thower"
The 12 Ga. "Flame Thrower" round as pictured produces an enormous wall of fire for 250+ feet. The incendiary metal compound contained inside burns when fired at over 4000 degrees fahrenheit, showering your target in a momentary wall of flame. WARNING! Extreme fire hazard. Do not shoot in any dry grass foliage, trees, or near flammable materials. Don't shoot indoors. Use extreme caution. 23/4" round (Can't be shipped to California, Florida, Iowa, or New York City addresses.) NOTE: This round is considered to contain hazardous material (HAZMAT) requiring special shipping and handling charge. Please click here for more details.



12GAflechette.jpg 12 GA. "Flechette Shot Shells"
A Flechette is a small dart shaped projectile, that is clustered in an explosive warhead, dropped in a missile from an airplane or fired from a hand held weapon. One unique application of this 1 1/2" Flechette was to load these in a 12 GA. shotgun for taking out snipers hiding in thick brush or trees. Due to the penetration of these projectiles, tree limbs and brush would not disperse the darts. Even if some were dispersed, this would still have an all-covering pattern within a tree or brush. Generally 20 of these darts are placed in each 12 GA. shell. (Can't be shipped to Cal, Florida, or NYC addresses.)



12GAdblslug.jpg 12 GA. "Double Slug"
One shot, Two hits! You will double the punch, the impact and the chance of hitting your target all in one shot! This 12 GA round is loaded with two slugs that weigh 3/4 oz. each. The recoil is a little heavier than a standard 12 Gauge load, and so are the results! At 25 yards the two slugs will strike your objective about 2 inches apart. At 50 yards, the strike spreads to nearly a foot apart! Unbelievable twin knock-down power! 23/4" round.

12GAEXPLODER.jpg 12 GA. "Exploder"
A stabilized, finned slug with a deep hollow core for loading combustible materials. The exploder round has curved finns in the rear of the slug for stability. Recent D.O.T. regulations require that the "Exploder" hollow cavity be shipped unloaded. This allows you to load the cavity yourself, safely with no tools required. Use our formula or yours. Complete instructions included. Can't be shipped to California, Florida, Illinois, or New York City addresses. 23/4" round.


12GArhodjungle.jpg 12 Gauge "Rhodesian Jungle"
The "Rhodesian Junlge" rounds are great for in home defense! The combination of several large pellets surrounded by a mass of smaller pellets allows for double punching power to any intruder that is unlucky enough to cross it's path. Make the intruder think twice with this double whammer power. If the big pellets don't get you, the small ones will. 23/4" round.


12GAtridck.jpg 12 Gauge "Triple Decker"
These 12 gauge shells are loaded with nine large bead balls (three sets of three) stacked on top of each other. They pack a punch EXTREMELY heavier than the standard 12 gauge and the resullts are edxciting to see, hear, feel and completelty devesating. If impact is what you want, then the "Triple Decker" is what you need. Comes three shells to a package. 23/4" round.




This and more murderous material is available at FIREQUEST

I've got an idea for a 12 gauge slug...it shoots two giant ballon like hands and they grab you and give you a righteous noogie/wet willy simultaneously...I'll call it the hooberbloob.

It's finally official
Well folks, I got the promotion and I'm off to spend a couple of hours this evening socializing with the other managers. I plan to do a little celebrating tonight, but I can't do too much since I have to be back at work doing my usual L2 job at 7:30 AM tomorrow (I'll continue doing that the rest of this week.) I then train for the new position next week and hit the floor running the week after that. I've been told it's a job you have to learn by doing so I'm hoping I learn fast and don't fall on my face too often. Well, time to go and start my new life as a manager - wish me luck.

FORGET IRAN...LETS TALK A MOMENT ABOUT NORTH KOREA

Dan Rather did a segment on 60 minutes about the "Hermit Kingdom"...and unlike that bogus thing he did a few years back about Afghanistan, this one seemed to be legit. There can't be that many goose stepping koreans available locally in stupid hats, not even in the korean sections of San Francisco or for that matter the Bronx.These motherfuckers are serious and they are not intimidated by us one little bit. Witness this info I gathered with a google search ( I'll post the source at the end of what I feel are essential points).
Here we go....

North Korea has not only the military power but also the political will to wage total war against the United States.

This is the opening statement....

1. North Korea Can Engage the US in Total War

North Korea is one of the few nations that can engage in a total war with the United States. The US war planners recognize this fact. For example, on March 7, 2000, Gen. Thomas A Schwartz, the US commander in Korea at the time, testified at a US congressional hearing that "North Korea is the country most likely to involve the United States in a large-scale war."

And this is what they follow up with...granted, the quote is from 2000, but if these rinky dinky rice men* are for real, imagine what they have amassed between then and now.

Here's the strategy if our asshole of a president I mean the United States of Rich America attempts to intervene militarily...

2. North Korea's Massive Retaliation Strategy

North Korea's war plan in case of an US attack is total war, not the 'low-intensity limited warfare' or 'regional conflict' talked about among the Western analysts. North Korea will mount a total war if attacked by the US. There are three aspects to this war plan.

First, total war is North Korea's avowed strategy in case of US preemptive attacks. The US war on Iraq shows that the US can and will mount preemptive strikes in clear violation of international laws, and the United Nations is powerless to stop the US. Any nation that is weak militarily may be attacked by the US at will. It is reasonable for North Korea to deter US attacks with threats of total war.

Second, North Korea expects no help from China, Russia, or other nations in case of war with the US. It knows that it will be fighting the superpower alone. Nominally, China and Russia are North Korea's allies but neither ally is expected to provide any assistance to North Korea in case of war. Neither nation can or is willing to protect North Korea from attacks by the US, and North Korea alone can and will protect itself from US attacks. This principle of self-defense applies to all nations.

Third, North Korea's total war plan has two components: massive conventional warfare and weapons of mass destruction. If the US mounts a preemptive strike on North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear plants, North Korea will retaliate with weapons of mass destruction: North Korea will mount strategic nuclear attacks on the US targets. The US war planners know this and have drawn up their own nuclear war plan. In a nuclear exchange, there is no front or rear areas, no defensive positions or attack formations as in conventional warfare. Nuclear weapons are offensive weapons and there is no defense against nuclear attacks except retaliatory nuclear attacks. For this reason, North Korea's war plan is offensive in nature: North Korea's war plan goes beyond repulsing US attackers and calls for destruction of the United States.

The US war plan '5027' calls for military occupation of North Korea; it goes beyond the elimination of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction. The US military regards North Korea its main enemy and likewise North Korea regards the US its main enemy. South Korea, too, regards North Korea its main enemy but North Korea does not regard South Korea its main enemy because South Korea is a client state of the United States and has no ability or power to act independent of the US. North Korea's war plan is not for invading South Korea but for destroying the US.


Please notice that they have specifically mentioned WMD's that have the capability to reach "US targets"...these zipperheads*, clearly, aren't fucking around.

There's more...the largest special forces military in the world...armoured battallions with tanks specifically designed to navigate the terrain in korea, and the list goes on and on.

You can get the rest of it HERE if you want to read about a real threat.

*Rinky dinky rice men and Zipperhead only used to remind readers of the horrific losses we experienced in the pacific during WW II (Iwo, Guadalcanal et al ) and that "police action" in Viet Nam...two other asian peoples who clearly weren't fucking around. And here's another one for you, in case you still want to minimize the threat....Nanking

A REPRIEVE

So...today I'm sitting in front of the TV watching Court TV...background on the case that inspired the film Mississippi Burning. Hard to imagine that kind of pure hatred existed back then, harder even to imagine it still exists today. My phone rang about halfway through, and it was my friend Bill, drummer in our band and probably the one constants in my life since I was a kid. Bill and his family are blue collar all the way, hard working people who struggle more than they coast.
He read about our bind and offered to help. In a prideful moment, I almost turned him down, but there he was in our time of need in a position to help and offering to. I swallowed my pride and accepted.
We'll be able to pay him back quickly, but that's beside the point. The point is he got my back without me asking, in fact it never occurred to me to ask anyone outside of immediate family.
I am reminded again that I have a bigger family than I know sometimes, and that measures similar to this done by me but long forgotten are remembered by the ones I did it for.
What goes around comes around...the circle game, ya know?
Thanks again Billy boy...and if there ever is a next time ( and lets hope there isn't ) for you...I'll get your back.

STRESS AND ANXIETY IN AUSTIN

Since I've been doing this electrician thing, there has only been one bummer part of it connected with working for the university. When they close down for the holidays, we don't work. That equals no paycheck for the duration. There is no vacation time, but a vacation fund. I pulled out my money this year with the conviction that we would have a christmas this year, and we did. I'm glad we did that, and even with careful planning we find ourselves in the shitter again money wise. Nothing we can't dig out of in short order with one exception...Ann has posted about an outstanding electric bill.
They will most certainly cut off our power on tuesday and revoke our payment plan, which means we have to pay the full balance to get our power turned back on. Ouch. If we end up having to do that, that will delay the digging out for a bit. Power includes water service...now, I can live without lights and TV and this, but I must admit, not being able to bathe or use the indoor plumbing presents some serious problems.
In a pre emptive move, tomorrow morning I'm going to take advantage of our giant sinks and fill them with water, also the bath tub. We have a gas stove, after all, so bathing will be a hassle, but possible.
We have several flashlights and a shitload of candles.
Worst case, we will be pioneers for 3 or 4 days, I'll get paid and get the power turned back on. And we'll start over... again.
This would almost be exciting and adventerous if it did'nt suck choad like a crack whore on a 5 rock binge....
Bleh.

My top two real stories from internet tech support

Customer unable to get email. Account has not been setup in Outlook Express. Directed customer to account setup, but customer states she cannot read. However, customer can spell and was able to make it through the setup process. Customer now able to receive email. (Let's hope her friends/family are sending pictures.)

Customer states someone is hacking into her internet connection. Customer's computer is in the shop, but she hears the modem dialing and knows they are in her attic using her connection. Suggested customer change her password, but customer states she has done this before and they always know the new password because they are listening in on the phone when she changes it. Suggested customer call us from a more secure location, perhaps a payphone, to change her password. (Some folks really are nuts and there are times when it's best to just play along.)

Ppppthpt
The lights are still on for now, but I haven't come up with any way to pay that bill. All day I've been having a recurring daydream/fantasy where I'm hanging out in the backyard near the electric meter with a shotgun in my hand threatening to shoot anyone who tries to turn it off. For some reason the sound track to this fantasy is the song 99 Luftballons which is in German. I heard it a few times in real life back when it was popular, but I have no idea what the lyrics mean other that it's probably about balloons. I'm not sure how it ties in and I can think of over a dozen songs that would be more appropriate, but instead I'm stuck with this one rattling around in my head. I'm definitely going to have to throw some music on the stereo to purge it from my system, but I'll have to wait since Rob's napping at the moment.

Actually, I should probably wake Rob up since we are supposed to put the Pope puzzle together tonight. Rob found this commemorative puzzle of Pope John Paul II in the bargain bin at HEB for $1 and he just couldn't resist. And who knows, maybe putting the puzzle together will catch the attention of the Catholic God and he'll send $250 our way tomorrow. Never know, could happen.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT...BUT GOD DAMN! THIS SHIT IS FUNNY SOMETIMES

I've been surfing porn on the internet long enough to see midget porn come and go more than a couple of times (Yay! midget porn!!!). Sometimes you come across stuff that is just too mind boggling to wrap your head (much less your private bits) around. With that said, I present this image for your perusal...it's not gross and there is no nudity, but I'm still not sure it's safe for work.
Enjoy?

Oink- Oink baby!

go ahead, discuss amongst yourselves.

Got a light?
They say it's always darkest before the dawn and it's going to be mighty dark if I don't magically pull some money out of thin air to pay the electric bill. It's particularly discouraging because we skimped so much over the holidays in an effort to avoid this very situation. It seems absurd that I would be sitting here this morning crying big fat tears and wanting to just give up and check out over a $250 electric bill, but that's exactly what's happening. Of course, it's not just this one bill, but a long couple of years of dealing with the same sort of thing day after day, week after week and I suppose I'm overdue for a pity party. Best to get it out of my system before I head off to work and pretend I'm the happiest person in the world so I can sound cheerful while talking to assholes on the phone. This too shall pass. Hopefully by tonight I'll be back to my usual stand up and fight attitude and can come up with a game plan to keep the lights on.

THEY STAB DOGGIES, DON'T THEY ? ( PLUS A POLL )

Here's a local news story from Austin...it's not pretty. This crazy bitch stabbed a dog 27 times because she was fighting with her estranged husband. And it wasn't even his dog.

TOP STORIES
Friday January 13 2006


7 16 pm


Woman stabs, kills dog
1/12/2006 5:30 PM
By: News 8 Austin Staff



An Austin woman turned herself in to police Thursday, charged with animal cruelty.

Investigators say Joanne Hinojosa stabbed a dog to death at a home in South Austin.

The dog belonged to a friend of Hinojosa's husband. She is separated from her husband.

Hinojosa was arguing violently with her husband and the friend outside the house and was then was left alone inside with the dog, witnesses said.

One man called the police and when officers arrived, they say they found the dog bleeding with a knife sticking out of its side.

They took the animal to an animal hospital but doctors could not save the dog. The dog had 27 stab injuries when it got to the hospital, doctors said.

Police say in situations of family violence, animals are also at risk.

"This is not the first time that these two crimes have been linked. I believe in reading this, that her anger with her estranged husband was what did cause her to vent those frustrations on the dog," Lt. Doug Dukes of the Austin Police Department said.

Hinojosa faces state jail felony charges for animal cruelty.

It never fails to amaze me how cruel people can be when it comes to animals. I know what I would do this bitch, and trust me, it's not in the choices below.

Please vote in the comments on what her punishment should be based on the following choices:

1. 2 years in prison for cruelty to animals, plus 2 years for domestic violence ( these are the charges she is actually facing).

2. Stab her 27 times and see what happens.

3. Lock her in a pen with ( insert your favorite aggressive breed dog here) covered in pigs blood.Put the key to the lock on the dogs collar and give her a box of milkbones as her only "weapon".

4. Community service at an animal shelter for a year, plus extensive therapy to help her deal with her issues.

5. Rend her into a bag of science diet.

6. Enter your own punishment.

Results (if there are any) posted over the weekend.

HOT OFF THE CNN PRESSES AND SOME STUFF YOU WON'T SEE ANYWHERE

Americans overwhelmingly lack confidence that Iraq will have a stable government in place within the next year, but those who believe the war is worth its cost is rising, according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll released Wednesday. Meanwhile, President Bush said the Iraqi insurgency would not shake his determination to succeed there: "I just want to tell you, whether you agree with me or not, they're not going to shake my will. We're doing the right thing," he said.

Here's the headline for this little gem...

Poll: Americans gloomy about Iraq's future

Are we really suppose to think that any person dodging bullets in Iraq right now gives a flying fuck what the infidels think about the atrocity going on in their country that they are, by extension, responsible for? Give me a fucking break.
GLOOMY??? Come on now...CNN...I can think of a 1000 better adjectives to describe the feeling about what's going on in Iraq right now. Deeply ashamed and overwhelmed with guilt come to mind.

Plus, the added bonus of the bunnypant's quote ending with "we're doing the right thing". Right after he says " they're not going to shake my will". Surely I'm not the only one who didn't miss this egocentric and sociopathic, yet confused statement...we are doing the right thing, following his will. One name comes to mind when I read this, Hitler...it's the same old shit in a new bag and the stamp on the bag is the american flag instead of a swastika.

Some right wing bitches are feeling "gloomy" about Iraqs future while they sit, safe at home in america? Please.

On a related note...Iran has resumed their nuclear research, thumbing their nose at the UN and the world...specifically us, the U S of Fucked UP America. Bush has been looking...no...reaching for an excuse to bomb Iran for a long time now. His aunt jemima secretary of state has as much as said so in recent months...god, i hate that woman...tool of the man and a disgrace to her people, but that's another post.
Here's a scenario for you...we bomb the research sites they have reopened and kill a shitload of Iranian civilians in the process. The Iranian army enmasse piles across the border into Iraq and pummels the shit out of our undermanned for even a bunch of insurgents forces...and just for spite, sends a couple hundred thousand into Israel, just to shake it up a bit.
Think about a quarter pound of C-4 in a soda can on the side of the road and compare it to an armoured division of american hating Iranians backed by a fundamentalist government swarming over a country in chaos. Killing 1000's in an all out fucking war instead of this bullshit they call a war.This is not a war, it's a gang fight. Here's another potential headline for you ... Iraq insurgency replaced by Iranian INVASION.
Now that's gloomy.

OUR ALPHA DOG IS A BITCH

When I take Sully to the store, he loves the ride, and especially loves the stop in our little park, as does Irene. The ride home is one greeted with wagging tails and joy. Joy from an escape from the boredom that is the life of a house dog. They love it. Well so does the alpha dog, Theo. He jumps around just like his brother and sister, he greets the leash with the same kind of canine joy that can only be compared to me finding a half gram of lebanese hash in a long forgotten stash box. He rides well to the store, it's the ride home where he melts down and turns into a simpering dribbling dick of a dog, crashing his head into me and my components in a desparate attempt to escape what is to him, certain fucking death. If he can physically pass through me and the car door and somehow make it to the front door in one piece he's happy. Once inside, he reverts to his old alpha dog self, like nothing happened. Until the next trip to the store.
Ann and I discussed it, and decided that Theo needed the "hamburger treatment"...meaning that when he freaked like he freaked, I would drive past the house and go straight to the nearest burger place and buy him a burger...feed it to him in the parking lot and bring him home. It was marginally successful. He liked the burger part of it, but after the justa-burger with cheese was gone, he reverted to his old pussy bitch self...trying to push his way through me and the door of the car making noises that sounded like this: "Owwwweeeeerrrruuuuumungmungmunghamphamphamperrrwooohampwoohampwoo" over and over while stomping on my instrument column and trying to dislocate my shoulders in a fervent giant pussy attempt to exit the vehicle. Further evidence to his pussiness was he never once agressed towards me or tried to bite. He may be the alpha dog, but I am the alpha alpha dog. I am king of the pack and he knows how far he can push his shit.
So the hamburger thing was marginally successful when i took him to the store with me tonight. I had expressed earlier concern that this approach would just teach him he could be a spazz in the truck and get treats, so I saw a chance and I took it.
The corner store sells half dollar sized bites of jerkey...I bought some and when I got back in the truck, I stuck the bag under his nose so he could smell what was afoot and told him " If you don't act like an ass on the way home, I will feed you this snack of the gods" and off we went.
Of course he started up with the whiney assed pussy dog routine in the usual spot...I shoved the bag of jerkey under his nose and we had the following conversation...

Theo: "Owwwweeeer"...Me: (cutting him off in that loud "I'm a human, therefore more powerful than you" voice) "Shut up you fucking pussy...you call yourself an alpha dog???
What is alpha dog about you acting like a bitch about going home from a mission, you giant pussy, plus I got this jerkey for your sorry ass if you can manage to not piss on yourself before it's over...here sniff this ( I shove the bag of jerky under his pussy nose and he is instantly steeled by the smell, dog balls sprout from nowhere ) but not before he is freaked out by the smell of me turning another corner on the road. That hill sets him off. Closer to home.
Theo: "Owwweeeerrrreeeehoowwwwww..." Me: "Shut the FUCK up you sorry bitch...WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU??? Are you not the fucking alpha dog"? Theo:"Hreeeeowwwump!Pant pant pant...unghhhh,hamp, hamp, errreeeowww".
Me: "What is your fucking problem Theo? You are the king of this roost, but right now you are the biggest pussy dog that ever lived...do you not want this jerkey treat I bought for you? Sit your ass down and BE A MAN...are you a pussy or a mandog...bitch. ( a side note...all these gender specific terms are not confusing to dogs, just bitches in prison.)
Theo: "eeeerrrooowwwrrr..." settles down and goes into the house without trying to take me out after recieving 4 shining silver dollars of beef jerkey.
I think I like my plan better, I think Theo likes it better too. We have an agreement.
Fucking dogs...I love them...
Our alpha dog is a bitch...but we won't advertise...for now.
:)

DINOSAUR

Yep...that's me...a relic of a time gone by. I made it. To middle age. So far it has sucked a major dick. I don't have the money to buy a flashy sports car and I'm not inclined to strike up a fling with one of my coworkers ( considering they are all crusty ass guys like me) to shake things up. So, here I sit, 46 years old with a volume of stories about how it was back in the day (see Uriah Heep link from yesterday) when hippies ruled the day and everything was groovy.
So how do you go comfortably into obscurity after all that ? I don't mean for Uriah to be the be all - end all of a generation, but they were a big part of my life back then, and the other bands of the day, and the social political climate of the times effected me to no end. But that's over...it's gone, only to be held in memory.
When does it stop? When do we as a collective say "ok, that's far enough, we've reached a balance".
But evolution won't let us stop the ride, it allows us to look back and remember what we had that was replaced by something else in a constant push forward. I'm tired of the push...and that's what makes me a dinosaur.
I must be an elephant...the memories tell me so. And...blah blah blah.

The torture of "what if"
I can't help but play it through my mind. What if I DO get the job? I'm so glad the question didn't come up in the interviews as to my own thoughts about how I would perform because I have my doubts. I have to remind myself that I never thought I'd make it as a technical support rep, but I tried to do my best and improve my skills as much as possible and that seems to have worked out quite well. I suppose there's no reason I couldn't just do more of the same if I land the manager position. I can offer plenty of dedication and effort to a job, but past experience has taught me that's not always enough. But past experience has also taught me that you'll never know how you'll do until you actually try something. Now if this sounds like I'm doing a self-pep talk, that's because it is. I've got no shortage of people around me saying what a great job they think I could do, but it's the voice in my head that needs convincing and it's pretty stubborn. It likes to nag me that if I can't be perfect or the best then I shouldn't even bother or it will tell me I can't do it all. I've done an excellent job of thumbing my nose at that voice during my life, but it's been a constant battle. The interesting thing is that instead of that voice being a curse, it's actually been a blessing. Without it I would never have built a race car, switched careers several times, played bass in a band or a thousand other things I have dared to do. Because for a rebellious soul like me, having a voice whispering "you can't" is an extremely effective motivational tool. So tonight and the next day and the day after that I will wield my imaginary sword against that inner demon and I'll win many battles, but I'll never quite vanquish it completely. And that's quite okay with me since my enemy is also my friend.

Don't know the interview outcome yet...
But I've been told the decision will be announced some time next week.

THIS IS AMAZING...1972...CHECK OUT BYRONS PANTS!

And those hippy chicks rocking out in the background...man...those were the days.

Uriah Heep "live" 1972

They couldn't possibly be miming this could they?
I love it.

YOUR SOCKS DON'T MATCH

I've got my morning routine down to fine science. I know how many times I can hit the snooze button and still get up in time to shower, dress and hit the road landing me at work with at least 10 minutes to spare depending on traffic. Several other things must be aligned on the same plane for this to happen. Clean clothes in the proper place is high on the list. This morning I had no clean jeans and my dirty ones were beyond the point of re-wearing, there were no clean shirts hanging in the closet, and there was one black sock in the dryer, hiding amongst the sleep pants and sweatshirts I had to dig through...this takes time! I'm on a schedule dammit...I've got five minutes to dress and hit the road...no time to waste! The first shirt I grabbed had a giant hole in the armpit...ok for weekend wear, but not for work. Holes are ok, providing they are small and work related, but this hole was big and age related.
Spinning narrowly close to a meltdown, Ann produced a pair of clean jeans...but they were 36's, which means I need to cinch, which meant I had to dig through the giant pile of dirty jeans on the floor of the bedroom and find my belt...tick-tick-tick...found it! Now, to match the sock...tick-tick-tick...ain't happening, find black and white speckled sock hiding in the corner of the drawer, it'll have to do. Tick-tick-tick. Grab Son Volt tour shirt from 96 and pull it on...no pocket, but it will have to do...Ghadammit! Times a wastin'!!! Finally, I'm all together and heading for the door, when evil mr. stomach gives a twist...DOUBLE ghadammit!!! Do an about face and wonder if there is such a thing as speed shitting...there isn't, not today anyway.BTW, have you ever taken a dump with a turtle staring at you? It's unsettling, trust me, especially considering that Times a wastin'!!! and there's the slowest animal on earth watching you do your business.Even in my near panic, the irony of that moment didn't escape me...
And my socks don't match...routine is sometimes illusion.
But I still got to work on time.

WEST VIRGINIA MINING DISASTER 2006

When I first heard about this, I was transported back to being a 12 year old listening to the Bee Gees greatest hits vol. I ( pre deconstruction into disco whores ) and the song "New York Mining Disaster 1941"...and in particular the words :

I keep straining my ears to hear a sound.
Maybe someone is digging underground,
or have they given up and all gone home to bed,
thinking those who once existed must be dead.


I don't know how many of you have been in a mine, but I have. The Molly Kathleen mine in Cripple Creek, Colorado...inactive and a tourist attraction at the time, but the set up original, right down to the claustrophobic elevator that bounced from side to side as a red light passed for every hundred feet we descended packed in like sardines. narrow tunnels littered with the tools of the trade. It was an experience. And looking at the "widow maker" gave visual creedence to the old blues standard.

Mining has always been dangerous work...my uncles on my moms side were miners, as was my grandfather...it was a family tradition, apparently. A dangerous tradition.
WWII provided all the danger my uncles needed so they fell prey to the germans before the mines got them. But anyway, back to the point.

This particular mine had been sited many times for safety violations, as this
CNN report hints at. From what I heard on Air America today it's a lot worse. But here's the worse part...family members were initially told that 12 of 13 had survived. There was much celebration and joy over this but it turned out that 1 of 13 had survived...the media has the families on tape singing the praises of the rescuers and GOD and then berating both with profanity and recriminations, obviously stunned by the reversal of fortune, described by some some as a "miracle taken away".
The mining company is attempting to downplay this unfortunate outcome by mumbling about a "miscommunication" between rescuers in the mine and support staff on the ground. Some media are blaming other media for trying to beat the news cycle and break a feel good story to distract the country from the crime in progress that is the war in Iraq.

Please...
12 people died trying to make a living in a dangerous trade working for a company that, according to record, could give a shit about safety or the people working for them.
My heart goes out to these people who were told one thing good and then one thing very very bad.
I can't imagine how I would feel, but I wouldn't let the media steer my grief regardless of the end of the spectrum.

In the event of something happening to me,
there is something I would like you all to see.
It's just a photograph of someone that I new.

Have you seen my wife, Mr. Jones?
Do you know what it's like on the outside?
Don't go talking too loud, you'll cause a landslide, Mr. Jones.

Indeed.

Now that I have that behind me...
I didn't say in my earlier post, but Rob let the cat out of the bag that the interview was for a position at my current employer. I was told that it's a tough interview with quite a few trick questions thrown in. Well, it turns out the interviews were not difficult at all, but I don't think I got the job. Some of my hypothetical supervision decisions didn't sit so well, but I can't erase 15 years of experience in Human Resources and while it might have been the right answer from an HR perspective, it didn't seem to be the answer they wanted to hear. That's nothing new to me since I spent a lot of years in HR fighting that particular battle with "management", but I didn't have the platform here to defend my decision so there's no telling how it will go down. And I don't particularly care one way or the other. If I stay an L2 then I'll make the most of that position, if I get promoted then I'll run with that. I suppose that's a real advantage to getting older. It's a whole lot easier to just roll with the punches.

LET ME CHIME IN ON THIS INTERVIEW THING

Ann has the support of her team leader, and from what I can gather, many of the other team leaders. And while the competition may be stiff, it's mostly young and unstable and upwardly mobile in a way that folks are age are not...sure, we want a better life too, but we have been indoctrinated in spades that the way you get there is by trudging along and doing your best and by some sort of magical connection, management will recognize your commitment and reward you accordingly. Now while this flies in the face of our zoom zoom 21st century lifestyle, Ann has something to offer that may or may not be a fading asset...dedication.
To put your all into whatever job you find yourself in...extra time, extra hours, extra thought to the ins and outs of the day to day stuff. Dedication.
Plus, she's got the smarts real good when it comes to computers...she was playing around with them when they took up a whole room and spit out those hole punchy cards that geeks like her would translate...that I am typing this and able to post it it testament to her vast experience in the field...you got a problem, she can solve it nine out of ten.
And that one out of ten, she'll call you in a week with the answer.
Relentless...yes, that's the word.
Now, let's talk about the shopping. The shopping for interview clothes. Ann asked me to go with to help her choose an outfit. I wear jeans and T shirts at work, both are frequently full of holes and stain ridden. Alright, there was a time in my life that I wore button downs and a tie and slacks and actually looked at myself in the mirror without gagging...I know something about putting together an outfit, but it's in my past and not something I'm particularly proud of...But that Elizabeth Taylor tie rocked, and it blended well with the dockers chinos and the denim button down.
Anyway, we started at Bealls, in the womens section, which is not the junior section, or (gasp) the petite section. Womens is fashion code for big. Tonight I learned that you , as women can either be a little bit big or jabba the hut...there is no middle ground. I also learned why Ann hates to shop for these kinds of clothes...business casual...what the hell is that? You're either business or casual in my mind. Ann assurred me it would be 30 minutes in and out. I didn't care how long it took but I was hoping for the projection. My hope was beaten down, as we spent 45 plus minutes at this store...with me sitting outside the changing room while the old ladies who worked there walked by pretending not to check me out, like I was stalking the fitting rooms at Bealls looking for some middle aged action...it was amusing.
We left Bealls with nary a purchase and headed for the Dickies store...SCORE. Black jeans and a really nice panelled black and grey button down...they flatter Ann and I think will serve her well in her interview...all work...all business, is what this ensamble projects, for the business she's in.
If they pass her over they're idiots.
Wish her luck...:)
And yes, the shopping killed me.
Cross your fingers for Annabelle.
:)

Hello 2006
I have an interesting start to the year in that I have a job interview tomorrow for a mid-management position. I was asked to apply for the job, but it's by no means a sure thing. In fact, I think the odds are pretty slim that I would be chosen over the rest of the rather stiff competition, but I've got nothing to lose by trying.

It didn't freak me out that I'm being interviewed the VPs, the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Financial Officer - been down that road plenty of times before. We are either going to be on the same page or not and there's no telling until the interview. If it's not a good fit, then I pray they don't decide to hire me because there's nothing worse than working for top management with a viewpoint that varies widely from your own (been there and done that.)

What did freak me out was figuring out what to wear with just 24 hours notice. Mid-management seems to all wear khaki slacks and polo shirts (it's mostly guys) and I own neither. I do have some "interview" clothes but I would be way overdressed and the interviews are after my shift so I'd spend the day miserable on the phones in those clothes. I finally settled on a new pair of black jeans and a new button down shirt. It won't win me any interview points, but at least I'll be comfortable.

And now I suppose I should go to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a long day with eight hours on the phones followed by two hours of interviews. I suspect that sleep is not going to come easy tonight so I might as well get on it.

NEW YEARS RESOLUTION

Nope...don't have one, don't want one, don't need one. I've set myself up for years with these things...these resolutions. You know...lose weight, I've weighed roughly the same since I was 19 years old, the days of ripped and skinny ended for me when I was 17. If I can keep it under 200 till I kick, it's all good. Or how about that quit smoking...I've quit hundreds of times, it finally occurred to me that I will quit some day, so why continue to set myself up? And finally...to be a better person. If I haven't figured out how to be a decent human being in 46 years then just drown me in the river in a burlap bag like I did those kittens (Just kidding).They were actually puppies.
So no resolution here...no sir. But I can tell you how I spent my first day of 2006...
On the couch, in my flaming dragon boxers, watching the TV and drinking mimosas and beer.All day. Band of brothers and Psychic detectives and comedy central...all day.I even watched some show called lock down on MsNbc about high security prisons and the people in them. I was struck by thier random violence against each other and the indignant reactions to the prison officials attempts to contain it."They treat us like animals"...no shit...animal. Jeez... With a revolving cast of canine characters on the couch beside me. With Ann behind me playing her new sims in her pj's...drinking mimosas and beer. Exchanging commentary on the shit on the TV and the nuances of the sims.
Anyway...I'm back at it bright and early tomorrow, and we'll see how it goes from there.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

And how did you spend yours? I got up at half past eight and headed out to a side job that didn't happen. I had a new years eve breakfast with my foreman and his daughter and then headed south for home. Let me clarify something here...I refer to him as the foreman, the boss, et al. But when you get right down to it, he is my friend that I happen to work for. So anyway...I'm heading home and I can't remember when the booze house closes for the year, so I swing by and grab a small bottle of the blessed monopolova, only to get home to realize there are no suitable mixers available.
That's ok... I can wait, besides Ann is working and SCI-FI has a twilight zone marathon.
And that's how I spent my new years eve...watching the twilight zone. There was of course the trip to the store for munchies...Queso and little smokies and salsa and fritos...yum. Ann played eve on line and drank beers, and we fielded barky, needy dogs together...little smokies and fritos with queso can go a long way to shutting up the hammering hounds.
Midnight rolled around and we hugged and kissed each other, and agreed to save the totsi till tomorrow.
I stayed up to write this and kill the monopolova.
I got one more round to go, and the zone is still playing out on the TV...in the meantime I hear lame ass fireworks going off in the hood.
And I hope they don't catch my house on fire...stupid bitches...there's a burn ban in effect.
Fuck it! Lets party!!!
I got a tent.