Mainstream Shadows

I Mean Honestly.....

2006-06-14T11:22:00.000-04:00

.....who better to push a campaign to manufacture better helmets for the army then Cher.

props to abc news

"I Thought She Was Joking".....

"In total, Cher's donations represent about one-sixth of the $800,000 that Operation Helmet has raised".....

You go girl.

Houston, We Have A Problem!

2006-06-12T12:02:00.000-04:00

Ah yes.....

The list abounds of articles devoted to how to write personal and professional correspondences using e-mail.

This week a recruiter contacted me for a consulting gig within one of the nameless government agencies funded by $5,000 toilet seats.

Anyway, this position they were interested me in applying for required not only a top secret clearance, but a full scope polygraph as well. Well I have a TS, but not the polygraph. When the young woman realized this she emailed me back with the first sentence stating, ''It seems we have a problem...."

Why is it our problem, I do not have a polygraph?
Why is it our problem, you contacted me about the position?
Why is it our problem, you do not know the requirements for the job you are considering me for?
Why is it our problem, your grammar rates at the seventh grade reading level?

Not that I am the grammar police or the paragon of literacy, but c'mon....

Maybe try "Oh, I am sorry you do not meet the full requirements for this job, my mistake..."

Why am I to share in your incompetence?....

Haha...clearly this is a company I want to work for....

Hit the Road Jack....

2006-04-04T06:58:00.000-04:00

Muhahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.......

Ignorance is Bliss

2006-03-28T08:56:00.000-05:00

Ok, so me and roomie (from Gas-Hole blog) are in the local Giant on RI Ave, waiting in the express line with our goods.

These lines are always long at this Giant, almost like it is the only grocery store in the district.

But anyway.....

2 guys are in front of us in line when a third joins, to the irritation and grumbling of the other folks behind us. My roomie, always the activist, makes a mention aloud, "Will anyone else be joining us this evening?"

One of the original 2 men makes a mention that the third gentleman was with them initially.

Ah yes, this is plainly evident as it took a few seconds for them to recognize this bloke and they proceeded to talk at length and catch up...

Quite obviously they had not seen one another in some time....

Well the third guy who joined made a reference about not paying attention to us and that my friend was ignorant...which the cashier thought was comical....to his credit my roomie held his tongue, which if you know him, must have been a Herculean effort.

So finally when its our turn in line, the cashier looks at me and smiles in that way you know is meant to be degrading and I went off....

In not so many adjectives I explained to her and those around me who heard the ignorant comment how my roomie has a doctorate in pediatric medicine and, god knows, how many children and infants he has saved over the years....

Yes his ignorance abounds doesnt it...

Well the woman behind us looked us over again and smiled warmly with an amen on her lips...

I ended my pronouncement with the thought and hope my roomie's ignorance didnt interfere with his ability to one day maybe treating the gentlemen's (who made the "ignorant" comment) child....

To her credit the cashier's smile slid from her face like ice cream off a cone on a hot day and did not look up or make eye contact with the either myself or roomie for the rest of the time it took to check out....

Not that I like to hand out chastisements right and left, but god knows, her ignorance was not going to save her now...

And to the gentleman out there in DC, be glad my roomie would never hold your comment if, god forbid, your son or daughter are ever brought to the trauma room of Kings Daughters when my roomie is on the clock, against you.....when he saves their lives.

Gas-Hole

2006-03-22T07:41:00.000-05:00

So, this morning while on our way to work we have to stop to get gas. My roommate gets out and proceeds to put $5 in the tank. Well about $.14 comes out on the ground and all over my roommate. Needless to say, not a good way to begin the morning.

Wait....it gets better...

When he tells the attendant (behind 6 inches of bullet proof glass - it is NE afterall) what happened and asks to be moved to another pump, the attendant says no, there is nothing wrong with the pump, all evidence (roommate - gasoline all over pants and hands) to the contrary. My roomie then asks for money back, but the attendant will only give back $4.86.

Wait....it gets even better...

My roomie then loses it on the attendant and an ugly shouting match ensues (I love that word). Finally with no obvious recourse we call the police. Why, over $.14, you ask. PRINCIPLE, plain and simple. So we call the police and then ask for the store managers number to let him know we have called the police. My roomie calls, and the guy picks up the phone.

Wait.....this is too good, its fattening....

When my roomie tells the manager what is going on, with the pump, the attendant, and the police, the guy (and we just happened to be looking at the front of the store) comes out of the store....!!?!!

My roommate gets out of the car, shows him his stained pants, the pool of gasoline on the ground, and informs him the police are on their way. All of a sudden, like a new face of eve, the manager puts us at another pump and we fill the car with $5 of gas, cancel the police, and move on our merry way.

Morale of the story...

Customer Service in this country sucks.
Always use credit card for gasoline in NE DC.
Never under any circumstances should u wear horizontal and vertical stripes in the same outfit.

Cheers.

Rise of the Burning Bush

2006-03-16T07:08:00.000-05:00

So yesterday my roommate is picking me up from and is telling me this humorous story involving a security card in the building I work. This is only too good and I take great child-like delight in relating this story to the y'all.

So anyway, a fire is started near a bush behind the building near one of the many guard posts (probably from a lit cigarette, who knows), manned by an uber fearless and highly trained government security professional (security guard). A homeless man, yes a homeless man mind you is the first to act, as the security guard is too busy yapping on her cell phone. Unfortunately the homeless, while having the best of intentions, makes the situation worse, while trying to put the fire out with a try bush twig, causing the fire to now spread to our innocent bush. Finally our gun-toting femme fatale, now finished with her National Security phone call to her girlfriend proceeds to panic and call the fire department. In steps my roommate who manages to convince our well trained security guard to loan him the FIRE EXTINGUISHER in the guard shack, which he uses to put out the small fire (or roaring brush fire) depending on who you talk too.

To put the cherry on the cake of this incident, the WELL-ARMED security guard thanks him profusely, looks around, and proudly declares, "At least someone around here has some brains!"

As my roommate, shaking his head, returns to the car a woman passing him by who witnessed the titanic battle of man vs nature, mutters while shaking her head, "Government Employees."

Keep in mind this is a "well trained" well armed government employee. God help us in a real emergency.

Ha!!

New Obsession

2006-01-30T15:21:00.000-05:00

Yes, I have a new obsession helping to keep me and us out of the bars for the last several months while in hibernation...guess?

This uber-geek moment brought to you by.....

me

Random Thoughts

2005-08-26T16:11:00.000-04:00

When does a person begin to lose hope. I am sitting here watching the movie "Man on Fire" with Denzel. The imagery they are using makes me wonder at what point a man or woman, or even a child begins to lose hope in others, the world, or the themselves? When and why does this happen? At what point does a person feel so hopeless as to see no light at the end of the tunnel, no joy in the sunrise, no joy in themselves.

At some point in everyone's lives I assume a moment like this happens in one form or another, I just hope they can learn to see the truth in life is not live for hope or misery, good or evil, but simply live the best and fullest life you can and let others sort out the rest.

A wise man once said, live in the moment, live for now, and let the future tend to itself. By living in the moment we can forget the loss or love, good and sorrow, attached to our lives, but simply relish in each and every moment we are afforded in this life.

God Bless the Hypocrites

2005-08-25T07:50:00.000-04:00

A few days ago, Mr. Pat Robertson made some of his most unusual statements to date. Notice how I said unusual and not unexpected. A few days ago, Robertson called for the assassination of a foreign president. This president, regardless of his ideology or what not was flabbergasted as was most of mainstream America.

The White House Response to this tirade, "Mr. Robertson is a private citizen..and has the right to express his personal views." Keep in mind in America if this was Muslim or someone else calling for the assassination of say Tony Blair, they would probably be locked up or at the most have the White House down on them like ugly on a gorilla.

But no, America again shows her hypocrisy knows no bounds.

What is.....?

2005-08-18T13:58:00.000-04:00

What is love? How many facets should it have? Who decides this, when it makes you laugh and cry at the same time. A friend is going through a rough time, an event some, especially I have gone through in my past and since I have been there before and would never wish it on anyone, AND since I'm on a Massive Attack kick this week, this song is perfect for the occassion as we all wish we could protect our friends, family, and loves from harm.

Protection - Massive Attack - Tracey Thorne (vocals)

This girl I know needs some shelter
She don't believe anyone can help her
She's doing so much harm, doing so much damage
But you don't want to get involved
You tell her she can manage
And you can't change the way she feels
But you could put your arms around her

I know you want to live yourself
But could you forgive yourself
If you left her just the way
You found her

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

You're a boy and i'm a girl
But you know you can lean on me
And I don't have no fear
I'll take on any man here
Who says that's not the way it should be

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

She's a girl and you're a boy
Sometimes you look so small, look so small
You've got a baby of your own
When your baby's gone, she'll be the one
To catch you when you fall

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

You're a girl and i'm a boy [x4]

Sometimes you look so small, need some shelter
Just runnin' round and round, helter skelter
And I've leaned on me for years
Now you can lean on me
And that's more than love, that's the way it should be
Now I can't change the way you feel
But I can put my arms around you
That's just part of the deal
That's the way I feel
I'll put my arms around you

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

I stand in front of you
I'll take the force of the blow
Protection

You're a boy and i'm a girl [x4]

Again, thanks to AZLyrics.com

The Truth Inside

2005-08-17T10:36:00.000-04:00

So my boyfriend's ex came over to visit last night before he permanently moves back home to California. This lad is a good guy, but is seriously missing something in his life. I have commonly joked that he is depressing and very withdrawn, but what I think he needs is a little dose of soul searching.

Since I am big believer in the power of music and there is a right song for every occassion, here is the song I have picked for you Jason, read it, learn it, live it, love it.....

"What Your Soul Sings" - Massive Attack

Don't be afraid
Open your mouth and say
Say what your soul sings to you

Your mind can never change
Unless you ask it to
Lovingly re-arrange
The thoughts that make you blue
The things that bring you down
Only do harm to you
And so make your choice joy
The joy belongs to you

And when you do
You'll find the one you love is you
You'll find you
Love you

Don't be ashamed no
To open your heart and pray
Say what your soul sings to you

So no longer pretend
That you can't feel it near
That tickle on your hand
That tingle in your ear
Oh ask it anything
Because it loves you dear
It's your most precious king
If only you could hear

And when you do
You'll find the one you need is you
You'll find you
Love you

Thanks to azlyrics.com for the lyrics to this song. It is off Massive Attack's 100th Window album.

Ill Give you the Finger

2005-05-06T15:41:00.000-04:00

According to a cnn article today, CNN reportedly refused to give the finger back to the young man who accidently had it cut off in the mixer used to prepare the customers soft serve. Why did he not get it back, evidently he is keeping it for evidence in his, I am sure, $500 billion lawsuit. The customer was quoted as walking out of the store with the finger tip saying he would calling TV stations and his attorney.

Not even considering the fact this young 23 year-old could have had the finger re-attached. No this stupid lowlife jackass is more concerned about getting his just desserts, cash, and a lot of it.

According to the customers attorney, he is great distress over the incident. Oh get the f*** over it. Did you sue mother earth for eating her dirt when you were a kid, or Elmers for all the paste you ate in kindergarden. Your selfishness and greed have caused this kid to go through life w/o half his finger so you can make a quick buck you bloody half-breed.

Keep one thing in mind, jackass, what goes around comes around, and when you need something from somebody, somewhere, somehow, somewhen, I hope to God they show more compassion then you have you low life. You have truly shown you are amongnst the lowest form of life on this planet.

Have a good weekend and enjoy your fortune.

More then Just a Sneeze

2005-05-04T18:00:00.000-04:00

So I am eating dinner last night and about 20 mins after finishing I noticing a tingling in my hands, face, throat, and eyes. About 20 mins after that, my entire face looks like a transplant of Mr. Staypuft from Ghostbusters. If anyone has ever had this occur, you know exactly what it is, Anaphylaxis, or Anaphylactic shock. This can be quiet serious or fatal if attention is not given within a few hours of coming into contact with whatever allergen causes this reaction in the body.

But no, like a dumbass, I take some benadryl and go to bed. I wake up the next morning, to find my eyes have mostly recovered their normal size, in so much as, I have stopped looking like an alien and look more like a crack-whore. In anycase, I have noticed I am very hoarse and finding water is not doing the trick and realize my throat has begun to swell, fun fun.

Needless to say, 4 hours later, an ER visit, an IV, bloodtests, and steroid pills I am pretty much back to normal. Morale of this story kiddies. If you have a reaction and you know something is wrong, do not do what I did by sleeping on it. Anaphylaxis can kill you if not treated immediately. Luckily, I did not come into contact with whatever allergen long enough to cause a severe reaction or rapid onset of Anaphylaxis. I know a lot of you hate doctors or hosptials, but I am going out on a limb here and guessing you would like dying from suffocation from your throat swelling shut even less.

We never did figure out what caused it, either Double-A's cooking *smirk* or a particularly vile bag of Salt and Vinegar chips.

Cheers.

Is it Art Sweety?

2005-05-03T15:02:00.000-04:00

Yesterday my co-worker and I decided to visit the Corcoran Museum for a nice change of pace for lunch. Here is a taste of what we observed.

Definitely beats what would be a blase lunch. I highly recommend a trip when you can and please donate something to the gallery...peas and cawwots..;-)

Hong Kong - It Begins

2005-05-03T14:18:00.000-04:00

So its time for planning a fall trip. We have been beating around ideas for september of this year. Belize, Rome/Venice, or London (for New Years, yeah not really the fall, but work with me). On a whim, I look at a few sites advertising specials for Asia, Hong Kong specifically. It is now 2 weeks later and I have reserved 2 rooms in Hong Kong, through a most excellent friend of mine. Why the 2 rooms? To us its not a vacation unless friends come along, so one friend is joining with the possibility of one or more as summer goes by.

The hotel, in case you are wondering is the Excelsior located in Hong Kong. Thanks to my friend I was able to book rooms with un-obstructed views of the harbor. We cannot wait for this trip, sure to be fun, specially with friends along. More to come as the trip gets closer.

Ready for Work, Wallet, Keys, Hand-Gun

2005-04-26T07:41:00.000-04:00

The Return of the Wild West is about to be ushered in this week or next in the state of Florida Castle Doctrine. According to the new law, any citizen of the state are now allowed to defend themselves by meeting "force with force," erasing the "duty to retreat" when they fear for their lives outside of their homes, in their cars or businesses, or on the street. This of course means, if a citizen is in fear for their life no matter where they are located in the state, they can defend themselves. Really think about this. I really do not have an opinion on gun control. But I do have an opinion of an utter lack of common sense in some people. Unfortunately, some of these people also own fire arms and worship Ted Nugent (whom I think is a bang-up Guitarist, rock on Ted).

From the same article, and this touches on my lack of common sense theme, Republican Rep. Dennis Baxley was quoted as saying "Disorder and chaos are always held in check by the law-abiding citizen."

Well yes they are when the same citizen is packing a .44 magnum and getting in touch with his spiritual "Dirty Harry."

The central purpose of this law is for the protection of the citizen. Most laws in our states state a person should use any means necessary to escape a dangerous situation, but as many victims know, especially in the case of hand guns, its kind of hard to out run a bullet.

Deceased Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Homes, once wrote, "Detached reflection cannot be determined in the presence of an uplifted knife." I agree, if someone is less then 20 paces running at me with a knife intending to do murder upon me, I am not going to stop and weight all my options, I am going to either run, or if armed drop the jackass.

In this sense, I see the purpose of the law, however, what if someone is standing across the street getting ready to wield a shiny knife against, say a steak, hot dog, or a tag sticking up out of a woman's shirt she wishes cut off. The citizen has a split second chance to make a life or death decision for that tag. Think about it. I understand and can agree with the spirit of the law, but the general way it will be implemented scares the hell out of me. Be safe, and for God's sakes please don't put a cap in Mickey's ass.

I borrowed heavily from the WashingtonPost and wanted to give credit where credit is due.

Chocolate Chai

2005-02-18T07:59:00.000-05:00

Its Friday and I head to Starbucks to clear my head from too much alcohol from the night before when I discover a new taste.

Chocolate Chai....

Quickly eat 3-4 Peppermint Lifesavers
Immediately slug 2-3 gulps of Vanilla Chai with Skim Milk....

Results....

A satisfying chocolate taste :)

News you cannot live without..

Enjoy....

Once Bitten....

2005-02-16T09:38:00.000-05:00

So last night I am at a local watering hole on the Hill minding my own business enjoying dinner and drinks with friends when this fat chick tries to squeeze in and get a drink. No problem, she was rude and I make as much room as possible to allow someone of her girth to get in.

Then I feel her rub up against me. I pay this no mind since she looks like she swallowed 3 small children prior to coming into the bar. Next thing I know, I feel a sharp pain on my back.

I jump off the bar and look at her and she smiles revealing a rack of braces and licking her lips.

I shout in the middle of the bar (interesting enough frequented by many well to do real estate agents, congressmen, and congressional aides) WTF?!!? you just bit me you fat bi**h.

At this point my boyfriend begins to cuss her out while the bartender ( a good friend) grabs the owner and has the Hungry, Hungry Hippo thrown out.

Luckily for me the skin was not broken so I shrugged it off since she had been tossed while I was in bathroom surveying the damage.

Luckily for her I think before I strike else she would still be in the hospital having her braces surgically removed from the back of her throat and mouth, and pooing out teeth.

Morale of the story, there is none, just its never a dull moment when your with me out at the bars.... *evil grin*

Cheers.

$50 Underwear

2005-02-11T07:30:00.000-05:00

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15387-2005Feb10.html
Up until recently there was a bill in the Virginia Assemby outlawing the provocative wearing of underwear and baggy jeans. Basically the guys and chicks who wear baggy jeans so low on the waistline the underwear can be seen. The fine for exposing your Tommy's, $50.

What they didnt think about, are the consequences of the new law for such obviously lewd and lascivious behavior:

Kids missing school to go to court. Is it worth it?
Parents missing a day of work to take their kid's to court. Worth it?
Complete loss of respect by the public for the Virginia Assembly. Not that these old farmers had it.
Loss of national respect for the Va Assemby. Congress is not much better.

Here is yet another shining examples of your (fellow Virginians) tax dollars at work and someone in the Government, again, trying to impose their personal beliefs and bias on the public at large.

What is interesting is the sponsor of the bill, a Algie T. Howell, Jr. (D-Norfolk), was a responding to his constituents.

I got a news flash for you Algae, your constituents are not your wife, Pat Robertson, or Ralph Reed's wallet.

Cheers.

Viagra or Bust

2005-02-02T07:06:00.000-05:00

This week, the Federal Government announced the inclusion of Viagra as a drug covered under Medicare. According to reports, Viagra for Medicare recipients will only be prescribed when medically necessary.

Ok, when I am, say, 68, when does it become medically necessary for an erection. At 68 can my heart handle it? With all the other budget problems the Government is facing with revamping social security, medicare, fighting a war, etc...is it really necessary to spend this extra money so grandpa can recapture the glory days?

I mean come on.

Along with Viagra a whole slew of heart medications are also being added so at least I have the knowledge when grandpa collapses in bed after a marathon session with grandma the heart medication he will need will be covered by Medicare.

"MyLantra, MyViagra, MyJohnson"

History Murdered

2005-02-01T08:32:00.000-05:00

I have read many academics tell of how historians are the murderers of heroes. If this is the case, who will write the history of our generation and times. How will history remember us as a whole or as individuals?

Are we to be remembered as heroes or murderers or a paradox of both?

Cheers.

Little Known Cost of Inauguration

2005-01-14T06:41:00.000-05:00

Cost of Inauguration/Crowning now being questioned...

Ok, NOW you idiots in the media are beginning to report cost of inauguration. Here is another little known cost.

When the Federal Government is closed in the greater Washington DC Metro area, all Feds will be off, sans, essential personnel. Guess who doesnt get the day off, Contractors. Thats right the very real people keeping this Government going will either have to take leave w/o pay, forced to take leave (hope you were not saving for a vacation cause Bush says F you, you have to work), or telework. If you are one of the lucky ones allowed to telework, give thanks, your one of the lucky ones.

Why all the fuss....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/daily/graphics/inagurationClosings_0105.html

Over 100 city blocks of Washington DC's busiest streets (Fed Gov't, Financial District, WB-IMF, etc...) will be inaccessible beginning sometime on Wednesday evening until sometime Thursday evening.

Yet again another not so shiny example of the continued elitism prevalent throughout the halls of power...shocker!!

All hail the ..., I mean God Bless America.

Of Men and Minivans

2005-01-13T13:03:00.000-05:00

Ok, how many folks driving on the interstate have seen this scene, the scene of a minivan speeding up behind you going between 65mph and the speed of sound, only to pass you while you are standing still. This happened to me one time, a blue minivan (late model, Blue, Ford Aerostar, for those drawing a mental picture) blew past me whilst I was in the right hand speed lane. As it raced past me, in a blur, I made out a bumper sticker, "Soccer Mom." Usually I let idiots like this go right on by as I want them in front of me not behind me, but on this particular Saturday evening, I was feeling manly and decided to give chase only to find to my surprise and utter hilarity, the Soccer Mom was, in fact, a Soccer DAD.....

For the next few months, I paid closer attention to minivans on the interstate and larger highways to discover a trend:

Minivan drivers are crazy, pulling antics akin to stock car racing on the final lap of Daytona . I swear to god I would not be surprised to see Richard Petty behind the wheel of some of these minivans.
90% of these crazy minivan drivers are men.
90%+ of these male minivan drivers are married with 2.3 children.

Conclusion:

Men are indoctrinated since birth to be masculine and the lord of the manor so to speak (in America anyway). With this lordly power comes a suitably lordly mode of transportation like the American muscle cars, SUVs, or lightning quick foreign imports. But with marriage and the age of the working woman, most men are forced to share their roles as lord of the roost and in this they are forced to compromise with their wife or spouse on a means of conveyance suitable for their children, dog, and soccer gear: the Minivan.

Now imagine what this is doing to the perceived masculinity of the man in this situation. He has been neutered, emotionally hamstrung, a weakling, whipped.

He now vents this rage on the rest of the world through his driving. When he is behind the wheel of his minivan he sees himself behind the wheel of a mustang, Land Rover, or BMW.

Weaving in out of traffic like he was a member of LaBonte's family.

So I pose this to my friends and interested parties who are majoring in psychology and sociology, I would like to see a research paper, thesis, what have you done on what the minivan and the persona of driving the "Grocery Getter", I mean minivan does to the perceived public perception of the once proud and mighty man.

I even have a title:

"The Minivan and the Immasculation of the American Male"

That Person....

2005-01-12T06:53:00.000-05:00

Ok,

So when the metro (underground subway) doors chime, you need to be on or off the train as the doors are closing immediately following chime. This morning the chime sounded as I was three quarters on the train, unfortunately the doors right before the chime, rather then following, and since these doors close and do not open unless the operator detects the doors open, I became that person, the person whom Washingtonians complain about when the trains are delayed. Regardless of whose fault (mine and my gym and laptop bag) or the overzealousness of the train operator, it was a sobering experience being on the otherside for a change.

Welp there goes my karma for the day.

Cheers.

Fear Factor Idiot

2005-01-07T08:08:00.000-05:00

According to the Washingtonpost this morning:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54868-2005Jan6.html

Some moron is suing NBC, the creator of Fear Factor, because WHAAA!!! he got sick watching an episode where the contestants eat rats after being blended in a blender.

Asking price for this lawsuit is $2.5 million. Oh my god!!! This jackass admits he watches the show all the time, but in this instance he was too distraught to get to the power button on TV..

Ever hear of a Remote control...jackass

And also received bodily injury running to the bathroom, evidently he bounced off a few walls getting there in his distraught frenzy to reach the porcelain god...

OK...I hate to see this pathetic SOB in a real emergency or when the shit hits the fan....or in this case will more then likely run down his pants before he vomits and passes out...

Have a good weekend!

Cheers.

Metrocheck Benefits

2005-01-06T06:42:00.000-05:00

The Federal Government gives out $100/month in metrochecks in 3 month increments to Government employees for use on the Washington DC subway and bus system; Metro. This year this monthly stipend was increased to $105/month. Nothing extravagent, but still, something. When I was in-line yesterday to sign a form stating my need for the increase (since I usually run out 2 weeks before the next installment) another of my Fabled Government piants was complaining the Government was not giving him enough.

Lets see, $105/month at $1260/year/employee at say 250,000 local Federal Government employees (conservative estimate) is $315,000,000 or for my fellow employee who maybe daunted by all the zeros, $315.0 million. This is what the Government is giving you for FREE FREE FREE to come to work.

We are damn lucky to get that at all considering most people commuting into the city from the suburbs of Maryland and Virginia dont get squat, ZERO, nil from their companies to use transit system....so lighten up...you buffoon...your damn lucky your getting anything at all.

Cheers.

Dividend Of Priorities

2005-01-05T11:42:00.000-05:00

Not to take away from the tragedy and loss of life in the Indian Ocean and surrounding countries from the post-Christmas earthquake and subsequent tsunami, but I had a random thought after reading about the latest fatality figure (the news orgs are like bookies with the body count). I believe it is close 150,000 people now.

How many people died in the Darfur massacre over the summer of 2004. According to the BBC, over 70,000 people have died since 10/14/2004 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3747380.stm). Now then, when this tragedy occurred I do not remember seeing website galore begging for aid, Sandra and Leonardo were not giving millions of dollars (to their credit they are some of the biggest single contributors to world charities) as reported by every newspaper in creation. CNN did not devote at least 12-18 hours of its programming to the devastation, loss of life, and heroic and tragic stories of victims and survivors, no I believe it got 2-3 days of REAL press coverage followed by about 2 weeks of footnotes.

Now if I have not offendend I probably will now. The reasoning why the Darfur tragedy like so many in Africa in the last decade can be attributed to the following:

Shocker, third world continent.
Occurred over the summer when most peoples of the West are vacationing.
For some reason many see these tragedies as avoidable and blame them on the indigenous people. Lets not forget everyone, most of Africa was under the heel of western colonialism for over 300 years, then left to pretty much fend for themselves.
No westerners are involved in so much as being killed, victimized, or what have you or if they have they deserve it and have no business being there.
What are half a million people on the otherside of the world as long as I do not miss Wheel of Fortune or it doesnt coincide with a national or religious holiday.

Now then, lets look at the Tsunami disaster:

Thousands of westerners vacation in the region and hundreds are dead with thousands more missing and presumed dead.
Occurred immediately after the biggest christian holiday of the year.
Local economies are in a shambles for what a few months a year??...at least there is a viable economy in some of these countries and there is something to bounce back from.
Guilt for what colonialism and the Cold War did to the African continent.
Political Expediancy - westerners aiding muslims, sounds like good press to me. Even Powell said terrorism in the region is likely to halt for a period of time. Heck we should send tsunamis against Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Iran,....etc.

All I am saying is really sit back and think about how aid, especially from the west, is prioritized and think about who really benefits most, the victim or the contributor.

inauguration or christening

2005-01-04T09:40:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, my co-worker and I are taking walk (lunch-break) on an unusually warm DC day conversing on the some of the idiosyncratic behavior of our co-workers when we come upon the construction of the podium and platform where the President will either be inaugurated or give a speech or both.

Now everyone close their eyes and think back to the days when you were made to speak in front of your class and the little, but stateful podium you were made to speak from, now imagine this ( and I wish I had a camera with me).....

....imagine a large road (Pennsylvania Ave to locals) turned into walkway with bleachers on either side as far as the eye can see....now imagine in the center of the bleachers an edifice unlike anyother, colored blue and white with smatterings of red standing 2 stories tall....a monument u ask? a mural?...no....a platform recently erected to hold i imagine 20-50 people with a little stately podium in the center....surrounded with all the pomp, circumstance, and pageantry befitting the crowning of a king....not the inauguration of a US President..

...look at the gift of undying love the taxpayer has paid for....a platform edifice for the presidents inauguration or christening?...you decide...its your money and your choice...

Dubyah gets my demagogue of the year award.