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February 2004 Archives

February 1, 2004

Call of the Rabid Train Rider

Every day I take the train. I get on and move in as far as I can to allow more people to get on later. If I'm early enough I get a seat (oh joy!). I could go on and on about the people who get on and stand in the door, but that isn't the point of this post. Two stops later, we come to a popular stop where tons of people pile on the train. Many times by the time we get there, the train is almost full. The result? The people getting on at this stop are crazed. They must get on the train! They must! As the train pulls into the station, their eyes grow wild with anticipation of the battle to get to the doors, they block out their space with their elbows, they eye each other - checking out the competition. The train doors slowly open... ready, set, go! They push and shove - it's every man, woman and child for themselves! They literally hurl themselves onto the train even when there is no more room for them. My favorites are those that squeeze themselves into a space which a person 1/3 their size would comfortably take up and then glare at the people around them for squishing them.
What is this behavior?
It's not as if the train is the last helicoptor out of Saigon, or you need to get to the end of the Titanic before it sinks. There will be another train in 5 or 10 min. What is so important that you can't get to work 5 or 10 min. later? I could buy one person having some crisis where they absolutely have to get somewhere - but it's an entire stop full of people! This post doesn't really have a point, except people are crazy, which isn't really news to anyone.-----
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I Probably Think this Song is About Me..

I went to the Advertising Slogan Generator and put in Amy (what else?).. and here is my slogan:

He Who Thinks Amy Drinks Amy


hmmmm.....-----
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Can I Get a Witness?

Awhile back I realized I had never seen Roots*. I was vaguely aware of it when it was originally shown, but it was on way past my bedtime. Yesterday, it arrived from Netflix and I watched episode 1.

There was the infamous Kunta Kinte in his native African village, learning to become a man. Here come the evil slave traders (Mr. Walton and Mr. Grant? Say it's not so, John Boy) to capture him and take him away. The horrifying conditions on the slave ship and the way the slaves are treated filling your stomache with bile. I am saddened to tell you I couldn't really concentrate or absorb the story the way I should have - and it's all Michael Powell's fault.

You see in Kunta Kinte's village many of the women went topless, which I assume was their custom. Breasts everywhere you look. Breasts here, breasts there, oh look more breasts over there. And the whole time I'm watching all I can think is: how did this get on regular free television? I am frankly amazed that a millisecond of a certain other persons breasts caused such an uproar, but this was on tv. And I'm really, really angry because now I'm aware of that - all I can fixate on is breasts! on tv!. 3 weeks ago I wouldn't have thought anything of the breasts in Roots and I could have focused. But now I'm imagining the converatives rioting in the streets over Roots. Sigh..

So.. for those of you who remember when it was on tv originally: what was the deal? How did they spin that?

* ok, ok, ok.. I saw them talking about Roots on "I Love the 70's" on VH1, realized I had never seen Roots and thought it would be a good thing to watch.-----
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February 2, 2004

Real Estate Psycho

I have not bored you with discussions of the old homestead for awhile now, so here is your due.

Now, I no longer follow all the real estate dealings in the area because it's exhausting and way too time consuming, not to mention that all it does is make you wonder if maybe you made a mistake. However, the place next door to mine is for sale and yesterday they had an open house. It's hard to miss the sign and the steady stream of folks coming to check it out. This particular place has about a third more square footage and an additional bedroom. In my head I came up with a figure I think this should sell for based on how much I paid. Then I looked it up in the paper and discovered the list price was not as high as I thought it should be. Eek.. my property values are plummeting!

So I decide to troop over there and check out what the deal was. Upon entering and glancing around (but after being repulsed by the real estate agent - all real estate agents make my flesh crawl.. sneaky bastards), I realized: this place is SO not as nice as mine!! {does a little victory dance}. Look at that hideous rug (where I have lovely parquet floors), those appliances look like they are from the stone age (mine were all 2 years old when I moved in), the previous owners took the washer and dryer (who does that?), the bathroom vanity was repulsive, (mine is about 3 years old and has matching wainscoating) and I don't think anyone had cleaned the bathroom in some time (why has an open house like that?). ahhahahahahahha.. I win.

How sick and demented is it that I was happy all day yesterday about this?-----
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The Local Hockey and Basketball Arena, presented by the latest corporate takeover

Eric Wilbur, who blogs about Boston sports on Boston.com made my whole day with this on the impending name change of the FleetCenter when Fleet is swallowed whole by Bank of America:


Maybe Kevin Paul Dupont is right. We should just call it “The Vault” and get this over with.

Or if you’re looking for something longer, say, “The Vault, owned and operated by greedy bastards.” That has a ring to it, no?

We all knew a name change was coming for the FleetCenter, but it looks like it won’t be the one that makes sense. Bank of America Garden, while not exactly fluid off the tongue, kind of made everybody happy. The corporate shills got their name on the building so they can feel part of the team. Whoopee!

Meanwhile, the fans of Boston would have had their Garden back. That appears to be the problem.

According to the Inside Track, that name change idea was shot down faster than Bambi’s mother because folks would just refer to it as “The Garden.” Heaven forbid.

Here’s some news for you, Charlotte. You really think folks are running to their local Fleet branch to open a checking account because the building that houses the Bruins and Celtics has the name on it? Get real.

In January, the Carolina-based bank also purchased the naming rights to the Carolina Panthers’ home stadium. It will be called Bank of America Stadium. Pretty original.

The question here is, if that name was so easy, what is up with all this hemming and hawing over a new name in Boston? We all know they’re going to call it “Bank of America Center,” which has as much flow as the Dead Sea, so what’s the holdup? How many meetings does this take? Maybe they’re looking for something really cutting edge. Like “The America Center,” which frankly at least sounds better than what we know we’re gonna get.

Some bank president, coupled with a marketing firm, is somewhere in Charlotte right now deciding the fate of the new Garden, as well as the way the city of Boston is seen coming in from the north, where the FleetCenter is a dominating landmark. If you didn’t call it “The New Garden,” at least “The Fleet” had a certain ring to it. What with Bank of America? The Bank? I say we just start to calling the place “The Local Hockey and Basketball Arena, presented by the latest corporate takeover.” How does that work?

Rock on, Eric! I could go on and on and on and on about how much I despise the corporate naming of stadiums. It removes the heart and soul of sports and reminds us that for some people, it's not a game, but a money making machine. I used to want it to go back to being the Garden, and I would be extremely happy if it did, but now I'm leaning toward Red Auerbach Arena. He deserves it.-----
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February 3, 2004

March Madness is Coming!

A month from Sunday (3/14) is the 2004 Men's Basketball Tournament selection show. That Tuesday (3/16) is the first game between 64 and 65, then on Thursday March 18.. it all begins.
Lights, camera, action.

I can't wait.


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February 4, 2004

Whatever Gets You Through the Day..

I just had this IM session with a guy I work with:

Guy: Word of the day: hypnagogic
Guy: something I have right now
Me: what does it mean?
Guy: sleepy feeling
Me: I was going to guess: sense of vertigo brought on by being surrounded by lunatics
Guy: did I ever tell you about the Italian chef I worked with in Germany?
Me: no
Guy: The only thing he could say in German was "I'm surrounded by idiots, please kill yourselfs". Like, why would anyone go to the trouble of only learning that, it was pretty funny. He would scream it a the top of his lungs when someone made a mistake
Me: that is awesome!
Guy: he was also about 4 foot 1
Guy: Little Danny Devito


I have to learn how to say that in German so I can say it too!-----
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The Wait is Over...

Queer Eye is finally returning with a new episode tonight.

yeah! Oh, how I have missed my imaginary gay husband, Kyan.


This week Kyan and Carsen get married in San Fransisco... Michael Powell is incensed because he finds this indecent, prompting an FCC investigation, the result of which will be a proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Then all rational people in the U.S. move to other countries and Bush rejoyces calling everyone who left evil doers. Then he decrees that all the evil doers shall never be referred to again, nor remembered - they never existed. Bush and Cheney think to themselves: that Orwell guy had it right! Now everyone prepare for the Rapture.


(ok, I'm a little bored today and ever since I found out about this rapture thing, I've been a little freaked out by our president - even more than before).-----
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More T Craziness...

but this time I'm the freak (sort of, I think... )
See, from time to time this guy gets on the train two stops after mine (the busy stop) and this guy looks like Gerry McNamara:

Only Gerry McNamara when he's in his early 30's. I don't know why, but I find this facinating and I have a tendency to stare at him - well, not openly stare, but check him out from time to time. Today he was wearing a trench coat and Ray Ban sunglasses. I almost didn't recognize him in this secret service agent like get up.

so hello gerry of the future from the girl you probably think is stalking you. but I'm not and I'm really not a freak. really.

thank goodness it's Friday because based on this post, I may need to seek professional help over the weekend.

bah!-----
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More T Craziness...

but this time I'm the freak (sort of, I think... )
See, from time to time this guy gets on the train two stops after mine (the busy stop) and this guy looks like Gerry McNamara:

Only Gerry McNamara when he's in his early 30's. I don't know why, but I find this facinating and I have a tendency to stare at him - well, not openly stare, but check him out from time to time. Today he was wearing a trench coat and Ray Ban sunglasses. I almost didn't recognize him in this secret service agent like get up.

so hello gerry of the future from the girl you probably think is stalking you. but I'm not and I'm really not a freak. really.

thank goodness it's Friday because based on this post, I may need to seek professional help over the weekend.

bah!-----
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Stop the Madness

we can't give in to the freaks, ok?

It's been 6 days and people can't stop talking about the booby seen 'round the world. Our tax dollars are going to be spent on a ridiculous "investigatation" on a flash of booby. Millions of children will seek therapy in the future because they will thing booby's are bad. Booby's are not bad.

According to CNN, here is just some of the resulting insanity:

A banker from Knoxville, Tennessee, filed a class action lawsuit against Jackson, dance partner Justin Timberlake, CBS, halftime show producers MTV and the networks' parent company, Viacom. Terri Carlin said the "sexually explicit conduct" by the performers caused millions of people to "suffer outrage, anger, embarrassment and serious injury."

[Amy says: what kind of serious injury? carpal tunnel?]


NBC cut a scene from Thursday's "ER" that showed an elderly patient's breast, saying the current atmosphere made it too difficult for affiliates to air the segment.

[Amy says: blood, guts, internal organs are all ok, but booby's are bad? Even after 10pm]

ABC said it would add a delay for its February 29 broadcast of the Academy Awards. TNT also said it was considering a delay for the entertainment portion of the NBA All-Star Game, featuring Beyonce, OutKast and Christina Aguilera.

The NFL cut a halftime production number by one of Timberlake's 'N Sync bandmates, JC Chasez, planned for Sunday's Pro Bowl in Honolulu, because Chasez's song contained the words "horny" and "naughty." He'll be replaced by hula dancers and local singers. Chasez, in turn, has ripped the NFL and refuses to sing the national anthem at the game, which he had been asked to do.

[Amy says: exposed navels are ok.. but booby's are bad?]

and you know what else? I'm tired of hearing about parents complain about the skimpyness of the dancers at halftime. Oh.. my children shouldn't be exposed to that. Um.. then they shouldn't be watching football - I have you SEEN what cheerleaders where these days?

And I think the hypocracy of CBS is summarized by this:
One father who watched the game with his 12-year-old son said the Jackson dance passed uncommented upon, but he was caught short when the boy asked, "Dad, what's erectile dysfunction?"
I'm not a guy, but it seems to me that finding out what erectile dysfunction is may be more scarring than a little booby flashage. Erections that last more than 4 hours require immediate medical assistance? I would be terrified!


Good grief, look at some of the words and people mentioned in this post. Bring on the freaky search requests!-----
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Bush: The Divider

I can't think of better words on the Bush announcement about being for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage than Andrew Sullivan's, who is the somewhat rare combination of conservative, catholic and gay:

WAR IS DECLARED: The president launched a war today against the civil rights of gay citizens and their families. And just as importantly, he launched a war to defile the most sacred document in the land. Rather than allow the contentious and difficult issue of equal marriage rights to be fought over in the states, rather than let politics and the law take their course, rather than keep the Constitution out of the culture wars, this president wants to drag the very founding document into his re-election campaign. He is proposing to remove civil rights from one group of American citizens - and do so in the Constitution itself. The message could not be plainer: these citizens do not fully belong in America. Their relationships must be stigmatized in the very Constitution itself. The document that should be uniting the country will now be used to divide it, to single out a group of people for discrimination itself, and to do so for narrow electoral purposes. Not since the horrifying legacy of Constitutional racial discrimination in this country has such a goal been even thought of, let alone pursued. Those of us who supported this president in 2000, who have backed him whole-heartedly during the war, who have endured scorn from our peers as a result, who trusted that this president was indeed a uniter rather than a divider, now know the truth.
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February 5, 2004

Back to the 80's

Yesterday I had two: back to the 80's experiences.

One of my co-workers who is the same age as I am have different opinions on the 80's. He relishes the era, calling it "the only time I was hip", I consider it a time of great akwardness that I'm glad has long past. But we do like some of the old tunes. Yesterday I answered the phone and I hear:
Under blue moon I saw you
So soon you'll take me
Up in your arms
Too late to beg you or cancel it
Though I know it must be the killing time
Unwillingly mine

ah.. Echo and the Bunnymen. We then launched into an extended conversation on the genius of Sophia Coppla, to whom I would like to give the "Best Use of a Jesus and Mary Chain song in a movie" award. Perhaps the only movie I've seen a Jesus and Mary Chain song used in, but whatever. Just Like Honey, baby..


Then last night at the gym, at the end of Step class we do abs. The teacher puts on a slow song and says: I bet no one remembers who sings this! The bubble above my head says: REO Speedwagon. But I don't dare admit that I know that outloud. No one else does, either. The teacher (who is hysterical) continues on to say she doesn't even want to tell us how old she was when this came out. But then goes on to tell say she was 19 and she had a boyfriend with a Trans Am and they used to drive around and play this song. HA! Imagine! Of course, then I realized that when this song was out, my big dream was to get to the day where I'd be old enough to have a boyfriend with a Trans Am and go around playing REO Speedwagon.

I feel I've come a long way since then.. :)-----
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I've Been Thinking..

about the big events of yesterday (danger! danger!): Nader and Sex in the City.

On Nader: I find it a little insulting to voters intelligence that people say Nadar's running in 2000 cost Gore the election. His running didn't cause that, the people who voted for Nader caused that. Just because he's on the ballot doesn't mean anyone has to vote for him. They should have known that voting for Nadar would mean. I am for more choice in our elections. I think the two party system is unecessarily narrow and allows policians to avoid many issues. Some of those issues are brought up by Nadar. I applaud his willingness to take on the way corporations own D.C. I applaud his environmental views. I think it's great to have more perspectives in the election process. That said.. would I vote for Nadar: HELL NO. It's too important this time. Hell, I thought it was too important in 2000 to be sending messages (so yes, that means I didn't vote for Nader then, either). There is the ideal world and the world we actually live in. In the world we actually live in, voting for Nader is a vote for Bush. Be aware of the issue, open your mind to debate - but, please, please, please be aware of what a vote for Nader will do.


On Sex in the City: I, of course, am thrilled that Carrie ended up with Mr. Big John. Any other ending would have gone over like a lead balloon to the shows legions of fans. Strike up the band for romance! But thinking about it today, I realize that Big is many women's fantasy's: the bad boy who comes to his senses, who can be changed, who will do the right thing if you just hold out long enough - but is still just bad enough to keep it interesting. Let me tell you: such a creature does not exist in the wild. So it seems unrealistic to think this will work out.. (but then again - something has to happen in the movie).-----
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OK, I'm an Idiot..

I now believe my mail problem is derived from the following:

sometime in recent history my ISP set up a "spam" box where it was sending all my spam (which is massive in amount). I have a hazy memory of them telling me this and being excited because I could exclude the spam folder from what I was downloading. So my theory is that I haven't been receiving mail because I just noticed that I have over 11mb of messages (which is over my quota), all of which is in the spam box. Not that I know this for sure because my ISP still hasn't responded to me and I do find it odd that if my mailbox were full why it wasn't bouncing emails back, but I don't have the time or inclination to really care. Anyway, I'm deleting all the messages in my spam box and we'll see how it goes.-----
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Bush on Meet the Press

In an attempt to boost his sagging approval ratings, King George will make an appearance on the Meet the Press with my favorite white board carrying political talk show host, Tim Russert. Truth be told, I have a raging crush on Tim, but that is something for another day.. I think it's nearly impossible that Bush goes an entire hour with Russert and doesn't say something incredibly stupid (and it I give only 50/50 odds that he'll realize it's incredibly stupid). The reason I think this is it's apparent he isn't used to people questioning or disagreeing with him. He seems quite sheltered from that. I think he may get annoyed and snap. Or as one Republican strategist said: "Russert is relentless, and Bush can get prickly under questioning."

Check your local listings for this one because it should be a barn burner.-----
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February 7, 2004

Ohhh...I'm all a Twitter

The original Star Wars trilogy is coming to DVD in Sept.

None of this Jar Jar Binks shit. The real deal. Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, C3PO, R2D2 and Darth digitally restored and remastered. Ah.... I am a little kid again. I can't wait!

I love you
I know-----
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And He Ought to Know..

John Dean has a book coming out in April:

Worse Than Watergate: The Secret Presidency of George W. Bush

Now, you may think this is just another anti-Bush book, but John Dean (for you non-students of history) was the White House Counsel to the President during the Nixon administration. It was his testimony in the Watergate hearings that pretty much brought the house of cards.-----
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If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press

What I'm about to write may be shocking. I didn't think King George was bad, of course I had low expectations. He was his usual bumbling, rambling, unable to think on his feel self, but he didn't completely mess up.

Here was a typical exchange. Note he doesn't actually answer the question and randomly starts babbling about things that weren't asked. I fault my boy, Tim, for not pressing him harder when he just didn't answer questions.

Russert: Will you testify before the commission?

President Bush: This commission? You know, I don't testify? I will be glad to visit with them. I will be glad to share with them knowledge. I will be glad to make recommendations, if they ask for some.

I'm interested in getting I'm interested in making sure the intelligence gathering works well.

Listen, we got some five let me let me, again, just give you a sense of where I am on the intelligence systems of America. First of all, I strongly believe the CIA is ably led by George Tenet. He comes and briefs me on a regular basis about what he and his analysts see in the world.

Other gems were (on Osama):
I have no idea whether we will capture or bring him to justice, may be the best way to put it. I know we are on the hunt, and Osama bin Laden is a cold blooded killer, and he represents the nature of the enemy that we face.
[Amy says: I predict Osama is miraculously found, "dead or alive", sometime in the late summer time frame, so it's front and center in voters minds.]


On Free Societies:
See, free societies are societies that don't develop weapons of mass terror and don't blackmail the world.
[Amy says: he is suggesting that the U.S. is not free or is there a new policy where we are destroying our weapons? Inquiring minds want to know!]


On his National Guard Service:
Russert: You did were allowed to leave eight months before your term expired. Was there a reason?
President Bush: Right. Well, I was going to Harvard Business School and worked it out with the military.
[Amy says: must be nice to be special! I'm sure there are some service people in Iraq who might like to be attending HBS right now]


On the budget:
Russert: How about no more tax cuts until the budget is balanced?
President Bush: Well, that's a hypothetical question which I can't answer to you because I don't know how strong the economy is going to be.
[Amy says: yet he is counting on his tax cuts to boost the economy to the point where his budget will cut deficit in half. Can you review that math one more time, Georgie?]


On being a "uniter":
Why do you think you are perceived as such a divider?
President Bush: Gosh, I don't know, because I'm working hard to unite the country.
[Amy says: gosh darn it! I'm tryin' the best I can. I can't help it if all the heathens who are going straight to hell fight me.]

But the scariest thing he said was this:
I'll tell you, though, I'm not going to change, see? I'm not trying to accommodate I won't change my philosophy or my point of view. I believe I owe it to the American people to say what I'm going to do and do it, and to speak as clearly as I can, try to articulate as best I can why I make decisions I make, but I'm not going to change because of polls. That's just not my nature.


which says: nothing will change in my next administration if I'm re-selected. A truely frightening idea, indeed.

> read the transcript
> some reactions
> more reactions
> DNC's list of inaccuracies-----
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February 9, 2004

It Might Be Time for a Vacation if....

you find yourself adding "buy new Magic 8 Ball" to your to-do list.

I need my Magic 8 Ball and all I'm getting is bubbles!-----
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It's Over

> Barbie and Ken splitting after 43-year romance

I don't get it. Did she let herself go - maybe all the way to a 22 inch waist (gasp!). Is he losing his hair, doesn't bring her flowers anymore? Or is this just the slowest news day in the history of the world?-----
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Dear Syracuse Orangemen...

I love you and I always will, but you're killin' me.

  • I don't think I've ever heard the phrase air ball as many times as I did during the Seton Hall game
  • Lowest # of points scored during the Boeheim era vs. Pitt? 45 points? Not to take away from Pitt who played very well, but come on.
  • Worst loss ever to UConn. EVER? Let me give you one stat from this game: Hakim: 26 pts., Rest of the team: 30 pts. Not good!

I know that there are some issues.. Edelin, McNeil and GMac is just not back in full form... but you need to get it together! I'm no coach, but I know you need to make some rebounds sometimes, you need to make free throws.. and you just can't shoot 32% from the floor and expect to win in the Big East.

Waaa....

Secretly I know they are just psyching everyone out and will make their big comeback soon!


P.S. I saw you at the game, Danny Ainge.. bring Hakim to the Celtics next year!!-----
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February 10, 2004

Yeah, right..

I was just perusing today's headlines and I saw:

'Dirty Dancing' sequel surprises with mediocrity


to which I say: how could anyone possibly be surprised by that?-----
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I'm Left Brained

Find out what side you're on here

Amy, you are somewhat left-hemisphere dominant and show a preference for visual learning, although not extreme in either characteristic. You probably tend to do most things in moderation, but not always.

Your left-hemisphere dominance implies that your learning style is organized and structured, detail oriented and logical. Your visual preference, though, has you seeking stimulation and multiple data. Such an outlook can overwhelm structure and logic and create an almost continuous state of uncertainty and agitation. You may well suffer a feeling of continually trying to "catch up" with yourself.

Your tendency to be organized and logical and attend to details is reasonably well-established which should afford you success regardless of your chosen field of endeavor. You can "size up" situations and take in information rapidly. However, you must then subject that data to being classified and organized which causes you to "lose touch" with the immediacy of the problem.

Your logical and methodical nature hamper you in this regard though in the long run it may work to your advantage since you "learn from experience" and can go through the process more rapidly on subsequent occasions.

You remain predominantly functional in your orientation and practical. Abstraction and theory are secondary to application. In keeping with this, you focus on details until they manifest themselves in a unique pattern and only then work with the "larger whole."

With regards to your career choices, you have a mentality that would be good as a scientist, coach, athlete, design consultant, or an engineering technician. You can "see where you want to go" and even be able to "tell yourself," but find that you are "fighting yourself" at the darndest times.

Link found over at J-Mo's-----
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Email fiasco

my blog email doesn't seem to work if you send me an email directly, yet I get emails of comments. I don't know why. So if you've sent me an email in the last few days (and I'm sure you all have.. ), I haven't received it and thus, that's why I don't respond. :(

Updates to come, I'm sure.-----
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Religion

On the train today an offensive odor was filling my senses. Taking a sideways glance at the person next to me in order to determine if he were the source of the odor, I notice that he is holding a well worn copy of the Bible and is frantically underlining passages. Now I have no issues with those who are very religious and take the Bible very seriously as long as they keep their beliefs to themselfs and don't try to impose them on everyone around them. I'm used to older people being religious, they certainly grew up in a different, stricter kind of church (I can only speak for Catholicsm, which is what I was raised with). The church was a far larger part of my grandparents and parents life than it is mine. But to be honest, when I see a normal looking, young person - maybe in his 20's, with a little case of BO, underlinging passages in the Bible, I start looking around for suspicious packages. Does he have a large bag? What's under that big overcoat? (especially because here in MA with the SJC ruling on gay marriage last week and tomorrow at the MA constitutional convention there will be a vote on adding an amendment to ban gay marriage from the MA state constitution). It's such a sad statement on our society - a society supossedly based on freedom of beliefs that people have to impose their beliefs on others in such forceful ways.

Some of this has been swirling around my head since Sunday when I was writing my entry on Bush & Tim's Meet the Untruth, with the tv on in the background. 60 Minutes was on and they had a story on evengelical christians in which I heard about:

an event that evangelicals call the Rapture, where every true-believing Christian, and every child under the age of 12, vanishes in an instant to a better place. All others will face the Tribulation.
...
“That's what the Bible teaches. There are gonna be many Southern Baptists, for example, or many Presbyterians, or many Catholics, or people who are a part of Christendom,” says Ice. “But if they haven't personally trusted Jesus Christ as their savior, even if they … a lifelong member of a church, you know, then they will be damned.”
...
“It’s not a minority view, it's not a group of folks that are niched somewhere over there. It's a very mainstream view,”


It's not a minority view, but I have to say as a life long Christian, I've never heard of it. Never heard anyone talk about it, never heard of the books about it (40 million sold?). Obviously, I'm am one of those bad Catholics who will be remaining on earth to relive revelation. Excellent.-----
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Past is Prologue

In my never ending quest for understanding and knowledge, I've been reading The Perils of Prosperity 1914 - 1932. The following paragraph stopped me in my tracks:

One can assign no single cause to the crash and the ensuing depression, but much of the blame for both falls on the foolhardy assumption that the special interests of business and the national interest were identical. Management had siphoned off gains in productivity in high profits, while the farmer got less, and the worker, though better off, received wages increases disproportionately small compared to profits. As a result, purchasing power of workers and farmers was not great enough to sustain prosperity. For a while this was partially obscured by the fact that consumers bought goods on installment at a rate faster than their income was expanding, but when the time came that they had to reduce purchases, the cutback in buying sapped the whole economy.


Now... the original edition of this book was published some time in the 1950's long before our current U.S. administration was even a twinkle in anyone's eye and they teach us in school that there are safety triggers now to prevent a full on depression from happening again, but.. I find this terrifying. Why? Because this administration takes much of it's direction from big business and how many people refinanced their houses last year and spend the monthly payment savings? What do you think it is that kept the economy afloat at all? The average household credit card debt is $8,000. The governement is borrowing heavily to sustain it's tax cuts, war and out of control spending. I'm no economist.. but it seems to me that this can't continue indefinetly. We can't keep our economy afloat on debt, government or household. Somethings got to give, folks, and no politican is going to tell you that. You need to think for yourself.

VOTE.

** Update **
I wrote this last night, and in today's NYT, Nicholas Kristof, makes the same point:

Compared with Mr. Bush, John Kerry and most other Democratic presidential candidates are paragons of responsibility — but only compared with Mr. Bush. The reality is that promises by Democrats like Mr. Kerry to start new health care programs, keep some of the tax cuts and restore black ink are nonsense. But it's less nonsense to say 2 + 2 = 5 (Mr. Kerry) than to say 2 + 2 = 22 (Mr. Bush).-----
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I'm Blue


BLUE



You give your love and friendship unconditionaly. You enjoy long, thoughtful conversations rich in philosophy and spirituality. You are very loyal and intuitive.


Find out your color at Quiz Me!


link found over at Just Donna's-----
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February 11, 2004

Kids have taken over the City of Boston

Coming in to work on the train this morning, they were there. Looking out the window of my office, they are there. Youngsters have come in to the city for the big Patriots parade and rally. Some with parents, some without. Some quite obviously on their first big trip to Boston by themselves. They are everywhere with their Patriots gear, the ribbons in their hair - some have even died their hair blue. The adults hide in their offices. Some of these people have camped out or came in extremely early this morning. Imagine how rowdy they will be by noon! I'm sure there are plenty of adults out there, but everything is more exciting when you are a kid. I remember when the Celtics won in 1984.. skipping school, figuring out how to get to Boston on the train by ourselves to come to their rally at City Hall. It was the most exciting thing ever! I still have the pictures I took. Of course, that was June and school was almost over anyway. People in my office are appalled that they are all missing school, but I say 20 years from now they will still remember this day and whatever they are missing in school today can be made up. You shouldn't miss the great moments in life doing what you are "supposed" to be doing.-----
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If I Were A Book I'd Be:


You're Catch-22!
by Joseph Heller
Incredibly witty and funny, you have a taste for irony in all that you see. It seems that life has put you in perpetually untenable situations, and your sense of humor is all that gets you through them. These experiences have also made you an ardent pacifist, though you present your message with tongue sewn into cheek. You could coin a phrase that replaces the word "paradox" for millions of people.
Take the Book Quiz at the Blue Pyramid.

sounds good to me!-----
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Superbowl Wrapup

because I'm sure everyone has been waiting for my analysis. :)

  • Adam Vinatieri lives the dream of little boys everywhere by scoring the winning points in the Superbowl (not once, but twice!) and Tom Brady is still the MVP. Though after he missed that first field goal, I was thinking: less Bernie & Phil commercials, more kicking practice!
  • What was up with that halftime show? Next year I will go and lip synch some bad songs that aren't even current for a lot less money! Why do they even have that stupid show? What does it have to do with football?
  • The Janet stunt wasn't planned.. my ass!
  • I'm torn about Janet. On the one hand I think it was stupid and uncalled for. No one is going to forget her brother is a freak because of that. On the other hand - it's a boob. What is the big deal?
  • My 2 favorite commercials were the NFL 'Tomorrow' commercial and the Samuel Jackson March Madness commerical. The later just because it makes me so happy the March madness is coming soon!! The Pepsi commerical with junior Jimi Hendrix was appalling. I wonder if they were implying that drinking Pepsi leads to drug use later... ha!
  • The ending of this game is the second most exciting ending in football history (#1 is, and will always be, BC - Miami 1984)
  • Patriots Won!!
  • Now we can all get back to my favorite sport: college basketball! Syracuse is playing UConn tonight. Yah!-----
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Fire and Brimstone

I just happened across this article in the Guardian:

Now the Pentagon tells Bush: climate change will destroy us

Holy Moly:

A secret report, suppressed by US defence chiefs and obtained by The Observer, warns that major European cities will be sunk beneath rising seas as Britain is plunged into a 'Siberian' climate by 2020. Nuclear conflict, mega-droughts, famine and widespread rioting will erupt across the world.

The document predicts that abrupt climate change could bring the planet to the edge of anarchy as countries develop a nuclear threat to defend and secure dwindling food, water and energy supplies. The threat to global stability vastly eclipses that of terrorism, say the few experts privy to its contents.

'Disruption and conflict will be endemic features of life,' concludes the Pentagon analysis. 'Once again, warfare would define human life.'

The findings will prove humiliating to the Bush administration, which has repeatedly denied that climate change even exists. Experts said that they will also make unsettling reading for a President who has insisted national defence is a priority.

The report was commissioned by influential Pentagon defence adviser Andrew Marshall, who has held considerable sway on US military thinking over the past three decades. He was the man behind a sweeping recent review aimed at transforming the American military under Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Read the whole thing, it's quite frightening. Not only does this seem terrifying, but the more surprising thing to me is the article veres into a discussion how this is humiliating to Bush. If this is true, we (meaning the population of the earth) has a lot bigger things to worry about than Bush's humilation (not to mention Bush is doing a fine job in the humilation area without involving the environment). But then again, Bush probably thinks if this comes to pass The Rapture will happen first and he'll be saved, leaving all us heathens to deal this mess (which would actually explain many of his policies that make absolutely no sense to me). Have I mentioned how much the Rapture freaks me out? I think I have.-----
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Fire and Brimstone

I just happened across this article in the Guardian:

Now the Pentagon tells Bush: climate change will destroy us

Holy Moly:

A secret report, suppressed by US defence chiefs and obtained by The Observer, warns that major European cities will be sunk beneath rising seas as Britain is plunged into a 'Siberian' climate by 2020. Nuclear conflict, mega-droughts, famine and widespread rioting will erupt across the world.

The document predicts that abrupt climate change could bring the planet to the edge of anarchy as countries develop a nuclear threat to defend and secure dwindling food, water and energy supplies. The threat to global stability vastly eclipses that of terrorism, say the few experts privy to its contents.

'Disruption and conflict will be endemic features of life,' concludes the Pentagon analysis. 'Once again, warfare would define human life.'

The findings will prove humiliating to the Bush administration, which has repeatedly denied that climate change even exists. Experts said that they will also make unsettling reading for a President who has insisted national defence is a priority.

The report was commissioned by influential Pentagon defence adviser Andrew Marshall, who has held considerable sway on US military thinking over the past three decades. He was the man behind a sweeping recent review aimed at transforming the American military under Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Read the whole thing, it's quite frightening. Not only does this seem terrifying, but the more surprising thing to me is the article veres into a discussion how this is humiliating to Bush. If this is true, we (meaning the population of the earth) has a lot bigger things to worry about than Bush's humilation (not to mention Bush is doing a fine job in the humilation area without involving the environment). But then again, Bush probably thinks if this comes to pass The Rapture will happen first and he'll be saved, leaving all us heathens to deal this mess (which would actually explain many of his policies that make absolutely no sense to me). Have I mentioned how much the Rapture freaks me out? I think I have.-----
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February 12, 2004

Oh, the Irony*

Just now in the elevator the news flashed on the screen that Erbitux, the Imclone drug, is likely to be approved by the FDA tomorrow. Yes, the drug that upon not receiving FDA approval the last time caused Martha Stewart to sell her stock starting the endless spiral. Everyone in the elevator laughed.

* only in the Alanis Morissette definition-----
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Register to Vote MA Residents!

from Boston.com:

Deadline to register to vote is tomorrow: If you want to vote in the March 2 Mass. presidential primary or change your party registration, the last day to do so is tomorrow. Mail-in forms must be postmarked by Feb. 11. City and town halls will be open until 8 p.m. to register voters.

For information, call 1-800-462-VOTE or click here.


After I moved, I had to re-register to vote in my new location. It is completely painless! Take this opportunity to get registered for both the primary and the November election. It's all up to you!-----
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Photos

    www.flickr.com

Reading



REAL


    Everything has changed. Nothing has changed. I don't want to go through this again. I can't live without it. I'm sure I can handle it. I couldn't imagine it any other way.
    And if none of this makes sense... well, you obviously aren't a Red Sox fan.
      - Bill Simmons

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