tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-241565932011-04-21T20:59:10.839-07:00Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comBlogger1451100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-90319080672702717912008-02-01T20:35:00.000-08:002008-02-01T20:42:06.125-08:00

A couple of folks have nudged me because I've been silent lately. And there's a perfectly good reason--moving day. No, not me, just the blog.I'm not thrilled with the look and layout, so look for things to change as I get used to the new digs and start creating something all my own. And this weekend will be dedicated to some reorganizing and general cleaning and fixing of links.For now, I'll

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-75592993879344683322007-12-19T13:29:00.000-08:002007-12-19T13:35:31.052-08:00

I wrote some months ago about the impending start of the phase-out of the incandescent bulb.It's here. In addition to massive biofuels subsidies, ridiculous fuel efficiency standards for automobiles, and other steaming, wafting piles of scientific nonsense: One portion of the bill sets new efficiency standards for appliances and will make the incandescent bulb -- invented two centuries ago and

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-34345494791979438302007-12-19T11:00:00.000-08:002007-12-19T11:19:13.671-08:00

Nobody's Business brings us, from the Chicago PD's own website, their newest flier outlining how to spot potential terrorists. Among the "suspicious" behaviors?Physical Surveillance (note taking, binocular use, cameras, video, maps)Glad they cleared that up. Now I can clear all those pesky tourists from around my office with a quick 911 phone call.Presence of individuals who do not appear to

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-56087187716230752782007-12-06T12:32:00.000-08:002007-12-06T14:18:22.035-08:00

The hockey weekend has now come and gone, and overall, it was worth the trip.Saturday, I got up painfully early for my shuttle ride to the airport. This time I was prepared with small enough toiletries that I could comply with the 3-1-1 (3 oz bottles, 1 quart plastic bag, 1 person) nonsense imposed by the transportation security assholes.The shuttle made one other stop, and off we went to the

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-63386900176427984652007-11-26T21:34:00.000-08:002007-11-27T18:40:36.688-08:00

I recently purchased a 30GB Creative Zen personal music player for myself. Tired of shuffling CDs in and out of the car, trying to change them while driving (dangerous and not fun), and picking and choosing what to take to work, I decided that a player big enough to hold my entire CD collection which can be plugged into my car's auxiliary jack would be ideal, particularly for the long road trip

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-69404310674670726302007-11-10T04:03:00.000-08:002007-11-10T04:05:13.162-08:00

I know I've been largely silent on the blogging front, and you'd probably never notice the difference, but I'll be in San Francisco for the next few days, which gives me a justification for the silence, this time.

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-72079418141016780352007-11-06T09:34:00.001-08:002007-11-06T10:00:29.756-08:00

Generally I keep my musings much more local. It takes more than I have to get torqued over issues of foreign/international consquence. But I have a couple of thoughts on President Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule (read: imposition of dictatorship) and the suspension of law in Pakistan.First, why can't our own leadership see that attempting to spread democracy in the middle east

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-43914001171004019172007-10-26T09:17:00.000-07:002007-10-26T09:19:36.630-07:00

Today's Dilbert is very, very Atlas Shrugged.

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-87960350118542116702007-10-10T14:09:00.000-07:002007-10-10T14:25:12.539-07:00

A situation has arisen with a member of a forum in which I participate that tickles the corners of my brain. This man, K, his girlfriend and their new baby were all set to move 1600 miles away to the currently unused home of his great aunt under a verbal agreement to rent the home from the aunt's children (his first cousins once removed, for those keeping track). They'd given notice with their

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-59347946237518831292007-10-04T18:55:00.000-07:002007-10-04T19:14:56.217-07:00

A friend of mine has invited me down to L.A. for a Kings-Avalanche game in a couple months. Now the question is, do I accept and fly down there, or turn the opportunity down and wait for his visit up here for New Years Eve?When the Tyrannical Scam Administration started confiscating toiletries, I concluded I'd flown my last, except in case of emergency or a rare work-related trip. Boxing myself

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1155741631503595692007-09-25T19:22:00.001-07:002007-09-25T19:48:13.711-07:00

PintOfStout over at Murphy's Bye-Laws writes yet another excellent piece:There are two reasons voting persists even though the choices almost all crawl from the same cesspool. The first reason is to keep those that are being extorted from flat-out stringing them up. This is accomplished by slapping some hooker-red lipstick on this pig and promising the booboisie anything they want, including

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-47524030471230000112007-09-25T14:13:00.000-07:002007-09-25T14:17:54.656-07:00

Maybe I should rethink this "overcoming fear" theme for the year. Just a smidge over two weeks ago, I wrote about having my sunroof smashed by a rock thrown from an overpass. Yesterday morning, I was rear-ended on my way to work. Fortunately there were no serious injuries beyond some stiffness and soreness on my part, and it was pretty clearly the other driver's fault.My heart aches for her.

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-74104235541399177922007-09-21T11:26:00.000-07:002007-09-21T11:33:44.422-07:00

It's shit like this that makes me doubt any hope for humanity.Iowa Family Finds Snake Head in Can of BeansAn Iowa family filed a lawsuit seeking damages over a snake head they claim to have found in a can of green beans.Amy Schneider said she found the head when she opened the can of green beans on March 24, 2006. It was about the size of a golf ball, she said."It was ... yuck, it was really yuck

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-9026135311326041312007-09-17T22:49:00.000-07:002007-09-17T22:52:55.884-07:00

New trolley saddled with mocking nameOfficially, it's now the South Lake Union Streetcar. But the trolley name already has caught on, and in the old Cascade neighborhood in South Lake Union, they're waiting for the SLUT.At the Kapow! Coffee house on Harrison Street, they're selling T-shirts that read "Ride the SLUT.""We're welcoming the SLUT into the neighborhood," said Jerry Johnson, 29, a

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-88609218294613646042007-09-15T16:49:00.000-07:002007-09-15T16:52:59.403-07:00

Two folks I very much admire have finally started blogging.Jacques, self-admitted lazy guy, has succumbed to nagging and started Jacques' Blog. I can only hope he sticks with it.Meanwhile, I'm a little late to the party over at Eleanor's My Quiet Mountain Town. As she's someone who, when she speaks up, is worth listening to, I'm looking forward to reading her musings on her upcoming relocation

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-6896598501428849232007-09-14T21:48:00.000-07:002007-09-14T22:02:53.302-07:00

I sometimes wonder how folks can come relatively close to what I think is the right conclusion in one aspect of freedom and be so blindingly, painfully off-base in another.Robert Jamieson of the Seattle PI bloviates:But anyone who truly values democracy doesn't want safety if it comes attached to a troubling string: Big Brother-like surveillance.Video eyes threaten civil liberties. And if we are

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-37514215869511185362007-09-13T08:29:00.000-07:002007-09-13T08:47:23.402-07:00

Regarding my entry about my moon roof incident, B.W. Richardson said...Not really surprising - they would have had to report it as an unsolved case, bad for their percentages, so they scared you out of reporting it (well, that, and the idiot insurance companies exist to keep your money and deny as much of your claim as legally possible). I've been thinking about this comment for days. And I've

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-65304616163642595582007-09-08T10:16:00.001-07:002007-09-09T14:54:19.666-07:00

Why on earth do I continue to be surprised at government idiocy? You'd think that by now, I'd have long since accepted the fact that stupidity has no bounds... that we have, indeed, invented a better idiot at every junction in social evolution.As I was driving home yesterday, someone tossed a rock (or something heavy--I never found it) off a freeway overpass and smashed my moon roof.

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-57935967148029494502007-09-05T14:13:00.000-07:002007-09-05T14:16:11.567-07:00

Rob over at To The People cracks me up. I appreciate a man who doesn't mince words.

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-42618311143409925902007-09-05T13:58:00.000-07:002007-09-05T14:03:06.445-07:00

Police visit but make no arrests at what appears to be speak-easyAbout 3 a.m. Sunday, a uniformed officer attempted to follow a patron into the club, only to have the door slam shut on both of them.I love it! Subversive behavior AND giving a nosy JBT with no warrant exactly the entry he deserves--none at all.Does it get any better?

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-13459882162872225902007-09-04T17:23:00.000-07:002007-09-04T17:24:54.371-07:00

Just as Kirsten blogged about her Year of Broken Things, I've been pondering the theme for my year. Sure, I could make it a broken things theme for the calendar year--a home burglary, a deceased grandmother, a stolen car, a cat with an abscessed jaw--but those things, while they cannot be trivialized, haven't coalesced into a concrete central motif. This year's theme appears to be about

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-78317993668996847442007-08-29T15:24:00.000-07:002007-08-29T15:30:01.377-07:00

Why is it some folks seem almost willfully incapable of considering all the effects of their actions? Recent interactions with a coworker have me so frustrated that I'm nearing the point of calling for someone to post her head on the battlements as a warning to others. This woman is in a position of enormous responsibility--she manages all the data many, many other folks use in their analyses.

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-9846723818556960092007-08-13T22:49:00.000-07:002007-08-13T22:57:22.507-07:00

I promised myself that come Monday, I'd decide whether Company A or Company B would employ me. Unfortunately for me, someone who dwells, I spent most of the weekend mulling it all over--sleeping little, eating even less, fretting with the weight on my soul. B. was the only person who managed to get my mind off the whole sordid affair for any measurable length of time, and I'm grateful for those

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-61351632137596115752007-08-10T23:16:00.000-07:002007-08-10T23:20:02.493-07:00

Looks like their response to crime and thugs is to turn downtown into Stormtrooper Central. I hadn't noticed it today, given that my mind is on other things, but I'll be keeping watch over the next few weeks. I carry my camera with me at all times, so if I get any interesting pictures, I'll post them.

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-15225261344655657722007-08-10T22:06:00.000-07:002007-08-10T23:11:24.651-07:00

Internal conflict seems to be the order of the day, lately.On the one hand, I have an incredibly lucrative job offer from a reputable firm, a firm that sought me out to recruit. On the other, I have my current employer who is putting up a fight for me to remain. I am now, unhappily, the rope in a difficult, tense game of tug-o-war.The new offer with Company A comes with a greater salary (and

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-78958413398244190292007-08-10T21:37:00.001-07:002007-08-10T23:15:20.334-07:00

All over the city of Tacoma, I'm seeing these, and they move almost daily. A media blitz.What is the point, and who's making it? Clear Channel, probably, given the battle over billboards brewing in this particular corner of Puget Sound. Some of the comments at the blog entry above are...disappointing. And of course, my cynical first response to the question on the billboards was "Since when?"

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-67350675421808721462007-08-06T21:04:00.000-07:002007-08-06T21:28:57.567-07:00

Like Leonardo over at To The People, I'm wondering why the assassination of Oakland Post editor Chauncey Bailey isn't getting more press coverage. Is it because the killer, though a Muslim, didn't do anything as horrific as stab a 5-page letter filled with threats to his victim's chest? The more details that emerge about Your Black Muslim Bakery, the shadier it looks, particularly since founder

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-60975919715775114082007-08-01T11:58:00.000-07:002007-08-01T12:16:22.600-07:00

Busy downtown corner is a "hot spot" for crimeIt just takes police too long to respond, he said. Even for something serious like Monday's shooting, it takes police too many precious minutes to get to the scene, he said.Pan said he met with an officer about a month ago, but he doesn't feel like there's much they can do — they're too understaffed — and the city can't afford the number of officers

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-87682437329696277132007-07-28T22:35:00.000-07:002007-07-30T11:42:25.789-07:00

Warning: naval-gazing found below...I did an incredibly terrifying thing tonight. From time to time, I jump on IRC to keep in touch with friends I don't normally email. Tonight, to my surprise, my old friend B. happened to drive through the channel I was in.With trepidation, I debated with myself the merits of saying anything to him. Three years ago, we didn't end our friendship on a

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-68056410055632857492007-07-26T20:17:00.000-07:002007-07-26T20:26:54.577-07:00

Wash. congressmen want to fight 'meth mouth'"It is disgusting, utterly disgusting to see a little kid's teeth rotting out," Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., said at news conference Thursday, flanked by four huge pictures of gaping mouths with blackened, rotting teeth.Good fucking grief. This is such blatant emotional pandering for the purposes of drumming up support that I actually threw up in my mouth

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-24094527043983330302007-07-23T21:14:00.000-07:002007-07-23T21:37:06.724-07:00

This weekend I had the incredibly exciting experience of attending my first drag races--the NHRA Nationals, to be precise. Despite my apparent handicap from a pair of ovaries, even I was nearly overwhelmed with a desire to grunt Tim Allen-style and cry for "More power!"Top fuelers are definitely my favorite--they're fastest and loudest. Despite ear plugs, I could still feel the extreme decibels

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-47386208545797038042007-07-12T21:21:00.000-07:002007-07-12T21:27:57.060-07:00

J (age 10) is folding laundry and picks up a bra. Clearly horrified by it, he holds it delicately between forefinger and thumb so as to minimize skin contact.Me: It doesn't have cooties, you know.J: No, it's worse. It has boobies!Me: Actually, right now, it doesn't, but some day you may not mind them so much.J: Gross! I'm NEVER going to smother my face in them, if that's what you're thinking.

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-45503447760971019292007-07-08T18:45:00.000-07:002007-07-09T21:25:15.740-07:00

When P. said he'd show me "the real Montana" that last night, I suspect he was referring to the outdoor scenery, but the quintessential image that stuck with me is this: you know you're in Montana when you find yourself bouncing around helmetless on an ATV in the wee hours of the morning behind an armed man with a beer in his hand.Needless to say, I had a blast in Montana this past week. This

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-14748102758318619992007-06-28T16:42:00.000-07:002007-06-29T10:41:59.879-07:00

I've been tagged with a meme.The Rules: Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write their own blog post with their 7 things as well as these rules. You need to tag 7 others and list their names on your blog. Remember to leave a comment for them letting them know they have been tagged and to read your blog.Since Dare2bFree asked when she

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-21203920450180432982007-06-19T13:36:00.000-07:002007-06-19T13:59:25.697-07:00

I still keep waiting for the other shoe to smash me like an insect, but in the meantime, there's some good news on the car front.Figuring that life was giving me a giant, flashing neon sign that it was time to replace my sad aging car, I went out and purchased a new one over the weekend. Good credit gave me a good interest rate, and I'm very excited about and happy with the new wheels.And then

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-2154113961273936242007-06-12T20:00:00.000-07:002007-06-12T20:51:51.518-07:00

One day I really will be able to start a blog post without an apology for my bloggy silence. I've been remiss, I know, but this time I really do have valid reasons, not the least of which is an entire week out of town without internet access.A little over a week ago my grandmother--my only remaining grandparent, in fact--passed away. It wasn't entirely unexpected; she'd recently been moved into

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-20640039088522249452007-05-24T11:14:00.000-07:002007-05-24T11:28:47.492-07:00

I know I've been incredibly lax in blogging lately. Must be a spring thing--many folks just seem to get silent and busy this time of year.One pastime I've been enjoying immensely is periodically checking the WildWatchCams with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife that lewlew blogged about. Bluebirds, osprey, bald eagles, herons, burrowing owls and barn owls...it's fascinating to watch

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-83613896329307248822007-05-14T12:17:00.000-07:002007-05-14T14:30:02.137-07:00

Rather than creating incentives to switch to the more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) now common on the market, governments around the globe are adopting various timetables to phase out or ban the incandescent light bulb.I'm not entirely sold on the case against the incandescent bulb. Yes, they're energy hogs, with a mere 5% of the energy they consume emitted as light and the

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-8732134615362505352007-05-04T09:58:00.000-07:002007-05-04T10:39:18.226-07:00

I can't recall if I've mentioned it before, but though I work as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analyst, my degree is in geological engineering. After graduating, I worked in the environmental department at an oil refinery, and then moved to a project involving the cleanup of an old bombing range, pushing me further into environmental work and away from my major.And while I do have some

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-30978416762684306302007-04-27T11:44:00.000-07:002007-04-28T11:34:09.119-07:00

I've deliberately held off on commenting on the Virginia Tech shootings, mostly because the incident's relation to gun control (both current and future), has been aptly covered by bloggers far more talented than me. I particularly enjoyed LawDog's commentary on the fact that not only are we denying people the most effective weapons for self defense, but the very mind-set required for it.

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-62146718585213851342007-04-11T10:27:00.000-07:002007-04-11T10:31:32.903-07:00

Try this on Google Maps:1. Click on "Get Directions."2. Enter "New York, NY" to "Paris, France."3. Scroll down in the directions to step number 23.GIS geek humor. Gotta love it.

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-20677755487834140142007-04-10T15:10:00.000-07:002007-04-10T15:12:58.613-07:00

From the creator of Money Talks by way of the Revised Devil's Dictionary newsletter:Sexual congress: A polite euphemism for screwing someone.U.S. Congress: A not-so-polite euphemism for the same thing.And now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-28001787091445770722007-04-10T11:01:00.000-07:002007-04-10T11:04:56.974-07:00

For two days, I've had the same song stuck in my head.If Jim Henson weren't already dead, he'd be on my "needed killin'" list now. I'll just have to settle for blaming a certain Bitchitorial post on memetic viruses for infecting me.

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-91863686285129593882007-04-08T09:53:00.000-07:002007-04-08T10:12:51.196-07:00

Activist contends passport stall tied to anti-war effortsThomas Hays, 38, says he applied for a passport with his birth certificate, Social Security card and Washington state identification card in February. He then received a surprise in the mail at the end of the month when the government said it needed much more documentation -- some of which is difficult to quickly obtain -- to give him a

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-11910264615940789342007-04-04T18:16:00.000-07:002007-04-04T18:44:12.996-07:00

Lately I seem to be stumbling onto far too many people whining about relationships ending badly, and then blaming one entire sex or the other as the root of all evil based on their former beloved's behavior. Often they'll back the stereotype up with the weak justification of personal experience (e.g. "This happened in ALL my relationships," or "This happened to all my friends, too.") And I'm

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-19116219455407014552007-04-03T15:10:00.000-07:002007-04-03T15:35:27.068-07:00

It comes as no surprise, but Mr. Jamieson, who I've written about before, misses the final fucking piece that might have saved a life.Remember these names the next time someone suggests that women seek restraining orders just to get a leg up in custody battles, or when law enforcement is slow to take seriously the cries of battered women.Griego had done everything to escape the mad love of her

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-70589675943138877012007-04-02T11:36:00.000-07:002007-04-02T11:58:19.108-07:00

I've recently been enjoying a couple of blogs I've found, so I'm adding them to the roll over there on the side.The first is To The People. The author(s) have a decidedly libertarian bent, and there's some non-political human-interest type stuff in there, too. Worth a look.The second is Last Free Voice (the name comes from the television series "Dark Angel"), which I stumbled upon while

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-17059296404624090092007-04-02T11:33:00.000-07:002007-04-02T11:36:04.334-07:00

I'm wondering how many people at Verizon could actually calculate this. Hell, I have a degree in engineering, but I can't remember how to do a summation like that anymore.

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-31038195935846348002007-03-27T12:32:00.000-07:002007-03-27T12:35:17.343-07:00

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." -- Theodore Roosevelt"When facism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross." -- Sinclair Lewis"If our nation is ever taken over, it will be taken over from

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-32330113079497353692007-03-20T17:36:00.000-07:002007-03-20T17:38:44.458-07:00

Work has been incredibly hectic, and my stint of jury duty started yesterday. I'll have more to say on that topic coming this weekend, when I've had time to collect my thoughts on the subject a bit more.

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-44272219763503179072007-03-12T14:05:00.000-07:002007-03-12T14:12:56.171-07:00

Once slavery in America was not seen as radical. It became, instead, a revolutionary idea that slaves should be freed. When we have lived under a pernicious power long enough, no matter how oppressive, we grow so accustomed to the yoke that its removal seems frightening, even wrong. — Gerry L. Spence, "From Freedom To Slavery"Anyone who has ever tried to convince a non-believer that no government

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-20413850963218115332007-03-09T14:55:00.000-08:002007-03-09T15:37:20.441-08:00

So, over the course of two days, I had the daylights scared out of me by three large spiders, two of which were exceptionally large.I'm generally not a squeamish, girly sort of person (except in incidences such as this), but spiders freak me out. My past holds too many instances of them popping out from under the bath mat when I'm naked and ready to shower, and too many occasions involving

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-59729651895268131592007-03-09T09:02:00.000-08:002007-03-09T09:11:28.109-08:00

State looks into price hikes of military haircutsA deputy in the antitrust division wrote that some barbershop owners in Tillicum, including her, might be violating state and federal laws by participating “in illegal price-fixing of haircuts.”The office says it has evidence that some of them might have agreed prior to Jan. 1 to raise the price of a military haircut from $6 to $7....The increase

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-38374709588926467552007-03-02T10:46:00.000-08:002007-03-02T11:14:19.785-08:00

Private Seattle school tells kids: Property rights are bad, m'kay?According to the article, the students had been building an elaborate "Legotown," but it was accidentally demolished. The teachers decided its destruction was an opportunity to explore "the inequities of private ownership." According to the teachers, "Our intention was to promote a contrasting set of values: collectivity,

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-27594021609473868172007-02-21T14:23:00.000-08:002007-02-21T14:34:02.767-08:00

Prosecutors seek OK to create phony filesFlorida's prosecutors are floating a proposal to the Legislature to give them the power to secretly falsify public court records -- with a judge's approval -- for undercover law enforcement purposes.Spurred by Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle, the draft bill would limit the authority to manufacture and plant fake documents in court

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-71578449802258241612007-02-19T11:04:00.000-08:002007-02-19T11:31:13.445-08:00

No, it's not another meme. I've been selected for the glorious honor of jury duty.Though the chances of me actually getting into a trial's jury pool, let alone ON a jury, are slim, I can't help what-if-ing myself over this.On the one hand, it might provide a great opportunity for some monkeywrenching through a chance at jury nullification. On the other, I can't help thinking that participation

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-57935658788521186822007-01-31T14:41:00.000-08:002007-01-31T16:04:57.952-08:00

Man sets woman on fire in downtown SeattleLighter fluid also landed on the overcoat of Gus Jones, an 82-year-old who lives in the Central District.Jones, who is recuperating from a broken hip, was downtown after visiting his doctor.After the assailant grabbed his shoulder, the elderly man whacked the attacker once with his gray, metal cane."I smelled that lighter fluid and hit him. I cussed him

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-30050513929557874012007-01-26T15:19:00.000-08:002007-01-26T15:51:30.183-08:00

N.Y. scanners spark union cries of "geoslavery"Every morning Dennis Colson, a surveyor at New York City's Department of Design and Construction, begins his work day by placing his hand on a scanner to log his time and attendance at the office.The use of hand geometry and other biometric data, like facial and iris recognition, is not new -- the University of Georgia pioneered the use of hand

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-87996176868407016532007-01-25T12:44:00.000-08:002007-01-25T12:59:39.195-08:00

Disgusting.Bills would require samples of DNA from crime suspectsA bill in the House would require police to take DNA samples from anyone convicted of a felony or a gross misdemeanor, while a more aggressive bill in the Senate would require a DNA sample from anyone arrested for those offenses. Existing law requires DNA samples to be taken only from convicted felons.The Washington State Patrol's

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-84426080577151967132007-01-24T10:01:00.000-08:002007-01-24T10:11:16.829-08:00

I have to wonder what the hell is up with Hammer of Truth lately? Despite the site's decidedly pro-Libertarian (big L, not little) slant and its unnecessary focus on Libertarian Party happenings, which do nothing but cause me to yawn and change the channel, opinion pieces worth reading could still be found.It's been sidelined for two or three months now, supposedly so that LibertyMix can be

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-47577830526978971452007-01-10T18:51:00.000-08:002007-01-12T12:35:28.183-08:00

Here's a rave for my dinner salad tonight: red lettuce, roma tomatoes, carrots, celery, purple cabbage, cucumber, green onions, and a hint of purple onion. Yum!

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-39894329502302162552007-01-10T15:43:00.000-08:002007-01-12T12:35:05.050-08:00

I'm an avid believer in online shopping. I love how it enables shoppers to bargain hunt without driving all over town, and to track down items they might not otherwise find in their city. It's beautiful, really.However, if one more store asks me to register with a username and password just to make a one-time purchase, I'm going to wring someone's neck. To be specific, I'm trying to order a

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-64628000366853189012007-01-04T16:32:00.000-08:002007-01-05T10:14:12.470-08:00

I just wanted to take a moment to rave about the WikiMedia Foundation's WikiMapia. It's an online map whereby users can find, mark, and describe just about any location using Google Maps data as its base. It's searchable by city, place name, or tag. As with other Wikimedia endeavors, you can edit and report for deletion anything you find misleading, incorrect, or just plain silly (such as

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1167418867291114842006-12-29T10:54:00.000-08:002007-01-05T10:14:10.627-08:00

The more I hear some freedom-minded folk discuss the gloom and doom they're certain will befall the U.S. (and this post doesn't address whether any particular doom is likely), the more I observe that a significant number of them take some pleasure in fantasizing about an impending collapse. Is it just me, or is their glee a bit, well, disturbing?They smugly send around every single article about

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1166643571209209892006-12-20T11:27:00.000-08:002007-01-05T10:14:08.639-08:00

Thought this little tidbit from an NPR story on the rise in violent crime was... amusing."There's clearly a growing number of people who have no future in our economy," Blumstein says. "There are basically three modes of earning income: One is to have a job, the other is welfare. The third is theft."Clearly there's a reason Mr. Blumstein is a criminologist, not an economist. First, I'd quibble

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1165937392711034412006-12-12T07:24:00.000-08:002007-01-05T10:14:08.924-08:00

DNA swab ... Should samples from babies be added to the National Database?Britain's most senior murder investigator has called for DNA to be taken from babies.Commander Dave Johnston said it would build up a database to SOLVE crimes and PREVENT others.He said samples could also be taken from Britons renewing passports and from migrants arriving here. The head of the Met Police's Homicide and

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1165772054990967842006-12-10T09:30:00.000-08:002007-01-05T10:14:04.467-08:00

Tell me again how we're the land of the free? How we're not living in a police state?US has highest prison population, incarceration ratesA U.S. Justice Department report released on November 30 showed that a record 7 million people -- or one in every 32 American adults -- were behind bars, on probation or on parole at the end of last year. Of the total, 2.2 million were in prison or

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1165457671426736142006-12-06T17:45:00.000-08:002007-01-05T10:13:46.378-08:00

I've been intending to write up my thoughts on my most recent fictional reading - John Twelve Hawks' The Traveler - for some time. Life intervened, things got busy, and I found myself wanting to reread the novel almost as soon as I finished it the first time around, so I put my write-up off for a bit. But I find myself with a spare moment, so here goes.When I first heard about The Traveler (

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1163706790583725952006-11-16T11:48:00.000-08:002007-01-05T10:13:41.578-08:00

This has probably circled the internet and email loop, but I enjoyed it, so I'm copying it here.Lovers of peace"If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." -- The Dalai Lama, May 15, 2001, at the "Educating Heart Summit" in Portland, Oregon"Unfortunately, it happens that the need to render the aggressor incapable of causing harm

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1163625131059150812006-11-15T13:08:00.000-08:002007-01-05T10:13:37.406-08:00

27 Arrested in First Online Gambling Bust Since Bush Signed Law Banning Internet WageringProsecutors brought charges Wednesday against 27 people — including a Major League Baseball scout — in connection with a billion-dollar-a-year Internet sports gambling ring, the first such case since President Bush signed a ban on Internet gambling last month.I'm posting this only because I recently had

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1163555314178384902006-11-14T17:22:00.000-08:002007-01-05T10:13:38.143-08:00

After several busy weeks, I can happily announce that I'm nearing the end of my work with the Evil Former Coworker. While it wasn't as horrific as I was dreading, it reaffirmed that she's essentially the same since we parted ways over two years ago, and I was wise to brace myself for impact, and even wiser to escape her clutches in the first place.The files she sent me were mostly organized,

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1162414429391661592006-11-01T12:21:00.000-08:002007-01-05T10:13:33.491-08:00

I'm happy to announce that I've added dare2bfree's Restored Spirit to the Blogroll.Her post from yesterday - When the norm is not normal - raises some important questions.A few months ago, I had a long conversation w/ my husband about what I felt was the signs of another “civil war” which would be more aptly described as the next Revolution. We both thought that the potential was there, even if

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1162412042938574362006-11-01T12:09:00.000-08:002007-01-05T10:13:13.927-08:00

Renton foe of computerized voting is featured in HBO documentaryOn Thursday at 9 p.m., HBO will air "Hacking Democracy," a 90-minute documentary that chronicles Harris' quest to expose security holes in computerized voting systems, which she says could be exploited by computer hackers and, worse, never discovered because of the lack of a paper trail. Her nonprofit, Black Box Voting, monitors

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1162079961026662372006-10-28T16:42:00.000-07:002007-01-05T10:13:11.917-08:00

Dear Spider,I apologize most profusely for my behavior yesterday morning. You see, when I got into the shower, I had no intention of killing anything. However, because you chose to make your appearance at a rather inopportune moment - and nudity, namely mine, was involved - I couldn't help but end up flattening you with a pumice stone in a fit of uncharacteristically girly squealing.See, it

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1161980432201798572006-10-27T13:17:00.000-07:002007-01-05T10:05:37.167-08:00

From The Dilbert Blog:But the best part of this story is the cleric’s defense that he was just quoting an “ancient scholar.” Apparently that strategy worked out pretty well for the Pope, so he thought he’d give it a go. People understand that sort of thing. Here’s an example of how you can use this method at home:You: “Your mother smells of horse crap and sailors…”Other Guy: “You take that back!”

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1161907062407268792006-10-26T16:56:00.000-07:002007-01-05T10:05:35.013-08:00

For anyone who enjoyed The Big Lebowski - The Fucking Short Version.

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1161629340886682072006-10-23T11:45:00.000-07:002007-01-05T10:05:34.345-08:00

From the Bonehead of the Day Award - Evil Parallel Universe Section:Yee A SleazeIn the Evil Parallel Universe, politicians support everyone's view on an issue.San Francisco California state Assemblyman, Leland Yee, cosponsored a bill requiring that each semiautomatic handgun sold in California must leave a unique numeric signature on the expelled bullet to make it easy to identify the weapon that

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1161620059279963602006-10-23T09:06:00.000-07:002007-01-05T10:05:07.799-08:00

Oregon has its faults, but in some significant ways (death with dignity, medical marijuana), those folks sure are ahead of the curve.Court upholds Oregon law restricting forfeituresBefore the measure passed, police were able to use civil courts to seek forfeiture of money and property believed to have been obtained in criminal activity, such as drug buys, or purchased with the proceeds of

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1161453195487345902006-10-21T10:30:00.000-07:002007-01-05T10:05:05.689-08:00

Some time ago, I purchased two feline harnesses and two leashes for my cats. I figure in some emergencies, cat carriers just won't be feasible, and I'm NOT leaving my animals behind. Well, to put it delicately, one of my cats isn't delicate enough to fit into a one-size-fits-all feline harness. He's not even close to fitting into one, actually.So this morning, making my run to Petsmart to

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1160679358329280322006-10-12T11:49:00.000-07:002007-01-05T10:05:05.920-08:00

My neighbor, Frank, passed away the night before last from complications arising after a hip replacement. Though I'd known him only a year, his death has left a bit of a hole in me.He epitomized the kindest, friendliest, most generous neighbor you'd ever hope to have. When my home was burglarized, he came over that night and helped me seal up the damaged door that wouldn't close. When I

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1159579613521285402006-09-29T18:22:00.000-07:002007-01-05T10:05:03.378-08:00

An unfathomable funk has settled over me the past few days. It all started earlier in the week during a conversation with someone who I've considered to be reasonably sensible and appropriately skeptical. I won't detail what meandering conversational train lead to this - partly because I can't remember the entire path it took - but the resulting statement was something to the effect that we all

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1159207122010464122006-09-25T10:52:00.000-07:002007-01-05T10:04:58.681-08:00

I'm finding it hard to work up the energy for a good, venomous rant these days. Likewise, everything I've thought about writing here seems like time-wasting when others have said my thoughts so much more eloquently than I could ever wish.So, instead, I'll leave you with a video of The Stupidest Dog in the World.You just have to love animals, even when they do something as monumentally stupid as

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1157747314251052152006-09-08T13:20:00.000-07:002007-01-05T10:04:34.924-08:00

Smoking Ban Prompts Georgia Cafe to Ban Kids, Welcome SmokersDUBLIN, Georgia — A year after Georgia forced restaurants to extinguish their smoking sections, the sign outside Chuck and Kay Fordham's diner defiantly invites customers to "Bring Your Butts On In."Inside, ceiling fans stir the smell of frying bacon and hash browns and clouds of blue cigarette smoke as patrons puff away over cups of

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1155605078861520142006-08-14T18:04:00.000-07:002007-01-05T10:04:31.361-08:00

I'm pleased to report that the contractor I've hired to replace my side door is doing an excellent job. Only some cosmetic touches remain - the door itself is installed and perfectly balanced. Having watched the guy do some of the work, and keeping in mind what my current skill level is with this kind of thing, I'm glad I didn't attempt to do the work myself. Definitely beyond my skill level.I

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1154878614416124852006-08-06T08:23:00.000-07:002007-01-05T10:04:30.247-08:00

A wonderful thing happened to me last night. I found the one piece of jewelry whose loss had been giving me some heartache.Back in February I took a trip to Tucson to see some friends, meet some new freedom-minded folks, and visit the Tucson Rock & Mineral Show. One of my neighbors had recently been burgled, and I took steps to hide some of my more valuable jewelry - just in case.After I

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1154461819052324092006-08-01T12:48:00.000-07:002007-01-05T10:04:29.415-08:00

A big hurrah to Netflix for being so understanding about their DVDs that were stolen, along with my own collection, last week.Because I've been a good customer, Netflix wrote off the DVDs as "lost", and didn't charge me.Thank you, Netflix, for taking one more thing off my mind.

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1154277562245438062006-07-30T09:20:00.000-07:002007-01-05T10:04:25.006-08:00

I apologize for all the angry ranting lately... it's been a rough couple of weeks. Since my house was burglarized on Tuesday, I haven't been able to sleep in my own bed because it creeps me out to think of some stranger rifling through my bedroom. Instead, I've slept on the couch, which isn't nearly as comfortable or satisfying, so I'm a tad cranky.Went to pawn shops yesterday with the

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1154051750204481142006-07-27T18:48:00.000-07:002006-12-29T20:28:43.599-08:00

I should add "Thank you" for taking the broken fan I had sitting outside waiting to be taken apart. And while I'm at it, thank you for leaving all my functioning fans still in the house.I left the fan outside waiting to be dismantled so it would fit in the garbage can. A fan blade had completely snapped off and was rattling around inside, so I'm not sure how stupid you'd have to be to miss that

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1153894136856767572006-07-25T22:59:00.000-07:002006-12-29T20:28:01.372-08:00

Eat shit, you asshats. I hope that the wounds you got destroying my kitchen door inflict upon you a severe case of tetanus and lockjaw, cause blood poisoning, turn gangrenous, and/or eventually cause you to drop dead from necrotizing faciitis. Any one of these afflictions would suffice as karmic punishment, but I'm seriously hoping divine intervention can give you all of them

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1153265689716762452006-07-18T16:15:00.000-07:002006-12-29T20:27:53.862-08:00

Last week, my professional life was dealt a rather unpleasant blow, and in a manner that caught me completely off-guard. Because I've been so stunned and so unprepared, it's taken me days to even feel like discussing it at all; I haven't told a soul. It turns out a person with whom I used to work, and who was, for a brief-yet-still-too-long period, my supervisor, is suddenly going to be thrown

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1153102796749862082006-07-16T19:04:00.000-07:002006-12-29T20:27:30.922-08:00

I made my first ever batch of homemade raspberry freezer jam today.In the past, my wonderful mother has always provided me with jam, even sending it to me express while I was in college. But, as much as I can wish she'd live - and make jam - forever, I figure this is one thing I must know how to make for myself. Storebought jams and jellies have never held much appeal to me, primarily because

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1152486402170196802006-07-09T15:54:00.000-07:002006-12-29T20:27:36.661-08:00

Oven 350°2 Cups dried macaroni3-4 Cups shredded cheese of choiceWhite sauce4 Tablespoons butter4 Tablespoons flour2 Cups milksalt to taste (optional)Cook macaroni according to package directions.Melt butter over medium-low heat. Add flour and stir for 3-5 minutes. Add milk in slowly, and stir until thickened. (I've found the sauce thickens much quicker if you heat the milk beforehand, either

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1152226298209704532006-07-06T15:41:00.000-07:002006-12-29T20:27:45.885-08:00

My commute affords me much time to ponder. This particular morning, my train of thought brought to recall a story of educational testing lore I heard in my college years. In some (perhaps mythical) class, students showed up to take their final exams. The instructor handed out the papers, upon which was written a single question: "Why?" Now, according to the story, failing credit was assured

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1152117179252885902006-07-05T09:26:00.000-07:002006-12-29T20:26:06.616-08:00

Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert, has nicely summed up his thoughts (and mine) on the concept of flag burning.But symbols are personal things, and everyone is free to interpret them however they see fit. For me, a flag that I’m NOT allowed to burn is a symbol that the government is too intrusive in my life. And it’s an insult to anyone who died to defend freedom. But that’s just me. You might

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1151687799417551612006-06-30T10:14:00.000-07:002007-09-11T18:44:17.551-07:00

Over this past weekend, I had the pleasure of playing host to a friend of mine, K., in from the southwest. Good guests make it easy to be a good host, and she's definitely among the best ones I've had stay with me since I bought my first house in September. She denies that she's charming, despite all evidence to the contrary. Excellent conversation, great sense of humor, and though she

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1151005359614613012006-06-22T12:21:00.000-07:002006-12-29T20:25:19.576-08:00

A great one from the Seattle P-I today.As threats to privacy grow, many fight backAs more businesses and government agencies hunger for personal data, many people are fighting back.Sure, there's fancy encryption software and phone scramblers available, but many people prefer to wield an arsenal of low-tech, time-honored gestures: deception, denial, stonewalling and occasional pettiness.Why not?

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1150829003091217102006-06-20T11:41:00.000-07:002006-12-29T20:24:43.023-08:00

The first idiotic quick fix of the summer that springs to mind is ABC's "How to Get the Guy" (10 p.m. Mondays) -- a show that would more accurately be called "How to Get A Guy, Any Guy" or better yet, "How to Cast a Great, Big, Wide Net Like the Soulless, Whoring Sea Donkey That You Are." -- Heather Havrilesky (From her Salon.com article "I Like to Watch")

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1150821057322265632006-06-20T09:12:00.000-07:002006-12-29T20:24:21.567-08:00

I'd just like to take this moment to give a shout out to the speeding SUV driver who couldn't be bothered to stop after it hit a cat almost in front of my house. I saw you. While I'm sure you thought that because the cat ran off the road after you squished him, he wasn't seriously injuried, you should know that sometimes adrenaline will allow an injured animal to go a distance before collapsing

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1150770286609143382006-06-19T19:08:00.000-07:002006-12-29T20:23:28.307-08:00

Looming flip-flop ban creates flapThe board decided to give flip-flops the boot because they consider them dangerous for working in school laboratories and for walking in crowded halls."Think about all the kids parading through the halls. You could get your feet stepped on, or a chair run across the edge of your foot," said Ed Barney, a board member who favored the ban in last week’s 3-1

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24156593.post-1150243785384291532006-06-13T16:58:00.000-07:002006-12-29T20:22:48.402-08:00

A scary thing happened to me today.There aren't words to describe how much I detest updating my resumé, either the external version used on a personal job search, or the internal copy my company sends out on project proposals. No secret to me, I wasn't blessed with the gift of bullshit. I have no aptitude for throwing around the corporate-sounding verbs typically found on your average resumé.

Gospazhahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17482802811723532782noreply@blogger.com