Mr. Drudge speculates based on anonymous tips that Senator Hillary Clinton will most likely be chosen as Kerry's running mate.
His reports site that signing up Senator Clinton would be the solution to a lot of Kerry's problems (see article). I feel that as exciting as it would be to have a woman running for the second top spot in the fall, choosing her to be his running mate will be the kiss of death for his campaign.
What do you think?
June 30, 2004
Day Three
4:50 pm
Either the craving for nicotine or the effort not to smoke, is giving me a big fat headache. It would be huge relief if I could just smoke. I hate quitting smoking.
3:23pm
Agony. Agony. Agony. Huge craving lasting for hours.
A great act of will required not to give in. I called Jon who reminded me why I am doing this. The support feels good, even if quitting does not.
8:45 am
Confessions of a serial smoker: Last night, at the bar, when I was playing trivia, while my team was winning, I went out with a friend and smoked one of her cigarettes. Also, I smoked one when we were on our way out. But I am not discouraged. I have decided that today is a no smoking day as well.
Day three is not going too badly. Earlier, I found that the need for a cigarette was properly quelled last night (see above confession) and I woke up feeling somewhat free of my addiction. This morning, when out of habit, I found myself thinking about buying a pack for the day, my body was not with me. Reason eventually won out because I just did not feel like spending $8.00 on another box of nails for my coffin. So, I didn't.
Now I am at work and during the course of writing this between spurts of work, I find my urge comes and goes in proportion to the ebb and flow of my work. Answering two lines, while making photocopies and faxing out estimates seems to make me feel a little stressed. That happened about 20 minutes ago. Now I find myself again fighting the urge to run out, buy a pack and smoke, because again, there is a small lull before the next big rush of meaningless work.
As you can imagine, I am receiving support from my friends and loved ones.
I resist telling my family until I achieve at least a week of smoking sobriety.
Either the craving for nicotine or the effort not to smoke, is giving me a big fat headache. It would be huge relief if I could just smoke. I hate quitting smoking.
3:23pm
Agony. Agony. Agony. Huge craving lasting for hours.
A great act of will required not to give in. I called Jon who reminded me why I am doing this. The support feels good, even if quitting does not.
8:45 am
Confessions of a serial smoker: Last night, at the bar, when I was playing trivia, while my team was winning, I went out with a friend and smoked one of her cigarettes. Also, I smoked one when we were on our way out. But I am not discouraged. I have decided that today is a no smoking day as well.
Day three is not going too badly. Earlier, I found that the need for a cigarette was properly quelled last night (see above confession) and I woke up feeling somewhat free of my addiction. This morning, when out of habit, I found myself thinking about buying a pack for the day, my body was not with me. Reason eventually won out because I just did not feel like spending $8.00 on another box of nails for my coffin. So, I didn't.
Now I am at work and during the course of writing this between spurts of work, I find my urge comes and goes in proportion to the ebb and flow of my work. Answering two lines, while making photocopies and faxing out estimates seems to make me feel a little stressed. That happened about 20 minutes ago. Now I find myself again fighting the urge to run out, buy a pack and smoke, because again, there is a small lull before the next big rush of meaningless work.
As you can imagine, I am receiving support from my friends and loved ones.
I resist telling my family until I achieve at least a week of smoking sobriety.
June 29, 2004
Second Day
This is my second day of "choosing not to smoke". To say I'm quitting is way too much pressure. Today, I choose not to smoke. That seems less pressuring, no?
Right now, it's hard not to. Work is a little slow and my system is screaming for one. For me not to smoke, requires me to believe that I am not naturally a smoker and these feelings of physical longing are simply something that will pass if I ignore them.
I feel jittery, like pacing, like eating, like jumping, like talking incessantly. I'm in control though and I am resisting.
Although sometimes it feels like resistance is futile.
Right now, it's hard not to. Work is a little slow and my system is screaming for one. For me not to smoke, requires me to believe that I am not naturally a smoker and these feelings of physical longing are simply something that will pass if I ignore them.
I feel jittery, like pacing, like eating, like jumping, like talking incessantly. I'm in control though and I am resisting.
Although sometimes it feels like resistance is futile.
Light and Fluffy
After yesterday's Farenheit post, I thought I would post something a little lighter and fluffier.
Did I ever tell you guys about my little three year old imagination,the little tricks it used to play on me and how it helped me to rationalize the big, bad world around me?
I'll limit this post to how it used to help cope with things that were too complicated for me to understand.
For example, when I was about three years old and starting to learn how to communicate, I used to get excited by adults who were so thrilled to see me because they hadn't seen me in a while.
They would always start with, "You've gotten so big. Did you grow overnight?"
I used to hear that so much, I imagined growing happened overnight with the help of elves. While I was sleeping, the elves would open my head, pull out my skeleton, and replace it with a new, longer skeleton. I never remembered anything when I woke up from this experience but had a good idea that these little people were conspiring against children remaining small.
With regard to my growing empathy to those around me, I used to believe that all of my dolls were alive and had feelings. It was important that none of them fell off the bed when I was sleeping otherwise their feelings would get hurt and they would get angry.
With regard to what I consider an early appearance of insomnia, when I was trying to fall asleep at night, sometimes I imagined my wall disappearing altogether as it was replaced by a huge mural of imagined landscapes with a cast of cowboys and astronaut supplying the action.
Do you remember your earliest thoughts about the world and how it worked?
Did I ever tell you guys about my little three year old imagination,the little tricks it used to play on me and how it helped me to rationalize the big, bad world around me?
I'll limit this post to how it used to help cope with things that were too complicated for me to understand.
For example, when I was about three years old and starting to learn how to communicate, I used to get excited by adults who were so thrilled to see me because they hadn't seen me in a while.
They would always start with, "You've gotten so big. Did you grow overnight?"
I used to hear that so much, I imagined growing happened overnight with the help of elves. While I was sleeping, the elves would open my head, pull out my skeleton, and replace it with a new, longer skeleton. I never remembered anything when I woke up from this experience but had a good idea that these little people were conspiring against children remaining small.
With regard to my growing empathy to those around me, I used to believe that all of my dolls were alive and had feelings. It was important that none of them fell off the bed when I was sleeping otherwise their feelings would get hurt and they would get angry.
With regard to what I consider an early appearance of insomnia, when I was trying to fall asleep at night, sometimes I imagined my wall disappearing altogether as it was replaced by a huge mural of imagined landscapes with a cast of cowboys and astronaut supplying the action.
Do you remember your earliest thoughts about the world and how it worked?
June 28, 2004
Farenheit 9/11
Here is an argument against Farenheit 9/11, written by former and beloved NYC mayor, Ed Koch.
I have to admit, the more I hear about this movie, the less I want to see it.
I'm no great supporter of the Bush family but if you're going to come out against them, I think you should at least get your facts straight. It doesn't sound like Mr. Moore is really presenting an accurate portrayal of his argument, rather it seems like he is taking some almost facts and manipulating them to support an agenda I don't understand, quite frankly.
He seems to be motivated by money this time around. His efforts to promote this film seem above and beyond previous efforts to promote previous films.
Again, not being a fan of Bush I can understand how someone can come out against him but to come out against this war so strongly and then release the movie internationally doesn't seem all that patriotic. Be against the war, be against your government but don't take it outside our borders.
In other words, don't air our dirty laundry.
I'm a little disappointed in you Mr. Moore.
I have to admit, the more I hear about this movie, the less I want to see it.
I'm no great supporter of the Bush family but if you're going to come out against them, I think you should at least get your facts straight. It doesn't sound like Mr. Moore is really presenting an accurate portrayal of his argument, rather it seems like he is taking some almost facts and manipulating them to support an agenda I don't understand, quite frankly.
He seems to be motivated by money this time around. His efforts to promote this film seem above and beyond previous efforts to promote previous films.
Again, not being a fan of Bush I can understand how someone can come out against him but to come out against this war so strongly and then release the movie internationally doesn't seem all that patriotic. Be against the war, be against your government but don't take it outside our borders.
In other words, don't air our dirty laundry.
I'm a little disappointed in you Mr. Moore.
Weekend Bullets
Friday Night
Cleaned up
Blogged
Went to bed early for a Friday night
Saturday Day
Got up early
Watched In America
Had breakfast at Keystone
Foodshopping at Key Food
Picked up laundry
Made famous butterscotch fudge
Saturday night
Rested
Wrapped fudge
Gave some fudge to neighbor
Rode subway to meet Jon in city
Saw Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Sunday
Rode subway to deep Queens
Visited brother and saw most incredibly wonderful and cute baby in the whole world (my nephew)
Rode subway back into city
Got out 57th & 6th
Walked up West Side of Central Park to 100th Street
Rested
Sunday night
Rode subway back to Queens
Took shower
Went to neighbor to watch Six Feet Under
Ate pizza
Had fun
Went home
Posted cute picture of Jon and me
Got sleep
Cleaned up
Blogged
Went to bed early for a Friday night
Saturday Day
Got up early
Watched In America
Had breakfast at Keystone
Foodshopping at Key Food
Picked up laundry
Made famous butterscotch fudge
Saturday night
Rested
Wrapped fudge
Gave some fudge to neighbor
Rode subway to meet Jon in city
Saw Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Sunday
Rode subway to deep Queens
Visited brother and saw most incredibly wonderful and cute baby in the whole world (my nephew)
Rode subway back into city
Got out 57th & 6th
Walked up West Side of Central Park to 100th Street
Rested
Sunday night
Rode subway back to Queens
Took shower
Went to neighbor to watch Six Feet Under
Ate pizza
Had fun
Went home
Posted cute picture of Jon and me
Got sleep
Frog People
Does anyone remember the series "Ripley's Believe it or Not" hosted by Jack Palance? The Ripley people now have a cool website you can visit to find stories about the strange but true.
Perhaps you can imagine what it was like is like for the following woman. The article I refer to comes from the BBC News World Edition online.
This woman in Iran claims to have given birth to a frog. The paper that published the article claims that experts who have examined the frog says it has human characteristics. Possible explanation given is that while the woman was in dirty water somehow the larva crawled inside.
The frog still has to undergo testing:
Perhaps you can imagine what it was like is like for the following woman. The article I refer to comes from the BBC News World Edition online.
This woman in Iran claims to have given birth to a frog. The paper that published the article claims that experts who have examined the frog says it has human characteristics. Possible explanation given is that while the woman was in dirty water somehow the larva crawled inside.
The frog still has to undergo testing:
But it quotes clinical biology expert Dr Aminifard as saying: "The similarities are in appearance, the shape of the fingers and the size and shape of the tongue."
June 26, 2004
Fantasy Wedding
As promised, here is a photo of Vanisha Mittal, daughter of the 5th richest man in the world, at her $55 million wedding.
And here is an article about it.
June 25, 2004
Elevator to the Stars
or
25,475th floor
The Ronald Reagan Space Station
At first when I saw the headline for this article at The Drudge Report, I thought for sure it was an article about scientist Bradley C. Edwards having gone mad. But then I started reading the article and learned there are those that believe a space elevator could be ready and operating in 15 years to the tune of $10 billion. Still, I couldn't believe what I was reading was true. How could a space elevator even be remotely possible? Perhaps the Drudge Report was posting satirical articles like those written on the pages of the The Onion.
So then I linked to one of the supporting links listed at the bottom of the article. This link is for the Third International Conference for the Space Elevator. If you go here, you can see notes from the conference and different articles on the different technologies that would make a space elevator possible.
It's true. It is possible to build a space elevator. Even if you don't believe it can be done in 15 years, I should be able to see it's launch before I die.
That's amazing.
25,475th floor
The Ronald Reagan Space Station
At first when I saw the headline for this article at The Drudge Report, I thought for sure it was an article about scientist Bradley C. Edwards having gone mad. But then I started reading the article and learned there are those that believe a space elevator could be ready and operating in 15 years to the tune of $10 billion. Still, I couldn't believe what I was reading was true. How could a space elevator even be remotely possible? Perhaps the Drudge Report was posting satirical articles like those written on the pages of the The Onion.
So then I linked to one of the supporting links listed at the bottom of the article. This link is for the Third International Conference for the Space Elevator. If you go here, you can see notes from the conference and different articles on the different technologies that would make a space elevator possible.
It's true. It is possible to build a space elevator. Even if you don't believe it can be done in 15 years, I should be able to see it's launch before I die.
That's amazing.
Schwarzenegger May Be Barking Up Wrong Tree
In an effort to save his constituents money, Governor Schwarzenegger is proposing to repeal a state law that requires animal shelters to hold stray dogs and cats for up to six days before killing them according to this article at SeattlePI.com. He suggests animals should be euthenized after three days of capitvity.
Governor Schwarzenegger says that this measure would help to save local governments operating animal shelters up to $14 million.
I think this is a great idea but I have a feelign that his constituents, in spite of all of California's financial problems, will not stand behind the Governor on this decision.
Governor Schwarzenegger says that this measure would help to save local governments operating animal shelters up to $14 million.
I think this is a great idea but I have a feelign that his constituents, in spite of all of California's financial problems, will not stand behind the Governor on this decision.
June 24, 2004
Weighing in on Mary Kate
For those of you who dislike breaking up a set, you may want to stop reading now. The news in entertainment this week is the Mary Kate half of the Olsen Twins has signed herself into a facility for treatment for an eating disorder.
What I understand about the ailment is little. Experts say it's not about being thin, yet every one seems to become anorexic trying to get or maintain thin. Experts say it's about control. Well, Mary Kate and Ashley have a lot of control or so I've heard.
My feeling is the disease is about escape.
There's probably a lot of pressure on the Olsen Twins to keep succeeding and moving forward. The only way out really, without people barking at you is to get very sick. That's the only excuse some people will accept for not being busy all the time. These girls have been busy since they were 9 months old. I hope that Mary Kate is checked into a good facility, that she's getting rest and taking it easy and giving herself a break.
You don't have to be on the move all the time to be succeeding. It's okay to rest. Unless you know you're checking out tomorrow, you've got years to get done what you're trying to get done. My advice to the Olsen Twins is to check out for a while. Enroll in college, go to classes, hang out with your friends. But stop working on your careers and work on protecting your sanity. This may sound condescending but I'm proud of Mary Kate for taking the time to take care of herself.
What I understand about the ailment is little. Experts say it's not about being thin, yet every one seems to become anorexic trying to get or maintain thin. Experts say it's about control. Well, Mary Kate and Ashley have a lot of control or so I've heard.
My feeling is the disease is about escape.
There's probably a lot of pressure on the Olsen Twins to keep succeeding and moving forward. The only way out really, without people barking at you is to get very sick. That's the only excuse some people will accept for not being busy all the time. These girls have been busy since they were 9 months old. I hope that Mary Kate is checked into a good facility, that she's getting rest and taking it easy and giving herself a break.
You don't have to be on the move all the time to be succeeding. It's okay to rest. Unless you know you're checking out tomorrow, you've got years to get done what you're trying to get done. My advice to the Olsen Twins is to check out for a while. Enroll in college, go to classes, hang out with your friends. But stop working on your careers and work on protecting your sanity. This may sound condescending but I'm proud of Mary Kate for taking the time to take care of herself.
Ki-lin
A mythical being of Chinese mythology, comparable
with the western unicorn. Ki-lin personifies
all that is good, pure, and peaceful. It lives
in paradise and only visits the world at the
birth of a wise philosopher. The Ki-Lin is
said to walk on earth and on water. It never
drinks or eats dirty food or water. The Chinese
unicorn never treads on smaller animals below
its feet nor does it ever harm another living
creature. The Ki-Lin is the emblem for
exquisite goodness, longevity, grandeur,
endless compassion and great wisdom. According
to Chinese mythology, at the birth of Confucius
a Ki-Lin appeared and Confucius died soon after
a Ki-Lin was killed, he believed that his
writings would not proceed from the omen of the
death of the Unicorn.
Which Chinese Mythological Being Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
Welcome Back
Chico, the mastermind behind Nervous Nero, The Evil Twin Theory, and Area 52 is back from his writing hiatus.
Welcome back, Chico.
We've missed you.
Welcome back, Chico.
We've missed you.
June 23, 2004
Subway Tales
Tonight, when I got out of work, I stopped by Jon's office to bring him a cup of coffee. He works nights as a copy editor for the New York Post.
It was five minutes well spent. I handed him his coffee and he gave me a hug.
Then I went back to the subway.
And I waited and I waited and I waited.
Then my train pulled up but there were so many people waiting the train was too crowded before I even got to the door, so I didn't get on and I waited some more.
Another crowd started to gather.
We were all getting a little impatient when an announcement came over the loudspeaker.
"Due to delays, there is an R train approaching 42nd Street."
I was at 49th street so this was a good announcement. Although the R train isn't my train, this meant that a good part of the crowd would get on and there would be room for me on my own.
Well, the R train came and went, right through the station without stopping.
An N train came by and stopped, took in most of the crowd but even though that train was going to Astoria I decided to wait a few more minutes to see what came next.
Two minutes later, a W train pulled into the station and I got on. Most of the crowd had boarded the previous train so this train was relatively empty.
I sat with my eyes closed until my stop in Astoria.
The end.
It was five minutes well spent. I handed him his coffee and he gave me a hug.
Then I went back to the subway.
And I waited and I waited and I waited.
Then my train pulled up but there were so many people waiting the train was too crowded before I even got to the door, so I didn't get on and I waited some more.
Another crowd started to gather.
We were all getting a little impatient when an announcement came over the loudspeaker.
"Due to delays, there is an R train approaching 42nd Street."
I was at 49th street so this was a good announcement. Although the R train isn't my train, this meant that a good part of the crowd would get on and there would be room for me on my own.
Well, the R train came and went, right through the station without stopping.
An N train came by and stopped, took in most of the crowd but even though that train was going to Astoria I decided to wait a few more minutes to see what came next.
Two minutes later, a W train pulled into the station and I got on. Most of the crowd had boarded the previous train so this train was relatively empty.
I sat with my eyes closed until my stop in Astoria.
The end.
June 22, 2004
June 21, 2004
Weekend Bullets
1. Sat. day - slept late, played video game
2. Sat. night - roasted stuffed chicken and corn for dinner, made salad
3. Sun. afternoon - Long Beach - went to beach with Jon
4. Sun. night - Long Beach - BBQ at parents house. Parents, brother and wife, brother's inlaws, nephew
5. Good times.
2. Sat. night - roasted stuffed chicken and corn for dinner, made salad
3. Sun. afternoon - Long Beach - went to beach with Jon
4. Sun. night - Long Beach - BBQ at parents house. Parents, brother and wife, brother's inlaws, nephew
5. Good times.
June 18, 2004
American Hostage Beheaded in Saudi Arabia
Those Al Qaeda bastards beheaded Paul Johnson.
Here is Paul Johnson's yearbook photo.
I'm going to leave this one to the professionals to discuss.
Here is the latest.
Here is Paul Johnson's yearbook photo.
I'm going to leave this one to the professionals to discuss.
Here is the latest.
Saudis Say Qaeda Chief Killed After U.S. Man Beheaded
Saudi authorities said on Saturday they had killed al Qaeda leader Abdulaziz al-Muqrin and three other prominent militants after they beheaded U.S. hostage Paul Johnson.
Saudi Arabia confirms death of al-Qaida leaderRIYADH, June 19 (Xinhuanet) -- The Interior Ministry of Saudi Arabia said Saturday that the leader of the al-Qaida terror network in the kingdom, Abdulaziz al-Muqrin, had been killed. The ministry published photos on state television to support its claim.
U.S. hostage beheaded; leader dead
An Islamic extremist group in Saudi Arabia Friday beheaded Paul Johnson, the American electronics engineer whom they had kidnapped six days before. Within hours, Saudi Arabia announced that its forces had killed three of the extremists, including their leader, in a gun battle. The group, called al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, posted gory photos of Johnson's body on the Internet after the expiration of its ultimatum that the Saudi government free al-Qaida prisoners it holds.
They're At It Again
The Anonymous Blogger and Anonymous Bloggette are at it again.
Anonymous Bloggette, yesterday, made the point that if women have it so much easier than men when it comes to dating there wouldn't be so many reality based TV shows where 50 women are competing for one man, that the show Average Joe and Average Joe 2 would never feature an Average Jane. Anonymous Blogger, today, makes the point that TV Producers are mostly male and suggested that programming is sex related for the benefit of making money. He challenges women to produce their own reality shows. He said that a program like the Swan is awful because it emphasizes outer beauty.
Well, T.A.Blogger may not be aware of this, but I think he helped the Bloggette make some kind of point, but on an even bigger scale than either of them realize. Men just have it easier in this world. Period.
Granted nothing is easy and 99% of us work hard for what we have as a whole but men still have it easier.
Anonymous Bloggette, yesterday, made the point that if women have it so much easier than men when it comes to dating there wouldn't be so many reality based TV shows where 50 women are competing for one man, that the show Average Joe and Average Joe 2 would never feature an Average Jane. Anonymous Blogger, today, makes the point that TV Producers are mostly male and suggested that programming is sex related for the benefit of making money. He challenges women to produce their own reality shows. He said that a program like the Swan is awful because it emphasizes outer beauty.
I thought it was great!! It was honest. Ugly or average looking women do not fare as well in American Society as their better than average and great looking sisters. The Swan offered people a chance to succeed in a society where looks matter.
Well, T.A.Blogger may not be aware of this, but I think he helped the Bloggette make some kind of point, but on an even bigger scale than either of them realize. Men just have it easier in this world. Period.
Granted nothing is easy and 99% of us work hard for what we have as a whole but men still have it easier.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)