Well I am in the middle of moving. Or at least getting ready to. Just about everything is ready to go on the truck tomorrow. And now I must unplug the pc and move that as well. TimeWarner has decided that it will take a whole week to get someone out to the new apt to turn on the cable. So I suppose it will give me time to unpack and get organized. It's so tempting to just keep things in boxes and never look at them until the next move. I can't even imagine how sore I will be tomorrow. Pretty much everything has to be moved all in one day. Which isn't too bad considering I have Monday off and will be able to use that to clean the old place and rest up. Moving is such an incentive to plant roots in one place.

OJ Simpson saying he feels bad for Scott Peterson. I know if I was accused of murdering my wife and unborn child the last thing in the world I would want is a testimonial from OJ Simpson. That is like the kiss of death.

Watching 60 Minutes and they are doing a story on the Biological Clock for women. These people are stupid they think you can give birth in your 40's and even up to 55 years old. And supposedly 90% of professional men think similar things about women's ability to have children. WTF. I learned all this shit when I was in High School. Why don't people know their own bodies? It's like this girl at work , I say girl but she is like 27 and she didnt know that women are born with all the eggs they are ever going to have. Unlike men who make sperm daily and as such have to release it daily.(if we are lucky anyway) Even if a woman's body is capable of having kids into 40's why raise a kid at that age. Its not fair to the kids. Women who have kids in their 40's tend to increase chance of Down's Syndrome and why not adopt instead of taking massive doses of fertility drugs. If I don't have kids by the time I am 35, that's it. I don't want to have to cash my Social Security checks to give my kid money to see a movie.
Oh and if Andy Rooney is showing off his swollen hands, you'd think he'd have the sense to get his fingernails cut. C'mon you can afford a damn manicure.

Well after sleeping most of the day I went to see S.W.A.T. It was pretty good. A little slow at the beginning but had a pretty good last half. Although I can't believe they actually use the line "he's a good cop" It just doesnt get anymore cheezey than that. It was a little disturbing that they kept calling the villian, a Frog. Granted it's not much of an unpopular thing to make fun of the French, but using a slur like that or any slur is still pretty ugly. Especially when for most people it is an obscure slur. Most people don't use the term Limey for the Brits or Frog for the French. Anyhoo the movie was good and had plenty of references to the old TV series. The next TV series that make into a movie should be Land of The Lost. Think about it.

What a day. Just got back from Mexico. Time for sleep. I had fun though, as exhausted as I am. Fun was very much needed after today. Ugh Bush visited the Hyatt hotel in the same complex as our office and protesters were out front on the sidewalks. And then someone made a bomb threat at one of the other buildings in the complex so our office was panicked. Anyhoo, time for bed. Adios.

No power in the Northeast US. A major power outage was bound to happen sooner or later. Though I had figured it would be in the western US like a few years back. When that happened, i think in 96 or so, that wasn't much of a surprise either. In college I had to do a group paper on the CA PUC (Publick Utilities Commission) and the then possible deregulation of the electric industry. It was a shock to learn how messed up our power grids are and how in some instances the loss of one small plant could affect several states. The whole way we generate and deliver power needs an overhaul. I just keep waiting for fuel cell development to progress to the point where we won't need to rely on one single line in the middle of the desert to send power to millions of people in an entire region. Ah well by then our summers will be even hotter thanks to Global Warming, and if you don't believe it exists, ask the British who just had the hottest day in their recorded history.

So Arnold and like a thousand other governor wannabes have joined the circus here in CA. It's such a silly thing that less than a year ago Gov. Davis was re-elected and now suddenly people think he is so terrible he has to be recalled. CA really has some of the lamest voting laws. Between our asinine propositions and this recall I am beginning to think we are really crazy. They seem like great democratic ideas but they are so misused its laughable. As much of a liberal as I am, I like Davis and think he is a decent man and was good as Lt Governor. But he lacks leadership ability and the charisma to have been able to address some major problems that were not his fault. The energy crisis and the state deficit are not his doing and he could not have changed things much. BUT he could have stepped up to the plate and shown the people that he was still at the helm of the ship and would work hard to turn things around. And the qualities that he lacks, are the ones that will allow Arnold to slip in and run CA. Well try anyway. Some business men don't do such a great job at politics because of the whole "can't have your way all the time" and "compromise" realities of governing. In Arnold's case, I think he is bright enough to realize this, but it will be interesting to see how this plays out. I think sheer curiousity will allow him to win. Even though most of his movies in the last 10 years have been absolute crap. Oh and he has that constant smiley-I-tell-jokes-so-I-am-always-happy-facade. That worries me. Reagan had that, it borders on being smug and goofy. Like things are never serious or real. Hell even Clinton acted serious at times. And Bush gets that look that is a cross between being mean and crying. Like some presidential pout.

I need time to digest this whole Arnold running for governor thing. In the meantime we are pleased to bring you the following rant.......
..... What is wrong with people that they don't seem to understand how detrimental stereotypes are? This girl at work asked me and my friend if we saw "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy". Which I haven't as I dont dig reality shows, unless its Cops. She then proceeds to tell us how cool it is because gays have great taste in fashion and they helped this guy with a make-over. I was like WTF is wrong with you? That is such a stereotype, although what is called a positive attribute stereotype, similar to African-Americans can dance great or are great atheletes, or Asians are really smart. I mean if someone created a show where 5 African-Americans took a white man and showed him how to dance, I have a feeling that would be taken as racist, albeit based on the "positive" stereotype.
Anyway...
She instead continued with the usual "some of my best friends...." and the "well it is true that THEY do..." Now I am all for pointing out that most stereotypes begin with some grain of truth but it must be noted that it is then used to paint a generalization of an entire people/group. While some would argue that indeed "gay men have great fashion sense" and use that as a positive point. I feel it necessary to point out that the idea of using a stereotype whether to bolster a positive or negative image is on the whole a negative and dangerous thing.
To praise a group and value them based on the positive stereotype is no different than to shun or ridicule a group based on a negative stereotype. Both marginalize a people based on a generalization. Imagine if people would only choose African-Americans to be on their sports teams, or Asians to be on their uh Math-olympic teams (ok thats a stretch) or only hired gay men to decorate their homes, or ....well I am sure you can get my point. It values people based on a generalization, whether it happens to be true or false in a particular case.
I have no control over Television shows, nor do I expect them to be sensitive enough to see these points. If that were the case then maybe Gay characters on tv(network) would be allowed to be serious. Or maybe Fat people would be allowed to not be funny. Take a look at old movies (before the late 60's), where everything in the movie is serious and somber, and then an African-American actor appears and then the music changes to some goofy ass tune and the comic relief steps in. They do the same with with Fat people and Gay people on TV and in most bland movies.
Just think about it, and listen to people as they hold a stereotype given to them as a badge and you may see just how empty and sad it really is when the stereotyped group accepts it and tries to wear it with pride not realizing they have just bought into the stereotype. And it's a package deal, if you accept the so called positive stereotype, just remember the other side of that is the negative attribute stereotypes, and if other people are allowed to believe the positive stereotypes, I garuntee they will believe the negative ones too.
::::stepping off my soapbox:::::::
Tomorrow's episode --- Arnold for CA Gov...Mandatory push-ups for all CA residents.

Well critics have confirmed what I thought at first about Gigli, this ego driven vehicle for Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. At first look I thought wow Shanghai Suprise 2, but it must be worse than Sean Penn and Madonna's sad collaboration. Just read this sad review . They seem to have hit it pretty good. As well as realizing that the South Park episode where Cartman's hand as Jennifer Lopez is more entertaining than the real thing. Movie executives really need their heads checked. There is something very annoying about her on screen. Maybe its her voice, or just her attitude. I couldn't stomach the Wedding Planner. Enough should have been enough, yet they keep giving her roles. Granted they are all in shitty movies at this point so it's not like she ruined any good movies yet. But it is only a matter of time before she becomes the weight that ruins an otherwise good movie. She should stick to singing and selling her name to crappy clothes and perfumes.

It's the heat, that is what has kept me away. Well ok it's not HOT but its warmer now. This week highs around 78. I actually went out looking for fans last Monday. No one had any good ones. Just some cheap-ass box fans. So I just had Staples send me two. I had to get two to get the free delivery on an order of 50 bux or more. Anyway, it's great. Yah I could be comfortable without it, but its so much nicer with a fan. Still out looking for an apartment. Found some good places. So we'll see. I really miss owning a home. Granted it was in Fresno. But it was a house and it was beautiful. It will be decades before I can afford a home in So Cal. Unless I want to move wayyy inland and enjoy more heat. Not to mention long ass drives to get anywhere. A friend of mine lives in one of these distant lands, North Corona. The only thing it is famous for is that while driving through it all you can smell is cow shit. Apparently at one time in So Cal we actually used to grow our own food. I remember so many orange groves in Riverside, strawberry fields all over Orange County, corn, etc. Over the years though homes and Walmarts have taken over. Just down the street there is a small field that they used to grow strawberrys and sell them, and now the land has been razed so they can build homes starting in the "Low $700,000's". I dunno about you but if I could afford a home anywhere near $700,000, then hey screw it, low, or high wouldnt matter to me.

Ok, so it's been awhile. I have been sick, and then busy with my computer. Having problems again. This time I am determined to find out where the problem is and fix it. Although right now I am sidetracked as I am just in awe of the beauty of Angelina Jolie. She is talking to Barbara Walters, and damn she is so gorgeous and yet oh so f*cked up. Damaged beyond belief. It's interesting that she can talk about so much of the pain she has caused herself, yet she still doesn't seem to have a full understanding out it. But she certainly is more open and honest than most Performers I have seen. You can just sense that she is quite sincere about what she says and for all the crazy things she does, it doesn't seem to be about making waves and getting attention, as much as just doing as she wants and living a free life. And while I wouldn't suggest everyone cuts themselves, or lives life so free they scarify their bodies, I certainly respect how she explains it. Maybe it doesn't hurt that she is very beautiful too.

I was thinking that for a brief period of time people married for love, and made their choices based on that. Certainly not all people, but for a bried time in the West there was a romantic notion that you should love the person you will spend the rest of your life with. And as divorce rates have risen, and alternatives to marriage have become more commonplace, the value of loving the person you marry has seemed to slip away. It makes sense that if you are going to get divorced sooner or later anyway, or that fidelity in marriage just doesnt exist, then why not get something out of it. Oh and I am not talking about alimony. No, in this new era we have a new breed of arranged marriages and dowry, thanks to Television. Sure its better than marrying off your daughter for a herd of goats, and why not compete to marry a stranger for some money, then just get divorced later. But is this really where we want to go back to? It's not like an out and out Domestic partnership or cohabitation, where the legal and religious contract has been entered into FOREVER. I say hey make those arrangements. But when you enter into a contract before your community, your god(s), and your state, shouldn't that be taken seriously? Granted things happen, people change/grow. But just for the out and out sake of entertainment? My new idea for a tv show is couples who cant have kids, and they compete in games to win babies. Or the other direction, call it Orphanage Olympics, where say 10 orphans, aged 5-7(the next seasons would of course increase the age group) they compete to be adopted by a nice white couple in the suburbs who will ply their new child with toys and money.
Oh I am really onto something. The possibilities are endless.

Stayed home from work today. I really hate to miss work, not because I enjoy it so much, but because there is always so much more to do when I return. That and just the sense that as I am at home, things need my attention at work...I was watching AMC and they are advertising a special on Hollywood and the Muslim World. How Hollywood or rather American films create a certain idea or images of American life, values, culture, etc. It is a good concept, I will be curious if they do it well. I would like to see the comparison made between the objections that Muslims have to American culture and the objections that Conservative American Christians have about American culture. It is so easy for most Americans to wonder why Muslims, or anyone from another culture would object to having American culture shoved down their throats. Yet we have people in this country worry about sex and violence in video games, the media, music. Why shouldnt Muslims have similar objections? I can't imagine that any group of people wants their culture to become subordinate or diluted by another culture. And as it is impossible to just simply put up walls and prevent the spread of another culture, it is possible for each group of people to look at their own culture and determine if it truly represents who they are, and who they wish to be.

Voice is still shot. Just took some Nyquil and in a few minutes will be fast asleep. I didn't take any last night and didn't get a good night's sleep. Dreamt a lot and woke up every couple hours. Poor sleep is usually when I actually remember my dreams. Otherwise, I almost never do unless its one of a few of my recurring nightmares. But being nearly emotionally dead for almost a year or more, I dont have nightmares anymore. I wanted to focus on cleaning the garage again this weekend. I will have even more to do next weekend. I have already begun the preliminary search for an apartment. Time for bed.

Not feeling well today. All this week I have felt a sore throat developing and by mid Friday my voice was going. Against my better judgment, I went out with my friend to a BBQ with some of his friends in Irvine. Of course drinking was involved and during the course of the night, my talkative nature and the alcohol conspired to deprive me of my voice. My friend wanted to leave, and I was more than tempted to stay considering that a very hot woman came over, but as I was under the impression that she was the girlfriend of one of the hosts, I decided it was best for me to get home and rest. Of course on the way back to my car, Alex told me she was single. Oh well, she was smoking and smoking out. Major turn-offs for me anyway. So on my way home I decided to see where Jason was. He and a friend of ours were in Newport Beach, so instead of going home, I went over there to this nice lil bar we have been to before. It was packed with people. Lots of hot chicks though, and of course the usual HB/NB guys, the skater/surfer cool dude tude's with thier baseball caps askew. WTF is up with that anyway? I have never seen so many drunk chicks though. Total lack of control. One of which, came over and brought us some shots. Well ok she brought it over for Jason, but by then he had stopped drinking so it was left to me to be polite and drink it. Of course, she then found out Jason is a police officer and her attention was from then focused on him. So Tony and I had to talk about his upcoming move to Florida. Which was why we were out. Live it up before leaving type thing. Poor guy, I would rather risk the very occasional earthquake instead of the more common Hurricane.
Usually I lose my voice in Spring or Fall. This is something that tends to happen every year or so, since I was in junior high.

Woke up early this morning and went to the movies to watch The Hulk. It was showing at 9:30 am. I figured most people would be at church, especially with their obnoxious kids. I was half right. It was not that busy but there were still more kids than I would have thought would be at the movies that early on a Sunday. The movie was ok. I had no major expectations. It was longer than it should have been, and was making me angry at some of the story. It was interesting that Ang Lee used the comic book panels to tell the story. It was a nice touch. After that went to buy some more storage boxes and spent a little bit of time on the garage project. It really will take me the whole month of July to get it to the point I need it so that I can move easily. Then once I move I can really organize and sort through things.

mmmm BBQ. Had a nice lil bbq today for dinner. It's time for a new grill though. Im thinking when I move I'll buy the Char-King...."taste the meat not the heat" Anyway, it's not summer unless there is bbq and sunshine. Didn't have any beers today, as last night was quite enough drinking for me for a while. But in the midst of it all I had time to think of many things.

Some days it just doesnt pay to get out of bed.

What a week. This one has been dragging and filled with tons of mundane crap, as well as the usual nonsense from the higher-ups. Spent most of the week reading and taking my mind off of things at work. I will be busy tomorrow, laundry, going to buy some storage boxes and get an early start on moving. Our lease is up on September 1st, so Jason and I will be finding our own place. I Just hope we find one with a garage, it's so nice having my things out of the way. Will probably do some Father's Day shopping too. More than likely will get a tv tuner card for my dad's computer. Almost got one for myself, but that would mean another cable box, and there's not much point in that. Especially if I am moving. It's going to be a pain to move my desk. Not looking forward to that. Though it will be good to move to a new place and have more space. Ohh better go Fastlane repeats are on...and the second repeat is where Tiffani Theisen infiltrates a ring of lesbian robbers...need I say more?

So according to this news item I read on my AOL welcome screen, this woman in Florida wants to wear her veil for her drivers license photo. And she is arguing that her religion prohibits her from showing her face or having it photographed. WTF. So can I wear a ski mask for my next DMV photo? Seriously....W T F. And if religion is her argument.....I say fine follow your religion and follow it like they do in Saudi Arabia.....women cant drive.