October 2003 Archives

newsnet5.com - News - 'Magalog' Contains Naked Photos

This is AWESOME!!! Our local News Net 5 (ABC affiliate) had nothing to air as newsworthy one day so they sent out their investigative reporter to check out the Abercrombie & Fitch "magalog." How ridiculous! OK, so he took the A&F to PTAs and showed the parents. Why exactly did he do that? I'm not aware of the A & F catalog being distributed at schools. So the parents made these ingenious comments:
"This is I, I -- this is unbelievable!"
"There's no morality in this book at all."
"It's disgusting. It's repulsive. It's evil."
Um... believe it. It's been around for awhile. Umm.. it's not the Bible, it's a catalog. If you don't like it then just don't pick one up or buy from the store. Well, apparently the focus here is that the reporter is mad because this is detrimental to children. I really wasn't aware of a problem with children viewing this - it's not like you get a complementary copy with Highlights. Maybe it's more about what parents are doing letting their kids read these considering you must order a copy or buy it with an ID at the store. Again, someone trying to tromp all over 1st Amendment rights and make a story of it - another slow news day at Channel 5. They probably boosted A&F's sales of the magalog tenfold.

Every so often I check my server logs to see what's going on - how many visits, how much bandwidth/transfer, from where people come, etc. It also shows me the search strings people have used to find my little website. Usually they're pretty standard things, but sometimes they crack me up. Someone searched for "immoral homosexuality" and found me. When I searched Yahoo! for that phrase I wasn't in the top 100. However if you search for "baseball saleries" on Yahoo! Meaning in Randomness is result #11. Someone else was apparently looking for "FRC Graduation pictures." This would be the page one would find under the 10th Yahoo! result. Just interesting little things...

Also have supposedly had hits from 22 different countries. Of course I also got a few hits from a "US Government." They're watching... :)

'The Lies of George W. Bush' by David Corn
Now this is a fun site all about President Bush. It supposedly examines how he has lied all through his presidency - I just might have to get the book to find out for myself.

Seriously, the page beforehand says to "view, download, or print. . .images of the new notes." To print your own money? No way, really? Unfortunately, there are regulations on printing images of US currency. But I have to wonder if this is a secure thing to do. Releasing a digital image of the new currency wouldn't maybe help someone fake the new money...

Call Him President Backwards
Great commentary on the spin the Bush Administration puts on everything for us, and how wrong we would be to think that things are going badly in Iraq. Enjoy.

Yahoo! News - AFP Top Photos
I'm sorry, but is this supposed to be fashionable? Oh well, 2 decades ago I was french cuffing my jeans and that was oh so cool.

Yahoo! News - Solar Hurricane Hits Earth's Magnetic Field

I just find this amazing. Imagine a hundred years ago we never would have even known what was really going on, and now we have actual pictures of the sun and a CME (Coronal Mass Ejection). I wonder if this has the same kind of effect on people as a full moon?

Yahoo! News - Sports Photos - Reuters

I just love the News photos from Yahoo!. Sometimes I think they are better than the news itself. Hey, a picture is worth 1000 words right? I think this one is just great. I hope he didn't get arrested.

Yahoo! News - Top Stories Photos - AP

This photo is from the people who were protesting the anti-war demonstrators. Now I have to wonder what the connection is between Sodomites, Abortionists, Drunkards, and Anti-War protesters. Are they all drunk? Have they all had abortions? Are they all queer? Maybe these people with the signs should be at a different protest.

Got home today and checked the inbox. OMG. I think it's time to change e-mail addresses. A little over 750 SPAM messages. Do you know how long that would have taken to get through without SPAM filters? Luckily my ISP is running one and I'm running another one here at home. All in all I think about 30 or so got through. But that's about 5MB of SPAM! Thank goodness we're on broadband here, otherwise I don't think I would have been able to make a phone call for a few hours. I think I'll be turning on the "DELETE" funtion on my ISP's filter. Just sick of waiting 20 minutes to get any real mail that might be coming my way. I heard something about the Senate passing something about Spam. I'll have to check that out and report back later.

Today at Cedar Point a man was standing in line for Top Thrill Dragster and we were chatting with him. He was talking about how tall it is and how the people at his workplace don't believe him that it's a "stratocoaster." He then went on to tell us that it actually goes into the stratosphere. Well I can't understand why the people at work don't believe him. I hope he held his breath when he got to the top.

YAY! Finally a real weekend off! Heading to my parents' house for Chili Night and then to Cedar Point for closing weekend.

Today has just been a fine day. Not much to say but that it's about that time of year again... I swear it's hormonal like PMS or something (determined it's not seasonal though). Maybe it's time for some St. John's Wort. Every year when it all begins I think to myself I'll just fight it off - if only I can be strong enough. Almost like a little test for myself or something. I usually do okay for awhile, but it's a cyclic thing and one win doesn't give you a one up, just one more day.

Here's a great post I found while reading a News Board: (by Karla_******)
"The congressman is one of 96 members of the House of Representatives who are co-sponsoring the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA), which seeks to amend the Constitution by denying civil marriage rights to same-sex couples."

Does anyone else have issue with the fact that we have 96 elected reps who are CO sponsoring a CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT to limit personal freedoms.

how is it possible that they could have the power to limit the rights of tax paying citizens.

The entire document is about personal freedom, and the rights of tax payers.

I am going to right my rep. and suggest he propose a constitutional amendment that gays are exempt from paying any taxes in the US.

Online conversations are so bizarre, especially when had over message boards. People write things to others that I'm sure they would never say in person. Seriously, I wonder if these people who write horrible things about queer folks would like to sit down with me for a debate. Just say something stupid so I can tear you down right to your face. I think people are less likely to make baseless accusations and say demeaning things to people when it is face to face because their own dignity is at stake if it comes back on them. When that happens online they just dissappear never to be heard from again. They know they've been bested, and they have the option of not showing up anymore.

I'm thinking of all this because I've been following that Yahoo! News board about the comments Rep. Wamp made. I really should know better than to do so because I've done it before and I know how these things spiral into complete idiocy. I'm not sure if anyone there is still talking about the issue. Now it's about so and so is sick and immoral, and I see a post about "the smell of farts." I suppose I do stupid stuff like that from time to time - I rationalize it as venting. I guess that's why my blog is what it is, but then again it's my blog. Maybe the message I'm saying here is if you have something unrelated and baseless, get your own web page so I don't have to read it. Yeah, I'm sure that doesn't go against the 1st Amendment at all eh? :)

Reading and posting on the Yahoo! message boards for news stories always gets me fired up. Here's another post on the Yahoo! News board regarding the article I posted about below. This was in responce to someone who classified "homosexuality" as a mental illness:

First it's important to understand the professionally accepted definition of "mental illness" before branding people mentally ill. If just anyone could do that, then just anyone could be labeled mentally ill.

The DSM-IV definition of mental
illness is as follows:
In DSM IV, each of the mental disorders is conceptualized as a
clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern
that occurs in an individual and that is associated with present
distress (e.g. a painful symptom) or disability (i.e. impairment in one
or more areas of functioning) or with a significantly increased risk of
suffering death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom. In
addition, this syndrome or pattern must not be merely an expectable
culturally sanctioned response to a particular event, for example, the
death of a loved one. Whatever its original cause, it must currently
be considered a manifestation of a behavioral, psychological, or
biological dysfunction in the individual. Neither deviant behavior
(e.g. political, religious, or sexual) nor conflicts that are primarily
between the individual and society are mental disorders unless
thedeviance or conflict is a symptom of a dysfunction in the
individual, as described above.
http://www.psych.utah.edu/2002_fall_3250_01/Notes/9_12_Diagnosis.pdf

In addition, in 1975 the American Psychiatric Assosciation removed homosexuailty from the list of mental disorders.
http://www.socialworkers.org/profession/centennial/milestones_4.htm

Now the only thing causing me stress is people who seek to promote hate and disinformation, and to reduce the effectiveness of my God-given rights as a human being.

-Doug

Yahoo! News - Rep. Wamp vilifies gays as 'sinful,' 'sick'

I wonder why these people focus on anti-LGBT issues. Aren't there things that really need their time and energy like poverty or unemployment. Really, I know the reason. It's about money and power. This continues to make me ill everytime I read about something like this.

Phelps Clan Protests In Shepard's Home Town

I swear this man does more for gay rights than he'll ever know. I mean, I think it's shameful what he does. And if he truely believes in what he's doing I feel an ounce of pity for him because then he's truely an idiot. But he paints such a horrible picture of "right-wingers" I think most mainstream people look at him and what he does and say "Well, I may not like those gays, but this guy is evil." You just don't protest a funeral, no matter how much you don't like the person. And when you do, it makes you look like an uncivilzed ass.

Save Franklin!

Just got back from a "town meeting" a bit ago. It was about the proposed merger of Franklin Township and the New Franklin Village to become one large Village of New Franklin. This would keep the neighboring municipalities from annexing parts of Franklin. See the problem with annexation is that you don't have much say in what the other city wants to do with the land. And it seems from people's accounts that most often the other city doesn't care much about what happens to you. They are annexing for one reason and one reason only - money. They annex the land and they get the tax money from anything on it. I don't understand why people are opposed to the merger and Franklin becoming its own city. That way no one can annex us and we have control over what goes where. People are upset because taxes may go up. Well, hate to break it to ya, but if you want to live in a decent area, taxes are going up anyway. And if someone annexes part of our township we're going to lose tax base and they'll be fewer people paying for the services we receive. (which are, by the way, pretty darn good)

I think part of what it comes down to is people are afraid of change. They think that if they can preserve the status quo that things won't change or at least not as fast. That seems safe and makes it seem like a better option. But the problem with that here is that things are going to change one way or another, and it's better to be in control of that change rather than the change just happening to you. It's going to happen, and I hope everyone makes the right choice.

I am starting to wonder if this week will ever end. You know working in retail is such the twillight zone sometimes. When you don't have weekends off like most of the rest of the planet, you get a little thrown off. My workweek this week is Thurs-Tues. I'm really looking forward to Wednesday, to sleep in late with the covers pulled over my head and my cat on the pillow next to me. I would love to watch the sun come in through the window and say "Hello Sun, goodnight Sun" and pass right back out because I don't have to get up. Nah, it's not really that bad, but the past few days have been really draining. Sometimes I feel the weight of my entire department on me.

I've found bluetooth is a wonder and joy to behold. I have a little mini-network in the house now that I can connect my iPaq to. Maybe I can even blog from the living room. :) Then again, maybe not. In the instruction manual for the BT adapter it reads:
   "Caution: Exposure to Radio Frequency Radiation:
   The radiated power of this device is far below the FCC [RF] exposure limits. Nevertheless, the device shall be used in such manner that the potential for human contact normal operation is minimal."
   I just have to wonder what exactly that means, and why that contradiction exists there in my manual. Later though it does mention you shouldn't get much closer than 8 inches to the adapter while it's in operation. Bummer that it's like a little knub that goes in a USB port.

Until next time, don't sit too close to the TV, and keep your head more than 8 inches from a Bluetooth adapter!

"Concerned about the appearance of disarray and feuding within his administration as well as growing resistance to his policies in Iraq, President Bush - living up to his recent declaration that he is in charge - told his top officials to 'stop the leaks' to the media, or else," the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

"News of Bush's order leaked almost immediately."

Bush told top aides that he "didn't want to see any stories" quoting unnamed officials, "and that if he did, there would be consequences," according to a "senior administration official who asked that his name not be used."

Oh.. I think it's getting ugly...

Today at work ended with a bang - a fistfight! Two customers actually were fighting in one of the main aisles! It was really insane. Someone made a comment about someone's chest, someone stole someone's hat.. blah blah blah. Look over there and people are screaming and two people are flailing around. Of course we broke them up, but then the girl that was fighting hit our security guy. Apparently she didn't know he was security. I got to call 911 myself. So the cop is talking to me about how if she had been the fighting customer and someone tried to restrain her, she would have hit the person too. Well, isn't that great? The cop excuses this woman's uncontrollable behavior. I'm so glad the police force is full of rational people. I know they're not all like that, but she caught me right afterwards and I was a bit taken aback. Whatever....

Oh this is GREAT! Takes the cake even from the SPAM mail I get from GeorgeWBush.com. This one is supposed to be from Ann Coulter about the prescription I just ordered. Apparently I ordered Valium and used the "App code: retard." Somewhat appropriate if I followed the link and paid for it eh? And why would it be coming from Ms. Coulter? Has she been hanging out with Rush Limbaugh?

Welcome back to the world of Windows. Just sold my Sony Clie (Palm Device) and bought an iPaq. Within the first 30 minutes I had to reboot. Go figure... Very cool device though... Has all the organizational stuff as the Palm did (Mail, addresses, calendar, etc) but the PPC has the interface of Windows which (unexpectedly) I prefer over the mass icons of Palm OS.

Yahoo! News - Police Nab Vicious Crow by Getting It Drunk
Can you picture it? I wonder if later they made it try to fly in a straight line or stand on one leg to see if it was really drunk.

A picture I took while in Toronto, Kansas. The juxtaposition of these two elements caught me so I turned the car around and went back. Just couldn't pass it up.

Last night I had to ask a woman to watch her language at the service desk. What is it that makes people think if they're nasty and rude that people in retail/service will do more to help them. Honestly, the worse the behavior the less likely people are to try extra hard to help you out. I understand being frustrated, but making a scene or making your grievance personal doesn't help anyone.

$87,000,000,000.00
This is great! Very interesting illustration, and point well made. Especially the point about the state's deficits. All the things we could do with $87 billion.....

Happy National Coming Out Day to everyone who's out. This year marked 10 years of being out for me. Being out I think is one is the single best ways that queer folk advance the cause of equal rights and acceptance in our country. When people know you as a person as well as know you're LGBT, they make a connection in their head that gay people are real people, not what they're told in the media, church or by ignorant friends. I don't recommend being out to everyone - there are circumstances that can make it very difficult. Staying in the closet is very trying and draining though.
For more info about National Coming Out Day, see the HRC's Coming Out Page.

It shouldn't amaze me anymore when people are stupid. Tonight a customer cut her finger on the outside of a feminine hygine disposal, and her friend berated us about how now she was at rish of contracting HIV and she was going to sue us. I'm not sure if she realizes it's not 1982 anymore and we know how HIV is spread, and it's not through inanimate objects. It made me really mad that this woman was so ignorant because it's people like her who make things difficult for people who live with HIV. And she claimed to have lived through something involving HIV. Well, I have friends who are HIV+ and I'm not an ignorant ass, so I'm not sure to what she was referring. I'm amazed I didn't strangle the woman. Honestly, I think I was so in awe that the conversation was taking place that I wasn't sure what to think. Maybe I was waiting to wake up.

In other news, the moon is out, full and beautiful. Happy National Coming Out Day - October 11, 2003!

It's not enough that the Roman Catholic Church is out to push discrimination against gays and lesbians, but now it wants to affect the health of the entire world. Because they are so out of step with the times, they feel that everyone should be abstinent unless married and/or procreating. Well, in that line of reasoning, they say that condoms aren't helpful in preventing diseases like HIV so they're trying to get them out of African nations that have been hit hardest by HIV/AIDS. They say if people have condoms they will have sex more often. Well, of course that would be terrible right? But people are going to have sex anyway. The World Health Organization has rejected the church's viewpoint, and quite frankly I'm more likely to believe doctors about science than the Roman Catholic Church.
You can see the article here.

As an afterthought, I wanted to mention that on the message board for the story I just posted about, there is a person on whose Yahoo! profile exists a self picture that is a holy person in the clouds, and that person's post reads "Adulters and pervs like you get aids" to someone who said "Married people get aids too." How Christian....

I think this MP3 says just about how I feel about the post below. (courtesy of Telstar's Webdroppings - link to be posted as soon as the site is finished)
Mad as Hell

Proclaims Discrimination to be Beneficial to Marriage

Bush Backs Right-Wing Marriage Agenda

     I am absolutely outraged at this! What right does any person have to force their religious beliefs upon me or others? This is getting really ridiculous. I keep hearing the right-wing rhetoric of gays are forcing gay marraige on straight people - they make it sound like we're making heteros marry same-sex partners. But in all reality, it is THEY who are forcing their beliefs on Americans. The hypocracy is killing me. Bush says he wants to "support the institution of marriage by helping couples build successful marriages and be good parents." I don't see how this helps support marriage. What direct effect will this have on helping people become better partners? Of course he also goes on to illustrate the added benefit of his tax relief to married couples - eliminating the marriage penalty. Ok, so there's one more right denied gays and lesbians. How is this fair? How is this not outright discrimination?

     Then Bush has the gall to say that we should "continue our work to create a compassionate, welcoming society, where all people are treated with dignity and respect." Well honestly Mr. Bush, it doesn't seem like you're trying very hard. It actually seems like Bush is trying to divide the country. So much for bringing America together.

     Oh, and this from the Family Research Council: "It is happening because of the black plague ... unelected judges in black robes are not only ruling against the wishes of the American people, they are overturning laws passed by the elected representatives of the people." -->So now not only are we attacking gay partnerships, but we're also attacking the US judicial system? Those damn unelected judges. So undemocratic isn't it? I suppose it is when they're not ruling in your favor. This just makes the right wing seem even crazier.

     So for what it's worth - he did call a million war protesters a focus group - if you want to voice your opinion to Mr. Bush's answering service, go tell him now.

Let's just say hypothetically that you are a thief. After you stole whatever is was that you stole, what would be your first inclination? Maybe to get away from the place that you stole from right? Not today my friend... not today.
So this group of people comes into my store today and apparently lifted some merchandise from us. The man I ran into was the "getaway" man - he drove the car which took them to lunch across the street. Well, they got away and then "getaway man" comes in demanding to know why someone took down his license # off of his car. So at that point I knew nothing, but soon found out. Security tells me to stall him until the police show up so I'm telling him I'm trying to find out, getting someone from security, security is busy and I'm getting my supervisor. Finally the police show up, search his car and find the stolen goods and arrest the man. I know I'm cynical sometimes about the mentality of people, but I'm sorry... this just proves my point.

Did you know that when you travel on an airline, the TSA may hand search your checked baggage? That means don't put your private things right up there on top of your packed stuff, because often they will open it up right there where everyone is checking in. Now, they are considerate enough to leave you a little note so that you will know they've rifled through your stuff. And if they have to break a lock on your bag, they sincerely apologize. (But then if you're dumb enough to try to lock your bags in this day and age, sorry for your luck.) Very nice... A little note from your friendly government.
No really, I appreciate the work they do and the safety they are trying to guarantee. I just found it odd to see the TSA man sticking his hands into my bag.

Saw a Sara Lee commercial recently speaking of their wonderful breads. Now I don't doubt that Sara Lee makes tasty breads, but they spoke of "goodness baked in." On their website, they mention it's made with the "goodness of home" baked right in. I know it's just marketing, but how exactly does one bake in "goodness?" Is that a special ingredient, and has it been FDA approved? Is it versus the probable "evil" baked in by the Saddam regime? Does "goodness" make you a better person? And what if your particular recollection of home "goodness" isn't that good... No really, I'm sure goodness it quite tasty, but I just want to know how it gets into food.

One loses respect for Judge Judy when she makes statements like robbing banks is a real job. (Been watching CourtTV)

ABC's new "gay comedy" deserves a warning writeup. My dear friend Dan said it best when he said that they stuck that gay theme in there hoping to make up for actual entertainment. And really that's all I'm going to say, except if you're planning on going out or wondering if you should stay home and watch this new show, please do yourself a favor and go out. Maybe when you're good and loopy you can come home and watch it and maybe then it'll be mildly amusing.

People amaze me sometimes....
   A woman comes in to buy some stuff, and she hands over a credit card with a man's name on it. She says it's a business card. It's also an AmEx. With AmEx cards, there is no such thing as an authorized user - the name on the card indicates the only person who can use the card. She gets all flustered. So she pulls out another card - another guy's MC - and wants to use that except that on the back where the signature would be is written "SEE ID." This means there is no authorized signature on the card and it requires the use of the person's ID. Again she is getting more flustered, really pissed actually. She can't understand why she can't make a purchase using another person's credit card. Really? Have you been under a rock for the past 5 years when identity theft became chic? How dare someone get mad at me for protecting another person's security.

Things amaze me sometimes as well...
   I had no idea these things existed until the other day while driving. (NOTE: Taking pictures while driving is an extremely dangerous activity and should not be undertaken by the driver.) So when did these things come about, and what is their purpose? Are they to escort people through rough neighborhoods, or just in case you want a limo ride off-road?

Got a call from an ex today. Not like a call from the crazy ex, but from an ex who is now a friend. Some people have told me I'm like a lesbian; I keep my exes as friends. I don't see anything wrong with that. Calls like that are always interesting - like a blast from the past. He's concerned about someone who lives far from him but close to me. It sounds like he's doing well for himself, and for that I am very glad. He genuinely deserves the best life can offer him, and I hope life takes him where he wants to be.

In the meantime, I have one more very rigorous day at work and I'm off for Kansas to see a wonderful friend. And to make it even better, I'm going with a wonderful boyfriend. We're going to kick back, have drinks on the lanai, and talk about life and such. I've barely seen my boyfriend in the past week because of a crazy work schedule; it's so ironic that we live together but we have to go away to see each other. All goes well with the new house. We even have grass now - at least in patches. :) And tonight I'm not going to think about all the political crap that always drives me crazy - I need to sleep tonight so I can wake up early.