November 2006 Archives

   I'm finding it interesting that more and more companies are charging their customers for their own costs. For instance, auto dealers now charge up to $250 to print the papers that you sign to buy the car. They also say it's to transfer plates, Patriot Act, etc... But aren't those necessary in order to sell the car and transfer it to someone so they can actually drive it away?
   Now Waste Management sent me an invoice with a note saying that now they need to charge me an extra $2 so they can print the bill so I know how much to pay them. First of all, this is just ridiculous. How long have they been doing this without injury to their business? And really, the paper is worth about a penny, the cost to print it and administer it is low to negligable considering that a computer does it, and the postage is what 39¢?
   So next time you walk into my store, please plan on putting a quarter into the bucket for the lights so you can see things you want to buy, and also put a log on so the store stays warm.

Also see Bob Dyer's take on the car documentation fees

"The Democratic Party can secure its 2006 gains, but to do so will require abandoning a decades-long willingness to indulge pressure groups on the left that no longer command broad popular allegiance."

   I read an article that ended with this conclusion, and I'm interested by it because it seems to me that the fall of the GOP came from indulging groups on the right that no longer commanded popular attention. Let me suggest the anti-gay rights agenda. There were folks from the right who say that a national issue exists with letting gay people get married. Although marriage bans passed in several states, I have to wonder how many people are sick of this issue, and realize that things like Iraq and healthcare are higher priorities. (and that straight marriage is more an issue within the institution than anything...)
   I don't think that this is a democratic issue - I think it's a generic policitcal one. Politicians should listen to everyone - no argument there. But when looking for ways to make America better, they need to focus on the issues that matter and make a positive difference in the lives of all Americans.
   So to answer the question the headline states, will the democrats finally become centered, I think the answer is that they probably will as much as the GOP did...

(source: Will Democrats finally get centered?)

   This morning, my first customer of the day was looking for an item and was describing it to me. Part of his description was that the item looked like a "dildo." Do many people often use sexual items to describe regular, everyday items? Like if you're looking for a balloon, would you say you were looking for something like a condom? If you were looking for vegetable oil would you say it was something like KY?

   All I can say about today is this - people who are hungry, who are fulfilling a basic survival need, in line at a soup kitchen are far less crazed than the people who shop at store openings on Black Friday.

   I can't believe how crazy people are going for the PS3. We had a line start to form at my store last night at 5pm. That was Wednesday - PS3 doesn't release until Friday. In the rain and cold they put up tarps to stay overnight. Amazing. They're selling for $599, but I see they're already on eBay for over $3000.
   Have you ever waited in a line over night for something?

   There are some things perhaps that shouldn't be done or said in an interview. Here's a few hints to enhance your own interviewing prowess:
- Don't lounge across a desk during the interview
- Don't admit that you're an anti-social person
- Don't wear smelly shoes - the interviewer will notice
- Don't say you're a "hard worker." Everyone says that.
- Don't tell the interviewer that you're not really interested in the job.
- Don't mention the word "titty" in an interview...

   My friend DT and I sometimes wonder when people do really bizzare things, what was it that they were doing just before they decided to do the crazy thing. I just saw a photo on Yahoo! Photos of a guy who put two large rattlesnakes in his mouth to set a world record. .... Why?

   For some reason I was talking with someone about toilet paper the other day. Somehow we ended up discussing various brands, but there was one that she kept mentioning that sounded odd. It sounded familiar, but not quite right. Instead of Angel Soft, she kept calling it Angel Hair.
   Now that's an interesting thought. Can you just picture the commercials? Heavenly music would play while angels lounged in the clouds. Suddenly a hand would reach through the clouds and grab an angel's hair.. I know, it's just not right.

In the midst of an important election, it's good to know we still have our priorities...

(source: CNN.com)

   Although we are still in the midst of counting the votes and figuring out who won what as I write this, I think another poll that happened today is interesting. In an Ohio exit poll when asked "Will votes be counted accurately?" 56% of folks responded "somewhat confident" or "not very confident." (45% and 11% respectively) I think that says something about the current state of our democracy, and it's a little scary.
   What happens when people no longer have confidence in the voting process? Heck, I was wondering if Blackwell was going to win today despite Strickland's double-digit lead over the past few months. How will Americans feel like we affect our own governing if we can't rely on non-biased, accurate vote counting? Part of me wonders if people will even care... On the other hand, things could get ugly.
   I think that before the next presidential election the feeling that maybe votes will be counted right needs to be changed. In an age where we can send people to the moon and back, we should be able to accurately and definitively be able to count.
(source: CNN.com - EXIT POLLS)

And this time I got a sticker! It's nice to know that even though we worry how accurately we count the votes, at least they ordered enough stickers.

...but I thought that the human race had evolved in the last 100 years or so. I guess in some ways we have, others not so much. This thought was prompted by a story I read in the Akron Beacon Journal about election time and how candidates campaign for their respective positions.
   People lie like it's in fashion. Political ads are a great example - we all know that most of the crap they say isn't true. For instance, there's one ad out there saying that a candidate coddles child molesters. He probably didn't vote on a bill for some reason (maybe too much pork) and now he's in NAMBLA. David Giffels said, "distortion and steely-eyed lies have become standard operating procedure in modern campaigning."
   So why do we stand for it? Everyone, including candidates, say they can't stand the negativity. But no one has done anything about it! I know there's some "freedom of expression" concepts in this, but can't we outlaw negative ads? Let the media do the dirty work finding out all the crap on the candidates - they do already. Maybe if there weren't so many shit-slinging ads we might actually get a clue about what the people running for office actually think.
   Then again, maybe that's not such a good idea either.
(source: David Giffels: Don't look at TV until Wednesday; it's too scary)

Five years ago I posted...
"Well, I saw this blogger thing on some one else's website, and thought it was kinda neat. I mean, who wants to read my inane ramblings? .. we'll see how this goes."
Wow, and five years later I'm still publishing my inane ramblings...

Two updates in the Colorado anti-gay pastor scandal...
1) He admits buying meth, but not to gay sex. Well, at least gay sex isn't a crime...
2) DT and I were chatting this evening about the fact that the prostitute was 49, and he pointed out that prostituting is usually over by the time one is in his 40s...
(source: Key Evangelical Admits Buying Meth, Not Gay Sex)

Headline:
"EXCLUSIVE: Neil Patrick Harris Tells PEOPLE He Is Gay"
   That's really not so exclusive is it? I thought we all knew this already...
(source: EXCLUSIVE: Neil Patrick Harris Tells PEOPLE He Is Gay)

Headline: "Anti-Gay Pastor Steps Down After Hustler Alleges They Had 3 Year Affair"
   This is one of the folks who spearheaded one of those anti-gay marriage amendments. The pastor says that he's stepping down so that an investigation can be conducted. Why step down? Politicians don't step down when they're investigated - they investigate themselves.
   This could all be made up... But I'm furious anyway. It makes me mad when someone uses their position in society to make life harder for other people. Then add the fact that he's a hypocrite, and that makes the situation that much better. At least he paid for the sex though; he didn't take a free swipe at a page.
   So does this add fuel to the thought that those who perpetrate the most hatred against gay people are dealing with their own inner homophobia? Maybe. Or perhaps it just means they're messed up. (just like everyone else)
(source: Anti-Gay Pastor Steps Down After Hustler Alleges They Had 3 Year Affair)

A new gas station?