Congratulations to Hugh Laurie, winner of the Golden Globe for Best Performance By An Actor In a Television Series – Drama.
Mr. Laurie should be a requirement for all future awards shows as evidenced by his delivery of the wittiest speech of the evening. Instead of whipping out a *yawn* laundry list of lawyers and agents, Hugh chose to recognize the crew of his hit program "House M.D.," which according to him are not "drunks and theives" and "smell of newly mown grass."
Yay Hugh!
As a gesture of solidarity with Sassette, I feel compelled to ALSO show artistic representation of MY horrific work day today.
Sassette's description of her work day:
Based on that doleful but artistic depiction, Xen presents unto her this Haiku:
Lost in the work flow.
Buried beyond belief now
Hopelessly drowning.
with a look ahead...
Finally over.
Tomorrow begins anew
Rejuvenation.
Irritation of the afternoon:
A co-worker comes in and asks if I will type a letter up for him. I say yes. He hands me a letter that is for the governor, expressing his desire to serve a second term in an appointed post.
Fine.
I see that the letter is formatted as though written by a grade-schooler. The governor is not properly addressed, nor is his proper, full name used. So, I format the letter in keeping with all of the rules of business correspondence and etiquette. I hand it to him and he proceeds to gleefully point out my "mistakes" - only reading as far as one "mistake" before making me "correct" it, print a new copy and then continue. He was arrogant and completely irritating. I was tempted to explain that I was trying to save him the embarrassment of appearing a total ignoramus to the governor that he was asking to appoint him, but suspected that he would not have taken it well (he was much older than I). Instead I bit my tongue and have been fuming all afternoon...
Just got back from a demonstration here at work. One for a new, improved, 'this will wash your car, satisfy your wife and babysit the kids" software package.
Everybody has the TOTAL answer to corporate systems integration with THEIR product. It's THE BEST!!!
Then someone always asks "How many companies has this been fully and successfully implemented in?"
And it's like watching that first spark hit the Hindenburg....
This week's picture comes from the "between a rock and a hard place" category.
It's a photo taken of a single flower growing out of a sheer rock wall overlooking Moxie Falls in Maine. Xen took this shot in "mid-plummet" during his final attempt at winning the Kennebec River Belly Flop Competition. The EMT's thought it was a very nice shot....
So I went to the TV Guide Listings ...
Almost all shows on the air tonight are repeats ... Oh, well.
What I found interesting was this ....
They list "NEW" in red next to every new episode that's on.
They also list everything up to date, unlike the Projo or Cox.
This means they had the President's speech on Iraq listed there....
Only there was no "NEW" indication in red next to it ....
Is that a political statement about what he's going to say?
One can only wonder ... LOL
From today's Projo blog:
ACLU sues state police for alleged racial profiling
PROVIDENCE --
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court today challenging what it calls the illegal detention of a van of Guatemalans on Interstate 95 in July.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of 11 of the 14 immigrants, argues that "the actions by the state police violated the state's Racial Profiling Prevention Act, as well as the driver and passengers' constitutional rights to be free from discrimination and from unreasonable searches and seizures," according to an announcement released this morning by the ACLU.
The suit seeks a declaratory judgment that the defendants violated the constitutional rights of the driver and passengers, and an award of unspecified damages and attorneys' fees.
Today's lawsuit stems from a July 11 traffic stop on Route 95 southbound in Richmond. State trooper Thomas Chabot said he stopped the van, because the driver failed to signal a lane change. When the driver and 13 occupants could not produce immigration documents, Chabot called federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities.
The 14, who now face deportation, allege that Chabot threatened to shoot or kill them if they tried to escape the van on its way to ICE headquarters in Providence.
Chabot was cleared of wrongdoing in September after an internal state police investigation, which found that the trooper "acted professionally and appropriately in this traffic stop," including his seeking involvement by federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents.
The head of Rhode Island's ACLU said there's no doubt that the incident was a result of racial profiling. “Since the license and registration papers of the van’s driver were valid and there was never any suggestion of criminal activity, the questioning and detention of the passengers was clearly based on one element: their ethnic appearance," ACLU executive director Steven Brown said. "This is the essence of racial profiling."
Sassette:
But they were here illegally, right? Are people who are not in this country legally really afforded the same protections under the law as those who are? What is irksome about this article is that the short version that is on the "breaking news" section of projo does not mention that the people are now facing deportation - you have to click the link to continue the article in another window to find that out. Also, if all 14 are facing deportation, that must mean that the license and registration paperwork that were "in order" must have been fakes, right? If the driver and the 13 passengers could not produce immigration documents, then the driver must have actually been in possession of fake license and registration paperwork.
So, what is the deal? What did the police do wrong?
Xen:
This is a ludicrous lawsuit as far as I can tell.
How is it racial profiling?
Was there a traffic violation?
How can an illegal immigrant have a valid license? Is an out-of-the-US license valid here? If not, then you are right - it must have been a fake.
If I am in the country illegally, it doesn't matter WHAT I am detained for initially - I am here illegally.
If a bank robber is stopped for speeding and he's got that big canvass bag next to him with the "$" on it and a black robbers mask across his eyes, is it profiling? Bull.
The ACLU is all over this police profiling thing and it's out of control as far as I can see.
Sassette:
The worst part is that no one in the article is disputing, apparently, that the traffic offense occurred. I am very interested to see if the law in RI allows the use of traffic violations as a pretext for police to stop a vehicle. I believe they do, and if so it doesn't matter - the stop was legal. In theory you could offer up the argument that any member of a minority is always profiled any time they are stopped. It is ludicrous.
I honestly am curious if people who have entered this country illegally are entitled to the same protections as legal citizens. Do you know?
This whole thing seems to be half *ssed reported. No mention has been made as to why they are in RI; are they living in the state, or perhaps in CT? Do they have relatives also here illegally?
Xen:
Below is an excerpt from letter to the editor in the Projo ...
I left off most of it because I am sure you are tired of hearing from people like me, and this person, who believe Bush is a problem.
But I like this person's phrasing as cited below.... To me, it is a VERY true statement about the treatment of the military, the press' approach (as witnessed by their almost universal switch in 'opinion' in the 3 weeks leading up to the election), and the way we have accepted manipulation as a way of life
(The point of the article is that the administration has been hell-bent on increasing the troop level in Iraq from the beginning, and will not be deterred from it. Of course, they DID come up with a new "phrase" to describe it: "a troop surge"
"The administration is once again proceeding from an ill-conceived conclusion and bullying the military into backing them. The press accepts whatever script the White House hands them, and the American people seem to be too conditioned by the consumer culture of endless manipulation we live in to see past even the cheapest sloganeering and knee-jerk appeals to a patriotism and sacrifice."
Sassette:
I totally agree. Where do the administration think these troops are going to come from? You would have to be crazy to enlist right now.
And do you know what infuriates me (and that is NOT hyperbole)? Every single commercial for the armed forces (I am specifically thinking of the current army ad campaign) features middle to lower middle class families, many of them minorities.
Where is the commercial where the ivy leaguer comes home on break and tells mumsy and dads that he/she has decided that there is no greater honor than that of serving one's country? Where is the scene with the CEO and his son where the father tells the son that going out and seeing the world and getting discipline and working hard to accomplish a goal are worthwhile?
These ads SICKEN me. They are targeting a very specific demographic, and assuming no one notices that the entire rest of the country is off the hook. If they were being honest and decent instead of deceptive and elitist they would ask for people TO ENLIST, TO SERVE, TO SACRIFICE because it is a worthy thing to do, and the country needs its men and women to step up and answer the call. But they are not. They are carefully couching these appeals in offers of things that moderate to lower income families want for their kids (and the kids want for themselves) but cannot offer: travel, education, money, etc.
Why is no one calling attention to this?
(FYI: I don't necessarily believe that serving in this particular conflagration and climate is a worthwhile thing to do, but my point is that is what the government should be saying)
Xen:
Oh, so you don't think the sudden opinion piece by the former military chief was planned? The one that said he had rethought his original 'don't ask - don't tell' policy and that now, well, we should embrace (OK, maybe he didn't say 'embrace') gays in the military? And how was it that the exact number of military personnel that were tossed because they were gay was known? And it was 11,000?
ITA with your observation about the ads. Again...we are not supposed to notice this manipulation .. this level of subterfuge.
I actually thought it was a VERY interesting point on The Colbert Report the other night where he called for the reinstatement of the draft ....because ONLY THEN will there be enough impetus for young people to actually get involved and question the leaders of this country PROPERLY again.
Sassette:
I've been saying that for a while. Can you imagine this country being led to war on flimsy evidence if our sons and daughters were forced to participate?
Sassette:
OK, I wanted run something by you that has been percolating in my brain for a little while now. The zygote of this musing came into being as a result of the Michael Richards situation, and it has grown into a healthy baby preoccupation from there as I have puzzled over it.
The subject of my musing is the idea of language that is exclusively racist. Is it ever possible to use "racist" language without being racist? Is there a difference between someone who is indeed racist who uses the "racist" language available as verbal extensions of his passionate bigoted beliefs; and someone who is simply angry who uses the most hurtful and insulting language available to cut down, to injure, to vent frustration and rage, but who does not hold those racist beliefs? Can such a person exist?
I guess my question is this: Is it the beliefs a person holds or the language a person uses that determines racism. And if it is the language, does this apply to other forms of bigotry (misogyny, homophobia, ethnic and religious, etc.)?
I have been mulling over why the media and the public immediately discarded the possibility that Michael Richards got very angry with someone (who was black) and used the most convenient and effective language available to hurt the person who had upset him. I am not saying that either way is an "OK" thing to do, but it was never really even considered. He was immediately branded a racist - which he may be. But, would the outburst have been taken as seriously if it had been equally insensitive words aimed at a different target? A woman? A Muslim? A Mexican? A gay person? Would some of these be considered less egregious breaches of the social contract (assuming that the language used was as equally offensive to each group as it was to the black audience member) than others? And if so why? And would he still be considered bigoted and become a social pariah as a result, or would it be chalked up to a loss of temper?
Just wondering what you think. It amazes me the ridiculous things that will take up residence in my brain - often to the detriment of more pressing matters...
Xen:
I understand your 'theory'. My example in the purest sense would be one who didn't know that the language used WAS racist. (When I was a wee lad, I told my sister to "screw" and my father lost his sh** on me because if meant f*** ..... but I only knew it in the way that meant "leave, get out of here). So in the purest example, I believe that a person who is ignorance of what they are saying can utter racist language without being a racist.
The thing of it is: We have to define purely what is a racist.... and by that I mean at what level is something merely "crude" and when is it an indicator of racism - even at the tiniest level. And - as imperfect beings, there is a level of prejudice in everything we do. What level do we tolerate and exclude? If I become angry ... ultimately, explosively angry ... and use the worst swear words ever, or say the most hurtful (but clean) things to someone, then it is considered rude, crude and not permissible ... but acceptable. If someone gets violent, well, we have written laws that say you must curb your behavior or you will be punished and labeled a criminal. If I cannot restrain myself, that is what happens.
And likewise, a person who knows that, say, the "N" word is an indicator of racism (use any example you like) ... but is so mad that they use it ...that they can't restrain themselves ... well, the will suffer those consequences for saying it.
Are they a racist? Well, because those words are associated with racism ... expressions of those people who ARE racist, and you aren't able to restrain yourself - then you must think at some level that it's acceptable to use them.
My mind is trained by either upbringing or self control and learning not to use the certain horrible words in front of people. If I let loose, then I am wrong. I will be ostracized accordingly. There are some people, for example, who will NEVER EVER SAY THE "C" word. EVER. If you come across someone who does, you think of them as being a certain type of person. Suppose someone just snaps and says it, but doesn't usually? It means it's in their head - and it has a meaning ... otherwise they wouldn't be able to quickly come up with it when emotions take over.
Michael Richards knows what those words mean. He was trying to hurt those hecklers.. He saw they were black. He knows that that is a hurtful set of words that are as offensive as any ... Would he have used those same words against white hecklers? No. So his brain made a conscious, differentiating decision. That, I think, points to a level of racism.
By the way, it might be completely ingrained. It might be WAY under the surface. But it's there. That's the problem.
I might be rambling... but this is a very interesting subject, as you have presented it.
Xen Again:
But what about "intent" ?
What about the underlying base belief that ALL people of a certain race (creed, nationality, color, etc) behave a certain way, or should be treated a certain way .... or are inferior, or superior? Isn't THAT racism?
See? That's now different from my earlier rambling argument....
Sassette:
That was more along the lines of my question. If the person's intent is to hurt by using the most hurtful language available, is that person a racist if the most hurtful language available (most hurtful towards the person you want to hurt) is considered racist?
When you mentioned that MR would not have used the same language if the heckler had not been black - I agree. He would have grabbed the most hurtful language available for that person (weight comments for a fat person, etc.). Does it make him a racist that he employed hurtful words that are considered racist? Or is he a racist because only a racist would employ such words?
Xen:
MY HEAD HURTS NOW !!
Sassette:
Sorry. I don't know where this came from. I guess I can trace it back to an old George Carlin routine about how words are neither good nor bad, in and of themselves...
Xen:
Oh, no .. I find it VERY interesting.
These are the discussions that should be going on. Otherwise nothing changes for generations on end.
Providence Journal:
Mollis' stepson fired two shots at a gold Lexus
"The North Providence today said Gian Piscione, the stepson of (newly installed) Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis, fired two shots at a 2001 gold Lexus in front of 17 Third St., North Providence, last night. No one was hit, the police said.
Piscione, 19, was arraigned this morning in Sixth District Court on six counts, including two counts of assault with the intent to commit murder, unlawfully possessing a loaded shotgun while driving, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
The police said Piscione had driven over to the area in his mother’s 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee after talking on the phone with a female acquaintance who was in the Lexus with two men and another woman. The women got out, Piscione argued with one of them and one got in the Jeep with Piscione, according to North Providence Deputy Police Chief Paul Marino.
Piscione got back out of the Jeep with a shotgun and fired at least two shots at the Lexus, Marino said. The police found one bullet hole in the right rear fender of the Lexus.
Piscione fled and was later stopped by Warwick Police after the North Providence police issued an all-points bulletin seeking help locating him, Marino said. "
-- with reports from Journal staff writer Richard Dujardin
Sassette: I bet some harsh words will be exchanged in the Mollis home tonight...
Xen: Oh, yeah....
"Now junior... what has your stepfather told you about taking his shotgun? NO! You just sit right there MISTER!. Listen to me when I'm speaking to you. And you are NOT leaving the table until you finish your cheesy-mac. You are in such big trouble. I...I don' t KNOW what to do with you. That's IT... Your father is taking your X-BOX for TWO WEEKS ... maybe even until after the preliminary hearing."
Xen:
This afternoon from CNN.COM
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/04/miers.ap/index.html
Now .. my only reason for bringing this article to light (or is it "to blog") is that there is a sub-headline in bold, halfway through.
It reads:
"A behind-the-scenes player thrusted to the forefront"
Ummm... excuse me? Thrusted?
Well, being the son of an English teacher, I felt compelled to truck on over to the trusty http://www.dictionary.com/ for some research:
To wit:
"No results found for thrusted." (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/thrusted)
Further exploration of "THRUST" reveals, in part, the following:
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version) - Cite This Source
thrust [θrast] verb — past tense, past participle: thrust
This from the Associated Press? Who are they now hiring to write for them - gerbils?
And don't give me any of that "English is a living language" garbage.
It's just plain wrong.
I mean, it doesn't even sound right.
Yeah, Yeah ...I know....
To quote the old joke:
JESUS: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone ..... OWWWW !!! MOTHER !"
Oh, and a note regarding the article itself?
MY, how quickly the rats desert a sinking ship.
This week's picture was taken at a Sandals Resort (Beaches) on the Turks & Caicos Islands. It's the place I want to be. Now. Today. With a frozen drink in my hand at a totally inappropriate time of the day. Floating on one of those rafts.
When it got too hot, you were able to paddle over to that rock structure and drift inside to find shade.
Ahhhh.
Xen:
So as I was out running, they were having the governor's inauguration at the state house. As part of it they had a military fly-over with the RI National Guard. There were 3 huge helicopters in formation and then two major aircraft, that were probably C-130's from what I could see. they banked over the state house lawn at a slow cruising speed as there was a multiple gun salute down on the ground.
As I was running by one of the buildings at Brown University, this construction guy was working out of the back of his truck. He sees me coming and says ... in all seriousness .... "Hey. Did you see those planes? Did they really bomb?" And I mean it when I say there was a level of fear in his expression.
I was like .."Yeah, it was pretty cool ... Wait. No, it was a fly-over for the governor's inauguration!"
He was greatly relieved.
Sassette:
Heh. I can only IMAGINE how much this cost.
(This morning's CNN.COM Headlines)
Authorities try to get food to storm victims, cattle - Ummm.. Why don't the hungry storm victims eat THE CATTLE??
Reports missing plane had been found prove false - OK, you either DO see a bunch of reckage or you don't. It's a big plane, dude, which is it?
Somalia's prime minister: Major fighting over - Liar.
U.S. attention may turn to bin Laden hunt - Implying that no one's been looking for this guy? We can only look for, try and execute one despot/terrorist at a time?
Iran vows to humiliate U.S. - First, they are going to make fun of the way we dress. Then they are going to completely decimate us in the sport of ...uhhh... dirt eating. And "Cave Hide & Seek" ..... It will be so embarrassing.
UFO at O'Hare? FAA blames weird weather - It was in November. What? They flew here all the way from another solar system (the closest, Alpha Proxima, is like 4 light years away - and nothing can even GO that fast - well, except light) only to hover over a major British airport and then leave? "Whoa...too busy there. Let's go home."
Rolls Royce to unveil convertible - And this is news because..... perhaps it's affordable to everyone? There's KIA, SCION and then ROLLS ROYCE.... "Hurry, the New Year's Blowout will only last until Saturday at your local Rolls dealer....MSRP doesn't include taxes or title"
Manager: Spears was asleep in club, 'not drunk' - How much do we have to not care before they stop telling everyone about this chick?
Reports: Kate Moss weds rock star Doherty - and I've never even heard of the group "Babyshambles" ... and therefore I must be so completely out of touch. I guess the overall point is that I don't understand why we are supposed to be interested in "non-news"
This bothers me.
No matter how much Saddam Hussein deserved to die ~ and please do not misunderstand me, he most certainly did ~ I still find it disgusting that anyone should celebrate it as if it were a party.
Upon request - a Chloe Story by Sassette
Once upon a time there was a chubby little dog named Chloe who loved to
eat.
She would eat dry food.
She would eat wet food.
She would eat treats.
She would eat scraps.
If it was something she liked, she would eat quickly in one gulp.
WHOMP!
If it was something unfamiliar, she would look at it very closely.
Then she would sniff it on every side.
Then she would bat it around.
Finally she would lie down with it between her paws and cautiously
nibble on a tiny piece.
If she liked it...
WHOMP!
If she wasn't sure, she would walk away for a bit, only to circle back
to it and try it again.
TO BE CONTINUED....
JOHN EDWARDS ANNOUNCES FOR PRESIDENCY
From CNN.COM (quoted in partial)
"It's absolutely crucial that America re-establish its moral authority
and leadership role in the world," Edward said on CBS "Early Show."
Edwards' campaign got a little ahead of itself Wednesday and announced
his intentions online a day early. His Web site briefly featured the
logo "John Edwards '08" and its slogan, "Tomorrow begins today" --
literally, in this case -- before aides quickly removed them.
In his message to supporters, Edwards listed five priorities to change
America. Among them: "Guaranteeing health care for every single
American, "Strengthening our middle class and ending the shame of poverty,"
"Leading the fight against global warming," and "Getting America and the
world to break our addiction to oil."
Xen: Here's my take on this.
The first statement (all of the above comes from the middle of the CNN
article) to me is exactly the wrong attitude to proport. Pronouncing
our "moral superiority" is part of the way we got where we are. I
understand what he probably MEANS, but I already am tired of this sort
of rhetoric.
The only way for us to "re-establish" moral authority and leadership is
to not act (nationally) as we have.
As a great philosopher said: "There is no try. Do."
The second thing I have about this is the last paragraph.
Thank you, Mr Edwards for making the obvious and trite you five
priorities for America. Excuse me, but NO SH*T.
How about alchemy? Any interest in that as number 6 on the priority list?
And your wording, since I am being a stickler here...."and ending the
shame of poverty". Are you saying the goal is to have people not
feeling SHAMED by their poverty (and not to necessarily end it)?
Or are you saying you wish to end poverty, which is something people should be ashamed of?
If you can't succinctly state your goals and priorities, dude....
I think that most people would have these among their own top
priorities - what about telling us that you are going to lay out your
plan for achieving these high and mighty things? Because as far as I
know, every one of those things is nearly unachievable unless the
Congress, the taxpayers and corporations of this (and other) countries
are 100% behind taking radical new initiatives....
I know it's your first day and all, John. But we've heard and seen you
a short 24 months ago - and you need more than stating the obvious,
poorly, I might add, to win the hearts and votes of America.
IMHO
Sassette:
I wondered the same thing.
Is he going to, as president, launch a PR campaign so that people are
proud to be poor?
And how is he going to strengthen the middle class, exactly?
Weight-lifting? Because between outsourcing and illegal immigration,
there won't be any middle class left to speak of very soon...
And health care for everyone. Does that mean government subsidized
healthcare for the poor and elderly, and outrageously expensive and
diminished healthcare options for those that work and pay taxes who
aren't lucky enough to be past the age of retirement?
Priorities don't butter the biscuits.
Platitudes don't feed the bulldog.
Empty promises don't shuck the corn.... :-)
Wait, Xen ... the great philosopher you are quoting is Yoda?
Xen:
Yeah ... what? What's your point?
Sassette:
I was just skimming along, and I did a double take: Like, Yoda?
Xen:
BWAH !! I love all your Sass-isms !!
Another one... "Rhetoric won't open the Pub" Hee!
You could run the "Proud to be Poor" campaign.... you have the talent.
...
and we all know what it's like to be relatively, though not disastrously, poor.
"We wouldn't have to eat Kraft Dinner ...."
"But we would !"
I WANT TO HEAR THE PLANS. I find it insulting that, after 8 years of
being told by this administration that "We don't need to know the
details" only to find out later that we were either lied to or there
WERE no details, I have to hear altruistic platitudes with not even the
hint of how one might choose to attain these lofty accomplishments.
Health care for everyone and strengthening the middle class ...
Talk to me JE ...Talk to me.
Sassette:
Seriously - everyone says that. Republicans and Democrats alike say the
same type of things. It is the "how" that is the difference. Don't talk
in broad strokes. You are 100% correct - after 8 years of living in the
dark this country needs details. We cannot afford to trust that our
leaders have our best interests at heart.
I wish that it could be deemed unconstitutional to campaign on
television.
Think about it: no mysterious, insinuating negative adds financed by
shadowy third-party organizations; no more crappy or nonexistent ideas
being distilled into a slick, 30 second sound-byte that grabs attention
if not imagination; no more "debates" where the questions and answers
are scripted and even the horribly overly dramatic mugging for the
camera seems rehearsed.
Imagine a world where candidates actually had to communicate their ideas
to the public by only the written word and the radio? Imagine a world
where the candidates weren't weeded out by who had the biggest war
chest, but who had the biggest grasp of what the country needed?
What? I can hope. I also still believe in the Tooth Fairy, Easter
Bunny, and the Sandman...
Xen:
"Imagine all the people, living life in peace"
