I subsrice to a few tech newsletters and try to keep up with the world. Today, out of the 10 stories in my inbox google occpied 6 of them. *ahem* the internet is big how is one entity maintaining over half of the online buzz...
On another, but still very relevent, note Google, in the midst of creating an ad empire with Yahoo!, will be launching chrome- a new web browser, similar to safari. This will inevitably spell the end for Mozilla Fire Fox as word the Internet Explorer will be discontinued. Here is section 11 of Google's Chrome contractual terms of service giving Google
“a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services.”
That seems pretty extreme for a browser, doesn’t it?
Update: after a big fuss on the internet the terms have changed to: 11.1 You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services.
This is a great example of how relevant anti-trust laws and monopoly/company regulations are important to you and your personal life or social day-to-day activities. Personally, this really does matter to me as i try to stay on top of rent, gas, student loans and bills (including mobile prices). Congress questions high cost of texting
The price of text messaging has doubled industry-wide in the last three years, and Congress wants to know why.
Sen Herb Kohl, chair of the Antitrust Subcommittee in the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter Tuesday to the four major wireless carriers--AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and T-Mobile--asking them to explain the dramatic price increases for text messaging services....
On another not here is an intersting read, we should have seen this coming 8 years ago, as Chaney used to work under the Nixon Admin. (an executive branch plagued with 'leaks' which lead to Nixon's resignation).
My life in short, in case you were wondering: living-rent too much, job-doesnt pay enough, love life-in the shitter like always, family-dont really know, friends-wish i had some, random moments of Matt-I have a court date. there you have my life in 10 sec :-)
If you havent been following the news, Russia invaded Georgia at the beggining of the Olympics.
This is the dramatic moment a TV reporter was shot by a sniper as she reported live from war-torn Georgia.
Tamara Urushadze took a bullet to her left arm in the flashpoint town of Gori as Russian forces continued their illegal occupation.
Bravely, or foolishly, the 32-year-old brunette continued her report after a few moments as other journalists and aid workers dashed for cover.
Siege-town Gori has become a deadly 'sniper's alley' with citizens at the mercy of rampaging militiamen - believed to be from the breakaway republic South Ossetia - looting and firing guns, some drunkenly.
The Kremlin stands accused of turning a blind eye to renegades bent on 'ethnic cleansing' in revenge for Georgia's ill-conceived invasion of South Ossetia last Friday.
But in turn Moscow blames the Georgians for abandoning their own people.
The slippery slope of international politics: I was waiting for somebody to make an obvious comparison of US invasions and Russia’s invasion. The Blog-a-sphere is a buzz with an alleged censorship of the US news during a press conference.
“The Truth about Georgia gets censored again on TV. A reporter makes a comparison to the US reaction to 911 to Russia's reaction to Georgian attacks and the satellite feed drops off in the middle of his question. TV is censored every day and every hour but sometimes the censorship is plain to see.”
the number 2 job nightmare: Horror Story No. 2: A Nightmare on Elm Street "I once called regarding an ad for a 'marketing rep.' The interview consisted of walking door to door (in coat and tie) with another employee as we tried to sell car servicing vouchers," Phil G., an account executive, remembers. "He would try to make a sale, and then ask me to try one as part of the interviewing process. In between, my interviewer would ask me questions about my career goals and dreams.
We stopped for lunch at a McDonald’s and he had to borrow money from me so he could eat! The final stage of the interview included a closed-door motivation session with all of the current marketing reps. They sang songs, clapped, and chanted the company motto (which I don't recall). I had to think fast. It was raining that day. I told my coach/interviewer that I had left my car window open. I got up, ran out and never looked back."
Lesson:When scheduling an interview, inquire about the role and location.
I feel like I am having an out of body experience. It is one of those weird circumstances where suddenly you look around and you see yourself in a room in a city and wonder, how did I get? fully knowing the path that was given but amazed out how it laid out. Seeing the luck that you had and the opportunities that you missed. And you can compare that imagined present life, you see yourself and realize that you could never had imagined your life right now and thus, left completely confused by your old dreams and new goals without feeling like a failure or missing out. But I am rather satisfied looking at my self sitting in the office typing this out and dreaming up he rest of my life fully knowing that it wont come true but also completely enamored with the fact that I have know idea where I am headed, just keeping my hands on the steering wheel.
i like the new Coldplaysong
"One minute I held the key Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand Upon pillars of salt and pillars of Sand I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field For some reason I can't explain Once you go there was never, never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world"
I don’t feel quite fulfilled with my life (and as i shouldn't there is still much to accomplish) and feel like there are holes missing, but as my 24th birthday approaches I see a bridge with in the next 10 years. A crossing, where I no longer envision the future but reflect on my past. Well its nice to not focus on the slowly arriving fate of my life and not look look back on fondness, bound by age, realizing I may have missed some opportunities. Currently, I live in this current limbo of now. i am not young and i am not old I am just ruling the world and trying not to miss an opportunity
I really like this Tattoo... before Becks muddled it up with other ink. I have been debating getting a tattoo, I think I would get his angle (a little smaller). But I see two problems with it a) it already is somebody else's, I do take pride in my uniqueness and genuine originality and it really looks like i am ripping off a piece of art. I am a fan of Beckham and find him pure sex (i think thats part of the appeal of the tatoo) i guess its not so bad if i like to sexy karma that it bring but what if i end up hating beckham. I will forever have him on my back! b) what i like now i hate later, i have continually changed my mind about what is cool, what is in, what is out and what i will never touch again. there is so little i agree with as far as my past tastes go. or, what if i like it, but like something else way better? the canvas is permanent. one year i like it the next year i'll kiss it goodbye. well what do you think, is it cool and kinda sexy in your opinion? is it alright if i get my idols tat? is it even cool? i like.... well, i like it for now. in your mean time look up the spread in W Magazine for more pics.
i love my girl kelly, i was TOTALLY caught off guard by this amazing duet. they sound good together. I am not one for country but Reba can out sing any of todays pop or r&b songstresses.
This commercial scared me, because it starts to admit that the oil supplies will end shortly as demand increases, but then puts together a patchwork of slick phrases, PR spins, vapid solutions and weak facts. As the industry rakes in windfall revenues and a republican filibuster in the senate block taxes on the large oil profits, the American people are being spun to look the other way. The oil industry might have bought the government but won't blind the public with media saturation. Shame on the production team that was hired to put it together. But even as they desperately try to validate digging in natural reserves and private property with ad-nauseam, there are gaping holes and obvious contradictions. According to the splashy advertisement we can be supplied gas "for 60 years"... wow enough to not last the average life span (according the the Census Bureau, the average US individual lives to approx. 75 years of age). Another 'fact' in the graphic-filled ad is supplying "6,000,000 cars and 100,00,000 houses," great! in a country of 301,139,947 (with a pension for hummers). So, we can abuse emanatedomain and destroy our natural parks so that our children can say-they have seen the end of American drilled oil and North American wildlife while paying $20 a gallon in one life time. Remember, 'together we can secure Americasfuture!' ...on imported oil.
The ad admited there is new drilling technology, in many instances the effort, danger and man hours it would take to merely test the oil buried in the earth's crust would be more costly than the oil its self -until now, now that we have become so desperate for such little oil (that is only speculated in certain areas). 'Oil and natural gas were used to power the past,' lets leave it there, in the past.
Where is the push for new transportation? did all the technology get dumped into that splashy ad? And speaking of past -all cars were initially purely electric and we have already had a futuristic electric car with NO gas needed just under a decade ago, called EV1. But it was taken back from all of the people who bought them. We have the technology (i.e. batteries for such vehicles created by a Canadian inventor) and WE ALREADY HAD THE CAR, THE ENGINES, SOLAR/WIND ENERGY, ARCHITECTUAL BUILDINGS THAT HEAT AND COOL THEMSELVES.
Things to look up:
American Petroleum Instituts: "API spent $4 million to lobby the federal government in 2007, according to lobbying disclosure forms. "The trade group lobbied on various appropriations bills, and on oil taxes and fees, chemical plant security, price gouging, international investment and more," reported Associated Press. "Besides Congress, the American Petroleum Institute lobbied the departments of Defense and State, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Internal Revenue Service."
Washington post: "Senate Republicans yesterday blocked a proposal to tax the windfall profits of the nation's biggest oil companies and eliminate some of the firms' tax breaks, rejecting Democratic claims that the measure would help assuage consumer anger over $4-a-gallon gasoline ($5 here in California). The vote was largely partisan, with each party sticking to long-held positions while striving to connect with frustrated consumers in an election year. Gasoline prices rose another 2 cents yesterday to a nationwide average of $4.04 a gallon for regular, but there appeared to be little prospect of imminent action by Congress or the Bush administration."
NPR : "In 1996, a fleet of electric cars began to hit the road in the United States, leased to drivers for about $500 a month. But less than 10 years later, only a few were left. Guests look at the short-lived electric car, and the director of a new film talks about chronicling the vehicle's demise."
you know, if coke is such a bonding tool then why not strike a kinship with pepsi during the last leg of 'the great soda wars?' In all these comercials sharpden, robertson, carville and frist i dont like any of them... at all, just putting it out there.
What a long, strange trip it has been: Since before February of 2007, I have been writing about Barack and Hillary (favoring Barack). I could not sum this up any better than his astounding victory nomination speech, here is the NY Times video of his land mark speech
As it looks like Obama might have actually clinched the nomination, i sit by hoping and waiting for my original nom to win over a year ago. i would love to see how this historic ticket works out.
Sex and the City: Finally a penis. Well I just got back for the Sex in the City movie. It was cute and nice to finally see an episode of ‘Sex’ that I haven’t seen yet. This much awaited fairy tale for middle aged women and young gay men serves up a fabulous concoction of in vogue high couture, high heels and high tension. I enjoyed the movie but enjoyed the show better (p.s.if you haven’t seen the show I wouldn’t really suggest seeing the movie). My favorite part of the movie was the opening scene which flashed clips of the show to keep the audience up to date on the characters.
Oh Charolette, truer words have never been spoken.
But the movie lacked in Carrie’s usual observant quips and neurotic voiceovers that gave the series heat and the viewers hope. It also lacked the vintage casual look replacing it with over the top fashion. So much of the show, in my opinion, bordered such reality my time spent with the four ladies easily rivals that of my own revelations and relationship. The shitty men, crappy apartments and computer problems gave it such a real quality the movie missed. Off the screen the well known cat fights between Sara and Kim creeped onto the big screen as the two rarely had scenes together. On different coasts and even in the movie’s climactic breakdown scene, Sam stayed as the other two rush to Carry’s side. From the photoshopped looking poster to the plot placing Kim, the ultimate NYC gal, in LA. I couldn’t help but ask, without Sam in the city is it still sex and the city?
The two things I loved in this movie were Carry’s ducked tape phone and the full frontal male nudity. Finally! We got what the girls were getting all along. But here is a question for Mrs. Bradshaw: what is better: Penis or Puns.
The movie picks up 4 or so years after season 8 "Big: "It took me a really long time to get here, but I'm here. Carrie, you're the one." - "An American Girl in Paris (Part Deux)" and we get to see Carry's wedding consuption, Charolette's new found gumption, Mirrand's family disfuntion and Sam's... well how about samantha's suction.
Well I did enjoy and it was a great time reuniting with friends but at the end of the day you all realized that all good things have to come to an end. Because it is a good time, a fun show but vapid and left me missing the old sex in the city, i will give it *****
I think for the first time in my life I have felt homesick. It’s a weird feeling for me I have traveled extensively around this fine earth and both long and short periods of time but in this recent move I missed some of my Omaha friends.
So for every trip i go on i pick up a theme song, so this is the one i have been listening for my cali:
Something has changed within me Something is not the same I'm through with playing by the rules Of someone else's game Too late for second-guessing Too late to go back to sleep It's time to trust my instincts Close my eyes and leap
It's time to try Defying gravity I think I'll try Defying gravity And you can't pull me down...
I'm through accepting limits 'Cuz someone says they're so Some things I cannot change But 'till I try, I'll never know Too long I've been afraid of Losing love - I guess I have lost Well, if that's love It comes at much too high a cost
I'd sooner buy Defying gravity Kiss me goodbye I'm defying gravity And you can't pull me down...
I really hope you get it And you don't live to regret it I hope you're happy in the end I hope you're happy, my friend...
So if you care to find me Look to the western sky As someone told me lately - Everyone deserves the chance to fly And if I'm flying solo At least I'm flying free To those who'd ground me Take a message back from me -
Tell them how I Am defying gravity! I'm flying high Defying gravity! And soon I'll match them in renown And nobody in all of Oz No wizard that there is or was Is ever gonna bring me down!
I am sitting here, in Cal., pondering what this means to me and how, as a gay man, it effect my life and how i don't know what this means to me yet.
California's Top Court Legalizes Gay Marriage
AN FRANCISCO - California's Supreme Court declared gay couples in the nation's biggest state can marry — a monumental but perhaps short-lived victory for the gay rights movement Thursday that was greeted with tears, hugs, kisses and at least one instant proposal of matrimony.
Same-sex couples could tie the knot in as little as a month. But the window could close soon after — religious and social conservatives are pressing to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November that would undo the Supreme Court ruling and ban gay marriage.
"Essentially, this boils down to love. We love each other. We now have equal rights under the law," declared a jubilant Robin Tyler, a plaintiff in the case along with her partner. She added: "We're going to get married. No Tupperware, please."
A crowd of people raised their fists in triumph inside City Hall, and people wrapped themselves in the rainbow-colored gay-pride flag outside the courthouse. In the Castro, the historic center of the gay community in San Francisco, Tim Oviatt wept as he watched the news on TV.
"I've been waiting for this all my life. This is a life-affirming moment," he said.
By the afternoon, gay and lesbian couples had already started lining up at San Francisco City Hall to make appointments to get marriage licenses. In West Hollywood, supporters were planning to serve "wedding cake" at an evening celebration.
James Dobson, chairman of the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family, called the ruling an "outrage."
I had heard (when i was working at the newspaper) that human interference in global temperature could only amount to at most 3-4% or so total global warming (if not less) and that the recent changes are just another example of the continuing climate shifts that our earth goes through every century. I had some sites recently sent to me and they are quite interesting, apparently our sister plant, Mars, is going through something of a warming too... maybe its all those damn NASA probe emissions?
And just the other day i sat and watched the History Channel's 'The little ice age: The big chill' based of a book that reveals a climate shift between 1300 to 1850 called global cooling. Show more examples of our worlds constantly evolving pattern. According to the show it caused clataclysmic events and hazard the changed the path of humanity taking credit for the frozen Viking colonists in Greenland, accelerated the Black Death in Europe, decimated the Spanish Armada, and helped trigger the French Revolution in the 21st century.
Now these were only a few degrees but drastically change the natural balance of crops, water location and created once fruitful occupied areas into inhabitable barren tundras. which scares me as we inch toward slow water shortages and uncertain famine.
In my mind the best we can hope for is that it will be the smaller an shorter of the global changes and not to make it any worse than it already is.
I have no job and until the economy is jump started by politicians I will take their images hostage as a recent graduate bumming around in the public library. Meet Hill Bill and Bush with a bush.
Generally with any event in my life, I always have some sort of hesitation or caution. Its in my character. But right now I can’t take it, if I could up and leave at night, disappear without anyone knowing, slip through my back door out to my car and drive for 24 hours south west until I hit the ocean, and then start to swim.
Right now, i am listening to running away by polyphonic spree.
*A short letter to my friend, soon leaving for New York, wondering "why" i choose San Diego* Actually, i know absolutely nothing about Sand Diego, nor do i have a job down there. :-) i could not longer take Omaha, i had been here 5 months over my promised leaving time. Omaha sucks, thats without need of explanation. i have an ex who lives down there (one of my only friends that has moved out of omaha) and he generously opened up his place to me for free until i get my feet on the ground there. In college i had this idea that before i started my career i would randomly move west for a year and just live a down low life as a surfer. as an omaha boy the ocean actually is a rare and miraculous thing, almost spiritual. so because my career is, in no way going anywhere (bad economy, few firm call backs, my internship went on a hiring freeze so didnt add me on, Ambercrombie and Fitch Headquarters dissolved my position halfway through the training class) i decided to not grow up right away and fate was tell me to stop breath and enjoy my youth before i create on of the most monolithic PR/Event Firm monopolies... ever. *BHAHAHAHA haha ha* i guess that will be time consuming and stressful so i will take a short break before i embark on my career. i have complete freedom, no school, no job, no love, no relationship, no children, no debt a whole lot of nothing, so i am going to bask in my freedom. i say -you should postpone life and come live a free, easy life for just 5 months before you commit your life again to school in the cold bustling east.
Here are some terms that i have been hearing that might help you through:
Kitchen sink politics- throwing "everything and the kitchen sink" at the opinionated (Hillary's current tactics against Obama have been called this). Red Letter Democrats- conservatively religious Democrats (they often point to health care/bleeding hart issues and oppose military and the war as reasons for feeling that the Democratic party is more 'catholic.') Log Cabin Republicans- Gay Republicans, no this is not a myth they do actually exist, they are also known as cannibals. Wedge issues: issues contrived to create a philosophical/ideological wedge to force voters to choose either or on a hot button issues, best used on moderate voters (successfully enacted by the Bush reelection campaign with gay marriage issue to distract from floundering economy, failing war, raising gas prices among other scandals).
Looking for people who would know about teaching abroad and would like to find out about good organizations, things to look for and great places (Thailand or Czech Republic).
I just read in Holland they are designing floatable villages with buoyant foundations to accommodate the rise of water levels caused by global warming. This reminded me of a question: Water has 3 states solid, liquid, gas. Solid expands and gas evaporates into the atmosphere. The vast, frozen base of the iceberg is submerged, thus "the tip of the iceberg." So when the icebergs melt from their expansive state into a decreased volume liquid state shouldn't the sea level go down. Furthermore, when the temperature increases shouldn't it cause more evaporation in the tropics waters and thus causing more decreases in ocean levels. All this evaporation is what causes the weather pattern changes (El Nina, and El Nino). So, shouldn't the sea level fall?
This one time my roommate left a cola in the freezer and it blew up.... looked like somebody took a frozen crap in the fridge.
Warning: this is just a stream of conscientiousness, not an edited piece
So the President gave his last State of the Union address. It is as if he must now plea with Democrats begging for 'bipartisanship.' But instead of watching, having seen a speech transcript ahead of time, i watched United93. If you haven't seen this movie yet you really should. It is a major recommendation.***** This also reminds me of a must see documentary: No End In Sight, it was hugely informative. i watched it twice in one day. *****
But it also got me thinking about where this country has gone and how easily the public and press were distracted, the crisis at home and our international fall from grace. Looking back in the recent months of just Scooter Libby, the president’s inability to speak, Chaney's destruction of tapes, Mr. Gonzales, the CIA's rendition program, the NSA's warrantless wiretapping program, international stock markets and Blackwater. Our slow and steady sinking in a middle east quagmire amidst accusations of Imperialism, the admin.'s failure to stabilize Iraq and failure or to listen to military generals (the 'misunderestimated' number of troops in the surge, VA hospital here and reconstruction), violation of international treaties, and STILL NOT catching Osama BinLaden- but don't worry we got Saddam. And still failing to fortify any oil ally (even through he just got back last week kissing Saudi ass). Which sparks my memory to the crooks and numerous Halliburton scandals, a company ran by Chaney(lack of fair biding in Iraq, 27.4 million which had grossly overcharged for the meals it supplies to the US military in Iraq, the overcharging of $6.3 million for fuel delivered to bases in Iraq and Kuwait, moving of its headquarters from US to Middle east Dubai, ect.), failure to adequately equip soldiers or fill troop positions and loosing vast allies over seas (France, Germany ect.), torture crimes, international crimes against humanity, United nations. but what about home issues like the 'Patriot Act' (my feelings are best summed up by Ben Franklin "Those who sacrifice freedom for safety deserve neither") and the plummeting economy, housing crisis and debt issues, FEMA and the debacle in regards to the destruction of a major US metropolitan area, New Orleans. There are only a handful of examples of major disasters striking US soil and this admin dropped the ball and continues to do so. The failure to fill high-ranking positions has always been a sign of a lame duck presidency, like in the State Dept. or Justice's Dept., the firing or US attorneys and the heavy criticism of the No Child Left Behind (or no child left a dime). What about the shame the administration brought upon (not just the U.S., the public, the world arena) but also their own party? From the Republican stronghold and souring approval ratings to seeing the loss from the house and senate and even Bush being bullied by other high ranking R-congressmen to the lowest approval ratings in history. I can only remember a few years back or so I am looking for a complete list of Bush screw ups (there of course was the lying about his military service, avoiding the draft, debate on if actually won initially, Weapons of mass destruction ect. years ago). It's going to be a pet project of mine, watch out Buchanan and Harding. A world view of Bush has taken the 'monkey likeness' to a new inhuman low in the UK paper The Gaurdian "I'll let history be the judge" -Mr. Gorge W. Bush
"Go Fuck yourself" -V.P. Dick Chaney
*Remember these are just the general topics (the Reconstruction, tubes found in Iraq for "WMDs" given by faulty sources, toxic FEMA tailors and Halliburton all had numerous examples of scandal and violation the constitution and human rights) there was not enough room to go beyond the general topic.*
I can't help but love this song in the state that i am in. everything is so up in the air i cant even see it and i just got done ending a relationship that wound up feeling like it was a lot more sinsere than it was innitally supposed to be. I am not one to mind being single what i do mind is letting go somebody who is actually date-worthy. So, the idea for the video was cute but the execution was a little too power rangers for me, so just listen to the song insted.
The movie was fine (doesn't really merit a review... total B movie) but there were a few thoughts. First, the movie begins with a bang fallowed by the Chrysler Building falling, then later in the film the building resurrects itself (3 quarters of the way through) when the team escapes from a 'tower of Pisa'-esq apartment. My second point being: the shameful exploitation of 9/11. Who in the audience didn't get flash backs or post dramatic stress syndrome watching the Chrysler building collapse inward shooting soot through the streets of New York? -Just not done in good taste if you ask me, but i guess who watches a creature feature to see class. Oh JJ. If you walk into the theater knowing what it is you'll enjoy yourself and leave without too much depression, emotional attachment or thoughts provoked, which is what we all need from time to time (especially Oscar season). See it if your in the mood ******
ps for a better creature feature get The Host. this i did love. my advice get the subtitles not the voice over (it completely ruins the film). ******
Because of some jobless insomnia i listen to some good news tunes: the big club songs out right now are Justice's DANCE and Peter Bjorn, MIA's Paper plane and John Young's Folks. Looking for a slow down look into Gregory Douglas (more for the lyrics than the voice), Feist (still love 1234) and Fine Frenzy (really big into Almost lover) And news thats still on the low down, The Faint are back and recording ... excellent.
you don't have to be a fan of Rosie by any means but remember her free speech is granted to her by the bill of rights, the same that allows me to post about her and the same that allows you to comment back.
"The use of furtherance of political or social objective"
The voice over brings up great points about the vague definitions of terrorism, the likelihood of abuse against speech and thought and, in a pure form, defends those. We all already know the freedoms of speech and market place of ideas, but i will take it one step further *not to endorse violence, but rather peaceful resolution and protest* the forefathers also did allow in the bill of rights to overthrow our government, violently if needed, and NOT considering it terrorism (remember, they over threw there tyrannically government).
In many ways, the forefathers of this nation also encouraged the people to rise up against the governmental and with verbal/mental/physical dissidence, thus, instilled rights, beyond just dissenting speech. Given for US citizens to use against an overbearing corrupted centralized government, the forefathers permanently allowed the right to: keep and bear arms; the freedom of assembly; there is once again also the fear of overbearing government with: the freedom to petition mean the rights to be free of unreasonable search and seizure; cruel and unusual punishment.
More horrifying beyond physical dissidence there is now measures to stop verbal dissidence... no, not even dissidence -- just fact stating, like our freedom of the press, or education or "force of a logical argument." ok, there are so many things wrong i have to quite and come back. beyond the violation and understanding of almost every right in the Bill of Rights this is just ridiculous. I can argue against the premises, but all the basic logical points, i mean "furtherance of a political objective" -isn't that our government in general, ironically, this thing enforcing the law... oh god head exploding -just watch the video again or i posted more in the comment box
To-Do: When in NY definitely visit the Empire State building, the view wasamazing, it reminded me around this time a few years ago of standing atop of Arche de Triumph as dusk approached and Paris illuminated into the city of lights. I still remember leaning against the stone, feeling a breeze of a cool night and seeing Sacre-coeur of to me left and the glimmering Eiffel Tower to my right. In the New York haze you could see the Chrysler and Time Square glow. A beautiful 360 view with no horizon only towering buildings outlining the evening sky.
Shoes, betch! : Well in NY I was called a hick and was told that I would not get play with shoe like that. So, seeing as I only have 8 pairs of shoes I decided to go shoe shopping, after all what better place than the most walked city in the world... the Manolo mecca… Manhattan. I bought a pair of shoes every day i was there. Starting with a pair of black Prada “go-go” boots and ending with my most expensive purchase a pair of Greed Geniuses for a whopping $150.00,but there limited! Right for shoes
Big Trouble in Little China: Advice dont eat in a Chinese food resturant off of a subway exit. On day after bad Chinese food Leah and I had a farting contest called ‘Farted on It.’ I won second place by farting during a live taping of The Late Night Show with David Letterman on a mike. She won first by gassing at the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art on a priceless 13th century piece of art that has, at best, probably cause inconceivable damages.
“Have you have walked up to someone and new they were just talking aboutyou, has it happened 50 times in a row”well I went to strip night a the Q last month and unfortunately I amalready not well liked in Lincoln, i.e. JC Avila. Any who even more so now.Unfortunately for me Jeff is a well-liked guy and relatively popular in thecommunity. This posses a problem as it seems everyone hates for breakingup with him or causing with to quit drag. Whatever. Normally I don’t carebut when you have people huricaning around you with a glare you notice andit ruins your time no matter how much you don’t mind. Even more so anothertiff with a bratty gay guy I am sure will cause more reverberations back athome making this a fabulous Pride that I am sure to skip. I think there arepeople in Chicago, which I haven’t even visited that might have it out forme. Yup, defiantly depleted the Midwest and it is time to move..
I helped birth a child on monday. Congrats to Sam and Brandon on a 7 pound 7 ounce baby boy...
Gabriel Khe Stimple
Sunday, April 29, 2007
We had a talk about not getting back togather, and I dont think he go the picture. I also tried to tell him that I kissed some one else but never had the chance. That kiss really showed to myself i was over Jeff
It was an interesting night a few weeks ago. Went to a house warming party of a friend that I met through Jeff. But I came with a boy. Mike and I were kinda friends and hung out over the year but never really looked at him. I was dating and so was he. But we both broke up with our boyfriends at the same time and understood each others pain. He invited me out previously to hang at the bar with his friends. On this night he asked if he could pick me up go to a dinner and then to the house warming (therefore, I was not driving). When we showed up at the party Jeff’s friends, sitting on the balcony hooted and whistled at Mike but as I emerged from behind him there was an awkward silent stare. I had no attraction to Mike really but it was nice to talk to a person who doesn’t hoot and holla’. I was respectful and anticipated Jeff being there... but he bowed out. That night, not driving and it being a long semester, I was able to drink and gladly did so. Soon mike and I sheared a drink back and forth and talked. Mike is a wrestler maybe an inch shorter than me and never finished college but has big heart. By 12:00 I was toasted and ready to leave (one of my friends ended up being belligerent). We ended up at his apartment on the floor watching (but not really) a movie and drinking wine. I inched towards him and eventually he leaned in and we met with our lips. Maybe I was recover from the rejection of a relationship, maybe it was missing the touch of a person for months, maybe it was wanting to feel accepted by a friend after falling out of favor with so many, maybe it was wanting to fall into favor with a special person or maybe it was just the red wine. we kissed for hours and wound up in his bed room i dont know what time i went to sleep. I started to like him. It was sadly awkward the next morning. Though no sex, we seemed to avoid conversation. With loosing what seems to be a lot of friends and a boyfriend of almost a year and a half in the same month I just don’t know if I can take this rejection or maybe I'll get over it like everyone else.
well, it was nice to see jeff again and take him to a protest and sleep by his side, even though any chance of us ever reuniting is quickly dimishing if not already passed. but hanging out with him over the last day reawaken my nightmares that i suffered before the break up. its a weird situation i cant remeber, other than very recently, haveing nightmares (it must have been in Junior High or before since my last nightmare). This time one dream woke me up several times and it was so perverse and grotesque and dont feel comfortable writing it on my blog. I have never had such a strong subconscious reation to somthing before. It is hard to discribe, like a severe mental allergy.
Ahhh, its been an interesting week. I had the lovely privilege of going to two protest, a wedding and balance finals. On Saturday I went out to Trinity Church and interviewed people protesting Love Won Out a traveling show of Exodus International, you know: pray the gay away, more on that later. Sunday I went a pro peace war protest with Cindy Shean; it was interesting to see such a large turnout and sadly, a Republican group came out for a pro-war protest… and not a single person came to support, kinda funny. Cidny was not the best public speaker but when it was opened up ofr Q&A, watch out! Also, CONGRADULATIONS to Sam and Jake for finally getting married. It was surprisingly classy… I swore somebody would have shown up in sweatpants.
are the seasons being pushed back or something? what is up with the snow, has there been a climate pattern change that i wasnt made aware of. seriously, SNOW!?
In the back of my berried neurotice/crazy i cant help but think these crazy turbulent weather has spun from my personal emotion heavey storms followed by sunny releasing days followed by cold pure snow.
took time out of my weekend to run over and see Barack Obama speak at a town hall meeting. He He spoke eloquently about Social security (gave examples of the appropriate measures to take to save it not privatize it), find more diplomatic solutions in the world arena, securing border, global warming, give tax breaks to gas stations that offer alternative fuels, and like a good democrat… education. He did however avoid the question about gay marriage and no one ever asked about it. He also went over his extensive state senator and legal profession, and confronts his short term in the House of Representatives. Overall I liked him best but it is still too soon.
With this quickly developing presidential race and candidate’s receiving public and media attention at an unprecedented level for how early it is, it gets one to think. Here is an interesting idea what if the two leaders in the polls getting the noms. What if Rudy Gullianni received the Republican nom and Hilary Clinton snatch up the Democrat’s nomination? Well as previously discussed and by your comments we see that Hillary looses her base and middle road voters and Rudy, well pro-gay marriage, pro-choice, pro-gun control and from NY, he could be the most interesting candidate choice. However, he would not be the first pro-choice Rep, like Gerald Ford (it is not a make or break in the party). Let us not forget he is for the war, which is an important point for Rep candidates, further more, he is one of the star players. The pro war could serve as a fatal stance, but it is not always the easiest to poopoo 9/11 with the Mayor of New York right there. Like Hilary, people knew Rudy would be running. Since 9/11 he has been waiting and preparing for the end of the Bush administration. Maybe Brian might recall a few high school conversations of what if Rudy was running? But it could be argued Rudy would lose votes just as fast as Hilary (see below). The base would be corrupted and straight ticket voters would rethink their parties. However Rudy might actually gain some middle ground Dem votes lost by Hilary making him less of a causality to the party.
Who will the republicans vote for, where can the right wing turn to, where will Christian conservatives sway the public? Don’t worry Senator Hagel can answer these questions and save the day. If Rudy gets the nomination Hagel will run as an independent. With Fundamentalists shining spotlighting an independent candidate it will create the shift in media that editors are looking for, this shift is a powerful new perspective. New Breaking Story: Is American Politics Changing Forever? More at 9:00. The left side always produces a few people wanting/trying to run unsuccessfully, but with the new media focus on third parties this could revive some left/libertarian parties. As soon as the media sees the underdog parties rising to the occasion and raising notable funds (Hagel could get a lot of wealthy support from the south and Midwest), it will be a feeding frenzy a new refreshed view of the long, over reported race. That spotlight is important in winning and they could easily own it. Imagine: Chuck, independent, gaining the large republican base, Rudy gaining middle and military votes but, Hilary playing the game well and with name recognition picking up some but loosing most and chasing voters out of the party leaving numerous liberal votes to be picked up by a few leftist candidates. What a messed up political arena, I will love it. Honestly, do you know how big it will be for third parties to get name recognition, this could go against every thing I have been taught. But, actually, so was the upset of the Reps this year, remember people did it see it coming until a few months before in the polls during the races- as the war took a turn for the worst and media really pounded the problemed administration suddenly everything changed. I know it is unlikely but don’t poopoo this, it has happened before, already the war has created a successful third party stance with Liberman. The Republicans weren’t always in existence, they were a third party, there were successful third parties that rose up to fight the masons, and even past presidents, Abraham Lincoln, have run on third party tickets and won because of a war. I know it is too soon, but the way things are headed this could be an interesting race any way you put it.
Friday cnn.com: In poll after poll, including the new TIME poll, does that advantage seem to disappear whenever voters are asked to pick a president in hypothetical head-to-head match-ups among front-runners with solid name recognition. In our poll, Hillary Clinton loses to John McCain, 42-48%, and to Rudy Giuliani 41-50%. Even though Clinton maintains a 7% edge over Obama among Democratic respondents, Obama fares better in the general election match-ups. It's so close that it's a statistical dead-heat, but Obama still loses: 43-45% to McCain, 44-45% to Giuliani.
So, Jeff prompted a what could be a really bad chain of nightmares. He thinks he wants me to meet his mom. I thought it was one of the good things about being gay, not dealing with meeting the in-laws or uncomfortable thanksgiving dinners. Remember, Southern Baptist, black woman, military made New Yorker. I would rater break up with him than deal, she has caused too much in this relationship as it is. It got me to also think he still doesn’t know how badly I want to end this sometimes and that I am trying to plan a better more cinvientent time to possibly break-up but cant get myself to do it but this cant last forever. Anyway, I had a nightmare, really three parts different thoughts that all strung together juxtaposing random images and emotions that have been going through my head recently. First, that I was avoiding Jeff, he had tricked me into saying yes to marrying him, I didn’t want nor would I ever. It was aguish the whole avoiding him and after the miserable ceremony only thing I could say was, “now its going to be sooo much harder to break up with Jeff.” Skip to a new dream, a woman is trapped in a house where a husband has murdered his wife. People there keeping getting visions of the gruesome murder and we need to leave, fearing that the murder will return to kill the witnesses of these visions. But we never leave, we cant leave for some unknown reason, trapped. I even mention: this is stupid to be here we need to go, but never leave. Finally the worst, a snowy day in Omaha, I am driving my little stick shift through the poorly scooped residential streets. Two guy, younger in black snow gear sitting in the road at a four way stop. I don’t think much of it other than: how dumb, stupid suburban teens because they are sitting on the other side of the street. I don’t really slow until I get to the stop sign where I hit a mound of snow and fish tale sideway. It happened so fast, I ran over the two boys see their legs disappear out of my view and under my car. The worst was the heart pounding, deafening THUD!* It was the unmistakable sound fallowed by that bump launched me shooting up and forward into the seat belt. It jolted myself out of sleep early morning and couldn’t get back to bed.
It is no secret that Hilary Rodham Clinton will incur some difficulties traveling down the road to a presidential race. Eventually, on must ask themselves is it too much to be a liberal and a women facing a wartime presidency.
First, lets look at some basics-- women tend to be middle/liberal, men ten to be conservative, physiologically men might have problems voting for a women, particularly a liberal women, and lastly few will vote for a women during a wartime Presidency.
These are my views on Hilary: it is going to be difficult for any liberal women to get elected anywhere, anytime in the modern world. Yes many women have made powerful leaders around the world and I feel that Americans could easily accept a female as a leader. But here’s a theory-- only if she is conservative.
On that note, it is difficult for a woman to win over the public if she is liberal. If you look at other modern women leaders of the world today they tend to be conservative (excluding crazy Italy). The current Chancellor of Germany is a women and very conservative. Margaret Thatcher, England’s first and only female leader was a woman and exceptionally conservative (setting liberal issues like gay freedoms back decades) among other conservative female leaders like in Sri Lanka. If she is both a women and conservative she has a huge base, taking advantage of conservatives and bridging the gender gap to gain vote in the middle and even liberal women votes. But, if she is a woman and a liberal she has greatly limited her base. As a conservative and women it gives you the best of both worlds, you can get votes solely as women and you really would not lose votes because you are a women if you are the conservative leader. Though some god fearing folk might not originally like the idea of a women in a leadership position but when she is viscous and a pillar of conservative family values—they are willing make exception. It goes without saying she could get liberal votes from feminists and votes solely as the greatest potential of the Conservative Party.
Men tend to vote conservatives and women are likely to vote for a woman.This is another obvious advantage. If you a female and liberal, men are less likely to vote for a women and liberal, some women will vote because she is a woman but she wont sway the conservative like a conservative woman leader could sway liberals (feminists, women right movements ect.).
A liberal women is ‘too much’ and would loose all those middle ground votes where as a conservative would pick them up being both a women and a conservative, its like the best of both world as opposed to the worst of both worlds.
So here is Hillary’s problem she is not only a women but also a women during a wartime race. There will be problems for basics Americans seeing a left-winged women as the ‘Commander and Chief’ title. She will have to battle the stigma a ‘feminist liberal women running.’ So how do you combat these arguments of being womanly liberal, Hilary will have to become more centrist and this is what will ultimately loose the race. In an effort to regain some of the lost middle she will loose her base-- loose the liberal appeal (i.e. signing flag burning banning legislation and have an extended timetable for Iraq, military spending and other issues that go against liberal basics). Not only is she not winning over conservative she is now corrupting her own liberal base. Hillary stands a good chance to lose votes by playing up the middle and on the left. Really, this is why most female leaders in the past have been conservative.
So a few weekends ago I was in Kansas City shopping with a few friends and queens (I know, but it isn’t gay hell yet). We stumbled across this casual boutique-clothing store. Nice outfits but many were overpriced. In the center of this modern clothing store was a black iron fence that surrounding a small dark square opening in the floor. On the door hung a old paper sign, “Bargain Basement.” I elbowed my friend, Mike and we asked the old small Chinese women in all black at the register ‘is this was open’ (as if was going to stop if it wasn’t). The old lady smirked and tilted chin upward to say:
“oh, yes, yes, it open… go head”
So, Mike and I squeaked open the door to the black iron cage gaining the attention of a few of my other friends, and went down.
There stairs were old untreated wood enclosed by an open mortar and brick walls with no discernable light at the bottom. In the damp basement the ground was uneven and felt like dirt. Directly at the foot of the staircase was a large hole in the wall that look as if it was demolition created a doorway to a sealed room. This was covered in rope and nothing could be made out past a few feet of the imploded entrance other than a chilling breeze. To the right of the staircase was darkness and to the left was a patch wood doorway and in the room hung a single light bulb suspended by a swing cord. Though dull, it illuminated the store basement secret… shoes. That’s right pillars upon pillars of designer, limited edition bargain shopper shoes surrounded the room with piles of shoes up to my waist was in the center.
At the time we thought we hit gay heaven. One by one a gay came down and gave a *gasp*.
Shoes you cant even find in Nebraska and at a discount. Soon all six guys were down there rummaging and joking, though after a while the joking faded the talking ceased. One by one they realized there was no order to the stacks and stacks of shoes no sizes or matches. You couldn’t find the matching pair and if you did you couldn’t find the right size. Here they were, the sell that we had shopped for, and nothing to buy. One by one a person gave up and went back thoroughly frustrated, angry or dishearten. I stayed and searched for two hours, I found a shoe that I wanted, I eventually dug until I found a shoe that fit and then dug until I would find its matching shoe… When I found the matching size and model and in a furry of excitement tried them on only to find I had two left shoes. Bah!
We escaped this perpetual gay samsarah or a shoe shoping Sisyphus
So, Chuck Hagel will make an annoucment on Monday to retire from politics, an announce that he will not run for the president or confirm that he is running. This is how it will go down, he is announcing for his presidency (why else would he go through the efforts to say he will not run or retire) but here is the twist… He will be running as an independent. Why? He has not sided at all on Iraq war issue, personally I feel that he sides on enough of the other issues (well all other issues) with W.Bush that he could easily run on the republican Candidacy. For god sakes, look at Giuliani.
On Tuesday, I was able to see the new movie 300—one word “man-scaping”. It is about the Spartan worriers fighting during the Roman Empire around the Persian invasion. The movie was done by one of the directors from Sin City, Zack Snyder. It pretty much follows the same visual aspects and art direction. It was not a bad movie just lacking plot and audience interest. It had a central theme but that was really the extent of the plot: defending Sparta. That’s it. I usually like this movie genre because they will go into a live action history and transport the audience into a different time period but the film did not deliver the interesting facts or the social climate. It breezed over the reasons for the war and other outside forces and focused solely on slow motion arrows. In fact the irritating rock opera music took the audience out of the film and made you realize you were sitting in a stuffy theater in Omaha, Nebraska. I was more excited going into the theater than leaving it. The movie is not a Sin City or a Gladiator. However, the cinematography was amazing. It had a beautiful glow and scenic flowing motions. It is defiantly a visual film. It seemed each frame was a piece of art. But, I feel the filmmaker knew this and, in a form cinamasterbation, decided to slow ever freakin’ scene down. This also diminished the ‘mood’ of the film and again took the audience out of the string thin plot to check their watches. The special effects were beautiful and offered more than one delightful beheading (although after a while there were one too many). The characters and costumes were also well done giving this enchanting glossy look to a movie that made it seem epic. On the note of costumes, let me say this was the absolute hottest movie ever. It was astonishing how the bodies were worked out, shaved and greased for every scene. The cast line up looked like a gay porn! Every guy had an eight pack and cod piece, not to mention gratuitous male nudity. Oh my. See the movie for its beautiful tech-glossy scenes, well-crafted fight direction and every hairless rippling thigh muscle/ stretching abdomen/ tanned and greased pecks/ powerful biceps/ noticeable protruding bulges not for the deep plot. I will give this movie*****
Needs to be seen on the big screen but waitfor the Dollar Theater.
Yes it is all good we are back and blogging. However, I do feel it has been so long since I posted (for some people this is the primary source of keeping in touch with me) that some are probably behind. I guess I was pissed, I just figured out somthing not usually talked about in relationships, I never knew about falling out of love. Its a wierd concept, kinda like falling in love but reversed (after so many steps and mutual emotional growth and escalation you have an epiphany and one day truely realize you love another person). In reverse, you realize you are not in love though you once were. One day you come to terms with it. Its wierd, you would assume that love is one of those perminate emotions not gradually lost, but kinda like how an old friend from grade school, your not really friends (there isnt bitterness or remorse just different paths). Its just a concept that one day I woke up and realized it, though it was gradual I never knew it was happening. But, how do you tell your partner that... your not in love after saying it for so long.
eh, this is late but those of you who still need SAD look at my favorite site: Blackheartsparty.com Their history section get me through the day. on another note i am excited to see 300 it looks kinda dream like and cool, to bad they wont keep that whole gay thing (I guess it didnt go over well with the demographics). i an glad I am starting this up again, i forgot how great it was to vent!!!
I decided to see if I still knew my password. Well, I am not in the best moods however… I am not in the worst mood. I feel kinda like I am only depressed for the sake of depression (maybe because its getting all sunny). Well not a lot to add but I did want to bitch about that awful new Fox News sitcom. Why the hell is there a sketch comedy show that is on a 24 hour news channel? Second why does it have to be SO bad? Well beyond all that I feel slighty disenfranchised as a youth of todays culture. I cant be the only one who feels lied to by media peers and society. This is what I am talking about… sex is not the life altering from boy to man experience that it was illustrated to be (awkward, uncomfortable, hilarious, fake it and over rated are the words that come to mind). But why aren’t there the firecrackers further more why was it soo scary and what about it was so redeeming. As many know sex was not what it was imaged to be, its fine and once you understand it is good but was never accurately portaged and can never be obtained in a cinematic sense (i.e. see friends with money, the sex scene with Jennifer Aniston). Sex is a great connector and in its context fabulous but why was it made to be something it wasn’t, why was the myth of sex created? I am also pissed there is something called a ‘happy ending’ there isn’t. There will always be the day after until you die. Life is work, don’t get married and assume it’s a coast, don’t assume you have the dream job lined up until you work it. I always kinda wanted to play ‘adult’ you know have the high powered job in a large Plexiglas building and call the shots. Really, this is a very DULL experience. Life goals should never be to work in a cubicle (i.e. Office Space). Friends are not these life long unchangeable pals who are by your side for eternity and will stand you for even when you are wrong. This is an ideal and does not exist. I have nothing wrong with my friends I am sure I can find some one to listen to me bitch or something. But I feel left out that there isn’t some person to go to the bar see me at a coffee house talk about crazy idea, the people you chill with every weekend. That above all is what I want and… it doesn’t exist. I feel like we are a disenfranchised generation expecting great simple sex and an exciting dull job, please don’t show me a Happy ending at age 5 when it doesn’t exist (Down with Disney). I don’t know I just want to complain, thanks for the read.
hey you'll. not much to say. change my hair in Vegas, started with dying my hair a cherry choclate brown, cutting it into a pho-hawk and the bleeching the main mohawk. the i changed it to all bleech and finally i tipped it red for haloween. Haloween was fun, i honestly was going to spend it alone but i just went down to the bar and hung out with people i have seen before. I hung out at the Jim Esch party wich, from what i heard, the best party to go to. rumour has it jim will run again. saddly he wont win, i think he missed his chance. this was the elections that democrats won in part because they were democrats, even gaining support in NE! but in the next two years the public will see that nothing is getting done and the stigma of being republican wont nearly be as tainted. also Jim was off the radar, terry laughed at jim. but in this election Lee Terry had the scare of his political life (he never got this close to loosing before). he is a visous polition and wont ever let it get this close. he destroyed Nancy Thompson in 2004, and she was an impressive canidate who could have been his greatest threat. but poor Nancy couldnt get out there and respond to the attacks or get her name out like lee terrry. Saddly Jim wont have the public venues (as seen in this election "who would have thought he would do well"). the Herald and local news over looked him and will do it again., while terry rips apart his name. Well, last night i went out to a ghetto lesbian bar, i walked in as the cops arrested a girl and i left as the cops came to because of a stabbing, oh dear, blood every where. i have only gone out 3 time in the last three months but for good reasons. but good news i got a job at a new Omaha news paper, look into it: The Messenger. i also got hired on to Union Pacific and might be managing a coffe shop soon. but school is kicking my ass like never before. my advisor told me i was crazy for taking so many senior level class. oh well i will fial my Poli Sci and bearly pass PR. eh i hope all is well with you.
Quote of the Week:
Look the backbone of our relationship is Honesty, or at least that's the lie i tell myself to keep this going.
Hey, nothing much exciting, really this is a more downer blog. I saw black eyed peas again. Not any where close to the first concert. Go see the last kiss. It was soo good, better than garden state. It’s kind of like Closer. School is pilling up. I need decontamination from relationships. I need some relax time, and if that means taking a break from jeff I will. I am taking out a major loan (which will hopefully boost my credit rating before I leave college), I will start up work at a sandwich shop in the noon and look for another evening job. I am just looking around and hoping I am making good future decisions. Good news I was able to take a break last night. I got off of work early, cleared my night schedule to hang with jeff who was a no show and my internet was down so I couldnt do homework. I watch 2 hrs of south park ate Chinese food and went to sleep early… awesome!
It seems every one is on hiatus for school. So here’s my up date: I have a full course work load, looking for another crappy low paying job, I found that I will graduate this summer, me and jeff are still going good, Sam is with child (I know but its working), Omaha sucks, there was a revolution in Taiwan yesterday night and my favorite season is upon us. Happy Fall!
