Where is the love?

There are some things in Life that will always make me shake my head in disbelief. This is one of them: Drives to Ban Gay Adoption Heat Up in 16 States

How can we define a family when there are so many “dysfunctional” (I use that term VERY loosely) ones out there? There is no cookie-cutter image any more. No Nuclear Family. The American Dream is beginning to be altered and yet no one is accepting it. Rather than embrace a change, there are people scrambling all over the place trying to get this or that put in place to stop a growth. Or a trend, how my favorite people, The Experts, claim this is.

I give incredible credit, support, and hugs to gays and lesbians that are making the argument of a family public. Good! It’s about damned time that someone had a set on them! And who are we to fault them if they are different from us?

I find it amazing how people only accept the change they want. That is, consider all the hi-tech equipment that exists in the world today. Awesome, yes it is. And the same people that are attempting to define a family (and a marriage) are the same ones that are using these newfound, amazing gadgets to make their life easier, etc. So where do they get off accepting that change in technology, but not within Mankind, A.K.A., ourselves?

Who the fuck are we to define a family (what sex the parent’s should be, that is), let alone love (marriage)?

Sounds pretty fucked up if you ask me….

Shit does happen….and it could be a good thing….

I absolutely LOVE reading random articles. I like to read things and then pass them onto others. My poor friends…….

No less, when I read this article, I thought it was phenomenal. And well, you learn something new every day.

I have to give some serious props to the folks out West. (And ponder why I do not live out there where I think I would have no problem fitting in).

In the article San Francisco Exams the Power of Dog Droppings the city of San Francisco makes it a point to recycle in general, roughly 60% of their garbage. Meanwhile the adoring state of Connecticut is only 25%, and that is still a goal. So, really, who is so much cooler right now? Why can I not live in San Francisco?

Now there is a goal to recycle feces…not just any kind, but dog feces. Does this world get any better?

Now here’s where I start thinking. A person could almost theoretically have a self-sufficient home. All based around dog feces. Oh and the occasional general garbage recycling. But I am curious to find out how many dogs it would take to provide one household with electricity/heat/whatever.

How cool??

How cool is PodCasting?

Though I will admit that I don’t know all the ins and outs of PodCasting, from what I do know, it’s awesome.

I am one that would not have minded becoming a very hip and amazing disc jockey. Seeing that those plans went by the wayside, and I kick myself for not being a part of my undergrad’s radio station, I think that PodCasting would suit me.

I made one small attempt to share this revelation with my Man. He gave me the Weird Look and changed the topic to something more pertinent to our current lifestyle. I couldn’t argue with him…it does come across as being a bit odd. While he is trying to become accustomed to the new Tech World that exists, he is more laidback and not as excited: “Honey, we can have our own quasi radio show?!” To which I get: “Mmmm…….”

Right. I had that same conversation with him when I told him I wanted an iPod. I still do not have one. That’s for another time, though…

So, I love to read how more and more folks across the world are becoming connected thru PodCasting whether they know it or not. Hell, there is even a “PodCasting for Dummies” book out there….I mean, do we not have a revolution or what?

So when I read this article on parents helping the world out, I thought it was a great thing: Parents Get Together Via iPod ‘Radio’

Maybe this Tech thing is going to make our lives a bit less stressful. At least the intentions are there.

Perhaps one day I will be allowed to tamper with my dream from a former life of being a DJ. I’m just not making any promises.

Those cute little Smart Gadgets

There is so much to catch up on! Where do I begin? I will tell you…..with this article that was in USA Today Everyday Gadgets Go ‘Smarting’ Off

Are we really attempting to make our lives much easier? Or is it simpler? Are these the right words to describe it? Yes, the workload is taken off of us. However, when something goes wrong, for example, there is a crash of the electronics, this creates more frustration. More frustration leads to higher stress levels. And where do most people feel they are today?

I was once a proud owner of a Palm Pilot. I don’t remember the model number. I could look it up but you get the point: it was a while ago. I loved the thing. It was perfect for me to decipher what the fuck I was doing between work, school, and having a life. Then I just stopped using it one day. I had this horrible feeing that I was becoming too tech savvy (yes, me, I know). I was forgetting my roots and therefore, without a decent farewell, I said good-bye to the Palm Pilot.

Now keep in mind, my initial interaction with it, as with most cool things, occurs with friends. And Diana has helped me become an up-and-coming gal with all my gadgets and gizmos that I never would have discovered normally by my lonesome.

Between the Palm Pilot and the Treo there is a decent gap of a few good years of pen and penciling it. I’ve had pocket calendars, a Filofax, and huge calendars. All being carted all over the place with me.

Not too mention cell phones and the service carriers that I have had.

So during these gaps, Diana was still very much in-tuned to the Tech World of Gadgets, while I just sort of slinked back a bit and laid low in the shadows of the literal page-by-page calendars.

And then the Treo arrived in the world. And Diana told me about it.

She raved and gushed, pushing buttons, tapping here and there, even had me call myself. Just to show me all the awesome things that this new device did. And my reaction? I fell in love. I wanted one. No doubt. This was truly made for me. I could easily combine what the fuck I was doing with work, school (yes, still in school), a life, and my Man’s schedule (a new thing to keep track of). But there was more! It was also my phone!! How amazing is that? But there was more!! I could access my email!! It just gets better….it’s an MP3 player too!

Holy shit they weren’t fucking around when they made this thing.

And I was lost from my World of Shadows. I became Tech-Oriented once again. I love the Tech section of USA Today (be prepared to see it some more).

But does it really make us to live simple? I want to. I know there is less to carry….but when something is not right, how the fuck do I fix it? I mean, there’s always 1-800-TECH-SUPPORT for every gadget out there. But the quality of service is gone. Is that an oxymoron then?

So, I’m still hung on this Simple Thing. My goals in life always appear to be simple: bike to work one day, hike more, exercise more, eat more healthy foods, blah, blah, blah….. But do they really mean that my life will be simple?

And to get further off the topic….the more we become tech-oriented as a country, that is the more Smart electronics we have, the less growth of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). These things are not measurable by the GDP. But that’s for another topic……

Little Alito……

Now I have to write on Judge Alito.

Oh shit. We are going to hell in a hand basket. And might quick.

I subscribe to a bunch of little e-zines. And I have to share this one with you.

I have bitched about Alito in the past regarding his goal to change the ruling on Roe v. Wade (okay….you get the point).

Earthjustice is about preserving the earth. Simple enough. What I was made aware of by this little zine that I received was all about Alito. Turns out our Nominee-turned-Judge has a thing for destroying land.

Let me interject with some personal feelings for a moment…..

Does NumbNuts have any fucking clue how to do his job? Yeah, I am going to Monday-morning quarterback and Barbershop this one to death that I can do his job. In reality, I cannot. However, I am a person that does tend to observe the whole enchilada before making a decision. Apparently our good buddy here is not a fan of Mexican food.

Does he not know that there are certain precedents set for a reason? That his job involves preserving the human rights that have already been established? This does not necessarily mean to go backwards with his decisions to get us back to the old school. Back to the Good Ole Boys Club. What the fuck?

Then again, we can point fingers at Bush for just being an incompetent prick for picking this guy. Funny thing…when there was a woman up for nomination, the world made her life a living hell. But now that there’s a man that insists on bringing us backwards, that’s okay. But hell…..who am I but a single, female taxpayer.

Okay, enough of the soapbox. I wanted to post this letter so you all know what the fuck is going on in the real world. I received this on January 31. Also, feel free to check out their site: Earthjustice

_____________________________
Okay, here’s the letter:

Today, after heated debate, Judge Samuel Alito Jr. was confirmed by the Senate to a seat on the Supreme Court. Forty Democrats, one Republican, and one Independent voted against Judge Alito’s nomination. We are deeply disappointed in the outcome of this vote.

Earthjustice and more than 60 other conservation groups urged the Senate to oppose the confirmation of Judge Alito, due to concerns that he would roll back protections for public health and the environment. This was the first Supreme Court nomination opposed by Earthjustice and other environmental groups since Robert Bork nomination in 1987.

We knew going in that this was an uphill battle. But the stakes are too high for us to stay out of the fight. The American public needs to know about Judge Alito’s record of siding with polluters over communities. We made a difference. In the end, Judge Alito received more “no” votes than any other confirmed Supreme Court nominee in the last 100 years except Justice Clarence Thomas.

Our heartfelt thanks to the almost 15,000 friends and supporters who took action to write, email, and call their senators, asking them to carefully consider Judge Alito’s alarming record. From the committee hearings to the Senate’s floor debate, to editorials and media coverage across the country, Judge Alito’s extreme record on Congress’ authority to pass laws protecting the environment and on citizens’ access to courts were major points of contention. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) stressed environmental issues in her statements about Alito, citing the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and Endangered Species Act, and concluded, “Our ability to legislate in these areas is very much at stake with this judge.”

Many senators, including more than a dozen who had voted to confirm Chief Justice John Roberts, cited issues that had been raised by Earthjustice and other environmental groups in explaining their decision to oppose Judge Alito. Without the attention of the environmental community and the actions of concerned citizens like you, Judge Alito’s extreme legal opinions limiting the ability of government to protect communities from pollution could have avoided scrutiny.

We remain extremely concerned that Justice Alito may reverse decades of progress in protecting public health and the environment as part of our nation’s highest court. Alito replaces Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who was a swing vote on the Supreme Court, casting decisive votes in favor of protecting environmental safeguards enjoyed by all Americans. But with your help and support, we remain more committed than ever to fighting for judges at every level of our federal court system who will uphold and enforce the environmental safeguards on which we all depend.

As always, thank you for standing with us.
Sincerely,

Vawter “Buck” Parker
Executive Director
Earthjustice

_______________________________

That said….I leave you with this:

“Judge Alito was confirmed today as the nation’s 110th Supreme Court
justice. President Bush congratulated Alito and said he hopes he gets along
with the other 109 judges.” –Conan O’Brien

It’s ALL about me.

So, it was my birthday the other day.

And as usual, I expected things to just happen.

I think that this is a concept that occurred when I was little and my mom told me it was my birthday. This occurred when I had no jobs, no Treo, no bills, no concept of time, and basically, zero responsibilities. I was eight.

I remember my mom waking me up one morning singing ‘Happy Birthday.’ I was confused. “What’s a birthday?” It was quite a revelation at the tender and impressionable age of eight.

“You’re turning one year older today. Today you are not eight years old.”

“But for how long?” as I was harshly removing eye boogers and attempting to focus on my mom standing above me.

“Just for one year. Next year you will be one year older from where you are now: nine.”

Did I want to be one year older? What if I didn’t? I wasn’t informed of this ‘year older thing.’ I needed to be asked about it. It can’t ‘just happen.’

But it does. It did. And it keeps on happening.

Now, almost twenty years later (I said ALMOST), here I am: turning yet another year older.

Only this time, I wake up to my Man singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to me. And I rub the eye boogers from my eyes and smile and say “thanks.”

As I’m taking my shower, I am contemplating what should be happening in the world right now: everyone should be waking up and saying to themselves: ‘oh, it’s Ranting Knitter’s birthday today.’ I should be seen in the world with balloons, flowers, and the occasional cake. I should have the ‘Happy Birthday’ halo. Everyone will say ‘oh hey, look…it’s her birthday today. Hey ‘Knitter! Happy Birthday!’ And of course I will have this awesome smile on my face the entire day saying my thank-yous and you-shouldn’t-haves.

I’m still in the shower (it is my birthday after all) and I’m thinking that everything should be perfect. That is, it should do it on it’s own because it is my birthday. I won’t cut myself shaving my legs because the razor KNOWS that it’s my birthday today. When I am doing my hair, it will be flawless because it KNOWS it’s my birthday. My zits will disappear on their own. My makeup will be perfect. My contacts will just fall into my eyes. My breath will not stink. My outfit will assemble itself. I will not look fat in anything I am wearing. My period will go away.

The house will be cleaned. The dishes will be put away. My breakfast will make itself. And work will say: “Take the day off, we won’t charge you a day. After all, it’s your birthday.” All food that I consume will not consist of calories or fat. I don’t have to workout. XM will have a station dedicated just to me, playing all my favorite music in the order I prefer.

I should have a smile on my face the ENTIRE day! I should not be sad or pissed off. It’s MY day. Fuck everyone else today….they each get their own day, anyways, and the same things or what they want should happen on their day. This is how birthdays should be. The world SHOULD stop for us when it is our birthday.

Obviously, that does not happen and it’s one of my Fantasy World things. But, I’ll be damned if I don’t try to make it happen. : ) And all with a positive image.

I heard that it was good to turn a year older because the more candles that are on your cake the better. The purpose of the candles on the birthday cake was to ward off evil spirits for the coming year. Well, shit if that didn’t work last year. Hopefully the extra candle this year will make a difference. I am convincing myself that it will.

Be patient!

I know…I know! I have not writtent in quite some time! It’s horrible! And more so since SO much is going on in the world.

But, be patient. I am still writing. I am just in the middle of midterms.

C’est la vie!