Entries for October, 2004
October 1st, 2004
The Debate
Posted by bert at 08:31 AM on October 1, 2004 in politics.
What a crock. I will sum it up for you:
Bush: We have a lot of smart, hardworking people who are taking care of this.
Kerry: Bush Lied!
Bush: Kerry changes views to suit his political career
Kerry: Bush Lies!
Bush: We must continue our fight in Iraq
Kerry: Bush is wrong, we must continue our fight in Iraq. I have a plan that will take care of everything in 4 years.
Bush: uh... *stammer* uh.. (1 minute later). A plan is a good thing
Kerry: Bush misled us. I am like God, I know more than the rest of you. VOTE FOR ME!
Bush: FLIPFLOPPER!
Kerry: LIAR!
yeah.. it was gay.. I want my 90 minutes of life back.
The Debate (part 2)
Posted by bert at 08:42 AM on October 1, 2004 in politics.
ok.. seriously now..
good things that happened:
Kerry is now attacking Bush with blame that actually belongs to Bush. Bush screwed up the Iraq situation.
But he is delirious if he thinks that he can fix the problem in the middle east in 4 years if he is elected. Does he think he'll be able to stroll into the UN and convince the coward triumvirate of spain, france, and germany. Good luck. You think you can convince the rest of the countries in the UN to collectively match us in troop count. It won't even be close. Never will be. We will be committing 90% of the casualities, and 90% of the resources. NO ONE ELSE WILL HELP US HERE. Ghandi wouldn't have enough credibility to get this pusbackers to move.
Another thing I was ticked off over was that NEITHER person gave a solid outline or plan. Just mentioned.. "I have a plan." good.. now can you outline? what is it about? Did you consult with Al-Sadr first so you know you can pull it off?
And Tom lehrer.. could you be anymore biased?
George W... could you uh... uh... sttt... Stutter... stutter some more?
did anyone notice that more than 2 of the responses from kerry were nearly verbatim to some of his stump speeches from earlier this week?
Bush did this at least once too.
Retards.. both of them..
the only solid conclusion i got from this debate was that these gentleman sure made Yale proud.
Damn the Cubs
Posted by bert at 06:14 PM on October 1, 2004 in ME.
Lets see... go in the week leading the wildcard..
Last 7 games.. lose 6..
it's ovah.
Chicago sports are in the tank for another year.
October 2nd, 2004
One almost heart attack later...
Posted by bert at 03:03 PM on October 2, 2004 in ME.
The Cardiac Pack are still undefeated.. Guys.. do we really need to make it this close? Can we just win something outright please?
Jay Davis though seemed to have played well if you don't include his interception returned for a touchdown for Wake Forest's first score.
October 4th, 2004
Telemarketers suck
Posted by bert at 08:16 AM on October 4, 2004 in ME.
First off... I'm sure most of you know that there is a national "Do Not Call" list. What this means is that telemarketers can not call you and harrass you if your number is on this list.
So.. all the telemarketing companies pooled resources and decided to Appeal this ruling in the courts.. (using our tax dollars of course). Their justification was that this ruling was in direct violation of their right for "free speech."
the result? Yeah..
Eat crap and die Telemarketers.
So... in one of the few political actions I completely agree with... HURRAH to the US Supreme Court!
Currently feeling: chipper
Poker Tourney at the Bicycle
Posted by bert at 10:52 AM on October 4, 2004 in Poker.
yes.. I admit it.. I play lots of poker too. And this is a long post about my experience at a live poker tourney. Read on at your own peril.
(Read More)
Currently listening to: Candlebox - Far Behind.mp3
October 5th, 2004
Took them long enough
Posted by bert at 07:02 PM on October 5, 2004 in politics.
John Edwards finally called out the Bush Administration on their views on banning gay marriage. Especially since Cheney's daughter is of the female persuasion. This is sad.
To Infinity and BEYOND!!!!
Posted by bert at 10:13 PM on October 5, 2004 in ME.
So i've been invited to go meet the guys who built SpaceShipOne (all you have to be is a defense contractor working on a satellite program with $85). I get to ask any questions I want to about them. And I can't help but start asking them about how they plan to scale production of it so they can have a viable commercial vehicle to accomplish their goals. (Affordable entrace to Lower Earth Orbit).
Lets see.. other questions I have include:
how are the individual ideas brought about into the overall project?
How many interations of requirement reviews are conducted? How do you assemble your integration teams to properly accomplish this?
what is the development and prototype costs of SS1?
and.
Can you hire me?
Ok.. so those are some of mine.. any otehr questions you people would like to see asked?
Currently feeling: excited
October 6th, 2004
the VPs...
Posted by bert at 09:27 AM on October 6, 2004 in politics.
Man.. yesterdays debate... i still come away with my head hurting...
Ok... so this is what I saw..
The Bush/Cheney attack has gone somewhat personal.. they are pointing at the Kerry/Edwards senate records, pointing out inconsistancies. One of the funniest things was when Cheney pointed out that this was the first time he has face-to-face met John Edwards... You see... he's appeared in senate hearings 6 of the 39 times he was supposed to. His attendance at the intelligence committees is awful. I don't know the exact stats, but I'm willing to wager anything that I own that his attendance record at senate hearings is in the bottom 25% of all senators in US history.
The other big thing is he pointed our the Kerry's Campaign switch due to Howard Dean's rising popularity during the primaries. "If you can't handle Howard Dean, how are you going to handle Al Quaida?"
Cheney did a good job of figuring out how the Democrats' numbers were calculated (the 90% loss... 90% resources thing), saying that the numbers didn't include the poor iraqis that died too. Still.. the rebuilding efforts have cost us a ton (cheney admits to 130 billion or so). Edward's debate about afghanistan was piss poor, but cheney's answer about domestic spending was worse. I think he threw out the words... "fiscal restraint" and not much more.
Edwards, at least for the first 30 minutes managed not to mention Halliburton once. Then he mentioned it in total.. like 6 or 7 times. One of the blogs i read (i can't remember which) proposed a drinking game that you would take a shot every time he mentioned halliburton. Yeah.. I would have been toasted...
Edwards was articulate and actually looked presidential (whatever the hell that means). he dropped a couple of good questions that Cheney couldn't answer, especially that veiled attack on his daughter.. He sounded like one of those vicious church people who try to sound nice and full of praise while tearing you down. I thought it was unnecessary.. but hey... winning the election is all that counts neh?
And Edwards still has no clue what foreign policy means let alone have a plan for it. How the heck were they planning on getting member UN nations into this war again? I still fail to see how this is going to happen.
One thing that has me really worried are the promises they are making. I don't think ANYONE, can cash the checks their mouths are writing right now.
i.e. taking the national debt down to 25% of current figures, universal health care for all children, paying for 75% of health care costs over 50k *yearly* for ANYONE, tuition paid for any 4 year university in exchange for 2 years of community service. Pulling out all forces from Iraq within 4 years. Getting UN to commit more troops to our fight in Iraq/ and against global terror threat. Increase defense spending, and repeal Bush's tax cuts.
Sorry man.. this money is coming from somehwere and unless Theresa Heinz Kerry takes her entire bankroll and puts it on 23 in roulette and hits and presses and hits again... I just don't see how the world we will find the money for this. I am very worried about this...
Jay Leno on John Kerry
Posted by bert at 09:31 AM on October 6, 2004 in politics.
yeah.. i know.. Leno is just having fun.. but.. I laughed..
The Secret Service has announced it is doubling its protection for John Kerry. You can understand why - with two positions on every issue, he has twice as many people mad at him.
We make jokes about it but the truth is this presidential election really offers us a choice of two well-informed opposing positions on every issue. OK, they both belong to John Kerry, but they're still there.
John Kerry will undergo surgery to repair his right shoulder. He originally hurt it when he suddenly switched positions on Iraq.
President Bush listed his income as $822,000. You know what John Kerry calls someone who earns $822,000? Not even worth dating.
Well the good news for Democrats, now over half the country can identify a picture of John Kerry. The bad news, the majority still thinks he's the dad from 'The Monsters.
John Kerry accused President Bush of catering to the rich. You know, as opposed to John Kerry who just marries them. They say John Kerry is the first Democratic presidential candidate in history to raise $50 million in a three-month period. Actually, that's nothing. He once raised $500 million with two words: 'I do.
October 7th, 2004
Curbing Emissions
Posted by bert at 01:03 PM on October 7, 2004 in ME.
Step 1 had finally been taken.
Congress is now closing the SUV tax writeoff loophole.
All I can say is.... About damn time.
now the next key step would be to add an additional luxury tax on the rediculously huge and over polluting SUVs/ TRUCKS/ etc that are so popular these days. this is an arguement that I don't think I'll ever win.. but it makes sense. Tax the luxury vehicles hard. If they can afford to drive something that costs that much then they can afford to help pay some extra taxes. For cars like the civic or accord.. make the tax less.. We want lower polluting cars out there neh? =) And give extra tax breaks for the hybrid electric cars..
October 8th, 2004
Posted by bert at 03:12 PM on October 8, 2004 in ME.
its amazing what girls generalize about guys.. and in turn what guys generalize about girls. And it's even more funny when they do it admist one another.
That was my lunch today.
Girls saying that guys suck.. guys saying that girls suck. (for the same reasons!!!).
and the funniest thing of all is... 2 of the girls and 2 of the guys (12 total people) used to date each other. lets just say... the dirt was piled pretty high today.
October 9th, 2004
People.. Hello... it's the 21st century now...
Posted by bert at 09:39 AM on October 9, 2004 in ME.
I went out last night with some friends. Just your basic, drink and dance night. Now.. normally this kind of behavior doesn't warrant anything of note from me, except tonight was slightly different.
My friend Dominique just joined Boeing, and this would be her first time out with "my crew." You see.. what sets Dominique aside (very sad...) is that she if African American. Yes folks.. Shockingly enough... there is at least 1 black person in Orange County.
I myself would like to believe that I'm pretty much color blind when it comes to these matters and as a matter of fact, I had a great time with Dominique when we were at the club dancing. After about 40 minutes of dancing she needed to pee, so i found a seat and sat down. Where in I was stared down by some african american gentlemen. Giving me the "what the fuck are you doing with her" face. I said hey, and i don't think that made things any simpler.
Now the really sad thing was... After i got my water and sat down this asian girl comes by (she wasn't very attractive) and asks me why I am submitting that "that level" and why I wouldn't be with something "better." Oh do you mean Asian girls? Do you want me to list my reasons? That's a whole 'nother Oprah.
Dominique comes back we talk about it and laugh... but rest of the night we start to notice that people are staring at us. I mean really.. How often do you see a chinese dude with a black girl? We're friends and all but because of that.. we decided to egg them on and really get into it. Yeah.. prolly not a good idea because the stares from that point on were really uncomfortable and it forced our entire group to leave when Jamie overheard one asian guy claim that I was a "disgrace to asians for sinking so low." and hearing his friend say "we should teach him a lesson."
Anyway.. the whole point of this is.. WHY DOES ANYONE F'ing CARE?!?!?!?
You are at the club with friends... yes i know some of you want to hook up.. but man.. who the hell cares if two people are dancing? Does it only matter if they are of the same ethnicity? Why is this so freaking Taboo? I see black dudes with asian chicks all the time. but you switch it a little and all of a sudden its weird? Damn you people for being so closeminded.
Currently feeling: cranky
October 10th, 2004
Superman is dead
Posted by bert at 10:38 PM on October 10, 2004 in ME.
Christopher Reeves, at 52 died today. =(
THe man of steel who was my hero growing up... so sad =(
October 11th, 2004
English Speaking Allies: 1. Terrorists and Wussy Countries: 0
Posted by bert at 09:08 AM on October 11, 2004 in politics.
So basically... the global politics have rendered the Iraq war as to being the major issue. This is not a surprise, but what is a surprise is what the line was forced to be drawn at. Basically.. between the posturing by the right and the left, we now have two options with our war.
We pull out troops, or we put in more.
We being the global community.
A couple of months ago, the spaniards decided to pussyfoot it and elect a president running an anti-us campaign.. he won and within 48 hours i believe all of the spanish military has been pulled out of the middle east. An now they can concentrate on re-building their subway system. (self-preservation like this only delays the inevitable).
Well.. Australia was the next big test, and frankly this scared the piss out of me. These guys, behind the UK are probably our biggest allies. They supported the US unconditionally. So.. they would be the guy you turned to if your best man (UK) got hurt. Well... despite no one knowing about it.. Australia had a prime minister election, and they could have sided with the left-leaning wussy that was promising to pull out Australia's troops.
Instead,
they re-elected the coalition party's John Howard, who is a supporter of the US. Read: they are our friends and they have the best airline on the planet (Quantas).
And despite all your best efforst... see if you can find that on any major news outlet. Yeah.. you just can't. Because the media sucks and cares more that Ken caminiti died of steroid use than the entirity of Australia.
Currently listening to: Live - The Dolphins Cry
Currently feeling: contemplative
Reinstating the Draft...
Posted by bert at 09:28 AM on October 11, 2004 in politics.
When John Kerry was asked about re-instating the draft.. here was his answer.. full and complete.. Tell me how much sense this made?
and just remember this. Kerry voted against the Persian Gulf war back in 1991, which initiated the inspection regimine that he now says doesn't want to stop. (but this is a different Oprah)
KERRY: Daniel, I don't support a draft.
But let me tell you where the president's policies have put us.
The president -- and this is one of the reasons why I am very proud in this race to have the support of General John Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Admiral William Crowe, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; General Tony McPeak, who ran the air war for the president's father and did a brilliant job, supporting me; General Wes Clark, who won the war in Kosovo, supporting me; because they all -- and General Baca, who was the head of the National Guard, supporting me.
KERRY: Why? Because they understand that our military is overextended under the president.
Our Guard and reserves have been turned into almost active duty. You've got people doing two and three rotations. You've got stop-loss policies, so people can't get out when they were supposed to. You've got a back-door draft right now.
And a lot of our military are underpaid. These are families that get hurt. It hurts the middle class. It hurts communities, because these are our first responders. And they're called up. And they're over there, not over here.
Now, I'm going to add 40,000 active duty forces to the military, and I'm going to make people feel good about being safe in our military, and not overextended, because I'm going to run a foreign policy that actually does what President Reagan did, President Eisenhower did, and others.
We're going to build alliances. We're not going to go unilaterally. We're not going to go alone like this president did.
Ok.. so to not re-instate the draft to protect our over extended military... we are adding 40,000 active duty forces? from where john? I thought we needed Hundreds of thousands to "win the peace" in iraq.. You are telling me that we are only 40k troops short?
"we're going to build alliances." great... with whom john? Spain? France? Germany? with Britain (who you slammed)? with Poland (who you forgot about)?
Sorry.. i just don't feel comfortable with what your foreign policies are. Just saying you have a plan does nothing for me.
Boston Market
Posted by bert at 09:34 AM on October 11, 2004 in Good Eats.
One thing that i found out recently, is that Boston Market accepts AAA cards. You get a 20% discount if you present your AAA membership. How amazing is that?
Btw.. their turkey is phenominal. But not as good as the meat loaf. Yeah.. i know its sad, and there are lots of you who grew up on meat loaf... but lemme tell you.. Eating meat loaf for me is like eating chow mein for some others. I just can't get enough of it, because I don't think I have ever seen it on any of my kitchen tables.
So... yeah.. Boston Market Meatloaf, with the tomato glaze. Who'd a thunk it huh?
Kerry on Abortion and Tax Cuts
Posted by bert at 10:01 AM on October 11, 2004 in politics.
ok.. I know.. sorry.. lots of political posts today.. But... It's important damnit. And yes.. i'm reading the transcripts now because i was too busy partying over the weekend... so sue me... =)
anyway...
Kerry on Abortion
First of all, I cannot tell you how deeply I respect the belief about life and when it begins. I'm a Catholic, raised a Catholic. I was an altar boy. Religion has been a huge part of my life. It helped lead me through a war, leads me today.
But I can't take what is an article of faith for me and legislate it for someone who doesn't share that article of faith, whether they be agnostic, atheist, Jew, Protestant, whatever. I can't do that.
But I can counsel people. I can talk reasonably about life and about responsibility. I can talk to people, as my wife Teresa does, about making other choices, and about abstinence, and about all these other things that we ought to do as a responsible society.
KERRY: But as a president, I have to represent all the people in the nation. And I have to make that judgment.
Now, I believe that you can take that position and not be pro- abortion, but you have to afford people their constitutional rights. And that means being smart about allowing people to be fully educated, to know what their options are in life, and making certain that you don't deny a poor person the right to be able to have whatever the constitution affords them if they can't afford it otherwise.
That's why I think it's important. That's why I think it's important for the United States, for instance, not to have this rigid ideological restriction on helping families around the world to be able to make a smart decision about family planning.
You'll help prevent AIDS.
KERRY: You'll help prevent unwanted children, unwanted pregnancies.
You'll actually do a better job, I think, of passing on the moral responsibility that is expressed in your question. And I truly respect it.
uh.. What the HECK does that mean?
To me its saying the following.
- I have to be president and I have to represent everyone.. so I'll continue to be pro-choice and leave that to you. But if your daughter wants an abortion... we, the government, will help her out.. and she won't have to tell you about it.
- he rolled abortion into a talk about underage sex. John... There are lots of people OVER 18 who are doing this too you know.
- You are Catholic? You are devout Catholic? You annulled your marriage to your first wife because Theresa was worth a Billion dollars. You were MARRIED.. and had Kids.. In the Catholic Religion this is SACRED you schmuck.. and you talked about being Catholic... You just lost the remaining 5 votes you had there. You are Catholic like I am African.
- Why didn't you attack bush about him wanting to ban abortions? Edwards would have done it.
Kerry on Tax Cuts
GIBSON: Senator Kerry, the next question will be for you, and it comes from James Varner, who I believe is in this section.
Mr. Varner? You need a microphone.
VARNER: Thank you.
Senator Kerry, would you be willing to look directly into the camera and, using simple and unequivocal language, give the American people your solemn pledge not to sign any legislation that will increase the tax burden on families earning less than $200,000 a year during your first term?
KERRY: Absolutely. Yes. Right into the camera. Yes. I am not going to raise taxes.
I have a tax cut. And here's my tax cut.
I raise the child-care credit by $1,000 for families to help them be able to take care of their kids.
I have a $4,000 tuition tax credit that goes to parents -- and kids, if they're earning for themselves -- to be able to pay for college.
And I lower the cost of health care in the way that I described to you.
Every part of my program I've shown how I'm going to pay for it.
KERRY: I've even scaled back some of my favorite programs already, like the child-care program I wanted to fund and the national service program, because the president's deficit keeps growing and I've said as a pledge, "I'm going to cut the deficit in half in four years."
Now, I'm going to restore what we did in the 1990s, ladies and gentlemen: pay as you go. We're going to do it like you do it. The president broke the pay-as-you-go rule.
Somebody here asked the question about, "Why haven't you vetoed something?" It's a good question. If you care about it, why don't you veto it?
I think John McCain called the energy bill the "No Lobbyist Left Behind" bill.
I mean, you've got to stand up and fight somewhere, folks.
I'm pledging I will not raise taxes; I'm giving a tax cut to the people earning less than $200,000 a year.
Does this bother anyone? I really REALLY want to know how this is going to happen. While I'm glad he doesn't plan on raising my taxes at all... I just don't believe he will be able to afford to take less. And in 4 years.. you will cut our deficit in Half?!? I guess we will be using fuzzy math when you run against McCain in '08.
And why did he sound so condescending when talking to the people in teh town hall. only him, the announcer, and president bush make over 200k in that room so his tax plans wouldn't affect everyone else?... please...
Currently listening to: Stabbing Westward - What Do I Have to Do
Currently feeling: cheerful
October 12th, 2004
Red Sox vs. Yankees
Posted by bert at 01:00 PM on October 12, 2004 in ME.
It doesn't get much more exciting than this guys.. I love watching sports, and watching heated rivalries are the best thing possible.. While a part of me hopes that both sides fall flat on their faces, or quietly hope for one of those "Day After Tomorrow" natural disasters in New York.. This will be one a great series to watch.. Even for those of you who don't like sports. you girls can check out Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. Some of my female friends think they are hot.
Watch Baseball today.. and presidential debates tomorrow. It will all be good.
Fantasy Sports
Posted by bert at 01:07 PM on October 12, 2004 in ME.
Ok.. So I admit I am a sports junkie. So much so that I feel the need to prove this to everyone else, and show off my sheer dominance in sports knowledge. I do this by playing fantasy sports.
Heh.. So last weekend was great.. Trailing by 28.75 points going into the Monday Night football game... I needed a cool 29 points out of my one remaining player (Javon Walker). As soon as the titans scored 17 points on the Packers in the first quarter, I was Ecstatic. I mean.. just happy as can be, because that would mean that Favre would have to start throwing the ball on nearly every down.. and since walker is his favorite wide out... I would be getting points.
Turns out i got JUST ENOUGH!. 29 points out of Javon, and I won my weekend match up by the tiniest possible margin. 0.25 points. Sorry Mike.. but one more assisted tackle and you would have had me. Heck.. 1 point out of TJ Duckett and you would have had me.
Ok.. yeah.. so what i noticed though was that while watching the monday night game... I didn't care about the joy of just watching the great play action passes Tennessee drew up, or the blocking of the Titan Offensive line. I was screaming at the Green Bay defense to play stop gap defense just so they could get the back and launch long passes to Javon.
The purity of the game is gone for me... because I care what happens to teams i don't care about. Yeah.. sad sad sad..
BUT... i'm glad for the popularity of fantasy.. because now there are so many more people who have learned to enjoy the game of football.
Currently feeling: puzzled
Pure Anal Retention
Posted by bert at 11:24 PM on October 12, 2004 in musings.
so.. this cross country team of 26 got completely disqualified in Virginia the other day.
For wearing jewelry...
ok.. so... you need to click that link because the jewelry they got DQ'ed for is the Lance Armstrong Livestrong 'bracelet.'
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME... why.. what harm does it do? IT SUPPORTS CANCER RESEARCH... any school should consider having ALL their sports teams support the Lance Armstrong Foundation....
To be DQ'ed because some idiot equates rubber bands as jewelry?
That guy is a jackass and needs to get his priorities rescrambled.
October 13th, 2004
Bert's Movie Night
Posted by bert at 08:40 AM on October 13, 2004 in ME.
So... one of the big benefits of living in SoCal is that we get movie screenings here all the time. Wanna see a movie? Be patient and you can watch it at the theaters for free.
Tonight I get a free screening of "Team America." This is the movie by trey parker and matt stone that uses puppets to poke fun at people.
rumor has it that Michael Moore is a suicide bomber in this movie.
Anyway.. I already heard the media and the left denouncing this moive as awful construct and that is trying to "skew the minds of the voters."
Omg... are you FREAKING KIDDING ME.. a puppet movie doing this? Are these the same people praising Farenheing 9/11 for it's objectivity not just a couple months prior?
Anyway.. they have somewhat of a point.. the resemblences of a lot of the 'actors' are all liberal minded people.. And they get put into crazy situations.. and there is not one puppet mocking W.
Anyway.. I figured for fun afterwards.. we could sit down and watch.. F 9/11. Oh man... hopefully we get some great argueing tonight.
Kerry's Military Record...
Posted by bert at 01:46 PM on October 13, 2004 in politics.
No one questions John Kerry's military record.. yet everyone questions Bush's.
well.. tables have turned a bit.. Was John Kerry dishonorably discharged?
Read more here
anyway.. maybe that's a load of bunk...
but.. don't you find it odd that Kerry's Camp is pusing for bush to release all of his military records while kerry refuses (manytimes) to allow release over all of his own records?
Mr. Kerry has repeatedly refused to sign Standard Form 180, which would allow the release of all his military records. And some of his various spokesmen have claimed that all his records are already posted on his Web site. But the Washington Post already noted that the Naval Personnel Office admitted that they were still withholding about 100 pages of files.
Currently feeling: complacent
Best Ad Ever
Posted by bert at 02:03 PM on October 13, 2004 in ME.
I saw this ad in a forward today.. It's for this firm of divorce lawyers.
Ripping Up the Vote
Posted by bert at 03:49 PM on October 13, 2004 in ME.
I have no idea why
this isn't bigger news.. Especially for the Left leaning media...
but... here's the important part..
Two former workers say they personally witnessed company supervisors rip up and trash registration forms signed by Democrats.
"We caught her taking Democrats out of my pile, handed them to her assistant and he ripped them up right in front of us. I grabbed some of them out of the garbage and she tells her assisatnt to get those from me," said Eric Russell, former Voters Outreach employee.
Eric Russell managed to retrieve a pile of shredded paperwork including signed voter registration forms, all from Democrats. We took them to the Clark County Election Department and confirmed that they had not, in fact, been filed with the county as required by law.
this is just wrong.... there is no good reason whatsoever, why they should be tearing up democratic registration forms of eligible voters... This is just SAD.. very very sad. =(
October 14th, 2004
Team America...
Posted by bert at 08:08 AM on October 14, 2004 in ME.
ok.. so I got to watch a preview of this last night. I think its the most I've laughed in a Long LONG time. But it's the stupid laughter.
Now if i didn't know it was matt stone and trey parker... i would have known after the first 10-15 minutes or so. It's very much definitely them.
Ok.. so.. basically... I don't think the censors would have let this movie out 3 years ago. But we are ever more progressive, and there is a lot of liberal bashing. Basically they are doing the southpark thing where they express their views via simplistic and vulgar catch phrases. Also they use little wooden puppets. But nothing was better than the Matt Damon puppet. Just hillarious.
Their songs were... unusual. just all the lyrics like... "Pearl Harbor sucked, but I miss you."
and then after watching Michael Moore get mocked in Team America.. I followed through with the resolution to watch F 9/11.
Man... it's sombering, especially when contrasted with Team America. But my problem with Moore is that I smell through the majority of his bullcrap. And when that happens.. you doubt the rest of the movie, thus losing it's effectiveness. Yes.. I get and even to an extent support what he is trying to say. But damnit man.. do you have to try to hard to hit us over the head in your explanations?
Ok.. so instead of watching the presidential debates... I watched biased movies.. so sue me.. I've read the transcript and will put up my comments soon. And i'll try my damndest to stay away from opinionated new sites before i do.
Update:
I was searching for some of their lyrics... when i ran into this post. Basically some guy found a letter from Sean Penn (who was mocked many times in this movie) to Trey and Matt.
here it is in full. Man... does all of hollywood structure sentences like this?
October 6, 2004
To Trey Parker and Matt Stone,
I remember a cordial hello when you guys were beginning to be famous guys around Hollywood at some party. I remember several times getting a few giggles out of your humor. I remember not being bothered as you traded on my name among others to appear witty, above it all, and likeable to your crowd. I never mind being of service, in satire and silliness.
I do mind when anybody who doesn't have a child, doesn't have a child at war, or isn't or won't be in harm's way themselves, is encouraging that there's "no shame in not voting" "if you don't know what you're talking about" (Mr. Stone) without mentioning the shame of not knowing what your talking about, and encouraging people to know. You guys are talented young guys but alas, primarily young guys. It's all well to joke about me or whomever you choose. Not so well, to encourage irresponsibility that will ultimately lead to the disembowelment, mutilation, exploitation, and death of innocent people throughout the world. The vote matters to them. No one's ignorance, indcluding a couple of hip cross-dressers, is an excuse.
All best, and a sincere f*ck you,
Sean Penn
P.S. Take this as a personal invitation from me to you (you can ask Dennis Miller along for the ride as well) to escort you on a trip, which I took last Christmas. We'll fly to Amman, Jordan and I'll ride with you in a (?) 12 hours through the Sunni Triangle into Fallujah and Baghdad and I'll show you around. When we return, make all the fun you want.
Currently feeling: amused
Presidential Debate comments...
Posted by bert at 09:53 AM on October 14, 2004 in politics.
1. I now know why they hold so few of these. Seriously... how many times have you heard the same exact phrases so many times.
For instance.. on homeland security issues.
Bush: We need to be on the offensive, 75% of Al Qaida leadership has been brought to justice.....
Kerry: We had a chance to capture Osama Bin Laden but we outsourced the job to Afghan warlords.
2. Doesn't Bush say "gosh" alot?
3. What the F*ck does the flu thing have to do with the Presidential race. It isn't their fault a pharm company contaminated their vaccines.. Good Gracious.. this is the 2nd question of the night... are you freaking kidding me.. What a MF'ing waste.... Just horrible. CBS in another effort to show why they suck... Bob Schieffer the CBS anchor already blows it. Gah.. if it wasn't for Amazing Race or the NFL, i would never watch that piece of crap channel.
4. And when Kerry was asked about it... he said that this "really underscores the problem with the American health-care system. It's not working for the American family." John... this has nothing to do with the president's health care plan. Some company fucked up.. that's it.. you can NOT have contaminated vaccines given to people at all.. Just can't.
As for Bush.. i'm glad he finally said something about Kerry's Plan.... "I want to remind people listening tonight that a plan is not a litany of complaints, and a plan is not to lay out programs that you can't pay for. " That's true.. telling people to go to Johnkerry.com is not a plan Mr. Senator.
In response to this... Kerry shot back. "But the fact is, we're going to help Americans be able to buy into it. Those that can afford it are going to buy in themselves. We're not giving this away for nothing. "
God... I hope not.. I can't afford to pay 7700 a year in health care... And i'm already in the top 2% of Americans in terms of salary. No way i can afford this, does this mean that 98% of the population will be federally sponsored? These promises worry me.
5. No Tax cuts for people making less than $200,000.
After talking about how much Bush sucks... his plan surrounds the following.
"we start by rolling back George Bush's unaffordable tax cut for the wealthiest people, people earning more than $200,000 a year, and we pass, hopefully, the McCain-Kerry Commission which identified some $60 billion that we can get.
We shut the loophole which has American workers actually subsidizing the loss of their own job. They just passed an expansion of that loophole in the last few days: $43 billion of giveaways, including favors to the oil and gas industry and the people importing ceiling fans from China. "
so it sounds like.. by not taxing those under 200k, we tax those above 200k more. Ok.. fair enough, but really? most of this wealth is already accumulated. They are JUST as smart as you John.. They can write off this crap. I am learning how to do it.. and I'm sure as hell they know better than me. The McCain-Kerry Commission is something that looks to close corporate welfare. Not entirely sure how the heck he can save 60 billion with something so unrelated.. Sounds like he's just spitting crap out. And what's this about Chinese Ceiling fans? I don't get it.
lastly with kerry.
"We raise the student loans. I pay for it by changing the relationship with the banks. "
uh.. yeah.. good luck buddy.
it's like saying that I could eliminate our national debt if the rest of the world could just forgive it all. rioght......
Disturbing though is that not once did he really mention how he would keep this promise of not taxing under 200k. NOT ONCE.. just said he would tax those over 200k more. Man.. what? all .25% of the population? the Top 1% of earner in the country is cut off at $75,000 a year. top half is cut at 175,000. You are telling me that the top 0.5% of the earners in the nation can make up for the other 99.5% of us? I don't believe that at all. on to bush.
"There is a tax gap. And guess who usually ends up filling the tax gap? The middle class. "
I don't like this answer but in general it is true.
"I propose a detailed budget, Bob. I sent up my budget man to the Congress, and he says, here's how we're going to reduce the deficit in half by five years. It requires pro-growth policies that grow our economy and fiscal sanity in the halls of Congress. "
still doesn't tell me ANYTHING Bush.. you need to tell me what the plan is.. Both these losers don't have a plan for anything......
ugh... getting sick here...
6. on outsourced jobs.
Bush quotes:
"We've expanded trade adjustment assistance. We want to help pay for you to gain the skills necessary to fill the jobs of the 21st century. "
ok.. isn't this called unemployment checks? are we taking that from there or are we pulling from something else that is completely different? I doubt the later.. First I heard about this. sketchy.
"...education is how to help the person who's lost a job. Education is how to make sure we've got a workforce that's productive and competitive."
I agree completely.. it is education that seperates our workforce from the rest. The key to being the main economic power in the world is because we have one of the best educated too. personal Education is directly tied to personal economics. The key is to not bitch about losing a job oversees to someone willing to do it cheaper then you. You need to do it better, so that no one can do it cheaper than you. Go take an econ class and understand "cost of entry." If you do something that anyone can do.. then anyone willing to take less to do it deserves to get it. yes.. that sucks individually, but from a corporate standpoint.. Why the hell would i pay you 30 bucks to do something i can pay this other dude 3 for?
Kerry's response.
"I want you to notice how the president switched away from jobs and started talking about education principally.
Let me come back in one moment to that, but I want to speak for a second, if I can, to what the president said about fiscal responsibility. "
so you point out that he changes topics.. and then immediately to the same. This is about outsourcing jobs.. not fiscal responsibility.
"This president has taken a $5. 6 trillion surplus and turned it into deficits as far as the eye can see. Health-care costs for the average American have gone up 64 percent; tuitions have gone up 35 percent; gasoline prices up 30 percent; Medicare premiums went up 17 percent a few days ago; prescription drugs are up 12 percent a year. "
still no job outsourcing comments.. But.. in the past few days medicare has gone up 17? are we including inflation into these numbers? Prescription drugs have not gone up 12% a year in the past 4. I have needed a prescription drug for one reason or another.. and it's been up... maybe 12% over the past 4 years total. Tuitions you can't control.. they are STATE run.
and when kerry finished with his diatribe.. still not talking about outsourcing... Schieffer saved his sorry ass and switched the discussion to something else...
*bert gets more sick*
7.) On outsourcing on a general level.
Kerry:
"What I can promise you is that I will make the playing field as fair as possible, that I will, for instance, make certain that with respect to the tax system that you as a worker in America are not subsidizing the loss of your job.
The second thing that we can do is provide a fair trade playing field. This president didn't stand up for Boeing when Airbus was violating international rules and subsidies. He discovered Boeing during the course of this campaign after I'd been talking about it for months. "
ok 2 things from this... Fair playing field.. got it... how do you make it fair? the benefit from outsourcing is that the labor is cheaper.. Sure it's nice you can defer some of your taxes... but it's still going to happen because... those programmers in India/China make substantially less than us. 8 of them get paid what one of us do.. get that through your skull. Secondly, the boeing thing wouldn't even be an issue if they could get the tanker lease. but that's an entirely different story. (I think i'm much more qualified than most to speak on this since i work at Boeing...) the EU subsidizes every effort of Airbus becuase they made it their concern to be dominant in this arena. Level the playing field though? Their government is willing to take these hits to provide jobs and private healthcare (through Airbus) in order to help them. The only way to level this field is to provide the same here.. and trust me.. that aint happening. Over there Airbus is a special case.. we can't do that here. It's not going to be level and there aint a damn thing kerry or bush can do about it. Or.. you can get the French more pissed off at us.. But that doesn't matter much IMHO =).
"The fact is that the president had an opportunity to stand up and take on China for currency manipulation."
what are you going to do? Impose sanctions on the biggest market in the world? they laugh and buy from japan. Simple. Dealing with China is difficult at best. The chinese are hard-nosed and stubborn. We cheat, manipulate and cut corners.. and don't like to be called out for it (yes.. i'm Chinese too.) I don't know what bush could/should do. But I also don't know what Kerry's plan on that would be. so i call it a wash.
Bush's response:
"Let me start with the Pell Grants. In his last litany of misstatements. He said we cut Pell Grants. We've increased Pell Grants by a million students. That's a fact. "
score. about time.. but makes you think about everything else kerry calls out about bush. Not too many of the other statements were defended like this...
The rest of it was hub bub.. trying to redefine what government spending was. George.. the fact remains if the money is collected by the governemnt.. it is gov money. So what you were saying is that our cash was collected.. processed (which means.. what? 15-25% overhead) and then reimbursed back to us. Can i have teh processing and handling fees back too? No.. kerry is right.. this is GOVERNMENT money, that you chose to give out to the people. But thats ok.. you broke from subject again.. i'm getting used to it.. You SUCK too.
Kerry: basically he said.. bush was manipulating what his votes meant. (um.. duh?) that was his entire defense.
8. Ok moving on to gay marriage..
blah blah.. marriage rights... blah blah.. god's children. They both oppose it.. why is this in the discussion? Kerry will support it if enough people will vote for him on it.. before they vote for someone else that is.. basically this issue is a non-issue with teh two. blah
9. Abortion.
The phrasing of question first.. GAHHH!!!(in my best Howard Dean impression).. Schieffer sucks so bad..!
Schieffer to kerry, "The New York Times reports that some Catholic archbishops are telling their church members that it would be a sin to vote for a candidate like you because you support a woman's right to choose an abortion and unlimited stem-cell research."
Kerry: "I believe that choice is a woman's choice. It's between a woman, God and her doctor. And that's why I support that. "
Man.. don't spout that you are Catholic and then say that its between the woman, God, and the doctor....
"Now, with respect to religion, you know, as I said, I grew up a Catholic. I was an altar boy. I know that throughout my life this has made a difference to me.
My faith affects everything that I do, in truth. There's a great passage of the Bible that says, 'What does it mean, my brother, to say you have faith if there are no deeds? Faith without works is dead.'
That's why I fight against poverty. That's why I fight to clean up the environment and protect this earth. "
Faith?!?! not much of one.. You're daughters.. who is their blood mother? Oh.. that woman you anulled so you could marry the ugly hag you call your wife.. oh.. she's worth 1 billion dollars? ok.. i understand. Please do not talk about faith.
"But I know this, that President Kennedy in his inaugural address told all of us that here on Earth, God's work must truly be our own. And that's what we have to -- I think that's the test of public service. "
how bout you take some ownership and stop trying to pretend you are JFK(ennedy). do your own work.. make your own claims.. Quote thyself.
Bush response: "Take, for example, the ban on partial birth abortion. It's a brutal practice. People from both political parties came together in the halls of Congress and voted overwhelmingly to ban that practice. It made a lot of sense. My opponent, in that he's out of the mainstream, voted against that law."
um.. ouch.
he didnt' really say much more in regard to laws on abortion.. talked about maternity homes and abstinence programs.. not abortion...
so recount.. Kerry talked about his faith.. bush talked about partial birth.. and then other programs.. both strayed... what a surprise...
9. health care.. (again?)
it was the same question pretty much as earlier.. both said teh same thing.. notice themes? They each have roughly ONE canned answer.. and they do anything to divert the question that way. Kerry blames bush for rise in cost.. decrease in accessibility. Bush blames kerry for his voting record.. OK.. enough.. we move on.
10. still health care.. (sigh... you coudl pick a bum off the street with more direction than bob schieffer.)
11. social security...
i can't keep this up.. more later... so painful.
October 15th, 2004
finally
Posted by bert at 06:23 AM on October 15, 2004 in ME.
time for a weekend trip with my crew. I thought we were going to vegas but i was mistaken. Reno it is baby. apparenly the fake snow is already coming out!.. YAY.. it's only mid october!!!.. and so... with money and board in hand.. I'm out like the trout.. (oh dear.. where are you IRC fans out there?) anyway.. see ya again monday.
A Fact Based Argument for the War in Iraq
Posted by bert at 01:53 PM on October 15, 2004 in ME.
ok.. it's just a link.. but it's a good write up. If you are voting because you feel the war in Iraq ( NOT Afghanistan) is wrong, please please please read it.
This of course doesn't mean i agree with everything in it =)
http://www.ornery.org/essays/2004-10-13-1.html
i.e.
what does abu nidal has to do with us invading. he was shot to death in 2002.
the 1993 plotted assasination of Bush is.. 12 years old.. had no merit towards our recent war.
ugh.. just read it.
October 17th, 2004
this sucks...
Posted by bert at 10:37 PM on October 17, 2004 in ME.
I lost my cell phone.
and i can't transfer the numbers... so
i lost everyone's number.
Please call my cell or IM me to have me add you again.
919-454-6944. I'll be buying a new phone with my vegas money tomorrow.
October 18th, 2004
Weekend Recap
Posted by bert at 10:04 AM on October 18, 2004 in ME.
so... ok..not so quick cap. (vegas trip)
(Read More)
Currently feeling: tired. VERY TIRED
October 19th, 2004
The first step is to admit your problem
Posted by bert at 02:56 PM on October 19, 2004 in ME.
ok.. so i have an addiction...
I like to buy stuff.
So.. just today.. I bought another laptop. This is the THIRD laptop I have now bought since... July of 2003.
scary huh?
but.. Dell was selling all laptops over 1500 bucks at 750 off the price.
So i ended up getting a 700m at 825 including shipping and handling!.
w00..
October 20th, 2004
Yay!. when it rains....
Posted by bert at 09:04 AM on October 20, 2004 in ME.
it pours?
well not really... when it rains.. LA traffic becomes a mess. These people would NEVER survive the snow in Chicago or New York.
My normally 15 minute commute today took 1 hour and 25 minutes.. and i saw 4 accidents and 2 roads flooded in my 11 mile commute. You would think people would be a little more cautious after seeing other accidents in the road... guess not.
How the Yankees can lose
Posted by bert at 02:12 PM on October 20, 2004 in ME.
Well.. here it is.. Sports Illustrated's overpaid writers like tom verducci, analyzing game 7 for us.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/tom_verducci/10/20/five.keys/index.html?cnn=yes
titled "5 keys to Red Sox - Yankees Game 7"
really.. there's 5 keys?
only one thing matter.. who scores more runs. That's it.. man.. break it down so you can write about more crap.. its about as bad as me being pissy and bitching about your article just so i can bitch about something
Go Yanks.. I hope you lose tonight =)
October 21st, 2004
I couldn't help myself
Posted by bert at 09:33 AM on October 21, 2004 in Poker.
I was watching the Yankees and Redsox.. and frankly for awhile.. i just didn't care.. But i couldn't NOT watch the "big game." You know? so... i fired up PP and sat down at the $100 NL table.
now.. i'm really confused at these people who play online, sometimes. They see bluffing on ESPN and think that it's a great play to make huge ass bluffs at pots... *shrug* okay...
So i get dealt pocket Kings.. and double the blinds to $4. 4 other people call before someone takes it to $10. I call and 2 others fold.. so we're going 4 handed into a roughly $50 pot already.
Flop comes out.. K 8 2. It's a rainbow flop and just beautiful for me to see. Absolutely ideal.
one of teh guys bets $4 at it.. I call, the other guy calls, adn the guy who raised preflop to $10, raises it to $15 to go.
original better calls, and I call. last guy folds
Turn, Jack. (still rainbow).
we check to raiser, who bets $75. (yeah.. no kidding right?) I have him pegged on pocket jacks. Other guy folds, and I call.
River 3.
I bet my remaining $10 bucks.. and of course the guy calls.. I flip over my Pocket Kings. and he mucks.
Of course the great thing about party poker is that they show you what people were playing with if the bet is called on the river.
He hand Pocket 9's.
WHAT THE HECK!?!?
why would you bet 105 bucks on pocket 9's if nothing hits. There are two overcards (K and J) on the board...
sheesh.. anyway.. I doubled up.. played another 2-3 rounds and walked off the table up $200 in the end. But.. I was still shaking my head thinking about what that dude was doing. Oh well.. more props to him.
Media's Role in the Presidential Race.
Posted by bert at 11:10 AM on October 21, 2004 in politics.
If i were to ask any naive person off the street if it was the Media's role to fairly and unbiasedly report about the presidential race, then most people would agree.
If i asked people if certain media centers like ABC were slightly biased in their reporting, again most would agree.
If i asked the same people if these media centers were purposely doing it..., or rather were truly expressing how they personally felt. I beleive we would start to get some hesitation.
I used to believe that the press unconsciously supported the more left leaning candidate simply because... their ideologies are closer together than the right wing conservative policies.
That is until i stumbled onto the
drudge report.
this is basically talking about a memo from ABC Political Director Mark Halperin that he sent out to all the political commentators on friday October 8th.
Click here for the full thing (scanned)
Now read it and tell me what you think? How is this in any way shape or form, good journalistic Ethics?
It goes without saying that the stakes are getting very high for the country and the campaigns - and our responsibilities become quite grave
I do not want to set off (sp?) and endless colloquy that none of us have time for today - nor do I want to stifle one. Please respond if you feel you can advance the discussion.
The New York Times (Nagourney/Stevenson) and Howard Fineman on the web both make the same point today: the current Bush attacks on Kerry involve distortions and taking things out of context in a way that goes beyond what Kerry has done.
Kerry distorts, takes out of context, and mistakes all the time, but these are not central to his efforts to win.
We have a responsibility to hold both sides accountable to the public interest, but that doesn't mean we reflexively and artificially hold both sides "equally" accountable when the facts don't warrant that.
I'm sure many of you have this week felt the stepped up Bush efforts to complain about our coverage. This is all part of their efforts to get away with as much as possible with the stepped up, renewed efforts to win the election by destroying Senator Kerry at least partly through distortions.
It's up to Kerry to defend himself, of course. But as one of the few news organizations with the skill and strength to help voters evaluate what the candidates are saying to serve the public interest. Now is the time for all of us to step up and do that right.
update:
I just want to point out that this isn't being covered at all in any of the major new organizations. Not at all.. but all they do is bitch about the Sinclair showing what amounts to the conservative version of Farenheit 9/11.
Ugh..i'm already dreading 2008.... The smearing going on there is going to be rediculous.
October 22nd, 2004
out on the town
Posted by bert at 12:36 AM on October 22, 2004 in ME.
I know i shouldn't be out with my flu/cold wateverh i have.. but..
you can't pass up happy hour when you are so unhappy =)
About work that is..
so.. We go to bj's and have this grand old time.
and inevitably our conversation turns to women. (the ones in the bar)
what we realized was.. the women at the BJ's in Brea... are much further ahead the national average. there were many many fine women there and we decided to take full advantage of it. I think the management may be a little upset with us, but we turned BJ's patio into club BJ's. it was great =) well with the exception for the lack of music. but... you can't beat our string of "system engineer beat boxers"
LOL. great.. again next thursday guys? maybe this time at Taps?
Moral Obligations
Posted by bert at 10:39 AM on October 22, 2004 in ME.
So... I got a call from Anna yesterday. (no not that kind of call).
She was all excited because she got a flight out to Santa Clara (far from me), California for an interview with Intel. Obviously I am very happy for her and I told her congrats.
For those of you who don't know... Anna is the ex-girlfriend, who I had plans to marry, but for some reason she decided that she couldn't handle a long distance relationship for another year and broke up with me. She ended up dating another guy long distance.. and well.. she basically broke my heart without an ounce of care for me.
I'm ok now, really I am. and I've been trying to be friends with her, and treat her as such. (don't you find it a waste to not be friends after 3 years of dating?) oh well. besides the point.
She tells me that she's getting an interview with Intel which is great, but it's for a Marketing position. She's an engineer like me, and I personally think this is a HORRIBLE mistake. If your first job out of school is a marketing position despite you having a Engineering degree.. basically it's like you're throwing away your degree. Why did you work so damn hard anyway.
My dilema now is that this is her life, and she's made it very clear that she doesn't want me as a huge part of it. I'm pretty much over it now, but I just find it such a waste of her time, and I think if she took this job it would be a total and complete waste of her talents.
But... it's just not my damn business anymore right? so... I feel as a friend I should support her.. but if i were more than a friend I would tell her what i thought.. but it's definitely something she won't want to hear. Oh well..
I've decided not to tell her, because she should be free to make her own mistakes.. consequences be damned.
October 25th, 2004
Happy B-day
Posted by bert at 07:52 AM on October 25, 2004 in ME.
To the best girl in the world. My sister
Linda (loser started a tabby account just to post comments =P) turns the big 2-0 today. I can't begin to describe how special she is (and smart and talented.. i still don't believe you are going to Yale...). so if you have a few extra moments, Catch the wiz kid herself on AIM (Linders1025) and wish her a very happy b-day too.
Linda, I hope nothing but the best for you kiddo. Today is your day. Hope you enjoy it. And just you wait till i come up. We be partying up New Haven like they aint nevah seen it befores.
It's a Politically Correct Halloween, Charlie Brown.
Posted by bert at 12:51 PM on October 25, 2004 in ME.
Ok.. so this has to be the
craziest piece of crap story i have ever heard in anals of political correctness.
ok.. so let me get this straight.. A school in Washington (state) is not allowing kids to dress up for Halloween? because it is offensive to REAL WITCHES?!?!
"Witches with pointy noses and things like that are not respective symbols of the Wiccan religion and so we want to be respectful of that," Puyallup School District spokeswoman Karen Hansen said.
You just can't make up crap like this. really.....
Go tell people that they aren't allowed to wear U-Wash husky shirts because it's offensive to Dogs? What about buying bug spray since it's offensive to bugs! Or how about not wearing yellow, because some asian dude finds it offensive?
This can't be real!!! How can some 12 year old kid dressed up as Spiderman, Harry Potter, or Frodo be offensive to someone who practices the dark arts? What about dressing up as Santa being offensive to the Jews?
WHEN WILL THIS MADNESS STOP?
did i ever mention that I really hate stupid people?
Currently feeling: annoyed
Jon Stewart
Posted by bert at 01:14 PM on October 25, 2004 in politics.
Ok.. so.. about 10 days ago (friday something.. whatever)... Jon Stewart was the guest on crossfire. That show.. yeah.. it was great.. and unless you were in a hole somewhere, you should have seen it. Now....
if you haven't seen Stewart totally destroy the hosts...
Read it
here
watch it
here
I spent over a week looking (not to hard obviously) for these links =P I found them and here you go.
Just FYI.. I agree with Stewart Completely.. These television schmucks suck.. and stewart as payment will be on 60 minutes last this week.... ooooohhhhh yeah.. =) My Tivo is set.
Looking for a Costume
Posted by bert at 05:33 PM on October 25, 2004 in ME.
I've been trying to decide what to dress up as for Halloween. I pretty much have no clue since my idea as a samurai got shot once that evil "stylist" (and i really hesistate to even give her that level of credit) literrally chopped off my topknot. Yes.. i look like every other asian dude with short spikey hair now. Shuddup =P
I'm thinking about goign as the asian gilligan, but yeah.. tha'ts just lame.. but it would be easy..
Anyway.. I went to the Halloween shop and noticed something today.
For women, there are 2 sides to every costume. You can be "costume A" or you can be "sexy costume A"
case in point.
Lady bug vs. Sexy Lady Bug
Nurse vs. Sexy Nurse
French Maid vs. who are you kidding.. french maids are already sexy
but.. just thought that was rather hillarious.
I'm still waiting for sexy pooh bear, but i guess you can't win them all huh?
October 26th, 2004
Ashlee Simpson and her acid reflux
Posted by bert at 12:30 PM on October 26, 2004 in ME.
Acid reflux is the reason Joe Simpson (her dad and manager) gave in regards to why ashlee was lip syncing on SNL this weekend. In the day and age of the Internet... it's dangerous to be caught. She was, and now her career is over. But more importantly, do you think jessica and nick will break up?
October 27th, 2004
Laughing gas
Posted by bert at 01:52 PM on October 27, 2004 in ME.
My god... that stuff is so deservedly named.
I had a root canal done today (yeah.. it sucks ARSE!). but one of the 'benefits' was that i got gassed.
My god.. about 30 minutes after they started gassing me.. i was just floating along, and drifting. more potent then anything else i have ever experienced... but man.. coming off that high is something else.. especially when that happens in your cubicle...
*sigh* and the novacaine wore off too so i'm in a whole world of hurt.
Red Sox win... (but who cares?)
Posted by bert at 09:02 PM on October 27, 2004 in ME.
Ok.. don't get me wrong.. I'm really glad that they did. And i'm Happy for all their fans. I totally understand (somewhat) the feeling of rooting for a losing team and the dedication that goes behind that. I have been a Tampa Bay Buccanneers fan for well over a decade (14 years) now. My Bucs won it a couple years ago and it was absolute glee. It was great and tomorrow is the RedSox Nation's day. Nothing, NOTHING can take it away from them. So.. much applause for them.
Now lemme get into my real reason for posting.
The SportsGuy (Page2 on espn) did a piece today about this moment. About the Redsox winning this for... everyone. What? you don't know who this is? It is a MUST read.
Just read it.. IT is the SECOND BEST sports column on the web. (behind Tuesday Morning Quarterback by Craig Easterbrook).
Anyway.. the article goes on about who the Red Sox should win this for. and it mentions someone else's post on a Pro-Sox forum.
Win it for Johnny Pesky, who deserves to wear a Red Sox uniform in the dugout during the 2004 World Series. Mr. Henry, the trophy needs to be presented first of all to him.
Win it for Bobby Doerr, who, through the sadness of losing his beloved Monica, would love to see his Sox finally defeat New York in Yankee Stadium. Revenge is best served cold.
Win if for Dommie, the most loyal and devoted of men. If he hadn't gotten hurt in Game 7 of the '46 Series, Enos Slaughter would never have scored.
Win it for Carl Yastrzemski. While his heart still aches today, may a smile break through his personal storm-cloud this evening. His beloved son, Mike, will show us the way. God speed, number eight.
Win it for Ted, who once said, "If they ever won it, I would feel so @#%$ warm inside."
Win it for Tony, who taught us all the meaning of courage and grit. A day doesn't go by when I don't think of you, number 25.
Win it for Nedly and Ken and Possum - who provided us with nothing less than the soundtrack to our childhoods.
Win it for Richard Gorman, who followed the team passionately while residing in Queens and the Bronx. He was a master teacher, a supportive friend, and a diehard Red Sox fan.
Win if for Stiffy - who saw firsthand Denny Galehouse's hanging curves, worshiped the Golden Greek even after he died so suddenly back in '55, and got misty-eyed when Rico Petrocelli began to back-peddle on a squirting pop-up to short left-field on a placid October afternoon back in 1967.
Win if for Cheri - may she cry on Giff's shoulders tonight in pure joy and emotion - and not in the stew of pathos. Cheri's unconditional love for the Red Sox serves as a genuine measuring stick for us all.
Win it for Felix - who began living out "The September of My Years" last month as he hit fifty; a fan who has always believed that the impossible is just not a dream.
Win it for Eric Van. Eric, you have truly embodied Hemingway's definition of courage recently. Grace under pressure, indeed.
Win if for Eric Van's father.
Win it for Dalton and Moose and Norm and Buck and Zup and all of the other old-timers on this board whose lives have defined the virtue of loyalty.
Win it for our far-off posters, from Manila to Montana to Mark in London, who have continually kept the home fires burning thousands of miles away from Route 128.
Most of all, win it for James Lawrence Kelly, 1913-1986. This one's for you, Daddy. You always told me that loyalty and perseverance go hand in hand. Thanks for sharing the best part of you with me.
and then there are other posts (51 pages and counting worth).
Basically about who the Red Sox need to win it for.
But they are missing one HUGE party to win it for.
The Red Sox are winning it for us Cubs Fans. We have suffered longer. Are plight is even greater. And after Red Sox nation showed us the way, 2005 is in our path.
Cubs 2005. Here we go baby.
I demand a recount!
Posted by bert at 10:48 PM on October 27, 2004 in politics.
well.. the election is too damn close to call. So I want a recount!
say what? the election hasn't been held?
phooey!.. it has.. haven't you been watching TV? Apparently everything is/will happen as they predict. Isn't that what TV is for?
Anyway.. I'm demanding my recount now. I don't doubt that it will happen in Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, California. We know all the voting machines don't work. Or how about those butterfly ballots?
Btw.. Anyone watch the newest Southpark?
yeah.. That's how I feel this year.. It's between a Douche and a Giant Turd. *sigh*
the greatness of the buffet
Posted by bert at 11:36 PM on October 27, 2004 in Good Eats.
These are pictures of the plates I had at the greatest buffet in the world.
The belagio buffet in Las Vegas. Found them while cleaning up my picture folder. Anyway.. the near-rare steak you see there is Kobe beef and it is worth the $30 alone just to eat Kobe Steak. Yum.. not to mention some of their veal teragon, and lamb shanks.. and.. chocolate dipped strawberries. Yeah.. I know you're jealous =)
but this is why I tell everyone that goes to Vegas... The Bellagio Buffet is the place to eat.
October 29th, 2004
And now to the Happiest Place on Earth...
Posted by bert at 08:23 AM on October 29, 2004 in ME.
My friend Lauren, and new friend Joyce came to Cali for a vacation, so of couse i took thme to where they really wanted to go. the mall.. Took them first to a place called fashion island (yes.. really ritzy) followed by Southcoast plaza (still expensive). They loved it and only dropped about 200-250 each.
Heh.. but what i'm really excited about (yes.. iknow this is sad) is that we're going to DISNEYLAND!!
well.. that and for halloween i get the both of them to dress up as naughty/sexy/take your choice school girls and i get to be sketchy teacher with big ruler =).
bwuahhahaha. I'm debating whether you guys get pictures. =)
The left wins the media war.
Posted by bert at 08:41 AM on October 29, 2004 in ME.
welll... i dont know if you have been following this Bill O'Reilly story or not but if you haven't.. lemme fill you in.
Bill O'Reilly and a former co-worker decided to be somewhat intimate. and they had funny phone conversations. And the girl taped them. (prolly without Bill's Consent).
Bill is worth millions, and now she has some of them.
Now.. there is freedom of the press. And yes.. Bill is somewhat of a public figure.. but man... are you kidding me? This is his private life. I rue the slippery slope that this is. The leftist media just doesn't care though. Ruin the guy's career fine. He deserves it for his ruining others.. but i don't see how this split in ideology can continue peacefully. If you are a left wing media nut, you just better hope your reporters have never had a sexual thought either.
October 30th, 2004
Day at Disney Land
Posted by bert at 10:17 AM on October 30, 2004 in ME.
ok.. i'll load pictures in a bit. but my batteries need to recharge first =)
First off.. some comments about the 'happiest place on earth."
For a place that is THIS HAPPY, there sure are a lot of crying kids. Worse yet there are a ton of annoyed parents. They all have this face on them that is saying.. "God... what have i done? Why have brought these monsters here. Oh well.. at least i'm not as bad off as THAT guy."
$50 a ticket?!?! for one park. and if you want both California Adventures AND Disneyland... ooh.. it's more. And lets not forget that parking has gone up to $9 a vehicle.
WHAT THE HELL DID YOU GUYS DO TO THE TEACUPS. it was SOOO slow.. we couldn't not spina nd puke... so sad... =(
List of attractions that were closed: Matterhorn and Space Mountain. Hello folks.. those two rides MAKE Disney. Good thing they didn't close down Tower of Terror or I would have been pissed.
The sped up the nightmare before x-mas haunted house tour. i swear.. it must have been 3 minutes long. last year it was about 10.
clam chowder bread bowl is now 8 bucks a pop.
Mickey Mouse Ice cream bar is $4
Turkey Legs are still the best buy in the park at $6 a leg.
14 hours of walking the theme park in sandals starts to hurt your feet after the 10th hour.
Pirates of the Carribean ride really sucks. And it's ugly now because they're upgrading.
Closing down Snow White's Castle is stupid. EVERYONE wants to just walk through castle. ugh.. facelift bad.
I want to choke the annoying girl dressed up as ariel/belle/mulan/pocahantes/cinderella/name another princess who is crying about her parents not buying her the magical wand/tiara/crown/mouse ears.
The annoying boy in the belle dress is worse.
ok.. i'll find some pictures to post =)
October 31st, 2004
a photo from disney =)
Posted by bert at 01:19 PM on October 31, 2004 in ME.
we're keeping this sanitized =)
i'll post some halloween pics later. Man... so many restrictions when the 'rents read blogs =)
