its all about presentation...

I was downloading images from a recent trip to seattle, and found this gem. Not only is the leader enough to send me into a fit of hilarity...but take a closer look at the rest of the window...

That's right...They're sorry that they are open. Sorry they are open. oh my. I guess being Snappy isn't enough for Auntie Mo?

2004's Scariest Halloween Costumes c/o thestranger.com

oh..no. wrong in sooo many ways. yet funny, in such a sad way. It was the innocuious way in which it was presented...it feels so wrong.

" The Littlest Prisoner at Abu Ghraib

Your child will be the hit of the neighborhood costume parade in this recreation of the Abu Ghraib prisoner-abuse scandal's most indelible image. As an added bonus this easy-to-make costume will remind everyone on your child's trick-or-treat route of our national shame! Simply roll a cone from a sheet of 24"x38" black cardstock, making sure to cut out a hole for the face. Drape with two yards of black felt, and add leftover wires from your last lamp-rewiring project. VoilÀ! So easy, so quick, and so terrifying!

Total cost: Under $20.
Total time: Under two hours."

Its the grin on this kid is unbelievable. He, and I, will be scarred for life.

Conservative Sinclair Media Group tied to Porn?

Sinclair Media Group, the broadcasting conglomerate which famously aired an anti-Kerry smear program last Friday, reportedly has links to the adult biz.

Sinclair is ran by David Smith, who in the mid-1970s was a partner in a company called Cine Processors, according the Los Angeles Times, which cites public records and a former partner in the company as sources. David E. Williams, Smith’s partner in the business, told the Times that Cine Processors’ sole business was the development of 8mm pornographic films.

hehehe...too god to be true!

Best Book EVER!!!

Best - book - Ever! it is out of print, (unfortunately) but it still looks like a good 'ol fashioned page turner about "sister-hood", loving and well more loving. It is set in "olde west" and it is a story of a women trying to solve the mystery of her sisters murder, and getting out of the dustbowl together....

Lynne Cheney - the 2nd Lady is an accomplished writer with a PhD in 19th century English Lit. Yet, I wonder though about her influences.....

It looks like whitehouse.org has managed to find a rare signed copy of this book and has it on e-bay. The most recent bid that I've seen is for $405... wowie wow!

Kevin Sites' Bog

Kevin Sites is a freelance solo journalist currently on assignment for NBC News in Iraq. In the meantime he's updating his blog with interesting information and observations of what it going on in Iraq.

"Like most of the bulk of the military, aside from officers and non-coms, they're kids really -- 18, 19, 20 years old. They switch from playing imaginary war games on an Xbox in the base rec rooms to living and fighting in a real war. They flip from astounding maturity, trusting each other with their lives, brotherly bonds, to head-shaking juvenile antics -- belittling each others manhood, intelligence, haircuts--whatever presents itself as an appropriate weakness."
[....]
Camp Abu Graib is a well fortified, but livable dusty bowl...There is a chow hall, which serves pre-prepared meals; the camp is too small (under one-thousand) to qualify for a civilian food operation usually provided by Halliburton subsidiary KBR (Kellog, Brown and Root).
[...]
Despite a history of sacrifice for the nation -- the U.S. Marines are the redheaded, stepchildren of the Pentagon when it comes to the budget process.
With only 150,000 active duty Marines in the whole corps -- they get "hand me down" everything -- or nothing at all. While almost all the combat Army units in Iraq have been issued the shorter-barreled M4 assault rifle (better for urban warfare, easier to wield getting in and out of humvees) and night vision goggles, the Marines are still mostly carrying M16's and are lucky to have one set of nv specs per squad."

I just thought that these were interesting little notes on the current state of being for the Marines and the requirements that we ask of them. Now before you jump all over me, I have to say that I support our troops, but what I don't support is the way in which this administration has dishonored them and the returining veterans by cutting pay to VA hospitals, health coverage and their pay for their dutiful services to our country and the countless others we police on a daily basis.

I am a patriot, and I support our troops. I do NOT support war, of any kind.
And incase you forget - to dissent is american. To be silent in fear of your government is a dictatorship.

speak up.

I'm Movin to Canada - eh?

In light of the upcoming election perhaps you may be thinking of alternate nations of residence.

The good people of Canada have a self-assessment test online to help you determine whether or not you'd be considered a "skilled worker" for immigration purposes. you can take the test to see if you're eligible.

Apparently if you graduated college and can speak english, you have a leg up on the competition. I got a Score of 73 out of 100, and the passing score is 67...

ahhh...socialized medicine, schooling and geriatric care HERE I COME!!!

A new background change - hopefully to inspire choice

Apathy... Its what we're known world-wide for.

I refuse to believe that there are people out there that truly believe that they don't matter, or that their voice doesn't matter. My family had shed blood for the opportunity to simply express their choice. To be apathetic is a luxury I have never been afforded, nor is it one that I shall ever hand over.

So I'm doing my little bit to remind myself and others what this is all about. I don't care who you decide....Just make the decision. Stop being outraged, happy, whatever - do it. Damn-it. You have NO excuse.

and if you don't - then you have no right to say ANYTHING.

This November 2nd...effect change.

Sarah Zadow : 1912 - 2004

My Grandmother, Sarah Zadow, died peacefully in her sleep this past Sunday night.

She was 92. The beloved wife of my Grandfather, Abraham, for nearly 70 years, she was the last of 13 children and part of the last great generation of "First Americans." She was born into poverty and struggled most of her life to leave that poverty behind her. Loyal and strong, she rarely left my grandfather's side for more than a few days at a time. She traveled extensively, read voraciously, and had the sharpest tongue just "this side" of Dorothy Parker. She was an accomplished artist in both glass and ceramics, and as a result I have many treasured pieces of hers throughout my home. She is pictured below.

I have no date for this photo, I can only assume that it was around her mid to late teens. She was unfortunate in so much that she was orphaned when she was barely 13 years of age. She was shuffled about from family member to family member during one of the most difficult times in American history, and yet she survived it all to become one of the most stalwart women I have ever known. She never finished school, and lived all of her life in California. She was born in East LA to one of the first Orthodox Rabbi's in California, Yehuda Davidson. He was 76 when she was born. Her mother, Rebbeca Margolis died not long after Yehuda did, leaving her and her three siblings to be raised by half brothers and sisters.

For the last 12 years she has been struggling with Alzheimer’s. Thankfully her struggle is now over and she is at peace. She is survived by myself (one of her 3 grand children) 3 great grandchildren and two of her own (my mother and uncle). All of them blessed with her good looks, strong character and sharp minds.

We will miss you Grandma.

I always wondered about how babies were born

I really really wish that this were a joke. But its not. And what makes it even more hilarious is that it explains soooo much of how my mother and father interacted with each other over the years....and she's a jew and he's an agnotstic; but they were both born in the late 30's... which would have made them teens about the time this came out.

I'm a Progressive?

Who knew....

I am Progressive Girl Click on the picture below to read more: Take the 'What Kind of Girl Are You?' quiz at CookingToHookup.com

Fluffer Nutters - AWAY!!!

how can you not love the forever fluffernutter!

Looking at the lovely fluffernutter, makes me think " Ohh Soooo Yummy!"
so thank goodness the people at Marshmellow Fluff have a wonderful cookbook for you and me!! They've named it The Yummy Book!

oh my, the double entdre is killing me.

Turner Classic Movies This Month Article

Oh God you guys!!!
Who Knew the TMC (Turner Movie Classics) would get , like all Political on our collective asses!!!

Party Politics & the Movies
In this very political year, as we approach the November elections, TCM has invited four prominent U.S. Senators to appear in interviews with host Ben Mankiewicz to introduce significant films in their lives.

On October 7, John Edwards, Democratic vice presidential candidate and U.S. Senator from North Carolina, will consider Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964). Edwards chose Stanley Kubrick's black comedy about nuclear war because of its message that "putting this kind of power into the hands of human beings - no matter who they are - is an extraordinary thing."

I for one, think that he intended to remind us of that closing scene in which Slim Pickens... anyway Slate.com's Surfergirl says it best:

This 1964 black comedy is best remembered for its closing image: Slim Pickens, playing a bellicose Texan Air Force pilot, yodels with glee as he rides a "nucular" missile to his death, initiating worldwide Armageddon. Essentially, Strangelove is the story of a few deluded powermongers who destroy the world because they can't admit they're wrong. Edwards was bashful about drawing parallels, but host Ben Mankiewicz finally baited the hook for him: "Is there any message you would like President Bush or Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to get from this movie?" Edwards' answer, delivered in his usual courtly drawl, was a quiet little knife in the president's ribs: "Human beings are fallible.They make mistakes ... That's why it's so important to have somebody at the top of the civilian government who understands what's happening and has good sound judgment."

Boing Boing: A Directory of Wonderful Things - oh how I love them!!

Direct from Boing Boing:
Unintended consequences of Cheney's dot-com v dot-org debate goof

During last night's vice presidential debate, Dick Cheney advised viewers interested in his version of the facts about Halliburton to visit factcheck.com. Evidently, he meant to direct them to factcheck dot ORG, a site run by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, but mis-spoke. Factcheck dot COM redirects you to GeorgeSoros.com which contains arguments on 'why we must not re-elect President George Bush.' Whups.
For their part, the factcheck dot ORG folks say:

Cheney got our domain name wrong -- calling us 'FactCheck.com' -- and wrongly implied that we had rebutted allegations Edwards was making about what Cheney had done as chief executive officer of Halliburton. In fact, we did post an article pointing out that Cheney hasn't profited personally while in office from Halliburton's Iraq contracts, as falsely implied by a Kerry TV ad. But Edwards was talking about Cheney's responsibility for earlier Halliburton troubles. And in fact, Edwards was mostly right.

BoingBoing reader Clay says Soros and Co. have no idea who directed the vicepresidential linklove their way. "My friend designed the Soros blog and says [redirecting factcheck.com to the Soros site] was a happy for the unrequested favor. Whois turns up not enough of a clue..."

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Yahoo! News - U.S. Flu Vaccine Supply Cut in Half

Yahoo! News - U.S. Flu Vaccine Supply Cut in Half: "WASHINGTON - Americans' supply of flu vaccine was cut in half Tuesday as Britain abruptly shut down a major supplier just as flu season is about to begin. Facing a record shortage, U.S. health officials scrambled to reserve remaining shots for the elderly and others at highest risk from influenza."


great...just another reason to stay home on election day, right?

O'Reilly flip-flopped on picking debate winner

O'Reilly flip-flopped on picking debate winner

Listen to this audio clip:
O'Reilly flip-flopped on picking debate winner

One week before the first presidential debate, FOX News Channel host Bill O'Reilly promised his radio show listeners: "[W]e're going to give you a numerical system -- who won the debate and then how they won." Following the September 30 debate, however, as a consensus emerged that Senator John Kerry had "won" the debate, O'Reilly changed his mind. "I'm not going to tell you who won the debate because I really don't have any right to tell you that," he said.

you gotta Job? Well you're doin better than most

From MSNBC:Filed via Reuters Updated: 11:44 a.m. ET Oct. 5, 2004

"NEW YORK - U.S. planned job cuts soared to an eight-month high in September while new hiring rose only slightly, a report said on Tuesday.

Employment consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. said employers announced 107,863 layoffs in September, 41 percent more than in September 2003 and 45 percent more than in August of this year, when 74,150 were laid off.

The September figure was the largest since January 2004, when employers laid off 117,556 workers.

The September figure brings third-quarter job cuts to 251,585, 19.9 percent more than the 209,895 registered in the previous quarter and 4 percent more than the 241,548 for the third quarter of 2003.

Job losses in September were particularly heavy in the computer, transportation, telecommunications and consumer products industries, the report said."

makes me appreciate what I've got, no matter how much I hate it here. Maybe if I'm lucky I can keep it for a bit longer.