Going to Hell in a Handbasket?

What a hectic week. Real life got busy for me and of course there's been this huge fucking financial crisis our nation finds itself in. Everyone is playing politics in Washington and the financial analysts on television are crying that the sky is falling. Keep in mind those experts have a lot invested in the stock market. So I don't know what the truth is anymore. All I know is, people are playing politics while the country is falling apart and in the end, we're going to pay for it.

This is happening at the worst possible time. In an election year, no one wants to do the wrong thing. The Republicans are already in huge trouble because this is happening after eight years of their man in the White House. They've been trying to blame the last two years of Democratic rule in Congress for the fiasco but only someone who has his head up his ass would believe that.

The Democrats are not helping. They don't want to push this thing through by themselves because they don't want to shoulder all the blame if it goes bad. So nothing is being done.

Personally, I don't care if nothing gets bailed out. It will be a very costly lesson but after eight years of George W. Bush and company we deserve it. Not everyone. I didn't vote for the dumbass EVER. Not the first time and certainly not the second.

Between the war in Iraq and the greed of those who are the haves and have mores - Bush's words, not mine - who put this jerk in office, we are so screwed.

Recession? Depression? This country deserves it, I'm sorry to say. We all live beyond our means. The example set by the White House and the Republicans have us all borrowing and living off credit. If you don't want taxes, it's fine but this government has grown larger under the Bush Administration and with no additional income, guess where the money comes from? If not us then from other countries. We are so in debt already it's mind boggling.

So how does John McCain figure he's going to continue to keep us in Iraq while we can't even pay for our very existence at home? Someone needs to ask him about that and if he thinks that surge was such a great idea now that it mires us in Iraq. How's he going to pay for that war when we have a $700 billion dollar bailout to deal with?

I am so sick of war mongering, lying, criminal bastards in the White House. If John McCain wins I say we deserve to no longer be the top dog on the block. If we really want the kind of country the Republicans seem to want us to be, then I think we should go the way of Rome and every other 'super power' that came after them.

[NP: Paul Simon - Under African Skies]

Short But Funny

It's been a busy day. All I have today is this funny sign generator I found at Gorengal's Livejournal page.

Here's an example:


There are Dr. Seuss, Peanuts, Scooby Doo characters along with movie marquees, etc.

It's fun. Now that I'm not at work and have actual fun things to do, I'm off. :-)

Taking a Breath

It's relatively quiet today. People still grousing over the presidential debate and pondering the vice presidential one. That bail out looks like it's going to happen and my husband - who used to trade stocks and has a lot more working knowledge of Wall Street and the economy than I do - says he smells a rat. I kind of agree as the last time Democrats and Republicans approved something so heartily was NAFTA. That didn't work out so good for the little guy. Large companies like Kellogg liked it. Jobs went from Battle Creek to Mexico in no time flat. Ross Perot may have been a crackpot but he wasn't stupid and he got one thing right on the money. NAFTA went through and that big sucking sound sucked a lot of jobs out of Michigan.

Looking around it seems the rest of the country didn't so well either. Unfortunately this crisis is coming at a most unfortunate time. Both Democrats and Republicans are sweating it because they don't want to NOT do anything and they are afraid that what they do may end up being the WRONG thing. It's not pretty folks.

So here I sit contemplating my day. We roasted coffee, tasted it - I'm kind of buzzed right now on caffeine, watched some more Six Feet Under and of course surfed the internet. Somewhere in all that laundry got done and things got picked up from yesterday.

At this point I need a break from all this political stress and bullshit. Even Sarah Palin stopped being funny and started seeming even more scary in her ineptness. I shudder to think what would happen to this country under another George W. Bush and she now seems even more unprepared than he was when he stepped into the office and that really is sad.

So I spent a lot of time reading blogs, visiting forums and chatting about LOCI and other things. Also came across this post on 'The Good Doctor," an LOCI episode, capped and scripted by BobbyG. She also has caps of Eames, partners and Bobby alone if you're so inclined to check them all out. :-)

Also, OnlyJustWhisper made a video for me. I requested she put together a LOCI video to the tune 'In Your Eyes' by Peter Gabriel. It's one of my most favorite songs and every time I hear it I think of Goren and Eames. She made it and was prevented from uploading it on YouTube because of song copyright restrictions so she put it on Megaupload instead. You can check it out there if you're so inclined. She did a wonderful job with it.

Here's a list of her videos at her Livejournal site so you can find other video's she's made. She also makes SVU videos, Los Hombres de Paco (I have no idea what that is but some of you might), and one video from Stir of Echoes - starring Kathryn Erbe and Kevin Bacon.

She does a great job with them and just keeps getting better with each one. Check them out.

Oh and that video thief known as Justin Helm has stolen other people's videos as well. He's the one who stole OnlyJustWhisper's video 'When September Ends.' If you come across him on Myspace, keep in mind he's a poser and a thief.

And that's all for today. We'll see what tomorrow brings.


[NP: Wishbone Ash - Time Was]

Alaskans For Truth Rally

Came across this post at Mudflats blog and wanted to share it here. Why isn't the main stream supposedly liberal media not covering this?

Can't wait for the VP debates. Some intelligent conservatives like Kathleen Parker has called for Palin to step down. I have mixed feelings. On one hand, if she stays she drags the ticket down. On the other hand there is the risk that she will end up in the White House if McCain wins. I don't want that, either.

It's gotten to the point where I find myself not being able to watch her. It's like I felt about Dan Quayle. You just started feeling uncomfortable and nervous about what he was going to say. I'm starting to feel like that about Palin.

[NP: Bachman Turner Overdrive - Taking Care of Business]

McCain = Dr. Strangelove

Found this the other day and didn't have time to post it. It's from bravenewfilms and it's entitled John McCain is Dr. Strangelove. Since Dr. Strangelove is my favorite movie of all time and lately McCain has been an important subject of my blog, I thought I'd share this here.

Saturday Report

So we had a busy day. The morning was spent dealing with Mr. Musicwench's health problems - more on that another time as all seems to be well for now - and the afternoon was spent with in-laws. Brother-in-law (Henry) and his wife Deb came down from Grand Blanc to visit. They've been in Italy all summer. They got back in August because classes at MSU started and Henry is a lecturer there. He used to be some VP or Dean or something at the medical school there. Now he's semi-retired. Used to be a doctor, too. He's retired from that as well.

Henry is ten years older than my husband so they were really never very close. But he's affable enough and now that he's no longer a Republican and he absolutely hates George Bush and company, we get along very well. LOL We talked politics, family stuff, vacation stuff, life stuff and had a great afternoon. He loved that Rolling Stone Magazine editorial from Matt Taibi -the one I recommended in this previous post. His wife said they're going to have to get a copy to share with their friends. Henry hates the Republicans now because he has always hated the religious right and he believes they've taken over the party and put an idiot like Dubya in the White House.

Apparently I need to move to East Lansing or Ann Arbor. There are a lot of Obama supporters there. If you live where I live you'd think McCain had the election in the bag. It's kind of frustrating. Thank goodness for the internet and my ability to interact with people who are aware of all the fact and not just the ones fed to you by FIX news and the Republican party. I was told that the Rolling Stone magazine was from the devil. So that's what I'm dealing with here people. So if my anger shows through, just remember I'm stuck in the middle of conservative-land. It wasn't so bad when I first moved here but faced with one disaster after another from the Bush administration and the local populace apparently still supporting the moron makes me want to get away from the stupidity.

So it was a nice afternoon. They brought ribs and corn bread from Boston Market and a large salad. They also brought a cake in honor of Marge's birthday. Marge is my late mother-in-law. Today would have been her 91st birthday.

And my foot is all better, too. It's still purple but it's not swollen any more and walking doesn't hurt. It only hurts when I touch the spot the ice tray landed on. So I'm sure by now that nothing is broken.

Watching all the news networks today, it seems even FIX news said the instant polls gave the debate victory to Obama. John McCain's body language turned off a lot people I bet. He really was annoying me the whole time when he refused to look at Obama. How he can accuse Obama and liberals of being snobby is beyond me. He's a bitter old man who is desperate to be president and his actions throughout the week showed that. It's really quite sad to see a man who was once a true maverick reduced to a Rovian stooge.

Haven't been online much so I have to catch up. Will post any discoveries here later - or more likely tomorrow. Who knew talking could wear a person out? LOL

[NP: James Taylor - Up On The Roof]

Quick Note On The Debates

I spent most of my evening at Mudflats chatting - and I HATE live chats because it gives me a headache but I have to say, it was fun. Pretty much I think it was a draw. Basically if you like John McCain, you thought he did well. If you like Barack Obama, you thought he did well.

Me, I thought Obama did well. I didn't like McCain's body language which was stiff and rude. He didn't look at Obama once the whole time. Obama was trying to make eye contact but McCain was just ignoring him. But then I don't like John McCain and haven't since he started kissing up to the radical right. So take my view for what it's worth.

I'm a person who likes calm, cool and collected. I like someone who is intelligent and who has a grasp of the issues very well thank you. McCain showed his desire to keep us mired in Iraq even as our own country is falling apart around us. How does he intend to pay for this? I hope they ask him that in the next debate. I think knee jerk reactions and panicking is not a good thing and John McCain did that all week. Want him to be the guy who has his finger on the button? Not me.

Bottom line, do you want Captain Kirk or Captain Picard? LOL Yeah, sorry, can't help it. That just came to mind during live chat at Mudflats. Check them out, btw. Lots of fun if you're a liberal. LOL Conservatives will hate it, I'm sure. I can't wait for the Palin/Biden debate!

Well, the coffee is wearing off so I'm off to bed.

Eric Bogosian Interviews

Eric Bogosian as Captain Danny Ross on
Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Found these interviews with Eric Bogosian on Channel Ten in Australia. Posted by Shelby at Major Case today. Thanks Shelby! It's a four part interview talking about his character on LOCI and about working on the show with cast and crew and his background and also about what he expects in the upcoming season 8.



[NP: Jars of Clay - Worlds Apart]

Highlight From The Daily Show

Watched this last night. Found the links through some posts at Mudflats and couldn't resist sharing it here.





And while I'm at it, informed conservatives aren't thrilled with Sarah Palin since she's been actually talking. Also found at a thread on Mudflats. It's from Kathleen Parker of the National Review.

[NP: Kings of Leon - Manhattan]

Wolf Killer

Another quickie I found at the Mudflats blog. This is a post by Shannyn Moore discussing the Aerial Wolf Hunting Palin supports and feels is the right thing to do. Read this and you decide whether or not you approve of this and what does this say about this woman who is so staunchly 'Pro life?'

Oh and I'm sure many have already seen this photo out there. I just find it ironic that this woman who wants to kill wolves and moose, etc., is so strongly 'pro-life.' Just like Pro-lifers for the death penalty makes no sense to me either.

Hey, what do I know? I'm just a girl from Hawaii who finds herself stuck in the middle of conservative-land and wishing sometimes that she were back home where life made more sense.

Palin and child with trophy

[NP: J. J. Cale - Super Blue]

David Letterman's Top Ten Questions

Yet more comedy from Dave, courtesy of John McCain's lie to Letterman about why he couldn't be on his show. Here's the Top Ten Questions You Would Ask John McCain. It was posted by earthpro9.




Amazing what happens when lying becomes second nature to you.

[NP: The Police - Canary in a Coal Mine]

Even Little Lies Come Back To Bite You

By now we all know John McCain has once again had yet another knee jerk reaction to this whole economic crisis. He has requested to postpone the first presidential debate. He also canceled and appearance on David Letterman's show. Perhaps lying to Letterman wasn't a good thing. I found this on YouTube this morning from his show last night speaking about the whole McCain fiasco. It was posted by 1970oaktree. He also had a great question about why suspend the campaign? Go to Washington and deal with it and let your second in command, Sarah Palin continue with the campaign. Why not? She's not prepared. Enjoy the video. I certainly did. I just heard about it this morning from some of my political friends. Good questions from Letterman. And maybe Letterman wouldn't have been so pissed if you were just honest with him and said perhaps you didn't want to be seen even potentially making light of the current economic crisis and perhaps reschedule for another time?

My explanation? When you start lying all the time about things, another little lie is no big deal. You feel you can lie to someone who is just a talk show host and get away with it? Well, even little lies can come back to bite you.



Letterman sounded genuinely disappointed in McCain. My favorite Letterman observation was about the concern that when things get rough you suspend your campaign? What happens down the road when things get rough do you suspend being president? He pointed out we got a guy like that now.

So run and try and hide John McCain. The conservative element will still love you but will the rest of America?

Here's hoping not!

Oh and shout out to my friend Lenore390 who sent me the URL for this video. Don't worry, if you're kicked out of the Republican party for being so adamantly against the ineptitude and for being insulted at the Sarah Palin pick, we got room for you in the Independent section of the forum. ;-)

[NP: Led Zeppelin - In The Light]

A Confession

Heidi Klum & Tim Gunn
Project Runway

Yes, I say mean, horrible things about Dancing With the Stars. I generally think 'reality' shows are stupid.

However, I do love some reality shows on cable. LOL Besides Salon Takeover with Tabitha Coffey, I also have become enamored of Project Runway. Yes, I know, I know. Designing divas and drama queens are not generally things you would think I'd be interested in. However, this show is really fun because they make the contestants design things out of all kinds of weird and outrageous things. Car parts, things you find in a grocery store, etc.

To be honest sometimes I zone out during the actual design and creating process but I'm always there for the finale when they have their little runway fashion show and love listening to the criticism and praise. And I have to say I've gotten caught up in rooting for a winner and hoping for the downfall of the most self-centered, annoying, rude and generally unlikable person in the form of Kenley.

Kenley is a whiny, self-centered, fashion diva. She always finds someone else to blame and/or she whines like crazy! She has excuses all the time and doesn't take criticism at all. She was rude to Tim Gunn and thinks she knows it all. She never takes suggestions well and refuses to think she can do anything wrong. She shows no respect to others and bristles when she doesn't get it back. Gee, Kenley, maybe your personality needs some adjusting? Get a clue.

Not sure who I want to win at this point. I actually like everyone who is left. I think Korto or Jerell should win as they are the better designers. I do kind of feel like rooting for Leanne, though. She's the underdog here and if the underdog isn't a completely horrible person like Kenley, I tend to want them to do well.

Ah well, what can I say? I think I started watching the show because of Tim Gunn. LOL I love him.

Oddly enough I also love Heidi Klum. She has a good sense of humor about herself and that's very nice.

It is surprisingly quite an entertaining show and it is currently my guilty pleasure show of the moment.

Go ahead and laugh if you want. I do. :-)

[NP: Bob Seger - Beautiful Loser]

Still Think Nut Job is Too Strong a Word?

My conservative friends tell me I'm being too harsh when I call Palin a religious nut job. I invite you to watch this video and know that the pastor who is praying for her, Pastor Thomas Muthee, at one time went on a literal 'witch hunt' in Africa. This video was posted by Tube2HA. If this doesn't scream nut job, I don't know what does.





There are more videos on YouTube that you may find entertaining or disturbing, depending on your POV about Sarah Palin. I find it a little of both.

I also find the lack of outcry over this church compared to Senator Barack Obama's church and the Reverend Jeremiah Wright to be very telling as well. Damn, where's that liberal media when you want them?

McCain Goes Into Hiding?

So it seems there are those in her home state who have had enough of the meddling by the McCain campaign people. Found at Mudflats today. Here is a copy of the press release and more details here at Mudflats.


Time: Noon to 2:00 PM

When: Saturday, September 27th

Place: The Park Strip, 9th and I St. by the Veteran's Memorial

1) We demand that Governor Palin uphold her promise to us of open, honest and transparent government

2) We insist that Governor Palin join our demand for the immediate resignation through petition of Attny General Talis Colberg

3) We insist that Governor Palin join us in demanding that the McCain Campaign removes itself and its influence from our state government.

4) We insist that Governor Palin join us in demanding that the McCain Campaign remove attorney Ed O'Callahan's unlawful intrusion in the Alaska Department of Law.

5) We demand that Governor Palin cooperate fully with the independent investigation as initiated by the bi-partisan Legislative Council.

Many, many people have been asking Alaska bloggers and progressive radio personalities what they can do to help get the truth out about Sarah Palin and help wrest back control of our government from the McCain campaign who are, in effect, in charge of our state government.

So if you want to have an opportunity to stand up for your state and against what the McCain/Palin campaign is doing to it, then this is your chance. Come one on out and bring as many friends as you can round up. Everybody is welcome.

I think the national news media should pay more attention to this than to Palin's preening in the press, looking very pretty as she meets foreign dignitaries.

So now, McCain has decided to suspend his campaign to try and help work on coming to an agreement on that Wall Street bailout. He's bowing out of the debate scheduled for Friday night. Hmm....wonder why? If this were the John McCain of 2000, I'd believe him. I'd believe he wants to do the right thing. However, now in 2008, the John McCain who has sold his soul to Karl Rove in exchange for his help to get him into the White House, is not someone I believe does anything without looking at it as a chess move.

McCain speaks of transparency in government. I agree. So why does it not apply to Alaska? They want to squelch that Troopergate investigation? Palin's husband ignored a subpoena! I'd love to see someone ask her about that. So does she and her husband believe they are above the law? Think that will be on the Republican list of things you can't ask Sarah?

Picked up a copy of Rolling Stone magazine today. It's the October 2 issue with Metallica on the cover. It was Metallica that initially got my attention but the line above their photo is what got me to buy the issue: The Lies of Sarah Palin by Matt Taibbi. I highly recommend you all buy this issue of this magazine and read it. His anger and rage are really quite what I feel about the whole McPalin team. Heck, he expresses the rage and anger I have been feeling for the last eight years.

Here's just one paragraph for your consideration:

The truly disgusting thing about Sarah Palin isn't that she's totally unqualified, or a religious zealot, or married to a secessionist, or unable to educate her own daughter about sex, or a fake conservative who raised taxes and horked up earmark millions every chance she got. No, the most disgusting thing about her i s what she says about us: that you can ram us in the ass for eight solid years, and we'll not only thank you for your trouble, we'll sign you up for eight more years, if only you promise to stroke us in the right spot for a few hours around election time.

Excerpt from Rolling Stone Magazine by Matt Taibbi entitled Mad Dog Palin. October 2, 2008, Issue 1062.

Go ahead and buy the issue and read the whole thing. If you hate the horror that the Republican party has become, you will find at least an explanation of why some of us are so fucking stupid as to buy them as a legitimate option in this campaign cycle. Oh and there's a rad illustration by Victor Juhasz of John McCain holding a lipstick and a Pitt Bull Sarah Palin on a leash wearing lipstick. LOL

[NP: U2 - Beautiful Day]

Blatant Theft

I got a message from one of my friends on YouTube. One of my favorite video makers, OnlyJustWhisper, who's videos I've posted here on my blog to promote her work, had one of her videos blatantly ripped off by this jerk. Not only has he not taken it down when asked but he has tried to delete the comments of people who have told him they are on to him. I will keep posting everyday until he takes it down. If you make videos you may want to check him out to see if he hasn't ripped you off as well.

Here's the video she made on July 26, 2008. The jerk put his copy up a week ago. Now who copied what? I intend to make his life miserable by posting on his channel and the ripped off video until he does the honorable thing and removes it. If you have a YouTube account, go there and let him know he can't get away with it.





It's a shippy video so you don't have to watch it but please check that guy's channel out and make him stop. The video is entitled When September Ends. It's a song by Green Day. Stop the theft! It's really starting to piss me off the more I think about it.

Sarah Looks Good But Can't Talk

Palin and Columbian President Alvaro Uribe

What are the Republicans afraid of? Is she that inept and incapable that we can only look at her? Sure, she's 'a babe.' Hey, Rush Limbaugh said it. I'm just repeating it. Oh wait, is that like the lipstick on a pig comment? Only Republicans can say things like that and claim to not be insulting but no one else can?

I'm so sick of her stupid scripted speeches I've taken to watching her with the sound off anyway. It' s not a huge loss. You heard one speech you've heard them all. It's also a plus to look at her with the sound off because then you can't hear her voice, which affects me like nails on a chalkboard.

The numbers are slowly turning around in this campaign season and I can only hope it will continue the more they keep Sarah on a leash. Her inability to deal with the press and handle questions on her own in her own words just makes more people nervous. Even some conservatives around me are starting to ask questions and they're not liking the lack of answers.
So the honeymoon is over Sarah. Put up or shut up and get the hell out.

Here's a photo that gave me the creeps.


Found it at Goddessdster's blog. She found it at YA for Obama.

Thank goodness for the internet or else living in the midst of all these conservatives, I'd think I was alone in my sheer horror at the thought of this woman being one heart beat away from the highest office in the land.

[NP: Beatles - Yesterday]

Ice Trays Can Be Hazardous to Your Health

Last Friday, I was taking out some trays of ice so I could replenish my water bottle supply. I cannot stand to drink water that isn't iced. Room temperature water makes me gag. Room temperature any beverage makes me gag. And I cannot be without a bottle of water - EVER.

In any case, there I was pulling out the ice trays from an overloaded freezer - bought a turkey breast on sale and instead of putting it in the deep freezer because I was lazy and because there used to be a lot of room in the regular freezer until the turkey breast went in - when I bumped the turkey breast and the top tray fell and landed right on my left foot. Ouch! [I said something much stronger than that but since I don't usually swear unless under a lot of stress or unless a Republican who isn't Chuck Hagel is speaking, I thought I'd stick to ouch.] The pain subsided, I picked up the ice tray and popped out the cubes, filled my bottle and continued on with my day with just a slight pain to distract me. Nothing major.

By the time I went to pick up the granddaughter for a sleepover, it was a dim memory. No one really even noticed. I was wearing a skirt - a rare occurrence for me - and that was more of an attention getter for the daughter-in-law and granddaughters. Lula, as I was loading her into the car, said "You wear a skirt?" Staci 1.0 (daughter-in-law) said, "Oh, I like that skirt. It's pretty. I didn't know you owned any dresses or skirts." Lilly, oldest granddaughter who was pouting because it wasn't her turn for a sleepover said, "Grandma! You're wearing a skirt! What happened?" Lotus, the sleepy one who just woke up from a nap looked at me and said, "Your legs are really white." [Note to self, never wear skirts around my family again.]

At this point, my foot was a non-issue. It became an issue after I sat on the floor for about an hour with some Lego's with Lula. Standing up was a problem. Not good. I looked at my foot for the first time and realized it had swollen up and now resembled one of those latex gloves after you blow air into it to make it into a hand balloon. Only in my case, it was a foot. It was a lovely shade of purple as well.

Now my feet aren't pretty to begin with but now that it's swollen up to my ankle, the left one is hideous. Even my funky toes are swollen. Yikes!!! Warning, the following picture is not pretty. Look at your own risk. If you have nightmares because of them, it's not my fault.

And yes, my toes really are shaped like that. They're just inflated so they look even worse.

The thing is, I can walk on it and it only hurts when I try to bend it. What do you think? A fracture? Hopefully not. I'll give it a few days to start looking better. My big toe and the arch of my foot have returned to normal size so hopefully by Friday I'll be able to put on a shoe. Not that I wear them at all in the summer. I've been gimping around and get no sympathy from co-workers. Mostly because I was giving the sales guy who broke his foot in two places while golfing - not exactly a contact sport or anything - a bad time about how could he break his foot golfing? Like did he step in a hole?

Again WARNING! Ugly foot alert. Don't complain if you fall ill. And definitely don't look at it if you're about to consume food.

Taken Saturday night

[NP: A Perfect Circle - The Hollow]

Curious As A Cat Week 136

Taking a break from the politics today. Keeping it light for at least one more post. :-)

Week Number 136

1) If you had to exchange souls with someone you know for one day, who would you pick?

Hillary Clinton. Just to be able to know how she's dealing with everything and to understand how she managed to not kill Bill.

2) When were you happiest to come home?

When I spent six weeks in Europe and a week in Dallas. I saw the island of Oahu and Diamond Head and was never happier to be home. It was the longest I had been away from home. Not that I didn't love my trip. Europe is awesome and Dallas was fun. Hey, I even got to see J.R. Ewing! They were filming Dallas while I was there. Not a fan at the time. Didn't even know who J.R. was. I remember walking through the airport seeing pictures of 'the guy from I Dream of Jeannie' on glasses and t-shirts that all said "Who Shot J.R.?" Some of my friends wondered what rock I was living under. LOL

3) What is your favorite part of the yesterday?

Drinking coffee first thing in the morning with my husband.

4) What has been your greatest accomplishment in life so far?

My 26 year marriage, grandchildren and a pretty stable and mostly happy life.

5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.

The photo reminds me of a dry cleaners shop and how they once misplaced a linen suit of mine. I was pissed. They offered me $100 in free dry cleaning. They even found the suit two weeks later and I still got $100 in free dry cleaning for my angst.

[NP: Fleetwood Mac - Albatross]

Hurray! I'm Katharine Hepburn

Another quiz thingy. I thought I'd start off the day on a fluffy note. Got a lot on my plate today. Took this quiz and was pleased with the result.

Your result for The Classic Dames Test...

Katharine Hepburn

You scored 21% grit, 29% wit, 48% flair, and 19% class!

You are the fabulously quirky and independent woman of character. You go your own way, follow your own drummer, take your own lead. You stand head and shoulders next to your partner, but you are perfectly willing and able to stand alone. Others might be more classically beautiful or conventionally woman-like, but you possess a more fundamental common sense and off-kilter charm, making interesting men fall at your feet. You can pick them up or leave them there as you see fit. You share the screen with the likes of Spencer Tracy and Cary Grant, thinking men who like strong women.

Find out what kind of classic leading man you'd make by taking the
Classic Leading Man Test.

Take The Classic Dames Test at HelloQuizzy

[NP: John Coltrane - Blue Train]

Another R.E.M. Live Video

I really am watching the LOCI marathon. Honest. I just happened to also be multi-tasking and am watching a bunch of R.E.M. concert videos. Viral marketing rocks! I hope the boys make a ton of money and get all the publicity they need and more. This is an excellent one of R.E.M. in Dresden, performing Disturbance At the Heron House. Another of my favorite R.E.M. songs. It was posted by Pflanze9.




Some videos are clipped off oddly or have awful sound but this one was pretty good.

Boycotting the Emmys

Not being one to watch much television as of late, I am not familiar with most of the shows nominated. I also do not care who wins as the Emmys have always been a popularity contest, IMO. Now occasionally they get it right but they get it wrong just as much if not more so.

I enjoy Boston Legal and 30 Rock is fun if I happen to be watching. I understand the most excellent Michael C. Hall of Dexter is really good. I don't doubt it as I've been re-watching him on DVDs of Six Feet Under. However, not a mention of my beloved LOCI despite some of the best work by all the actors involved. Guess the Emmy folks just don't get it. If they were all over-the-top like Mariska Hargitay's character on SVU, they might have made someone's radar. No offense to Ms. Hargitay. It's not her fault her character is so annoying my husband has taken to making comments about how anyone could take her or her partner seriously as cops. LOL And he's just basing that on the promos we've seen.

So instead of the Emmys, I'm watching Bravo reruns of LOCI. Two of the four are a couple of the weaker episodes from season 6, but even the weakest episodes of LOCI are better than watching Ryan Seacrest (or Bryan Seagrave as Letterman calls him) and company host the show.

Season 6 cast photo
Law & Order: Criminal Intent

[NP: K. T. Tunstall - Under the Weather]

So how ready is she if she can't even debate a fellow American?

This is rich. The 'ready to lead' Sarah Palin can handle foreign affairs, eh? How's she gonna negotiate with Putin or any foreign dignitary if she can't even handle a fellow American? Do you feel secure in letting this person speak for our interests in the world?

The New York Times reports that the McPain folks are worried that Sarah will be picked on by the smarter kid. Give me a break. Instead of letting her read from some script she's memorized, let her actually speak. Afraid we won't like what we hear? That's got to be it. If I hear her say "Thanks but no thanks," one more time I will scream. Let's elaborate on that, lady. "Thanks," she took some of the money. "No thanks," when she discovered it was unpopular and then she kept the money anyway.

The same Bush method. Repeat the same thing over and over again, never mind that it's been proven to be a lie, because people are stupid and they will believe you. No wonder they're not willing to let her have direct confrontation with Joe Biden. He will say insightful things and she will repeat herself and stick to the script no matter what. I'm still planning to watch with the hope that she will eventually say something worth listening to that isn't rehearsed and written out by someone else.

Btw, Mudflats forum is buzzing, folks. Sign up or at least stop by to see what's going on.


[NP: Radiohead - Sail to the Moon]

Good News on the Music Front

Apologies to my music friends who have been sadly neglected as of late. My political obsession and my obsession of all thing Law & Order: Criminal Intent have pretty much alienated most of my music friends. LOL

So I thought I'd post some happy news for those who aren't necessarily R.E.M. fans but who may be interested in learning that Peter Buck's guitar has been returned! You can read about it here at R.E.M. HQ. What? You didn't even know it was stolen in the first place?!?!? Well, you can read about it at the same place - more or less.

So pretty much there are some people who have a conscience that will kick in eventually.

Peter Buck's Rickenbacker

And while I'm on the R.E.M. news front. Here's a video from one of their performances at Twickenham. It was posted by MaddeningLoops on YouTube.



It's definitely one of my all-time favorite R.E.M. songs.

Mudflats Forum

Been a busy weekend so far. Besides an overnighter with Lula, the youngest grandchild, it's Apple Fest. Woo hoo. Sorry, I should be more excited but I'm all 'fested' out throughout summer.

So I just got online about half an hour ago and found Mudflats has a forum! Hurray! LOL I signed up and thought I'd share the information here for anyone who might want to sign up and join. The blog is still going so if you just want to keep updated on the follies of Sarah Palin, that's the place to be. The Republicans really should have vetted her before choosing her. She's ill prepared and she's Bush in a skirt. Maybe that's what they wanted? Who knows what they want any more.

Also found an interesting site through BobbyG's blog. Women Against Sarah Palin, is a site where you can sign a petition and state your reasons for your opposition to Sarah Palin as a vice presidential candidate and see others of like mind state their thoughts on the matter. It's an important issue and it's important for your voices to be heard. Not everyone is enamored of this woman and the more we learn about her, the more people seem to be coming to the realization that she is a gimmick. Again, I have no idea what the Republicans were thinking when they found her and pushed her on us. Once again they are proving they are all about looks and little about substance.

Well, off to do some reading and research. Considering I spent another night on the horrible hide-a-bed, it's probably all I'm going to be capable of doing.

Just to prove I haven't gone all serious....

...here's a few Criminal Intent related items I came across this morning.

First more photos of Chris Noth, Tara Wilson and their son Orion on vacation in Hawaii. They're visiting Maui apparently. These were found on Celebrity Baby Blog.

Such a happy baby!

Very happy family

Such a precious photo
Fatherhood agrees with Chris Noth

Found at Major Case, a link to the following Fall TV preview. LOCI is covered about 1:15 into it and features Jeff Goldblum with sightings of Julianne Nicholson, Eric Bogosian and Kathryne Erbe. The video follows.


Online Videos by Veoh.com


And last but not least, here's some Eric Bogosian news. Basically it's the following:

Board members elected from the New York Division:

Sam Robards, Rebecca Damon, Matt Servitto, Traci Godfrey, Mark Blum. (all three-year terms).

Jack Landròn, Eric Bogosian, Ralph Byers, Joe Narciso, John Rothman, Jay Potter, Kevin Scullin, Marc Baron, and Manny Alfaro were elected to serve as national board alternates and to the New York Division board of directors (all one-year terms.)

Eric Bogosian

That's it for now. I'm off to actually do some work now.

[NP: 10,000 Maniacs - Jack Kerouac]

Some Respite From Politics

With all the irritatingly incompetent, and in some cases downright stupid, women in the news these days - see previous post and any post on Sarah Palin - I wanted to take a break and pimp another video. Here's one by OnlyJustWhisper. It's Eames-centric and follows her through Amends and what she's going through. She contemplates life before and after her husband's death. She uses mostly scenes from Amends but also from Stir of Echoes and a show called Conviction which featured Kathryn Erbe. I thought it was well done.




She may be a fictional character but she's definitely a strong, smart woman who is portrayed by another strong, smart woman.

The song is by Joshua Radin called Winter.

More Enlightenment

Looks like the Obama Campaign is suing Macomb County in Michigan over voter fraud. I saw mention of this on Mudflats but nothing on my local news channels. They are conservative by nature, however, so I am not surprised. Not surprisingly, most of those affected and intimidated aren't white. More facts to back up the racism angle.

And of course I forgot to mention the comedy show. Carly Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlitt Packard who almost drove that company into the ground, saying not only does Sarah Palin not have what it takes to run a large corporation but neither does John McCain or Barack Obama. And Lynn Forester Rothschild, a big supporter of Hillary Clinton, is now saying Obama is elitist (pot meets kettle) and that she is supporting John McCain. I think all things considered, John McCain probably would prefer she supported Barack Obama after the following video I found.




Seems she thinks the people who will vote for John McCain are 'rednecks.' You know, I think she should travel the country and talk more about how Obama is elitist and how he insulted all those 'rednecks.'

I think Lynn Forester Rothschild should take Carly Fiorina and go on the campaign trail with John McCain. LOL

[NP: Guided By Voices - Dead Cloud]

Enlightening Day

There have been so many things I've come across today it's been quite enlightening. Also, from what the polls are telling me, it's quite hopeful that Americans really are coming around. The fog of that RNC afterglow is lifting. Here's hoping it lifts Barack Obama right into the White House.

I'd like to start first with my favorite Republican Senator Chuck Hagel. I told you he's the only Republican in Washington worth listening to. Hell, he may be the only person in Washington I'd listen to period. The man has been my hero ever since he stood up against the then very popular Bush Administration to tell them they needed to revise certain portions of the Patriot Act to protect our civil liberties. I've gone on and on about him and you may not like his stand on many issues but he has always conducted himself honorably. You want straight talk, go see him. He is what John McCain is pretending to be.

Senator Chuck Hagel

Here's an article I came across today. Seems Hagel isn't fond of Palin either. He is the true maverick and the true straight talker. He is also the one Republican who fought his own party when he thought they were trampling on the civil liberties of Americans. John McCain was already starting to fall in line with the Bushies apparently so when the time came - like now - they would support him. Look at all the Bush folk who are now running McCain's campaign.

Shortly after returning from the trip to Iraq he took with Senator Obama and told his old friend John McCain not to engage in political lies and mudslinging because he believed John McCain was better than that. Apparently he was wrong on that one account. His old friend John McCain showed he is not only in the gutter with the Bush people, he is willing to let them pick his running mate and turn him into a parrot like Bush.

And of course it seems my thoughts that I have only shared through private emails are shared by more people than I thought. I found this link to Tom Wise on Alternet at Goddessdster's blog. I can personally attest that racism is alive and well in America. I have come across it as recently as last week. So I am glad I'm not alone in my perception.

And of course our President Bush is still strangely absent from the scene at this time of crisis. He made a quick two-minute appearance and ran back under his rock. I don't really blame him, though. It's not like he instills a lot of confidence in me. The man is a moron and his party is already throwing him to the wolves by having John McCain run against him. I'd be scared, too, George. Go hide in the White House. It's not like you're going to be able to help us at all. You and your friend John McCain, who is now running against you, are two of the biggest supporters of deregulation. But now John McCain is flip flopping and saying we need to work on regulation? Poor George. You're all alone and even your own vice president doesn't like you. At least from what I read on Andrew Sullivan's blog he doesn't. Oh and neither does Andrew Card or Scooter Libby, you know the guy you helped stay out of jail so he wouldn't rat out DICK and Karl Rove.

May the Republican party march down the rocky path to its own demise. May it find itself reborn as something more honorable and less divisive. May it find members who are more like Senator Chuck Hagel and not at all like George W. Bush, DICK Cheney and Karl Rove.

[NP: John Mayer - Bold As Love]

They're All Pod People

I can't imagine anyone who would still want to call themselves a Republican. The Republicans don't even want to be Republicans. They're running against their own record. John McCain fought Republicans in Washington, says one of HIS ads. Send him to Washington to bring in change. Okay, so is John McCain a Republican? Or is he ashamed of his own party? He certainly seems to be. All Republicans seem to be. They're attacking their own president but don't have the balls to admit it is basically what it boils down to.

The silence from some of the most hard core Republicans on various political sites and in personal email reactions to my posts have been very telling. One actually posted that he is embarrassed to be a Republican as an explanation for his silence. Why? Because of the selection of Sarah Palin, the mean spirited out right lies of McCain's campaign ads, the ridiculous logic of running against themselves and the stupidity of the people belonging to the McCain campaign. He's actually planning to not vote for the first time in his life because, in his words, he can't see himself voting for someone as liberal as Obama but he can't bring himself to vote for someone as pathetic as McCain has become.

So on that note, I leave the politics for the night with some things I came across today.

First, a college friend of mine back home in Hawaii sent me this article from the Honolulu Star Bulletin. Seems the Democrats are still confident despite losing the governorship to Republican Linda Lingle, the first Republican in the Governor's office in 40 years. And here I thought the state was going to hell in a hand basket. LOL Thanks to my old friend Beth for keeping in touch. Mahalo! You should blog, too, my friend. :-)

Then Goddessdster posted this Newsweek article link on lynnez's blog. So it seems the American public can be blinded by a bright shiny new object like Sarah Palin but they are capable of figuring things out when she turns out to be another brightly colored bird who just repeats the same things over and over again. Kind of like what's happening to John McCain.

And at my new favorite political blog, Mudflats, here's an interesting post.

So here's to hoping the American public will wake up and realize the dog and pony show the Republicans are trotting out is nothing but an illusion or as I said before, nothing but a bad B-Movie. Ah, which reminds me, I need to go find Gil Scott Heron's B-Movie song. I played it a lot in my college radio days in the early 80s. Here are the lyrics:

Well, the first thing I want to say is Mandate my ass!

Because it seems as though we've been convinced that 26% of the registered voters, not even 26% of the American people, but 26% of the registered voters form a mandate or a landslide. 21% voted for Skippy and 3, 4% voted for somebody else who might have been running.

But, oh yeah, I remember. In this year that we have now declared the year from Shogun to Reagan, I remember what I said about Reaganmeant it. Acted like an actorHollyweird. Acted like a liberal. Acted like General Franco when he acted like governor of California, then he acted like a republican. Then he acted like somebody was going to vote for him for president. And now we act like 26% of the registered voters is actually a mandate. We're all actors in this I suppose.

What has happened is that in the last 20 years, America has changed from a producer to a consumer. And all consumers know that when the producer names the tunethe consumer has got to dance. That's the way it is. We used to be a producer very inflexible at that, and now we are consumers and, finding it difficult to understand. Natural resources and minerals will change your world. The Arabs used to be in the 3rd World. They have bought the 2nd World and put a firm down payment on the 1st one. Controlling your resources we'll control your world. This country has been surprised by the way the world looks now. They don't know if they want to be Matt Dillon or Bob Dylan. They don't know if they want to be diplomats or continue the same policy - of nuclear nightmare diplomacy. John Foster Dulles ain't nothing but the name of an airport now.

The idea concerns the fact that this country wants nostalgia. They want to go back as far as they can even if it's only as far as last week. Not to face now or tomorrow, but to face backwards. And yesterday was the day of our cinema heroes riding to the rescue at the last possible moment. The day of the man in the white hat or the man on the white horse - or the man who always came to save America at the last moment someone always came to save America at the last moment especially in B movies. And when America found itself having a hard time facing the future, they looked for people like John Wayne. But since John Wayne was no longer available, they settled for Ronald Reagan and it has placed us in a situation that we can only look at like a B movie.

Come with us back to those inglorious days when heroes weren't zeros. Before fair was square. When the cavalry came straight away and all-American men were like Hemingway to the days of the wondrous B movie. The producer underwritten by all the millionaires necessary will be Casper The Defensive Weinberger no more animated choice is available. The director will be Attila the Haig, running around frantically declaring himself in control and in charge. The ultimate realization of the inmates taking over at the asylum. The screenplay will be adapted from the book called Voodoo Economics by George Papa Doc Bush. Music by the Village People the very military "Macho Man."

Company!!!
Macho, macho man!
Two-three-four.
He likes to be well, you get the point.
Huuut! Your left! Your left! Your leftright, left, right, left, right!

A theme song for saber-rallying and selling wars door-to-door. Remember, we're looking for the closest thing we can find to John Wayne. Clichs abound like kangaroos courtesy of some spaced out Marlin Perkins, a Reagan contemporary. Clichs like, itchy trigger finger and tall in the saddle and riding off or on into the sunset. Clichs like, Get off of my planet by sundown! More so than clichs like, he died with his boots on. Marine tough the man is. Bogart tough the man is. Cagney tough the man is. Hollywood tough the man is. Cheap stick tough. And Bonzo's substantial. The ultimate in synthetic selling: A Madison Avenue masterpiece a miracle a cotton-candy politicianPresto! Macho!

Macho, macho man!

Put your orders in America. And quick as Kodak your leaders duplicate with the accent being on the nukes - cause all of a sudden we have fallen prey to selective amnesia - remembering what we want to remember and forgetting what we choose to forget. All of a sudden, the man who called for a blood bath on our college campuses is supposed to be Dudley God-damn Do-Right?

You go give them liberals hell Ronnie. That was the mandate. To the new Captain Bly on the new ship of fools. It was doubtlessly based on his chameleon performance of the past - as a liberal democrat as the head of the Studio Actor's Guild. When other celluloid saviors were cringing in terror from McCarthy Ron stood tall. It goes all the way back from Hollywood to hillbilly. From liberal to libelous, from Bonzo to Birch idolborn again. Civil rights, women's rights, gay rightsit's all wrong. Call in the cavalry to disrupt this perception of freedom gone wild. God damn itfirst one wants freedom, then the whole damn world wants freedom.

Nostalgia, that's what we wantthe good ol' dayswhen we gave'em hell. When the buck stopped somewhere and you could still buy something with it. To a time when movies were in black and white and so was everything else. Even if we go back to the campaign trail, before six-gun Ron shot off his face and developed hoof-in-mouth. Before the free press went down before full-court press. And were reluctant to review the menu because they knew the only thing available was Crow.

Lon Chaney, our man of a thousand faces - no match for Ron. Doug Henning does the make-up - special effects from Grecian Formula 16 and Crazy Glue. Transportation furnished by the David Rockefeller of Remote Control Company. Their slogan is, Why wait for 1984? You can panic now...and avoid the rush.

So much for the good news

As Wall Street goes, so goes the nation. And here's a look at the closing numbers racism's up, human rights are down, peace is shaky, war items are hot - the House claims all ties. Jobs are down, money is scarce and common sense is at an all-time low on heavy trading. Movies were looking better than ever and now no one is looking because, we're starring in a B movie. And we would rather had John Waynewe would rather had John Wayne.

"You don't need to be in no hurry.
You ain't never really got to worry.
And you don't need to check on how you feel.
Just keep repeating that none of this is real.
And if you're sensing, that something's wrong,
Well just remember, that it won't be too long
Before the director cuts the sceneyea."

This ain't really your life,
Ain't really your life,
Ain't really ain't nothing but a movie.

[Refrain repeated about 25 times or more in an apocalyptic crescendo with a military cadence.]

This ain't really your life,
Ain't really your life,
Ain't really ain't nothing but a movie.

Week 135 from the Curious Cat

A bit late with this one. Too many political things to distract me lately. LOL For those who prefer my frivolous posts as opposed to my political rants here's the latest questionnaire from Curious as a Cat.

Week Number 135

1) Are you a leader or a follower?

I really don't care to be either. Generally I'm one of those 'marching to the beat of my own drummer' types. I do notice that people tend to want to put me in a leadership position and while I can do it, I don't particularly enjoy it. Though I like following even less. LOL

2) Who is the person you are most candid with?

My husband.

3) What one thing in your life would be easiest to change, but you’ve never gotten around to it?

I really have no idea.

4) If you could convince any single person to change his or her mind about one thing, who would you pick and what topic would you work on?

Well, this is kind of a cheat but I'd really like to change my stepson and his estranged wife's mind about getting a divorce.

5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.

Reminds me of when my high school hiking club went camping and some of us went driving down the dirt roads in the pineapple fields by the camp. It was a white pick up truck and three of us were standing in the back of the truck cab and a white owl came swooping by. Maybe it was God's way of telling us to sit down because we were being complete idiots.

[NP: Dave Navarro - Rexall]

It's LIke Watching a Bad B-Movie

I was watching John McCain on the Today Show being interviewed by Matt Lauer. The man looked odd to me. He had that glazed over look in his eye and started to sound just like his running mate, Sarah Palin. He kept repeating the same tired line over and over again in response to Lauer's questions about his position on deregulation. You know, the thing he used to be for before the current crisis has proven that deregulation doesn't work so well.

I remember back in 2000, John McCain sounded a lot more genuine and seemed able to better cover his bases. I mean all politicians try to sidestep questions. But he used to be better at it. Has he become like his running mate? Carefully coached to stay on point no matter what the question is? Repeat the same line over and over again without changing a word. Don't tell people what you really think because they will dislike you?

It's like watching a bad science fiction movie on Mystery Science Theater or something. You know, where the top candidates of one of the two major political parties have been turned into pod people by aliens and only resemble a shell of their former selves? I say this because their personalities seem to get sucked right out of them in these one on one interviews.

I almost felt sorry for John McCain as I watched him yesterday. He used to be someone who I admired for being that maverick in Washington. He used to be someone who spoke his mind and stood up to the liars in the Bush Administration. Now he seems old and tired and only wanting to achieve that dream he's been chasing for years now. To become president of the United States. It's been a gradual decline. Since he started kissing up to the late Rev. Jerry Foulwell. Then he got cozy with the Bush folks. The same folks who torpedoed his campaign in 2000 by trying to assassinate his character. Suddenly it seems he realized resistance is futile? He's become assimilated.

It's also ludicrous as those ads saying John McCain fought against Republicans. So they're saying - the Republicans - that they were wrong all this time? And now they've seen the light because of John McCain, hallelujah! Yeah, so it's also a b-movie comedy as well as a horrible science fiction flick.

Here's hoping we wake up in November and discover it was all a bad dream and President Obama will be in the White House to help us correct the nightmare of the last eight years.

[NP: Bob Seger - Against The Wind]

Weekday Frivolity

Here are a few things that came my way via Google Alerts and my travels around the web while I was office bound today.

First, one reason I wish I were back in Hawaii right now.

Chris Noth and son Orion presumably in Hawaii

Chris Noth, girlfriend Tara Wilson and son Orion are on vacation in Hawaii. Dang that kid really has a gorgeous head of hair! And of course dad certainly has a gorgeous head of hair himself.

Attention friends and family members back home in Hawaii. If you see this man, TAKE A PHOTO!

And another quiz result:

Your result for Reincarnation Placement Exam...

Reclusive Artist

52% Intrigue, 78% Civilization, 47% Humanity, 43% Urbanization.

We think we've found a place for you.

Your answers indicate that you're very fond of the fruits of civilization... for example, education and technology. But, in some twist of irony, you're not too fond of the pressures of civilization... you know, human beings and crowds and working together. We found you a place where you could enjoy an erudite existence, live a life that's intriguing and not entirely secure -- but far from the madding crowd.

Removed from civilization and humanity, yet educated and sophisticated, you'll make the perfect reclusive artist... An eccentric that produces irresistibly attractive masterpieces. Your art will make people swoon, and yet you will despise your audience. Your audience will probably dislike you as well, though they will go on admiring your work. So it all balances out, and your patrons will leave you alone to shape beauty in the wild, dangerous parts of the world where people won't pester you so much. Probably, you will write under a pseudonym, and mutter a lot when a rare admirer comes calling. If you feel really adventurous, you can pursue the role of a political dissident.

As you age, you will grow into the role of an incorrigible curmudgeon.

You artists, you're all the same.

Take Reincarnation Placement Exam at HelloQuizzy

Wow, I'm already a curmudgeon so I'm ahead of the game. Reclusive Artist? I'd never guess that one!

So you can see how productive my day was.

[NP: Joe Walsh - Meadows]

Time to Pimp Another Blog

While checking out my usual round of blogs today, I came across a great post by lynnez. She answers my questions - often asked here on this very blog - about why Lynn Cheney and Sarah Palin can be strong and outspoken and be called 'strong' and 'feisty,' while Hillary Clinton is as strong and outspoken and she's considered a 'bitch' or a 'ball buster.' WTF? I find Sarah Palin to be offensive and annoying. But then I'm not an idiot who buys everything the media tries to sell me. Everyone seems enamored of her, never mind FIX news folks and the Republican party faithful who used to attack Hillary with such vigor and now are crying foul because their beauty queen is being called on not having any valid answers. Suddenly the media is being sexist, even though they've been doing the same thing to Hillary Clinton and in a much more mean spirited and vicious way.

But lynne has answered some basic questions for me and I thought I'd like to share them with you. Here's her post about the Idea of True Womanhood.

Check it out and also check out her post regarding Praying to be Straight. Another thoughtful and insightful piece.

We all need to give a lot of thought to what the Republicans are offering up to us.


[NP: R.E.M. - Bittersweet Me]

I Need a Break

So having spent most of the day watching the stock market go down, up and then down over 500 points and hearing McCain continue to harp on how the economy is still fundamentally strong, I need a break from stupidity. The Republicans are running against themselves and the Republican candidate is apparently fighting against Republicans. Shouldn't he be an Independent candidate?

Well, while we all chew on that thought - or not - here's a slide show I made of Law & Order: Criminal Intent Season 7 favorites. No particular order. Just snapshots from season 7 episodes of all participants - Goren, Eames, Logan, Ross, Wheeler and Falacci. And of course the delicious appearance of M.E. Rodgers when she and Ross were on their way to the opera. :-)

Photos are from various sites on the web: USA site, BobbyG, Clipit!, Velocity of Vincent and other miscellaneous sites on the web.

Here's hoping next season will be wonderful and that we will have REAL CHANGE in Washington, with President Obama in the White House, not the unreasonable facsimile of McCain/Palin.

[NP: Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet With Butterfly Wings]

Out of Touch With Reality

So John McCain insists the economy is fundamentally strong. Really? Then how does he explain this? Does he not know how much people have been hurting the last few years? Or is he too busy running in between his seven houses to pay attention of what the middle class has been suffering through?

You want four more years of this crap, vote for him. You want a chance at getting ourselves out of this? Vote for Barack Obama.

Look beyond all the rhetoric and the bullshit and look at who will bring real change and who will bring a new face with the same old policies to Washington. Remember, McCain and Palin are REPUBLICANS. They are not CHANGE. They are the same old crap in a different package. Barack Obama and Joe Biden will bring TRUE CHANGE.

Stop FEELING and start THINKING.

[NP: Velvet Underground w/Nico - Femme Fatale]

For Posterity

Just found a way to embed this so here it is. I just love it and want to be able to find it quickly. LOL

The Bright Side of a Gloomy Sunday

It's Sunday, it's still raining and will continue to rain into tomorrow. I'm beginning to think perhaps we should have built an ark. Seriously, the water is pooling in the back yard and I'm keeping an eye on it so it won't start creeping up to my door.

Trying to avoid the gloomy mood the weather would normally bring after four days of nothing but dark skies and rain, my husband and I are roasting coffee. Roasting and drinking coffee. So now we're both very awake and stuck inside. LOL

You would think that having all this energy I would do something more useful than just surf the web. But I'm once again a political junkie and with filming on Criminal Intent having started up, I'm just looking everywhere for as much information as I can. It's not as readily available for LOCI but for Sarah Palin, everyday is like a gift.

Here's something I found that reassures me there are as many women who dislike Sarah Palin as there are who love her. From what the media has been reporting, you'd think every white woman who works and has kids are head over heels in love with this woman. Apparently not so much. Here's a report I found at Mudflats about the anti-Sarah rally in Alaska. Nice to know there are others out there who see Ms. Palin as I do. Bush in a skirt. Here are a couple of photos taken at that rally that are also posted there.





Apparently they aren't as enamored of her as they were when they elected her. Buyer's remorse? She sold the jet then had the state pay for flying her family around? Trooper-gate? Whatever the reason, some people seem to be giving us a warning that we may regret putting her in office. The woman pictured above obviously regrets it.

Oh and here's a link to NBC's SNL last night with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton. It was hilarious! YouTube pulled all the videos posted there on this but at least NBC is providing it for us. I do hope the press does take the advice given and grow some balls and make Palin answer the questions she's asked without reciting from some script she has memorized. I thought Charles Gibson was much nicer to her than critics are saying he was. I'd be fed up if she kept reciting the same line over and over again like she's some Stepford wife with programming that won't allow her to say anything else!

And lastly, here's Maureen Dowd once again on Palin and foreign policy. LOL Here's the bottom line if you don't want to read the whole thing but if you don't you're missing out on some wonderful commentary.

Her explosion onto the scene made Obama seem even more like a windy, wispy egghead. Like W., Sarah has the power of positive unthinking. But now we may want to think about where ignorance and pride and no self-doubt has gotten us. Being quick on the trigger might be good in moose hunting, but in dealing with Putin, a little knowledge might come in handy.

It's been a fun day with Sarah. I've got two more op-eds emailed in and have been asked if I wanted to do a daily one until election time. LOL I have to enjoy myself somehow. If this woman ever makes it to the vice presidency, it's going to be even more stressful than having Dan Quayle standing by back when George H.W. Bush was president. It won't be funny then. Let's hope it remains funny and all of this will be seen as a great folly by the Republican party. Maybe one day we'll be going, Republicans? Kind of like many people do with the Whig party today.


[NP: Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing]

Another Completely Useless - but fun - Test

So here's another quiz I stumbled across a while back but only bookmarked. I decided to try and take it and here is the end result. I guess it's most accurate in the part about resentment and righteous anger at those who committed crimes with apparent immunity. Explains my extreme dislike of the Bush Administration and my total disdain for Karl - he should be in jail - Rove and Lewis "Scooter" - my friends in high places let me buy my way out of jail so I wouldn't turn their sorry asses in - Libby.

Your result for The Mythological Goddess Test...

Nemesis

Indeed, you are 79% erudite, 58% sensual, 54% martial, and 71% saturnine.

This daughter of the Greek Goddess Nyx was initially thought of as a harsh force of opposition. However, she was later softened to represent the feeling of just resentment or righteous anger against those who committed crimes with apparent impunity, or who had inordinate good fortune.

Her name, Nemesis, means "she who distributes or deals out". And that she did. As she was the one directing human affairs in such a way as to maintain equilibrium of happiness and unhappiness, she could bring about losses and suffering if you made the impression of being “too” happy.

Being the one who checked extravagant favours by Tyche (or Fortuna, as the Romans called her), she was regarded as an avenging or punishing divinity, so it only makes sense that the Goddess of Punishment, Poena, was an attendant of Nemesis.

Despise all this suffering and vengeance, she is also said to have been as beautiful as Aphrodite. Her attributes were, among others, a rein, a sword, or a balance.

The Fifteen Goddesses

These are the 15 categories of this test. If you score above average in …

…all or none of the four variables: Neit. …
Erudite: Minerva. …
Sensual: Aphrodite. …
Martial: Artemis. …
Saturnine: Persephone. …

Erudite & Sensual: Isis. …
Erudite & Martial: Sekhmet. …
Erudite & Saturnine: Nemesis. …
Sensual & Martial: Hera. …
Sensual & Saturnine: Bast. …
Martial & Saturnine: Ilamatecuhtli. …

Erudite, Sensual & Martial: Maeve. …
Erudite, Sensual & Saturnine: Freya. …
Erudite, Martial & Saturnine: Sedna. …
Sensual, Martial & Saturnine: Macha.

Take The Mythological Goddess Test at HelloQuizzy

More Captain Danny Ross Fan Fiction

Since I got a nice round of thanks from the four of you who read this blog and also appreciate Eric Bogosian's most excellent portrayal of Capt. Ross on Criminal Intent, I thought I'd share a couple more. They were written by charlieboy on Fan Fiction. She writes Goren and Eames and Logan, too but her last two have been Ross-centric and I've been most appreciative. Many people write Ross as a complete jerk and a few write him as I believe he is, a really nice guy under a crusty shell. LOL But some authors like sipman and charlieboy write with him as the focus.

Charlieboy recently wrote a thoughtful and interesting piece that was kind of surprising at the end. Surprising in a good way, that is. It's called Not That Long Ago. And the other Ross-centric one is called A Piece of Clay.

If anyone knows of other good Ross-centric fan fiction, let me know.

[NP: Eagles - Hotel California live]

Educate Yourself

While researching all the lies the Republican party has been throwing out everyday to distract from the fact that they are, in fact, the same old party of dirty tricks and lies with campaigning strategies by Karl Rove and nothing new to offer except a pretty face we've never seen before, I came across these and wanted to share them here. It's amazing that people can support a man who has given up all his principles to run the kind of negative campaign we've seen as of late. He's approved them all so I have to believe he knows about them. It's painful to watch a man I at one time would have voted for based on his character. Looks like his character has been sacrificed in his attempt to gain the White House at any cost.

John McCain should be ashamed of himself. He is embracing the same group that did pretty much the same thing to him during the 2000 primaries that allowed a completely unqualified man to win the Republican nomination and then go on to the White House and lead this country down the path to ruin we find ourselves on right now. Even his friend, Republican Senator Chuck Hagel called him on his lies and said it was beneath him to run that kind of campaign. It seems not only is it not beneath John McCain to run that kind of campaign but it's gotten even worse.

Spread the word. Go to bravenewpac at YouTube and see the truth behind the lies. Here's a couple of videos with a couple of conservatives chiming in on the accusations of lies and untruths.







[NP: Genesis - Back in NYC}

I Told You I'm NOT a Goth

But I do have Goth tendencies. LOL

Found another Blogthing and wanted to share.

You Are 52% Goth

You definitely have some gothicness going on, but you're far from being a stereotypical goth. You enjoy certain elements of goth culture, but you're not going to be into something simply because it's goth. It's likely that you're the type of person who totally defies labels. Good for you! If you are into something, it's because you sincerely love it. Not because it projects a certain image.

Are You Goth?

I think it's actually quite accurate. I do defy labels a lot. First and foremost the shy Asian label.


[NP: Elton John - Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters]

LOCI Filming Again!

Many of us were under the impression they would be filming starting Sept. 15 but it seems they've moved things up a bit! Looks like Criminal Intent is already filming on location! What could be better? It will return in November and either console me over facing another four years of Republicans in the White House or provide a great way for me to celebrate the REAL CHANGE we need in this country.

Oh and to the folks who were posting about how crushed they were that they went to the Toronto Film Festival just to see Vincent who ended up bowing up, is this a good enough excuse for ya? Just like the criticism he received for not dropping everything in his life and showing up on the WGA picket lines like some rabid fans thought he should have, now they're upset because he has a life. He has a family, a job and other obligations. Considering he's always so considerate of fans when it comes to autographs and photo taking, etc., you'd think they would appreciate that aspect of him. I do and I will probably never have the opportunity to meet him and get his autograph and a photo. It's just nice to know he does these things.

So, when he can't show up somewhere, before you start pissing and moaning about it as if he personally offended you, please remember he doesn't have to answer to you. He has a life. He could be an asshole who doesn't give out autographs and stop to take photos with fans. He obviously appreciates his fans. He's said as much and his actions when meeting fans prove that. Just because in the course of living his life he does something that upsets you, it's your own damn problem so live with it and stop pissing and moaning about it.

Okay, to be fair you didn't piss and moan a lot. But you did have to throw out that he had better have a good reason for not showing up. Statements like that just annoy the crap out of me. It wasn't as bad as the rants people made about he 'obviously' didn't support his writers because he didn't drop everything to be there from day one, but it was in that same vein and it just sounds petty and stupid.


[NP: The Shins - Pressed In A Book]

The Epitome of Hypocrisy

Because they apparently have nothing to offer the American people that is really good and that is really different from the same old crap we've been subjected to for the past 8 years, the McCain campaign has gone negative in ways that make me believe they truly think the American public is stupid. Between getting up in arms over Obama's use of a phrase "You can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig" to claims that Obama wants to have sex education in kindergarten, the Republicans are starting to show their true colors once again. Attack, be offensive, lie and then be self-righteous and indignant when called on it.

Considering McCain used the lipstick on a pig phrase in regards to Hillary Clinton's health care plan, you'd think they would shy away from bringing it up against Obama, who was talking about John McCain, not Sarah Palin. Apparently Obama wasn't the one thinking Sarah Palin is a pig - it's her own party. So does that mean John McCain was calling Hillary Clinton a pig? I guess so. See? That's how you can turn stupid statements like that around. Republicans are the masters at it.

For some reason when they do crap like that, they get away with it. When Democrats do it, they don't. Is it because we hold Democrats to a higher standard? Do we just expect Republicans to be offensive and wrong? Because that's the image they're planting in the head of everyone who isn't blinded by party loyalty and who isn't indoctrinated into the right wing agenda.

As for the sex education in kindergarten, Barack Obama wants to teach young children to tell someone if they are ever inappropriately touched by someone. He wants to teach them to speak up so they won't hide in shame or confusion. He wants to help them protect themselves by making them realize they should tell someone if they are being sexually abused. In our society where many times children don't say anything because they don't understand what is going on or they feel embarrassed by something like that. Is that what conservatives consider sex education? You know, it could be. Because they want to teach abstinence only and avoid sex education all together as if it is a non-issue. Ignorance is bliss, isn't it? Then when your child comes home pregnant, you have no one to blame but yourself.

And of course it seems the Republicans not only seem to think other people see Sarah Palin as a pig but they won't let her speak for herself. In the interview with Charlie Gibson of ABC last night, her first one on one with the press with no apparent script, she came across as 'scripted.' Even when dodging questions she used the exact same phrase over and over again. At least most politicians because they are usually speaking in their own words come up with the same analogy but using different examples or even words. Not Sarah. She was firmly not answering with the same practiced phrase over and over and over. No doubt under the advice that she not stray from the script and just stay on point. They don't trust her to be honest and to scare off the voting public. Seems they don't have much confidence in her at all. Could it be they expect she will be honest and speak her mind? Heaven forbid!

You know, I'd have more respect for her if she did speak her mind. I would probably not like what she has to say as she is so on the opposite end of the spectrum from I can't relate to her at all. But I would at least respect that she is sticking to her principles.

For example, Republican Senator Chuck Hagel who is also pretty much on the opposite end of the social spectrum from me. Despite this, he's honest, speaks his mind and he has a firm grasp of the Constitution and he's not into imposing his religious views on me. If he were running for president, I would not only vote for him but probably help his campaign. I know I frighten many of my liberal friends when I say that but I trust Chuck Hagel to not mess with the Constitution and step on my rights, unlike Sarah Palin and her ilk. I trust that if he were president, he would appoint Supreme Court judges who may be conservative but who are not at all like Alito, Scalia or Roberts. Who knew I'd actually miss Rehnquist? I do. He actually made decisions that surprised me a couple of times.

So perhaps we should just ignore all campaign ads and all claims of insult and indignation from both sides and just look at the facts. What are these candidates going to do for you? You can sling as much mud as you want from both sides of the aisle but in the end, who are the true agents of change? The one's who belong to the same party responsible for our misery the last eight years or the one's who belong to the other party?

Do you want real change?

or

An unreasonable facsimile?

[NP: Crosby, Stills & Nash - Wooden Ships]

Captain Danny Ross Fan Fiction

In the Law & Order: Criminal Intent fandom, most of the stories tend to be about Bobby Goren, Alex Eames and Mike Logan. Naturally they are the main focus. But there are those who do write for the secondary characters and one of my recent and most favorite authors of Captain Danny Ross fiction is sipman. Her stories can be found here and they are Ross/Rodgers centric. I love them. It's a series she's written throughout season 7. I love the look into Ross' mind and what he may be thinking and feeling. I've found him to be a fascinating character who is much more sympathetic to Goren than Goren fans seem to think he is.

The character is so complex and Eric Bogosian does such a fantastic job with him. Best moments this season have been in Untethered and Frame. In Untethered where he sits with Goren after he has been informed he is suspended pending a hearing and psychiatric evaluation. No words are spoken but just the expressions that cross his face ever so subtly are perfect!

Eric Bogosian as Capt. Danny Ross in Untethered

The other was in Frame when he and Goren have that face off. I love that despite being smaller in stature than Vincent D'Onofrio, Bogosian really held his own and refused to be intimidated by Goren's 'in your face' stand off. Bogosian has given Ross a lot of backbone and a capacity for a lot of empathy for one of his most difficult detectives.

Capt. Ross faces off with Detective Goren

So check out sipman's stories and see if perhaps you don't come away with a little more curiosity about Capt. Ross and the fact that he may just be a good guy. And of course for Rodgers fans, it's a great way to get a feel of what she may be going through this season as well.


[NP: Pink Floyd - Careful With That Axe, Eugene]

Dr. Strangelove

One of the best movies ever and probably my most favorite movie ever, is Dr. Strangelove. It's a very dark comedy by Stanely Kubrick starring Peter Sellers in three roles. I was reminded of it because it was on one of the cable stations the other night and my husband and watched it again for the millionth time. We still laugh and marvel at how modern the humor can be even after all these years. It was released in 1964 when we were caught firmly in the grip of the cold war.

Peter Sellers played the title character and also President Merken Muffley and Group Captain Lionel Mandrake. Also starred George C. Scott as General Buck Turgidson, Sterling Hayden as General Jack D. Ripper, Keenan Wynn as Col. 'Bat' Guano, Slim Pickens as Maj. T. J. 'King' Kong and also a very young James Earl Jones as Lt. Lothar Zogg. It was truly a marvelously written and superbly acted movie.

It covered a very serious subject and quite frankly, showed us the ridiculousness of the situation. That intelligent, supposedly civilized persons would put themselves in such a position. Of course it is the insane person who finally sets us on the course to total annihilation. The difference between those who would just follow orders and those who think on their own are highlighted when you have Mandrake, questioning his superior, Gen. Ripper, and when you have someone like Maj. Kong who follows his orders to the T, never stopping to question or think about the consequences.

I've found some videos on YouTube featuring two of my favorite moments from the movie and also a movie trailer. Check them out and see if you might not find some humor in the dark and twisted world of Dr. Strangelove. Sellers is incredible. I heard some of the scenes he did as Dr. Strangelove, Kubrick just let him do his thing and he came up with the most hysterical moments on screen.

Check out the trailer. It was posted by 1916dc. A quick overview of the movie.




Here's a very short but funny scene where Gen. Turgidson catches the Russian Ambassador taking photos in the War Room. Posted by hypermarkalan.




Here's a great scene with a ludicrous conversation between President Muffley and the Russian president, who is drunk because he's at a party. It's hysterical. Almost makes me think of what George W. Bush would sound like on the phone with a foreign leader. It was posted by Easthawk9.




And finally, Sellers as Dr. Strangelove - who doesn't really make an appearance until the end of the movie - gives us one of his best performances ever! LOL Watch the man who plays the Russian Ambassador who stands to the right (our left) of Sellers. At one point he almost loses it as Sellers does his thing as Dr. Strangelove, who suffers from 'alien hand' syndrome. My understanding is Kubrick just let Sellers do his thing and let him take the character where he wanted and this is the end result.




It's a remarkable performance among many and certainly kept me in stitches. Do watch this movie if you haven't already. It's truly one of the best movies ever and certainly my favorite movie of all time.

[NP: Bruce Springsteen - Empty Sky]

Sushi is NOT Sashimi

I was watching some show on Discovery, National Geographic or something like that. It was about the blue fin tuna that is now so in demand because of the great interest in 'sushi.' At first I thought they meant because raw fish is a popular ingredient of sushi.

But as the show went on, it became obvious to me they were referring to the raw fish, which would actually be 'sashimi' not 'sushi.' Sushi is made with rice, seaweed (sometimes that's left out, too) and some kind of filling or topping. Frequently it's raw fish, 'sashimi.' It could also be eel, squid, vegetables or even cooked fish.

So it bothered me that a show that was supposed to be educating me about something was getting it wrong. It seems everyone thinks 'sushi' is raw fish. It's not. 'Sashimi' is raw fish. There's a definite difference. How a program could get something so wrong was beyond me. Maybe talking to a Japanese person would have helped. LOL

These are various types of sushi.
Some even have crab (cooked) and avocado.
That would be an 'Americanized' sushi.

This would be sashimi.
It is raw fish which can be eaten as part of sushi or just
by itself with soy sauce and wasabi.

So when discussing sushi, remember, it's not necessarily raw and it's not necessarily even fish.

[NP: Mogwai - Hunted by a Freak]

Once Upon A Time...

...there was a political party called Republicans. They tried to sell the American people a fairytale and because the American public was too dazzled by a Pitt Bull wearing lipstick who could talk people into hating liberals. They took the same old crap and turned it into change. Is this supposed to be a magic trick?

"Thanks but no thanks for that bridge to nowhere." Just repeat that over and over again and people will believe it never mind that it's not quite true. When she ran for governor she supported it. But no one seems to care!

'Well she did end up opposing it," said one of my conservative friends. You know, one of those white women who seem to love Sarah Palin because she reminds them of themselves.

"Then how come when John Kerry changed his mind about the war you thought he was a waffler? Or is it only women who have the option to change their minds all the time?"

No reply. Just a roll of the eyes and right back to work. Yep, ignoring the question and not answering me is a good move because they don't really have any good answers for that. And lately, since Palin showed up on the scene, I've got a lot of questions they can't answer and yet they like her. It's quite disheartening but I'm hoping the questions she gets asked by the real press - hell, even FOX news for that matter - will force her to take a stand and show the American public what a nut job she really is and/or alienate her from her current fan base. She's been repeating things over and over again, just like she was trained to do for the RNC. So many stories coming out about ethics and abusing her office, using government funds for personal use, etc.

For those who are as confused as I am/was about the new Republican-speak coming out to push their fairytale that they are the agents of change, here's at least one thing I learned.

"Community Organizer" apparently doesn't mean people who organize groups to help the poor and improve the community in general. It means people like Al Sharpton. Troublemakers. It's also considered a racist term by some. I had no idea. Probably because I'm a member of the 'elite' who wasn't in on that train on thought from the 'common folk' that the Republicans are making themselves out to be.

Also, it seems the Republicans don't really care at all about the background of Sarah Palin. Never mind the controversy around her. No, who cares she's under ethics investigation. Never mind she belongs to a church that thinks you can "Pray away the gay." Seriously. They don't care how nuts she seems. They are just looking for someone to offer up as an alternative to Barack and Michelle Obama. Look, we've got John McCain and Sarah Palin for you to consider. Who do you feel more comfortable with?

Apparently many Americans feel more comfortable with McCain and Palin. If you repeat something over and over again in the exact same way, whatever you say is gospel truth. So how stupid are Americans? Well, we did elect Dubya for a second term. I'm afraid I have to disagree with Barack Obama on one point, the American people are stupid - or at least have the capability of being stupid. He has more faith in us than I do since he thinks we're not stupid. Obviously he's been hanging out with the 'elite' and not the 'real' people. Apparently 'real' people are dumb as dirt.

Here's a great op-ed piece from New York Times columnist Bob Herbert, entitled Hold Your Heads Up. I happen to agree with him and quite frankly, I have to admit I probably even bought into that conservative BS. I don't like the conservative agenda. When I hear the word conservative, I think the people who threw Galileo in jail for daring to tell the Powers That Be that they were wrong. Never mind he had the proof.

[NP: XTC - Dear God]

Mac vs. McCain

Here's a gem I just found literally seconds ago on YouTube. It's posted by barelypolitical. There are a lot of funny videos from barelypolitical but this one had me in stitches.

Adorable Eames Video

This is another video by Magra9 who seems to be my favorite for LOCI videos on YouTube as of late. The video clips are mostly Eames with some Goren. The sad and happy sides of Alex Eames. The song is Absolutely (Story of a Girl) by Nine Days.




I'm taking a short break from the Palin ranting as I need to figure out why 'white women' seem to be so taken with her. One of the news outlets cited them as the reason for McCain's sudden lead in this very tight race. So it sort of adds credibility to my generally half-joking comment that I can't be a Republican because I'm not a man, I'm not white, I'm not rich and I'm not a Christian. I mean you have to be AT LEAST one of those things to be a Republican and I'm not any of them. Now I guess I can add I'm a member of the 'elite.' LOL

Another Set of Questions From the Cat

Another set of questions for the week from Curious as a Cat

Week Number 134

1) What has been the most insincere expression of faith you have ever witnessed?

Let's see, Ted Haggard maybe? Or maybe Jimmy Swaggart or Jim Baker? Hypocrites every last one of them.

2) If you could paint each room in your house a different color, what colors would you paint them?

Living Room - White

Bed Rooms - Sky Blue

Bathrooms - Aqua

Kitchen - Light Yellow

Den - Tan/ecru

Yeah I know, kind of boring but I have to live with these colors and anything too bold would give me a headache.

3) What is the biggest myth about sex?

Spontaneity is the best. It's not. LOL I'd tell you why but that'd be embarrassing. ;-)

4) Who is the most charming person you’ve ever met?

My husband. That's why I married him.

5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.

Public Domain Photo

This reminds me of some of the old abandoned buildings in the rural areas where I live. Kind of sad in a way. The last vestiges of life in small town America.


[NP: Neko Case - Mood to Burn Bridges]

No, I Haven't Forgotten My Beloved Criminal Intent

With all the political ramblings and my gushing over other television shows like Homicide: Life on the Streets and Six Feet Under, I haven't forgotten LOCI. In fact, I thought I'd share this video and also plug The Velocity of Vincent website. The video was made by ElizaJane on YouTube. She is also the one who is responsible for all the beautiful Vincent D'Onofrio collages and slide shows on The Velocity of Vincent site. This is one she made before season 8 season finale Frame aired so it covers photos of Bobby Goren from the first episode, One, to Betrayed.

I think she did an excellent job finding the perfect shot and putting them all together. Enjoy!

Yes, I'm Still Having Fluffy Fun

Just so you all don't think I've gone all serious all of a sudden with all my political posts - not that there wasn't a lot to laugh at there, eh? The Soap Opera from Alaska is like the gift that just keeps giving for op-ed writers. The latest is she's going home to Alaska for a while so they can come up with answers she can give about the scandal surrounding her ethics violation scandal, the whole attempt at book banning allegations, etc. So much to prepare for, so little time.

In any case, here's something I found while looking up another show I'm completely enamored with in re-runs. I only discovered it after the series ended since it was on HBO and I don't have HBO or any movie channel.

I've already crowed over Homicide: Life on the Street being the best crime drama ever on television. Well, I now have another recommendation that is the best show ever on television. Six Feet Under.

It's a series about a family who happen to be in the Mortuary business. It's mainly about the Fisher family and their various relationships. Even the dead get to have their say in this show. It's unique and it's just beautiful all the way around. Great performances by all the principles and the supporting cast.

The show starts out with the family patriarch, Nathaniel Fisher, being literally hit by a bus while driving his new hearse to pick up eldest son, Nate Fisher, from the airport. It's Christmas and the family are getting together for the holidays.

From there it's the family coming to terms with Nathaniel's death and examining their own relationships with him. There's a bit of dark comedy involved. Baby sister Claire wants to party with friends, not spend time with her family. She promises to be home for dinner but stops by at a party with some friends. She is offered and accepts a hit of something that turns out to be meth/crack. Immediately after that she gets a phone call from her brother that her father is dead and she needs to pick up their mother and take her to the hospital/morgue to identify his body.

David has to remain at home as there is a funeral he is overseeing. The family lives upstairs above the funeral parlor/offices.

Meanwhile Nate arrives, chatting with a girl he met on the plane. While they are waiting for his father, they end up having sex in a janitorial closet. Nate gets the phone call from David about their father and Brenda, the girl he has just met and had sex with, offers to take him to the hospital/morgue.

The family dynamic is rather interesting and watching how this family copes is absolutely fantastic. Even dearly departed dad shows up, talking to his various family members, which brings about their feelings of guilt, resentment, love, etc.

My favorite line of the whole pilot episode is spoken by Nate to Brenda after his father's funeral. "My mother's a whore, my brother wants to kill me and my sister is on crack."

You see Claire struggling for her identity and independence as a high school girl who feels out of step with her peers. She drives an old hearse and is kind of a geek but I love her for it.

Nate is struggling with finding himself. At age 35 he still isn't sure what he wants to do with himself. He left home because he didn't want to go into the family business and now finds himself back home faced with a decision to make now that his father left him half the business.

David is dealing with resentment towards Nate as the prodigal son. He also is dealing with issues of his homosexuality which he is hiding from his family.

Throw into the mix, Brenda - who starts a relationship with Nate - and her crazy brother Billy, Keith - David's cop boyfriend, mother Ruth's boyfriend Hiram, Frederico their employee who takes such pride in his work which entails prepping the body for viewing at the funeral, Frederico's family and a whole slew of other off beat characters that make this show worth the watch just to see the performances.

Warning, there is a lot of swearing and there are men kissing and in bed together when dealing with David Fisher at any rate. If this bothers you, don't watch. In my opinion, none of the sex - heterosexual or homosexual - is gratuitous.

So here are a few videos I found that highlight some of the best of this series.

Starting off with a few of the cast members talking about this fantastic show. Video posted by racsf.





This one was posted by cheshirecat1582. The song was featured in the actual show. Sia - Breathe Me.





These are just some of the deaths that start off each episode. The resulting funeral and personal revelations of the families and how the Fishers and friends relate to it usually make up each episode. This one was posted by SkyAboveWater. The song is Tom Petty - Learning to Fly. Hey, I told you it's a dark comedy so some of the deaths seem a bit...well, unexpected. And because I have a horribly dark sense of humor, one my favorites was Santa riding his motorcycle and running into a truck.



And for Jeremy Sisto (aka Detective Lupo on Law & Order)fans, here's an episode that highlights some of his best acting moments on the show. And you get to see him parade around in his underwear. ;-) The man is hot. This was posted by jimspearson.

By way of an explanation, Jeremy plays the manic/depressive brother of Brenda Chenowith, girlfriend/fiance/ex-girlfriend/wife of Nate Fisher. At this point he is in a relationship with Nate's sister Claire. Billy periodically goes off his meds and this is one of those times.

It can be pretty intense but so was Sisto as Billy on this most excellent series.




I really want to post the final episode, last six minutes sequence but it would kind of give away a lot of this show.

This show makes me laugh and cry all at the same time. It's beautifully filmed, thoughtfully written and superbly acted by all involved.

[NP: Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear The Reaper]

And It Just Keeps Getting Better

Even Republicans - the sane intellectual ones, you know the 'elite' ones who apparently just need to have a brain to qualify as 'elite' - aren't exactly enthralled with Sarah Palin. Here's one of my favorite Republicans, Andrew Sullivan, sharing some of his thoughts on McCain's choice for his running mate.

I am also in the camp wondering when the (and I use the term loosely) lady will grant an interview. She must be pretty bad if Dan Quayle granted one just one day after being selected. Remember Dan "Potatoe" Quayle? Yeah, she's just good for barking and gnashing her teeth at Obama. Here's another post from Mr. Sullivan on that issue. And another. It seems her handlers aren't sure exactly when she's going to be ready to not tell us which books she wanted banned in the library of her community among other things. So many questions, so many fears she's gonna say something that will show her for the right-wing religious extremist that she is.

Quite frankly, I'm more interested in why she and her husband wanted Alaska to secede from the United States. If that doesn't say 'nut job' to you, then I don't know what would.

Who would have thought I would find so many interesting and entertaining blogs that aren't Vincent D'Onofrio, Kathryn Erbe or Criminal Intent oriented? LOL So many blogs, so little time. Nice way to kill time in between seasons of my favorite obsession.

In the mean time, following the train wreck that is turning out to be Sarah Palin is great. My conservative co-workers have shut up about her all of a sudden. Especially when they can't answer my questions about what kind of change is she supposed to bring? They don't even know because she hasn't said. She's just been trash talking Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

I think some of the lipstick is wearing off that Pitt Bull. Maybe that's why they're shipping her back to Alaska for a while. No substance that will sell to the masses?

Tune in to Mudflats for the latest in Sarah Palin news.



[NP: R.E.M. - Exhuming McCarthy]

The Real Agents of Change?

Isn't this rich? The Republicans want us to send them to Washington to be agents of change. They're sick of the way things are going in Washington and want to shake things up. Excuse me, but who the hell has been in charge in Washington for the last 8 years? We're going to send Republicans to the White House to take over from Republicans? What happened? The current occupant not conservative enough for you?

You know, they accuse Democrats of treating the American public like they're stupid. I'd say that is the biggest hypocrisy yet. Then again, since the race is neck and neck, perhaps they have a point. That repeating the same thing over and over again in the face of all facts seems to be working for them. Give us a simple line and we'll chant it and recite it and end up believing it because we are indeed stupid. By 'we' I mean the ones who actually do believe it. Not those of us standing here scratching our heads trying to figure out WTF is going on here?

I give up. I used to think most people when faced with facts would come to the same logical conclusion. Apparently not. That so many people can be fooled by Sarah Palin scares me. People who are educated and apparently smart get caught up in this fantasy the Republicans want to paint and they're making me sick. I say this is as a member of the political minority here where I live. I can't believe people are actually buying into the whole bullshit about the Republicans being agents of change. I'm sorry but by virtue of the word conservative, which this current ticket is with the addition of a woman more conservative than the current occupant of the White House, they are not agents of change.

This is a definition from Dictionary.com:

7 dictionary results for: conservative

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This con·serv·a·tive /kənˈsɜrvətɪv/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[kuhn-sur-vuh-tiv] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –adjective

1.	disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change.

2.	cautiously moderate or purposefully low: a conservative estimate.

3.	traditional in style or manner; avoiding novelty or showiness: conservative suit.

4.	(often initial capital letter) of or pertaining to the Conservative party.

5.	(initial capital letter) of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Conservative Jews or Conservative Judaism.

6.	having the power or tendency to conserve; preservative.

7.	Mathematics. (of a vector or vector function) having curl equal to zero; irrotational; lamellar.

–noun

8.	a person who is conservative in principles, actions, habits, etc.

9.	a supporter of conservative political policies.

10.	(initial capital letter) a member of a conservative political party, esp. the Conservative party in Great Britain.

11.	a preservative.

Here's a definition of the world liberal from the same source:

10 dictionary results for: liberal

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This lib·er·al /ˈlɪbərəl, ˈlɪbrəl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[lib-er-uhl, lib-ruhl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –adjective

1.	favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.

2.	(often initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to a political party advocating measures of progressive political reform.

3.	of, pertaining to, based on, or advocating liberalism.

4.	favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, esp. as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil liberties.

5.	favoring or permitting freedom of action, esp. with respect to matters of personal belief or expression: a liberal policy toward dissident artists and writers.

6.	of or pertaining to representational forms of government rather than aristocracies and monarchies.

7.	free from prejudice or bigotry; tolerant: a liberal attitude toward foreigners.

8.	open-minded or tolerant, esp. free of or not bound by traditional or conventional ideas, values, etc.

9.	characterized by generosity and willingness to give in large amounts: a liberal donor.

10.	given freely or abundantly; generous: a liberal donation.

11.	not strict or rigorous; free; not literal: a liberal interpretation of a rule.

12.	of, pertaining to, or based on the liberal arts.

13.	of, pertaining to, or befitting a freeman.

–noun

14.	a person of liberal principles or views, esp. in politics or religion.

15.	(often initial capital letter) a member of a liberal party in politics, esp. of the Liberal party in Great Britain.

So who wants change? If they throw out the word liberal as a negative - which they've done since Jimmy Carter took office back in 1976 - then how can they be agents of change? Change to what? Having segregation again? Making abortion illegal again? Not teaching evolution in school any more?

Yeah, that's real change for you. And let's not forget it seems at least one librarian in Alaska says Ms. Palin wanted to get books banned for having things in them that disturbed her Christian constituents. So we want to go back to that again? Is that the change they're talking about?

Because quite frankly, I don't know what else they could possibly be referring to. Maybe if her handlers can hurry the process of teaching her what to say when interviewed one on one by the actual media, we can ask those questions of Ms. Palin. How long does it take for her to memorize the acceptable answers and just repeat them over and over again even if they don't make sense?

I used to be a liberal. Then I was a moderate. Then came 8 years of George W. Bush and DICK Cheney and now Sarah Palin and I am once again, a flaming liberal and proud to be one.

[NP: Neutral Milk Hotel - Ghost]

I'm Watching Way Too Much Bravo

Besides the fact that Bravo has Sunday night marathons of Law & Order: Criminal Intent reruns every week, it's also got a lot of fun shows. I used to roll my eyes at the thought of Project Runway and Top Chef, etc. Now it seems I find myself watching Bravo more than any other channel except maybe Discovery.

My latest favorite Bravo program is Tabitha's Salon Takeover, with Tabitha Coffey.

Tabitha Coffey

I love this woman. LOL She's definitely opinionated and no-nonsense. Makes Sarah Palin look like a shrinking violet and that's not easy to do.

My favorite part of the show is when people who have asked her to come help them out, get all bent out of shape over her critique and her make-over. One idiot woman actually said "She's taking away a system that was working for us!" Really? Then why is your salon failing?

Yes, it's probably just part of the drama they're creating but it's still fun to laugh at them. Tabitha takes charge and basically just gives them common sense advice. Some are better about it than others but I'm amazed that some of the people she helps out are as stupid as they are. No wonder a lot of small businesses go under. If they're managed like the salons Tabitha goes in to make over, it's not surprising.

It's funny, I have no idea what new shows will be airing on network television and don't even care. I am interested in a couple of shows but not so much I'm anxiously awaiting them. If I catch them, I catch them. If not, it's no big deal.


[NP: The Police - Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic]

More Opinions

Found a couple more op-ed pieces that I found interesting. This one is by Judith Warner. Here's the part that resonated most with me.

Why does this woman – who to some of us seems as fake as they can come, with her delicate infant son hauled out night after night under the klieg lights and her pregnant teenage daughter shamelessly instrumentalized for political purposes — deserve, to a unique extent among political women, to rank as so “real”?

Because the Republicans, very clearly, believe that real people are idiots. This disdain for their smarts shows up in the whole way they’ve cast this race now, turning a contest over economic and foreign policy into a culture war of the Real vs. the Elites. It’s a smoke and mirrors game aimed at diverting attention from the fact that the party’s tax policies have helped create an elite that’s more distant from “the people” than ever before. And from the fact that the party’s dogged allegiance to up-by-your-bootstraps individualism — an individualism exemplified by Palin, the frontierswoman who somehow has managed to “balance” five children and her political career with no need for support — is leading to a culture-wide crack-up.

Who knew all it took to be 'elite' was to have an education? So I guess it doesn't matter that I have a lot of medical bills and would freak out if I got sick and couldn't work because it would really put me behind in bill payments? 'Elite' doesn't mean rich anymore it means smart.


[NP: The Who - Trick of the Light]

A Red Neck's Wet Dream

Photoshopped Sarah Palin photo

Photoshopped picture of the Republican nominee for Vice President. Gosh that just sums it up nicely. And before people get all bent about making fun of her because she's a conservative woman, there was a photo - I can't find it now but I remember my stepson, husband and I chuckling over it - of Hillary Clinton as a dominatrix. So buck up, Sarah. Hillary's been putting up with shit longer than you. If you can't take the heat get the hell out or STFU.

The conservative media here in Michigan are creaming their jeans over McCain and Palin visiting our depressed state. When Obama was here, he was mentioned and that was it. There was so much coverage of these two you'd think they won the flippin' election.

So here I am trying to figure out what McCain and Palin are supposed to do for us and all I hear are negatives about Barack Obama. Scare tactics. Let's cut down the other guy cause all we have is the same old crap we had before.

Oh and you know the BS about the surge in Iraq? Well, the surge is only working if you want to stay there for the next few decades. It's not working if you want to get the hell out. You have to keep up that kind of commitment to keep it safer. The minute you start drawing down, it will get bad again. So STFU about that, too. But of course since really, being better at war-mongering is the only thing they're good at, we're going to just keep hearing more of the same.

So, since she's into mudslinging, I thought I'd play along. Here are a couple of fun sites to follow throughout the election. Mudflats I found through Judey the Foodie. And this one, 2 Political Junkies, I found through Goddessdster's blog.

Keep up with the soap opera that is the life of Sarah Palin. Mudflats is the place to be.


[NP: Neil Young - Heart of Gold]

Law & Order Criminal Intent To Start Filming!

Goren & Eames
Vanishing Act - Season 7

Found by way of Major Case, this bit of information from The Reel Vincent D'Onofrio. Looks like they'll be filming starting the 15th-24th of this month in New York City. Here's the casting call. Looks like the episode is titled The Faithful - kind of made me do a double-take. There's already an episode named The Faithful from season 1. Hmm....maybe getting rid of all the writers wasn't a good thing, eh? Just a thought.

So our detectives are returning and I guess that means no fears of VDO not returning. It's amazing the crazy rumors that start circulating when people have no new episodes of LOCI to watch. LOL


[NP: Mogwai - Stop Coming to My House]

Trophy Vice Does Good?

Trophy Vice Sarah Palin

So Trophy Vice had her moment last night. She's bitchy, she's tough and she's pissed at the press. So is she going to cry like a girl about them being 'sexist?' Well, you know, I'm going to show her as much sympathy as she showed Hillary Clinton when the press were getting on her and being rather sexist towards her. She said Hillary was whining. Well, honey, you stop whining, too. When you show some understanding for what Hillary went through I'll start showing some understanding for what you're about to go through. You come out swinging? You better be able to take the punches that get thrown back without crying "But I'm a girl!"

She exceeded expectations of her handlers. Well, when the bar is set so low, it's hard to not exceed them. Just like when Bush won out on debates. The bar was set so high for his opponents but so low for him. Hell, if he managed to get out without tripping over his own two feet people thought he did well. Same here for Ms. Palin. Great performance, no substance. Kind of like Dubya. Same old shit in a younger, prettier package.

She did do a good job with the base. The right wingers who LOVE her and feel she's being unfairly picked on. So many mean things being written about her in the liberal blog-o-sphere. Oh, poor baby. Sorry you have to put up with lies and slander like Barack Obama has been putting up with from the right wing bloggers for much longer. I think he would be quite happy with all the lies being put to rest. I admit that there have been some really stupid tabloid BS out there about her. You don't need to make up stuff about her to make her seem unfit for the office to which she aspires. So knock it off and stick to the issues. The ones I can't wait for her to address since all she did was really hype herself and show she can be as bitchy as the next gal.

See, now she came out swinging and the conservatives are saying "oh, how strong she is." "She's tough!" And when Hillary does the same thing she's being a bitch? Give me a break. It's like the whole Lynn Cheney deal where the CNN crew were just gushing about how 'feisty' she was with Wolf Blitzer and how she defended her husband DICK Cheney. So when she does it it's great but again, when Hillary does it she's - again - a real ball buster? I get it, the media, liberal and conservative, only like strong minded conservative women. Bite me.

She spent a lot of time attacking Barack Obama but offered up no plans of her own. Does she have one? Does McCain? Probably. Just look at what Bush has done and you'll know. More of the same.

My big question is how did the Democrats become the elite? Who has more money? Who has the presidents born with silver spoons in their mouths?

And the bottom line most talking heads were throwing out there was she's not on the ticket to go for Hillary folks (obviously that would be stupid) but really she's there to go after Barack and Michelle Obama. It's a cultural war they say. Okay, so trailer park vs. Harvard? That might work you know. There are more people who relate to trailer park than to Harvard.

[NP: Mary Chapin Carpenter - Almost Home]

Indulging a Bit

Playing a game with Gorengal on her Livejournal blog. Thought I'd post my answers here as Livejournal seems to be too much for me to want to try and figure out. Basically this is what it's about:

1. Comment on this post.
2. I will give you a letter.
3. Think of 5 fictional characters and post their names and your comments on these characters in your LJ.

So she gave me the letter B.

1. Bobby Goren (naturally) - A most charismatic character. Very ethical, compassionate and troubled. I went from disliking him to adoring him to disliking him to back to adoring him the past seven seasons of Criminal Intent.

2. Bayliss, Tim - Complex and also compelling. Partner to the mercurial Frank Pembleton on Homicide: Life on the Streets, the best crime drama ever. Loved Tim. Loved Frank. Loved the whole bunch of them.

3. Beverly Crusher - Doctor on the Enterprise from Star Trek: The Next Generation. A strong, accomplished woman who was a mother and a young widow.

4. Brown, Murphy - Career woman who's tough as nails persona hides a soft side. I can relate to her so much. Her becoming a mom was kind of like me becoming a grandmother. She could go toe to toe with powerful leaders and yet was so nervous about dealing with a small child.

5. Briscoe, Lenny - Probably the first and only character I think of when I think of one face to represent the L&O franchise. Sure I'm madly in love with Bobby Goren and Mike Logan was my first L&O crush, but Lenny Briscoe for all his years of service and for developing into quite a character on a show that focused more on case file than character.

Curious As A Cat

Found this at Curious as a Cat. It's a fun site and I thought I'd play. :-)

Week Number 133

1) What would you change about your workplace?

Put it in a more modern building. The building we're in is I believe older than I am and I'm 49. No matter how we set the thermostat it's always too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.

2) If, for the good of mankind, you could reverse one scientific discovery, what would you choose?

Cloning. I think we're playing with some serious stuff we don't understand yet and it's a little scary. We plunge headlong into it without even considering the ethics of it all.

3) What is the dumbest thing people do to make themselves better-looking?

Botox. They're shooting something into their face to paralyze the muscles. Something about that just creeps me out. Not to mention people who get botoxed look creepy. When you can't move your eyebrows, it makes you look 'Stepford Wife' weird.

4) If you worked with one person with X-ray vision, who would you least like for it to be?

I'd quit before I'd work with someone with x-ray vision. LOL

5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.

Public Domain Photo

Because I'm a huge Criminal Intent fan, the first thing that popped into mind was the episode Vanishing Act which featured magic and which allowed Vincent D'Onofrio's Detective Goren to play with the magic tricks and impress his partner Kathryn Erbe as Detective Eames.


[NP: R.E.M. - Daysleeper]

Is She or Isn't She?

It seems a little rumor is spreading that will truly make me just give up on my beloved Criminal Intent.

It seems this little tidbit from TV Guide has sent all kinds of horrible thoughts through the LOCI fandom. Here's the important part.

Is Law & Order: CI's Nicole Wallace (Olivia d'Abo) really dead? I thought that the finale's twist — the bloody heart, Declan's involvement — was sort of ambiguous. — Jose
Mickey: I'm hearing from at least one source that the initial plans for the Nicole Wallace storyline may be changed, in part due to this season's casting changes (to recap: Big out, Fly in). Whether that means she was once supposed to be dead and now isn't, your guess is as good as Goren's. A USA rep declined to comment on Wallace's fate.

Olivia D'Abo as Nicole Wallace

I just can't believe they would bring her back! Talk about jumping the shark. If anything would put me off the show it would be somehow resurrecting Nicole Wallace. Now I'm beginning to worry about what to expect from the new writers if they're even considering this possibility.

Well, off to watch more Homicide: Life on the Streets. At least when people died on that show, they stayed dead.

[NP: Fleetwood Mac - Dreams]

The Hypocrisy is Overwhelming

Isn't it nice. The Republicans seem to finally agree that people should make personal decisions in private. It's no one else's business whether Sarah Palin's daughter has her baby and marries the father of her child or not. They're right. Now do you think they will afford the rest of us that same privacy? The freedom to choose how we handle something like this? Or do they still want to enforce their values on us all? Hmm...my guess is their hypocrisy will be seen quite clearly. You can make your decisions in private as long as it's the only decision they let you make.

The only thing I want to ask Sarah Palin is this. So how's that abstinence only thing working for ya? Answer me that and then send your daughter home so she can try and avoid the limelight and live her life in peace as best as she can now that you've dragged your family out into the limelight and media glare just as your child is facing a major life-changing event. Don't drag the poor girl around to play babysitter for the child you committed to have and you should be raising. She's going to have it rough enough as it is without the glare of the media shining on her.

Here's an op-ed by Maureen Dowd that pretty much sums up so much better than I ever could.


[NP: Foo Fighters - DOA]

Rediscovering An Old Favorite

While my general disdain for the current political campaign has kept me from engaging in political debate and my disgust for what the Republican party has turned into has kept me from watching any of their convention, I've been obsessing over Homicide: Life on the Street. If nothing else, just to avoid seeing anything about the convention at all.

Also went to YouTube and found a lot of great video clips and music videos on this show. Thought I'd share a few to spread the love. Right now the only station I know of that reruns them is WGN. Here in Michigan - EDT - it's on at around 11 a.m. I recommend renting the DVDs and treating yourself to some great television.

Here's the first one - featuring director John Waters - a native of Baltimore - and Chris Noth as Detective Mike Logan of Law & Order. This was a crossover episode. I believe it was the first of about three or four crossover episodes with Law & Order. It was posted by xbleedingkansas.



Here's one by quietandsneaky with music by The Fray - How to Save a Life (which was the song featured in one of my favorite LOCI videos based on Blindspot). It's a general partnership video featuring Andre Braugher's Frank Pembleton and Kyle Secor's Tim Bayliss. My favorite detective team until Goren and Eames came along. Now they're pretty much tied for me. Excellent teamwork, great chemistry between the actors and compelling to watch the evolution of the partnership.





And this one features most of the superb cast of this ensemble show. The song is Hurt by Nine Inch Nails. The video was posted by hakanTCM.





Here's a cameo by the late Tim Russert. He was supposedly visiting his cousin Megan Russert and having an argument with her. LOL It was cute.




There are so many more but these were my favorites. There are also several with Vincent D'Onofrio in The Subway episode. I've posted one of those already a while back so I thought I'd focus on other episodes that aren't necessarily LOCI related. LOL

You really should check this show out. It's absolutely excellent and most realistic. Melissa Leo is especially a favorite. No nonsense, no high heels, no sexy outfits and generally no make-up. You won't catch her racing to a crime scene in stilettos. I look at her and believe she is a detective.

And again, as much as I love Law & Order: Criminal Intent, I have to say Homicide wins out over it as best crime drama ever on television.


[NP: Traffic - Low Spark of High Heeled Boys]

I Could Have Told You This

But I thought I'd post this anyway. Got the idea from Gorengal at Livejournal.

Your Issue Profile: 76% Obama, 24% McCain

While it sounds like Obama is the choice for you, he's not a perfect match. You and John McCain actually share some of the same views. Whether this is news to your or not, you have some studying to do. Obama seems like he's the right fit, but it's an important issue might sway you over to McCain.

Should You Vote for Obama or McCain?

I seriously doubt there is anything that will sway me to the John McCain camp. He's just so desperate to be president he's been really pissing me off the last four years. It's really sad as I used to think of him as one of the few Republicans I would vote for under the right circumstances. But that was back in 2000 when he still had a backbone and was a maverick. Now that he's turned into Bush Lite and the real maverick of the Republican party, Senator Chuck Hagel, has decided to not even run for his senate seat again, there are no Republicans left that could make me want to vote Republican.

No I'm not 100% happy with Obama but he's clearly the best choice in this election. You know, I wonder where Pat Robertson is these days? Isn't he going to pipe in with some insight about the whole Gustav situation coming up during the start of the Republican Convention? You think he believes God is doing this because he's unhappy with the Republicans? Or is it just Democrats God seems to want to punish?

I'm so fed up with the Republican party. The Democrats are annoying me on some level, too. The whole 'nanny state' they want to impose on me. I feel like the song lyric, "Clowns to the left me, jokers to the right, stuck in the middle with you."

However, in the end, I can say I will be voting for Barack Obama and I hope he does bring change to this country. We certainly need it.

[NP: Talking Heads - Road to Nowhere]

Making Up For Lost Time

Found a great post paying tribute to Vincent D'Onofrio's Emmy-worthy these past few years on Criminal Intent at All Things Law & Order. The song is by Pink Floyd off their album Division Bell and is called Keep Talking. So not only does she have great taste in television shows and actors but also she apparently has great taste in music. :-) Also found the video at YouTube where she has videos of various L&O programs. Love what she's done with Jib Jab videos.

She also has a blog called The Frequent Critic, which deals with current events. Right now she is pretty much saying what I think about Sarah Palin, John McCain's VP pick. I have to say if she is supposed to appeal to disenfranchised Hillary Clinton supporters, she's going to fail miserably. How many NRA supporting, Pro-life folks are hardcore Clinton supporters I wonder? And I know one thing, should something happen to 72-year old, cancer fighting John McCain, this woman has even less foreign affairs experience than the Republicans are accusing Obama of lacking. I think Americans should feel insulted that they think we could be so easily fooled. Then again, it remains to be seen how many actually are fooled. I didn't think we could be fooled into a second Bush term but I was wrong.

Ah well, onto more pleasant things...

BobbyG has posted a partner's slide show for Frame on her blog. Lot's of great stuff happened while I was off recuperating from a grandchild sleepover! Oh and after checking her blog, I just found the slide show of just Bobby. Check them out. :-)

Last but definitely not least, Jesshelga has another Goren and Eames fic posted. 100% shipper here folks so those who don't like that, don't bother. But those who do like it, it's absolutely wonderful!


[NP: Bruce Springsteen - The Rising]

Labor Day Musings

Well, I spent yesterday in bed all day. My body was achy from moving furniture in the den and sleeping on the hide-a-bed with Lotus. I'm thinking these girls are getting old enough to be able to sleep by themselves right? Cause I am definitely getting too old to be sleeping on the hide-a-bed which is only comfortable for people who have body parts that are working at 100 percent. It's never a good sign when I wake up and have to roll onto my side to be able to get up without killing my back.

I had to take photos this morning of some local events but other than that, I survived. It's such a beautiful day here. Hard to imagine the storm down south in the gulf. Here's hoping Gustav isn't as deadly as Katrina.

So, here's a couple of items I found while catching up on things around the web.

Chris Noth with girlfriend Tara Wilson
and son Orion.

Orion Noth is such a beautiful little boy. Love that head of hair! Looks like Noth is going for the grizzled "Goren" look. LOL He's still gorgeous, IMO. Lucky Tara Wilson. :-)

And I've been spending some time looking up some clips from Homicide: Life on the Streets over at YouTube. Found some great clips and videos put together with music. Here's one I'm particularly fond of - even has a quick glimpse of Vincent D'Onofrio's appearance in The Subway episode. It was posted by easilyjaded2. The song is Don't Panic by Coldplay.



Yes, I love Criminal Intent as if it's the only show on television. LOL But if it had to compete with Homicide: Life on the Street, I have to say Homicide wins by just a hair for me. The Pembleton/Bayliss partnership is so intense and it made me rethink how I hate the conflicts between Goren and Eames. I think the conflict makes the partnership stronger so perhaps it's more of a good thing than bad. To stay with someone you get along well with all the time is easy. To stay despite conflict shows more of a commitment and a deep friendship at the core.

For those unfamiliar with Homicide, do check it out. There are so many similarities - as well as differences - between the Pembleton/Bayliss and Goren/Eames partnerships we could write a book. ;-) Funny how all the angst on LOCI has started to get to me but the angst on Homicide lasted pretty much the entire series and it didn't seem to bother me at all.