Sands Of Samantha

Doodle: Sea Meets Land

2009-08-09T19:05:00.001-04:00

Libertarian Blogs

2009-08-07T19:46:00.002-04:00

My new favorite libertarian blog.

Another good one.

Unintended Consequences

2009-08-02T12:05:00.001-04:00

What are they?

Questions

2009-07-29T18:56:00.003-04:00

Some good questions about the Health Insurance proposals being worked on and debated.

Another question: Why is it so crazy to ask elected officials to read an entire bill before they vote on it? I think reading these bills is a part of their job. But if that duty is not included, maybe their salaries should be cut to reflect this lifted burden.

Happy Birthday USA

2009-07-04T12:02:00.000-04:00

Stats

2009-06-30T20:43:00.002-04:00

Some estimates on how the Cap and Tax bill that passed the House last Friday evening impacts the states based on prior data.

Stress Relief

2009-06-25T20:55:00.002-04:00

I have rediscovered the power of LEGOs. Being creative is such a stress reliever.

Check out my cute creation of the day.

Shake the Glitter off your Clothes

2009-06-22T20:27:00.004-04:00

This song by Katy Perry called "Waking Up in Vegas" is really catchy and has gotten in my head.

Let's see if I can embed this video right.

I Saved or Created 3 Blog Posts Today

2009-06-14T09:00:00.007-04:00

21 musings in no particular order:

Definition: Happy - Enjoying, showing, or marked by pleasure, satisfaction, or joy.
Hulu is a great innovation.
The more I type, the more illegible my handwriting gets.
Laughing is the Soul's Vitamin C.
Image appears to be everything today. That's sad. I hope that changes.
I'm tired of "tolerance" meaning "I tolerate you as long as you believe the same as I do. Otherwise, I'll eviscerateyou."
Pitchmen is a good show on the Discovery Channel.
There are so many missed comedic opportunities.
Up! was a good sentimental movie.
Freedom does not mean freedom from consequences.
Every day is a new opportunity.
Context? Context. Context!
Asking questions is bad??
"Evil will always win because good is dumb" -Dark Helment
A Definiton of Mean - Cruel, spiteful, or malicious.
Trader Joe's dark chocalate covered pretzels are delicious.
Actions speak louder than words,
I wonder when new Strongbad emails will be online.
Saw Glenn Beck's Comedy Show in the theatre. It was hilarious and inspiring.
A hug is like a blanket.
Snuggies aren;t just for cultists.

C is For Classic

2009-05-23T22:19:00.001-04:00

Glenn Beck Rants

2009-04-15T20:41:00.003-04:00

I'm tired of the irresponsibility everywhere.

Here's to the First Amendment, whether you agree with the rant or not.

Edit: Blogger doesn't seem to like the embedding, so here's a link to a site containing the video.

Announcement

2009-04-01T20:55:00.003-04:00

I have a very important announcement to make. I am starting my 2012 campaign for President today. I will be accepting campaign contributions in the form of change only, after all that metal is precious when melted back down! There will be a baby eating celebration at Panera Bread this Sunday to kick things off. Rev up your Cafe Press accounts for my campaign slogan:

Why not?

Mad as Hell

2009-03-24T19:32:00.001-04:00

Dear Beaurocrats In Government,

Attitude Matters When it Comes to Success

2009-03-15T17:30:00.002-04:00

Improving Roads

2009-03-15T16:56:00.002-04:00

How to Donate Money to The US Government

2009-02-10T14:19:00.001-05:00

It's so easy. Details here

Financial gifts can be made by check or money order payable to the United States Treasury and mailed to:

Gifts to the United States
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Credit Accounting Branch
3700 East-West Highway, Room 6D37
Hyattsville, MD 20782

Are Reality Shows Setting Unrealistic Standards For Skanks?

2009-02-04T20:06:00.001-05:00

The Onion does it again. WARNING- Profanity!!!

In The Know: Are Reality Shows Setting Unrealistic Standards For Skanks?

Hahha...oh guilty pleasures

John Stossel Weighs in on the 'Stimulus Package'

2009-02-04T19:57:00.002-05:00

We Can't Spend Our Way to Prosperity

We Surround Them

2009-02-04T19:32:00.001-05:00

How many of these Nine Principles do you believe in?

Life Blossoms

2009-01-30T22:32:00.001-05:00

Strong Bad on Crayons

Super Bowl Cakes That Fail

2009-01-30T18:44:00.000-05:00

See the fumbles here

Football Psych Up

2009-01-29T19:58:00.004-05:00

In honor of the super bowl... I bring you footage of a coach or something for NY Jets.

I'm not a Jets fan and I'm not not a Jets fan:-)

Now, the message to everyone is, go get 'em!

Thank you, HULU

2009-01-29T19:38:00.002-05:00

HULU has changed the way I watch TV. I love being able to watch most of my favorite shows, when I want to watch them, with limited interruption for FREE. Makes me contemplate the need for cable sometimes. My biggest gripe is the occasional "buffering" issues during certain times of day. I hope full episodes of my favorite pop culture show, The Soup pop onto it eventually.

Cute Puppy!

2009-01-29T19:33:00.000-05:00

Just cuz!

The Obama-Limbaugh Bipartisan Stimulus Plan of 2009

2009-01-29T19:25:00.002-05:00

Fifty-three percent of American voters voted for Barack Obama; 46% voted for John McCain, and 1% voted for wackos. Give that 1% to President Obama. Let's say the vote was 54% to 46%. As a way to bring the country together and at the same time determine the most effective way to deal with recessions, under the Obama-Limbaugh Stimulus Plan of 2009: 54% of the $900 billion -- $486 billion -- will be spent on infrastructure and pork as defined by Mr. Obama and the Democrats; 46% -- $414 billion -- will be directed toward tax cuts, as determined by me. Then we compare. We see which stimulus actually works. This is bipartisanship! It would satisfy the American people's wishes, as polls currently note; and it would also serve as a measurable test as to which approach best stimulates job growth.

Why not? Boy, would I love to see the 2 of them in a room together. haha. *sigh*

Quote of the Day 01/28/09

2009-01-28T21:16:00.000-05:00

"I predict the future happiness of Americans if they can prevent the government wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. " - Thomas Jefferson

Let them know what you think

2009-01-26T20:19:00.003-05:00

Write your congressman and senators to let them know what you think of the Stimulus (+ more) Package that is in progress.

Joe's Goals

2009-01-25T19:20:00.003-05:00

I found out about this tool through Lifehacker.com to track goals/resolutions. I have decided to give it a try. So far I found it very easy to start using. Now for the record, I don't have any New Year's Resolutions, per say, but I definitely have some items I am working on improving and tracking. Let's see if I am still using it in a couple of months.

Sarah Palin on Glenn Beck Today

2009-01-19T19:37:00.000-05:00

Embedding seems to be posing an issue for me, so lets try a link!

A Boss Who Tells it Like it Is

2009-01-19T18:47:00.002-05:00

I recieved this as one of those fwd kind of emails and I think it is worth sharing.

To All My Valued Employees,

There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this
company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has
changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is
this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job
however, is the changing political landscape in this country.

However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you
decide what is in your best interests.

First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against
employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a back
story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see
and hear. Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You've seen my big home
at last years Christmas party. I'm sure; all these flashy icons of luxury
conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.

However, what you don't see is the back story.

I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square
foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was converted
into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company,
which by the way, would eventually employ you.

My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went
back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective
transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on
weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to
my business - hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.

Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a
modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and
lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of hitting
the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling through the
discount store extracting any clothing item that didn't look like it was
birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of
luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money, and my life into a
business with a vision that eventually, some day, I too, will be able to
afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.

So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at
about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button for me.
When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to
yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe this
company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is
no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year
old special-needs child. You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden -
the nice house, the Mercedes, the vacations ... you never realize the back
story and the sacrifices I've made.

Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right
decisions and saved his money, have to bail-out all the people who didn't. The
people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same
luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for.

Yes, business ownership has is benefits but the price I've paid is steep
and not without wounds.

Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is
starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you why:

I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough. I
have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes. Payroll
taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on taxes. I
have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess what? I have
to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and regulations and all
the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my time. On Oct 15th, I
wrote a check to the US Treasury for $288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know
what my "stimulus" check was? Zero. Nada. Zilch.

The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy
who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000 people
per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home
pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check? Obviously,
government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this country.

The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck you'd quit
and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who wants to
get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why your
job is in jeopardy.

Here is what many of you don't understand ... to stimulate the economy you
need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government mandated to
me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing that
$288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have spent it, hired more
employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees would
have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better
salaries. But you can forget it now.

When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't defibrillate
and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you? Or,
do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the heart of America and
always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it. Suddenly, the
power brokers in Washington believe the poor of America are the essential
drivers of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the
truth and this is the type of change you can keep.

So where am I going with all this?

It's quite simple.

If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift
and simple. I fire you. I fire your co-workers. You can then plead with the
government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child's future.
Frankly, it isn't my problem any more.

Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and retire.
You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalizes the productive and
gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will
be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.

So, if you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will
be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country,
steamrolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape forever. If
that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no
employees to worry about ...

Signed,
Your boss

Memo to America

2009-01-15T19:54:00.002-05:00

Dear America,

You're in deep debt. When in debt, it is a time to make sacrifices and stick to the essentials. That means if you're going to party, party small. Small parties can still raise spirits. If you've got money burning a hole in your pocket, maybe you should spread the wealth to those who can't afford to make the choice to party hard or to party modestly. Just a thought, since everyone's being told they should do with less in order to help those with less. 4 legs good, two legs bad. No wait... four legs bad, two legs good...No...

Sincerely,
Samantha

Leadership means willingness to do the grunt work

2008-12-08T18:57:00.005-05:00

The Real article from Inc Magazine from the guy who authors this blog.
Update : link fixed for real

Cuteness and Snacks

2008-11-17T21:45:00.000-05:00

Red Versus Blue

2008-11-17T21:24:00.002-05:00

No, I am not talking politics. This is a blast from the past (caution: language). I found this series more fun than the game way back in the day!

A Girl's Experiment

2008-11-13T22:09:00.003-05:00

Check out this story of a girl who conducted a somewhat informal test of political tolerance.

She turned her observations into a paper. She is a smart and very clever young lady.

The Jingle of Change

2008-11-10T19:55:00.000-05:00

This is real and hilariously ironic.

Strongbad Gives Radio Advice

2008-11-08T22:43:00.001-05:00

Quote of the Day

2008-11-08T22:36:00.001-05:00

The government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. -Ronald Reagan

Influencing Our Youth Updated

2008-11-06T19:20:00.004-05:00

Political bias does not belong in the classroom Check out this Finnish documentary clip of 1 teacher who doesn't get it (I promise the audio for the important parts are in English). This American teacher thinks she is being fair and unbiased in her classroom. You decide.:

Did you notice how she humiliated the girl whose father is in Iraq and said she supported McCain?

Update: 11/8/08 9:40PM
The School's superintendent responds:

I am curious to see the actions that are taken.

Go Vote!

2008-11-03T21:26:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is election day, so please go vote!

Wish this was a Halloween Prank

2008-10-31T19:30:00.004-04:00

You've heard of China filtering(ie: Censoring) Internet content, well guess who else is considering?

Australia!?

Edit: Simpsons Reference in Australian article.

Bonus: Just a reminder of what socialized medicine could mean.

Why I am voting for Sarah Palin..and McCain too

2008-10-28T20:30:00.003-04:00

I've had a few posts that talk about why I am not voting for the other guy. Let me explain why I am voting for McCain-Palin at a high level.

First, let me say in my humble opinion I think Palin will be a great VP and can be a good president. She is a leader. She has made tough decisions. She has stood up for what she thought was right. I admire her drive and demeanor. She has been under a lot of fire and handles it with grace. Sure, she's made some trips, but she is better every time she gets out there. She made it to where she is not by calling in political favors or playing along with the machine, but by being a leader. This country could sure use some common sense in the leadership. Some people may say she has a funny voice, but I like it! She is real.

I have faith in McCain-Palin will say no to unnecessary spending AND be able to articulate it to the public.

McCain has fought for this country. To me a commander in chief that has been in the trenches has a lot to offer when it comes to making military decisions. He understands the importance of the treaties we have with our allies and that there are countries that take advantage of our wallets while they have their hands out for our money. He understands that there are leader out there that seek to destroy us and the liberties we hold dear and I believe he will stand up to them and protect this country. He doesn't tell people what they want to hear. He calls it as he sees it. I trust that McCain can make that split second decision that leaders need to make from time to time. He is real.

Who is going to pay those taxes?

2008-10-27T21:37:00.002-04:00

Not me yet, so why should I care? Real compassionate. Saving money makes you rich... how terrible..

2001 Economic Justice Discussion

2008-10-27T19:25:00.003-04:00

Listen for yourself. Perhaps I am missing something. But to me it sounds like he's implying that a failing of the civil rights movement was that it did not provide reparations of some kind nor any monetary redistribution policy... And that darn Constitution seems to get in the way...

Speaking of the Constitution..let me dust off my pdf copy and start re-reading it..

This guy doesn't feel the love from the left

2008-10-23T18:24:00.002-04:00

...that he's "supposed" to be apart of "by default".

Crystal Ball of Change?

2008-10-20T23:54:00.001-04:00

Joe Biden said some weird stuff... What is he eluding to?

BUMP: A Good Book

2008-10-20T20:16:00.003-04:00

See original post here.

An Inconvenient Book will make you laugh and a bit annoyed. It's filled with yummy facts and tasty commentary. You can find it at your local library or bookstore.

Give the man a fish..err farm?

2008-10-20T19:48:00.003-04:00

A real life extreme example of taking the wealth and it's impact on people.

Definition: Socialism

2008-10-20T19:19:00.002-04:00

so·cial·ism
Pronunciation: \ˈsō-shə-ˌli-zəm\
Function: noun
Date: 1837

1: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods

2

a: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property

b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state

3: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

(source: Merriam Webster Dictionary

Let me skate

2008-10-18T00:40:00.001-04:00

Brian Boitano knows what to do!

Campaign Ad in a Video Game!

2008-10-14T20:35:00.001-04:00

Clever, very clever.

Glenn Beck Interviews McCain Again

2008-10-14T19:56:00.000-04:00

You can read the transcript here.

Frustrated

2008-10-10T13:41:00.002-04:00

The "mad" man in this town hall is showing the frustration myself and a lot of McCain supporters at this point are feeling. I want the passionate, angry old man to come out and fight! He doesn't have much to lose at this point.

Organization on the campaign trail

2008-10-08T19:46:00.001-04:00

This article compares campaign mechanics from a reporter's POV.

What to do at 4 AM?

2008-10-04T04:57:00.000-04:00

This is what I am doing.

Those predatory lenders

2008-10-02T19:55:00.003-04:00

sure were sued for not lending more (yes, 1). I wonder who was on the legal council?

Blue Jay in The City

2008-09-28T18:52:00.002-04:00

Second is the best

2008-09-25T21:48:00.003-04:00

I competed in my first Area Toastmasters Table Topics Contest this evening. It was a lot of fun and I met some interesting people and heard some funny speeches. I won second place in the "on the spot" speech segment of the contest referred to as "Table Topics". I was asked to answer on the spot the question of "What was the greatest gift I have given or received". I talked about my career opportunities at my company and the value of the people over a product.

The first place contestant will go on to represent the Area at the District contest. If for some reason, they cannot make the competition, I will take their place.

Hey Obama

2008-09-24T20:19:00.004-04:00

Stop campaigning and do your job! I may not have voted for you, but my tax dollars are paying your salary. And what are you doing? You're frigging campaigning, claiming to be for "change". Sounds like you only care about more "change" being put in your pocket for a higher office. Before you look for a promotion, you should try to fulfill your current job's responsibilities. You are not entitled to not be "present".

Special thanks to McCain for realizing he still has responsibilities, while looking for a promotion.

Hey Celebrities

2008-09-12T23:10:00.002-04:00

I don't care what you think. So, be quiet and get back to your superficial careers :-P
Dance, monkeys, dance!

I Will Not Forget

2008-09-10T22:26:00.002-04:00

On 9/11/08, It will have been 7 years since the attacks. See below a reprint of my recount of where I was on that fateful day, as I had blogged about in 2006 (with some typos cleaned up and spacing).

Where was I?
Tuesday, September 11, 2001 is a day I will never forget. Some details have fuzzied but the impact is still the same. It changed my life as I knew it.

It had been a week or so after I broke up with my first boyfriend and we were not getting along. I went to my logic design class, then the dining hall to pick up a quick bite (I cannot recall if I went to the dining hall before the class or not). The cashier told me she just heard a plane crashed into the World Trade Center. I thought to myself 'Is this another drunk pilot slamming into a building?' She gave me no details. I ate my food and went to my Discrete Math discussion, a class I thoroughly hated, hoping we weren't going to have another quiz.

Walking to the fine arts building (where ironically the math class was held), I saw some people making a commotion but thought nothing of it. Walking into the classroom a few minutes early, I noticed there were only a couple of other students in there, waiting for the TA to arrive. The murmured, "Did you hear what happened?" "Do you think we'll have class today?" "What's going on?"
Then, the TA strolled in saying,

"They're gone..the towers are gone."

My mouth gaped in shock. I said "what do you mean?" he said,
"There are not there anymore. Destroyed."

The TA dismissed the class. I ignorantly, thought to myself "HUh?, hey no class." As I walked down the stairs, I saw a campus notice explaining why classes were canceled. My mind raced to the fact that my grandma was flying to or from California really soon...I raced to my dorm room..my roommate had a note on the door saying she was in her bf's room in the basement and that I should come down there. I dialed my parents and heard a busy signal.

I ran down to where my roommate was and asked, what happened? Then I caught the footage on the laptop of the smoke emitting from a buildings from prior footage on CBS.... and then I saw the footage of the first tower fall...and then the second... I felt nauseous...and angry...and scared, so darn scared. Later, I heard about the damage at the Pentagon and the plane that went down in Pennsylvania and I knew we were at war. I will never forget.

We ate all our meals around the news craving answers and action. When President Bush made his speech on Sept 12, I felt some comfort and I knew that this was the start of a long fight. Things had changed drastically in the world and they would never be the same. Moreover, our eyes were opened wider than ever to those who had been plotting and attacking us subtlety in the years before this punctuation mark of an attack.

I will never forget. The anger. The sadness. The atrocities these non-humans committed against the United States of America, they envied and hated so much.

I will never forget.

Infuriating

2008-09-10T22:12:00.004-04:00

There was a pinhead international poll on what group people think were behind the September 11th attacks. Look at the chart.. It will make "blood shoot out of your eyes".

Wow!

2008-09-04T18:34:00.001-04:00

Now that was inspirational!

It's Official

2008-08-29T23:22:00.001-04:00

McCain has picked Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate in '08.

Just Stand Up

2008-08-26T20:34:00.005-04:00

A Bunch of musicians (mostly female, if not all) band together (probably in separate recording studios) to record a song to raise money for Cancer research.

It is nice to hear a positive song. I like it, even if some of the voices are a bit harsh:-)

You can buy the song from iTunes in a week or two. ***Please do not download this song illegally!

Fall Approaches

2008-08-26T20:29:00.002-04:00

Summer is starting to wind down.. D'oh! I am starting to notice the slight hint of the scent of Autumn in the air as I head to work. The sky is starting to not appear as bright. I always find it amazing how the weather truly impacts our mood, even though many people spend most of their day indoors.

*takes a deep breath*

Fall, I am ready for you. :-)

Shiny Returns

2008-08-26T20:23:00.002-04:00

It is back in stock! Hey, I can dream, can't I? Where are the look alikes in 14K?

Random subliminal?

2008-08-21T20:24:00.001-04:00

Got Code of Points?

2008-08-12T22:57:00.002-04:00

How the "new" Gymnastics Code of Points works.

edit: another reference.

McCain Says Stuff

2008-08-11T19:53:00.003-04:00

Believe it or not, McCain is saying stuff. I caught up an interview on Glenn Beck today focusing on Energy Policy. (The interview was last week). Anyways, here is a transcript.

Brash yet Satisfying

2008-08-11T19:45:00.002-04:00

Food for thought for your next political debate.

Oil just for cars?

2008-08-08T19:12:00.004-04:00

Nope. Here's a list of some items derived from petroleum (oil) besides fuel. What are you willing to do without?

-Cosmetics (uh-oh Hollywood!)
-Ballpoint pens, Crayons
-Ink
-Electronics, Speakers, Cameras, Phones, etc
-Shampoo, Soap
-Clothes
-Antifreeze
-Refrigerators
-Food preservatives
-Dyes
-Linoleum
-Lotion
-Pillows
-Film
-Deodorant
-Candles
-Antiseptics
-Toothpaste
-Contact Lenses, Eyeglasses
-Detergents
-Bandages
-Paint
...
-the list goes on.

By the way - What's the profit margin of your industry/company? (Look it up) More than 10%? Beware, the government may try to come after you next! Doesn't everyone work for an "evil" corporation of some kind? Doesn't "punishing" the successful ones cause jobs to be cut? Hey, yours could be next. I say "no thank you" to this "economic justice".

Go USA

2008-08-07T21:50:00.001-04:00

Gymnastics TV coverage in an easy to understand format.

Samantha for President!

2008-08-07T21:07:00.004-04:00

The political scene right now makes me want to grab a pitch fork!
Anyways, here are just a few proposals I have to "reform" our federal government.

1. Term limits for Senators and Representatives.
2. Members of both Houses shall be required to have a day job. I would abolish of career politician! Common Sense!
3. If a law has no way of being concretely enforced, repeal it.
4. Each month, a law should go before Congress for review of the merits of repealing it. "When in doubt, throw it out!"
5. When lawmakers save taxpayer dollars instead of spending it, give them an extra term opportunity. (see 1)

Mr Toad's Wild Ride

2008-08-05T21:29:00.002-04:00

An Homage to an old Disney favorite

Gold set in gold

2008-07-28T21:40:00.001-04:00

What a novel idea! A gold ring with a gold "stone". I wonder if this will become a trend Macy's will carry.

Professor Randy Pausch's Famous "Last Lecture"

2008-07-25T18:42:00.001-04:00

Note: It is over an hour long, but worth watching.

Another Stroke of Whedon Genius

2008-07-22T15:07:00.004-04:00

Dr. Horrible's Sing-ALong Blog was hilarious and the songs were fun too. Check it out. I am looking forward to the release of the soundtrack, which I hear is going to be before Christmas.

Back from San Francisco

2008-07-22T08:56:00.002-04:00

Just got back late last night from a great vacation in breezy San Francisco. My knees are happy to feel flat pavement again. I took over 350 photos while we were out there! Apparently, I won the photo-taking competition :-P .

Vanessa Carlton's line at Kohl's launched while I was away. Check out some of the stuff inspired by her fashion here (select her name from the cube).

I'm looking forward to seeing her perform on Joshua Radin's tour!

Good Anecdote

2008-07-08T22:26:00.001-04:00

Check out CrankyBeach's blog for a pearl of wisdom.

Nice Ad

2008-07-08T21:42:00.002-04:00

"John McCain doesn't always tell us what we hope to hear. Beautiful words cannot make our lives better."

Vanessa Carlton's Kohl's Line To Launch July 27

2008-07-07T19:46:00.003-04:00

Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum singer-songwriter Vanessa Carlton’s collection features grey denim, graphic tees and heirloom-inspired, alluring accessories from So…. Both she and So… embody an artfully casual style that is expressed through music and merchandise. Currently writing and touring, Vanessa Carlton continues to promote her most recent single, “Hands on Me,” from her critically acclaimed CD, “Heroes & Thieves.”

Excerpt from this article.

Happy USA Independence day!

2008-07-04T10:24:00.002-04:00

Yay freedom!

I'm sorry, I didn't get that :-)

2008-07-02T21:14:00.000-04:00

Get your pitchforks ready

2008-07-02T19:52:00.001-04:00

Got Power?

2008-06-30T19:08:00.005-04:00

Feeling powerless this "s"election season? Yeah, me too. Things seem like they could be pretty grim.

But I think, it's all about expectations. Low expectations of the people in our lives, usually means people will inevitably live down to them. If we have low expectations for our leadership, that's what we get. In other words, if we all resign ourselves to the premise perspective leaders just tell us what we want to hear and lack integrity, those are the leaders we get. Why? Because we make ourselves powerless in this situation. Now is the time to raise our voices. I am pretty sure I am not alone in trying to fight the seeming futility we are currently facing.

Going with what's "trendy" is usually not the best course. Don't be seduced by the glitz. I got news for you. Effort is required to survive in the world. Success, happiness, etc all require effort. Taking from others, is not the answer. Becoming dependent on others for your well-being, will keep you from catching your own fish. If it's too good to be true, it probably is. Success does not occur without failure. Have you ever seen a baby start walking for the first time and never fall down? There are no easy answers. You can't seal people in a bubble and think they'll have a quality existence.

The biggest thing that stands in the way of success is believing that you lack the competence to do what it takes. I have more faith in people than that.

Failure bring me to my next belief. Consequences. I am a firm believer in consequences. Consequences influences decisions people make. Why make the "right" decision, if the "wrong" one does not have a negative result?

I am raising my expectations.

The quote is from The Message

2008-06-20T22:06:00.002-04:00

Shiny!

2008-06-20T20:52:00.002-04:00

I have had my Palm Centro for a little over 24hrs and am in love with it. The UI is so easy. VZW wireless sync put me in an infinite loop, but Palm Versamail was so easy and has awesome options. I feel like I'm getting the best of both worlds, usable apps, great interface, along with VZW's network! Not much need for the JVM Palm now lacks, because Palm apps work great for my needs so far. I'm so happy I didn't go for a Blackberry or switch the AT&T for a Blackberry.

Very Tempting

2008-06-15T20:14:00.001-04:00

Verizon's now carrying the Palm Centro with Google Maps built in.

Quote of the Day 06/15/08

2008-06-15T18:48:00.002-04:00

The right word in the right broadcast repeated often enough can destabilize an economy, invent an enemy, change a vote.

-"The Editor", Dr. Who: The Long Game

Science Geeks..er..snobs

2008-06-11T20:10:00.002-04:00

It's funny because it's true:-) (Click on the image to read the comic)

The Onion's Take on WOW

2008-06-10T19:59:00.000-04:00

'Warcraft' Sequel Lets Gamers Play A Character Playing 'Warcraft'

..yes, it's a joke.

1944

2008-06-06T23:08:00.001-04:00

A reminder about D-Day 1944. We can't forget the sacrifices of the past.

Don't mess with Lobsters

2008-06-04T21:19:00.001-04:00

more cat pictures

Summertime Music

2008-05-30T19:49:00.004-04:00

Joshua Radin is touring with Vanessa Carlton this Summer. I'm obviously excited to get to see VC perform again live. But I'm also looking forward to hearing and seeing Joshua Radin. I've really enjoyed the songs I've heard from his Unclear Sky iTunes Album. "Lovely Tonight" is just breathtakingly beautiful. It is perhaps one of the most sincerely romantic songs I've ever heard (in my humble opinion of course). See for yourself..

(by the way Ingrid Michaelson is a Binghamton University alumni!)

Lion King Reference on XKCD

2008-05-26T04:43:00.004-04:00

Click on the image to read it.

Send a Care Package to the Troops

2008-05-24T08:44:00.000-04:00

Find out how here.

The Blackberry Bold (aka Blackberry 9000)

2008-05-23T02:07:00.002-04:00

I want it. The latest Blackberry OS looks *sings* awesome!

It can even use wi-fi when it can even use wi-fi when if it can't find a signal.

I just may switch to AT&T to get it... we'll see.

Back in the good ol' USA

2008-05-22T19:39:00.002-04:00

I have returned from another week and a half stint in Melbourne, Australia.
It's good be to be back. The weather was colder and wetter than the last time I was there (Fall vs Spring). I had a good time along with getting work done. The Australian Football Game I went to was enjoyable, but a blow out:-) I even tried some Vietnamese food while out there. In my last night in the area, I ate an interesting sandwich...grilled chicken, herb mayo, lettuce tomato, brie cheese and cranberry sauce on a bun! It was really good. Definitely something I can replicate at home.

Best Invention?

2008-05-18T06:24:00.003-04:00

How awesome is this?

I just saw a commercial on Aussie TV for these individual serving ice cream tubs... Why don't we have this in the US?

Mmm..gluttony is international:-)Cadbury USA...Bring this to the States!