Due to the likelihood of Alito getting confirmed for SCOTUS, I've been thinking alot lately about Roe v. Wade and the whole abortion issue. Why is it so important for both sides, liberal and conservative? I just don't get it. The arguments on either side don't fit neatly into the whole Right/Left spectrum. And with all of the other problems facing us every day, why is this the one that has both sides in such a fit? Anyone have any comments on this?
I'm a liberal, will be a liberal until the day I die. I have very close friends who are very prominent in the Pro-choice movement. And I have very close friends and family members who are very much against abortion. But I just don't see why it's so friggin' important to either side. Either you get one or you don't (which I guess is the pro-choice argument). And I know that many pro-choice activist say it isn't about abortion per se, but about privacy rights and a woman's control over her own body. Fine. And I get why people who believe that life begins at conception get so upset. But why can't we just agree that we disagree? Why is it the end all/be all of political fights?
I think alot of conservative politicians are privately a bit scared of the thought of abortion being outlawed if Alito gets on the bench. What will get their base out to vote? Oh yeah, gay marriage. Let's get power through fear, folks! Sorry for my rambling - it's been a long, long week.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Monday, January 23, 2006
Big Deal
Why is everyone sniffing Kobe Bryant's jock? So he scored 18 points, big friggin' deal. What? He scored 81? Holy shit! Yeah, that's pretty damned impressive. Never mind.
(note to self - start wearing leggings while playing hoops)
Friday, January 20, 2006
Just want to point out
I'm not one of those crazy English 1st folks. Far, far from it. Just think that if you interact with the public, you should be able to communicate with them. That's all.
Today's Rant
Listen folks, I think immigration is wonderful - it's what makes this country what it is. We all came from somewhere else to make something unique - Americans. That being said, IF A PERSON DOESN'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE, AND IF THEY CAN'T DO SIMPLE ADDING AND SUBTRACTING, THEY SHOULDN'T BE IN A JOB THAT DEALS WITH THE PUBLIC AND MONEY!!!!
I don't care if they came from another country, from Baltimore, or Alabama - they need to be able to communicate with the public. C'mon, people. If I moved to Moscow and got a job at the Red Square McDonald's, I'd be expected to speak Russian, right?
Last night, I was going through the drive through of McDonald's and placed a very simple order - 2 doublecheesburgers and a large order of fries (healthy, huh?). I should have known something was up when they didn't repeat my order with the price, but just said drive around to the 1st window. At the 1st window, a very nice, elderly gentleman from somewhere in South Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh) asked what I ordered, so I told him. Now, normally when you get to the 1st window, they just tell you how much you owe and take your cash. Anyway, he looked confused, walked away and disappeared for about 2 minutes. He came back and said go to the next window. Now, I'm really confused about what's going on. I mean, I hadn't paid for anything and something seemed really wrong. So I go to the next window and the girl (yes, I said girl, not woman. She couldn't have been more than 15 years old) asked me in a very heavy accent what I ordered. I repeated my order "2 double cheeseburgers and an order of large fries", with obvious irritation in my voice. She then asked me another question, and I couldn't understand a word she said. "Excuse me?" She repeated whatever she said again. "I can't understand you," I said. Now, this should have been the point where she went and got a manager or co-worker who speaks English. Instead she rolled her eyes, sighed in the way that only teenagers can, and handed me a bag. "$5" she says. I handed over the cash and drove off. While sitting at the light, a small lightbulb went off in my head - "How the hell could my order have been $5? 2 dbl. cheeseburgers are $1.00 each. There's no way my fries cost $3.00". I looked in my bag for the receipt and sure enough, she gave me the wrong order. Now I was really pissed. Not so much that my order's wrong, but at the entire transaction. I made a u-turn and headed back to Mickey D's. At the counter, I told the manager that I received the wrong order from the drive thru. The girl who gave me the order starts saying "It's too hard, it's too hard" and pointed at what I guessed was the screen telling her what the orders are. Anyway, the manager gave me the correct order and started taking the order from the person behind me. "Excuse me", I said, "but my order should have been $3.79 plus tax, not $5.00". He looked at me like I was the one speaking a different language (I guess I was), then rings up my order - it was $4.09. Now, I'm no math genius, but it seems like very simple arithmetic - I gave you $5, the price was $4.09, the change is .91. Nope, Einstein had to go back to the office, get a pencil, and do the math on my receipt. I'm talking the whole 9 yards - crossing out the 5 to make it 4, borrowing one , the whole shebang. Incredible.
On the plus side, Kaleb really enjoyed sharing the fries.
I don't care if they came from another country, from Baltimore, or Alabama - they need to be able to communicate with the public. C'mon, people. If I moved to Moscow and got a job at the Red Square McDonald's, I'd be expected to speak Russian, right?
Last night, I was going through the drive through of McDonald's and placed a very simple order - 2 doublecheesburgers and a large order of fries (healthy, huh?). I should have known something was up when they didn't repeat my order with the price, but just said drive around to the 1st window. At the 1st window, a very nice, elderly gentleman from somewhere in South Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh) asked what I ordered, so I told him. Now, normally when you get to the 1st window, they just tell you how much you owe and take your cash. Anyway, he looked confused, walked away and disappeared for about 2 minutes. He came back and said go to the next window. Now, I'm really confused about what's going on. I mean, I hadn't paid for anything and something seemed really wrong. So I go to the next window and the girl (yes, I said girl, not woman. She couldn't have been more than 15 years old) asked me in a very heavy accent what I ordered. I repeated my order "2 double cheeseburgers and an order of large fries", with obvious irritation in my voice. She then asked me another question, and I couldn't understand a word she said. "Excuse me?" She repeated whatever she said again. "I can't understand you," I said. Now, this should have been the point where she went and got a manager or co-worker who speaks English. Instead she rolled her eyes, sighed in the way that only teenagers can, and handed me a bag. "$5" she says. I handed over the cash and drove off. While sitting at the light, a small lightbulb went off in my head - "How the hell could my order have been $5? 2 dbl. cheeseburgers are $1.00 each. There's no way my fries cost $3.00". I looked in my bag for the receipt and sure enough, she gave me the wrong order. Now I was really pissed. Not so much that my order's wrong, but at the entire transaction. I made a u-turn and headed back to Mickey D's. At the counter, I told the manager that I received the wrong order from the drive thru. The girl who gave me the order starts saying "It's too hard, it's too hard" and pointed at what I guessed was the screen telling her what the orders are. Anyway, the manager gave me the correct order and started taking the order from the person behind me. "Excuse me", I said, "but my order should have been $3.79 plus tax, not $5.00". He looked at me like I was the one speaking a different language (I guess I was), then rings up my order - it was $4.09. Now, I'm no math genius, but it seems like very simple arithmetic - I gave you $5, the price was $4.09, the change is .91. Nope, Einstein had to go back to the office, get a pencil, and do the math on my receipt. I'm talking the whole 9 yards - crossing out the 5 to make it 4, borrowing one , the whole shebang. Incredible.
On the plus side, Kaleb really enjoyed sharing the fries.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Hmm
This kind of snuck up on me. I mean I knew Ice Cube has become one of Hollywood's favorite actors, with roles in movies as diverse as "Boyz In The Hood", "Friday", "Barbershop", "xXx: State of The Union" and "Are We There Yet", but on the drive home today, I was listening to BackSpin on Sirius, and was blasting "Check Yo Self" - a great song he did with Das EFX way back when.
How do you go from writing lyrics like:
"So chickity-check yo self before you wreck yo self
Come on and check yo self before you wrickity-wreck yo self
So chickity-check yo self before you wreck yo self
Cause big dicks up yo ass is bad for yo health"
or
"Mister, mister, before you make me go
I'm here to let you know your little girl is a hoe
Nympho, nympho, boy is she bad
Get her all alone and out comes the kneepads"
to starring in movies with little kids?
Mash 'em Up
I highly recommend this site. Good fun, folks. Seriously!
My favorite - Led Snoopelin, "Drop It Like It's A Whole Lotta Love".
My favorite - Led Snoopelin, "Drop It Like It's A Whole Lotta Love".
Spread the Word! Keep the promise to fight AIDS and poverty in '07
In the next three weeks, the President will make crucial decisions about next year’s budget, including how America will best use our resources to help educate, feed and treat those most in need. As ONE, we’re asking that the U.S. give an additional 1% of our budget over the next five years so we can keep our life-saving promises to fight AIDS and poverty.
What could just one more penny of every dollar do? By giving an additional 1%, the U.S. would be able to help prevent 10 million children from becoming AIDS orphans and send 100 million children to grade school.
I've just sent a letter to President Bush asking him to keep the promises he made last year - will you join me? Go to www.one.org to send an email to the President.
What could just one more penny of every dollar do? By giving an additional 1%, the U.S. would be able to help prevent 10 million children from becoming AIDS orphans and send 100 million children to grade school.
I've just sent a letter to President Bush asking him to keep the promises he made last year - will you join me? Go to www.one.org to send an email to the President.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Dumb Ass Award
I just heard about this and have to say that I'm just amazed at the just plain meanness of some people. In Virginia, Del. Robert Marshall is sponsoring legislation that bans medical professionals from performing artificial insemination or in-vitro fertilization on unmarried women. Does that mean that if Mary was around now, she would never have had Jesus?
Monday, January 16, 2006
MLK - 1/15/29 - 4/4/68
"Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love. "
MLK - December 11, 1964
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Let's see if this works - Meg DeRonghe, are you out there?
I don't know why I didn't think of this before. I'm trying to track down a good friend of mine - Meg DeRonghe. She moved from DC to Seattle last year and I haven't been able to get a hold of her in months. The FW and I want to know how she's doing and if she's okay. So, if anyone reads this and knows Meg DeRonghe, please let her know that Brown is looking for her.
Thanks everyone.
Thanks everyone.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Is San Diego in the House?
Los AbleMinded Poets will be rockin' the crowd from 8-8:45pm tonight at what looks to be a dope ass event in downtown San Diego. If you're here in SD, don't let the cold foggy weather bog you down and force you to stay inside. Get up, Get out and see something fresh and invigorating, stimulating your audio and visual senses.
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE - AN ECLECTIC TASTE OF ART Opening Reception - Friday, January 13th - 7 to 10pm. A night of visual journeys through paintings, sculptures, installations and custom urban vynil by some of the best artist from Los Angeles, New York and San Diego. San Diego Visual Artists Guild Gallery 1099 9th Avenue, san diego, CA 92101 - (corner of 9th and C)Grafitti art show with a live performance from Los Able Minded Poets
www.pose2.com
www.manone.com
www.marka27.com
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Good Morning!
I'm in a very good mood this morning. I've got my cup of coffee and I'm listening to an incredible CD - "Inspiration Information" by Shuggie Otis. Listen, I talk about music here quite a bit, and I'm telling you, go buy this disc. It was originally released in 1974, and reissued 5 years ago. It's maybe the coolest disc you'll ever listen to. It was way ahead of it's time. Take 2 parts Sly, 1 part Prince, a pinch of the Isley Brothers, garnish with Maxwell, and you've got yourself a masterpiece! It's like a summer day when I was 6 or 7 years old - nothing but good times, not a care in the world. Or the audio equivalent of some really nice incense. Very relaxed and happy.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Amazing!
Poor Swannie
Not that he has a chance in hell anyway, but Lynn Swann's run for Governor of Pennsylvania is doomed. Remember - never, ever, get your photo taken with this man. Just ask former Vikings coach Mike Tice or Virginia gubernatorial candidate Jerry Kilgore!
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Hot Damn!
Scrubs is back on the air!! It's the only sitcom I can stomach on the tube nowadays. It's also the funniest damn show you'll ever want to see.
Fat Boys Are Back!!
My FW bought me Sirius Satellite radio for Christmas - a most excellent present. So many stations, so little time. Anyway, I'm back at work today and on the Backspin station (old school hip-hop), the Fat Boys are singing "In Jail". It's like I woke up back in high school! Gotta go, "Friends" by Whodini just came on!
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