You're Getting Very Sleepy...

An update. . .

2006-02-08T16:17:00.000-08:00

I'm working once again. And the job ROCKS!! The facility has an exercise room that I'm using. Another grand thing is that the employer has a 100% satisfaction rating with the Human Rights Commission.

considering the last two places I worked, I feel a bit odd being "out" at work. I can honestly tell others about my situation and so far no one has batted an eye.

Seeing Al Franken in person was a wonderful experience. I took some pictures, none of them came out. He was backlit by the huge stain glass window he was behind. David Van Os made an appearance; he's soooooo handsome (and married). Cindy Sheehan (I'm sure I've massacred her name) made an unscheduled appearance that did not make it to on the radio show.

Oops! My Bad!

2006-01-20T22:04:00.000-08:00

I fucked up. I deleted the code for the tag board accidentally. Damn it. I have of course tried to log into the site to get said tag board back, but alas, I can not remember the freaking user name and password I set up for Kent. Damn it! Be patient all 3 of you Loyal and Faithful readers, I have asked that the important information be e-mailed to me/him so that I may repair my fuck up. As soon as I get the user name and password, I promise I will restore the all important Tag Board for your commenting pleasures. My appologies that currently you shall have to get your pleasures some other way.

That is all. Posted by The One.

PS. Kent has NO idea that I have secretly replaced his blog template with Folger's Crystals... er... um.. that I've changed it, so let's hope he likes the 'surprise'. :) Stay tuned!

Happy Happy New Year!

2006-01-20T19:30:00.000-08:00

Shit, I guess I have to do EVERY FREAKING thing for this man! What is he going to do when we are finally divorced??

ANYWAY... Kent did get a new job, he got on with the place he was temping just after Thanksgiving. It was a PERMANENT job (YAY!) but it didn't pay more (boo!), though him being on permanently meant that he would at least get holiday pay for the holidays. This job SUCKED though, I mean seriously - it sucked worse than his tenure at a certain grocery store chain that we would always joke about anytime he complained about his job - At least it's not X-Brand Grocery store!

This new job was worse, it was HELL in a flaming basket of dog shit. Through a friend of mine, Kent was recommended for a tech support job at an accounting software company - something very similar he was doing about 3 years ago but got laid off from. He got a call from them and they were excited to get him working for them - all he had to do was get the back ground check done. It came through fine, I'll spare you the details of waiting, etc. He gave notice on a Wednesday and started his new job on this past Monday. The best part is that he's HAPPY to be there, the boost in pay is good, but it's great to have him soooo happy and sooooo excited to go to work again.

So things are looking up for us in all areas really. 2006 is starting to look like a fabulous year!

Okay, back to your regularly scheduled program.

Posted by... the One

I'm going to see Al Franken!

2005-11-29T16:57:00.000-08:00

On Friday, December 2nd, Al Franken will do his radio show live here at the Hard Rock Cafe in Dallas. I'm going to see him!

To be honest though, he's not my favorite host on Air America. Randi Rhodes is my favorite. Something about a smart, funny woman who knows what's she talking about. . . Hmmm, it reminds me of The One.

I've never been to the Hard Rock Cafe either. So that's an added bonus. I've got a couple of more tickets if anyone is interested.

It can happen in Arlington!

2005-11-14T17:51:00.000-08:00

Protesters arrested at GOP fundraiser

Arlington: 2 accused of throwing hard candy; they deny the charges

12:00 AM CST on Sunday, November 13, 2005

By JAY PARSONS / The Dallas Morning News

Two war protesters were arrested at a Republican fundraiser in Arlington on Friday night, accused of throwing candy at partygoers. The candy came attached to a message: "Don't be a sucker for the GOP."

The women denied the charges.

Police cited Hillary Timmers and an unidentified woman with provocative contact assault, a Class C misdemeanor. The two, and a third woman, were also charged with criminal trespassing.

The incident started when a Fort Worth woman, Beatriz Saldivar, objected to a pro-war speech at the fundraiser, at the Wyndham Arlington.

Ms. Saldivar's nephew, Sgt. Daniel Torres, was killed in the Iraq war in February. She said she was a registered Republican who bought a $50 ticket to the event, where Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis, was scheduled to speak. She said she held up pictures of Sgt. Torres' mother and infant daughter.

"All these Republicans jumped at me and assaulted me," Ms. Saldivar said.

"They grabbed my purse, grabbed my phone. They looked for my ID. I kept holding my pictures. They kept saying I'm not a Republican, but I said, 'I'm a Republican, and I'm against this war.' "

An Arlington police officer took Ms. Saldivar outside the hotel ballroom, where three of her friends were protesting. Those three women then entered the fundraiser, waited through a singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner," and started chanting, "We don't want your dirty war machine."

Police and the protesters disagree about what happened next. Arlington police Lt. Will Johnson said two of the three women began throwing hard candy.

Ms. Timmers of Fort Worth said the candy fell out of another woman's purse when partygoers tried to grab them.

No injuries were reported, and police released the women without taking them to jail.

E-mail jparsons@dallasnews.com

VOTE, please!!

2005-10-29T18:12:00.000-07:00

Early voting has started and I need all of you who support me to vote NO to Proposition 2. Trust me, voting no will not legalize same sex marriage. There are already two laws on the books already making same sex marriage illegal, so what is the point of this amendment?

Two Months Is A Long Time

2005-09-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

This is not Kent.. This is The One, I'm hijacking this blog for today because it's absolutly PATHETIC that Kent has NOT updated this damn thing in so long. He can't even plead that I have been taking up all the super fast DSL computer time as that is just not true now that we have a router and three computers hooked onto the 'net at all freaking times. Let's all say it together... PROCRASTINATOR... Not that I really can talk that much as I'm a huge procrastinator.

ON TO OTHER THINGS!!!

The oldest child has started school so the new struggles with homework and schedules have started.

Kent has found a temp job! It's for 2 months and it could go permanent.

Well... that's about it.. I'll stop hijacking this and see how long it takes Kent to noticed that I've done this. Staye tuned for further updates from ME or HEAVEN FORBID an update from KENT!

More Good News/Bad News:

2005-06-04T06:51:00.000-07:00

Good News:

Perry will not video the anti-abortion/anti-gay bills.

Dallas Morning News article

The signing is to take place at the Calvary Christian Academy. The Church/Academy is at the Northside Dr. exit (#53) of I35w just north of downtown Ft. Worth. There is a group protesting there and I'd hope you could go and help out the cause. Several groups there will provide signs. The signing will take place at 3:00 pm.

Bad News:

The seperation between church and state becomes blurry here in Texas and that should scare everyone!

Dallas Morning News article about "The Texas Restoration Project"

Good News/Bad News

2005-06-04T06:40:00.000-07:00

Good News:

Talton's anti-gay foster parent amendment to the CPS bill failed! Be sure he'll be back with it again in 2007 unless he gets removed from office. Just how uptight and conservative does a district have to be to elect "the most conservative state legistlator."

A wonderful speech made by Senfronia Thompson. I'm reprinting the speech here; it's really moving.

I have been a member of this august body for three decades, and today is one of the all-time low points. We are going in the wrong direction, in the direction of hate and fear and discrimination. Members, we all know what this is about, this is the politics of divisiveness at its worst, a wedge issue that is meant to divide.
Members, this issue is a distraction from the real things we need to be working on. At the end of this session, this Legislature, this Leadership will not be able to deliver the people of Texas, fundamental and fair answers to the pressing issues of our day.
Let's look at what this amendment does not do: It does not give one Texas citizen meaningful tax relief. It does not reform or fully fund our education system. It does not restore one child to CHIP, who was cut from health insurance last session. It does not put one dime into raising Texas' Third World access to health care. It does not do one thing to care for or protect one elderly person or one child in this state. In fact, it does not even do anything to protect one marriage.
Members, this bill is about hate and fear and discrimination. I know something about hate and fear and discrimination. When I was a small girl, white folks used to talk about "protecting the institution of marriage" as well. What they meant was if people of my color tried to marry people of Mr. Chisum's color, you'd often find the people of my color hanging from a tree. That's what the white folks did back then to "protect marriage." Fifty years ago, white folks thought inter-racial marriages were a "threat to the institution of marriage." Members, I'm a Christian and a proud Christian. I read the good book, and do my best to live by it. I have never read the verse where it says, "gay people can't marry." I have never read the verse where it says, "though shalt discriminate against those not like me." I have never read the verse where it says, "let's base our public policy on hate and fear and discrimination." Christianity to me is love and hope and faith and forgiveness-not hate and discrimination.
I have served in this body a lot of years-and I have seen a lot of promises broken. I should be up here demanding my 40 acres and a mule because that's another promise you broke. You used a wealthy white minister cloaked in the cloth to ease the stench of that form of discrimination.
So, now that blacks and women can vote, and now that blacks and women have equal rights-you turn your hatred to homosexuals- and you still use your misguided reading of the Bible to justify your hatred. You want to pass this ridiculous amendment so you can go home and brag…brag about what? Declare that you saved the people of Texas from what? Persons of the same sex cannot get married in this State now. Texas does not now recognize same-sex marriages, civil unions, religious unions, domestic partnerships, contractual arrangements or Christian blessings entered into in this State- or anywhere else on this planet Earth.
If you want to make your hateful political statements then that is one thing- the Chisum amendment does real harm. It repeals the contracts that many single people have paid thousands of dollars to purchase to obtain medical powers of attorney, powers of attorney, hospital visitation, joint ownership and support agreements. You have lost your way- this is obscene.
Today, you are playing to the lowest common denominator- you are putting aside the real issues of substance that we need to address so that you can instead play on the public's fears and prejudices to deceive and manipulate voters into thinking that we have done something important.
I realize that gay rights are not the same as civil rights -but I can guarantee you we are going in the wrong direction. I can not hide my skin color. In fact, in most of the South, people as pink as Rep. Wayne Smith were still Black by law if they had a great grandparent who was African. I was unable to attend an integrated and equally funded school until I got my Master of Laws degree. There were separate and unequal facilitiesfor nearly everything.
I got second-hand textbooks even worse than the kind you're trying to pass offon every public school student next year. I had to ride to school on the back of the bus.I had to quench my thirst from filthy coloreds-only drinking fountains. I had to enter restaurants from the kitchen door. I was banned from entering most public a ccommodations, even from serving on a jury.
I had to live with the fear that getting too uppity could get you killed --- or worse. I know what third-class citizenship feels like. In my first term, one of my colleagues walked up and down this aisle muttering about how Nigras should be back in the field picking cotton instead of picking out committees.
So, I have to wonder about Rep. Chisum's 3/5 of a person amendment. Some of you folks hid behind your Bible then, too, to justify your cultural prejudices, your denial of liberty, and your gunpoint robbery of human dignity.
We have worked hard at putting our prejudices against homosexuals in law. We have denied them basic job protections. We have denied them and their children freedom from bullying and harassment at school. We have tried to criminalize their very existence.
But, we have also absolved them of all family duties and responsibilities: to care for and support their spouses and children, to count their family's assets in determining public assistance, to obtain health insurance for dependents, to make end-of-life or necessary medical decisions for their life partners---sometimes even to visit in the hospital,even to defend our own country. And then, we can stand on our two hind legsand proclaim, "See, I told you homosexual families are unstable." And nearly every one of you on this Floor has a homosexual in their extended families.
Some of you have shunned and isolated these family members. Some of you, even some of the joint coauthors, have embraced them within your own family for the essence of Christianity is love. Yet,you are now poised to constitutionalize discrimination against a particular class of people.
I thought we would be debating real issues: education, health care for kids, teacher's health insurance, health care for the elderly, protecting survivors of sexual assault, protecting the pensions of seniors in nursing homes. I thought we would be debating economic development, property tax relief, protecting seniors pensions and stem cell research, to save lives of Texans who are waiting for a more abundant life. Instead we are wasting this body's time with this political stunt that is nothing more than constitutionalizing discrimination. The prejudices exhibited by members of this body disgust me.
Last week, Republicans used a political wedge issue to pull kids-sweet little vulnerable kids- out of the homes of loving parents and put them back in a state orphanage just because those parents are gay. That's disgusting. Today, we are telling homosexuals that just like people of my ilk, when I was a small child, they too are second class citizens. I have listened to all the arguments. I have listened to all of the crap.
Mr. Chisum, is a person who I consider my good friend and revere. But, I want you to know that this amendment are blowing smoke to fuel the hell-fire flames of bigotry. You are trying to protect your constituents from danger. This amendment is a CYB amendment for you to go home and talk about.

Bad news:

The gay marriage amendment passed.

It's all clear to me!

2005-05-14T08:24:00.000-07:00

I heard this and everything makes perfect sense!

Listen to the explaination of everything that's been going on politics. . .

Listening to this, it makes me relaize how much I missed that show.

How much longer?

2005-04-20T09:55:00.000-07:00

I kept thinking, "Things are going to get better. The Right-Wing is dying, this is just their last gasp." Now, I read this little bit of news. I want to make sure you read it (all three or four of you that read my blog) so here is the article.

Texas Bill Would Ban Gay Foster Parents
Wed Apr 20, 8:12 AM ET
U.S. National - AP
By NATALIE GOTT, Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN, Texas - The state House tentatively approved legislation that would prohibit homosexuals and bisexuals from becoming foster parents. Legislators voted 81-58 Tuesday to approve the ban in an amendment tacked on to a bill that would revamp the state's Child Protective Services agency. The full bill was tentatively approved 126-16. Final approval was expected Wednesday.

"It is our responsibility to make sure that we protect our most vulnerable children and I don't think we are doing that if we allow a foster parent that is homosexual or bisexual," said Rep. Robert Talton, a Republican, who introduced the amendment.

The state Senate has passed its own version of Child Protective Services reform that does not include the ban on gay foster parents.

Randall Ellis, executive director of the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas, said the House measure would mean the exclusion of people who could be good foster parents to children who need of them.

"Mr. Talton has taken aim at the (gay and lesbian) community of Texas and thousands of children are now caught in the cross hairs," he said.

The bill also would spin off some of Child Protective Services' duties to the private sector, including foster care and case management. Private agencies already manage 75 percent of foster homes in Texas, and the state handles the rest. The bill would turn all of those functions over to private agencies.

It follows recent high-profile cases of child homicides that happened after agency caseworkers had investigated possible neglect or abuse and decided the children were safe to remain with their parents.

The only hope now is that this stupid amendment is thrown out when both parts of the Legislative branch iron out a combined bill. I hold little hope that will happen.

I'm angry right now. I fear it won't be much of a step down to say gay parents shouldn't have their children. I'm angry at anyone who voted for a Republican for the State House or who refused to vote. I can't tell which Representative voted yes or no since Texas doesn't record votes, but I have a good feeling it went right down party lines.

Something I discovered over the weekend.

2005-04-18T11:49:00.000-07:00

I was talking to an acquaintance over on the #gayhypnosis channel on Efnet. Supposedly he's a fellow Democrat and liberal. We were discussing what I'd do once I get back into school. I want to be a math teacher. Texas really needs math teachers and it would be a way to help the school system. His response, "There's no money in that." I replied, "The acquisition of wealth isn't the only thing in life." He stopped talking at that point.

I'm flabbergasted that people think that the ONLY pursuit in life is money!

The Summer Movie Season. . .

2005-03-18T06:23:00.000-08:00

I'm off today so I can spend a weekend of debauchery at TBRU. This morning before I and B head off to the hotel, I spent some time at the computer checking emails, reading, and checking out movie trailers.

Movies I want to see:

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Well, it's about 20 years too late though.

Fantastic Four.
The Human Torch looks VERY hot. Bad pun, I know, but he's really cute. Maybe it's the spandex?

Warriors of Heaven and Earth
If you loved Crotching Tiger/Hidden Dragon, this looks great.

Wallace and Grommit.
GROMMMMMMMIT!!!

War of the Worlds.
The Torg maillist is all abuzz that this is very "Torgian". Translation: One reality invades another.

The Pink Panther.
Steve Martin plays Clouseau. Not too sure about this one, but I'm willing to give it a go.

Batman Begins.
I'm SUCH a sucker for DC Comic Characters.

This one if for The One:
The Amityville Horror.
GET OUT!!! She can see that one all by herself.

And of course:
Star Wars. . . do I really need to post a link to that?

Dad Update:
Dad is doing well. He heads home tomorrow. He managed to block four arteries. Two of the arteries were opererated on yesterday; the other two will be worked on today. My dad does nothing half-assed.

Well, how did it go?

2005-03-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

I failed to go to the town hall meeting with Sam Johnson. The One had an appointment that I forgot about, so I didn't go. I'm sure I could have gone; I have The One drop me off with one of the girls while she went onward. I did get a report from the Collin County Democrats which follows:

"Thanks to everyone who attended Congressman Sam Johnson's Social Security Forum tonight at Collin County Community College's Spring Creek Campus in Plano. There was a good crowd, and from the reactions it was obvious that a significant percentage of those in attendance were not in agreement with Sam's ideas. Despite previous indications to the contrary, he did take questions from the audience and several of our activists had great comments and questions. An interesting side note, the woman moderating and controlling the microphone was none other than Dallas PR consultant
Merrie Spaeth, the key organizer behind the "Swift Boat Veterans For Truth" campaign."

I'm glad to see that even in a rabid Republican county like Collin, it's nice to know that sometimes they don't follow the GOP blindly.

Sam Johnson

2005-03-07T06:40:00.000-08:00

Supposedly represents me in Congress. He decided it would be really nice to bomb Syria. Of course I don't know what scares me more, that he wants to nuke another country or that the crowd at the Methodist church he was speaking at applauded the idea!

Now Sam Johnson is saying he's joking. This coming from a guy who once said that having Al Franken on the Military Radio to counter Rush "communistic".

Articles about the incident:

Dallas Morning News

Counterpunch

Tonight, Sam Johnson is having a "Town Hall Meeting" about Social Security tonight at 6:30 at Collin County Community College - Spring Creek Campus. Join me! I'm not sure if I'll speak out against him. To be blunt, I may lack the courage to speak out against him.

How many gay hypnotists does it take to change a light bulb?

2005-03-01T07:36:00.000-08:00

This all started when The One pulled the pull chain for the living room light out of the fan. For the past few days, we've been living in the dark. Watching TV in the dark isn't so bad. Eating in the dark is another matter and with a game coming up it was time to fix to light. So, my thought is simply put the chain back into the switch and that will fix it, right?
I removed the cover to discover that not only has the pull chain come out, and the light bulb's glass is hanging loose from its base. I also discovered the cause to another problem we've been having with the light. Whenever someone touched the fan, they received an electric shock. I discovered that the wire coverings were gone leaving exposed wires. This turned into a major project.
First, I wanted to get the switch open so I could put the chain back. I was standing on a footstool, and reaching up into the fan. I also can't really see what I'm doing. I see that only two wires are needed for the light and those are splice together. Hey! I can undo the splicing and bring the light switch down and into a place where I can see!
When I finally look at the light base, I see that the switch can't be taken apart without breaking it. The wire covering is gone. I have to get electrical tape; that much is certain. Heck, let me get a new light socket as well. With the way the wiring is, the life I save might be my own. The One removes the light bulb (I fear that I'd break it and have to force it out. I run to Home Depot to get a new light socket and some electrical tape.
Home Depot closes at 9:00. I get there at 9:05. So much for guy watching! Off to Wal-Mart. I see that I can replace the light socket, but I'd have to get a kit for four light bulbs. Not what I had in mind. So I wonder around the hardware department for a bit and I find the electrical section. I grab the electrical tape. I also discover a switch that will work. So I'm back at my original plan. I head back home with my new toys.
I get home with the switch and tape. I tape up the exposed wires to spare anyone from electrocution. I go to replace the switch and find out the wires are welded to the socket! Okay, I can cut the wire and splice it to the new switch. I go to cut the wire and break the scissors. I cut the wire with a knife (good thing it's still not attached to the fan). I didn't have to worry about stripping the wire though, and I splice the wire together and tape the ends up.
After amusing The One with reassembling the fan, the moment came to test my work. I put the chain extension on the light. I still feared electrocution or blowing up the fan with a short circuit. I turned it on, and it works. I was impressed, although The One didn't give me near enough appreciation.

Wow, when I sloth. . .

2005-02-22T07:29:00.000-08:00

I don't do slothing half-heartedly! Not even when it comes to using a noun as a verb.
It's been two months and I though I'd have something to say. Alas, my life plods along uneventfully. My desire to blog also dies when I see The One's and Gavric's blogs. In my mind, both of them write much better that I do and I feel intimidated.
Okay, time to dust this off, spend time on this blog. I may not dazzle or entertain; I'll write and see where it goes.

Things for me to do. . .

1. Clean my apartment.
2. Write the rest of the Torg game I'm running.
3. Learn Visual Basic 6 so I can program some applications.
4. Find a better job.

I'll keep you posted.

2004-12-07T11:05:00.000-08:00

I took the quiz and it will come as a HUGE shock to people . . .

You scored as Sloth.

Sloth

88%

Lust

75%

Pride

69%

Gluttony

69%

Greed

50%

Envy

25%

Wrath

19%

Seven deadly sins
created with QuizFarm.com

Shocked? Suprised even??

The Zodiac

2004-11-27T06:04:00.000-08:00

Sure, Petey is very Gemini. The One is very Leo. Me. . . I'm only a majority Taurus. [sigh] For me to be more Taurus, I need to be vain and greedy.

You are 60% Taurus

How much do you match your zodiac sign?

Back to Politics. . .

2004-11-15T20:37:00.000-08:00

Bless "The One" for getting a subscription to Discover. I don't know when this issue came out; 20 to 1 she hid it from me so I wouldn't see it and comment on it. The following are a few letters to the editor that got my attention. I know the election is over and this isn't a Bush Bashing session.

Here's the first one:
"I am canceling my subscription to Discover. In your October issue, you presented a biased, dishonest, factually erroneous, and unscientific comparison of President Bush and Senator Kerry ["Bush vs. Kerry on Science"]. The worst lie was your editorial disclaimer, which stated how much you tried to avoid bias. Really? Clearly, your magazine favors abortion, fetal stem cell research, wacko enviromentalism, and a distaste for the military. If I wanted opinion on these things, I have Time, Newsweek, NBC, CBS, ABC, and most newspapers to get the liberal view."

I have a really hard time believing that Discover would present anything dishonest to begin with. Now granted I haven't read the article so it is possible that Discover did actually cheer for Kerry. However, his letter brings up no refutes, no evidence to the contrary, and to be blunt -- rants. "Wacko envirmomentalism?? Oh the shame! Attempting to save the ecosystem!" Hello! That's only been in like EVERY issue.

Now let me introduce you to CONSERVATIVE BIG LIE #1 -- If an article or news show says something bad about Bush, it must be Liberal. Hate to break it to the Conservatives, but he's not perfect and to point out a mistake is not Liberal.
And to be fair. . . LIBERAL BIG LIE #1 -- Liberals are open minded. Liberals can be just as stuborn if not more so than their Conservative counterparts. Liberals like to have facts that point out their point of view and will disregard any fact to the contrary.

Next letter, this one I liked:

"I was disappointed in "Bush vs. Kerry on Science," which in my opinion showed a bias toward Kerry. There was no mention of government and industry efforts to liquefy coal and biomass, the thrust toward ethanl production, and currently available nuclear reactor designs that are inherently quite safe. All are encouraged and supported by the Bush administration. Vice President Cheney's evergy task force and the and the ensuing inbroglio over confidentiality have little to do with Bush's position, and the energy policies arising from the tast force's efforts were inexplicably not described. There was no mention of carbon dioxide sequestration development, even though there are significant governmental efforts using this approach. The author was obviously impressed by Nancy Reagan's plea on behalf of Alzheimer's patients, even though the applicability of stem cell to Alzheimer's is discounted by some knowledgeable scientists. Also, the only issued mentioned under Kerry's position on stem cell is whether the government should fund additional lines. Research is proceeding without federal funds."

This letter points out flaws in the article and refutes some of the claims, and the best part is that there still room for discussion. If this country is to unite, it is through people like this as opposed to the first letter writer.

Both of these letters were taken from Discover magaize, December 2004. I hope that enough of a credit to keep me out of legal trouble.

Requium for The Flash

2004-11-15T10:07:00.000-08:00

The Flash Creator dies at 88.

For those of you who don't know, The Flash is my favorite Super-Hero. It might have something to do with Hermes/Mercury being my favorite Greco/Roman god. The first time I ever saw The Flash was during one episode of "The Super-Friends". Some force moved the Earth closer to the Sun and who saved the day? Only the Flash can run fast enough with a copper wire to counteract the alien's plan to move the Earth! After placing the impossibly long twine of copper wire, he ran back to quip "Sorry I'm late, I had to stop at a red light." He was funny, the rest of the Super-Friends were campy.

The first comic book I collected? You guess it! The Flash. And in that issue I first saw the Rouge Gallery. Compared to The Joker or Lex Luthor, The Rouges deserve laughter. They'll never endanger the world the way Darksied can, however they were villians you could identify with. I found out the Flash was married. One of the first Super-Heroes to be married! Then Flash's history unfolded before me. Who discovered Earth-2 and caused the biggest headache of continuity? The Flash! The first gay super-villian? The Pied Piper, on of Flash's Rouges (I wonder if the rest of them know?) There were other Flashes as well. Jay Garrick, the first Flash, was created by Harry Lampert and Garnder Fox. It's strange as much as I loved the Flash, I know very little about how he was created. Since he's not part of the "The Big Three" (Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman) he doesn't get credited in comics or in shows.

Thank you for Harry for creating such a wonderful character that fueled my imagination.

There's got to be a Morning After

2004-11-04T04:56:00.000-08:00

I put down my thoughts yesterday; something happened and now I can't find the post. I hate having to start again.

Bush won. The GOP tightens its control over the House and Senate. In all 11 states any form of same sex union was banned. Nothing changed in the Texas Legislator. Here in Collin County, 70% of the people voted straight ticket Republican. I shudder to think what the Supreme Court is going to look like in 4 years.

The "Youth Vote" disappeared, and 1 in 5 homosexuals voted for Bush. Both groups voted in the same percentages as 2000.

I'm angry and frustrated. I've been reminded though that a precious few victories came through after the election. In Colorado, the Democrat beat the GOP homophobe for a Senate seat. And then there was Obama. Of course, if he lost to Keys, then this county would be going to hell in a handbasket. In Dallas County, the Democrats won 3 judgeships and the Sherrif's office.

It's time to stand up again, dust off, and get back on the horse, or donkey if you will. There's still an effort to stop 121 from becoming a toll road. And then there's the 2006 election to concider. Change is coming, and I want to be part of it.

Please Remain Calm, This Is A Hijacking...

2004-10-21T06:20:00.000-07:00

Once again I (The One) am hijacking this poor neglected blog. I'm doing it for you poor reader, I'm doing it for you.

This weekend is the Dallas Comicon. I am stunned and amazed at just how freaking excited I am about this. And not because Michael Keeton is going to be a guest - that's cool and all, but that's not what dampens my panties. The list of ST TNG (and one ST DS9) people, the two Batman The Animated Series voices (most excited about that!!!) and Chewbacca. I'm really not a big Star Wars fan but, It's Chewbacca! Fucking Chewbacca!!!

And this will be the FIRST comic con to take my progeny to!!! OMG! Total geek moment!!! We will see if the genetic geekiness is passed on to the offspring.

What's kind of lame and almost embarassing is that we will be blowing off the Carnival at Super Girl's school to attend. Well K will be, I'm going to be at work, hopefully having a nice short day so I can join him and those who I have birthed at this (hopefully) kick ass shindig.

Part of why I'm so excited is because I spent so much of my formative youth attending and working comic/gaming/scifi conventions. I'm curious to see if any of the comic artists and inkers I used to hang with will be here. I saw one name in the list that I recognized, but I doubt he'll recognize the fat housewife with two children as the used to be much smaller and drunk a lot teenager.

No matter, I'm looking forward to soaking in all the geekiness of the weekend.

Letter. . .

2004-09-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Satan,

I demand you release my daughter's soul and return whatever woke up in her body back to Hades. I appreciate having the sound reduction feature of my car being tested as I drove past Cabbage Patch's possessed body that is still screaming and crying since she woke up. The One just got back from a weekend in San Antonio rested and nice. I'm sure she ready for another one after the morning Cabbage Patch put her through. The One doesn't believe in you and I doubt this will convince her of your dark existence. Please return Cabbage Patch's soul as soon as possible, or I'll have to perform an exorcism.
Oh, and the diet coke instead of coke in the vending machine, cute, really cute.

Gay Stuff

2004-09-20T22:55:00.000-07:00

Night after night, I keep thinking, "Oh I need to add to my blog. I need to get part three done of the Rant." Every night failing to blog because it's too late because I talked to B too long, or played Star Fleet Command or read too many emails. All that changed after this weekend, because now I want to talk about sex. (Yes I can sense I've got your attention now.)

What brought on this sudden change? I suppose spending a weekend with a bunch of other gay men might have something to do with it. That, and coming to realization that I'm not going to change Gravic's mind without resorting to brainwashing. (Oh, I should warn you Gravic that resorting to brainwashing depends entirely on the poll numbers after the debates. As Jafar would say "Desperate times call for desperate measures" as he places his hypnotic snake staff before The Sultan.) So I'm going to talk about something fun.

Now, a bit about gay culture. Yes, a social studies lesson as well. Gay culture apparently wasn't a specialized enough minority so it broke down even further into sub-groups. Now most of the "gays" you see on television fall into two categories, queens and twinks. From Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Carson and Kyan are definite queens, the rest are twinks. I'll admit twink is the closest thing you'll get to normal in gay sub culture. Then there are the bears. Bears are usually large, mostly hairy, masculine to hyper-masculine population of gay sub-culture. Picture the guys from Deliverance during the "squeal like a pig scene" and you get the idea of a bear. I also get the impression that most gay and even lesbians consider bears to be an oddity. I'm a bear and proud of it! However, bears being a sub culture of a small minority means that it's hard to meet fellow bears. Is he a bear or just a construction worker? It might mean the difference between sex and getting clobbered so it's important to know. There are very few bars that cater to the bear crowd. So a few bright and bushy bears got together and created a "bear run" a weekend where a bunch of bears get together and have sex. A sexually frustrated bear gets to spend the entire weekend groping, hugging, kissing, fondling and other things with other bears and not have to worry about getting clobbered.

B and I found out about Bearadice (all Bear runs must have a Bear theme, best name for a Bear Run, "Hibernation") through a friend of ours. This friend also told a friend of B's who lives in New York and this friend wanted to go. Since the friend wanted to go B thought he should tag along and spend some time with his friend. I'm come along because B asks. The number of people headed to Oklahoma City for Bearadice - 5. This is where things go wrong.

Bearadice takes place at the Habana Inn. And their room option really don't work well with 5 people. So we have to split up and get two rooms. That doesn't sit well with the person who suggested this in the first place. Then we discover that Bearadice takes place the same weekend as the Dallas Gay Pride Parade. Also, B's friend who's flying in from New York to Dallas, has to be back in Dallas by 10:00 am for his return flight and he insists that we return with him. I'm frustrated because I really don't see the need to return with him and I don't want to leave OKC at 6 in the morning after drinking and other things the night before. For a few weeks things are really tense between all the parties and I'm thinking to just not go and let the organizers have my pre-registration fee.

At the beginning of September, we finally get B's friend to go back to Dallas alone, promising him that the drive is nothing more than following I-35 all the way down. Then B tackles the room situation which means we've got to get our other friend to commit or drop out. Our friend thinks there are rooms with two king size beds which would more than accommodate 5 people. I've looked on the website and no, there isn't a room with two king size beds, only two double beds. Those aren't big enough to handle 5 men. As a way to keep cost down, he says that he, his boyfriend, and B sleep in one double bed; I and B's friend sleep in the other. I quickly point out that B and I will be sleeping together. He doesn't think everyone would fit that way. Instead one of us has to sleep on the floor. Guess who gets to sleep on the floor? Personally I think it should be the friend's boyfriend since he's not paying for the room, but instead it starts looking like I get to be the lucky one. I quickly shoot that idea down as well. I'm concinded to the fact that we're going to have to get two rooms. Our friend hates that idea. So, nothing gets settled.

As the days get closer to Bearadice, which is starting to turn into Bearapergatory for all the animosity it's created. B's friend finally gets a room. He says it's a king size bed BUT someone needs to bring a sleeping bag, just in case. I know The One has a king size bed and three men could fit nicely in that bed so why would someone need a sleeping bag? I convey my suspicions to B, who suspected as much anyway. He also tells me that I'm the lucky one to get sleeping bag. I'm pissed at this point and again think to stay home. B's friend assures him that the sleeping bag is "just in case" and plans continue to roll forward.

I discover that a stage hypnotist will be performing at OKC the same time as Bearadice. He goes by the name "The Sandman". I'd like to go see him; he doesn't come down to Dallas. I start making plans to go see him while I'm there. My excitement to go returns again.

Part 2 of an Ongoing Series of Rants.

2004-08-31T21:08:00.000-07:00

Now that The One has rolled her eyes up and gone on to some other blog, allow me to continue my response to Gavric.

People always resort to name calling.

As a frequent member of the Yahoo Community Boards, name calling comes as second nature to some people. The usual course of action on the board is as follows:

a) New person who dislikes homosexuality discovers the board and post how disgusting homosexuality is.
b) Regulars on the board will either respond by refuting what the newbie said or if the board has been particularly troll heavy that day go straight to name calling.
c) New person backs up previous statement by either stating observations or posting facts.
d) Regulars will refute observations with facts from the APA stating homosexuality isn’t a disease or a choice, or from the CDC stating that HIV is not a gay problem. Others will point out their own observations that contradict the new person.
e) New person restates original case with new data.
f) Regulars show flaws in argument or show different data to refute.
g) New person states Regulars are bigoted and refuse to listen to reason. Name calling begins.

Now for someone coming onto the board at step g must think how incredibly hostile one side or the other is being. Both the Left and the Right point like 5 and 3 year old girls and shout “She started it!” when someone chastises a group for name calling. It’s hard to say which side does it more. I contend that the Right is far more viscous in its attacks than the Left. As usual there are exceptions, one or two of the posters that support homosexuality on the board can get real mean with some of the regular trolls.

I once saw a cartoon which had an equation like normal person + computer + anonymity = complete asshole. I’d like to find that cartoon again. Some people just can’t say “I understand,” and go on with life. They have to be right and you have to be wrong. Anything else is a sign of weakness. Since when is seeing another viewpoint a weakness?

Comment on this, faithful readers of my blog. Which side do you think attacks with more ferocity and give examples.

One Political Rant Deserves Another (A Response)

2004-08-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

Gavric’s friendship means the world to me. We’ve been friends since he was in high school, lost contact, and regained it again a few years ago. We’ve been through some interesting parts of our lives together. We know each other well. There are many traits in Gavric I admire. He’s an excellent artist, he plans games well and with a detail I often lack, and he’s always there for you. He acquired one flaw, in my opinion; he’s stubborn. Oh, I don’t mean the occasional pig headed attitude some people (including me) take sometimes. He’s more like a “donkey-that-you-need-a-really-big-club-use-it-a-few-times-and-realize-he-isn’t-going-to-budge-so-get-the-shotgun-instead” kind of stubborn. I say this in advance because I know he and I will go back and forth on this for a while.

Gavric, I think, typifies the current thinking in the political process. To summarize:

1) Politics suck.
2) People will always resort to name calling.
3) Keeping things simple is best.
4) Few people are responsible.
5) Democrats are evil.

Here is my response. . .

1. Politics Suck

It’s a really nasty profession to get into. First, you have to keep a lot of people happy. Contributors, voters, special interests groups, the press, and the party you affiliate, and the board (Congress, the city council, etc.) vie for a politician’s attention. Second, every so often you have to campaign. That means raising money, talking to people who normally aren’t really that interested in what you do, and fend off your opponent. And yet somehow, laws get passed and society runs. Anyone who wants to jump into that field has my respect.

So does politics suck? No, politics is a fascinating endeavor into human interaction. However, some people discovered that if politics looks distasteful that most people will stay out of it. That makes fewer people to keep happy and makes the process run faster and better for those few people. The problem is that it leaves a lot of people out of the process.
I’ve worked one election and currently helping a candidate get into office. The election ran smoothly and I learned a bit about county politics. Despite representing the Democratic Party and there being Republicans in the same room, the experience was a positive one. In this currently election, I’m helping a candidate get into an office. It will be an uphill battle; however I’ve met some nice, honest people. The candidate himself is very nice and genuine. I’m sure if I ever met his opponent, I’d think the same of him.

For me, politics’ bark is worse than its bite.

One point down, only 4 more to go. I need to get some sleep now. I’ll continue this tomorrow.

Please Remain Calm, This Is A Hijacking...

2004-08-30T12:55:00.000-07:00

This is The One. Yeah, I'm hijacking K's blog today. He hasn't updated in forever. I figured I'd do my part to keep his blog from stagnating.

Today I checked the e-mail that came with the DSL connection we have. SPAM. All of it SPAM. I discovered that I could get Viagra, Valium, Xanax, Cialis, etc. For the cheapest price on the net, I learned that "If you have a home you can get preferred rates without a preferred credit standing" whatever that means. Also, I'm preapproved for a $500 cash advance by two different entities and I can get Get 4 Free Months of DirecTV & a Free DVD Player not to mention the fact that I'm closer to a new car than I think. Hmmm? Someone cared enough to ask 'How would your life be with a $7500 Gold Credit Card?' - in more debt, that's how. Let's not forget the one titled 'XP PR0 $5O; AD0BE PH0TOSH0P $8O. 0FFICE XP $100, NORT0N 2004 $15: 0FFICE 2003 $8O American speak' with nothing in the e-mail. 'Jen' wants me to view singles in my area - thanks but no thanks 'Jen' I have a fabulous and sexy boyfriend, he might not be in my area but XXX is all I need. 'David' sent me a kind message letting me know he could get me 'instant' approval for a car loan, sure you can dude, sure you can. Someone else sent me the urgent message that 'Warning! Almost all computers have hidden errors on them just waiting
for the right moment to crash your computer!' Holy Computer Scans Batman! Let's order now! 'PC Bug Doctor will fix hidden bugs'! Heh. Good thing I can "Play your tunes on a Free Creative MP3 Player!"... As long as I reply to their ad that is... Hold on, just got another one - It's my lucky day, someone else wants to give me money - $1,000 this time. I can also curb my cravings with a diet patch... Diet patch... Yeah sure, how's that work? You put it over your mouth? I'm almost disappointed, I didn't get even ONE male 'enhancement' spam. *sigh*

The Metal Kings -- Part I

2004-08-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

I have a great group of friends. On the first and third weekend of every month we get together to roleplay or board game (or whatever). We have three campaigns running currently that we rotate. Gavric runs the Kingdom of Kalamar, the New Mrs. S and Her Husband run The Metal Kings, actually it's the husband that runs, lastly I run a game system that usually isn't published anymore, for example Torg, Blood of Heroes, or Alternity.

This weekend Gavric was slated to run Kalamar. He ended up working Saturday, apparently his job's schedule comes out on Thursday, so often he doesn't know if he will be able to run or attend a game until the last moment - this Saturday was a work night for Gavric. Well, now we're a gaming group without a Game Master. I sent out an email asking the group what to do next. We could run The Metal Kings or "Beer and Pretzel" games. The group meets at 7:00 pm Saturday night (well we SAY we start at 7 pm) ; at 6:00 pm Saturday night The New Mrs. S's husband emails the group saying that he'll run the Metal Kings. The group prefers Role Playing Games over Board games so that works out.

In this game I play Roondar, a gnomish bard. [Note: Gavric I'd like to make the character faces from that web site you used to make your profile.] He's in love with The One's character (which is unusual since most of our characters despise each other.) The One plays Belle, a gnomish "adventurer", a rouge (i.e. smarmy little thief). Roondar and Belle were friends when growing up. The image that comes to mind is Belle stuffing Roondar into a locker, however that would be anachronistic. B, plays Ruick, a dwarven cleric, he sells indulgences (Lutherans will get the joke). I really admire B's willingness to delve into geekdome like this. The Redneck Cajun plays Bob, a gnomish Psion. I'll include the rest of this crew once I get the names and descriptions.

<> The group is on an epic quest. We need to get four weapons used by the Metal Kings (hence the name)! Our first weapon is on an island on the other side of a large mountain range. So we must travel under the mountains (any references to Moria will be harshly dealt with!). We've barely begun to travel the paths and have run into ogre's and these beetles that kill with one swipe (we fear the beetles more than anything else). We've also discovered that hiding is a good way to avoid things (unlike most groups we prefer to live).

More later...

(Edited by The One)

A quick note. . .

2004-08-22T16:45:00.000-07:00

Hey! I got published in the Dallas Morning News after all! Apparently the idiot upset a number of people and the newspaper published some of them. There is hope for Collin County after all!

Political Fun

2004-08-18T20:53:00.000-07:00

I live in District 70 for the Texas State Legislator. District 70 lies inside Collin County. Collin County is decidedly Republican. I’ve been Republican most of my life. However, I resent the resent power ploys the Republican Party made here in Texas. I’ve switched sides and I’ve been helping the Democratic Party. Mr. Martin Woodard is the Democratic candidate for District 70.

He wrote a wonderful commentary that made the Dallas Morning News.

Well some idiot wrote a letter to the editor, calling Mr. Woodard a typical “liberal”. I’m getting really tired of the word “liberal” being used as a dirty word, so I wrote back. I doubt my letter will make the letter page so I’m putting it here.

Re: Liberal Ideas won't fly.

Considering the complete ineptitude conservatives have shown when attempting to tackle the issue of school finance reforms, I’m willing to give another viewpoint a chance.

Video gambling, lap dances, and tax caps for expensive houses were the best conservatives had to offer the state. We need fresh ideas in the Texas State Legislator. Mr. Martin Woodard should be sent to Austin to provide a new look on school finance.

It only took 13 years

2004-08-16T10:23:00.000-07:00

I finally was able to surprise my wife! The Karmically Challenged One (whose name will forever more be shortened to "The One") reads me like a book. I'm utterly incapable of lying to her. And before you start asking about the gay thing, she knew about that too; she denied it like I did.

Now, last weekend I wanted to do something special for her birthday. I talked to B (my boyfriend) about it and we decided that a surprise party would be perfect. The One dislikes surprise parties so I haven't planned any (I do not! That must have been your other Wife who hated them! *note from The One). But seeing as how things are between us, what's the worse she can do? I don't have a large enough insurance policy for her to profit from my death. I wanted to have the party over at my brother's house. I just say that my brother wants to have Super Girl and Cabbage Patch over to play with his son. But, he works Sunday morning at 6 am. Chasing a bunch of drunk gamers out by 10 is not fun. That was a minor setback, however I had alternate plans.

I sent an email out to the gaming group about the party. Mystical D, The Queen, Giggles, The Postman responded that they would come. Most others said "maybe". I thought about asking Mystical D and The Queen if we could have it at their place. However, I had no idea how I would convincingly lie to The One about going over there. B came through and allowed his place to be used. The lie became real easy then. B will take The One out for a birthday dinner.

Next obstacle, food and drinks. I thought about buying this stuff myself. However the question of transport and keeping Super Girl from telling The One were my biggest concern. Mystical D thankfully said she would help.

Next on the list, getting The One there. Eris (aka the Bitch goddess of circumstance) worked overtime that day. First, The One was feeling ill. Apparently I poisoned her. Second, she worked really long and got home at 5:30 which left NO time for a nap and left her sleepy. The One becomes a bit cranky when tired. Third, she didn't put in her contacts or much make-up on. I had a real concern that she'd be angry because she think she looks horrible when everyone yelled "surprise"! B told me that his mother or aunt was surprised liked that while wearing some hot pink pants and unmade hair. Which brings me to my new rules of surprise parties. Rule number 1: Always makes sure the victim looks good before arriving at the party.
The One, bless her soul, took the surprise really well. While I was unpacking the car, I heard the "Surprise!" and this meek "I guess we're not going out for Italian after all," came from The One's mouth. I walk in and I get a surprise, only a few people showed up. Out of the fifteen people of those that said they would show up and the maybes, only nine were there and three of them were kids. This brings me to Rule number 2: Expect half your guests to show up at the surprise party. Leftovers are nice, but I'm going to get sick of tortilla wraps really quick. (Guess what everyone is going to have a the game Saturday?)

You can pick up the rest of the night over at The One's Blog.

Justice League: Star Crossed - Review

2004-08-12T22:27:00.000-07:00

This movie took The Karmically Challenged One and I by surprise. I bought it for her as a birthday present. She'll deny it, but she's a fan of comic books as much as I am. The animation was standard fare. I thought the computer animation looked a bit primative. The surprise came at the end when it ended bittersweet. Sure the heroes won the day, however nothing was the same. I can't really go into more depth about the ending without spoiling it. It attempted hopefullness, however you just know that things weren't going to be the same.

The reason why the Justice Leauge changed? There's a new series! Ah well, as endings go the movie did well.

Ch-ch-ch-changes...

2004-08-11T11:17:00.000-07:00

Today, Guest Blogging for Kent (who's at work and all) is Judy of Karmically Challenged Life (AKA Wife, Saint Judy, Unreasonable Bitch). Hmmm... won't he be surprised to see I've been scribbling in his blog.

If you move your gaze to the right you will see that I have added a Tag Board for lively comentary. A little further below that you will find entertaining and interesting links (one for me!). Below each post is a Comments link where one may leave comments for a particular post. I personally dislike the blogger comments and will see if Kent would prefer a different comment system of which I will be more than happy to ad for him.

Please pardon the dust (and mispellings), we are still in the laborous process of bringing this blog into the world.

I hope everyone likes the blog so far... although if this blog starts looking better than mine (which is pretty lame to be honest) I will have to DESTROY it out of petty jealousy and spite! I will crush all who stand in my way of Greatness!!!

Anyway, just let me know what you think, offer helpfull tips.

Leave plenty of nice comments and throw money.

Peace,
Judy

Greetings Everyone

2004-08-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, according to my wife, The Karamically Challenged One , I'm supposed to come up with something witty and profound to start my blog. However as my friends can tell you, I'm neither!
I'll tell you a bit about myself before I start really rambling. I'm Kent, otherwise knows as K on my wife's blog. Somehow, I've managed to survive 39 years. For the last 3 years, I've been out as a gay man with the help of my wife and boyfriend (two different people obviously!) My interest include hypnosis (hence the title), gay issues, politics, gaming (I'm the keeper of dead game systems), and men.
Through this blog, I hope to engross my friends into discussing things we seldom talk about, and to meet new people as well. That sure sounds pompus!
Okay, now The Karamically Challenged One will help me set up the rest of this blog so it looks just as good as hers.