Anyone/Else08!

Thanks, General Motors

2008-07-16T20:32:00.004-06:00

General Motors has announced that they are making drastic cuts in a desperate attempt to save the iconic American car manufacturer from filing for bankruptcy.

The stock is trading at just over $9.80, a price GM hasn't been at since
since the 1950s. Yeah, that's a 54 year low. Let's adjust that number for inflation! Fun!

What else?

White collar retirees aged 65 and older will no longer be eligible for GM funded health insurance after January 1, 2009. Hello medicare! Good luck with the
$300 per month pension increase.

That's right: Rick Wagoner, whose $1.1 million salary in 2007 was supplemented to the tune of 13.3 million (not a grand number for a CEO, to be sure, but hardly what the average failed businessman makes) has announced that white collar retirees over the age of 65 will no longer benefit from the company's private health insurance plan. Not that they'd been promised private care through GM for the last forty years or anything, but whatever. By the way, Wagoner's base salary was commented on in a Forbes piece entitled "Paying for Failure," which ranked the performance-to-pay salary ratio of top CEOs... Wagoner came in at 160 out of 175.

Fuck everyone in Detroit. If (when?) GM finally bites the big one, American "leadership" will have no one to blame but themselves. This has been a very poorly run company for decades, and it's about to be a chapter in our American history. I was going to type "footnote," but no - the demise of General Motors is certainly worth a chapter. Too bad that the work ethic of the millionaire executives didn't come close to that of their tens of thousands of employees.

Best of luck to all of them, including my father.

No doubt countless books will be written about it, hopefully more from the employee perspective.

Channon Christian / Christopher Newsom murders - update

2008-06-13T19:53:00.004-06:00

I'm sure many of you remember reading about the horrific rapes and murders of Tennessee residents Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom in the spring of 2007. Well, after many delays and court hearings, the first trial of a main defendant is
set to commence on August 11th.

George Thomas, the only male defendant whom there appears to be no DNA evidence linking him the the crime, filed a motion for a speedy trial in April, and that motion was granted this past May. I wonder what's happening to him in the Tennessee jail he's currently being held at?

I can't imagine the DNA evidence (or lack thereof) will get him off, as the DA still has Vanessa Coleman's confession placing him at the home the crimes were committed at - but who knows, I'm not a lawyer, and more I've seen more fucked up shit than this. I'll keep you all posted as to the outcome in August.

Trial dates for the remaining defendants are as follows:

Latalvis Cobbins: January 26, 2009.

Vanessa Coleman: April 13, 2009.

Lemaricus Davidson: June 22, 2009.

Eric Boyd, who was tried only as an accessory in the case, has already been found guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

New lease on life!

2008-06-13T19:20:00.002-06:00

Well, my goal was to have graduated from college before turning thirty (which happens next month!), and not only have I done that, but I've actually begun a career.

I'm working at the United States Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General in Denver, Colorado. I've only been there a week, but I really like it so far. Most of my co-workers are around the same age as I (give or take a few years), and they all seem pretty cool. Hopefully at least one will be up for going to the DAM every now and then!

The job will have its moments, I'm sure, but it really sounds like a dream come true for me. Basically, the office of the IG acts as a watchdog (or fact checker) for other government agencies. Recent audits have included topics ranging from grant spending (common) to human trafficking (interesting).

Next month I'm off to Washington DC for some extensive training in the type of audits I'll be performing. DC won't be much better in July than Houston, but at least I'm used to it. Perhaps Colorado will have a heat wave at the time so I won't be so homesick. But, I'm looking forward to it like crazy... can't believe someone is going to pay me to go to Washington. Smithsonian, here I come!

The commute from Fort Collins to Denver is over 120 miles round trip, so I can't wait to move to Denver - one month to go! I'll be living right in Capitol Hill, and my commute to work will be cut from 120 miles to three blocks. Rock! It's also an awesome part of Denver in which to live... just blocks away from the DAM, the library, a couple parks and the river walk. This'll be the first time in my life to ever live right in the heart of a city, and I can't wait to start!

Anyway, that's what's going on with me... drop me a line and let me know what's going on with you!

I Heart Oconomowoc!

2008-01-18T20:03:00.001-07:00

As most of you know, I took the long route to a college graduation. I worked for nearly a decade in Houston, Texas, and for the last couple years I attended Houston Community College at night, earning my AA in 2006. I completed my bachelor's degree at Colorado State University in 2007 (this past December). Needless to say, it's been a busy few years!

Now that I've finished, I find myself not entirely ready to make a decision as to what direction to go next. Do I get my Masters Degree? Go to Law School? Or, do I just get a job I expect will be long term? Well, I just don't know. I must admit that at nearly thirty years old it would be nice to have some sort of direction in life, but a clear path has yet to present itself.

In part to delay the decision making process, I decided to take a trip back to someplace I hadn't been in nearly fifteen years: Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, the place I grew up. I dropped Rajah off for boarding on January 7th, and headed North East...back home.

I drove North through Wyoming, then East though the entire beautiful state of Nebraska, which I don't remember ever having been through before. Nebraska was beautiful, as evidenced by this shot I took right of Highway 20. I saw deer, antelope and wild turkeys along the way. FYI: If you ever have the opportunity of driving through Nebraska, I highly suggest taking the North route (Hwy 20), and get your "wave hand" ready. Almost everyone you pass on the highway will send a wave your way - this is the part of the US I love! Friendly people and beautiful scenery.

My first stop on my trip was Estherville, Iowa where I visited my maternal grandmother. I just love being back in her house. It's built on the top of a hill and is surrounded by trees and wildlife. She made us steak and french fries for lunch the next day (awesome) and I obediently went along with her to see National Treasure that night.

While Eastward bound I only spent one full day in Estherville, leaving Wednesday morning to head to Wisconsin! I drove up and through the Southern portion of Minnesota, then back down along the Mississippi...and finally over into my home state. It was so great to be back. Paneled houses, rolling hills and red barns everywhere. Wisconsin kicks ass. As far as wildlife, I saw a bald eagle and (not so wild) two camels kept on a farm in Eastern Iowa. Strange pet, but to each their own.

At about 4pm I saw it...the exit for Oconomowoc. Woohoo, I was home! I stayed at the Inn at Pine Terrace, a beautiful mansion that now serves as a B&B. This place has been around since 1879, and I felt very lucky to be able to stay in a place that has such historic value in Oconomowoc. Plus, it was right on Fowler lake, so one morning I was able to do the two mile trek around the lake before breakfast...what a perfect start to the day!

I was only in Wisconsin for three full days, which I divided between time spent in Oconomowoc and Milwaukee. Both cities are awesome. One of my first stops was to see my old elementary school, which is now abandoned (see the broken windows on the top floor?). Very sad. I have such great memories of this place, and it was really hard to see it looking so sad. No kids running around, all the playground equipment long gone...ouch.

Of course, I drove down my old street more times than I cared to count. We lived on Hillcrest Court, and there were about a dozen kids on the street right around my age.
Damn, my life was pretty perfect up until age 10 (when we moved)! This was a great place to grow up - and it would have been a great place to stay, considering how the property value has risen. Our house sold for under $100,000 twenty years ago, and the listing for one up for sale right now is a quarter million. Also, it looks like that's about the lowest you can find something for in Oconomowoc; can't get anything on the lakes for under $1.5 million. Dang, Oconomowoc! I didn't know you had it in you!

In Milwaukee I went to the Public Museum, which mom took us to many times as children. They have this awesome part, "The Streets of Old Milwaukee," and I couldn't get a single picture to come out. Too bad. It shows how Milwaukee looked back in the 1800s - Usingers, Schlitz and the like (if you don't know what Usingers is, you obviously never lived in the Midwest). This was my favorite place in the museum, and little has changed in the last two decades.

I also love Milwaukee's way of introducing dinosaurs to children - a Tyrannosaur, blood dripping from its jaws, leaning down for another bite out of the triceratops it has killed. Awesome. No purple Barney in Milwaukee - you know if this T-Rex came alive, she'd eat you and everyone you love. If she was full before she got to you, she'd probably stomp on your sorry ass just out of spite. This my be the coolest museum exhibit in the history of the world, and I took about fourteen pictures of it. This is even more noteworthy when you consider that I don't have a memory card for my camera, and had to download about every eight shots.

My trip to Wisconsin was more about places than people...a contemplative trip, as my Aunt put it. I did see my Mom's best friend Bonnie, which was great. Other than that, though, I mostly spent my time traveling around to places I remembered being with my mom. The memories sure do start pouring back - every time I'd walk around a corner I'd see things that looked exactly as I remembered them. They say you can't go back home, and there's no doubt some truth to that statement. But, I could totally see myself living in Oconomowoc again - when I'm rich, that is. It's a great town (even has a drive in burger and custard place...The Kiltie rocks so hard), and a great place to raise a family or to retire - even saw some "grandparents at play" signs around the lake. Loaded old people.

I have started watching the real estate sites for Oconomowoc...I sure do love Colorado, but Wisconsin is a state I'd love to live in again one day. The people in the Midwest are nicer than anywhere in the country, and it's got the laid back attitude I love so much. Nothing wrong with that!

For those few of you who have the time and money, I highly recommend taking a trip by yourself, for yourself should the opportunity ever present itself. Of all I've done over the years, this last week was one of the best experiences of my life, and I'll never forget it. Get out there, people!

YA Fiction: A hundred and thirty seven reasons to kill yourself

2007-11-24T22:44:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official: as a child, I was retarded.

I liked Kristy, Claudia, Stacey and Mary Anne, but I loved and adored Elizabeth and Jessica. Ladies in my age range, you know who they are - the Wakefield twins of Sweet Valley, California. That admirable pair, with their 'sun-streaked blond hair and perfect size six figures,' were the stars of Sweet Valley High. Oh, also Sweet Valley Twins, Sweet Valley Kids, Sweet Valley High: Senior Year, Sweet Valley University, Junior High, Team Sweet Valley, The Unicorns, and Elizabeth. Do you have any idea how many school dances that is?

These bitches would have hated me. Well, Jessica would have - Elizabeth may have made me into one of her weekly 'projects' in which I'd be cured of my non-size-six figure and brown hair, after which she'd be congratulated and I'd never be heard from again. Not even in a Gay McKay secondary character kind of way (I'm a better poet than Liz).

So why did we like them so much? I mean, seriously, these books were hugely popular everywhere I lived (Wisconsin, California and Texas). I was all up in the B. Dalton or WaldenBooks on the 15th of every month, when the newest installment would come out. Along with millions of other pre-teens, I devoured these books.

In part, I still credit the series for my love of reading - they did get me excited about books at eight or nine years old. It's just too bad that I was excited to read the adventures of a sociopath floozy and her hypocrite, enabling sister. Not exactly great role models. Add to that, Francine Pascal and her army of ghost writers never failed to remind us that being blond is great, wearing glasses is nerdy and being fat (anything over a size six) is reason enough to kill yourself.

I'm not going to bother getting into the absolute absurdity of the plots - as Moe once said to Homer, "That's the stupidest story I've ever heard, and I've read the entire Sweet Valley High series." A quick example: One whole book revolves around Rosa, who is ashamed to admit to the rest of the SVH gang that she's Mexican - and yes, these books were supposed to take place in SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. Apparently the (presumably) adult ghostwriters were even more retarded than I was at age twelve.

Anyway, for all the new moms out there - are you eager to find a way to let your young girls know that they are worthless unless they're thin, blond and mentally retarded? "OK!" Great news! The Sweet Valley High series is being re-released in 2008! That's right, I guess Francine Pascal has blown through all her money from the original run (seventy years of hair bleach and sweater/scarf sets that almost match can't be cheap) and has decided to inflict her "creative" bile on a whole new generation of young girls. Luckily, girls today have much better role models to idolize: Britney Spears and that Kardashian whore, for example. By the way, here's a picture of Francine, probably taken somewhere around Secca Lake. Is anyone surprised that the bitch is (kind of) thin and blond? She could totally be mistaken for the twins' great grandmother.

How did this idea get the green light? Even through my own considerable retardation I was able to call bullshit on these plotlines...are pre-teens today really going to jump at the chance to read about a bunch of teenage virgins who cry at the mention of beer or marijuana? Doubtful. Seriously, by the end of the series the twins were fighting werewolves and fending off crazy look-alike serial killers. Even Survivor is more realistic than what went on in and around Casa Wakefield.

Case in point: I was at Subway the other day, waiting patiently for my Veggie Delite sub (oh, I could totally go for one of those right now), shamelessly eavesdropping on a group of pre-teens behind me. One of these ridiculous morons was loudly bragging about the fact that "the prostitution charges" against her had been dropped. Her sidekick (I think her name was Lois Waller) chimed in, "yeah, because you're under age." What the fuck?!?! Jessica Wakefield could legitimately pass judgement on these people. And sidenote, why do that shit in public? I mean, clearly you want attention, but WTF? "Oooh, you whore yourself out? HIGH FIVE!" Anyway, this is not exactly the generation to be shocked by Miller's point.

Nice try, Pascal, but your days of making young girls feel like shit are over. I hope.

Coming up: My love for The Girls Next Door and my hate for everything else on the E! Channel. I'm sure my pre-teen love for the Wakefields has nothing whatsoever to do with my current love for these three blondes. Nothing at all.

Can I just defend Fred Thompson for a moment?

2007-09-06T22:29:00.000-06:00

Disclaimer: I am a registered member of the Democratic party.

Ok, to all the idiots who are bitching about the fact that Fred Thompson announced his candidacy on The Tonight Show...shut the fuck up.

Elections today are all pomp and circumstance, and politicians have to find the easiest and fastest way of getting their message out to millions and millions of apathetic Americans.

Think you're above this kind of announcement? Here's a quiz:

1. Who is the new Prime Minister of Great Britain?
2. Who are the nine justices currently serving on the US Supreme Court?
3. Who is the US Secretary of Defense?
4. Who is the US Secretary of State?
5. How many candidates for the presidency (republican or democrat) can you name?

Seriously, I doubt that anyone reading this blog can answer all of the above correctly - and for number five, I doubt you can name more than 10 candidates (there are more than ten on "each side", so this really isn't asking much).

If you want to complain about Thompson announcing his candidacy on a comedy show, you sure as hell better be ready to berate Edwards for the same reason - because guess where he announced his candidacy for the 2004 election? The Daily Show... a basic cable comedy program (that I happen to adore).

Politicians have to stoop because we've had the "Vote or Die" bullshit shoved down our throat for years now...Guess what, morons? The problem isn't low voter turnout....the problem is our incredibly uninformed electorate. And it is because these idiots are told that it is their patriotic duty to vote (God forbid they should pick up a fucking newspaper and actually inform themselves on the issues), politicians are left to cater to the US electorate through comedy.

Is it sad? Yes.
Is it our fault? Yes.

Hey, if you could answer all of the above questions (only 10+ on number five), you're exempt from this blog - I respect you.

And to the rest....quit your bitching. You're uninformed, you'll do what you're told, and you deserve what you get.

Yellowstone: The United States' First National Park

2007-08-20T00:58:00.000-06:00

I had a glorious two weeks off this summer, and for one of those I managed to drag myself out of Colorado. Luckily, in this part of the country, you don't have to go far for an outstanding - and cheap - vacation. At 8:00am I dropped my dog off at Raintree Animal Hospital for boarding, and by early evening I had picked my sister up from the Jackson Hole airport and we had made it into Yellowstone National Park.

It's unbelievable, astonishing, majestic, breathtaking....insert complimentary adjective here. And, I must note, I've become quite the National Park snob since I now live 45 minutes from one of the best National Parks our great country has to offer: Rocky Mountain. Still, Yellowstone is different if for nothing but it's size. The main road is laid out in a figure eight style shape, and it takes at least three hours (assuming you're not delayed by bison on the road) to travel just one.

Since we only had three full days in the park, I quickly overcame my usual aversion to guided tours, and we spent the first day on the "Ring of Fire" trek, on which we saw bison, deer, elk, one wolf, and a bald eagle. And that's just the wildlife. Our first stops were at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone's Upper and Lower Falls.
Save for Old Faithful, this may be the shot that Americans are most familiar with when it comes to Yellowstone. Due to a break in the river you cannot actually see both the Upper and Lower falls at the same time, so when you make it to the park be sure to make two stops. Get out, take in the falls, bust out your binocs and check for raptors along the walls of the cliff. I could have spent three days hiking around just this area.

From the falls we toured a few of the different hot springs/mud pits, and then made it to the park's #1 attraction: Old Faithful. This particular geyser is neither the biggest nor most frequent erupter in the park, but it is the most predictable. While we were there, it was going off approximately every 92 minutes, and there is so much to do around the site that the wait never seems long. Tina and I grabbed lunch in the cafeteria, foregoing the exquisite meals offered at the Old Faithful lodge due to lack of time and money, then headed back outside to write postcards while waiting for OF to amaze. It doesn't disappoint. There are two rows of benches that form a half circle around OF, and I'd guess that they can seat somewhere around 3000 people - we never got a seat. August in Yellowstone is a busy time, but you really can't complain when you're lucky enough to be standing right in front of what may be the most famous geological feature in the United States - and I sure didn't. I felt tremendously lucky to be there, just as I feel tremendously lucky to live in this part of the country - I've never lived in a place so beautiful, or had such easy access to the best the United States has to offer. Yay Colorado - Yay Wyoming! Anyway, moving on...

We made a few more stops on the way back up the lower loop, and were back to Canyon campground around five. We bought beer at $9.25 per six pack and returned to our campsite where we - I am so not kidding - drank beer at ate s'mores around the campfire. I even sprung for some good chocolate, not that Hershey's crap (you keep moving your plants out of the US, I won't buy your shit). Ok, this blog isn't about politics - so...that's right, mock away! I built a campfire, sat by it, fed birds and chipmunks, and ate s'mores...and it was awesome. City girl no more!

The next day we did the upper loop, making many stops along the way including one at Tower Falls (the first pic, featuring Tina). We eventually stopped for lunch in Gardiner, Montana. Yellowstone isn't entirely in Wyoming - it reaches into southern Montana and eastern Idaho. That's a kickass park, it refuses to be contained - actually (trivia), that's why it is the United States' first National Park. Surveyors back in the late 1800's couldn't exactly figure out what was where, and so it was decided it would be a National Park, not a State Park...so if you're ever on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, there you go. Send me a check! This pic was taken in Gardiner, looking back into the park. Note to future travelers: you're much better off eating in the park than in Gardiner...there's not much there, go figure. Still, it's a cute town with some really nice little shops - lots of chocolate.

On the way back down the loop we stopped in the Norris geyser basin, and braved the humidity and stench of sulfur to walk a ways down. I guess most people would think, if you've seen one geyser, you've seen them all, but apparently it doesn't take that much to excite my brain. Some geysers, like OF, go off multiple times daily...others, like those in Norris, have years in between eruptions. They are unpredictable, and those who see them erupt are in the right place at the right time - we didn't see anything major in Norris, but I was hoping the entire way through!

On our third and final full day we spent the morning going through the Lamar Valley, where we saw pronghorns, more bison, more deer...and a grizzly bear feasting on the remains of a bison carcass! He was huge (I assume it was a he since there were no cubs around), and it was incredible to see him - he had his feet on the top of the carcass, and his head buried right in the middle of it. There must have been about one hundred people gathered around (100 or so yards away...I realize the picture isn't much to you - sorry). We were incredibly lucky to see a grizzly, and I'll never forget it. We have black bears in Colorado, but no grizzlies - it was one of my favorite moments in the park.

From there, we moved on to our next campsite at Grant Village, which is right on Yellowstone Lake. After setting up, we headed back to OF for lunch, then up to my favorite part of the park: Grand Prismatic Springs.

This first image is of Excelsior geyser, which is so hot no bacteria can survive in it's pool. The steam you see coming off the top makes Wyoming feel just like Houston...here, however, the traffic is on foot. A bit further up the pathway is Grand Prismatic, which is slightly cooler, allowing the growth of the different kinds of thermophiles extremophiles (yup, i was paying attention) that give the pool it's striking color. You really need to see a photograph taken from above to appreciate the majesty of this pool. It's amazingly beautiful, and something I will never forget. It's about 250' x 350', making it the largest hot spring in the park. The picture here that clearly surpasses all taken by me is from skyimagelab.com, and gives you some idea as to the grandeur of Grand Prismatic.

We ended the day with feet in sand and beer in hand on the shore of Yellowstone Lake (*cough* which measures 140 square miles and is the highest alpine lake on the continent *cough*...are my random bits of trivia annoying yet?). I've never had a more enjoyable happy hour in all my life...it was warm and sunny, quiet and gorgeous. I wasn't quite ready to leave the next day, but at least I got to come back to Colorado - can't really complain about that, either.

Before I close, I'd like to recommend camping to all: at less than $20 per night, your whole stay is likely to be cheaper than one night in a hotel (they average around $150 a night). In July and August temperatures range from lows in the mid 40's to highs in the mid 80's, making camping the perfect choice. It's easy, low key and cheap - plus, who wants to be inside when you're in Yellowstone National Park?!?

Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed the pictures - and if you ever get a chance to visit Yellowstone, consider yourself very lucky...and enjoy every minute.

What the Fuck???? My first "Top Ten"

2007-08-07T21:03:00.001-06:00

The top ten things that make me go......"What the fuck? Seriously, what the fuck?"

10. The LonelyGirl15 Finale....

Okay, aside from the usual piss poor acting, the writing in the last 12 episodes was beyond awful. Here's a tip, assholes: if you want people to tune in for the second season, you need to create some kind of likeability in the characters. You failed miserably. So Bree "dies," and that Lauren idiot is whining about why Jonah hasn't yet realized that she's the girl for him? Are you kidding me? Dammit, we just watched about 250 episodes about Bree, and have been led to believe she's dead...and now we're supposed to give a shit about this whiny bitch? Hire someone to do your writing for you, seriously. You suck, and you're number ten.

9. Julie Chen.

Considering how little we expect from news "personalities" and reality show hosts, one has to suck extra hard in order to be recognized for their ability to eat shit. Julie "But First" Chenbot has perfected the craft of suckiness - Vanilla Ice and Carlos Mencia could take lessons from her. How the hell is this dumbass on TV at all (*cough* married to the president of CBS)? Eight seasons of crap land the Chenbot at number nine.

8. Tealights.

You stupid candles piss me the fuck off. It gets dark at like nine, and maybe I'm not ready for bed four hours later. And yet you mock me and go out. Fuck you, assholes. I'll stay up as late as I want, you can't stop me. Seriously, I will throw your ass right in the trash and light up one of your friends. Actually, I won't, because I don't stay up until 5am (and what kind of loser blows out a tealight? I'll tell you what kind: the same kind that eats half a pack of M&M's, and saves the rest for "later"). You tealights are pathetic, and you come in at number eight.

7. Boxes with handles that aren't equipped to handle their load.

That's right, beer 12 packs, this one's for you. Your little handles are worthless pieces of shit. Do you know how stupid I look when I'm walking out of the store, carrying you on your stupid little handle, and then you break on me? Asshole. The only way I could look any stupider is by carrying you under your dumbass bottom with both arms, which is what I have to do. You're lucky I'm not drunk when I buy you, or you'd get the ass kicking you deserve. Number seven.

6. Jet Blue

You want to strand me in NYC with no other means of getting home? Guess what, I found a way - a flipping rental car. Too bad I live in Colorado. Partner up with another airline so your customers will have an option outside of the two you gave me: (1) wait in JFK for five days until we get you on a flight, or (2) Get a hotel in MANHATTAN AT CHRISTMAS and wait those five days. You are number six.

5. Gas prices

Yeah, maybe I should get my fat ass on my bike a bit more, but how can I do a WTF top ten in August 07 and not complain about gas prices? I hate you stupid prices, and the signs you hang out on. $5.

4. Every "journalist" who's not Jim Lehrer or Christiane Amanpour (plus a few others, Lara Logan comes to mind; use your own judgement).

Do you think we give a crap about what Nicole Richie is doing these days? No. You know who does care? The people who watch the E! Channel. You like to mock me with your stupid suits and fancy dresses...you think you're smarter than me? You're celebrity obsessed whiny assholes, and you're also number four.

3. The MySpace Top Twelve

So if I don't answer your comment/message/IM right away, I get demoted on your top twelve? Is that supposed to hurt my feelings? It actually just makes me embarrassed that I'm friends with someone as superficial as you. Pathetic = three.

2. Best Buy Geek Squad

You, with your stupid little ties and dumbass emo glasses. I hate you. Enough said. #2.

1. Tiny bikes

I realize I'm old every time I see an guy riding around on this:

Seriously, you look like an idiot. You don't look cool, and you aren't going to get chicks riding around on the bike I had when I was seven. Where are your little streamers? And what about the bell? Ringa-ding-ding, here comes an asshole! You peddled your way to number ONE.

Trial in the Channon Christian - Chris Newsom murders a year away

2007-05-18T23:12:00.000-06:00

Eager to find out if the four major defendants in the Channon Christian / Chris Newsom murders are as guilty as they seem? Well, you've got a year to wait.

Twenty-four year old Letalvis Cobbins will lead this merry band of (alleged) rapists and murderers to court on May 12, 2008. His girlfriend, nineteen year old Vanessa Coleman will come next (June 16th), followed by the alleged ringleader, twenty-five year old Lemaricus Davidson (July 14), and the state will conclude with the case against twenty-four year old George Thomas, whose trial begins on August 11th. The fifth defendant, charged only as an accessory after the fact, is, according to Jamie Satterfield of KnoxNews (News Sentinel), likely to be in court later this year.

I'm no lawyer, but I really don't understand the long delay...they've got all the physical evidence from the bodies, of course, and have multiple confessions as these four brainiacs have done nothing but sell each other out since they were apprehended back in January. I'm guessing that this will spur more conspiracy discussion; if they drag the wait out long enough, we'll just forget about it, right? Wrong. We're watching now, and we'll be watching in 2008. I'm sure commentary (including my own) will slow down along with the news, but we'll be back - they can count on that. Maybe this is just standard operating procedure...like I said, I'm no lawyer and I sure don't plan on becoming one. I did, however, do a little research on these crimes in regard to capital punishment. When considering current circumstances in relation to Tennessee law, it does seem that prosecutors are aiming for the death penalty - not a surprise. Several of the charges against the four standing accused are "aggravated" offenses, which the prosecution can use to push for death. Further to that, three of the four defendants have lawyers who are qualified to assist in death penalty cases - and all four have two lawyers, which Tennessee requires in death penalty cases. Unfortunately for the families, should the trials result in a verdict of death the defendants are likely to sit on the Tennessee death row for years, perhaps even decades. State law requires review by the Court of Criminal Appeals and the state Supreme Court. There will, of course, also be appeals, delays, red tape...if convicted, we the taxpayers will be footing the bill for all of that. Nice.

Okay, people - keep checking back. I will continue to comb through the government documents and news reports and post what I feel to be the most pertinent information right here. I also encourage you to flag Satterfield's reports as s/he (Jamie...can't be sure) has been doing a great job of covering this case so far.

Other than that, keep following the case; we need to make sure it's known that inbred white racists in the south aren't the only ones paying attention.

The Channon Christian - Christopher Newsom Murders

2007-05-15T23:11:00.000-06:00

On January 7th, 2007, twenty-one year old Channon Christian and twenty-three year old Christopher Newsom left a restaurant in Tennessee after having what would be their last dinner together. While en route to a the home of a friend, the two were carjacked...apparently Channon's 4-Runner wasn't enough, as they were then abducted, raped and murdered.

I've actually spent a disturbing about of time reading true crime reports, and this one was shocking even to me. However, the reader should keep in mind that this information is all coming from local Knoxville papers and interviews - until the actual trial begins, who knows what will continue to change.

Chris was raped first, while Channon was made to watch. After finishing with Chris, the perpetrators allegedly shot him three times, wrapped him in a blanket/comforter, set his body on fire and left him next to some railroad tracks.
Channon was, of course, also raped, although how long it lasted is as yet unclear. Channon's dismembered body was found in their trash can - INSIDE THE HOUSE - by police on Tuesday...tower signals from Channon's cell phone led Knoxville PD right to the shithole.

Evidence tying those currently awaiting trail includes a finger print on an envelope in Channon's car, a lease on the home her body was found in and apparently a confession. Police in Knoxville (who really must be given props for their quick handling of this case) are understandably reticent regarding the details.

Here's the kick: there's quite a bit of controversy regarding the fact that this case hasn't been given any national media attention (I heard about it from snopes.com, which I have as a displayed module on my Yahoo home page). The "problem" is that the five alleged murderers are black, and the two victims were white.

Let me begin by saying that this case makes me rethink my stance on the death penalty. I was - and I remain - so disgusted by this case that I cannot get it out of my mind for more than an hour at a time...I bet that's an hour more than Chris or Channon’s parents. How would you deal with that, knowing that the last hours of your child's life were spent like this? That they were being tortured, humiliated, raped...and, most likely, knowing that when it was over they would die? I understand the fury many people are feeling; I understand the drive for vengeance. I read that Gary Christian, Channon's father, was making shooting gestures at Boyd (one of the alleged perpetrators) while in court...I can't blame him. In fact, that seems quite restrained to me.

Now…time for a reality check. People, this isn't an issue of the national media ignoring a story because it's black on white crime. Seriously you morons, what was the most covered trial in our lifetimes? OJ Who? Hmm.....wasn't that one about a black man who killed a white woman? If the intrigue is there, the media will report it. However, as pointed out by snopes, this story lacks the ratings trifecta: celebrity, mystery or extraordinary sympathy (as we get in crimes against very small children, like JonBenet). The fact is, while these five are awaiting trial, there just isn’t that much news to report. I too hope that the media will pick up a little bit in order to, at the very least, ensure the harshest possible penalty should these five turn out to be as guilty as they seem. One already found an attorney who was willing to fight extradition from Kentucky (where she had fled to), so who knows what they’ll try next. All have entered pleas of not guilty. Pfft.

Still…the racism that has surfaced since this crime has simply amazed me. Though, it is good to see white men finally standing up to say they're just not going to take it anymore! Yeah, white boys - you've been down for so long...glad you're able to exploit the deaths of Channon and Chris in order to vent your vile sentiments. Shut the fuck up - you would have fared well in Montgomery back in ‘54...anymore, not so much.

Man…sometimes I really hate people.

To those of you with a basic level of decency, should you devote any of your own time whatsoever to thinking about this case, let it be in memory of Channon and Christopher. I've had the weirdest thoughts the past week, especially about Channon. I guess since I'm a college student myself, I have a special sympathy for her. I keep thinking of all those tests she took, all those papers she wrote, all that time she spent working on her degree in Sociology - she was a senior at the University of Tennessee - and it was all for nothing. These five people (allegedly) stole Channon's future from her. They stole Chris's future from him. There will be no happy ending to this story.

How to lead the people to war...

2007-04-27T22:56:00.000-06:00

This post isn't a blog entry. I'm putting it here because I realize that many of my classmates have probably put their postings off to the end of the semester. Please feel free to comment, but again - you aren't commenting to a blog I submitted to Dr. Anderson. My blogs are further down on this page.

This is a brief exchange between Gustave Gilbert, a German intelligence officer, and Hermann Goering, who was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Nuremberg trials following WWII.

Let's be smart from here on out, people. Don't be sheep - don't blindly believe what you're told by politicians.

- Stacy

Here's the exchange (emphasis mine):

April 18, 1946:

"Why, of course, the people don't want war," Goering shrugged. "That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship."

"There is one difference," I pointed out. "In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars."

"Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

The new attack ad

2007-03-21T01:16:00.000-06:00

If you think that Big Brother is a reality show, just move on now.

However, for those of you who know 1984, check out the recently released attack ad against Hillary Clinton.

Here's the original Mac ad from over two decades ago:

Do we buy Hillary as Big Brother, the voice of 'mindless conformity'?

I don't.

Yet, is the ad effective? Has it, by now, already been seen by tens of millions of Americans? Even if they don't get the reference, mustn't we concede that they may perhaps be influenced by ads like this?

Yes.

The individual responsible for this ad has yet to come forward. How it can't be tracked, I don't know. I'd imagine the ties to Barack's campaign are closer than he'd like to let on - I hope not, but we'll see. It'll come out.

This is the future of attack ads - and, daisies aside (if you actually get the daisy reference, I admire you...most won't) the new attack ads are proving to be more captivating than ever.

We're in for one hell of an election season...

The woman we'll hate no matter what

2007-03-18T21:49:00.000-06:00

Hillary Clinton is doomed...and it's all our fault.

Our country seems desperate not for strong leadership, but for more of the same - someone “just like us.” On March fourteenth, the New York Times published The Really Real Hillary, a piece in which guest columnist Judith Warner attempts to analyze Senator Clinton's perceived shortcomings as a woman and the uphill battle she faces in appealing to the American public. Ms. Warner quotes Emily’s List president and founder Ellen Malcolm as saying that Hillary “will be a president of the United States who is like us,” a sentiment shared by literally tens of Americans. Though she attempts to skewer this notion, the fact that Ms. Warner and others continue to focus on likeability over competence only furthers to cement the likeability issue as one of prominent importance in the minds of American voters.

Listen up, people: you’re never going to have a Busch with Bush or a Corona with Clinton. Rudy Giuliani, Barack Obama and John McCain have no idea who you are, and they never will. Get over it. We aren’t electing our new best friend, but rather the person who is most qualified to lead our great country for the next four years.

Senator Clinton will continue to take considerable heat for not being the 'everywoman' as long as Americans are threatened by her...in other words, permanently. Here is a woman who has achieved goals greater than most of us will ever reach, and that just doesn’t make us feel good about our own accomplishments. On some level, we don’t feel the need to 'compete' with John McCain or Barack Obama because there is still a lingering sentiment that some men are, if not predestined, at least hormonally equipped for extraordinary success. But how did Senator Clinton get to where she is now? Did she actually work harder than the rest of us? Did she sacrifice more? Is she - gasp - really smarter than we are?

It’s quite interesting to consider just how the Senator Clinton has been framed in the media. Like most Americans, I expected that a woman running for office would be subjected to criticism regarding her emotions: the old “she‘ll lose it once a month” crap. Uncontrolled emotions, though, aren’t something Senator Clinton is famous for (alleged lamp hurling aside…justified, if you ask me), and so our criticism must be redirected. We instead criticize her for being cold, heartless, and unable to connect with the soccer moms across the country. We say we want our nation’s president to be a strong, secure individual, yet it is those very things for which Senator Clinton comes under fire; I doubt that she’ll ever be able to live up to the image we project on her.

The issue of the double-bind isn’t new to Senator Clinton. In a 1995 interview with the Houston Chronicle, the then first lady admitted that she’d “come to accept the fact that it’s an inevitable double bind…no matter what I do…you’re bound to be criticized if you don’t fit some category, a stereotype that people wish to impose on you.” Sadly, twelve years later, she continues to struggle with the same problem. To be relatable, she must find the balance between being a woman and being a viable candidate for the highest office in the United States. In essence, she needs to appeal to a country of people who have already decided that they don't like her - personally.

The bottom line is that women who have achieved great success are held to a much higher level of personal accountability than are men with similar achievements. I really don’t know how Senator Clinton manages to keep it all in…I can only imagine the brief satisfaction that would be felt by yelling out, “You know what? I deserve what I’ve earned. I’ve worked harder, sacrificed more, achieved a level of greatness that most of you will never know…and guess what - I’m just plain smarter than you.” Luckily, Senator Clinton is far more restrained (and mature) than I.

In the end, smarts don’t seem to matter much when it comes to winning over the American public…maybe Hillary can have another cookie bakeoff instead. We’d eat that up.

Cheney's Spirit of Strom Thurmond

2007-03-04T12:03:00.000-07:00

Even death can't keep Strom Thurmond out of the news.

The former Republican Senator from South Carolina, a prominent opponent of desegregation and co-author of the Southern Manifesto, has been resurrected through reports detailing the shameful slave ownership of his ancestors.

While it's not news that the family once owned slaves, recent reports
tying a prominent African-American spiritual leader and social activist to the Thurmond family have given a face to what is terribly difficult for those of us never affected by the times to imagine. On February 25th, it was reported that Reverend Al Sharpton is a descendant of slaves owned by the Thurmond family, a revelation Reverend Sharpton referred to as “probably the most shocking thing in my life.”

Ahh, inequality in America. Due in part to Senator Barack Obama’s bid for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, the issue of race in America is clearly something we’ll be seeing more and more of in the months to come. In fact, even the accomplishments of Senator Obama are being overshadowed by a study indicating that his paternal ancestors were likely slave owners themselves. Receiving much less media attention is the fact that the same study also shows that Republican Senator John McCain and former Democratic Senator John Edwards, both 2008 Presidential hopefuls, are also descendants of slave owners.

Having owned slaves in any capacity is reprehensible; on this all civilized Americans will agree. Still, why the nearly exclusive focus on Senator Obama? The criticism leveled against Senator Obama is not only a smear campaign against an African-American who has an excellent shot of becoming America's first African-American president, but is also a way to lessen the guilt many whites feel about their own ancestral history. The fact that an African-American has ties not to slaves, but to slave owners, makes for a juicy soundbite. The “liberal media” needs to take a page from the Obama playbook and highlight the fact that while Obama’s paternal ancestors were far from perfect, they also broke the chain of racism in their own home, eventually raising a son who met, fell in love with and married a Kenyan student who would eventually go on to mother Senator Obama, a man who may well be President of the United States.

Any why, liberal media, with all the attention surrounding slave ownership, segregation and Strom Thurmond haven’t you been showing this picture?

That’s right, Vice President Dick Cheney chose to fly around the middle east in The Spirit of Strom Thurmond, a C-17 Globemaster that has been in use by the United States Air Force since 2002. How much common sense must one possess to demand, oh, I don't know - ANYTHING BUT THAT? I guess The Passion of James Earl Ray wasn't available.

Apparently Dick felt that The Spirit of Strom Thurmond would be less recognizable to terrorists than would Air Force Two. While this choice is clearly pathetic, it’s also unforgivable considering that this is the same politician who tries to convince the nation that any criticism of the ongoing war in Iraq “hurts our troops.” I’m supposed to believe that a man who would agree to fly in The Spirit of Strom Thurmond actually cares about the feelings of his fellow Americans? How must the thousands of African-Americans serving this country in Iraq feel about the fact that our nation’s second in command sees nothing wrong with flying in a plane named for a racist man who felt that blacks and whites were not to stand side by side?

What is wrong with our “liberal” media? A disgraceful action like this, had it been committed by a member of the Democratic party, would have been covered to no end in the form of talking points by every prominent pundit for the Republican party. Republicans are genius when it comes to talking points: they realize that you can’t get the base fired up over twelve different things every day, so they all work together, focusing entirely the same preselected points. This works not only to ensure that their issue-of-the-day will stay at the forefront, but also cements these preselected "outrages" in the minds of the Republican base. That kind of communication collaboration is brilliant, and speakers for the Democratic party would be well advised to get on board with the tactic.

The fact that Cheney sees nothing wrong with tooling around in The Spirit of Strom Thurmond further proves that there is no mainstream "liberal" media. Had Cheney actually thought otherwise, he never would have flown in a plane bearing such an offensive name. He was able to do so because he knew that his actions would receive minimal coverage from the mainstream media.

Democrats, it's up to us. We need to get on message - a shared message- and expose the current Republican leadership, and those who support it, as the pathetic, power-crazed egomaniacs that they are.

Hillary vs. Barack! That goes above the fold, right?

2007-02-21T18:12:00.000-07:00

“Wait until you hear the red-hot remarks that set this grudge match in motion!”
Hey, Blitzer, that sounds bad! What’s the story?
Actually, not much. In announcing his support for Senator Barack Obama's bid for the White House, Hollywood music and movie mogul David Geffen leveled some criticism against Senator Hillary Clinton, the current frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. In an
interview with New York Times Op-Ed columnist Maureen Dowd, Geffen made some thoughtless, but accurate, comments about the New York Senator:
“I don’t think that another incredibly polarizing figure, no matter how smart she is and no matter how ambitious she is — and God knows, is there anybody more ambitious than Hillary Clinton? — can bring the country together.”
That bastard! He referred to Senator Clinton as polarizing, smart and ambitious?!? Wait a minute...I guess I don't really have an argument there. Like it or not, Senator Clinton is polarizing. People don’t like her for a myriad of reasons: her initial support for the war, the failed health care proposal under her husband‘s presidency, and her seeming inability to connect with mainstream America just to name a few. There are so many reasons people don’t care for Hillary that it isn’t even necessary to point out the two main factors: she’s a Clinton, and she’s female. The second "criticism", that Senator Clinton is ambitious, is also right on the money. My only problem here is the implicit notion that it’s unacceptable because she’s a woman. I mean, is she any more ambitious (or, shall we say, audacious) than a freshman senator who has decided that he's qualified to run for President of the Untied States? Obviously not.
So, Geffen no longer supports the Clinton dynasty and feels that Hillary herself is a polarizing, ambitious figure - he’s certainly not alone there. The comment wasn’t particularly well thought out, but it was (I assume) his honest opinion. Sadly, over the course of the day the media's framing of the issue shifted. It moved from the simple comments of a Hollywood fundraiser to an all out war between Senators Obama and Clinton. Correctly recognizing an opportunity to play the victim, Senator Clinton issued a statement calling on Senator Obama to “cut ties” with Geffen and return the $2300 personal donation he had made to Senator Obama’s campaign after today’s “vicious attack.” That overblown statement was jumped on by the major news networks, prompting an entire evening’s worth of coverage pitting the candidates against each other.
True, we live in a country where more people watched American Idol than the President’s State of the Union address, so maybe most of us shouldn’t exactly be expecting more. But, for those of us who do make the effort to stay informed, isn't it only reasonable that we can expect the information we’re offered on the news to be of a higher standard? Central to the day's coverage has been the news media's hypocritical calls on the candidates to act professionally and respectfully. CNN - I humbly request that you do the same.

Steve Doocy Hates America

2007-02-07T18:15:00.000-07:00

Choose or Lose. Vote or DIE.

Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t help thinking that it’s a bit dangerous to coin catchy phrases for something as important as the presidential election. Low voter turnout isn't the problem -- the problem is our incredibly uninformed electorate. We know we should watch the news, or better yet, pick up a newspaper, and yet so many of us choose not to. Why?

It seems pretty obvious that, in the age of 24-hour coverage, the quality of what we’re fed has been reduced dramatically. The competition felt by networks, cable or otherwise, drives them to cover fluff just to keep us rooted to the couch. And if it’s not a teaser about Brangelina (What's Jen pissed about now!?! I have to know!), it’s fear, fear, fear. Have you ever paid attention to the CNN voice over that runs about eight thousand times a day? “Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.” Really? Day and night? If I turn it off, I won’t be safe? I mean, (GOB Bluth style), COME ON!!!

The news networks all rely on this kind of threat to ensure that we’ll keep watching, keep soaking it all in, without really learning anything…how can we get so little information from 24 hour news? Even when the programming attempts to be serious, the "experts" invited to participate can’t stop yelling at each other long enough to make an intelligent point about anything. And then there’s the permanent “talent.” Larry King, perhaps the most recognizable face on CNN, devotes entire hours to Miss USA or American Idol, certainly not prime time news worthy topics. And then there's Paula Zahn, a reactionary who manages to use the word “tolerance” about three hundred times per show while at the same time being rude to any guest who's on whatever side she’s currently pretending to be against. And don’t even get me started on the Fox News Channel. I mean, here’s a network where misinformation is news. Consider, for example, Fox and Friends co-host Steve Doocy’s gleeful squealing about the “report” that Barack Obama had attended a Madrassa when he was younger…too bad that report wasn’t true. Doocy later
"apologized" for his incompetance on air, noting that Obama’s camp denied reports that the presidential hopeful had ever attended a Madrassa. Doocy noted that he and the others at Fox and Friends felt the need to “[put] that out there.” Of course, the quiet apology won’t resonate in quite the same way as will Doocy's implicit suggestion that Obama has a background in Islamic extremism...but I'm sure that wasn't intentional. Sadly, the Fox network misinforms viewers on such a regular basis that this most recent "lapse in judgment" comes as no surprise.

Clearly I’m not the only American frustrated with what’s on the news these days. Less than ten percent of the American public watches any major network news broadcast, and even fewer watch pundits like Bill O’Reilly or Larry King. Sounds like that’s really not such a bad thing. Luckily, most major newspapers - including two of our nation's most respected publications, The Washington Post and The New York Times - offer the vast majority of their content online, free of charge. Good information is out there, but we as citizens have to make an effort to find it if we want to be active participants in the political world. Watching Larry King Live, The O’Reilly Factor or even (my favorite) The Daily Show doesn’t make you an informed citizen, and that’s not news.

There are, of course, exceptions to the rule. I get more substantive information fr om Jim Lehrer, who hosts The NewsHour on PBS, in one sitting that I could from CNN or FNC in an entire day…maybe because Mr. Lehrer can actually tolerate talking about an issue for more than thirty seconds. You know what's strange about Mr. Lehrer? He manages to get his point across without yelling…he doesn’t even resort to insulting his guests (and, ultimately, his viewing audience). He covers the most important issues of the day with dignity and intelligence. We could all use a little more Lehrer. He’s a strange man…I feel something for him. Respect? I think it just might be.