You know what really gets my goat? People riding bicycles against traffic. I encountered such a person on my drive to work this morning. Now, the people I've seen do this aren't really the hardcore cyclist. In fact, they usually seem like they don't really know why they're on a bicycle in the first place, though it probably has to do multiple DUI charges. Thus, not only is there a bike coming towards you on a busy city street, but the person does that pseudo-slalom move, since people who haven't ridden a bike in 30 years have trouble going straight.
I'm not really sure what makes someone think riding against traffic on a bike is somehow a good idea, when driving a car against traffic (which, by the way, I also witnessed today)is generally a sign of mental defeciency. Most of the time I'd be the one to say that motorists' behavior around cyclists needs to be better enforced, but in this instance the person on that bike should have been slapped with a big ol' fine.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Thursday, February 23, 2006
dan savage strikes again
Just as the common noun definition of "Santorum" gets press for being mentioned in "The Economist" (albeit in fantastically prudish fashion), Dan Savage takes another stab at repurposing the name of a politician.
From this week's column:
Confidential to everybody: "Pearl necklace" is out. "Cheney" is in. Pass it on.
I like it. Both a nod to the conservative lady's preferred accessory and Cheney's recent "neck spraying."
Re: the phrase "pearl necklace," how did the ZZ Top song of the same name ever get past the FCC?
From this week's column:
Confidential to everybody: "Pearl necklace" is out. "Cheney" is in. Pass it on.
I like it. Both a nod to the conservative lady's preferred accessory and Cheney's recent "neck spraying."
Re: the phrase "pearl necklace," how did the ZZ Top song of the same name ever get past the FCC?
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
a good cranky rant
I am cranky this morning.
For one, I am poor. This isn't usually the case, but I stupidly spent over my budget the last two weeks, and consequently I had to delay paying a big bill until this next paycheck, out of which I also have to pay rent. The result is a depressingly small amount left in my checking account until payday next friday, which I am trying to budget the maximum entertainment (i.e., beer) I can afford and still be able to eat meals that contain protein and vegetables for the next ten days.
Also, I'm really sleepy. Usually, anything more than 8 hours of sleep makes me feel more groggy than rested. For the last week or so, however, my body seems to be demanding something around 9 hours of sleep. And I'm not so much a snooze-hitter as I am a go-back-to-sleep-while-the-alarm-is-still-playing person, which means I've been getting out of bed an average of 9 minutes before I'm supposed to leave for work.
Once I get to work, I'm still falling asleep at my desk, so I go for some of the complimentary office coffee. The office coffee is utter shite. I mean, it's amazing that 300 people drink this crap every day without rioting. I wish American coffee companies would take a hint from the French and at least burn the cheap ass beans they use until you can no longer taste their inherent, terrible flavor.
Oh, and then there's this.
For one, I am poor. This isn't usually the case, but I stupidly spent over my budget the last two weeks, and consequently I had to delay paying a big bill until this next paycheck, out of which I also have to pay rent. The result is a depressingly small amount left in my checking account until payday next friday, which I am trying to budget the maximum entertainment (i.e., beer) I can afford and still be able to eat meals that contain protein and vegetables for the next ten days.
Also, I'm really sleepy. Usually, anything more than 8 hours of sleep makes me feel more groggy than rested. For the last week or so, however, my body seems to be demanding something around 9 hours of sleep. And I'm not so much a snooze-hitter as I am a go-back-to-sleep-while-the-alarm-is-still-playing person, which means I've been getting out of bed an average of 9 minutes before I'm supposed to leave for work.
Once I get to work, I'm still falling asleep at my desk, so I go for some of the complimentary office coffee. The office coffee is utter shite. I mean, it's amazing that 300 people drink this crap every day without rioting. I wish American coffee companies would take a hint from the French and at least burn the cheap ass beans they use until you can no longer taste their inherent, terrible flavor.
Oh, and then there's this.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
recent events
This past weekend Dick and I took a trip to Baltimore City.
Q: Business or pleasure?
A: A little bit of both.
Dick was conferencing while I spent some time furthering my quest to ensure that my future involves even greater poverty than my present, i.e., selecting MFA (that's Mother Fucking Arts) programs to which I would like to apply. Apparently, I come across as even more square on first impression than I initially thought. The faculty dude I met with, after 30 minutes or so of discussion, asked me earnestly, "Are you sure you'll like being at art school? There are a lot of weird people around here."
Now, in my estimation, the top three weirdest people out there are a) fundamentalists christians, b) swingers, and c) carnies. I think if I ever met a fundamentalist christian carnie swinger my head would explode, and the more I think about the more likely it seems that people like this exist. They probably live in the midwest. This is one reason I never go to the midwest.
My point is, art school kids are a lot more annoying than they are weird. And since when was artistic talent or merit indicated by how wacky you seem to be after half an hour? Anyway, I don't really blame the guy, as in interview situations I tend to revert to stick-up-the-ass prude-woman behavior that I learned from my uptight parents. I remember when I was interviewing at colleges the admissions officer at Bard reacted the same way to me.
Q: Business or pleasure?
A: A little bit of both.
Dick was conferencing while I spent some time furthering my quest to ensure that my future involves even greater poverty than my present, i.e., selecting MFA (that's Mother Fucking Arts) programs to which I would like to apply. Apparently, I come across as even more square on first impression than I initially thought. The faculty dude I met with, after 30 minutes or so of discussion, asked me earnestly, "Are you sure you'll like being at art school? There are a lot of weird people around here."
Now, in my estimation, the top three weirdest people out there are a) fundamentalists christians, b) swingers, and c) carnies. I think if I ever met a fundamentalist christian carnie swinger my head would explode, and the more I think about the more likely it seems that people like this exist. They probably live in the midwest. This is one reason I never go to the midwest.
My point is, art school kids are a lot more annoying than they are weird. And since when was artistic talent or merit indicated by how wacky you seem to be after half an hour? Anyway, I don't really blame the guy, as in interview situations I tend to revert to stick-up-the-ass prude-woman behavior that I learned from my uptight parents. I remember when I was interviewing at colleges the admissions officer at Bard reacted the same way to me.
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