Hotel Green pours on `Soho Chic'

Hotel Green brings `Soho Chic' to land of Nantucket Red - ExploreNewEngland.com

I love small business and I really like interesting new ideas. I think that Vanessa Noel is on the right track here with Hotel Green.

I saw her featured in a Travel & Leisure article, and the article gave a web page address, so I decided to go and see what Hotel Green was about. I was a little concerned when her URL was http://vanessanoelhotelgreen.com, thinking it was too big and her name was sort of pointless for a web site address. When the website came up it was one page, with one picture of the side of the building, and a phone number below that. That was all. I was shocked that her web site was SO BAD. That is not going to land any more customers; a site that lame actually will drive people to click off and look at other sites. So I searched around the net some more and found the article above. It was complimentary...to a point. I loved this:

Although the staff is friendly and helpful, Hotel Green does seem to emit a particular brand of if-you-have-to-ask-you-shouldn't-be-here clubbiness that is the essence of certain New York neighborhoods. And yes, there is a charge for the items in the basket.

There is no identifiable concierge who mentions that ``breakfast is served from 7 to 9," or offers to make you a dinner reservation. ``Does the Vanno Bar serve dinner? " you finally ask a staff member. ``Only caviar," is the answer. ``And gravlax."

I then immediately understood that I'm not in the right tax bracket to fully appreciate Hotel Green's offerings. In fact, not many people are. So my questions is...why even have a web site, especially one that sucks ass? So people can find your phone number? I suppose that that's a good enough reason as any. They wouldn't want the NY Chic set to misplace their phone number, especially since that is the only clientele that Hotel Green cares to serve.

Gozales v. Federal Courts

Gonzales cautions judges on interfering - Yahoo! News

Aren't judges supposed to judge cases according to their own experience and background, as well as legal precedents? Isn't that why they are judges in the first place?

This article disgusts me--especially this part:

The attorney general did not refer to any specific case or decision but only to wartime, military and foreign affairs cases in general.

So he didn't even give an example of what he meant...only an admonition for courts to do the president's bidding, and stop making his job harder by actually hearing these cases. Creepy.

Craigslist: Love 'em!

Craigslist founder says he won't cash in -- Reuters.com

I love this!

"Who needs the money? We don't really care," Craig Newmark said in an interview at the Picnic '06 Cross Media Week conference here.

"If you're living comfortably, what's the point of having more?" Newmark said.

News Corp.: Today's Worst People in the World

Threatening letter sent to Olbermann no joke - Countdown with Keith Olbermann - MSNBC.com

In case you need clarification of Keith's comments, here is what was printed in the News Corp.-owned NY Post:

Keith Olbermann flipped out when he opened his home mail yesterday. The acerbic host of "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" was terrified when he opened a suspicious-looking letter with a California postmark and a batch of white powder poured out. A note inside warned Olbermann, who’s a frequent critic of President Bush’s policies, that it was payback for some of his on-air shtick. The caustic commentator panicked and frantically called 911 at about 12:30 a.m., sources told The Post’s Philip Messing. An NYPD HazMat unit rushed to Olbermann’s pad on Central Park South, but preliminary tests indicated the substance was harmless soap powder. However, that wasn’t enough to satisfy Olbermann, who insisted on a checkup. He asked to be taken to St. Luke’s Hospital, where doctors looked him over and sent him home. Whether they gave him a lollipop on the way out isn’t known. Olbermann had no comment.

Unbelievably wrong. Despicable, in fact.

If I lived in NY I wouldn't buy the Post ever again. You can believe that if O'Reilly or Hannity received a powdery letter that it would have been front page, serious news. But Olbermann? His story sits on Page Six, the Post's fluff page for celebrity sightings and gossip. This is not appropriate for a story of this nature, and neither is the tone of this piece, the catty asides, or the lollypop comment. And according to Olbermann himself, the FBI really wanted some quiet on this story. How the Post even found out about it is questionabe--even Olbermann thinks so.

The Post needs to print an apology, IMMEDIATELY, and also state that they in no way condone terrorism in any form, psychological or physical. The Post could also be in trouble from the FBI for printing anything at all...but we'll see if the FBI is serious as this story unfolds. I would guess (I hope) that they have been to the Post's offices and interviewed a few people by now. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall for that!

I hope Keith keeps us updated on this as much as he can.

MySpace & voters.

MySpace launches voter-registration plan - Yahoo! News

Look...if this effort by MySpace.com is to sign up its users to vote, then I'm really afraid. Seriously. Just go and look at any MySpace page and you'll be immediately disgusted if you prefer decent web page formatting and design, the proper use of English, or meeting people with an IQ over 90. If anyone that actually uses MySpace has a clue about issues, candidates, or the government that would indicate that they are an informed voter, then they are in the teeny-tiny minority.

MySpace.com is a perfect cesspool of almost everything that is wrong with the internet; it's like a 7th grade boy's idea of how the internet should work. I don't get it, I absolutely despise having to go and look at anything that might be on a MySpace page, and I am always disappointed. I was shocked to see that Michiu Kaku had a MySpace page. Of course, it sucked. And I love Michiu Kaku (he's a theoretical physicist that is interviewed often because he makes physics easy to understand).

Maybe I'm an e-snob. Ok, fine. I have standards when I have time to hang out on the internet. But maybe it goes deeper than that. MySpace.com was recently purchased by News Corp. That's right...they are the same idiots that own Fox News. Need I say more? I do my best to avoid giving any money or time to any News Corp. media outlet. So it makes complete sense to me that MySpace is for those less blessed with intelligence and junior-high kids since Fox News is always pandering to lowest common IQ.

Iraq War makes terrorism worse.

Leaked intelligence report rocks Bush election stance - Yahoo! News

"The report, Trends in Global Terrorism: Implications for the United States, says "the Iraq war has made the overall terrorism problem worse," an official familiar with the document told The Times.

"The Washington Post said the report described the Iraq conflict as the primary recruiting vehicle for violent Islamic extremists."

I had heard for years on political talk shows that the Iraq War made terrorism worse. I had believed it to be true, to be sure. Now our own intelligence agencies agree: terrorism is WORSE because of it! Will this hurt the GOP in November? Will people go to the polls and, zombie-like, keep voting for the same people?

My favorite definition of crazy is someone that keeps doing the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome. Do voters expect that congress will miraculously improve? That the national debt will go away? That the war will end? Voters awaken! I can't imagine why people aren't more amenable to voting congress-critters out of office on a regular basis. The country would be so much better for it.

Remember, change that is unknown is better than the crappy, same-thing-different-day known. Anything and anyone different in DC sure as heck couldn't be worse (crossing my fingers and knocking on wood here).

New Orleans Dome Party

New Orleans proudly gets ready to host a huge party at the Dome

I don't watch football. I don't like it very much, at all. In fact, I'd rather do anything than actually watch a football game. ANYTHING. My in-laws are huge football fans, and I have been privy to college bowl game tickets in my recent past. The games I actually saw in person were much more fun than the corporate commercial orgy that viewers are subjected to while watching a game on television. I was very impressed with Texas A & M's marching band--WOW! They are fantastic!

Regardless of my great dislike for this great American past time (ugh--it pains me to even think that, let alone type it...the "great American past time" part, that is), I am not one to say anything bad about a reason to feel happy in New Orleans these days, and the Saints returning to the Superdome could be one of the happiest post-Katrina moments ever, if not THE happiest.

I heard that the St. Charles streetcar line will be running by the end of the year as well. While we were there in July, city crews were tearing down the old lines and poles and installing new ones, but we saw no St. Charles cars on the line. They were still being used on the Canal Street line, biding their time. This will no doubt be a happy moment for the city as well, and I think I might be present to participate in this one as we will be living right on St. Charles. New Orleans is a party town and no event is too small a reason for a party. I'm sure the streetcars' return to St. Charles will be a major event. I can't wait!

I wish the Saints well, and I hope that their fans may also have a win to celebrate on Monday night. But I won't watch the game...because I don't watch football.

Starbucks needs more "bucks"

Starbucks raises prices of coffee drinks

As much as economists don't want to admit it, I believe that inflation is happening. I noticed it last year while I was grocery shopping. It seemed that prices had gone up within three months' time by 20% for some items. I was shocked. But then I thought about gas prices and over-the-road truckers and what they must have to charge to provide their services, and of course the prices would have gone up. But every time I read something from the government regarding "economic indicators" and the "strong economy," they seem to always qualify their numbers by saying "not including food and energy costs." And I always roll my eyes and cackle.

Food and energy costs are ALWAYS a huge part of the economy. Starbuck's probably had to raise their prices because the stores that they have in the out-of-the-way spots are not making a profit due to transportation costs to get the coffee, baked goods, and other store goodies to them. And who knows what kind of operating costs any average Starbuck's store might have, like paying your peeps and paying the light bills. You have to sell a lot of coffee to cover that stuff alone, let alone the trucking bill to get the official "Starbuck's" stuff to the store. Notice how the article didn't mention if prices were going up on their food items. I would bet those prices are going up even more than the coffee.

Is inflation here? Some would say no, but I would assume that they aren't the kind of person that has to shop at Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart's numbers have been down since gas prices have been up. And although gas prices are starting to come down, people aren't doing the impluse-buys like they used to, especially poorer people. They have to buy gas instead of that silly plastic thingy at Wal-Mart. So for them, inflation IS here.

Fasten your seatbelts...the next few years are going to be a bumpy ride for almost everyone that isn't on the Forbes Billionaire list.

California sues car makers

California sues car groups over emissions - MSNBC.com

"California on Wednesday launched an unusual legal offensive against six of the world's biggest carmakers over the greenhouse gases emitted by their vehicles.

"The lawsuit seeks to hold the carmakers responsible for the effects of global warming in the largest state in the US. These include beach erosion, a reduction in the snow pack on which California relies for much of its water, and heightened risk of wildfires."

Really? Is a judge really going to hear this case? Or will it be thrown out on lack of evidence? Because last I heard, nobody really knows what causes global warming, exactly. Why wouldn't California also be suing second/third-world countries like China and India that dump tons of carbon waste into to atmosphere as well?

Good going California. Way to kick a dog when it's down already (with Ford and GM practically going out of business) AND waste your taxpayer's dollars. Instead of providing usable public transportation and creating incentives for citizens to use public transportation, you build massive freeways that support the auto industry, then you sue them for pollution, even after demanding emissions inspections for autos. Wacky!

This case is weak weak weak, and so typically "Californian" somehow. Instead of doing something positive and being a beacon for other states to look to, they are pointing fingers and crying. They helped create this mess by building twelve-lane freeways! In my view, the State of California is just a guilty as the car makers.

Christians and Business

ABC News: Christian Businesses Making a Profit While Saving Souls

Would you shop or patronize a business that boasted that they are Christian? What if the business owner was Moslem or Jewish and made that very clear as part of their advertising? It wouldn't work in the USA, that's for sure.

I disagree with this for several reasons. I personally would not make my Christianity a part of my business marketing plan. I would, however, let my personal, private, Christian principals guide my business decisions.

I recall that Jesus discussed how you ought to go into your room and talk with God in that way...the whole "don't let your right hand know what your left hand is doing" thing. Jesus also talked about the man that stood on the street corner, making a big show out of his faith and how displeasing that was to God. Since I follow his teachings, I take Jesus at his word on this issue. Be good, do good, and don't flaunt your faith to manipulate what people think about you.

I am creeped out by using your religion to get more people to come to your business...unless of course your business is overtly religious, like an altar supply warehouse. The bottom line for me? I would probably not patronize a "Christian" advertised business unless they really had something I wanted, because people that flaunt their "Christianity" often times are the most troubled and flawed people I have ever met. No kidding. They usually need the most forgiveness because they have done unto others, all right...then split.

Avast!

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Aye, maties! Shiver me timbers! Ahoy! Arrr!

More Grand Staircase stuff

Grand Staircase born amid controversy -- deseretnews.com

President Clinton ten years ago today, signing the proclamation that would change my life.

This article has all kinds of quotations and opinions from all kinds of people. I know about half of the people that were quoted. This is what you live with if you come here to work with the monument. I wouldn't say that the locals are completely bitter; they've mellowed actually, if you can believe it! Really, it has been an interesting six years here. I'm glad I did it. The socio-political climate will only get better as time goes on, because it has improved vastly since 2000.

As much as I like Mr. Ramsay personally, I completely disagree with his assessment of the monument. But that's okay...he can miss out on the economic boon to his county by burying his head in the sand and wishing for the old coal-mining days...god knows I sure would have wanted my kids to work in a coal mine. Not.

Marietta Eaton is a gem, and a genuinely kind and thoughtful person. The monument is lucky to have her in upper management. She's also incredibly smart. The science being studied here really does matter, and Marietta is passionate about that. She's very cool.

I predict that in ten more years, everyone will be glad the monument is here. It may even be a national park by then...who knows?

N.O. crime

Top La. figures discuss N.O. crime

When I was in New Orleans in July, the cops were everywhere. EVERYWHERE. Everywhere you went, you'd see a cop car. You'd see cops in parking lots, cops on horses on Bourbon Street, cops at McDonalds, cops at Lowe's. The place was crawling with cops.

So I must admit that I am a bit perplexed that the crime rate per capita has not really changed since people started coming back to New Orleans, especially since the police presence was so intense to us country folk, anyway. And now the National Guard will stay until December. That's probably a good idea. I was glad the Guard was around last December, and I found it comforting in a few instances, especially in parking lots after dark.

I have a theory, and maybe I'm wrong. I live in the middle of nowhere so what do I know, anyway? But here is my thought: The thugs and criminals are not afraid of, or concerned about being caught by, the police. They are thumbing their noses right at the police by continuing with their criminal activity. It stands to reason that New Orleans criminals, therefore, are really hard core, some of the worst people roaming free in the United States, like the Cowboy gang that terrorized Tombstone, Arizona, in Wyatt Earp's day. Not only that, they're hopped up on drugs, stressing out from last year's miseries, and either paranoid or completely hopeless. It's a bad mix when you throw in guns.

Maybe the Guard should stay through Mardi Gras 2007.

Something else that I got from this story was that this "crime summit" was a public meeting. I could have gone if I was in the city. I will go to public meetings when I'm there. If I learned anything from living in a really small town, it's that local government truly is in your hands. Go to city council meetings, get educated about the issues, and voice your concerns and opinions. At the least, public meetings are really entertaining...better than football, even. But that's my opinion.

Don't be afraid.

Princeton Prof Hacks E-Vote Machine - Forbes.com

Researchers reveal 'extremely serious' vulnerabilities in e-voting machines

Where democracy goes to Diebold

Be angry and do something to secure your vote.

Think about what your vote really is for just a minute. It is the reflection of your values, your beliefs. You are giving your trust to a candidate, or changing or adding a law, or choosing a judge, or a sheriff. And if someone can change your vote, then you are being robbed. Violated. Enslaved. You are living in a dictatorship if your vote doesn't count.

If this story doesn't trouble voters, then I have lost all hope for the future of America. Last year I wrote about e-voting machines and how scary I thought they were. Does anybody else feel like this? Am I alone? Am I on some surreal island that is supposed to be the United States, but not really?

God help us.

Grand Staircase-Escalante turns 10

Controversial Monument Turns 10, Locals Change Their Tune

Well, what wishful thinking.

See the picture on the left? This is a road out on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument that Kane County decided they wanted to control, so they put up their own sign, right next to the federal sign. This particular case is now in federal court. I hope the hammer comes down HARD on Kane County. They want control (and by extension, maintenance responsibility) of these crummy roads. As far as I'm concerned, if Kane County actually took care of the roads they wanted to keep I might be more inclined to be on their side. Since they never come here and actually grate the roads in their county, I say the government can have them. I don't think people realize how crazy this is. This would be like me putting up my own road signs on the monument. And I would be in JAIL, unlike the Kane County Commissioners.

The Kane and Garfield County, Utah, commissioners were still trying to find ways earlier this year to overturn the monument. They were wasting taxpayer money on lawyers instead of seeing an opportunity to build infrastucture and take financial advantage of tourists, who are generally happy people willing to give you money for decent services and food. Locals in my town still hate the monument. They don't see the opportunity in a well-planned tourism economy, and they are already losing out while all the new people are making the big money.

We heard a rumor that Governor Huntsman came here this spring and did a bicycle tour of the area. After seeing its incredible beauty, apparently he put the word out that he could not support the county lawsuits because the area is worth protecting and promoting as a tourism destination.

The Monument has been a boon to my personal economic success and I am cashing out of Utah a heck of a lot wealthier than when I came here. Of course I had to live here for six years and pioneer a business from the ground up, but I'll be paid well for my time and efforts. Plus, I got to go hiking in the most beautiful part of the Southwest.

So thank you President Clinton for creating an opportunity for me to start my own business and for creating a reason for area real estate to appreciate in value. The monument designations were among the best things you did in office, and none was more important than Grand Staircase-Escalante.

List of acceptable emblems for VA-furnished grave markers.

Veteran's Affairs list of approved headstone symbols

After the Wicca symbol story below, I was curious about what "emblems of belief" that were allowed on VA-furnished headstones, so I went to the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs web site to find out. It was really interesting, I thought, that the Mormons had their own symbol apart from everyone else's, as did Lutherans and Episcopalians. The Catholics don't really have their own symbol. But Athiests DO have their own symbol! It's not even a religion...crazy!

If the government provides these symbols for these religions, then they cannot cherry-pick and choose which religions they would deny. It's totally unfair.

Some might argue that the government shouldn't be in the headstone business anyway. I wish that they were not for many reasons...but it is the least of a benefit they can provide for the the ultimate job duty.

Happy Halloween!

Grace Is Unapologetic About Interview: TVNewser

Fall is approaching and I always have an eye towards Halloween parties and what kind of costume I will concoct. I think I might go as Nancy Grace. Just look at that picture! Seriously, Nancy Grace is turning into a complete caricature of herself and it's scary. Really. Truly. Scary. She's scary. Just read the link above--then put it all together with the beyond-smug exression she has in the screen shot pic. She's almost too evil to recreate as a Halloween costume, actually. I might have to rethink this...

Wicca not recognized by VA

Wiccan sign allowed on soldier's plaque

Excuse me.

I thought this was the land of the free. If this guy was a Wiccan, and his wife wants to place a pentagram on his headstone, and he DIED working for the USA, then by goddess it should be done. This is absolutely absurd:

Sgt. Patrick Stewart, 34, was killed in Afghanistan last September when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his helicopter. Four others also died. Stewart was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

He was a follower of the Wiccan religion, which the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does not recognize and therefore prohibits on veterans' headstones in national cemeteries.

I am not Wiccan, but as a believer in freedom of religion, this family has every right, EVERY RIGHT, to be placing any darn thing they want on his headstone, and it looks like the state of Nevada agrees with me on that.

I would love to see an interview with some VA worm trying to explain why Wiccan symbolism isn't allowed. Now I wonder what else is or isn't acceptable as religious iconography on veterans' headstones.

It bears reposting...

Save MSNBC (Ch 130) on XM Satellite Radio

If you have an XM Radio and you are pissed off that they dropped MSNBC, sign this petition and start emailing and calling XM. They said they "might" put it back on their line up if the groundswell of subscribers was noisy enough.

I went to XM's web site to lodge an e-complaint, and I immediately got this crummy form e-mail back. Check out the shitty sentence plug-in:

Dear Subscriber,

Thank you for contacting XM Satellite Radio. In response to your email; MSNBC ? XM 130 will no longer be part of the XM lineup beginning September 3rd. We apologize for the inconveniences that you will experience as a result of our programming changes. However, we offer other news channels that will help to meet your needs:

121 - FOX News Channel
122 - CNN 123 - CNN Headline News
124 - ABC News & Talk
126 - CNN Espanol
127 - CNBC
129 - Bloomberg Radio
131 - BBC World Service
132 - C-SPAN Radio
133 - XM Public Radio
244 - Canada 360 News & Information
245 - Quoi de Neuf? - News & Information (French)

We look forward to providing you with many more years of premium service though our dynamic channel line-up and programming.

Thank you,

Nadine
XM's Listener Care Email Team

You know what? None of the other channels offered "meet my needs." I'm calling XM tomorrow.

If Sirius picks up MSNBC I will consider buying a whole new radio and dropping XM. That's a fact.

Spirits in the Dark.

We are back from our spiritual journey...the three-day freak out, that is.

The Long Dance weekend was really informative. So many interesting things went on that it seemed like I was living within a well-crafted documentary at times.

Our arrival on Friday afternoon had been preceded by a soaking rain the night before. The mud was pretty intense, as were the thunder and lightning in the distance. We pitched our tent, then wandered around and helped with the rest of the setup, which included building a sweat lodge and a dance circle. Aside from one woman from Latin America (where exactly, I didn't know) who was a Native American, there were no other full-blooded Indians at this dance. Everyone else was a long-time student of a Native elder and they were in fact considered elders, even though they were white. This is a highly contentious issue with Native Americans right now, but if I get on this line of thought I won't have the post that needs to be written at this moment. So...

My European progenitors no doubt carried on with highly ritualistic gatherings and dances. Thinking about Celtic peoples doing the kinds of things that I did this weekend was not a reach, at all. Deep down, the human race is so similar on so many levels. That was one lesson I came away with from the gathering.

Another really important message that I got was that everyone matters. Everyone has greatness, and everyone has a chance to be a part of something wonderful, no matter how insignificant their part may be. You might just be the person that gets two of the right people together that do something great. You might save someone's life because of a decision you made years ago. You could write something that changes somebody's mind for the better. It makes no difference. If your intentions for living are honorable and good, YOU will be a part of good and honorable events and lives. No matter how insignificant you might feel, you are here for a reason.

I still can't answer why we're here at all, but I am hopeful that I may have grace enough at some point in my life to understand that someday.

My husband and I both danced. We didn't know if we would even earlier that day, but after experiencing the sweat lodge, it seemed natural to continue on. The dance started right at sunset. It was delightfully laid back, and the thunderstorms that built and skirted around the night sky were a perfect addition to the moon and stars. The sky was as big a part of the dance as the earth was--and even though we got tired and went to bed fairly early, the drumming and dancing continued until dawn. Our tent was down the hill a way, and it was like a muted lullaby in the distance.

Another thing I learned this weekend is if you love somebody, go and be a witness to their life. See what moves them, what gets their gears grinding, what makes them passionate. I am so happy that I got to see my friends doing what they love, and what they have loved for so long...their way of talking to God, their church. Seeing them, experiencing this with them, was a great good gift as one the last things we'll do in Utah.

I can say with certainty that I am not converted, but I was struck by the sincerity of the participants and their love of the Native Americans that had cared enough to teach them the dances and ceremonies--one of whom was a Hopi woman that spoke at the United Nations a few years ago. She has since passed away, but her love lives on with these people. My husband and I both would like to do it again, we're just not sure when we'll be able what with all the moving and last-minute business things going on in our lives. I would guess that we may never have this chance again, so I'm glad we took it. I'm glad we danced.

Sunday Morning Coming Down

My husband and I are preparing to visit a friend's church this weekend. This isn't your normal, ordinary, every-day church service.

No.

It's a three-day freak out in the desert with an emphasis on Native traditions and culture, culminating in a Circle Dance, or Long Dance, that will go on with drumming all night on Saturday and end around sunrise on Sunday morning. I am fascinated with this from a sociological point of view, because the people that will be at this gathering are white. Apparently native people have gathered with them in the past and taught them their ways and ceremonies; I will try to get to the bottom of this when we get out there and meet people, but I am fairly certain that the majority of these people will be white, if not all of them. I am also somewhat curious about their former religious affiliation, because my friends, and several of their fellow Long Dancers, are bitter ex-Mormons. We have charged up the cameras, we are packing our camping gear, and we're getting our menu together.

There will be a "burning" ceremony on the first night. Whatever that is, I am sure that it is somewhat comparable to Burning Man with less emphasis on the baccanal and more emphasis on the spiritual. I recently had an epiphany that Burning Man was more of a commoner's version of what goes on at Bohemian Grove with the rich and powerful--which is people dancing around in the woods, camping for a few nights, and burning effigies of the human form. Hey! Everyone does it--and as I recall there is also some kind of burning man ceremony in Santa Fe in July, I think. This "burning man" thing is a Native ceremony--I'll have to Wiki this (my favorite new past time...Wikipedia).

There will be various and sundry purification ceremonies, which include sweat lodges and swims in a nearby lake. Regardless of religion, I have always been curious about the sweat lodge traditions and I am pleased that I will be part of one finally. I helped cut the willow branches that will be used in the lodge construction and ceremony.

Then the dance, which I know nothing about, except that it goes on all night, and you move in a circle. My husband has not decided if he will participate in this aspect of the gathering, and the more I think on it, perhaps I would do well to find out more when I got there before committing to dance all night in something that may not be necessary or meaningful for me. That will be decided on location.

Then on Sunday there is a pot luck brunch and a "give-away," which is a gift exchange. There are no prohibitions on the gifts. It can be a ratty t-shirt or a $100 bill. If it's special to you, then it's all the more honorable for you to give it away.

We have always been curious to attend these dances, but our schedule has always stopped us; usually we're too busy to leave our store. Not so this time. Now that we are moving, we don't want to pass up this last chance to see just what in the heck our friends do at their "church." Plus, it's a great reason to go camping. I am not ruling out having a religious experience; however, I must add that I am more interested in this from a purely experiential point of view. It will be just one more crazy story to tell about that time that we lived in Utah...

The Borowitz Report is funny

CNN Switches to All-Polygamy Format

I was sort of hoping CNN would be switching to an "All-Anderson Cooper" format. CNN should just go for it--they are practically there already what with Coop getting two hours of air time every night.

Oh those blue eyes! And that "Reporter's Notebook."

*sigh*

He's just so...concerned about news. And about polygamists.

"Croc hunter" jealousy

"Croc hunter" was powerful voice for conservation

Steve Irwin was also an avid history buff, and I recall how much I enjoyed his mini-documentary on the WWII battlegrounds of the South Pacific. It was really very good. I also recall one of the very first articles that I read about him. It was in Outside or NG Adventure or some such glossy thing. The article itself was actually very pissy. The author interviewed a couple of PhD's in herpetology and some other fields, and basically they all had great disdain for Steve Irwin and his, shall we say, TV friendly ways of interacting with wild animals. I chalk it up to ... JEALOUSY. They were stuck behind a desk...Irwin was out there just "doing it." And as quoted from the article linked above:

His talents as an entertainer served the conservationists' cause well, said M. Sanjayan, lead scientist for The Nature Conservancy.

"I absolutely think he counts as a naturalist and he counts as a conservationist," Sanjayan said in a telephone interview. "And people who tell you otherwise are just simply jealous of the success he's had."

I also read a really creepy op-ed this morning that had me choking on my coffee, about how he had taunted animals and he finally got his just desserts. To be totally honest, I have to say that I think being taken down by a wild animal is an honorable way to die. He wasn't asking for it--he was just unlucky that day, that's all.

He'll be missed. I think he had an even bigger legacy to leave in television than most people consider; he was just getting started. I was glad to have also read this morning that he told a friend he had just had the best month of his life. You can't ask to go out better than that...in fact, most people die hopelessly unfulfilled.

I plan not to leave the planet unfulfilled, or under-entertained. Whatever my life is, and where ever I may end up, I am going to "just do it." And laugh a whole bunch along the way. Steve Irwin at least taught us that.

Crikey!

"‘Crocodile Hunter"’ Steve Irwin dies

And he died from a pretty nasty animal attack, too. If you have ever been the victim of a stingray barb, you know how horribly awful it is, how deep the wound can be, and how much pain you think you can endure before the little purple box closes in on your field of vision and your eyes roll back into your head from the agony of the injury. It's truly horrid.

I know. I was attacked by a stingray in Mexico.

It was incredulously, nightmarishly painful. The barb strike was in my foot (my foot, mind you. Steve's wound was to his chest. All I could think of when I read the account of his death was, "Well, of course he died."). I thought I might die when after one hour of discovering the injury, the pain only increased as the neuro-toxins began to spread up my leg toward my knee. At that point, we decided it might be a good idea to find a doctor. I took three ibuprofens and off we went into to the busy area of Puerto Penasco to find a clinic. We found one, I got treated, and the health care system in Mexico was wonderful compared to what I would have had to go through in the USA if I was faced with the same problem.

Poor Steve. But you know, he played with wild animals. That is never a scenario that you can control. It is like gambling--and one day, you will lose.

Olbermann's Tour de Force

Bloggermann: Feeling morally, intellectually confused?

I have never been more proud to link to a blog. I have linked to Mr. Olbermann for a few years, anyway. His link is listed as "Bloggermann" to the bar on the left.

After reading his amazing editorial (I missed his delivery of said speech on TV) I have no illusions concerning the reasons that XM Satellite Radio has decided to drop MSNBC from the news channel line-up. Too many XM investors might feel threatened if a real news outlet actually criticizes the "powers-that-be."

MSNBC rules. You have my complete and loyal viewership. What courage you have to allow such a speech on national television. Bully!

And as Dinah Shore ended her shows, I throw this out to MSNBC's powers-that-be...MWAH!!

"9/11" too profane?

Some CBS affiliates worry over 9/11 show

To use the words "Sept. 11 documentary," "First Amendment," "Janet Jackson's breast," and "Super Bowl" in your lead sentence is pretty damn good journalism. Wow. You write, Larry Neumeister!

Besides that, what I find unreal is that this documentary, "9/11," which I have seen twice, would actually worry station affiliates about being fined by the FCC because of the cursing. This film is one of the most profound records of what happened that day that I've ever seen. It makes me cry every time.

Frankly, it IS an adult program because of the nature of the video. I would think twice about allowing a teen-ager to watch it. However, it is a real account. The truth matters; it matters to me in the very syllables of every curse word uttered by the firefighters on that day. I'm with Martin Franks, executive vice-president of CBS Corp.:

"We don't think it's appropriate to sanitize the reality of the hell of Sept. 11th," Franks said. "It shows the incredible stress that these heroes were under. To sanitize it in some way robs it of the horror they faced."

And it robs us, the mature, television-viewing American public, of the truth. Continuing:

So far, about a dozen CBS affiliates have indicated they won't show the documentary, another dozen say they will delay it until later at night and two dozen others are considering what to do.

On Friday, Sinclair Broadcasting became the latest company to say it was delaying the broadcast until after 10 p.m. on its stations in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Portland, Maine, saying it was concerned it could face fines.

The announcement came as the Tupelo, Miss.-based American Family Association readied its 3 million members to flood the FCC and CBS with complaints after the documentary airs.

"This isn't an issue of censorship. It's an issue of responsibility to the public," said Randy Sharp, director of special projects for the group, which describes itself as a 29-year-old organization that promotes the biblical ethic of decency.

Dear American Family Association members:

If you are afraid you might be offended by this program and you KNOW when it will be broadcast and you KNOW what you might hear...well, turn the TV off. Turn the off button on, as our dear commander-in-chief advises. I find your complaints baseless and gratuitous in light of the fact that you already have probably seen this documentary, and it has already aired TWICE since your sudden decision to complain about it. You're complaining now? NOW?

Frankly my dears, I don't give a DAMN. And neither should the FCC.

--Coyote

Advice is big business.

Dear Margo

The "Dear Margo" column on Yahoo! News is one of my guilty pleasures. I read the crazy letters, and I love her no-nonsense advice. I agree with her almost every time.

I secretly harbor a desire to write an advice column, except I would be a bit more...forward in my responses. Perhaps even profane. Well, maybe not profane, but it would be fun. And fiery. And people would either love me or hate me. It would be closer to "Dear Dottie" from the Weekly World News (which I know is satire and I love it) than "Dear Abby."

I listen, although not regularly, to advice talk shows, too. I've noticed that my younger friends really hate folks like Dr. Laura and Dr. Phil. I think it's because they know that the advice that is being given is sound, but they just don't want to follow it because they are brats and want to do what they want to do--propriety and morals be damned. I suppose the only advice I have for that attitude is live and learn. Try it the hard way, go ahead...just stop whining to me about how crappy your life is (OK--there's a taste of Coyote curmudgeon's advice).

I have become a big Dave Ramsey fan lately, too. His show is immediately engrossing, and it is quickly becoming one of the top talk radio shows in the U.S. because most people have such bad financial problems. I love the callers that call in and are just a mess and he, at the very least, gives them hope. Very cool. He talks about Jesus sometimes, which might not be very PC on a talk radio show, but he doesn't beat listeners over the head with it. He simply lets people know that where he is coming from is informed by Christianity. As he has said before, "It's the DAVE RAMSEY show." He can talk about whatever he wants, and it's clear he is an unabashed Jesus fan. He teaches common sense money handling--and he may be the one person that saves America if he can help more and more of us get out of debt.

The advice industry is thriving lately. Even though these are real people with real problems, surely they understand that it's really entertaining, too...or do they? I hope so. Hmmm. I wonder what kind of advice I can offer...

New Orleans and its debris issue.

So much has been written and discussed about New Orleans lately that the "one-year-later" coverage could be described as gratuitous, I think. I would like to see more focus on moving forward instead of remembering the storm itself, and I think full-time residents would like some answers and some action in that regard as well. I can say that the news in NO is chock full of storm stories and stories about some aspect of the storm. Violent crime still rates pretty high, too. But it's mostly about the storm, what it did, what people are doing because of it, what the city is and is not doing about it, and on and on. Katrina still lives in a shadow world, lurking in the background, haunting everyone there.

Many are perplexed by the lack of movement toward a more speedy pick-up of debris; I simply submit that the scope of the problem is freaking HUGE. However, some little help from the city in areas starting to come back would really be helpful, like an assigned large trash item pick-up area. For starters, people all over New Orleans are struggling with what to do with large trash, still. As more and more people come home and rebuild, this problem isn't going to go away. I thought up a solution to it last week that I think could work, but you would need somebody at the city level to follow through with it.

First, assign an area where large trash items that ARE NOT a bio hazard can be dropped in large amounts, perhaps in a main street area, like the boulevard on St. Charles where the street cars aren't running, not yet. Regular household garbage is not allowed and violators will be fined. Ask people to drop their items there between Fourth and Fifth streets (as an example), and send the dump trucks over three or four days a week. Make this available for three months. Then close that site down and open another site for three more months. Put up signs telling people where the pick-up area has moved so they don't drop stuff there. It would be better to start these pick-up places in fringe neighborhoods just coming back online. And make it available to everyone dropping off big trash...no questions asked. Make it so finding these places is easy by putting notices in the Times-Picayune and sending press releases to the TV stations. Ask NOLA.com to put a permanent link up on the site to the large trash pick up schedule, a list of acceptable items, and a map. Yes, there are ecological problems to consider when making a temporary dump site, but at least you are getting help from the residents to help you clean up more quickly since they are meeting you half-way by bringing large trash to you instead of waiting around for the FEMA-large-item-pick-up-lottery to hit their block that day.

I hope that anyone reading this might take it to the right people and try to implement it. It may not be feasible, and I make no claims of understanding how hard getting anything going must be in Louisiana right now. But why not start with a pro-active campaign to get more people motivated and make it easier to get big stuff out of the way? Empower the people of New Orleans...help them help the city. Just doing this one little thing may get a whole bunch of things moving in the right direction. You never know.