All I can say about that is: Cmon! Be a man. Dump this damned Microsoft Explorer. Quit yer bitchin' and get FIREFOX! You'll be ever so glad you did.

 

So much to talk about in the news these days...such as how this bonehead we re-elected can go on snowing the American public as effectively as he has. In his "speech" the other night, in which he ostensibly proposed to clear the air regarding our plans in Iraq, he instead muddied it even further with numerous (at least five) references to September 11, who, when last I checked, hadn't been perped by anyone of Iraqi descent. No, I keep telling myself, those were guys from Saudi Arabia that took out the Twin Towers and over 3,000 lives. Now, why haven't we sent A-10 Thunderbolt tank-killers into Riyadh?  Oh, right---they're our friends. But---isn't Saudi Arabia an authoritarian state? Yep, I answer, it is. So explain to me again: why did we take out Saddam? Because he was an authoritarian dictator, right? And why haven't we caught Osama bin Laden?  Didn't he mastermind the attacks on September 11? I dunno, maybe it's me, but it sure seems pretty damned obvious that we've taken our eyes off the real prize. And those in power right now would rather piss and moan about flag burning amendments (that old chestnut? Again??)

than exploring whether or not going to war in Iraq was the right move. I've never seen so many blinkered, sycophantic yellowbellies as this year's crop of right-wing peckerheads.

Case in point: when a voice vote was called earlier this week in Congress in which the Dems tried to use an amendment to stave off a Rep move to fob off payment of pension plans for United Airlines employess onto the taxpayers, CSPAN viewers heard this strange little exchange:

 

Chairman Miller (Rep): Those in favor of the amendment will say 'aye.' 

Numerous voices: Aye.

Chairman Miller: Those opposed 'no.'

One lone voice: No.

Chairman Miller: In the opinion of the chairman, the noes have it.

Numerous voices: An audible groan.

  (Check out the link "Putnam" at the bottom of this page for the actual audio)

 

I'm sorry, but when Reps are pulling this kind of blatant crap it's goddam hard not to get all up in arms about it. Typical.

So, your humble narrator finally wrapped up his three-month-long trial by fire today with the cleaning of the room, the completion of paperwork, and the shaking of a few hands. Yesterday, the last day of classes, was, as expected, brutal. It was as if the kids had been saving up their nastiness for three weeks or so just to explode in the final hours...Thanks be to Jesus that it was only a half-day. I almost feel as if my skin is actually a little bit tougher than it was just a few short month ago. Certainly my voice has gotten some great exercise! I'm rethinking going back into voiceover work! In the meantime, I'm taking a couple of weeks off, maybe getting unemployment, then going back to day-to-day subbing whilst continuing to look for a permanent gig. Summer fun.

 

Well, again, I'm doing my dadly duty tomorrow when I drive Bridgette and her friend to Long Beach for the annual Vans Warped Tour. B's band of the moment (My Chemical Romance) is playing among a slew of other pop/punk stuff. Am I going? I don't know yet. I've been hemming & hawing about buying a ticket all week--but today I find that they claim to be sold out. I snooze, I lose. My only alternative is that I'll have to figure out how to entertain myself in Long Beach for pretty much the whole frikkin' day! Bridgette, in honor of the event, has dyed her hair a bright fuschia color (I knew it was bound to happen sometime). Now she can look just like everyone else there!

 

 

Only 20 more days with the fifth-grade spawns of Satan! In actuality, the job has gotten much easier---a combination of them finally mellowing out and me becoming much more sanguine about it. I still have to put in at least another two hours when I get home, though, and I guess I'll just have to get used to that. 

 

Uh oh---I'm still talking about that which I swore I wouldn't talk about--but wait! This is my blog, right? Right! So if my blathering offends, then kindly go take a flying dump at the moon. There!

 

Bridgette is about to wrap up ninth grade, and thank Jesus for it too. I remember how much it sucked for me, and it can't've gotten any better. She was, however, numerous chorus members in the school's production of "The Wiz" and she appeared to have a good time. Interestingly, last week we attended Blair's 2005 Ovations show (see 4/04 archive for previous mention of my involvement in last year's show) and were blown away by the level of professionalism those kids have managed. It was fantastic! Plans are currently being formulated for this year's Blair alumni fundraiser in November (Possibility: your humble narrator warbling The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallence), but I dasn't pretend to predict. Way too soon.

 

As of now, Debs and I are thinking of a long leisurely driving tour of the Western U.S., specifically from LA to Seattle. I've never seen much of far-Northern California, so the self-imposed go-somewhere-every-year-I've-never-been-before dictum still holds, I suppose. Looking forward to seeing friends and whatnot in the great northwest. Hmm! Guess I'd better let 'em know we're comin'!

 

Intriguing new website based on the wonderful old Espresso Bar of Old Town Pasadena (before it was "Old Town") ...Your humble narrator served java of all stripes for four years in this fine establishment, in the heart of its boho heyday, 1983-87.

 

Politics: will be dealt with at a later time.....it's late!