Yup that's a HIGH of -13c
A real feel of -35c
And a 'you may die' warning
Who chose Michigan?
Saturday, February 09, 2008
This is why I'm obsessed with the weather
Yup that's a HIGH of -13c
A real feel of -35c
And a 'you may die' warning
Who chose Michigan?
Friday, February 08, 2008
So the race is still on
As Romney freezes his candidacy (in a potential bid to be Vice President, a bold move as McCain hates him but may need the appointment too woo conservatives without turning off independents) the Republican race looks more and more like endorsing the ancient white guy who would be tough on terror and pretty much too old to do much else.
Still McCain has some fight left in him. Some of his best lines
"I'm older than dirt, I've got more scars than Frankenstein, but I've learned a few things along the way."
"I spent several years in a North Vietnamese prison camp, in the dark, fed with scraps.Do you think I want to do that all over again as vice president of the United States?"
The Republican alternative is Huckabee. The man with Chuck Norris and God on his side. The man who believes that every sperm is sacred and that every egg comes with a plan directly from God. He's also pretty big on Creationism and things that are churchy. Which plays well in places where God is all that people have. I have to admit to having quite an affection for Huckabee. Sure he's stark raving bonkers and communing with his invisible friend Jesus much of the time but he has an "am I still in this?" attitude that's refreshing in the cut-throat, second guessing, he said - she said race.
Some of his best quotes to date.
"I'm pretty sure there will be duck-hunting in heaven and I can't wait!" --speaking to an NRA group
"We've had a Congress that's spent money like John Edwards at a beauty shop."
"Jesus was too smart to ever run for public office...that's what Jesus would do." --after being asked if Jesus would have supported the death penalty
"Which one?" --to Mitt Romney, after the former Massachusetts governor told him not to try and characterize his position on Iraq
"And the ultimate thing is, I may not be the expert that some people are on foreign policy, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night."
"If anybody wants to believe they're the descendants of a primate, they'e welcome to do it." --answering a question about evolution
All of the electricty of course is on the other side. When Hillary is one to one she's really impressive. Pulling facts to hand. Explaining plans with real conviction. Engaging. She's human. But put her on a podium and she gets a little still. She grins and gurns and shrugs and generally looks like she's squirming. The shoulders get high. She gets toothy. She looks uncomfortable. And smug.
She's smart though. Best Hillary zingers so far
"In my White House, we will know who wears the pantsuits." --on the role her husband would play in her administration
"It did take a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush, and I think it might take another one to clean up after the second Bush."
"Frankly, Mr. Mayor, I think your new hairstyle is the right way to go. After all, in Washington, the coverup is always worse than the truth." —to Rudy Giuliani, after he gave up his combover
"They asked Jesus how many times you should forgive, and he said 70 times 7. Well, I want you all to know that I’m keeping a chart."
Then there's Obama. He's light on policy and heavy on hope. Great with a crowd and bad in a debate. He stands like Caesar, with his chin high and his profile on full display. And he has the advantage of being new. He wasn't there when everyone else gave Bush permission to invade Iraq. He wasn't there to ratify tax cuts. He just wasn't there - and that means he's allowed to be right on everything. Which is a huge advange. Whenever there's a protest and the banners come out Hillary is always trying to explain how she ended up on the wrong side - Obama is out waving a placard.
Obama's best lines
"I don't want to be invited to the family hunting party." --on revelations that he and Dick Cheney are eighth cousins (Watch video clip)
"Hillary is not the first politician in Washington to declare 'Mission Accomplished' a little too soon."
"I'm so overexposed that I make Paris Hilton look like a recluse."
On his Democratic Convention speech, in which he said that "we coach Little League in the blue states and we have some gay friends in the red states": "Well, here's an update. Since the election, that gay couple I knew in the red states? They've moved back to the blue states."
"(The pundits) said you can't win in a year like this with a name like Obama. There was quite a bit of confusion at first, but it did get me free airtime on Al Jazeera."
"It's been a great ride. But I know how quickly these fads can pass. You all remember the pet rock, the mood ring, Howard Dean."
I think that if it's McCain it has to be Obama. It's a youth vs. age thing. It's a man who talks Nickelodeon and Movie Trailers vs one who talks Nickle Freakshows and seeing the first talkies. Just a generation thing.
Against Huckabee I fancy Clinton. She can take him on in the south and I think she can make him look reactionary. We shall see. It's a good race. And cracking TV.
Still McCain has some fight left in him. Some of his best lines
"I'm older than dirt, I've got more scars than Frankenstein, but I've learned a few things along the way."
"I spent several years in a North Vietnamese prison camp, in the dark, fed with scraps.Do you think I want to do that all over again as vice president of the United States?"
The Republican alternative is Huckabee. The man with Chuck Norris and God on his side. The man who believes that every sperm is sacred and that every egg comes with a plan directly from God. He's also pretty big on Creationism and things that are churchy. Which plays well in places where God is all that people have. I have to admit to having quite an affection for Huckabee. Sure he's stark raving bonkers and communing with his invisible friend Jesus much of the time but he has an "am I still in this?" attitude that's refreshing in the cut-throat, second guessing, he said - she said race.
Some of his best quotes to date.
"I'm pretty sure there will be duck-hunting in heaven and I can't wait!" --speaking to an NRA group
"We've had a Congress that's spent money like John Edwards at a beauty shop."
"Jesus was too smart to ever run for public office...that's what Jesus would do." --after being asked if Jesus would have supported the death penalty
"Which one?" --to Mitt Romney, after the former Massachusetts governor told him not to try and characterize his position on Iraq
"And the ultimate thing is, I may not be the expert that some people are on foreign policy, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night."
"If anybody wants to believe they're the descendants of a primate, they'e welcome to do it." --answering a question about evolution
All of the electricty of course is on the other side. When Hillary is one to one she's really impressive. Pulling facts to hand. Explaining plans with real conviction. Engaging. She's human. But put her on a podium and she gets a little still. She grins and gurns and shrugs and generally looks like she's squirming. The shoulders get high. She gets toothy. She looks uncomfortable. And smug.
She's smart though. Best Hillary zingers so far
"In my White House, we will know who wears the pantsuits." --on the role her husband would play in her administration
"It did take a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush, and I think it might take another one to clean up after the second Bush."
"Frankly, Mr. Mayor, I think your new hairstyle is the right way to go. After all, in Washington, the coverup is always worse than the truth." —to Rudy Giuliani, after he gave up his combover
"They asked Jesus how many times you should forgive, and he said 70 times 7. Well, I want you all to know that I’m keeping a chart."
Then there's Obama. He's light on policy and heavy on hope. Great with a crowd and bad in a debate. He stands like Caesar, with his chin high and his profile on full display. And he has the advantage of being new. He wasn't there when everyone else gave Bush permission to invade Iraq. He wasn't there to ratify tax cuts. He just wasn't there - and that means he's allowed to be right on everything. Which is a huge advange. Whenever there's a protest and the banners come out Hillary is always trying to explain how she ended up on the wrong side - Obama is out waving a placard.
Obama's best lines
"I don't want to be invited to the family hunting party." --on revelations that he and Dick Cheney are eighth cousins (Watch video clip)
"Hillary is not the first politician in Washington to declare 'Mission Accomplished' a little too soon."
"I'm so overexposed that I make Paris Hilton look like a recluse."
On his Democratic Convention speech, in which he said that "we coach Little League in the blue states and we have some gay friends in the red states": "Well, here's an update. Since the election, that gay couple I knew in the red states? They've moved back to the blue states."
"(The pundits) said you can't win in a year like this with a name like Obama. There was quite a bit of confusion at first, but it did get me free airtime on Al Jazeera."
"It's been a great ride. But I know how quickly these fads can pass. You all remember the pet rock, the mood ring, Howard Dean."
I think that if it's McCain it has to be Obama. It's a youth vs. age thing. It's a man who talks Nickelodeon and Movie Trailers vs one who talks Nickle Freakshows and seeing the first talkies. Just a generation thing.
Against Huckabee I fancy Clinton. She can take him on in the south and I think she can make him look reactionary. We shall see. It's a good race. And cracking TV.
Not a bad couple of days
First I'm told that I don't have syphilis
Then that I don't have AIDS
And now that my scans are clean and I don't have cancer.
Which is a good thing. Lymphoma's you see usually come back. Especially when they've invaded below the pelvic bone - which mine had. The weird thing is though that Lymphoma is a lot like a package holiday tourist - it often returns to the same spot; but usually will only do that within the first two years. So my scans being 'clear and clean' is a very good thing.
To top everything I found yesterday that the company will give me $1,000 for having bought the car that I did. All I need to do is present my receipt to HR and it's done. Cool. Maybe if I could photocopy it a few times they'd pay for the car out and out.
Gonna have to leave and brave the snow now... but before I do and in the interest of generating some traffic this short February month can I just say (avert your eyes mother) Lindsey Lohan's tits, Paris Hilton Sex Video, Mitt Romney scandal, Britney latest, Heath Ledger shots, Hillary Clinton lesbian, Obama drug, post op tranny, nudie and of course the one that will bring them all in Gordon Brown Speedo
Then that I don't have AIDS
And now that my scans are clean and I don't have cancer.
Which is a good thing. Lymphoma's you see usually come back. Especially when they've invaded below the pelvic bone - which mine had. The weird thing is though that Lymphoma is a lot like a package holiday tourist - it often returns to the same spot; but usually will only do that within the first two years. So my scans being 'clear and clean' is a very good thing.
To top everything I found yesterday that the company will give me $1,000 for having bought the car that I did. All I need to do is present my receipt to HR and it's done. Cool. Maybe if I could photocopy it a few times they'd pay for the car out and out.
Gonna have to leave and brave the snow now... but before I do and in the interest of generating some traffic this short February month can I just say (avert your eyes mother) Lindsey Lohan's tits, Paris Hilton Sex Video, Mitt Romney scandal, Britney latest, Heath Ledger shots, Hillary Clinton lesbian, Obama drug, post op tranny, nudie and of course the one that will bring them all in Gordon Brown Speedo
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Gotta love the latest Britney twist
Okay, so I've been on the "Leave Britney alone" side of the coin. I've cursed Dr Phil and his loose lips. I've pointed out that given the number of photographers who follow her everywhere it's amazing just how infrequently she loses it with them (or runs one over). I've even been known to mention the fact that we've all seen her vagina not just because she sometimes forgets her panties but because when she does there's a cameraman literally lying in the gutter hoping to make a few bucks snapping the Spear's snapper.
And now it seems that I've been on the right side. For it's not Britney's fault that she's barking. It's that of her mad Svengali (didn't he used to manage England?). Here's today's news.
A restraining order against the man who's been at Britney Spears' side during her downward spiral portrays him as a Svengali figure who held her a virtual hostage in her home, drugged her, took over her finances and controlled the paparazzi "like a general."
The order against 33-year-old Sam Lutfi was based on a declaration from Spears' mother who says he "essentially moved into Britney's home and has purported to take control of her life, home and finances."
Lynne Spears' account of a long, chaotic night at Britney's home depicted a drugged and confused pop star being led around by Lutfi, who was setting up pictures for the paparazzi even as she was spinning out of control.
The documents released by the court Tuesday ordered Lutfi to stay away from Spears, her homes, her parents and siblings' homes and the hospital where she is confined for psychiatric evaluation.
On Monday, Lutfi told The Associated Press in a text message: "I have no problems with anyone writing anything negative against me. My image is not of concern, hers is."
Lynne Spears said that Lutfi "drugged Britney, he has cut Britney's home phone lines and removed her cell phone chargers."
She said "Sam has told Britney she was an unfit mother, a piece of trash and a whore, that she cares more about Adnan (Ghalib), her current boyfriend, than she cares about her kids and that she does not deserve her kids."
He's alleged to have told Spears' senior "You'd better learn that I control everything, I giving Britney her medications and if I weren't in the house to give Britney her medicine, she would kill herself."
He added "'If you try to get rid of me, she'll be dead and I'll piss on her grave.'"
Lynne Spears described various medications in the house and said Lutfi told her he ground them up and put them in Britney's food to keep her quiet. "He told us that the doctor who is treating her now is trying to get her into a sleep-induced coma so that they could then give her drugs to heal her brain."
It's utterly bonkers. As is Britney. More soon.
Okay
So the phone call yesterday was from the hospital. Telling me to call them immediately. Which was weird as they were on the phone. Still they gave me a number for the nurse - who took 2 hrs to get back to me and then told me that the doctor needed to talk with me about the results of my blood tests. And that she's page her. And that a call was unusual. And that it did mean they had an issue.
The doctor called an hour later. Low white blood cell count. Which is a relief as you get elevated counts with lymphoma. And low counts with HIV. Or a viral infection. Or naturally. Nothing to worry about essentially - but could they take another blood test when I didn't have a stinking cold?
There's a lot of chasing and worrying about nothing. But a reminder that death's dark shadow hovers not too far behind me - and that I need to do all that I can to ensure it doesn't catch up. Weirdly I feel as though life today has taken on a "Final Destination" like playfulness. I'm watching out for toasters, rollercoasters and higfh suspense kitchen sequences.
The doctor called an hour later. Low white blood cell count. Which is a relief as you get elevated counts with lymphoma. And low counts with HIV. Or a viral infection. Or naturally. Nothing to worry about essentially - but could they take another blood test when I didn't have a stinking cold?
There's a lot of chasing and worrying about nothing. But a reminder that death's dark shadow hovers not too far behind me - and that I need to do all that I can to ensure it doesn't catch up. Weirdly I feel as though life today has taken on a "Final Destination" like playfulness. I'm watching out for toasters, rollercoasters and higfh suspense kitchen sequences.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
not to be left out
the cat got photogenic a day or two ago... here he is.... and now my phone is ringing and I'm gonna have to log off. more later.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Who said you couldn't get a sheepdog into a Mustang?
Just about everybody in truth. But you can. If you're double jointed, have the ability to reach for the seatbelt whilst repositioning the dog and feeling for the slot into which the seatbelt will clip - without removing the rear seat dog cover and managing to thread the seatbelt through the eyelet atop the dog's 'rear seat vest'
I'd not bother but the idea of a red vested 60lb bullet hurtling into the back of my head at 80mph isn't one that I fancy. Not that I ever DO 80mph of course. That would be naughty. And wrong. And against the law (just)
Actually people here drive pretty sensibly until you get to within 5miles of the city at which point you enter the Judge Dread zone with people accelerating, breaking, changing lanes and revving through 8,000 rpm all at the same time. Leave no gaps, take no prisoners is my advice.
Jude leaves for Belgium this week (non-sequitar?) so it's gonna be me, the dog and a computer. Lots of walks and some serious work on my book. Toby is getting raves for his debut novel (an urban vampire story told in free verse) and I feel rather inspired to get on and write mine. So I will. Cool.
So thinner, more stimulated and with a better walked dog I'll be moving into February with some real momentum (or something)... must stop now before I say "Cadence"
I'd not bother but the idea of a red vested 60lb bullet hurtling into the back of my head at 80mph isn't one that I fancy. Not that I ever DO 80mph of course. That would be naughty. And wrong. And against the law (just)
Actually people here drive pretty sensibly until you get to within 5miles of the city at which point you enter the Judge Dread zone with people accelerating, breaking, changing lanes and revving through 8,000 rpm all at the same time. Leave no gaps, take no prisoners is my advice.
Jude leaves for Belgium this week (non-sequitar?) so it's gonna be me, the dog and a computer. Lots of walks and some serious work on my book. Toby is getting raves for his debut novel (an urban vampire story told in free verse) and I feel rather inspired to get on and write mine. So I will. Cool.
So thinner, more stimulated and with a better walked dog I'll be moving into February with some real momentum (or something)... must stop now before I say "Cadence"
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Things to do in Michigan when it's cold
erm.... lemme think. Nope I'm at a loss. Of course that doesn't mean that we don't do things. So even though Royal Oak turned out to be less frozen Williamsburg and more arctic strip mall with hot dog stores we still managed to get out and abut yesterday. Sure it meant driving 65 miles to see ice sculptors who will be in A2 in a couple of weeks but that didn't matter. Go towards the life is my new motto.
Today we've got brunch with a couple of friends (cooked by another) and then a SuperBowl party (our first). Before that starts I shall look up who's playing, what the pundits are expecting and learn a few key names. Would hate to look as stupid watching this as Americans do watching the World Cup of Foot Soccer.
There's also a 3pm - 6pm meeting at work. I'll not be attending. I've done three quarters (or three fourths if you're in highschool) of the weekends so far and it's time to take a break, put my feet up, eat too many peanuts and generally relax.
Which we've been doing with binge watching sessions of Lost : Season 3. It's been hard avoiding all of the spoilers but as we drain the glasses of Pinot Gris, crank the volume up and set the flames of the fire to 'dangerously close to out of control' things all seem to make sense. Even the Biblical names. The number of guys who have names starting with 'J', the flashbacks that come out of nowhere and the smoke monster that can't go over an invisible fence that Kate managed to climb.
Anyway I hear the sounds of a wife taking Coffee #1. Later all.
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