Work

I work with a fantastic group of people, but like in any other corporation, the people running the show have no clue about day-to-day operations and could give a shit about the "little people". Sad, but true.

A couple of months ago, a new group of managers and supervisors took over my group. They have yet to ask me (or anyone else "below" them) how or why things are run like they are; they have yet to ask me (or anyone else beneath them) to explain what's going on; they have yet to interview my employees or my peers looking for problems or answers or improvements. They've just done what they think is their right as new management, which is to bust our balls for small indiscretions, including having fun, taking more breaks than allowed, and ignoring bullshit rules that mess up our customer service.

They've shown no courtesy, respect, or clue towards us or how we do things. We've not been consulted once about why we run things the way we do.

Since the company I work for is chain-of-command, forget about looking up for help. I can't believe a company in 2007 would still have the same lack of respect for their workers as those companies 100 years ago and then wonder about turnovers and poor attitude. Not to mention that they pay absolutely pathetic wages for 2007 (excuse me, unless you're management).

Grow up, people. You run an entertainment business but treat your people like thieves, give them little or no recourse to "out" poor management with no open-door policy, and offer few incentives for good performances because merit raises often don't happen and less than 40-hour work weeks are mandatory to guarantee that they don't have benefits or overtime? And you're surprised at reports of poor service or turnover?

Now I know I'm old....

Sunny here.

You know how the "older" generation always sees the corruption of the younger generation by their music, clothes, work ethic, morals, etc?

Well, I can honestly now say I'm "old." I work with 20-somethings everyday, and most of them have a pathetic work ethic ("You're LUCKY I showed up since I'm so great and indispensable"), and they think nothing of their poor work ethic or of "using" other people to get what they want in or out of work. These types actually have such bad attitudes that they act like their supervisors, co-workers, and customers should consider themselves lucky that they, the Beautiful People, even showed up to "help out" (like it's not even a job). If they no call, no show, they think nothing of it. No biggie. If they're late, no biggie. If they do show up and do their own thing, no biggie but everyone else is "lucky" that they're there.

At some point in the 80s or 90s, American culture started teaching parents that their kids should learn strong self-confidence, take care of #1, and feel and exhibit exceptional self-esteem, no matter what, good, bad, nasty, or not. Your kid came in last place? He still got a ribbon. Your kid failed every other course for a year? No holding him or her back anymore. He's SPECIAL. She's GIFTED. He's BORED with the current curriculum because he's SO smart. She's got ADHD and needs to be on Ritalin, which makes her special or even exceptional. Those kids need SPECIAL ATTENTION, and we don't want to INHIBIT their confidence.

What the fuck? Now these assholes now have no clue about social behavior, consideration, good graces or manners, humility, REAL work ethics, contributions to work, family, charity, and life without martyrdom or an overly done sense of self sacrifice, honest self-appraisal including efforts to improve oneself, or an ability to admit that it's not all about you (at least in public).

One example of the idiocy I'm talking about is Chris Crocker, who set up the most pathetic, isolationist, uneducated, spoiled-brat, worthless diatribe I've ever seen on behalf of a human being so far. I've never heard a single song by Britney Spears, have never heard a single reason to listen to or watch her, and have no clue why this young man would call this joke of a person/media personality a "national treasure."

National Treasures = Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, Frank Lloyd Wright, John Philip Sousa, Harriet Tubman, Geronimo, Eleanor Roosevelt, Captain Charles Butler McVay III, Bob Hope, Rosa Parks, Johnny Carson, William Harvey Carney, Neil Armstrong, etc. Obviously, this list doesn't even come close to all those who performed heroic acts, who led when no on else could or would, who made us think, who were just good people, who entertained us during bad and good times and helped with morale. Whether it be personal, political, or morally based courage, creativity, gumption, idealism, anger, or whatever motivation those people considered necessary for the "American Dream," at least they acted or reacted and made a difference beyond the latest charts, wardrobe fads, lessening of moral idealism, or narcissism.

Please don't you dare state that a lip-synching, barely-there nothing of a performer is a "national treasure." Mr. Crocker, that means you have some serious growing up to do or that you were severely undereducated or that you have no real connection to American history and facts and knowledge of the effects of duty, honor, morality, and sacrifice.

People who have had far less than you have, or Britney has ever had, have fought far more danger and prejudices than you understand; they've sacrificed everything to have civil rights, a voice, a job, a car, a home, an un-threatened family, and an education. Actually, they've fought to have the right to vote, to own property, to be treated as a person, to gain basic American freedoms.

These people lost their lives, loved ones, property, dignity, rights to decent food and clean water, peace of mind, enjoyment of small pleasures, and personal space. They signed up or volunteered or were drafted to be soldiers, nurses, advocates, doctors, journalists, civil rights activists, suffragettes, and USO participants in our wars and civil actions.

To get upset about and compare a nothing like Brittany Spears to national treasures is to reveal your own ignorance about history and freedom and sacrifice and hope and idealism. You are admitting that you're a spoiled brat who knows nothing about sacrifices made in this country to make it possible for you to have Internet access, freedom of speech, the right to watch any channel or program you want, the right for you be at home instead of "stolen away" in the middle of the night for speaking your mind, the right for your parents to whoop your ass (with reason), which it appears you need, and the right for you to ignore all of those who have given up so much for you and some of your peers to reach the point where you totally ignore what is and isn't important and act ignorant or narcissistic or both. That's your right. And it's my right to tell you to learn how to read and to study and to understand what real sacrifice is. You wouldn't be where you are without thousands of our predecessors' contributions to your freedom.

I hope you grow up. Right now, you're a miserable mistake of a 21st-century human being who wants and gets everything his/her way. Basically, you're a fucking uneducated, spoiled, miserable brat. Grow up.

Sincerely,
Sunny

In honor of those going UP the stairs....

Sunny here.

On this fateful anniversary, we should honor those who died simply because they went to work; those who died simply because they were flying to a new or old place to visit, explore, work; those who died simply because they wanted to see a landmark or family; those who died simply because they were following their instincts to help other people.

I don't care what your religious or cultural beliefs are, there are no excuses for what happened that day.

Here's a nod to all the men, women, and children who died for no reason whatsoever that day and especially for those going UP the stairs to help people with no thoughts for the risks to their own lives.

Sunny

The Full Monty

Sunny here.

So my VCR had some sort of weird year-and-a-half-long hiatus then suddenly began working again. Thank god, as most of my movies are VHS. Don't ask, but yes, I'm kicking and screaming into adapting to new technology. I own a crappy DVD player, can barely work a cell phone, have not a clue about video games (last time I played was on the original Nintendo), and wouldn't know what the hell to do with an iPod. But I digress.

I think The Full Monty is one of the best movies ever made, and I got to watch it again the other night until my now-working-again VCR had a meltdown and ate it on the second go. Go figure.

Point being: This is a fantastic film! My cousin and her husband couldn't wait to get me to the theater when it came out, and they had just seen it the night before! It was that good. It took a bit of time to get used to and understand the accents, but the film was great the first time around and just gets better with every viewing. As an American, I had no idea what the "full monty" meant, but I do now, so I'm not giving anything away when I say you really root for these guys and are actually proud for them as they work through their own issues until they finally get up the nerve to take all their clothes off, and in front of women who know them at that!

This movie is funny and poignant at the same time. We all know what it's like to lose a job, and maybe even our dignity and family with it. That's what these guys are going through.

A must-see movie. If you haven't already seen it, do. And for you guys who think you have to be gay to wanna watch a movie about guys who are gonna strip, grow up. That's not what this movie's really about!

Thanks,
Sunny

Gays, again....

Is anyone besides me tired of this bullshit??? "Straight" Republicans (or any politicians, preachers, or plain-old people who are hard line against gays) are the meanest, most judgmental asses out there about gay marriage, gay adoption, gay rights on medical, insurance, and inheritance clauses for their partners. They repeatedly turn out to be closet gays who revel in their predilections to persecute others, lie to their wives and children, and, once they get caught, get free passes for their prejudices and preferences from their political and religious affiliates along with slaps on the wrist from the criminal justice system while those they've persecuted get treated like pedophiles and criminals. Hello, Larry Craig????????????

And then the Religious Right and Republicans forgive them because they cry, beg forgiveness, say they've "re-discovered" God, that they've gotten their wives' and children's forgiveness, that it will never happen again, that it was some sort of "temptation" by the Devil, and that it's "okay?" Are y'all just STUPID??????????

Gay is gay. No matter how much y'all like to say people "choose" their lifestyle, or that they were "seduced" by the Devil, or that they didn't know what they were doing, ultra-conservatives, hard-core Republicans, and fundamentalist Christians who condemn homosexuals are fucking idiots. Gay people are gay. Straight people are straight. Bisexual people enjoy both sexes. Pedophiles are unfortunate sickos who don't care about male or female to a point but will take whatever they can get when it comes to a child and are not a part of this picture even though y'all paint them as such. Pedophiles are not homosexual, heterosexual, or bisexual; they are child rapists who cannot be fixed. There's a difference, one that y'all don't seem to understand even while you're forgiving hard-core gay haters who turn out to be gay.

But can you Republicans PLEASE quit forgiving those of your ilk for "momentary" lapses if they're GAY????? What you don't get is that people like ME don't have a problem with people who are actually gay. And you let your fellow Republicans who get caught off the hook because it must have been a "Devil's" lapse. WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's gay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nature is Nature, and it's time for y'all to quit being so judgmental and hypocritical. Just because he's your bud doesn't mean he's not a hypocrite; no, it wasn't a momentary lapse (HE'S GAY), but it also doesn't mean he's a bad person (and it's time for him to admit this to himself and his family as well), and just because a person is a liberal or Democrat who supports gay rights doesn't make him/her a BAD person. So, wouldn't you rather have a person who's honest and not a damn hypocrite??????

Gay isn't bad, but lying assholes who persecute others who are gay when they are themselves = hypocrites.

Wake up, people.

Sunny

Americans who need more proof, read this....

Maybe Mark Davis and Rush Limbaugh and 99% of Republicans will never get it, but the rest of America really needs to wake up. Ignore the pundits and politicians, who have been getting paid by corporations and advertisers to ignore the reality of global warming and scoff at the possibility that humans contribute to the Greenhouse Effect. To read the entire article, see The Truth about Denial by Sharon Begley. Here are a few points from the article:

"Warming of the climate system is unequivocal," concluded a report by 600 scientists from governments, academia, green groups and businesses in 40 countries. Worse, there was now at least a 90 percent likelihood that the release of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels is causing longer droughts, more flood-causing downpours and worse heat waves, way up from earlier studies. Those who doubt the reality of human-caused climate change have spent decades disputing that.

Since the late 1980s, this well-coordinated, well-funded campaign by contrarian scientists, free-market think tanks and industry has created a paralyzing fog of doubt around climate change.

In contrast, majorities in Europe and Japan recognize a broad consensus among climate experts that greenhouse gases—mostly from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas to power the world's economies—are altering climate. A new NEWSWEEK Poll finds that the influence of the denial machine remains strong.

As a result of the undermining of the science, all the recent talk about addressing climate change has produced little in the way of actual action.

Republicans have also received significantly more campaign cash from the energy and other industries that dispute climate science.

The planet is indeed warming, and at a rate since 1980 much greater than in the past.

Every effort to pass climate legislation during the George W. Bush years was stopped in its tracks.

All the Democratic presidential contenders have called global warming a real threat, and promise to push for cuts similar to those being passed by California and other states.

This summer, Texas was hit by exactly the kind of downpours and flooding expected in a greenhouse world, and Las Vegas and other cities broiled in record triple-digit temperatures. Just last week the most accurate study to date concluded that the length of heat waves in Europe has doubled, and their frequency nearly tripled, in the past century. The frequency of Atlantic hurricanes has already doubled in the last century. Snowpack whose water is crucial to both cities and farms is diminishing. It's enough to make you wish that climate change were a hoax, rather than the reality it is.

Wake up, people.

Sunny

In Memoriam - Dr. Kalpana Rao

I called yesterday to make an appointment with my neurologist, Dr. Kalpana Rao, in Richardson, TX. She has been my neurologist and unofficial medical adviser since 1997 when I had my first bout with Bell's Palsy at the age of 27.

Her office called me back today to let me know that she died of ovarian cancer in January of this year (2007).

First, think what you want of me, but I'm devastated. No, we weren't friends or relatives or colleagues. No, we didn't socialize outside of the doctor/patient relationship. No, we didn't have any other bond at all.

But I liked her very much. In fact, I told multiple friends and family about her over the years and recommended her to people who might have needed her skills as a doctor. Right now, I can't even imagine seeing another neurologist. After I moved out of Dallas, I would still drive an hour and a half to see her rather than change doctors.

I enjoyed the way she gave me a hard time about my smoking and my not keeping up with my regular 6-month check-ups and facial exercises. (She was a 5-foot little something [I'm 5'7"], who would point her finger up and lecture me.)

I delighted in her tales of going home to India each year and reveling in her friends and food and native celebrations. She didn't mind answering my questions about her religion or homeland or events and knew I asked out of curiosity, not prejudice or malice. So she shared with me, even if it was just a little bit.

A doctor isn't usually a friend, and Dr. Rao wasn't either. All jokes and sarcastic shots between her and me aside, she was a professional. We didn't socialize, or keep in touch outside of her work, or exchange photos, or chat on the Internet. But I liked her, and she was a damn good doctor. She never preached but always let me know how she felt about my habits. She never worried but always made sure I was medically checked out anyway. She never hovered but always insisted that I follow up with her.

I'm terribly saddened to hear about her loss. She was not only a good person but a great doctor. I can't believe she died of ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, I was told that she did, in fact, have her woman's annual exam before she died and that they didn't find the cancer at that time. Even if they had, ovarian cancer is usually very deadly.

To all the family, friends, acquaintances, professionals, students, and patients in Dr. Rao's life, I just want to say that I feel your loss, and it's a big one.

Dr. Rao, thank you. You were a wonderful doctor and person, and I didn't have to be your friend to see that.

Sincerely,

Your patient and admirer, who loved to give you a hard time, which you always reciprocated,

Sunny

One question...

Hey, Hollywood people, why isn't Hector Elizondo used more?

Thanks,
Sunny

Birthday!!!!

By the way, I'm a birthday freak, which means I start telling everyone I know weeks in advance of my having a birthday. Well, guess what? It's towards the end of this month.

Frankly, I have a huge wish list on Amazon.com, mostly books but also a few movies and TV shows and even a little music. I'm also about to turn 37, and while I love a good book, I haven't been laid in more than a year and haven't been in a relationship in about a year and a half.

Bummer! and Help! at the same time.

What does all this mean? Skip my Amazon list if you must -I still love a good book, though (hint hint), but help find me a decent guy who actually works for a living (this means he also pays his own bills, k? In all these years, I've found at least one who worked, but I still paid for all his shit, including bills), has his own teeth, isn't a former druggie, doesn't abuse women or children, actually pays child support (at my age, most guys you date have kids but are already way behind), and can put up with my quirks while maintaining his patience, humor, and individuality -a must. Impossible, maybe. But why not dream? Come on, people, throw me a bone.

I've never been married, don't have kids, am not a lesbian or bi, and would just like a decent-looking, educated, funny guy who can support himself and show me a good time on occasion.

Enough said (except Happy Birthday to Me!),
Sunny

My mistake....

I truly love this country and appreciate those who have fought for and died for our rights and freedoms. I'm sorry I didn't take the time on July 4th to make so much as a small note about it.

My sincere thanks to all those who have fought and died and continue to fight for our freedoms. My sincere thanks to politicians and activists who look and have looked beyond their own beliefs and greed and wants and have represented the people and American ideals to the best of their abilities. My sincere thanks to citizens who appreciate what they have and have taken an active, positive role within their families and communities. My sincere thanks to those in other countries who have supported our freedom along the way, even if it was way back when.

To all those who have fought for and died for our freedoms, words are not thanks enough.

Humbly,
Sunny

Algore

Mr. Gore,
In case you still don't get it, you're a joke. You've always been too pissy, prissy, and easily offended to be president. Please don't waste time and money running for president. I know you haven't announced it yet, but your "documentary" and global concerts seem to me to be just a precursor to a campaign. Forget that you're stiff as a board and seem to have no sense of humor. Forget that you're still the butt of jokes for "inventing" the Internet and for promoting environmentalism while running up thousands of dollars in utility bills for your home every month. You have never connected with people on both sides or even one side and never will.

Thanks,
Sunny

Psychodocs....

Sunny here.

I believe in your constitutional rights. Let's just get that out of the way.

• Now, did you decide to become a police officer? Duty: Protect citizens and property from harm. Except for wetbacks.
• Did you decide to become a firefighter? Duty: Protect citizens and property from harm. Except for niggers.
• Did you decide to become a financial adviser, accountant, or broker? Duty: Help people make investments and learn about money, taxes, savings, debt, and security. Except for euro-trash.
• Did you decide to become an architect or engineer? Duty: Build strong, reliable, storm- and earthquake-resistant buildings. Except for Chincs.
• Did you decide to become a guidance counselor or adviser? Duty: Help students figure out the best course to continue or finish their studies and become smarter, better, more educated citizens. Except for white trash and the poor.
• Did you decide to become an adoption, child welfare, or social services worker? Duty: Provide advice, shelter, placement, and services for the underprivileged and those in need. Except for queers.
• Did you decide to become a lawyer or judge? Duty: Give citizens legal aid and fair judgments based on the charges and the law. Except for towelheads.
• Did you decide to become a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or other health care provider? Duty: Diagnose and treat people, male or female, gay or straight, rich or poor, old or young, healthy or ill, married or single, delusional or sharp, and to promote good health and help people and patients in time of medical need. Except for heathens, sinners, and non-believers.

While the majority of this article began with arbitrary observations (I pulled racial and socially negative epithets from my hat), the last observation is becoming very true. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and medical specialists are deciding more and more that they can refuse treatment, refuse referrals, refuse drugs, and even act judgmentally towards patients without the least guilt on their part if a possible treatment doesn't meld with their religious beliefs. Note that I said religious, not ethical, beliefs. You've got to be kidding me, right? And they've even won some of their religious arguments in court. What I'm not getting is:

a) If you don't believe in granting patients the care they need (at the risk that you may someday run afoul of a symptom/diagnosis/treatment against your beliefs), then don't become a doctor or pharmacist or health-care provider to begin with. That was your career choice, remember?

b) If you can fight and win in the courts on the grounds of your religious beliefs, why can't the patient? Besides having religious beliefs that should be honored, the patient has a right to treatment without judgment and with regard to his/her well-being, not prejudiced bullshit and archaic rules about who does and doesn't deserve the proper care.

c) If you truly believe a certain way but choose to be a physician, nurse, pharmacist, medical provider, or social servant and can't stand some provisions of health care, then start your own private clinic or practice. Don't work in emergency rooms, hospitals, public clinics, student health care centers, or other practices where you can't pick and choose your patients and their needs. Take a stand on your own time and in your own practice, if you please.

States have begun passing more laws in favor of these antiquated farces rather than catching up to the 21st century and protecting patient health. I've got no use for the politicians protecting these screwballs or for the assholes practicing religion rather medicine. Hey, assholes! Heads up...become priests or ethics professors rather than doctors. If the pay isn't as good, too fucking bad. At least you're getting to practice and preach your way.

Thanks,
Sunny

Wish I'd said that.....

Sunny here.

This is the first I've ever heard of the Article V convention, which made me want to learn more about it. Beyond that, Mr. Hirschhorn also paints a pretty accurate picture of problems in our country, especially about us losing sight of what's important because we are distracted by entertainment, materialism, etc.

Please read "Are Americans Unready to Boil?" by Joel S. Hirschhorn, then follow up with his article called "Americans Unready to Revolt, Despite Revolting Conditions". Pretty damn good spot of writing and thinking, if you ask me.

Take care,
Sunny

Good movie. Great friendship!

Sunny here.

So Guarding Tess is not a "great" movie, but the more I saw it after it came out, the more I liked it. One reason: Friendship. At some point (or points) in your life, you find out who your friends are. In the movie, despite differences in politics or ambitions or personal beliefs or backgrounds or status, the former first lady and her head of security, Doug Chesnic, become and are friends, even if they think they don't like each other. She is especially touched by this younger man's reaction at the funeral of her husband (which she watches over and over again on a tape of the live broadcast), who was a president that Chesnic protected. Fictional or not, one has the impression that hers was not an affected response, which makes it all the more meaningful in the movie.

This movie grows on you and gives you an insight into a true friendship, as when the former first lady forces a helicopter to re-land, and she has all the pompous bureaucrats disembark so that her personal security team can ride with her to the hospital even though the additional security forces feel her team has been disgraced and doesn't deserve the ride with her. Interesting to note that she doesn't feel her security detail has been disgraced at all even though she's constantly at odds with them and has been kidnapped and has had to be rescued but refuses to go anywhere without them.

Guarding Tess reminds us that friendships are not easy and require work and compromise and growth on both parts. Irritation, disagreement, disillusionment, affectation, qualification of terms: some or all of these negatives emerge in a true friendship of more than a few years. But a real friendship survives and is even enhanced by our personal growth and personal battles. For once, Hollywood got it right.

Thanks,
Sunny

R.I.P. Kelsey

Kelsey,

I did not know you, and neither did most people outside of Overland Park, Kansas. However, your friends and family loved you. Over the last 100 years, many others in this country have been abducted, raped, and/or killed, and some received media coverage, and some didn't. Your abduction got massive coverage, which doesn't make your death any less tragic or mean that you earned or didn't earn attention. You were a human being who needed our concern and prayers, our skills and manpower, our love and empathy. But it reminds us that all should get the same attention, black or Asian or Hispanic or white, educated or drop-out, beautiful or plain or disfigured or handicapped, male or female, preteen or teenager or adult, married or single, runaway or church-goer. Children, friends, family, neighbors...in fact, all of us in this country need to be safe. Period.

We're all thinking of and praying for you, your family and friends, and even total strangers who put their all into finding you. Kelsey, you are not forgotten, even by this total stranger. Rest in Peace, Kelsey, and know that your family, friends, volunteers, neighbors, and law enforcement agents put their all into making sure that you were found and properly laid to rest, that your attacker will never have another chance to hurt someone else, and that we're one step closer to making sure that sadists and perverts and abusers and killers like him disappear. We'll miss your contributions to this world (which I have no doubt would have been tremendous!), but you unintentionally captured a freak of nature who enjoyed harming other beings.

Thank you, Kelsey, for being you; from what I've seen and heard, you were a strong and vibrant young lady on her way to wisdom and success and contribution to humanity.

I, and the rest of our great country, are sorry for not getting to know you.

Sweet dreams, Kelsey,

Sunny

Grace vs. Disgrace

Grace: Elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.
Disgrace: A person, act, or thing that causes shame, reproach, or dishonor or is dishonorable or shameful.

Paris Hilton is a disgrace as a human being who could be helping others with her money (a la Princess Diana, who wasn't a famed actress or singer or talent but used her money, fame, and looks for some good causes, even if they were a bit self-serving on occasion), but Paris has chosen to be a spoiled brat, a party girl with no goals or charitable affiliations, and a self-centered narcissist. Her family's enabling and ensuring her of all those qualities is also a disgrace.

Frankly, I can't believe Paris's father didn't take a belt to her years ago, but I guess he's been too busy advising her to get drunk, get laid, wear revealing clothes, and not only show off but brag about her indiscretions rather than be embarrassed by them. And, in the end (or perhaps, the beginning of a long, Elizabeth Taylor-style downfall, which still carried the whiff of fame her parents seem to embrace rather than rue), she'll be encouraged to marry. Not that embarrassments or morals or encouraging true individuality seem to be issues for her enabling parents, who are ensuring that she'll be supporting whatever vapid loser/motivational speaker/used-car salesman/Lothario wannabe she gets knocked up by or that her parents pick because he's good looking and can schmooze and has a reasonably good background (if you ignore the juvenile record), even though he has no brains and is more narcissistic than she is.

Sorry to be convoluted, but if you followed all that, what I'm saying is that Paris's parents are encouraging her future to be a public, drug-addled, divorce-ridden, embarrassing fall from "fame", which includes tabloid rumors about drugs and alcohol, domestic abuse, and custody battles. Sound familiar? Open your tabloids. Don't believe me? Go back and check the tabloids since the 1920s for similarities. Hell, go back and check yesterday's tabloids about ANY young star/famous person.

Just FYI, Mrs. Hilton, having your famous daughter's mom boo-hoo every time her poor baby gets mistreated (i.e., has to follow the rules or laws), doesn't help. I guess granting her all of her wants, ways, wishes, and whims is considered being a good parent in your family, but where the fuck were you raised? Didn't they have rules and etiquette and make you sit at a kid's table at holidays and tell you to eat your vegetables and make you do your homework and have traditions and learn respect for others that children couldn't and didn't override without grave consequences? So why are you ignoring your past, Mrs. Hilton? And why hasn't your husband stepped up to the plate and put his foot down? Too bad, so sad, your daughter suffers for YOUR spoiling HER.

She just finished serving a pathetic amount of time in jail, which means "the system" enabled her as aptly as her pathetic parents. In other words, being a whiny, spoiled brat with money means you get off. Her parents need to take a good look at Anna Nicole Smith and O.J. Simpson before they have another cognac and congratulate each other on getting their little princess out of trouble. (FYI, Mr. and Mrs. Hilton, one way you end up a dead, too young, drug-addled prostitute with no morals, and the other way you end up an idolized, sociopathic, and egotistical murderer with no morals.)

What's even more pathetic is actor Tom Sizemore, who has been in trouble for years with much more serious charges than Paris Hilton. He has continued to attend the parties and roam the streets of Hollywood and be hired for films despite being arrested more than once and having violated his probation more than once. Although one could argue whether Paris Hilton's 45 days was fair or not (she still deserved jail time, IMHO, but maybe not 45 days for a non-violent offense), Tom Sizemore should be serving serious jail time, period. No argument, please. Once again, we see a famous person getting away with violations that no normal person or street thug or unknown would be allowed.

Tom Sizemore, whether you like him or not (which I do in his movies, especially True Romance and Saving Private Ryan), deserves jail time. Would our courts please quit coddling and acquitting criminals who happen to be famous, please?

Thanks to Dictionary.com for the definitions.
Sunny

Illegal Immigrants

Elected people of all parties and persuasions, Beware! For some reason, y'all are just not getting it!

Democrat or Republican, we don't want illegal immigrants to be granted amnesty. Period. I have paid into this system for how many years but can't get assisted health care or get tax breaks because I'm not married, don't have kids, and make too much on the one hand (just enough to get by), and don't qualify for being a charity case on the other because I haven't popped out multiple illegitimate kids (citizens or otherwise), haven't put my illegitimate and/or illegal immigrant kids and family into our health, education, and unemployment system, and have actually worked for a living.

George W. is trying to put his political history on the same level as Ronald Reagan in the hopes of saving himself from his low approval rating in Iraq. It'll never happen. In fact, he's making things worse, even in his own party. He already sucks, but what he's not seeing is that everyone, and I mean everyone, is fighting it this time. Even conservatives who worshiped Reagan hated his granting amnesty.

What happened to representing the People? When most of those surveyed (male, female, conservative, liberal, immigrants who followed all the rules to become citizens, etc.) say they disagree with granting amnesty, then why aren't the politicians elected to represent them listening? Survey says, they just don't care anymore because they have their own agendas.

What aggravates me even more is that media and talk radio continue saying that Democrats and the left support this bill, which makes no sense since many of us "libs" DO NOT support this at all. Maybe the "elected" do, but that's what I was talking about above. As a citizen who works for a living and has spent years paying into the system, I do not support this bill! Texas Overnight host Charley Jones cited a reputable survey stating that Democrats and Republicans alike were against amnesty for illegal immigrants, then the very next week he kept talking about how the "Dems" approved of it. What? Mr. Jones, please don't cite one thing and then incite another. Some few idiot elected "Dems" may approve of it, but this liberal, educated, taxpaying lower middle-class person does not!

And the idea that a thinking person, regardless of ethnicity, would waste time going home to his/her country, digging up $5000 he/she doesn't have, and waiting 13 years to become a citizen, rather than keep doing what he/she already has been, is ridiculous. In other words, most illegals will stay right here! Enforcement is already limited, so how will this change things?

And let's take it one step further: If all the illegals here are granted amnesty, follow all the rules (payments, going home, etc.), and are entered into the system, the cheap labor everyone keeps citing goes away. The new citizens will be awarded employee benefits, protection, and legal wages. So then what happens? NEW illegals flood the system with the cheap labor that was lost! Hellooooooo? Who's not following this besides the politicians? As long as employers get away with hiring cheap labor (laws that are already on the books and rarely enforced address this), what's actually going to change other than I'm competing for benefits with pardoned illegals who haven't paid into the system? And then those new "legals" are replaced by more, possibly cheaper "illegals" to make up for the loss to employers? Huh?

I know political sides in this country have reached the point of not even having rational debates or discussions, but some things are so obvious that we should put political disagreements aside. This new bill is ridiculous on its face and in its adherence and enforcement.

If a person wants to be a citizen, guidelines are available and have been followed by thousands of immigrants who are now citizens. They worked at learning English and American history, learning the rules and laws, taking the tests and filling out forms, paying the fees, enrolling their kids, and, eventually, swearing in as proud citizens of the United States. They earned their citizenship. What's so hard to understand about that?

Banks = Loan Sharks

Sunny here.

I read an interesting story on MSNBC that got my blood boiling because I've been there within the last two years. If you go to that story about bank overdraft fees, you may or may not see my comments (edited here for context) on their blog, but they weren't published when I passed this on to you (time delay; nothing unusual). Having gone through this crap with one particular bank, I felt I had to respond.

I'm shocked by how many are so clueless as to what happens to bank and credit card customers regarding fees, interest rate hikes, etc. Many people who have gotten screwed aren't whiners who don't know how to keep track of their accounts. And they're not necessarily victims of identity theft either.

I started a new account closer to a home I bought. I had a bank account (in good standing) with another bank for more than six years at that point, but it was a much farther drive to their nearest branch once I'd moved, and I didn't want to close my old account right away. I was told at my new, closer-to-home bank that I had overdraft protection of $400 with no fees.

Not long after, while I was trying to sort out my two bank accounts, I got $40 out of the ATM at my new bank. I was overdrawn at that point and didn't realize it. The ATM didn't warn me that they were charging $25 for the transaction, seeing as how I was overdrawn (which they knew at this point; I found out later); it just said I was being charged a $1.00 fee like always. More than 10 days after that withdrawal, I got five $25 overdraft fees within two days, including one for the ATM withdrawal. I called the bank and said the reason I asked for overdraft protection is so I WOULDN'T be charged fees if I went over, especially while I was sorting out my accounts. They said I did have overdraft protection but that they charged $25 per transaction even under the $400 limit. HUH???? So WHAT'S THE POINT of overdraft protection? WHY would I pay $125 in overdraft fees for a total of five transactions that equaled $162 (including $40 at an ATM for cash) if I thought I was going to be charged fees in the first place? I'd have made just ONE transaction at $162 and had ONE $25 fee if I really knew what the heck was going on.

So all you people telling the rest of us to take responsibility and quit whining, how about asking YOUR financial institutions to remember what customer service is about (once upon a time, they worked with you whether you were a Rockefeller or a dirt farmer) and to provide truthful responses about fees and not lie to your face or print everything in such small font that no reasonable person can/won't read it? My "New Accounts" lady flat out said that there were no fees under my $400 overdraft protection, but the assholes up the line said I should have read the small-type, 20-page booklet with a magnifying glass and figured out that there were fees. WRONG! Why should you have to have a lawyer to open a bank account?

I'm no longer a customer of this bank, and I made every effort to work it out with them. I obviously owed the $162 in actual transactions, which I had no problem with, but I refused to pay the $125 in overdraft fees. After multiple phone calls over several days to higher and higher levels of people, when they wouldn't back down, I finally said I'd pay all but one of the overdraft fees (even though I argued vehemently), which was the $25 fee for the ATM withdrawal. Again, they refused to work with me. I finally told them that their customer service sucked, that they were missing out on a potentially very good customer, and I moved all monies back to my old, but thankfully still-existing, account without ever paying them their damn fees. Oh well. Funny how they haven't pursued me for their $125 though.

Our Troops

Okay, so I really don't even know where to begin on this one. I support our troops even though I think this war was wrong from the start. Being pretty liberal, I've been appalled at the way the newly elected Democrats have padded legislation with funding for non-war-related projects while demanding deadlines to withdraw from Iraq (which are known to the enemy!?!) while stalling for months in approving funding for our troops and their welfare.

But what do I know? Basically, none of this makes any sense to me. For instance, who in their right mind tells the enemy when you're leaving? Huh? Who in their right mind lowers troop morale by saying we're not giving you any more money for defenses, implying that their safety is not a priority? Huh? Who pads war-related funding with pork that has nothing to do with supporting our troops? What the f**k?

Although I'm not a politician or government official or soldier or Halliburton excecutive and don't know how everything's run (or who's getting rich over all this crap), and I definitely don't like President Bush and haven't since he was the governor of our great state of Texas, and I think this war was wrong from the start, I still think you support our troops, period. In essence, the Democrats are really pissing me off at this point. (The Republicans and their rich-ass cronies did that a long time ago. After all, they made a ton of money off of this war.)

However, I just read an op-ed that gave me a bit of the other side's opinion (i.e., the side I usually agree with), and even though I think Mr. Olbermann's opinion is WAY over the top, it did make me think a little.

But, at the end of the day, I still don't see how all this infighting and political bullshit helps the situation in Iraq or our relationship with the Middle East, and more importantly, I definitely can't see that all this has been a positive morale booster for our troops regardless of which side you're on.

I may be a little weak on how our political system works or what it's like to be a soldier or how lobbyists, corporate buddies, and huge contributors affect you elected people instead of you remembering that you represent The People, but I can say one thing: Would all of you please get your shit together and quit acting like political assholes? Our guys and girls in uniform are more important than your damn egos.

Thanks, from a concerned US citizen who has no political or financial influence,

Sunny

Breasts (even small ones) are nice to have....

Sunny here.

I just read an unfortunate report that more and more women, especially of "worrisome" later ages, are letting their mammograms slide by the wayside. Ladies, say it ain't so.

I'm 36 years old and, before last summer, had never even thought of a mammogram because women always hear you should get it done for the first time at 40 or 45 and then only if you're well-endowed or if breast cancer runs in the family.

Well, they're wrong.

I found a lump less than two weeks after my 36th birthday. I'm a double-A (AA) cup even though I'm in my thirties and weigh more than 135 pounds. Within one week after discovering the lump, I had a tactile exam, upon which the doctor immediately ordered a mammogram and sonogram for the next day at an expert facility. The next morning, after I had received those more specialized tests, the expert ordered a biopsy for that same afternoon as well as the implanting of titanium markers at the suspicious spots in my breast because he was convinced it was cancer, all within ONE DAY. My worried 60-something-year-old aunt and mother now declared me a member of the "Titanium Tit Club" and tried to laugh about it but were no longer as positive thinking as they had been.

After a week of waiting on the biopsy results, it turned out to be non-cancerous! (Woooo-hoooo!) I still ended up having a lumpectomy in October 2006 (larger lump than the surgeon thought, which meant a bigger scar, which meant more psychological damage to me, even if I did keep my boob), and I suffered through multiple, non-stop infections until December 2006, until my surgeon got me back up to snuff. I unexpectedly had one more infection in March 2007 (unexpected because it was after more than two months without infection, and I had no outward or inward signs of problems, and I wasn't feeling bad until the last minute). That infection's gone now, but I'm supposed to see an infectious disease specialist once I get my insurance in order. My point is that even when you don't have cancer and don't lose one or both breasts, it's more stressful than some people might think, and that diagnosis affects everything, including your job, friendships, family, feelings, and reactions.

Basically, I've found that most of your "older" female family/friends and their husbands and family members will tell you that they know all about lumps, and that they're some sort of "cystic" or "fibro-" something, which they can't really remember the name of, and that they're no big deal at my age (30-something). The doctors will tell you the same thing and say no more caffeine and that you need to eat more Vitamin E. Then they schedule an appointment for a month later or a little sooner if you're lucky.

Don't let them do that to you. The only reason I got taken so seriously was because I was very vocal and very scared because the lump appeared literally overnight (no joke), and it was as big as a marble and it hurt!

In fact, family and friends told me from the get-go that both pain and sudden appearance were good things since they don't usually indicate cancer. Well, they were right; there was no cancer, but my boob has been scarred for life, and I'm still going through it. I learned that I'd had a mammary gland infection for at least 6 months, which then turned into a cyst, which then abscessed, which then turned into a lump (overnight) after I physically strained myself, which then resulted in surgery and a lumpectomy, which then led to another three months of infection (not from the surgery or any sort of medical incompetence). In other words, it's been a minor hell for someone who does still have her breast and hasn't needed chemo and doesn't need radiation and is still alive, but just because it's not a worse outcome doesn't mean you don't suffer. People get paper cuts all the time, but they hurt, don't go right away, and cause stress in you life, right? You bitch about them every time they burn, right?

I'm grateful it's not worse, but don't play down my pain, please, you few in number.

Ladies, the point is, get mammograms and check-ups, please. Being a member of the Titanium Tit Club isn't terrible, especially when it turns out you're okay and your family is laughing not out of humor but out of relief, but I'd rather none of us be a member.

Lump? Get checked. Over 35? Get checked. Pain in your breast or nipple? Get checked. Funky drainage from your nipple? Get checked.

Told that any problem (pain, drainage, lump) is no big deal at any age? Get a second opinion. Have family members, friends, aunts, grandmothers, or even doctors say it's not likely at your age? Get a second opinion.

So it turns out to not be a big deal. Good for them and great for you! But what if everyone's wrong? Just check it out, okay?

Sunny

Little gifts are the best treasures....

A friend and her boyfriend just came back from a trip to New Mexico. Before they left, they mentioned that they would be going through Roswell. As an X-Files fan, I couldn't resist asking them to bring me a little something. She brought a keyring with the cutest little blue alien with big red eyes. I love it! But then she started apologizing that it was too "cheapy" and was sorry they hadn't gotten me something better or more expensive. Bullshit! I told her she couldn't have picked a better gift, and I meant it. I've spent the last week showing it off to everyone!

Anytime friends or family are going someplace new (especially if I haven't been there), I ask them to send a postcard or bring me a little something, and I've loved each and every gift from whichever part of these United States or the world they've come from.

I've gotten a postcard from India, an erotic whip keychain from Reno (don't ask), a Harrod's pint glass from England, a coffee table picture book from Germany, a Glenmorangie tin and miniature Scotch bottles from Scotland, a Harley tie-dye t-shirt from Sturgis, a postcard from England from a friend in the military, a homemade cassette of modern music from Germany, sausages and mustard from Minnesota, a Cheers cap and t-shirt from Boston (as with the Sturgis shirt, more expensive than usual, but greatly appreciated), plum schnapps from Germany, a little Buddha from Laos, a "Texas" mistletoe magnet from Minnesota (believe it or not), a children's book from Russia, and my new favorite alien keychain from Roswell, to name a few.

Anyway, what did we all learn growing up? It's not the gift but the thought that counts. Luckily for me, my friends and family put thought into each precious gift, which turns them into treasure.

Thanks again,
Sunny

American Common Sense

Okay, so we're not supposed to profile in this country because of what happened to our Japanese countrymen during WWII. I would agree that they were mistreated 100%. However, now we've had six people arrested who wanted to attack/sabotage Fort Dix. Were they white? No. Were they black? No. Were they Hispanic? No. They were transplanted Muslims who may have been fine in their ideals when they moved here, but they changed their minds at some point and became radical Muslims.

I'm all for the democratic process, especially since I'm a liberal. But it's time we started examining the foreign people (illegal or otherwise) living in our country. They've never had it better (except for the damn gas prices), but they are brainwashed into believing the fundamentalist bullshit they hear from back home. So why do we continue to let malcontents and illegals stay here when they clearly don't appreciate the opportunities and choices they have? I don't care if they're students or refugees or immigrants or opportunists seeking a better life; if they get here and make little or no effort to learn English, or integrate into our society, or even try to become citizens, they need to go back home. I'm tired of hearing about and experiencing "little Cuba's" or "Chinatowns" or "Mexican" parts of town or the other "ethnic" sides of town where they don't even try to learn or speak English or embrace our way of life even though we're giving them opportunities to be a part of our culture, make money, become educated, and become American citizens.

Now, before you judge me, I totally think our ethnic groups should remember and embrace their heritages and languages and culture. Absolutely. But to ignore where you are now and who has given you such wonderful rights and choices, especially compared to where you came from, and then to turn around and bitch and piss and moan about how you're treated here, makes no sense. If you don't like it, then go back home. Period.

Be proud of your heritage but be even more proud of the fact that you have a chance for a better life here. Is it perfect? No. Do you (or I) always agree with our government? No. But if you didn't think you had chances for better education, money, health care, travel, and personal freedom here, then why did you come? If you just came here to bitch or cause trouble, go back to where you came from and bitch about us there. All I'm saying is at least make the effort now that you're here.

Immigrants and refugees should have a maximum time here to learn basic English and become citizens. If you refuse or have no interest in doing both after one year upon landing on our shores, you should be sent back home. We have a wonderful country and are letting ourselves get walked on by people who just take advantage of what we have to offer. Either appreciate what you've got and become Americanized (without forgetting your heritage) or go back home.

Sunny

Abu Ghraib and ABC Family Channel

Sunny here.

To our military leaders:

For future reference, I have the perfect torture technique. Let the prisoner watch a movie, making sure to include regular commercial breaks, and then let him/her wait and wait and wait the last 15 minutes of that movie to see the ending while running an endless loop of commercials that don't match the audio.

I was enjoying the movie Sister Act tonight until the very end. ABC Family channel began a full 15 minute loop of ads for their own shows, but the ads didn't match the audio. No big deal, right? Technical difficulties still happen even with all of our technology. But besides being tortured by endless ads that didn't match the words being spoken, I was then dismayed to find that they switched to the next program without showing us the last 15 minutes of the movie. Hello?!? You make a mistake, and I totally understand. But then you fix the problem. ABC Family channel, you suck. You should have delayed the next program so I (and thousands of other viewers) could watch the end of the damn movie we'd already invested almost two hours in. I don't care if I've seen it before or not; at that point, viewers are into it, or we would have changed the channel already. I know how it ends, but thanks to your not fixing your own mistake, I didn't get to see and enjoy that ending.

Thanks for nothing. Oh, and send me an original copy of that movie (not your ad-filled version), or I'll sue. Bastards.

Common Sense

Readers,
I'm all for personal responsibility; in fact, I'm a firm believer in it, no matter how much I enjoy feeling sorry for myself. But self-pity and legal waivers aside, common sense must come into play sometime. If I'm a trained guide on a hardcore hiking trail encouraging military-style survival testing, with non-military paying guinea pigs, I'd like to keep my customers alive, wouldn't you?

Dave Buschow, a 29-year old who went to a survivalist school to test himself, is now dead. Why? Because he ended up talking to himself and seeing things (in other words, he was delusional) due to lack of water, and no one helped him (including the other hikers, just FYI). The school has blamed him rather than saying that their "trained" guides, who had emergency water on hand, should have helped the poor S.O.B. Shouldn't all that training for their guides have included signs of recognizing plain-and-simple distress? I know the point of the school was to push one's self, but what if a person, even a tough one who's a bit out of shape, just couldn't hack it? Nothing against Mr. Buschow, who had served in the military, but even Survivor has its limits. What you don't see on Survivor are divers and nutritionists and doctors and teams ready to rescue/aid someone who rolls into a fire or might be threatened by a shark or gets a paper cut or who just plain starts starving to death.

Even a former military person who's been trained doesn't always see what's happening to him/her, especially when that person wants to feel the testosterone or reach the summit or be pushed to the limit or save face. The point is, exactly BECAUSE of those feelings, the job of the drill sergeant or trail guide or dive master or team leader is to evaluate his/her team and followers.

The guides on this hike failed miserably in evaluating this man's fitness and physical state, and they can blame it on him for eating a buffet the day before, or say that it's his fault for not speaking up, or postulate that a former military man should have know better. The real point is that THEY should have known better. That was their job. And now a man is dead. Please quit blaming the deceased. That's like saying a woman wearing a short skirt and low-cut blouse brought rape upon herself. Bullshit.

He may have signed the waivers, and maybe he should have known better, but he trusted his own strength and trusted his guides to evaluate and examine that strength. His strength failed him and so did those guides. Do they deserve the death penalty, so to speak? Hell no. Do they deserve to suffer for their lack of observation? Yes, but I have a feeling they'll be beating themselves up for quite a long time without my help (along with the other hikers who thought about speaking up but did not). Does the company deserve to be sued? Yes; obviously, they didn't train their guides like they should have. Does Mr. Buschow deserve some blame? Yes, but only for believing his body still functions like it did 10 years ago, a normal human, especially male, response, to ignoring changes in strength and stamina; and even back when he was younger, he had a trained military drill instructor who kept an eye out for his welfare no matter how hard he/she pushed the young man. After all, part of a drill instructor's job is not only looking out for those who can't handle it personally or psychologically but who also check for those who are in physical distress through no fault of their own. That's their JOB. Which is my point about these negligent guides. The company treated this like extreme training, which implies a military style, which implies that their guides should have treated their hikers as tough as possible, but with the same eye to looking for physical, psychological, and personal distress. There is no excuse.

Sunny

Global Warming

I listen to a great many talk radio hosts, and they all have something in common: They point out with glee when it's unusually cold or cold and raining or cold and snowing because environmentalists are talking about global warming.

Now, I'm no scientist, but I get filled not with glee but with confusion when I hear all these idiots saying that global warming means only "warming" and that snowfalls and icing all over the U.S. in April and that freezing temperatures in all parts of Texas in late spring and that the lowest temperatures recorded in Florida in April in more than 100 years mean that global warming isn't happening. Environmental conditions go haywire as climate changes spread, and that includes unusual warming and unusual cold and unusual bad weather in varying climates. Arctic and Antarctic shelves break up and too much warm weather or rain or cold or drought in various parts of the world don't prove your non-global warming theories, they disprove them. Wake up, American conservatives! You are making us look like idiots to the rest of the world (scientific and otherwise). You're so narcissistic you say humans can't make that big a difference environmentally but are narcissistic enough to say only the United States is blessed by God and is the greatest nation to ever exist, and that it will last beyond Ancient Rome or Tsarist Russia or the Mayans or any other great civilization because of its Christian background and heritage, and only by our U.S. history and Christian ethics and standards can the rest of the world survive in a civilized manner. According to the conservatives who disbelieve all the environmentalist crap: Didn't God create the world, ask us to look out for the earth and our own sacred temples [i.e., our bodies], and ask us to be humble? So, no big deal to all these Christian conservative American capitalist narcissists who say we have no influence on global warming but what about pesticide and bio-hazard poisoning of water resources, endangered species due to construction and drilling and expansion, poor air quality due to exhaust and factory and power-generation pollution, agricultural run off, and deforestation? According to them, God must be letting and even encouraging and supporting the U.S.A., the most "righteous" country in the world, in this our-right-to-everything-but-morals-and-ethics attitude, right? So we're screwing things up with His blessing, or what?

Sunny

Wal-Mart Parking for RVers

Thanks to a concerned citizen giving me notice, I sent the police by the local Wal-Mart to apprehend a miscreant who had parked there overnight. Although the Wal-Mart had provided general consent to all travelers needing rest, they had no right to grant any such convenience to law-abiding adults, as they were impinging on the rights of private property owners wanting to make money in the best democratic and capitalistic traditions.

The apprehended reprobate (and his wife and dog) had ignored local laws requiring them to stay at RV parks recognized by our great state. Freedom to choose doesn't apply to RVers and travelers wanting a nice, safe, free, well-lighted place to park a vehicle and to rest. After all, in this great country, adult, law-abiding men and women are allowed only so much freedom, and RV park and camp owners wanting to assert their rights to earn money and ignore your rights to drive, travel, park, and stay where you wish fit right in with the communist mentality we're trying to adopt, right? Oh, wait...somehow I lost the democratic and capitalistic tradition (basics of our American freedoms) part somewhere. Oops.

Sunny

Utilities

I'm not sure what people outside of Texas experience, and even people inside of Texas experience different companies, so this may fall on deaf ears. But absolutely, without a doubt, one of the worst companies in Texas is Monarch Utilities. Since they bought out a certain local water company (rural), they have indiscriminately disconnected people who've paid (late or otherwise), charged disconnect fees whether the service was disconnected or not, and given people little or no warning about being disconnected when they actually have a credit on their accounts, are less than one month (as in 10 days or less) behind, or have late fees/disconnect charges due that they're unaware of (even though the actual bill's been paid).

I've lived all over and have never seen a utilities company disconnect a good customer for being late in one month or disconnected not for the bill but for the late fees. Most companies tack a late charge onto the next month's bill and let you know you're delinquent or must have forgotten or (benefit of the doubt) may not have received the bill. Monarch Utilities disconnects you quickly and quietly (sometimes without notice) even if you have a credit on your account from the previous month(s) if that credit doesn't meet the full amount due (or overdue) for the next month. So you have a credit and are disconnected??!!!???

One month, they charged me for something like 20,000 gallons of water, and I spent three months arguing, getting shut off, getting that credited, getting shut off again anyway, and arguing some more. My basic fee is for 2000 gallons, and I rarely go over it. I live alone, and my usage for the three previous months and for the same months for the previous year, were all 2000 gallons, or actually less (whether I use it or not, that's the minimum charge). Although the meter reader changed his numbers after being sent back out out to double check, I couldn't get an exact figure for what I owed, and the company refused to changed their due date, so I sent in what a customer service agent said was the basic amount due. I got cut off anyway because the amount owed was more. Rather than work with me and recognize that I paid the bill (and that they had made the initial mistake), this company screwed me and, apparently, uses every excuse to screw all of their other customers out here in the Boonies too.

Because they are a monopoly, Monarch Utilities can get away with this shit. I'm about to start proceedings to have them investigated. I hope most people don't have to deal with this crap. But we all know about Enron instigating the rolling brownouts and blackouts in California and about the current scrabbles going on with TXU that affects many Texans. So my shitty water company is not alone; it's just not as big as Enron or TXU, and neither is their customer base.

Legislatures and politicians and representatives in this country need to start remembering what they're about. Not kissing up to lobbyists and courting monopolies/corporations and earning big bucks, but representing and protecting the people. We normal people have forgotten this little tidbit too, or we'd oust more of these gold (actually, dirt) diggers. Frankly, we've become lackadaisical and apathetic and have just decided there's nothing we can do. More friends than I can count say they don't bother voting or complaining or fighting or speaking up because it doesn't matter anyway. I disagree, but I can see why they think that way. I've fought with these assholes for more than a year, and it is beyond frustrating and time consuming, but maybe one of these days, I'll win.

Start standing up for yourselves again. It's time.

Sunny

Great Movies

Sunny here.

I saw The Fugitive for the first time in a long time tonight. Alth0ugh TV editing makes no sense to me (some of the bits and pieces removed weren't about bad language or nudity or adult situations, just shortening it without any merit, I guess), seeing that movie again reminded me that this is one of the greatest thrillers ever made. Although Harrison Ford is great here, Tommy Lee Jones and his team steal the movie with how "normally" they interact (like they've been hunting escaped prisoners together for years) and with how Jones finally comes to "see" Ford's innocence without saying so. Jones's best scene occurs on the stairway in the Chicago jail when his minute facial changes cause the audience to realize that Jones now believes Ford is innocent. He still does his job and chases after and even shoots at Ford, but he's started to wonder, and it shows (just barely, but at the same time, profoundly, which is why it's such a great acting job).

This is an incredible remake and just a plain ol' good movie. We root for Ford the whole time without losing our respect for Jones, who is just doing his job in chasing our hero. With a few exceptions (like the prison guard who not only leaves his partner to die on the train but then lies about being a hero), we also like the other characters who are chasing and/or aiding Ford, and we believe in their personalities. This is a great movie without being hinky.

Sunny

Full of (greenhouse) gas....

Yes, Mark Davis and Rush Limbaugh continue to excite conservative-minded peoples to completely exclude the possibility that humans are contributing to global warming. Rush calls it arrogant of us, and Mark Davis won't even consider it (yet he congratulates a scientist on his show for admitting that the scientist's ideas may be wrong while saying that the other side won't even consider the possibility that they are wrong and won't be around to be proved wrong; but somewhere in there Mark forgot to mention that he won't even consider he's wrong and won't be around to be proved wrong either. HUH?). What's happened to these two?

I used to enjoy (to a point) listening to these two conservatives, who were educated and sharp-minded and witty. Now, they just spout off the same kind of "spin" they denigrate liberals and the media for. What's up with that? Especially Mark Davis. He's never struck me as one to be a parrot, but he's become just this mindless icon for conservatism, and I don't think he even hears what he says anymore. At least Rush Limbaugh admitted in an interview years ago that he's in it for the money. But his true followers obviously didn't read that interview.

I'm very disappointed in the way politics and debates have turned so nasty in my lifetime. Great debaters and thinkers on both sides used to enjoy the discussions, turns, friendships, and truces that resulted from their debates. With some exceptions, they also realized that despite their differences, they were on the same side (i.e., that of their country's or constituencies'). In the last 10 years, conservatives have concluded that those who disagree with them or the Republicans in office are traitors, dissenters, enemies (yes, I've heard this in person and on conservatives' shows), non-patriots, malcontents, wackos, liberals (said in the worst possible light), or some idiotic (insert word here) nasty, anti-patriotic, liberal, pro-abortion, feminist, environmentalist wacko, anti-American (whatever). I love my country, support our troops, love a good debate, believe in my beliefs, wish the best for you and your family, wish the best for me and my family, and enjoy a good book, movie, bath, and letter or phone call from friends and family; so how am I a bad person? I may not agree with you on all things, but the conservative movement in this country has reached an all-time low in labeling and categorizing those who disagree with them, which thinking, wondering, semi-educated, discerning, open, and curious individuals don't and shouldn't fall for.

Now, if you listen to these personalities on the TV or radio, they say that the media and liberals and Democrats always label the other side unfairly and cast a biased spin. I can listen to two hours of Rush and/or Mark Davis and hear more labels on their shows than I hear on the rest of non-conservative modern TV and radio in one week combined. It's time to reconsider rhetoric, here. Listen if you want to, believe if you must, but have the decency to think for yourself, please, regardless of which side of the debate you're on.

I used to enjoy Rush 15 years ago, and I learned a lot even when I disagreed. That's no longer true most of the time. Do I still learn? On occasion. But mostly I hear vitriolic name calling and categorizing (which he despises from the other side) and statistics repeated without balance or references and statements re-worded to fit his diatribes. And Mark Davis has the education and reading to know better than the bullshit I hear from him lately. Neither one of them will agree with me or even argue with me nowadays; they will just attack me and label me, and that's too bad. They're better than that.

Sunny

I love dumb people!

It's Sunny here.

I love living around dumb people. I'm currently in a bit of trouble with Oklahoma. I know of a guy who's a felon on parole for 10 years for his crime in Oklahoma. He fails every other UA in the last four years, and they tell him to clean up his act and send him home. I have a non-violent, non-theft, non-drug-related misdemeanor, and I get treated like a damn pedophile every month when I go in. Now, how much sense does that make to you? I'm in a little bit of trouble and get treated like shit, and this guy (and many others) keep getting away with anything they want. Know why? If they lock him up, it costs the state a lot of money, so he keeps getting by. If they lock me up, they lose money because my little mistake brings in twice as much money as long as they're scary to me so that I keep paying for court costs, fines, class fees, show-up-every-month fees, etc. If they lock me up because I actually can't cut the costs or the time involved or just say "fuck you", my time served equals minus dollars for them in less than 30 days, and they don't get all of those we-don't-like-you fees because they have to house me, feed me, clothe me, and protect me and other non-violent offenders and then release me. Not worth it for them.

All you states that continue letting real criminals slide because of the costs, you suck. Oklahoma and Texas, that includes you especially. If you want to change my behavior, find a method that works and quit worrying about how much money you can get from me while treating me like a common criminal but not busting real criminals who violate parole and probation terms. Quit letting methheads who cooked and distributed that shit and got felony convictions get away with failing every other drug test (UA) for years while getting mad at people like me for not finishing 24 hours of community service in less than six months of a year's probation. Hellooooooo??????

Dumbasses.

Sunny

Abusive Men

It's Sunny here.

Women of Texas (or wherever) unite! Why do y'all continue putting up with assholes, abusers, lazy asses, druggies, drop outs, racists, control freaks, chauvinists, liars, and mooches? (Okay, okay, I give. I've done it many times myself.)

• Do you really think he was just teasing when he wanted to see your teenage daughter show her tits or even patted her on the ass?
• How many times can he lose a job because "they" just don't appreciate him (or his beer breath or constant call-ins or whatever)?
• Why do his mood swings always show up on weekends when his buddies are visiting even though he doesn't do "that shit" (i.e, drugs) anymore?
• How many second chances do you give a guy who hits you even though you wouldn't dream of seeing your mom, daughter, cousin, best friend, niece, roommate get abused?
• Why is everything always your fault?
• Why does he get mad every time you try to better yourself? He says it's you're way of putting him down, right?
• Why does he see your friends, family, co-workers, or even total strangers as such a threat?
• How does he take care of you, exactly? Can you actually say how he contributes positively to your life, livelihood, and well-being?
• If he drinks around your family after you've asked him not to (even on holidays), why do you expect him to change?
• Why are you worthless when you have a job and keep up with the kids and cook and clean the house and kiss that's asshole's butt trying your best to make him happy?
  
• How does he treat your kids, really? When they were born, would you have dreamed of letting anyone talk to your kids that way? Would you have let your family or in-laws or teachers or anyone hit them or cuss them? So why can this guy get away with it?
• If every bad joke or snide comment is about Spics, niggers, Hebes, Polacks, crackers, or wetbacks, why do you think he's not racist?
  
• Do you even have a life of your own anymore? You know, friends, nights out with the girls, family get-togethers, lunches with co-workers, alone time outside of your home? He controls everything, even phone time, doesn't he?

If you see a pattern here, it's time to change it, but you knew that already, didn't you? Why spend so much of your time miserable? Is he that great? He may have started out as your dream guy, but he's not anymore, and he's not gonna change. It might take you two, three, twenty, ninety tries, but work up the courage to move on. He'll keep coming back or trying to control you or woo you or convince you he's changed, but how long does that really last?

Texas women (and women all over) are pretty damn strong. I have faith in you. Find your support network and stand up for yourself. You're too good to put up with that asshole. Who knows? Dump him for good, stand firm (even when he calls or you hear "your" song or you see pics of you two together on that one great weekend), and you could finally, actually find the guy you were looking for all along!

Sunny

American Rights, 101

Thanks to Dallas for providing the latest rant regarding rights in this great U.S. of A. The Dallas City Council recently approved an ordinance allowing dogs on restaurant patios.

Before I begin my rant, let me state that I'm all for this step forward, which is how I see it. (I lived in Germany as a non-military, non-student guest of friends. Once I got used to dogs in pubs and restaurants, I saw no problem with it. Dogs that didn't mind either weren't brought out at all, or the owners were quickly reprimanded by other patrons without the hesitation or embarrassment Americans might exhibit.)

So what's bugging me? Dogs now have more rights than smokers in Dallas County. I liked Laura Miller as a writer; I can't stand her as a mayor. Unfortunately, I don't actually live in Dallas County and don't have a vote there. Thanks to her, law-abiding citizens can no longer smoke there. Which reminds me, I have a great quote. I don't think this person was there when the vote was cast for non-smoking in Dallas County, but read his quote as is: “Animals are their children. I can’t blame anyone” for wanting to dine with their pets, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Elba Garcia said. “You have a choice. You don’t have to be there. The standards are clear in this ordinance. More than anything, it’s an option for our businesses here.” (1) Thank you Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Elba Garcia for saying that patrons have a choice! Even though he was talking about animals, he endorsed the option for patrons going or not going to a business while also emphasizing that the business had the option of having animals or not. So, WHY NOT THE SAME WITH SMOKING???

On to my rant: I'm tired of our country ignoring and suppressing the rights of those who aren't breaking the law. New York and California have led the fight. Don't those of you who call California and New York liberals "wackos" think it's ironic that you're endorsing their actions? Texas has become Republican over the years, but how does it make sense that those of you who wouldn't dream of giving up your gun rights or property rights or speech rights or the right to eat whatever the hell you want are supporting anti-smoking laws and ordinances? Now, take a moment to really read about this before reacting instead of thinking.

• You have the right to eat or not eat, drink or not drink, socialize or not socialize, where you want.
  
• Law-abiding citizens in America have the right to go where they want. They can choose to give or not give an establishment their business.
  
• Smoking and chewing tobacco are legal for those 18 and over.
• Businesses pay for land, buildings, property taxes and/or leases out of their own pockets.
• Business owners should be able to do and sell what they want out of their businesses as long as the product/service is legal, and as long as they keep up their taxes, permits, licenses, and their payments on the property.
  
• Adults ages 18 and older can legally smoke or chew tobacco in most states. They can legally vote, drive, serve in the military, sign contracts, marry, and make legal decisions. What gives you the right to tell them what they can and can't do? And please don't tell me they're infringing upon your rights; as an adult, you can choose to frequent or not frequent an establishment, do or not do as you like. As an American, this is your right!
  
• Business, like life, includes give and take, practical experience(s) upon which to weigh decisions, and some sacrifice(s). Some businesses choose to be non-smoking knowing that they'll lose customers. Some businesses choose to allow smoking knowing that they'll lose customers. Some businesses choose to have smoking/non-smoking sections knowing that they won't make all of their customers happy. Now, think about this: Some businesses cater to children, some to gays, some to singles, some to the rich, some to the big and tall, some to smokers. Some businesses sell clothing, some books, some furniture. Some businesses sell organic foods, some weapons, some athletic gear. Some sell memorabilia, some liquor, some gourmet foods. Some businesses sell plants, some car parts, some appliances. Some sell entertainment. Are any of these places wrong? No, they cater to their clientele and should be allowed to serve what their clients want.
  
• Law-abiding business owners in good standing should be able to choose how to run their own businesses.

Not everyone smokes. That's good. Not everyone thinks about rights they can lose down the line because they're so willing to bitch about their "own rights". That's not good. Give it ten years before they're taking away something you like, even if their motives are contradictory. They don't even have to conquer; they just have to win over the mind of the majority.

If you're a griper, saying that any smoking exposure, no matter how small, could give you lung cancer, gimme a break! Let me give you a checklist. Even if you're vegetarian, you'll being lying if you don't admit to eating some or most of these recently:

• Fried chicken/Buffalo wings
  
• Chinese buffets
• Macaroni and cheese/Fried okra/Fried fish/Hush puppies/Mashed potatoes and gravy
  
• Fast food hamburgers/Fried chicken or steak sandwiches/Chicken nuggets/Steak fingers
• Fast food french fries/Tater tots/Home fries/Fried potatoes of any sort
  
• Pancakes/Waffles/French toast
  
• Ice cream and other frozen treats
  
• Chocolate/Strawberry milk
• Fried pies/Pop Tarts/Donuts/Breakfast pastries
• Restaurant Mexican food
  
• Cookies/Pies/Cakes/Fudge/Brownies/Divinity
  
• White bread and mayonnaise sandwiches of any sort
• Preserves/Jellies/Cream cheeses
  
• White rice dishes of any sort
• Most sweetened juices
  
• Restaurant/Frozen pizzas
• Creamy salad dressings
  
• Sausage (homemade/pizza/breakfast/fast food/game/summer)
• Most cheeses
• Most canned goods (soups, vegetables, sauces, "meals")
• Potato/Corn/Wheat chips or crackers
  
• White flour tortillas and bread
  
• Nuts, especially roasted or honey

What am I saying? Basically, the American diet isn't so great. Those of you who eat a large portion of this trash and bitch about smokers; or those of you who eat most of this trash and weigh 200+ pounds and bitch about secondary smoke; or those of you who eat all this trash and bitch and weigh whatever; oughta wake up!

Check your diet before deciding an hour or two near secondhand smoke once a week/month/year is killing you. If you spend more time (in a public place) than that near secondhand smoke, and you want to bitch about it, then Go to another place. Stay home. No one is forcing you to be there! Or talk to the owner: he/she pays the bills and may decide after enough input that he/she wants a non-smoking establishment. That's the owner's choice, not yours or the city's or the state's or the government's! The owner should weigh the options and decide without ordinances telling him/her what to do.

I'm sick of all the whining and crying in this country about not liking something or move that or change this or get that out of my sight because everything has become offensive. Guess what? As an adult American, you can: change the channel, not go to that establishment, refuse to buy a ticket to that show or movie or play, warn all your friends and family to stay away from that establishment or production, walk away or walk out, not spend any money there, not buy their products, refuse their services.

Adult Americans choose for themselves, not for others (except their kids). That's what makes us so great. Law-abiding American adult citizens can choose what we believe or how we act or where we go or whom we do business with or what we buy or what we watch or what we listen to or what we study or what we say or whom we keep company with or what we eat and drink and smoke, but we don't have a right to choose those things for other adults. Americans choose based on their own path and beliefs, even with propaganda and pressure and advertising and temptation. That's the way it should be.

Sunny

(1) Dallas Morning News, 1/25/07 by Dave Levinthal.

Kudos to Kenneth Englund

It's Sunny here. [Not. Nighttime and very cold but can't complain with what's goin' on up north.]

Once upon a time, in a land called the United States of America, thieves crept onto a man's property (actually, a neighbor's vacant property) and began to steal. The non-thief (i.e., innocent local landowner) heard or saw something that wasn't quite right. Since he lives out in the boonies, he was especially vigilant because neighbors and law enforcement weren't exactly 200 feet or 20 yards or even two blocks away. That's just called livin' in the country. Sometimes you find or see or hear things while you're out inspectin' your property or drivin' around or just lookin' out the window. So Mr. Englund catches a couple of thieves in the middle of the act and then chases after them with an unloaded shotgun. Now Mr. Englund is facing a couple of charges. Is this for real?

Fortunately for my headache, the people of the area, state, and country are coming out offering Mr. Englund support. This 74-year-old man did nothing wrong, even if the goddamn gun had been loaded and he had shot(!), thank you very much. I hope the prosecutor comes to his senses up there in good ol' Minnesota.

People in all areas of our country hear the worst all the time about methheads (and other druggies), serial killers, pedophiles, and plain-old goddamn thieves. So can they be overly paranoid? Yes, but people in our country have also always been taught to defend themselves, other people, and property against those kinds of people. Not indiscriminately, of course. And not that they were always druggies, serial killers, and pedophiles. Thieves have been around forever, but other scumbags, like rapists, snake oil salesmen, and rural home invaders have always existed, and defending ourselves against them is ingrained in the American psyche.

Although the charges against Mr. Englund have been reduced, they still exist, and continuing this persecution and prosecution of Mr. Englund makes zero sense. Even the male thief says so! Shit, now my headache is back just thinking about it!

Once upon a time, in a land called the United States of America, thieves crept onto a man's property (actually, a neighbor's vacant property) and began to steal. The non-thief (i.e., innocent local landowner) heard or saw something that wasn't quite right. Since he lives out in the boonies, he was especially vigilant because neighbors and law enforcement weren't exactly 200 feet or 20 yards or even two blocks away. That's just called livin' in the country. Sometimes you find or see or hear things while you're out inspectin' your property or drivin' around or just lookin' out the window. So Mr. Englund catches a couple of thieves in the middle of the act and then chases after them with an unloaded shotgun. The sheriff's department apprehends them due to the local man's actions. Mr. Englund receives: a citizenry award from the local sheriff's department, a year's supply of free shotgun shells from the local shops, a potluck dinner hosted by his church and the township, a hearty thank-you-and-anything-you-need handshake from his neighbor, a free tank of gas for his truck from the nearest gas station, and 10 lottery tickets from an anonymous yet grateful citizen. Now that's life in America as it should be.

Sunny

Anti-Valentine's Day

Quick post to beat the rush: Valentine's Day sucks if you don't have anybody (and many times, it sucks even if you do have someone)!

Period. End of story. No arguments please. All efforts to enlighten me will result in my making fun of you and substantively proving that the only person you're fooling (besides your mother) is yourself.

Anna Nicole Monroe

It's Sunny here. [Not! Gray and chilly.]

What's up with comparing Anna Nicole Smith to Marilyn Monroe, other than her looks? Is anyone else tired of it? Honestly, I was out of the loop for more than a day and didn't even know the woman was dead for about 24 hours. My mom said, "You didn't know? That's all we've heard about for two days!" Again, why? What did she contribute to this world, really? Great people die all the time and get less press. She did nothing except dye her hair, get a boob job, and spend money that wasn't hers after using an ailing old man. He was what, about 60 years older than her!? If your elderly parents or your grandma or great-grandfather or Aunt Bess or whoever in your family was being taken advantage of, wouldn't you fight it too? And not just for the money? I'd be madder than hell! Yes, technically, she won (or will win, even in death, but what a scummy way to get your fortune).

Back to my point: At least Marilyn Monroe had some talent that she worked on and honed even to the point of receiving praise from critics and fans. I'm not saying she was Katherine Hepburn, but she made the effort. Anna Nicole Smith did nothing except try to look good (or sleazy or buxom or tartish or whatever her mood was at that moment), and she used people to get all of those perks, with no regard for anyone but herself. All of the media keeps talking about how she "doted" on her son who died recently; if you read the fine print, you'll see she left her (then) infant son with her mother to go be a titty dancer in Houston. Yep, that's devotion for ya.

Give me a break, please. I'm sorry for her family and young daughter, but she doesn't deserve the front page, much less the time I've taken to write this.