Capital One Sucks!!!!

I have been a loyal customer for 10 yrs., make triple the minimum payments, have rarely had an overdue (once because I got in after the noon EST deadline) which they rescind, and they've raised my interest from 4.9% to a whopping 13.9%, upped the minimum payment, AND changed the due date so I'll be late. I paid a total of $12.75 interest last year and next month's will be $9.71. Just got off the phone, after 3 calls, being cut off, transferred to management, and generally irritated with horrible Muzak, and (first apologizing to the poor girl, because I know there's nothing she can do and it's not her fault) finally ranting and telling her she works for assholes who pay her minimum wage while the CEO makes millions in bonuses for doing a bad job and I hoped to hell the conversation WAS being taped for quality control purposes! Silence. Then, it's about changes in policies . . . I said, we all KNOW what it's about - the bill that's about to take effect and they have to get these swipes in where they can.

Of course there's nothing the Plebes can do; there's no way they'll allow rescinding the new amounts. So, we have to take things into our own hands. I will pay it off; close out; and go to my local credit union for their card. This is anarchy and I hope millions do likewise. They've got us by the short hairs and it's time to fight back. And oh yeah, I'm so mad I'm shaking, because the final straw was her asking why I only used my card for small purchases? BECAUSE I LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME - and therein lies the justification. If you DON'T use the card, they punish you. VISA sucks, can't say it often enough.

Pre-Existing Conditions?

With single payer advocates eliminated from the mix, the Whitehouse conference on health reform accomplished just what we all expected from this BigPharma-backed government. Nothing. But there is another ugly undertow going on to further punish women, and fortunately, some of our reps are coming to the front to denounce it. And my question is, what are they doing to punish the MEN involved?

FROM SEN. HARRY REID: I met with some people while I was home dealing with domestic abuse. It has gotten out of hand. Why? Men don’t have jobs. Women don’t have jobs either, but women aren’t abusive, most of the time.

AND FROM REP. LOUISE SLAUGHTER: Eight states in this country right now have declared that domestic violence is a pre-existing condition, on the grounds, I assume, that if you’ve been unlucky enough to get yourself beaten up once, you might go round and do it again.

There has never been a better time for my latest book, which puts all the myths to rest surrounding this epidemic. My goal is to get it published mainstream and donate one to every shelter in this country. Until then, I urge you to help me educate women by looking at The Doll Machine on lulu.com. It's now available in print or e-book, and to convince you how serious I am, y'all can have a 10% discount by entering the code 'WINTERBOOK'.

In for a Penny

Oh, what the heck . . . here's the list. Happy hunting, NSA:

ABC, advise, advisors, Aladdin, Allah, Amherst, anarchy, &, Anonymous, AOL, Archives, Area51, Armani, Artichoke, assassinate, Asset, AT&T, Atlas, Badger, bank, basement, beef, bet, Beyond Hope, BITNET, black-bag, Blackbird, Black-Ops, Blacknet, Blowfish, Blowpipe, Bob, BOSS, Broadside, Bubba, bullion, BVD, Cable & Wireless, Capricorn, Cap-Stun, chaining, chameleon man, Chicago Posse, chosen, CIA, Clandestine, clone, cocaine, Coderpunks, codes, Colonel, Computer Terrorism, Cornflower, Corporate Security, COSMOS, Counter Terrorism, Covert Video, Cowboy, credit card, cryptanalysis, crypto-anarchy, cybercash, Cyberpunks, Daisy, data-haven, Dead, debugging, DefCon V, Delta, Delta Force, Dictionary, Digicash, $, domestic disruption, eavesdropping, E.T., e-cash, Echelon, Egret, 888,Electronic Surveillance, Elvis, Embassy, Encryption, enigma, Espionage, ETA, eternity server, Event Security, explicit, Exxon Shell, Face, fangs, Fax, FBI, Fetish, 15kg,finks, Firewalls, fish, fissionable, Flame, Flashbangs, Flintlock, Flu, force, Forte, fraud, freedom, Freeh, frog legs, Ft. Meade, Gamma, garbage, Gist, Global, Glock, gorilla, government, Gray Data, Guppy, Hackers, Halibut, HALO, Harvard, hate, High Security, Hollyhock, ICE, INFOSEC, Illuminati, I Mac-10, imagery, Indigo, industrial espionage, Information Security, Infowar, Infrastructure, insurrection, Ionosphere, interception, Internet Underground, Investigation, Iris, Jasmine, JAVA, jihad, Keyhole, keywords, Kilo Class, Kiwi, KLM, Lexis-Nexis, loch, lock picking, Locks, Loin, Love Sponge, Lynch, Mace, Macintosh Internet Security, mail bomb, Mantis, market, Masada, Mavericks, Mayfly, MCI, mega, Merlin, Meta-hackers, Middleman, Military Intelligence, Mole, M-14, MSNBC, Muslim, niche, Nike, 1984, ninja, nitrate, NORAD, NSA, Nuclear, Oratory, Ortega, orthodox, package, Panama, Passwords, Phon-e, Pine Gap, pink noise, Pixar, Planet-1, Platform, Playboy, plutonium, Police, Porno, president, press-release, Pretoria, PRIME, Privacy, Propaganda, Pseudonyms, quiche, rail gun, Rand Corporation, Rapid Reaction, rebels, Red Cell, redheads, Reflection, remailers, Reno, replay, Retinal Fetish, rogue, Roswell, Salsa, sardine, Satellite, Satellite phones, screws, Scully, SEAL, Sears Tower, Secret Service, Secure Internet Connections, secure shell, Security Consulting, Security Evaluation, SETA, 7, Sex, SIG, Skytel, smuggle, sneakers, sniper, snuffle, Speakeasy, speedbump, Sphinx, spies, Spoke, spook words, squib, stakeout, Standford, STARLAN, Stephanie, Submarine, subversives, Sugar Grove, SUN, supercomputer, SWAT, sweep, sweeping, Talent, Telex, Templeton, Terrorism, Texas, the, 3, Time, toad, Tools, top secret, Trump, TRW, TWA, Undercover, unclassified, Unix Security, USDOJ, utopia, Uzi, veggie, Verisign, virtual, virus, Warfare, Weekly World News, White House, white noise, Whitewater, William Gates, wire transfer, World Domination, WORM, WINGS, Yakima, York, Yukon, Zen, zip

Continuing to Romance Big Brother

The Senate backed a one-year extension to three key provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act due to expire this month. The provisions authorize “roving” wiretaps allowing surveillance on multiple phones, seizure of records and property in terrorism raids, and the monitoring of non-US citizens with no proven ties to designated terrorist groups. Democrats had initially proposed adding new privacy protections but relented following Republican objection. The measure now goes to the House. February's Fickle Finger of Shame goes to all of our representatives.

The Rev is away again, but as soon as he gets back, we'll upload that encoded list of 'trip' words I've been promising. The problem is that the NSA is spread to thin to monitor all of us, so they get back-logged when too much info comes in. It's not that I'm against preventing an attack, but the truth is they HAD info on the 'underwear bomber'. They just couldn't dig it out of 12 different agencies who garble this crap and target the wrong people - like peaceful protesters at the Conventions or the Olympics - and you and me. So, I'm vowing to increase their access to my information. Maybe we'll hide it in a statement like, "The Patriot Act is un-American!" Stay tuned.

Spring, Finally

The forsythia's in bloom and the magnolias are ready to pop. It's a sure sign that Spring is on the way. I've been able to get out, for short periods in between the mild rains and rake, police the lawn and use my beloved Stihl weed whacker. Not looking forward to the onset of mowing, but I will take even that for the silencing of my Inner Crone with digging in the dirt. There's nothing more apt to bring one's spirit back into connection with the Earth. And she has been a wicked curmudgeon lately! Yeah, you didn't have to tell me, Precious Readers.

BTW The Doll Machine is up on lulu.com and will be shortly on createspace.com and Amazon. If you know anyone who needs a painless, healing experience, I urge you to check it out. Also Woman's Day Magazine is sponsoring a contest for essays on why your library is important, and you know how passionate I am about that. Mine's already submitted. Take some time today to write 700 words for them - and your community.

Using a Graphic Artiste

Okay, here's the rant I promised yesterday, and first let me apologize for offending anyone not obsessive enough to become a geek. The lady I'm working for at present, bless her pea-pickin' heart, is lovely and tries very hard to communicate what she needs - all while satisfying a husband who's a surgeon and contributor to the project. That can't be easy. But this project has brought the realization that I really need to put a FAQ's page on the new web site the Rev is giving me for my birthday. (Thank you so much, Rev, for updating my stodgy efforts.) People just have no concept of how a book is put together, and it's taken me a month of e-mails and land line conversations to finally get some basics across.

For instance, she tried to lay the text out herself and did an amazing job for someone who's never looked at what is necessary or educated herself on those programs. But editing her 27 different colors and fonts became a nightmare. So the first tip would be, use one type for titles and another for copy. Readers get frustrated with more than that. And keep them simple. Next, send me an unaltered, plain yogurt version of ALL copy in something like Word or Open Office. Authors tend to make massive mistakes they normally wouldn't when trying to divide things into proper pages. More will appear as we work on the site.

Until then, let me thank the lady, profusely. Any learning is valuable.

Revisions

Sorry to be sporadic in posting, Precious Readers, but I'm dealing with a fire-storm of events. Re-revising for clients is never easy (I'll bitch about details tomorrow); so busy I can't get the latest book uploaded to provider; anticipating house showings take extra prep each morning; and I have to keep chauffeuring the Rev to the ferry to see his wife. They're currently trying to find us somewhere to live in CA. So, I'll be back when I can get a handle on all this STUFF. Thanx fer yer patience.

A Good Book

In between client conversations and projects, I finally got the 5th edit done on the culmination of my autobio, The Doll Machine. It's going to be a much better book than it was. If you know anyone in a situation of domestic violence, this is the map out. I'm really proud of it and you will see it uploaded to CreateSpace.com tomorrow. Thanks to lulu.com, Nano winners get a free 'proof' copy of their book. It's an excellent tool for the final product edit and judging appearance. So, check it out and recommend it to anyone you know who needs help of this kind.

Balance of Power

Jimi Hendrix said, "When the power of love is stronger than the love of power, the world will know peace." And on a day when the Whitehouse is finally entertaining the Dalai Lama, isn't it encouraging to note that the biggest news from that entity is they're changing the name of 'Operation Iraqi Freedom' to 'Operation New Dawn'?

Meanwhile The NY Times reports that people are selling their Food Stamps to afford more basic necessities. Really? More fundamental than food, you say? An estimated 38 million people (1 in 8) were on the program as of last Oct. A staggering 6 million state that this is their only source of income. Are we truly so disenfranchised that we believe all these people are just lazy? If so, we have become unbalanced, to say the least.

Finally, in the words of Pete Seager, "Support our troops; bring them home."

A Word About Geek Expectations

I've been going crazy, tying myself to a vicinity within phone-ring reach (and before you ask, only certain cells work out here - not mine) waiting for a call from 'the client'. It started weirdly, this way, when she called to say she'd found me on the Web and wanted a book designed. It's hard for non-geeks to see the irony of this, but ask yourself why we're on the Internet. So we don't have to take calls on land lines! Sorry to shout, but it's become a personal joke around the house. The elderly ladies whose computers the Rev maintains will call to let him know they've sent him an e-mail. How crazy is that? Plus, we like working on projects at 3 a.m. in our jammies - with no one talking.

Now, I'm trying to train clients, even did the first changes she made in a one day turn around, trying to show her the efficiency. But she wants to go page-by-page over the phone, and the customer's always right. So I'll work at getting things done and not be out of the house for more than a second all day. Do y'all get it?Stop being Luddites and learn to operate online. That's why we love this technology and keep improving it. Thanks.

Gung He Fa Choy!

I almost missed it, until the Rev showed up on the doorstep unexpectedly with a red envelope. Happy Chinese New Year of the Tiger (started 2/14). For those of you born in this sign, picture the sleek, striped body of a tiger—muscles taut, moving with caution, prepared to defend himself and his family at all times. This year, in particular, all individuals born during the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Tiger will find it necessary to look both ways before moving into action.

The Rev and his close ties are all Rats, and I'm a Pig (I would appreciate less laughter). If you don't know yours, do a little surfing. I've found the personality depictions far more accurate than Western astrology. We're looking forward to a year of change and surprises. Like most things Chinese, that can be a two-edged sword.

I Can Almost Hear the Surf

Well, the Realtor's signs are on both roads, most of the repair work is done, and we've already had people pulling into the drive to gander. So, if you know anyone who wants a lovely, little cottage in the quaint village of Quilcene, WA, give me a holler. This is what it looks like in full, Spring bloom, and the magnolia and forsythia already have a ton of buds. The entire interior is painted in tromp l'oeil (fooling the eye), as is much of the exterior. It's an art lover's dream come true, and there are many parts of it I'll miss. The Queen Anne Cherries and making my own applesauce. Blackberries galore by the seasonal stream, in which conservationists discovered baby salmon last year. Listening to the peeper frogs and coyotes sing at night.

But, oh to be nearer than an hour away from some place I can get printer ink - or a hospital if I'm dumb enough to climb a ladder again!

The Poverty Games

The Olympic protests continue in Vancouver today. To me, they are much more important than the $7 billion spent to oust poor people from their homes, illegally use indigenous lands for corporate profit, remove the homeless to the outskirts of the city, and indulge in 'sports' that have no resemblance to what they were supposed to represent. You go, courageous people. I only wish we could be there with you, but with the millions spent on police and their weapons, maybe I'm a little too old to run that fast. Still, we'll be with you in spirit.

You may not be old enough to remember, but originally the games were restricted to amateur athletes, those who excelled in their fields against all odds. Yes, this was in my lifetime. Somewhere along the line, it became professional - I think with the emergence of 'The Dream Team', our basketball representatives. I don't remember what year. Anyway, it's now all about money. There is absolutely NO gain for the area that's invaded. Only the Big Logos profit.

Run, Sarah, Run!

I thought that there couldn't be a worst case scenario than Palin for President, until I read my favorite PI/Times columnist, Leonard Pitts, Jr. His theory is that:

". . . this is not a clash of ideologies, but a clash between intelligence and its opposite. And I am tired of being asked to pretend stupidity is a virtue. (I insert my own applause here for someone with the courage to make the former statement!) It would force us to decide once and for all whether we are permanently committed to the path of ignorance, of birthers, truthers and tea-party incoherence you represent, or whether we will at last turn back from the cliff toward which we race."

At the very least, those of us who continue to hope would know that there is none, should she win, and be able to plan accordingly. Depressing, but I can't say I disagree with his premise. And Goddess knows, it would be one hilarious campaign - full fodder for Letterman.

Warp Speed, Scotty

Or 'beam me up'! Things are moving rapidly now and events seem to overlap each other. Makes for an interesting day. The realtor's due; the ferry awaits; I need groceries; and still out of friggin' computer ink. Got my first client's book draft done yesterday and discovered there was a flight out for the Rev to join his new wife on VDay. So we hopped in the car and raced thru driving wind and rain, only to be stopped for a half hour at Hood Bridge opening. Would have been no way to make airport, so we came home and will have to do the same today. Just as well; Kelly's flight was delayed in NY by snow storm.

I am SO looking forward to never having to take the Bridge or Ferry to get to civilization EVER again. And the maritime openings seem to be increasing. These aren't the 'tests' we've all lived thru since June of last year. They're nuclear subs making their way to Goddess knows where. Probably Iran, given the recent hot air from DC. Having that base so close is another reason I won't be sorry to wave ta ta to WA. And the RAIN! Will it ever stop?

More Packing

The OlyCap guys are coming this morning to pick up my old light table, the recliners that seduce you into sleeping in front of the TV, and various and sundry stuff I've convinced myself to abandon. The rule of thumb for organizing is, if you haven't touched the thing (other than to move it from place to place) in the last year, it's time to pass it on to someone who will. Easier said than done. We have an annual, town garage sale here, and I have participated in years past. But that's month's away, I don't want to haggle over 50 cents, and we need to fish or cut bait at this point.

Spring is obviously impatient after a mild Winter. The magnolias and croci are budding and the lawn rearing itself into mowable heights. I have no idea how we'll afford the exorbitant prices of homes in CA, but there is a house waiting for me to love it somewhere near the beach. Giving up possessions to the only charity that agreed to bring a truck out here (shame on you Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity), and one that does massive good in this area, seems a small price to pay for getting warm weather. Not to mention re-joining the Rev with his new wife.

Breeding Segregation

The policies just keep getting worse from DC. What the f!#$?! Obama announces expanding more charter schools. Yep, rather than fix the miasma we have in our public schools, let's create more private ones. Who's that going to help? You guessed it; studies prove that charter schools increase segregation across economic and racial divides. Under a new program called “Race to the Top,” states are competing for $4.3 billion in federal grants for reforming schools. States submitted applications for the money in January. The money will be doled out by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, a strong supporter of charter schools. Just more of the continuing War on the Poor.

And on the global front: I'm probably one of the few who will applaud Iran for entering the nuclear age. Yes, they are run by an insane despot - as far as we know, for we only get propaganda concerning anything Middle Eastern (and I'll refrain from mentioning Bush/Cheney) - but I hate the fact that the US thinks we're the only power who can dictate who has and who hasn't re: nukes. Israel has them; hell, we sold them the hardware. And if I were living next door to those perpetrators of genocide, I'd get a Saturday Night Special, too. So, if we refuse to disarm (like we keep promising for eons) let's balance the power by giving everyone guns. Texas logic in global practice.

Multi-tasking

In my latest book I decry the benefits of this neo-corp term and, especially with trauma survivors, laud focusing on one thing at a time. Savor the day; smell the roses. However, best laid plans have a way of backing up on you. Yesterday I found myself ripping apart the laundry room (to paint behind the appliances as I'd wanted for a few years), organizing the shop to find tools to do same, getting said painting done, laying out the first draft of a book for a client, remembering to feed myself, and picking the Rev up at the ferry.

Stuff has to get done if we're moving. There's just no way around it, plus the fact that I've never missed a deadline. But as I marvel at all the things I can accomplish in one day, I realize how inadequate and inane is this word the biz execs coined. Remembering the full days of my Mom and Grandmother, I ponder, "When have women NOT been multi-taskers?" The hand that rocks the cradle, gentlemen . . .

Search Yer Kid's Room . . .

. . . for any evidence that they've been talking to the CIA. The jack-booted thugs we know and abhor have re-energized a program to fund centers within college campuses to recruit the best and brightest for utilization in torture and other nefarious practices. Yes, including our own UW. So, if you find your child fascinated by 'America's Most Wanted', playing with tiny microphones, or installing nanny-cams in your living room, best get them to a deprogrammer quickly. Good grief.

And, to the Prez (huge sigh): You are quickly becoming the second worst Commander in Chief we've ever had. There is only a small step between okaying the assassination of American Citizens abroad to gunning me down because I subscribed to MoveOn.org. The difference between you and Bubba - and our undying consternation - is that you have an agile mind and know the difference between right and shredding the Constitution. Good Goddess, O, get a spine and start advocating that peace rhetoric that earned you the Nobel!

Progress?

Well, the realtor's been and gone, arrived late and we had an early flight to catch. You have to start out 3 hrs. early to get anywhere from here. Every room, including the garage, is in a state of tossing, packing, repair, and touch-up. So I guess everything's in order?!

The house is too quiet without the Kids and I'm beginning to despair that we'll find anything to live in within our price range. Why could I not have been born rich, instead of merely beautiful? Yeah, like THAT'S more delusional than thinking I've got everything under control.

Art Crimes

As I prepare to move to a new area, I'm hoping to eliminate hearing a practice I had thought was indigenous to the tourist towns in which I lived. I was wrong (yes, you can mark that on the calendar), and a letter to our regional columnist says it better than I ever could:

Dear Amy: I am a professional artist writing to comment about people expecting free art. I often have requests to do work for free or at a discount in exchange for exposure. Rarely do these deals pan out - the few people who are referred to me usually expect a steep 'friend-of-a-friend' discount and decide not to hire me once they hear my prices. Plus, my landlord has stopped accepting 'exposure' as rent. - An Artist

Dear Artist: Great comeback.

Yes it was. I generally try to decline politely and then bitch about it with the question, "Do they ask their plumbers to fix the sink for free?" But I think I'm more upset about always being polite to such a rude request. I think I'll use this one.

Aaaargh!

The realtor is coming to assess the property tomorrow afternoon. Should be a tight fit, since the Kids are night owls and sleep in 'til at least 1. But the house is a disaster area, as I dry out the flooded garage and try to part with the accumulated detritus all artists have - waiting for future projects. My plan for the day is to declare a Pirate Plunder and put aside for Goodwill all those things that are meaningless to anyone else looking for treasure. You know (speaking to all crafters of creativity), like the 7 disassembled, director's chairs I was going to turn into patio furniture, or the antique croquet set missing one ball, or a basket of metal scraps in case I ever got crazy enough to do bronze casting again. We won't even talk about the 8 file boxes of material scraps for quilting and doll clothes.

Then, where do you stash it all while waiting for the Goodwill truck? With daily rain, it can't be outside. Aaaargh! Grabbing my sword and eye patch as I head out to find more boxes.

CBS Hypocrites

Focus on the Family, right wing, Christian, propaganda machine, has succeeded in garnering a spot in the Super Bowl ads to the tune of a quarter mil, spouting their anti-abortion stance. At the same time, Planned Parenthood is denied access for a rebuttal. But kudos to the latter for airing one online, complete with their own football stars lauding their mothers and sisters wisdom in the right to make a choice. And I know it should go without saying, but just so everyone is clear on the issue, Pro-Choice does NOT equal Pro-Abortion. Read my latest book, The Doll Machine. Now, y'all know I wouldn't watch this game - or any other machismo sport - unless I was paid big bucks to suffer through it. And I'm not talkin' small change here. However, I feel it incumbent upon my ethics to chastise CBS (like they care) and comment that it's just what women need, more testosterone laden jocks taking a side on something they can never comprehend.

The good news is, the Rev and my new daughter-in-law took me to our finest restaurant, the Timberhouse, for surviving my 62nd year on Earth, wherein we ate ourselves senseless and had a lovely bottle of wine. Then we came home and watched the premier of Lost, whereupon I crashed with frustration that the show is so convoluted and disjointed that I can't stop watching it. Much like Sarah Palin. Anyway, lovely time; thanks, Kids.

63 Years Young

Yeah, I try not to think about Bob Barker statements like that for too long, at least while I'm reading the obituaries. The good news is . . . I'm still able to move (no thanks to roof tarring) and the Rev brought his new wife, Kelly, home for my birthday. They've made a vow to sicken people's stomachs by being the 'cutest couple on Earth'. Truth is they don't even have to work at it! She's a delightful, Celtic pixie and he's lovestruck (and a product of an excellent mother's life-long devotion). You don't have to take my word for i; see for yourself. The wedding video.

I can't be snarky on a day like this, so I'll just let Margaret and Helen do my talking. Excellent blog today, ladies. Thanks, couldn't have said it better myself.

Talk's Cheap

As much as I try to re-bolster my original opinions of the man, he just keeps jamming a dichotomy of moral Q-tips in my ears. The Prez' new budget includes twice as much money for policing and jailing drug offenders, despite previous assurances that he told cops not to make that a priority. Now, I'm in the middle of freaking out over packing and showing the house, not to mention discovering pains in muscles I forgot I had over winter, and I could surely utilize some medicinal marijuana. Contrary to popular hogwash, this particular pain killer is NOT addictive nor does it have the long-range side effects of ANY legal drugs that have been pushed on me for the pain incurred from my 2 back surgeries. I speak from the vast experience of a former hippie and disabled person.

Interestingly, today's DemocracyNow has a gentleman who operates the only legal addict injection clinic in the Northern Hemisphere. He has discovered one commonality to ALL his patients - childhood abuse. In an effort to further his theory that we are simply furthering to abuse the abused, Dr. Gabor Mate has written In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, which I intend to read forthwith. Fortunately, I'll be moving to a state that actually DOES honor its medicinal pot policies. Finger of Shame, Prez, and we're not even into the month yet.

Justice Department?

The maniac (whose name does not deserve to be mentioned) who gunned down Dr. Tiller in his own house of worship was convicted in a record 38 min. by a jury, who obviously had morals. We applaud them for their wisdom. Although that in no way replaces that courageous man, women across this country thank you.

On the other hand, our Justice Dept. has seen fit to exonerate the lawyers who succeeded in giving our govt. free rein to kidnap and torture people - worldwide. WE are the terrorists and no one in office, it seems, will ever have to pay for their obvious war crimes. Amy Goodman reports that Pakistani civilians are more afraid of going to sleep than they are of the Taliban. The reason? Night raids on their households by US Special Ops, who take their family members to secret, interrogation centers and 'disappear' them. Forget Guantanamo; that's just the tip of the iceberg. There are prisons around the world that no one even talks about. Shame on us. And, oh yeah, Obama, thanks for the $7 billion for new nukes and reopening Los Alamos in exchange for the McCain cronies signing a treaty with Russia. Are you insane, or just paid in advance?

Justice still runs across economic levels. And I'm damned glad I moved away from NM, which, in case no one noticed, if they seceded from the Union would already be the third largest nuclear power in the world, just trailing the US and Russia.

Panic Attack

There's a lot going on in the world; the Prez is continually disappointing with more $ for warfare budget and free loans for nuclear plants. But I can't deal with any of that right now. The Rev just Facebooked to say that he and the Ms. are coming home for a few days. The house is an utter disaster due to file purging and !#$%^ rain keeping me inside. Hope I can remember how I 'super-cleaned' in the days when the ex-mother-in-law landed her broom giving an hour's notice! I know they won't care a fig, but vegetarian meals are NOT spur of the moment things to me. Argh!