I am the Pumpkin King!

I'm going to see Depeche Mode! Jake and I got our tickets the other day, and I could just tinkle I'm so excited! Frankly, I wasn't sure I was ever going to see them again, and now I am, yeah! :) In other news, Lost is finally back, and if you don't watch it I have no use for you. It's so good... And so far the season is off to a great start. OMG! They found "The Others"....Wow! I can't wait for next week. If you're a fan you must go to this website. It's really cool, which translates to a big commitment for those of us without high-speed, but it's an awesome site.

Jake and I went to see Corpse Bride, and I really liked it. Jake, not so much. Whatever. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of songs in it. I didn't realize that this one was going to be musical in nature like Nightmare Before Christmas. It had more in common with NBC than I expected it too, and given how much I love NBC, that's a good thing. However, don't get me wrong, I still love NBC way more than this movie. It was good, but not even close to the majesty, (mmhmm...Majesty) of NBC. Speaking of NBC, the season is upon us when all sorts of new merchandise becomes available, so I get to start buying new collectibles! Yeah! So, I found the next NBC investment that I'll be making. It's like a Christmas village, except it's a Halloween village, shown here. It will be mine. Come to Butthead.

Yay! I'm an American!

You Passed the US Citizenship Test

Congratulations - you got 7 out of 10 correct!

Could You Pass the US Citizenship Test?

I am so ashamed that I missed 3! Nice job Sunshine....way to represent. Anyway, the polls have been closed on the President poll. So, if we could have another President, who would you pick? We have a tie between A Giant Douche, A Turd Sandwich and, my personal choice, David Palmer. Woo Hoo... It's funny that no REAL person won...or sad I guess. : ) So, this time the poll is a Would You Rather. Short and sweet. Would you rather talk like Yoda for the rest of your life, or breath like Darth Vader for the rest of your life? I vote for Yoda, although my mother has told me before that I breathe like Vader....whatever!

So, I have wanted to post the transcript from Real Time with Bill Maher from a couple of weeks ago. I'm a little behind...moo, moo moo. This is from the end segment of the show, New Rules.

Real Time with Bill Maher...New Rules air Sep 9, 2005

And finally, New Rule: America must recall the president. [applause] [cheers] That's – that's what this country needs. A good, old-fashioned, California-style recall election! [applause] [cheers] Complete with Gary Coleman, porno actresses and action film stars. [laughter] And just like Schwarzenegger's predecessor here in California, George Bush is now so unpopular, he must defend his job against…Russell Crowe. [laughter] Because at this point, I want a leader who will throw a phone at somebody. [laughter] [applause] In fact, let's have only phone throwers. Naomi Campbell can be the vice-president! [laughter]
Now, I kid, but seriously, Mr. President, this job can't be fun for you anymore. [laughter] There's no more money to spend. You used up all of that. [laughter] You can't start another war because you also used up the army. And now, darn the luck, the rest of your term has become the Bush family nightmare: helping poor people. [laughter] [applause]
Yeah, listen to your mom. The cupboard's bare, the credit card's maxed out, and no one is speaking to you: mission accomplished! [laughter] Now it's time to do what you've always done best: lose interest and walk away. [laughter] [applause] Like you did with your military service. And the oil company. And the baseball team. It's time. Time to move on and try the next fantasy job. How about cowboy or spaceman?! [laughter] [applause]
Now, I know what you're saying. You're saying that there's so many other things that you, as president, could involve yourself in…Please don't. [laughter] I know, I know, there's a lot left to do. There's a war with Venezuela, and eliminating the sales tax on yachts. [laughter] Turning the space program over to the church. [laughter] [applause] And Social Security to Fannie Mae. [laughter] Giving embryos the vote. [laughter] [applause] But, sir, none of that is going to happen now. Why? Because you govern like Billy Joel drives. [laughter] You've performed so poorly I'm surprised you haven't given yourself a medal. [laughter] You're a catastrophe that walks like a man. [laughter]
Herbert Hoover was a shitty president, but even he never conceded an entire metropolis to rising water and snakes. [laughter]
On your watch, we've lost almost all of our allies, the surplus, four airliners, two Trade Centers, a piece of the Pentagon and the City of New Orleans…Maybe you're just not lucky! [laughter] [applause] [cheers]
I'm not saying you don't love this country. I'm just wondering how much worse it could be if you were on the other side. [laughter] So, yes, God does speak to you, and what he's saying is, "Take a hint." [laughter]

Amen!

Happy Bon Jovi Day!

Bon Jovi's new cd, Have A Nice Day, came out today!! Oh sweet Bon Jovi goodness of my soul. Last night I went to see Green Day in concert again, so the timing of this album is perfect. I'll be able to walk away from American Idiot for awhile. In other music news, Depeche Mode is coming out with another album (finally!!!) and they'll be touring again for the first time in 4 years!!! I can't wait! Their new album is called Playing The Angel, and I CAN'T WAIT for it!!! Good thing I have new Bon Jovi love to get me through . : ) My sweet baby was even nice enough to mention me in his Thank You section. Yeah...sure..."technically" he thanked "Ken Sunshine" but that's just a typo. It should read "Ken, Sunshine." ; ) Below is the song he wrote for me...isn't he sweet?

I Am

How you spend your minutes are what matters
All tomorrows come from yesterdays
When you're feeling broken, bruised and sometimes shattered
Blow out the candles on the cake like everything's a big mistake
It seems you always wait for life to happen
And your last buck can't buy a lucky break
If all we've got is us then life's worth living
And if you're in, you know I'm in
I'm ready and I'm willing

I am
When you thnk that no one needs you, sees you or believes you
No one's there to understand
I am
I'll be there to be that someone
When you think that no one is there to hold your hand
I am

We're just who we are, there's no pretending
It takes a while to learn to live in your own skin
Say a prayer that we might find our happy ending
And if you're in you know I'm in
I'm ready and I'm willing
I ain't got no halo hanging over my head
I ain't gonna judge you, I'm just here to love you
I am
I am

I am
When you think that no one needs you, sees you or belives you
No one's there to understand
I am
I'll be there to be that someone
When you think that no one is there to hold your hand
I am

-Bon Jovi

Batman-Out! Douche-In!

So, the first Nooks and Crannys quiz was closed and what we've learned is that apparently none of you care about Batman. And that's ....ok. I'm not taking it personal...That was just my first try. With a total of 2 votes.... your favorite Batman is....the one found in the comic books! Woo Hoo... Personally I choose Michael Keaton...but you know, whatever. So, the new poll question is below, and given my extra dose of anger at our "President" this week, I started thinking about someone else as President. So, be sure to check out the poll below and make your choice. Or give me your own suggestions on who you think should be president.

Note: I did not put Nader as a possible choice in the President poll, because even here it would just be a wasted vote. : (

...Deep in the Heart of Texas!

Barbara Bush, interviewed on Sep. 5, 2005 on NPR, said the following in reference to the Hurricane Katrina victims transfered to the Astrodome in Houston.

"What I'm hearing, which is sort of scary is they all want to stay in Texas. Everybody is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, this is - this is working very well for them." ....mmmm....heartwarming...

9/11

I've had MAJOR issues trying to get this to post...So I'm a little late.

I'll never forget the morning of 9/11 and the image I first saw on t.v. My mother had woke me up and told me "Come on...you have to get up. Two planes crashed into the World Trade Center." I was still sleepy, so I didn't get what she was going on about. So, I come into the living room and turn to the tv. And there was the second plane as it crashed into the tower. Horror, confusion, anger, sorrow, RAGE, fear...so many feelings that day. For most of us, the only way to "be there" was to watch it all on tv. That was the hardest thing to watch, but I couldn't look away. It must be a movie? It looks like a movie! This isn't really happening...on and on all that would run through my mind. Imaging what the families most effected went through that day still breaks my heart.

I remember when I was a little girl, I heard my mom talk about how they used to have air raid drills in school. I thought that was the strangest thing I had ever heard of. I just couldn't imagine having to do something so silly, and I felt so bad for how scared that must have made her as a child and I couldn't understand a world where that was necessary. Now, in a post-9/11 world, I understand that world. That day changed everything. That gets said a lot I know, but I think that we are still learning, even 4 years later, all the ways that it changed our country.

I've often said that there is beauty in everything, you just have to look for it. I believe that, and in the aftermath the world was able to see how great our citizens pulled together. That was the beauty. That day united this country in a way that we haven't been united in a long time. Remember that? I know you do, it was so strong that no one could forget the national family we became. The United States of America became a team! And our team had spirit. As the years have passed so has some of the team spirit we had before. However, Hurricane Katrina came as a follow up message to us. We're NOT done team USA! We have a lot of work to do at home still. Our main priority is OUR country, then with extra time we should be looking for those responsible for 9/11 and bringing them to justice.

My heart goes out to my fellow Americans. We share this tragedy together and together we must ensure it was not in vein. We will NEVER forget.

Timeline

• Friday, Aug. 26: Gov. Kathleen Blanco declares a state of emergency in Louisiana and requests troop assistance.
  
• Saturday, Aug. 27: Gov. Blanco asks for federal state of emergency. A federal emergency is declared giving federal officials the authority to get involved.
  
• Sunday, Aug. 28: Mayor Ray Nagin orders mandatory evacuation of New Orleans. President Bush warned of Levee failure by National Hurricane Center. National Weather Service predicts area will be "uninhabitable" after Hurricane arrives. First reports of water toppling over the levee appear in local paper.
  
• Monday, Aug. 29: Levee breaches and New Orleans begins to fill with water, Bush travels to Arizona and California to discuss Medicare. FEMA chief finally responds to federal emergency, dispatching employees but giving them two days to arrive on site.
  
• Tuesday, Aug. 30: Mass looting reported, security shortage cited in New Orleans. Pentagon says that local authorities have adequate National Guard units to handle hurricane needs despite governor's earlier request. Bush returns to Crawford for final day of vacation. TV coverage is around-the-clock Hurricane news.
  
• Wednesday, Aug. 31: Tens of thousands trapped in New Orleans including at Convention Center and Superdome in "medieval" conditions. President Bush finally returns to Washington to establish a task force to coordinate federal response. Local authorities run out of food and water supplies.
  
• Thursday, Sept. 1: New Orleans descends into anarchy. New Orleans Mayor issues a "Desperate SOS" to federal government. Bush claims nobody predicted the breach of the levees despite multiple warnings and his earlier briefing.
• Friday, Sept. 2: Karl Rove begins Bush administration campaign to blame state and local officials—despite their repeated requests for help. Bush stages a photo-op—diverting Coast Guard helicopters and crew to act as backdrop for cameras. Levee repair work orchestrated for president's visit and White House press corps.
  
• Saturday, Sept. 3: Bush blames state and local officials. Senior administration official (possibly Rove) caught in a lie claiming Gov. Blanco had not declared a state of emergency or asked for help.
  
• Monday, Sept. 5: New Orleans officials begin to collect their dead.
  

(Adapted from: Katrina Timeline, http://thinkprogress.org/katrina-timeline/ )

From the DCCC

• 
  The President now says he is going to head the investigation into what went wrong. President Bush need only to look in the mirror and ask himself why he appointed someone unqualified to lead the agency responsible for protecting Americans against disasters like this.
  
• Michael Brown was given the job of FEMA Director, with virtually no prior experience, apparently because he was the college roommate of one of President Bush's chief 2000 campaign strategists, who became his first FEMA Director. Brown was previously a legal counsel for the International Arabian Horse Association, where he was reportedly fired for incompetence.
  
• Brown joined Chertoff in claiming that nobody could have expected the damage, though we now know that both of them were briefed as much as 32 hours before the hurricane hit that the levees were likely to be breached.
  
• With thousands having spent days in the Convention Center in New Orleans with no food, water, or transportation available, Brown admitted to not even knowing about the people there until late in the week.
  
• And finally, to top it all off, he blamed the victims for not leaving -- even after it was revealed that many of them were simply too poor to find a means to evacuate.

Time is of the essence, lives are on the line.

It does not matter whether Mr. Brown's replacement is a Democrat, Republican, or Independent -- this is a matter of competence at a time when it is most needed, not partisanship. We need qualified leadership.

Tell the President: We Need New Leadership at FEMA.

A sincere thank you, and I promise that we are working as hard as we possibly can to help those in need. You will hear much more from us on how we can help them in Congress soon.

Nancy Pelosi

House Democratic Leader

Finally help arrives for the vicitms of Hurricane Katrina.

Just seeing what has happened on t.v. and watching what these people have gone through has been so horrible. I can't imagine what it must be like for them. My heart goes out to everyone.
MSNBC has a lot of info on what is happening, and some very touching photos. If you want to help you can get info from the American Red Cross.

Shotgun Anus!

So Jake and Justin are in Chicago and they sent me a photo of the White Castle they ate at. Sad to say....the experience was not good apparently. Jake sent a text message with the picture ("cartoon" style...just for fun.) that read.... "Mmm. Meat paste." That doesn't sound good. Too bad. Jake and I have been craving White Castle since Harold and Kumar, so what a let down this must have been. hee hee.


So, Justin added a guestmap to his site, and I thought it was a pretty cool idea. So, I added one too (thanks justin). I also decided to add a poll. The first question was just something I was thinking about earlier today. Anyway, I'll change out the questions and I think it's going to be good times. mm hmm. I do.