Friday, November 21, 2008

Something that really bugs me

...and it's nothing political. Have you ever been interrupted by others? Had them talk over you? Had to repeat what you just said to them? Notice this glazed look in their eyes while you're talking, as if they're not listening to you but preparing for their next monologue? These are all symptoms of I'm-Not-Paying-Attention-To-You Syndrome, and it ticks me off.

When someone is telling you something, that's sharing, even if the topic is relatively innocuous. Do him/her the courtesy of shutting your mouth and opening your ears. Wait until he's done before you start your response. Even better, when he's done, take a breath before talking to give yourself a moment to consider what you've just heard. Think about what was said, and compare it against what you knew before to see if you need to perhaps change one or more of your opinions. Then, when you respond, you're guaranteed to sound more intelligent and sympathetic than you would if you'd simply overrode his words and chittered out the same opinion you had before the conversation began.

I'm not doing the passive-aggressive thing where I'm trying to reprimand someone specific who reads this blog; this is a pet peeve of mine that I just felt like airing. I don't like to be cut off, I don't like inattention*, and I don't like to repeat myself. A conversation is a considered exchange of opinions and information in which there is both talking and listening; without both of those two basic components, it's just blabbering in company.

*Note that a request for explication does not qualify as inattention or a request for a repetition; if anything, it's a sign that the other party is indeed paying attention.

New favorite lyric:

"Dominique, nique, nique s'en allait tout simplement
Routier pauvre et chantant
En tous chemins, en tous lieux, il ne parle que du bon Dieu
Il ne parle que du bon Dieu"

Artist: Jeanne-Paul Marie Deckers (Jeanne-Paul Marie Deckers/Noel Regney)
Song: Dominique
Album: Unknown

Thursday, November 13, 2008

The reinvented post

Eh...I cleaned out this post because I got tired of the political stuff. On to equally important matters: clothing.

A swing and a miss for Daffy's this week, as Monday saw me in a great black sport coat I got there last year. Fits me as if it were custom-made, ha-cha! Today, however, I was quite disappointed with their selection of winter coats. Apparently, European coats all come with zippers on the left, which is most inconvenient for the 95% of the world that is right-handed. Fucking Europeans. No wonder both Napolean and Hitler kicked them around.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Nothing like a one-track mind

The responses to Barack Obama's election (suck it, conservatives!) are many and varied, but this is one of the more amusing. Here are a few quotes:
"Don't let people think common good is a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage," said [Bishop Joseph] Martino.
Yeah, next they'll be thinking that the common good might also be health insurance. Sheesh.
"Any one of us here would consider it a privilege to die tomorrow — die tomorrow! — to bring about the end of abortion," said Auxiliary Bishop Robert Hermann of St. Louis.
If we're lucky, you'll get that wish.

Sunday, November 09, 2008

I used to think Sarah Palin was just unprepared...

...but now I think she's just not that smart. Check out this little gem, taken from the New York Times:
“Now we kick in that fiscal conservativeness that needs to be engaged, and we progress this state with $57-a-barrel oil,” Ms. Palin said. She said the state would have to “be prudent with public dollars and provide services more efficiently than have ever been provided in the state of Alaska before.”
I empty a red pen marking up that statement. Ye gods, but that woman could have been president. And still might be.

Saturday, November 08, 2008

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Bigotry...a game everyone can play!

The only blemish on Election Night was the ease with which various anti-gay measures passed in Florida, Arizona, and, surprise surprise, California. This article really got me thinking some nasty thoughts, and I'll quote a few choice bits here:

"I think it's mainly because of the way we were brought up in the church; we don't agree with it," said Jasmine Jones, 25, who is black. "I'm not really the type that I wanted to stop people's rights. But I still have my beliefs, and if I can vote my beliefs that's what I'm going to do. "

Is she OK with white supremacists doing the same?

"I don't discriminate against people," he [beauty supply store owner Pablo Correa] said, with a wave at the rows of lipstick and makeup. "I have a lot of customers who are homosexuals, transsexuals and bisexuals. I'm not against these people." He added: "But I'm a traditionalist. I come from a traditional family. People can do whatever they want in their own life, but I have to protect my family."

He has no problem with "these people"; in fact, he thinks everybody should own one.

It's times like this that I could look at a burning cross on a lawn and not bat an eye.

If you missed the show...

...I have finally posted the video. Click on "My Videos" on the right there and look for "1-4-5 Show", which is posted in three parts. Came out pretty well, and kudos for Dan for keeping the camera so steady for my 23-minute set.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

America, this terrorist-fist-jab's for you

It's been a long time since I voted for a winning presidential candidate, so I relished last night. Obama's acceptance speech was amazing even for him, and I'll credit McCain for his gracious concession. Ambition might have made him a dry husk of the man he used to be, but he bowed out with dignity. I still have to remind myself, "Yes, America did vote in its first African-American president."

I also relished this morning, when I browsed to Redstate.com to silently and privately gloat over the discomfiture and defeat of the wing-nuts who post there. Tee-hee. They'll never know.

My mind is happily reeling at the prospect of days and days of interesting news coverage. Who will be Obama's Attorney General? Secretary of State? Chief of Staff?** And what about Supreme Court nominees? You know that Stevens, who's near 90, has been hanging on by his fingernails waiting for a Democratic president, and I hear that Ginsberg and Souter are looking at the door as well. Oh, the hours I'll spend on Google News!


**Supposedly, this is to be Rahm Emmanuel, the former Clintonista who once distinguished himself by sending a dead fish to a pollster who had displeased him. I know the chief of staff is supposed to be a bulldog, but ye gods.