Michael Vick, Sadistic Prick

That's right people, say it loud! Michael Vick sadistic prick! Michael Vick sadisitic Prick!
Only the Philadelphia Eagles would hire a convicted felon to marshal this years' football season. Would the school board hire back a convicted felon as a teacher, would the government hire someone convicted of extortion? I wonder what morals the NFL is trying to pass onto their legions of disappearing fans. I'm disapointed in Philadelpia, again, but now that the dust has settled, I'm not surprised. It's not like I can boycott football, since I don't watch sports anyway. I don't even know why sports people are role models, but they are. Most kids think he's done his time and that he should be given a second chance. Everyone should be given a second chance, in life, but perhaps Vick should focus being a role model in animal advocacy instead of being given a second chance as a multi-million dollar contract player for another football team. Personally it makes me sick to think that a convicted felon, one who elecrocuted, hung and raped dogs is going to now be a starting quarterback for the football team that represents my city. Well it doesn't represent me, I'll tell you that. Martha Stewart cannot fly into London, Heathrow airport because she is a convicted felon, so why should Michael Vick be able to pour back into mainstream to be idolized? Michael Vick, sadistic prick...Michael Vick, sadisitic prick!!

the Great healthcare Debate

Over my morning caffeine, I had the pleasure of watching Arlen Spector preside over a bunch of Pennsylvanians at a town hall in Lebanon. I know what PA is truly like, having lived here for over 15 years. I see the difference between the city people and the country folk. I was somewhat prepared for the misshapen 35-year-old who identified herself as a Republican and a Conservative and asked Sen. Spector to uphold the Constitution so that we don't turn into a Socialized country like Russia! I screamed at the television at that point, angrily sloshing my tea and feeling disgusted.

This opinion piece from NPR neatly sums up my feelings, and probably a whole lot of other peoples'. After hearing a sad story from my 65+ friend who recently had surgery, but is entirely active and able, that she might have to move into a senior building because of her medical bills. This from a woman who rides her bike all over the city and looks 50. Straight from the source and it broke my heart.

For cat owners: Automatic litter-box cleaners!

My product rave of the summer has got to be my brand-new electric litter box cleaner for cats. I'm not so good at housework and even though I do my best to clean after the kitties, I'll be the first to admit that I don't do it enough. It's not fair to anyone; my cats, my boyfriend or myself.
At first I was hesitant to purchase it, because it is rather expensive and I don't know enough people who've had experiences with them in any capacity, other than one person who said all things great, so it is with great fanfare that I recommend
the Littermaid Elite Mega. I must say that my life has improved dramatically since. I eased my cats into it, first leaving both litter boxes side by side, and then sprinkling some of the old litter into the new litter box. Eventually, after about two days, the cats were using it and I was able to remove the old box. Hurray!
The machine is a little loud at first, but after a while you get used to it. My cats think it is a hoot. Both run and stare in awe at this magical rake that leaves their litter box clean, every time. I caught my calico frustratingly tugging at one part trying desperately how to figure out how it works; she is so smart. Clean up is a snap; all I have to do is empty this little container every other day. There is absolutely no odor, the cats seem to love it, and most importantly it has greatly improved our life. So for all you curious cat owners out there...
Highly recommended!

burnin' books in 2009

Every few years a few maniacs come along who want to ban books. This time it is happening in Wisconsin, with brave and righteous elderly Christians at the helm who don't want to even so much as hear about gay-coming-of-age sexuality that they'd like to literally cease the existence of said book. Censorship is not what this country is about and when we go back to book burning we also go back to public flogging on the square.
The article states that some of these outraged elderly citizens are not library card holders and some are not from that particular town. I don't understand the meddling. Reading through the Amazon reviews, it becomes apparent to me that a.) this book was first published in 1995 b.) The author is an established teen serial writer, and c.)all the reviews I read were glowing, vibrant reviews, with one person warning about adult issues. My question is, what took these octogenarians so long? By this time, nearly everybody that wants to read this book, already has, and they are only increasing visibility to this once-dormant teen lit.
Besides the fact that censorship is un-American, I don't this it is very Christian either. Jesus wouldn't ban books.

minivan drivers (a passengers experience and log)

Minivan drivers have got to be the world's worst drivers. After hours back and forth on the highway this weekend, I feel that I can attest to this fact. Driving on the highway, nearly every snafu, weird traffic pattern and/or congestion can be attributed to the minivan driver. Let's call them MV's. Up ahead a car is careening back and forth, weaving and bobbing in their lane, the culprit, yep a MV driver, probably swerving due to yelling at their unruly children in the backseats. Slow driver up ahead in the fast lane, a minivan driver? you bet! These people refuse to let fast cars pass and idly bide their time while an entire queue forms for miles for this one idiotic driver. Broken down vehicle on side of road? This weekend, not only was a rubber-necking MV driver the cause of the slowed traffic, but the broken down vehicle was also a minivan and I kid you not, a Hasidic Jew had also pulled over to take a picture of the minivan broken down. Hasidic Jews love Upstate New York and also make up a high-percentage of minivan drivers on the road.
I'm not sure what makes a MV driver worst than the rest of us. Could it be the awkward visibility? The steering column, mechanics. What I do know is that MV drivers are a different breed and after this weekend of passing every traffic jam due to a minivan driver, I'm convinced that if they all got off the road travelling would be a breeze. It became comical after a while because rarely was my theory incorrect. I think they need to be re-tested because they are running on their own set of rules.

4th of July musings

I'm not a fan of July 4th and I'll tell you why. Barbecues, people, barbecues. I can't recall a smell more offensive than that of a rotting, raw corpse upon which someone has smothered a greasy, red sauce and intends to call dinner hours later. Living in a tiny shot-gun apartment doesn't make it any easier. Anticipating all my neighbors grilling meats, especially those using that chemical fire-starter, has me shuddering with rage already. My weekend, inevitably, is either spent gagging on the odor or shut inside my hot apartment with doors and windows sealed tightly as waves of rotting meat stench roll by my windows, seeping in cracks and making me miserable. If people can't smoke cigarettes inside, than maybe they shouldn't cook meat outside. I think, and this is a big one, that I'd rather smoke a cigarette then be exposed to toxic meat smell. Walking home every day, I can pin-point the restaurants that contribute the most carcinogens to the environment and I wonder if normal people have any idea how offensive this stuff really is!
Even though I'm escaping out of the city this year, I recall last summer, where the same thing happened at an open camp ground. We could hardly find anywhere to settle down to eat our delicious, raw vegan picnic due to the mass-hysteria of barbecuing on July 4th.
Some people say, aw suck it up. I say, next time someone lights a toxic can of ass under your window, you can suck it up, buster. Cheers, and happy fourth to those individuals who find a quiet, undisturbed, unscented spot upon which to eat their nature's bounty.

Wanna be startin' something

Today I stepped in a big, juicy wad of gum, sitting in the blazing hot sun on the sidewalk where I picked up a City Paper to use as padding for a package I was about to send. "Bleeping Bleep!" I yelled, angry, fuming for the next thirty minutes as I could feel my shoe stick ever-so-slightly to the sidewalk below. In line at the post-office I could faintly smell sweat mingled with peppermint chewing gum. "Bleep!"
When I stepped into the office my co-worker told me, "Farrah Fawcett is dead." Heartbroken, I mused, "I guess stepping in gum isn't so bad."
Later, at my other job, my friend was looking at a blog that said Michael Jackson was dead. No Way! I said, but sure enough he's gone too. Walking home I saw a candlelit vigil in Rittenhouse Park, and I was wondering if it was for Farrah, Neda, or Michael Jackson.
I still have that gum stuck to my shoe.