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October 31, 2005
Rare post on an area I have no expertise in
Instead of commenting myself on the Alito nomination, I'm going to point you to Insta and Volokh. I've also had a bit to say over on NYRA's Forums, which I may copy and paste here later, when I have time to expound more.
Posted by Kat at 01:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Blog Values
This has been popping up around the 'sphere.
Thought I'd give it a shot
My blog is worth $31,049.70.
How much is your blog worth?
Huh. Look at that.
Posted by Kat at 10:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Disagreement
For the first time since I started reading her words, I disagree with one of Sissy's posts. Comes as somewhat of a shock to me, as usually I find myself nodding my head and thinking about how to best use her arguments in my own daily discussions with family and friends.
While we agree with Roger re "the infantile partisanship dominating American political life" -- today and throughout our nation's history -- we're still gagging at Lanny Davis's scare quotes attempting to gloss over the b>rampant Clintonian political corruption, from day one of the co-presidency, that was forever swept under the carpet with "I don't recall" and "It depends upon what your definition of is, is." Our personal favorite was the Clinton aide whose excuse was that he had lied to his diary. Don't we all? Did that work for you, Lanny? Sorry. It didn't work for us unwashed out here.(emphasis mine)
Political corruption runs rampant in every presidency. I don't give a flying fuck who is the cause of it, or who furthers it. Whoever those people are, if it can be proven that they knew exactly what they were doing and with disregard for the American Public, they should be gone, and charged with the appropriate crimes.
BUT (and this is a big but)
Clinton was no more or less corrupt than any other president. He had his strengths (domestic policy, charisma) and his weaknesses (foreign policy, charisma), but so does every president. They are human, which is why we have checks and balances in our system, instead of putting all our power in one person. We have a political system that works better than socialism, better than a dictatorship, and better than a facist bureaucracy, because the Founding Fathers understood that the people involved are human, and prone to mistakes.
To highlight one presidency and call it more corrupt than the others (with the exception of Nixon, he was a whole other can of worms), is to misunderstand, however slightly, that these people are only human.
And to do it while writing about an article that discusses the harm of partisanship - shame on you, Sissy, for playing into those politics.
I hate partisanship, no matter where it comes from. There is no need for it, and there is nothing preventing people from ending it themselves, except their own hate and distrust. I expect more from a New England Republican.
Posted by Kat at 10:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 29, 2005
Let Sleeping Cats Lie
Sleeping cats are the most relaxing thing in the world.
Except when they force you to type one-handed.
Move her? Now why would I do that?
Posted by Kat at 05:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Why the HELL didn't anyone tell me?!
Mean Mr. Mustard started up again over a year ago!
Damnit, I used to love his writing. Glad to see him back. He goes on my sidebar.
Posted by Kat at 01:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Frappr
Yes, yes, thanks to Barry, I am now on Frappr. The link is on the side, under banners. Click, tell me where you are, and have fun!
Oh, and what do you think of the new design? The banner will go after Halloween and the colors will stick around till after Thanksgiving. So you have time to tell me if they really don't work.
Posted by Kat at 12:48 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Not-so-Friday Catblogging
Good to know someone gets to hibernate until the next baseball season...
Lucky cat.
Posted by Kat at 01:23 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 28, 2005
Another Abortion Post
Apparantly (there's that damned word again), Karol is pro-life.
I am pro-choice, with certain caveats.
1. No late term abortions, excepting the health of the mother. Even then, every effort should be made to save the child as well...once it is viable, it is a child.
2. NO PARENTAL NOTIFICATION. Ever.
3. The health of the mother comes first in all cases, until the child is viable. This includes mental health (i.e. rape, where having the child would be too traumatic) in certain cases.
Pretty much, I'm pro-choice, but hoping to see a decline in the number of abortions because of better education, the morning after pill being available over the counter, and RU-486 being prescribed more than it is. A D&C is not necessary in most cases, and should be looked at as a last resort.
This is always a difficult topic for me to write on, because I often think "what would I do if I was in that situation?"
But I'm lucky. I have a support structure in place that keeps me from having to really worry. I know that no matter what my choice, I won't get shit from anyone who loves me.
I also know that I do what I can to ensure I won't get pregnant. But in the end, it comes down to situation. I don't know what I would do.
Which makes it hard for me to philosopize on this topic, because who am I to regulate other women's lives?
Posted by Kat at 09:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Bye.
Back in 2001, she was one of the people who inspired me to start blogging. She made me realize that a blog wasn't just what Insta wrote, or Jeff Jarvis - it could be personal as well as political.
Thanks.
Posted by Kat at 02:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
I wish I had one of those "dubious" smilies from message boards
Ok. So, this story, from the Houston Chronicle, talks about Exxon-Mobil employees getting fake flu shots.
Here's the last line in the story:
She said Exxon Mobil also recommended that employees given the flu shot should be tested for blood-borne pathogens, or germs.
Anyone notice anything odd about that line? Keep in mind, this was written by an actual Journalist.
Give me blogs any day of the week.
(Story found via...who else? Laurence.)
Posted by Kat at 01:32 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
October 25, 2005
I can never spell that damned word
Apparently (yes, that word) when I'm in a bad mood, I give good advice and wax poetic while using a minimum of words.
I still can't spell worth shit.
Posted by Kat at 10:05 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 24, 2005
Conspiracy Nuts
It seems like the conspiracy nuts are coming out of the woodwork lately. The NYRA forums have had a couple, especially one who I had to put on my Ignore list just so I wouldn't raise my blood pressure any further.
Any suggestions for links I can send which will give the breakdown of the engineering, archetecture, and physics of 9/11? Of why it was the result of a plane and not a controlled destruction?
Posted by Kat at 11:39 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 21, 2005
Hehehe
Nancy Reagan: Thank you, President and Mrs. Reagan...
Bush: Freedom is one of the noblest and deepest human aspiration.
Posted by Kat at 02:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Three Questions
1. Who is stupid enough to try to drive a bomb to the capitol building?
2. Who could then be even stupider, and TELL a cop that you have a bomb?
3. What Kool-Aid are these morons drinking, and can we keep it out of the water supply?
Posted by Kat at 12:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
I think it's someone who LIKES Saddam.
Saddam's chief lawyer, Khalil al-Dulaimi (search), said after the kidnapping that defense lawyers have gotten many threats in past weeks — by e-mail, cell phone text message and by telephone. He did not specify if they were from Saddam opponents angry at their defending Saddam's regime or from Sunni supporters angry that they were partipating in the trial at all.
Discuss.
Posted by Kat at 09:06 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 18, 2005
Fucking Spammers
I received the following:
OTC: RLYCMarket Summary
Current Share Price $0.04
Shares outstanding 350,000,000
Float 5,000,000
52 Week Range $0.04 - $0.43
Target Share Price $0.22
First Cash Card, Inc., Being Acquired by Relay Capital Corp, Approaches $1 million in Transactions
About Relay Capital Corporation:
Relay Capital Corporation is a developer and marketer of a wide range of prepaid financial services, including pre-paid stored value cards, reward cards, employee payroll cards, gift, retail and affinity group cards, travel cards and fund transfer cards. Relay Capital Corporation encompasses both the marketing and distribution of pre-paid and pay-transfer cards in concert with the development of loading centers. Loading centers are retail locations, such as convenience stores, check cashing facilities or other types of retail facilities serving to dispense or receive cash facilitating transactions for the stored-value card consumer.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz..(MARKET WIRE)--Oct. 16, 2005.First Cash Card, Inc., a Canadian marketer and issuer of debit cards, that is being acquired by U.S. based Relay Capital Corp. (Other OTC:RLYC.PK), reported that it has processed close to $1 million in transactions over the last few months.
What does this mean? Everytime someone uses one of these cards at an ATM, a Point of Sale, or in any manner, Relay Capital makes money.
.We feel these initial numbers indicate the tremendous Canadian market opportunity for Relay Capital and us,. said Phil Kueber, First Cash Card.s president. .We have barely touched the surface with the first 700 cards we have issued. The next step is to issue 4,300 more cards we have readied for this market..
With 5,000 cards in circulation, the profit potential is phenomenal. And that's only the very beginning. Relay plans to aggressively market these new debit cards across the U.S. and Canada, so these 5,000 cards are only a scratch on the surface of the market Relay has the opportunity to serve. Debit cards represent nearly 70% of all financial transactions in the United States. The Relay Capital debit cards can be used on the Maestro, Cirrus, and other ATM networks, and carry the VISA or MasterCard brands for greater purchasing power, Relay Capital debit cards can be used at MILLIONS of locations, worldwide.
.We are very pleased with the high dollar volume of transactions on the First Cash Card and expect to rapidly expand this platform in the U.S. and Canadian markets,. said E. Reese Bogle, III, Relay Capital's CEO. .An additional opportunity it offers Relay Capital, is the ability to issue debit cards for use in the United States and throughout the world under the rules and regulations of Canadian Financial institutions and Canadian currency..
Relay Capital also participates in a widespread effort to distribute relief funds to recent hurricane victims. Prepaid debit cards are the preferred method of distributing disaster relief funds, and have been widely used to distribute funds to Hurricane Katrina victims.
First Cash Card can be used at over 5 million ATM machines and over 1 million Point of Sale (POS) terminals worldwide. Its principle growth has been in the check cashing industry where employees can obtain a First Cash Card at no charge. First Cash Cards allows $2,500 in ATM daily withdrawals and $2,500 in POS transactions. Cards can also be used to purchase goods and services over the Internet for .e-tailers. who provide I-debit. It is anticipated that in the next month, cards will also provide "card-to bank" transfers, allowing cardholders to transfer funds from their cards to a traditional bank account.
About First Cash Card, Inc.:
First Cash Card, Inc. provides debit cards to the unbanked and underbanked in Canada. It makes it easy, fast, and secure for individuals and businesses to buy goods and services using automatic teller machines (.ATM.s.) and point of sale (.POS.) terminals, providing them with many of the benefits and of services heretofore offered by a prime bank. In addition to its First Cash Card brand, the company has a wholly owned financial services store in Canada.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements include without limitation, statements regarding the timing of an award, if any. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those anticipated. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date of this release, and the company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events, or circumstances after the date of this release except as required by law.
The transmitter of this email is a marketing firm only and has no relationship with RLYC. The purpose of this advertisement is to provide publicity for the advertised company, its products or services. This advertisement is not a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and does not provide an analysis of the financial position of the company discussed in the email. The transmitter of this email is not a licensed registered investment advisor, investment banker, market maker, analyst, underwriter or broker-dealer. This report is provided as an information service only, and the statements and opinions in this report should not be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security. The information contained herein is not guaranteed by transmitter to be accurate, and should not be considered to be all-inclusive. The transmitter of this email accepts no liability for any loss arising from an investor's reliance on or use of this report. An investment in RLYC is considered to be highly speculative and should not be considered unless a person can afford a complete loss of investment. The transmitter of this email has been hired by a third party consultant, and to date has accepted an exchange of services as compensation, for the circulation of this financial newsletter. The transmitter of this email was hired as a vendor to deliver this newsletter. This report contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks, and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. For further details concerning these risks and uncertainties, see the SEC filings of RLYC including the company's most recent annual and quarterly reports.
Asses.
I did a bit of research, coming to their website. I then emailed their info address, telling them exactly what I thought of their spam, and what they should do to the person they hired to send it to me.
It bounced.
Asses.
I'm going to directly email the person who sent this to me, and tell them where to stick it. I refuse to be on the receiving end of this crap.
Posted by Kat at 01:45 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 17, 2005
Cold
Starbucks is freezing.
I'm trying to get this new site up and running.
Right now, I'm just focused on drawing in people. Only one rule - No Bitching.
This means no flame wars, no bitching about your day, your kids, or your parents.
I am using it for a specific project, seeded by NYRA (link on the right, I'm a lazy bitch today). A group that mediates between parents and kids, to work out solutions and offer alternatives to the schools discussed here. The idea being that most kids who are sent to these schools either have honest problems that need to be solved by inpatient psychiatric programs, or they just have social problems that can be dealt with by changing certain aspects of their situations.
If you're interested in helping, head over there and sign up. We'll be having a meeting at some point, when I can organize it.
DISCLAIMER: Although I am heading this up, I do not intend to do all the work. If you are joining, you must be willing and able to put in a ton of time. We are trying to change kids' lives, not just make ourselves feel better.
SECOND DISCLAIMER: Parent's Sandbox and NYRA are connected only through me. They are unaffiliated, and will probably remain so. At this point, this project may either remain with NYRA, or break off and form it's own non-profit org.
THIRD DISCLAIMER: I will not reveal the names of those who come to me looking for help, even with permission. If they want to tell their story, they will join up and do so.
Posted by Kat at 08:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Really bad mood
I'm in a really shitty mood today. Not only is my CV not coming out right, but the printer jammed, I couldn't get out to look at bars today because the stupid resume isn't working right, and I'm just generally in one of those places that is really dark.
The kitties help. Especially when they see what kind of mood I'm in and start cuddling up to me. But something in my life needs to give. Money is low, rent is due soon, and I'm just not able to find a job.
Anyone out there know of a bar or several I should apply at?
Posted by Kat at 07:14 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 16, 2005
Eek!
Athena ate her head!
Holy headless kitten, Batman!
Posted by Kat at 08:37 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
October 15, 2005
Sun
The sun is going away again.
This weather fucking SUCKS ASS.
I'm meditating on this entry, from Elisson.
The phrase "they tried to kill us, we won, let's eat" keeps coming to mind. There's more there, but it's buried under a huge layer of respect and a bit of silence in honor of a religion I hold dear.
Probably the only organized religion I would consider following.
Oh, and a note to the NYRA crowd - I'm giving myself a small break from the forums. I have some great ideas, but I want to be rested and able to really attack them when I get back. Could be an hour, could be a few days. I'm not sure yet.
Posted by Kat at 01:54 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Announcement
I'm being suffocated by a kitten laying across my neck.
Oh, she's moved. Now she's laying with her butt in my face and her head on the laptop next to the touchpad. She's watching me type.
This is insane.
Oh, and South Park is the best show ever.
And now she's laying across my neck again.
That is all.
Posted by Kat at 12:54 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 12, 2005
Working...
So the party nearly three weeks ago was at the K Lounge in Midtown.
I met the manager.
I'm now on the roster to fill in when they're lacking bar workers.
I'll post here when I know what nights I'll be working. Hopefully people can join me.
Posted by Kat at 11:42 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 10, 2005
Tell me this...
Why is it all these reporters are over reporting on the earthquake, but none of them seem to be helping dig people out?
Posted by Kat at 11:23 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 09, 2005
NEW!
I have a cyberpet.
He doesn't fit in the margin.
Go ahead, feed him.
Go on. He doesn't bite. Much.
Oh, and points to whomever gets where the name came from.
Posted by Kat at 04:18 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
October 07, 2005
New image
Clear your cache if the image on the side hasn't changed.
Posted by Kat at 10:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
That was...yuck.
You don't wanna talk to me for a couple days.
Posted by Kat at 07:38 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Yay!
I missed you, Jeff. You know I'm here if you need anything. Well, anything that doesn't require I get on a plane and fly to Texas.
Posted by Kat at 03:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
I live in a movie.
No seriously. I do.
That is all.
Posted by Kat at 11:57 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
I'm highly disturbed - again
The MSM is all over this terrorism threat, but the blogosphere seems to be ignoring it.
I'd like to know what my fellow bloggers think, but no one (except Michele) has anything, even a mention.
Seriously. The first credible threat against the NYC subway system, and no one says anything?
Posted by Kat at 10:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 06, 2005
I am SO freaked out right now
I am NOT taking the subway this weekend.
A NYPD source told FOX News that the threat involved 19 suitcase bombs to be placed in the subway system.
This is just terrifying, for the threat to be that specific. So of course Bloomberg (who took an extra FIFTEEN minutes to start the news conference) had to say:
"This is the first time we have had a threat with this level of specificity."
Oh yeah. Subways are off my list for the weekend. Anyone wanna come up to Harlem and hang out here? Cabs are expensive.
Posted by Kat at 08:56 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
States rights and SCOTUS
One way in which I always differed from the Democrats, even when I was an active member of that party, was in regards to states' rights. Another way was regarding welfare states, but that's an issue for another time.
The current case before the Supreme Court is regarding doctor-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients.
Who Chooses Physician-Assisted Suicide?
One of the statments from Roberts was the following:
"If one state can say it's legal for doctors to prescribe morphine to make people feel better, or to prescribe steroids for bodybuilding, doesn't that undermine the uniformity of the federal law and make enforcement impossible?"
This seems like he's pro-big government, although other things he has said in the past show him to be pro-states rights. If he truly is against this being the state's decision, I have many problems with him.
Growing up in NH, one tends to get a sense of the state's motto, Live Free Or Die, not just as the phrase on a license plate, but as a representation of what the founding fathers felt. Whether it's gun laws, declaring "Martin Luther King Jr. Day", or requiring seat belts, we do it on our own time, and keep legislation to a minimum. As a result, although there are many Democrats in the state, those who are native (rather than having moved from VT or NY) tend to still believe in small, local government. Town Hall meetings, your neighbor being your state representative, meeting the Governor or a Senator at the state fair, all of these are everyday occurances.
Everytown, USA. All of NH is that. And the right of the state to make it's own laws, rather than having ones forced on them by the Federal Government, is critical to keeping that, not only for NH, but for this nation. NY may want to pass an assisted suicide law. Kansas may not. But they should be able to do so on their own time, rather than having it forced on them by a Supreme Court who shouldn't be hearing the case in the first place.
How is this a constitutional issue? Other than state's rights and people's rights, I don't see any constitutional questions in the topic. And if the court starts taking issues based on a loose interpretation of state and personal rights, then anything could be considered fair game for SCOTUS.
Keep the government out of my life, and don't legislate from the bench.
Posted by Kat at 10:12 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 05, 2005
Sox SUCK!
I can't fucking believe it.
Nasty.
Posted by Kat at 10:04 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Uh oh...
I have no idea what they're doing, but I'm sure they're scheming about something. Athena will be on later to explain.
Sarai is too busy sleeping. I think all the plotting wore her out.
Posted by Kat at 07:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
She's BACK!
Hey! Michele brought back the Little Dead Girl!
Happiness!
Posted by Kat at 07:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Overly strict blacklist.
Ok. Because I blocked a couple different strings to try to reduce spam, I ended up blocking some comments and a few trackbacks.
The string has been changed to moderate, rather than block. We'll see if that helps.
If your trackback or comment has been blocked in the last month, try again. I swear it should work.
And in the future, if there's a problem, email me. I don't know that something's wrong unless my readers tell me. I don't tend to check my blacklist logs.
Posted by Kat at 07:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 04, 2005
Oddness in the Blogosphere
I realized that I hadn't read Jeff in a while. Like, a long while.
I've also been somewhat hard to reach through either email or IM, since I've been busy as fuck.
So I figure, I need to know what's going on with him. I punch in his URL, and see the following as the top post
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Hiatus
Personal circumstances necessitate a short hiatus. Days at least, possibly weeks.
Well now I just feel bad for not checking earlier or IMing him the other night when I saw him online.
Whatever is going on, Jeff, I hope you're ok, and I hope to be reading your vitriol again soon.
*hugs*
Posted by Kat at 12:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Political Positioning
| You are a Social Liberal (81% permissive) and an... Economic Conservative (75% permissive) You are best described as a:
Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test |
The questions are so loaded though. Bah.
And yes, Sarai is still ignoring me. Popped up for a bit of attention about twenty minutes ago, but has vanished again.
I'm pretty sure she's punishing me for sleeping in today. Not that I was that late, but...eh. I'm sure everyone here knows how cats can be.
Posted by Kat at 11:46 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Hmph.
I'm going to ignore them all day.
Or at least until I want attention.
Posted by Sarai at 11:01 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
STARVING!
Mommy fed us late this morning. I don't know why, I was being sooooooooooooooooooo good! I didn't sing outside her bedroom door at four am, that wasn't my music playing at six thirty, and I sat and waited patiently for her to come feed us.
Not even the Boy came out to feed us.
Why?
Posted by Sarai at 10:19 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 03, 2005
Racism strikes again
Gosh darn those privileged white kids
White PrivilegeOrganizers of a "Women of Color Dialogue" at Northeastern University in Boston were forced to open an event to all races after initially proclaiming that white women would not be allowed, according to the Northeastern University News.
Members of the Women's Studies and Graduate Consortium wanted to exclude white women from the first session of the dialogue. They said it needed to remain racially segregated in order to help the participants come together on issues that many of them felt were perpetrated by white people.
But after hearing complaints from two caucasian students, the Student Government Association and the school provost, the event was opened to all. Dr. Robin Chandler, director of women's studies and one of the organizers of the event, said she was disappointed by the demand.
"I think it's a shame that one or two white students based on white privilege, a lack of awareness of racial issues and a lack of generosity of spirit complained to the office of the provost and were able, because they were white, to gain admission to the morning session that I was forced to open up," Chandler said.
Posted by Kat at 08:27 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 02, 2005
Random Thought
Is anyone else really disturbed by those Burger King commercials that have the man with the weird plastic "King" mask?
Posted by Kat at 09:11 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Still recovering
Shhhhhh.
Be vewwy vewwy kwiet.
'm hunting Yankees Fans.
Posted by Kat at 05:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack