Political meanderings
I like Kerry. Really, I do! Many moons ago I started out as an ABB. Slowly, I started seeing positive glimpses of Kerry, but they were hidden behind bad soundbites and awkward photo shoots. The past two presidential debates have been very revealing. Last night was incredible.
Yes, Bush performed much better than he had in the first debate. And thanks to that low bar he had previously set, he might get a little bounce for improvement this time around. But there were times he looked like a complete ass. I hate that swagger of his. I hate that he winks at the audience - who the fuck is he winking at?? If he ever winked at me I'd probaby punch him in the face. He showed his temper last night, shouting over Charlie Gibson, who was just trying to give him more time! He did calm down about halfway through, but man, there were times I thought (hoped) he might really lose it.
A friend that is not very involved in politics asked an interesting question today. She has watched both the presidential debates and is now a fan of Kerry. Her question is, why did he have such a reputation of being a douche bag (her words)? Why do even some Kerry voters not like him?
Honestly, I think the reason people haven't connected to Kerry prior to the debates is he doesn't come across well in sound bites. He's the kind of guy with whom you could have a long, fascinating conversation. He seems like he can carry on a truly engaging discussion - I'd love to sit down and have dinner with him. Whereas Bush is the kind of guy with whom you'd watch football and trade one-liners. Yeah, Kerry's a little stiff and awkward sometimes, but I prefer stiff and intelligent to folksy and (dangerously) simple-minded. Hell, even some of my good friends aren't always the most charming people in the world. (Of course I'm always charming, heh...)
And because some of my most astute insights come while I'm in the shower, here's my thought from yesterday: why is it that President Clinton lying about a blow job is an impeachable offense, while President Bush and Co. lying about a fucking war that has resulted in over 1,000 American deaths and damaged this country's reputation across the globe might not even get him fired? If you think about the president as the CEO of a company, he should have been fired years ago. No company would keep a CEO on staff, no matter how much they liked him as a person, that has screwed up, broken promises, and offended its customers the way Bush has.
Sometimes this shit is really fucking depressing.
10.09.2004
10.07.2004
Public Service Post of the Week:
An assessment of selected grocery stores on the north side of Chicago
Only since my move to Chicago have I realized the variety of grocery stores in a typical metropolitan area. With such a huge choice, how does one decide? Do you find your favorite store, get the discount card, become a loyal customer, and shop there for every need? Or, do you pick and choose stores based on the items needed and the conditions surrounding the shopping trip? For me, it's the latter, partly because there is no one store that carries everything I want and is convenient for those rushing-to-pick-something-up-for-dinner times.
Jewel, 5516 N Clark: Crack Jewel. This store is probably the closest to my apartment, but is also one of the crappiest grocery stores I have ever patronized. The produce section is gross and small, and the fish counter is to be avoided. Trust me. Yet for some reason it's really crowded. To prevent the pilfering of grocery carts, there is a gate along the front entrances, so that you cannot take your cart to the car. You must leave your cart, with all your freshly purchased food screaming "steal me! steal me!" at the front of the store while you get your car. Then you have to fight traffic and park in front of the store to load everything in. If it weren't for the location and the self checkout lanes, I would never shop here. It's the one you go to when you need something for dinner or forgot the mustard for your hot dogs.
Jewel, 2940 N Ashland: The Old Favorite. This was, for a time, my grocery store of choice. It's big, plenty of parking, you can take your cart to the car, and the quality and cleanliness are above par. But everyone else in Chicagoland likes it too, so it is really crowded at peak hours. Plus, it's pretty far -- too far if there is rush-hour or Cubs game traffic. Load up on staples and get some good produce, but during off-hours only.
Jewel, 3400 Western: Leetle Lot. This Jewel is pretty nice. It's a newer building, so it's clean, well-lit, and big. They even have these scanner calculator things that you can sign out to keep track of what you are buying as you wander through the store. But the parking lot is way too small, so you spend half your time avoiding people, carts, other cars, and inevitably poorly controlled children. Not worth the hassle.
Dominicks, 5233 N. Lincoln: Suck-fest. The only thing going for this store is that everyone knows how awful it is so no one goes there. It is never crowded. But the store itself sucks. Avoid except for last minute dinner necessities.
Dominicks, 3350 Western: No People, No Problem. This is the compromise. It's not as nice as the Jewel next door, but the parking lot is huge and it is never crowded. Lately, my store of choice. Worth the drive for big shopping days.
Whole Foods, 3300 N Ashland: Hippie Spendy. Great store. It is crowded, the parking sucks, and hippies everywhere, but it is so wonderful. Produce: incredible. Meat and fish counters: huge selection of free range and organic products, and knowledgable butchers/mongers. Prices: painful. This is the making a fancy dinner and want the best ingredients store.
Trader Joe's, 3745 N. Lincoln: Budget Friendly, Menu Happy. Trader Joe's offers a great selection of store-brand products that are high quality yet super cheap. The fresh produce is iffy, but the freezer section can provide a bounty of $2-$3 lunches for work. Coffee: yummy. Wine: so good yet cheap you can throw yourself a party. Alternate Trader Joe's trips with your staple shopping from regular grocers, and a happier person you'll be.
Now before you get yourself all in a huffy, I know that I have left out the many smaller ethnic grocers and markets. Del Mar on Broadway had good produce and latin foods. The Asian market on Broadway not only has your standard scary "Are those really eyeballs?" Asian market fare, but also hides a really cheap yet surprisingly tasty Vietnamese restaurant. But I'll leave that exploring up to you.
An assessment of selected grocery stores on the north side of Chicago
Only since my move to Chicago have I realized the variety of grocery stores in a typical metropolitan area. With such a huge choice, how does one decide? Do you find your favorite store, get the discount card, become a loyal customer, and shop there for every need? Or, do you pick and choose stores based on the items needed and the conditions surrounding the shopping trip? For me, it's the latter, partly because there is no one store that carries everything I want and is convenient for those rushing-to-pick-something-up-for-dinner times.
Jewel, 5516 N Clark: Crack Jewel. This store is probably the closest to my apartment, but is also one of the crappiest grocery stores I have ever patronized. The produce section is gross and small, and the fish counter is to be avoided. Trust me. Yet for some reason it's really crowded. To prevent the pilfering of grocery carts, there is a gate along the front entrances, so that you cannot take your cart to the car. You must leave your cart, with all your freshly purchased food screaming "steal me! steal me!" at the front of the store while you get your car. Then you have to fight traffic and park in front of the store to load everything in. If it weren't for the location and the self checkout lanes, I would never shop here. It's the one you go to when you need something for dinner or forgot the mustard for your hot dogs.
Jewel, 2940 N Ashland: The Old Favorite. This was, for a time, my grocery store of choice. It's big, plenty of parking, you can take your cart to the car, and the quality and cleanliness are above par. But everyone else in Chicagoland likes it too, so it is really crowded at peak hours. Plus, it's pretty far -- too far if there is rush-hour or Cubs game traffic. Load up on staples and get some good produce, but during off-hours only.
Jewel, 3400 Western: Leetle Lot. This Jewel is pretty nice. It's a newer building, so it's clean, well-lit, and big. They even have these scanner calculator things that you can sign out to keep track of what you are buying as you wander through the store. But the parking lot is way too small, so you spend half your time avoiding people, carts, other cars, and inevitably poorly controlled children. Not worth the hassle.
Dominicks, 5233 N. Lincoln: Suck-fest. The only thing going for this store is that everyone knows how awful it is so no one goes there. It is never crowded. But the store itself sucks. Avoid except for last minute dinner necessities.
Dominicks, 3350 Western: No People, No Problem. This is the compromise. It's not as nice as the Jewel next door, but the parking lot is huge and it is never crowded. Lately, my store of choice. Worth the drive for big shopping days.
Whole Foods, 3300 N Ashland: Hippie Spendy. Great store. It is crowded, the parking sucks, and hippies everywhere, but it is so wonderful. Produce: incredible. Meat and fish counters: huge selection of free range and organic products, and knowledgable butchers/mongers. Prices: painful. This is the making a fancy dinner and want the best ingredients store.
Trader Joe's, 3745 N. Lincoln: Budget Friendly, Menu Happy. Trader Joe's offers a great selection of store-brand products that are high quality yet super cheap. The fresh produce is iffy, but the freezer section can provide a bounty of $2-$3 lunches for work. Coffee: yummy. Wine: so good yet cheap you can throw yourself a party. Alternate Trader Joe's trips with your staple shopping from regular grocers, and a happier person you'll be.
Now before you get yourself all in a huffy, I know that I have left out the many smaller ethnic grocers and markets. Del Mar on Broadway had good produce and latin foods. The Asian market on Broadway not only has your standard scary "Are those really eyeballs?" Asian market fare, but also hides a really cheap yet surprisingly tasty Vietnamese restaurant. But I'll leave that exploring up to you.
10.06.2004
Vice Presidential Semi-Smackdown
I watched the VP debate last night. It was... painful. I was bored after the first 15 minutes, and I like politics! I can't imagine the average person being willing or able to stick through it to the end. That said, I'm having a hard time deciding who won (although the whole concept of one person winning the whole thing seems weird to me - each candidate did well on some questions and poorly on others). Cheney seemed gruff, fatherly, but confident (in an evil Satan-is-on-my-side kinda way,) and performed better than my low expectations. There were times when I felt like my school principal was lecturing me for missing class or something. Edwards was disappointing, because I had expected a lot from the trial lawyer. He seemed unable to get his points across concisely- I got dizzy following his tangents, although he did make it back to the original point eventually. Unfortunately many times, by the time he got to the point, he only had 15 seconds left to answer the damn question. He also tripped over his tongue more often than I had expected.
The moderator, Gwen Ifill, sucked. Some of her questions were more ballsy than I expected, but others were either total softballs or completely bizarre. She even made a mistake in giving Edwards an additional 30 seconds that he should not have been given, and then had to cut him short to rectify the mistake. And the stupid "answer this question without saying Bush or Kerry" rule was, well, stupid.
But on balance, I don't think this will change the election much. I doubt many people made it through the whole debate - those who did probably already know who they are going to vote for next month.
Do I really have to call a winner? Fine, if I must, I declare the VP debate a draw. Perfect material for the spinners on each side to work their evil magic.
I watched the VP debate last night. It was... painful. I was bored after the first 15 minutes, and I like politics! I can't imagine the average person being willing or able to stick through it to the end. That said, I'm having a hard time deciding who won (although the whole concept of one person winning the whole thing seems weird to me - each candidate did well on some questions and poorly on others). Cheney seemed gruff, fatherly, but confident (in an evil Satan-is-on-my-side kinda way,) and performed better than my low expectations. There were times when I felt like my school principal was lecturing me for missing class or something. Edwards was disappointing, because I had expected a lot from the trial lawyer. He seemed unable to get his points across concisely- I got dizzy following his tangents, although he did make it back to the original point eventually. Unfortunately many times, by the time he got to the point, he only had 15 seconds left to answer the damn question. He also tripped over his tongue more often than I had expected.
The moderator, Gwen Ifill, sucked. Some of her questions were more ballsy than I expected, but others were either total softballs or completely bizarre. She even made a mistake in giving Edwards an additional 30 seconds that he should not have been given, and then had to cut him short to rectify the mistake. And the stupid "answer this question without saying Bush or Kerry" rule was, well, stupid.
But on balance, I don't think this will change the election much. I doubt many people made it through the whole debate - those who did probably already know who they are going to vote for next month.
Do I really have to call a winner? Fine, if I must, I declare the VP debate a draw. Perfect material for the spinners on each side to work their evil magic.
10.05.2004
Ass Cold
Brrr... It's ass cold in the office today. And they are out of hot chocolate. What's a girl supposed to do? I can't work under these conditions. Surely there are some OSHA regs out there about not having to work in a meat locker (unless of course you are a butcher or some other... meat... handling... person.)
I'm listening to The Faint again, cause it's good blood pumping music. I'm on the verge of overlistening to this album, but just like the others (Blonde Redhead, Franz Ferdinand,) I can't help myself.
Brrr... It's ass cold in the office today. And they are out of hot chocolate. What's a girl supposed to do? I can't work under these conditions. Surely there are some OSHA regs out there about not having to work in a meat locker (unless of course you are a butcher or some other... meat... handling... person.)
I'm listening to The Faint again, cause it's good blood pumping music. I'm on the verge of overlistening to this album, but just like the others (Blonde Redhead, Franz Ferdinand,) I can't help myself.
10.04.2004
Today is science day.
I missed the actual flight this morning (doh!), but SpaceShipOne has breached the earth's atmosphere for the second time, earning the $10 million Ansari X Prize. Last night I watched the Discovery Channel's 2-hour special about the development of the craft and its first successful flight. My reaction: test pilots are fucking insane. Discovery.com has a cool slide show about the race for space.
And now, Mount St. Helens is showing signs of life again. Pretty good amount of smoke and steam coming out of there right now, according to the Mount St. Helens VolcanoCam.
I missed the actual flight this morning (doh!), but SpaceShipOne has breached the earth's atmosphere for the second time, earning the $10 million Ansari X Prize. Last night I watched the Discovery Channel's 2-hour special about the development of the craft and its first successful flight. My reaction: test pilots are fucking insane. Discovery.com has a cool slide show about the race for space.
And now, Mount St. Helens is showing signs of life again. Pretty good amount of smoke and steam coming out of there right now, according to the Mount St. Helens VolcanoCam.
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