Love thy crittars!

Reading this story made me really sad, and angry. Why do people abandon their pets when their homes are foreclosed? There's no excuse to treat a pet like that.
I'm going home to hug my critter.

It's all about Kerry

Sometimes an endorsement is not an endorsement.

Why do pundits call Hillary Clinton "Mrs. Clinton" instead of "Senator Clinton" (which they do for Obama, Dodd, Gravel, Biden...heck, even Edwards)? It is subtle, but it does make a difference.

Auction me

I got an email from UM's athletic department, telling me that it's my LAST CHANCE TO BID on this original coin. So, I was curious and checked it out...because doesn't everyone want to have a original coin used at the UM-OSU football game? Geez, the coin has so much history afterall. It's the famous 2007 UM-OSU battle, in which Lloyd Carr blows our chances at a Big 10 title for the last time. And the money is going to charity. (Unfortunately it's not the "help dig LJS from the abyss of student loan debt" endowment.)

I figured that UM isn't sucking as much money from me as it possibly could YET so...why not eh?

Then I saw the price on the bid. (no I'm not going to tell you because you won't believe me, this is something you need to see with your own eyes)

Words utterly escape me. Although there's a whole bunch of "wtf" going on. Have we really become a society dominated by sports fanatics, greedy administrators, manipulative marketeers, and materialistic people who use the whitewash of "charity donations" to enable superfluous purchases?? And the thing that pisses me off the most about this is that they have the gall to send this spam to students, most of whom are insanely in debt from student loans because this is one of the most expensive public universities to attend.

More later, and there will be squirrels.

Merry Christmas.

Just a bit of something new to satiate Hyperion, and well...my own need to blog but either forgetting to do so or getting too wrapped up in extraneous stuff.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas. Peace, joy and merriment to all.


:) LJS

Coming to a school near you...

Why oh why am I getting emails from my athletic department advertising for television?? Big Money...no whammies....

he next two Michigan football games (Eastern Michigan on Saturday and Purdue next Saturday) will be aired on the Big Ten Network.

The network's distribution partnerships allow for the satellite providers and cable distributors to carry “overflow” games so subscribers will have access to all Big Ten Network games when multiple games are being aired at the same time.

As the Michigan State/Northwestern game is also on the Big Ten Network at the same time, tomorrow's Eastern Michigan game (12 noon start) will be aired on DirectTV channel 219, AT&T U-Verse channel 644, DISH Network channel 441 and WOW channel 334 (for customers in Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio).

For other cable customers, the decision whether or not to air Big Ten Network "overflow" games will be made by their cable operator. Channel assignments for next week's Michigan-Purdue game (12 noon start) will be released on MgoBlue.com as they are made available.

If you would like to get DirectTV, DISH Network or AT&T U-Verse, just click on the name of the company and you will be directed to their web site.

If you have any comments or questions about the Big Ten Network, please direct them to bigtennetwork@umich.edu. We have had numerous messages already, and we may not be able to respond to them all. We still encourage our fans without the Big Ten Network to call their cable operator. We know it is frustrating, but the only way the cable providers will add the network is by hearing from their consumers. You can also call 1-800-WANT-B10 to record a message or patch through directly to your cable company.

Tend to those tender ears?

So...yes "Elephant" is blasting my ears out today. At least my ears will be happy before they completely and utterly fail...one day.

Something to cheer me up? They put in bike lanes on Packard St. so now the bike lane extends nearly completely to home.

:)

Tonight...we dine!

This is an adorable take on "300"...not to be mistaken with this slightly more mischievous one. Don't worry y'all....it's all Safe For Work.

And here's a new favorite from Mr. Breakfast. Baked Cinnamon French Toast. Yum!

PS....I now surpassed 400 citations in my EndNote library. Awesomely nerdy. Yeppo.

Smash some 'Kins

I'm still waiting for "Icky Thump" and "Easy Tiger" to show up on my doorstep as a thanks from Jon and Steve for guesting on their show. Until then I'm making due with the Smashing Pumpkins which may be better than being on a James Blunt bender.

One of my favorites, is "Stand Inside your Love" and the video is gorgeous.



And I'm desparing over my data. The avian overlord is *helping me* by hanging out on my shoulder and jonesing for some more peanut butter crackers. I'm just happy he's getting along better with me, although he DID bite the Mr. today. Oooops.

Mr. Breakfast

For anyone who loves breakfasts, here is an awesome place for inspiration. Hello Mr. Breakfast! Who, if you look very closely, bears a striking resemblance to Mr. Clean.

The site is very very good and funny AND is devoted to breakfast. Needless to say, it's made my Ka-Tet. I finally found a recipe for really yummy Mexican coffee that we had in Cozumel.

We'll be making crepes with lattes this Sunday, and I'm sure there's an apple topping recipe somewhere.

My birthday weekend was wonderful. I'll write more about it soon. If you haven't yet seen "Wallace and Grommit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit", I highly recommend it!

:)

It's alllll about me

Well my fine ladies and gents, it is nearing that time of the year when you get to celebrate another turn of this celestial orb with me. And if you are as excited as I am, then life is good indeed. yes, I am happy to be turning 32.

I’ve had scores of people ask me what to get me for the big day. (They are actually legion. But hey, I’m not counting.) Money is no object, so they say. Well for all you good good folks out there with so much discretionary funding, I’d like to pique your interest in:

1. I need angel funding for massively awesome start ups that will save the planet, help you be a well person, and provide our investors with a one hundred billion % return on investment. Get in now, at the ground floor folks.
2. Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart have repeatedly asked if I can come and star on their shows. I just need the travel money to get to NYC. Come on Colbert Nation, make Papa Bear happy!
3. There’s this thing called World Peace that I’m all interested in.
4. Ryan Adams he is stalking me…again. So I need to get a good lawyer this time.
5. Now is a good time of year the hang out at KJ, so I hear.
6. Lloyd Carr has asked me to “fill in” for him the rest of the year, so I’ll need a good UofM sweater and hat. It’s important to at least look cool when I'm cussing out our hand-picked second-rate team.
   
7. The rest of my “why yes like I really am like totally shallow” wish list is at tiffany.com
8. I’ve heard that the position of AG is up for sale. Although I’m not a lawyer, I’m sure that I can lie, skeeze and sleeze with the best of them. Plus I’ve heard the corner office is something worth seeing. You can PayPal to LJS4AG. Thanks and I'll totally remove your parking tickets.
   

And now for you who know (and lurve) my sarcasm, then you know better. Big wet sloppy kisses and meaningful hugs are at the top of my list, and I’m hoping to get plenty of ‘em on the big day.

DS-230?

This is for one specific person (heya!)
Is this the correct form? It's v2 from James's Shortcuts.

NO NO NO NO

"But the fundamental question is, is the world better off as a result of your leadership?"

Power is but an illusion unless you're an ass

Does anyone else kept up with the states jockeying for position this primary season?? First New Hampshire ("the little state that could") followed by Florida ("more cowbell!") and Nevada ("I've got your dice, right here"). Now enters Michigan ("what's a CAFE standard") into the dirt-covered oval, where states are trying to assert their impact on the primaries. I knew it was going to happen, our party chair said as much this spring in the convention.

Michigan Democrats Urge DNC to Stop New Hampshire Double Standard

The following letter was sent to Democratic National Committee Chairman Dean by US Senator Carl Levin and DNC Committee Woman Debbie Dingell.

September 4, 2007

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.
Chairman, Democratic National Committee
Democratic Party Headquarters
430 South Capitol St., SE
Washington, DC 20004

Dear Governor Dean,

America has many strengths. Two of its greatest are our strong democratic traditions, and the rich diversity of our people. We Democrats take pride in the fact that, of the two major parties, we best represent this diversity.

It is therefore hard to understand how one of our most important democratic processes -- the nomination of our candidates for the presidency -- has been unduly dominated by two states, neither of which is particularly reflective of this diversity.

New Hampshire and Iowa have had a hugely disproportionate impact on our presidential nominating process, with more access to candidates and visits from candidates than probably all the other states combined during the primary and caucus season. Other states, including Michigan, have issues critically important to them. These states would like candidates seeking their support to understand and address these issues, and urged the DNC to make the process more democratic and thereby more reflective of our diversity.

The DNC approached this issue cautiously and with due diligence. A Commission representing diverse party constituents was appointed to make recommendations. The Commission then held a series of comprehensive public hearings. Ultimately, the Commission recommended a modest change in the traditional schedule, which New Hampshire opposed. It recommended that two caucuses be held, then two primaries, and then the "window" for the rest of the states would open.

On August 19, 2006, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) set the dates for the selection of delegates to the 2008 Democratic nominating convention as follows:

• at Iowa caucuses held no earlier than January 14, 2008;
• at Nevada caucuses held no earlier than January 19;
• at a New Hampshire primary held no earlier than January 22; and
• at a South Carolina primary held no earlier than January 29.

The rest of the states could then hold their caucuses or primaries to select their delegates after the opening of the "window" on February 5, 2008.

Michigan Democrats, while disappointed our state was not selected as one of the four "pre-window" states, announced we would abide by the DNC calendar, unless New Hampshire or another state decided to ignore the rule establishing that sequence and that calendar.

On August 9, New Hampshire's Secretary of State, with the support of the state's Democrats, indicated that he was going to hold the New Hampshire primary before January 19, 2008, a clear violation of the DNC rules. This announcement was made at a joint public ceremony and in partnership with South Carolina Republicans who had announced that they would hold their GOP primary on January 19.

One of New Hampshire's purposes was to push the New Hampshire primary ahead of the Nevada caucus which the DNC's rule had scheduled for January 19. New Hampshire's transparent action reflected its determination to maintain its privileged position of going immediately after Iowa, despite the DNC calendar.

Those of us who fought hard to loosen the stranglehold of New Hampshire on the process saw you stand by silently.

But when the Florida legislature changed the date of the Florida primary to a date before the window opened, you promptly determined to punish Florida Democrats by threatening to not seat their delegates if they abided by their legislature's decision. You still maintained public silence about the New Hampshire Secretary of State's decision to violate the DNC rules, a decision, again, which was supported by New Hampshire Democrats.

In the past, New Hampshire maintained its discriminatory privilege and dominating role because our party would not take them on and because of the gun that New Hampshire holds to candidates' heads, insisting that they pledge not to campaign in any state that encroaches on their primary.

Our national party began the process of taking that gun away from the heads of our candidates when we changed the sequence and put New Hampshire third instead of second in the period prior to the opening of the window. The battle that we fought was over the sequence of the primaries and caucuses. New Hampshire either pushing ahead of its assigned position or increasing the distance between its primary and the opening of the window for the rest of the states violates the purpose of the rule.

It was a hard won, albeit partial, victory, allowing our party to better reflect the diversity of America and to begin to inject some fairness in a process for states whose role had been diminished election after election by the dominance of two states.

Michigan Democrats are determined to fight to maintain that victory. We object to your continued silence in the face of New Hampshire's stated intent to violate the DNC rules. As Chairman of the Democratic Party, you had the obligation to state your intent to apply the rule to New Hampshire Democrats when its Secretary of State announced his intention to move the New Hampshire primary prior to January 19. Selective enforcement of our rules undermines the progress achieved -- to open the process potentially for all states.

We have not seen any public statement from the DNC following New Hampshire's announcement on August 9 that they would move their primary before January 19 in clear violation of the DNC rules. Your silence in the face of New Hampshire's action is a stunning contrast to the DNC's reaction to Florida.

In the face of New Hampshire's decision to violate the DNC rules and your silence concerning that decision, and given our strong feelings about the need to reform our nominating process to make it fairer, Michigan's Democratic leadership decided to elect our delegates on January 15, 2008, the date the Michigan legislature set for the Michigan primary. (See attached statement.)

Someone has to take on New Hampshire's transparent effort to violate the DNC rules and to maintain its privileged position. Hopefully the DNC will, and you will, promptly urge our candidates to stop campaigning in New Hampshire because of the New Hampshire's expressed intent to violate the DNC rules.

New Hampshire's gun remains at our candidates' heads and they fear the repercussions to their campaigns in New Hampshire if they don't sign the New Hampshire pledge -- dramatic proof, if any more were needed, of the disproportionate impact of the New Hampshire primary.

Maybe Florida will join us if we have to take our case for the seating of our delegates to the Democratic convention in Denver. And maybe Nevada will insist on maintaining the number two position assigned to it. Maybe one or more of our Democratic candidates will join us. In any event, there cannot be one set of rules for New Hampshire and one set for every other state. We are determined that Michigan not be bound by rules that are not effectively enforced against other states.

Sincerely,

Carl Levin Debbie Dingell.
United States Senator DNC Committee Member

Enclosure

cc: Democratic presidential candidates
Members of the DNC

Those billions are busy

Thanks Sparky for the bestest Daily Show clip I've seen in awhile.

Fear me!

An oldie but goodie.

VIKING KITTENS!

Welcome!

It's 6:30 pm on a Monday, and it just occurred to me why I haven't had many visitors to ye ole Scarlett cubicle today.
I've had my earphones in all day, listening to either my podcasts or music. I've been intently focusing on my data (or my myriad blogger updates), aka staring at my monitor. My cubicle faces against the group, so it seems like my back is turned.

And...I have a giant knife (why? i was cutting bread for lunch, i swear) on my papers next to my tea mug.


Doesn't THAT sound inviting? Come on over and see me sometime.

I hate Mondays?

Well, not really. Today has been really good, considering that it is a Monday and it is the first one in a few weeks that I've spent without my honey.

But, there are these mitigating factors.
1. Good bye Gonzo. It's about mo-fo time.
2. Somehow my meager stipend got supplemented. Why? I don't know but it's all good. Now I can buy the name brand Ramen noodles. And if I save up, maybe splurge out to dinner at the 24 hour greasy spoon.
3. Hypey is bitchin' about something, so that must mean that the world is spinning normally on its axis.
4. My work husband is now here at school. Which is really great! Now I have my real husband and my work husband all at the same place. But unfortunately, my work wife is not here and I still miss her tremendously.
5. Meet The Press was awesomely awesome this week. Everyone need to hear John Warner talk about Iraq.
6. I woke up with my kitteh.
7. Lunar eclipse tonight y'all!

I'm this book? Cool.

Just as long as it's not the movie version, I'm cool with it. :D

You're The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe!

by C.S. Lewis

You were just looking for some decent clothes when everything changed
quite dramatically. For the better or for the worse, it is still hard to tell. Now it
seems like winter will never end and you feel cursed. Soon there will be an epic
struggle between two forces in your life and you are very concerned about a betrayal
that could turn the balance. If this makes it sound like you're re-enacting Christian
theological events, that may or may not be coincidence. When in doubt, put your trust
in zoo animals.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

International LOLCATS!

Check out International ___Day, where we celebrate the LOLCAT!
:D

Pet for rent?

I recently heard that in San Francisco, one can "rent a pooch" for a day. My brain is still hurting from this. Why?
Because it caters to the solipsism of those who want a dog but don't want the full time responsibility. Maybe it is a degree of awareness and responsibility that one can recognize that they can not properly take care of a dog. But, I feel that it is unjust to not have a pet bonded to a owner or family. I wonder how socialized the pets will be, getting flung from person to person without any real companionship for the animal. In short, this rent-a-pooch company is treating the dogs as a means to an end and I don't like that.
My suggestion is that if someone is really wanting to take care of a dog for a day, then go to your local animal shelter and volunteer to walk dogs or be a kitty cuddler. These dogs and cats are in need of good hearted people to love them, even if it is just for a day. Animal shelters will train you to walk a dog and they welcome any time you can offer. It's free to volunteer and you'll be doing a great thing. And who knows? Maybe you'll find that you can take care of an animal full-time and you'll bring home a grateful and loving companion.

On another note, check out International ____ Day. August 2nd is when we swoon over Ryan Adams.