| Our dictator, Bush... |
[Sep. 28th, 2006|07:07 pm] |
From Wil Wheaton (www.wilwheaton.net)
I agree with everything he said here, and I repost it for you...
"As I write this, the United States Senate is engaged in a bit of political theater, while they pretend to debate whether or not they will make torture an American value. They are pretending to debate whether or not to give one person -- in this case the president -- the ability remove rights that we've all taken for granted under our Constitution for over two centuries from anyone he (or she, someday) identifies, without any accountability or oversight. They are pretending to debate whether our Democracy even matters, any more.
The legislation before the Senate today would ban torture, but let Bush define it; would allow the president to imprison indefinitely anyone he decides falls under a wide-ranging new definition of unlawful combatant; would suspend the Great Writ of habeas corpus; would immunize retroactively those who may have engaged in torture. And that's just for starters. . . .
Today's vote will show more clearly than ever before that, when push comes to shove, the Republicans who control Congress are in lock step behind the president, and the Democrats -- who could block him, if they chose to do so -- are too afraid to put up a real fight.
This is far too much power for one person to have, and is antithetical to everything America and freedom and Democracy stand for. In fact, this is the sort of power that someone like, say, Saddam Hussein had. Or Stalin. Or Pinochet.
I haven't written much about politics here in recent memory, because there are others who say what I want to say and they do it much better than I do: Glenn Greenwald, Josh Marshall, John Cole, and Digby, for example. But even though I've become entirely disgusted with what used to be my government and I don't have a whole lot of faith in the congress or the president to listen to me (actually, I don't have a lot of faith in the president listening to anyone who doesn't tell him exactly what he wants to hear,) I still believe in the underlying principles of Democracy. I still believe that it is the responsibility of every American, whether they feel adequately represented by the current congress or not, to stand up for their beliefs, even when they speak them to deaf ears in the halls of power. Even -- no, especially -- when those beliefs are unpopular.
My government is supposed to represent me, and as an American citizen, I must accept responsibility for the things my country does in my name. It is with that responsibility in mind that I feel compelled to write the following, not for congress who have already ignored my calls and letters, but for my own conscience, and for my children, should they one day ask me, "What happened then? Why didn't anyone try to do anything?"
What the House did yesterday, the Senate looks to do today, and the President will surely enact as soon as possible, is a direct assault on American values, and contrary to everything our country stands for. Though cynically and cowardly enacted as a purely political tool during an election, those who supported this bill do not speak for me, do not act in my name, and do not reflect my values.
Torture is not an American value. Torture is a totalitarian, sadistic value. Suspending access to courts and the right to face your accuser is not what Americans do. It is what tyrannical dictators and despots do, not a democratic republic like the one I was brought up in and love. Time and again, torture has proved unreliable to prevent or solve crimes, and it reduces our country to the level of the very terrorists we are supposedly fighting.
I believe in the right to a speedy and fair trial for everyone, even the most repugnant of defendants. No, especially for the most repugnant of defendants, because if we, as a society, can't guarantee the most hideously accused among us that right, what is it worth to the rest of us?
George Bush and his enablers in the congress -- Democrat and Republican -- has done more damage to our country, and our once impeccable moral standing in the world than all the terrorists combined. President Bush and his Republican allies in congress like to say that "they hate us for our freedom," but President Bush and his Republican allies in congress have spent the last five years working very hard to take that freedom away from the people they supposedly work for, and vest that power in something they call the Unitary Executive. If the Democrats won't stand up to stop torture, what will they stand up for? If Congress won't do its constitutional duty now, then when?
I am disgusted with, and ashamed of my government.
Shame on President Bush. Shame on his Republican allies in congress, and shame on the spineless, cowardly Democrats who did not stand up to them. Shame on them all, and shame on all of us if we do not turn out by the millions in the next election to put men and women into congress who will have the courage to do their constitutional duty, and defend the Republic from all enemies, foreign and domestic."
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| Rejection |
[Jul. 17th, 2006|01:27 pm] |
Some days, I think I cannot take any more. It is no secret that I do not like my job at Hutch, and have not for a long time. I have been applying elsewhere since January, hardcore applying to damn near anywhere since the end of April. I couldn't count how many applications I have placed, and I think I have had about 5-6 interviews only out of all that. If that is not bad enough, I only was offered one job, which I declined, because it was over $2 less an hr. and a shitty ass job. I would barely have been able to make ends meet, let alone moving from one hated job to another. Well, let's add another rejection today. I needed to turn in this backround check paper today, and I did so at abotu 11am. By 12:44 I had an email saying I did not get it, wow, that was fast. I apparently have done NOTHING in my 9 years of work history, since I cannot seem to get a decent fucking job. Not even a GOOD job, but a DECENT one. I had a decent one at A&B but I was trying to branch out from grocery store and shipping into a field where I MAY be able to get a foot in at a company where I could advance over the years, or at least have good pay with good hours.
Well, forget about that, apparently no one wants to hire my ass, and you know what? After so many rejections, it just fucking takes it's toll on you. It's just makes you feel a lot about your self worth. No one will even give you a chance. I dispise my job and hate it, but I cannot leave and take an $8/hr. job slinging burgers. One, I couldn't make ends meet, Two, it's a career step BACKWARDS, which seems to be where I am heading, backwards. I can never get ahead. Whenever I was given raises anywhere, cost of my living goes up that and more, so I have always been behind, like apparently many of other Americans. No, my situation is no unique I know that, but I have a place to vent off some steam (here). I cannto find that all important balance of good pay, good hours, good benefits, and a job I can stand. I knwo not everyone likes to work, or their jobs, but most people can STAND it. I could stand A&B, I kind of liked it. But I had no career, shipping was a dead end for me, and the pay was not good and the vacation was prety bad. I almost wish I never left there, cause the pay at Hutch is good, but I fucking hate the hours and the job.
Am I repeating things? Probably... I guess I feel worthless in a job point of view. Am I that unhireable? What the fuck have I done with my life that I can't get in somewhere decent? I guess nothing, at that is the problem...
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| Nachooooooooooooooooooooooo! |
[Jun. 29th, 2006|12:27 pm] |
Well, I saw Nacho Libre today. It was ok. Funny at times, MOST of the funny moments were in the trailers. There are also some gross moments too. It was a fun, ok movie, probably would rent it for a fun night but wouldn't buy it. Kind of disappointed but like I said, just a really no-thought funny movie. Best part: "Nachooooooooooooooooooooo!"
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| Spiderman 3 Trailer / Superman Returns Review |
[Jun. 29th, 2006|07:46 am] |
There was a trailer for Spiderman 3 at the beginning of Superman Returns last night. Awsome. It confirms that the black costume is Venom, and it seems like Spiderman does not even know that he has it on. He is looking at his reflection in a building, the red costume is the reflection even though he is wearing the black one. Little bit of Sandman shown, I think some BRIEF quick shots of the Goblin. I am going to watch the trailer again later today from Apple.com since they have it up. It looks like it could be the best one yet.
Ok, Superman Returns... There are some spoilers here, and I am making them in BLUE type. Why? So you have to drag your mouse overthe words to highlight them to read the spoiler parts. Simple? Ok... I am trying not to tell the story of the movie, just my impressions, so not a whole bunch of spoilers, but some...
I LOVED the movie. Though it was VERY true to the originals, Donna thought it was long and boring. Clocking in at slightly over 150 minutes, I thought it was epic and the best movie/story I have seen in a long time. The opening credits done in the same was as the old movies was pretty sweet. Keven Spacey was AMAZING as Lex Luthor, I would argue that he did a better job than Hackman. Yes, I said it. The guy who plays Superman did an ok job, Kate B. as Lois Lane I think did well, although the whole kid issue is kind of messed up. When did she get a chance to bang Superman? He supposidly just left without saying goodbye, so did she sleep with Clark? No, because she told Superman at the end that the kid was his, so, sex happened when?? I guess that was my only major gripe, and if that was the major one, than there really isn't much to complain about here. The old footage and words of Brando was a nice touch, really made it feel like a continuation of the movies, and it made me get goosebumps when I heard it. It just sounded, right, you know? The movie took it's time, didn't try to rush anything, or make it completely action - oriented, which made it a great STORY. Lex's genius is very evident since he finds the Fortress, and finds out how to operate it to teach HIM about Krypton. Making new land with the crystals was a good idea, made better when Lex mixed the crystals with Kryptonite so the new land would be harmful to Superman. Brilliant! The scene when Superman is getting the shit kicked out of him by Lex and his thugs was done really well. Not rushing, just them savoring the moment. Having Lex get the final stab in with the shard of Kryptonite was a nice touch. One small thing I did not like was that Lex seems to always get the shaft by the dumb women he parades around with. He would have had more crystals to do more damage if not for her!!!
Well, like I said, I do not want to re-tell the movie, just give some opinions about it. Great story, great acting, especially by Spacey, great epic feel to the movie. If you have not seen it, please do so. I think you will enjoy it. Easily the best movie I have seen going out to a movie since Batman Begins.
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| Superman Returns |
[Jun. 28th, 2006|04:38 pm] |
Seeing Superman Returns at 6:55pm with Donna. SCORE!!!
Also seeing Nacho Libre tomorrow with Craig and Mallory.
I will write a SMALL review when I get home from each movie. I have never done this before, so they may not be the best you have ever read, but I will try...
(EDIT)
For some reason, the pictures are screwed up right now....
http://www.younggotti.com/pictures/
Find Pictures named SupermanReturns and NachoLibre
The direct links w/ LiveJournal are messed up right now... :(
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| Kolzig |
[Jun. 23rd, 2006|10:47 am] |
It's no secret I like hockey, and my 2 favorite teams are the Minnesota Wild and Washington Capitals. My favorite goaltender is Olaf (Olie) Kolzig of the Washingto Capitals. He recently won the King Clancy Trophy for humanitarian contributions to his community. I just like to see athletes giving back to the community, and he is one of the best at it. I am glad he is being recognized for it.
From NHL.com:
"...Washington Capitals goaltender Olaf Kolzig is a pretty good netminder, but he is a much better person. Kolzig has been instrumental raising awareness about children with Autism and his continuing works will help not only raise awareness but money to research the disease."
From WashingtonCaps.com:
"He created two new foundations to raise money for autism research, Athletes Against Autism (Triple A) and the Carson Kolzig Foundation in honor of his autistic son, Carson. Triple A is an initiative of the Cure Autism Now Foundation, the largest private funder of autism research in the country. Together with other professional athletes, members of Congress and local celebrities, Kolzig has helped raise awareness and funds for research of the disorder."
If you would like to read the full article, here is the link:
http://www.washingtoncaps.com/news/news.asp?story_id=4078
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| Our Jackass "leaders" |
[Jun. 22nd, 2006|04:07 am] |
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/US/06/20/dobbs.june21/index.html
As most of America does NOT know, but some have for YEARS, Congress votes every year on a pay raise. WOW, it passes every year!. Wouldn't you like to do the same at your job? Minimum wage though, hell no! Those people making $5.15 an hour do NOT need to have walking money, at least, that's what Congress thinks. I would like to see them live on under $800.00 a month (taxes being taken out for 40 hours a week at min wage).
"With no Congressional action on raising the minimum wage since 1997, inflation has eroded wages. The minimum wage in the 21st century is $2 lower in real dollars than it was four decades ago and now stands at its lowest level since 1955, according to the Economic Policy Institute and Center on Budget and Policy Priorities."
All I can say is we have Jackasses in Congress and the biggest one of them all rnning the country. Read the article, it's from CNN....
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| Website |
[Jun. 20th, 2006|07:26 pm] |
Ok, well... it will take me longer than I thought or want to update. I am not really pleased with my new picture format.
Yes, it is a BIT easier to view, but it takes way too damn long to make. I am also currently job hunting like a motherfucker.
I really do not have time at this moment to dick around with this, and I am very sorry. With looking for a new job and
making wedding plans, I just do not have time. I hopefully will keep up with livejournal blogging. I now have the website
making the main page view my livejournal page. On the left sidebar of my site by hitting HOME you can go back to the main index
page or navigate around the site more by hitting other buttons. You can also view pictures by typing this in the taskbar:
http://www.younggotti.com/pictures/
This just lets you see a list of pictures, no preview, but you can still view them. Hoepfully I will be able to learn some
new techniques and stuff to do with this site and make it the site that I want to.
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| Testing out Performancing |
[Jun. 6th, 2006|09:30 am] |
I am using this entry as a test. I grabbed the Firefox extension Performancing and am testing this on Livejournal. It's a blogging tool and I am a complete novice on this. I can type up text in a split screen with my web browser, and publish to different bloggin accounts. I am seeing if this works and how it looks. If I like it, i will use it more lol. It does not support myspace though, so I cannot dual update.
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| Phrases |
[Jan. 3rd, 2006|04:33 pm] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | 7 Seconds of Love - "Ninja" | ] |
Wow, long time no post. Hopefully I will be updating this more often...
Reason for this post? Phrases I have heard since moving to South Dakota I had never heard in my previous 23 years of life (I am 25 next month).
1. Holy Buckets - What happened to Holy Shit, Holy Crap, Holy Hell??? This is the "PC" version so I am told.
2. Right-Quick - I want things done now, quickly, or fast. Right-Quick??? Sometimes Ass Fast, Butt-Fucking Fast, or Move Your Ass is not appropriate. For these situations, we have Right-Quick.
3. Wise Acre - I just heard this one today. What ever happened to Smart Ass? I think of Green Acres when I heard this. What decade are we in???
That is all the time I have for now, hopefully more to come this week... |
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| I, Max |
[Jul. 29th, 2004|06:34 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  hungry | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Welbilt - "Oxygen" | ] |
Max Kellerman...Most people remember him from ESPN's "Around the Horn" before he got unfairly replaced by "stat-boy". Well, for the past few weeks I have been watching his newer show on FSN (Fox Sports Net) called "I,Max" (http://msn.foxsports.com/imax). The man knows his sports, and isn't afraid to voice his opinions. This show is a little different from "Around the Horn" in that it's not him and 4 people talking sports; It's Max VS The World. Max "squares off" against the world representative, Mike Holley, who was in my opinion, the best person other than Max on "Around the Horn". Bill Wolffe is the "Judge" and usually, Max loses, but he shouldn't....oh well, that's part of the shows appeal. He can still pause others in mid-arguement, which is also nice. At the end of the show, a winner is decided. If Max wins, he gets "love" mail, if he loses, "hate" mail. It's hard to explain it any more than that unless you have seen the show, so check your local listings (6pm Central on FSN North) and tune in, it's a great show.
What else, what else....work work work work. That's it. I know, exciting life, but my girlfriend is exciting, so that makes up for it :) Well, I hear the dinner bell figuratively ringing, time to dig in... |
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| Subway's in Sioux Falls |
[Jul. 7th, 2004|01:26 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | hungry | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | The Sounds - Fire | ] |
Subway, I like the chain, I like the food, I hate MOST of the ones in SIoux Falls. Why? WHY? I am glad you asked....
I started going to Subway more frequently (instead of once a month, like once a week) about 6 months ago. I like the food alot, and it's better than fast food, more healthier, tastier, etc...to me at least. Well, since moving here in March, Donna and I try to go once every 2 weeks or more. Problems:
1. No Hearty Italian Bread. In Frederick, and any other Subway I have been to on the East Coast, they have Hearty Italian Bread. It tastes better than Regular Italian, and it's hearty. There is no such bread out here, so I have to get Italian (which is good, but not AS good).
2. Incompitance of employees. I know stupid people are out in the work force, but it seems as if EVERY STUPID PERSON IN SIOUX FALLS WORKS AT SUBWAY! Everyone I have been in to so farI need to repeat myself over and over again, and the people are ASS SLOW.
"Hello, can I have a footlong Turkey sub on Italian, with no cheese."
(Turns around to face bread, then turns back to face me)
"What type of bread?"
"Italian."
"White Italian or Wheat Italian"
"I said Italian, regular Italian"
"OK, 6-inch or footlong?"
"Footlong."
(Gets bread)
"Cheese?"
"No Cheese."
"Oh, I am sorry, I forgot, what type of sub was that?"
"Turkey."
Then, after making the sub, and labeling it, you go to check-out.
"Oh, I am sorry, I forgot, what type of sub was that?"
(Looks at subs with labels on them)
"What type of sub did you get again?
See, STUPIDITY, and half the time they give me white, IT"S NOT ITALIAN!
3. The lines. 4 people behind the counter take 15 minutes to do 10 subs. I kid you not.
There, that's my ranting on Subways here, we have tried 4, 4 are like this. It's time to drive to the other end of town and hit those up... |
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| Untitled |
[Jun. 28th, 2004|09:20 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | creative | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Welbilt - "Anthem" | ] |
lj-music: Welbilt - "Anthem"
Watching wrestling on Spike TV while playing some computer games. It's been ages since I seen wrestling, I know why I don't miss it now. MANY summer TV shows are crap, and tonight is one of those nights where NOTHING GOOD is on. Oh well. I just went by KevinRose.com and posted a GMail invite there for people to use. I like GMail, but haven't used it yet. I got 2 Gmail accounts, a yahoo account, hotmail account, and website account. Yahoo is my spam/sign up for services account, hotmail I talk with people, and website is a mix of both. What to use GMail for... I may just delete all my old emails, start from scratch. We'll see..... |
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| Last Joke Standing |
[Jun. 22nd, 2004|11:37 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  annoyed | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Our Lady Peace "Superman's Dead" | ] |
NBC's Last Comic Standing. I saw it last year, caught on about mid-season, and liked it. EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE I talked with said Ralphy shoudl win, did he, according to a US call-in poll, no, the UN-funny Dat Phan won. Bullshit, yes, but the man won, ok, I accept it, reluctantly. This year, season 2, new year, same shit. I started watching from the casting calls...and the 2 guy's judging (who also cast on the Tonight Show - i.e. not funny) did an OK job of passing people through, with the help of NBC execs as it so slimly states. Obviously anyone who saw last week knows why I am bitching, the 4 "celeb" judges got outvoted by NBC execs as to who got in the house. Bret Butler and Drew Carey went OFF about it. They said 3 of the 4 judges voted for 3 people who did NOT get in the house, they were overruled by NBC execs, so a more "colorful" cast got in the comedy "house" (obviously, for good TV, and ratings...). You are doing a talent search, for the best undiscovered comedian in the country...to get a 1/2 hr. Comedy Central show and an NBC contract, and you don't vote on TALENT, but RATINGS. What a shit. Will I watch, yeah, cause I hope the TALENT wins, not the FILLER. Here is a summery of the people who got in and my opinions on their set:
Alonzo Bodden - Good set, one of his best, deserved to get it, but thought some others were better, good crowd reaction....
Ant - OK set, not too much of the same, but was better than some others...
Todd Glass - Was funnier before, CHOKED in front of a big crowd, should NOT have been let in....Got in cause he's an asshole...
Gary Gullman - Had a better set than I thought, deserved it....
John Heffron - OK set, almost blew it, but had a good one....
Cory Holcomb - Funny guy, deserves to move on....
Jay London - Shtick comic, different, and refreshing, one of the best....
Kathleen Madigan - Have seen her in specials before...and she's undiscovered? Had an OK set, better ones before, and better people performed....
Bonnie McFarlane - Got in cause she's the token BITCH, unfunny set....
Tammy Pescatelli - Better sets before, but one of the better women in the compitition....
Those who did not get in:
Jim Norton - Scheduling conflict, seen him on TV alot though, not undiscovered, but funny man....
DC Benny - OK set, had better....
Jessica Kerson - Funny person...but not too good that night....
Sue Costello - Had TV shit before, why is she in this???
Dan Ahdoot - Funny man, should have made it....
Tim Young - Ok set..ok comic...
Marina Franklin - Who?
Monty Hoffman - Fucking shit he didn't make it in, funny ass man, had standing ovations from EVERYONE!!!
Kerri Louise - Had better sets, was ok...
Dan Natterman - Standing Ovation, funny guy, another bullshit ploy by NBC fucking him out of it....
Jim Wiggins (based on Norton not being in...) - Another funny set, made everyone laugh, but got raped by NBC...
Ok, yes, ranting, so, WHO should have gotten in? Glad you asked...
(in Order)
1. Monty Hoffman
2. Dan Natterman
3. Jim Wiggins
4. Jay London
5. Corey Holcomb
6. Gary Gullman
7. Dan Ahdoot
8. John Heffron
9. Tammy Pescatelli
10. ANT
Yes, lack of women, but they just were not AS funny as the men, sorry...
Last Joke Standing, tonight on NBC... |
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| Untitled |
[Jun. 18th, 2004|03:02 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  hyper | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | SR-71 "Axel Rose" | ] |
lj-music: SR-71 "Axel Rose"
Oh yeah, got my Bacardi "pimp" hat today. I won this hat at HFStival 2002 in the Bacardi Tent, then it got lost/stolen. I say stolen because my brother saw it, and I never saw it again after that. He had a habit of stealing shit from me and denying it, so I guess I will never know what happened to that hat. I found the same hat for sale on EBay about 10 days ago, and bought it. It's a fisherman's hat, but I call it my "pimp" hat. I will post some pics of it on my website this weekend. I so got a hard-on right now... |
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