I've been convicted. Great piece.

So in your reading on the GM - UAW strike that is now over, did you happen to run across a description of the "jobs bank." Yes, apparently, if you are a member of the union and there is no work to be done, you can go to a rec-center, hang out for the day, and collect a full days pay. Tell me again, why did we go to college?

Didn't make sense to amend the previous post--so I'm sure you all will put-up with a two-fer...

Tonight, C was downstairs working on a project (her design business activity comes in waves of activity), so I'm upstairs trying to suffer through the evening with the television. And even though TIVO records crap for me, I find myself getting more pissed as the evening drags on...

So out of morbid / disgusted boredom, I turn off the TV and listen to some piano sonatas through my tube-amp, and started back on the book that I'm reading. Within about 15 seconds, I wish the TV had never been turned on in the first place. I am so close to just chucking the thing out--and I'm not even being funny.

And for the Hobettes, this is what I've learned (from the book) thus far: (1) I am the most important man in my daughters life; and (2) I need to be her hero. And even when she rebels or otherwise tests boundaries, she's actually testing how much I love her. That--and that she'll lose respect for me if I waffle. Maybe I'll read this every year or so...

And as an aside, I have no idea how google can legally put up such a huge amount from a copywrited book as an online PDF. Makes me wonder why I bought the thing in the first place. Almost as bad as when I read Prozac Nation cover to cover at the Barnes & Noble.

I'd just like to express how weird it is to suddenly be placed in a position of authority over your ex-boss that was your real boss just one week ago. Really really weird.

And then what makes it weirder is when the dean uses public shaming to "fix the problem". (In other words, the recently demoted ex-chair gets the crappiest office--knowing full well that this type of public shaming will motivate the recently demoted to find employment elsewhere.) There's poo simmering, and it's a matter of time before it erupts. And when that happens, those with responsibility and authority thrust upon us will have to smack down the person in which it was stripped. And that will be very sad and ugly.

I still wake up wondering where all this responsibility came from. Parenthood--that I asked for. This--was thrust upon me. I'm just ever-grateful that I wasn't named the interim chair.

I guess my point is to suggest that this feels like one of those rites of passage--with a major defining characteristic that this particular situation was thrust upon me, rather than me seeking it out (such as education, marriage or parenthood). For whatever reason, theres' a big difference between the two...

Hey Greg: Looks like Gingrich ♥s Huckabee! ;-)

Did you guys read how the UAW is on a national strike? Yeah--this makes sense. Your employer can't even make a steady profit, so this is a great time to start whining about increasing your medical benefits. They're going to strike their way right out of a job, and I won't be sorry for them. Unions suck.

The punk at the Kerry appearance got what he deserved.

This, however, really scares me. It makes sense to me that tasers can make cops lazy, which is bad enough, but this verges on sadistic.

Ok--so I'm at a loss for words.

This site is rife for commentary. I wish I had time. Anyone else want a go?

Just watch their video. Look for "Your Personal Peace Impact Meter (TM)", and the sample screen that says "Wat to go, Roxanne!!!" [sic]

My one-line commentary: As attractive an idea as it is that I can create world peace while sitting on my butt in front of a computer, I find myself thinking that, among all its other flaws, it's missing Jesus. And as a wise bumper sticker once said, "No Jesus, No Peace".

Matt, it looks like you are still supremely disappointed with the less-than-stellar options on the Republican ticket.

Actually, rather the opposite. I'm kind of excited that there are so many people running that I would consider voting for.

Giuliani: I've talked before about how he "gets it" with regard to the WoT, which I still think is the case. No social conservative he, though. Plus, if I overlook his questionable personal life, that apparently makes me a hypocrite with regard to my disdain for Clinton.
McCain: Got raked over the coals by those on the right for the whole immigration "amnesty bill" attempt. I was certainly no fan of that bill, but I have to say, if there's anyone that "gets" the seriousness and importance of the WoT more than Rudy does, it's McCain. He's a tough sumbitch, plain and simple.
Romney: A little rough around the edges, a little too slick for my liking, doesn't exactly appeal to the common man, but I do think he would get crap done.
Thompson: I was "a Thompson man" way early on, when his name first came up. (I loved his video response to Michael Moore's debate challenge.) Now I'm waiting to get re-excited, but I don't see it happening. What a weird campaign he's running. It feels like it'll just fizzle at any moment.
Huckabee: I like him and keep an eye on him because a) he's an underdog, b) he's a Christian, he doesn't apologize for it, but neither is he obnoxious or scary about it (*cough* Alan Keyes *cough*), and c) he doesn't sound like a typical conservative, talking, for example, about schools needing better art and music programs and whatnot. Also, I have to admit I like the Fair Tax idea. Then again, I'd trade our current system for just about anything.

Funny you should mention the inclusiveness (or lack thereof) of that GLBT group... The group at our school just this year became a Queer-Straight Alliance rather than a Gay-Straight Alliance. Wouldn't want to exclude the... um... queers?

And as to your closing note... Michelle and I bought an '05 Camry a couple of weeks ago. Yeah we'll be doing a little re-financing of our loan in the near future. (Oh and Greg, that does mean that I finally said good-bye to my Saturn. Had that thing for almost 11 years.)

Good morning Gentlemen,

It's been a while since I've posted. Well, it's been a while since I've posted anything that isn't morbidly depressing. So I thought I'd drop in and see how you all are doing.

Matt, it looks like you are still supremely disappointed with the less-than-stellar options on the Republican ticket. Any thoughts of drumming up a few million yourself and running a campaign? If not, which way are you going? You a Thompson man? You feel like a Thompson man.

On a totally separate note, if you are feeling the oppressed by the exclusive nature of your local LGBT group, perhaps you need to consider attending the University of Michigan.

And on a closing note: not a bad day to be in the market.

Later.

Did anyone see the video of the college kid getting tazed? (Here and Here...)

While the kid's kind of a punk, I was kind of routing for him while watching the video...

P.S. My chair just got fired. (Hence my post from yesterday.) And since I'm going up for tenure next year, this puts a great big question mark on my immediate future. Still trying to figure out if this is a good or bad thing for me. But I guess if God got me out of Gallaudet, this is some kind of divine plan...

Did anyone else know that there was a Republican debate last night?

It was a "Values Voter Debate". Whatever that means. The top four candidates did not show, but they had podiums with their names on them, and at several points during the debate, moderators and audience members would direct questions to the empty podiums, followed by silence. How faux-poignant. Huckabee is said to have "won" in a landslide (I think they actually did exit-polling of the audience). I did not watch the debate (I'm not even sure it was televised), but as I'm reading the reports, I'm thinking... that might not be something Huckabee will want to advertise.

High-profile contenders Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson all chose not to participate, though each had an empty podium with his name displayed on stage to emphasize his absence.

"When you run for president, you can run but you can't hide," quipped WND Editor Joseph Farah, moderator of the Values Voter Debate, prompting a large round of applause.

Oh please. Yes, they didn't show because they were SCARED to answer tough questions! Yeah, that's it.

Farah noted a second debate had been planned for next week to query the Democrats, but all of the office-seekers from that party declined to participate.

"Make your own judgments about that," he said.

Okay, here's my judgment: They're simply not going to waste their time being asked questions like "Why do you want to kill babies?" when no one in the room is going to bother voting Democrat anyways. I don't blame them.

The whole "ignore us at your own peril" thing is so ridiculous to me. Anyway, I'm not surprised that I haven't seen any victory-brag posts on the Huckabee blogs I check. (Yes, I check Huckabee blogs. Different post.)

Guys--I wish I had more time and emotional energy in which to type. This are definitely in a state of change right now... I also wish we lived closer; tonight would be one of those "grab a beer" nights...

I remember the realization walking up my steps to my dumpy Takoma Park house a few years ago--(Grown-up) Life had begun. *This* current situation was now my life; akin it a terminal (academic) degree. (Up until that point, life started after school--and school became my life, adult life never felt as if it had started.) And then, upon that realization--I realized that it had actually been in progress all along, and I just never realized it. Adult life was independent of academic status or degrees.

And then--just this Saturday, I took Court and Ella to the Zoo. We were all in the butterfly sanctuary--and I sat there in reflection, just in wonderment at how good life had turned out.

And today I come into my office... only to wonder where the hell all this responsibility came from. I didn't find life & work related responsibility; it found me. Or so it seemed. Maybe in a while, I'll realize that it was there all along...

So uh... one of my graduate students is a white supremacist. (And the thing is, the kid's from southern Fl--which feels more northern than southern. At least I don't have to claim the student as one of my own.)

Yeah. I'll just leave it at that; at least for now.

So I'm pretty sure none of you wasted your time watching the VMA's the other night, but you probably heard about Britney's horrific "performance". (No, I didn't see it either, don't want to, but definitely heard about it.)

What you may not have heard about is Sarah Silverman's opening monologue, which followed right after Britney. Everyone's saying she bombed, but I have to admit, I thought it was dang funny. Maybe because the place was just full of self-important idiots, and it seems like Sarah felt so too.

Anyway, warning, the following could very easily offend: Sarah's monologue

You guys will get a kick out of the UM alcohol policy. In short--it states that it is illegal to consume beverages that are 5% or less alcohol by content during football tailgating. Anything above 5% is fully legal and accepted. So beer is bad; Everclear is good.

Yeah, this is kind of what I was talking about. Here's hoping. Notice the one candidate so far who has said he's in.

(School starts in earnest tomorrow... thus my recent absence.)

As we Hobos already know... Research now documents that two-year-old children have social learning skills superior to the apes.

So I'm in my $20k lab, listening to my --er-- auditory stimuli via my research equipment, and I've come to the conclusion that Trent is indeed moving toward the right. (Or at least, he may no longer consider himself a leftie liberal democrat.)

So last Thursday, I walk into Panera and read this story. Given the fact that I knew the mom and the girl well and saw them probably three times a week, I'm feeling very, very sick right now.

Goofy story to post... On Saturdays, I take my babygirl out on a date to the park, story time, and then around the town square (you know--to see and be seen). Anyway, the square is cluttered (if not overpopulated) with overpriced women's clothing stores, but you can catch some really good deals when they're trying to dump merchandise. So E and I saw a top that we knew mommy would like love--and they even had (one) in her size. $40 bucks and we're out the door. And we get home to find that, indeed, mommy does love our selection--but are frustrated to find that the sizing (medium--which is historically a sure bet) is off; it's too small. So I return and bicker with the owner for 20 minutes about how this item was going to be exchanged. And during this bickering, I ran into Joey Lauren Adams--who was also out shopping. I come home with another item (of proper size, 8--which is almost always fine). Another $40 bucks, and I'm out the door. ($80 total.) Again--didn't fit; too small. So Court goes back--and again--has to bicker with the owner. And after a while--she found something that she likes. Tries on a medium; too big. Ends up coming home with a size small.

Yeah--E and I will think twice about surprising mommy.
//Kitler Update.