Our priest was talking about a Bible verse he found that mentioned being spiritually "refined." This lead him to go on a slight tangent about how he admired refined and elegant people and he decided to point me out as an example of being refined and elegant. After Mass, I heard high-pitched, very animated commentary from another parish member who is known for her perfectionist tendencies. Even I avoid her. As I was leaving, I heard her say in the parking lot to her husband and our priest:
"Oh, so I'm not elegant and refined enough? Is that it? Oh, there goes our perfect and refined and elegant lady now!"
I would love to write this off as a joking affair, but the strained look on the faces of the others did not encourage that idea. I had really hoped I could graduate and move to another city without falling under the radar of the local SPUCC (Super-Perfect Undermedicated Church Chick).
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Are things THAT bad for GOP?
Bush is signing a bill that authorizes the building of a fence that is going to cover a little over a third of the U.S.' 1,951-mile-long border with Mexico. Here is how the AP worded the endeavor:
"President Bush signed a bill Thursday authorizing 700 miles of new fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, hoping to give Republican candidates a pre-election platform for asserting they're tough on illegal immigration."
Has it really come to the point where the GOP's chances next election have to rely on a paper fence? At this point, I almost feel sorry for them.
Almost.
"President Bush signed a bill Thursday authorizing 700 miles of new fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, hoping to give Republican candidates a pre-election platform for asserting they're tough on illegal immigration."
Has it really come to the point where the GOP's chances next election have to rely on a paper fence? At this point, I almost feel sorry for them.
Almost.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
The Obama Drama
I realize that Obama's mention that he may consider running in 2008 does not necessarily add up to "drama," but the title appealed to me.
Moving on, I have to admit that at first I was a little surprised. Sure, he's gaining in popularity at a noticeable rate, but he's going to take on Clinton? I'm not so sure I buy that. If anything, I suspect that he is being groomed for the VP spot.
Whatever happens, I hope it is good enough to get the White House back. I am almost at the point of giving up and just not voting period.
Or worse, I may join the Green Party.
Moving on, I have to admit that at first I was a little surprised. Sure, he's gaining in popularity at a noticeable rate, but he's going to take on Clinton? I'm not so sure I buy that. If anything, I suspect that he is being groomed for the VP spot.
Whatever happens, I hope it is good enough to get the White House back. I am almost at the point of giving up and just not voting period.
Or worse, I may join the Green Party.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Terrorists on MySpace?
This bit of news happened a few days ago, but of course it is just too much not to pass up: some kid from California made some anti-Bush commentary on her MySpace page, complete with a sketch of Bush stabbing himself in the hand and the words Kill Bush written above. This is what took place next:
The 14-year-old freshman was taken out of class Wednesday and questioned for about 15 minutes by two Secret Service agents. The incident has upset her parents, who said the agents should have included them when they questioned their daughter.
And to think that if the Bush administration had just looked on MySpace and monitored angry teens instead of looking at the memo they received entitled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.," we would not be in Iraq today.
By the by, the teen was so upset about how she was treated by the Secret Servicemen (makes me think of the other SS...) that she has decided to put a greater amount of time in protesting the Iraqi conflict on her MySpace account.
Oh great...another insurgent.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Call-out: the Media
Stephen Colbert has his "Tip of the Hat/Wag of the Finger" method of critiquing the world. Until I can come up with something better, I will just say that I am calling someone/thing out.
Today I have to call a group out: the media. In reference to the interview in the previous post, reporters are stating that Bush is agreeing with Thomas Friedman's NYT comment that the insurgency is like the Tet offensive. Bush did not say, "I agree with that," he said, "He might be right." "Might be right" and "I concur" are completely different, media people!
It is not often that I come to the rescue of this particular president, but Media, this was just lame! There are plenty of events going on now that are worthy of a headline...this is not one of them. Shame on you, Media, for being so lazy!
Today I have to call a group out: the media. In reference to the interview in the previous post, reporters are stating that Bush is agreeing with Thomas Friedman's NYT comment that the insurgency is like the Tet offensive. Bush did not say, "I agree with that," he said, "He might be right." "Might be right" and "I concur" are completely different, media people!
It is not often that I come to the rescue of this particular president, but Media, this was just lame! There are plenty of events going on now that are worthy of a headline...this is not one of them. Shame on you, Media, for being so lazy!
Interview with the President
I was listening to the news on NPR this morning, and there was a discussion about an interview with Bush on ABC where ABC News' George Stephanopoulos made a comment about a NY Times article by Thomas Friedman that compared the insurgency in Iraq as being similiar to the Tet offensive in Vietnam. The big to-do about the interview was that Bush apparently said, "H may be right."
What caught my attention about the interview was not Bush's remarks, but the fact that they said the "Vietnam conflict" and the "Iraqi war." We never officially declared war, so what makes this a "war" compared to Vietnam?
What caught my attention about the interview was not Bush's remarks, but the fact that they said the "Vietnam conflict" and the "Iraqi war." We never officially declared war, so what makes this a "war" compared to Vietnam?
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Happy Birthday...whoever you are...
Today at 7:46 A.M. the 300,000,000th American was born. Word around the campfire is that President Bush will not acknowledge this event because the chance that this child will be born of illegal immigrant parents is extremely high, a group that (ironically, in a state that was built by immigrants) is not very popular right now.
We keep forgetting that our ancestors did not fill out any paperwork to earn the right to be called an American.
Happy Birthday, kid. Whoever you are.
We keep forgetting that our ancestors did not fill out any paperwork to earn the right to be called an American.
Happy Birthday, kid. Whoever you are.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Friday, October 13, 2006
The Christmas Wars...Pt 2?
There is a saying that you should keep your friends close and your enemies closer...which is why I allow myself to suffer with an email subscription to Jerry Falwell.
He has started a campaign called "A Friend or Foe of Christmas" or something like that, and he is emailing his followers (and spies) information to prepare them for another War on Christmas:
"This is the fourth year of the endeavor, which is designed to educate Americans — primarily retailers, school administrators and city officials who have attempted to eradicate celebrations of Christmas — of the legalities of religious expression during the Christmas season."
I wish I got paid to waste time like that. I could start a war...maybe I can rally up the farmers that grow grain and convince them that the anti-carb diets are a war on bread?
He has started a campaign called "A Friend or Foe of Christmas" or something like that, and he is emailing his followers (and spies) information to prepare them for another War on Christmas:
"This is the fourth year of the endeavor, which is designed to educate Americans — primarily retailers, school administrators and city officials who have attempted to eradicate celebrations of Christmas — of the legalities of religious expression during the Christmas season."
I wish I got paid to waste time like that. I could start a war...maybe I can rally up the farmers that grow grain and convince them that the anti-carb diets are a war on bread?
Clever Man or Silly Plan?
I have been thinking about Kim Jong Il's "declaration/act of war" comments and at first I thought that this was someone who was at the end of their rope and was using scare tactics in a futile attempt to bully a government run by a man that makes statements such a "Bring 'em on!"
But I have given it more thought, and I am wondering if Li'l Kim isn't getting the credit he deserves. Is it a coincidence that N. Korea's detonates a nuke a few weeks before elections? He wants the U.S. to talk to N. Korea, but we won't. His war comments have the average American about to pee themselves from fear. Incumbents need something to pacify Americans to make sure they get re-elected.
Is he counting on Congress to bully the White House into action?
But I have given it more thought, and I am wondering if Li'l Kim isn't getting the credit he deserves. Is it a coincidence that N. Korea's detonates a nuke a few weeks before elections? He wants the U.S. to talk to N. Korea, but we won't. His war comments have the average American about to pee themselves from fear. Incumbents need something to pacify Americans to make sure they get re-elected.
Is he counting on Congress to bully the White House into action?
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Sheri's Weekly Rant - "As a Black Woman..."
One of my biggest pet peeves is to be asked a question that is proceeded with the phrase, "as a Black woman" or "how does the Black community feel about..."
The reason the "as a Black woman" questions irritate me is because it is assumed that I fall into certain "perception-altering" demographics. In 2004, there were 19,327,000 Black females in the U.S. Including relatives, I may know about 95-150 of them. Out of that figure, I share the same thoughts on various topics with about 11 of them. I think it is safe to say that the responses from several Black women may (gasp!) not resemble mine.
As to the questions that begin with "how does the Black community feel about..."
How the hell should I know? I am only one of them! I am supposed to accurately represent 37 million people? It would make more sense to ask me "how do women named 'Sheri' feel about..."
The only answers I can give are to questions that begin with "how do you feel about..."
The reason the "as a Black woman" questions irritate me is because it is assumed that I fall into certain "perception-altering" demographics. In 2004, there were 19,327,000 Black females in the U.S. Including relatives, I may know about 95-150 of them. Out of that figure, I share the same thoughts on various topics with about 11 of them. I think it is safe to say that the responses from several Black women may (gasp!) not resemble mine.
As to the questions that begin with "how does the Black community feel about..."
How the hell should I know? I am only one of them! I am supposed to accurately represent 37 million people? It would make more sense to ask me "how do women named 'Sheri' feel about..."
The only answers I can give are to questions that begin with "how do you feel about..."
Monday, October 09, 2006
Big Day for Li'l Kim
North Korea successfully detonated a nuke yesterday, and with that has given Kim Jong Il the best anniversary gifts: making world powers run about in a frenzy at the mere mention of his tiny, unstable Stalinist country. No wonder those NK soldiers felt comfortable enough to tiptoe across the DMZ this weekend.
I am not sure how convinced I am that N. Korea would actually use their nukes, given that if they tried the repercussions would be severe. However, I do have concerns about how willing they would be to sell those nukes to entities that would be willing to make areas of the U.S. glow in the dark.
I am not sure how convinced I am that N. Korea would actually use their nukes, given that if they tried the repercussions would be severe. However, I do have concerns about how willing they would be to sell those nukes to entities that would be willing to make areas of the U.S. glow in the dark.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Limbo is in Limbo
The Vatican is considering revising the Church's position on Limbo. Good. I have not successfully conditioned myself to the idea of Limbo as it confuses the hell out of me.
"Ambitious" N. Korean Soldiers Cross DMZ
Apparently some time today some North Korean soldiers crossed the DMZ, but the reasons to why they may have done so as a provocative act or to simply catch fish are "cloudy," according to an anonymous North Korean official. South Korean troops fired warning shots at the would-be trespassers.
I am under the impression that this story was not really that great of a concern, considering that the reporting agent changed the direction of the incident to discuss North Korea's plan to develop nukes.
Four of the five soldiers were unarmed.
I am under the impression that this story was not really that great of a concern, considering that the reporting agent changed the direction of the incident to discuss North Korea's plan to develop nukes.
Four of the five soldiers were unarmed.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Happy Blogday to Me!
Apparently today marks the first anniversary of my blog. Thank you, Irrational Woman for reminding me.
And to all my fellow bloggers, WRITE THIS DAY DOWN! TODAY IS SACRED!
Have a nice day!
And to all my fellow bloggers, WRITE THIS DAY DOWN! TODAY IS SACRED!
Have a nice day!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Foley Shouldn't Be the Only One Resigning
I made the fatal mistake of going to the ABC News site that was responsible for bringing the Foley scandal to light, and read some of the instant messages that he sent a teenage page. I cannot put into words how shocked and disgusted I am. Every Congressman - especially Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and Rep. John M. Shimkus (R-Ill.) - that was aware of what Foley was doing and did not take action should be forced to resign. There was no way they could justify how aggressively he pursued these children. How Hastert could claim that the IMs were "ambiguous" with a straight face is deplorable.
I am not particularly comfortable with providing a link to the site that has some of the IMs, which would have been shocking even if Foley had sent them to an adult, but I am willing to provide a home address. You are welcome to search for them on your own:
http://abcnews.go.com/
I am not particularly comfortable with providing a link to the site that has some of the IMs, which would have been shocking even if Foley had sent them to an adult, but I am willing to provide a home address. You are welcome to search for them on your own:
http://abcnews.go.com/
GOP's Christmas Gift for Democrats: a House
The Foley scandal is a bittersweet mix of disgust and amusing irony. The disgust factor is obvious: he was actively pursuing teenagers for the purpose of engaging in acts with a minor (translation: he's a pedophile). In the case of the 16-year-old that he had a crush on, from the time frame that Foley had sent these emails, his interest in the boy began when the kid was at least 15. It is bad enough that key GOP members were aware that Foley was under the assumption that the job title "page" was code-talk for "teenage sex buffet," and they gave him a warning, but what is even worse is that the FBI was made aware of his actions in July 2005 - he has apparently been chasing pages for three years - and did nothing.
The amusing irony is that this is the same group that raised so much hell about Clinton consorting with a woman of legal age to the point of wanting to kick him out of office. Perhaps if Lewinsky was 16 or under, Clinton's affair would have been more acceptable.
The amusing irony is that this is the same group that raised so much hell about Clinton consorting with a woman of legal age to the point of wanting to kick him out of office. Perhaps if Lewinsky was 16 or under, Clinton's affair would have been more acceptable.
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