Sunday, October 28, 2012

Catching Up

Boo, Sunday October 21st

Woody, Saturday October 27th

Tom Cat, Saturday October 27th
I thought it was funny catching Boo sitting in the chair on the back deck like this. She's out there sitting in it right now as well, thanks to a mild afternoon.

Woody loves the quilt that Denise made for me, and he always cuddles up against the stuffed polar bear too. And surprise, surprise, he's sitting in the same spot today!


As usual I am playing catch-up on the weekend and trying to work in a fun project for work. I have to go get my mail at the post office and get my ballot, this is an election I obviously can't miss, and feel strongly about.

This is a good clip from The Daily Show from this past week. I had read a really good blog on Huffington Post towards the end of the week, but could not find it again today to link it here. It was about the reality of rape and statistics from around the globe, and the numbers were very sickening.
 There were references to several stories that I was already familiar with. One of them had to do with the on-going civil war in The Congo in Africa, and a doctor who treats women who have been so brutally gang raped by soldiers that they require surgery. I was reading that article within a day or two of reading about how someone had tried to assassinate him in an attack that left his bodyguard dead.
Sometimes, I just can't take reading about this subject, because it makes me so sick at heart. Last month there was a girl about the age of my niece that was gang raped in an apartment 6-7 blocks from where I live. I sat and cried thinking about her, and hoping that something like that never happens to Jennifer. I was talking to my good friend Gerry yesterday, and I told her that sadly, I don't think that we will ever get to a place and time where women will be able to truly live free, even here in the US.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Bits & Pieces

So fall has finally really hit this weekend with rain and wind galore. The weather cooperated for a short while on Saturday for the cats to go out, but not today, and of course they can't make the connection when they are looking out the window at it.

Munchkin's Tail


This picture is actually from a few weeks ago, with Munchkin hanging out under the folds of my quilt.
I think Boo looks like a seal when she lays like this with her back legs out behind her.



Boo

I've still been tying up loose ends from my major "spring" cleaning from two weeks ago. It feels good to get stuff done, no matter how small. I have no lack of things that I need to get to that's for sure.

I updated the slideshow for I Can Has Cheezburger so that the newest additions play first.

I am not watching any of the debates, but have of course seen clips on the news, including Mitt's comments about PBS. Then I read about the SNL News skit with Big Bird from October 6th, and it is pretty cute if you want to check it out here. Then this morning I read about the skit they had last night that was a bit about the I-Phone 5 that's pretty good.

Felix Baumgartner Free Falling From Space

In case you didn't already see this, here is a 14 minute YouTube video of Austrian Felix Baumgartner free falling from 24 miles above the earth's surface. This guy has quite a set of cajone's on him to do this; I teared up watching this, it is amazing~


Saturday, October 13, 2012

Interview with King Abdullah II of Jordan

This is the first part of a three part interview from September 25th with King Abdullah II of Jordan on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. It is interesting to get viewpoints from outside the US on world events. Part two and part three that are web-only. 

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Election 2012

My friend Tina sent me the link to a very funny (and to the point) You Tube video from Sarah Silverman about Voter ID laws, Let My People Vote 2012 - Get Nana A Gun. There is some profanity, but it's worth it.

My step mom Susan sent me this right after the Republican National Convention. I thought it was priceless.

I have to dig a little and update this post later after I find the segment from the Daily Show the week after the RNC with Jon Stewart's take on Clint Eastwood at the convention.

I did not watch this week's debate, but have been reading some of the analysis and enjoyed Washington Week on PBS last night, including the Webcast Extra where they were giving their take on it's impact for both candidates. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed with the generally bad reviews of the President, but there were some positive things observed too.

I've felt for the last 4 years that Obama has always been so careful not to appear as the "angry black man" and fulfill the negative stereotypes, that he has been labelled as ineffectual in the process. The fear and paranoia of all the idiots who couldn't stand the thought of a black president instantly came out after he was elected, and it's been like he is walking on egg-shells ever since.

I was truly happy in 2008 that we had finally come to a place in America where we could elect a black president. But ever since then it's been so evident that racism is still alive and well, that it feels like we haven't made any progress at all.

*Update October 13th
I finally got off my can and found the clip of the Daily Show I was looking for. It was from August 31st, and he so brilliantly sums it up around the 2 minute mark, enjoy....