friend of the built environment

I’ve always been iffy about the death penalty. On one hand, I don’t think that the state should kill people as official policy, outside the execution of war. On the other hand, I admit my own desire for retribution should violent crime visit my life…
The problem with the death penalty is that it’s permanent. “Beyond [...]

I just finished the most efficient packing job of my life, squeezing into one duffle bag the monstrous volumes of presents I procured at Target today. Hopefully they last well thru next weekend, when I unveil them in Fresno for my immediate family’s Xmas celebration whilst I’m in town.

 
I spent most of the day in [...]

One thing that amuses and delights me at work: three of my charges are recent immigrants. One is from Hong Kong, one is from the Phillipines, and one is from Indonesia. None of them speak English incredibly well, but they all have to use English as their primary language at work. Not because they’re being [...]

I think that, philosophically, I have determined that I can only really stomach one type of political order: oligarchy.

 
By this, I mean that I think all other forms of political order are morally wrong. Oligarchy is acceptable because it allows no one to control anyone else without concrete, physical or intellectual force (eg, the biggest [...]

At San Francisco’s airport (the airport whose concessions prices reflect their geography). Might be here a long time. Missing hubby. Trying to decide if a career as a Globetrotting Accounting Crack Whore (GACW™) will destroy me sooner than later…
The only thing getting me through the next 48 hours will be:

The promise of seeing my boy’s face [...]

I was squeezed into the early flight at the last minute, and spent 4.5 hours of pure hell making my way to Atlanta. The entire business class cabin was consumed by some total trailer trash family of inbreds, who from their childrens’ exclaimations had never flown before, and who spent the entire flight screaming in [...]

I’ve decided my next computer will be an iMac. I need a new desktop more than a new laptop, and from everything I’ve seen, the iMac is a better value than the G5 tower. Now I just have to wait until after MacWorld to make sure they don’t do any massive changes or price drops.

“Pickles in a blanket”

Place two thin slices of Wal-Mart Deli Olive Loaf on a plate

Cover with one thin slice of Wal-Mart Deli Mozzerella cheese

Place a quartered pickle spear on edge of cheese-loaf stack

Roll pickle spear into cheese-loaf stack

Eat.

I know most people will find this totally vile. However, if there are 3 dead things I love [...]

Anyone else noticing the White House press army is trying to tilt the Iraq news in the direction of “President Bush is bringing our boys home this year!”, as if it’s some totally voluntary innovation of the administration to reduce troop levels and begin leaving the place?
Not that popularity or political wrangling had anything to [...]

Going South. Be back next year…