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June 28, 2006

FrivoList: An Actual Sighting

Unlikely Reasons Why The Guy Applying For A Job At Starbucks While Wearing A "Fuck Off" Cap Isn't Going To Get Hired

Frequently confuses 'Venti' with 'Grande'

Forgot to write under Additional Skills: "I'm a people-person"

He's overqualified

Didn't wear his lucky "You Dumb Cunt" T-shirt

June 26, 2006

Daily Splatter: Two, please!

Well, we definitely punched our tickets to Hell last night. Nerdy Squirrel and I were lying in bed reading and having one of our typical, end-of-the-day conversations.  Conversation is the wrong word.  It is actually a series of fragmented comments completely lacking in context.  It’s like we are casually brainstorming for a discussion topic and when one of us finally responds to the other, we’ve found it.  An example of this would be: 

NS:  If Max and George (our cats) were writers, Max would be Hemingway and George would be would be Fitzgerald.

CBC:  I think I’ve figured out a way to murder my boss and get away with it. 

NS:  Maybe grape leaves would be a good dish to bring.

CBC:  I know you’ve been moving my Netflix selections to the bottom of the queue and I want you to stop it. 

NS:  I’m not sure my flax seed is working.

CBC:  Come to think of it, I don’t remember eating any corn in the last couple of days. 

NS:  I feel so bloated. 

CBC:  Do you need to “make a movie”? 

NS:  A blockbuster.

The point being, we are completely comfortable and just saying things stream-of-consciousness without any context.  So it was last night when I began a discussion: 

CBC: I saw a young guy at the airport yesterday with no arms and no legs.

NS: Oh, that’s awful. 

CBC: Yeah.  I wondered if he was a veteran. 

NS:  Probably.  What was he doing?

CBC:  Well, (pause) not much. 

We break into fits of the uncontrollable, we-are-going-to-burn-in-hell kind of forbidden laughter. After a few minutes we settle down into silence.

CBC: He blinked a few times.

More WAGTBIH laughing.  Silence. 

NS: We must never speak of this.

CBC: Agreed.  

Thank God for literal translations.

June 22, 2006

Daily Splatter: (sigh)

Just got back from vacation.  Depressed.  Very depressed.

Damn you, cold, frothy beer in mass quantities.  Damn you, four days of sunshine.  Damn you, boogie board on tasty waves.  And most of all, damn you, Dairy Queen within walking distance of our beach house. Damn you to hell.

One coherent thought:  Contrary to the old adage, the road of excess actually leads to the palace of porcelain.

Finally. please enjoy the following humorous link:

http://mcsweeneys.net/2006/6/21dyckman.html

 

June 21, 2006

News To Me: Master Celibate - Part 3

Shore Excursions on Pat Robertson's Celibate Cruise Lines Inaugural Alaskan Cruise on the Trinity

PORT OF CALL:  Glacier Bay
 
Bay Area Walking Tour
Approximate Duration: 2.5 Hours
Physical Exertion: Mild to Medium
Experience the beauty of God's 10,000 year-old creation on this guided walking tour of Glacier Bay.  Purchase a Red Sea Walking Staff at the gift shop and use the blunt end to "catch" a souvenir fur pelt at Baby Seal Cove.  Enjoy a complimentary glass of our Sacramental Punch on the way back to the ship.
 
Glacier Adventure Hike
Approximate Duration: 3.0 Hours
Physical Exertion: Medium
Tired of long, cold winters?  On this adventure hike through the icy glaciers, you'll have the opportunity to reduce the winter season by personally melting a small portion of Celibate Cruise Lines own private glacier.  Propane torches will be provided.  Complimentary Sacramental Punch.
 
Humvee Adventure/National Park
Approximate Duration: 4.0 Hours
Physical Exertion:  Medium to Strenuous
Take your pick of Humvees and prepare to caravan across the snowy roads of Alaska.  A guide Humvee leads the way as you experience a snowy exodus to the Artic National Wildlife Reserve.  Upon arrival, your group will select a site, assemble the portable oil rig and refinery and drill for Texas Tea.   Let the hand of God lead you to the perfect site, as your ability to return will depend on the successful processing of fuel from your artic "wildcatting."
 
Godless Liberal Activist Sightseeing
Approximate Duration: 2.0 Hours
Physical Exertion:  Mild
Tour buses take your group on a scenic drive to the rocky shores of a nearby shipping lane.  Upon arriving, your tour guide will direct you to a camouflage hide.  Quietly prepare your cameras as the guide catches some local wildlife and drenches them with crude oil.  Before long, the smell of patchouli gathers in the wind as long-haired, greasy activists arrive to "clean up" the wildlife.   Warning: Snap your pictures from a distance as activists can be unpredictable.  Complimentary Sacramental Punch(r) on the ride home.
 
March of the Penguins Bus Tour
Approximate Duration: 1.5 Hours
Physical Exertion:  Mild
A chartered bus will take your group on a drive along the shore to search for penguins, also known as Alaska's Panda.  Viewing these unique and entertaining local creatures up close will surely remove any doubt as to the existence of an intelligent designer even in the most skeptical onlooker.  Stop in the gift shop and browse for unique souvenirs such as stuffed penguins, penguin skin gloves and belts, and tuxedo t-shirts.  NOTE: Given the unexplainable drop in the local penguin population and the general unpredictability of Alaskan wildlife, we cannot guarantee that penguins will be seen.
 
Glass Boat Tour
Approximate Duration: 2.5 Hours
Physical Exertion:  Mild
Experience the wonders of the undersea world without getting wet in the Patriarch, a heated glass-bottom boat.  Take in beautiful views of the coast as your sail to a local reef teaming with local sea life.  Arriving at the reef, your crew will open the viewing glass and describe the sights.  NOTE: Women who have forsaken the welfare of their families in return for a career should wear protective headgear, as the Patriarch is also outfitted with a glass ceiling.  
 

June 20, 2006

News To Me: Master Celibate - Part 2

Excerpts from the Daily Planner on Pat Robertson's Celibate Cruise Lines Inaugural Alaskan Cruise on the Trinity
 
"Cel-i-bate, Good Times, Come On!"
 
TODAY'S PORT: At Sea
Enjoy a day of heavenly views and divine cuisine as we cruise through the single most important accomplishment of the Lincoln administration. 
 
DAILY DRINK SPECIAL: Bottomless Cup of the Blood of Christ
 
ACTIVITIES: DAY 3
9:00AM - The Manger - Deck 7
Little Angel Programs for Kids begin.  Today's activities include:
Is Mommy a Commie? - McCarthyism Made Fun   
Gibberish or Speaking in Tongues - A Guessing Game
WWJD: What Would Jesus Drive - Draw the perfect car for our Lord and Savior and win a prize.  No foreign cars will be accepted.
Ex-Box - Learn about the inherent evil of video games and fun alternatives. Please note that the prize for WWJD will not be awarded until after the Ex-Box session, so no leaving.
 
10:00AM - Poolside
The Reckoning
Have a blast passing judgment on your fellow passengers, but be careful, they might just pass judgment on you!  Malachi, your Activities Director, hosts this exclusive activity.  Bring sunscreen as the fun will last all afternoon.
 
2:00PM - C.S. Lewis Theater - Deck 4
Jackpot Bingo
Enjoy what the Catholics have been getting away with for years!  You might even win a few dollars that you can then donate back to the on-board chapel.
 
4:00PM - Sports Deck
American Trivia
Join Malachi to learn if you're really as patriotic as you think you are.  (Come prepared as the results will be forwarded to the National Security Agency.)
 
4:00PM - Last Supper Buffet - Deck 11
Last Supper Buffet Opens
Enjoy an early, pre-dinner meal or simply snack on some exclusive, homemade Vanilla Christ Cream or St. Peter's Saltpeter Taffy, a perfect treat for the teenagers.
 
5:00PM - Meeting Room B - Deck 8
Friends of Bill W.
 
6:00PM - Manna From Heaven Dining Hall - Deck 4
Captain's Dinner
Break bread with the captain of your ship (the real captain, not the almighty, allegorical one who will be present in spirit only).  Dress is formal.
 
8:00PM - C.S. Lewis Theater - Deck 4
"In Spite of Themselves"
Enjoy the Trinity Song & Dance Troupe's renditions of our favorite wholesome show tunes.  Don't worry, though, the Troupe is exclusively female, eliminating the risk of exposing your family to the mainstream homosexual agenda.
 
10:00PM - Last Supper Buffet - Deck 11
The "Midnight" Buffet
If obesity is truly a sin, God wouldn't have created chocolate!  Feast on a variety of divine treats.  The buffet begins promptly at 10:00PM, so you can arrive safely back in your cabin long before the witching hour.  Meet Sandy from the Trinity Song and Dance Troupe who will also lead us in grace.
 
11:00 - All Decks
Lights Out
After a long day of activities, every passenger will need to rest up for a new day.  Trinity's Sentry Force will be enforcing curfew, so no straggling!
 

June 19, 2006

News To Me: Master Celibate

This week we are featuring an in-depth look at a new Christian cruise line.
 
In his continuing quest to become the Rupert Murdoch of the bible-thumping industry, Pat Robertson has recently announced the launching of his new cruise line, Celibate Cruises. According to the press release, the line will offer, "family-friendly cruises for traditional, God-fearing Americans."
 
Given Robertson's success in television and consumer products for the religious right, the company is extending their concept to the multi-billion dollar vacation industry.   In the press release sent out by the company, Celibate is clearly sending a warning shot across the bow of Disney Cruise Lines.
 
"With Celibate, we want to give Christian families a cruise vacation alternative that doesn't involve alcohol, gambling or idolatry," said company spokesperson Douglas Carpenter, alluding to the fact that most popular cruise lines earn profits by aggressively promoting alcohol sales and on-ship casino gaming. But idolatry?
 
"Mickey Mouse is a false idol," Carpenter explained.  "Kids basically worship him with the wearing of fake ears, t-shirts and those ridiculously overpriced autograph books.  The talking heads over at Disney try to downplay it by saying that Mickey Mouse is a brand.  Well, to them I say 'Jesus is the only brand I need.'"
 
Carpenter continued, "You know, it isn't even the real Mickey Mouse's autograph you're getting in your signature book?  It's an actor pretending to be Mickey Mouse."  Carpenter turned away slightly and lowered his gaze, "A lousy actor." 
 
This week, Celibate Cruise Lines will be debuting a multi-media marketing campaign to promote itself.  The campaign is centered on the tagline, "Celibate, Good Times, Come On!" a take on the 80's hit song by Kool and the Gang. 
 
Passengers on the Celibate ships will enjoy most of the amenities of a traditional cruise.  However, instead of just promoting fun, Celibate's activities will be focused on teaching Christian values.  Carpenter explained, "For example, one day of the cruise is called 'Missionary To The Third World' and is intended to give our guests a look into the lives of those less fortunate - our staff.  That day, every passenger spends 24 hours cleaning rooms, polishing brass, cooking meals and scraping paint.  It's the kind of values-driven, eye-opening experience that you won't find on a Disney cruise," Carpenter emphasized.
 
Asked if the company would screen potential passengers to make sure their ideals don't contradict Celibate's, Carpenter laughed, "We're people of God, so everyone is welcome. We are not going to pre-judge anything other than their credit card limit."
 
Before the interview ended, Carpenter took one final shot at Disney. 
 
"Our inspiration rose from the dead and sits on the right hand of the Father.  Their inspiration is cryogenically frozen in a brewing vat somewhere in southern California," he smiled. "Knowing that, do you really want to spend your vacation dollars with a creepy cult driven by greed?"
 
We have to assume he meant Disney.

June 15, 2006

Daily Splatter: My Mind's Eye Sore

On the stern advice of Nerdy Squirrel, ESQ - she hates when I use the esquire abbreviation, but I paid for it so I'll be damned if I'm not going to use it - I have agreed to no longer write about specific problems with my job.  The reason is that some of my co-workers know about this blog and she does not want me to get shit-canned before she passes the bar exam and starts working.  Now that I think about it, she probably doesn't want me to get shit-canned after that time, either.  Fucking lawyers.     
 
Anyway, that said, here's a hypothetical situation:  Suppose you are put in charge of running a chapter of a non-profit organization and really put your heart and soul into it for four years.  Imagine you then leave that job for another one in the same organization that will provide consultation and support for your old position.  Let's pretend that you give plenty of notice and work it out so there is a nice, smooth transition for the new person coming into your old job. 
 
Now, suppose that this new person then proceeds to systematically trash you and the job you did at this hypothetical organization.  Let's say that this person is a know-it-all, micromanaging, un-fucking-believably unpleasant shitwad.  You know, the kind of person that needs to constantly tear down other people to prop himself/HERSELF up.  Let's just say.
 
And suppose a couple years later that this person decides to leave the organization.  Now, imagine that this person gives only two weeks notice when four are required then proceeds to take two weeks of vacation.  For arguments sake, let's also say that this person is leaving the organization in a very precarious position.  For example, oh, I don't know, let's say that 60% of the staff supervised by this individual have quit and haven't been replaced.  To make it interesting, imagine that this person is leaving two months before that organization's single largest fundraising event (50% of total annual revenue).  For shits and giggles, suppose that this person has been searching for a job for six months and never thought to tell anyone and when resigning said that this opportunity just "popped up from out of nowhere."  Finally, let's say that it is your responsibility to go in and clean up this mess, even though this person adamantly insists that everything is fine and your help is not needed. 
 
My question is this - how badly do you want to bury this person up to their neck, pee on his/HER head, and then kick the shit out of a nearby fire ant hill?  You know, hypothetically?

P.S. For the entomologically curious, the pee does not attract the ants. It just seems like a fun thing to do before all the screaming starts.

June 14, 2006

Daily Splatter: Bone Us

I am not usually impressed or suseptible to promotional gimmicks.  I don't buy shit I don't need simply because I'm offered an extra 20% more of free shit I don't need.

But the planets have aligned, my friends, and all is good with the world.  Finally, finally, a promotion made just for me. 

Continental Airlines recently announced that they are awarding customers 5 free iTune downloads with each ticket purchase.  Considering that I fly at least once a week on Continental, I will soon be up to my deteriorating ear drums in free music.  Oh baby, that's the spot. 

A word to my new found friends at Continental Airlines and iTunes - Me so horny.  Me gonna love you long time.   

By the way, Columbia House, it's over between us.  Pack up your 13 crappy CDs and get the fuck out.

Daily Splatter: Putting The Fun Back In Fungus

Despite the constant references, there is no such thing as normal.  When Nerdy Squirrel says it's not normal for me to take three showers a day and I reply that it's not normal to leave an old toothbrush behind a bookcase for six months, we aren't really taking about some absolute normality.  We are simply using a debating tactic to give weight to our preferences.  Preferences with which we think, hope, or wish the vast majority of people would agree.
 
Knowing this, it seems a little absurd that I remain quite convinced that I am right about certain things.  These are mostly matters of hygiene and courtesy, recognizing that the two are not mutually exclusive. 
 
For example, I firmly believe that everyone should wash new clothes before wearing them.  Having spent several years of my career touring sweatshops in Asia, I have watched first-hand as airplane hangers full of adolescent girls sew together brand name apparel. (Before you get too high and mighty, you should know that these jobs are highly-valued among the locals and provide for a far better life than the alternative - a much older profession).  These are probably the cleanest pair of third world hands that have handled your shiny new clothes.  You also have the fabric manufacturing and packaging workers, fabric cutting workers, final product packaging workers, and most frightful of all, the retail store employees.  Don't forget all the open-sored mongols that tried that particular piece of clothing on before you.  That's a lot of fucking people wearing your sexy new Victoria Secret brassiere.  Maybe a quick wash wouldn't hurt, is all I'm saying.
 
Is our idea of normal what we think or what we do? I started thinking about this the other day when I was standing in the airport security line, wondering if I was a borderline hypochondriac. 
 
First, let me say that I'm not going to complain about the fact that most of the airport security measures adopted after 9/11 are entirely useless.  I completely understand the need to make people "feel safe," and I'm willing to hand over my nail clippers to do my part. I also don't mind the long lines, the bag searches, or the excessive pat downs.
 
What I do mind - in a massive aneurysm-kills-me-dead-on-the-spot kind of way - is the fact that I have to remove my shoes and walk a gauntlet of angry foot fungus that is festering with the residue of a thousand feet. 
 
Still, everyone does it without question.  Worse is the fact that I have to stand there in line and watch filthy cretin after filthy cretin remove their footwear and blaze this terrible trail of toe jam.  By the time I get up there, I could swear that the floor tiles are actually moving. 
 
But I don't protest.  I don't scream about the biological terrorism happening right under our noses.  I quietly remove my shoes and follow procedure, praying to God that I don't step on any sedimentary toenails that will surely break the skin, cause an infection and result in the loss of my leg just below the knee.
 
I'll freely admit I might be over the top on this one.  Maybe I'm just one wooden airplane away from a life of hermetically sealed containers, cellophane wrap, and, as always, storing my urine in milk jugs.
 
At least when they perform a body cavity search, they use a sterile pair of rubber gloves.

June 13, 2006

News To Me: Bad Hobbit

In an effort to keep awkward children from ever assimilating into the social structure of their local schools, the Discovery Museum in Sausalito, Calif., is sponsoring a summer camp based on the J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings."
 
The camp is designed for 5 - 12 year olds and will stage a production of the "The Hobbit" after two weeks of casting, rehearsal, costume design and skirting child labor laws. 
 
Camp spokesperson Mel Ochoa explained, "Kids are in love with 'Lord of the Rings,' so we developed a camp that speaks to our audience."  Ochoa continued, "This stuff is like cocaine for kids.  They're already addicted, we're just teaching them how to free-base."  
 
The Discovery Museum is hoping the movie-audience formula works this time after their first disappointing effort "Dude, Where's My Camp?"  
 
According to Ochoa, the biggest challenge for campers is trying to figure out the pecking order.  "During the first few days, all these kids are just standing around the lunchroom waiting to get pantsed or their lunch money stolen. When it doesn't happen, they get confused.  Some of them actually get physically ill." Ochoa thought for a moment, "It's probably the first time they've ever actually gotten to eat solid food in a lunchroom."
 
Approaching the camp entrance, a security booth stops cars and checks identification.  "You wouldn't believe how many hippy freaks we get trying to sneak in here," said Willy, a retired policeman who works the day shift.   He points to a wall in his hut that is decorated with fake IDs of grungy, overweight men wearing X-files T-shirts claiming to be 12 years old. 
 
"They lumber up here wearing their stupid elf ears and hairy rubber feet talking gibberish, " he continued.  After telling them to beat it, Willy says the gatecrashers "...usually try a Jedi mind trick or shooting me with a toy phaser, but I just flinch and they turn tail and run."  He stared off, "I wish those faggots in the front office hadn't taken my goddamn piece away."

June 12, 2006

FrivoList: Little Known Reasons Why Otherwise Worthy Individuals Will Be Turned Away At The Gates of Heaven

You have a cumulative negative balance in the "Take A Penny, Give A Penny" dish
 
While clipping your toenails, you've ever launched a fat one across the room and didn't make an effort to reclaim it.  You think God wants that is HIS house?
 
You don't meet or exceed the mark on the "You Must Be This Tall To Enter Heaven" sign.
 
Masturbation.  Sorry, the Catholics got this one right.  You won't go blind, but you will burn in hell.
 
You have ever started a sentence with, " I believe it free speech, but..." unless you burned to death in a movie house.
 
As an adult, you created a list of the things you like about yourself.  (Exception: if you have willingly shared this list with others.  Even Heaven needs people to make fun of.)
 
You have ever left a big tip to impress somebody and then picked it up after they turned away.
 
Herpes

June 08, 2006

Daily Splatter: There's A Place You Can Go

I wish the members of my YMCA had furniture in their homes.  That way, they wouldn't need to drive all the way to the gym to sit around on the weight lifting machines.   I also wish they weren't illiterate, so they could read any one of the dozen or so posted signs that say "Please Do Not Sit On The Machines Between Sets, You Inconsiderate Shithead" (I'm paraphrasing). 
 
Apparently it is too much to ask these people to do their exercise, wipe their body sludge off the machine and then move their fat ass so someone else can have a turn.  But why?
 
Is it too mentally challenging to have to remember your seat adjustment and weight stack?  Do you get the numbers confused?  If so, having a bad body image is probably the least of your problems and you shouldn't be near, let alone operating, machinery of any sort.
 
Is it that you don't want to have to waste 10-15 seconds re-adjusting your settings?  Time sensitivity seems an unlikely explanation given the fact that you spend at least five minutes between each set staring blankly at the bank of muted television screens. 
 
Or is it simply because you sustain your vile life force by accumulating the evil stares and universal wrath of every other semi-decent, commonly courteous person with whom you come in contact?  Possibly, but that explanation is just a little too "Ghostbuster's II" for my taste.
 
For all the time I have spent waiting for you and pondering these thoughts - and it's a long fucking time - it seems the only reason you do not want to take turns using the equipment is because you think another asshole like you might jump in next.  In other words, you have the social skills of a three-year-old and need to be beaten to death with a hardcover edition of "Everything I Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten."
 
Maybe I'm being too harsh.  Maybe instead of standing there and attempting to use telepathy to burst an artery in your brain, I should find a good use for that time.  Maybe it is divine intervention - a way for God to tell me to slow down and smell the...Oh, fuck it.  I hate you so much I can't event pretend there might be a good reason for your rampant shitheadedness. 
 
Just remember this, you are always only one Jedi mind trick away from a murderous aneurysm and I am in a constant search for Yoda.  In the mean time, I hope the toxic cleaning fluid that everyone uses to wipe down the equipment seeps up into your loitering ass and kills you Brazilian tree frog-style.

June 07, 2006

Daily Splatter: IHOP Therefore I Am

If Nerdy Squirrel and I have a conventional religious belief, it is that pancakes are yummy.  Accordingly, we rise early every Sunday morning to attend services at our church, the International House of Pancakes.
 
Like any religious ceremony, there are rituals that we perform.  We partake the blood of the sacred bean, read passages from a common text, recite mantra ("More coffee, please" and "Excuse me, can we get some more coffee here"), dress our ordained deliverers of service in colorful garb and enjoy hymns.  N.S. and I also have our own personal dogma which consists of trying to identify the divorced dads "enjoying" their visitation rights and calculating the percentage of fat people in attendance (quietly, as we are always outnumbered).
 
Being devout practioners, we never waver our orders.   Mine consists of a garden omelet with jalapenos and salsa, gladly offering up the extra $1.99 for Harvest Grain & Nut (tm) pancakes on the side.  Nerdy Squirrel has the plain pancake platter with sausage.  We consistently tithe 20%.
 
Ours is not a religion that imposes its ideas or values upon others.  If you wish to join us, we will welcome you with a smile and a pot of coffee.  If not, there are no hard feelings. 
 
That's not to say that we don't have rules.  We do.  However, ours are not delivered with fire and brimstone.  In fact, they are often more like guidance.  Take, for example, the IHOP rule against bringing handguns into the service.
 
I wholeheartedly agree with the elders at IHOP.  You should not allow loaded guns in a place that offers unlimited access to caffeine, let alone instantaneously diabetic menu items such as stuffed French toast with strawberry topping and whipped cream.
 
However, instead of hitting you over the head with our regulations, we just post a little sign at the bottom corner of the outer door.  This way, if you happen to be loading your gun on the way in and drop a bullet, you will likely notice this applicable bit of canon as you bend down.  Otherwise, you need not be concerned. 

Finally, some may argue that with a religion like ours, we will never see heaven.  I say, I visit heaven once a week, in all its warm, syrupy goodness.

June 05, 2006

Daily Splatter: Hyatt Burp

Further proof that constant travel is turning me into a rigid, demanding a-hole.
 
6-3-06
 
Dear Chicago Hyatt Regency,
 
I am writing to express my extreme displeasure in your room service.  Like most business travelers, I am willing to let you mercilessly gouge me in order to get a few precious extra minutes of sleep in the morning.  However, you must, in turn, get my breakfast order right. 
 
First of all, when I fill out your advance order form for a "Healthy Breakfast" for $9.95 plus $3.50 delivery charge and 20% mandatory gratuity, I expect to get the specified fruit plate, yogurt and bran muffin.  I do not want two fat, greasy blueberry muffins, a bowl of strawberries and blueberries, and no yogurt.  While technically I could return this for the correct meal, the whole fucking point was to order room service so I could sleep until the last possible minute.  I do not have the time to make other arrangements and, like a prisoner or a married man, am forced to eat what you give me. 
 
Second, if you are going to define an item as a "fruit plate" or "mixed fruit" -  not to mention the giant fucking balls to charge me $9.95 for it - it needs to consist of more than one type of fruit.  While you may argue that your "fruit plate" consisted of both strawberries and blueberries, to me blueberries are a fruit in the same way that my sister is a chick.  Technically it is correct, but it is complete bastardization of the spirit of the word.  Blueberries belong in pancakes.  Otherwise they are a garnish and do not count as fruit.     
 
Finally, you need to train your room service staff that you have built-in a mandatory gratuity charge on my bill.  When I sign and hand over the bill, they should not ask me what I want to put on the gratuity line.  It is built-in.  It says so right there on the bill and twenty percent is quite sufficient.   
 
In fact, why is there even a line for gratuity when it is already added in, if only to confuse us?  I'm certain your bullshit position is that you want to give patrons the opportunity to reward exceptional service.  But I ask, how can the task of knocking on my door and handing me a tray become exceptional?  Unless my delivery person is a hot, topless chick (again, not my sister) or can tap out the meaning of life in Morse code on my door, then I don't get it.
 
In summary, let me just say that every time I see a blueberry I will think of how much I hate the Chicago Hyatt Regency. 
 
Sincerely,
 
CBC

June 02, 2006

GBU: Week of 6-2-06

GOOD & BAD

Baghdad ER
As always, I'm a couple of weeks late on current topics.  I finally caught this documentary on HBO when they replayed it on Memorial Day.  It was brutal and hard to watch, which is why I think it was so important.  It forced me to examine up close the human cost of this war, piece by amputated piece.
 
Some people have said that they disagree with showing graphic content like this.  Bullshit.  Forget flying flags and putting stupid little yellow ribbon magnets on your car.  You want to empathize with the troops, have the courage to take a brief glimpse of their everyday lives.  From the safety of your couch, I might add. 
 
Others might say that this is liberal propaganda, but the conservative Weekly Standard wrote a glowing review of the show (despite their completely ludicrous comparison to the Civil War.) 
 
I'm not smart enough to say whether or not this war is good or bad.  But I do know that I do not believe that it is worth the life (or limbs) of my father, brothers, nephews or friends.  If I'm not willing to sacrifice myself or my family, then I'm the worst kind of person - one who believes that believes others (and only others) should suffer for my ideology.
 
I guess all I'm saying is how many lives is it worth?  How many amputated arms and legs is too high a cost for attempting to bring some form of democracy to Iraq?  I'm not arguing that 2,500 dead, 20,000 wounded is too high, but what number is?  Is it 10,000? 100,000?  Shouldn't we at least have a sense of this?  And if we are going to keep telling 20 year-old kids to get blown up for us, shouldn't we at least have the decency to watch?

UGLY

While it seemed like a good idea at the time, buying underwear in bulk from Discount Drug Mart was a mistake.  An ugly mistake.  Sure, it was convenient (the contents of my basket: Earl Grey tea, duct tape, beef jerky, sympathy card, army-size package of boxers) and cheap.  But these things have traveled so far up the crack of my ass that I'm going to need a team of Sherpas to find them. 
 
After checking the label, I realized these things were made in Pakistan.  No wonder men in the Middle East seem so pissed off all the time. 

Quote Of The Week: 

"The More Hummers we have on the road in America, the more military Humvees we will need in the Middle East."  - Thomas Friedman

June 01, 2006

FrivoList: Actual Personal Possessions That I Would Pay Someone To Immediately Destroy In Case of My Untimely Death

Ricky Martin's "Loaded" CD
 
The really gay looking bottle of lotion that I use on my face every morning
 
Karate trophy - "3rd Place - Adult White Belt Division"
 
Every photo of me from 1974 to 1979

My organ donor card

The Kama Sutra - the newly updated edition with contemporary graphics
 
My disturbingly large supply of expired prescription drugs
 
Poison concert T-shirt
 
Golf clubs (I would pay someone to destroy these for me right now)
 
Several Trojan - Ribbed For Her Pleasure condoms (that's how I rolled) leftover from the 1990s
 
My Fender Telecaster guitar, because fuck you
 
"How To Dance The Salsa" video