The Vortex of Suck and Other Matters

Tuesday, November 30, 2010
The Vortex of Suck

Guess what I got last week? You guessed it - another RFP. I have now officially been drawn into the Vortex of Suck. If I don't emerge before the end of December, please send in the Search and Rescue team. But make sure they don't have any technical skills or I'll be tempted to make a Devil's bargain and leave them there in my place. And no one wants that.

Seriously, how come proposal managers don't just indiscriminately engage in homicidal massacres after answering the same banal, non pertinent question for the 8,000th time?

Science is Cool*

So the Smart Man and I bought a new bed as part of the bedroom remodel. We selected one of those Memory Foam mattresses, and we slept in it last night for the first time.

Those things are cool. Once you've laid there for a while, the material cradles your body like a cocoon. Of course that also means that when you try and get up you flounder around like a turtle on your back, but with a front end loader, really, it's no problem.

Antisocial Me

Not only am I traveling more this fiscal year than in years past, I'm also having to actually leave the house and spend time with other human beings even when I'm not traveling. In a way this is good, as I really do need to get out more (even though I don't want to admit it). But really - who wants to be around other people? Mostly they just suck, and if I have to attend business meetings, you just know I'm spending most of the time with snotty and completely irresponsible commentary running through my head. If I ever develop a cognitive condition that removes my mental filters, I am fucked. 

So I'll be in and out of the house for the next several weeks attending meetings, some internal, some external.

Call the Men in the White Coats

So from a work perspective, December is shaping up to be a real HOOT. As in, running around like a crazy person hooting and hollering and giggling to myself. Hee. Hee, hee.

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*Memory Foam was developed by NASA. So we have a Space Bed! Yes, we are easily amused, thanks for asking.

Happy Anniversary, Hot Chicks Dig Smart Men

Monday, November 29, 2010
Three years.

1,710 entries.

160,593 visitors.

235,267 page views.

More trolls than I care for, but probably less than I deserve.

A wholly disturbing statistic where my most popular entry is the 'Tard of the Week entry on whackadoo Andrew D. Basiago.

And an incredible, amazing on-line community who has made this endeavor worthwhile, rewarding and just plain fun.*

Thanks, Hot Chicks and Smart Men, for joining me for this experiment, and enriching my life with your presence. 


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*Except for the time when a raving douchebag threatened to sue me and take away my life savings for having the temerity to call him a name. That wasn't much fun. Except in retrospect. Now that the statute of limitations has run out. And the raving douchebag in question? Yeah, you're still out of your gourd, Mr. McNuttypants! < -- Name that reference!

2010 Flower Pr0n - Wild Flower Edition

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Incomparable Boogie™ - On the Mend

Saturday, November 27, 2010
The pathology report is in on the lesion the vet excised from Boogie's pad. Turns out it's a non-cancerous vein cluster that sometimes appears in non-healing wounds. Surgical removal is the only option to get the wound to heal, so the expectation is that since the vet excised it all, Boogs will heal up in the next three weeks or so and then resume his normal activities, none the worse for wear.

And no, he does not consider a trip to the vet's for a bandage change a suitable substitute for daily walkies, thankyouverymuch. Clearly, the Smart Man and I continue to suck as doggie parents.

What the Fuck is Wrong With These People? - Joe Rehyansky Edition

In a stunning revelation which proves that higher education does not necessarily require good judgment, critical thinking skills, or even basic intelligence, Tennessee Judge Joe Rehyansky has published his oh-so-thoughtful plan for solving the problem of teh Gayz in our military:
Gays spread disease at a rate out of all proportion to their numbers in our population and should be excluded from the military...Shouldn’t the overwhelmingly straight warriors who answer their county’s call be spared the indignity of showering with other men who achieve lascivious enjoyment from the sight of those lithe naked bodies, and who may be tempted to seek more than the view...My solution would get the distaff part of our homosexual population off our collective ‘Broke Back,’ thus giving straight male GIs a fair shot at converting lesbians and bringing them into the mainstream.
The article also indicates "Lesbian military personnel, who Mr Rehyansky praised for their “medical and administrative specialties”, should be allowed to serve because they apparently have low sex drives."

Oh. My. God. The sheer wrongheadedness inherent in these comments is so wide and deep, I'm afraid that if I try to address it in any depth I'll fall in and the synopses in my brain will drown in a sea of ignorance.

Rape. To "cure" lesbians of their deviance. Women, who voluntarily put themselves in harm's way, relegated to the 1960's stereotype of "medical and administrative specialties."

The mind boggles. I guess all those years I served as a Communications Securities System custodian, having direct and personal responsibility for every cryptographic code in the Pacific Arena, was a delusion of my ladybrain. My actual duty was fluttering my eyelashes and looking attractive for the edification of the "straight warriors" in whose midst I was privileged to find myself. My Hot Daughter? I now know that she just CAN'T WAIT to be "converted" by a straight male GI so she can become more MAINSTREAM.

ARGH! THE STUPID! IT BURNS! IT BURNS!

Turns out that Judge Rehyansky is a retired Army officer. Can you imagine serving under this misogynist fuck-knuckle? THIS guy is the reason women who have served our country suffer from non-combat related PTSD simply from serving. THIS guy is the reason episodes like Tailhook occurred in a culture of "boys will be boys." THIS guy is the reason that thousands of female veterans have a twisted sense of what constitutes sexual harassment.

What the fuck is wrong with this stupid mother fucker? Was he molested as a child and now conflates pedophilia with homosexuality? Dropped on his head as a baby? Does he have some sort of cognitive defect that prevents him from thinking critically or perceiving women as anything more than overgrown children who were born for his pleasure? I don't know, and quite frankly, I don't give a good goddamn. What I do know is that Joe Rehyansky has now moved to the top of the list of people who really need to either die in a fire or be punched in the throat for the good of the race.

___________
H/T to my Hot Mom.

Working My Ass Off, and Apparently, I Hate My Dog

For the first time in a very long time, yesterday I didn't have time to blog. Stupid life, interfering with my duties as your dancing monkey.

The Smart Man and I are redecorating the master bedroom this weekend, and we decided that yesterday we would work and work and work, in the hopes that we might actually have some time to enjoy the long weekend today and tomorrow.

Well, we accomplished the goal of working yesterday, moving all the furniture out, applying two coats of paint, ordering new bedroom furniture, running to Home Depot, etc., etc. I'm not sure if today and tomorrow will be fun-filled, however. We still need to apply the accent color, paint the trim, etc., etc. Plus, Boogie the Giant Schnauzer has to go to the vet this morning for a bandage change.

Speaking of the Incomparable Boogie™, we missed Boogie Blogging Friday yesterday, and apparently his surgery (and the requisite $550.00 bill) were a figment of my imagination. After two days of gimping around, he suddenly decided his paw DOESN'T HURT AT ALL, REALLY, and WHY CAN'T WE GO FOR WALKIES? WHY? WHY DO YOU HATE ME SO MUCH?

Judging by the put-upon moaning and groaning and the associated longing glances at his leash, I've evidently been judged and found wanting as Boogie's doggie mom. Since it will probably be three weeks until he's permitted to walk again, I'm steeling myself for a long December.

Giving Thanks

Thursday, November 25, 2010
Here in the United States, it's somewhat traditional to use the Thanksgiving holiday to reflect on those aspects of your life for which you're thankful.

As I noted earlier in the week, I have to say that this is the best time of my life. I want for nothing, and the only thing I can think of that would make my life better would be suddenly becoming independently wealthy so I could devote myself full time to college and volunteer work.

So I'm grateful. Grateful that I live in a country where I have the freedom to pursue the things that make me happy. Grateful that I have financial security, so I don't have to worry about keeping a roof over my head and food in my belly. Grateful that I have my health, and the ability to maintain it. And most of all I'm grateful for the people in my life, who make everything worthwhile.

Happy Thanksgiving, Hot Chicks and Smart Men.

Boogie Update

Wednesday, November 24, 2010
So Boogie had his toe surgery yesterday. The vet essentially "cored" the lesion out of his pad, then sutured the edges of the wound to keep it closed. Thankfully, they were able to perform the procedure with a local only, no sedation. He has a terrible time shaking off sedatives, plus they're hard on his kidneys.

He's limping pretty heavily, as the toe is weight bearing and I expect it's sore as hell. He's currently taking antibiotics and pain killers, which are making him sleepy.

As you can see, I have him down in the basement with me, comfortably ensconced with his blankie, his pillow and his food and water. I don't think he needs to be running up and down the stairs all day.

The biopsy results will probably take a week or so due to the holiday, so we won't know the status on the lesion until next week. The stitches will have to stay in for about three weeks simply due to the location, so it's bed rest for Boogie for a while. Of course, he's not impressed with this turn of events, but I'm playing the "Doggie Mom knows best" card, and forcing him to stay quiet.

Thanks to everyone who sent their well-wishes on Facebook and Twitter. I know I'm ridiculously soft when it comes to my Boogie Dog, and I appreciate the support.

Atheist Assholes

Tuesday, November 23, 2010
It took me many, many years to reach the conclusion that I'm an Atheist. After spending four years in parochial school, after exploring and studying every major religion, accepting the null hypothesis that is Atheism is the only thing that makes sense to me. For me, the choice came down to being an intellectually honest Atheist, or continuing to try and force my brain and my belief into something wholly unsatisfying. So I'm an Atheist.

The reasons it took me so long to reach this conclusion are myriad, but one of the contributing factors was that my exposure to Atheists gave me a less than flattering opinion of Atheists as a group. The Atheists in the public eye were typically supercilious, self-righteous, arrogant in their certitude, and generally just assholes. In other words, they were no better people than the evangelicals who insisted I was going to burn because I refused to sacrifice my intellectual honesty on their alter.

It took me far longer than it should have to realize that not all Atheists were sanctimonious prick-bags. In fact, the majority were simply living their lives, doing their best to make a difference in this world, because they didn't believe there was a world beyond this one. Not all Atheists feel the need to wear their non belief on their sleeves, telling people of faith how stupid they are, how gullible they are, how much better the Atheist community is because they've cut faith from their lives.

I resisted admitting I was an Atheist because I didn't want the people I knew and respected to think I was an Atheist asshole.

Finally realizing that Atheist and asshole were not mutually inclusive terms freed me to look at the world with a lot more charity. If you're a good person, and comport yourself in a way that does credit to your humanity, the fact that you believe your symbolic underwear protects you from harm does not take that grace away from you. If you spend your life in service to others, and make their lives better by your acts, then the fact that you practice ritualistic cannibalism does not make your good works less worthy of my respect.

While I still try and maintain a level of intellectual honesty that precludes my respecting religious belief in a "young earth" and other forms of self-deception, I'm learning that I can disrespect ideas and belief and still respect other things about people of faith.

So, no, I'm not offended when people of faith say "bless you" when they thank me for a kindness. I'm not offended when people of faith say they'll pray for me when I suffer some setback or loss. I take such gestures in the spirit they are intended, and thank those believers for their good will. And in the spirit of mutual respect, I expect people of faith to recognize that not all Atheists are assholes.

My Cup Runneth Over

Monday, November 22, 2010
I was trying to think of something to blog about today, and the only thing I could think of was how great my life is right now.

I have an amazing helpmate who is truly my partner in this life. I have two great kids who are both making excellent decisions and becoming contributing members of society. I have a super Mom whose health remains good. I have a weird, wonderful extended family. I have a cadre of astonishing friends who have chosen to bless me with their presence in my life. I have a job that I like that meets my financial needs.

In spite of the vagaries of middle age, I've decided this is the best time of life. My cup runneth over, and this overabundance of good fortune is a good problem to have.

2010 Flower Pr0n - Wild Flower Edition

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Doing the Right Thing

Saturday, November 20, 2010
I really, really dislike bullies. I don't really care much why someone chooses to behave in a bullying fashion, I just break out the Shovel of Doom™ and start a-swinging.

Standing up to bullies is always the right thing to do. It doesn't really matter if they're stronger than you, or if doing so is against the rules, or if your action results in getting your ass kicked. It's worth it, and it always matters.

When I was about 13, I attended a private school. I took a bus to school, which served grades 1-8. I shared my bus stop with a variety of other kids, including two brothers named Craig and Hodd, aged 11 and 6. When a new student started using our bus stop, he proceeded to try and bully Craig and Hodd. This was not an acceptable outcome to me, so I acted. Of course my Hot Mom was called to the principle's office to discuss my inappropriate behavior. Apparently kicking someone's ass at the bus stop for bullying a first grader is a violation of the rules, even if they are bigger and stronger than you. The principle was told to punish me for fighting if she saw fit to do so, but my Hot Mom wasn't going to support that course of action. I did the right thing, and my Hot Mom wasn't going to punish me for it.

Lesson learned: While responsible adults adhere to the social contract for the good of the whole, there are absolutely cases when doing so is not the right thing to do.

Which brings us (once again) to the TSA and their Assembly Line of Shame.

There are a lot of people out there who feel that the new security measures are "no big deal" and that submitting is our "duty" in order to keep us "safe." Wrong, wrong, wrong.
  • It is a big deal. It's a big deal to a lot of people. People like survivors of sexual assault. People whose religious or personal belief has a cornerstone in modesty. People who can see past the end of their noses and realize what a slippery slope you put yourself on when you allow the Federal government to indiscriminately take away your rights. 
  • It is not my "duty" to let some nameless bureaucracy take away my civil rights so they can pad their resume and give the appearance of safety to a bunch of sheeple. As a citizen of this country, my duty is to the Constitution, and these procedures are a clear violation of my Fourth Amendment rights. I should not have to compromise my rights under the Constitution simply to be able to make use of a commercial air carrier. Anytime we compromise the rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution, we give the government a little more power over us. Since 9/11, this trend has continued unabated, and it's simply NOT OKAY.
  • These procedures do not keep us "safe." They're knee-jerk reactions by scared little tyrants addressing known threats in an effort to keep their jobs safe. As my friend Eric notes, these procedures simply help move the target from the aircraft to the security line. That's awesome. Heckofa job, Pistole. You want to impress me? Come up with a system that addresses threats that haven't already been successfully used.
Our federal government has become a bully. A bully who has become accustomed to using fear as their motivation to get their way. I think the TSA is honestly puzzled at the vociferous reaction of the American public to these measures. Why the fuss, American public? You didn't say shit when we passed that incredible piece of crap known as the Patriot Act. You didn't have a cow when we went into cahoots with the telecommunications companies to illegally spy on you and yours. You didn't rise up when we suspended Habeas Corpus for our own convenience. Why the fuss?

Why the fuss, indeed. The Constitution matters. Defending the Constitution matters. Even if you are not personally offended by the invasive measures of the TSA, you should be offended at the abrogation of your Fourth Amendment rights.

For details on how to stand up to the bully that is the Department of Homeland Security, visit the Electronic Frontier Foundation's website. There you'll find links to areas where you can complain directly to the TSA, the DHS, and help outside organizations like the ACLU fight this violation of the Bill of Rights.

Standing up to bullies is the right thing to do. So stop being afraid, and stand up.

Boogie Blogging Friday - Clubfoot Edition

Friday, November 19, 2010
Poor Boogie. He's had a minor wound on one of his pads for the last couple weeks. It was in a tough spot, and when we got home from Chicago and it still hadn't healed much, so off to the vet we went.

His doctor is concerned with not only the slow healing, but the wound's appearance and the way in which it appears to be healing. An external examination suggests Boogs may have a tumor growing in there, although the smear sample was inconclusive. So as a first step, Boogie has been forbidden from walkies and is now wearing this fine padded bandage to take the pressure of the wound in order to give it a chance to heal well. He goes back this afternoon to have the bandage changed and the wound re-examined. Hopefully it'll be healing nicely, and we can move along smartly.

But if it's not, then the vet may have to perform a minor procedure on the pad that will allow him to put in sutures. The vet would also do a biopsy at this time to either confirm or deny that whole "tumor" thing. Giant Schnauzers are quite susceptible to toe tumors, so this is a real concern for him.

I'm not freaking out just yet, since we really don't have enough information to justify me running around naked with my hair on fire. But I have the pre-freakout jitters. Boogie isn't a young dog anymore, and I dread the inevitable.

_________
Update: The vet reports that there has been no appreciable healing, and that he believes the sore is a lesion rather than a wound. As such, his opinion is that it won't heal properly without surgical intervention. Boogie is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday morning, and the vet plans on sending the lesion to pathology for a biopsy.

Thought of the Day

Thursday, November 18, 2010
Life isn't fair, but that doesn't mean you can't be.

Backlash

Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The blogosphere is currently aflame with outrage over the TSA's new invasive procedures. I have friends who consider these procedures to be an aspect of terrorism, and while the head of the TSA bleats on about these activities being a "balance between privacy and security," the bottom line appears to be that the American public is channeling Jean-Luc Picard:
We've made too many compromises already, too many retreats. They invade our space, and we fall back...Not again. The line must be drawn here! This far and no further!
You said it, Captain.

I do not appreciate some random TSA officer essentially groping my Hot Mom because she cannot pass through an airport metal detector without her artificial knee setting it off. I do not appreciate the idea of some nasty TSA officer accidentally "saving" a body scanner image of my Hot Daughter for use as a masturbation aid. And mostly, I simply don't appreciate my government asking me to give up even more of my privacy and civil liberties in exchange for some artificial sense of "safety."

I'm a grown woman. I'm aware of the risks associated with traveling. I'm aware that there are people in the world who want to do me and mine harm, simply for the sin of not agreeing with them. And I'd rather take those risks than sacrifice even more of my Constitutional rights for some artificial sense of security.

My Senators and Representative will be hearing from me on this one.

Digging Out

Tuesday, November 16, 2010
I love vacation. I hate coming back from vacation. It takes me forever to dig out, and it always seems like EVERYTHING FALLS APART IN MY ABSENCE.* Why the Hell couldn't my family have a tradition of being independently wealthy instead of military service? Humph.

In any case, I've been pushed back into the Pit of Despair, otherwise known as Responding to RFP's.  Oh, well. It beats the alternative.


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*That's not actually true.

Adventures in Parenting - SO PROUD Edition

Monday, November 15, 2010
For his first non-chow hall meal in two months he chose Red Robin
Friday the Smart Boy graduated from U.S. Navy Boot Camp at the Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, IL. Naturally, me, the Smart Man, my Hot Mom and my Smart Daughter traveled to watch the ceremony and help him celebrate his achievement.

The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same

Recruit training has changed considerably since they put me through the ringer in 1984. The organizational structure more closely aligns with what sailors will see in the fleet rather than stupidly following the construct of ground forces. Company Commanders are now called "RDC's," and are addressed as either "Petty Officer" or "Chief," rather than "sir" or "ma'am." Work Week is a thing of the past, as Good Will Industries now employs the galley workers and other non skilled labor that is required when supporting that many warm bodies all in one place. Divisions can now be integrated, with men and women training alongside one another. Recruits now participate in what is basically a final exam called "Battle Stations."

This is all to the good, as it more thoroughly prepares recruits for the serious business of our modern Navy.

But in spite of these things, the experience really hasn't changed all that much. The fundamental purpose of the exercise is the same - to take undisciplined, know nothing civilians and turn them into sailors.

Proud of My Smart Sailor

Like most parents who have watched their children make the transition from civilian to military life, I was pleasantly surprised by the changes I saw in my son. Instead of the self-conscious, unsure boy I knew, I was greeted by a young man who exuded the easy self-confidence that comes from voluntarily subjecting yourself to a fundamental challenge and emerging from the crucible a better person than before you went in. Comfortable in his own skin and his new uniform, my son has found his niche, at least for his immediate future. Finding a place where you belong is no small thing.

Naturally, I couldn't be prouder of him as he takes these first steps towards becoming an integral part of the most powerful Navy the world has ever seen. He's no longer my Smart Boy, but my Smart Sailor, fully adult and ready to take his place in the world.

This is the natural order of things, and I wouldn't have it any other way. But I was still a little wistful as we said goodbye on Saturday night, as I shifted my world view once again.

Channeling the Dead

Genetics and experience are a strange combination. My Hot Mom made an observation on Saturday as she watched the Smart Sailor walking. His post Boot Camp gait is exactly the same as my late father's. And I mean EXACTLY. The similarity was so uncanny that it KINDA FREAKED ME OUT, MAN.

I'm sure the similarity is a direct result of the Smart Sailor and my father having the same body type, combined with instruction in marching at an age when the transition to adulthood occurs. My father was a Marine, and like many Marines, he carried his military bearing to his grave. The Smart Sailor's bearing may change as he distances himself from his Boot Camp experience, but for now, I'm celebrating this reminder of my family's military heritage.

On to Bigger and Better Things

The Smart Sailor's next step is to report to Advanced Electronics School, also at Great Lakes. That will probably take until August of next year, when he'll be assigned a "C" School and his first duty station, which he hopes will be an Arleigh Burke class destroyer.

Exciting times. Bravo Zulu, Smart Sailor.

WE ARE SO PROUD.

2010 Flower Pr0n - Wild Flowers

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Sociopathic Me

Saturday, November 13, 2010
Don't you wish that sometimes, just sometimes, you could go off the deep end and behave in some completely sociopathic way?

Anyone? No? Nobody?

I guess it's just me, then. That's unfortunate.

Cool Auntie

Friday, November 12, 2010
The Smart Man and I recently got the news that we're going to be an Aunt and Uncle. That's right - my Smart BIL and his Awesome, Awesome Wife are expecting their first child.
Osh Kosh B'Gosh!

Is there anything cuter than baby shoes?

I can't wait!

I've never gotten a chance to be a cool Auntie before. My own Hot Sister never had children, although she and her husband filled the Cool Aunt and Uncle role admirably for my own Smart Twins. But now it's MY TURN. That kid is going to be so spoiled - I'm in my prime earning years, and the Smart Twins are too young and unstable to have children of their own just yet. So poor Smart BIL and his Awesome, Awesome Wife will bear the brunt of my excess. They don't know the gender yet, but once they find out - WATCH OUT.

Yippee!

Veteran's Day

Thursday, November 11, 2010
Veteran's Day has always had special meaning for me. As I've mentioned before, my family has served this nation in uniform for over 150 years, and we place enormous value on service. So for me, Veteran's Day is a time when I reflect on and celebrate our decision to serve, even though I haven't had the day off for many years.

But this year, it's even more special. It's special because tomorrow my son graduates from U.S. Navy Boot Camp in Great Lakes, Illinois, and begins his Naval career as a Sailor.

I've written before on how very proud I am of my son, and I don't have much to add now.

Non sibi sed patriae, down the generations.

Happy Birthday, Boogie






He's nine years old today. That's seventy in people years for a dog his size, for those of you following along at home.

Happy birthday, you grumpy old man.

The Bus, Let Me Show You It...

Wednesday, November 10, 2010
...so I can throw you beneath it.

Okay, not really. That's not really my style. But I am coming to learn that throwing someone under the bus is not the same thing as failing to rescue them when they repeatedly throw themselves beneath the wheels. There comes a time when "helping" someone perform their daily tasks isn't being a good teammate - it's helping an incompetent retain their job when they should really be doing something more in line with their native abilities. Like being a Wal-Mart greeter, for example.


"I'm the guy who does his job. You must be the other guy."

Indeed.

____________
That snickering sound you hear is the Smart Man, who has been telling me for years to let people fail after giving them a reasonable chance to succeed. Shut up, Smart Man. Rubbing it in when you're right is very unbecoming.

Random Act of Culture

Tuesday, November 9, 2010
You've heard of "flash mobs?" Try this on for size, instead. The Opera Company of Philedelphia and Friends execute a Random Act of Culture.


Wave of the baton to my Hot Mom.

Kansas City

I don't know much about Kansas or Missouri. Other than they're flat, I mean.

Today I find myself in Kansas City for a business meeting. I'm not going to have much time to see anything this trip, as I'm basically in and out. But I strongly suspect I will be making this trip on a somewhat regular basis this year. So what's to see or do in KC? And the first one to say "go to church" is getting a whack with the Shovel of Doom™.

Back to the Grind

Monday, November 8, 2010
After enjoying my study abroad experience to Quebec City this summer, I took the fall quarter off. The university wasn't offering any classes I found interesting, and since my company's tuition assistance benefit was gone for the year, I didn't see any point.

But today registration opens for the Winter quarter, and it's back to the grind for me - I'll be taking Quantitative Reasoning. From the catalog:
Numbers provide a language for reasoning. Numbers are used to quantify data, analyze trends and exceptions, and establish the reliability of conclusions. Using practical problems from business, health care, social services, and government operations, this course provides the opportunity to learn how basic concepts from mathematics can be applied in organizational settings.
I think they should call it either Math is Good or Numbers are Your Friends, but no one asked me.

There's a part of me that's looking forward to resuming my never-ending education - as I've stated before, the learning process is fun for me, and my degree program is forcing me to take classes that I would not have necessarily taken if left to my own devices.

But it was sure nice being a lazy-butt this Fall, too.

Now That's Thinking

Sunday, November 7, 2010
We have a local pub that we like to go to periodically. They brew their own beer and have tasty sandwiches. It's a small place, and we know the wait-staff, who are all young, friendly and attractive.

We went there last night, and the place was dead - I mean dead. When we arrived, there was one table, and us. Our usual barmaid served us, and she was desperately happy to see a customer - any customer - to alleviate her boredom.

As we were chatting, the Barmaid told us that when she was bored, she would periodically play with something called a "shake-weight," a late night TV product that a regular customer bought her after they had laughed and laughed at the idiocy of the commercial:


She then told us she has noticed a trend - when she uses the "shake-weight," her tips increase exponentially. So she's started using it when her rent's due to close the gap. I believe they call that entrepreneurship.

2010 Flower Pr0n - Wild Flowers


Up In the Air

Saturday, November 6, 2010
I'm going to be in and out over next week for meetings, business and personal travel. I'm going to try and do some preposting as time permits, but things aren't looking great in that department due to the imminent explosion of my head, or the zombie apocalypse, whichever comes first.

In the meantime, Boogie the Giant Schnauzer is on duty here at the Big Yellow House, holding down the fort and terrorizing the neighbors. Have a good week, Hot Chicks and Smart Men.

Boogie Blogging Friday - Still Gimpy

Friday, November 5, 2010



Except he's not, which is part of the problem. If his pad actually hurt, then perhaps he wouldn't be hopping all over the place, opening the wound at every possible opportunity, the big dork.

So he's still bootie boy, and the butt of all the other dogs' jokes when he goes out for walkies in the morning.

This is Your Brain on an RFP

Thursday, November 4, 2010

For those of you who have never had the "pleasure" of responding to a Request For Proposal, this is the inevitable result of such an exercise, for everyone involved. Seriously - who thinks RFPs are a good idea? Who? I'll bet those people think Sarah Palin epitomizes intellectual thought in this country, too.

Can you guess what I'm doing this week? Can you guess who ran out of pre-posted content for her blog this morning? Can you guess whose blog content promises to be a bit thin for the next week or so as I put this to bed and also complete the other work and home-related tasks for which I bear responsibility? Can you guess who will probably be counting her own fingers and giggling incessantly to herself by the middle of next week?

I knew you could.

Rationalization and Moral Courage

Wednesday, November 3, 2010
I think most people have a sense of right and wrong. Not sociopaths, of course, but the majority of the population. People know it's not right to steal, or to cheat, or to lie. They know (or I sincerely hope they know) that sinning against their fellow human beings diminishes them.

And yet, people do steal, or cheat, or lie, or sin against their neighbors in some other fashion, so much so that many times we don't even consider it an unusual or noteworthy occurrence. And you know why? Rationalization. Rationalization is the killer of moral courage, and in our minds, excuses our crappy behavior and allows us to get what we want and still live with ourselves.

I think everyone's guilty of this, to a greater or lesser degree - I know I am. We mitigate our shame at our bad behavior by demonizing those against whom we've sinned. We minimize our culpability to the point where, in our own minds, we bear almost no responsibility for others' pain. We excuse ourselves by saying that the injured party wasn't really hurt that bad.

I think the true test of whether or not someone is a grown up is where they reside on the rationalization/moral courage scale. You expect children to rationalize their bad behavior, or to try and wiggle out of the consequences of breaking the social compact. But as the maturing process continues, the expectation becomes that the moral courage side of the scale starts to weigh more heavily than the rationalization side. Part of this is the emotional maturity to be honest with ourselves about how our behavior affects other people, but really - the key virtue is courage. The courage to admit our own mistakes, make restitution, and improve our lives and our behavior moving forward.

I don't know that anyone ever achieves true freedom from rationalizing our bad behavior. But it's sure worth trying.

He Calls it Like He Sees It

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

H/T to the lovely Carol Elaine, whom I join in loving George Takei.

I Voted - Did You?

Today is election day here in the United States. This has been one of the most frustrating election seasons in my memory, for a variety of reasons.

But I still voted. And so should you.

When citizens allow cynicism, frustration and a sense of powerlessness to overtake them, and fail to exercise their franchise, then big money really has stolen our process and our Republic.

GO. VOTE. GO VOTE.

(Un)Intended Consequences

Monday, November 1, 2010
Christ on a crutch, I am sick to death of political ads and calls. They're EVERYWHERE, each more disingenuous, duplicitous and obnoxious than the last. We're averaging four political calls a day here at the Big Yellow House, and yesterday I was treated to one at the beginning of a You Tube video. I've already voted, and if I have to inadvertently hear one more television advertisement, or listen to one more recorded shill for their pet issue, somebody's going to get hurt.WITH EXTREME PREJUDICE.

Colorado has been flooded by outside political money this season, and as a result of SCOTUS' Citizens United decision, everyone who thinks they have a dog in this fight has been airing attack ads on pretty much every Federal candidate on the docket:
 "Michael Benett cast the DECIDING VOTE on Obama-Care!" Because evidently the other Senators that voted for the Health Care Reform Bill didn't decide anything.

"Ken Buck wants to outlaw BIRTH CONTROL!" Well, not really, although I do think that he has an unnatural interest in my uterus.

Etc., etc. ad naseum.
The end result of this saturation is that voters, whether they have any interest in the political process or not, get so fucking disgusted by the constant bombardment and invasion of privacy that they just tune out and give up in disgust.

And that, my friends, is fucked up. Because the only people who GENUINELY have a dog in this fight is us. Coloradans. Not the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Not "Americans for Job Security." Not "The National Education Association Advocacy Fund." US. And more and more people believe that given the enormous sums of money being spent by these completely opaque organizations, their participation simply doesn't matter - the (un)intended consequence of the Citizens United decision. Hell, I'm particularly militant when it comes to my franchise, and this year I was so sick of the ads, the saturation, and the invasion of my privacy that I had to FORCE MYSELF to do my research and make informed choices before I voted. How much crap does an average voter have to take before they check out on our political process altogether and stay home?

Which may, in fact, be the intended consequence after all. God bless America. Or at least the 501(c)4s and 501(c)6s.