Reasons For My Thoughts On Torture

If you haven't done so already, read this post. Then watch this [depressing] video:



Mr. Bush, Ms. Rice, you belong in jail for your crimes.

Here is a list of memos that specifically authorizes torture.

A Day In The Life (Of A Sculpture)

Today, the last day of my weekend, I met up with two of my fabulous coworkers + 1 at the 5 Spot on Queen Anne. After enjoying a delicious, albeit skimpy, breakfast we took the Metro 2 bus down to 1st and Broad street. From there we proceeded west on Broad street to our point of destination: the Olympic Sculpture Park. Here is a photo journal of that exploration:

Se7en and Se7en...No, Not The Drink

I wanted to include the movie cover in my post about Se7en the movie, so I googled "se7en". Interestingly enough, it directed me to several pictures of a very attractive Korean pop/R&B singer named "Se7en".

Born Choi Wong-Dook on November 9, 1984. Coincidentally, he was in a commercial for Sprite that was also directed by David Fincher.

His genre's listed include K-pop and J-pop. They, apparently, stand for Korean pop and Japanese pop respectively. I think we should call American pop A-pop. I'm making a formal declaration right now: from here on out I will be referring to pop as A-pop.

Se7en : A Tale Of Right In A World So Wrong

One of my favorite movies is Se7en (1995), starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman; directed by David Fincher. It's a very dark and gritty film, and would be described best as a psychological thriller. In it, a killer is on the loose and is executing elaborate deaths that coincide with the seven deadly sins: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. There is so much more to this movie than meets the eye, and it is best described in a semi-monologue near the end of the film.

David Mills: Wait, I thought all you did was kill innocent people.
John Doe: Innocent? Is that supposed to be funny? An obese man... a disgusting man who could barely stand up; a man who if you saw him on the street, you'd point him out to your friends so that they could join you in mocking him; a man, who if you saw him while you were eating, you wouldn't be able to finish your meal. After him, I picked the lawyer and I know you both must have been secretly thanking me for that one. This is a man who dedicated his life to making money by lying with every breath that he could muster to keeping murderers and rapists on the streets!
David Mills: Murderers?
John Doe: A woman...
David Mills: Murderers, John, like yourself?
John Doe: [interrupts] A woman... so ugly on the inside she couldn't bear to go on living if she couldn't be beautiful on the outside. A drug dealer, a drug dealing pederast, actually! And let's not forget the disease-spreading whore! Only in a world this shitty could you even try to say these were innocent people and keep a straight face. But that's the point. We see a deadly sin on every street corner, in every home, and we tolerate it. We tolerate it because it's common, it's trivial. We tolerate it morning, noon, and night. Well, not anymore. I'm setting the example. What I've done is going to be puzzled over and studied and followed... forever.

Brad Pitt's character strongly disagrees with this sentiment, and continues to argue with Doe. However, viewers will notice that Morgan Freeman's character remains quiet, contemplative. When I saw that I knew that he agreed with what Doe had done. Does that make it right? No. But at the same time, there is a passive concession to accepting Doe's actions.

It Took Me A While To Get Into This

Watch it all the way through. It's f**king hilarious.



Thanks Sullivan.

Every Time You Swipe Your Card

People may or may not know, but every time someone uses their debit/credit card for a financial transaction, that (business) is charged a fee by the card provider. American Express, Visa Business, and Discover charge the most in fees. This is why many places do not take them as a form of payment. If you go here you can see how much you are "charging" in fees for various items, from a pack of gum to a plasma television.

I Will Never Become A Vegetarian

And this is why.

Sigourney Weaver Vs. Susan Sarandon

*I removed the two photos from this post due to their constant googling. (06/21/09)*

There are some out there who are adamant that Sigourney Weaver and Susan Sarandon are the same person.

Sigourney Weaver was born Susan Alexandra Weaver, on October 8, 1949, in New York City.

Susan Sarandon was born Susan Abigail Tomalin, on October 4, 1946, in New York City.

I will attempt to remain impartial throughout. Given those two bits of information, it seems rather suspicious that people would confuse the two actresses. Fact: they were both born Susan. Fact: they were both born in New York City. Fact: they were both born in October. Fact: they both have careers in acting. The evidence is strong here, but I would have to concede that these two actresses are not, in fact, the same person.

Sigourney Weaver is known for her role as Lieutenant Ellen Ripley in the movies Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, and Alien: Resurrection. Susan Sarandon could never be as badass as Sigourney Weaver in this role. Sarandon would try to reason with the aliens, and cry for them.

Susan Sarandon is know for her roles in sentimental movies, with the exception of Thelma & Louise (1991). Okay, I've lost my impartiality. Given the choice between the two actresses, I choose Sigourney Weaver as my favorite. I loved the Alien movies. Well, Alien and Aliens. The third and fourth movies were crap. She was also in the Ghostbuster movies. I can only think of one movie that I've seen Susan Sarandon in, and it is not Thelma & Louise. It's "The Client", based on John Grisham's novel of the same name.

So, we can conclude that Sigourney Weaver and Susan Sarandon are not the same person. Furthermore, if given the choice of which is the better actress, the choice is quite obviously Sigourney Weaver. You're welcome.

Senate Republicans Bartering For A "Get Out Of Jail Free" Card

I find it deplorable, and meta-political, that Senate republicans have been seeking to block President Obama's Attorney General nominee, Eric H. Holder, Jr.; they want assurances that the Justice Department will not pursue prosecutions of Bush administration officials for crimes they did commit. I understand that we need to focus our energies on the current crises: the failing economy, the war in Iraq, and our relations with Iran. However, these Republicans clearly want to set a precedent that crimes committed by those in power are above the law, and will face no consequences whatsoever. I know people will tell me to get over it, that it has happened before and it will happen again and again; that doesn't make it 'okay'. If you're not outraged by this political bullshit, then you're clearly not paying attention.

Bush administration policies and practices carry zero accountability.

Joe Biden Would Be So Much Cooler If This Were True

Thanks Onion.

A Career In Art Is Not For Me

Here are some charcoal drawings I did for a summer art class in 2004. This is me, as I consider it, at my best. Any comments?



I had a "negative" copy of the second drawing, but after a rigorous search of my computer, I was unable to find it. I think it looks rather nice.

How Would You Rank The Beatles Catalog?

Well, someone has done it for you. Check it out here.

The Results Are In!

We now have a definition for "Saddlebacking".* And it's the one I wanted to win, too!

*If you're easily offended, don't follow the link.

Why Don't I Want To Work For The CIA?

Let me give you a little timeline of my possible career interests:

1. Doctor
2. FBI Agent
3. Lawyer
4. CIA Analyst
5. Writer
6. Journalist

Numbers 1 - 4 were when I was young and naive about the world. Numbers 5 - 6 are post-college education. I could ramble on and on about the stupidity of the CIA, but I won't. Instead, you should read "Legacy of Ashes : The History of the CIA" by Tim Weiner; that will give you greater insight into what I mean.

Also, there's this recent revelation.

Canada On A Thursday Night

A story: It was a cold night on January 14, 2005. Three young college students decided on going out for dinner. Where would they go? What food was their bellies aching for? Alas, they wanted Chinese food (which was actually American Chinese food). But that is neither here nor there. Jon knew a supposedly good restaurant: Moon Temple on 45th in Wallingford.

They traveled by car; it was a 1986 Toyota Tercel hatchback. Parking was easy to find, and they sat down to eat. The food was satisfying. Time came to pay. "I'll get this one. You guys just buy the drinks next time." "But we're not old enough to drink just yet." "We're old enough to drink in Canada." Silence ensues. A flurry of ponderous thoughts emerge from within all three. "Should...should we?" It's agreed; we three get back in the car, drive to our places of residence to obtain our passports, and head north through the harsh cold to beautiful British Columbia.

The time is near midnight by the time we arrive at the border. We suffer the wrath of border patrol questioning and subsequent lecturing. We are in! We continue north-northwest to downtown Vancouver. We find parking. One of us propositions a prostitute for a photograph and is vehemently denied. We find an Irish pub. (See photo). We toast to our first drink in a bar. We've accomplished what we set out to do. "Last call!" Oh no. Time to find another bar. No luck. We walk up and down the deserted streets holding out for an open bar. One of us pees in a back alley. We find a restaurant that is open until 4am. Jackpot!

We order a few rounds. The other two go make out, briefly, on the way to the bathroom. We sober up. We make it back to the car, shivering cold. We have high hopes that we'll make it back in time for classes and work. A long, tiresome drive is what we accept as reality. Driving, fell asleep a few times. Not good at all. We survive. We return to our living quarters. We sleep for the rest of the day, foregoing any school and/or work responsibilities. Not bad for a Thursday night.

A Tribute To Those Persecuted

In March of 2006 two of my friends and I traveled to Amsterdam for spring break. It was not your typical spring break, in that it was very cold and dreary. It was to be expected though. We didn't travel there to be on a girls gone wild video (and I'm not sure how that would have worked, being that only one of us was a girl), but rather, to explore another part of the world.

We saw and did many things during our week stay, and one of the more intimate moments for me was when we visited the Homomonument.

The Homomonument was officially unveiled on Saturday 5 September 1987 on the Westermarkt in the historic heart of Amsterdam.

The monument is located but a mere block away from the Anne Frank House, which I was surprised to find out had a gift shop and cafe. [That was meant to be a joke, but it's difficult to present it as such when the joke relies on vocal intonation]. It was an emotional day for me, although I held it in quite well. We visited a house that was used to hide people [Jews] from persecution and almost certain death. Then we visited a monument dedicated to the persecution and deaths of another group of people: homosexuals. It was a day that was completely enlightening, but also terribly depressing, especially for me; I am a 'member' of the latter group. The monument's plague reads as follows:

Commemorates All Women And Men Ever Oppressed And
Persecuted Because Of Their Homosexuality.
Supports The International Lesbian And Gay Movement In Their
Struggle Against Contemt, Discrimination And Oppression.
Demonstrates That We Are Not Alone.
Calls For Permanent Vigilance.

Past, Present And Future Are Represented By The
3 Triangles On This Square, Designed By Karin Daan, 1987.

I can only keep hoping that this monument becomes ancient history. And this brings tears (of joy) to my eyes:

Each year on the 4th of May, the Netherlands' National Remembrance Day, people from all walks of life gather at the Homomonument to commemorate the gay victims of war. Representatives from political parties, social organisations, the military, the police, dignitaries and ordinary citizens all come to observe the traditional two minutes of silence at 8 p.m. and to listen to the speakers.

The Dutch flag flies at half-mast and the "Wilhemus" (the Dutch national anthem) is sung. This observance, which was once forbidden and had to be fought for, is now an official ceremony that no longer raises an eyebrow.

Palahniuk, Please Don't Disappoint Again

Cult novelist Chuck Palahniuk has been working hard, maybe too hard, and he has a new book coming out on May 5th: "Pygmy".

Here is what DoubleDay (Random House) has to say about it:

The Manchurian Candidate meets South Park—Chuck Palahniuk’s finest novel since the generation-defining Fight Club.

“Begins here first account of operative me, agent number 67 on arrival Midwestern American airport greater _____ area. Flight _____. Date _____. Priority mission top success to complete. Code name: Operation Havoc.”

Thus speaks Pygmy, one of a handful of young adults from a totalitarian state sent to the United States, disguised as exchange students, to live with typical American families and blend in, all the while planning an unspecified act of massive terrorism. Palahniuk depicts Midwestern life through the eyes of this thoroughly indoctrinated little killer, who hates us with a passion, in this cunning double-edged satire of an American xenophobia that might, in fact, be completely justified. For Pygmy and his fellow operatives are cooking up something big, something truly awful, that will bring this big dumb country and its fat dumb inhabitants to their knees.

It’s a comedy. And a romance.

I hope this is at least something enjoyable to read. In a conversation with my manager, some time ago, he casually asked me how I liked Palahniuk's last book...and the one before that...and the one before that...and so on and so forth. My answer's were all similar, if not the same: "It was all right". I guess I am one of those people who can't help but read any and all books published by a particular author, even if they are pure dribble. Chuck Palahniuk is that guy (for me). I've been expecting the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) for a week now (and counting). I will post a review as soon as I, 1.) get my hands on the ARC, and 2.) read it.

I'm Ashamed That I Voted for Barack Obama

That's absolutely false. I did vote for Barack Obama, and I'm not ashamed of it. However, I am keeping in mind that he is a politician, and everything that he does is based in politics. That is to say that I'm not a follower of the seeming cult-like affinity for President Obama. The man is fallible, and will make mistakes.

Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish directed me to an article by Michael Novak over at NRO that shuns President Obama's decisions in his first week.

On January 20, President Obama called for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. He also declared his intention to give multiple rights and privileges to homosexual couples.

On January 22, he issued an order announcing his intention to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay within one year, but admits he has not figured out how to do that. President Bush had expressed a similar wish, but could find no nations willing to take responsibility for the detainees.

On January 23, President Obama issued an order that authorizes tax dollars for abortions abroad.

I just want to make it very clear that Michael Novak does not speak for me when he says:

These decisions humiliated those who voted for President Obama because they had been assured, and assured others, that the new president would take seriously the culture of life.

I feel nothing but pride in these decisions, and Novak needs to change the way he words things. President Obama rescinded the Mexico City policy to allow for foreign aid to go to those organizations who need it, regardless of whether or not they perform abortions for women. Novak strongly implies that our aid is going to serve only one function: abort as many fetuses as possible. It doesn't go for educational programs about safe sex, or for better quality medical services. No, it only goes to abort fetuses.

Hot Is So Hot Right Now

It's official: hot liquids can ease the symptoms of a cold or flu.

Young And Drunk And Storytelling

Some of the things I like (not really) about this video:

1. I speak with a very gay lisp.
2. There is an awkward moment at 1:17.
3. I'm fatter than holy hell.

The best line comes near the very end: "Probably because you don't have a..." Enjoy!