Telling it like I see it
so don't ask if you don't want to know
my thoughts on global climate change
Oct 31st
Yes, I believe our wonderful planet is going though some obvious and somewhat dangerous changes in climate. Arctic and Antarctic ice fields are melting more than in previous recorded history. There is evidence of that. There has been record-breaking heat and snowfall over the last few years. Hurricanes are coming more often, tornadoes are hitting places they’ve rarely been before, even the earth is quaking in unusual places.
We had horrific dust storms here four afternoons in a row whereas we might have had one or two big ones in the entire monsoon season before.
Shit be happenin’ folks.
Now, there is sooo much information and misinformation out there as to why. Some people believe it’s just the way the earth evolves (that’s not the right word but I can’t think of the correct one) and we’re just due. Some people believe it’s connected to how we’re treating our planet. Some idiots believe it’s an indication that god is pissed.
To me why doesn’t matter. To me it seems that if burning fossil fuels enhances the change in any way, then we should work harder to get away from that. If we’re putting too many chemicals into the air and our ozone layer is effected, then stop putting fucking chemicals into the air. Even if it is earth’s natural inclination to go through one of these global climate shifts every million years or so fine, but let’s not make it worse by helping her make it harder on us.
With the freshwater polar ice melting, our seawater consistency is going to change. That will endanger marine life and only so much of that will survive. So let’s stop over-fishing our seas and them stand a greater chance. Over-cutting of forests (not here so much as most lumber companies replant trees) endangers both the ecosystem in that area and the planet’s ability to clean the air for all of us. So stop wasting paper.
Every time you leave a light on in a room you’re not in, you hurt everyone. Every time you run water without using it, you hurt everyone. Every time you drive a gas-guzzling vehicle, you hurt everyone, right?
I don’t understand enough about the process of making things. Is it better for the environment to have wood furniture and replant trees? Or is plastic furniture made out of who-knows-what better? Maybe glass and steel furniture is better for the environment. if you break it all down to the building process which is less offensive to the earth? I’m betting though that buying gently used stuff is best for all. Let’s use up what’s already made before we destroy more resources to build new.
So here I am, running the A/C because it’s still hot outside and it’s almost November. I drive a big-ass grand marquis because I have no choice at the moment. That’s the only used car I could afford at the time. The next one will be better for the environment, I promise. I consistently save water so I get points for that. I’d love to recycle but my apartment complex doesn’t have that option. Most of my furniture was bought used.
Where are my options? Why aren’t there solar panels EVERYWHERE here in the valley of the sun? Why aren’t there recycle bins everywhere? Why are new houses allowed to be built when there are so many empty ones around? Why are electric or hybrid cars only now becoming available? Why aren’t big stores and other huge buildings required to have solar panels?
What is the hold up? Are we seriously waiting for bigger disasters to happen? Or is it all about the benjamins? Really? We have got to stop thinking about the bottom line and start planning for the future. Where we’re all freezing or melting. A future where oil reserves are tapped out, trees and animals are only found in zoos, and we’re all using gas masks that are probably made out of chemicals that will kill us anyway.
Well… not MY future. With my health issues I’ll be lucky to survive the zombie apocalypse. Kira and Jack’s future. Their children’s future. If there is one. It doesn’t matter why the global climate change is happening, what matters is that we get through it. Stop arguing about the why and come up with ideas to make it better.
FFRF Valley of the Sun meeting
Oct 30th
I’m the first to admit I’m a cynical bitch but this morning was a… a… complete waste of my time. I’m kind of looking for new groups to check out. Looking for new opportunities to meet like-minded people.
So today I show up at the location of the local Freedom From Religion Foundation group. The majority of the attendees – 90%? – were retirees. Nobody spoke to me. There was some eye contact, but no greeting or anything.
I’m used to welcoming and being welcomed into groups like at our evfn and PodcampAZ events. Not even a hello.
The actual meeting started out fine. Sort of introductions of the #1 and #2 people. We were told about the upcoming placement of the FFRF billboards (and she promised to send out exact locations) a couple of which I jotted down. They talked about a couple of books we should check out. Then the special guest started…
Bob McWhirter, “Baby Don’t Be Cruel: Origins of Punishment, The Eighth Amendment, and Religion”
Oh. My. Gawd. This had to have been the most boring and painful 1:45 minutes of my life. Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.
- this guy needs serious help in putting together a power point presentation.
- we don’t need 100+ slides of quotes from old greeks and bible stories tied in with Elvis and The Princess Bride references.
- his points could have been made with 1/3 of the slides and in 30 minutes or less
I’m pretty sure he was shooting for why the death penalty is wrong. And though I disagree with him I might have been swayed had his presentation been better.
The thing is, almost everyone in the audience was all for him and his presentation. Forgive the expression, but he was preaching to the choir. There was no discussion, no Q&A or any chance to ask for citations – and believe me he pulled some of his information out of his ass.
This is so not the group for me. I’m for conversation. Discussion. Points and checks. Questions and answers. Oh well, I tried something new and it failed. Moving on.
Some of my best friends are…
Oct 25th
Something just popped up on my Google+ thingamajiggy that I don’t really use. Some feller posted something about online “friendships” and how most people (those who presumably don’t spend a lot of time online) don’t give much credit to those friendships.
Now I’ve met bunches of people I first knew online, either through twitter or other local social events. Honestly I barely know most of them. Yes we greet each other warmly (and sometimes hug) but really it’s a more surface relationship. But I can count many people I’ve met online over the years that have really become lasting relationships.
My oldest online and BFF is Cara. I met her and another friend Charlotte on a fandom site years ago and have met them both IRL. I make time in my life to see Cara at least once a year. We laugh that we’re twins born 10 years apart. Peas in a pod. Closer than sisters. Charlotte is awesome too. She’s an amazing writer and one of the most interesting young people I know. I feel honored that she likes me. There are other “friends” I met on that site that I still stay in contact with, some I wish I could meet and some I’m fine with keeping it an online relationship.
I met Evo online (podcasting) before I actually met him, and through him his wonderful wife Sheila. My lifesavers. These people changed my life. And through podcasting I’ve met other wonderful real life friends. CJ (my local BFF), Dani the Diva, Donna, A, Bruce, Crystal and many others.
I’ve met people through twitter meetups and other online-people social get-togethers that I love! Jana, Jeff, Wendy and Chris, Katie and Tyler, Patrick and Vinessa, Ruthie, Oden… I can’t wait to see these people all the time. Great times, great people.
Had I never plugged into the internet I would never have met any of them. I shudder to imagine where I’d be without them. Most of the people listed here mean more to me than my own family – except my kids/grandkids!
Here’s the thing. Of all my friendships with people I didn’t meet online only one has survived. But guess what, Wendy and I maintain most of our contact on the internet and use twitter to occasionally meet up in real life. I can’t think of another real friend I didn’t meet online or through online groups, unless you count my kids and our mutual friends.
Thank you Internets.
I will literally kick his ass
Oct 23rd
On Thursday when Casey came to pick up Kira from me, he told her they were going to the zoo on Saturday. They talked about getting up early, googled the hours and rates, etc.
When I saw them Friday night he still planned on it. Wasn’t going to drink much because they had that zoo trip in the morning. Right.
When he dropped her here last night so he could go to a couple of birthday parties I sternly reminded him NOT to get too wasted, because he’d already put off the zoo until today.
So here she sits, all dressed and ready to go. She picked out special comfortable clothes and shoes. Had breakfast so she wouldn’t be hungry. Brushed her teeth without me asking. She’s decided she wants to see the lions first and then asked if the zoo had horses. I’m pretty sure the lions and horses are at opposite ends of the zoo here.
So the zoo opens at 9. I’m calling him now (8:25). Of course he doesn’t answer, but then again he seldom answers but usually calls me right back…
———-
Now it’s 9:20 and he still hasn’t answered (6 tries) or called back. I’m really pissed for her but there’s nothing I can do until I can get him on the phone. He shouldn’t have fucking told her he would take her and then let her down! You don’t TELL kids unless you really, REALLY plan on following through.
———-
Finally! He called me back at 9:30. The plan NOW is to go at noon. Smart plan in this heat but at least he isn’t completely reneging on the deal. Then I WOULD have had to kick his ass. Now he’ll just have to suffer through the heat and her being whiny and tired at the zoo. Serves him right.
#occupyphx?
Oct 16th
I’ve been watching the twitter stream most of yesterday and this morning. I don’t know how it’s going down in your city, but these people are confusing.
First there was the constant retweets on how Mayor Gordon was coming down to Hance Park to join the protesters when the police moved in last night. Apparently Mr. Gordon changed his mind at the last minute, saying since the protest wasn’t about SB10170 (immigration) then he wasn’t interested. But the retweets that he WAS coming kept on confusing the people in the park. Then the police were accused of shutting down the power/lights at the park at midnight – but it’s a public park – wouldn’t those be on a timer?
And what’s with the tents? It’s Arizona. You don’t need tents. The police said they wanted the tents down so take them down.
Here’s the deal, if you want to make a point or keep public sentiment on your side, don’t go down there with a lets-fuck-with-the-cops mentality. When they say the park closes at midnight, then go home and come back tomorrow. What good does getting arrested do? So you’re spending today in jail? How is that helping your cause?
More misinformation: Pepper spray was used, pepper spray was NOT used. 30 people were arrested for protesting, 30 people were arrested for trespassing in the park after closing time.
Then there’s this:
#OccupyPhoenix continues at Margaret T Hance Park this afternoon. We’ll play this game every day until we can hold the park. Join us.
#OccupyPhoenix is back at Cesar Chavez, not Margaret T Hance. Large crowd and growing. Join us for day 2! Please RT.
I thought the point of a protest was to get your points heard and to be taken seriously? One would think the first step would be organization. Second step? Communication. Go down there with conviction but not aggression and hold your ground if you’re not doing anything illegal. Don’t let them take you out of the game on a technicality like tents and closing times.
Dear “social” game makers,
Oct 13th
Fuck off.
Here’s how some of my social game numbers work out:
- Zynga’s Pioneer Trail. 26 neighbors listed as players, maybe 12 of whom actually play. Mission requests where you can only ask specific people for one item once a day? 8 missions plus 15 items within buildings-in-process (each requiring 15 per item), and 3 ghost town missions waiting for those to be built. All that, plus an equal number of wall-posted requests. I’m at level 95, which means I’ve been playing for quite some time. Though I love this game (my favorite) the 15 items once a day thing is killing my fun. The only good thing is that most items are reciprocal.
- Zynga’s Farmville. 50 neighbors listed, maybe 10 still play. Much better and the requesting help for missions is much more realistic. I’m at level 104 and I don’t plan on quitting anytime soon.
- Zynga’s Cityville. 30-ish neighbors and about 5-6 actual but intermittent players. Same problem with collecting items needed for missions. And most of the items are not reciprocal.
- Zynga’s Treasure Isle. I ignore anything that requires asking neighbors for anything because only one other friend still plays.
Do you see the problem? Of my 388 Facebook friends, only a small portion play any game at any one time. You’re asking too much, based on what? Registered players or actual players? Do you want to know what my favorite game is, the one I actually spend real world money on? PackRat. Because I can play without friends. Sure, friends can help each other out, but you don’t NEED them to move along in the game. I’m betting most people give up on games because they can’t advance without spamming their friends.
There’s a finite pool of people who – like me – have plenty of time to play these games. Everyone else has little time to spend going through nag-for-this-part and nag-for-that-part instead of actually, you know, playing your games. We want to build a cool looking city. We want to build interesting frontier town. We want to master crops and animals. We don’t want to log in, spam our friends and then log out to wait for those requests to be filled. Boring!
Oh yeah, stop with the pop-ups trying to get us to spam our non-game-playing friends. As soon as a new game comes out most of my friends block them. They don’t want to play. Ever.
More About PodcampAZ
Oct 11th
You know I’m on the planning committee. You know you really want to go. So go read this post and find out the latest news! The time to register is now.
All right fine, I’ll give you the highlights. We have lots of speakers including Evo Terra, the fabulous Amy Donohue, and we even have some local TV news fame speaking, 3-TV’s Carey Pena! Who would want to miss that? Make sure you check back on Friday because that is when the final schedule will be set in stone and you can plan your two days of awesome accordingly.
And please share that post with anyone and everyone. Thanks EVER so much!
Feeling sorry for myself again
Oct 10th
I’ll tell you what. If someone told me they were as sad and lonely as I am now, I’d give them all kinds of advice… advice I can’t seem to follow myself.
I feel so left out of everything. Even when I’m at events with my friends I feel like I have nothing to offer and hardly anyone talks to me about anything. My friends are getting together and doing fun things and I’ll betcha nobody thinks to ask me along because I’m boring? A downer? Have nothing to contribute?
My head is full of cotton.
Dammit. I hate this feeling. Like I could completely disappear and nobody would give a shit.
Needy.
I tried. A couple of times I’ve asked friends to get together and do something and people always have other plans, or do they? I shout-out I’d like to go to dinner here or there and ask if anyone would like to join me and no response.
I can’t keep sitting at home for days on end never seeing another human being, just waiting for the next friend get-together on the off-chance that I’ll feel more connected. I could maybe get a part time job to get me out and about. Where else do you meet people? Hanging out at bars is an option, but then generally the guys you meet hanging out at bars are not the kind you really want to be with. I don’t have any compelling interests to find a group meeting about those interests. I’m so fucking bland.
I’m losing it.
Fuck it, nevermind. I’ll deal. I’ll figure it out. I’m just lonely.
I’m done.
Zombies!
Oct 3rd
Max has, a couple of times now, bragged about how he has a zombie apocalypse plan. He says he’ll be the “leader” because the rest of the family either is or has dead weight. In case of zombie outbreak we should all make our way to his apartment and he’ll keep up safe…
Sure, I’m dead weight, but I’m the thinker in the family. Who had (at one time) a 72-hour kit? Mom, until the kids plundered bits and pieces out of it. Who has the car big and heavy enough to run over zombies? Mom. Who has done the research? *ahem* Mom.
He doesn’t even own a shotgun or a baseball bat or a chainsaw! He doesn’t live in a gated community so the gates could be chained shut to keep the zombies out. He doesn’t have a stash of water or food to keep us alive for any length of time. Sure, he’s a big boy and so is Casey but like me, neither of them can run for shit. His idea of a plan is to break into the WalMart down the street and steal what he needs. Right, as if all the other non-zombies aren’t thinking the same thing. And beating the zombie levels of Call of Duty: Black Ops really doesn’t qualify as preparation.
Do you have an actual zombie plan in your head? Have you made any actual preparations? Stocked up supplies? Own a suitable weapon?
My plan? Find the nearest shotgun wielding nutcase and have them blow my brains out.
Lease instead of buy
Oct 1st
I found this article tonight and thought it might be fun to discuss.
Mexico mulls 2-year marriage
Wow.
The minimum marriage contract would be for two years and could be renewed if the couple stays happy. The contracts would include provisions on how children and property would be handled if the couple splits.
My first thought is why bother getting married at all if you only plan on it lasting two years? Or do they mean you’re supposed to plan on being married for life, but the first two years are more of a trial period, a dress rehearsal. Your second anniversary gift is a contract renewal.
So how… sure there were times in my 27 year marriage that either one of us could have called it quits but we’d eventually work it out (or ignore the problem til it went away) and have a few really good years right up until the end when it just wasn’t worth it anymore. So how do you completely commit to someone knowing they had such an easy out? Whoops, two years is up so I can easily legally walk away. This idea seems to take away any incentive to work through issues that – if you had to stay married longer – might be resolved through growth and/or maturity?
What are the positives?
