Speaking Moron

This blog has been taken down, because someone opened their mouth about my blog to people that were mentioned herein. LAME!

I have it saved elsewhere...and may put it back up later. Okay, love ya bye!

It's About Time I Did This....

So, I read a lot of blogs, with giveaways. I've been wanting to do one, I don't have many followers, I'm sure. But, why not reward the few, the proud, the Xan-Fans? (Totally calling you guys that from now on. You love it.)

Here's the deal: I make CDs...like mixed tapes. I LOVE them. I do. They make me happy inside. My newest ventures in the mixed tape arena have created "Allergic 2 Love" and soon to be "Too Allergic 2 Love." (The name is a reference to a song by The Shins. In case you like random facts...) The winner of this give-away will get both of those CDs...unless you're one of the Xan-Fans that already has "Allergic 2 Love" at which point, you can choose from such greats as "Drinking Songs" or "Songs about ........" (You can fill in the name of that boy there. It's different for each girl...or girl's name if you're a guy.)

How to enter?

1. Read my friend's blog about her most recent, worst-date-ever.
2. Post about your worst-date-ever in my comments.

That's it. Except not...I am now updating this post, because I'm a moron and didn't put a deadline. Hmmmmm....April 9. That gives you a little more than one week.

Go!

Formula for a Great Weekend

Despite it all!

Sitting outside with kids running wild around you.

• and by kids, I mean, yes...there may have been people over the age of 27 running wild as well.

Hanging out with really cool people and getting to know them better.

• TheGirlDennis...you rock...not that you read this, or need an online 'nym, but now you have one!

Watching Down With Love

• So cheesy, and so stupid...but I love it.
  

Having HIM smile at me.

• Priceless...I'm such a girl.

So despite having to move out of the one place where I actually had a good roommate, the weekend didn't suck as badly as it could.

10 Things Every American Should Know About Health Care Reform

Thank you to MoveOn.org for publishing this list. I've read most of the sources cited below too.

1. Once reform is fully implemented, 94% of Americans will have health insurance coverage, including 32 million who are currently uninsured.

2. Health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people coverage because of preexisting conditions—or to drop coverage when people become sick.

3. Just like members of Congress, individuals and small businesses who can't afford to purchase insurance on their own will be able to pool together and choose from a variety of competing plans with lower premiums.

4. Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $143 billion over the next ten years, and a whopping $1.2 trillion in the following ten years.

5. Health care will be more affordable for families and small businesses thanks to new tax credits, subsidies, and other assistance—paid for largely by taxing insurance companies, drug companies, and the very wealthiest Americans.

6. Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs because the legislation closes the "donut hole" gap in existing coverage.

7. By reducing health care costs for employers, reform will create or save more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade.

8. Medicaid will be expanded to offer health insurance coverage to an additional 16 million low-income people.

9. Instead of losing coverage after they leave home or graduate from college, young adults will be able to remain on their families' insurance plans until age 26.

10. Community health centers would receive an additional $11 billion, doubling the number of patients who can be treated regardless of their insurance or ability to pay.

---

Sources:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10. "Affordable Health Care for America: Summary," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 18, 2010
http://wwwd.house.gov/akamaidocs/energycommerce/SUMMARY.pdf

3. "Insurance Companies Prosper, Families Suffer: Our Broken Health Insurance System," U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Accessed March 22, 2010
http://healthreform.gov/reports/insuranceprospers/index.html

4. "Affordable Health Care for America: Health Insurance Reform at a Glance: Revenue Provisions," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 18, 2010
http://wwwd.house.gov/akamaidocs/energycommerce/REVENUE.pdf

5. "New Jobs Through Better Health Care," Center for American Progress, January 8, 2010
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/01/new_jobs_health.html

8, 9. "Proposed Changes in the Final Health Care Bill," The New York Times, March 22, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/03/19/us/politics/20100319-health-care-reconciliation.html

10. "Affordable Health Care for America: Health Insurance Reform at a Glance: Addressing Health and Health Care Disparities," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 20, 2010
http://docs.house.gov/energycommerce/DISPARITIES.pdf

Pity Party of One? Your Table is Ready

My life is great. It is. I have a good job, that uses my degree. And my review went great. There is a possibility of a promotion in the near future.

So why am I so bummed?

I get to tell my family and my friends about it. But that's it. I know, I know, I know. I don't need a man. I don't. I'm happy. I am. But sometimes, when I get great news like this....I want someone else to share it with. I want someone that I can say "hey, I want you to know how happy I am" to and have them understand in that way that a SO would.

Am I crazy? Am I stupid? Or...am I just being a single girl with a real life that is stuck in MarriageLand?

*sigh*

I Couldn't Agree More

An Oldie...but a Goodie

Sorry about all the videos lately, but they're brilliant, and you know it.



Also, Ellen interviewed the Old Spice hottie. Love it.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

When A Cardinal Speaks...I Listen

Francis Cardinal George | Catholics and Latter-day Saints: Partners in the Defense of Religious Freedom | February 23, 2010 | BYU Broadcasting

The link will take you to the video of the Broadcast. Enjoy. I know I did.


*To watch the video, you might have to download BYU's player format...otherwise, maybe you can just listen.

....The Man Your Man Could Smell Like....

Best. Commercial. Ever. Period.

Baby Ducks...or Why You Shouldn't Get Married

I know what you're thinking....babies are not why we shouldn't get married. Nope, especially when you have potential for cute babies. Like these beautiful ducklings to the right. Aren't the so sweet? I just want to cuddle them.

I don't know why they called the book the "Ugly Duckling." Ducklings are NOT ugly. And for that matter (I know that it was a baby swan, cygnet, and not a duckling in the story), but they're not that ugly either! Small, fluffy ball of feathers? Yes, please. They're adorable. I can't stand it, and I bet you can't either.

It's almost Spring. (Saturday to be exact) Babies are going to be everywhere, if not already. And what's not to like about them? They follow their parents around and they don't tend to attack you. But watch out for their mothers...they will go full-Mommy-terrorist-mode if they think you are getting too close to their beloved offspring.

For those that have been around a while, you know that there was a case of mistaken identity between a Canada Goose, and a duck. Now, take into account this picture of a baby goose. If you look up at the baby ducks...you might notice that they are both yellowy in hue. However, this goose is clearly darker than the ducklings. So I still don't see how there can be confusion.

Roommate works as a writer for an online bird watcher's site. She's working on identifying distinguishing markings between different fowl. Some are so hard to tell apart that she'll exclaim "THEY'RE THE SAME DAMN BIRD!!" (They're not...but they could be!) Ducks and geese are NOT of this variety. They are clearly different. Stop being confused.

And now, for why you shouldn't get married. A "wise" *cough* girl just said to me: "Don't get married. You turn into an idiot."

I could not agree more. *wink*

How to Get Out of a Library Fine

Today, I have a story for you. I thought about making the two stories into one blog, but decided giving them each their own blog was more important. They both warrant it. Here we go!

As many of you know, I'm a graduate student. It's getting down to crunch time and I have to work on my thesis. Someone, unaware of this, had the nerve to recall one of MY BOOKS. I was not okay with this. I was sick, so I didn't have energy to work on reading the book. I tried, honest. But I was just too sick.

It came due. I had a choice: return it and wait 3 weeks for it to be returned to me, or keep it and pay $10. I chose the latter. It made more sense.

I worked with the book over the weekend. I finished gleaning information from it on Monday. I went to return the book. Roommate tagged along. I walk up to the Circulation Desk and toss my book on the counter.

Me: I need to return this book and pay my $10 fine.

Young Boy Librarian: Okay, I can take care of that. Can I see your card?

Me: (hands card over...smiles) I needed the book, or I would have returned it on time. I'm just trying to write my thesis.

YBL: That's fine. (clicks away on the computer...I put my leg up on the chair, I'm tired. (He was sitting down at the wheelchair accessible desk.)

Me: So, is it going to let me pay tonight?

YBL: (looking anywhere but at me) Well, you haven't had a fine in awhile....and I'm feeling generous tonight. (still unable to look at me)

Me: REALLY?! (smile big, put leg down to leave, and put card away) Thanks!!

YBL: Yeah, no problem.

I didn't realize what I'd done while I was doing it. I really was just tired when I put my leg up. It's not MY FAULT my legs are 4 feet long!! (not hyperbolic...they pretty much are) The poor kid, he didn't even know what had hit him. He later checked a few books out for me and told me how to "put a trace" on a book that I couldn't find.

My legs should really not be allowed out in public.....

Pure Awesome

Today, you get two videos that are "pure awesome." The first is Enter Sandman on kazoos...yes, you heard right. Kazoos. They look so serious.




The second is a gay-love-ballad by Mick Jagger and David Bowie. Yes, Dancing in the Streets appears to have connotations that were unintended when these two dance their unchoreographed hearts out.



Happy Friday!!

Things I Love About Work

1. My phone - that doesn't work.
2. My computer - that sounds like it's going to explode.
3. Other Writer - that declares himself a feminist...regularly...and he is.
4. Coworker - that says "I'll cut you" to me...all the time. (Incidentally, she said "I'll cut her too" once)
5. Job Description - that basically says "Be a grad student. We'll pay you." (I'm a writer, I research topics...and then write about them. Sort of like a grad student. Only, I get paid.)
6. Water Filter - that has had many songs sang about it. By other coworkers (not previously mentioned)
7. My iPod - that I get to listen to it. Green Day helps me work.
8. My Research - that is always on really interesting topics. (Tattooing? FUN!)
9. My Office - that has a window that looks into the hallway. I see all of you as you go to the restroom...I know what you're up to.
10. QA Guy - that just makes me laugh because he's so funny without intending to be.
    

Suggestions from Friends

Coworker suggested that every time I think about Billie Joe Armstrong, I should link to this blog I wrote. I said "that would get ridiculous."

And it would.

Another suggestion from a friend was to find a new therapeutic option for me. One that didn't include infomercials or killing people. Thankfully, Roommate jumped in and said "I'm sorry. That's all there is." And Roommate was right. That is all there is.

Not that I've ever killed anyone, but I have "wanted" to. It would make my life easier if we started going Darwin on these people and thinning the herds of stupid. I'm just saying. I think evolution is too slow sometimes. Survival of the fittest would work faster if the "fittest" took matters into their own hands. Ranchers do it all the time. Thin the herd, that is.

And for those that will say "but how do you decide who is stupid and who isn't?" That's the beauty of a dictatorship. I decide. If you want to know, ask me. I'll tell you.

Glenn Beck? Needs to be thinned out.
Rush? Same there.
Ryan Seacrest? Only if the Pope is Catholic.
Pat Robinson? His time is up.

And there you have it. The short list.






I'm not literally advocating killing anyone. If you think I am, seek help. I'm not. No one deserves to die at the hands of someone else. Everyone is entitled to their opinions even if I find them to be stupid. Okay? I'm not justification for your inability to tease out sarcasm from reality.