In making her pathetic video attempt at snark, Michelle was trying to prove what exactly? That liberals have disdain for BushCo?

Where the hell has she been the past 6 years? The man and his policies have given us so many reasons to dislike what they've done to this country and the world (none of which involve a pathetic blow job but actual life and death issues)

And if her point is that we're being disrespectful to the man holding the office of President, I doubt it'd take much of a google search to find similar remarks from her and her fellow right-wing media whores about the previous President.

I guess after being wrapped in their fuzzy non-reality based world, all I can say is....

Welcome to American cupcake.

I came across this blog by 'Confessions of a Casting Director' raving about some of the MySpace Generation models.

I'm sorry, but is modeling *that* miserable a profession ??

Hell I'd LOVE to get paid several thousand dollars for standing around and posing.

Remember the days of the 'Supermodel'? Christie Brinkley, Elle McPherson, Carol Alt.....hair, eyes, beauty, smiles.....glamour.

And no one would ever mistake Cindy Crawford for a 12 year old.

What's the new look these days? Pedophile chic?

And will somebody please fucking feed these girls!!!

In spite of the train wreck Anna Nicole Smith became, she knew how to work the camera and loved being in front of it.

30 years ago today, Phoenix was rocked by the car-bomb murder of Arizona Republic investigative reporter Don Bolles.

FROM THE ARTICLE
"Initially, the possible suspects in his murder were many and varied. But before long, police and prosecutors came up with what they believed was the correct scenario.
John Harvey Adamson, greyhound owner, clothes thief and street thug, had put the bomb on Bolles' car. Adamson said James Albert Robison, a Chandler plumber, triggered the bomb, and Max Dunlap, a Phoenix contractor and land developer, had hired Adamson to do the killing.
The motive? Adamson said Dunlap wanted Bolles dead because the reporter had written stories that upset wealthy rancher and liquor wholesaler Kemper Marley Sr., Dunlap's mentor. One story, published as Marley was trying to land a seat on the Arizona Racing Commission, noted that Marley had been prosecuted for grand theft when he was a state highway commissioner and had served on the State Fair Commission when the agency got into financial trouble.
Dunlap and Robison were convicted of Bolles' murder in 1977, though defense lawyers argued that Phoenix attorney Neal Roberts masterminded the killing, possibly on behalf of shadowy figures."

For Phoenicians, this became one of those "where were you when you heard...?" events. I was only 10 at the time, but I do remember this being the main topic of conversation all that summer as the entire city followed the investigation, arrests and trial, all the way through the convictions in 1977.

Almost hard to imagine isn't it in this day and age of Faux News and a lap dog press? Today when the country's troubles are the fault of reporters who report the bad news, rather than the circumstances that caused the bad news in the first place!

An Investigative Reporter who actually lived up to his job title. Doing his best to ferret out and expose corruption of those in power to the citizens of the city he served.

And a city who venerated him in doing his job and mourned his loss.

"His brother said Bolles would view all the admiration with typical wry skepticism.
Dean concurred. “He would be saying, ‘Do I deserve this?’ As a journalist he would be a little ashamed of this martyrdom. He has become a white knight in a shining armor but he would say, ‘This is not me, and it will never be me. I’m just an ordinary guy.’”

Thanks Don.

In case you missed Prez. Dipshit's half-assed apology yesterday:

President Bush was asked: "...Which missteps and mistakes of your own [do] you most regret?" He replied:

Saying "Bring it on." Kind of tough talk, you know, that sent the wrong signal to people. That I learned some lessons about expressing myself maybe in a little more sophisticated manner. You know, "Wanted dead or alive," that kind of talk. I think in certain parts of the world it was misinterpreted. And so I learned -- I learned from that. And, you know, I think the biggest mistake that's happened so far, at least from our country's involvement in Iraq, is Abu Ghraib. We've been paying for that for a long period of time. And it's -- unlike Iraq, however, under Saddam, the people who committed those acts were brought to justice; they've been given a fair trial and tried and convicted.�

Does anyone else see the delicious irony in this statement coming the same week of the Dixie Chicks' "Not Ready To Make Nice".

*a highly recommended album I must say*

It's been three years since "The Incident" and it's taken almost 3,000 American servicemen's lives, countless innocent Iraqi lives, destruction of that country, the loss of world-wide sympathy and respect for America, the loss of an American city and $3.00 a gallon gas prices, but finally a good portion of this country is waking up from the 5-year FOG it's been under.

Natalie could and did apologize for her comment (even though she's rightfully taken it back), but I don't see any apology big enough to make amends for what Bush and his neo-con cronies have done to this country and the world.

Phoenix had a large turnout of 125,000 people, the largest march we've ever had (even larger than the ones during the Evan Mechan/MLK Day years), and in spite of this being hot button issue here, and with the exception of traffic congestion, the event came off peacefully and well organized.

Welcome to the big time Phoenix! :D

In other news, well, I'm here. Finally moved into my own apartment and tonight for the first time in about 17 years will be sleeping in my own bed in my own space! And all I can say is:

YAHOOOOOOOOOO!!!

It'll take a few weeks to fully get this place settled and in order the way and I want and things I'll need to get (at least I have a good excuse to go shopping)

I don't have any food in the place yet, but I've got my tv, my CD boombox, and my 'net connection - you know, the really important stuff!

I was so struck by moments of "why did I pack that?" or "how come I took that?"

I couldn't believe the amount of books I had - especially Rock Star bios.

On a positive note I did find some pretty damn good pictures of me!! HEH!

I figure to be moved in on Sunday, but as far as settled in, that may take a little longer!

As most of my stuff has been in storage for the past year, it'll be interesting to see just how much of my life I did take with me when I left last year.

*takes deep breath and exhales*

*ducks the barrage of snowballs from friends in the East and North*

Not that I'm complaining much, really. It's one of those beautiful days that folks move here for. They don't call this the Valley of the Sun for nothing!

But considering the fact that we've broken the record of 101 days straight without any rain, and with none in sight for the immediate future, it makes me wonder what the hell August is going to be like this year.

And not some 1.5% like we've gotten in the past, but a 6.3% actually substantial!

After years of being among the lowest paid State government employees in the country - this moves us up in ranking to what - 45th now?

Thank you Governor Napalitano. I like her more and more each year.

I know I'm still a little shaky with some of the moves, at this point you're just concentrating on getting the steps correct - sort of like learning a dance routine or arobics. I'm guessing the speed and strength will come with time.

But hey - I'm pretty damn proud of myself today!

Went to a exhibit of his work today at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and was I impressed.

I'd only seen his work through television images, but to actually see it first hand was pretty amazing - to have it just leap out at you. Using different colors to create a different mood for the same image was amazing - and it worked!! There were the 10 famous Marilyn Monroe prints - but the different colors for each print brought out something different and interesting.

And as you can see, his fascination with the famous was very much a part of his work. After all he is the one who said "In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes." Somehow I think being in and among the glittering famous filled something in this eccentric genius.

Here's a sampling of a few of them that were there today:

After a lifetime of work, my parents have a summer place up in the beautiful White Mountains of Arizona in Pinetop/Lakeside. Nothing fancy mind you, a mobile home park of working class folks like them. Just a place to be able to get out of the bake oven that is Phoenix in the summer, enjoy some fishing and relax and enjoy their retirement.

Well, it seems a few years ago before my parents bought the place some newcomers (isn't it always the newcomers) decided they didn't like something, sued the board members, who in turn countersued, who then countersued them. And now both sides are trying to drag the other residents into this mess - most of whom aren't even there most of the year as it is!!

And we all know the only ones who are going to come out of this with anything will be the lawyers.

And so my folks are so fed up and have such a bad taste in their mouth about all this they may wind up selling the place this year.

Thanks assholes.

The Eastern part of the country is celebration New Years, we have another 2 hours to go here in Phoenix.

2005, what a year it's been:

I walked out of a long-term emotionally abusive relationship in February, sold the condo, have been bouncing around living with family.

Finished paying off $30k in credit card debt.

Took a vacation trip along Route 66 with Mark (one of the highlights of this year and one of the nicest vacations I've ever had as well).

Got more or less caught up at work.

Made a bunch of new on-line friends over at PROBLEM ADULTS.com

Got a new blog. (thanx ~T~)

Turned 40 a few weeks ago.

Had some long weekend vacations up to my parent's summer place in Pinetop, Arizona. Really enjoyed that. Even one $1,200 up at the casino (which paid for my new laptop I got a few months ago).

I'm currently learning karate thanks to my brother.

I've taken some hikes along the Phoenix Mountain preserves.

Well dayum, when you put it that way, I guess 2005 was a pretty damn good year after all!! Actually one of the best.

Can't wait to see what 2006 holds in store for me.......

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!!!

You've been a wonderful part of my life this year. :)