User:	zet1972
	Date:	2008-05-16 20:57
	Subject:	Economic Stmulus Rebate Check...
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	amused
	Music:	Joshua Radin: Sky

How many of you have got your economic stimulus rebate check in the mail? I haven't got mine and I don't think I am qualified for it. My co-worker Sophia got hers in the mail yesterday. She is married with one child. She said that her check was $5.00, and that it was worse than not getting one. I think my Microsoft product rebates will definitely be more than that!

*giggle*

	User:	trendy_nihilist
	Date:	2008-05-14 02:17
	Subject:	I'm not aware of too many things
	Security:	Public

Here's the ritual: The alarm is set for an hour before I need to get up. I move from the bedroom, close the door, turn on the radio, and spin out the extra hour I have floating between waking and sleep while on the futon in the living room as Morning Edition blares out the day's news.

This morning, for some reason, I was jolted awake by the news that Edie Brickell had committed suicide. The news got even more dire: Paul Simon was missing.

Two things: I'd forgotten that Edie Brickell existed, and I'd forgotten that Paul Simon married her.

Oh, and a third thing: I'd apparently dreamed that piece of news while listening to Morning Edition. All I can conclude is that Ayn Rand infected my pre-work slumber, and confused "What I Am" with "500,000 thousand dead Asians." Though how Paul Simon's missing body fit into it is beyond me.

	User:	zet1972
	Date:	2008-05-13 20:59
	Subject:	OMFG...
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	terrified

Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran is singing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" at the 7th inning stretch of the Chicago Cubs game tonight. *Ugh*

	User:	trendy_nihilist
	Date:	2008-05-12 21:43
	Subject:	Ayn Rand: A New Comedy
	Security:	Public

Greg came home last night, and had apparently heard a podcast of interviews with Ayn Rand. I was cooking a few hamburgers. I had a spatula in my hand, standing in the kitchen, slightly sweaty from the oven.

Greg said, "You aren't an Objectivist, are you?"

He said this out of the blue. He came home, plucked his ear buds out of his head, and stood in the hall outside the kitchen. A hamburger was sizzling on the stove. A few drops of grease fell from the spatula that I had in my hand, the spatula that had paused on its way to a burger-flipping when he asked the question.

"Objectivist? You mean, Ayn Rand shit?"

"Yeah. Do you believe in Objectivism?"

Here's what happened in me: surprise that Greg had just now been confronted with the philosophy, confusion over why he'd ask me if I were an Objectivist, kind of turned on that he was asking me about it, and concern that the burger patty would burn in the stunned pause.

I mean, who even thinks of Objectivism anymore? Isn't that an archaic form of Scientology or something? Does anyone take Ayn Rand seriously? Seriously?

"No," I said. "To be honest, the whole thing disgusts me. I totally get that one should be sort of selfish, but Rand failed to make the leap to admitting that the lives of others influence her own life." Except I wasn't that articulate about it. I was almost that articulate, though.

For the record, the podcast he'd been listening to had put objectivism in the basest of terms, spilled out like Legos. But even in its basic version, objectivism is dull and cerebral and ignorant of human nature--like communism without the vodka.

"You don't like Ayn Rand?" Greg asked.

I flipped the burger because it needed to be flipped. Then answered, "No, not at all."

And here's the fun part: Greg sighed dramatically, moved towards me, and gave me a long hug. It was as if he spends a lot of time trying to figure out what I think, what philosophy I roll with, and was relieved that this particular one could be tossed aside.

I actually was relieved too, because I felt the same thing about him.

A bit later, I dropped some  Wensleydale cheese onto the burger (I'd bought Wensleydale in honor of Wallace and Gromit), tossed down some steamed green beans, and slid the plate next to him as he played GTA 4.  We both have different ways of approaching life, but I don't think either of us are likely to turn Atlas Shrugged into a guidebook anytime soon.

	User:	trendy_nihilist
	Date:	2008-05-11 21:48
	Subject:	Odd thing to say
	Security:	Public

I was just listening to the news. The topic was Hillary Clinton's frequent use/misuse of the word 'elitist.' In case you don't know, Hillary Clinton spends most of her down-time accusing Barack Obama of being an elitist bastard.

Ok. So. Like. Am I the only one to see the irony here? Hillary Clinton's husband WAS, you know, President and all. You can't get much more elitist than that. She has spent nearly two decades defining 'elite' in this country. Now suddenly, a black man from Chicago is the new elite?

Oh, and she also said that the problem with our economy right now is that, for 7 years, "elite" thinkers have been making the decisions on economic policy.

Holy shit. "Elite" thinkers in the Bush administration? I laughed for ten minutes. The woman really IS clueless.

	User:	zet1972
	Date:	2008-05-11 10:32
	Subject:	Waking Up & Feeling Great...
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	rejuvenated
	Music:	Ingrid Michaelson: Starting Now

It's been a while since I have a full uninterrupted night of 9-hour sleep. I am feeling great and blocking out my worries. My haircut appointment is coming up in 1.5 hours. I miss seeing my hair stylist, Elliot, who made me laugh whenever I saw him. After that, I will head to a not-so-crowded Starbucks to study my DBA certification exam. My best bet for the not-so-crowded Starbucks is possibly the one on Sheffield and Diversey in Lincoln Park.

	User:	zet1972
	Date:	2008-05-10 20:21
	Subject:	I Need To Get This...
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	annoyed
	Music:	Amuro Namie: What A Feeling

I think I need to get this. Poppins, my 9-month-old kitten, has done enough damage to my personal belongings. The bad girl had made her latest attacks to the power cord of my PDA cradle, my Ethernet cable and the receiver thingy of my Logtech wireless keyboard. :o(

I think I will also need to get this.

	User:	trendy_nihilist
	Date:	2008-05-10 19:06
	Subject:	Dick and action
	Security:	Public

Went with G to Best Buy today shopping for computer monitors. We decided we love all monitors at Best Buy because they all brag about reducing the lag time between dick and action. See:

	User:	zet1972
	Date:	2008-05-10 14:45
	Subject:	Crotch and The Card Reader...
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	annoyed
	Music:	Amuro Namie: What A Feeling

One of my biggest pet peeves on the CTA bus is that people tend to block the card reader with their crotches. Ladies and gentlemen, God gave you a crotch for a special purpose, other than blocking the card reader. You should never block the reader with your crotch no matter how crowded the bus is.

Don't even try to think of filing any police reports about sexual assault if I accidentally touch your crotch while trying to scan my fucking Chicago Card!

	User:	trendy_nihilist
	Date:	2008-05-08 00:33
	Subject:	Outside jokes
	Security:	Public

This amused me. Someone must've read my anti-cussing/pro-smurfing post from a while back.



Not very funny, but I am totally in love with someone referencing my stuff. And holy smurf, does my stuff smurf..

	User:	angelicbiscuit
	Date:	2008-05-07 10:17
	Subject:	Urban Rivals!!
	Security:	Public

OMG!! IM SO TOTALLY ADDICTED TO THIS GAME!!!!!

Its called Urban Rivals!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

Click to Sign Up and Play for FREE!! YAAAY!!!

	User:	trendy_nihilist
	Date:	2008-05-06 00:17
	Subject:	Oh lord
	Security:	Public

Here's a video from News Groper. Obviously I had no part in it.

	User:	zet1972
	Date:	2008-05-05 17:21
	Subject:	Mom In Hospital...
	Security:	Public
	Mood:	worried

I just got an email from my older brother telling me my mom went into a hospital in Hong Kong a few days ago. My brother didn't give me the details. Say a prayer if you can.

I am not sure if I can cope with losses. I think I will have to call up my psychologist very soon.

	User:	trendy_nihilist
	Date:	2008-05-04 18:45
	Subject:	Iron Man
	Security:	Public

Cool. A film about taking responsibility for the military-industrial complex, starring Oscar winners and nominees, based on a comic book, took in over 100 million domestic this weekend.

If we must have blockbusters, can we have blockbusters like this, rather than the lame Transformers shit we usually get?

	User:	trendy_nihilist
	Date:	2008-05-03 22:36
	Subject:	Three Things
	Security:	Public

1. Given my recent and almost pathological hatred of Hillary Clinton, I managed to find humor in the death of a race horse. This does not make me happy.

Apparently, the horse Hil-Gollem bet on at the Kentucky Derby, Eight Bells, broke two ankles trying to beat the odds-on favorite/winner Big Brown. Eight Bells came in second, but was put to death on the track after the race. One can imagine that Hillary will have to be put down soon too--it's the only way to keep her from hobbling along with the belief that she can beat big, brown Obama.

2. I wasn't too impressed with Iron Man as a comic book film. I was, however, in love with Iron Man as a general film full of great actors and dialog. Robert Downey, jr., and that Paltrow chick were sublime. The Dude and Terrance Howard were also great. As an action movie, the flick sucked. As a good movie, I was pleased.

3. There is no three.

Tho I will say that, looking at pictures of Bill and Hill makes me think of one word: Noses.