Occupy Wall Street?

Don't tell me the weather doesn't play a part in politics.  Back in October, when the gorgeous fall weather was in full swing, people across the country took to their parks and started living like hobos in protest of us working stiffs who managed to accumulate/earn wealth.  I, personally, don't understand the motivation to live in a park, in a tent, in winter, to protest those of us who live in homes with climate control.  When we first heard about this phenomenon across the country, my husband and I looked at one another, snorted, and said "....they have really bad timing. Winter is coming."  Well, winter came, and with it the blizzards of last year stayed away.  We've had a beautiful "winter."  In fact, we've had such a wonderful winter that those protesting hobos have been able to stay in the parks with no sub-freezing temps to drive them back to climate controlled civilization. The winter has been so mild, that my husband remarked that we couldn't possibly have a "bad" one because January is nearly over, and even if it gets bad in February, Spring is right around the corner in March.  I assume that those "in power" figured on the winter to drive hobo protesters back indoors and just let people camp, with the same whatever attitude that we had.  But, four months later, the hobo protesters are still out in force, destroying the grass and green space and creating all kinds of problems.  So, law enforcement now has to eject the hobos. Like any good squatters, the hobos are refusing to go, causing all kinds of problems.

Another thing I don't get.  Why call it "Occupy Wall Street".  I have never been to Wall Street, New York, or New York City.  As I understand it, Wall Street is part of the urban jungle with no place to squat and set up a tent.  How can a group "occupy" a space that has no space in which to occupy?  Could the hobo protesters be better served by actually protesting on Wall Street?  Why are people camping out on the West Coast in this protest when they are thousands of miles away from their offending target?  I guess I just don't get their methods.  Maybe they should get a job, any job.  Or start a company/political action committee/or non-profit to further their goals.  Hasn't anyone thought of working within the system to change the system?  

I could see an argument being made for the hobo protesters that they're on public land. While I believe everyone has a right to protest in this country, and say whatever they want (I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't, thus this blog), I don't believe that the protesters have a right to squat indefinitely on my grass.    And it is my grass.  I pay taxes.  Do the hobo protesters?

Book Review: Explosive Eighteen

Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is another romp with Stephanie Plum.  I read "One For the Money" back in 1995, so in the ensuing 16 years, Stephanie hasn't gotten any better at capturing the bad guys, the tension between Ranger and Morelli is still not resolved, and hairspray works just as well as pepper spray.  That said, it is another good time that made me snigger, chuckle, and laugh out loud (lol for those of you who text).  So, it gets five stars because it is still good fun.  Even after 16 years.  Wham!

View all my reviews

And This Is Why....

....I don't do Facebook anymore.  I found this Yahoo article stating that all Facebook users have to use Timeline.  Dude, do we need to go here again?  Yep, we do.

1.  Collecting "friends" on Facebook has become a lot like keeping up with the Jones'es.  So, instead of belonging to the Junior League or a Bridge Club, we now sit behind our computer screens and see what So & So had for dinner, where they had been, and a bunch of other minutia that I don't give a crap about.  Dude, break out the silver and china, put on a dress and invite your frinenemy over for coffee.  Verbally dancing around sensitive subjects and trying to out wit her politely will keep your mind in better shape than hiding behind your computer screen.

2.  My nephew is in college and taking and intro to Sociology course.  Apparently, and this is not first-hand info, he has to "friend" one of the women in his class, search her Facebook page and report to the class all of the embarrassing stuff he can find.  This works in reverse, too, as she is supposed to dig the good dirt on the nephew.  The point?  The professor wants to show that Facebook is dangerous.  F-ing Brilliant!

3.  Why would anyone want to be part of the program that is not consumer driven?  This is the 4th or 5th time that formats have changed that I know about.  Facebook changed formats at least three times the year and a half that I used the program.  Every change, everyone grumbled.  But we all accepted it!  There wasn't a mass exodus!  It was even justified by people saying that they "wanted to keep in touch." With who?   The neighbors?  People you kind of know but don't really like? (Ok, for those with close family far away, it is handy, but drop an email!  Text!  Write a letter!)  So, if I'm chatting with you in person, I don't want to hear you complain about the changes.  You're the consumer.  Leave.  Facebook can't sell ads if you're not on there to see them.  Cut their profits because money still talks the loudest.

4.  Leaving Facebook will affect you social calendar.  Yes, you might miss out on the big party.  But that's ok.  The cops read about it, showed up, and arrested people.


So yeah, I'm going to stick to blogging.  It just seems safer, because I know I'm putting this out there for everyone to read.

I'm so Proud!!!!

Well, she did it!  Mini C stood up today in front of a crowd of people and sang a song solo. The kid has got guts.  She was all decked out in her '80's get up with her hair off to the side and me with a curling iron trying to get some curl to the bangs.  She did have enough hair spray on her hair to transport us back to the 80's.  So, we got to see her on stage singing and dancing twice.  I'm so proud of her, and so glad that she has the opportunity to do that.

Book Review: On Thin Ice

On Thin Ice by Eve Gaddy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I downloaded this for free from one of Amazon.com's daily deals.  I found the premise to be somewhat believable, the villan believable, and the heroine well rounded with classical piano training.  However, I had trouble with the hero as a perfect adonis.  Sure, he had his baggage, but this really didn't add to the story or how the plot unfolded.  There was enough suspense to keep me entertained (I have a low suspense threshold) and plenty of romantic pheromones flying.  However, the story ended too neatly, and this was an ok read.  I would recommend for a rainy day if it is free again.


View all my reviews

Book Review: Falling for Love

Falling for Love by Marie Force
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the forth book in the series, and while I've read the books in order, it has been some time since I read the last one.  That said, Force keeps the characters from previous books alive and well in the series, but, the series must really be read in order to keep from confusing characters.  The story was a bit shallow, while the story line was interesting.  The teaser for the next book was great, and I will continue reading.


View all my reviews

Update Post

Just a few updates to recent activity:

Mini C is going to be Queen Elizabeth I for wax museum purposes.  Her original request was Harriet Tubman.  We obviously need to get out of our homogenous community because Mini C had no idea of the social and racial ramifications of painting her pale porcelain skin black.  Not to mention all that long blonde hair getting in the way.  And this way she can wear a Halloween costume again and add a whole lot of gaudy bling.  Because even back then people wore their wealth and taste had very little to do with it.

******************************
Is colon hydrotherapy the new root canal?  Thanks, I'll skip the groupon for that.

******************************
My post about heirloom cooking is still getting way more than its share of attention.  I wonder if it is because I use the word "nuker" to describe the microwave?  I really don't think all kinds of people are hitting the post for the poorly written spaghetti recipe.

******************************
"Chernobyl Box" is another favorite alternate term for the microwave.

*******************************
I wish I could figure out what the dog is allergic to so that he can actually grow a winter coat.  The oaf doesn't want to get out of bed in the mornings to go outside to do his dogly duty.  Luckily, he has a bladder of steel combined with training that we don't have an indoor accident problem.  Knock on wood.  Cross my fingers.

*******************************
I'm kind of disappointed in the Republican Party.  Mitt has risen to the top as the best candidate, and Iowa declared a tie in the caucuses.  Dude.  That is just weird.  How are the big states with large populations going to make up their minds about candidates if the little states with sparse populations don't tell them how to vote????

******************************
I caught a blip on the news last night that Randall Terry is running against Obama for the Democratic ticket this time around.  What?  No one has blown that little penis up?  He's still allowed to run among us spewing his vitriol and hatred when he doesn't even have his very own uterus?  I guess this is the same argument used against the Westboro Baptist Christ and Fred Phelps.  Makes me feel icky just writing about these nutjobs.

********************************
I need to quit writing here and go switch the laundry.  Because really, why would people want clean socks?  I think they my be Communists.