Darn it all, I know how things are going in this country... I live here every frickin' day. I go to work and slave away so that I can pay taxes to fund all these fabulous things. And all I ask for in return is that you don't interrupt the only show I watch on television these days with your smarmy rhetoric and political posturing. Why oh why couldn't you have pre-empted American Idol instead of 24?
And couldn't you at least make it brief? I really think that the people running these sorts of things should adopt the quietly-snapping-fingers-to-signal-agreement-and/or-approval instead of the 30-seconds-of-speech-per-2-minutes-of-standing-ovation approach.
So, speaking of taxes, I get to file in two states this year. I wonder if I will get any money back from Oklahoma, or if I will have to sell plasma to write the OK Tax Commission a check.
I had a particularly crummy day at work today. Even though it's Tuesday, it was Monday. It was a long Monday at that, I didn't get to leave until 6:45 (reasons too complicated to go into). I don't guess anyone really cares though. You probably all had miserable days. :)
My birthday is coming up, next Monday to be precise. Seems that some people aren't really sure when my birthday is, so I thought I'd mention it again.
Alright, signing off. Didn't really have anything to say, as you can tell, but I felt the need to update anyway.
Jan.20.04 at 9:47 PM
Dan writes:
I have such a poor memory!
I would have sworn that just a year ago we were warned of an imminent threat from [actual] weapons of mass destruction. Imagine my consternation to find out the threat was from weapons of mass destruction-related program activities.
Other than that, my day was OK. What was so bad about yours? I care - and I knew your birthday was coming up on Monday. Did you know that the Chinese year of the monkey starts thursday?
tim writes:
Shit... you have a birthday?! I.. forgot... the comlink?
A very impressive list of names that share your birth.
I share mine with Tupac, though, and Burglars were caught breaking into the United States Democratic Party headquarters in the Watergate building.
Oh and George Reeves (TV Superman) decided he could really fly on my birthday too.
tim writes:
Oh yeah... uh Screw the Union! Viva La New Confederacy!
anda writes:
Filing in two states is such a fucking pain. Although I know from past near-tax-day posts that you and Kris are much more astitute about taxes than me.
Also, the cds I promised are on the way within the week...I'm sorry I'm lazy.
Ron writes:
I wouldn't mind paying income tax if...wait, yes I would.
kat writes:
i agree with your statement about the 30 seconds of speech and then 2 minutes of ovation. i mean, come on! whatever. and ps - i love the link with who doesn't know your bday is coming up. ;) got anything special planned? and just say no to plasma.
athena writes:
just for the record, I was all over the birthday thing, I was just jumping ahead the festivities by a week, that's all. No forgetting here, no sir. And the State of the Union address just simply doesn't happen, if I don't watch it, it doesn't exist. I chose to watch Chasing Amy (for the first time) instead. Much better use of my time!
diane writes:
I had to stay to finish a report that was due so that the school doesn't lose its federal financial aid. What was really crappy was that the report was left until the 9th hour to start, and then there were a whole bunch of errors that needed to be fixed. Oh, and everyone who stayed to finish it was earning overtime, except me.
clint writes:
State of the Union:
If I were "king of the hill" I would use the address to air out all sorts of dirty laundry by saying stuff like, "Senator so-and-so chose to vote down my awesome legislation because he's holding a grudge about some petty little thing and not thinking of what's right."
Also, there would be no clapping during the middle of my speech! I'd brandish a big pointy stick and wave it at anyone clapping. I would respect the TV viewing public.
Dan writes:
Clint, I like your 'dirty laundry' idea. Of course it would also be big of the President to admit his mistakes at this time also. For a fleeting moment, I thought our little Dumya might do that when he said,"Our greatest responsibility is the active defense of the American people." I thought he might admit that on 9/11/01 his administration had failed this responsibility, but instead he used it for continued fear mongering...
"Twenty-eight months have passed since September 11, 2001 -- over two years without an attack on American soil -- and it is tempting to believe that the danger is behind us. That hope is understandable, comforting -- and false."
As to the applause, I was glad to hear the applause for the expiration of The Patriot Act and glad to see it kinda broke his stride, too! I am also certain those playing the drinking game (Jenna & Barbara) enjoyed the many, long applause breaks.
Dan writes:
Here we are no strangers to jumping through hoops and pushing deadlines to secure funding - we even jump through hoop o' fire for federal money. I understand if you can't discuss it here, but why would everyone else get overtime pay, while you labor at base rate?
diane writes:
One word: Salary.
Dan writes:
OK, well at least it's not about laying golden eggs ;-)
Mom writes:
We got that comic strip this morning too. What a hoot.
Trina writes:
Aaaah, that's why living on the West Coast is better. These silly little things don't interupt Important Programming. Only the late afternoon news is interrupted, and I don't even know that I'd call that an "interruption."
Happy Birthday :)