Well here I am again. I have been terribly remiss in updating this blog. Things change so fast lately and I'm just trying to keep up.

I'm finally at the end of summer quarter at school. This quarter sucked so much. I hate algebra and somebody please tell me why a photography student needs to take a typography class. Oh well, I'm just glad it's finally over.

I guess the war isn't working out like everyone thought it would. Our soldiers are being killed, it's going to bankrupt this country and for what? I guess it's drawing all of the terrorists into one location, but our military are just targets running around waiting to get shot. We didn't get Saadam, we had forgotten about bin Laden (until today with the release of his latest video) and there were no WMD's! What a mess. All I can say is
VOTE HOWARD DEAN!!!!!!
posted by barbara burton at 8:24 PM

Gosh it's been so long since I have updated this blog. I noticed that on my last entry that I was scared of what we were becoming. I guess my fears have been realized. After constant drumming of "WAR, WAR, WAR" we are finally in it. I have been to some protests, but I live in the south so the anti-war movement -while very passionate- is very small. Atlanta seems like a sophisticated city, but all you have to do is travel just a couple of miles outside the perimeter of town and you will see confederate flag waving, ignorant, racist, rebublican thugs! I know that a lot of people who don't live in the south think that the racism of the Republican Party is a media creation, but I can tell that it is alive and well and seems to be breeding out of control. The stupidity of the average person that I meet on a daily basis is stagering.

I go to the Art Institute here and the kids that I am in class with have no idea what is going on. Most of them couldn't tell you who the President is let alone who their state or federal representatives are. This horrible war is totally lost on them. If it's not on MTV or Comedy Central or in a Rap video, they have no clue. I sit in the student lounge and listen to a bunch of thugs screaming cuss words at each other over a game of spades and I look at the two televisions in there. All that is ever on is a continuous stream of hate filled rap videos. I'm not sure whether to be pissed or greatful that they don't vote!

I have come to the conclusion that we deserve everything we get. This country (especially the south) is full of apathetic, stupid, self-absorbed, assholes! This war is unbelievable. We are rolling over that country and people are cheering like it's amazing that we are winning. This war is like if I went to the local Kindergarten and picked out a five year old and beat him up. We spent months crawling all over that country, forcing them to destroy they weapons and gathering intelegence and then we start bombing. I have no love for Saddam, but it's not exactly a fair fight is it?
posted by barbara burton at 11:36 PM

I'm starting to get really scared for my country. I know that sounds crazy but things just don't seem right. I admit that I am a news junkie and always have CNN or CSPAN or some news network on in the background when I'm home. So I guess it is more noticeable to me but if feel like the American people are not getting the full story about what is going on in our government. Along with TV news I also read alot of newspapers on the internet and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The difference between what is covered on TV and what is printed is huge. But even print news is giving way to advertising space so we are losing that as well. The worst part about all of this is that no one seems to notice or to care. Most people don't read the newspaper, they don't watch their local evening news, they use the internet for porn and games. We are a country of stupid people. The major corportations know that and exploit it. They keep our minds numbed with idiotic sit-coms, and soft core porn like the "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show".

Is anyone else scared of what we are becoming? A nation where the highest aspiration is to be rich. Not smart or kind or giving or loving, just rich. Every political show I watch on any network is slanted to the right. Some more than others but they all are. Then the right wing constantly screams about a left bias that doesn't exsist so the shows that do show a liberal opinion occasionally will stop for fear of being called bias. It is a good strategy, it worked. Now their voice is the only one on talk radio and is becoming the only voice on TV. My guess is print media is not far behind.

Please tell me that someone else has noticed this. Please tell me there is a way to stop this. It really scares the hell out of me,
posted by barbara burton at 12:17 AM

Well there you have it, the Democrats lost their collective asses last night! It makes me sad but I can't say that I'm surprised, are you? They stood for nothing. They ran on the premise that "we are sort of like Bush, but not really. So vote for us, we won't advocate for you but we'll raise a lot of money and straddle the line in the middle." The leadership has got to go. Dashle and McCalife(sp) and Gephart did everything that the president said and nothing that their base of voters said. How can they be surprised that they lost?

What difference does it make really though? I spent yesterday asking people if they were going to vote and the answer invaribly was "nah, it's too far to drive or I'm not registered or I don't care." The Republicans got a lot of TV coverage as well. Everytime the president spoke at a rally for a candidate CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC as well as C-SPAN covered it completely. The Democrats got little or no coverage at all. Then when the Wellstone memorial service got a little local coverage as well as shown on C-SPAN the Repub's had a fit. Yet no one on the left brought that to anyones attention. They actually apoligized for showing support for the senator and his ideals. What wimps!
posted by barbara burton at 12:46 PM

Well I guess they caught the DC sniper. What a sick fuck! But thank goodness it's been stopped (for now). The news is still "all sniper all the time". Breaking news today was that they were charged with murder. Wow, who would have expected that?!?! A wonderful senator, along with two members of his family and three campaign workers and two pilots, were killed today in a plane crash. This is news! Still the sniper is leading the news. Unbelievable! Along with being a horrible tradgedy for this family and Minnesota, it makes the election on the 5th even more importent for democrats. The political shows should be all over this. But they are still talking about the fucking sniper!

Goodbye Senator Wellstone. You were a credit to your profession and an asset to our country. You will be sorely missed. You had done great things and were poised to do many more. Losing you is a loss for all of us who believed in fighting for idealism and doing what you thought was right.

As a tribute to Senator Wellstone we should all make sure that we go out and encourage people to vote. We need to take part in our demcratic process. I don't care what your political affiliation is...just get your ass out on Tuesday, Nov. 5th and vote!!!!!

This week I met two men that I greatly admire... Senator John McCain and Bill Mahr. Sen. McCain was here in Atlanta to sign his new book "Worth the Fighting For". He is the only person in the world that could make me possibly even consider voting Republican. I trust him. He was so nice.
I went to Bill Mahr's stand-up show here at Ga. Tech. He is so funny! He signed his new book "When You Ride Alone You Ride With Bin Laden: What The Government Should Be Telling Us To Fight The War On Terrorism" for me and said that he will have a new show next year. I tried to get details but no dice, top secret I guess. Get the book, it has great pictures and it will make you think and laugh.
posted by barbara burton at 12:12 AM

I just finished watching the season preimier of Frontline's "The Man Who Knew". If you missed this then you missed a compelling and frustrating and ire raising show. This man was an FBI agent for 25 yrs and was "the" counterterrorism expert at the FBI. He was shoved aside and frozen out because of his manner and his flashy suits. He was brash and smart and had "sharp elbows" but he had the dots connected. Unfortunately the FBI Director Louis Freeh and Deputy director let petty jealously and careerism stop this man from being able to do his job.

Watch the show if it is being played again in your area. If it's not, buy the tape. You will get a better picture of what the government knew before 9/11 and how it was handled than all of the intelligence hearings combined.
posted by barbara burton at 11:49 PM

I am shocked! I am wasting another day watching CSPAN and today they are passing a bill that would alow job protection for hospital employees that refuse to perform an abortion even though the hospital is federaly funded and the procedure is legal!!! Now a nurse or doctor can inject their personal religious views on your medical procedures and nothing can be done about it. Do they think this will stop abortion? No, women will just go somewhere else or try to self abort causing injury and possibly death. What if a doctor or nurse thinks that birth control is against God's wishes and refused to perform a tubal-ligation or vasectamy? Or maybe they think that organ donation is wrong and refuse that. Everyone thinks that's crazy right? Then why say abortion is different? It is a private medical procedure that directly affects only the woman who is having it. The father made his decision when he had unprotected sex with someone who could get pregnant. If he had strong opinions on abortion he should have used a condom until he discussed the matter thouroghly with the woman and came to an understanding. The doctors only job is perform the procedure requested and to do it with as much information to the woman as possible and as safely as possible. THAT'S IT!!!!

If you think abortion is wrong then you should really not have one. But don't tell other people that your belief is right and theirs is wrong so you get to make all the decisions!!
posted by barbara burton at 12:52 PM

Okay so call me cynical but I was thinking about this war with Iraq thing and how conveniant it is for the Bush Adminstration. I mean think about it...
The prez starts some grumblings about Saddam and how he is a menace and a bad guy. Who could argue with that! Then more talk about "taking this guy out!" and how he is "aquiring Weapons of Mass Destruction" and how he "could give them to TERRORISTS!". Yeah, that will get the American people all riled up. Then the press starts to spin a twirl about it. Then he comes out and says "why are you all so obsessed with this?" Oh right I mean it's only WAR after all, why talk about it. Then some of his own cronies become public about how they don't think it's a great idea. That gives the Democrats a little guts (God knows they need some!) and they start saying "hey dude, what are you talking about? We haven't even gotten Osama yet. Remember, Dead or Alive?"

Now were at a place where the prez says he will consult with Congress before he starts a war. WOW what a guy! Here's what I think will happen...
Bush goes to congress before the November elections. The Democrats will grumble a little but they are guttless and weak and are more concerned with holding their seats than sending young men and women off the a pointless war. The Adminstration will purposely be obscure about evidence against Saddam and will not get the go ahead from congress to go to war. The Republicans come out on every TV show the next day and scare the Hell out of everyone saying "Oh no, the Dems blocked our plans and now this mad man will be on the loose still and who knows what will happen!!! You people better get out and vote Republican in November so we can fix this and protect the American people!!"
I mean come on...why was Saddam not so scary before Sept. 11th? Why was he not so scary when Dick Cheney's company, Haliburton, doing business with Iraq as recently as 1998?

I could be wrong, I guess we'll see.
posted by barbara burton at 11:16 PM

Ok, let me get this straight...

We have super secret information about Iraq. I guess from our intelligence agencies right? Are these the same agencies that failed to detect terrorists here in this country? You know, those same ones that were listed in the phone book in California. The ones that held visas here to be students. The ones who trained in our flight schools. The ones that the FBI in Arizona were so concerned about that they wrote in to headquarters in Washington about them.

They couldn't find 19 (probably more) guys here in this country, but they know for sure that Saddam has weapons of mass destruction and exactly what he is going to do with them.

Yeah, right!!!!
posted by barbara burton at 11:48 PM

Let me see if you can guess who would be making this statement:
"We need to attack first because this country in poses a real threat to
our country.
They have stated they want to see our contry distroyed.
They have Weapons of Mass Destruction."

Any guesses?
It's the US but it could also be IRAQ!!!!! Why wouldn't they strike first like we are talking about doing?!?

Next one,Who is our Justice Department talking about here:
The Justice Dept. charged someone today and these are
the charges.
"To prepare for, and to carry out, a conspiracy to destroy property --
and to murder and maim others.""The purpose of the conspiracy was to offer
and provide facilities in the United States of America for training of
persons interested in violent war*; to provide safe houses in the United
States of America for the conspirators; to recruit persons interested in violent
war* and war* training; to provide actual training of such persons in firearms,
military and related activities,"

My first thought was that they were talking about right wing malitia groups *(okay okay, so the government used the word jihad and I used the word war, but they mean essentially the same thing right?) but then I heard that they were talking about a US citizen in reguards to the War on Terrorism. I guess if they got him they will be going after the KKK and the folks that helped Timothy McVeigh right? Right?
posted by barbara burton at 12:04 AM

Well today I finally got digital cable! Yea!!!! I can finally watch Donahue. He had on tonight a man named Lewis "Studs" Terkel. He is a 90 yr old man who is my new hero. He is an Idealist and a Liberal. He writes books and speaks and quite articulatly. He quotes Einstein a lot and thinks the Democratic Leadership is weak and that it is not only a right but a duty to speak your mind and criticize the government when you don't agree with them. I wish men like him weren't so rare. I truly loved seeing his appearance on Donahue tonight. It gave me a little hope, not much, but a little hope for the future.

Gotta vote tomorrow in the primary. Not much to choose from in my district. Most of them are running unopposed. My gf called Denise Majette's campaign HQ's tonight to voice here support and to tell her that although she can't vote in her district, her restaurant is in the district and she would like to help if she could. She also asked if the victory party would be open to the public. She was told "no, it's only for campaign insiders." Well it burst her bubble. She had really been talking her up at work but she's mad now. Look out Denise!!!!

posted by barbara burton at 11:08 PM

Well today I turn 35. Wow, I feel old. But I have to say, life in the middle of your 30's is easier that life in the middle of your 20's. And truthfully I only feel old right after yoga and my 9 miles on the bike so I guess thats not so bad.

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!
posted by barbara burton at 12:21 AM

I stayed up and watched the House of Representives try to furiously do the work they were supposed to be doing all spring last night. They were still going at 3 am. My friends think I'm nuts, but, I gotta tell ya it's the funniest show on T.V.

The last thing I saw was the Trade Authority bill. This was a major fight on the floor. Kinda like WWF with suits and without the manners. Without yet knowing the complete implications of the bill -- it's seems like a shitty thing to do. Releasing the bill for reading to the members on the internet at 6pm when they were all on the floor debating and voting on Homeland Security, only one copy of the 340 page bill in the House for 400+ members to read, then forcing a vote just 7hrs. later. They all had some information but none had time to read it all. So basically the Republicans pushed through what the Pres. wanted because -- they could.

They were all scrambling to get stuff done. They need some time management classes!

posted by barbara burton at 1:01 AM

The Pa. miners are still alive!!!! I really can't believe it. I never said it out loud but I really thought no way they would still be alive after 3 days in the dark and cold and it water that was 55 degrees. Must be a strong group.

Good job rescue crew!!!!!!!! Way to hang in there!!!!
posted by barbara burton at 12:55 AM

Another hot muggy day in the south. My son is here visiting for the summer. He is such a great kid. We took him to Washington D.C. for a couple of days. He seemed to like it, but, it was so hot! We tried to take a tour of the Capitol building but no way. Everything in Washington is on lockdown. They sure seem to know how to protect themselves don't they? We decided to go to our Representatives office to see if he could get us in. We enter John Lewis's office and this woman is at the front desk looking half asleep and leaning on her arm (it was only 1pm.). She didn't even bother to say hello or ask what we needed. So I asked if we could get a tour and she told me about getting to the Capitol building at 8am and waiting for tickets. I asked about the Gallery Passes so we could just get in to see the House and Senate. She rolled her eyes and tossed some passes at us. We seemed to have disturbed her rest. Now I know that we arrived unanounced but I had written his office many times in the past few months and got no response. Maybe it was because we weren't in expensive suits and offering large contributions. I was insulted and embarrassed. I wanted to show my son how our government works. I guess he got the picture but it wasn't the one I wanted him to see. So after I get home I write a letter to Mr. Lewis telling him of the situation. All I got was an autoresponder message saying thanks for the letter but they get so much mail that they can't possibly read it all. Do you think they read any of it?!?!? I don't! Our government sucks. They are completely out of touch with their constituants. When was the last time you got to play a round of golf with your senator or rep. or even get to ask a complete question? Only happens if your are a corporate dude with a big check or a fun party to go too with strippers and celebs. Yuk!!!! Time to clean house and start over. Can't really do that but midterm elections will do. Come on November!!!!!!
posted by barbara burton at 12:42 AM

Well July 4th came to Altanta and we are all still here!! Man, with all the terror warnings the government issued I thought we were goners for sure (insert sarcastic eye roll)! I guess with the ramp up of corporate theivery going on and Bush's own problems with his SEC filings (they investigated 4 times) when he was in the corporate world, the White House started to assemble the smoke and mirrors. DIVERT, DISTRACT, FOR GOD'S SAKE CHANGE THE SUBJECT!!!!

I ran in the the Peachtree Road Race on the 4th. Well to be honest I walked. But I finished and got my t-shirt! Anyone in the running world or who lives anywhere near Atlanta knows what a coveted item that shirt is. Everyone who gets one in the race always wears it out that night at the fireworks around town as their badge of honor. I on the other hand was so pooped from the race I watched the fireworks at cenntenial park from my balcony and went to bed. PARTY!!!

Now Bush and Co. have "leaked" a report that there are these big war plans to go after Iraq in a massive attack using over 250.000 troops in 8 different countries. I'm sure that we have tentive war plans for other countries as well, but the conveinant leak of this report looks like we are trying to provoke something. Bush needs this war to keep going. Afghanistan is about as cleaned out as we can get it. We swatted at the terrorists and the result was the same as hitting a beehive with a baseball bat. Killed a few but spread most of them out around the world.

I don't know, maybe there is some island somewhere that is peaceful. My passport is in order, who's with me?!?!?
posted by barbara burton at 1:18 AM

Well my trip to NY got canceled. US airways charged me 300.00 to cancel eventho I did it with in 1 week of my reservation. No wonder they are going under. Do you ever wonder why they can charge your card within seconds of purchase but it takes 3 wks to get a refund. Amazing!

Anyway I spent Pride here in Atlanta again. Fewer people this year. I think it has to do with the downturn in the economy. It costs a lot of money to come and stay in a hotel downtown and go to parties and eat and buy all the junk at the markets. Also they used to let people stay in tents at the park but not this year. So you had to have a hotel or stay with someone in town. Lots of people in the past stayed in the park, I always thought that was crazy. It's about 90 degrees outside and there are lots of homeless people in the park. It seemed so dangerous to me but theres always been lots of tents.

We went to My Sisters Room on friday night to see the Atlanta Kings. It's a drag king show. I was thinking "what am I doing here?". But they were pretty good. It seems as tho the bar was only interested in making money because there were about 200 more people in there than should have been. We stayed for a little while but couldn't move. So we left and went to the girl party at the Park Tavern. It was fun and the people were much more my kind of crowd. My Sisters Room is a very young crowd and very redneck. the girls at the tavern seemed a little older (between 25-35) and more urban. Danced and danced and made it home by 1am. Got out before the drunks took over.

The setup in the park this year was terrible. They had two different stages and everything was so spread out. We spent a few hours down there on Sat. and about melted. I got to argue with the "Green Party" people though. That was fun.

The parade on Sun was okay but still had the same old tired drag queens and boys with very little clothing. That's all the media focused on tho. There were about 6 or 7 church groups in the parade and several political candidates and many community groups (PFLAG, Youth Pride, AID Atlanta, Project Open Hand, Lamda Legal, ACLU, Georgia Equality, Human Rights Campaign) but none of that on the news. Just drag queens and boys wearing spandex shorts. I guess they see what they want. There were a few protesters this year. Just a handful and they didn't last for long. It's too bad really, because the gay community thinks that it's not necessary to fight anymore and if more of those people showed up maybe the community would band together again.

Oh well back to work tomorrow. Got to get ready for the Peachtree Road Race on the 4th. All these terrorism warnings are starting to make me mad. I really don't think anything will happen. They will just have tons of cops and make everything so hard and not too much fun either.

Oh Well, Happy 4th everyone!!!
posted by barbara burton at 10:51 AM

Here I am facing another weekend at the deli. God, Brunch customers, I can't take it!

Well it looks like Bush & Co. managed to divert attention from the intelligence failures. Slimey and slick. Great politics, bad for the country.

The Southern Baptists are at it again. Rev. Vines calls Muhammad a "demon posessed pedofile". Pres. Bush addressed the convention live via statellite, it seems like he must agree with the Rev. at least thats what the crazy people at that convention must think. What an ass.

Oh, quick question. Why are we giving a french citizen, who is actually charged with being the 20th hijacker from 9/11, a court trial with the option of having an attorney and knowing the evidence against him. While we are detaining a US Citizen in a military prision, with no charges, no attorney, and no right to know the evidence against him. I thought Bush said that "No US Citizen would be put through a military tribunal." Oh well, he also said he had "no knowledge of threats prior to 9/11." Thing change don't they? Also has anybody else noticed the resemblance between Pidilla and the "John Doe No.2" police sketch done after the Oklahoma City Boming.These folks have. Take a look for yourself. Spooky! Maybe he was working with some of Ashcroft's Right-Wing Nuts that support him. Maybe that's why they locked him away. No proof, just thinking out loud. That's still okay to do these days isn't it? I'll just sit here quietly and wait for the men dressed in black to knock on my door and ask if I have been saying bad things against the government. Maybe I'll be classified an "Enemy Combatant" too.
posted by barbara burton at 11:19 PM

SPIN, SPIN, SPIN!!!! I'm so sick of it. On CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and the major networks all day yesterday was spin. "What did they know and when did they know it?" I want the answers to those question as do many people. I want the truth, not the democrats truth or the republicans truth, just the truth!! Truth is black and white, no grey.

The politicans are making me sick. They are so scared of losing their position that they never actually get any work done. The money in high public office makes them fight so hard to win that they will do and say anything. The American public has been suffering for a long time because of this and it's time that we all stood up and said "Enough, this is supposed to be a fucking part time job for you and you are there to look after my intrests as a citizen! You spend all your time in Washington with your thumb up your ass or at fund raisers sipping wine and spinning bullshit. Tell the people the truth. We're smart and reasonable, we can take it." I think all of us would respect them more if they all were'nt so full of crap!!!!
posted by barbara burton at 10:19 PM

YAHOOOO!!!! I'm going to NEW YORK CITY for Pride!! I can't wait!!! Anyone out there from the Big Apple have any tips on what I must do when I'm there (other than the Parade of course)? E-mail me let me and let me know.
posted by barbara burton at 11:14 PM

Well I'm home from Washington, D.C. all safe and sound. I attended a Campaigns and Elections seminar there. After listening for 3 days about nothing but how to raise money I feel in need of a long shower!! These people could not care less about who runs for office, who wins or what that persons is about--they just want the money! I guess I already knew that but it was amazing being in rooms where they feel perfectly comfortable saying it out loud. So I decided if you can't "beat them join them" and I am now offically a member of the American Association of Political Consultants. Sounds important huh? Well for just $250 you can be one too. No special knowledge or expertise needed, they just want the bucks! The reason I joined is that it also makes me a credentialed lobbyist and gets me use of offices in the capitol building. I have somethings to ask these senators and congress people.

I also attended a protest in front of the Capitol that was put on by Citizen Works ( www.citizenworks.org ). Ralph Nader spoke and they set up a giant shredder that was emblazened with the Enron logo and it was called a "Democracy Shredder". Young people dressed as corporate executives shredded signs that said "truth, justice, workers rights, pensions, communites, constitution, and of course--democracy". There was a small crowd and CNN was there but of course in didn't see any of it on TV.

Tonight I went to see Michael Moore( www.michaelmoore.com ) speak and sign his book at Borders Books here in Atlanta. There was a pretty large crowd but as usual there was no publicity. You would think that a book signing with the author of the "Number 1 best-selling book on the New York Times list" would have gotten more than a small add in the Living section of the paper.

We need to get involved!!!! Today you need to call or write your representives and ask them some important questions. Such as: 1. Why did the president of Pakistan wire $100,000
to Mohammed Atta last summer?

2. Why did the US government sent $43 million dollars
in so called humanitarian aid to Afghanistan last May?
Sure they probably needed it, but, we don't send humanitarian
aid to Iraq or Cuba. Why them? Maybe a payoff? Who knows.

3. Why did it take 75 minutes for us to scramble jets after the first
plane was hijacked on Sept. 11? By the way where are the air
traffic controllers? What did they do and who did they call when
they knew what was happening?

4. How could this have been planned for years and not noticed yet
within hours we had pictures and names of the hijackers on TV?

5. How could there have been debris 6-8 miles from a plane that was
reported to have slamed into the ground in Pennsylvania?

6. How did Atta's passport miraculously survive the burning buildings
in New York and land on TOP of the pile after the fall of them?

7. Why was Bush continuing to read stories to school children (in a
school that is 5 miles from an airport) when our nation was under attack?
Wouldn't the Secret Service have gotten him away from an airport if there
were any danger of planes falling out of the sky?

These are just for starters. Call, ask, and demand some answers TODAY!!!!!!

Also there is a march on Washington next Saturday (April 20th) to demand answers about the "terrorist attacks". Go if you can. Let your voice be heard!!!
posted by barbara burton at 11:17 PM

Well here we are, March 30 2002, and it's all war all the time!! I'm so depressed. I want to go back to arguing about blowjobs and Gary Condit. Now it's about religion and land and these men who are involved (here and in the Middle East) only care about winning. They don't care about their own people. If asked, I'm sure that the majority of people every where would rather have peace than war. I am an Israeli supporter but I'm starting to see the other side a little bit. What would we do if another country came here and took over our land and forced us into refugee camps. The other country has an army and tanks and helicopters along with seeming support from the rest of the world; and we might have some guns and bomb making equiptment. We have no economy, no jobs, very little food, no freedom and absolutely no hope! Think about it for a second, really try to put yourself in that situation, what would we do? I don't think that targeting civilians is excusable in any case: but you have to admit that being willing to kill yourself and other people is a sign desparation. Think about it, we all understand thoughts of killing our enemy in times of war, but, killing yourself and your enemy is a whole different mindset!!

My prayer is that someday soon all of us will realize the wisdom in the words of the computer in the movie "Wargames" it said in reguards to war "the only winning move is not to play."
posted by barbara burton at 10:33 PM

Today I waisted another afternoon watching C-SPAN. My girlfriend came out of the bedroom and could see the anger on my face and rolled her eyes and said "why do you watch this stuff. It just makes you mad." I said "I watch this crap because no one else does, and if they did they would vote these assholes out of office in a minute."

The argument today that I was watching was about amending a bill to force the plaintiff's lawyers in class action lawsuits to disclose their fees. The Democrats were opposing this amendment. The Republican sponsors were saying that they should disclose their fees because the people they represent get squat and the lawyers get millions. If the people had disclosure maybe they wouldn't want to go ahead with the suit. What the Republicans were really trying to do was discourage classaction lawsuits against their big business buddies. Why don't they just fucking say that!!!! All the fake politeness and snearing at each other just confirms that they think the American public are idiots. The Democrats weren't much better. I couldn't figure out why they didn't call them on this. Then it dawns on me : the Dems have big business buddies too!

The simple way to fix that class action problem is this: If a wrong has been done by a company and a lawsuit produces an award for the plaintiffs, divide the amount amongnst the people and then give the lawyers a percentage of each of the individual awards. For instance, Citi Bank lost a suit awhile back. Each participant in the suit had to buy a 34 cent stamp to mail in their opt-in form. In return they received a check for 33 cents. The lawyers received over 8 million dollars. If you had a million participants and the lawyers received a percentage of the individual amount (say 3 percent) the lawyers would have made about $9000 dollars. Not much huh?!?! I think that they should get more. We all saw Erin Brocovich right? They do work hard, paperwork, thousands of interviews, research and so on. But if the individual award was say $1000 dollars and the lawyers got 3 percent of that I bet those people wouldn't mind getting a check for $970 and the lawyers would make out pretty good too! The people win, the lawyers win and the company that screwed up has to pay....problem solved! Next!!!!!

The would world be a much better place if they let me run it.

After this particular rant my girlfriend smiled at me, kissed me on my forhead and went back into the bedroom.

Jeez...I care, so sue me!!!!!
posted by barbara burton at 12:45 AM

Today I'm pissed and my feelings are hurt. No one did anything directly to me. But a judge in Ala. thinks that just by exisiting I am "inherantly evil" just because I am a lesbian. This man is part of "The American Taliban". He joins Falwell, Roberston, and Phelps and countless others who encourage people to hate gay people just because they are gay. Personaly I figure that he must like looking at men a little more than he is comfortable with and is taking this stance as a cover. Why else would someones personal life upset him so much. What really pisses me off is that the whole country seems to be moving in this direction. The population is getting older and is becoming more conservative. Add to that our recently selected Republican Administration and it's appointment of the really scary John Ashcroft (who has a fear of breasts and calico cats) and you get a mandate for people who think that religion should run the country.

Our own community isn't helping any. The gay community has gotten complacent. We sit around and say "Someone should do something about that. I would but I have this circut party to go to. Oh Well." Well I say that if you don't stand up for others then there will be no one left to stand up for you. We have to stop making everything about sex and start making our voices heard. When we attend Gay Pride events it should be about showing solidarity, not showing our ass!!!!! We need to vote and encourage others to vote. This judge that I'm mad it is an elected offical! Throw him out of office! Make the gay community something that people will be proud of.

Come on people, start paying attention. I can't do anything but together we can change the world!!!!
posted by barbara burton at 10:23 PM

Well it's another wonderful day in the south. I wake up and turn on the TV to find out that a crematorium here in Atlanta has been piling up bodies out back instead of cremating them. ick, yuck, nasty and gross!!!!! What is wrong with people?!?!? They have found 97 bodies so far, they expect to find 200 or more. What was this guy thinking?? Maybe no one will notice.

The world is going to hell in a handbasket.
posted by barbara burton at 10:20 PM

Saturday brunch again. Yuk. We get the strangest customers. But as I always say "if you work in a restaurant near a mental hospital, you get crazy customers!" People sure are picky about their eggs. "I want them over-medium-well!" There is no such thing as over-med-well. There is over easy, over medium, over hard, poached, srambled(soft,med or dry) and boiled. We don't baste either. If you are that picky then why don't you stay home and cook them yourself!!!!!! And another thing, what is with ordering iced tea half sweet and half unsweet or coffee half caf and half decaf?? This drives me crazy! If you do this you are pretty much assuring that you won't get a refill. I'm so busy and if I have to round up two different pots or pitchers then it will be a while. While I'm at it, if your waitress asks if you are ready to order, be honest. Don't say yes and then force her to stand there at your table while you read the menu. During that time she has probably been given more tables and those people are getting pissed and deciding that waiting is a good reason not to tip.

Whew, I feel much better now!!


posted by barbara burton at 5:02 PM

No brunch after all. My back was killing me so I took the day off. It pays to sleep with the boss ;) . Although I actually would rather have been at work, saturday TV sucks. I watched CNN all morning but they just keep running the same stories over and over. Does anyone believe that there is no news on the weekends? I don't. I think that they are just lazy and run a skeleton crew at the stations.

I watched the Olympics. Apparently cross country skiing makes you foam at the mouth. The guy who won was so happy and they did a close up of his face and it was covered with spit and snot! YEAH!!

I liked the figure skating tho.

I guess I'll get my ass off the couch and go to work tomorrow.
posted by barbara burton at 9:34 PM