just trying to eat my waffles

January 28, 2005

See Publicola...?

See Publicola...? Not every 2A story out of California turns out badly.

A Modesto homeowner who said he's been the victim of numerous burglaries in recent weeks shot a man who allegedly broke into his home Thursday morning.
Greg Collins' home is undergoing extensive remodeling. Collins said he slept in his garage overnight with a shotgun in an effort to protect his property.
At 5:25 a.m., Collins said he was awakened by the sounds of an intruder breaking in to the garage.
'Luckily, I found the shotgun, pointed it at him, told him to freeze ... He chose to lunge at me, so I had no choice at that point but to shoot him. I did use a 12-gauge shotgun so that I wouldn't kill the man,' he said.

Apparently, there are no plans to prosecute the homeowner.

Is there hope for Cali yet?

Posted by: annika at 09:28 AM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
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1 "I did use a 12-gauge shotgun so I wouldn't kill the man"? That can't possibly be what he actually said. Or if it is, he can't possibly know anything at all about guns. A 12-gauge shotgun is about the best thing you could possibly use to kill a man, inside of 30(ish) yards. But -- not to preempt Publicola -- I'll say that this isn't really a 2A story. It's a self-defense story. The rights are related, but not at all coextensive. The fact that Californians are still permitted to own shotguns, and defend themselves with us, doesn't tell us very much at all about the status of their right to keep and bear arms. Shotguns are nearly always the last things to go.

Posted by: Matt at January 28, 2005 10:23 AM (SIlfx)

2 If the state of CA actually gets this right and leaves the homeowner alone, understanding he was the victim here, I will be in utter shock. Please keep us updated.

Posted by: Serenity at January 28, 2005 11:20 AM (qoFsi)

3 Serenity, I predict that's exactly what will happen. Shotguns aren't licensed or banned in California (with a few exceptions that I'm assuming don't apply here), so the mere possession of the gun wasn't a crime. That's usually the problem in the really aggravating stories that garner all the attention (Wilmette, IL; NYC; etc.): Homeowner conducts "righteous" shoot with unlicensed handgun. Walks on the shoot, gets nailed for the handgun. (Or at least is in danger of getting nailed, until the public outcry reaches the ears of the politically ambitious scumbag prosecutor.) There's no unlawful possession issue here, and the initial facts are very strong for the homeowner, because Americans still largely believe in the "castle doctrine" and this f***er came into the victim's home. Even in Kalifornia, self-defense is still (mostly) legal.

Posted by: Matt at January 28, 2005 11:40 AM (SIlfx)

4 What California does is only half the story. The homeowner might have been better off killing the intruder because dead men don't sue in civil court.

Posted by: Tom at January 28, 2005 11:50 AM (J7BEJ)

5 Tom, No, but their families do. Wrongful death. I'm just being cynical, though. I've seen no hard evidence of how often such suits actually happen, or how often they succeed, and I'm skeptical that either is as common as the conventional wisdom holds.

Posted by: Matt at January 28, 2005 12:08 PM (SIlfx)

6 Miss Annika, Unless I am mistaken under Cali law this guy could be prosecuted. You're a law student. Look up Cali's laws concerning self defense & specifically the "duty to retreat". In a nutshell if you can run you're required by law to run. If for some reason you can't run you can use deadly force if you feel your life is threatened. This guy A: spent the night in the garage w/ the shotgun knowing that there was a chance of encountering a burglar B: is not happy about the financial loss burglars have caused him in the recent weeks C; claims to use a shotgun in order to avoid killing someone (which means that he beleived deadly force was not necessary to protect himself, which supports the idea that he was not in fear for his life) D: may have been able to reteat. If my understanding of Cali law is correct then in light of the above he could be charged. He's not being charged yet, but he very well could be & the article never said he wouldn't be, just that as of now he isn't being charged. ("Not likely..." was the language used). If he isn't charged it's going to be because the DA doesn't want the grief that it would (& should) cause him. But as a matter of law he could prosecute under Cali law. As has been pointed out either the guy was misquoted or he knows nothing about firearms. I can understand not wanting to kill out of hand, but choosing what you think is a less than lethal weapon to protect yourself against deadly force is niave at best. & he's thinking if selling the house now that he's succesfully repelled a boarder? His attitude is all wrong. In NC shooting an intruder usually makes people more determined to stay in their house. After all, what are the odds of having to do that again, especially if it's well known that you'll shoot someone who breaks in? No; there's still no hope for Cali. All this story proves is despite Cali law (again if my recollection is correct) Cali isn't yet as bad as england. Yet. In order for this story to have proven that there was hope for Cali the homeowner would have had to have known that he was using deadly force & that stopping someone usually equates to killing them; that the "authorities" advised everyone that they should act just as this man did in defending his home; that no charges could be filed b/c of Cali law & not the benevolence of the local DA; that the type of weapon he used would not be a factor (i.e. if he had an evil "assault weapon" the weapon would have been stolen by the cops & he'd be in jail) & finally that the Cali constitution had a provision acknowledging the Right to Arms in defense of self, home & state. No, there's no hope for Cali yet. Think about Colorado or Arizona (though Az is still under the grasp of the 9th circuit).

Posted by: Publicola at January 28, 2005 12:08 PM (zTap3)

7 You mean they've read the Second Amendment in California? I am stunned!

Posted by: Mark at January 28, 2005 07:15 PM (Vg0tt)

8 Gawd, these lawyers are such windy bastards, and Matt used to be SUCH a nice young man. Publicola was always the product of a syphalitic union. Don't hate us because we're beautiful! AND, don't judge all of California by what the nutsuckers in San Fran are down to. It's a very big state, and one still has the right to a jury trial. I'm waiting for the natural progression of things, when ALL of the cops are Heather's other mommy. When they have me surrounded, I'm gonna pop that nuke that Roger gave me for Christmas.

Posted by: Casca at January 29, 2005 07:53 AM (cdv3B)

9 Publicola, After searching case law, the California Penal Code and the California Jury Instructions - Criminal, I believe that there is no duty to retreat in one's home in California. In fact, California Penal Code section 198.5 reads: "Any person using force intended or likely to cause death or great bodily injury within his or her residence shall be presumed to have held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily injury to self, family, or a member of the household when that force is used against another person, not a member of the family or household, who unlawfully and forcibly enters or has unlawfully and forcibly entered the residence and the person using the force knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry occurred." Additionally, "When committed in defense of habitation, property, or person, against one who manifestly intends or endeavors, by violence or surprise, to commit a felony, or against one who manifestly intends and endeavors, in a violent, riotous or tumultuous manner, to enter the habitation of another for the purpose of offering violence to any person therein . . . " Cal. Penal Code section 197.

Posted by: Matt at January 29, 2005 06:40 PM (TLYaI)

10 That last should have read, "Additionally, in California, homicide is justifable . . . "

Posted by: Matt at January 29, 2005 06:43 PM (TLYaI)

11 Another victory for rascism!

Posted by: Um Yeah at January 29, 2005 10:37 PM (pyp9E)

12 Matt, That's odd. I know I've read of some cases where a person was prosecuted for self defense because he didn't retreat. It's quite possible the papers were in error but I seem to recall too many of them to chalk it up to one sloppy journalist. Course I thought it was in statute law but it very well could be a case law thing. Hell Matt - look at the last section of the penal code you cited. Do you really think a DA in Frisco is gonna not press charges if a guy shoots an intruder with an about-to-be stolen vcr under his arm? The law says "defense of ...property..." but I think case law has pretty much nullified that (though to be fair not just in Cali). But I'll take your word for it - self defense is legal in Cali w/ no duty to retreat. It's still frowned upon though & that's almost as bad. But since miss Annika is the law student & in Cali to boot, perhaps she can shed some light on the duty to retreat or lack therof in Cali.

Posted by: Publicola at January 30, 2005 07:15 AM (Ftpba)

13 i yield to Matt, who's actually a lawyer. : )

Posted by: annika at January 30, 2005 10:49 AM (15C4H)

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i Guess He Forgot To Put Jesus First...

Looks like Leroy Wells may have to wait a while before he can become "the next William Hung."

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January 27, 2005

No More Trains?

When i first heard about the Glendale Metrolink disaster, yesterday morning while getting ready for school, my first reaction was typically post 9/11. i turned on the tv, saw the helicopter footage of the scattered train cars, then the announcer said, "President Bush will speak to the nation in a few moments." Shit, i thought, another Madrid?! i had jumped to an unnecessary conclusion, thanks to the strange juxtaposition of news stories at the moment i turned on the tv. But it got me thinking how vulnerable our rail system is to sabotage.

The L.A. Daily News headline asks a question that we all know the answer to: "Could any safety procedures have prevented this tragedy?" The short answer is no. The long answer is yes, but making train travel completely safe would make it so expensive that passenger rail could not exist.

Engineers, lawmakers and others engaged the issues of rail safety and security on Wednesday as Southern California reacted to the tragedy.
Some said the main factor is the lack of grade separation -- allowing the trains to operate at street level -- with only small barriers to deter motorists from getting caught on the tracks.
'If you look at our train systems out here, there are many more accidents and deaths here than elsewhere,' Moore said. 'It's 50 to 100 times higher than the national average, just from people attempting to commit suicide. And one of the reasons for that is the tracks are very accessible.
'If they had put through grade separation, they would never have been able to afford the system. If grade separation had been required, there would have been no Metrolink. And, now, maybe there shouldn't be.'
Metrolink officials have said grade crossings cost $20 million to $50 million each -- while the agency has an annual operating budget of $110 million.

i have long been an advocate for European style passenger rail in this country, but now i'm rethinking my support. i used to ride BART every day, when i lived in SF. A high speed connection between Southern and Northern California, like Spain's AVE line between Madrid and Seville would be so convenient, but i don't know if i could ever feel safe riding it. What a coincidence that on the same day as the Metrolink disaster, the California High-Speed Rail Authority approved a 700 mile route for high speed passenger rail service through California's San Joaquin Valley. It's such a great idea, but maybe post 9/11, it's an idea whose time has passed.

Posted by: annika at 01:37 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 I loved travelling by train in Europe, too, and I do think there's a place for it in heavily-traveled areas of the US. Amtrak has been a disaster for passenger rail in this country, as have, to a lesser extent, most of the local commuter rail systems in places that have them: what's needed is privatization and competition. That much said, whenever I hear "high-speed rail," it brings out the cynic in me now: it's yet another costly policy boondoggle in the far-too-easily-amended Florida Constitution, alongside mandatory maximum public-school class sizes, toys and space for pregnant pigs, etc., etc., ad nauseaum.

Posted by: Dave J at January 27, 2005 07:34 PM (CXTdL)

2 & exactly who will pay for this mass transit system that I won't ever use? The problem with rail in the u.s. is there's just not a viable market for it over long distances. There could be if the gov stepped the hell back & let the market do its thing - but America is not europe. We're more spread out & we have different cultural attitudes towards travel. Rail works fine in densely populated areas surrounded by more densely populated areas. It doesn't seem to work as well over big gaps in populated areas. Taking a train from say madrid to seville is one thing. Taking a train from denver to L.A. is another. & since your boy Arnold has been so on the job bannin bolt action rifles to prevent any sort of disaster, think he'll ban SUV's? After all they've caused more deaths in a single day than a whole group of rifles have ever caused (through criminal misuse that is). Anyway, it's not because of the attacks of september the 11th that rail may not be viable - it's because the government is really all wet on most of its rail proposals. The market could pull it off perhaps, but the gov will just make a theft-subsidized mess of things. Did I mention its not to late to leave Cali?

Posted by: Publicola at January 27, 2005 09:27 PM (zTap3)

3 "Taking a train from say madrid to seville is one thing. Taking a train from denver to L.A. is another." Let me make it clear that I agree with that completely. The one place in the US where passenger rail currently actually turns an operating profit is along the Northeast corridor from DC up to Boston, which, of course, Amtrak and Congress then use to susbsidize routes elsewhere that should be allowed to wither and die. But private rail systems in other densely medium-length transit markets could probably fill a niche where a lot of people would rather not drive that long, nor pay as much to fly. Of course, Amtrak is currently MORE expensive than flying quite frequently, which makes it completely useless, but multiple private passenger operations would change that. And rather than obsessively build high-speed lines, they could certainly at least start with the preexisting infrastructure to keep their costs down, either by "renting" the tracks from the freight railroads or being operating divisions of those railroads themselves. After all, unlike passengers, a sizeable percentage of the country's long-distance cargo still does move by rail.

Posted by: Dave J at January 28, 2005 07:16 AM (CXTdL)

4 As DaveJ points out, rail freight is very important, much more so than passenger rail. I think it's correct that the US makes significantly more use of rail for freight than does Europe (although water transportation in Europe does carry some of the goods that would move by rail in the US.) Those who talk about Europe's "superior" railroads tend to neglect this factor.

Posted by: David Foster at January 28, 2005 07:28 AM (l0XTT)

5 There's a reason why there is no private rail mass transit in the US. You do the math. Anything that will drive perfidious govvie tit-suckers from the field works for me.

Posted by: Casca at January 29, 2005 07:35 AM (cdv3B)

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What Day Is It Kids?

It's annika munuversary day!

Happy Munuversary to me!

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January 26, 2005

Blog Potpourri

. . . Generalissimo Duane forsees a bigger fight over Alberto Gonzales than we saw over Dr. Rice. Let's hope his math is worse than mine.

. . . RatherBiased reports that CBS's "expert" Marcel Matley is accusing the network of harming his professional reputation as a forensic expert. i'd say he has a case. No lie. If i were a lawyer, i'd sign him up in a heartbeat.

. . . Jordana posts a recipe for Salmon Chowder that looks so yummy, i may try it this weekend.

. . . David writes about my favorite Kipling story of all. Read the classic short story here.

. . . Gennie (who's awesome at this sorta thing - did you check out her Xmas list?) has a load of great suggestions for Valentine's day giftgiving.

. . . Jennifer takes a look at men's couture this time, and the runway pictures are freaking hilarious!

. . . Over at Blackfive, Matt posts the results of his discussions with a few dozen soldiers he served with and their thoughts on the war, Rumsfeld, and troop strength. Some of it is surprising.

. . . Ted, aka Munuviana's elder statesman, alerts us that tomorrow is the one year blogversary of The Gantry Launchpad, and urges us to rocket over there and wish Casey a happy blogversary.

. . . Which reminds me. Tomorrow happens to be my one year Munuversary! Yes, it's been one year since i blogged my first authentic post as a Munuvian. Mucho thanks again to Pixy, Susie, Joe Don and everyone else who helped me move over here. Mu.nu totally rocks!

. . . And speaking of Pixy, he asks a real fun question: "When they make MuNu: The Movie, who will play you?" hmmm. i think it has to be Brittany, who else?

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Today Is Poetry Wednesday

Emily Dickinson wrote:

Who never lost, are unprepared
A coronet to find;
Who never thirsted, flagons
And cooling tamarind.

Who never climbed the weary leagueÂ—
Can such a foot explore
The purple territories
On PizarroÂ’s shore?

How many legions overcome?
The emperor will say.
How many colors taken
On Revolution Day?

How many bullets bearest?
The royal scar hast thou?
Angels, write "Promoted"
On this soldierÂ’s brow!

Hang in there, GÂ—

More: Don't miss the Maximum Leader's tribute to Robert Burns!.

Nor should you miss Queenie's Everyday Haiku. An excerpt:

winter skin itching;
unkempt nails claw at the breast
titties is too hot

lol.

And then Venomous Kate, picks up the meme with her own series of haiku:

gray river of dust
flows along edge of carpet
vacuum cleaners suck

And finally, Cameron picks a fight with modernist shibboleths, with his poem about poetry.

Posted by: annika at 11:54 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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January 25, 2005

Time To Start Thinking Poolside

We're not even out of January yet, but i'm getting swimwear catalogs in the mail already. It's still sweater weather here in Sacramento, and most of the country is freezing cold. But last weekend, i was in L.A., where the sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the weather was its usual perpetual summer. Which, of course, got me thinking about planning my seasonal wardrobe.

So using my fine fashion eye, i'm able to tell you what's going to be hot by the pool and at the beach this summer. i think i can sum it up with these four words: polka-dots, halter-tops, boy-shorts and beads. Okay, so maybe that's seven words, but this is a post about fashion, not semantics, so listen up.

What in the world could be cuter than a polka-dot two-piece? They wrote a song about it didn't they? Trust me, everything is gonna be polka-dots this year. My favorites are at Vicki's Secret, including this classic triangle string-tie in white with multicored dots. Trés adorable. There's also a halter-top in the same pattern. Raisin's has a similar top and bottom, but the price is not as nice. Vicki's is actually swimming in polka-dot styles this year, for instance: bows and ruffles, and spumoni flavored, and this comfy looking tankini halter, equally perfect for volleyball or a picnic.

Old Navy hasn't yet come out with their summer styles yet, but you can get this green string top for only $4.99, which should be paired with black boy-shorts or these green and white numbers. A bikini for under ten bucks? That's cheapo, but with Old Navy you usually get what you pay for, so be forewarned.

And Nordy's has a polka-dot tankini set in stark black and white that makes me dream about being poolside at some Palm Springs bungalow, wearing dark cat-eyes under a floppy white chapeau, baking on a chaise-lounge and maybe sipping a fruity concoction served up by that nicely-tanned-yet-not-too-bright young poolboy that occasionally wanders in and out of my fantasies. You know, the one with the perfect abs? Whew.

i hope we're all thankfully over last summerÂ’s bandeau craze. The demise of that silly fad was undoubtedly hastened by the unfortunate Kirsten Dunst unveiling of 2004. Not only was the bandeau top impractical, it wasn't very flattering either. Although they're not for everybody, halters will take over this summer, and the good news is that they're practically impervious to unintended incidents of Dunstation. Here's a hella cute retro gingham pattern.

Venus calls boy-shorts "hot shorts." Like Jessica, i prefer a low rise version with drawstring. Solid color boy-shorts are very versatile and great to match with a triangle top or tankini. Carabella does the boy-short thing with stripes and polka-dots, and these low rise O'Neills prove that you can look super sexy without being too cheeky.

As for beads, i'm seeing them on the ends of string-ties, but also as a decorative accent. i think this bikini is gorgeous, but i don't like the idea of spending $150 on something i'd be afraid to get wet. Ujena turns the beads into a belt.

One final warning. i have a sneaky suspicion, since the movie is coming out this summer, that we might see some Daisy Duke inspired swimwear on the racks. i think my visitors are sophisticated enough to know this already, but let me just say it outright: Anything Daisy Duke is by its very nature cheesy and is to be worn only at halloween.

Posted by: annika at 12:01 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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1 Miss Annika, "...i don't like the idea of spending $150 on something i'd be afraid to get wet." That's exactly why I never take a 450 pound nympho to an expensive restaurant.

"...Anything Daisy Duke is by its very nature cheesy and is to be worn only at halloween." On this we must part ways. Perhaps you had to be a boy & old enough to recall seeing Katherine Bach on the original series but depending upon the lady Daisy Duke-like atire is neither cheesy nor to be reserved for certain holidays. Not every woman can pull it off (the look that is) but if being a sophisticated man means not being able to appreciate a figure approximating miss Bach's in an ensemble similar to one she would have worn, then I will gladly revel in my barbarism the rest of my days. Besdies, you'd look killer in a pair of short jean shorts & a skimpy bikini top w/ heels on. Doubt me? Then post a pic & make it a poll question. (as opposed to a pole question, which would require a video instead of a pic

) But thanks again for keeping us (ahem) abreast of the latest swimwear trends.

Posted by: Publicola at January 25, 2005 04:29 AM (zTap3)

2 I'll part ways with Publicola on this one. Heck, I'm a big fan of one-piece speedo racing suits on women, if truth be told. All of my crushes when I was in high school and college tended to be on "jock" girls, especially swimmers. Something about those shoulders... Anyhow, I'm a devoted fan of racing gear. And no, I wouldn't be caught dead in a little speedo -- even back in the days when I'd like to think I had the body to wear it, I didn't dare...

Posted by: Hugo at January 25, 2005 12:37 PM (VqTF3)

3 Shit, save the money, and go to blacks beach! Just make sure that you stay down on the South end, oh, and let me know when you're going to be there!

Posted by: Casca at January 25, 2005 04:02 PM (cdv3B)

4 Hugo and Publicola inadvertantly prove a much larger point. If a woman is fit, well put together, and pays just a bit of attention to the type of suit she selects, most of us guys will go wild; one piece two piece debates, hardly matter. I think it really matters more that the suit make the woman feel attractive. Re: the Daisy Duke thang - Sorry, but even as an urbane sophisticate, I find that outfit quite fetching in a trashy, fun sort of way. I'm quite supportive of the poll idea.....Publicola, if you pull this off you're a friggin genius.

Posted by: Pursuit at January 25, 2005 05:46 PM (VqIuy)

5 I was looking around at various websites for swimsuits this morning, and found that Roxy had some great stuff too. Even the polka dots.

Posted by: Amy Bo Bamy at January 26, 2005 10:56 AM (RpVKX)

6 Hey, mahalo Amy! i checked it out. Roxy is totally on board with the whole polka dots / halter / boy-shorts trend.

Posted by: annika at January 26, 2005 11:17 AM (zAOEU)

7 "Anything Daisy Duke is by its very nature cheesy and is to be worn only at halloween." Or by large Southern Alabama native women while perusing the cookie aisle at Winn Dixie.

Posted by: Eric at January 28, 2005 06:12 PM (XG7GD)

8 Great post-it brightened my Feb afternoon..

Posted by: JD at February 20, 2005 01:23 PM (J+Gcr)

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January 24, 2005

Operation Elephant Takeover

Here's more evidence for my theory about violence and the left wing. From The Associated Press:

The sons of a first-term congresswoman and Milwaukee's former acting mayor were among five Democratic activists charged Monday with slashing the tires of vans rented by Republicans to drive voters and monitors to the polls on Election Day.
. . .
The activists Â— all employees of the John Kerry campaign Â— are accused of flattening the tires on 25 vehicles rented by the state Republican Party to get out the vote and deliver poll watchers Nov. 2.
. . .
A criminal complaint said the defendants originally planned to put up Democratic yard signs, placards and bumper stickers at the Republican office in a scheme they called 'Operation Elephant Takeover.' But the plan was dropped when they learned a security guard was posted at the GOP office, the complaint said.
One witness told investigators the five defendants, dressed in 'Mission Impossible' type gear, black outfits and knit caps, left the Democratic Party headquarters at about 3 a.m. on Nov. 2, and returned about 20 minutes later, extremely excited and talking about how they had slashed the tires.
Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesman Seth Boffeli said the five were paid employees of Kerry's campaign, but were not acting on behalf of the campaign or party.
. . .
Rick Wiley, state GOP executive director, discovered the vandalism on the morning of Election Day.
'It was unbelievable that people could stoop this low in a political campaign,' he said. 'I figured it had to be someone from the opposition. But I didn't think someone on the paid Kerry campaign would do this.'
Wiley didn't say whether the vandalism prevented anyone from voting, but said poll watchers were about two hours late.

Via Redsugar Muse.

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1/8W+(D-d) 3/8xTQ MxNA

Happy January 24th!

Misery is expected to peak on Monday, as 24 January has been pinpointed as the worst day of the year.
January has been long regarded as the darkest of months, but a formula from a part-time tutor at Cardiff University shows it gets even worse this Monday.
Foul weather, debt, fading Christmas memories, failed resolutions and a lack of motivation conspire to depress, Cliff Arnalls found.
. . .
The formula for the day of misery reads 1/8W+(D-d) 3/8xTQ MxNA.
Where W is weather, D is debt - minus the money (d) due on January's pay day - and T is the time since Christmas.
Q is the period since the failure to quit a bad habit, M stands for general motivational levels and NA is the need to take action and do something about it.
Dr Arnalls calculated the effects of cold, wet and dark January weather after the cosiness of Christmas coupled with extra spending in the sales.
He found 24 January was especially dangerous, coming a whole month after Christmas festivities.
Any energy from the holiday had worn off by the third week of January, he said.
By Monday, most people will have fallen off the wagon or abandoned the nicotine patches as they fail to keep New Year's resolutions.
That compounds a sense of failure and knocks confidence needed to get through January.
The fact that the most depressing day fell on a Monday was not planned but a coincidence, he said.

i'm not depressed though, i'm just hungover.

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January 20, 2005

Hail To The Chief

i love the grand melody of Hail To The Chief. It's always inspiring. But did you know that there are lyrics to that song?

Hail to the Chief we have chos-en for the na - tion,
Hail to the Chief! We sa-lute him, one and all.
Hail to the Chief, as we pledge co-op - er -a- tion
In proud ful-fill-ment of a great, no-ble call.
Yours is the aim to make this grand coun-try grand-er,
This you will do, That's our strong, firm be-lief.
Hail to the one we se-lect-ed as com-mand-er,
Hail to the Pres-i-dent! Hail to the Chief!

Yay, four more years!

Posted by: annika at 09:19 AM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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1 I always sing in my head... "Hail to the Chief he's the one that we should hail to..." Even though it is woefully wrong : )

Posted by: Jennifer at January 20, 2005 10:57 AM (Exn5c)

2 Annika I found your site via the BFL link. I enjoyed reading "100 things about me." The piercing & tattoo part I have a difficult time with as I have a 18 year old daughter - a freshmen at ASU - who would love another tattoo or piercing. Anyway I love music and one song I find very inspring is The Battle Hymn of The Republic. Here's a link via MSN that allows you to hear a number of versions before you buy - of course. I like the US Army Band and Mormon Tabernacle versions. Tell me what you think? http://music.msn.com/search/all/?ss=The+Battle+Hymn+of+the+Republic Cheers - Mike Siegwarth

Posted by: Mike at January 20, 2005 07:42 PM (X3Ik1)

3 I guess it's better than "God Save The President."

Posted by: Ontario Emperor at January 21, 2005 12:27 PM (FPdMX)

4 Or Barnicle Bill the Sailor.

Posted by: Casca at January 21, 2005 03:59 PM (cdv3B)

5 Hey I have tattoos too and I love them !

Posted by: Paul at January 22, 2005 05:34 AM (ywZa8)

6 What an odd tangent from Hail to the Chief, but for the record, I have no tattoos or piercings of my own and never expect to, but tattooed and/or pierced girls have very much rocked my world. As long as it's not excessive.

Posted by: Dave J at January 22, 2005 09:24 AM (CYpG7)

7 It must SUCK to get your asses kicked by anti-war protesters. ... and this shit will happen everytime you pussies try and step up. protest warrior asskicking While anti-Bush protesters had a strong showing for the day and vocalized their dissent, the seemingly silly anti-anti-Bush protesters organized by groups such as FreeRepublic and Protest Warriors did not fare as well. One of the most publicized incidents of the day involved the Protest Warriors and their gathering dubbed, "Operation Hail to the Chief." According to the Washington Post, the Protest Warriors' event drew out a laughable 13 supporters. Unfazed by their lack of numbers, they moved forward with their mission to provoke opposing groups. The group "infiltrated" an anti-Bush rally with signs such as "Say no to war unless a Democrat is president" and "Not to brag, but Bush won, so shove it!" Promptly, and some would argue appropriately, a leader of the Protest Warrior's group, Gil Kobrin, was on the ground getting his "ass kicked" as one witness stated. You cunts!

Posted by: Bruin at January 22, 2005 01:55 PM (5Q9Zp)

8 Stop by and visit me once you've learned to piss standing up, Bruin. I have something for you.

Posted by: Casca at January 22, 2005 04:52 PM (cdv3B)

9 Bruin, laughy laughy laughy all ye like. They kicked his ass for carrying a sign and that's just fine and dandy with you leftard phony peace-loving sociopathic skidmarks on the shorts of humanity. Empty yer Stalinist shitsack somewhere else, Asscap. (Please excuse any impolite language, Annika. And sincerest appologies for any errant punctuation and/or spelling.)

Posted by: Tuning Spork at January 24, 2005 09:16 PM (s2rvI)

10 Atleast now we have proof now that liberals' talk about "tolernance" for "diverse viewpoints" is nothing more than sloganeering.

Posted by: Mark at January 26, 2005 05:19 PM (Vg0tt)

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January 19, 2005

Wednesday Is Poetry Day

Better late than never, but this one is worth the wait. It's by Eighteenth Century English poet, Thomas Gray. Like many a favorite poem, it's about temptation and desire.

On a Favourite Cat, Drowned in a Tub of Gold Fishes
Â’Twas on a lofty vaseÂ’s side,
Where ChinaÂ’s gayest art had dyed
The azure flowers that blow,
Demurest of the tabby kind
The pensive Selima, reclined,
Gazed on the lake below.

Her conscious tail her joy declared:
The fair round face, the snowy beard,
The velvet of her paws,
Her coat that with the tortoise vies,
Her ears of jet, and emerald eyesÂ—
She saw, and purrÂ’d applause.

Still had she gazed, but Â’midst the tide
Two angel forms were seen to glide,
The Genii of the stream:
Their scaly armourÂ’s Tyrian hue
Through richest purple, to the view
BetrayÂ’d a golden gleam.

The hapless Nymph with wonder saw:
A whisker first, and then a claw
With many an ardent wish
She stretchÂ’d, in vain, to reach the prizeÂ—
What female heart can gold despise?
What CatÂ’s averse to fish?

Presumptuous maid! with looks intent
Again she stretchÂ’d, again she bent,
Nor knew the gulf betweenÂ—
Malignant Fate sat by and smiledÂ—
The slippery verge her feet beguiled;
She tumbled headlong in!

Eight times emerging from the flood
She mewÂ’d to every watery God
Some speedy aid to send:Â—
No Dolphin came, no Nereid stirrÂ’d.
Nor cruel Tom nor Susan heardÂ—
A favourite has no friend!

From hence, ye Beauties! undeceived
Know one false step is neÂ’er retrieved,
And be with caution bold:
Not all that tempts your wandering eyes
And heedless hearts, is lawful prize,
Nor all that glisters, gold!

That was a fun one, wasn't it? Did you catch that not-so-hidden reference to nine lives in the penultimate stanza?

Posted by: annika at 09:13 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Most & Least Desired 2008 GOP Nominees

"Right Wing News emailed more than 200 right-of-center bloggers and asked them to send us a ranked list 1-5 of the candidates that they would most like to take the Republican nomination for President in 2008 and the 1-5 candidates they'd least like to see as the Republican nominee in 2008."

Check out the results here.

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Two Democrats Embrace Their Historic Party Roots - Bigotry

Two prominent Democratic senators today announced that they are against the confirmation of the first black female secretary of state in our nation's history. When confirmed, Condoleezza Rice, Ph.D. will be the highest ranking African American woman ever. A milestone achievement by an admirable and deserving woman.

But two Democratic senators, Barbara Boxer of California and John Kerry of Massachussetts, do not want to see it happen. Today, these two senators placed on the record, for all to see, their announcement to the world that they are indeed bigots.

Oh of course Boxer and Kerry would deny such an accusation vehemently. They would insist that they've always fought on behalf of minorities and women. But using the same twisted logic that senator Boxer used to call Dr. Rice a liar, i think it should be clear to all that John Kerry and Barbara Boxer have something against the advancement of women and minorities.

i'm just pointing out the contradictions in their public statements, that's all.

At this historic moment in the history of feminism and civil rights, John Kerry and Barbara Boxer stand together at the doorway of the Harry S. Truman Building like twin modern day Orval Faubi.

More: Steve at The Black Republican has more on Sheets Bird's opposition to Dr. Rice.

Posted by: annika at 03:08 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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1 Oh, Fidilidee... they aren't racist, they LOVE their negras. They just don't want to see them movin' off the plantation, welfare plantation that is. It's a big bad world out there, and they need to be cared for like the children they are. I could never understand why Republicans were loath to brand the D's as the party of slavery, which they are. And if you'll pardon me, I've decided to refer to our junior Senator as Boobera Boxer from now on. It's pretty hard to be the dumbest bitch in the Senate with those twats from Maine there and all, but she is leading by a mile.

Posted by: Casca at January 19, 2005 05:03 PM (cdv3B)

2 Democrats are bigots? Oh, like Robert Byrd? Kleagle of the Klan, Democratic Senator...those go hand in hand. If he was a Republican, rest assured he would have been kicked into David-Dukedom years ago.

Posted by: spydrz at January 20, 2005 01:47 PM (6wyVk)

3 The Democrats are just upset they couldn't be the ones to promote an African American woman to the Sec'y of State post, since they're the only bastion of minority and women's rights progression on the planet. *rollseyes*

Posted by: Derek at January 21, 2005 10:49 AM (U0/um)

4 I heard that this was another case in which Kerry took both sides of the issue, saying that she was qualified but that he wouldn't vote for her. Earlier in his career, Jesse Jackson realized that the Democratic Party often takes its black support for granted. I don't know if he realizes that any more. Maybe this would be an appropriate time to dig up information about the House banking scandal, in which then-Representative Boxer was implicated.

Posted by: Ontario Emperor at January 21, 2005 12:34 PM (FPdMX)

5 Of course, this is the same knee-jerk logic that conservatives always accuse liberals of using, a perversion of political correctness. There hasn't been any indication in the statements of Kerry or Boxer that Rice's race or gender had anything to do with their decision. There is, on the other hand, a record of the administration lying to and misleading the public over the last 4 years, which she obviously had a role in. Anyone who said what we now know to be true: that WMD's weren't in Iraq, that Hussein had no connection to Al Qaeda, that he represented no threat to to America or even his neighbors- was shut out of public discourse in the name of patriotism. The race-card is just another method of censoring the nay-sayers and confusing the issue.

Posted by: hal at January 26, 2005 01:02 PM (6QsJ1)

6 Oh Gawd, Hal. i try not to do this as much as i used to, but it's impossible not to set you straight on a few items. Firstly, like all liberals (who claim to have cornered the market on nuance) you missed my rhetorical and somewhat sarcastic point. Please re-read the part about "using the same twisted logic." "Lying and misleading?" We may have to agree to disagree on that somewhat semantic argument. However, even John Kerry said, knowing what he knew now, he'd still have supported the war. And you say SH represented no threat? Do you deny that SH hated the US? Absent a war to topple him, would you trust SH - after the weapons inspectors had left - NOT to re-establish his weapons programs, as the Duelfer report said had been his goal all along? To me, that constitutes a threat. And finally, in what parallel universe have you or anyone who believes as you do (including thirteen United States senators from the minority party!) been "shut out of public discourse in the name of patriotism?" Certainly not on ABC, CBS, CNN, PBS, MSNBC, NBC, any of the major newspapers in the US, nearly all of America's college campuses, and certainly not on this blog? i'm sorry you feel censored, but i just don't understand where you would get that idea.

Posted by: annika at January 26, 2005 06:41 PM (4oAj+)

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