Petticoat? Petticoat?

While standing at just under five foot three, I can attest to this growing trend. Can't turn your back for a minute on these guys.

And if there weren't more pressing matters to get outraged about, I would be on the front lines for forcing department stores to treat women the same way they treat men when it comes to tailoring. So there.

Back from the Emerald Isle

I am back from vacation - or holiday as they say - from Ireland. No computer, no email - it was just grand. Or lovely as the Irish like to say. I went with my two sisters and my mom and wished it didn't have to end. It's amazing how a glass of Guinness helps melt any outrage one might be feeling. Though they say Guinness just doesn't taste the same over here as it does there. Would seriously consider moving to Ireland - I liked the pace of things and could use a change of scenery. But will wait for the outcome of the November elections. Will know then if there's any hope left for this country.

Snapped this photo on our first day in Howth. Was thinking this could be me someday.

Where Will You Draw the Line?

Thank god for Qwest, one telephone company that had the sack to tell our government to go scratch when it requested the phone records of millions.

But how can one sustain outrage when two-thirds, yes TWO THIRDS, of the American people feel it's okay for our government to monitor the phone numbers dialed by millions, according to this WP-ABC Poll. So there likely goes any hope of sustained outrage on Capitol Hill. What started out as a strong reaction will probably wind up a whimper over the next few days, specially if the gutless wonders think they can't sell it at home.

There doesn't have to be another terrorist attack - they've already won if this is how the citizens of this so-called democracy feel. How does "safety" trump freedom? How does this square with what we teach our children about what it means to live in a democracy? Why do people need to have it explained to them that their government shouldn't be monitoring the calls of private citizens? Period. It's like reminding Oprah that a memoir shouldn't contain fiction; young reporters or authors that plagiarism and falsehoods are wrong; energy company execs that they shouldn't cook the books. Sigh.

Bush said yesterday this was done to protect us. Can anyone show me ONE instance where this survelliance stopped anything? No - they can't. But still the lemmings that make up the populace of the current police state we live in honest to god don't see anything wrong with this.

The American people deserve whatever happens. Hopefully I'll be in Ireland, running a small pub, serving Guiness by the boatload, when the dictatorship becomes official. If the Dems don't take at least one chamber of Congress back in November, that's where I'd rather be.

An End to Tort Reform Nonsense?

One can only hope. And I never get tired of saying this...but somebody must have heard me. I've been saying there should be a comprehensive analysis of the real number of frivolous lawsuits that actually materialize, rather than the scare-tactic hyperbole that surrounds the tort reform debate. I just thought it would be a journalist, not the NEJM.

This study confirms what I've been saying for years: the politicians who wave the "malpractice run amok" flag as they try to impose legal limits on such cases, will end up hurting people who actually do need justice. Now I'm not saying the system is perfect, but it certainly seems to be working well enough.

I'd like to think we could move on to other matters but I'm not holding my breath.

It's My Birthday

Not making a big deal. I'm now Kevin's age. Which just wasn't supposed to happen until our eighth decade together. At least that was what the Ellen plan was. So much for the Ellen plan. Will try not to be too morbid today though not very confident I'll succeed.

I'm back

Knew it had been a while since I posted but didn't realized it was this long. Anyway, too tired lately to be outraged.

I'm sitting on the train yesterday morning though and I'm reading about plans for the Sept. 11 memorial which has been awash in chaos from the beginning. Almost a billion dollars for this.

I have a better idea. Take all that money and...figure out how to help someone who needs it.