Good News for Inform

Just saw this in the Times: Newspapers to Use Links to Rivals on Web Sites . Inform was the startup I worked for up until last month. Very good news for them and looks like their strategy shift is paying off. The new strategy meant my consumer experience wasn't needed, hence the layoff. I wish them all the best.

Demons Everywhere

So what exactly did Mel Gibson say at the time of his DWI arrest in LA? Don't have time to search this morning.

I Just Can't Stand It

I'm all for capitalism -- and despite my reputation, I am NOT anti-revenue. But GOOD GAWD, how do oil company executives sleep at night given the grotesque profits they're making? As my coworker Sean just said, on silk sheets, El, on silk sheets. Damn them all. There isn't anything bad enough I can wish on them.

In the interest of full disclosure, I fill up my tank on average every 2.5 days so I consider myself directly responsible for Exxon Mobil's good fortune.

Perrier Just Doesn't Cut It

Let me get this straight: Floyd Landis, the winner of this year's Tour de France, easily one of, if not the most grueling competition in the sports universe, had too much testosterone in his system on a crucial day of the race. Well, hell yeah. As a famous rider said back in the 60's, according to this article in the Telegraph, you don't win the TDF with mineral water.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating doping but jesus, let's not go crazy here. There are several natural reasons for said test result and a second one is due in a few days. Given the issues surrounding that particular test, why was the preliminary result released? Could it be the French are pissed that again an American has claimed the title? Methinks there's something else going on here.

More Words to Live By

My life motto is not suprisingly "If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention." Driving home today I realized I have more than one. An SUV in front of me had the following bumper sticker: "Mean People Suck." And then when I get home, there's a flyer in my mailbox that says "Life's too short to clean your own house." Just struck by how much I agree with both those statements.

Constitution: Everyone Should Have One

As if there aren't enough reasons for a turnover in the House and/or Senate come November, Froomkin's White House Briefing in yesterday's WP lays out the most important reason of all to throw out enough incumbents so that we have some hope of restoring some checks and balances to the republic.

Take the time to read the ABA report written by its Task Force on Presidential Signing Statements and the Separation of Powers Doctrine. My two favorite items:

• "One learned commentator sums up the Bush II use of signing statements as follows: 'When in doubt challenge the legislative process whether there is a serious issue or not.'"
and

• "it is reported that in the Bush II Administration all bills are routed through Vice President Cheney’s office to be searched for perceived threats to the "unitary executive"— the theory that the President has the sole power to control the execution of powers delegated to him in the Constitution..."

And the most important question remains: will the press give this issue the attention it deserves before the November elections or will it get buried under the Paris Hilton/Lindsey Lohan fued or the whereabouts of Tom and Katie's baby?

The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia

Whatever happened to Tom Hulce? And what was his character's fraternity nickname in Animal House?

What Else Is There to Say, Really

Not sure why the headline "Child Assured Most Monsters Do Not Exist" hit home with me. Could be that I'm still afraid of going down to the basement myself. Or that I can't go to sleep if the closet door is open.

$&(*#&)@ blogger!

They've imposed a word verification for my posts since I've been tagged as a potential "spam blog." Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty. They'd better lift it soon or...or...I'll have to wait. Which is never a good state for me.

Hiatus is Over

I've officially taken a month off from blogging - my first real hiatus since I started this in 2002. But now more than ever I need my outrage.com.

Lots has happened in the last 30 days. I was laid off from the start up, was hired back by my previous employer, put my house up for sale, started looking for a new place to live, started the long commute from Long Island to Stamford, CT, witnessed the aftermath of a tomahawk missile that "fell off the truck" in the Bronx (only in New York, kids) and started the countdown to the 2nd anniversary of Kevin's death. Two years ago today it all started and life has been one big roller coaster since.

I've thought about the blog but there was always some distraction. I've worried that maybe I'm just not as outraged as I used to be. But that isn't it. I had made outrage a habit and the habit was sort of broken when Kevin died. But I think I can thank his brother in Maryland for helping me rediscover my outrage gene. Can't blog about the details until it's resolved (legally anyway - morally the guy's a goner) but needless to say he's insisting I give him money that is rightfully Kevin's.

It's not a huge sum (about $1,000) but I'm not sure there's anything lower than stealing from a widow. Is there? And I'm not sure he's aware that for a long time my outrage (or is it rage?) has been scattered - the health care system, the hospital, doctors, nurses, God, Kevin - and now I have a single point of focus for my rage. Lucky him.