Month: June 2004

I just spent the evening watching the chief's debate on television with mekez. The scary thing is that it was really interesting. For the first time in my life, I'm really into politics. I see it as a sign I'm getting old and stogey that I can hold my own in a political debate.

Things are really going to be interesting in the upcoming elections. For the first time in years (well, in the last 2 federal elections), I feel that there's a real alternative, and you're not voting for which party you want in the official opposition if you're not inclined to vote liberal.

Now this might just be my drunken ramblings (as I have a bottle of riesling in me), but I personally don't have any confidence in the liberals, and I find the PC scary as hell (especially in abortion issues and military spending). The bloc is not an option (as I'm not a sovereignist, and I want a national party leading my country), so that basically leaves the NDP. This is not a problem, as I'm really interested in (and in favour of) a lot of what Layton is saying. His stance on gay rights, health care and social issues is on par with my views, so I have no moral objections to voting NDP.

A lot of people think that voting against the PC is more important, but I don't agree with that. I really like Layton's stance of voting *for* a party than *against* one. Anyway, it's a toss up at this point. A lot of people think that the liberals might get in because the PC is turning off voters with their stance (and an equal amount of people think that the liberals have no chance in hell because of lack of public confidence). Anyway, it's going to be an interesting night this coming monday.

Just remember, go vote :)

original link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40804-2004Jun14.html

Va. Tells Men: No Sex With Young Girls

The Associated Press
Monday, June 14, 2004; 1:57 PM

RICHMOND, Va. – The state is posting billboards with messages such as “Isn't she a little young?” as part of a campaign to dissuade men from having sex with underage girls. The campaign is aimed at reducing the number of young girls who have children with older men, the Virginia Department of Health said Monday.

In 1999 and 2000 in Virginia, men over 18 were responsible for 219 births involving girls who were 13 and 14, the department said.

Messages such as “Isn't she a little young?” and “Sex with a minor, don't go there” also appear on posters, coasters and napkins in bars, restaurants and stores in five cities.

“We encourage adult men to talk to their peers and discourage them from pursuing teenagers. What they are doing is unhealthy and against the law,” said Robert Franklin, a health department official.

This is just nuts.

Go to Ikea with eniran. We walk through the whole friggin' store twice, because stuff is not where it is supposed to be. The coffee table I wanted is, of course, out of stock. The kitchen island I wanted is still out of stock. The kitchen table i though I wanted, on closer inspection, is ugly (well, the table legs are). To top it all off, the replacement coffee table I settled on was – you guessed it – out of stock in the self-serve shelves.

I got some cool lamps for cheap to replace the ones that are leaving with the roommates, and I did find a cool way to arrange two smaller coffee tables for my living room, but still… I'm now convinced that I need to sacrifice swedish meatballs to the gods of Ikea.

As a side note, that girl is the only person I know who could find sex toys at Ikea. The kitchen section was bad enough, but the kiddies section… jeebus.

Rc says: I'm nothing if not optimistic
Tia says: yup. noticed that.
Rc says: well, I decided it was better to be optimistic than being depressed all the time
Rc says: it's not the easiest thing to maintain, but I do work at it
Tia says: man… sometimes you scare me. you've got NO idea how familiar that sounds.
Rc says: I keep telling you you're my long lost sister stolen by intercontinental gypsies.
Rc says: why do you think I like you so damn much?

…which started a long conversation about alien abductions and taking cows out for weekend joyrides. It's all good :)

Man, I feel like I've been running around all day.

I did the second coat of painT^† in my kitchen. I like painting, but ceilings suck the big ass. I still need to give another coat on the chair rail and the trim, and touch up a few spots, but I'm mostly done.

While that was drying, I made yet another batch of pasta sauce (which is happily simmering away as we speak), and did my dishes (well, most of 'em anyway) and a few loads of laundry.

Dayum, no wonder I'm tired today :)

I will now have a celebratory beer and become one with my couch.

† Edit: for those of you who want to know, a coat of pain is BDSM eveningwear. Snartasses, all of you.

As you might or might not know, I'm getting another tattoo done fairly soon. The design is almost final and I just received the latest draft from the guy who's going to be doing my ink.

The design:

There's just one detail that's still bothering me. Please have a look at the image below and tell me which version you prefer: the original one, or the one I modified in photoshop.

The differences are subtle, but they're there.
I added an iris to the eye, thinned out the mouth line
and smoothed out some of the muzzle curves.
I think it gives the overall face a much more
serene look, which is what I'm aiming for.

Your comments are much appreciated :)

I read Playboy for the same reason I read National Geographic. To see the sights I'm never going to visit.

So the first coat of primer went on the walls of the breakfast nook. The upper walls will be fairly straightforward to paint, but the bottom sections I see being a serious pain in the ass. I think it's going to take at least 3 coats, as the walls are textured and the paint isn't covering a lot. Oh well, it's going to look kick ass when it's done :)

*biiiiig siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh*

Finally, I'm home in my kimono with some food in my stomach. I feel like I've been running around all friggin day and got no real work done. I did, but it doesn't feel like it.

Day started off with me waking up late – again – as I'm not sleeping well these days. Too much on my mind. Money will be really tight in the next few weeks, as I have a ton of stuff to pay off and/or buy, so the fuckups the BNC is doing with my account really isn't helping me right now.

Got to work, where the stress test I was running on my dad's new computer failed. Found out it was a simple problem, so that's good news at least. All the major components are working fine, and all the software is installed. Now I just need to get a working mouse and keyboard, and he's all set.

Work day was meh. Got some actual coding work done, which is always nice. I feel like we're finally working towards a product, so that's good news.

I really needed to unwind after work, so I went to have a quick pint with eniran. Man, I know it's Grand Prix weekend and all, but holy jeebus, could there be more people downtown??? It took forever for her to get a damned plate of chicken wings (which really made me jones for some, as I haven't had any in ages – I'll try my hand at making some this weekend – hope I don't burn down my kitchen). After Hurleys, we went to Canadian Tire to pick up some painting supplies I need to repaint my kitchen. Got paint, a roller brush and some tape. (Only to realize when I got home that my sister has my roller handle and paintbrushes. DAMN!)

Finally, I had to stop at the office to pick up my dad's computer. Could you believe it took us 30 fucking minutes just to deal with traffic? Did I mention there's a shitload of drunken, overdressed, stupid people downtown?

Anyway, I'm home now and I'm cooking some food. It's at times like this when I really resent my allergies, as I'd love to just be able to order up a pizza. Sigh, enough bitching for now. Goodnight all.