I was going to write a different entry but this grabbed my attention

I'm sure all of you who use AOL saw this article at some point today if you signed on. I guess I can't really say that it's surprising that people who have to wipe asses to pay for their bills don't really love their jobs as say, a six-figure figure who is an architect! But then again, my job in retail ranks me as #10 on the ol' depressometer...I also have the disadvantage of being a girl and being of the young persuasion.

The article also stated that the surveys were conducted in 21 major occupational categories, but what about those not even considered as a part of the study? Perhaps such as these.

Aerobics Instructor - my guess is you have be to eerily joyful to attain this position...it's not very often you see a woman clad in all nylon/lycra derivatives and random body part "warmers" (like anything is ever cold while you're working out!) smile in the mirror without that shining sparkle as brightly white as her Reeboks! I can't imagine a Debby Downer type mustering up enough energy or enthusiasm to get a whole room full of people psyched on life yet alone get up and be the center of attention in a room full of people.

The Lunch Lady - I hope to God (if there is a God) that we have all seen Lunch Lady Land. If not, I will even provide a link for YouTube in which anyone who has never seen it can type it in (Lunch Lady Land -SNL) and watch it. You can thank me later. There are some obvious triggers for depression here...I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it must be to have innumerable moles, random patches of long, course hairs in random places, smell, and on top of it all have a bad case of the gout! Not to mention looking like a lady version of Chris Farley! I don't know if it were me, after marrying a Sloppy Joe I'd go take a bath in the deep fryer, if you catch my grease fire.

Greeter at WalMart - Well I guess that wouldn't be so bad after either (a) losing a limb (b) being in a war and surviving it and (c) well, this is where I would normally put "working at WalMart" but  I guess it doesn't quite work in this scenario.

Prostitute/Hooker/Whore/Ho - Um, risk of STDs is not something I would like to have to face on the job...no pun intended is intended here. But maybe that's just me. I hear some girls really get off in that line of work.

Jiz Mopper - Just making a movie reference here. Please don't turn me in to AOLthorities.

Day Care Worker - That's really only if you're allergic to the little snot-noses like I am. But I would also like to add that other than the germ factor, there is the poop factor, the noise factor, the dealing with parents factor, the choking on plastic toy factor, the licking the floor factor (also a germ factor I realize but I felt that I should duly note this as a little boy licked my counter today as I was ringing his Dad out), the "I want candy!!!!!" factor...I'll stop here but I could go on all day. ...

Disney World mascot, I mean, "actor" - see above but add also that it's hot and touristy.

Clown - I don't know which is scarier...a clown that is that happy or a clown that is suicidal with that goofy smile caked on his face.

Suicide Bomber - I hear it offers no 401k.

Gastroenterologist- Sure the money is good but talk about a trade-off. I know on my breaks I like to sit in the back and bitch with all the old ladies over coffee about snippy customers that think they're always right but I can't imagine what coffee-talk is like amongst these guys...but I do imagine that "what an asshole" comes up just as often as it does for those in retail.

I am flabbergasted that dentists and postal workers made no appearance on this list, but at second thought maybe those occupations are reserved for the Most Psychotic surveying.

Drank too much coffee---am tweaking out.

It's such a beautiful day outside today. A crisp coolness to the air makes it really feel like fall...none of that weird humid stuff going on. The leaves finally turned this week as well. It's funny how everything stayed green for so long because the weather was so warm and summer-like. The other day I was hanging out in my car at school waiting for Travis to be done and luckily I had two Rubbermaid containers filled with my summer wardrobe in the back, as I was in the process of transporting them to my mom's in exchange for winter stuff. I had jeans on and it was 80 degrees and there I was sitting in my car, parked in the sun. I peeled em off and opted for a flowy skirt, tank top and flip flops. I knew it'd be the last day to be that warm until a time a few months down the road...when we begin to thaw and melt away any remnants of winter's short, dark days. I reveled in it all day until the sun set and I had to shut the windows. Just wish I got to have one more outdoor BBQ!

Today it's about 60...not a cloud in the sky and the view from my porch is unbelievable. I wish I could take a picture of it but my digital camera is in the process of shitting the bed.

I can't believe the next time I will see that skirt will be in Ireland. And that pretty soon, I'll be there too! I'm busting! ...With both excitement and anxiousness and not-knowing-what-to-expect-ingness? Well, whatever the word is for that is how I feel.

That's all for now.

MTV pleas: Rock the Vote!

So today in my Alcohol and Chem Dependency class, we had to debate the repeal of the Rockefeller Laws of 1973 that said any individual caught with at least 2 grams of an illegal substance will be imprisoned for a mandatory sentence of 15 years to life, regardless of an individual's characteristics or circumstances i.e. first time offender, whether or not individual can post bail or cry immunity because a friend of a friend knows whoever.  15 years to life is also the sentence of a murderer.

Obviously I am FOR THE REPEAL!

This piece of crap law came about because Mr. Rockefeller was a liberal back in the day when his running opponent was Nixon and Barry Goldwater. To stand up to those hardcore republicans, Nelson thought it was a grand ol' idea to devise a right wing plan called the War on Drugs. Everyone thought it was too harsh but Nelson insisted this would lower drug rates in NY and eventually the whole country.

But today we see that there aren't enough prisons to hold all of these minimal drug offenders. So we increase gov't spending by $750 million and take about $650 million out the budget for educational spending.

Seems to me that we're a nation promoting punishment instead of cost effective ways of treating and rehabilitating drug abusers. Also by enacting such harsh drug laws, people seeking treatment fear treatment centers as they may be criminalized for having an addiction. Our nation didn't turn it's back on schizophrenics and other mental illness patients when they had the means to treat them...we have the means to treat people with drug addictions yet we are locking them away from society only to re-enter it 15 or more years later as a fucked up individual. In many cases like in NY, more than 65% of the prisoners get sent to upstate prisons (incidentally where they are considered to be living by the Census Bureau yet they cannot vote...imagine where all the electoral votes are coming from in the REPUBLICAN district) away from their families and community.

Another interesting tidbit? It costs taxpayers $32,000/year to keep one inmate in prison. To treat that same individual with drug rehabilitation and education, it would cost only $4,500/year. That would help that $9,058,232,655,395.03 debt thing going on within the lovely US nation.

But why would that change the minds of any political figure in power out there?

Maybe because it would be committing political suicide to admit that you're against the War on Drugs and most people will, out of ignorance undoubtedly, will consider you pro-drugs and they don't want a pro-drug nation. And judging by the results of the 34 years of the Rockefeller laws, most people undoubtedly (out of ignorance) want this spiral of  societal counter-productiveness to continue. The fact is, people will get drugs no matter what. They are still extremely available. Including within the prison system...surprise! It's also imprisoning otherwise innocent folks who will always be stigmatized within society after the release of prison.

The fact also is that they will return to the life they knew if they don't learn anything else, like being imprisoned, instead of educated.

So, in class...I can't believe there was an actual argument in favor of keeping these antiquated laws enacted! The statistics are there, folks. Treatment works. Mandatory prison sentences do not. In fact, they worsen things bazillion-fold.

So that's my position on that. Now I'm going to see what Obama and Hillary think. It's a deciding factor for me. Also, Ralph Nader needs to get into this running. I'd even settle for Kucinich as this point.

Please everyone. Let's impeach this Bush of a president.

Weed is a bush.
Bush is a dope.

I think it's Sunday now

Another Saturday night and I ain't got nobody I got some money cause I just got paid Oh how I wish I had someone to talk to I'm in an awful place

Okay. So the only thing true is that it's Saturday night...not much cash flow passin' through here as I have to spend it all on tickets to Ireland. But I am not complaining!

Although I do wish I had someone to talk to....
But I suppose AIM will suffice.

I haven't used AIM in decades! Well more like 2 years or so. Reconnecting and it feels so good!

Wow. I just got back to updating this. Apparently instant messaging old friends has taken over completely!

Well, it's been hours. I realize this isn't a real entry, so sorry about that.

Another time.

of accruing and reviewing

So I admit it. I haven't been the best friend I could be. Here I am living my life and not even documenting it on my old friend Egg. There's I'm sure lots of blanks to fill in but we'll get to that some other time. Right now I want to talk about the music I've been grooving out to as of late. Maybe I should just go ahead and do it in list form. Who am I kidding? I'm a list writer. So now, in know particular order (except in list form) are some of my favorite albums ever.

     -Aimee Mann Lost in Space 2002

I think she is the most fantastic person ever. I got to see her in concert in Virginia in July and it was amazing, although she didn't include much from this album at all. Her lyrics beautifully illustrate the despair of drug addiction, losing a love, hitting the road...this album in particular took me some time and appreciation to understand it but there's so much that just pieces together after listening to her work. There is usually some great artwork included in her albums...this one has single shots of black and white cartoon figures---a man alone with his empty beer bottles, the drug store on the corner, a woman sitting on a porch staring at her reflection in the window---they all seem to speak to you, kind of like her lyrics. It's hard to pick a favorite here but I'm going to have to say Humpty Dumpty. Or Invisible Ink. Or...all of them. I also need to interject that Aimee's new CD due out in January called Fucking Smilers and has a great song called 31 Today on it, which can also be found on YouTube.

  - Elton John Tumbleweed Connection 1970

So first of all I have to express my distaste that my record player's needle is finally busted and I cannot find one anywhere for my particular model. It's been out of commission for way too long. If anyone can help please contact my people aka me. Any help would be monstrously appreciated. I got this album at some garage sale somewhere because when I see Elton John records in decent shape for the right price I'm all over that shit. This is hands down the best thing he has ever created. Unfortunately his quality lowered after Disney got to him. It's like blues-rock-ballad-soul with a bit of good country in there. I specify good country because there is such a thing as BAD COUNTRY and lets not get the two things confused here. My favorite song is Burn Down the Mission. Because that what we need to do if we want to stay alive. Thanks for the tip, Elton.  (Incidentally also what the hooker said to the leper. AYO!)

   -Supertramp Breakfast in America 1979

Supertramp has it all including a harmonica and horns and a rocking keyboard and electric guitar solos....it's so melodic and catchy and rhythmic, oh my. The best song ever is Take the Long Way Home. I'm pretty much a sucker for harmonica and sax.

  -Radiohead In Rainbows 2007

This is the reason I decided to write this entry. I love that they didn't use a record company to release this album because fuck 'em that's why! Don't give into the profit that runs corporate society! I've spent endless hours trying to figure out how I can make the world a better place and I do so by not buying into cable and mass media, not shopping for new shoes every weekend (anymore...a girl's gotta save sometime. Or spend it on something else) carpooling....basically wherever I can afford to because working for the man is hard enough I don't want all of my money ending up in his accruing debt. At least mine isn't at the $9,056,734,689,078.39 mark yet.
Anyways. This album is brilliant even aside from the intelligent marketing technique. I read a wonderful description of this album in a review somewhere that it is considered to be "sparse" and "lush"...I would call it dreamy. I've listened to it about 25 times now, that ain't no lie. It's hard to pick one favorite here....but I'd have to choose Reckoner or House of Cards.

So that's that. Now I can say I'm no longer listless.