Domo Arigato Mr. Boboto

This is why I voted against banning dog racing in Massachusetts:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/11/06/run_is_over/

I know a few people who worked at the tracks when they were teenagers, and even 15 years ago they said their memory is that the dogs were treated with care and respect, and that to their knowledge it's only gotten better. There are fabulous adoption agencies that provide the dogs with a good life after racing. Instead, people just assumed that the dogs were treated badly without actually looking into it themselves (the main allegations were that the dogs were fed "meat unfit for human consumption", which is the main ingredient in all but super high-end consumer dog foods, that they were kept in small cages, which is true but could have been easily changed by regulating cage size and conditions, and that they had a lot of injuries.)

I guess my frustration is not so much at the outcome of the bill, but more at the folly and whim of referendums. Because a bunch of not-very-well-informed people had a knee jerk reaction, a lot of people who've built entire lives around this industry have to find new jobs. I don't understand why there weren't preliminary efforts to change or regulate dog racing instead of going straight for a ban. I guess I hate democracy!

In lesser-reported election news, Massachusetts voted to make possession of under an ounce of weed a civil offense with a $100 fine. It's like a parking ticket! Let's get baked! 11/5 = 4/20

Now that I've chewed on it for a while, all I really have to say is that the only thing sadder than seeing a good man die, is seeing a good man die young. It's encouraging to see so many people inspired to be a little less petty and selfish, and a little more kind and graceful, even just for a few moments. Shit got real.

The Tarheels provided a fitting memorial by beating the shit out of U.Conn. I heard Woody even gave Cy a shout-out.

ETA: link to said shout-out

Hippies.

I mean, seriously. Seems just a wee bit forced there, folks.

Interaction with RDU TSA official-

TSA: Sir, is this your bag?
Me: (reaching for bag) Yes, thanks!
TSA: (snatches bag from me) We're going to need to search this bag, sir.

So we walk over to the explosives machine, and he starts swabbing around, and then pulls out a 2-lb. bag of grits.

TSA: Sir, what is in this bag?
Me: Grits.
TSA: (snorting, confused and angry) Well, we don't see that everyday.

There you go, folks. America officially hates grits.

I made a dentist appointment. This doesn't sound like big news, but I have not been to the dentist since I moved to Boston, which was... a long time ago. I'm terrified of dentists and may have to take a klonopin or something just to get through the door. DENTISTS!

Anyway, I am posting here seeking positive reinforcement via "way to be a grown-up, dork" comments.

I woke up this morning to find my fridge door wide open. Something had fallen inside it during the night and hit the door hard enough to make it pop open about an inch. Thus, I spent the first hour and a half of my day throwing away food and washing our jars. AWESOME. SO AWESOME.

Plus side- my fridge has much less crap in it now.

Stolen from ladylatemar:

"The Big Read reckons that the average adult has only read 6 of the top 100 books they've printed."
1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.
2) Italicize those you intend to read.
3) Underline the books you LOVE.
4) * Star books that you've read for pleasure (versus something you read because someone made you. it also counts if you've reread it for fun later) (ditto-ing ladylatemar: I'm not doing this part... everything I've read on this list, I've also gained some enjoyment from)
5) Reprint this list in your own LJ so we can try and track down these people who've read 6 and force books upon them

( Giant List of BooksCollapse )

Looking for a house these days really sucks. You would think the market crashing would make it great for buyers, but it's a double-edged sword. For one thing, it's really, really hard to get a loan with anything less than a 20% down payment again. We're not looking for anything extravagant- something between 750 and 1,000 sq. ft., 2 beds would be great but not necessary because we're not planning on kids, we're not looking in chi-chi neighborhoods, etc... and we still can't find anything less than 300K, which is a $60,000 down payment. We've got about half that. So, either we find someone who will let us make a 10% down payment, or we wait three years (which is about the minimum time it would take us to save another $30K).

People who live in places with reasonable high prices are all saying "WTF, anything less than 20% down is stupid", but seriously folks. $60,000 for a CHEAP house? That's crazy.

		I will marry Jessica.
		After a wild honeymoon, We will settle down in the country in our fabulous Shack.
		We will have 36 kid(s) together.
		Our family will zoom around in a blue BMW M5.
		I will spend my days as a gadfly, and live happily ever after.