Numbers

36.1 billion: The profit Exxon/Mobile posted yesterday for 2005. 36.1 billion: The highest recorded profit of any company, in any industry, ever, in the United States. And we paid three plus bucks a gallon for gas last year, and prices are on the rise again. Airlines lost billions last year because of record fuel prices. Sounds like another Enron to me with Bush at the helm. Did you know... In last year’s Energy Bill signed into law (and created) by Bush there were record tax breaks for oil companies? Why?

Are we not at war? Are we not trying to rebuild a major US city devastated by the worst natural disaster in US history? Is educaiton not failing? Are our country’s social programs not underfunded? Are our nation’s homeless no longer homeless? Do our nation’s children have health care? Is our country not trillions in debt? It disgusts me that the Christian right and the Republican party duped America and convinced them to re-elect a President who has never had the country’s interests in mind, who has alienated us on the global stage, thrust us into a senseless war and trillions more in debt. And that was better than the alternative? Hardly. Bush says there’s nothing he can do about gas prices, oh no, but he can sure help line the oil companies’, and I’m sure his, pockets.

1,145: The number of dollars Exxon/Mobile made every second of every minute of every hour of every day of every month last year.

Hysterical, Fat Actress

Last night Beth, Amber and I stumbled apon Kirstie Allie’s “Fat Actress” show on Showtime. Laugh out loud funny as shit! I had heard of the show when the controversy first errupted when it came to television, but hadn’t seen an episode previously. Funny, funny, funny. I have always liked Kirtsie Allie and the humor in this show is hysterical. Those who criticized the show in the beginning took it way too seriously. Take it for what it is, a comedy, and laugh your ass off. In fact, you may even lose weight watching the show because you laugh so hard. I’m sure it isn’t as funny for everyone as it was for me, but Beth and Amber enjoyed it equally as well as I did.

There is a lot I want to know about the show. Is it still in production? When did it first come to Showtime? How many seasons have there been? Were the three episodes we watched last night from the current season? And why doesn’t Showtime have On Demand like HBO and Cinemax? We have HBO, which also includes HBO On Demand, which means you get to watch any HBO series show or movie any time you want to, and there are always multiple episodes of series shows like Sopranos so you can watch a bunch in a row and catch up. Showtime needs to wise up! Fat Actress is funny. I look forward to watchin more episodes in the future.

Brokeback Book

On my way to London yesterday a flight attendant deadheading on the flight gave me "Brokeback Mountain," the book. I was curious to read it after seeing the movie, and even more curious when I found out it was a short story. It's about 60 pages. Reading the book helped me to understand further some aspects of the movie. For instance, the movie has been criticized by some for not having more sex scenes. The one or two scenes in the movie come direct from the book, with some changes, but that is all that exists in the book.

Brokeback Mountain is about a tragic love story, not the sex. As a matter of fact, it was the lack of sex, committment and time that worked against Jack and Ennis, and the movie would have done the story a disservice by including more love scenes. I don't think the book is particularly great, but having images from the movie to fall back on as I read made for a more poignant read. I cried harder reading the book then watching the movie, but at the same parts. I still think the story itself is timeless and classic, a true tragedy and lesson to never deny true love.

Good v. Bad

A passenger on a flight I worked last week was wearing this t-shirt. I love it! I would very much like to purchase one for myself and have found a website where I, and you, can do just that. Classic.

Dumbfuck Mountain

Too, too funny. I laughed my ass off when this came to me via email. I am kind of liking these Bush/Cheney movie posters. Classic.

Brokeback Mountain

Sad, sad, sad. An incredible love story that teaches us to seize the moment, every moment and get exactly what our hearts desire. Brokeback Mountain is a tragic love story of two gay cowboys who succumb to societal pressures and hide their true selves, and their relationship. It's painful to watch but it gave me a healthy appreciation for what I have and so many others are fighting for: an open relationship. Love. Marriage. Happiness.

Though they search for ways to be together, their solutions are all to inadequate to satisfy the passion that burns within them. This is a love story for everyone, not just same sex couples. Everyone can learn from this movie. We learn what true love is and it helps us to understand hurdles must be jumped to achieve happiness in life... and none higher than love.

The movie is unassuming, raw and candid. Jake Gyllenhal and Heath Ledger were extremely convincing in their roles and I was impressed with both of their performances. It's no wonder the movie is up for so many awards. A must see!

A forward worth thinking about

I hate forwards as much as the next person, but this one I really liked.

-> A car company can move its factories to Mexico and claim it's a free market.
-> A toy company can out source to a Chinese subcontractor and claim it's a free market.
-> A major bank can incorporate in Bermuda to avoid taxes and claim it's a free market.
-> We can buy HP Printers made in Mexico.
-> We can buy shirts made in Bangladesh.
-> We can purchase almost anything we want from 20 different countries.
-> But we can't buy prescription drugs from a Canadian or Mexican pharmacy.

Gotta love Dave

It is very rare I stay up late enough to watch David Letterman, and even if I am up, I am not usually watching him. Tonight was one exception and I'm glad I did. One of his guests this evening was Bill O'Reilly from Fox's O'Reilly Factor. Now if you ask me, that show and Bill O'Reilly are the worst specimens of television out there. Jerry Springer and Judge Judy provide more useful information than O'Reilly's supposed news show.

Back to David Letterman... Dave rips Bill a new one. Not out right, but Dave made claims like, "I think 60% of what you say is crap," and, "It's people like you who are making this an issue," while referring to the "War on Christmas." As much as Dave kept his calm, you could tell he really was a little upset and challenged Bill several times. I thoroughly enjoyed it and David Letterman just won more respect from me. I do happen to think he is a funny man anyway, but now I know I can appreciate his politics too.

Happy New Year!

We all celebrate in our own way, and however you decide to ring in the new year I hope you have a good time! The weather here in Tahoe has pretty much thwarted our plan to join the countdown outside at Stateline, but we're surrounded with friends here at the house and we'll have a good time anyway. Amber was going to join us, flying in from Raleigh, NC, but here plane experienced an emergency and landed in Denver. She was unable to make it here to Tahoe and is instead flying home to Las Vegas. At least they're all ok.

Tomorrow is our last day here at the house. We clean up in the morning and afternoon before heading to my parents. We'll have one last night in northern Nevada before driving home to Las Vegas on Monday.

I am still sick, but am slowly starting to feel better. I only lost my voice for a day, but I still have a very dry throat and some pressure in my head. It's all worse in the morning when I get out of bed, but I feel much better after I've been up for an hour or so. I guess that means I'll have to go back to work sometime soon. That's ok, I do miss it when I'm away... sometimes.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!