catchy song for Barack

This morning on the way into the office I heard this catchy little tune from a Jamaican artist called "Cocoa Tea". The song serves as a unique endorsement for the Illinois Senator (did I mention it was catchy??!). I swear, the hook will be in my head for the rest of the day!!

Cocoa Tea - Barack Obama
Uploaded by jahsensie

it's high time for a pillow fight!

from flicker

Hey, ya'll. I'm so excited! I just read that Saturday is International Pillow fight Day, and much to my amazement (and excitement), there are cities from all over the globe partaking in my favorite childhood past time.

I think I might just head up to the Art Institute downtown on Saturday afternoon to take a few pictures and perhaps get out a little stress with my old pillow. Who's with me??!

recession

You can barely listen to the news or partake in water cooler conversation without hearing the word uttered. Gas prices are the equivalent of highway robbery, even milk and eggs cost exponentially more than they did a few months ago. Other tell tale signs is that the dollar is practically worthless and the price of GOLD is once again skyrocketing. I can't say that I am surprised, though. I saw this coming nearly 8 years ago when a bonehead was elected to be president. I'm serious, you can ask my ex. Though, I predicted it would only take 5 years to hit, you couldn't fool me.

Anyway, what's really disturbing to me is my observations driving around each day; the growing number of boarded up houses in Chicago...a direct result of the sub prime meltdown. Its just sad because each house symbolizes yet another family down on their luck, possibly homeless...who knows. I'm sure other cities like Sacramento, which are being hit harder by the foreclosure crisis, are even more depressing to see.

But, as I drive down these streets with abandoned & boarded up houses, I can't help but think about the social ramifications of it all. Debt has so long been ingrained in the American culture that like many others, I can't remember a time where I was truly debt free. I get paid so I can adequately pay another bill and attempt to stay afloat until next month, when I will do it all over again. It's like a rite of passage in the U.S. or something...and the finance companies, they greedily gobbled it up for as long as they could. Well, it appears now that our beloved country is paying tri-fold for that greedy mentality. The social ramifications have spilled over into every crevice of the economy and will not go away as easily as it was put there. In other words: we are in deep shit!

The next question remains: How do we fix this crisis? How do we prevent the eminent recession? Who will help us help ourselves get out of debt? Who will cut up our credit cards, consolidate our loans, and set realistic budgets for us to follow? Who??!! Because it appears we do not have the will power to do it for ourselves?!!

They say the government should lead by example, but yet our country is currently facing the largest deficit in history.

Despite all these DEPRESSING facts, I have hope...One thing is for certain: I AM READY FOR CHANGE. I am a woman on a mission to disillusion myself from the glory of "material" purchases. I have closed out a number of high APR cards, and am reducing costs like removing my HBO package from Comcast (which never has anything noteworthy on it anyway!) Little steps, I know..but maybe after some time it will really pay off. I just hope the future face of our country adheres to the same mentality. After all, the White house doesn't need that $3,000 toilet bowl cover, now does it??!!

obama slacking?

Now, I have been crazy about Barack Obama for years, but this recent article detailing how he has been slacking on his senator duties since he announced his presidential bid has me a bit peeved.

Apparently, during the last two and half months, Senator Obama has not voted on important issues bought to the Senate 80% of the time: missing voting more than any other presidential candidate currently in the senate. Now, I understand running a presidential campaign is both energy and time consuming beyond belief, however I feel there is no reason, short of a family emergency or physical impairment, adequate enough to miss out voting on Child Healthcare, the war in Iraq, and the escalating issues that have been coming up with Iran. He didn't vote on any of those important national issues, yet he made the time last week to appear on Saturday Night Live for some indulgent self-promotion.

Needless to say, I am sincerely disappointed in Barack. Here he is preaching about everything he would be doing to help the country as president of the United States, but yet currently isn't doing everything in his power as the Illinois Senator as it is. This is the man that is supposed to be representing me, a citizen of Chicago...and I feel cheated because he obviously feels he is too busy to participate in such proceedings. I sincerely don't know if these factors will deter me JUST YET for voting for him, but I will certainly keep this in mind when I hear him speaking about "should have, could have, would haves" in debates, interviews, and the like.

got gas?

Ideally, I would say ride a bike instead of fill 'er up...but most people are going to be driving around this weekend like crazy... SOOOO, I hope you remembered to fill up the old gas tank already because gas prices are just going to go through the roof the closer it gets to the weekend. As of now, I saw gas prices by my house for $3.92/gallon for regular unleaded (yes, that's the cheap shit).

But I truly lucked out this week. There are no words to explain how happy I was to actually SCORE some gas at $3.52/gallon in the suburbs two days ago. It's so sad to even say that $3.52/gallon is a steal. I SHOULD NOT BE GETTING HAPPY FOR PAYING THAT MUCH FOR GAS..PERIOD...I remember just a few yeas ago when $2 a gallon was the norm (not even that long ago actually).

The way things are going nowadays, it makes you question if there will there be a day when people just CAN'T afford gas anymore (and whether those days are coming faster than we care to admit)....Mad Max type days where gas is a luxury for the elite and not just an everyday commodity to be taken for granted by the masses...A day when a majority of American's just WON'T BE ABLE to afford the gas costs of Hummers and SUV's? Well...Only the rich folks I guess.

Ok, I digress yet again...if you haven't gotten your gas, go now...RUNNNN before it's too late and you are applying for that bank loan to fill 'er up!!! By the way, you can check out the best gas prices in your area at gas buddy.

tornado in chicago ?

the aftermath of the storm half a block from my parents house

Friday night during the tail end of rush hour traffic- what appeared as a small tornado came close to striking in Chicago. During my commute: a mere 5 minutes from my house, I noticed the clouds becoming more angry - they were dark, fast moving, and close to the ground. The sky became pitch black in a mere instant and it started pouring rain so hard you couldn't see across the street. Something felt terribly wrong about this storm & when tree branches started swaying back and forth, I started to panic. When I pulled up to the front of my house with a quickness, the grammar school half a block away was blaring it's sirens - warning all within earshot range to seek shelter. As soon as I got into my house, my windows starting shaking ever so softly and rain just poured down from the heavens. My dog just kept barking and running back and forth. When I turned on the TV, the news stated there was a tornado warning for the city and advised everyone to stay indoors for the next 45 minutes.

Thankfully, my house and my neighborhood did not incur any damage. However, my parent's neighborhood, a mere 3 miles from my house, didn't fare as well. I got worried that night because my parent's phone line was down. So, when the storm cleared I made haste to go check on them. As I drove to their house, I noticed the small streets within a miles radius from their house were closed due to trees which have fallen in the storm. When I pulled onto my parents block, I noticed right away that the lights for the block had failed - it was pitch black and there were huge tree branches scatterred about. Thankfully, both my parents, their cars, and their house were ok. Though, they went without light and a phone for almost 3 hours.

We were lucky because a few houses in the area had sustained damage to their windows, frame, and/or roof. There were cars which prematurely met their demise - crushed because they were parked under trees which fell victim to the storm. A mere block from their house, a street which was once lined with trees, now has close to none to enjoy. I tried to chronicle the damage with my camera the next morning, but City workers were already clearing out the streets and surveying the damage. Still, what I captured should give you an idea of the devastation the Jefferson Park neighborhood in Chicago endured due to the storm. See the pictures HERE

and then there were eight

I have no idea why the stripping of planetary status of Pluto bothers me as much as it does. But, it just rubs me the wrong way that after 76 years of teachings that our solar system had nine planets, suddenly they decide Pluto doesn't qualify. It's now considered a dwarf...what the hell? It's like suddenly it's the unpopular kid, just kicked to the curb and never thought of again.

our solar system...sans Pluto

Just think of all the science books that will have to be chucked due to the inaccuracy; even such things as Trivial Pursuits answers must be updated to read 8 planets as opposed to the 9 we all know and love. What's next? A total revision of what consists of the earth's core? A miscalculation and apparent shifting of the equator line? It's maddening, I tell you maddening.

I, for one, think there's still room for debate. In my mind there will always be 9 planets in out solar system. I don't care what those hoity toity astronomers have concluded. I don't doubt their knowledge one bit, however, they have to realize: you can't teach an old dog new tricks...especially this old dog!

mmm..chocolate virgin mary ?

This morning while browsing the web I came across yet another story about people worshipping some type of food which THEY BELIEVE holds a likeness to the Virgin Mary. Just what exactly is it with people always seeing depictions of the virgin mary in food ? This time, it was found in a chocolate factory among scraps of other pieces of chocolate.

I don't know about you, but I don't see the likeness here at all (see pic below)...in fact, just looking at this picture of chocolately goodness is making me hungry. I understand that in these days and times everybody wants to take some comfort in their religion and salvation, etc...but just the thought of people literally worshipping a mis-shapen piece of chocolate with prayers and rose petals is just a little too much !! C'mon people..its a fucken piece of chocolate!!!! Get over it already.


depiction of the virgin mary or just a wonderful chocolatey replacement for sex?

Cartoon Source

Anyone else peeved that gas prices are steadily rising each day yet all the big oil companies profits are just through the roof ?!! Can you say PRICE GOUGING ?!!

discussed: [gas prices]

julian beever...artist extraordinaire

I received an email from a coworker today which contained dozens of pictures of 3-D sidewalk art by an English cat named Julian Beever. The art literally jumps out to you when viewed from the right angle. Anyhow, I was so blown away with it, I had to share.



tell me, is that a real hole or a mirage ?


You can view more of his 3-D sidewalk art here

who am i to judge crazies ??? ;)

I could not believe my eyes this morning while reading the RedEye's article about a group of young vegans named "the rat patrol" scouring the rat infested alleys and dingy garbage cans of Chicago for...(gulp)...recycling (i.e eating) remaining food. In essence, they raid local garbage cans in Chicago's alleys in an attempt to reduce the amount of national waste. What was funny to me is their catchy name: FREEGANS, coming from the intermixing of being vegans and getting free food from garbage cans.

what's for lunch, man?!!!


No matter how much I try to heed their noble vision of reducing national waste, I just cannot fathom their actions. I mean, its kinda a cool concept, but when you get to the nuts and bolts of it, its plain disgusting, unhygenic, and plain old NASTY!!! I can see recycling other things like furniture, computers & books, but FOOD? What are these people thinking ?!!!

I mean, I dearly try not to judge people, even extremists such as these - but GOOD LORD!!! You couldn't pay me enough to go digging for "jewels" of leftover food in garbage cans (both business and residential), especially in Chicago. I've seen some rats the size of kittens driving down these alleys and refuse to even go there.

Its just nuts I tell you, FREAKING NUTS!!!

controversy...where?

Don't even get me started on why I think this is the most beautiful ad I've ever seen

have I mentioned I hate cops ?

My mean streak is showing and I am about to vent all my frustrations out...so here it goes:

I hate to discriminate on any level, bit I swear COPS HATE ME...and truthfully, I don't like them either. In the Chicago suburbs (where I have been working in for the last 3 years) the cops and state troopers are the meanest, most discerning bunch you would ever see. Especially to the likes of me: young looking, a minority, and listening to hip hop music. I once got a ticket for going 23 in a 20 mile zone (but I got that charge reversed-thank god).

Now, I know what you are thinking...this girl got a ticket! Yes, yes I did (a parking ticket). But it was a total lie of a ticket...a sort of sick joke played by Mr. M.R. - the dickhead cop. Get this: he gave me a $120 dollar ticket charging that that my car did not have or did not properly display a city sticker. He must have been on crack or just plain decided to discriminate against my car (maybe due to the fact I have a sticker on the back of my car that told passerbys to do themselves a favor and fuck themselves? -> ha! there’s actually a decent story behind that sticker, but that will be on discussion another day). In any case, its a total falsity of a ticket. I mean, I pay a whopping $80 for that sticker each year, which I proudly display in the appropriate place on my windshield. I will be damned if I have to pay another $120 for doing absolutely nothing wrong. Naturally, being the verbose and opinionated person I am, I wrote the city a nice long letter contesting the ticket AND to file a complaint for the offending officer. It's complete, with pictures of my city sticker and front windshield, a copy of the vehicle city sticker registration card and receipt when I brought the damn thing. I just can’t believe this cop's justification system. The way I figure it, if he falsely persecuted me, he is probably doing it to countless others. As I type I am sending him negative karma...(matter of fact - I hope he develops a bad case of irritable bowel syndrome). Mmwahaha (evil laugh).

I can't believe he's the guy whos supposed to be serving and protecting me. I mean,with his behavior - who needs enemies?

peace march pictures

Hi all. I know its a few months late, but I am finally playing with all the pictures I took at the peace rally. In one of them you can almost see the side view of Jesse Jackson (ha ha). Anyhow, below is my favorite one of all. I just love this picture. Doesn't it just speak a thousand words to you?


my favorite pic from the peace rally & march in Chicago

disrespect not the fallen

There's been much debate lately regarding showing the American public any images depicting the loss of American soldiers lives on television (via pictures of the fallen soldiers coffins and more recently, Nightline reading all the names and showing pictures of the fallen). To me just having this debate at all is just crazy. I cannot understand this outcry and opposition to them, as these vehicles are one of the few that accurately depict and publicize the other side of the war that we do not get to see: the harsh reality of the massive loss of life that war brings. And to me, not seeing reality of AnYtHiNg for what its really is, only sets you up for a nasty wake up call later. This debate, coupled with FCC's strict regulations of everything on television really makes me feel like we are living in the 1950's all over again. I mean, what's next? Me being blacklisted for even writing this post? It's crazy.

My question is: Why are pictures and television memorials of the fallen soldiers being yanked off the air? These soldiers gave the ultimate price of their lives for our country. Is it so much to ask that they be nationally honored and their faces and names be known to us all in some shape or another? Without such memorials to these soldiers, are they not just another number that we hear or read on the news on a daily basis? I know for me it becomes mind numbing, like "oh...another soldier died this morning. That sucks." And it is horrible reaction, I know, to the loss of life. That's why I think it's totally necessary that we get to actually see the faces behind the numbers and know who these people were. It's a great honor and tribute to their lives (in my opinion that's the least we can do for them). Also, I TRULY give a hand of applause to the photographer who photgraphed those pictures of the lines of soldiers coffins (even though he got fired for publishing them) and Nightlines television show called "The Fallen" which airs tonight for putting names and faces to the numbers of soldiers that passed. I truly thank them for humanizing the war and showing me the other side of the coin, that side which we as americans often do not see.

Whether you're against or for the war in Iraq, we should all be thankful and say a prayer for the people we lost in Iraq, because they died for us. I don't know about you, but I will be watching "the fallen" tonight.