Merckistan

Amnesty seems to be ok as long as we're not talking immigration

2011-12-28T00:13:00.001-05:00

A little something to think about for those who say any form of relief or eventual path to citizenship for currently illegal immigrants constitutes unacceptable amnesty.

Mexican Immigration

2011-12-27T23:58:00.000-05:00

This is a nice piece from back in October from the NYT. This does seem to be one of those issues, like abortion or these days taxes, where a basic set of facts to begin a discussion can't even be agreed upon, and instead emotion rules the day on both sides. Not sure what the solution is, either to the issue or being able to rationally discuss it, but a start might be calmly digesting articles like this.

"We" Advance in the MLS Playoffs!

2011-11-02T22:11:00.001-04:00

I've always followed all sports, soccer included; I'm not one of these people that loves football (americano) and thinks soccer is boring. However, I've never really had a "home team" to root for like I have in all other sports (well not hockey anymore). The only team I've ever been able to really develop any hometown fan passion for is the U.S. national team. But as far as club soccer goes, I've always just watched with only objective interest in seeing superior competition, watching the Manchester Uniteds and Inter Milans of the world (well I actually support Arsenal in the premiership, along with Barcelona in Spain, and America in Mexico). I never really had a "we" team, as in "we" played really hard today, but came up a little short, or "we" won!

All that changes today, for I am officially adopting Sporting Kansas City as my "we" soccer team. Since I now live in Kansas City (and Atlanta doesn't have an MLS team) it only makes sense. I had been to a couple of games at their old stadium, and that was decent fun, but a couple of weeks ago I went to a friendly match in their new home, Livestrong Sporting Park against Chivas (the original version from Guadalajara, not Chivas USA of the MLS). The result of the match was a 2-2 tie, but another result was that I fell in love with the park and the team. The stadium is perfect for soccer; big enough to be loud but not a bad seat in the house. And the fans have bought in; there is the "Cauldron" section with the drums and chanting and the whole bit, but all throughout the stadium the fans are just into it. It's great.

And the team is winning. Today they defeated Colorado 2-0 (4-0 on aggregate, because they also won the first leg on Sunday) to advance to the Conference finals next Sunday. I am going to that match, and "we" are going to win.

Aventuras Mexicanas, Day 1

2011-11-01T23:23:00.000-04:00

"Vengo a pedirles la mano de su nieta y hija, queremos que nos den su bendicion."

On October 16, 2010, I was flying from Kansas City to Mexico City to meet my wife (who was not yet my wife), who had already been in Mexico City for a week for a conference for her job with the Mexican consulate, for a family visit. I left Kansas City around 7 for a connecting flight in Dallas, which was scheduled to leave there about 10:15 P.M. and arrive in Mexico City at approximately 12:30 A.M. (all of these cities are in the same time zone).

After waiting and waiting for boarding to start at my gate, after the appointed time had come and gone, it was finally announced that the plane we were supposed to take was broken and we would have to move to a different gate and wait on a different plane. After that different plane arrived, and after we patiently (not really) waited for it to unload, we were informed that we had to wait even more time for a different pilot (who apparently had been awoken for the task) to arrive to fly us to Mexico, because the pilot that had brought the plane to Dallas had already reached the limit of consecutive flying hours.

Finally my flight left Dallas for Mexico at about 12:30 (the time I should have arrived in Mexico), and arrived at 3 A.M. By the time I hooked up with Irais and her parents and got to Texcoco (the town outside of Mexico City where her parents live), it was after 4, and by the time I got to sleep it was 5.

I met Quiquilla (the dog, a schnauser) on the drive home, and he took to me immediately, falling asleep in my lap. If only he were so well behaved the rest of the time, lol.

We slept in, given the late night, and awoke late Saturday morning to eat in the house of Irais's grandparents' house and play cards. It was during this get-together that I did one of the most important things I've ever done in my life: I asked the blessing of Irais's father and grandfather to marry her. Her father cried and said yes. Her grandfather said yes, but later asked us about the wedding date. He was obviously concerned about surviving the cancer that he was battling to be around for the September 2011 date that we gave him as an answer.

Later that night, despite our weariness, Irais and I went out with her cousins to a local club. It was a good, relaxing way to end my first day in Texcoco.

Note: I memorized the sentence in Spanish at the beginning of the post, and used it to ask for the blessing in Spanish. It roughly translates to "I come to ask for the hand of your granddaughter and daughter, we want you to give us your blessing." I was nervous to do this in the first place in front of the entire family, nevermind doing it in Spanish. But I worked on memorizing it on the plane, and by the time I said it I was on autopilot. I am so glad I did it, because it meant so much to the family to have me say this in Spanish. I wouldn't take anything for the expression on everyone's face.

Otra Vez

2011-10-31T19:35:00.000-04:00

Yesterday my wife told me "you should write more blogs". I had been thinking about getting back on here anyway, but her statement reminded me that once again I've let months go by without posting. I guess that's what happens with a busy life and other more expedient microblogging outlets like FB and twitter. Nonetheless, I'm getting back in this game again. I'm going to try to actually have some themes this time, rather than the haphazard drivel I've pumped out until now. Among the topics I plan to cover in upcoming posts:

My Mexican adventures: A week ago, my wife and I celebrated our 1-year anniversary. Although we were engaged when we took a trip to Texcoco to visit her family last year, we had no plans to get married at that time, instead planning on a wedding in September of this year (which we ended up also having in Georgia, a whole other tale). The story of how we ended up getting wed on 10/22/2010 is an interesting one, which I plan to lay out on here based on memory and some notes I took on the plane on the way home back then.

Immigration: I work at USCIS, and so immigration is a topic of great interest to me. It's a subject that is often in the news, and often devolves into very passionate but irrational and uninformed debate, particularly in the comments section. I intend to attempt to bring some rationality to the topic on here.

Sports: Always, if you know me. Speaking of this, how bout them Dawgs! Man I love it when we beat Florida.

Hack of the Day: I'm a big fan of stand-up comedy, so much so that I listen to it on my car radio. This feature will discuss several topics (what's the deal with airplane peanuts?) that seem to pervade stand-up comedy, sucking out all of the creativity and all of the funny.

This and much more coming soon to this blog (seriously).

9000 Buck Chuck At It Again

2011-07-08T00:40:00.003-04:00

I am actually interested to see how this will turn out, now that the standing issue is not there. Hey Chuck, I think this should be your theme song. Or maybe this. Or this. I could go on for a while...

Break Out The Brooms

2011-07-07T23:43:00.002-04:00

Braves sweep the Rockies, now within 2 1/2 of the Phillies. A sweep over the weekend, and the Braves will have the division lead. Tomahawk chop!!!

Dershowitz Agrees With Me

2011-07-07T21:53:00.000-04:00

From Above the Law, news that I wasn't so alone in my thinking as I thought.

But Does It Get Internet?

2011-07-07T01:24:00.000-04:00

Well, it's less than 2 months until football season, and this article is here to whet your appetite.

Watch Out Philadelphia...

2011-07-07T00:55:00.000-04:00

[booom boom boom boom booom boom boom boom ohhhh ohhhhohuohhhhh ohhhhhh ohhhouohhhhh]

I don't want to get ahead of myself, but with this result and this one (walkoff homer in the 10th baby!), the Braves are 3 back with one more game left in each team's current series and then a weekend series potentially for the division lead.

Ok I'll bite

2011-07-07T00:13:00.001-04:00

So apparently everyone in the world except for me was glued to HLN for the past whatever amount of time following the Casey Anthony trial. Likewise everyone seems universally flabbergasted and filled with righteous indignation at the verdict.

I understand the following to be roughly the evidence introduced in the case (and given how little I followed it, I admit I could easily be way off, although I have followed recent print news reports):

1) Caylee was missing for a month before this fact was reported to the police by Casey or her parents;
2) Caylee's dead body was at some point in the trunk of Casey's car;
3) No physical evidence establishes the manner or cause of death;
4) the defense was essentially that an accidental death occurred, and Casey's parents pressured her into a coverup of the incident.

I understand if you don't buy this defense. I understand if you find the failure to report the death reprehensible; so do I. I understand if you connect the dots and assume she killed the girl, and therefore think Casey is evil.

Where you lose me is taking it from that to blaming the jury. Given the evidence above, it is plausible for the jury to buy the defense and decide the prosecution has not met its burden of proof. Would I have voted that way? Maybe not, I can't really say without having sat through the entire trial as a juror. But just because this jury found that way doesn't mean they like Casey or find her behavior honorable even. It just means they don't think the prosecution proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt. That's it. Don't put anything more than that on their shoulders.

If anyone who is outraged can show me in detail the evidence in the trial that should have sufficiently proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury ignored, I am willing to listen. But if you don't really know what the evidence is, don't take the easy way out and let Nancy Grace tell you how horrible it is. Only give me righteous indignation based on evidence please.

test post

2011-02-22T01:00:00.001-05:00

Seeing how posting using an android app works...

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

11-2

2010-12-12T23:45:00.000-05:00

The Patriots and Falcons are leading the league with that record! Headed to a Super Bowl showdown with my wife? I hope so!!!

Ruff ruff ruff

2010-10-13T22:26:00.000-04:00

A new bulldog in central awesome. This might be replaced by a picture of UGA VIII once Big Bad Bruce is unveiled Saturday.

4 Days Till Mexico

2010-10-11T14:34:00.003-04:00

Ok so randomly I think I am going to start posting again. Not sure what happened, just another one of those life-got-so-busy-that-I-didn't-post for 10 months moments.

In those 10 months (I suppose in any 10 months this is true), a lot has happened. Most significantly I have gotten engaged to be married to my wonderful fiance Irais. I will be joining her in her hometown of Texcoco (near Mexico City, where she already is this week with a conference for work) on Friday through Sunday the 24th. I get to meet the extended family, and I have to bring my pesos for playing cards hahaha.

Another recent positive development is that I am now a permanent government employee (rather than FCIP, the temporary status I was hired under). That along with the simultaneous promotion will enable to engage in some expanded job searching. Irais and I have our targets set on DC.

Speaking of jobs, I also passed the FSOT (Foreign Service Officer's Test) again, and I am set for a second go-around at the FSOA (Foreign Service Oral Assessment) in February 2011.

Happy Columbus Day all (sorry Native Americans; I hope that we can do a better job at fulfilling some of those empty promises we made back then); more regular posting coming from me soon (speaking of empty promises hahahahaha...)...

Amnesty?

2009-12-16T23:52:00.002-05:00

Is Comprehensive Immigration Reform that includes a pathway to citizenship this , or more like this?

Serious question.

CIR ASAP Act

2009-12-16T02:32:00.002-05:00

AILA has a summary of the bill up.

Still looking for the actual text of the bill, but I've got plenty of time because this thing isn't going anywhere until the health care stuff is over.

House Reform Bill To Be Introduced Next Week

2009-12-12T00:42:00.003-05:00

Comprehensive immigration reform is coming ~~as soon as possible~~ for America's security and prosperity.

From the office of Rep. Luis Gutierrez:

Comprehensive Immigration Reform to be Introduced December 15
December 11, 2009
Rebecca Dreilinger (202) 225-8203FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Washington D.C.) On Tuesday, December 15, Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) will introduce new legislation, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP), to the U.S. House of Representatives. Gutierrez will be joined by members of many different faiths and backgrounds, including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Black Caucus, Asian Pacific American Caucus and Progressive Caucus.

Who:Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (IL-4), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force
Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-12), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-11), Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus
Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15), Chair of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (CA-6), Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus
Rep. Judy Chu (CA-32)
Rep. Joseph Crowley (NY-7)
Rep. Pedro R. Pierluisi (PR-At large)
Rep. Jared Polis (CO-2)
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-9)
Rep. Jose E. Serrano (NY-16)
Other Members of Congress
What:Introduction of Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation
When:12:30 pm, Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Where:Room 2220, Rayburn House Office Building

"We have waited patiently for a workable solution to our immigration crisis to be taken up by this Congress and our President," said Rep. Gutierrez. "The time for waiting is over. This bill will be presented before Congress recesses for the holidays so that there is no excuse for inaction in the New Year. It is the product of months of collaboration with civil rights advocates, labor organizations, and members of Congress. It is an answer to too many years of pain —mothers separated from their children, workers exploited and undermined security at the border— all caused at the hands of a broken immigration system. This bill says 'enough,' and presents a solution to our broken system that we as a nation of immigrants can be proud of."

Press should confirm their attendance with Rebecca Dreilinger at 202-225-8203 or via email at Rebecca.Dreilinger@mail.house.gov.

###

Once the bill is introduced, we will start reading it and slowly digesting it on these pages for all to see.

Lou Dobbs Supports Immigration Reform?

2009-12-06T17:46:00.002-05:00

Appearing on the Spanish-language network Telemundo, Dobbs said, "We need the ability to legalize illegal immigrants (who are) living upright, positive and constructive lives."

http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20091204/OPINION01/912040320

Fiesta de la Casa

2009-12-04T01:09:00.001-05:00

Something tells me there wasn't a lot of "tea" served at these "house parties."

Immigration Reform

2009-11-25T01:29:00.003-05:00

It is apparently poised to take center stage sometime early next year, presumably after the health care debate is through. It is a subject in which I have great professional interest and strong personal opinion. Because of the former (I work for USCIS) I can not say much about the latter on this public blog (ok, maybe I have 0 readers, but it's still public, lol). I do intend however to give it a lot of coverage on here, mostly by way of reporting and perhaps some analysis of the substance of the bills themselves once they get introduced (which is supposed to be December/January). Stay tuned if you're interested.

FSOA - 2 Months

2009-11-24T01:46:00.001-05:00

2 months away from the Foreign Service Oral Assessment on January 22 in Atlanta. And I'm freaking out a little bit. Let's hope I get it all out of my system and get my game face on by then.

October Ennui

2009-10-09T23:45:00.007-04:00

I am trying to be interested in the baseball playoffs. I really am. I am following the scores to some degree. But I am just not feeling it.

Many complain about the game of baseball itself. It's slow. It has a weird structure compared to the other primary sports: no clock, no opposing end zones or goals to but balls into.

I understand all of that, but that's not my problem. I love baseball.

But what bothers me is the lack of parity. Every baseball postseason seems vaguely the same lately. Consider the following:

The Red Sox and Angels are facing each other in one ALDS. This is the 3rd straight year that these two teams have met in the ALDS. This is the 5th postseason matchup between these two teams, which leads all postseason matchups (tied with Pirates-Reds and Astros-Braves).

The Yankees and Twins are facing each other for the 3rd time in the postseason, all in this decade. The Cardinals and Dodgers are also facing each other for the 3rd time in the postseason, 2 this decade. The Phillies and Rockies are mixing it up a little bit, although they also faced each other only 2 years ago.

My point? The playoffs are always the same! How boring. Contrast this to the NFL (at least since the salary cap), where teams routinely move from laughingstock to Super Bowl participants (the Arizona Cardinals last year being only the most recent example). Yes, the Patriots play in 3 Super Bowls this decade, but even so the other playoff participants varied in those years considerably compared to MLB (notice, for example, that each of the 3 Super Bowl games was against a different NFC opponent).

But who am I kidding; I loved the sameness and lack of parity when the Braves were winning 14 straight division titles and racking up those 5 series against the Astros. I guess I'm just mad that the Braves haven't been back lately.

I'm sure I'll be watching come World Series time.

Followup On Things I Was Following

2009-09-26T02:24:00.002-04:00

I did pass the QEP, and I will be taking the FSOA! Signup for time and place is next week; I will be shooting for late Jan./early Feb. in Atlanta.

The Braves fell way back, then surged in recent days, so that (just like 26 days ago on my last post) they are still 3.5 games out of the wild card. Problem is now there are only 9 games left.

Falcons are 2-0, UGA is 2-1.

Chivas beat Club America 2-1 in Arrowhead, but I had a good time with my girlfriend anyway.

October 10 is the next wave of world cup qualifying games for CONCACAF, with the U.S. on top of the group at the moment, and Mexico in 2nd.

And finally, no bill yet, but there is supposed to be one from this guy soon. When we actually see any legislative action on it? I wouldn't hold my breath.

Things I Will Be Watching In The Upcoming Days...

2009-08-31T00:26:00.005-04:00

sometime between now and early October, I am supposed to hear whether or not I passed the QEP and therefore will be invited to the OA for the DOS foreign service

despite a frustrating 3-2 loss to the Phillies tonight, the Braves are still hanging around at 3.5 out of the wild card

American football!

and football!

and is a bill going to be introduced anytime soon?

Waiting to Serve

2009-08-23T01:52:00.002-04:00

I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I took the Foreign Service exam. Well, I thought I should at least do a quick followup to let you know where that's at. I passed the written exam (which I found out a while back, around July 1). Three weeks later I had to submit my responses to the PNQ (Personal Narrative Questions) so that the QEP (Qualifications Evaluation Panel) can use that and my resume to decide if I get to sit for the OA (Oral Assessment). Sigh. I found out probably sometime in September about that. I'll keep you posted.

Excuse Me While I Praise This Song

2009-06-17T22:58:00.007-04:00

This has always been my favorite rendition of the national anthem. The dissonance and distortion, just the unapologetic noise of it, perfectly embodied the social strife that was the 60s. And yet no matter how crazy Jimi got, no matter which tangents he decided to go off on, which strings he decided to bend in half, he always came back to the melody in all of its beautiful melancholy. It was the discord over the war, civil rights, and everything else, and yet it was our continued patriotism too. It was our vowing to keep trying, to keep the democracy experiment alive, even while seeming to fail. It is the acknowledgement that we are not perfect, that sometimes the cacophony of our imperfection is deafening, but that despite that we stand for something beautiful, something worth trying for even if it hurts.

And the ending is perfect too; after settling back into the final bars of the melody, he proceeds without pause to launch into Purple Haze. In other words, he keeps on rocking. Times are tough, but get back to work; this is too important to give up on now. If we stop fighting for it, they win. It is the musical equivalent of what Bush told us to do after 9/11. And it's something we need a little bit of right now.

Hang in there, America. God bless you, Jimi, and God bless the United States of America.

Blogging is So Last Year

2009-06-07T15:24:00.004-04:00

Or at least it is for me, apparently. It just occurred to me that I haven't posted on here since December. I guess I got a little involved in that thing we call life. And by "life", I mean Facebook. Naw, but I do spend a lot of time on there. However, I am thinking about picking it up again, and maybe I'll use the power of Facebook to actually get some of you jokers to read this drivel. Stay tuned...

Btw, what's up with me, you ask? Just adjudicating away, and taking the Foreign Service exam on Tuesday. I'll let you know how that goes on here, even if I don't post about anything else.

In Search of a Place to Rest My Head

2008-12-13T12:37:00.004-05:00

Since I moved to Missouri with only what would fit in my car, I have virtually no furniture and have been sleeping on an air mattress since I moved in to my new apartment last Saturday upon returning from Dallas. I am therefore off in search of a bed today. Ideally I am looking for a sofa bed/futon situation, so that I can kill two furniture birds with one purchasing stone. However, I want to avoid the whole bar-in-the-back situation also, so I need one that isn't cheapass. On the other hand, I'm working with a budget of about a couple hundred, so I may have to go with cheapass. Wish me luck.

Back in KC

2008-12-06T23:27:00.003-05:00

I have finished my 6 weeks in Dallas. Between partying nonstop and nonetheless still managing to finish first in my class, I didn't manage to post very much, as you can see. I have no tv here in my new apartment, but I do have free wi-fi, so regular posting will resume shortly.

Ummumm, 904 bitch!

Why Does Everybody Love USC?

2008-10-26T22:07:00.003-04:00

I am by no means the first to bring this up, but I just don't get the USC love in the BCS. Unbelievably, they are ranked HIGHER in the BCS now, at 5, than in the human polls. Why, because of their win over Ohio State? I just don't get it. They lost to Oregon State, people. Nevermind; if we beat Florida, we will pass them, but it still pisses me off.

Dallas

2008-10-26T20:37:00.002-04:00

I have arrived today in Dallas, well technically Ft. Worth, for my six-week BASIC training for my new USCIS job. I am hoping to use these six weeks as an opportunity to meet some new people, learn the immigration law backward and forward, and also to relax a little bit, as weird as that sounds. I don't feel like the exams will be that difficult for me; of course I'm going to study enough to make sure I do ok, and also enough to learn the law really well, but I also ought to have time for some recreation.

Rocky Bottom

2008-10-11T18:56:00.003-04:00

It wasn't the stomping I would've liked (in fact it was way too close and closer than it should have been for most of the game), but this still feels pretty good after what they've done to us the past couple of years. Besides, a win is a win, and at 5-1 and #10 (or however much we may move up tomorrow), there's still plenty of time to think about creeping back up into BCS territory. If Florida loses to LSU tonight, we'll be playing Vandy next week straight up for the lead in the East, as strange as that sounds.

Remember, Remember the 4th of November

2008-10-11T13:46:00.004-04:00

I just mailed off my votes for Obama, Jim Martin, and others. I am sporting my "I'm a Georgia voter" peach sticker, despite sitting in my room in Kansas City (because yes, they put the stickers in the absentee ballot packages, which I think is pretty cool).

I know that by now you're probably sick of the campaign, and there's a million voices out there reminding you of your need and duty to vote. But here's the thing: they're right. Don't forget to vote on Nov. 4 (or earlier if your state allows it).

Back to Work

2008-09-28T13:31:00.003-04:00

After taking a couple of weeks following my last day at King & Spalding to complete the moving process, I will be getting back into the working world tomorrow with my first day as an Adjudications Officer with USCIS in Lee's Summit. One of the first things I'm eager to find out is how quickly I will be going to Dallas (yes, indeed, more travels await me; we have a 6-week "basic training" kind of thing in Dallas that I will go to in the first month or two). I am eager to begin and to pour myself into doing this job well.

Paducah, We Hardly Knew Ya

2008-09-27T16:47:00.009-04:00

So, as I said I would, I spent Tuesday night in Paducah, Kentucky on my way up to Kansas City from Athens. I'm sure the city is beautiful (I actually mean that; Paducah is located at the confluence of the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers and has some nice riverside scenery), but I didn't see much of it.

Here's a little of what I did see. Would you think that the building to the left above is the Days Inn, given the Days Inn sign in front of it? Me too! But we'd both be wrong! And I was! Which the lady in that hotel was all too happy to point out, and make me feel like an idiot in the process. It turns out that building is a different hotel, whose name I can't recall and whose sign is the smaller one to the left that looks like a busted up old shopping center sign (which I assumed is what it was, especially given the earth-moving vehicles parked in front).

Instead, the Days Inn was across a parking lot in this building (you can see my Alero parked in front of it in the picture below). The room was actually quite nice for the price. I even had a tricked out alarm clock! (I'm looking at you, Motel 6). If I ever drive (instead of fly) back to Athens for a visit, I'm totally going to stay at the same place. Maybe I'll even make time to explore Paducah next time.

I'm all settled in KC now. More on my travels and my new adventures in KC in future posts.

5 Days

2008-09-18T12:51:00.011-04:00

until departure. I will staying in Paducah, Kentucky on Tuesday night (yes, Paducah; I know it sounds like a made-up-middle-of-nowhere city, but it really is a city....in the middle of nowhere, Kentucky; what can I say, it is almost exactly halfway between Athens and Kansas City), then finishing the trip up on Wednesday. Work starts the 29th.

USA! USA! USA!

2008-09-18T12:51:00.007-04:00

Two important contests over the weekend for the U.S. in international sports competition:

The Davis Cup semifinals vs. Spain; unfortunately we're down a couple of guys, but hopefully the subs will be up to the task.

And of course the Ryder Cup vs. Europe in golf, where we're big underdogs.

USA! USA! USA!

Moving to Lee's Summit

2008-09-18T12:51:00.003-04:00

I've known this for a while, but I've been so busy planning the details that I haven't mentioned it on here. Everything got finalized on the USCIS job in Lee's Summit, Missouri (which I mentioned here), and I will be leaving next week. I hope that it will be a good experience and the start of a long federal career.

I am, seriously this time, going to up my posts on here and chronicle some of my travels and adventures. So if anyone out there in the world is interesting in keeping up with me, read this blog.

Gustav

2008-08-30T06:45:00.004-04:00

(image from NWS)

Fuck.

Boom!

2008-08-03T00:08:00.004-04:00

I have never seen a storm like the one I watched this evening from Get Coffee in Chamblee (cool place, btw...I highly recommend if you find yourself in the area). Continuous "cloud-to-ground" lightning, as they say in the weather reports, filling up the entire sky. It was like the movies, or something. It looked like the freakin' end of the world, actually. Fortunately I was kinda on the edge of the storm, which mostly went over the city of Atlanta proper and apparently knocked out a lot of power there, so, except for a few minutes where it was indeed striking very close to the shop, I mostly got a fantastic light show that was not putting me in any real danger. This would have been cool, except that I have an irrationally high level of mortal fear of thunderstorms, so I was cowering in the corner of the shop like a little pussy. This was unfortunate, because the girl tending the counter (who I think is the daughter of one of the owners) was absolutely beautiful, and she was probably not impressed with my wussiness. In fairness, she was also quite afraid, so much so that she called one of the owners to the shop.

Brilliant

2008-07-26T00:00:00.003-04:00

I hate this time of the sports year. Especially when the Braves are not in the fight for the playoffs (though they're trying to hang in there). Football season is right there, but I can't have it. It's in my face, but I can't grab it.

Instead, I have to settle for random musings about what people expect to happen in the football season. Fortunately for me, I ran into some of these musings that also just happened to be pure comedy gold.

Therefore, as a fan of both UGA football and good comedy writing, I simply must recommend this series of UGA 2008 football season previews by Hey Jenny Slater.

Holding Pattern

2008-07-25T23:41:00.003-04:00

So, for now I keep working my "temporary" (2 months and running, with no end apparently in sight) job with King & Spalding. I have been waiting since I submitted my documents on July 3 to hear from the background investigator for the USCIS job. Supposedly this part of the process can take up to 60 days, but I'm a bit concerned when people here are getting responses and turned their stuff it at basically the same time.

Recommitment

2008-07-21T22:52:00.003-04:00

I have decided to give this another go, and to make it more of a "real" blog, you know, actually chronicling my comings and goings and such.

I am going to be deleting the most stupid posts already on here; sorry if I take something off that you really enjoyed.

I have, in the last couple of months, been working a temporary job in Atlanta; at the same time I am in the background investigation phase of applying to work as an Adjudications Officer for USCIS. And I also just took the Foreign Service Exam. I will mostly be talking a lot about these things.

Because They're Made of Metal, And Robots Are Strong...

2007-08-12T14:27:00.000-04:00

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/2007/08/12/gwinswat_0812.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=13

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xVnkd7ot_pw

Congratulations Hamburg Sea Devils!

2007-06-23T15:58:00.000-04:00

Your 2007 NFL Europa World Bowl XV Champions.

Hamburg 37
Frankfurt 28

This is Hamburg's first World Bowl title, while Frankfurt falls to 4-4 in World Bowls.

Glengarry Glen Ross

2007-06-16T23:35:00.000-04:00

on IFC tonight. Man, I love this movie.

Hey, Wrigley Fans in the Outfield..

2007-06-15T15:55:00.000-04:00

Leave those balls alone!

And a Mighty Quack Went Forth from Southern California...

2007-06-06T22:18:00.000-04:00

The Ducks take Game 5 6-2 to take the series and the Stanley Cup 4-1. F U, Canada, with all your Kraff Dinner! We've stolen your sport, and we're not gonna give it back. We're gonna keep it and show it on VS forever, or at least until the apocalypse, which can't be far off if the Ducks just won the Stanley Cup.

Arizona Ahead and One Out Away...

2007-06-05T23:11:00.000-04:00

from sending us to a Game 3 tomorrow night. If that happens, we will most likely not be watching, since we will likely be at a debate for the special election congressional race. And that's it, Arizona wins 1-0 in 10. Why did we put another picture of Mendoza up? Because we may be falling in love with her, if you must know.

Did We Mention that Jessica Mendoza is Announcing?

2007-06-05T22:57:00.000-04:00

Hotness. Arizona threatening in the top of the 10th.

Free Softball!

2007-06-05T22:28:00.000-04:00

Arizona and Tennessee are locked in a scoreless extra inning game in Game 2 of the College Softball World Series. They have now completed 8 innings (softball games are only 7 in regulation), and it's about as gripping as the Blue Dog Democrats still talking at this hour in the House.

Final Debate Post (probably)

2007-06-05T20:45:00.000-04:00

Giuliani: blah blah blah...Washington is a mess (how many times did he say that tonight?)

Romney: "Small more to large more?"

Brownback steals a line from the West Wing: cure cancer in 10 years...

Thompson: Democrats are the "professional spenders"...

GOP Townhall Cont'd.

2007-06-05T20:32:00.000-04:00

Most Pressing Moral Question Today:

Huckaby: Sanctity of Human Life

Giuliani: Sharing Gifts from God, or something like that

GOP Townhall Cont'd.

2007-06-05T20:26:00.000-04:00

Hunter says we should be able to buy insurance across state lines...not a bad idea...

Thompson goes off on health care, but doesn't really answer the question...

GOP Debate, Townhall Portion

2007-06-05T20:20:00.000-04:00

Giuliani still trying to conflate Iraq and the general war on terror...

Gilmore gives a very boring answer to a question about conservation...

Tancredo invokes Teddy Roosevelt on the environment....good job...

GOP Debate Cont'd.

2007-06-05T19:57:00.000-04:00

Giuliani seems to think that changing the policy on gays in the military in the middle of war is more of a problem than kicking out gay linguists in the middle of war...

Romney pretty much agrees with Giuliani...

McCain goes for cheap applause and then likewise ducks the question....says don't ask, don't tell is working...

GOP Debate Cont'd.

2007-06-05T19:50:00.000-04:00

McCain wants to exercise the nuclear option on energy independence...

Ron Paul likes profits, but not oil wars...

Gilmore no likey Kyoto...