Ah, Back to Web Therapy

First and foremost, happy new year to everyone. Yeah, I know it's already the 5th, but since this is my first blog in a couple of weeks and I'm feeling optimistic about this new year (yeah, I know it's only the 5th), I figured I'd say it again.

That being said, we must take a moment to look at the ominous signs occuring around the world.

1) Not much to say about the South Asian tsunami that hasn't already been said in the media. Every few hours each day after the wave hit, the news kept reporting the number of dead: 15,000, 50,000, 79,000, 110,000, 155,000. I had to look hard this morning to find the latest numbers, but all I could really find were the number of body bags requested by certain cities. I guess the media understands the concept of saturation after all. I mean, considering the week after the holidays is when the largest number of people want to jump off bridges anyway, hearing about hundreds of thousands of dead, injured, and suffering might not be the ticket. My philosophy is a little twisted, though. When I hear about such a grandiose, totalitarian disaster as this, I feel somewhat thankful.

Speaking of thankful, CNN reported that a Malaysian cargo ship picked up a tsunami survivor at sea: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/01/04/tsunami.adrift.ap/index.html

Now, had this been me - adrift in the shark-laden waters of the Indian Ocean, clinging to some tree branches for over a week... hmmmmm, me thinks we would need a cargo ship full of valium for the rest of my natural life. To make matters worse, the Malaysian cargo ship was taking the poor soul back to Malaysia. Again, if it were me out there, I'd be screaming down the captain's neck and telling him to take my ass to Inner Mongolia.

Something else that caught my attention yesterday about this disaster was something Neil Boortz said on the morning teaser for his show - Hell no, I don't listen to the idiot's show, but this made me go, "Hmmmmmm." Then I heard it again on NBC News last night and it made some sense. Boortz said that "The world is gearing up to use the tsunami disaster as yet another platform (sic) excuse from which to attack economic freedom, capitalism and, of course, the United States" (as though anyone needed an excuse). NBC News clarified by staying that some Arab new networks were advertizing that the earthquake was actually caused by the US testing nuclear devices in the South Pacific. The Arab media was also saying that they performed these tests during the infidel's holiday of Christmas - incidentally - don't read the Koran or listen to what Mohammed had to say, in this regard, "infidel" is anyone who believes in any sort of iota of independence and freedom. Yicks!!! Granted, those folks out there who have 2 or more brain cells know this to be horseshit, but the fundamentalists, just gaga-gooing for another reason to hate the US, are going to eat this up. What's really sad on this note? Countries like Saudia Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar have only pledge measly amounts of money (like the initial sums given by the US) because they fear their money will fall into the hands of the infidels. Double yicks.

2) Onto another really, really apocalyptic sign???? How do locust swarms in Africa sit with you before breakfast? Check this out on National Geographic: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/channel/explorer/webpost.html The show airs Sunday at 8PM EST. This is going to really be something to give me the heebies. A friend showed me a picture of the locusts flying around the Pyramids in Egypt, but watch the video preview on the link above if you really want to get the creepies.

Well, that's enough negative stuff for such a pre-admitted positive blog. Now for some goodies to leave you feelin' happy

1) Roomie and I have decided to enter the 21st century. We have shunned the antiquated Windows 98 for XP, added billions meg to the harddrive as well as MS Office and -drumroll please - the 56K modem will be history sometime this afternoon as the Cable Guy will come by to install Broadband. Holy smokies, Batman.

2) Funny comment made by unnamed comedian on Comedy Central yesterday. He said he was traveling to Jamaica recently and was stopped by a customs agent. She asked him if he were carrying any drugs into Jamaica. He says, "Carrying drugs into Jamaica? No, wouldn't that be like carrying Slim Fast into Ethiopia." OK, cruel, but still funny.

3) Speaking of Comedy Central: Check out http://www.comedycentral.com/tv_shows/thedailyshowwithjonstewart/

Where Lewis Black who has a newbie on the show and Billy Connelly is a guest. Billy was supposed to be on discussing his part in the Lemony Snicket's film, but instead, he and John had a roving laugh over rabbit sex and pissing yourself.