Is it next Friday yet? No, really? I swear these cliffhangers are killing me, and even though I'm aware of some spoilers because 4 months is just too long, I am still not all knowing. I love Battlestar Galactica.
For instance I think what I enjoyed the most about this episode was the final act. Adama finds out something horrible about Cain and decides that she has to be dealt with after much prodding from Roslin. At the same time Cain decides she has to get rid of Adama, but this is an easy choice for her. He stands in her way. Both commanders make their orders at the same time to their trusted officers, and it's obvious that it won't be an easy assignment. Starbuck is completely loyal to Adama but Cain has started to rub off on her. Besides, she's unpredictable. And what about Cain's XO? He's charged with getting rid of Adama's whole command, yet he's seen what Cain can do. The time is ripe for double crossings. All of this in just 5 minutes of dialogue. It's brilliant.

As if the country wasn't perturbed enough already by our President, who recently admitted to all the local spying and willingness to continue such rampant violation of our constitutional rights, here's another reminder that lately nothing in the USA is sacred.
Oops, did I say sacred?

Last month Goodman, an 81-year-old retired University of Kansas history professor, received a letter from his friend in the Philippines that had been opened and resealed with a strip of dark green tape bearing the words �by Border Protection� and carrying the official Homeland Security seal.
Goodman is no stranger to mail snooping; as an officer during World War II he was responsible for reading all outgoing mail of the men in his command and censoring any passages that might provide clues as to his unit�s position. �But we didn�t do it as clumsily as they�ve done it, I can tell you that,� Goodman noted, with no small amount of irony in his voice. �Isn�t it funny that this doesn�t appear to be any kind of surreptitious effort here,� he said.
The letter comes from a retired Filipino history professor; Goodman declined to identify her. And although the Philippines is on the U.S. government�s radar screen as a potential spawning ground for Muslim-related terrorism, Goodman said his friend is a devout Catholic and not given to supporting such causes...
A spokesman for the Customs and Border Protection division said he couldn�t speak directly to Goodman�s case but acknowledged that the agency can, will and does open mail coming to U.S. citizens that originates from a foreign country whenever it�s deemed necessary...
�This process isn�t something we�re trying to hide,� Mohan said, noting the wording on the agency�s Web site. �We�ve had this authority since before the Department of Homeland Security was created,� Mohan said.
However, Mohan declined to outline what criteria are used to determine when a piece of personal correspondence should be opened, but said, �obviously it�s a security-related criteria.�

When I was younger I always wondered what I should and shouldn't include in my letters to my cousin. I was always afraid that some mean Border Patrol agent would read it. After all it was going to Mexico, and the impression I had back then was that I could never send a package because they would steal it, so if you sent a letter gum might get through...anyway they'd read it. I was more paranoid that an agent would read what she had to say to me. She always had a new crush.
The moral of the story is: Don't make friends in foreign countries. They might like Snoopy and that's a big no no for Homeland Security.

USC went down last night, and I watched it live on tv. My Irish have been avenged, but of course nothing will be as great as the inevitable rematch this fall. For now I can rest easier knowing that USC is no longer #1.
Living in Texas it's really amusing to walk into a Starbucks today and suddenly realize that 3 out of 4 of the people sitting at the tables drinking coffee are sporting Longhorn caps or sweatshirts. Scary.

I've always found scooter commercials confusing. Here's this old person who appears to be able to walk just fine sitting suddenly in a scooter and acting like he/she has been liberated because he/she can wash the dishes without having to stand. All the people in the commercial are old. All of them can walk but need the assistance of the scooter. Pick a commercial and there will be a slight variation.
Newsweek has an article this week about scooters, and now the obese have been added to the category of people in need of these assistive devices. Except the arcticle in a way seems to imply that scooters seem to be more of a hindrance than a help. They're more of a luxury than a necesity.
Fact: Scooters are like feet. Instead of legs there are wheels, and one never has to worry about blisters. There are people who are born with the inability to move or exercise. There are people who are dealt a nasty hand in the middle of their lives, and gee suddenly it's difficuly to burn calories when the only thing worth exercising is a finger. Then there are the lazy bums. A scooter provides movement for all. It's liberating, and you don't have to be 77 to experience it.
Fact: Scooters are not a luxury. Government insurance will make you wait up to two years, and for some that means lying in bed until their new "feet" arrive. Commercials don't show that. They don't show how long it takes for repairs because that requires government approval as well.
Fact: A large percent of scooter users are under the age of 50 but they are rarely represented. Go figure.

This is a test. Third entry down and so far Sage is showing that it's not updating correctly. So hopefully today.
edited to add: ok it's working now.

What is it with the Fiesta Bowl? It's such a jinx.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Fumble!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes! Yes! It's because I started watching. Honestly, I thought another game was on. And for the record I think my roommate is going to kill me.
Go Irish. Beat Buckeyes.
Update: And I no longer feel bad for not going to the bowl game. I'm just going to pout now and look foward to the new season. After all, USC will no longer be #1. Just for this one time I'm going for the Longhorns.

First, Happy New Year.
I decided to hold off on blogging till 2006 because I thought it would be a cheesy new start. That and well I was flying back and forth between San Antonio and El Paso, and I caught a nasty stomach virus the day after my birthday that left me out of commision for a day and apathetic for two more.
New year, new start. Still hating the layout.
So, what's the best way to deal with drunk drivers? Put them behind bars or shame them? In Tennessee they prefer a form of community service that puts them in the limelight. Embarrassment 101 is the name of the class, and the offenders have to pick up junk along the highway wearing vests that say "I am a Drunk Driver." There is no better cure for a reckless malady than the art of humiliation. I think it's brilliant. Why the govenor disagrees, well maybe he doesn't want to get caught wearing the vest. Save any lives recently?

On Saturday it began. That annoying pressure in my nose that a simple allergy pill wasn't pulverizing in its tracks. I turned down an invitation to see Narnia. Me, the movie queen. Something just didn't feel right.
Sunday. I kept crashing into walls. The kicker was when I decided to bake cookies for my friends and Spanish students. For some reason I thought maizena was mazeca. Now I have two funky tasting batches of cookies. I made the mistake of telling my mother so she could coo and make me feel better because I'm sick. Hello, cold from hell. But no. She couldn't stop herself from laughing. How was I supposed to remember it was cornstarch! Add this to the long list of stories to tell the family at Christmas.
Today the fever breaks. I can't get rid of the cookies, and like every failed experiment I want to try again. At least I succesfully converted the grams into cups!

He made people laugh. He made me laugh. I remember seeing him in movies with Gene Wilder. He was even in one with Superman. It's rather sad to be living during a time where we're losing such wonderful people. Que duerme en paz.

The downside to not living at home with my mother: I find out at the last minute that all the qualifying teams for the 2006 World Cup have been assigned to their groups. I realize it's random. Still. It's 1990 all over again, and I honestly don't know how decent the US team is right now.
Ah! But the fever is building.
Did they have to place the Americans with the Italians and the Czechs?!? It's going to be a frickin' blood bath. In the meantime Mexico only has Portugal to deal with, and Argentina doesn't have it bad. Germany is of course in the Cup because they're hosting, but they always have a good team. As long as Brazil doesn't make it to the finals, I'll be happy.
Yes, I am a futb�l fan. Watch me become rabid. Rawr!