in Life of Giang

It’s because we don’t…have…maps…?

So, today at work Ai found a geography quiz online, and we both proceeded to prove to each other how little world geography we knew. In fact, to be brutally frank, we had a hard time with the US. Ai did better than I did, but it can probably be said that neither of us knew as much as we ought, given the fact that we are intelligent, educated adults.

Curt basically kicked our asses – he only missed one in the US map (Delaware), aced the Middle East, and pretty much everything else in the world except for Africa, which nobody seems to know, to our shame.

Argh. Must educate self.

in News, Politics

A little wow

A few notes for tonights: so we have a new president! It was interesting to watch the election coverage; they were so gun-shy in trying NOT to announce that he was winning hand over fist, while at the same time it was very evident they were trying not to announce it. Curt was furious that, basically, out West, California’s vote is basically discounted since by the time it got to us, it was very clear he would win. It always was, after all, but I see his point.

So much for the news media.

I am glad McCain gave a gracious speech. No matter what you think of the man’s politics, to take defeat with grace is a hard-won virtue; one that many people do not possess (including the ignorantly vocal minority of his constituency). So, hats off to him for that.

Now, looking ahead, I am hopeful that Barack Obama will be a good president. He may be a great president, if all of the words he used on the campaign trail about hope, America, and all that jazz turn out to be how he really feels. What I am wary of? Basically, every idea he has about the economy. His response to Joe the Plumber:

It’s not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they’ve got a chance at success, too… My attitude is that if the economy’s good for folks from the bottom up, it’s gonna be good for everybody. If you’ve got a plumbing business, you’re gonna be better off [...] if you’ve got a whole bunch of customers who can afford to hire you, and right now everybody’s so pinched that business is bad for everybody and I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.

Um…no. We should not spread the wealth around. That is not what wealth is for. Wealth is accumulated through work and success; success is not a hand-out. Success is not a tax break. Success is something more than that. Do you think tax breaks will = success for most people? I sure don’t. My (limited) wealth is not up for grabs to enrich people who are less “wealthy” than I am. They should do that for themselves.

And that’s why I didn’t vote for him. Still, as a nation that, merely 60 years go was mired in hatred and bigotry, electing Barack Obama president is an amazing thing. In that, if in nothing else, a good thing was done today.

So, here’s to four years, and may they be good ones, President Obama.

Also, I’m playing WoW again, and I love it! Except for that part where I sword-specced and realized I am dual wielding daggers… ;)

in Games

The Call of the WoWd

I might start playing WoW again, and it’s all Fable II’s fault.

Well, actually it’s Curt’s fault. We only have one XBox 360, only one Fable II game. Therefore, only one of us can be playing Fable II at any one time. Leaving the other one to find something else to do, while they are not hanging around and whimpering for playtime. At first, I thought my old Neverwinter Nights expansions would do it (I never finished them), but I found the interface clumsy and sterile, not as interactive as WoW, or Fable II. Also, I missed trade skills. I like making stuff. (As Curt puts it, I have the peculiar need to do work in games.)

So, yesterday I re-installed the game and downloaded patches. Today, hopefully, if the patches finish anytime soon, I’ll log on, make a new character (abandoning the Horde for the Alliance, since I figure playing the faction least familiar to me will make the game more enjoyable), and bide my time while my husband kicks chickens and cultivates that lovely pair of horns on his blue face. Or maybe I will bring back Dez. I do enjoy her so…

But, you know, I can always stop whenever I feel like it.

:)

in News, Politics, RANT

OMG THIS BLOOD VESSEL IS GOING TO BURST

HERE: http://cbs2.com/local/Obama.effigy.bloody.2.852550.html

“I am appalled by a man who is so close to being our president who won’t put his hand on the Bible, who won’t wear a flag pin.”

(For the record, Obama has sworn on the Bible and wears a flag pin.)

Oh my god, we’re all going to die. God forbid you vote for someone because of what he’ll do to fix the country, NO, it’s only important if he wears a flag and swears on the Bible!

GAHAHH, stupid cow! WHY ARE YOU ALLOWED TO VOTE!

Here’s another fun bit of trivia: Not only did the office building I work in once house a brothel (AND they were busted, cops and fleeing and the whole bit), but it also houses a mortgage broker and a US Representative’s satellite office.

Normally, the Congressman’s office is empty and devoid of activity. Over the last few weeks (during this fun period of life we all call “Election Season”), we’ve seen a steady stream of people show up there, one of them driving a Hummer. I have not spoken with any of them. However, I, and at least one other co-worker, can attest to the fact that the female half of that staff have atrocious bathroom manners.

I do not think that is coincidental.

in Life of Giang

Love

I am husband-less right now, as Curt is in San Diego training for his new job. He’ll be back on Friday, home for a week, and then two more weeks in San Diego. It is not an extraordinary amount of time, and I am being productive (as I often am in his absence), but the apartment has the air of yearning in it. I miss my mate.

in Cooking, Food

Foodstuffs: Hummuses!

Hummus: it tastes like it could almost be bad for you, but it’s much better than cheese.

Not that cheese isn’t freaking awesome.

I usually eat it with unsalted saltines. Which is fun. Should I call them unsaltines? Or just ‘ines?

Anyway:

1 (15.5 ounce) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 teaspoons cumin
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup water
Salt, to taste
Hot sauce, to taste

Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.

(This recipe is modified from the allrecipes.com “Curried Hummus”)

in News, Politics, RANT

Dear u know who:

Hello, Alex. ;) It’s nice to hear from you. Thank you for pointing out my past hypocrisies. I make no apologies. I realize that at one time, I decried the fact that people were driving SUVs, and then my parents bought me an SUV and I drove it. That was terrible; I have since amended my ways and sworn off SUVs, although I do, from time to time, realize that my little car might need more space in it to carry all the stuff I like to lug around with me.

And while we’re dredging up past hypocrisies: remember when you were a Republican homophobe? ;)

In any case, I have already voted. I am an absentee voter. I did not vote for Obama; I did not vote for McCain. I voted for an unspecified third party, which means nothing in this state anyway. I think (although I hope I am wrong) that they are both liars and whoever gets into office and then get mired down by the same political bullshit that is drowning this country from the bottom up.

And by the way, Reuters: the fact that I am not voting for either McCain or Obama does not mean I don’t pay attention to the news, nor does it mean that I’m uneducated. It is because, frankly, I don’t trust either one of them. Their stances are tailor-made to polarize according to party lines. If I believed for a moment that either one of them had the balls to do what’s right, I would support him. I don’t see it. It is not my fault that I do not trust politicians. It’s their fault that they don’t deserve it.

Thank you.

in News, Politics, RANT

The shoe on his foot (no – the other one)

A man in West Hollywood hung an effigy of Sarah Palin in his front yard as a Halloween decoration. Read the story here.

Now, I’m not big fan of Sarah Palin. In fact, I can’t stand her. But I find this in pretty poor taste. I wouldn’t lodge a complaint about it, as it’s just a Halloween decoration, and it would be a practice in futility to try to knock sense into people (and I don’t know if I’m the best person for that particular job, in any case.)

I wonder how this guy would feel if I were to live across the street from him and hang an effigy of him? Or his wife? Or his kids? Is it because she’s a public figure that she’s fair game? What if I wrote “Asian” across a dummy’s chest and hung that? Or “gay”? Or “People who shop at Hollister”? Why would any of those be a hate crime, and his effigy not one? Would hanging an effigy of Osama Bin Laden be widely lauded?

Of course I don’t advocate doing any of these things, but I just wonder what would happen if the tables were turned a bit. I know context is the meat of a statement, but I find it a little…lame.

in Games, Health

The Saturday Weigh-Down

The number is still taking a general downward trend, and I’m pretty proud of myself for staying motivated. It helps to weigh myself everyday, since Wii Fit tracks semi-pounds so I can see what works and what doesn’t. Plus, I’ve made sure to adjust my diet so I’m not eating food that’s terrible for me, but I’m not dieting in a way unsustainable in the long run. I’m excited! I’m looking forward to that line dipping down over the next few months. WhoO!

PLUS, this morning I unlocked Wii Woodchopping, which integrates exercise, money, and gaming all at once! READY!?

1. Start Wii Fit. Choose the prolonged Step Exercise. The Wii-mote counts out your steps, even when you aren’t looking at the game on screen.

2. Start Fable 2 and go to work Woodchopping. (*I dressed my character, Dumpling, in hot pants and a corset, since woodchopping is hard work, and that way the villagers all love me while I chop.)

3. STEP AND CHOP! STEP AND CHOP!

Et VOILA: money, exercise, multi-tasking! Curt loved my idea so much, all he could do was cover his face and quiver all over with the brilliance of his amazing wife. BAHAHH!

;)

* not essential