Vandy Football

If the Commodores win one more game, they may replace the statue of Cornelius Vanderbilt in front of Kirkland Hall with a statue of Bobby Johnson.

Color me impressed... 3-0. Granted, there is still plenty of time for the typical Vanderbilt way of playing to come out but you know, good for them for having such a strong start to their season.

The Truth

DRUDGE REPORT 2005: "PAPER: Karl Rove's kidney stones may have hurt Bush..."

That's because Karl Rove's kidney stones are working for Halliburton, planned 9/11, sabotaged John Kerry with that whole Swift Vets story, got out before Enron collapsed and are weathy beyond their wildest expectations, are the secret love child of Sadaam Hussein and an unknown person, planted the CBS memo that got Dan Rather ousted, LOVE Green Day (especially that kicky song about Broken Dreams), and gave Karl Rove his love of Darth Vader.. or is that John Bolton his love of Darth Vader? Which ever. It's all the fault of the kidney stones.

They are evil.

Caption Contest

The way to lighten a situation is with humor. Lots of anger and frustration has been expressed over Katrina and the government's response. So, moving on from that, caption this:



Entries due Monday 9/19.

Wear pants that show all your suppluties

So... Good!

Perhaps these guys were talking to StrongBad.

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool....

than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt."
- Samuel Johnson (other variations attributed to Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain)

Uber-idiot Ted Rall decided to speak again and remind us all that he is, indeed, a fool. He tells us that the government - only - should be responsible for the clean up on the Gulf Coast because "charities are for suckers."

First, I bet he doesn't have too many lines under the "charitable contributions" part of his 1040.

Second, the Red Cross was there much faster than FEMA. Holy crap. Ted, are you really that stupid? It was a logistical nightmare - for both public and private agencies. In Franklin, a private warehouse has been turned into a shelter for evacuees. There are a job search station, some medical facilities, and a day care on site. FEMA came into that warehouse and now has an office but I don't think it set the place up. I could be mistaken, and if I am, I will retract this part of my statement.

Ted, you put far far far too much faith in the behemoth that is the Federal government. It moves slowly - by nature. It's too big to respond quickly to anything other than raising taxes or salaries for members of Congress. Private citizens are the first responders, whether they are the church, the Red Cross, or other organizations.

Government has been shirking its basic responsibilities since the 80s, when Ronald Reagan sold us his belief that the sick, poor and unlucky should no longer count on "big government" to help them, but should rather live and die at the whim of contributors to private charities.

Since when was it ever government's responsibility? Oh, since socialism took over in the 20th century. Let's take responsibility away from the local community and family. A big, anonymous government agency that gets paid whether you get help or not is a much better idea. We can really hold it accountable. Just think: if the Red Cross did what FEMA did in the last few weeks, the Red Cross would be out of business. FEMA will still be here - despite its massive screwup. I don't hear calls for the resignation of Gov. Blanco or Mayor Nagin either - unlike those for the former FEMA director Brown. Update: Gov. Blanco has accepted responsibility for state government's failures in the Katrina emergency. (hat tip: Lance in Iraq)

Instead of instilling people with self-reliance and with the capacity to do for themselves, let's line them all up to suck at a government teat. Then they will solely rely on government for support, knowledge, and everything short of breath itself (until they start taxing the air you breathe, that is).

I was going to go into a long personal explanation here, but I decided that it was not necessary to do so. There really is no need to start another 'who's had the harder life?' contest.

In short, the last phrase I ever want to hear is "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help." I don't trust the state (at any level) at all. They do not work in your best interest. They work for the preservation of the state.

The Bastardization of Country Music

While getting ready for work this morning, I turned the TV on to CMT. What song should be playing? Bon Jovi's new single "Have a Nice Day." At first I thought 'Oh, maybe Comcast changed the channel line-up again and I've missed it.'

No. It's a clip from the CMT Crossroads concert with Bon Jovi and Sugarland, premiering this week.

You are talking to the woman whose primary belly dance music selection is Spanish/Arabic techno as opposed to Egyptian orchestra that use real Middle Eastern rhythms.. or electronica that's one step away from being Nine Inch Nails - and I've thought about using a NIN tune in a dance. Scary. I'm all for fusion music, but somehow, this just seemed wrong to me.

And on previous Crossroads concerts, the rock tunes took on a bit of a country flair. This didn't. CMT is going to play Bon Jovi's song but is VH1, also owned by MTV - as is CMT, going to play 'Baby Girl'? Probably not. What's next? Rascal Flatts meets Green Day?

Today's Economics Lesson

Courtesy of Walter E. Williams:

The role of prices

Found My Sense of Humor

My wit went on vacation well before I did. Even if you don't think this is funny, I find it incredibly hysterical. I am a funny funny woman.

• pink_kitty_post: Launch cast is playing Sarah Brightman's Italian version of "My heart will go on."
• Miss O'Hara: Is it any better?
• pink_kitty_post: No.
• pink_kitty_post: It's a dead horse in any language.

I can't take you people anywhere

Wow... I go away for a few days and something akin to a flame war breaks out in the comments section.

I'm back. We are safe. And all is right in my world. Don't know about yours. Don't really care.

I am so fed up with the Katrina coverage and begging/blaming/weeping and gnashing of teeth in the media that I'm pissed off enough to hold back any donations for a while.

Before you start screaming "PK HOW CAN YOU?! You are a heartless..." blah blah. Having expericence with funerals, I know that lots of people give lots of offers assistance in the first few days. Shock and numbness often lead people to say "Thanks but I don't need it right now." That is because they are grieving and don't really know what they need.

But 2 months from the funeral, you need help cleaning out the garage. There are no offers of help. People put you off because their lives are busy. THAT is when you find out who your true friends are... the people who come over 2 years after something happened (thanks Elena, Duke Diva, and Ashley! I love you sisters!) to help you clean out the space.

When the stories have stopped. The telethons long forgotton, the need will still be there.

Think about that.

Double top-secret mission

Agent Pink Kitty,

Elena, Duke Diva, and yourself have been selected by the Agency to proceed to an undisclosed location for a mission of great importance to your state.

Keep an eye on Duke Diva as she is from your secret location's northern neighbor. Her loyalities may be questionable.

If your mission is successful, you will be able to return to your blog on Monday September 12.

Secret Agent Remington will be available for assistance.

Good-bye and Good luck.

Assigning Blame

Looking for a new reason to blame W for everything wrong in the world, there are those folks saying: George Bush and 'global warming' to blame for hurricane?

But not the hundreds of thousands of people who have chosen to build homes and businesses on the coast. It isn't their fault at all for choosing to live next to a body of water which has been known to be a pathway for hurricanes to make landfall for at least 100 years.

Nope. Personal responsibilty doesn't plan any part here.

Update: Miss O'Hara rightly pointed out that the Mississippi River is a vital avenue of commerce. I am very sorry to see so many people displaced from their homes, having lost everything they owned and possibly their jobs as businesses fold because they do not have the money to re-open. But one should assume the risk of living on a coast or in a city that is below sea level.

And where are the celebrities? No offense to the tsunami vicitims but... uh... where are those people complaining that Americans are stingy? Where is the telethon? Is it only because it happened over there or to the other that certain A-List people even bother?

True Financial Genius

WKRN has a story on the possibility that the Miss America pageant might move from Atlantic City. The owners are hoping another city might pay a fee to host the near-broke organization, in addition to paying a licensing fee, room and board, and provide a venue. You would think they are talking about a professional sports team.

Here's the most brilliant line:

"We don't need to break even. We need to put money in our pockets," he told officials here. "We are on a very short fuse financially right now."

OK, I'm not an economist. I've not had a business class either but even I know that a business does need to break even. The first couple of years might be rough but eventually, profitability should catch up. If it doesn't, it's a time to re-work the idea or close up shop. After 85 years, you'd think they would have figured this out by now.

Now, this doesn't apply if you are Donald Trump and can bilk your investors out of millions, file for bankruptcy and leave them holding the bill while you make enough to gold plate your underwear and date East European supermodels.

Freaky People

Apparently rain from a hurricane to Nashville drivers is the summer equivalent of snow. It took me 10 minutes to go 2 blocks for no other reason than people are stupid.

No wrecks. No traffic signals out. Not that many cars on the road.

I am not advocating un-safe driving because, well, most Nashville drivers are awful and they need to be more careful. But I just wanted to say "EVERYONE RUN TO KROGER FOR MILK, BREAD, and EGGS!!!!! IT'S RAINING!!!! RUNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!" for all the panic and bad behavior on the road.

Vote for Pedro

For the non-Nashvillians: our Director of Schools is named Pedro Garcia

Blake pointed this out from another Nashville blogger. Apparently Pedro is wanting Metro employees to come work at a phone bank to drum up support for a sales tax increase.

I thought my comment was too funny to just leave buried at Blake's:

Because we all know if we vote for Pedro, all of our wildest dreams will come true...

And [Mayor Bill] Purcell will come out in some sweet moon boots and dance to Jamiroquai.

Napoleon Dynamite rocks.

People with money should know better

It's been a while since my snark has been unleashed at bad celebrity fashion. With the gofugyourself website (as well as thesuperficial and idon'tlikeyouanymore - or whatever its name is), there is an abundance of celebrity gossip snark to be had.

However, somethings just can't be let go....



Paris Hilton, in an attempt to channel Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind, yanked down the drapes in her family's hotel. What worked for Scarlett doesn't work for Paris. Maybe she needs the curtain rod a la Carol Burnett.

















(statement from Miss O'Hara) "She looks like she swam through Vaseline."

Update....

Still no word on Kitty. She's still out there somewhere.

Stupid cat.

UPDATE: No, I didn't find her, but there was a similar looking cat in the email I got from petharbor.com that had me fretting. Elena doesn't think it's Kitty. When I called, they said that cat had been adopted.

I emailed Elena and said, "What if that was Kitty and someone else took her????"

Elena said,

The Web site showed that the personnel there think that kitten is a year old. Kitty's much older than that. Wouldn't they be able to tell that?

PK said,

I don't know. Some of them don't seem that bright. They do work for the government, you know.

Misusing Christianity

There are times when other 'Christians' want to make me crawl under a rock and hide because they are so freakin' stupid it isn't funny.

It isn't even sad. It's enough to leave most reasonable people aghast at their behavior. Nathan, our new TN chapter leader of Protest Warrior brought this story to our attention. Another entry can be found here.

Apparently being a moonbat doesn't just mean that one is to the left. I mean, Cindy Sheenan is looney but this is by far worse...

The Westboro cult that has godhatesfags.com website is now protesting the funerals of fallen US Service men and women saying that the US is being punished in Iraq for homosexuality.

I would make fun of it and of them but, somehow, I have more respect for our troops than that. I have more respect for people who disagree with the current policies than this group.

It is a funeral! Could it be in any more bad taste than to attack a grieving family with a non-sensical ideology than defies logic? Protest Warrior is organizing a counter-protest. I have details for those interested. Send me an email.

The Second Memo: A Pink Kitty Original

From: Lisa Miller, Dean of Diversity
Harvard University

RE: Mascots

I applaud the NCAA's recent efforts to elminate harmful and offensive school nicknames and mascots. We must all work together to create a peaceful environment where no one is offended by the name of a particular sports team - only the fact that their team may lose. That is the subject of another memo. Perhaps the NCAA and other sports governing bodies will consider eliminating scoring altogether so that no student is left feeling bad about him or herself because of a loss.

I will not even begin to address the ranking system or BCS polls. Those are a travesty!

Back to the subject of nicknames, forcing schools to change obvious offenders such as Seminoles, Utes, and Warriors is not enough. We must also be sensitive to our animal friends. Names like Bruins, Gamecocks, and Ducks are harmful to animals. They create false sterotypes that animals are... well.. animals. They are not lowly animals, beneath us and here for our pleasure or to serve as workers! They are vital parts of this world; we must live in harmony with them - in the great circle of life.

I recommend that Harvard change its school color from Crimson, which invokes blood, lust, and violence, to something more sedate and non-offensive like baby blue. That color works for the University of North Carolina. It could work for us as well. Although UNC must change its nickname. Tarheel is offensive though I really don't know what it means or what it says about North Carolina history.

I'm from the North and I know better than those raggedy, backwards Southerners.

Happy Birthday!

Go say Happy Birthday to Difster!

Playing with Dolls

Via a story on Fark.com, I came across this... uh.... guy... who wants to be a human Ken doll.

After some searching, the only Ken doll that I found that remotely looked like him was this gay-ish looking German clubbing Ken who hangs out with Masochist Barbie. This Barbie looks like the love-child of Til Tuesday, Kajagoogoo, and a skunk.






















Then I came across a trio of the most non-hetro dolls ever....






















Hudson, River and Sutton? What the...? That's like your parents were hippies but they aren't now.. but they are pretending to be hippies so that the look sort of cool and to hide the fact they totally sold out and went corporate.

Have you seen me?

Help! I've been missing for almost 3 days now. My serv... I mean, human is very worried about me. Despite what my human has said about me on her blog, I really am very friendly. I would probably walk right up to you if I saw you on the street. Miss O'Hara and her Dear Fiance' can attest to exactly how cute and sweet I am.

Yes, my name is Kitty. I'm 12 years old in human years and am your typical looking domestic short-hair: gray with black stripes. I have big green eyes - that comes from the fact that I'm also 1/2 Persian.

If you are from Nashville and you've seen me, please email pink_kitty_post@yahoo.com. I'm sure my human will give you something for my safe return.

Caption Contest Winner

It's been so long... you might have forgotten there was a Caption Contest going on.

The winner is.....

"Grandma never was very good at playing Peek-A-Boo".
by Pablo

Congrats! You get to wear the Burger King Caption Crown until such time as I hold a new contest.

You can save the environment...

with your hybrid car, but the state won't let you get there any faster.

Bleg

If you see this on Nashville is Talking aggregator (specifically I'm asking for help from Nashville folks because y'all folk around the country aren't going to be of much help unless you happen to know someone here in Nashville)...

Have you remodeled your home recently? Know a good contractor? I am remodeling the house in Berry Hill and would love some referrals. Email me at pink_kitty_post@yahoo.com.

Thanks!

Erotic Foods

You know.. just because I choose to enjoy an ice cream cone on a warm day doesn't give you permission to stare at me and wonder exactly what my tongue could do elsewhere!

How did I know? The man, who was standing nearby and staring, had a bulge in his pants that wasn't there when I sat down on the bench.

Well, which is it going to be?

Toleration of other cultures in a super-PC manner or extreme women's rights?

In this little news story, a group of faculty at VA Tech are upset that the school has segregated classes for a delegation of visiting Saudi faculty - which is in accordance with Saudi custom at their colleges and universities.

I just find this very humorous that this professor would probably tell Joe Sixpack on the street that you have to respect another culture and don't infringe upon their practices because who are you to judge. But when it plops down in the middle of their world, someone gets their panties in a wad that the other culture isn't respectful of women's rights... when everyone pretty much knows that conservative Middle Eastern cultures don't have the same appreciation for women's rights that Western societies do.

Bass-Ackwards, lemme tell ya

So, my brother and I finally came to an agreement on what to do with the houses. I'm going to keep the Berry Hill house and he's going to keep the Antioch house. We can each do with them as we would like.

So I called the loan officer I had been working with to ask about switching from a mortgage to some type of home equity loan. I plan take out a small loan to do some repairs and upgrades and then pay it off with the life insurance money.

It turns out, I may have to buy a home I already own to get money to do the renovations...

Now does that make ANY sense? I didn't think so.

Perhaps it is the failure of the reader (me) to comprehend the complex issues via email. I hope that it will make more sense when we speak on the phone tomorrow.. because right now.. it's just stupid.

In the useless study department

Study: In dating, extravagant gifts keep on giving

Thank you:

Watch where you spit....

I HAVE THE POWER!!!!!!!

Another He-Man is in the works. I remember the first one... it wasn't very good.

Starring super-hottie Jason Lewis of Sex and the City. He's another in the long line of proof that men in their 30's are... are.... *mind wanders off for a moment* Hm... sorry about that. Where was I? Oh yeah... men in their 30's are hot.

Strangly enough, Mr. Lewis looks a bit like Mr. Ledger. Mr. Ledger was involved in his own SATC like story while dating Naomi Watts, a woman 11 years older than him. In Mr. Lewis's story line, he hooks up with the ultimate urban cougar: Samantha Jones. But enough of that....

Will this movie have She-Ra? Who will play Skeletor? Will He-Man and Teela hook up? Or will it get all "Star Wars" on us with some brother/sister love like Luke and Leia in Empire Strikes Back? Will they get Andy Sirkis to do the human representation of Orko... or will they spare us and leave Orko out of the movie?

Thanks to Elena for the tip!

Uh.... that's an interesting ad.

Given the subject of Vox's column this week, which is where this screen shot was taken from, is it just a coincidence? Or a bad choice of wording on the part of Target? You will have to click on the picture a couple of times to get it to the right size.

The First Memo: A Pink Kitty Original

To: Harvard President Larry Summers
Harvard Deans
Harvard Department Chairs
Harvard Faculty and Staff

From: Lisa Miller, Dean for Diversity

RE: Increasing Diversity at Harvard University

To begin this note, I would like to thank President Summers for his forward thinking actions to promote diversity at this esteemed and well-respected institution. The push for increased diversity came from a contentious place (the meeting where he said the reason more women were not in the sciences because women had made other choices - like have families - that would take them off the tenure track), but I know that his actions will create a ripple effect across academia.

In my new role as Dean for Diversity, I will focus my efforts for the 2005-06 academic year on two key areas: diversity in hiring of faculty and diversity of and within the student body. This first in a series of memos will discuss hiring policies to create a more diverse faculty.

My staff will be working with the Office of Human Resources and academic departments to ensure that all top candidates are minorities – regardless of educational background or experience. Female minorities are particularly encouraged to apply as they will likely be hired. Male minorities will do well. European-American women come next, and last and least are European-American men. They are a part of the problem – the patriarchy. It must be stopped.

My office will be the shining example on which the rest of Harvard and ultimately academia should follow. I have already placed women into the management positions. Men have been hired in the support staff area, completely reversing the stereotype of the female secretary/office assistant.

It is a shame that only 11% of Harvard’s faculty are women yet represent over half of the student body. Thank you to President Summers for having the vision to correct this travesty! I look forward to the new challenges that we will face in making Harvard a truly multi-cultural university.

Modest without the FRUMP!

I'm not sure who's style they are talking about but.. uh... er... this is not cute. It's not stylish either. Why is it that modest must equal colorful burlap sack? Huh?

Girl's thought: I need to leave the house but lest I incite some man to lust, I need to be modest. I know, I will wear nana's quilt! It will keep me safe!

Just wear the burqa and get over it. At least the blue burqa is a cool color.

Caption Contest

It's a slow blog week. I've been trying to avoid just absolutely b*tching here because I know no one wants to hear it. God bless Elena and Miss O'Hara for listening to me.

For some reason, this picture needs something funny. I need something funny.

Old and Busted

That would be Perry March. You know, Nashville-folk.. the whole Janet March story from way back when. It just screamed to be made in to a TV movie (It would be for Lifetime but maybe some other crap chanel would pick it up) but since there was no end to it, it couldn't be a movie yet.

So 48-hours did a special. And the Nashville Scene did a story (thanks to NIT for linking those so I don't have to.) This will be Nashville's version of the trial of the century. I can't wait to see the media circus!

Arrested and brought back to face second degree murder charges. I couldn't be a juror because I've thought all along he did it. Why? I dunno. As one poster said on her blog: it's a very Perry Christmas.

Thanks for the Memories

Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto

Assigning Blame

Oliver Stone blames Alexander reception on American youth

But... the fact that it was a crappy --- movie had nothing to do with it. Of course.

Poking the Dog

It's a phrase we use around work to let someone know to let something or someone alone. "Don't poke the dog...."

Well, I think I'm going to poke it just a little... see what kind of reaction/advice I can get... because many of y'all are definately smarter than I am.

Preface

I don't necessarily hold the point of view the question is asked. It came up in a coversation I had a long time ago and had it sitting in the draft folder for weeks.

Question

What does the Bible really have to say about sex? We know there is a wholesale endorsement of it via the Song of Solomon. Is it supposed to be within marriage only or do long-term committed relationships qualify? Marriage was a religious institution long before the state decided to make it a contractual agreement between parties. Marriage also occured at much younger ages than it typically does now. What does one do as they get older (when the message of True Love Waits starts to sound a little old and hollow)?

How much of our contemporary Christian views of sex are really found in the Bible? Is it possible to be sexually liberated and a Christian? By sexually liberated I mean to be aware of and comfortable with one's sexuality - I don't mean just wandering around and sleeping with who ever says 'yes.'

In her book Real Sex, Laura F. Winner puts forth the idea of chastity as a spiritual discipline and hints that discipline in general is missing from the modern church (not explored further in the book but my guess is that it makes fodder for a future volumn). She became a Christian yet did not stop having sexual relationships with her significant others. She wasn't willy nilly screwing guys from bars a la the Sex and the City girls but it was in a relationship she was committed to.

I found her book to be more helpful than most. I have often expressed great frustration of the Christian response to just about any question "Well, you just need to pray more."

Ok.... sure. And why don't I poke my eyes out with a stick while I'm at it. But let me beat you with it first because that sounds so HOLLOW! Just a pat answer that someone gives when they don't know what to say. Like at a funeral when someone says "they look peaceful" or "don't they look good?" No. They don't. They look dead and now move along. Move along.

That is if they don't turn beet red and run away for the fact that you dared to mention sex at all. That you might want it/need it/miss it. After all, good Christians don't talk about such things... pfft.

It helped me to see that it was WHAT I was praying about that needed to change. Instead of focusing on the desire - whatever it may be: anger, lust, greed, etc... - as well as what I think may be lacking from my life, I shifted to praying and giving thanks to God for His grace and the gifts He has given me. It made a tremondous difference in how I responded to temptation.

However, as a healthy young woman, the need does present itself more forcefully on occasion. What boundries should one place on a relationship with a significant other? What is the context of sex? Where do masturbation and fantasies fit into this when one isn't involved in a relationship? Why is it that people (particularly Christians) think that your sexuality switch is going to magically flip on when you get married? That you will just automatically be comfortable being naked around your spouse?

This is a heck of alot of questions for which I have few good answers. Lets here what y'all have to say.

Revenge of the Torch Singer

Tonight, I went back to TPAC. Some of you might remember the last experience I had there... if not, here's the post to refresh your memory.

It was much much much more pleasant tonight. I had a fantabulous time. Michael Buble is great. Not my favorite of the revenge of the jazz/torch/lounge singers but still... it was like being sucked back into a 1960's Las Vegas lounge for a little while.

I loved every minute of it! His voice is outstanding... even the attempt to kick Josh Groban's you-know-whats-its by singing opera. And Maroon 5. And Michael Jackson. The highlight of the show had to be at the very end when he put the mic away and sang acappella in Jackson Hall. Just his voice filling the hall... *sighs and smiles*

Very happy birthday to me!

Aside: of my three favorites, two are Canadian. Seems that Canada is doing something to produce awesome jazz singers, eh?

Also, thank you everyone for the well-wishes! I very much appreciate them!

Today is the day...

It is officially my birthday!

Yippee.

When it's ok to yell at the movies

When you are the only one in the theater enjoying a final-week run of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith... probably the last time you will ever see a Star Wars movie on a big screen.

And I mean the only one. Just me.

Questioning Padme's intelligence (OH COME ON! Who says that crap?!), Obi-Wan's reasoning capabilities (Absolutes? Didn't Palpatine say earlier that good and evil were points of view... so the Sith aren't dealing in absolutes...), swooning over Anakin shirtless.. and pretty must whenever Obi-Wan was on the screen. The man is hot.

Happy Birthday to me!

Deb: "What are you drawing?"

Napoleon: "It's a liger."
Deb: "What's a liger?"
Napoleon: "It's pretty much my favorite animal. It's like a lion and a tiger mixed... bred for its skills in magic."

Except that in this story, liger is apparently a trademarked word or something.

Caption Contest Winner

In the non-Monty Python category: it's Elena with Bush: Wow! Diet Dr. Pepper REALLY DOES taste like regular Dr. Pepper!

In the Monty Python inspired category, it's: Digital Cowboy with
Chirac: "None shall pass."
Bush: "I must enforce this UN Resolution."
Chirac: "Then.. you shall... die!"
(skip down)
Chirac: "The French Knight always triumphs!"
Bush: "You're a looney."
Chirac: "You yellow bastard! Come back here! I'll bite your knees off!"

Though Sharon Cobb's Bush: Wow. I thought the G8 Summit was about the velocity of the African swallow, not about African debt relief. So, can anyone tell me the veolcity of the African swallow? was very very close.

Hahahahaha! Congrats!

Notice the Resemblence?

That's SCOTUS nominee John Roberts on the left...

Larry Linville as Maj. Frank Burns from M.A.S.H. on the right.

Freaky.

Caption Contest - World Leaders Edition

I found a pair of pics that I think are good fodder for your creativity. Pick one. Use both. Just.. please.. safe for work entries! Much obliged! Entries due the morning of Tues July 26th.

But.. you would think the French wouldn't commit such an obvious fashion faux pas - Chirac's pants are about up to his waist. That's just awful.

Update: Challenge - how many Monty Python themed entries can we get?

The only good thing about the state...

Since I don't want to go to jail, etc... I have to have a driver's license. The least the state could do is make it easy for me to renew it....

Tennessee Department of Safety - Renew License Online

5 minutes and I renewed my license online. THAT totally made my day. I know. It is completely against my libertarian principles but I didn't have to go stand for hours at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. Freakin' sweet!

Smurf-tastic!

A CGI Smurfs movie will be out next year.

I, for one, will pass. I hate the Smurfs. Annoying, preachy, self-righteous, European trolls. Some little blue thing came to him in a drug induced haze and said "Dude... it's all about the Smurf" and a show was born.

GI Joe.. that was a cartoon I could get into. Besides, could one play "smurfs" outside? GI Joe, you could take outside. Yay... I'll be Baker Smurf! That's like saying I'll be Swedish Chef from the Muppets... Salad a la boom-boom and BorkBorkBork!

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

or "Observations on Turning 30"

With my birthday - one of those milestone birthdays - now 7 days away, I've spent a little bit of time thinking about where I've been, where I thought I would have been, and where I am going.

Today, we will start with where I thought I would be when I turned 30.

At 15, I thought I would be old and life would be over at 30. I also thought that I would be the world's greatest singer and/or music promoter. I would be married out of college.

At 17, when I was an intensely liberal angry person (not they always go together), I thought I would be in the state House or Senate on my way to being the first female President. Or I thought I would be in the US Foreign Service department, working in a consulate overseas on my way to being Secretary of State.

At 20, I went into denial and annouced that I wouldn't deal with anything at the present time. "I will deal with that in therapy when I'm 30." Still wanted to work for the US State Department. Comfortable with the idea of not being married but instead living together with boyfriend... not having one at the time didn't stop me from adding that to my plan.

At 22, I thought I would be well on my way in an academic career. I should be finished with graduate school by the time I'm 30.. have an assistant teaching position and on my way to tenure.

After the age of 25, I kind of stopped thinking about where I would be at 30. Of those goals that I set at various ages, I have achieved none of them. Life kind of works like that. Is it that depressing? Not really and I will talk about that in other entries.

Today's Useless Study

Men with more money have more sex

The findings, from an online survey conducted by the BBC, offer fresh evidence for the theory that women tend to be more attracted to men with money and resources, but that a woman’s wealth does not much affect her sex appeal to men. “Men accumulate resources, which they use to attract women,” John Manning, Professor of Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire, who analysed the results, said.

Because testosterone leads to a strong libido... and having more testosterone tends to make people more competitive (in many areas of their life). If they are more competitive, they are likely to be out there and looking for more opportunities to "score" - the deal, the hot chick.

And that competitive side is definately a more masculine trait. Generally, women are attracted to more masculine men. And the more masculine a woman is, the less likely she is to be attractive. I'm grateful that the BBC did this study so I could know what human nature has been doing for ages.

To the typical female mind: more resources=more security.

But having money doesn't work for the Czech lawyer who had over 5000 marriage proposals declined.

See also: CNN.com - Third of study results don't hold up

Thank you, researchers! It's almost as earth shattering as the realization in the final season of Sex and the City "Well, he's just not that into you."

Southern Exposure

I'm late in chatting about this particular topic. It hit Sharon Cobb's blog, Nashville is Talking and Pith in the Wind a few days ago, but I didn't see the video in question until yesterday.

I'm talking about Jessica Simpson's remake of "These Boots are Made for Walking." (See the video there). It will forever be linked in my mind with fem bots from Austin Powers. However, someone decided that it would be a great song for the new Dukes of Hazard movie.

First, I'm not going to comment about Ms. Simpson's clothing or lack there of other than to say: she has one great brazillian wax person. Wow. That is one freakishly small bikini.

Second: Her dancing has improved. Not great but much improved over previous attempts to dance in music videos. Not that many guys will be paying attention to her dancing.

Third and my real beef with the song: it isn't good. At all. It sounds like Jessica is having the Big O for 4 minutes. Heavy breathing and stunted words like she is having some sort of seizure. While subjecting myself to this unmitigated piece of crap, I asked "PK - why are you watching this? Turn the freakin' channel! Save yourself 3 minutes! PLEASEEEEEEEE!!!" But no....

Willie Nelson (who plays Uncle Jesse) is in the video and mumbles his one line and looks like he has other things to be doing rather than shooting the video.

Is it 4 minutes of my life that I will never get back? Yes but on the plus side, it did lead into blog fodder.

More pictures from Iraq

OIF 3 Pics 706
Originally uploaded by pink-kitty.

My brother must have had access to a computer recently. I received a CD-Rom with over 700 pictures on it - going back to last September.

This one is his favorite. The little girls blow kisses at every convoy that goes down the road. Click on the flick photstream and then look for "Operation Iraqi Freedom." All of the photos are there.

I take it back....

Dear Faith,

I said many horrible things about your love of all things fashionable and East and West coasty after Breathe took off like gang busters. You really hit the big time with that song. Country radio. Pop radio. VH1 and MTV played the video a million times.

Thing is - the rest of Nashville said horrible things too. You really lost your country cred. So much so, you had John Rich write you a song proving to us that you are still a country girl when Gretchen Wilson showed up all the pretty-pop-princess-but-stuck-in-country-music wannabes (I'm talking to you Shania!) by being her (packaged) Redneck self.

You did the movie - Pearl Harbor and then Stepford Wives. And some commercials. I forget what else. I pretty much quit paying attention after Breathe was played to death and then beaten like a dead horse. You know it made it when Cledus T Judd parodies it. And we will leave your metrosexual husband out of this discussion. The only man in country music that has more stylists than Tim McGraw is Keith Urban.. maybe Jeff Bates. But we can talk about that some other time.

Well, Faith. I take all the mean things I said about your over-stylized hair and couture clothing back.

Please... for the love of all things fashionable and within your purchasing power: take off the mumu and get back into Gucci (or other label of your choice).

With warmest regards,
Pink Kitty

P.S. Did anyone else notice that Nicole Kidman's last couple of movies have been remakes of TV shows or movies? Hollywood has truly run out of ideas.

Update: Seems as though people think I'm making this photo up. Here is the source. It is Faith Hill and I pulled it from Yahoo News Photos.

Quote of the Day

"There is so much cheese in that I have orange powder under my finger nails."
- Duke Diva

Lunch Time Conversations

What I overheard isn't particularly funny... it's particularly sad.

Woman #1: When I started dating him, he wasn't divorced yet. I still don't know if he's divorced.
Woman #2: Have you talked to him about it?
Woman #1: Yes. He got real quiet and wouldn't say anything for a long time. When he finally said something, he said he didn't want to talk about it anymore.

[later]

Woman #1: And then he (same married fellow) got mad because I had some (I am assuming dried) flowers in my living room that were given to me by [unidentified ex-beau]. He told me to take them out of the house.. that he didn't like them. I said that I liked them because they go with my color scheme not that they have any sentimental value.
Woman #2: What did you do?
Woman #1: I got rid of them. What else could I do?

---- PK's thoughts ----

Keep your flowers? Get some self-respect and tell him to go back to his wife?

A Nursery Rhyme

in the style of StrongBad

There was a little girl
Who had a little curl
Right in the middle
Of her forehead.

When she was good,
She was very very good.
When she was bad,
She was awesome.

* StrongBad email inspiration found via Elena *

Mis-diagonsed Eras

The seller described the above eBay item as "Vintage, Victorian, Elegant,1920's dress,Cocktail Dress"

How does PK describe it?

"Vintage New Jersey 1980's prom"

I was good....

I've known for a week and I didn't spoil Miss O'Hara's big news...

That she will no longer be Miss in a few months but a Mrs!!!!

And she called to tell me and she let me prattle on about house hunting and estates for a HOUR before telling me! Can you believe that? Well, regardless, blessings to the happy couple!

Just in case anyone else had big news, I've been asking people at the beginning of conversations "what's going on" like 3 times to be sure.

*sniffle* I'm so happy!

Shopping!

DISAPPEARING CIVIL LIBERTIES MUG from Uncommon Goods.

Seems to be appropriate after the last few weeks don't you think?

I ordered one.

Nate is right....

Man faints, dies after seeing epidural

I believe Nate says that the man's place during childbirth is out in the waiting room smoking... if this fella had listened to that, he would still be alive.

Thursday's Random Thought

Inspired by LILEKS (James) :: The Bleat

Thoughts on Padme's Pregnancy

Padme really wanted to be the first intergalactic warrior princes and make Xena quake in her boots... because Xena wasn't nursing twins at the time she was kicking ancient booty...

If Padme was decieving Anakin because she knew he was going bad then..

* Anakin's power to sense what others are thinking sucks.
* She was planning to leave or hide the babies after birth.
* She was really in love with Ewan McGr... I mean Obi Wan Kenobi. That's why Leia and Luke get to call him Ben in Episode IV. Because no one else calls him Ben.
* If she was leaving, she would be the poster child for single women/single mothers in the Rebellion.
* If she did become a single mom, Dr. Laur-wan Schles-adokala would have chastised her on behalf of The Empire for abandoning her husband even though he turned to the Dark Side of the Force. Because we know that the Empire is all about family values....

Passive-Aggressive Office Mates

In the office downstairs, a sign appeared on the window this morning asking people to not stand in front of the window and talk... because there are people working in there, you know.

Months ago, a sign appeared on the door asking people to not smoke in front of the same window. Just so happens there is a bench and the ashtray just outside this door - so talkers and smokers tend to congregate there on their breaks.

So far today, everyone who has walked inside the building through that entrance has been making a scene to spite that sign. One girl stood outside of the window and yelled "BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!"

Announcement!

Everyone, I have an announcement to make...

My birthday is coming up. Not just any birthday.. my 30th birthday. And because I like y'all so much.. I'm issuing an invitation to my little corner of the blogosphere to my birthday party.

Thing is: you have to e-mail me to RSVP in order to get directions and stuff. I may be in the phone book but I'm not sticking it up here.

It's a BBQ at my house. So if you plan to be in Nashville on Saturday, July 30th, shoot me an email (pink_kitty_post @ yahoo.com - remove the extra spaces) for more information.

Beer, pulled pork, etc... what could be better? And if its too hot outside for even a late afternoon/evening party, we will figure out a way to make room in the house.

Ramblin' Ramblin' Ramblin'

Disclaimer: This post is likely not to interest anyone... please consider it as talking outloud to oneself.. except for the freaky story in the middle. That might be amusing.

When one is attempting to close multiple estates, with multiple real estate locations.. the burden of deciding what goes and what stays laying squarely on your shoulders... and after a year and a half, it because... heavy, tiring, and just down right dull.

With the end in sight, I have one last decision to make... the Pink House... my grandmother's house in very desirable Berry Hill. Why it's the cat's meow, I dunno. I like her house. It's cute. It's in good shape. So I've spent the last year wrestling with the question: do I keep it or do I sell it? If I keep it, do I live there or should I set it up as a rental property?

Last week, basically on a whim, I decided to buy a house. Really - who decides to buy a house on a whim? Me, I guess. I saw one I liked and called my realtor and off we went. When I told the Associate Pastor's wife about it on Sunday (they've stepped up and are the best surrogate parents a girl could ask for), she was insistent that I remodel (that's because when they bought their house, they remodeled.) Remodeling it might be good if I plan to live there for 20 years.. or if I could do it myself and keep costs down.

Before I finish that story, I should tell you this story....

One of my best friend's came down from Clarksville for the weekend and she wanted to see the house I was interested in. We were going to eat a late lunch first but the place was closed so she insisted on driving by before we went to another restaurant. "Fine. I'll show it to you."
We get there and another realtor is taking a couple through. Girl hops out of my truck and runs up to the porch to ask if she would let us walk through very quickly.
Realtor is dumbstruck and couple viewing the place just doesn't know what to think... until....
"Do you have a realtor?"
"Yes, we do. We were just driving by and saw it was open... thought we would ask..."
And.. then that look... the realization that she had just said.... we. Fortunately, they were hippies and probably didn't think anything of it. Have I mentioned that I hate hippies?

Back in the truck I said "Like I need any more instances of mistaken sexual identity in my life!" Anyway, it provided quite the source of amusement for the next hour.

Upon closer inspection on Sunday with my realtor, it is basically a dump - misrepresented the size of the rooms, how many bedrooms (they counted the mudroom as a bedroom because there is a bathroom and something that resembles a closet. Hello? This is a mudroom!) The bathroom would have to be gutted and re-done... blah blah blah. It's a no-go on that house.

Do you honestly think that I would willingly choose to move from a middle class neighborhood into a lower class neighborhood? Yeah. I'm a snob. Everyone I talked to in the neighborhood was very nice - just good folks. But, I'm not living there. And no one I know would ever let me buy the house across the street from the pair of duplexes that have 9 cars parked there.

But I did find one I like and will be doing a second viewing this week. I should tell you this story too... Duke Diva came with me and the realtor so that there was another set of eyes looking at everything. And we walked into the cellar and she said "PK!!! Look at the wall!!"

I look at the wall and there are bugs all over it. At which I do the appropriately girly thing and shriek. "PHIL!!! WHAT IS THAT BEHIND YOU??? OH MY GOD!!! Are those spiders??"

"PK, those are crickets. It's cold and dark down here..."

"Well, they have to go! If they got in, things that are more disgusting can get in!" (For the record, we killed no bugs in the cellar of that house - which will make a fabulous place to keep wine!)

"The Chinese say that having a cricket in your house is supposed to be good luck... this house must be the luckiest house on the planet," Duke Diva said.

Sunday night, I'm laying in bed, praying about the whole situation. I said "God, if I could just talk to my brother... get his feedback on it. That would really be helpful." That was at midnight.

At 3am, while I'm awake suffering from a physical reaction to dinner the phone starts ringing. I scramble to get it and miss the call. And it's from the number that pops up when I get calls from Iraq. I sat there on the couch just saying over and over "Please call back. Please call back. Please call back. Please call back."

Sure enough, he did.

Since he had the day off, we got to talk for a whole hour. There is usually a 30 minute time limit. It was great. So I told UTMan about possibly selling the Berry Hill house. To summarize what he said: "Sell it. It's doubled in value. Get our money before the Planning Commission comes in and takes it because of Kelo!"

Then speaking to the realtor this morning, he suggested keeping it and using it for rental property. *bangs head on desk*

Well, that's where I am. Thanks for reading, if you are still reading and haven't stuck your eyes with hot pokers. I'm off to lunch.

Caption Contest Winner

Another contest has come and gone... parting is such sweet sorrow...
Blah blah blah. I am not the poet - Elena is.

So the winner is..... *drumroll*

Explode damn you! EXPLODE!!!
Tyler D.

Way to go! You get to wear the Burger King Crown until the next caption contest.

Jumping a Sinking Ship

Vox posts some mail on those who can are considering the possibility of leaving the US.

I spoke with my brother this weekend. He's still in Iraq (getting to come home for leave in August). We talked quite a bit about the new property tax levels, sales tax hike, wheel tax, and the Kelo decision. He said "Why is it that we are here defending people of another nation.. attemping to start a free society here when my own government is sucking freedom right out from underneath me while I'm gone?" Or something like that.

He has come to see his mission in Iraq as a way of serving the Kingdom of God - not the US. That is how he is coping and is able to serve both his fellow soldiers and locals. I can't imagine what the troops that do not have God in their life are going through.

The Name is Kitty.... Pink Kitty...

To reflect my love of all things Bond, the Scratching Post has a new outfit, designed by the lovely Heather at Radical Mama and CiaoMyBella.

Cosmos for the ladies, whiskey for the gents.. and if there are any horses around, get them a beer.

Because I don't want to miss out on the blogging frenzy!

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor annouces that she will retire before the court's next term begins in October.

Can we say Senate brawl anyone? I want to see Bill Frist and Ted Kennedy duke it out on the floor. Then W jumps in because we all know Texans can't miss a good fight...

That would be sweet.

South Park meets Michael Moore

You will respect my authoritah!

Or "I'm not fat. I'm big boned."
Or, in response to Kerry's loss in November, "Screw you guys. I'm going home."
Or " Follow your dreams, you can reach your goals. I'm living proof. Beefcake!! BEEFCAKE!!!"

Worst Job Ever, pt. 2

While at lunch yesterday, there was a guy at the opposite table who looked *way* too much like Bren from last season's Apprentice (whose name I know now because I looked him up to get his picture.) If you saw it at all, Bren was the guy with the bow tie.

I thought "OK.. people who impersonate celebrities have it bad because popularity fades in and out. If you've staked yourself on being a Chevy Chase look-a-like.. well... oops. But, it must suck to try to impersonate a reality show contestant. Come on! They are like D-level celebrities. Winners of reality shows bump up to C-level. Go to school, learn a trade... but don't impersonate some guy from The Apprentice!"

No Talking During the Movie!!!!

A few days ago, Brittney at NIT posted a question on why people go to fewer movies than they used to.

Lack of quality movies aside, reasons include sticky floors, babies, better home theaters, commercials, and trailers that go on for 30 minutes before the movie even starts. And movies generally are awful now-a-days. Gems worth paying $8.50 for are few and far between.

My reason - and one of the few things that will actually send me in Andrew Sullivan's gobsmackingly pissed off sphere: talking during the movie.

I can handle the occasional whisper. But... talking. Conversations. I've paid my money to see a movie, not to hear you talk about your lawn care, your girlfriend, or why you thought Spiderman was better than Batman. Save it for when the credit roll. Take it outside.

So to help educate folks on proper movie attendance behavior, I am going to buy some these:

Movie Manners Courtesy Cards

And some of these for other occasions where the fact that people are showing their backside in obvious ways and it needs to be brought to their attention. But like most Oblivions, they just won't get it.

Caption Contest

I found this at Kurt's blog and... well... it's just ripe for more captions.

Keep it safe for work, please! Entries due by Friday morning.

King Kong kicks TRex's you know whats-its!!!!

Let's put Peter Jackson against Steven Spielburg and see what would happen.

The dinosaur in this King Kong trailer looks alot like the TRex from Jurassic Park. Via The Superficial.

The trailer is awesome by the way. Can't wait! It goes on my must-see list for December. Now that King Kong is finished, Peter can start to make The Hobbit. Here's to hoping...

Speaking of, Andy Serkis is playing King Kong......

You know - the guy who played Gollum in LOTR?

Does this mean that King Kong will yell out "KING KONG! KING KONG!!!" when he coughs or say to Ann Darrow "my precioussssss!" when he yanks her from the sacrificial table?

And Adrian Brody just does not strike me as the hero type. Maybe he's supposed to be the reluctant hero.. the everyday man who does something great? I dunno.

Back to the subject of Peter Jackson, no one will be able to say "Peter could beat Steven by sitting on him!" because if you check out this picture, you will see that Mr. Jackson has cleaned up right nicely. He's moved from 'dwarf' to 'Sam' on the LOTR hotness scale. You can see more of Peter Jackson in his new-thin-sans-glasses state in the AFI Tribute to George Lucas that has been running on USA.

Question...?

Why do so many country songs end by repeating the first line of the song?

I... cannot... freakin'... believe... this.......

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Of all the people some silly quiz could say I am like, it tells me (no matter how many times I took it or with how many questions) that I am like Bill Clinton.

When I said to Miss O'hara that I just couldn't stand it and that I was going to lie.. I couldn't stand to be like Bill Clinton, she said "Well, then.. it is right. :) "

Grrrrr....

Thank God I did not have sexual relations with that woman... Hillary Clinton. Or any other woman for that matter.

I was tagged.....

I'm it. Of course I'm it. Would it be any other way?

The lovely and talented Miss O'hara tagged me with some post about books... so here we go...

Q. The most books you’ve ever owned?

I've never counted them so I have no idea. Many of my books are in boxes because I have no where to put them. Amazon.com says that I've purchased and/or said I own over 635 books (that would be since 1997.) So... I would guess... at least 1000 books are in my personal library on any number of topics: religion and personal growth in faith, (now not so) current events - because what's current changes... constantly, philosophy, cultural commentary/op ed, humor, history, how-to books, and a smattering of fiction.

Q. The last book I bought...

I think it was Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda by Romeo Dallaire. I saw the documentary version at the Nashville Film Festival and was incredibly moved. Romeo Dallaire was the Canadian General who led the UN forces on the ground during the genocide. Talk about a man trying to stop a flood with a small bucket. I highly recommend it.

No wait (checks Amazon.com account) ... After that I bought Big Hair, Bad Hair, The Gallery of Regrettable Food, Interior Desecrations, The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things (another book that inspired a Nashville Fill Festival flick), and The House in Good Taste... all of which I've thumbed through but haven't read. I've bought alot of music recently, too.

Q. The last book I read...

From start to finish? I have a tendancy to start reading books and never finish. But I am almost done with Gone with the Wind. If I were finished with it, I would add it to my list of favorite books that you'll see later.

Ahhh... I remember now. It was Real Sex by Laura Winner. It is her examination of chastity as a spiritual discipline. Much more substantive than saying "True Love Waits" over and over... which seems to be the general message of modern Christianity in regards to sex. Great if your 15.. but when you are 30, you start to wonder 'what is it that I'm waiting for?' I started re-reading it again the other night.

Q. The five books that meant the most to me...

Since I am a Christian, it only makes sense that the Bible would be up there as the book most important to me. In the interest of picking my own brain, I am not going to count it among the 5.

1. 1984. George Orwell. I read this book as a freshmen in high school. I was the only one in my class to get the political over and undertones. I read the first copy I bought so many times that it fell apart. I finally splurged and bought a hard back copy that I've read once. I like my worn to the spine paperback version.
   
2. We. Yevgeny Zamyatin. Notice the dystopian novel theme, here? We is by a Russian novelist and similar to 1984. It pre-dates 1984. Some argue that Orwell pretty much stole the idea from Zamyatin because of the similarities. Another book in a similar vein is Swastika Night by Katherine Burdekin, published in 1937. I haven't read it yet but I do have it... in one of the oodles of boxes. From the description, Swastika Night could possibly be an influence on Atwood's A Handmaid's Tale as well as 1984.
   
3. Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do : The Absurdity of Consensual Crimes in Our Free Country. Peter McWilliams. After jumping into the libertarian pool with both feet in 1997, I needed some knowledge other than LP press releases. I found this book after writing a paper on the philosophical justification of pornography (I was all about shock value then. I think I was the only one in my senior seminar not permitted to discuss her paper in class.. just as well. It wasn't that good anyway.) For sources I used Wendy McElroy and Peter McWilliams. Every page of McWilliams's book has a quote in the corner relating to creation or destruction of liberty. That alone is worth the price of the book (as I said in my amazon.com review in 1998.)
   
4. Wear More Cashmere. Jennifer Sander. 151 ways to pamper yourself. No, I've not worked through all 151 but I use it as a reminder that life is too short to not allow myself just a little bit of excess every now and then... like the vacation in Vail. Wine with dinner.. dessert... really good dessert... and that expensive bottled water that just became available in Nashville. And the little blue box from Tiffany's... with my engraved silver keychain. One does not need to spend beaucoup $$$ for something from Tiffany's. Elena and Duke Diva were just as ecstatic with their key chains as well. :) And wear high heels more often as opposed to my ragged beat all to heck brown flats.
   
5. A History of God. Karen Armstrong. Another book for class - Social, Racial, and Ethnic Diversity in Higher Education... or "if you are white and Christian of either gender we are going to do our best to make you feel bad." Myself and another Christian classmate felt like we had to constantly circle the wagons to defend ourselves and our faith.
   
6. Better than Beauty: A Guide to Charm. Helen Valentine, et al. Published in the late 1930's, it has recently been re-printed. Like a light saber, it is an elegant weapon for a more civilized age. I'm still learning... manners, poise, grace, and kindness never go out of style. When I think about it, I wonder "is the blog too snarky?" "Should I tone it down a bit?" "Am I too vitriolic?" Usually about the time I have these questions, someone says "I LOVE that post you did on..." "You are so funny when you are complaining about stuff. It's great! I love it!" I don't want to be known as the girl who constantly complains about stuff. How attractive is that? Now I've created my own little moment here... *sigh* I'm all verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves...
   

So that's 6.... Others close to my heart: A Guide to Elegance : For Every Woman Who Wants to Be Well and Properly Dressed on All Occasions (I have given this as a gift... hehe. The cover is similar in color to Tiffany's robin egg blue), I'm Just Here for the Food, Home Comforts, Hallmarks of Felinity : A 9 Chickweed Lane Book, and Bad Cat.

I, however, am not tagging anyone in return. If I tagged someone else then I wouldn't be it anymore. You see the questions and if they are of interest to you, please feel free to respond here or at your own blog.

Subliminal Smells Sell

Breaking news: Men rate Men's Health as a masculine magazine in comparision to Allure and National Geographic... Women have less interest in men's lifestyle magazine.

Possible sales went up when men wore masks with coated with man sweat..

*blinks*

Dirty Tricksy Hobbistes!

The title has little to do with the post. I just haven't gotten my Gollum quotes in for a while.

NASA found the Eye of Sauron. So long as it doesn't to that cheesy spotlight thing that we see at the end of Return of the King, it's all good.

Does this make Hubble a Palantir?

A purr to VodkaPundit.

Funniest Line I've read all day....

From HeinzKerryKennedy Industries comes ' The Kushioned Koran Holy Roll ' , that's right my little Mullah's, experience the feel of the holiest toilet paper in the world, while brushing up on your Koran Knowledge as each sheet has Koran scriptures written on them.

A purr to: CapnConservative: ' Holy Koran Toilet Paper , Batman it's Dickory Turban Durbin !!! '

All your property belongs to us...

Us being whatever government branch wants to take it.

Supreme Court Rules Cities May Seize Homes

Now, property rights are a sham.

'Owning land' is a figment of your imagination.

I think I'm going to sell the two pieces of property I own and just rent. One of my homes is in a very popular largely commercial area (the land is zoned for either commercial or residential use).. makes me scared to think that someone from the City could know on my door and say 'Pink Kitty... Joe Blow Construction is interested in your property and.. well.. it's better for the community if they are here. We will give you $25,000 for it.' The property, if going commercial, is worth WAY more than that!!!

The new lofts in Melrose are looking much more attractive than my little house in Berry Hill.

Update: Blake, vying to replace Evil Glenn Reynolds as the Human Aggregator, has a great roundup.

Today's useless study....

Again, someone found another topic to spend money on to point out the obvious:

Cellphones take up driver attention, study finds

Thank you Christine... and Captain Obvious! We never could have figured it out without some massive document that spent umpteen thousands of dollars! I will surely sleep better tonight knowing this information.. and a Unisom.

Photos from Iraq

My brother with Iraqi children
Originally uploaded by pink-kitty.

My brother sent me a collection of pictures from his recent humanitarian mission with the TN National Guard.

Just what little bit I've chatted with him, I think this mission changed him for the better. Click on my Flickr collection to see the rest.

I.. am not... a hippy!

Somehow... I'm not sure... but all the women I've met at the belly dance workshops I've attended in the last couple of weeks seem to think I'm a hippy.

"You would love the drum circle! It's once a month and it's music and dancing. You would fit right in!"

Excuse me? I think Elena nearly hurt herself when I told her this little story. "OH BOY... they are going to be in for quite the surprise if they ever ask you about politics."

Belly dance does not make one a hippy. They are not mutually exclusive [Edited because everyone is picking on my poor grammar skills]. Liking one does not imply that you are into the other. I don't want anything to do with your sparkly, lovey-dovey self-help 'goodness.' I don't want to awaken the goddess within. Surge of feminine.. energy? Keep your auras to yourself. Don't touch me unless you are trying to help me with my myas (downward figure-8 hip move that I just can't seem to get to work) or make sure of proper alignment.

I'm more about the sensous quality of belly dance, ok? I happen to like it when guys think I'm attractive... I like being attractive to them. And that little statement is likely to get me banished from the hippy-dippy-trippy belly dance crew. Yippee.

Fashion Faux Pas

Yes, I'm picking on the Vandygirls again but... if I saw this anywhere else, I would say something about it, too.

Scene: A meeting last week to teach the new students how to use the registration system.

Freshman girl walks by wearing this gauzey yellow skirt.. not bad. It's cute... but... her black thong was very visible underneath the thin yellow fabric.

PK's thought: Well, I'm glad you want to show your school spirit but... don't you think that is a bit much?

Being a proud sister

I don't think he'll mind if I share the email that I received from my brother on Saturday, especially given all the fussiness at NashvilleIsTalking and Lance In Iraq. I think there needs to be some good news from what's going on with our military (I know they are talking about Gitmo but anyway....):

Dear PK,

I just wanted to tell about the humanitarian mission I was privilaged to go on. I was really blessed to go. Those kids and adults are just dying for things American. I gave away some apple-caramel Newtons that BamaGirl sent me. I don't know if they were a hit because I found one of the Newtons on the ground broken in half. I got my picture taken with a few of the little ones too.

I don't want this to sound like it was all fun and games. This is still a very poor country. I've witnessed it. The kids would fight each other for whatever they could get. Moms would hand stuff to their kids to guard it. It was madness.

I am really thankful to have gone on it. Despite the actions of the locals. Seeing how I'm making a difference here makes me eager to get home so I can make a difference there.

Take care and I hope you are doing well.

Love,
UT Man

Belly Dance Photo of the Week - Ansuya

This week's photo is also a bit of promotion: Saturday night at Nashville Tech's auditorium, Ansuya will be performing as a part of her weekend-long visit to Music City for a variety of workshops (sponsored by the Nashville Belly Dance group). I don't know who the local performers are but I know they will be a part of the festivities. For you Nashville girls, this is your chance to meet up with some local instructors and talk about possible classes.

Buy tickets through the NBG's website via PayPal (IE is needed - the applet doesn't like Netscape) for $15 or $20 at the door.

Caption Contest Winner

Wow - ow -wow... there were some fine entries this week.

It was a close one, lemme tell ya. I loved all of them. But.. the hand's down (pun) winner is...

Zach Baker with

It's mine precious! It's MINE!!!!

Congrats! Have a great weekend y'all. See you Monday!

Finally something just for me and me alone...

It all started with a post about Batman Begins over at Pith in the Wind.

So being the ever helpful sort, I decided to indulge my lady readers in some photos of the "ridiculously good looking" Christian Bale.

Guys, no fussing. I've posted plenty of hot looking girls for your eyes and the belly dance photo of the week will be up on Monday.

Christian Bale


As Preston from Equilibrium

There are a couple of others in my flickr photostream. :)

As an aside, Nate was right. Elena and I saw Equilibrium... and WOW!!!! That is what the Matrix could have been if Keanu Reeves could act.

Come on... admit it... you only like the part in the first Matrix were he goes "Whoa..." and are just waiting for Bill S. Preston, Esquire to show up. Actually, I do like the first Matrix. It's the other two that make my head hurt.

Bringing a tear to my eye...

CMT has this show called Small Town Secrets. They did a story recently about the Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot. Let me tell ya, PK was all misty-eyed watching folks with big guns blow things up. One guy looked so very much like my dad that it was creepy.

Anyway, the tracer round demonstration was AWESOME!!!! And then things started exploding and there was a fire. What a beautiful sight.

I'm getting veklempt now... excuse me...

The Ultimate Blog Post EVER!!!!

Mr. Bray at DE NOVO outlines the qualities of the funniest, most e-prop garnering.. the ULTIMATE post ever.

What is The Ultimate Post? Read it here.

"This Space For Rent"

Originally uploaded by pink-kitty.

In an attempt to earn some money, Jolene decided to rent out space on her stockings to the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame.

While the ad money was great, no one told her exactly how ugly the ad would be and that the whole idea was in extremely bad taste.

Taken in Glenwood Springs, CO.

Doc Holliday's Grave

Doc Holliday's Grave
Originally uploaded by pink-kitty.

Glenwood Springs, CO. I didn't make it to the actual grave site.. which is good because it was a killer hike I wasn't prepared for and the grave isn't marked anyway.

DC - I know you are jealous. ;)

Vacation Pictures

Sign in a window
Originally uploaded by pink-kitty.

I saw this and thought of Nate.

Yes, I'm going to have lots of fun with flickr!

Happy Blog Birthday!

The fantastically funny Lord Floppington (a past winner of the caption contest) had his one year blogoversary yesterday. I was introduced to him when he took a picture of the furry Empress Kitty and added it to a Star Wars parody.

What's not to love about that? (Considering my own track record of Star Wars parodies. Another one is in the works by the way. The horse isn't quite dead yet.)

I do apologize for being late in my well wishes but you know the duties of an Empress take her far and wide. Happy Blog Birthday, dear!

Stop by, say hello... we all need the linky love.

I am not making this up...

In addition to pining for lip gloss and a Manolo Blahnik men's shoe line, French men yearn for pregnancy

As Miss O'Hara said "That's attractive. A nice hairy preggers man-tummy."

In unrelated news, French women have continued to not shave...

Captioning Kenny...

"Did you really have to do that on the red carpet? Women and children are present."

Is this a formal caption contest? Hmmm... maybe... just maybe...

Observations on pan handlers

On my way to the CMA Music Fest.. the Festival formerly known as Fan Fair, there was a guy soliciting money from cars at the exit ramp onto Broadway from I-40. There is usually someone standing there.

I have one piece of advice: your efforts to garner sympathy and money might go a little better if you weren't listening to your i-pod as cars passed by.

Product Testing

On my way out of Titans Stadium or whatever its name is Sunday evening, there were some kids handing out the new Coke Zero. I'm not sure what Coke Zero is but I was thirsty and it was going to be a long walk back to my car. So I took one and went on my way.

When cold, it tasted suspiciously like Diet Coke. I hate Diet Coke. I would go thirsty rather than drink Diet Coke.

As it got warmer, it actually tasted better. I still not going to go buy one though. It probably tasted its best because it was free.

Fashion Week Continues

Here at the Scratching Post, many of this week's entries have centered around what to.. or not to wear. To continue that tradition is one of the freakin' funniest blogs ever made:

Go Fug Yourself

It should come with a warning:

• Do not eat while viewing this site.
• Do not drink while viewing this site.
• Keep all limbs inside the car at all times as the ride may suddenly veer in another direction and your limb may be chopped off.
• Tissues may be needed to mop up tears.
• Be mindful of co-workers who stare while you struggle to keep your laughter under 100 decibles.

Caption Contest Winner

I must say... I love the caption contest. This week, the Burger King crown goes to....

Miz Direction with

It's the TICKLE MONSTER! I'm gonna get you!

It was a difficult decision. I just couldn't decide which of y'all was the funniest. I stayed awake all last night trying to figure it out.

Technology forcing the return of vintage fashion

Vox refers to an article about a guy paying via thumbprint on a scanner.

ZT, in the comments, said that we should wear gloves so that our prints wouldn't be lifted off of glasses to use for fraud.

I for one can't wait until I can wear gloves and not have people think I'm a freak for doing so. I think I still have my nana's white kid leather gloves among all the estate boxes. And they would tick PETA off at the same time. Love it!