Wonderling

why I love the internet.....

Some days I get online, read my favorite blogs and don't find anything inspiring. Today is NOT one of those days. Not only are there dozens of news stories challenging the ill-presented lies of the McCain/Palin (it pains me to even type her name) campaign, but my blog reading has also led me on a lovely trip 'round ye ole web filled with flights of fancy. Here's what I found......

Some (yes only some) of the e-politic lovelies:
McCain - John McCain continues his "obvious irritation with the media" campaign strategy.
Palin - it's a bit surprising that this actually made it into the arena of what is usually serious political information...but who can take the McCain campaign seriously at this point?
Palin - CNN shows just exactly what kind of foreign policy experience Gov. Palin has with Russia (you know, since she can't seem to clearly answer that question herself....)
Palin - refers to the general population as "Joe Six-Pack". Surely that phrase is going to help mend the reputation of the US in the eyes of the world.
VP debates - how both VP candidates are prepping for the debate tomorrow night (oh how I love when non-candidates debate on the news!)

My desk wants these:

This adorable ferris wheel will spin at the speed you type. Just think, if you and your cube-mate had one you could type-race! ha!

want to make goodies for your office? Or maybe bribe your boss with sweets? now you can use company property to complete these tasks! On a serious note, I'm wondering how safety codes would allow any office to have an easy bake oven attached to a computer....it has to be a fire hazard.

I want these:
I can't keep looking at Lillyella's etsy. I've already mentally bought half of the merchandise there....it's just so lovely and ridiculously affordable.

If I didn't have two cats who alternately jumped on me once they heard my alarm go off I would totally get this tantrum throwing alarm clock. It starts by glowing 5 mins before your alarm is set to go off you then have one minute to hit snooze before it explodes into a full on, arm waving tantrum.

ktjean makes some seriously gorgeous skirts. I'm kicking myself for throwing away my fabric scraps now!

now where will all the kids party?

Anyone who lives in Portland knows the Greek Cusina. Anyone over 21 in Portland has been there (please, if I'll admit it you can too) at least once. Today the news reported that the infamous Greek Cusina may be losing it's prized liquor license. Normally I would point a menacing finger at the OLCC for being too overbearing, but for once I applaud them. I'm amazed that a place where it's own staff are regularly sent to the hospital because of brawls they have to break up has lasted this long under the OLCC rule. In fact, I'm wagging my finger at them for not taking action until now. But for all of you scantily-clad, glitter addicted Cusina fans there is still hope. The report is that they might revoke the liquor license. The Cusina will file for a hearing to prevent the OLCC members from voting on it's drunken future (oh and they have an April 10th hearing for a separate incident where a man was beaten unconscious by Cuisina staff in 2005).

Other than the two times I patronized the Cusina back in my early 20s, my experience with the Cusina has been dealing with the crowd that stands outside it (this includes the classic and unsurprising meathead security folk) as Paper Brain often plays at a venue next to the Cusina. I have to say it hasn't changed. The girls are still wearing exactly the same "club" clothes they were wearing 10 years ago. The bouncers are still goons with big egos. Two of the three times we've played there we've been hindered by a barrage of police cars that seem to be waiting around the corner for a Cusina issue.

Shouldn't the, "drunken fights, public urination, hair-pulling, patrons biting one another and overzealous security guards" be enough to pull the license without a hearing or vote?? This is the same institution that, on a whim, decided that underage musicians couldn't play in 21+ venues (numerous lawsuits have been filed against this law) and who's director resigned after being caught driving with a blood alcohol level that was twice the legal limit. Oregon is one of only 18 "control states", where the state controls the sale of alcoholic or distilled beverages.  Basically, all alcohol that is sold, is the property of the state thus they control the rules and make a profit.

With all of the restrictions issued by the OLCC (which they claim are mostly aimed at the conduct of strippers and keeping those strippers who are not 21 out of venues that sell alcohol) over the last 5 years I'm confused as to how the Greek Cusina has kept it's license for so long. It couldn't have anything to do with some back-handed deal or exchange of money and/or favors could it?? Noooooo, no one in a state office would ever do anything that would mar it's pristine reputation. cough. newsome-spitzer-kilpatrick. cough.

Monday Mayhem

Monday was one of those amazing days where time seemed to stand still long enough for me to get all those "little things" done. It seems like they just build up, but they're not really important enough to actually do them because other things need to get done first. Getting all those little things done is probably one of the best feelings ever. Especially when that list includes thoroughly scrubbing my apartment, rearranging the furniture and finally getting rid of all the boxes from when I moved in two months ago. I also got my flat tire fixed (you don't even want to know how long it sat in my brother's garage waiting to be revived) so I no longer need to worry about getting another flat and being stuck with only 3 good tires. I have also been having issues with the little fob that unlocks, locks and sets the alarm on my car. It's been finicky for weeks. So Adam and I drove out to Milwaukee to the Hyundai dealership only to have the parts guy take the fob apart, put it back together and like magic, it worked fine. There is a thrift store just down the street from the dealership and we spent, I believe, two hours there sifting through people's unwanted things. I found the cutest fabric, white with little strawberries! I still can't believe all that wonderfulness happened in just one day.

Of course when I take Monday off the coolest posts go up on my favorite sites so here they are...late, but still great.

finally a tutorial on making those amazing shrinky dink rings! I've been wanting to try it forever, but not sure exactly how to shape them. Planet June does a great job of not only describing the process, but there are also pictures of each step. via CRAFT

Popgaget had these lovely raindrop shaped shower speakers for your ipod. If I hadn't just indulged myself with an ipod shuffle (only 49.99!) for the gym I would definitely be tempted to buy one of these. available at Audiocubes

Anyone who is following the democratic debates will want to check this site out. With all of the fighting about things Hillary and Obama have said this is a great way to decide for yourself by seeing what they really did say. via swissmiss

If I ever have a stroke....

Scientists have successfully used stem cells to repair brain damage in rats that had strokes. Previous attempts had resulted in tumors, but this new research has not shown any sign of tumor development. Testing on human subjects is not anywhere in the near future, but once scientists are sure it is safe, human testing will be done.

Amazing huh? This and the whole discovery of a way to generate new hair follicles (goodbye baldness!) makes me feel a little better about getting older. I'm counting on these discoveries to have tuned into reliable treatments for humans by the time I'm....60? 70? Whenever it is that I will start losing my hair and having strokes.

The Single way to Valentine

When you're single, but you still want to feel special on valentine's day what do you do?

here are a few ideas:
Swap flower giving with a friend. No one will know it was planned and you wont get that 'I sent myself flowers' guilt...that is if you like that kind of attention around the office.

Get your single friends together for an appreciation of singledom party.  Hostess has some especially lovely pink drinks that will make you forget all about being single!

go out, alone or with friends. You're not the only person who doesn't have a date tonight. There will be slews of singles out tonight and most cities have un-valentines parties just for them!

Pamper yourself. If no one else is going to make you feel good, you might as well! Buy yourself some chocolates, take a bubble bath, do a mud masque, have some hot chocolate and watch your favorite movies. Bathandbodyrecipies has all sorts of wonderful stuff you can make yourself!

Make someone else's valentines special. Don't have a hard time being alone on V-Day? Perk up a lonely buddy and get those good feelings yourself by making their day.

to use or not to use....

With all of the debate on the safety of Nalgene bottles, tinychoices.com has done some research for you. It looks as if there's no real argument for or against the possibility of nasty, hormone stimulating chemicals leaking from your beloved nalgene (oh my goodness, a nalgene rep just walked into the office!! is this a sign?!?!). With all the non-science backed claims mounting it looks as if you're best bet for safe drinking water is your trusty old glass jar or a stainless steel canteen. Via notmartha.

Heath Ledger Dies

I am traumatized by this. Not because I'm a huge Heath Ledger fan, but because he has a daughter with a seemingly normal woman and he seemed somewhat normal for a celebrity. ohhhhh, so sad! via NYPost

Money, from the government??

If you watched the news at all today you've surely heard about the government's proposed attempt at stimulating our flailing economy. With one of the worst holiday shopping seasons in recent history and the sub-prime mortgage scandal plunging the stock exchange into a nose dive yesterday, President Bush has embraced a government proposed economic plan to get money into the hands of low to moderate income families. All politicians seem to agree that in order for any stimulus package to work it would have to be fast, concentrated and temporary.

It looks like, if this stimulus package comes to fruition, the rebates will be even grater on average than Bush's last rebate plan from 2001 giving individuals around $800 and families $1500.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'm more than ready to help the economy avoid a recession by purchasing a new laptop!!

One Air Car please!

Finally they've started making a car that doesn't require fuel at all! The engine works using a compressed air tank and electricity and uses vegetable oil that rarely needs to be replaced or changed. Of course they are only available in Europe (manufactured in France and available sometime this year in Spain and India) and gas stations are not yet equipped with recharging stations, but it's a start! Link

Shark Vs. Eagle

I absolutely cannot wait for this to come out on dvd. It has my favorite hip-hopappotomus in it, Jemaine Clement. "Wot? Wot? Doan put me in dah wit him!". Now that I've finished watching the first season of Flight of the Concords I need a New Zealand comedy fix. perfect!

Last night we met with the record label to look at the pictures from our photoshoot. I can't post any yet cause I'm not sure what the deal is with rights on them, but they came out really really awesome. They should be posted by the end of the week on The Union Records website and our EPK.

Tonight I start on one of my new 'resolutions', which was not included in my new years resolution group because I made it prior to new years. I'm hitting the gym up for an evening work out. My goal is to go 4 days a week for a minimum of 20 minutes. Since I always see the gym as this big time commitment I tell myself I only have to go for 20 mins..which gets me there and once I'm there if I feel like doing more I will.

I ran across this in my blogging adventures today. It's called Snails vs. Slugs. I love that some of them are going the wrong way :)

My dad called me the other night and it reminded me that he will be here in less than a week and I still haven't finished his wife's present..eeek. I have a feeling most of my evenings will be spend finishing it, hopefully it will be done in time!