How fucked up is that?

I hesitate to accept everything presented as is in this article, however, overall I do agree with it. The upshot is, if you read between the lines, it would seem now that Mexico has fairer, more legitimate, and more democratic presidential elections than we do here in the U.S. (Or at least has mechanisms in place that are sensible measures to achieve these goals.) Go read it now.

If wasting time paid money...

...I'd be a mill-yun-air!

hours of edu-tainment

I don't remember how I discovered this, probably courtesy of AlterNet, or something that they linked to, but anyway, I am addicted to this great audio blog, Calling All Wingnuts. Basically, this guy calls up different right wing talk show hosts and tries to ask intelligent questions challenging their opinions, and for the most part, the hosts self-destruct to varying degrees, or they just outright cut the caller's mic, and verbally bully him but do not respond in any sort of intellectually valid way. This guy must have a lot of time on his hands, and I'm grateful.

beep

I'm still here. (Of course.)

I am trying to spend as much time as possible finishing the two translation projects I've got right now, so we can get paid, since we are broke.

I got a couple more CDs for my birthday, this time from my sister. I'm being lazy and leaving hyperlinks out this time, but I got Dinosaur Jr.'s greatest hits CD that came out a few years ago, and Brian Eno "Before and after science."

Put together with what I got from Holly, that's the most albums I've ever gotten for my birthday or any other gift receiving event, or at least as far as I can remember. And that makes me happy.

AthFest is this week. I hope we take advantage of it and see some shows but I don't know how much we will...

just routine stuff

Thank you for those of you who have expressed your sympathy in response to the previous post.

Also-- BIG thanks to Lori for answering my request for accountant referrals with one that I probably will use. (Adrian, thank you for responding as well via email...)

I am not making big progress in my summer projects but am taking baby steps instead. That's fine except I've got to really get going on that translation because we need the money.

I did read The Bilingual Courtroom by Susan Berk-Seligson as part of my research for my thesis. It's an excellent book and all court interpreters, really all "community interpreters" should read it. She shows how even highly qualified and experienced interpreters can systematically make errors in their interpretation, which, especially in certain legal contexts, can have serious consequences.

My wife's grandmother's stepson is getting married this weekend, which means my mother-in-law and her (relatively) new husband will be staying here this weekend. That in turn means that we have to finish cleaning the house by Thursday night, which is just tons of fun.

My birthday is this Sunday. Holly already got me a gift! Thank you! I got a book, A History of the Spanish Language which I had wanted for a long time (and which I had already bought myself around the same time but she didn't know) I also got a couple CD's: The Stooges' first album and the only CD by The Vaselines

no words for this

I was shocked this morning when I received news forwarded to me of an old and very dear friend's death. Pat Kleist was a very close friend of mine in Madison and although we only sporadically communicated after I moved to Georgia, we did keep somewhat in touch, and he was also the best man at my wedding. I have no idea how he died. It's a total surprise and I'm very sad. He's someone that I would talk to on the phone once every three to six months or so. I wish I'd have called him last week before he left us... So fucking sad. He will be remembered and missed.