Show us the book you're reading right now.
Submitted by Strive2Be.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal

Christopher Moore

I Was Told There'd Be Cake

Sloane Crosley

I'm reading two books right now.  I need to hurry up and finish at least one of them because I'm annoyed at how long it's taking me to get through them.  I really like both of them so far.  I'm also in the middle of this one, but I've taken a break from it because it's very long and somewhat repetitive:

Coming to Our Senses: Healing Ourselves and the World Through Mindfulness

Jon Kabat-zinn

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How do you travel to and from work - personal vehicle, bus, subway/train, pedal power? What does it cost you per week in gas or fares?
Submitted by Jan.

I really hate when the print is small and the vox buttons do nothing.  

Anyhow, I travel to work by rocket ship.  Or my 2003 Honda Civic SI.  It's almost like a rocket ship; it's a hatchback.  It requires about twenty bucks a week in gas.  As long as I don't go far from home or work, that is.  This weekend will probably push that total up a bit.  

This is a really boring entry.  Damn.  Sorry.

I used to commute really far, about 50 miles each way to and from work.  That was back when gas was under two dollars and I had a car with considerably better gas mileage.  I can't imagine doing that now.  And for those of you that do it, I have great empathy for you.  But seriously, move closer to work.  It'll save you in the long run in every area.

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President Bush lifted an executive order banning offshore oil drilling on Monday. Do you think this is a good solution to the high prices Americans are paying for gasoline?

This is really just an excuse for me to get on my soap box about this.  I think it's a terrible, short-sighted idea.  It has been estimated that all of the known oil resources (which includes the areas opened up for drilling) in the United States makes up about 2% of the world's oil resources.  Guess how much of the world's oil the U.S. uses?  Around 25%. 

Or so I hear.

Any relief that we'd see at the pump wouldn't come for a good minute, and it certainly wouldn't be anything to write home about. 

How about we start figuring out what the hell we're going to do when the oil runs out instead of further damaging the environment we've already done a really good job fucking up?  Or at the least, finish conquering Iraq so all of the U.S.' big oil companies can have no bid contracts.

Mr. Bush is sure on a roll this month.  First the FISA bill, now this.  I wonder what kinds of other things he'll do in the remaining months of his administration...

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I just had wine for the first time in 8 months.  Damn.  Wine apparently gives me a headache and makes me feel tired.  

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I'm not sure how many people in the States here are aware, but the FISA bill was signed into law yesterday.  Forty five minutes later, the ACLU filed a suit to get it overturned.  So there's a bit of a silver lining there.

I'm depressed that it passed with an overwhelming majority, and I'm depressed that Senator Obama voted in favor of it, though I think I know why he did.  Now that we're in the general campaign, he doesn't want to come of as soft on terrorism.  It just sucks that the only thing that this so-called compromise really does is compromise the integrity of the Constitution. 

Now, if you''re of the belief that wiretapping helps to make us safer, I totally respect your right to believe that.  I think it's a tool that when used appropriately can be quite useful.  However, in this instance, I really feel that it stands to violate the Bill of Rights.

For more info on the ACLU action, here's the website:  http://www.aclu.org/safefree/nsaspying/35942prs20080710.html

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Have you ever broken a bone? If not, what's the worst injury you've sustained?

A broken heart.  *cries*

But seriously, I haven't really had any big injuries.  I sprained the shit out of my knee at the climbing gym in the summer of 2003, and I was on crutches for like, a month.  Of course, knees hold grudges, so it's still messed up.   A few months later, I was at the climbing gym again, and sustained a severe rope burn on the inside of my hand when I fucked up a belay and the rope ran about 5 feet through my hand.  2003 was a rough year for me and the climbing gym.  Just to add insult to injury, I also had an eye infection at the same time as the knee thing.  And a lot of confusion in my life.  Hell, 2003 was just a rough year all over.

  

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What do you find interesting or unique about your family history?

On my dad's side, going back to the U.S. Civil War, I'm related to two brothers who fought on opposite sides; one for the North and one for the South.  I find that pretty interesting.

Going all the way back to yesterday, we had our mini family reunion at my cousin's place.  They've got quite a nice home, for all intents and purposes.  It's huge and in the middle of nowhere in a track home neighborhood in Chino, so it's quiet.  Track home neighborhoods remind me of movie sets.  Creepy.  Anyhow, I got to see all of these cousins and aunts and uncles that I don't see too often, which was pretty cool.  

I brought my tofu dog for the barbeque, and they had plenty of beer, which was fabulous.  I really only need one, but I especially need one at family events such as this.  They unnerve me a bit.  My dad's wife was really into pointing out my scar to people, which, because I have thick hair and I was wearing a hat, you couldn't actually see.  But she was really going at it, nonetheless.  And then everyone kept inviting themselves to our wedding, which was fantastic.  I have a gigantic family, and I sure as hell can't afford to invite all of them, especially when 90% of them will freak out and judge when they realize it's a Buddhist ceremony.  Well, it's between a Buddhist ceremony and my old production manager in a monocle and cape, just winging it.  Either way, judging will ensue.  

My vegetarian cousin was there.  She's also a masseuse, and she gave me a good 45 minute massage on her table.  We talked a lot about vegetarian and holistic health.  She was telling me how she just wants to meet nice, vegetarian guy, but it's been really hard.  She's in her fifties, and yeah, I can see how that'd be difficult.  I don't even know any hetero vegetarian guys my age.  She kept trying to give massages out and kept getting turned down.  I think she's a little bit of a black sheep in the family.  Much like me, but I'm much more closeted about it.  I try to be everything to everyone, which is totally healthy and productive.

Afterwards, we said our goodbyes and drove home.  All in all, it was pretty cool.  

  

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I made my own lolcat...or loltiger, rather.

RintooLolz

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Not sure how it happened, but my little cousin Elizabeth turned 18 today.  Her older brother is like, a sophomore in college.  Holy crap!  They used to both irritate the hell out of me when they were little.  And now they're kind of neat...well, people.  They moved to Nevada when I was in high school, so I haven't seen them regularly in a good long while, but I get on with all of them, aunt and uncle included, okay.  They're all quite conservative, but that's pretty much the case with my entire family on both sides.  I'll see them on Saturday at my cousin Steven's.  Along with the cousin who sends me the neat "Obama is a Muslim" spam.  She's in from New York.  

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If you could do anything you want tomorrow, what would it be?
Submitted by Becca-Pink.

Well, I've never been to Malibu, so I'd like to take a bike ride maybe from Venice or Santa Monica to Malibu.  Either that or go hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains above Malibu.  Then, maybe do lunch or dinner at the Inn of the Seventh Ray in Malibu.  I hear it's pretty good.  And they have vegan duck, which is interesting.

Instead, I'll be working.  And when the majority of the studio gets to go home at 3:00 for the holiday, I'll be there until much much later.

Yay!

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