create your own visited countries map
or check out these Google Hacks.
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Create your own poetry
Click on Google talk and enter a few words. Google will add words to it. Really fun.
Google talk a
Google Hack by
Douwe Osinga
Google talk a
Google Hack by
Douwe Osinga
Saturday, November 13, 2004
Gay Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands
I'm finding it hard to come up with an entry. I've been battling insomnia lately and it eats up all of my time. I go to bed and then five hours later I finally fall asleep. I just keep thinking of stupid things and not sleeping. I'm not stressed or anything or if I am, I'm not aware of it.
I've decided to apply for citizenship in the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands.
http://www.gaykingdom.org Don't go to gaykingdom.com, that's a different site entirely.
I think it is such a good and cute idea. How could I not? I'll never go there, but I wouldn't mind having a gay passport and being a member of the gay army under the gay emperor. Apparently, I'm related to the emperor as we are both descendants from, of course, King Edward II. I should check into if that gives me any bonuses, probably not.
Oh well, that's all for now.
I've decided to apply for citizenship in the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands.
http://www.gaykingdom.org Don't go to gaykingdom.com, that's a different site entirely.
I think it is such a good and cute idea. How could I not? I'll never go there, but I wouldn't mind having a gay passport and being a member of the gay army under the gay emperor. Apparently, I'm related to the emperor as we are both descendants from, of course, King Edward II. I should check into if that gives me any bonuses, probably not.
Oh well, that's all for now.
Friday, November 12, 2004
The mandatory meeting
I was not invited to the mandatory meeting, however many of my co-workers were. They were officially reduced to extra board (on call) with a promise of at least 1 day a week starting Nov. 22nd. People, like me, who were not knocked down are planning to donate one of our days a week to the less fortunate. Hopefully, that will keep them in work until April when the new Wynn Resorts will open and then there will be so many openings in Las Vegas that no one will be needing work.
Sunday, November 7, 2004
No piece of paper for me
I did not get an invitation to the mandatory meeting. So, I'll be working at the Golden Nugget for a little while.
Today, one of our newest employees, an older gentleman, was saying that everyone was so down-in-the-dumps about the meeting. He thought it was probably a pep rally and that they wanted to thank the new employees. I told him that this was exactly what they did with the boxmen and that they were talking about gettting rid of 10 blackjack games, so I didn't think it was a pep rally.
He said, "I'm not going to have a job." He said this is the most pitiful, sad way. I felt so bad, but I think he should be prepared.
Today, one of our newest employees, an older gentleman, was saying that everyone was so down-in-the-dumps about the meeting. He thought it was probably a pep rally and that they wanted to thank the new employees. I told him that this was exactly what they did with the boxmen and that they were talking about gettting rid of 10 blackjack games, so I didn't think it was a pep rally.
He said, "I'm not going to have a job." He said this is the most pitiful, sad way. I felt so bad, but I think he should be prepared.
Saturday, November 6, 2004
Layoffs - Golden Nugget Style
For the last couple of days, dealers hired recently have been given a piece of paper that is hand written that says "Mandatory Meeting - 12 Noon Monday". This is exactly what happened to the boxmen at the Golden Nugget. What happened was that they went to the meeting and found out that they were laid off effective immediately. One supervisor said that it was not as bad as the dealer's think. Which could mean that the dealers called to the meeting will be moved to "extra board" which is basically on call. When moved to extra board, the new dealers may work only one day a week. This will prevent the Golden Nugget from giving out unemployment.
I have not received a piece of paper yet, however, someone hired one week after me has received one. They only have one more day to give me the paper, so keep your fingers crossed. Unfortunately, half of my friends were hired after me. It's really sad and the mood at work is very depressed.
I have not received a piece of paper yet, however, someone hired one week after me has received one. They only have one more day to give me the paper, so keep your fingers crossed. Unfortunately, half of my friends were hired after me. It's really sad and the mood at work is very depressed.
Friday, November 5, 2004
The Nidifigous Coffee Break
OK, I'm disappointed with it, but it is really short.
Tom Tenson sat staring at the ceiling in the small, dirty break room. He sat staring at the two-inch piece of dusty tinsel still stuck to the ceiling of the break room with a torn piece of beige masking tape. His sadness of looking at this was only amplified by the fact that it was July. Five days a week for seven months, that tinsel has been there. It had long since stopped reminding him of Christmas. It had long since stopped reminding him of the fact that no one took the time to put up decorations nicely or bother taking them down properly. It only served as a reminder of the passage of time in this empty job. He took another sip from his third cup of coffee of the day.
He figured it out once. There are 8,760 hours in a year. He subtracted 2,920 hours for 8 hours of sleep a day leaving him with 5,840 hours of waking life. He decided to use 10 hours a day for work. It took him half an hour to and from work, two fifteen minute breaks and a half-hour lunch. Not able to leave for these breaks, Tom figured that they should be added in as time spent at work. That calculated out to be 2,600 hours a year working, not including the 40 hours of vacation he was never allowed to take. With all of this information, he discovered that 45% of his waking life was spent at work. It seemed like a horrendously large chunk of time to spend doing something he had a hard time finding any remote amount of enjoyment doing. Time spent waiting until the time when he could come into the break room and stare blankly at the unsentimental piece of tinsel.
Amber strolled in with her disconnected headset on. Her skin looked slightly green under the cheap florescent lights. “Oh hi Tom,” she chirped. “Ignore me. I’m just getting some coffee.” Tom took her at her word and didn’t respond. Not concerned with his lack of attention, she continued talking. “My, my…people certainly leave this place a mess.” She brushed spilled sugar from the crowded countertop onto her palm and into the large garbage. “It makes you wonder what these people’s houses look like.” It only made Tom wonder what Amber’s house looked like. Amber had appointed herself in charge of the Christmas decorations last year.
“Oh, that poor, poor plant.” Amber shook her head at the dead stick sitting in a pot of dirt in the middle of the round gray formica table. She put some water in a styrofoam cup and poured it into the soil.
Tom spoke up, “What idiot thought that a plant could live in here without sunlight?”
“Well, the guy in the store said it would be fine.” She said as water and soil started to collect under the plastic pot.
“Oh, sorry,” Tom already knew it was probably her. “It was nice and vibrant for a while.”
“Well, no, you’re right. It’s just…this place is so drab and depressing. We need something to cheer it up.”
Tom felt embarrassed for implying indirectly that she was an idiot. “You’re right. It was a nice try and I hate to tell you this, but this plant isn’t going to make it.” She let out a soft laugh as she poured her coffee. Tom continued, “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Do you like your job?”
“You’re funny.” Amber smiled as she added cream to her coffee, “Nobody likes their job. It’s just something that you have to do.”
Tom leaned back in his chair, “Surely, there are people that like their jobs.”
“Well, I want one of their jobs then.” She strolled out saying, “Let me know if you find any openings.”
Tom finished off his coffee and stood up to return to work. He was stopped by the realization that he had drunk too much coffee. He had the vague sensation of feeling psychic, a feeling that usually accompanied the over-consumption of caffeine for him. It was an odd sensation. He always felt psychic from too much coffee, but never had a premonition, just a feeling that a premonition was possible. He sat back down admiring the odd tricks of his mind.
He let his mind wander in this state, until he spoke aloud, startling himself, “I need to form a plan to get out of here,” He made a promise to himself not to rot in this job.
He stood up, grabbed the plant and threw it in the garbage. He stopped himself, having one more task to complete. He stood on top of a chair and ripped the tinsel from the ceiling.
He smiled, a plan was hatching.
Tom Tenson sat staring at the ceiling in the small, dirty break room. He sat staring at the two-inch piece of dusty tinsel still stuck to the ceiling of the break room with a torn piece of beige masking tape. His sadness of looking at this was only amplified by the fact that it was July. Five days a week for seven months, that tinsel has been there. It had long since stopped reminding him of Christmas. It had long since stopped reminding him of the fact that no one took the time to put up decorations nicely or bother taking them down properly. It only served as a reminder of the passage of time in this empty job. He took another sip from his third cup of coffee of the day.
He figured it out once. There are 8,760 hours in a year. He subtracted 2,920 hours for 8 hours of sleep a day leaving him with 5,840 hours of waking life. He decided to use 10 hours a day for work. It took him half an hour to and from work, two fifteen minute breaks and a half-hour lunch. Not able to leave for these breaks, Tom figured that they should be added in as time spent at work. That calculated out to be 2,600 hours a year working, not including the 40 hours of vacation he was never allowed to take. With all of this information, he discovered that 45% of his waking life was spent at work. It seemed like a horrendously large chunk of time to spend doing something he had a hard time finding any remote amount of enjoyment doing. Time spent waiting until the time when he could come into the break room and stare blankly at the unsentimental piece of tinsel.
Amber strolled in with her disconnected headset on. Her skin looked slightly green under the cheap florescent lights. “Oh hi Tom,” she chirped. “Ignore me. I’m just getting some coffee.” Tom took her at her word and didn’t respond. Not concerned with his lack of attention, she continued talking. “My, my…people certainly leave this place a mess.” She brushed spilled sugar from the crowded countertop onto her palm and into the large garbage. “It makes you wonder what these people’s houses look like.” It only made Tom wonder what Amber’s house looked like. Amber had appointed herself in charge of the Christmas decorations last year.
“Oh, that poor, poor plant.” Amber shook her head at the dead stick sitting in a pot of dirt in the middle of the round gray formica table. She put some water in a styrofoam cup and poured it into the soil.
Tom spoke up, “What idiot thought that a plant could live in here without sunlight?”
“Well, the guy in the store said it would be fine.” She said as water and soil started to collect under the plastic pot.
“Oh, sorry,” Tom already knew it was probably her. “It was nice and vibrant for a while.”
“Well, no, you’re right. It’s just…this place is so drab and depressing. We need something to cheer it up.”
Tom felt embarrassed for implying indirectly that she was an idiot. “You’re right. It was a nice try and I hate to tell you this, but this plant isn’t going to make it.” She let out a soft laugh as she poured her coffee. Tom continued, “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Do you like your job?”
“You’re funny.” Amber smiled as she added cream to her coffee, “Nobody likes their job. It’s just something that you have to do.”
Tom leaned back in his chair, “Surely, there are people that like their jobs.”
“Well, I want one of their jobs then.” She strolled out saying, “Let me know if you find any openings.”
Tom finished off his coffee and stood up to return to work. He was stopped by the realization that he had drunk too much coffee. He had the vague sensation of feeling psychic, a feeling that usually accompanied the over-consumption of caffeine for him. It was an odd sensation. He always felt psychic from too much coffee, but never had a premonition, just a feeling that a premonition was possible. He sat back down admiring the odd tricks of his mind.
He let his mind wander in this state, until he spoke aloud, startling himself, “I need to form a plan to get out of here,” He made a promise to himself not to rot in this job.
He stood up, grabbed the plant and threw it in the garbage. He stopped himself, having one more task to complete. He stood on top of a chair and ripped the tinsel from the ceiling.
He smiled, a plan was hatching.
I'm trying really hard to come up with spin to make "conservative" seem like a bad word, ie. "elite religious right". The same way that "liberal" became a bad word. In fact, I even heard a doctor being interviewed that said he wouldn't vote for Kerry because he was the most "liberal man in the senate" (straight from the ads). When the doctor was asked what Kerry had done in the senate that was so horribly "liberal", he couldn't come up with one incident. He had only heard that Kerry was "liberal" and that is as good as labeling him as the devil, 'nuff said. When the doctor was given the issues, he almost always sided with Kerry. His conclusion though was to vote for Bush, because Bush was more honest. Although, he couldn't come up with a valid moment when Kerry was dishonest.
This doesn't seem logical when you type it out, but you can hear the argument of this doctor at ThisAmericanLife.org and the name of the show is "Swing Set".
Anyway, I'm writing more about the "elite religious" media's declaration of Bush's "clear mandate". Even NPR (our most un-biased source) has declared it a mandate. My media watchdog sources have claimed that this information came straight out of a white house press release. Almost half the people in America would disagree. I'm just scared because that means he was holding back before. We can expect more religion in politics and in the bedroom and broadening of the Patriot Act. As Bush has said, "There should be limits to Freedom". Living in a country where you can be sent to prison without ever having access to a lawyer, as possible in the Patriot Act, I think is pretty strong proof that we are not living in a free society even if the Patriot Act is only used legitimately.
So, I don't think "elite religious" right works very well, I've got to come up with better spin.
This doesn't seem logical when you type it out, but you can hear the argument of this doctor at ThisAmericanLife.org and the name of the show is "Swing Set".
Anyway, I'm writing more about the "elite religious" media's declaration of Bush's "clear mandate". Even NPR (our most un-biased source) has declared it a mandate. My media watchdog sources have claimed that this information came straight out of a white house press release. Almost half the people in America would disagree. I'm just scared because that means he was holding back before. We can expect more religion in politics and in the bedroom and broadening of the Patriot Act. As Bush has said, "There should be limits to Freedom". Living in a country where you can be sent to prison without ever having access to a lawyer, as possible in the Patriot Act, I think is pretty strong proof that we are not living in a free society even if the Patriot Act is only used legitimately.
So, I don't think "elite religious" right works very well, I've got to come up with better spin.
Thursday, November 4, 2004
Elite Religious Right Media
Liberal media....ha! Especially with the Fox News Propaganda channel, here's some proof:
http://www.fair.org/extra/0409/gay-marriage-consensus.html
http://www.fair.org/extra/0409/gay-marriage-consensus.html
Sick of Spin
So, our so-called "elite liberal" media is of course presenting the facts as they always do with bias to the elite religious right. They are reporting that President Bush received the highest number of votes ever. That sure sounds impressive, but do you know who received the second highest number of votes ever? John Kerry. It is like the housing statistic: "More people have houses than ever before". That happens to be true for every year since they started to keep track of housing.
What's my point? The media (probably through talking points provided by Karl Rove) is focusing on how clear a victory this is when, in fact, Bush's victory was the NARROWEST win for an incumbent president since Woodrow Wilson in 1916. That's not as impressive now, is it? Providing one statistic and not the other only leads to a minor deception. It makes the red voters feel powerful and the blue voters despair.
These minor deceptions add up though. For example, my favorite statistic about Fox News: "67% of Fox News watchers believe that the US has found a link between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeida". I don't think that Fox News ever blatantly said that, but Robert Murdoch certainly intended for minor deceptions to lead a viewer to that connection.
Here's why I voted against Bush:
1. I'm for stem cell research. Anyone against it is clearly an idiot.
2. I'm against preemptive wars.
a. If they invade a country (as before), then wiser people than me can make the decision to invade.
b. If they commit genocide, I'm all for going in.
Those were both good reasons to get rid of Saddam Hussein the first go around, but we had to keep a villain in place.
c. If they are an evil dictatorship or monarchy that rules over their people with an iron fist and horrible tyranny, then I think those people should rise up against their country in the form of revolution and the US should stay out, ie. not supply arms.
d. If they are suspect of having weapons that can potentially harm us, then again I think they should be left alone unless a clear plan has been formulated. Does that leave us open to attack? Yep, sure does, but the people of a country understand more why we are attacking them when they attack us first. Also, I never hit someone just because I think he might hit me...never. If it is good enough for me, it is good enough for my country.
3. 48,000 people have been detained in prisons in Iraq such as Abu Garib, around 600 of those might be legitimate. Not even considering Abu Garib-type torture and regardless of their treatment in the prisons (which include sleep deprivation and rough treatment), do you think we are making any friends over there? Do you think we are seen as a liberating force? Army men break into your house in the middle of the night yelling at you and take you or your husband away for unpleasant prison stay, I would freak. I know I would hate the country that came in.
4. Gay marriage: well, duh? It is not a religious issue, but is treated as such. They can't pass a law requiring a religon to marry two men so it can remain sanctimonious or whatever bullshit you want to call it. This is a legal issue involving tax breaks and the umbrella of protections afforded married couples. Kerry really wasn't for gay marriage, but he didn't try to pass an amendment to the constitution either. This alone was reason enough for me to vote against Bush. I dare anyone to argue with me on that.
OK, I have to make a note of the language used. Please look up sanctimony so you can have a little giggle when ever Bush says "preserve the sanctimony of marriage". I'm pretty sure that he now says "sanctity", but sanctimony sure does sound like a bigger, more impressive word.
Next, I think they will have homosexuals register and then put in camps and then given nice group showers where we all can sleep for a long time. Don't believe it could happen? In the early 1900's, Homosexuality was at its most acceptable in the 20's and in Berlin, need I say more. To learn of the mindset that leads people towards fascism, I suggest reading "The Authoritarian Personality". It was written in the 1950's in reaction to McCartyism and is a sociological study that happens to be my bible. More and more, I believe the american public is drifting toward this mindset. I've certainly seen it in some co-workers.
5. I'm pro-choice. Well hell, I'm for 40th trimester abortions even if you are just using it casually for some sort of tortuous, painful, inefficient, expensive form of birth control.
6. Minimum wage hasn't gone up in how long? I hate the spin around minimum wage. I heard it said that 50% of the minimum wage earners make their way to the top 10% within ten years. Ha, mathematically, that makes me laugh and usually math doesn't make me laugh. I know plenty of people making minimum wage or a little bit higher and their ten years are up.
7. Environmental issues: Truthfully, I haven't looked into this one. I have so much already, I feel I don't even need to argue this. There are sources that I trust that seem to argue that Bush's environmental policies are bad for our health. I tend to believe them. I could be wrong, but I don't really care. When I don't have all these other things to argue about, I'll look into it. For now, it is just a mere suggestion of a minor irritation, but a huge issue for many.
8. What? Have we given up on Osama Bin Laden? Our real terrorist is pretty much free to roam around getting his dialysis.
9. The worst flip-floppers of all. Bush and Cheney. Here is what Bush said in 2000: "I'm worried about an opponent who uses nation-building and the military in the same sentence," he told a rally. "My view of the military is for our military to be properly prepared to fight and win wars -- therefore, (to) prevent war from happening in the first place."
After 9/11: "The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our No. 1 priority, and we will not rest until we find him."
Six months later: "I don't know where he is. I have no idea and I really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority."
That is just a sample. The list of flip-flops go on and on and on.
That's all I can think of right now off the top of my head. There is much, much more. I didn't even mention economics, but then again people always say that economics can not be blamed completely on the president....or the deficit. I've learned to operate without credit, can't my country do the same?
I can say some good that happened though. Afghanistan now has a more muted Taliban. They have a leader that was elected. Of course, he is the same guy that Bush appointed for the interim government and he happens to be an ex-Exxon consultant, but Sona, my friend from Afghanistan, says he seems like a really good leader. That's good, although I'm concerned that nothing good has happened in the States.
What's my point? The media (probably through talking points provided by Karl Rove) is focusing on how clear a victory this is when, in fact, Bush's victory was the NARROWEST win for an incumbent president since Woodrow Wilson in 1916. That's not as impressive now, is it? Providing one statistic and not the other only leads to a minor deception. It makes the red voters feel powerful and the blue voters despair.
These minor deceptions add up though. For example, my favorite statistic about Fox News: "67% of Fox News watchers believe that the US has found a link between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeida". I don't think that Fox News ever blatantly said that, but Robert Murdoch certainly intended for minor deceptions to lead a viewer to that connection.
Here's why I voted against Bush:
1. I'm for stem cell research. Anyone against it is clearly an idiot.
2. I'm against preemptive wars.
a. If they invade a country (as before), then wiser people than me can make the decision to invade.
b. If they commit genocide, I'm all for going in.
Those were both good reasons to get rid of Saddam Hussein the first go around, but we had to keep a villain in place.
c. If they are an evil dictatorship or monarchy that rules over their people with an iron fist and horrible tyranny, then I think those people should rise up against their country in the form of revolution and the US should stay out, ie. not supply arms.
d. If they are suspect of having weapons that can potentially harm us, then again I think they should be left alone unless a clear plan has been formulated. Does that leave us open to attack? Yep, sure does, but the people of a country understand more why we are attacking them when they attack us first. Also, I never hit someone just because I think he might hit me...never. If it is good enough for me, it is good enough for my country.
3. 48,000 people have been detained in prisons in Iraq such as Abu Garib, around 600 of those might be legitimate. Not even considering Abu Garib-type torture and regardless of their treatment in the prisons (which include sleep deprivation and rough treatment), do you think we are making any friends over there? Do you think we are seen as a liberating force? Army men break into your house in the middle of the night yelling at you and take you or your husband away for unpleasant prison stay, I would freak. I know I would hate the country that came in.
4. Gay marriage: well, duh? It is not a religious issue, but is treated as such. They can't pass a law requiring a religon to marry two men so it can remain sanctimonious or whatever bullshit you want to call it. This is a legal issue involving tax breaks and the umbrella of protections afforded married couples. Kerry really wasn't for gay marriage, but he didn't try to pass an amendment to the constitution either. This alone was reason enough for me to vote against Bush. I dare anyone to argue with me on that.
OK, I have to make a note of the language used. Please look up sanctimony so you can have a little giggle when ever Bush says "preserve the sanctimony of marriage". I'm pretty sure that he now says "sanctity", but sanctimony sure does sound like a bigger, more impressive word.
Next, I think they will have homosexuals register and then put in camps and then given nice group showers where we all can sleep for a long time. Don't believe it could happen? In the early 1900's, Homosexuality was at its most acceptable in the 20's and in Berlin, need I say more. To learn of the mindset that leads people towards fascism, I suggest reading "The Authoritarian Personality". It was written in the 1950's in reaction to McCartyism and is a sociological study that happens to be my bible. More and more, I believe the american public is drifting toward this mindset. I've certainly seen it in some co-workers.
5. I'm pro-choice. Well hell, I'm for 40th trimester abortions even if you are just using it casually for some sort of tortuous, painful, inefficient, expensive form of birth control.
6. Minimum wage hasn't gone up in how long? I hate the spin around minimum wage. I heard it said that 50% of the minimum wage earners make their way to the top 10% within ten years. Ha, mathematically, that makes me laugh and usually math doesn't make me laugh. I know plenty of people making minimum wage or a little bit higher and their ten years are up.
7. Environmental issues: Truthfully, I haven't looked into this one. I have so much already, I feel I don't even need to argue this. There are sources that I trust that seem to argue that Bush's environmental policies are bad for our health. I tend to believe them. I could be wrong, but I don't really care. When I don't have all these other things to argue about, I'll look into it. For now, it is just a mere suggestion of a minor irritation, but a huge issue for many.
8. What? Have we given up on Osama Bin Laden? Our real terrorist is pretty much free to roam around getting his dialysis.
9. The worst flip-floppers of all. Bush and Cheney. Here is what Bush said in 2000: "I'm worried about an opponent who uses nation-building and the military in the same sentence," he told a rally. "My view of the military is for our military to be properly prepared to fight and win wars -- therefore, (to) prevent war from happening in the first place."
After 9/11: "The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our No. 1 priority, and we will not rest until we find him."
Six months later: "I don't know where he is. I have no idea and I really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority."
That is just a sample. The list of flip-flops go on and on and on.
That's all I can think of right now off the top of my head. There is much, much more. I didn't even mention economics, but then again people always say that economics can not be blamed completely on the president....or the deficit. I've learned to operate without credit, can't my country do the same?
I can say some good that happened though. Afghanistan now has a more muted Taliban. They have a leader that was elected. Of course, he is the same guy that Bush appointed for the interim government and he happens to be an ex-Exxon consultant, but Sona, my friend from Afghanistan, says he seems like a really good leader. That's good, although I'm concerned that nothing good has happened in the States.
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