This shaking keeps me steady... I should know.

allelhia @ 2009-06-20T18:31:00

2009-06-20T23:34:17Z

I am at chinese wedding performed in english. Sounds like kim Jong il of team america is marrying them. Trying not to laugh.

Yeah I am so going to hell.

Memories...

2009-06-10T03:24:06Z

Am writing again and therefore remembering things that were long forgotten but now rise again.

Tonight I am remembering a guy I kissed at 19. He was a junior in high school at the time, friends of many of our mutual friends, and I had either just turned 19 or was about to. I can't recall. I really liked him, I really did... but for some reason after that one night where we held hands on a drive with other friends in the car, and kissed outside his house before dropping him off.... I freaked. I avoided him, in a really shitty way, totally dropped him so as to not have to explain why I wasn't interested... even though in some ways, I was interested i just couldn't process someone being interested in me, someone younger than me being interested in me.. Wouldn't he even technically have been statuetory, if he was 17 and I was 19 at the time?

I broke his heart, from all accounts.

I tried to apologize a few months later at his graduation.... don't think it helped.

I look back thinking I wish I'd known where it'd go.... but I was so raw. So hurt. So not me at that time. We'd lost three friends within 9 months, and I think I was afraid to let anyone else in.... I wish I could tell him that it wasn't HIM. It wasn't HIS fault. It wasn't HIS issue.

I don't even remember his name now...

allelhia @ 2009-02-01T20:26:00

2009-02-02T02:26:36Z

Grrr... Either having mouse problems or LJ problems or my keyboard is now starting to crap out. Time for new computers!!!!

The New New Years Eve...

2009-01-19T16:57:22Z

I'm a little bit flustered today, and I think it has to do with watching a movie about cataclysmic climate change last night... I had bad dreams. No, really, I mean, I had NIGHTMARES about it. The one I remember most was that I was making lists of all the things we needed to take with us in an evacuation to Mexico to avoid the coming icebergs, and I was running down a street, when this green Honda Civic did one of those hairpin U-Turns to pull up beside me. My stepmother poked her head out the window and said to me that it was fated that she find me here on this day, whilst we were preparing to evacuate, and that the spirits told her where I'd be, and oh, btw, it would be better to make your lists about what to take on tiny pieces of paper instead of a big notebook just in case you have to eat the lists later if the Mexicans ask about what you are importing.

WTF?

I am watching CNN coverage of Obama painting walls for Service day, today on MLK day. His socialistic message and ideas preaching to the people who have not vs. those who can create still freaks the hell out of me, but I'm also celebrating the end of 8 years of bullshit and stupidity and my complete inability to turn on a press conference without at least two beers at the ready. I'm okay with it. I will never be a diehard Obamaniac; I still may never vote for him if his view on the economy doesn't wisen up (IE, I'm talking TAXES people. Yes, yes, I'm rich now, I make a shit ton of money now, I have nice cars and a nice house, but I worked my ass off to get it and I'm not about to roll over and think it's alright that money I made is going to pay for someone who didn't work as hard as I did, who didn't earn it through their hard work. And before someone goes all elitist, I went to a state school for University and for Law School. Ain't no Ivy here.)

Anyway... today feels like New Year's Eve. Because tomorrow, Bush will be a has-been, mandate-less toad, as he should have been 8 years ago...

No matter how I try to be a functional human being, there is still a little part of me that thinks of what it would be like to leave everything behind, to sell everything but my camera and my backpack and enough clothes to fill it, and traverse the world on foot until I get tired of it, or until the economy snaps back, or both.

Sometimes this dream involves D, but most often it does not, as let's be honest folks... D requires at minimum three stars. I'm thinking of sleeping UNDER the stars, or a hostel at best.

This is our backup plan. If all our work in the system, if all our hopes and dreams and possessions and playing by the rules and lives must change because the dawn of a new era of depression, this is what we will do. See the world, check back in every 6 months and see what has stabilized. Because I have to have a plan of such magnitude to breath in this economic environment.

Don't kid yourselves, Houston. We're okay for now. But finance is the engine that turns the world, or at least, the world as we knew it. Trade deficits. Drilling. Paychecks. Car loans. Car makers. Construction projects. College tuition at the ivy schools for kids whose parents aren't fucking billionaires. Scholarships from schools. Fuel purchases for shipping/transit/airlines/imports/exports/lumber. Infrastructure projects. Everything. The whole globalization engine turned on the idea that Bank A could lend to Bank B cross border and Bank B could then make money on that investment from Bank A with Person A in Country B and so on and so forth.

Yes, work is slow in my section. It will continue to be, for a while. I will endeavour to enjoy it, but in truth I am one of those few people who requires excessive activity to feel functional. So I am not amused by a slow day. I am not doing well with slow days. I am not functional if I don't have twenty different things needing to be finished Right. Now.

"John Galt is Prometheus who changed his mind. After centuries of being torn by vultures in payment for having brought to men the fire of the gods, he broke his chains and he withdrew his fire-until the day when men withdraw their vultures."

Tired of playing by the rules. Meh.

Oh, btw. Arm is getting better. Obviously tying is no longer at issue. I'm working on fully straightening it again, and turning my palm upward. Double Meh.

OMGZ!!!!!!!!!!!! SNOW!!!!!!!!!

2008-12-11T03:12:04Z

IT IS SNOWING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IN HOUSTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This may not seem like anything to those of you in the frozen north, but MIND YOU it never snows here, and on top of that, it was 70 degrees yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DROVE HOME IN SNOW FLURRIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG STICK MOTHERFUCKERS, STICK LIKE YOUR LITTLE LIVES DEPEND ON IT!!!! I WANNA BUILD A SNOW WOMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!! BIG NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!! HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-11-08T14:23:37Z

Everyone...

I PASSED THE BAR EXAM!!!!!!!!!!
(!!!)

Sorry for not posting sooner, we got results on Thursday but I've been a wee bit drunk/distracted/drunk ever since!!! I'm SO thrilled never to take a test again like that for as long as I shall live (unless I'm stupid enough to end up having to transfer jurisdictions in the first five years, let's hope not!)

ATTENTION TV WATCHERS/FANDOM/EVERYONE!!!!

2008-10-26T03:54:33Z

I have joined the 21st century and now have satellite TV (as opposed to NOTHING before this besides rabbit ears).

GIVE ME YOUR TV SHOWS!!! WHAT SHOULD I BE WATCHING NOW!?!?!

I have no idea. We're overwhelmed here. We spent two hours this afternoon on the history channell because... damn, that's cool. Yeah.

So not leaving the house for the next month...

In other news, house flooded, bar comes out in two weeks, missing sheetrock everywhere thanks to house flooding downstairs, putting in floors still, insurance is trying to fuck is over re: flood, so over it, so ugg. But whatever, I have satellite now. I have choices. I'm cool with it.

I'm still here.. still alive.

2008-09-27T01:38:29Z

Between starting work, renovating the house, packing, moving, the FUCKING HURRICANE and its aftermath, the city after the hurricane, the traffic after the hurricane, oh and did I mention finally actually moving, the last month has been completely insane. We lost internet for a while after the storm, then AT&T was way too efficient and moved our service to the new house that we weren't yet living in, and which didn't have power... I had a whole posting about FEMA's bullshit down here and the local political squabbling but then I lost internet and jennem never responded to my commentary and it was a long time ago now. I will say this: gas the first week was scarce, but we had filled up before. Water was gone for a while but it came back. Downtown was closed for a while, but it opened up Tuesday after the hurricane. It's okay here. The biggest inconvenience is traffic lights missing and power being out and not being able to find a gallon of milk for most of the city.

As for now, I'm in the new home, we have moved sort of, still need to clean up the apartment this weekend and unpack lots here.

I am sitting on (new) couch drinking (lovely) beer watching (horribly depressing) debate on TV.

That's my life.

That's it.

Yup.

:-)

So far I'm considering writing in the moderator.

Magical Unicorns for sale.

2008-08-15T04:20:40Z

I am in love with this commentator's perspective on Georgia. Exactly!!!

This is why I love the British Press.

2008-08-13T16:48:54Z

Here's a good article from the Financial Times on the whole Georgian-Russian fiasco.

You might have to register but the article is excellent!!!

What WHAT? (Genocide)

2008-08-10T23:23:39Z

Apparently, the UN's definition of genocide is much to broad because it actually includes activities other than complete extermination.

I have no words.... Just. Wow. Awesome. Let's all reflect on humanity.

Anyone know of a community that actually discusses international relations without attracting wank posters who don't believe the UN's genocide definition is accurate? Methinks this might have been a mistake. :P

More on Russia - South Ossetia - Georgia

2008-08-10T05:12:19Z

[ Stratfor's Cold-war focused commentary ]

I disagree with the cold-war focus that Stratfor is putting out here. I'm rather disappointed, actually, because if I were PAYING for this information from them I'd be highly dismayed at how much this report (and the American media in general, obviously) is glossing over the factual background of this situation.
What the American media (and this article) keeps failing to mention is the fact that the region in question was an autonomous region under the Soviet Empire, separate from Georgia, and the majority of the population there supports becoming part of Russia. Imagine if Texas post-independence were then claimed as part of Mexico again but the majority of the people supported being part of the United States, then Mexico were to invade Texas in a bid to enforce it. Keep in mind that in Ossetia, the people who support the contested region being part of Russia are ethnically Ossetian (not Georgian) and historically Russian (3/4ths of the population there carries Russian passports and are Russian citizens), were part of Russia, and grew up as “Russians” – is Russia to abandon their citizens because Georgia has decided the region is theirs even when the majority of the population wants to be Russians and the land was never historically part of Georgia? There have also been reports of genocide against the Ossetians by the Georgians; bombing the cities level in the region in response to the pro-Russian sentiments so their quest for ownership of the contested region is easier to accomplish.

Georgia as only gotten cozy with the US to protect itself and have the US run interference on its behalf. It is pure political cold war and international relations 101. I think Georgia is TRYING to provoke foreign involvement on their behalf. Keep in mind that Georgia’s NATO application was recently rejected and the next time they will be up for NATO membership is this coming December – Imagine if they had become part of NATO! We’d (along with the rest of the NATO membership) would be obligated to defend them under NATO! I quite frankly see Russia’s actions as more of a response to the West’s NATO policies and the EU’s expansion into the realm of Russia’s “influence.” I think the time for action was years ago, when we first had the choice between integrating Russia back into the fold or isolating Russia by embracing the newly independent states and excluding Russia from security and economic arrangements. This current conflict is a reflection on that decision, certainly not a revenge-motive for Kosovo.

The conflict between Russia and Georgia in this area (and more generally) started way before the Kosovo independence. No one in Russia wants to invade Georgia, they just want the Georgians to stop killing Ossetians and leave them alone. Further, everyone is glossing over the fact that Georgia started this conflict… AND keep in mind that this conflict actually started almost a year ago when Russia began throwing out Georgians from the country due to escalating tension over this region with Georgia attacking peacekeeping forces located in the region since 1992. This was not a surprise overnight thing; they mobilized almost a year ago to the border when this all began (with the Russians throwing Georgians out)… So none of this was incredibly surprising to us.

Though we are glad Hubby is no longer of draft age in Russia...

(also cross-posted here in conservatism )

The Georgia Situation

2008-08-09T04:23:24Z

Quite frankly, I think the whole thing is a result of the West's NATO-expansion policy. No one here is surprised by this turn of events. Russia has been shoved off, pushed aside, and degraded militarialy for years; let's not even consider the economic factors. It's conflicted territory. It's formerly Russian. It has a lot of Russian-backers living there. WHY do we feel the need to say "NO! OMFG! It's GEORGIA'S! ARG! NOT RUSSIA!"....... What factors declare territory? What right does Georgia have to invade a city? To invade an area that before the end of the Soviet era was an autonomous region, not even part of Georgia?

I am watching a bunch of really stupid people arguing about it on KLRU right now. Let's just say that Pat Buchanan is the smartest of them. One is claiming that the US has to defend Georgia because we are allies. Uh. You and what treaty? Who are we defending? What happened to the Monroe Doctrine? WTF?

THEN the commenter went on to state that McCain is more Hawkish and OMG!WTF what are Bush and McCain gonna do about it?!?! PLEASE. Going in to help Georgia would be WWIII, OH HAI RUSSIA! WE IN UR BACK YARD?!?! No way. NO fucking way. Quite frankly, I'd think Obama from his commentary on Russia (see Accidentally Liveblogging The View) would be more "Hawkish" if anyone were to be that stupid, but even he can't be that incompetent.

Sigh.

So jennem, that's what I think about Georgia. Sorry it took me a while to actually think of a response. :D

Obama on the View. Accidental Liveblogging.

2008-08-04T15:50:54Z

Obama has just stated that RUSSIA is in the same category of foreign energy dependence as the Middle East. He said that foreign dependence on Russia is allowing Russia to "act with impunity" because oil and gas prices give them a role in world politics..... Yeah, and the sentence before? Referenced middle eastern oil dependence.

Excuse me? Are we cold-warring again? Have we learned nothing from the past 16 years of NATO and EU growth and Russia's reactions? Is this the same guy who said less than two weeks ago in Berlin that "... we must reject the Cold War mind-set of the past, and resolve to work with Russia when we can, to stand up for our values when we must, and to seek a partnership that extends across this entire continent."

Fuck me. Is this a rerun? I hope so. What's up with this?

Seriously. When my back-up plan for economic failure and complete decimation in America includes, in order, London, Moscow, or Shanghai, there might be something going wrong back home. Coupled with Hubby's discovery last night that there is now law in effect allowing Homeland "Security" to confiscate any electronic or paper devices or books on your person when entering the country, we're strangely reminded of our history lessons and really quite skeptical of the upcoming election. I know many, many of you disagree with me on this, and that's fine, that's your right. But from where I'm sitting, I see very few differences in how the election thus far has played out between Obama and Bush Jr. The fervorrism, the blind worship, the lack of questioning, it's all there. And it scares the fuck out of me.

tee hee

2008-07-12T15:06:05Z

Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to Allelhia.

Which movie was this quote from?

and

They may take away our Allelhia, but they'll never take our freedom!

Which movie was this quote from?

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!

2008-06-19T16:13:40Z

It's a WOOTOFF DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

Just had to do this Meme....

2008-06-06T04:44:06Z

You are in a mall when the zombies attack. You have:

1. one weapon.
2. one song blasting on the speakers.
3. one famous person to fight alongside you.

1. A bastard sword so I can swing it with both hands.
2. Are you There? by Oleander.
3. Duncan MacLeod. OH yeah.

Holy Shit.

2008-05-06T16:43:21Z

Sometimes, I really really really hate my future profession and worry about what it will be like being a woman with a uterus and a desire to make things in that uterus while also working at a major law firm.

THIS IS WHY.

I'm sorry, you fired an associate 6 days after they have a miscarriage and it's her "PERFORMANCE?" After how many years of excellent reviews by the partners etc? After how many arse-kissings and confirmations she received that her performance was fine for this year and that her reduced billing because the economy wasn't a factor? This firm, btw? Specializes in Employment Law and represented Sullivan & Cromwell in the recent stink over fired gay attorney Aaron Charney. Like, whoa. Good job, morons! Note to Big Law: finding yourself on ATL for something like this -- it might not be the type of press you wanted. Just FYI.

I just have to say, though, GOOD FOR HER!!!!!!! I hope if I'm ever in the same position I will have the financial security and the moral turpitude to do the same.... Naw, who am I kidding, I'm more likely to take the money and create a scandal anyway by violating the disclosure agreement then flee to Russia to live my days as a contract lawyer in the oil fields while drinking vodka and eating caviar every night..

Yup.

allelhia @ 2008-03-23T22:14:00

2008-03-24T03:16:06Z

I AM A FASHION GENIUS!!!!! YOU ALL SHALL BE CONQUERED AND MADE UPPER MIDDLE CLASS BY MY CHOICES!! MUHAHAHAHA!!!

allelhia: *poke*
jennem: [poke]
jennem: maybe I'll get a nice watch this summer
jennem: when I have a JOB
jennem: though I think I'll go with Swiss Army
allelhia: hehe
allelhia: SWISS ARMY?
allelhia: YOU ARE KILLING ME HERE
jennem: they were on your LIST
allelhia: NO
jennem: weren't they?
allelhia: They Were NOT
jennem: ITS SWISS
allelhia: NOT NOT NOT
jennem: and fucking better than SWATCH
allelhia: IT'S CRAP SWISS
jennem: (are you fucking kidding me, SWATCH?)
allelhia: well not the swatch you buy at norstroms :P
jennem: swatch is crap
jennem: I don't like any of the styles that I saw
jennem: of the brands you listed
jennem: they don't have NUMBERS on their watch
jennem: I NEED NUMBERS
jennem: not just little hands in black space
allelhia: okay, not swatch. Tissot then
jennem: The least expensive Tissot is like $750 on their store website
allelhia: http://www.watchsavings.com/Tissot-TRound-Ladies-Watch-T64.1.285.81/M/B000HDOD1M.htm
allelhia: Don't go to the store websites
allelhia: goofus
jennem: that also doesn't have NUMBERS
jennem: LOL
allelhia: my tissot has numbers
jennem: aww
jennem: the one I like isn't available at thsi time
allelhia: http://www.watchplanet.com/Tissot-Womens-TCollection-watch-T64128532/M/B000T719CC.htm
jennem: :(
jennem: I hate gold
jennem: I really like the one I linked to
allelhia: BTW, LOL that you want numbers.
jennem: why does it have to be out of stock
allelhia: Okay then my watch is PERFECT. Numbers, and no gold
allelhia: the one I am posting )(AND THIS IS THE LAST) is very similar to mine. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OHC4KS
jennem: I also like that one
allelhia: there you go. 200 bucks. tissot quality
allelhia: no scratches in one year:P I've had mine for three and a half years, NOTHING
allelhia: :D
allelhia: here is my EXACT watch - it's 150! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HDEARO
jennem: Ooh
jennem: I like that watch
jennem: and its sold by amazon
allelhia: yup
jennem: which is better than some other seller
jennem: that I don't really know
allelhia: http://www.watchsavings.com/Tissot-PR-50-Womens-Watch-T34.1.281.13/M/B00026WAEQ.htm
allelhia: here it is for 10 bucks cheaper
jennem: I'm going to totally copy cat you
jennem: LOL
allelhia: LOL
jennem: I like this one
allelhia: Don't tell Denis
jennem: I won't
allelhia: he'll be ticked
jennem: why?
jennem: Russian thing?
jennem: or D thing
allelhia: Russian thing
jennem: LOL
jennem: well
jennem: I won't tell him
jennem: and he'll never notice
jennem: because he's a man
jennem: but if he does
allelhia: I just want you to NOT GET A PIECE OF CRAP!!:)
jennem: we can just go "oh wow"
jennem: "who knew"
jennem: LOL
allelhia: you can see mine on Wed if you want to try on before you buy
jennem: YAY. :D
allelhia: lol naw, he knows I am educating you on watches
jennem: You're helping me not be blue collar
jennem: [tear]
allelhia: he turned it into a "THIS IS WHY WE NEED A BETTER CAR OMGZ!"
allelhia: yes, I am.
allelhia: and that's a good thing
allelhia: you are going into an industry where your WATCH MATTERS.
jennem: lol
allelhia: I know The!man doesn't know this, but men look at each other's watches and judgments are made because of it.
allelhia: Watch when two professional men meet, you can actually see them notice
allelhia: and they do the same with women.
allelhia: so you have to play
allelhia: :)
jennem: lol
allelhia: And btw.. I am PROUD to be your luxury educator:)
allelhia: I have a feeling you are going to look bad ass in my new Dior sunglasses;)
allelhia: OMGZ I think I am posting this convo
jennem: lol
jennem: I want to try your new Dior glasses on
jennem: Now.

AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-03-20T07:15:49Z

Know how when you kill a bug that's in a really bad location (like the HUGE MOTHERFUCKING SPIDER in my MOTHERFUCKING BED) and then you can't sleep because you are paranoid that there will be another one that you missed just as you relax and let your guard down?

Yeah.. THAT's how I feel right now.

I'm sorry, M & T, I'm incredibly grateful that you guys let me crash here for the last year and a half, but there is just WAY too much wilderness here for me!!! When we come into town after this year, we'll pay for a room at the Four Seasons because i guarantee that if there is a SPIDER in my bed there, HEADS WILL ROLL!!!

My first HP fanfic... and did I mention I wrote it for a class?

2008-03-18T03:24:41Z

As mentioned previously, I was planning on writing HP fanfic for a grade... yes, a grade - it's a law school class. Yes, yes, I know my life rocks. Anyway, today I turned in the story. Without further procrastination, here it is! Keep in mind that this had to (1) fit within 5 pages double spaced for the assignment purposes, so I cut out some things that normally I'd expound upon and (2) this wasn't beta'd by anyone but me, and (3) This was.... uh... for class, and sent to a professor and potentially the entire rest of the class. So nothing blatant. Read between the lines if you like. I know you can. I have faith.

The class prompt was "invisibility and the Law" - based on the concept of invisibility from Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man. Bonus points if you can name the literary references inspiring parts of the story!

Title: One Night in Bangkok...
Characters: Harry, Draco, but surprisingly Canon... for now! (recall, it was for class!)
Rating: PG-13 - some language
Summary: Harry goes on assignment to Bangkok and ends up in a bit of hot water, Muggle style.

Harry sighed as his head fell into his hands. This was not looking good. He sat on the dingy floor of a Thai prison, surrounded by fifty or so …. he wasn’t quite sure what they were. Some appeared feminine enough but Harry was relatively sure that they were not women. And the smell! Harry wasn’t prissy when it came to his living accommodations —his childhood ensured as much—but honestly, did no one believe in showers or soap here? And the communal toilet hole in the ground… and the leg irons… and the mosquitoes… Merlin, how did Muggles live like this?

“Get hold of yourself, Harry,” he whispered. “It’s just like camping but without the magical tent…or Hermione’s never-ending bag of food supplies. Bugger.”

“Mr. Potter? Mr. Harry J. Potter?”

Harry looked up quickly to see a trim looking fellow in a pink button down. His thoughts immediately went to Percy Weasley, but this bloke had brown hair. Harry stood up, relieved.

“Yes, that’s me. Are you from the embassy?”

“Yes. Mr. Potter, if you’ll come with me? We’re having a bit of a problem substantiating your story…”

Harry followed Pink Shirt into a solitary room with one window, one table, and one chair. He opted to stand, his leg irons comfortably resting on the floor, as Pink Shirt spent some time removing papers from a leather briefcase and arranged them on the table.

“You see, Mr. Potter, we don’t have any record of your service for any such ministry or organization… You told the Thai authorities that you were intended to remove that artifact as part of your official duties on behalf of the British service, yes?”

“Uh… yes. Listen, not to be rude, but are you sure you are talking to the… er… correct people back home? I mean to say, the Ministry should know all of this, as they sent me here…”

Pink Shirt shook his head. “I’m sorry Mr. Potter, but the Ministry of Defense hasn’t heard of you and has no record of your employment… Now perhaps we could get the real story, you know, may help move things along here?”

Bloody hell, Harry thought, he was stuck in the Muggle world’s justice system. There wasn’t any record of him on the Muggle books since before he entered Hogwarts!

“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name... Mister?”

Pink Shirt’s nose rose a few inches higher, if possible. “Weatherby. Marcus Weatherby.”

Harry smirked. “Right. Mr. Weatherby. Please contact Ms. Margaret Bones in the Prime Minister’s cabinet; she’ll be able to deliver my proper clearances.”

Pink Shirt blinked rapidly, then quickly began assembling his papers. “Mr. Potter, if you won’t cooperate with the authorities or myself, I can assure you the British Embassy will not waste its time attempting to remove you from this predicament! I mean, honestly, how many young people do we see attempting to remove illegal narcotics via odd looking Thai or Asian artifacts? You aren’t precisely unique in your situation, and you would do well to plead guilty for a reduced sentence or perhaps at least tell me from whom you received the drugs-”

“No. I’m innocent. No. I will not plead guilty.” Pink Shirt looked offended, and Harry sighed. “Look, please just contact her, alright? Please. It’s very important. I’m not wasting your time, I promise. Please.”

“I’ll do my best, Mr. Potter.”

Pink Shirt had visited Harry twice more; once to bring soap, sandwiches, and mosquito repellant from the British embassy, and a second time to inform him that Ms. Bones of the ministry had been informed of his predicament and would be in contact soon.

It was rather brilliant, Harry bitterly acknowledged over the next few weeks he spent with his feminine cell mates, the idea of filling a priceless dark artifact with Muggle narcotics. Hell, he’d fallen right into the bloody trap. Wizard exit points would be watched for that artifact—the Ministry had determined from reports that Thailand’s floo ports had in fact been warded to prevent removal directly—so, Harry had flown in Muggle-style to Thailand, on a big jet with snacks and movies, the whole cauldron. He was to have left the same way, had it not been for the bloody drug-sniffing dog. Unfortunately, Harry had stowed all of his magical gear in a warded compartment of his carry-on so as to not cause the Muggle plane to crash from magical interference. Brilliant, really, and here he was, wandless and stuck in a Thai prison with ladyboys.

“Pot-her” the Thai guard spoke in accented English. “Get up. Visit-her.”

Harry grunted as he stood, and ran his fingers morosely through his hair. It was matted in every possible direction, and Harry was quite certain he had fleas from the cell conditions, but Pink Shirt must be used to his appearance by now. Harry entered the same room, and blinked in surprise at the figure already seated behind the table with shock-white long hair and gray eyes.

“Ugh, Potter, I didn’t think you could smell worse than you did in school! Merlin, are those some sort of metal restraints on your ankles? Muggles are so barbaric!”

“Malfoy,” Harry gritted out “What are you doing here?”

“You’d do well to watch your tongue, Potter. I’m the Ministry liaison sent to investigate your claim and remove you from Muggle Thai custody. I can’t believe someone actually thought up this plan—stealing dark artifacts and flying out like a Muggle? On a plane? Honestly, hasn’t anyone in the Auror department heard of portkeys?”

“Portkeys don’t work in Thailand, Malfoy. They have the best wards in the world so the Thai government can control the drug trade. It’s in the Ministry file on the Thai Wizard community and their deal with the Muggle government here… Honestly, hasn’t anyone in the Magical Foreign Relations department researched Thailand’s Wizarding government?”

Malfoy glared at Harry, and flicked his wrist once at the empty space across the table. A second chair appeared, and Harry sat, careful not to clank his leg irons against the chair.

“Right. So we’re going to get you out of here, obviously, even if you are a smelly prat.” Malfoy smirked, flipping through papers. “I assume you were using your invisibility cloak... see, we have to explain to Thai wizarding officials why the British Ministry of Magic was operating here, sending an Auror in without permission. Bloody hell Potter, your boss is an idiot.”

“Yes, it was my cloak,” Harry wrung his hands together. “Malfoy, how long have I been in here? I think it’s been under three weeks but I haven’t got any papers.... Is Ginny alright?”

“Bloody hell Potter! I’m not your owl! What, are you going to start crying like a nancy now? The Golden Boy reduced to sobbing because he’s in a Thai jail? Someone alert the Daily Prophet! Merlin, it’s not Azkaban, Potter! Your wife and you will live!”

Harry grimaced and looked away, dropping his shoulders. “Forget it.”

Malfoy sighed, and reached into his bag. He casually threw three rolled parchments across the table. “Letters from your family. Read them now, because they won’t let you take these into the cell. Odd looking things too, from the Muggle perspective.”

Harry snapped up the letters and greedily read the news from home. Albus had taken his first step! James got stuck on the roof after borrowing Harry’s broom, and Ginny had to rescue him. And of course everyone missed daddy. Harry cradled his head in his hands again.

“Malfoy, how long till I get out of here?” Malfoy didn’t answer and Harry looked up, surprised to find the normally composed man staring at his papers in contempt. Malfoy’s eyes narrowed as he flipped through several more pages. “Malfoy-“

“Potter, what did they do to you? Why didn’t you tell that Muggle who was visiting you? This is utterly absurd, completely out of proportion. Why weren’t we notified?”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me, what did they do to you? I’m looking at your file and that Muggle doctor here says you’ve old scars signaling repeat offenses. You’re a repeat criminal offender, Potter, and you know what they do as punishments here! Why didn’t you notify someone?”

Harry blinked. “Malfoy, I have no idea what you’re on about. I’ve sat in a cell with fifty or so ladyboys, and it smells awful, my hair has a mind of its own, and I can’t perform a wandless Scorgify. Other than that, they’ve done nothing… unless the food is considered a crime. It really should be, honestly.”

Malfoy thrust his papers into Harry’s face and jabbed a manicured finger at the writing. “See here. It says signs of a repeat offender, marks along buttocks and-“

“Yes, thank you Malfoy, I can read!” Harry slammed the file closed and ground his teeth.

“Potter, quit being a Gryffendor prat! Are they hitting you here? They can’t do that, we have a treaty. I need to know, you idiot, I’m trying to get you out of here.”

Harry felt his cheeks heat as he blushed crimson, and he lowered his eyes to hide behind his overgrown fringe. “Sod off Malfoy! This isn’t your business.” Of all people to learn Harry’s childhood secret, it had to be Draco bloody Malfoy!

“What, the Ministry didn’t send you to another one of these hovels, did they? I bet it was Malaysia! Or Singapore! Merlin, Muggles are barbaric!” Malfoy stood and began pacing.

“Malfoy!” Harry snapped, “It was ages ago! Leave it!”

Malfoy stopped, and wrenched the file from Harry’s hands. “It was those Muggles, wasn’t it… the ones you grew up with. But Snape always teased you about your spoiled upbringing with your doting relatives! ‘Oh Mr. Potter, too bad your relatives aren’t here to coddle you and care for your every whim!’ and the like.”

“Yes, well, Snape didn’t exactly know me…did he? Snape saw what he wanted; the rest was invisible to him.” Harry snorted. “Invisible to most everyone else, too. Dumbledore …”

Malfoy quieted at the mention of Dumbledore. “I didn’t know,” he muttered.

Harry laughed bitterly. “Look, Malfoy, no offense, but the wizarding world would never have believed that the boy-who-lived wasn’t living in a perfect home with perfect relatives… What would they do, if they had? Supposed to defeat Voldemort but can’t even protect himself from his relatives? No one knew! You all saw what you wanted to see… I… I can’t believe I’m even telling you this. Just… just get me out of here, okay Malfoy? Just get me out.”

Malfoy flicked his wrist again, shrinking the file, and he placed it neatly in the pocket of his designer Muggle suit. “You’ll be out before the end of the week, Potter. Good day.”

TRUE STORY

2008-03-04T21:47:58Z

Harris County, Texas, can send you a voter registration card with your correct name and address, when you move a year and a half ago into an apartment at said name and address and have your license and your VOTER REGISTRATION changed at the DMV to that said address.... but still not have you in their database at the polling place or downtown in the main database that the little old man volunteer phones to find out why you are not on his fucking list at the polling place.

I'm disenfranchised.

AND note to poll volunteers.... I realize you are volunteers and that you are just doing your job, but.... when it is YOUR FUCKUP*, I do not... I repeat, DO FUCKING NOT like being told to just go over yonder to that table by the exit and take one of those white lil' voter registration cards for next time so I can maybe vote next time in November if they don't misplace me in the database again, m'kay. NEXT TIME????

srsly.

Fuck politics. I need a beer.

* I assume it is obvious that by "your" here I am referring to Harris County and the voter registration office, not you, little old man volunteer

allelhia @ 2008-02-21T20:58:00

2008-02-22T02:59:33Z

OUR DRINKING GAME FOR THE NIGHT (turned out not to be so good for getting drunk):

Every time Hillary says EXPERIENCE: 1

Every time Barrack says CHANGE: 4

When either Senator SAYS "JFK" per jennem's comment: 2

Slams on the BUSH ADMINISTRATION: 9

jennem says his tie is burnt orange looking but I think it looks like Aggie colors.

OMG I just realized this is the Rec Sports Center. WTF did they do to it... this is not normal. I see the CNN logo all over the place - trust me, it was all over campus and all around the Rec Sports center earlier this week. They had a banner hanging off the building that said "CNN = Politics". I drove past the debate building this morning. OMFG there were people there at 7:50 AM with signs. I'm a crazy law student, but THAT was mental. As if seeing signs for a candidate as I drive in is going to make me jump up and down with OOO let me vote for YOU because YOUR supporters were here at 7:57 AM when I drove by!!

The third person (Mel) in our debate watching party it texting people to make fun of us blogging during the debate.

Aww, Hillary lived here. That's precious. I love Austin. I am starting to think I will miss Austin drastically. Barbara Jordan, she just mentioned - they are doing a statue of her on campus. AND Ann Richards has now been namedroppe. I loved her. Texas loved her. Our beer-drinking motorcycle riding grandma governor... she was a total badass. Hillary spoke at her funeral.

Hillary She says she helped start the Children's health care program in TX - it's one of the better ones in the country that's state sponsored, that's pretty interesting. On Hillary's comment about Health care discrimination against people who have illneses: I agree - shouldn't discriminate against people who are sick, but health care is a business for crying out loud.

Barrack is going negative on a discussion of the "failing economy" - come on!!! Failing??? I'm sorry, this is going against all evidence from economic studies... You can meet tons of people who have fallen on hard times but it does NOT MEAN THAT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IS GOING TO SHIT!!! NAFTA and CHINA are not the sources of America's problems.

Barrack is now going on about the war and deaths from the war - okay, we get it. War bad. Home good. Isolationists Good. Bad War.

Now he is saying that Washington has become a place where good ideas go to die. Funny, I thought that was Baltimore... no, wait, that's relationships (thanks Mel). This critique about Washington is nothing new, frankly - wasn't this Ross Perot's campaign slogan back in the days?

He is now quoting Barbara Jordan. I think she would kick him in the shins for his comment to Hillary at the New Hampshire debates ("You are likeable enough, Hillary"). That Barbara Jordan had spunk... tis why she gets a statue.

Question from Jorge Ramirez: Would Hillary be willing to sit down with the new leader in Cuba?

Hillary is discussing the rights for Cubans to have democracy. She would be interested in seeing changes by the government before responding, but she would be ready to reach out and work with new Cuban goverment that indicated it is willing to change. Too bad it doesn't count when Hillary says change; that was four or so drinks right there if it had been Barrack.

Cambell Brown, some moderator who will later interrupt everyone, asks the same thing about Cuba to Barrack

He responds: Something about liberty not existing during Castro's regime. He would want human rights to be on the meeting agenda. Interesting point about the US needing to talk to its enemies as well as its friends. He cited back to Hillary's position on not meeting till there are signs. He has just cited JFK on diplomacy and negotiations, which is ironic considering JFK almost destroyed the nation with the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Hillary's response: Negotiate with everyone, regardless of whether we have diplomatic relations at this point. BUT wait till we know who and what they are about - AND she also cited back to the same Kennedy quote. Ha. Am now drinking when JFK is mentioned.

So far there is ZERO difference between their two positions.

Mel thinks the audience and presenters are pro-Hillary, but I don't see it.

John King asks a question on the Economy - how would Barrack be different than Hillary? And vise versa.

Barrack is saying the economy is in trouble, and has been for four years. He is citing all these issues with the economy - including some communities that have been struggling for decades(coughMichigancough).
On taxes: stop outsourcing overseas, no tax cuts for wealthy, tax breaks for middle class making less than 75,000 a year get 1000 back (which means that you don't pay taxes at all essentially).
On trade: engage in trade but keep same labor and environmental and safety standards. Frankly this is dreaming, except for the possibility of surveying the safety standards on imports.
On environmental issues: cap greenhouse gasses to reinvest the moeny in solar, biodiesel. BIODIESEL??? It produces more carbon per gallon than oil. No joke, I've studied it and written papers on it.
AND HE SAID CHANGE ~~THREE~~ FOUR TIMES IN A ROW!!! CHUG CHUG CHUG!!

Hillary's question now is on about whether her background better prepares her than him. She is going on about wealth and well connected having a president for the last 7 years, time for the middle-class Americans to do the same. What is this about a trade timeout? A trade prosecutor is a good idea, as are the standards, because these should have been done already as it is - Americans are protected from domestic crap but not international crap.. and believe me, there is a LOT of crap out there... err... you get the idea.. I like the idea of a moratorium on foreclosures: for 90 days to work out a way to stay in homes, and freeze interest rates, but need to see if this will kill the banks. I mean, for the love of God, there are several banks in Germany and Switzerland that bought US bonds in the housing market and would be REALLY fucked by a housing forclosure moratorium... Bad for international relations. This could break the companies, frankly, but it's true in some sections of Ohio already that foreclosures are getting high. She wants a big investment in bridges and infrastructure... because, you know, people are starting to die in all those bridges constructed under the New Deal program :P. She just got a big cheer about science and reinvesting in science. Yay stemcells!!!

Jorge Ramirez: Immigration question - stop raids for illegal immigrants

Hillary supports not deporting mothers in such a way that infants are left alone. Wow, what a picture. I think we can all agree on that, non? OOPs, they've already paid taxes most likely, not like they need to pay back taxes then. Her position is way too tailored to the audience (coughTexascough) but not bad.

I love how Barrack talks about his dead bill like a football that got kicked around. Dead bills don't count. He is focusing on hate crimes and stopping immigration debate negativity, but notice he is not discussing reform ideas like Hillary did. Interesting. Oops, now we're discussing cracking down on employers - didn't Hillary say that too?

John King: What about the border fence?

Hillary mentions that both she AND Barrack voted for the border fence. She is very good at mentioning the schools throughout Texas and people etc. She would review the fence, where a physical barrier is appropriate, but the Bush administration has gone off the deep end with the whole fence thing and is trying to split up the UT Brownsville campus.

We are not amused by the moderator who keeps interrupting Hillary.

Barrack agrees with Hillary, slams Bush. We really should be drinking when anyone slams Bush. He supports the Dream Act to give illegal immigrant children the right to go to college.

Ramirez: Question on having a bilingual nation or only using English

She doesn't want English to be an official language, but English is an important part of the American experience. Barrack also supports what she said and learning a second language. Is he her twin? I don't see a difference. Another Bush slam on No Child Left Behind.

POTTY BREAK!!!

So the next question is whether Hillary thinks Barrack is "all hat, no horse" or something like that.

I keep waiting for her to say she has more experience... but alas. She stresses how she offers solutions. There's that kid's healthcare issue again.. maybe we should drink to that too.

HAHAHA She mentioned the Kirk Watson fiasco and her amusement about it!!!

Barrack is now discussing his 20 years of actions for the people. I think his tie looks Aggie colored for sure, it was v. obvi. in that closeup. He is being VERY polite... which is rather different from the New Hampshire debate. He said Change! DRINK!

Hillary's face right now is AWESOME - she looks pissed. Now she is laughing. Ha! He mentioned his newspaper endorsements by every major newspaper in Texas - it's getting dirty! - but really, the papers in Texas SUCK ASS!!! WHO CARES WHO THEY ENDORSE, ALL INTELLIGENT TEXANS READ THE FINANCIAL TIMES OR THE NEW YORK TIMES INSTEAD!!!

OOOOoo we're going into the speeches issue, aka Barrack's campaign staff can't write their own speech lines. Hillary is taking notes like her entire law school grade depends on it. Wonder what she is writing. Now he is changing the issue and going on and on about his policy choices.... uh. the question was about speeches. I'm confused.

jennem and I have now realized that we've plaigerized the hell out of each other for many years now, and frankly we're okay with it. We're also tired of Hillary right now going on about Barrack's use of the two sentences in his campaign speeches. THANK YOU THROUGH for criticizing his whole "let's come together and be frieeeeeeeeeeends" message, however. I think I just tuned out though, when she started talking about universal health care again. I'd like to be left out of her plan; I don't trust insurance companies period. It's a business, you aren't going to change that with regulations.

Barrack again slams the whole debate process for asking about his plagiarism.

We've discovered in this debate that Hillary purses her lips when she's pissed off. I love it. Bad poker face, Hill.

Frankly, I do not agree with the idea of universal health care if it will create seperate free and private systems like in the UK. I've been talking to a bunch of people from England who had the same surgery that I had - it took them on average a year or two longer to complete the process because of waitlists for the surgeons, the braces, etc. My whole thing will be finished in less than a year - more like 9 months.

POTTY BREAK!!!

Hillary slams new question to return to health care.As does Barrack. As does Hillary again. The debate is over, there will be screaming soon.

Now we are talking about the fire in the Belgrade embassy - and she says she is prepared and ready. Is this the same thing as experience? I'm going to drink to it.

I'm giving up, going to drink more.

Someone said experience, I'm drinking.

Now we're talking about Iraq... The surge!!!!!!!!! SURGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... Oh wait, that's the soda commercial. Yes, we're all in Iraq now... the entire fucking military. No wonder it worked.

I have no idea what Barrack just said about the surge. I'm sending gold to vassals in facebook.

I love Hillary's discussion of the balanced budget (by her husband) from before Bush came into power... because the budget was balanced (by her husband).

Good God, how long is this debate supposed to go on for? For the rest of the substance, go see jennem's journal.

Awwwww they just shook hand and said they will be fine whatever happens... Are they going to kiss now??? There's no way they'd have a duel ticket is there??? We all agree that she'd suck as VP, but Secretary State that would be awesome for her.

I think I'm voting for McCain, but if I had to pick a debate winner I'd go with Hillary. She's a damn good speaker and debater.

allelhia @ 2008-02-19T23:02:00

2008-02-20T05:22:08Z

Kirk Watson (Mayor of Austin) should probably stop endorsing people...

In other news, jennem and I are getting together to watch the debate between Obama and Clinton in Austin. No, we're not going to the debate - they didn't give normal people tickets! (See jennem's excessive exuberance at the idea that Texas has a role in the primaries for the first time ever here). Nevermind that there's like a bajilion students who were planning on camping out over night to get tickets - which, thankyouverymuch, I haven't done since I was 17 and the Musical "Rent" came through town.

Anyway if ya'll are lucky we might be liveblogging our debates during the debates... or we'll start a drinking game where we take sips every time Hillary says the word "experience" and Obama says the word "change" and THEN post about the debates.... which might be problematic for finishing the debate still standing, but eh...

For now jennem is still debating with escapees from the national idiot squad.... she never learns. Gods love her, but she seriously never learns.

And I've been scaring certain individuals with my stories of gold and conquests and plundering of villages. I'd like to say for the record that (1) plundering the gold was really fun, but (2) I am getting bored with trying to steal vassals and the whole thing will probably die off soon enough. Either that or I built way too strong of defenses and I'll be some permanent cyber-fixture just accumulating gold behind the best damn walls ever. Eh.

Off to read!!!

An open message to T.P.T.B.

2008-02-07T20:01:28Z

Dear T.P.T.B.:

I'm very, very sorry I laughed at the flu vaccine. I'm even more sorry I said I didn't need one, because I haven't had the flu in 10 years and rarely, if ever, got sick. I take full responsibility for my arrogance, and I apologize. Now will you PLEASE take your goddamn evil virus away and BACK OFF???

Sincerely,

Allelhia