Yay! I got a kitty! Nuala came with me in my quest for a perfect kitty and we found him through a humane society called Concerned Animal Lovers Association. The lady we got him from is a bit scary...kind a little overenthusiastic and opinionated with no regard for decorum or human feelings if it crosses her opinion on how kitties are to be raised. But my kitty is SO CUTE.
I named him Tito (yes, after the Socialist leader of Yugoslavia...I'm a dork, we know this.) and he's just 12 weeks old. He's white with 2 gray spots on one side, gray head, and a bushy little gray tail...and perfect little white paws. ooohh paaws....
And he adjusted really quickly, already responds when called, knows how to use the litterbox, eats well and has decided he's Lord of the Manor--but is definately not above a butt scratch. He loves being cuddled and is really friendly. He's only shy at first with strangers, but soon becomes best friends with them.
Sorry I don't have pictures yet, I need to recharge my camera battery and then figure out how I'm going to get them online (cuz I don't have internet on my PC at home and I have a mac at work) short of downloading my camera program at work...which is probably not a good idea. But as soon as I do, I'll be sure to get them up! kee hee! I'm so excited!
Now that I'm living on my own, and especially after falling in love with Nuala's cat, Ribbon, I really want my own cute, wuvable wittle kitty. Besides, I miss having a furry someone to cuddle. Although I've always been a dog person (especially the larger breeds), I'm succumbing to the wiles of feline felicity. Plus, I think a cat would be more comfortable and happier in my living space.
But the problem is, I work all day and then roughly two days a month, I go out of town. I'm also planning a couple week or two-week long trips over the next year or so. I do have a roommate, but don't want her to have to take responsibility for my cat. My parents are in the neighborhood too, but they aren't exactly cat lovers, so I don't really want to burden them with the responsibility either. I suppose I could pay a neighbor to cat-sit, though.
Would my absences leave my cat lonely? Would the cat also be difficult to train since I'm gone a lot? Should I get a cat? And if I do get a cat, should I get one from a rescue society or pet shop/breeder?
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has announced the existence of a nuclear weapons program. They claim to have produced enough plutonium for at least six nuclear bombs, in direct violation of earlier agreements to freeze its nuclear programs in exchange for energy aid. Most recently, new sites of weapons production have been discovered, making their threat not only more serious, but more complicated to eliminate since the U.S. cannot know for sure how many weapons they have or where all the weapons are. North Korea makes these provocative moves in an attempt to engage the U.S. in “bilateral talks with the U.S. that produce our recognition of DPRK sovereignty, a non-aggression treaty, and a promise not to obstruct North Korea’s economic development.” (a quote from a Congressional hearing) These demands for equal status, recognition, and elimination of threats to sovereignty may point to the crux of the matter: North Korea’s insecurity and desire to be recognized as a world power.
The Bush administration has largely been trying to downplay the issue, but ignoring the crisis has only aggravated the situation, causing North Korea to make more provocative moves. The Bush administration can no longer avoid the crisis. President Bush must decide whether to follow past precedent of pursuing economic sanctions or threats of pre-emptive strikes to relieve the immediate situation, or to embark on a new campaign for diplomacy to solve the dilemma permanently by seeking to address North Korea’s deepest concerns for status, recognition, and sovereignty.
The U.S. has several interests at stake in the crisis with North Korea. First, U.S. national security is threatened. The U.S. must protect its people from the threat of nuclear strike, or from sowing the seeds of terrorism in an already suffering country. Second, the U.S. must work to preserve economic and political stability in Asia. By doing so, the U.S. will be promoting strong Asian economies, thereby serving American economic trade and investment interests. Finally, the U.S. has been providing political and humanitarian aid to the people of North Korea, and wants to continue to advance the best interests of the North Korea people through economic and social progress. The U.S. must preserve its ability to help people whose best interests have long been sacrificed “for the sake of power games played by the power elite”. (quoted from a Congressional hearing)
The DPRK’s insistence on maintaining the ability to produce nuclear weapons, along with their demands for non-aggression treaties, and willingness to attempt negotiations point to a conclusion that they perceive their security to be threatened and are working to preserve national security interests. However, the Non-Proliferation Treaty, IAEA, and the 1994 Agreements all sought to provide for their security, yet the DPRK was still unsatisfied. Therefore, another underlying issue must be at stake.
This underlying issue and cause for tension may stem from North Korea’s insecurity and desire to be respected, as well as attempts to be considered an equal and treated as a major power in the world. Coming from a militaristic regime, with Stalinist roots, the North Koreans equate military force with political power. “When Pyongyang is pressed to defend itself from an external threat, the logic of nuclear brinkmanship and regime survival sets in. To disguise its sense of insecurity, the North Korean regime utilizes extreme forms of brinkmanship, following hyperbolic threats and intimidation with more tenable bargaining overtures.” (Kihl, 201) North Korea clings to its nuclear power as a bargaining chip, but it is also a cry for attention. When former President Clinton negotiated the 1994 Agreements, the U.S. temporarily assuaged the situation, but never hit the heart of the issue. The Agreements never made North Korea an equal in world politics. So the DPRK rebuilt its nuclear program, again demanding recognition. In a speech to Congress, the newly elected President George W. Bush called North Korea a member of the “Axis of Evil”, and then refused to acknowledge the growing nuclear crisis. Instead he called the crisis a regional problem, thereby downplaying North Korea’s significance and greatly aggravating the situation. Ever since, more and more evidence has been found, showing North Korea’s expanding weapons arsenal. It appears the only way to defuse the situation permanently is to reduce North Korea’s insecurities.
Reducing the DPRK's fears and insecurities embodies an entirely new strategy to defuse the situation, in which Bush can work to help North Korea get recognition and status, thus answering their desire to be considered a major power. President Bush can try to convince other world powers including: China, Russia, France, Germany, Britain and Japan to embark with the U.S. in negotiations with North Korea. In this conference, President Bush can lobby for economic and cultural inducements to meet North Korea’s needs, as well as help North Korea become a member of the World Trade Organization. The aim of these negotiations would be to ensure North Korea gets status and perceived equality in the world community. By giving North Korea the status and respect it so desperately wants, the U.S. would be relieving the DPRK’s insecurities. North Korea would have no need to use nuclear weapons because they would have a new forum in which they could secure and protect their interests.
Giving North Korea the status and respect that it craves may be the best way to alleviate the underlying cause of its aggression. First, by insisting other world powers take part in the negotiations, especially those who don’t always agree with the U.S., the U.S. would bring North Korea in a world forum, making the DPRK an equal and its problems of international significance. Arguably, economic cooperation has been to be a stronger deterrence against aggression than use of force. For example, France and Germany had been at war for over 100 years, fighting for control over coal, steel and iron ore. However, in 1952, the European Coal & Steel Community was created, putting production and resources under a unified authority, thus making war impossible and strengthening all economies involved. This partnership prevented German militarism, gave the U.S. a strong economic trading partner, and laid the foundation for the powerful European Union of today. (Hughes, 256) Over time, economic collaboration helped these countries become inherently concerned in promoting economic interests rather than risking everything for war.
My suggestions are based on the assumption deduced from North Korea’s actions that status and power in the world community is ultimately what North Korea is seeking. Because the culture is so guarded and secretive it is difficult to be sure what North Korea will be satisfied with in the end. If this assumption is correct, then North Korea will take advantage of the opportunity to gain power and security, allowing the world community to press for cooperative de-militarization and inspections. Ignoring the DPRK’s need for power and equality will only lead to immediate appeasement but future aggression, as evidenced by the 1994 Agreements.
However, if the assumption is incorrect, North Korea will still take advantage of the newly gained status, but will have learned that brinkmanship is an effective tool to use in the future to “compel the world’s attention.” (New York Times, 7/20) If that happens, the only response the U.S. can take is to try again to search out the source of North Korea’s aggression. Whether the assumption is proven correct or not, the Bush administration must delve into the underlying issue, not merely attack the symptom or North Korea will keep coming back, making demands and threats, at the cost of international economic and political stability.
My parents own a fairly popular local Thai restaurant here in Orange County. Although it is family-style and away from main hub-ubs, it still attracts some well-to-do clientele (including Steven Spielberg's father, major producers from CBS and the VP from Billabong). However my mom (who is still rather young) has just retired from her day-job at a university and is already feeling antsy so she's making plans for a new restaurant.
This one is to be a more upscale, fancy restaurant and she wants to bring entertainers from Thailand to come entertain on a regular basis. This entertainment will include the usual singing, dancing, etc. But her Creme-de-la-Creme of ideas is to bring an entertainment that is popular in Thailand, but hasn't quite made it out here in Orange County. She wants to have Transvestite Beauty Pageants. Beautiful men parading around in beautiful gowns (and trust me, in Thailand they've got the art of transvestitism down pat...) for your dining enjoyment.
hee hee hee hee!! I can't stop giggling at the thought. I just think it all highly entertaining that my mom even came up with the idea, let alone is seriously considering it. I just don't know what kind of success it'll be down here in Republican Central. San Francisco, Vegas, New York....sure. But Irvine? She argues though that it'll be successful for exactly that reason: it's so unheard of here. Just have to come up with a good idea for a name for the restaurant...
Here's a funny page to check out. It will look like an error message, but read it carefully and you'll see the joke. Try this soon, before Google fixes its site:
1) Go to www.google.com;
2) Type in (but don't hit return): "weapons of mass destruction";
3) Hit the "I'm feeling lucky" button instead of the normal
"Google search" button;
4) Read what appears to be a normal error message carefully.
I was wandering around the archives of craigslist and came across these two entries. You may have already read them if you frequent craigslist more often than I, but I found them so hilarious, they were worth the reprint.
TRADE: my exotic GF for your reliable YZF-R6
Reply to: anon-12930480@craigslist.org
Date: Fri Jun 27 12:09:13 2003
TRADE: my GF for your R6
I have a slightly used girlfriend, 1982 model, white with black top, 5’6”, 110 lbs with 36C cups and excellent tail. Features one of a kind exterior, wild styling, and razor sharp handling. Quite a looker, turns a lot of heads when parked somewhere. She sometimes runs a little rough but is extremely fun and performs quite well once you get her going. Has good after-market add-ons (tattoos, piercings, college degree) and comes with lots of accessories and some hard luggage. Can be cranky and a bit of trouble to start, especially on cold mornings. I don’t advise using the choke. Seems to idle okay most of the time, and fuel consumption is good, though response is best with premium beer. Sometimes she’s a little fussy, stops cooperating without any explanation, and wants to be in control most of the time. Then again, many of my friend’s wives are like that, so it seems like people don’t mind this sort of thing. I've invested a lot in her, and in some ways I'd hate to part with her. However, I realized I’m not looking for a project that requires this much attention, and the long term cost of maintenance on an exotic model like this is just killing me. Will trade for any year YZF-R6. Prefer a straight bike with no issues, minimal modifications. Ex-race bike is okay if it comes with clean papers and is ready for normal street duty. I can fix minor mechanical problems, and cosmetic damage is fine. However, I’m tired of trying to work miracles just to have a dependable source of fun.
Serious offers only – no test drives.
MC with my orgasm
Reply to: anon-12830750@craigslist.org
Date: Wed Jun 25 06:07:43 2003
Yes, I’m talking about you Mr. sarcastic, unreasonably self-assured, condescending prick. Words cannot describe my disappointment with your performance. I have one word for you: clitoris. That’s right: c-l-i-t-o-r-i-s….learn it, know it, love it. Like most women in this world, I require some stimulation in this area in order to have an orgasm and you seem to be completely oblivious to this little anatomical fact. Your blatant disregard of this key feature makes me want to find all your old girlfriends and slap the sh*t out of them for allowing you to be so oblivious as to how to please a woman. Now I am not an unreasonable woman. I understand that the female orgasm can be elusive and I don’t expect one every single time. Sex, in and of itself, is quite pleasurable. Well, it usually is. This was not the case, however, with you.
I don’t even know if you could call what we did sex. Sex, in my book anyway, usually lasts more than 2 minutes. In all honesty I don’t even think you lasted a solid 2 minutes. At your age that shouldn’t be a problem anymore. There are now many self-help guides and exercises to help you get a hold of your premature ejaculation problems. I suggest you do some research. Maybe try jerking off in the morning if you suspect you will be having sex later that evening. Maybe that can help…I really hope so. And that horrific attempt to get me off after your embarassing and untimely climax; you thought I was squirming in pleasure when really I was trying to control my bladder. I don’t know what the hell you were doing or what you thought you were doing, but it was just wrong. I thought you poked a hole in my bladder with your clumsy fingers. I finally had to fake it to get you to stop because you were not taking a hint. Slow and steady wins the race loverboy and you need to internalize that little fact before you go poking around somewhere that you are so obviously completely unfamiliar with.
And here’s another tip for you—foreplay usually involves a little bit more than one-sided oral sex (greedy sh*t) and over-attentiveness towards my breasts. You were a good kisser, I’ll give you that. But that was aggravating as well, like one of those movies that have the really great trailers and then is a total bomb. You are the reason that the women of this city have given up hope.
Ladies, men like these are not in the majority (thank god)! There are so many fabulous, sexy, skilled men in this city and unfortunately a few clueless *ssholes ruin it for the rest of them. I love the men of NYC and many have been very good to me, but you, my friend, are not one of those men. Buy some videos, books, anything, but please do something. No one can help you until you help yourself. Ugh, I can’t believe I took the time to shave my legs for that. Loser.