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Wednesday, September 16th, 2009
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5:14 pm - I know I should not find this funny, but I do...
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| Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
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12:30 pm - Our Tax Dollars Hard at Work
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Back in February, my partner and I decided to journey into Cedar Rapids for some wonderful burritos from our favourite burrito joint, Hot Harry's. We were on our way back, taking the Marion Bypass when I was pulled over for speeding. Now, this particular day, there was one hell of a crosswind and keeping my new Chevy Cobalt on the road was hard enough through the gusts. I had glanced down at my speedometer and it did say I was going 65. Yes, I know, the speed limit was 55. But we do have a "rigth to speed law" that allows us to go with the flow of traffic. Nevermind the fact that Marion, IA touts themselves as "America's Safest City". According to anyone in the tri-County area you ask, this is probably due to the incredibly young and allmost what I would call overzealous police department.
"Do you know how fast you were going," the officer asked.
"Why, yes," I said, rather matter-of-factly, "I was going 65."
"Well, you might have been going 65 when you hit your brakes, but I clocked you at 69."
At this point I was seeing scenes of "Thunderheart" in my head when the Tribal policeman, Walter Crow Horse, played by American Indian actor, Graham Greene, pulled over Val Kilmer's character for speeding in a 25 MPH zone. When asked to see the radar, Crow Horse replied, "I don't need any radar. The wind told me...69! Nail him!"
Anyway, that is how I felt about it.
The officer, after some period of time, came back with my ticket and said, "I kicked it back down to sixty five, otherwise you would have had a much bigger fine." Apparently the guy thought he was being magnanimous. I, on the other hand, was not amused.
"And if I intend to fight it?"
"There's the address and the date." he replied and went back to his vehicle.
I was angry not so much that I got a ticket, but because of the fact that either the speedometer on my brand new car was off (highly unlikely) or the fact that the Marion Police Department was doing what they have quite a reputation for.....profiling.
You see, in Marion, Iowa, if you're driving a new car, chances are you have more than enough money to pay for a ticket. If you are a person of colour and in one of the neighborhoods where the Police think you don't quite belongt, whether you do or not, you get stopped. I could on for days about the numbers of things I have heard from other residents of Linn, Jones and Johnson Counties about this particular PD, but I will save that for another time. Suffice it to say, what I am saying here is mild and their reputation for being a bit overzealous is completely justified.
I didn't make it to Court to fight it. In fact, my schedule for my job had just changed so my chances of being able to get pre-approved time off were slim to absolutely none. Nevermind what the law is. That is how the call centre where I worked operated. Those of you who have read my blog before know what a hell hole it was at times.
I realize I missed it so I read the ticket and pay the fine, including what I thought were the court costs. Two weeks later I get a letter in the mail, I owe another $ 14.95 in court costs. Ok, I pay that when I get paid again. I then get a letter from Des Moines that I owe $14.95 and if I do not pay it by X date, I risk my license being taken away. So I call the state Capital, on my dime, my cellphone daytime minutes and am on hold. I finally get a live body. I explain and he says, "Great! You still owe us $1.20. Would you like to put that on a credit or debit card?"
"Neither!" I said, "I am NOT going to put $1.20 on my credit card and I do not have a debit card. I will run to the county and pay it." The rep said fine.
I come back from Retreat to find a letter that says that they are going to suspend my license for failure to pay the full amount of my fines and fees and I will have to surrender my license IMMEDIATELY as of 9/03/09 if payment is not recieved by 8/24/09! Not only this, I have to send the attached appeal form AND proof of payment. Just paying it does not remove the order to revoke the license. I will not be safe until I get a letter from Des Moines (on the other side of the state, mind you) acknowledging that all fines are paid and I am now a driving citizen in good standing.
So, yesterday, I go in to Linn County District Court to pay my $1.20. On the wall was the sign:
"We are sorry: since we do not have a coin counting machine, we are unable to take coin payments for fines over the amount of $3.00"
I wondered to myself just how many people pay in their displeasure try to pay their fines in pennies. Believe me, I was damned tempted to do that when it was the original amount of the ticket! I fully confess that the idea of giving them $85. in pennies would have been strangely satisfying.
I explain the situation to the very nice clerk and she gets my file.
"So, isn't all of this alot to go through for $1.20?"
"Oh, well if the fine had been 85 cents, you wouldnt have gotten the notice and it would have just been let go."
That was very interesting to me. "Wait," I said, "so you're telling me that for 45 cents this County. and the State, and by the time I file this with my own County where I live, have spent far more than this in man hours, resources and such . Isn't that just a little excessive?"
She just laughed as she handed me my officially stamped receipt.
I drove home and filed all paperwork with my County at the Courthouse which is just up the street from me. This was very cheerily and efficiently faxxed to the State while I waited. But even during all of this, I am still left wondering what was the estimated amount of money spent that Linn County, Iowa went through to shake me up and get their bloody $1.20 - or if you really want to think about it...45 cents?!
I'm very sorely tempted to contact KWWL, CBS news in Cedar Rapids. They love stuff like this. Yes, I know I got stopped for speeding. Yes, I owed the money and I paid it IN FULL. But how many other people go through similar things? All I can say is, I am sure as hell glad i live in Jones County, Iowa and not in Linn County anymore. Not only are the taxes substantially higher in Linn County as they are in Jones County, but Linn County has just proven once again what horrible managers of their resources they truly are.
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(7 comments | comment on this)
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| Sunday, March 8th, 2009
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9:58 am - Open Question:
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Inspired by something that has been going back and forth on the House boards for a bit. I am being a bit of a Devil's Advocate here. (grins at Jaye and her muse, Azazeal) If evil, et al does not exist, then just what do we need protective heka against such things for? Do you think it is just an elaborate exercise in pop psychology engaged in by the ancients? Our Akhu did things the way they did for a reason, and it was not simply because they were unsophisticated and didn't know enough to understand the Nature of the Universe and how it works.
If that were true, then why are any of us here? Why is it we do what we do in our religion or personal spiritual practices? How do you get rid of the negative in your life?
current mood:  contemplative
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(7 comments | comment on this)
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| Friday, December 19th, 2008
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3:54 pm - Thank You to my Anonymous Gift Giver
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I just received a lovely package of a cranberry scented candle (Mmm!) but there was no return address, no gift enclosure or card so that I might thank them accordingly. The return address is from Texas.
SO....whomever you are, I hope that you will fess up. It is quite lovely, but I would REALLY like to say, 'Thank you!'
current mood:  surprised
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(4 comments | comment on this)
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| Thursday, December 18th, 2008
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10:50 am - Brushing off the cobwebs.....
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I have come to the conclusion that I am just going to have to post from this journal rather than the one I have for ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) fannyfae all of the time. And really, the fiction journal should be from a different one. And yes, I do know the difference between OOC and IC, thanks. My justification for using that one vs. this one is because Fanny's journal is a permanent account, most of my friends list is there.
So my point is, look for more posts from this journal in future.
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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| Sunday, June 8th, 2008
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9:08 am - Sweet dreams are made of this....
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| Thursday, May 15th, 2008
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8:22 pm - Writing Meme from ursa_mater
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| Friday, December 21st, 2007
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5:20 pm - The Lakota Nation Secedes from the Occupational Government of the U.S. and Declares Independence.
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| Friday, November 23rd, 2007
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8:35 pm - Black Friday Fun
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I want to write right now, but I just can't. Even Fanny is sounding fuzzy to me at this moment, and she is my strongest Muse. I will just have to attribute it to having gone far too many days with too few hours of sleep. Add to that the fact that this is Black Friday, and is considered the busiest shopping day of the year. See, anyone who has ever worked retail and worked that day tries to avoid any commercial establishment for that very reason. It sucks. I drove through town at five in the blessed AM. The parking lots of Wal-mart, Target, Best Buy, Kohls, etc. were absolutely jammed packed. Usually at that hour I can drive a straight shot from home to work in no time flat. Not today.
I think this is probably why I am just so darned tired at the moment. My eyelids feel as if they have 150 pound anvils hanging from them!
For the record: the only reason I EVER deleted anyone from my friends list or that of my writing journals, fannyfae friend's list is because of the fonts and 72 point type and graphics in eye-bleeding colours not behind LJ cuts. I warned the culprit(s) repeatedly and still it kept on. So in the interests of sheer self-preservation, these offender(s) were deleted. Besides, most of what I post is mostly public anyway, particularly the muse community posts that I write. Friends locks are to not only keep certain individuals in my past from reading what I write, but also because of Livejournal's penchant for censoring first, asking questions later. Hey, Fanny has a permanent account now. That was a $150 investment for me and I intend to get my money's worth! I am following the rules and keeping NC-17 where it belongs, behind a cut and a friends filter. This is what is called consideration. I know that is new concept to some people who frequent this site to grasp, but do try it sometime. It might even endear you to more than just those in your immediate sphere.
Now, as for the smut that I write and whom I write it with: that's really nobody's business but my own, is it? Suffice it to say, however, that everyone I write with and about is most definitely a verified adult.
current mood:  exhausted
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(4 comments | comment on this)
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| Friday, October 26th, 2007
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7:42 pm - Meh!!
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I finally got around to seeing The Curse of the Golden Flower. OMG, it was a HORRIBLE movie!! It was just so utterly depressing! *scrubs brain*
current mood:  distressed
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(3 comments | comment on this)
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| Monday, October 22nd, 2007
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7:00 pm - So...the question remains....
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Are you a REAL 'Magickian' ( Mah-JIK-ee-uhn') or are you merely a poseur?
What's it to be? *g*
current mood:  amused
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(12 comments | comment on this)
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| Sunday, October 7th, 2007
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1:04 pm - *facepalm* Scrub brain* scrub brain* owwww!!! my eyes! It burns!!
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| Friday, August 31st, 2007
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5:31 pm - Re Adobe Premiere
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Who of you on my friends list knows anything about or has used Adobe Premiere? I am thinking about movie making software, I am a complete novice, but I am curious about it. Any suggestions on where I can find out more or communities on LJ that might discuss it?
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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| Saturday, July 21st, 2007
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10:34 pm - R.I.P. Tammy Fae
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I just got word that Tammy Fae has passed to the Beautiful West. I didn't much agree with her religious views, but no one deserves to suffer so. Cancer is a horrible disease.
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(5 comments | comment on this)
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| Tuesday, February 20th, 2007
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6:54 pm - Note to those who have emailed me recently
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I am sorry if your emails have gone unanswered. However, I have a strict policy; if you email me in L33t, I will guarantee the offending emai lwill be deleted as spam. If you entitle the email "Yo" or "Re:" or something else that resembles something impersonal and I don't recognize it or you, again, it goes into the spam filter unread.
It's not personal. Just learn how to email and use proper headers, etc. If English, by chance, is not your first language, I can forgive soemthing being lost in translation. However, if you are American and English is your language of culture, then it is my expectation that you will use said language to the best of your ability.
Oh, and refuse to I do not speak L33t. Somehow freetranslator.com left that particular language off of their site (thankfully).
That is all.
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(10 comments | comment on this)
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| Monday, January 29th, 2007
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7:09 am - Amusing..
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Charge of the Beeotch
Listen to the words of the Great Beeotch she who of old is known as Arwen, Inanna, Jaz, Kriselda, Lynna, Raven, Suzi, and Wolfrose, and by many other names, some best left censored:
Whenever you have need of anything once in the month, and better it be when it is not my moontime or any other time when I might be tired or already irritable, then shall you gather and adore me, who am Queen of all Bitches.
There shall you gather, you who desire to learn the true Art of Bitchcraft, yet have not honed it to razor sharp precision; to these I will teach the esoterism of true bitchiness. And you shall be free from fluff; and as a sign that you are truly free, you shall cite tradition, correct misconception, bad grammar, spelling errors, and demand proper capitalization, and punctuation. For I am educated and can read above third grade level. Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever towards it and if anyone tries to stop you, smack them hard upside the head. For mine is the determination to succeed and educate the ignorant.
I am the Queen Mother Bitch, Who can give the Gift of Joy unto the heart of man or woman if you have not seriously ticked me off. On Earth, I give the Knowledge that to communicate effectively and honestly is no crime; and beyond death, I give peace from the fools who have annoyed you and freedom from those fools and reunion with other great Bitches who have gone before you. And actually, I do demand sacrifice, for behold; Putting up with these twits wears on my nerves. I am the Bitch of All Living and My Ire is poured out upon the Earth when I am grumpy.
Hear ye the Words of the Star Goddess: She under Whose Feet all stupid people are Dust, Whose Body encircleth the Universe especially when She is bloated.
I, Who am the Bitch Queen of the Earth and the Black Mood amongst the Stars, and the Mystery of why idiots are not drowned in my Waters, and the Desire
of the heart of man to avoid Me when I get like this. I call unto thy soul, all ye who would be Bitches: "Arise! And come unto Me!"
For I am the Soul of the Bitch, Who giveth Crap back to the Universe: from Me all things proceed, and unto Me all things must return and if they don't get here fast enough, I may hurt something. And before My Face, which is bitchy and known to all gods and men, thine innermost Bitch Self shall be enfolded in the Rapture of the Infinite Bitch.
Let My Worship be within the heart that tolerates no shit, for behold: all acts of bitchiness and honesty are my rituals. And therefore let there be bitching and strength, honesty and compassion, honor and humor, mirth and reverence within you.
And thou who thinkest to seek for Me, know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not, unless thou knowest the Mystery: that if thou are stupid who seekest Me, then thou shalt never find Me.
For behold, I have been with thee from the beginning; and I am That which is attained at the end of PMS.
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Copyright © 2001 Arwen Nightstar and Gwen Wolfrose, all rights reserved.
May be reposted anywhere so long as this copyright is included.
current mood:  awake
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(3 comments | comment on this)
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| Friday, December 29th, 2006
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6:14 pm - A Very Weird Question
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| Tuesday, December 26th, 2006
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5:41 pm - Question of the day:
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So, tell me, in your opinion, just WHAT is a "Dark Goddess"?
Note: Anyone who says, "Sekhmet" shall eat a large, flaming solar disk wth a Uraeus for dinner. ;)
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(39 comments | comment on this)
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| Thursday, December 7th, 2006
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6:06 pm - Mini Rant:
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I am really VERY tired of LJ updating my viewing options for me! I put them the way I wanted them for a reason. It is convenient for me. I don't give a raggedy DAMN about your new bloody features. I don't care about your new viewing options. Leave my stuff the way I put it or I can take my business and go elsewhere.
In case anyone else has had their "new and improved" (NOT!) crap foisted on them: Here is the page to change it back again!
http://www.livejournal.com/manage/settings/
LJ seems to have forgotten the three-clicks rule of user interface design for web. That rule is, if it takes more than three clicks to get anywhere you have lost the eyeballs of the visitors to your website. Losing those eyeballs on your site equals losing revenue. LJ, since the merger with Six Apart has pretty much become a user interface mess. Nevermind with their new "improvements' the FAQ is not easy to find, or just about anything else. No, I don't want a site that is more like MySpace. If I wanted to be on that Internet purgatory, I'd be there. I have a MySpace page. I have never, nor do I ever have any plans to update it.
Yes, I know. Some people like all that sensory overload, multimedia, bandwidth hell crap. I don't. Call me anal retentive and obsessive compulsive or an old lioness who refuses to learn new tricks - but I hate the interface. It's clumsy and it doesn't work for me. It's just common courtesy to ask people before you just change it on them to try to get them to go with your improvements.
I will not be asimiliated.
current mood: furious
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(7 comments | comment on this)
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| Friday, November 10th, 2006
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4:48 pm - My review of Cocaine Energy Drink
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Well....my first comment is "Ouch!"
There is so much citric acid in this stuff, if you do not burn your throat with it going down, you will die of acid reflux afterwards. There is no doubt that there is caffiene in it. Oh, yes. That comes form the gurana. Gurana can have up to three times as much caffeine as coffee does. Does this energy drink give you a buzz. Yep! It sure does! I dont know that it is worth the nearly seven dollars a can. (No, I am not kidding!) A case of this stuff will put you back $100. I will probably sell the extra cans that the distributor in payment for their delay of getting it to me for more than I paid. In essence, I got my product for free. I know that I will get just about any price I name just because I know people are wanting to try the drink that 7-11 banned all because of the hype of it's name. Hey...it's a great marketing strategy. Their sales skyrocketed just as soon as someone said that the public couldn't have something. I know that is why I bought mine. It does have some kick. It is very VERY concentrated, but in my opinion, it is too sweet, it is too acidic and it is far too expensive. That's alot to pay for something that will give you heartburn. The second ingredient in this stuff is citric acid. (Does that tell you anything?)
The drink is red. It tastes like Red Bull with some high proof alcohol added to it. It is of course non alcoholic but it has that type of burn, and it does not go away for a very long time.
I will say something that many of you would never expect me to say, and that is drinking that much caffeine in one sitting is probably not a good idea. If you are on ANY kind of medication, I would check to see if there are any adverse reactions to extremely high doses of caffeine. Just for the record - too much caffeine can kill you. Of course, It takes about 13.5 grams of caffeine to kill a person who weighs 200 lbs, 75 cups of coffee, 155 mountain dews etc. Anyway, if you do try this stuff=, just don't gulp it. It needs to be sipped. And for the love of GOD don't be tempted to be doing more than one at a time! You will feel it and you very possibly could make yourself very sick.
Please understand that I don't say things like this likely. I am someone who has done very high doses of caffeine in her life for long, long periods of time. When I worked for Frontier, I would have between two to four double shot, double tall (that's four shot glasses each) of espresso. I use a French press when I make coffee. I do Turkish coffee in a big way, and I refer to most commercially available coffee as "what's the point?". Hell, Starbuck's coffee doesn't even impress me. I find that it is pretty weak by comparison to how I take my cuppa joe. Cocaine energy drink is like having mainlined that four cups of double shot, double tall espressos all at once.
Do I recommend it. Eh...maybe. It all depends on your taste, I suppose. It's an ok buzz caffeine-wise. Now if I could just get past the ultra-sweet taste.
Meh....
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