Arrange Whatever Pieces Come Your Way

9:05am: "Farewell, Douchebags!"
It's like the "death reel" from the Oscars. I love it.

9:15am: We're back, BABY!!!
In case you've been hiding under a rock:
Democrats won control of the House! 221 (D) 199 (R)

"From sea to shining sea, the American people voted for change," declared Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the hard-charging California Democrat in line to become the nation's first female House speaker.

Some good news from South Dakota: Voters are shooting down a referred law that would have given the state the country's most draconian anti-abortion law. With 86% of precincts reporting, Referendum 6 is at 45% Yes; 55% No

Arizona is shooting down Prop. 107, a ban on civil unions as an alternative to marriage for same sex couples. [91% of the precincts reporting]: 48% Yes; 52% No

Oh, Tennessee-so close, so...close. http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_5125752,00.html


Much more to cover, but I'll leave you with words of wisdom from a Republican:

"You may deceive all the people part of the time, and part of the people all the time, but not all the people all the time," - Abraham Lincoln

8:53pm: FYI...
If anyone is trying to reach me by cell, it'll have to wait until tomorrow. I left my phone at work.

Don't forget to vote, tomorrow!

2:44pm: From Drudge Report:
Shelby County?! That's where I'm from! What did you guys doooo while I was gone?


"Political insiders have expressed alarm after 12 voter smartcards have gone missing from one Shelby County, TN early vote location!

The cards are used to activate electronic voting machines.

The location at the center of the controversy is Bishop Byrne High School on E. Shelby Drive in Memphis.

The polling place started out with 25 cards. By Wednesday, 11 were missing, says an eyewitness.

The location was given 5 more smartcards on Thursday.

And another card went missing!

Someone possessing a smartcard could use 'off the shelf equipment' [equipment that reprograms the card] and alter it to be used multiple times, and cast multiple votes.

One concerned insider explains: "Shelby County Board of Elections has been notified. They said is was 'not a big deal' because, they said, the cards are deactivated. But the reality is, you can buy the equipment at computer stores to reactivate them. It's on the Internet how to reactivate the cards!"

Meanwhile, The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is reviewing reports by the Shelby County Election Commission that two people voted twice during early voting in Memphis.

Dist. Atty. Gen. Bill Gibbons said he's referred the cases to the TBI for investigation along with other matters he declined to discuss.

Poll watchers are expected to turn out Tuesday to observe voting in Tennessee's heated U.S. Senate race between Chattanooga Republican Bob Corker and Memphis Democrat Harold Ford Jr.

Developing..."

4:18pm: I'm too tired to laugh...
Bush Says Cheney, Rumsfeld Will Stay: "Both Men Are Doing Fantastic Jobs"...


AP photo

President Bush said Wednesday he wants Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Vice President
Dick Cheney to remain in his administration until the end of his presidency, extending a job guarantee to two of the most criticized members of his team.

Bush, in an interview, also said he was determined that sanctions imposed against
North Korea must be applied even though Pyongyang has agreed to return to six-nation nuclear disarmament talks.

Quick, someone name one "fantastic" accomplishment in Iraq that Rumsfeld or Cheney would be responsible for.
I honestly can't decide if Bush is loyal for the wrong reasons or just plain nuts.

8:50am: Make yourself useful...
My Halloween costume ideas keep getting shot down. It's too cold for my flapper girl costume from Tim's party. Marie Antoinette's dresses are far too intricate to pull off, plus the wig will be a hassle.

Can someone suggest an inexpensive, quickie Halloween costume???

Please!!!
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I'm all for being sexy, but Chicago is too cold for it!
Actually, the slutty barista is sort of funny, but no...

3:04pm: Bush Signs U.S.-Mexico Border Fence Bill
I'm working now. No time for obligatory witty banter. Literally, I just yelled "Are you serious?" ...

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20061026/D8L0BRHO0.html

Its cost is not known, although a homeland security spending measure the president signed earlier this month makes a $1.2 billion down payment on the project. The money also can be used for access roads, vehicle barriers, lighting, high-tech equipment and other tools to secure the border.

Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison, both Texas Republicans, had wanted to amend the fence bill to give local governments more say about where fencing is erected. They lost that battle, but Republican leaders assured them the Homeland Security Department would have flexibility to choose other options instead of fencing, if needed.

Cornyn said he voted for the fence because he wanted to help demonstrate that Congress was serious about border security.

"The choice we were presented was: Are we going to vote to enhance border security, or against it?" Cornyn said. "I think that's how the vote was viewed."

Another "you're either with us or against us" ploy.

6:27pm: Well, that's one way to get out of a midterm...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-061024downtown-fire,1,3418546.story?coll=chi-news-hed

5-alarm fire at 630 S. Wabash, vacant building-thank God.
We did always say that steakhouse looked like a front for a meth lab. Hmm?...

The only good news:
No class for Columbia students!



(Tribune photo by Charles Cherney)

6:26pm: Don't mean a thing if you ain't got that swing.
If you need me, I'll be in the cabinet with the Indians fans.
...or at Delilah's drowning my sorrows with Tim.

9:06pm: I am most certainly not updating my blog while watching Project Runway. I swear to Heidi. Erps, I mean, God.

Work has been slow this week. It’s giving me a chance to get to know the staff a little better. Everyone at RSBM is a joy to work for. I mean that with no trace of sarcasm. The other firms in our office, however, are not quite so joyous. If I have to hear a particular prominent, Jewish bitch of a partner wailing about her “faaaaab-YOU-lussss trip to China” one more time I may be seeking counsel for premeditated murder.

I’m also getting a chance to study. My busiest semester yet and I decide to take up homework. (I’m pausing my thought for a smoke break. Damn this new apartment.)
It’s getting chilly out. I think it’s time for fall clothes shopping. It’s times like this I wish I had more female friends. I need someone to face the three-way mirror with me and tell me how fat my ass really looks. (Jesus H. Christ, I need to turn off Project Runway)

Well, since I don’t have a current events blog anymore, I thought I’d share a few clips from the NYT and Daily Kos. No, I refuse to post about Rep. Foley or the Amish school shooting. They're both frightful stories in the mass media right now, so I'm sure you're well aware of them both.

From the New York Times:

Tucked away in fine print in the military spending bill for this past year was a lump sum of $20 million to pay for a celebration in the nation's capital "for commemoration of success" in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Not surprisingly, the money was not spent.
Now Congressional Republicans are saying, in effect, maybe next year. A paragraph written into spending legislation and approved by the Senate and House allows the $20 million to be rolled over into 2007.
The original legislation empowered the president to designate "a day of celebration" to commemorate the success of the armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, and to "issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies and activities."

Daily Kos response:

Point #1: Victory? Ha! Please. Spare me.
Point #2: How about doing the American public a favor and defining the specific metrics of what "victory" will look like instead of this ridiculous "when they stand up, we'll stand down" crap? My expectations have sunk so low, I'd consider a simple definition worthy of successful commemoration.
Point #3: As a taxpayer, I'm sick unto death of footing the bill to be propagandized by my own government. Knock it off. At least when Ford or Nike try to get me to buy their product, I'm not paying for the pitch.
Point #4: If this country ever has anything worthy of marking with a designated "day of celebration" again - which is admittedly looking less and less likely - we won't need $20 million to find our way down to Main Street, grab the high school marching band for a parade, and wave our made-in-China flags. Trust me on this. We'll gladly do it for free without expensive PR prods from our government.


On that note, "auf wiedersehen!"

8:32pm: I'm Aliiiiive!
My mundane routine leaves little to scribble about.

Monday
7:30a - Wake up.
8:30a-Work
12:30a-Lunch, quickie with Nate, Project Runway repeat.
5:00p-Leave work
6:00p-Class
10:00p-Home from class.
10:30p-Back.....pain.....Why must I wear heels? Oh! and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
11:30p-Read, cuddle, eat dinner. Ranali's is making me fat.

Repeat through Thursday.

Ah, well. I'm takin' care of business!

Tim's birthday was last weekend so we had a little gathering at my place. It was a 20's gangsta themed celebration. Martinis, poker, flapper glamour...tacky decorations (Thank you Party City!). A good time was had by all. Plus, I have my Halloween costume taken care of!
No pics of little ol' me...but here's the b'day boy and some of the party patrons.
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Green Dolphin tomorrow night w/Sarah!

4:57pm: Badonkadonk
I have no readers, so I'm entitled to a fluff post.




As a factual claim, it's true. A little lipstick isn't going to make my butt skinny. What it doesn't tell me is why I should want a skinny butt. Shouldn't the correct marketing term for a gym be "firm", "fit", or I don't know... "healthy" ?
I was actually considering joining Bally's to get rid of some winter weight...maybe I'll check out Women's Workout World, instead.

Ah, lovely day out. Carry on.

10:11pm: Of Mice and Women
Well, not a lot of excitement going on in these parts. Unless you count a mouse stirring around my kitchen as "excitement". For me, it resulted in 3 frantic phone calls. 1-Nate, nearly in tears, begging him to come be the boy in the relationship. 2-My mother, to reveal my child-like behavior (See: "MOOOOOOM, HELP ME. WHAT DO I DOOOOOO?"). And 3-My sis-n-law to distract me from my current condition (She's a talker). I settled down and Nate took me to Ace to find some "humane" catch-and-release traps. They've been in the kitchen for 8 hours and the little sucker still won't go for the peanut butter. He needs to start snackin' or write me a rent check, soon.

Nate and I are headed to Denver on Saturday to see my bro, sis-n-law, and hyper 8-yr. old nephew. I'm anxious to give him his Christmas/birthday gifts. (I'm really not a bad Aunt, I just have issues with shelling out money to UPS.) We're thinking of taking in a Rockies/Giants game Saturday night. I've got my "GOT JUICE?" sign ready for Bonds. I can't wait to get out of Chicago for a few days.

Well, thanks to Crystal, I've also had a productive night.
Courtesy of www.myheritage.com, these are the celebs I resemble most: ( Cleeeeek )

11:47pm: Don't Gimme that South Park Religion
Well, this is just completely disappointing.

Soul Singer Isaac Hayes Quits South Park



I mean, did he not realize from the beginning their plans to mock every religion, race, culture, celebrity, politician, political party, and ...well, every other noun known to man? Tom Cruise probably threatened to not invite him to the Scientology BBQ's.

11:11pm: I'm Back.
I'm totally cramping right now, so excuse the dullness of this post.

Lots of changes have taken place since my last update. I've been "let go" from my office job and am seeking new employment, possibly at a restaurant (Why God, why?). Tomorrow I'm heading out to Ralph Lauren Restaurant, Rosebud on Rush, and possibly Harry Caray's to check out their host positions. RL would be my first choice. (I wonder if I'd get discounts at the RL store???) I'm still 2 months shy of turning 21, so serving is not an option. If nothing good comes of those choices-there's always a temp. agency.

I've been out of school this semester, but am registering for summer classes this Thursday. So far I'm planning on taking Foreign Policy and Intro to Statistical Methods. I wish I could take more, but with a new work schedule and the summer semester being so condensed-that may be all I can handle.

I have my first roomie! Tim has taken over my office until July 1st, when my lease is up. I think we're both ready to get the hell out of here. My anal landlord has gone so far as to assign the tenants "laundry days". I went down to wash sheets on Saturday and was scolded like a toddler. "Now Kim, we discussed the laundry facilities. Did you see the sign?" ...(See: "I'm not your babysitter.")
"Yeeeeeeah, if you could go ahead and wash clothes only on Wednesday that would be greeeaaat. Let me just get you another copy of that laundry chart."
Gold Coast, I miss you.

Well, that's about it. Nate had the day off, but he opted to go drinking with the guys then pass out. So I'm sitting around the apartment reading internet news. I feel a little abandoned, but I'm hormonal right now, so... whatever. G'night!

Update: Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) went to the Senate floor Wednesday afternoon and displayed an enormous sign that read “Dangerously Incompetent” while giving a speech attacking the Bush administration over first responder and Homeland Security funding.

Stabenow was on the Senate floor selling an amendment she has offered to increase funding for first responders by $5 billion. “God forbid that there is another terrorist attack or a natural disaster,” Stabenow warned.

4:49pm: Cheney (Accidentally) Shoots Fellow Hunter
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/politics/AP-Cheney-Hunting-Accident.html?hp&ex=1139806800&en=a6b71355e6a4340b&ei=5094&partner=AOL

No, This isn't from The Onion.

8:20pm: Blogger v. LJ
I can't decide!

http://kimpike.blogspot.com/ or stupid ol' LJ.

Well, if you really love me, you'll check both until I decide.

8:51am: Gayest.Pope.Ever.
To quote Andrew Sullivan...

Gayest.Pope.Ever.

The pope who wears Prada has a new set of chic custom wheels.

Pope Benedict XVI, who has made headlines with his high-style red designer loafers and his Gucci shades, is tooling around the grounds of Vatican City in an electric car outfitted in luxurious Natuzzi Italian white leather. His latest fashion statement was donated to the pontiff by Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler, and Natuzzi.

9:26am: Best. Shirt. Ever.



"Real" update to follow...

10:21am: Hillary Says House Run Like Plantation
Full Story via CBS

Oh yes, she did.

“We have a culture of corruption, we have cronyism, we have incompetence. I predict to you that this administration will go down on history as one of the worst that has ever governed our country.”

Clinton actually got an easy question. “I need you to tell us what distinguishes Democrats from Republicans right now,” she was asked.

Clinton's answer was provocative.

Said Clinton, “When you look at the way the House of Representatives has been run, it has been run like a plantation and you know what I'm talking about..."

6:03pm: "So tell me where does all the money go? Where does all the money go?"
"Straight....up her nose!" Okay, sorry. I've been listening to The Libertines all day.

OH MY GOD, IT'S THE WEEKEND. THERE IS A GOD.

I was so exhausted last night, that I fell asleep before E.R. was on. That's pathetic. (E.R. is on 9pm CST.)

No big plans for the weekend, just lots of sleep...and a little "research." ;)

Goof of the day: (It's a pretty big one, even if it is a college paper.)


Via The Purdue Exponent.

11:07am: iDouche
Either I'm hormonal or everyone around me is an asshole.

Anyhoo, link time:

Levi now making iPod ready jeans and iBoxer making iPod ready underwear.
How are Levis not already "iPod ready"? They're called pockets.


Who is going to reach into their skimmies to switch songs? Honestly.

Which brings me to my next link...
Average penis sizes broken down by nationality
See how you measure up...

And because maybe 2 people on my list actually care:
Results of 2006 BBWAA Hall of Fame Ballot

...ugh, I have to pretend to work, now.

12:03am: Crisis in the Pipeline
Putin sends a shiver through Europe
By Adrian Blomfield in Moscow

7:35pm: Happy New Year!
Alright, my year-in-review post will be up sometime next week. It's been an interesting year in politics, sports, and technology. What will the new year bring? For now, I have a 3-day weekend, so I'm letting loose! Headed to Tim's party, then Sarah and Matt's.



Everyone be safe and...oh, who am I kidding..."COLLEGE!" "BEER!" (insert other screams overheard in Wrigleyville, here.)
Have fun!

Survival Guide to Drunken New Year's Eve Sex

9:09am: Can someone help Chicago?
First, Marshall Field's...Now The Berghoff...What's next? The Cubs? Oh please, please, please.


"It's hard to believe," said Rich Melman, founder of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, a Chicago-based restaurant company, who recalls first eating at The Berghoff 45 years ago. "I feel such a personal loss for Chicago. It's like losing the Cubs or something."

Yeeah, something like that. Honestly, I've never eaten there. I'm not a true Chicagoan, so I have some learning to do. Would someone take me there before they close? I've heard so much about it.

Well, I had a great Christmas. Didn't make it out to Denver, but went to Milwaukee with Nate to see his family. Good food, great gifts (including a gorgeous new watch and the Yankeeography DVD!!!)..and now I'm ready for New Year's! Who is having a party? Come on. Make yourself known.

...Speaking of the Yankees, we got Cairo back!

Well, I should be working right now...So, I'll leave you with an Xmas pic.
( Cleeeeek. )