As I mentioned before, we found three rolls of film while preparing to move that had not been developed.  Well, now there are five rolls (possibly six, although one may have been left out in the sun).  The extra rolls turned up during the move.  I'm burning the last few pictures on the final roll and will get them developed ASAP to see what's on them.  I think there are pics of The Kids, but I'm not confident that they're all of The Kids.  We'll see, though, as I'm quite curious to find out what's on them.  If anything is presentable, you can bet I'll post them here.

With the DSL at least a few days away, I'm doing updates via other connection sources.  That means I won't be able to get as many updates done as I had hoped, so be patient just a little while longer.  There was no newsletter this week since there were no updates, but I'll have the next one sent out Sunday, May 4.  In the meantime, I'll get some updates done as time permits, but I may work more on unpacking and getting settled (and getting rest), so keep that in mind if things seem a little slow.  Hell, I haven't even seen the news in a week (and obviously haven't visited any news sites on the web), so I'm not sure I know what's going on in the world at the moment.  I'll get caught up and get back on track as quickly as possible, though, so don't worry your little selves too much.

The move is complete, but last week has to have been one of the worst seven-day periods I have ever experienced.  Murphy decided to hang out with us all week, so things definitely didn't go as planned.

As was expected, the movers were late Monday, so we didn't finish the main portion of the move until late in the evening Monday — around 8:00 PM!  Considering we had been on our feet all day, my roommate and I were ready to collapse by the time the movers were done.  Since we had much to do before we could sleep (like assemble the beds so we'd have something to sleep on), it was well into Tuesday morning before we actually crashed.

The satellite guy showed up Tuesday bright and early — much earlier than we expected.  I had gotten up early just in case that happened, but I was so tired that I could barely function.

While he was hooking up the satellite, he found that none of the phone lines he was trying to use actually worked.  I went back and checked the phone box and found the damn thing in such a mess that I couldn't figure out what had been done and how to undo it.  Out of nine separate phone jacks, I could only find three that worked.  After abusing the wiring box for a while, I was able to get a fourth jack to work, but I couldn't get the others to work without really taking the phone wiring apart.  I'll have to call the phone company on this one since it looks like they had the place wired for separate phone lines to most of the main jacks.

My roommate had a doctor appointment early Tuesday afternoon, so he headed out shortly after the satellite guy left.  Not ten minutes after he's out the door, he calls me to let me know he'd just been in an accident.  Apparently he made a successful left turn into the left lane of the main road outside of our place.  After his turn, a large box truck in another lane changed into his lane without checking to see if it was occupied.  The damage was extensive and the force of the impact spun my roommate's car across the median and into the left lane on the other side of the road.  Thankfully no one was coming from that direction at that exact moment.

The car is totaled according to the insurance folks (the frame is obviously bent, so no surprise there).  Now he has to pay off that car and find a new one in relatively short order.

We spent the rest of the day unpacking and moving furniture, since neither of us felt like much travel.  Of course, he spent much time on the phone filing an insurance claim and canceling appointments and plans, and so on.

I turned the ice maker on that afternoon and found no ice had been produced by Tuesday evening.  I checked and reset the on-off switch, but several hours later found no ice in the bucket.  I added that to the growing list of problems I would need to address once things settled down.  Luckily, later in the week, I decided to check the water connection behind the refrigerator and found the valve closed.  After turning it on, the ice maker began spitting out ice cubes at a much-appreciated rate.  Mark that one off the list…

Later Tuesday evening, I noticed that Kazon was limping.  This sent me into a complete panic.  I checked him thoroughly and found he wasn't in much pain, so I decided to watch him carefully to see if it got worse.  By the next day, the limp was practically unnoticeable, so I can only assume he was exploring the new place and fell or jumped incorrectly or landed wrong or something just as trivial.  By Thursday, there was no limp at all, so the panic and worry was unnecessary (wish I had known that at the time).

We eventually went back to the old place to shampoo the carpet, do some touch-up painting, and general cleaning and repair work.  That turned into an all day affair and wiped us both out (like we had any energy to begin with…).

We expected some new furniture to be delivered at some time Friday, so my roommate planned to hang around the house while I ran some errands.  At 7:00 AM that morning, the phone rang with the furniture delivery folks needing final directions to the new pad (since they were practically there at that point).  7:00 AM?  What the hell is that about?

Needless to say, another early morning with no control over our schedule…

I finally called the DSL folks Friday to find out why the DSL wasn't up and running.  Due to technical difficulties on their end, it'll be next week before it's turned on.  Given the rest of the week up to that point, I was not surprised by this.  With the way the week had gone, I was actually surprised to find out it would be turned on at all.

The list of minor horrors and problems is quite extensive, so I won't inundate you with those details.  Most of it is minor (some damage to the new furniture when it showed up, levels of fatigue that simply can't be explained, bruises of sizes and in locations that boggle the mind, and so on).

Oddly enough, with all of the trauma, we still survived the entire fiasco.  Quite possibly the worst move experience of my life, I'm just glad it's over.  Oh, we still have unpacking to do, of course, and not all of the new furniture was delivered so we're still waiting on that, but overall the major inconveniences are over.

Now, if I can just survive being back at work for the next few days, I think I might actually live.  As for my roommate, that's still up in the air.  With the whole car situation and two consecutive business trips in the next two weeks, I think he has enough stress to cause spontaneous human combustion.

As is always the case while you're preparing to move, rummaging through the house as we pack has uncovered three rolls of film that are undeveloped.  My guess is that they contain more pics of the kids, but I can't be sure of that.  They're a couple of years old, so I'm not sure about the quality of the pics.  I still intend to get them developed, though, since there might be some hidden treasures to be posted here.  It'll be after the move before I'll know, but I plan to drop them off to be developed in the next few days.  As soon as they're back, I'll post any new photos that are in good condition and that are of anything relevant.

The move is finally upon us.  It's Saturday, and we'll be moving on Monday.  Today and tomorrow will be full of packing — you know, all the stuff you use until the last minute.  I may have a few site updates today depending on how things go around here, and I'll definitely have a final update or two tomorrow before I send out the weekly newsletter.  After that, I'm not sure when the next site update will be, but I promise to get back online as quickly as possible.  The DSL is supposed to be hooked up by the middle of the week, but I'm not placing any bets.  You know how that sort of thing goes…  The Random Thoughts may not be updated daily as usual, but I'll catch up as soon as I get back online and have a few free minutes.  Aside from that, enjoy your holiday weekend.

In all of the antiwar and anti-Bush rhetoric that has inundated the American public recently, there has been a feeling of victimization by those who have seen backlash from their remarks.  Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks is a prime example.  Another good example would be when the United Way canceled an event with Susan Sarandon due to criticism from the community at large regarding her antiwar and anti-Bush rhetoric.  The ratings for The West Wing have slipped vigorously since Martin Sheen decided to become so politically active against President Bush and the Iraq war.  The list of those who claim to have had their First Amendment rights trodden upon has grown long over the last year, so why am I not worried that our freedom of speech is being eroded or taken away from us?  Because it's not.  All of the folks bitching and moaning about First Amendment violations are actually victims of their own free speech.

As strong an advocate as I am of freedom of speech, I have watched all of this with great interest which slowly turned to pity.  I was initially concerned that free speech in our country was indeed being squelched by the government, but I’m not sure that is the truth.  At least not yet, anyway.

Those complaining in the shrillest voices of First Amendment violations are those with dissenting views to the current administration and the war effort.  Those who are squelching those voices do not belong to the government, though.  They belong to the American public.

The First Amendment of the Constitution says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

You'll notice that there is not a single mention of protected speech, only that there will be no abridging of freedom of speech by the government.  It also does not say that anyone has to listen to or agree with what you have to say.  It simply says the government will not interfere with your practice of free speech.

I have said before that free speech involves taking responsibility for what one says, not just saying what one wishes with the hopes of no consequences.

For instance, it is not free speech if it is injurious.  This means that causing harm to another through speech is punishable through due process of the law.

Americans are similarly not guaranteed the right to threaten other people.  Again, this is not free speech, although I do not agree with that aspect of the situation (unless you’re causing harm, it’s free speech, me thinks).

Stand up in a crowded theater and yell "fire" at the top of your lungs when there is no fire and you will likewise realize that free speech doesn't cover you there.

These are just a few examples of having to take responsibility for what one says, albeit they are examples of where the law can punish you for saying things you shouldn't (normally through causing some form of harm to another, although not always).

In the same spirit of responsibility for what one says, the practice of free speech does not guarantee that there will be no consequences for what one says.

It is my right to say what I will, but the First Amendment and the Constitution in no way indicate people are protected from backlash for speaking their minds.  You see, the whole free speech thing doesn't just apply to those who agree with the majority.  Quite to the contrary, its protections are intended to enable dissent and disagreement without the government interfering, even if the dissent and disagreement are aimed at the government itself.

If you're willing to vocalize your point of view, you should always expect disagreement.  You should also expect those who do not agree with you to do what they legally can to shut you up.

This is precisely what we are seeing with Hollywood of late, yet the entertainment elite would have us believe that their First Amendment rights are being abridged simply because they are voicing dissent.

I have to respond to that by saying they're idiots who have a hypocritical view of free speech.  You see, they believe free speech only applies to them and no one who disagrees with their point of view.  In fact, anyone who exercises free speech to speak out against their point of view is somehow violating their free speech rights.

I find this entire approach to Americanism quite repulsive yet entertaining.  The Dixie Chicks were dropped from radio stations across the country when their lead singer chose London as the forum for saying she was embarrassed to be from the same state as President Bush.  She immediately apologized, of course, but the damage was already done.  It was certainly well within her rights to say what she did, but it was also within the rights of millions of Americans to destroy their CDs and boycott radio stations that continued to play their music.

All of this reminds me of Madonna's recent decision to pull her video just before it was released.  Her interview with VH1 is a perfect example of this double-standard on free speech.

You know, it's ironic that we were fighting for democracy in Iraq because we ultimately aren't celebrating democracy here.  Anybody who has anything to say against the war or against the president or whatever is punished, and that's not democracy, it's people being intolerant.  And everyone is entitled to their opinion for or against.  That's what our constitutional rights are supposed to be, that we all have freedoms to express ourselves and to voice our dissent if we have that.

Everything is taken literally and it's like this lynch-mob mentality has kind of risen up.  And people don't — people behave in a very unpredictable way.

Considering the war was supported by approximately 80% of the American public, do these people really believe that the majority is interested in listening to their diatribes and declarations?  More importantly, do they really believe that the exercise of free speech which disagrees with their exercise of free speech is really somehow a violation of free speech?

Give me a break!

I would agree with Madonna in that a lynch-mob mentality has arisen, but it's not against the public in general.  It has actually taken aim at the societal elitists who believe they should be free of injurious repercussions based on the practice of free speech.

We are indeed celebrating democracy here, despite Madonna's delusions to the contrary.  We're wallowing in it, actually, and she's just upset because the holier-than-thou entertainers have finally been knocked from their untouchable pedestals and forced to realize they're not that important in the scheme of things.  In fact, their opinions are no more important that anyone else's, and that apparently upsets them.

More importantly, they've learned that they we the little people who pay their salaries can actually have a negative impact on them — and it feels wonderful to finally be back in control regardless of political beliefs.

I think these disgustingly rich and substantially shallow people should go ahead and exercise their free speech.  When they are bashed and forced off the airwaves because a majority disagrees, they need to understand that people are exercising their free speech as they demand their music and videos and movies be removed from every medium available.

Ultimately they need to understand they're victims of their own free speech.

This can be said about anyone else claiming that their free speech has been violated simply because the public backlash against them was sudden and lethal.

Shut up about First Amendment violations and take responsibility for what you say.  Then and only then will you realize free speech is not a protection against more free speech, even when that free speech is in direct response to your own vocalization, but is instead a guarantee that the government won’t infringe upon your right.  Well, at least for now anyway.

On March 21, 2003, a US unit of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. submitted an application to the US Patent and Trademark Office to register a phrase for commercial use.  What was the phrase?  "Shock and awe."  Given the Pentagon's use of this phrase during Operation Iraqi Freedom to explain the overall tone of the war plan, Sony's application was immediately met with outrage based on an apparent attempt to capitalize on the Iraq war.  Responding to that criticism, Sony withdrew the application.  A Sony spokesperson explained that they now felt the application was inappropriate.  Too bad they didn't realize that before they submitted it, but the possibility of cashing in on an international conflict overwhelmed their common sense.

Here’s the archive copy of the latest welcome message from the front page.

As you’ve no doubt realized by now, I’ve not been able to update the site as often as I would prefer because I’m getting ready to move.  The move is now less than a week away, so between now and then, I’ll apologize in advance for the sporadic updates.  Once I get moved and get DSL up and running at the new crib, I’ll get back to my regular updates and outlandish rants and raves.

Until then, I’ll do my best to update things around here as time permits (between packing and planning and phone calls and stressing).  In the meantime, keep stopping by as you never know what might pop up around here from time to time.

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I've been home from work long enough to grab a bite to eat.  Yes, I worked today.  It's been that kind of week.  I realize there haven't been many site updates over the last several days, but you're just going to have to cope with your cravings a wee bit longer.  With so much going on at work and getting ready to move on April 21, things are quite hectic for me right now.  Not to fear, though, as I'll be updating the site as much as possible and hope to be back to regular updates shortly after we get through this move.

In what I hope to be the first in a series of similar laws, the West Hollywood City Council unanimously voted to ban the declawing of cats.

Known as onychectomy, cat declawing is a procedure which mutilates a cat's paws by removing the first joint of each toe.

I've long considered this to be pure animal cruelty and a completely unnecessary procedure.

I have had cats in my life for as long as I can remember, and declawing them has simply never been an option.  I live comfortably with four cats right now and don't fear being wounded by them.  I also do not worry about furniture being used for claw sharpening.

It's a matter of patience and training and not a matter of medical mutilation from the Dark Ages.

Cats may be inherently independent, but that does not mean they can't be trained.  By trained I do not mean beaten and abused for scratching a person or piece of furniture, either, but rather a simple technique of reinforcing good habits and negative feedback for bad habits — followed by positive reinforcement of the corresponding good habit.

With four cats in the house, all of whom have their claws, you would expect my roommate and I to be bleeding at all times and to have furniture that is shredded.

Not so!

The kids understand where and what they can scratch, and, even when playing rough with one of us, they are gentle enough not to cause too much damage.  Shallow scratches are the worst wounds we've suffered from.

I applaud West Hollywood for this maneuver and hope that other cities, municipalities and counties follow their lead.  Perhaps we can do away with this barbaric practice altogether.