First some things that were annoying me today. I was listening to a country music station at work (mostly because I hate country music so it pisses me off and keeps my adrenaline high enough that I don't fall asleep at my insanely boring monkey job.) Anyway, one song I listened to (don't remember the name or artist, sorry) had the phrase "spitting image" in it and this made me start thinkin' of all the stupid phrases that people say wrong, like spitting image. The phrase "spitting image" really makes no sense at all, which it shouldn't because it's WRONG. It's supposed to be "spit and image" as in "he's the spit and image of his father" which translated to Moron means "he's so much like his dad even their spit is the same." Another that people misuse all the time is "I could care less". Really? Well, then, why do you even bother to mention it if there are other things you care less about? Or do you really mean "I couldn't care less" as in "there is nothing in the universe that interests me less than this". Got it? Good. Here's another one. "It's a mute point." Now, does that make sense? No, because it's wrong. Mute means silent and you can't make a point if you're silent. So, get a clue and say it right, it's a moot point. Moot, as in completely and totally unimportant. And my favorite which I hear only occasionally: "I waited with baited breath." Now, that's cute because it rhymes and brings up images of someone with worms in their mouth. But it too, is wrong. The correct phrase is "I waited with BATED breath" as in the opposite of abated. You do know what abated means, right? Well, take that meaning and remove the "a" and you get bated which makes a lot more sense. So, there ya go. I just helped you raise your SAT score about 10 points, yay! For more fun, go here and look up some other phrases and words you use all the time. Maybe you'll learn something.

Another thing that's been bugging me this week is this silly longshoremen's work stoppage or whatever it is on the west coast. Apparently, 100k a year for a part-time job is not enough, so the workers are not working which is costing someone big bucks every day. And a lot of innocent workers like truck drivers are getting screwed. I work near the wonderful shipyards in the harbor and the last few days I have had the pleasure of navigating a maze of parked semi-trucks because there is nowhere for them to go. The container yard next to where I work is getting stacked so high with empty containers I hope there isn't an earthquake or someone's gonna get hurt. And I saw a truck driver begging for money near the freeway entrance today. Personally, I despise unions. I know that many years ago when people worked in sweatshop conditions unions helped people get fair pay and decent working conditions and hours. But come on, we live in the 21st century now, most countries have human rights laws (at least the US does) and most union workers get paid way too much for what they do in my opinion, and it drives up the costs of necessities like cars and food and stuff and the average Joe workin' a non-union job in a union town doesn't stand a chance of a decent living without working at least two jobs. It seems unions are a sort of legalized mafia nowadays, they use strong-arm tactics and terrorism (yep, terrorism) to get what they want and they threaten those that don't give in to their demands.

Anyway, enough whining now for the fun part: The Sims has a new expansion pack out, and yes, it's true, Sims finally have PETS! I have been waiting almost three long years for sim pets. This is in my humble Sim-addicted opinion, the best expansion pack so far. I even almost forgot to watch Survivor because I was teaching my sim puppy a trick. Yes, I am a pathetic being. But it's fun, dammit! And it makes my monkey job more tolerable knowing I can go home and teach my pets tricks or grow tomatoes in my sim garden. If only real life were as simple as Sim life.

[ 10:06:00 PM ]   Posted at the speed of blight by NONOBADKITTY!  



Sunday, September 29, 2002

Things not to do on a Sunday: Try to open a pull-top lid on a ravioli can while trying to type something on a computer. Why? Because if you are an uncoordinated doofus like me, you will slice your finger open and bleed all over your keyboard! And, for goodness sake, do not, I repeat do NOT eat flaming hot cheetos with an open wound on your finger! BTW, speaking of flaming hot cheetos, for real fun sometime, eat a bunch of them then go swish some mouthwash, then you'll truly know the meaning of "flaming hot".

[ 12:45:00 PM ]   Posted at the speed of blight by NONOBADKITTY!