In no particular order:
Pink Floyd's The Wall
Tom Petty: Full Moon Fever
Def Leppard: Hysteria
INXS: Kick
They Might Be Giants: Flood
The Blues Brothers Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Book of Love: Book of Love
Sting: Dream of the Blue Turtles
Police: Synchronicity
My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult: Sexplosion!
The B-52's: Cosmic Thing
Eric Clapton: Journeyman
Brian Setzer Orchestra: The Dirty Boogie
Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms
Xanadu: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Cheap Trick: Unauthorized Greatest Hits
Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams
Depeche Mode: Violator
Say Anything: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Yeah, it's heavy on late 80's, early 90's, and soundtrack stuff, but, there you go. Discuss.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
I'm not dead. I'm feeling much better!
Two things have kept me busy over the last month. Well, three, actually.
Firstly, I subscribed to Netflix. I got the basic package: 1 DVD through the mail at a time. But, that also includes unlimited Instant Watches. Netflix has a lot of movies I can watch on my desktop. Soooo, I've been catching up on movies I've missed, and reviewing loved ones I haven't seen in a while.
Secondly, for Christmas, my little brother gave me a gift card to iTunes, and I bought the fourth season of Dr. Who. Whoo hoo! So, between the fourth season, (the last for David Tennant), and seasons 1-3 on Netflix, I immersed myself in the latest Time Lord adventures.
Thirdly, when I wasn't watching a movie, or TV show, I was slaving away on the latest episode of the Ronnie Rho Show! (I'll save the behind the scenes discussion for a future blog. But, safe to say, it was major surgery.)
This webisode is special for a number of reasons: it's the first shot on location. The regular crew was left behind, so I had to press a couple of volunteers into service, (not unlike the British Navy grabbing American sailors, during the early 19th Century.). And our guest is the very well known Donna Rose. Donna is, well, maybe I'll spare you the description and let her tell you who she is.
But, anyone who is transgendered, knows someone who's transgendered, and anyone who has wanted to be transgendered, should watch this show.
And if you like it, tell a friend...
Firstly, I subscribed to Netflix. I got the basic package: 1 DVD through the mail at a time. But, that also includes unlimited Instant Watches. Netflix has a lot of movies I can watch on my desktop. Soooo, I've been catching up on movies I've missed, and reviewing loved ones I haven't seen in a while.
Secondly, for Christmas, my little brother gave me a gift card to iTunes, and I bought the fourth season of Dr. Who. Whoo hoo! So, between the fourth season, (the last for David Tennant), and seasons 1-3 on Netflix, I immersed myself in the latest Time Lord adventures.
Thirdly, when I wasn't watching a movie, or TV show, I was slaving away on the latest episode of the Ronnie Rho Show! (I'll save the behind the scenes discussion for a future blog. But, safe to say, it was major surgery.)
This webisode is special for a number of reasons: it's the first shot on location. The regular crew was left behind, so I had to press a couple of volunteers into service, (not unlike the British Navy grabbing American sailors, during the early 19th Century.). And our guest is the very well known Donna Rose. Donna is, well, maybe I'll spare you the description and let her tell you who she is.
But, anyone who is transgendered, knows someone who's transgendered, and anyone who has wanted to be transgendered, should watch this show.
And if you like it, tell a friend...
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Well, I didn't get laid off...
...yet.
Ask me again at the end of July. They cut a few of us today, including I work(ed) with directly. Which is better than I expected. But they also essentially told us: more cuts coming in 7 months.
Yeah, that oughta motivate the troops, considering job performance has played very little into who's gotten the axe over the past 3 years.
Instead of talking about me, and my sad, sorry life, let's talk about the country, and its sad, sorry life. For instance, this:
So, the top story on MSN is "Who is Michelle Obama wearing?" Really? Seriously? That's what it's all about? Who she's wearing? Not even the gramatically correct "what" she's wearing?
I realize MSN, like most online sites post the story that will get the most hits, higher in the queue. So, I don't blame them, other than their expecting that will be what people will be talking about.
His great speech doesn't get top billing? (And I thought it was really good. And I have not drunk the Kool-Aid, to date.) "Restore science to its rightful place"? Fantastic! Respecting the rights of atheists? That doesn't deserve a headline? Reaction to the address? No.
Instead, we're going with the dress the First Lady is wearing and who designed it. Like that matters. (And I'm a goddamn crossdresser!)
Obama has talked about change, and talked about how the people have to affect change. Bully for him. I'm with him completely on that. But, nothing is going to change until these crappy little shallow nothing stories are buried away for only the truly stupid to read.
We're faced with unemployment hitting 10%. (That's one out of every ten people not working for those of you who are deeply interested in who designed Michelle's dress.) Stocks have lost on average nearly 40% of their value from last year. We've already thrown billions and billions of tax dollars we don't have at banks and businesses that have pissed the money down their legs.
And you want to know "who" the First Lady is wearing? Please.
I suppose I shouldn't come off so harsh. If you're reading this blog in the first place, you're not among the sheep. But then again, considering how few people actually read this, it doesn't matter. This rant made me feel a tiny bit better.
Ask me again at the end of July. They cut a few of us today, including I work(ed) with directly. Which is better than I expected. But they also essentially told us: more cuts coming in 7 months.
Yeah, that oughta motivate the troops, considering job performance has played very little into who's gotten the axe over the past 3 years.
Instead of talking about me, and my sad, sorry life, let's talk about the country, and its sad, sorry life. For instance, this:
So, the top story on MSN is "Who is Michelle Obama wearing?" Really? Seriously? That's what it's all about? Who she's wearing? Not even the gramatically correct "what" she's wearing?
I realize MSN, like most online sites post the story that will get the most hits, higher in the queue. So, I don't blame them, other than their expecting that will be what people will be talking about.
His great speech doesn't get top billing? (And I thought it was really good. And I have not drunk the Kool-Aid, to date.) "Restore science to its rightful place"? Fantastic! Respecting the rights of atheists? That doesn't deserve a headline? Reaction to the address? No.
Instead, we're going with the dress the First Lady is wearing and who designed it. Like that matters. (And I'm a goddamn crossdresser!)
Obama has talked about change, and talked about how the people have to affect change. Bully for him. I'm with him completely on that. But, nothing is going to change until these crappy little shallow nothing stories are buried away for only the truly stupid to read.
We're faced with unemployment hitting 10%. (That's one out of every ten people not working for those of you who are deeply interested in who designed Michelle's dress.) Stocks have lost on average nearly 40% of their value from last year. We've already thrown billions and billions of tax dollars we don't have at banks and businesses that have pissed the money down their legs.
And you want to know "who" the First Lady is wearing? Please.
I suppose I shouldn't come off so harsh. If you're reading this blog in the first place, you're not among the sheep. But then again, considering how few people actually read this, it doesn't matter. This rant made me feel a tiny bit better.
Monday, January 19, 2009
D-Day
Today, or so rumor has it, I find out if I still have a job.
Or, at least, if I get to keep my job for a little while longer. See, I'm in an industry that is trying to kill itself. It's still viable, but the people who control it, are killing their golden goose.
And the industry scuttlebutt says today is the day they reveal their plans. Today. Inauguration day. No, it's not a slap in the face to the new administration. Rather, they hope no-one will notice.
Published reports indicate they're chopping 7% of the workforce. But, those same reports contradict themselves; they claim to know where the cuts are coming, and they claim to know the new direction the company is taking. However, if the latter is true, than the former is not.
I, and my immediate coworkers may be relatively safe, but I'm not counting on it. And even if they don't toss me out, I'm still going to lose some of my "family". Because that's what we are, even if we don't always like each other.
It won't be the first time I'm canned. The first time was during the last economic downturn, as Pres. Dubya took office. Ironic, no? In all actuality, I was let go a week before the election of 2000, and was so depressed, I didn't pay attention to who won, and who challenged it. I do remember traveling to Dallas, to look for work, stopping in a coffee shop between cold-calls, and seeing on television a Ryder truck escorted by police, media in tow, a CNN helicopter overhead. At the time, I wondered if OJ had gotten loose, and had hooked up with Tim McVeigh.
I think I'd rather be fired for incompetence than laid off. If you're fired for not doing a good job, you at least have the option to make yourself better. You can ask what the problem was, and work on it.
When you're laid off, it's for "economic reasons": things completely out of your control.
("Economic reasons" being shorthand for the CEO is only making $10,000,000 a year, and can't take a cut, even though their leadership may have contributed to the company needing to shed some fat in order to survive. "Economic reasons" meaning the board of directors is worried about the stock price day-to-day, instead of building a solid foundation for years of prosperity.)
But, there's nothing I can do about that. So, looking forward:
There's not much else in my field any more, because it's been gutted. There's not much else I can do. And even if the unemployment rate wasn't climbing to near 10%, there's not much else that interests me.
I guess that's the downside of loving what you do; hating everything else. I'm a job snob.
The line from "Say Anything" sticks with me: "I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that."
So, that limits my options. And I'm getting a little old to join the army, that fallback for a tough job market. I've considered something like a professional advocate. You know, working for the NCTE or another group, but I somehow doubt their coffers are overflowing enough to hire new staffers.
But, something will turn up. It always does.
And besides, I am still employed. For a few more hours, at the very least.
Or, at least, if I get to keep my job for a little while longer. See, I'm in an industry that is trying to kill itself. It's still viable, but the people who control it, are killing their golden goose.
And the industry scuttlebutt says today is the day they reveal their plans. Today. Inauguration day. No, it's not a slap in the face to the new administration. Rather, they hope no-one will notice.
Published reports indicate they're chopping 7% of the workforce. But, those same reports contradict themselves; they claim to know where the cuts are coming, and they claim to know the new direction the company is taking. However, if the latter is true, than the former is not.
I, and my immediate coworkers may be relatively safe, but I'm not counting on it. And even if they don't toss me out, I'm still going to lose some of my "family". Because that's what we are, even if we don't always like each other.
It won't be the first time I'm canned. The first time was during the last economic downturn, as Pres. Dubya took office. Ironic, no? In all actuality, I was let go a week before the election of 2000, and was so depressed, I didn't pay attention to who won, and who challenged it. I do remember traveling to Dallas, to look for work, stopping in a coffee shop between cold-calls, and seeing on television a Ryder truck escorted by police, media in tow, a CNN helicopter overhead. At the time, I wondered if OJ had gotten loose, and had hooked up with Tim McVeigh.
I think I'd rather be fired for incompetence than laid off. If you're fired for not doing a good job, you at least have the option to make yourself better. You can ask what the problem was, and work on it.
When you're laid off, it's for "economic reasons": things completely out of your control.
("Economic reasons" being shorthand for the CEO is only making $10,000,000 a year, and can't take a cut, even though their leadership may have contributed to the company needing to shed some fat in order to survive. "Economic reasons" meaning the board of directors is worried about the stock price day-to-day, instead of building a solid foundation for years of prosperity.)
But, there's nothing I can do about that. So, looking forward:
There's not much else in my field any more, because it's been gutted. There's not much else I can do. And even if the unemployment rate wasn't climbing to near 10%, there's not much else that interests me.
I guess that's the downside of loving what you do; hating everything else. I'm a job snob.
The line from "Say Anything" sticks with me: "I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that."
So, that limits my options. And I'm getting a little old to join the army, that fallback for a tough job market. I've considered something like a professional advocate. You know, working for the NCTE or another group, but I somehow doubt their coffers are overflowing enough to hire new staffers.
But, something will turn up. It always does.
And besides, I am still employed. For a few more hours, at the very least.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
I'm surprised it took me this long to stumble across this photo.
You'll of course remember this guy from 9/11:
And a host of other events:
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
I gots nuttin' ta say.
So, I'll blog. 'Cuz I know there's stuff on my mind. And hopefully, some of it will take shape in random words. Blog as Rorschach Test, perhaps?
I'm back from vacation. Drove a long time on Friday, had a late lunch with the ex-, drinks with a college buddy, and completely snubbed my t-friends in Omaha.
Saturday, more driving. Lunch with another college buddy, and then a family reunion.
And that was the template until Tuesday, when I drove home, and my trip started over: lots of driving, snubbing a t-friend in Missouri, and more driving.
One might think that after 15 hours on the road, I'd have some deep thought to share.
No. No more, no fewer than usual. Perhaps because I was focused on making a vlog of the journey. For my guy identity. Because the guy identity has been dominant lately. Very dominant.
For more than a month, probably going on two, Ronnie's been almost hibernating. Until Monday, I had a full beard. (Now it's a stylist goatee.) I don't know why. But, it drives me nuts, this going-back-and-forth thing, these pendulum swings: in the days before the this swing to the macho side, I'd been gung-ho about everything trans... to the point where I was considering hormones, and wondering how I could pay for electro, or laser.
And the reason I don't, or haven't done anything like going full-time? Because I know the man will come roaring back, with manly interests, manly pursuits, and macho pasttimes. (Okay, as a friend pointed out that while I'm hardly macho, it's relative.)
And I don't purge or take down my online presence because I know Ronnie will rise again. I can't figure it out. But I know I just want a little consistency.
There. Whaddya know. A blog.
***
Changing gear: we had all 17 members of the clan together, for the first time since the summer of 2007. Those nephews are cute, but damn, they're loud. And kinetic. Hard for adults to have any kind of meaningful discussion, when the parents and grandparents are constantly chasing little ones.
Changing gear: we had all 17 members of the clan together, for the first time since the summer of 2007. Those nephews are cute, but damn, they're loud. And kinetic. Hard for adults to have any kind of meaningful discussion, when the parents and grandparents are constantly chasing little ones.
And now that I'm back home, and everything is in its place, I find that I'm missing them. Maybe not missing them specifically, as I do like quiet, but I'm missing the human presence. I'm finding it to be a feeling not dissimilar from the blues I get after a fun femme night out. And that just solidifies my theory on that: Just because you're depressed after a night, or a weekend with lots of good femme time doesn't mean you're TS. It just means you enjoy having fun.
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