Here you go Paul. YAY It works!

Hahah ok. Soooo at work yesterday I *gasp* recycled everything I could. It took me a little longer but it made Beast happy, so I figured why not?! :oD

While I am feeling charitable, I think I will go pay part of my boyfriend's cell phone bill and drop off a bunch of clothing to Good will.

Speaking of clothing. I was at the new AmVets store on Walden or something near the Galleria mall. They had some awesome stuff in there. I didn't have any money so I could buy anything, but I was impressed.

I am mad excited to be going to Cedar Point on Sunday. I've never been there. I hope its fun.

yay! thanks paul for continuing to update for mac users :o) haha I'm glad you are feeling nice.

I sailed in the levels tournament this weekend at niagara-on-the-lake. it rocked. we did really well. :oD

I don't really have anything to write out here. Maybe my cut and paste news stories are getting old. but I haven't done anything lately. I go to work and come home. I went out last night to Coffee & and found a cool shirt at Urban.

I watched my friend Kitty chase down my boyfriend as he ran by the coffee house last night. She makes gay guys horny. An impressive trait if I do say so myself :oP

Thanks, Mr. President, but no thanks
7/22/2004
By ROD WATSON

Dear President Bush:
Thank you so much for your kind invitation.

The "Star-Spangled Banner" played in my head as I opened the envelope and saw the membership card - in red, white and blue, of course - with my name on it.

I was especially appreciative of your accompanying letter thanking me for all I do "as a long-time friend and supporter."

Of course, I was bemused at first, given some of the things I've written about you. It seemed as though the intelligence - if we can use that word - operatives who told you Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction were now running your political campaign.

But upon deeper reflection, I realized that inviting me to be part of the Republican National Committee Victory 2004 effort shows that we're in a new era in which the old political labels and divisions no longer apply.

By inviting me into the fold, you've taken the concept of the "big tent" to a whole new level. I heartily applaud your effort to reach out to me - even as you snubbed those radicals over at the NAACP who can't seem to let go of that whole "equality" thing.

Nevertheless, I do have some concerns.

Since people judge you by those you associate with, I have to admit I have qualms about being linked to your vice president, who uses the "F" word in public and practically brags about it.

My mother told me to stay away from street-gang members because they talk like that. I'm not sure what she would say if she found out I was hanging out with Dick Cheney. After all, values count.

Speaking of values, I'm still trying to reconcile that word with what you call "our compassionate conservative agenda." (That "our" is pretty presumptuous, don't you think?)

You warn me away from liberal groups that espouse a government that "makes your choices for you," as opposed to the GOP, which "puts the individual in charge."

But I'm confused. Would that be the choice about whether to have a child? The choice about whether to end terminal suffering? Or the choice about whether to import cheaper medicines from Canada?

Of course, honesty also is a value - one that has taken a severe beating since 9/11 became an excuse for a war to rid Iraq of supposed weapons of mass destruction. Or was it to rid Iraq of a mean person? Or was it to create Middle East stability and then sing "What a Wonderful World"?

This ability to manipulate words is pretty impressive for a guy whose speech is constantly ridiculed. But you'll be pleased to know that I no longer have a problem with your English; it's your math that scares me now.

There's that little matter of the $236 billion budget surplus you converted into a deficit approaching $500 billion. There's the Dow that's down nearly 5 percent since you took office - which means I can't afford the "special contribution" you ask for. And there's the Economic Policy Institute study showing the 2003 tax cuts you touted have created 2.2 million fewer jobs than you predicted.

And, of course, there's that one number from Iraq that trumps them all: 900 U.S. dead, and counting.

Meanwhile, those of us who are supposed to benefit from the values they died for live in fear of your agents snooping through our library records, detaining Americans without charges or using "sneak and peek" warrants to spy on us.

Since it pains me to say all of this, I started not to reply. But Miss Manners says that would be rude.

So again, I thank you so much for your kind invitation and for thinking of me.

Unfortunately, I will be unable to join you this year because of a prior commitment - to values you wouldn't understand.


Very truly yours,
Rod Watson

MIAMI, Florida (Reuters) -- Law enforcement officials in the Florida Keys are mystified by a bizarre new pastime -- young people dangling themselves from meat hooks on a popular sandbar.

A U.S. Coast Guard spokeswoman said on Sunday that the Monroe County sheriff's office and Coast Guard were called on July 12 to the sandbar off Whale Harbor in Islamorada where locals say wild behavior is becoming a tradition.

They found that five young people had erected a bamboo tripod and hung meat hooks from it. A young woman, her feet brushing the surface of the shallow water, dangled from the frame, hooks embedded firmly in her shoulders.

According to a Coast Guard video, she did not seem to mind the hooks.

Lt. Tom Brazil of the Coast Guard told the Key West Citizen newspaper that a young man, who also had hooks embedded in his heavily pierced and tattooed skin, assured him the group was "just enjoying the afternoon."

A Coast Guard spokeswoman in Miami said the group had clearly done this before and intended to post photos of themselves on a Web site dedicated to "body modification" -- the ritualistic piercing of the body.

"It looked like a daily routine for them," she said, adding that the hooks had been inserted in the skin in a professional manner and had drawn very little blood."

"As long as they weren't creating any kind of ruckus or riot within a crowd they really weren't breaking any laws."

The Coast Guard passed the video on to federal justice authorities but no further action will be taken.

I just saw spider-man 2 and it was pretty good. I've seen more movies in that past four weeks than I have in the past three years.

I'm not sure that this is a good thing.

There was an interesting article on cnn.com about a Gluten allergy that apparently many people have but it takes a while before it is correctly diagnosed. I'd heard about a couple of people having this allergy prior to seeing today's article, but it was quite interesting.

I went sailing on Lake Ontario tonight, like I do every Wednesday. I love Canada, its so beautiful. I got to see what rain looked like from afar for the first time ever. It was mad crazy and I loved it.

BEAST & MIKE:: Have a good time in FL :-) I hope it is really nice for you while you are down there :-D

Work has been dead all week. Its gross. I spent the first 3.5 hrs walking around doing nothing then I took my lunch, came back and stared into space.

I shouldn't complain, but with nothing to do, time goes sooooo slowwwwwww.