Monday, June 23, 2008

WTF?!????




Bush pardons...himself?!? STOP THE INSANITY!!!!

Monday, June 16, 2008

An Oldie but a Goodie

Family Bulletin #5; Alex's 1st Father's Day

Dear Family,

I am big. It's true, I can't imagine how the belly will manage to grow any more!! The baby is kicking and moving a lot - he put on quite a show for daddy the other day - Alex could feel the energy in his hand from the baby as he moved around inside. I took a little video of the "belly horizon" while he was moving - you can see the sudden bumps of the skin outward as he kicks away. We're both amazed.

This week was quiet. The collaboration of our offices on the Korea project is intensifying - Kjersti is over at Alex's office every other day it seems - which is nice because we get to have lunch together once in awhile. The CEO of EDAW, Joe Brown, presented some initial ideas for the site to the Portman team this week, and it was well received. The idea is that the tower podium becomes a great living "mound" - the building as landscape so to speak, accessible as a park environment, a "radial green grid".

We are celebrating Alex's first Father's Day today. Thank you to all who sent "father to be" gifts and cards! We appreciate it, and so will the baby, who is the beneficiary of your generosity. We had a nice breakfast with our good friend Matthew today, who lost his father two months ago. It put things into perspective, and it was good that we could spend some time with him on this emotional day.

Love,

Kjersti & Alex

Friday, June 13, 2008

On biggest issues, McCain said he’s been ‘totally in agreement’ with Bush




Looking over the transcript from the June 19, 2005, episode of “Meet the Press,” the context of the video is actually slightly worse for McCain. Tim Russert read off a list of issues on which McCain and Bush appear to disagree and told the senator, “The fact is you are different than George Bush.” McCain responded, “No. No.”

One could argue, I suppose, that this was in 2005, and McCain has reinvented himself since then, but then again, looking at his Senate voting record, McCain voted with Bush’s position 95% of the time in 2007 and 100% of the time in 2008.

McCain gets pretty annoyed when his critics talk about a “third Bush term,” but it’s hard to deny that McCain has already made the argument for us. He not only shares Bush’s agenda and platform, but McCain spent years telling national audiences that no one agrees with Bush more than he does.

McCain's Pottymouth, NOT pretty!

Book: McCain temper boiled over in '92 tirade, called wife a 'cunt'Nick Juliano
Published: Monday April 7, 2008

John McCain's temper is well documented. He's called opponents and colleagues "shitheads," "assholes" and in at least one case "a fucking jerk."

But a new book on the presumptive Republican nominee will air perhaps the most shocking angry exchange to date.

The Real McCain by Cliff Schecter, which will arrive in bookstores next month, reports an angry exchange between McCain and his wife that happened in full view of aides and reporters during a 1992 campaign stop. An advance copy of the book was obtained by RAW STORY.

Three reporters from Arizona, on the condition of anonymity, also let me in on another incident involving McCain's intemperateness. In his 1992 Senate bid, McCain was joined on the campaign trail by his wife, Cindy, as well as campaign aide Doug Cole and consultant Wes Gullett. At one point, Cindy playfully twirled McCain's hair and said, "You're getting a little thin up there." McCain's face reddened, and he responded, "At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you cunt." McCain's excuse was that it had been a long day. If elected president of the United States, McCain would have many long days.

The man who was known as "McNasty" in high school has erupted in foul-languaged tirades at political foes and congressional colleagues more-or-less throughout his career, and his quickness to anger has been an issue on the presidential campaign trail as evidence of his fury has surfaced.

As Schecter notes, McCain's rage is not limited to the political spectrum, and even his family cannot be spared the brute force of his anger.

Schecter, who also blogs at The Agonist, said in an interview the anecdote is "an early example of his uncontrollable temper." In the book he outlines several other examples of McCain losing his cool and raises the question of how that would affect a McCain presidency.

What should voters make of this pattern? In February 2008 Tim Russert succinctly described McCain on MSNBC's Morning Joe. A devilish grin spread from ear to ear as Russert, no McCain hater, leaned forward and spoke in a whisper, "He likes to fight." Russert got it right. But the big question isn't whether McCain likes to fight: it's who, when, and how.

The exchange between McCain and his wife was not reported anywhere when it happened, Schecter said (a LexisNexis database search confirms this). In 1992, McCain's mention in the national media revolved mostly around his involvement in the Keating Five scandal, and only local reporters closely followed his re-election bid.

McCain is well known for his rapport with the national media covering his presidential bid (he's jokingly referred to the press as "my base"), but Schecter said this incident was buried not out of fealty to the Arizona senator. Rather, it was uneasiness about how to get such a coarse exchange into a family newspaper, and he didn't fault the local press for not covering the incident.

"Members of the media are squeamish covering stuff like this so they let it go," Schecter told RAW STORY in an interview Monday. "Back in '92, when people use naughty words, [reporters] don't know as much what to do with it."

Much has changed since then. President Bush's reference to a New York Times reporter as a "major league asshole" was reported in at least 47 newspapers during the 2000 campaign, when the off-color remark was overheard, according to a database search. And more than a dozen newspapers have reported Dick Cheney's recommendation that Sen. Patrick Leahy "fuck yourself."

McCain and his aides have brushed off suggestions that his temper could impede his ability to perform the sometimes-delicate tasks asked of a president. The candidate was asked about his legendary temper last week on "Fox News Sunday," where he cited his ability to work "across the aisle" while in the Senate.

"You can't scare people or intimidate them if you're going to reach agreement with your colleagues and your contemporaries And I've worked hard at that, and that's what the American people want," McCain said. " The second thing is if I lose my capacity for anger, then I shouldn't be president of the United States. ... When I see the waste and corruption in Washington, I get angry."

McCain's campaign did not return a call from RAW STORY seeking comment Monday morning.

Schecter says McCain's anger is much more than a passion for the issues. One can only imagine what would happen if McCain were to try to squeeze that temper into the tight confines of diplomacy.

"The public certainly has to know what this guy might do as president," Schecter says. Examples like the ones in his book "should worry people, quite frankly."


http://rawstory.com/news/2008/McCain_temper_boiled_over_in_92_0407.html

Family Bulletin #4; Daddy has a Birthday!

Dear Family,

We just returned from Six Flags Amusement Park. The Portman company picnic was there and they paid the admission fee. So we went. Unfortunately, Kjersti couldn't get on any rides because she is considered "disabled". We did go on the "Monster Plantation" haunted boat ride, where we were the only riders over 3 feet tall. It was awesome.

Yesterday was Alex's birthday. Thanks to everyone for the cards, gifts, emails and calls. I appreciate it. The birthday was great. This year has been very good and I am thankful for a wonderful family, the baby on the way, the Colony Road architecture project and the chance to spend time with you all.

For the birthday dinner, Kjersti made meatloaf and mashed potatoes, the meal I always would request for my birthday as a kid, and we had cheesecake for dessert - again the traditional dessert. Except this time Kjersti spiced it up with mango and it was delicious.

Some of you have asked if anyone can write / respond to the Family Bulletin and the answer is: Yes! That would be great and that's why we've left the distribution list visible. We've really enjoyed hearing from those of you who have responded and its good to know what you're up to. I'm sure everyone on the list would like to hear from you too.

Well, we have to hit the pool. Its 95 degrees here in Atlanta and muggy to boot. Then we're going to the chiropractor to undo what Six Flags has done. Alex did go on a few roller coasters, namely "The Ninja" and "Goliath". And they both whipped him good.

Love,
Kjersti & Alex

Monday, June 2, 2008

Harvard Right To Serve Tour - NY Protest - JAKE




http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/30/students-protest-dont-ask-dont-tell-policy/index.html?partner=BREITBART&ei=5123

Harvard Right to Serve Tour Promotion

The Times, They Are a-Changin'

I'm still hoping to incorporate this blog into my "Daily Routine". So far, I've managed to post occasional updates along with just some fun things that I find online and want to save. Starting today, I'm participating in a sort of "Book Review" with another blog group. The book is "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz. The book lists the agreements, as follows:

Agreement 1
Be impeccable with your word - Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Agreement 2
Don’t take anything personally - Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

Agreement 3
Don’t make assumptions - Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Agreement 4
Always do your best - Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.


So far, I've read the Introduction and the first chapter. It's amazing the feelings that it stirs up. Part of our first "assignment" for our review was to think of "untrue" words that someone spoke to me that I heard and made true for myself. (The example given by the forum leader was as a child, he overheard people he loved talking about "filthy faggots". At this time, as a child, he knew he was gay and it was years and years later that he realized he believed those words and brought them to life in his own journey.)

Looking back, I truly don't remember any specific words ever being spoken to me that weren't loving and supportive. Along the way, I did have insecurities; ESPECIALLY and PARTICULARLY around boys. Much of my childhood and adolescence is like a big black hole to me. I hardly remember anything about my life from before my parents divorced (which was when I was 7), and the fleeting memories I do have are like flashes in a dream sequence in a movie. I was a combination of PAINFULLY shy with my peers (emphasis again on boys) but warm, outgoing and even funny with my Mom and sister. I remember loving to make people laugh, and with my family it was easy. At school I was terrified to say anything out loud for fear of being made fun of, or laughed AT, instead of WITH. So, I was quiet a lot. But with my girlfriends, I was funny Donna, so it became odd and awkward, like I was two different people. I think, more than someone's words shaping me, it was people's actions. A few people in particular. There was this group of boys who were popular. They were smart, and in reality we had very similar senses of humor. Because of my shyness and insecurity, they had no way of knowing that, of course, but I always "got" their jokes when they thought they were being so subtle and getting away with things in class. You know the movie "A Fish Called Wanda"? Kevin Kline's character always said "Don't call me stupid!" He didn't care about almost anything else, but STUPID he couldn't take. That's what bothered me so much as a teenager. I thought that those boys thought I was STUPID, that I couldn't understand their "superior" and witty banter, and it drove me crazy. As a result, I would get even more uncomfortable around them because I was frustrated and angry at the same time as I was terrified to say anything. Since then, I've gone to class reunions. I've talked to everyone I knew in High School - jocks, cheerleaders, valedictorians, scholars...but to this day, if I ever got locked in a room with (I'll call him Brian - since that's his name - blogging makes me brave! LOL) I feel like I would revert back to that same scared girl I was then. I guess, the best way to describe it is that they were simply "dismissive" - I wasn't even a blip on their radar. I'd be willing to bet that not a single one of them would have anything (postitive or negative) to say about me today. That's almost the worst feeling yet - that I allowed them to have such power over me all those years ago, and they probably barely knew I existed.

So - not every post will be so long, but I'm hoping that using this book review as a guide will help me to post more regularly, and that putting the words on "e-paper" will help me make the most of this process.

Family Bulletin #3 from Kjersti and Alex

Hello Family,

It was nice to have a short week after Memorial Day. The holiday weekend was fun and relaxing. We spent it with friends at a BBQ on Saturday and went to Piedmont Park on Sunday and hung out at our Italian friend's house on Monday.

We're gearing up for Alex's birthday on the 6th. We're going to a Braves game, indulging in $7 pretzels and doing the "tomahawk chop" with the rest of the tribe. We're taking our norwegian friends from church who have never been to a baseball game. They have a six month old baby named "Signar" (Donna per your blog, you'd like that name) who was born in the States and therefore must be indoctrinated MLB style.

In collateral family news, Kjersti's cousin Jake was arrested in New York City this week while leading a gay rights protest, called the Harvard Right to Serve Project, at the US Armed Forces recruiting station in Times Square. The event was featured in the New York Times and covered by MTV. We are proud of Jake for his efforts.

Finally, we have decided to postpone our honeymoon to Paris because Kjersti is too rotund. We don't want to take any chances. As people experienced in international travel, we have resolved to wait until mom and baby are individual units. We're looking at the fall of '09. If anyone is interested in traveling at the same time to Paris, it would be fun to coordinate something. Just let us know.

Love,

Kjersti, Alex & Orb