The kitten is black and the boyfriend is 35, but at times I can identify with this...

Honey... nevermind about the Lexus...

Milwaukee River at Wisconsin Ave


Taken here.

Milwaukee River


Had to go downtown today. Not bad for a mobile phone.

Shame vs. Embarrasement

Shame - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Shame differs from embarrassment in that it does not necessarily involve public humiliation: one can feel shame for an act known only to oneself, but in order to be embarrassed, one's actions must be revealed to others. Also, shame carries the connotation of a response to qualities that are considered morally wrong, whereas one can be embarrassed regarding actions that are morally neutral but socially unacceptable (such as an accident). Another view of the difference between shame and embarrassment is that the two emotions lie on a continuum and only differ in intensity. The wish to sink into the ground and disappear from view, to hide oneself from eyes that witness one's embarrassment or humiliation is common to both.

Perhaps I've misdiagnosed myself. I'm not concerned about "qualities that are considered morally wrong," because it's exceedingly rare that I engage in activity that others find morally questionable (not to brag or nothin', just that I have nothing to hide in that realm). Whereas, I do, rationally or not, have a number of things I feel embarrassed about.

Embarrassment is an unpleasant emotional state experienced upon having a socially or professionally unacceptable act or condition witnessed by or revealed to others. Usually some amount of loss of honor or dignity is involved, but how much and the type depends on the embarrassing situation. (from Wikipedia again)


Yeah, much closer. I panic because I fear embarrassment.

My Deepest Fear

My deepest fear, the one that rules my life, is feeling ashamed.

I can't articulate it any better than that at the moment. I just had to get it out there in the ether.

Interesting sidenote: Google Image Search for "fear."

Geography Games

Name all 50 states in 10 minutes (I missed one - Massachusetts)
Name all 13 Canadian provinces/territories in 2 minutes (I missed 4)
Name all 192 UN member nations in 10 minutes (I missed... a lot. In my defense, I had a headache.)

Warning: Your time starts as soon as you click on the link, so be ready.

Cutest puppy ever

Random thoughts

1. In addition to this site, there oughta be a site called d-i-s-c-r-e-e-t.com
2. Searched Technorati for "zenparadox" and came up with a blog from an Australian electronica group. Heh.
3. More thoughts are on hold until I have a frappucino

Tips of the day

1. Casual Timberland hiking boots = really not waterproof
2. Quitting caffeine = much harder than quitting smoking

Ohio lawmakers want sex predator plates


COLUMBUS, Ohio - The cars of sexual predators would be marked by fluorescent green license plates under a unique proposal before Ohio lawmakers.

A bill introduced Wednesday by two legislators, Democratic Rep. Michael DeBose and Republican Sen. Kevin Coughlin, would require all habitual and child-oriented sex offenders to display the easy-to-spot plates. Link


This is a prime example of political bullshit. Sex offenders are such an easy target (like illegal aliens). I'm not dismissing the impact they have on their victims, but how about solving some real problems, like poverty? If anyone thinks that ostracizing convicted sex offenders is really going to reduce the number of sex crimes committed, they need a good slap upside the head. I'd bet that most sex crimes DON'T INVOLVE A CAR.