Let me begin by saying, I am in no way against preserving the environment. I think we do need to take steps to make this world a better place to live, literally. BUT in this moment we are experiencing some economic hardships with more people losing their jobs every day. I just heard from a friend of a friend that his company laid off 30 of the 34 employees that work in his location…he happened to be one of the 4 and not one of the 30 with a giant sigh of relief and guilt. Circuit City is closing every one of their stores, putting some 30 thousand people out of jobs across the country in one fell swoop.

What is the point of this, you ask, besides a laundry list of statistics? The point here is that there are still environmental groups who are freaking out because someone wants to mine for coal or drill for natural gas in the barren wasteland that is the Great Basin Desert. Mining for coal and drilling for gas creates jobs. “Job” is really a commodity that will probably never “run its course” and now, especially, it is in the highest of demand. People are losing their jobs all over the place but these environmental groups don’t want to do anything that might harm the habitat of the Great American Dung Beetle – or make it hard to observe their migration patterns from the shoulder of the highway while sitting comfortably in your Subaru wagon. Forget humans, desert dwelling bugs are far more important.

Now before you get out your trusty brick and tie your hate mail to it… I understand that there are arguments larger than bugs. I understand that everything we do today will affect the Earth in the future but I can’t quit my job that I hate because there are no other jobs to switch to. And there are so many other people in my community (the same community where the illogical, irrational, human-hating tree-huggers reside) who have lost their jobs and have no other options ahead of them.

Things are in the works to help get us out of this but in the meantime, if someone has the money and backing to start a new business, to create new jobs in a time when they are slim, I don’t see any reason anyone should stand in their way. Human beings are just as much a part of the environment as dung beetles and have just as much right to protection as the beetle. And right now, creating jobs seems to be a pretty good way of protecting our fellow humans.

Nowadays, it is all in who you talk to. A couple of weeks ago, we went to WalMart on our weekly quest for groceries and other odd things. While we were there, we approached a CSA and asked where, in the store, would she suggest we look for ice melt. “They don’t send it here. They tell us it doesn’t get that cold here,” says the blue be-smocked lady.

Last night, the weekly quest led us through the outdoor/sporting goods department and there was a palette of …. ice melt. Bags stacked as high as me (which is not tall if you are a person but really tall if you are a pile of ice melt).

Over the summer, my sister called, different store, same chain, and asked if they had a specific Playskool playhouse that came with a slide. Through her attempts to find this specific playhouse, she had acquired its exact title and gave that to the CSA on the phone, who found one in the system then put Sis on hold to “go make sure it really was there.” She came back, said “I can’t put a hold on it but if you come in this afternoon we should still have one. I’ll set it aside and when you come in, ask for Melissa.” We went in, we asked for Melissa, Melissa was no where to be found. Nor was the playhouse. Nor was anyone in the toy department who might know where to find one or how to order one. “Go online,” was all the cashier in the garden department could offer.

I get not having authorization to do things but some CSAs or CSRs or GSAs or whatever their corporate title is simply don’t want to. It really does depend on who you talk to what kind of customer service you are going to get. Phone reps especially. You call a company once, ask if something can be done and “no way, no how, not gonna happen.” You call back the next day, ask the same question of someone else and you get, “Hmmm, I don’t know. Let me find out for you. Do you mind holding?” (Insert crappy hold music here) “Actually, it looks like, based on the fact that you have been a customer with our company for five years, you are entitled to….” Bingo, an affirmative answer to your question just because you talked to Susie today instead of Jim. Watch out for Jim. He might come into work tomorrow and start picking co-workers off with a high-powered sniper rifle.

Once upon a time, the adage was “the customer is always right.” Now, it’s “the customer is right if it doesn’t require me to do any extra work. Otherwise the customer is wrong, wrong, wrong, WRONG!”

I guess that’s really it for this installment. I could go on for days offering examples of poor customer service but instead I think I’m going to find me a high-powered sniper rifle and go pick off a few CSRs.

Crimson

“Laws are only words written on paper, words that change on society’s whim and are interpreted differently daily by politicians, lawyers, judges, and policemen. Anyone who believes that all laws should always be obeyed would have made a fine slave catcher. Anyone who believes that all laws are applied equally, despite race, religion, or economic status, is a fool.”- John J. Miller

“You’re not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it.”- Malcolm X

It’s passed time that I should have written about Proposition 8. It deserves more attention than I have given it. The paragraph on November 5th and the paragraph when it was introduced was no where near enough. I assumed because I was reading about it and knowing what was happening meant everyone else did. I’ve got to quit my assumptions.

Prop 8 was a California state ballot proposition that would amend the state constitution. It would make marriage strictly between a man and a woman, and in the process overturn a recent California supreme court decision which said same-sex marriage was a fundemental right.

It was a large campaign on both sides. $35.8 million was raised for and $37.6 million was raised against this proposition. That made it the highest funded campaign with the exception of the presidental race.

As of right now, the vote is currently 52.4% in favor of the amendment. 2,738,695 absentee and provesional votes remain to be counted. Despite promises by many clerks offices of continuing to issue licenses until the vote was formally passed, they have stopped issuing marriage licenses.

Obviously, this vote has received national attention. Vigils and protests are being held not only in California but across the country as well. Protests have taken place since Wednesday, and will continue through the weekend.

Before I get into the remaining protest schedule I would like to stop and tell you a story. Many of you know that I spend a lot of my free time on a forum for my favorite band. They are a close knit group, and amazing people. Several of them live in California and living this mess. One poster in particular has seen more of this than we can imagine. His name is Mark. Mark went to a rally in West Los Angeles outside of a Mormon Temple in order to protest the Church’s involvement in helping the proposition pass. He was arrested.

Now because he doesn’t yet have a lawyer, he is not describing the details leading up to arrest. He has a video up which speaks plainly enough. You can see that video here. You can also read his account of what happened after on his Buzznet journal.

I mention this because, I obviously feel based on the video that he has not been fairly charged. And as I said, the forum which we belong to is a group of close knit people. Two of his friends (also on the forum) posted part of his bail. I am asking you to donate to help pay the friends back and to help with further legal fees. He has a donate button on the buzznet journal. If you would prefer to send a money order I’m sure that could be arranged because it was for me.

As a last note on that, I would like to thank Mark and Richard. Thanks for going out there and standing up for rights. Thanks for letting me share your story. Oh and thanks for just being generally bad ass.

The protests are continuing at least through the weekend are as follow:

*San Diego had a march today at noon. The march started behind 301 University Avenue.

*Laguna Beach- 5:30 pm Saturday at City Hall. Marching to Main Beach for a candlelight vigil.

*Los Angeles- 6:00 pm Saturday at the corner of Sunset Blvd and Santa Monica Blvd. Organizers are estimating at least 20,000 people.

*Sacremento- 1:00 pm Sunday at the Capitol West steps.

Also a petition is underway to strip the mormon church of its tax exempt status. You can read the hows and whys HERE.

So that is all the information I have for you at this point. I’m sure you all know my feelings on Prop 8, and I really don’t have to start spouting curse words to make my point. So instead I’ll ask you to become involved in any way that you can. Sure it may be California and not your state. But in reality they are fighting for all of us.

Until next time, I’m lighting a candle for you all.
autumn

“The tears of the red, yellow, black, brown and white man are all the same.”- Martin H. Fischer

I just wanted to let you all know that I am holding off on my Prop 8 post till tomorrow. There is a story that I want to talk about but I’m waiting for permission first. So look for that tomorrow.

Until next time, I’m really still in disbelief.
autumn

Wow, it’s hard to believe that 3 years ago, this site was just a brainchild in our heads.2 years ago it began it’s life. Now it’s growing, and hopefully will become something far greater than any of us.

Birthdays, in my opinion are the perfect time for resolutions. Autumn has already posted ours.

I will only say this. Life is funny, there always seems to be something new to laugh about and enjoy. It grows with you, changes, paths cross and people grow further apart. We say goodbye to some, and hello to others. This site is functioning in the same way. We’re preparing to make improvements which will hopefully bring our readers into the process and allow it to grow even more. To my fellow BeShameless teammates, you’re awesome. I wasn’t as committed to this as I should have been, and now that’s about to change. “A Shameless Guide to Relationships” will be a constant on here. Autumn will continue to baby this site with the love and affection it needs, and Ethan is still the blood that flows through its veins. I have a few new features in store for all of you, including our first ever video cast, which I hope to have up within the next few months.

For those of you who have stuck with us thanks, for those who are new, welcome. We’re all looking forward to entertaining you this year, and gaining your friendship and fanship.

So. Two years. I haven’t even been around for a full one of them but it has proven to be a terrific outlet for yelling and screaming about the things in the world that frustrate me. I am not too sure what to say in this moment. I took this moment of celebration to look back over ten months of posts and realized that I am very dry and sarcastic, which is probably why people have asked why I don’t write satire. So I’m finding it hard to say anything straight and happy even though I’m thrilled to have been invited to be part of and stay a part of beshameless.

Since straight and cheerful is apparently not my style, I’ll just say way to go, fellow shameless writers, on two super years, here’s to two more (and two more after that and two more after that….). Thanks for letting me be a part of it, and thanks to any readers I have gained in my few short months on the site. And to Autumn….where’s my treat? Better yet, what’s my treat? Maybe a dark-headed, hazel-eyed Italian of average height from the OC?

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. ~Elisabeth Foley

I was actually saving this idea, this entry for Beshameless’ second birthday. However, something has come up that makes me want to share it with you all now.

As I said, I was saving this for the 2nd anniversary of my very first entry. I wanted to do something special for it, and not let it slip by unnoticed like last year. So I sat down and thought it out. What would make it special? Calling people out for things I don’t agree with? I do that all the time. The occasional post of good news wouldn’t do either, because our world still isn’t seeing very much of it. I decided it deserved some real thought. Why did we start Beshameless? We fooled ourselves into thinking that we would be cutting edge, talk about things that often went unnoticed, or to shed new light on the same old story. In some aspects we were and are; but, to me it was for another reason entirely. I didn’t realize it at the time… I see why now.

BeShameless started in March of 2006, when the three original writers were facing crossroads in their life. Sure we had talked about it for awhile, played around with the idea often. Yet, we never actually got it started until we all came to the cross road. I think that we actually started this site to remain close to each other.

The three of us were facing the possibility of splitting up. Shameless was going back to where he had been living, and Ethan was offered a promotion that would require him to move. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I knew without a doubt that I would miss them both more than I could imagine. So the site began, we spent alot of time together talking it out and bringing it to light. Even now, I remember the day that it came online. Ethan was having some technical trouble and was talking with the site host or something to that effect. Shameless and I sitting on Ethan’s couch talking about the 1st entry. When the tech consultation was over we spend the rest of the night coming up with grand ideas, and constantly hitting refresh to see if we were online yet.

Beshameless became our own sort of family. It has inside jokes (usually about some people not updating ::coughshamelesscough:: ), it has its own set of self imposed guidelines, and hopefully one day it will have its own traditions. After all, we have already grown to include one more to the family. Crimson went from reader, to occasional commenter, to full time writer. She’s become one of us… And, even she posts more than Shameless.

I’ve always had a hard time adequately expressing the way I feel. Even with my constant foot in mouth symptoms, I hope that my fellow writers know how I feel. They are my family, in this little corner and in the real world. I respect, admire, and most of all love them with all my heart. These two years have been beyond amazing, and I can’t imagine life without them.

That being said, the reason I bumped this up instead of saving it, is because once again we are separating. Ethan, darling, I can’t say enough how much you mean to me. Yes I know you are only a few hours away… but I’ll miss having you close by. More importantly, I hope that this move will fulfill you (that way I don’t have to help you pack again, hehe) and that you find everything that you are hoping for.

Oh and to the readers out there, Ethan isn’t leaving the site. I wouldn’t allow it. If it came to that I would chain him in my basement. He would be allowed a laptop with windows vista (bwahaha) and the only website he could visit would be this one. So have no worries, our geek god isn’t leaving here.

Until next time, I’ll think fondly of you all,
autumn

“Life is a great sunrise. I do not see why death should not be an even greater one.”
– Vladimir Nobokov

I have just spend ten minutes thinking of a way to open this entry for you all… My emotions are high right now, and I’m not going to attempt to censor myself for the sake of compassion or tolerance. So if you have come to read one of those articles… well you’re shit out of luck.

As I know you all have heard by now, the world has lost a fabulous person, a terrific actor, and a icon to many. The world lost Heath Ledger yesterday… Our thoughts, prayers, and good vibes go to anyone that the man had touched. We wish him a happy journey to the afterlife.

And that’s where we stop. I fucking mean it too. I don’t care how he died, I don’t want to hear the rumors of the things that lead up to it. That’s it. It’s fucking time for every asshole to step back and let his family, friends, and fans grieve.

God damn it! What the hell is wrong with people? Within hours of his death, the assholes and crazies ran out of the woodwork. Some of them weren’t a shock but nonetheless I’m still fucking pissed off. I want to know where respect for the dead went. I have a quick personal story to tell you before we get back on to the crazies.

My stepfather recently died, he was a great man and many people respected and admired him. We were told that he had one of the largest wakes, and funeral processions that the town had ever seen. While in the procession I witnessed something I rarely see. Cars would pull over to the side of the road and let the whole line of cars go by before they started again. It’s a customary thing that I had always been taught to do. It was a sign of respect for the dead, and the survivors. That small act of kindness from those people helped me to keep my eyes clear and to keep going.

I want to know why everyone isn’t like that. It’s never a good thing to maliciously cheer someones death. It’s fucking disgusting. And already we have at least 3 occasions well published for Heath’s death.

Of course Fred “crazy mother fucking asshole” Phelps has stated that Heath is in hell, and that his cult will be picketing the funeral. This didn’t surprise me. It appalled me as usual, but I expected nothing less from a group of people who hate everything and everyone. I still think that they should receive divine intervention, by means of the plague, or massive heart failure.

Best Buy took the opportunity to make some sales. Within hours a store had assembled a makeshift memorial with all of his movies, informing some customers who hadn’t heard the news, that Heath Ledger was dead, and what better way to remember him than buying his movies and re-watching them.

Go to http://www.bestweekever.tv/2008/01/23/when-is-a-makeshift-best-buy-tribute-to-heath-ledger-too-soon-the-answer-always/ if you’d like the witty version of the news. Personally I don’t even have the words to describe what a complete and total bastard the store manager was. Scum, shit, and a sorry excuse of life comes to mind.

Finally the worst to me was John Gibson. If you aren’t aware who this ignorant, cunt-faced shit is, well count yourself lucky. Suffice to say he is one of Fox’s ultra conservative trash peddlers. He had the fucking nerve to play several Brokeback Mountain clips. One being “I don’t know how to quit you.” These evil bastard then said “Well, he found out how to quit you.”. WHO THE FUCK DOES THIS? Seriously what the hell is so fucking sad about your life that the only joy you get is making distasteful, horrid jokes? Was he so turned on by the movie that he lashed out and continually had horrid things to say about the actors? Of course, Gibson couldn’t leave well enough alone. He also continually played the clip from the same movie where Heath says “We’re dead”; as well as, making Heath’s death a long running joke for the rest of his show. If you want more information about this I suggest you go to http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/23/gibson-mocks-ledger/

Because frankly, I’m done here. I’m so sick of ignorant discriminating people. It’s sad when a man isn’t even dead 4 hours before this shit starts. Actually, as Ethan pointed out, it started before the body was moved. Camera crews flooded his apartment building recording and bombarding everyone with the pictures of the officials taking the body with them. It’s sad and inexcusable to start these things at all, but to start it before anything comes back with conclusive answers… all these people deserve to be stricken sterile and set on fire.

Until next time, I send my love to those who have lost and my disapproval to those who are making this harder than it already is,

autumn