Why not. So I did it.

You know how you have unresolved questions after you've finished reading a newspaper or magazine article? You know I did when I read this article on WaPo today. It talks about how ExxonMobil has turned a new leaf with regards to the way it's handling its response to global warming, including having cut funding to an unnamed Washington think tank, which the reporter seemingly implied to be the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), but we can't be sure:

Exxon Mobil Warming Up To Global Climate Issue
by Steven Mufson, February 10, 2007

So I did the previously unthinkable and actually posted a comment to the article. Now I know that usually, posts border along the side of "rant," so I'm proud to say that mine was fairly civil, and I hope that someone responds equally as civil.

If ExxonMobil claims that they cut funding for "a Washington think tank critical of climate change actions" in 2005, then why is the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) still at it with their $10,000-for-IPCC-critique solicitations in 2007?

Unless the AEI isn't the Washington think tank that had its funding cut, or the percentage cut was insignificant.

I really do want to give ExxonMobil the benefit of the doubt, but it's difficult to believe their dedication when the pro-emissions trend of prominent think tanks have not changed despite the supposed absence of the largest oil company's influence.

Can someone clarify?

--By lisalin55 | Feb 10, 2007 11:45:55 AM

That's it. Don't be surprised when I've disappeared in a week; my darkest fear of the consequences of vocalizing rational opinion, you know! ;)

Seriously, I don't particularly like it when the article writer neglects to bring relevant questions to light such as the claim of certain policymakers/corporation conglomerates as compared to the actual trend of performance and results. It's been two years since the claimed funding cut, and still no observable change? And what does "funding cut" actually mean? ($1)? A cut is a cut, no matter how you slice it. And who exactly is this Washington think tank? God forbid it's just a little league tyke.

Of course I hear and feel ongoing hatred, apathy and disbelief towards the possibility of ExxonMobil, and other related companies, starting to cater to the ever-dominating anti-emissions crowd; and that they could possibly mean well. Yes, I said that I want to give ExxonMobil the benefit of the doubt, because I really do. Me being the shiny-eyed princess that I am (that was sort of a joke), it's hard to tell what is a real effort to be genuine and what is most likely a fertilizer-coated PR campaign to rejuvenate their grease-tainted image.

It's been two years, where are the results?? Perhaps the reporter should have found this out, as a journalist.

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So for those of you who remember my freakishly obsessive days and endless nights over anime, particularly Fushigi Yuugi and Rurouni Kenshin, during our college years, you might also recall that I was a crazed fansite and fanfic proponent for a majority of that time. I remain adamant about how this may have indirectly cost me my interest in my computer science major and directly nearly lost me my co-op job at Stratus ... although they had me programming test drivers of all muthafoking things, how much interest could I have sustained anyway. (OK, so I don't swear all that well in real life, either, so what?)

With my newfound desire to create a decent string of words (ie, write something meaningful), I recalled those past days of fanfic-ing into the wee hours of dawn with the passion and drive to truly convey my super-character, Yael, and his burdens. You all may be happy to know that I found my posts (13 in all) and just might start re-writing. The immediate problem I see is that I was writing from the perspective of one character then. A full-blown story would dictate more characters. Call me fearful, but that may be difficult - I got very involved with Yael, it's hard to image how much energy it would take to create and write several layers of additional characters. Thoughts, anyone?

And for your entertainment, the beginning:

"Saariyah, listen to me carefully..."

With closed eyes, he bowed his head and sunk into a deeper concentration.

"The words of our God are true, and they are bestowed unto His children. The hearts of God's chosen sing with praises to His mighty Goodness. This very notion, you mustn't forget, for you are destined to lead these people... your people, gentle Saariyah, to victory."

Saariyah allowed himself to be swept away by these words, carried by the faith that the God he loved and worshipped would guide him. As he let the significance of his mother's words imprint on his soul, he told himself that he would not be afraid. He was chosen. And he would obey. "My God, I thank you for your blessings. Please guide me to do Your Will, to show me the righteous path in which I will lead Your children to You. I praise only You."

A soft tingling sensation washed over the praying boy and centered on his right shoulder blade. Saariyah tried to find comfort in that sign, that God was listening and answering, but anguish lashed at him when reminders of his alienation were stirred. The probing tingle on his shoulder blade immediately dissolved when he opened his eyes.

"I... Mother..." He refused to look up.

"You still can't let go, can you, my darling." A pale, but warm hand touched his chin and slowly lifted it. "Don't be ashamed of who you are."

Today among all other days to start again!

Hi hi. After 3 months, I'm back! Again! Gotta love how things remain the same when you're not looking...

This morning was the same as all other mornings, except that I seem to have developed a pain in my ass. I suspect it's from all my sitting in front of the computer, reading blogs. Among some are The Huffington Post, The Dilbert Blog, and LOCAL MAN. Yes, I've come back full swing to realize my interest in reading. Over the past few months, I've ingested:

• The World According to Garp, by John Irving - I don't know how a book can be so traumatic, yet funny at the same time. I actually thought this was going to be a political book about issues from the perspective of the farming world (with a name like Garp, can you blame me?), but I realized after reading the first line, that I was indeed mistaken. The only fighting I had to do was open to the first page, the book reeled me in with its first sentence and kept me absorbed, unknowingly. The best kind of book! It has the magic also found in Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meaney," a book from my AP English days that I'm considering re-reading.
• The Accidental Asian, by Eric Liu - which motivated me, at the time, to look into getting involved in the Asian culture and reduce my tendency towards Asian self-hatred. I learned that most Asian mags/community are accessible on the West Coast. Go L.A.! I suppose my growling demeanor for Oriental-looking people has let up just a bit, but as always, I moved on to other things without a notion of closure. More to come of this, I'm sure!
• My Life, by Bill Clinton (Audio CD) - his voice makes me comfortable and puts me to sleep very nicely. He's a charmer for sure!
• I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov - who can resist good ol' sci-fi? This book's cover ($7.99 paperback) had Will Smith on it, but was NOT the same thing as the movie. At all. That's interesting... did I miss something, or was the title wronged?
• Foundation, and Foundation and Empire, by Isaac Asimov - These were the days that I forced myself to stay up till 3am to get in the last few chapters of this good stuff.
• Emotionally Weird, by Kate Atkinson - excellent use of language and semantics, good character writing, humor is slightly off-kilter.
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
• The Doctor is Sick, by Anthony Burgess
• An Ambulance is on the Way, by Jonathan Wilson
• 1/2 of Spirit Matters, by Michael Lerner
• 1/2 of Positive Energy, by Judith Orloff, M.D. - I thought I was too New Age-y, but this totally threw me for a loop! I know I spent 2 hours at the Coop deciding whether to buy the book (which I somehow did. Why, I'll never know for sure now), I doubt I'll ever be ready for this one.

and I'm currently working on:

• News Flash, by Bonnie M. Anderson - to continue my new interest in news media domination.
• The 158-Pound Marriage, by John Irving - trying to start this one to see if it's John Irving's writing I like, or just the subject matter.
• Understanding Islam, by Thomas W. Lippman - haven't started this, but at least I've got it! The hope for this one is that I'll be able to react humanistically towards the Middle East when I see war violence on TV rather than apathetically. Will knowledge bring compassion for me? I need more love to give...
• Whose Freedom?, by George Lakoff (Audio CD) - another voice that puts me to sleep quite well. Although I pull myself out of my dozing inebriation and try to latch onto comprehension, because really, this book is very, very good - the author is very very intelligent. He talks about manipulative framing by conservative think-tanks in the news, and how it's affecting the nation unconsciously in order to shift our traditional notion of "freedom" into a more submissive definition of non-action and dependence. On a lighter note, I really like these audio CD's with words rolling over you - it's like having someone reading you a bedtime story. (Argh, I'm not regressing here after 6 months of unemployment, really. *sob*)

I think all this reading is my way of psyching myself up to take on some sort of writing project sometime soon. Writing is the goal here. Such tension, too much fiber, not enough writing. Maybe that's why my butt hurts.