OK, I'm having a horrible time trying to convince the world that I'm correct here. I'm asking everyone I see.

If I were to say, "What are you doing next weekend?" when am I talking about?

You see, for me, the next Saturday we experience, is THIS Saturday, which is why I use the terms "next" and "this" inexchangably.

However, this changes depending on when I'm talking to you, yes? For example, on Monday, if someone says "What are you doing next weekend?" my arguement is stronger - the next weekend we have is THIS weekend, not 2 weekends from now.

On the other hand, today is Friday, and I would clearly be insane if I said "next weekend" and meant tomorrow.

And to make matters worse, "this weekend" can be past tense! On Monday, I can say "So, this weekend it rained a lot."

I don't know how we communicate at all sometimes.

This is a very funny little site spoofing survivor and the republicans. Though I worry about our congress when such a "mean" thing is published by one party against the next.

This is what you get for abusing an animal.

OK, fine, I'll be the one to get poor Kurbis' picture off the main sightlines...
As part of working with the Pittsburgh Symphony this summer, I have to attend a variety of receptions and post-concert "parties." I've been to one already and have a really big one tomorrow night. These are fun events, with open martini bars sponsored by Absolut, and tons of fancy catering, and champange, and wine and lots of rich people talking and schmoozing. I met a man who I later learned makes $8 million a year. I have seen diamond rings bigger than I thought were in rings.
So, here is the confession - I like being around money. It's fantastic to pick up a martini, eat some expensive dessert that I really can't figure out what it is, and talk with old filthy rich people who want nothing more than to listen to a young man talk about his summer and life plans. All in the name of symphonic music, mind you.
Now, on the way to and from these receptions, I see the homeless folk on the street. I ride the bus with people who can't afford a dentist or can't afford clean clothes for their children (but can afford a bus pass, still haven't figured that out, unless there is some service that helps provide bus passes to those in certain income levels).
How is all this supposed to make me feel? How important is fundraising for a symphony - a hungry man would look at the symphony and say "That's extra - my basic needs aren't even being met, help me!" These donors are "enriching" their own lives and the lives of others that go to concerts all while some real enriching needs to happen on the streets.
Of course, I'm not above any of this. Have I put money into any paper cup since I've been here? Nope. Have I schmoozed and boozed and had a really good time? Yup.
How guilty should I feel? (I'm very interested in Staci's point of view on this too, coming from the non-profit degree, which requires all sorts of fundraising and schmoozing to survive, and from her work with the Homeless Coalition.)

This is poor Kurbis after the surgery. For those that didn't hear, I found him Monday morning outside with a huge open wound on his leg. Luckily his skin was cut and no actual flesh was damaged, but it was very scairy.

He is recovering now with one of those cute cone things on to prevent him from licking the wound. He looks like a flower.