machinima { 'Super Duper Ultimate Edition Extreme'
One of the most interesting pieces of World of Warcraft machinima I've seen in a while.
5.07.2008
5.05.2008
music { 'Great DJ'
by The Ting Tings.
The last month has not been the greatest. This song at least has given me a smile and distracted me. (Along with some help and love from my friends and family)
Sorry there was no 'casual_friday {' last week. Consider this a makeup.
4.30.2008
film { For Northernmisfit...
'Artemis Eternal' project.
I stood in the shadows and from a distance tracked your efforts to make shorts and films and I've enjoyed what you have made. I admired you for chasing your dream. I know it took a lot of time, effort and money. But you're not alone. Others have this dream and are unsatisfied with movies traditional outlets produce, and some of them are starting to do something about it.
I support the independent, the little guy, who has a creative vision and dream. I've seen many films, made by people who love something, on shoe string budgets, and homemade special effects, that had more substance and depth, and even better acting than some multi-million dollar 'blockbusters'.
Creativity, in all its forms, should be embraced.
4.29.2008
books { 106 books everyone has but no one reads, just to look smart
Saw this on Rhapsody, top 106 books that sit on shelves unread by most people, but used to appear smart.
Rules:
bold = read
underline = read for school
italics = started but not finished
The Books:
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Anna Karenina
Crime and Punishment
Catch-22
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Wuthering Heights
The Silmarillion
Life of Pi : a novel
The Name of the Rose
Don Quixote
Moby Dick
Ulysses
Madame Bovary
The Odyssey
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Eyre
The Tale of Two Cities
The Brothers Karamazov
Guns, Germs, and Steel: the fates of human societies
War and Peace
Vanity Fair
The Time Traveler’s Wife
The Iliad
Emma
The Blind Assassin
The Kite Runner
Mrs. Dalloway
Great Expectations
American Gods
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
Atlas Shrugged
Reading Lolita in Tehran : a memoir in books
Memoirs of a Geisha
Middlesex
Quicksilver
Wicked : the life and times of the wicked witch of the West
The Canterbury Tales
The Historian : a novel
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Love in the Time of Cholera
Brave New World
The Fountainhead
Foucault’s Pendulum
Middlemarch
Frankenstein
The Count of Monte Cristo
Dracula
A Clockwork Orange
Anansi Boys
The Once and Future King
The Grapes of Wrath
The Poisonwood Bible : a novel
1984
Angels & Demons
The Inferno
The Satanic Verses
Sense and Sensibility
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Mansfield Park
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
To the Lighthouse
Tess of the D’Urbervilles
Oliver Twist
Gulliver’s Travels
Les Misérables
The Corrections
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Dune
The Prince
The Sound and the Fury
Angela’s Ashes : a memoir
The God of Small Things
A People’s History of the United States : 1492-present
Cryptonomicon
Neverwhere
A Confederacy of Dunces
A Short History of Nearly Everything
Dubliners
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Beloved
Slaughterhouse-five
The Scarlet Letter
Eats, Shoots & Leaves
The Mists of Avalon
Oryx and Crake : a novel
Collapse : how societies choose to fail or succeed
Cloud Atlas
The Confusion
Lolita
Persuasion
Northanger Abbey
The Catcher in the Rye
On the Road
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Freakonomics : a rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance : an inquiry into values
The Aeneid
Watership Down
Gravity’s Rainbow
The Hobbit
In Cold Blood : a true account of a multiple murder and its consequences
White Teeth
Treasure Island
David Copperfield
The Three Musketeers
4.28.2008
music { 'cause its going to be one of those weeks...
Stevie Ray Vaughan 'Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)' {Live at the El Mocambo}
4.25.2008
4.23.2008
economy { American Retailers rationing food?
Interesting. I don't have TV, so I'm curious if our media is covering this or not?
4.22.2008
video { yesterday's evil twin
This is an inappropriate idea related to yesterday's video. Semi-tongue in cheek...
4.21.2008
music { An Anthem
Analysis? It's about personal limits of shit you'll take, reminding people to respect your boundaries, then returning to your happy state.
But you know me, I'm always up for a fight.
"You might see me as calm
But I go out like a bomb"
outing { Team CubeZoo went to the Orchestra
Some members of Team CubeZoo are frequent orchestra goers. I rarely go. We all went this weekend. I enjoyed myself. The theme was familiar music, Mozart, Mendelssohn, and this one which I was first exposed to via Looney Tunes.
musings { On the subject of People and Institutions
or
How I learned to loathe people and institution.
The last few weeks have been dark, angry, frustrated, hopeless ones. I won't say in regards to what, as that is personal and not for public consumption. Its also been a growing period, harsh life lessons learned and absorbed. A further step down the road away from the innocence of childhood was taken. I feel I've stepped farther away from the inner child these last two weeks. Is this is what being an adult means?
We accumulate regrets, we have experiences that accumulate. At some point we no longer see the world through the eyes we once had as youth when the world was new, and we were surrounded by a network of friends and family that shield us from the harsher realities of the greater world.
I think when people reach this point can vary and is individual, based on life experiences. It also happens when you choose to let it happen. Some times it is forced upon you.
I'm not suggesting that adulthood is all doom and gloom, as it is not, moments of joy, happiness, hope, and experience still occur, but once you become an 'adult' you see things through a sort of prism. Or perhaps the prism that is put up to filter experiences to help us learn, grow and adapt is removed, or made thinner.
So this is what I was going to write. But I've reconsidered. The last two weeks have not been the best, rivaling , but not too closely approaching the dark times when I had cancer. I'm bitter. I'm angry. I'm hurt. I'm frustrated that I can't help.
But I also had a thought.
People and institutions only have the power you give them. I'm not going to empower my enemies. Hate is a strong emotion. It can eat away at you. I'm usually the type to if not forgive, forget. But something, people and place will be forever marked. I don't truly hate many. I dislike numerous, but hate, true searing hatred is only reserved for those who have committed the gravest wrongs against me, my family, or those who are my closest friends.
For 15 years I carried with me a hatred of a person in Junior High and High School who picked on me and degraded me to elevate his status as 'alpha male'. At my 10th class reunion in 2003 I met this person again. He was a broken individual, his life after High School was not a good one. He had a problem with drugs that left him mentally and physically broken. He was a different person. My hatred evaporated after talking to him after having not seen him for 10 years. I didn't pity him, he made the choices that ended in his state, but I no longer hated him. The suffering of others is not something I take joy in. I've never wished serious ill on my enemies, because I've been there, on the receiving end, and the feelings and pain are not things I want others to feel.
However, some I think deserve to know how they make others feel, but I've not found a satisfactory way to teah this lesson. While I would so dearly love the momentary sweetness an eye for an eye could deliver. That taste I've found, turns to ash and bitter.
4.18.2008
4.17.2008
tagged { I've been tagged...
Well.
The rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book (at least 123 pages).
2. Turn to page 123.
3. Find the 5th sentence
4. Post the 5th sentence on your blog.
5. Tag 5 people.
"He was almost whispering now, with a huskiness more terrible than a scream, and I trembled as I listened." (The Dunwich Horror and Others, HP Lovecraft)
And now the tagged:
EvilBobby
NorthernMisfit
GeekGoddess
Zophorian
Jeffery
(I won't tag members of Team CubeZoo in case others want to tag back)
musings { Hate
There is a lot of hate in this world.
How do you combat hate, with love?
Hasn't worked so far.
How do you counter act human nature?
The petty, the jealous, the malicious, the irrational, the hateful.
I've not found an effective way.
Though I do know more hate is rarely the solution.
4.11.2008
4.10.2008
musings { Some things have been said well by Aesop Rock
Flash that buttery gold, jittery zeitgeist
Wither by the watering hole, water patrol
What are we, a heart huckabee, art fuckery suddenly?
Not enough young in his lung for the water wings?
Colorfully vulgar poacher at a mulch like
'I'ma pull the pulse out a soldier and bolt.' (Fine)
Sign of the time we elapsed
When a primate climb up the spine and attach
Eye for an eye, by the bog's life swamps and vines
They get a rise out of frogs and flies
So when a dog fights hog-tied prize sorta costs a life
The mouths water on a fork and knife
And the allure isn't right
It's gore on a war-torn beach
Where the cash cows actually beef
Blood turns wine when I leak for police
Like 'That's not a riot, it's a feast, let's eat.'
And I will remember your name and face
On the day you were judged by the funhouse cast
And I will rejoice in your fall from grace
With a cane to the sky like 'None shall pass.'
Now if he never had a day a snow cone couldn't fix
he wouldn't relate to the rouge vocoder bliss
How he spoke through a no-doz, motor on the fritz
'Cause he wouldn't play roll over, fetch, like a bitch
And express no regrets though he isn't worth the homeowners piss
To the jokers who pose by the glitz (Fine)
Sign of the swine and the swarm
When a king is a whore who comply and conform
Miles outside of the eye of the storm
With a siphon to lure and a prize and award
While avoiding the vile and bizarre that is violence and war
True blue triumph is more
Like wait, let it snake up outta the centerfold
Let it break the walls of Jericho. ready? go.
Sat where the old cardboard city folks
Swap tails with heads like every other penny throw
Okay, woke to a grocery list
Goes like this: duty and death
Anyone object, come stand in the way
You can be my little Snake River Canyon today
And I ran with a chain of commands
And a jetpack strap where the backstab lands if it can. (Fine)
Sign of the vibe in the crowd
When I cut a belly open to find what climb out
What a bit of gusto he muster up
Make a dark horse rush like enough's enough
It must'a struck a nerve so they huff and puff
Till all the king's men fluster and clusterfuck
And it's a beautiful thing
To my people who keep an impressive wing span
Even when the cubicle shrink
You gotta pull up the intruder by the root of the weed
NY chew through the machine
And I will remember your name and face
On the day you were judged by the funhouse cast
And I will rejoice in your fall from grace
With a cane to the sky like 'None shall pass.'
-Aesop Rock, 'None Shall Pass'
A follow up on my previous mash of Modest Mouse from earlier this week.
I will remember the names and the faces of the funhouse cast.
4.09.2008
4.08.2008
R.I.P. { Charleton Heston died on Apr 5, 2008
I guess now we can take it out of his cold, dead hands.
musings { Well it would've been, could've been worse than you will ever know
(adaptations and modifications of the Modest Mouse lyrics to the song 'Dashboard' changed to suit a specific need)
But it often seems like it is always worse than we know. Patiently erasing and recording my own episodes, its not like I will let this go. This week, has not been a good week for me. The dashboard melted among other things, but at least I still have the radio. The windshield is cracked and shattered, but the fresh air is good, you know?
I've been so hardwired to concede so much I just have to stow it and move on; everyone is talking to me about nowhere and it seems now like some place I want to go. Not a lot of difference at this point between the east and west horizon so why pick a direction.
Those I thought I knew have shown their true selves. I scream and I scream but its just seems blowhard.
I just want to catch the last laugh in this show.
science { Biofuel on Jet liner
Interesting.
Algae and a plant that renews carbon into degraded soil. I like these solutions.
4.07.2008
reviews { Into the Wild
Another movie about a journey. Its based on a true story set in 1990-1992 about a man who after graduating from college drops of the face of the Earth to leave his parents. He embarks on his "great adventure" and heads towards Alaska. The movie chronicles he trip, zig-zagging across America and the people he meets. It contained an all star cast and a soundtrack by Eddie Vedder. Its not a happy film, it just is what it is. Its a beautifully told story if albeit a sad one.
reviews { movie: Darjeeling Limited
I loved this movie. I'm a big Wes Anderson fan. All you nay-sayers can kiss my ass. This movie continues in the vein of Rushmore, The Royal Tannenbaums, The Life Aquatic. Its a beautiful movie, the DVD comes with 'Hotel Chevalier' a prequel short that sets up one of the brother characters (also shows Natalie Portman completely nude).
We watched this to cleanse the stain of 'Saw' from our brains. The characters we're well developed, odd, painfully hip, which are signatures of Wes Anderson films. Bill Murray makes an appearance.
Its a bit existential, but not to the level of I Heart Huckabees. While I didn't like it as much as Life Aquatic or Rushmore, it was still a strong movie, its a good 1.5 hours.
4.05.2008
4.04.2008
history { MLK
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.
"I Have a Dream" (August 28, 1963)
"I've Been to the Mountaintop" (April 3, 1968, the day before he was killed, and disconcertingly prescient)
Robert F. Kennedy announces the death of MLK to a crowd in Indianapolis (April 4, 1968)
reviews { movie: Saw
Don't see this movie...ever...not even on cable, and its late, and you're drunk...switch to Skinemax.
Fuck this movie sucked.
And I like shitty horror movies like this one should have been. This was neither scary or interesting. I will give it one small thing, I didn't see the ending coming. But that was mainly because the rest of the movie was setup in an overly predictable manner to distract you from the end. Fuck spoilers, Jigsaw is the dead body in the middle of the floor. Oooohhhh what a twist!?! The only things really scary in this movie were Danny Glover's acting (he played his role from Lethal Weapon again) and domo-ariggato-mr-roboto acting of the doctor character, who I won't spend the energy looking up, because I really give fuck all about who he is or what else he's done. I've seen him elsewhere...damn it...I had to look him up now...holy crap I can't believe this was the guy who played Westley in the Princess Bride...wow, just wow.
Obvious someone liked this film, I'm thinking people who don't like to think too hard, because they've made Saw IV.
You know some movies are so bad, they are good on a certain level, because deep down there is a hidden genius or a labor of love...this, this was...fuck this was just bad.
Its going on my list with 'Congo' and 'Mortal Kombat II' as worst movies ever made.
The trailer is better than the movie:
scifi { (12-7)-[4] = 1(?)
There are 12 models. They were built by man. They have evolved. They have a plan. We've seen 11. Who is the final one?
There must be someway out of here said the joker to the thief...
This has happened all before, and it will all happen again.
4.02.2008
law { unitary executive and torture isn't illegal when we do it
Well, the Pentagon finally released the John C. Yoo memo that pretty much signed off on any torture we wanted to conduct in the name of national security. Story here.
Memorandum Part 1 Part 2 [PDF].
(the memo is supposed to be 81 pages long but this is only 39).
My reaction:
1) The American Bar Association should immediately disbar John C. Yoo.
2) The University of California Berkeley Law School should immediately cancel any tenure and fire John C. Yoo.
3) John C. Yoo should be arrested and placed on a plane for the Hague for his war crimes tribunal
4) The U.S. Department of Justice should cooperate fully with his prosecution.
5) John C. Yoo should not be tortured or interrogated using harsh physical techniques he himself considered acceptable, because that is not how civilized, justice minded human beings operate, and because if we act with such disregard to legal and human rights, then we have no moral standing to demand that our enemies or even inconvenient Earth-mates do not do so as well
3.31.2008
3.26.2008
science/nature { First the bees, now the bats...
NYT Science article about the mysterious die off of bats around New York (this seems similar to the bee die off, which I believe was caused by a virus).
Wildlife biologists fear a significant die-off in about 15 caves and mines in New York, as well as at sites in Massachusetts and Vermont. Whatever is killing the bats leaves them unusually thin and, in some cases, dotted with a white fungus. Bat experts fear that what they call White Nose Syndrome may spell doom for several species that keep insect pests under control.
3.24.2008
3.23.2008
3.21.2008
response { KoN: "Obama's God Problem"
A great debate has been raging over on the virtual pages of Knight of Nothing's blog. Juicy stuff that goes straight to the heart of matters.
In order to not fracture the discussion I've posted my response there in the comments. I recommend others read and join in the discussion.
3.20.2008
war { 5th Anniversary of the Iraq War
Last night Nerdwife and I attended a candlelight peace vigil in remembrance of the 5th anniversary of the start of the Iraq War. It was a walk around Silver Lake. The organizers were only expecting a dozen or so to show up, as it was a last minute thing, but more than 40+ arrived. We talked about the war, its cost. The future, hope. Hope that we as a people will put an end to the war and find a way to insure it will not happen again. It was a beautiful night.
literature { R.I.P. Arthur C Clarke
"My god, its full of stars."
Arthur C Clarke, died at 90.
May his travel be eternal.
3.18.2008
time { Wayback Machine: May, 1993
Age: 17
Place: International Science and Engineering Fair, Mississippi Beach, MS
This is where I met Nerdwife for the first time. Nights spent on the beach of the Gulf of Mexico. Swimming, sailing, science. Day trip to New Orleans, six teenagers left alone exploring the French Quarter. Gumbo. Hotels. Staying up late. Cable. Music. Angst. Excitement. We were young, we had our futures ahead of us. We were smart. We were nerdy. We played poker in hotel lobbies. I walked on water (literally, the tide was out and the water was a few cm deep, I have a picture where I am highlighted by the moon and it looks like I am walking on the ocean). Beach bums. Casinos. Teachers getting pooped on by seagulls. This is where my love of sailing started, when I was "captain" of a catamaran with three lovely swimsuit clad ladies. I was graduating in a few weeks from High School.
Here are the three videos I remember most that were on cable while we, the Northern/East Central MN delegation, were there. Thank you YouTube for this blast from the past:
'Sleeping Satellite' - Tasmin Archer
'Come Undone' - Duran Duran
'Living on the Edge' - Aerosmith
3.17.2008
3.15.2008
response { EB: "Davis: Walz Wrong to Support Tax Hikes"
Davis: Walz Wrong to Support Tax Hikes
Davis is a fool. He's pulling the usual election year tax B.S. How will the war and its aftermath be paid for? How will basic services be maintained or created? How will infrastructure be repaired?
I grow weary of this tired pablum from Republicans. Someone has to pay for things. And no privatization is not the answer.
I myself would rather pay in money than blood. Have a publically educated (and not Home Schooled, and have college education available) society. Drive on safe roads. Not have to worry about health care. We don't have this. We won't have this until people move beyond this idiocy of all this stuff comes magically. Taxes pay for these things.
The GOP, of which Davis is a part, also like to confuse 'American families' with 'the rich'. Look deeper into this proposed budget plan, it is non-binding and won't affect tax law. It expires the Bush tax breaks on the upper 5%, capital gains, and a lot of other sources and rates of income most 'American families' don't have.
Overall, the Democrats’ budget plans assume that at least some of Bush’s signature 2001 and 2003 tax cuts (PL 107-16, PL 108-27) will expire as scheduled in 2010. Others that have helped lower- and middle-income taxpayers would be extended but offset by spending cuts or tax increases elsewhere.
Democrats say added revenue from allowing taxes on the wealthy to increase would allow them to boost spending in areas they say have been neglected during the Bush administration, such as infrastructure and education programs.
Davis is just regurgitating the tired GOP party line and mudslinging.
The GOP is the one who is short sighted. Their "tax breaks now" mentality for re-election (or the bullshit Pawlenty's been playing since 2002) mean that someone, both us when we're older and our children and possibly our children's children will be paying for actions taken now. Cutting spending and axing, in what my opinion are important, social services can only get you so far.
I wonder how many have ever used MNCare? Or Medicare. Or served in Iraq or in the service and use VA benefits? The GI Bill? The Pell Grant?
His three talking points have issues.
A taxpayer bill or rights? Sounds awfully short-sighted. What if there is another national emergency? Another war? A new beneficial social initiative? While I applaud the idea of paying down our debt, the idea of returning the money to the taxpayers, which I am assuming in this case to be some kind of rebate, is flawed. That money is better spent paying down more of the debt, or benefiting taxpayers in some form of social service (roads, medicare, social security, education, etc.).
A 2/3 majority for tax increases is idiocy, as is making it Constitutional amendment. This would pretty much guarantee any tax increase would never be passed. Pawlenty plays that game with MN and its hurting us, imagine this on a national scale?
I also find his supporting a 'line item veto' interesting, since Republicans weren't too keen on it when Clinton had it in the 90s. Paradoxically they argued it gave the President too much power.
3.14.2008
food { Organic...Agri-Corps
Know which brand owns your favorite Organic brand. We buy from local producers as much as possible and directly from the farmer (via CSA or Farmer's Market) when in season, but I know the realities of economics. In a way this makes organic foods more available. In another way, it dilutes the meaning of the word organic. I doubt highly these corporations maintain high organic standards, and cut corners to maximize profits wherever possible, if not even pressure via lobbying to change the criteria for becoming organic certified to suit their needs. Choose your evil.
(originally encountered on boingboing.net)
musings { "Lets make some music, make some money, find some models for wives..."
From 'Time to Pretend' by The Management (aka MGMT).
This song was on a play list of random, loosely thematic songs I put together on a whim, and I don't remember doing it, but the play list name is in my naming style:
00aXsomething
1. "Under the Blacklight" - Rilo Kiley
2. "Time to Pretend (Radio Version)" - MGMT
3. "Road to Peace" - Tom Waits
4. "Law of Life" - Farah
5. "Lady Operator" - Mirage
6. "Lake of Dreams" - Mirage
7. "Computer Love" - Glass Candy (Kraftwerks remake)
8. "Flux" - Bloc Party
9. "Wanderlust" - Delays
10. "Yell Fire" - Michael Franti & Spearhead
11. "Infra-Red" - Placebo
12. "Meds" - Placebo
13. "Pierrot the Clown" - Placebo
14. "Metal Heart" - Garbage
15. "All Along the Watchtower" - Jimi Hendrix Experience
16. "Cannonball" - The Breeders
17. "Walking With A Ghost" - Tegan & Sara
18. "Morning Glory" - Oasis
19. "An Honest Mistake (Superdiscount Remix)" - The Bravery
20. "Army Dreamers" - Kate Bush
21. "God" - Tori Amos
22. "Guerrilla Radio" - Rage Against the Machine
23. "16 Military Wives" - The Decemberists
24. "Here I Dreamt I was an Architect" - The Decemberists
25. "Dashboard" - Modest Mouse
On this list, four songs are really resonating with me at the moment; "Here I Dreamt I was an Architect", "Dashboard", "Wanderlust", and "Time to Pretend (Radio Version)". They are all songs, rather existentialist in nature. They focus on the what if? the where am I? the why don't I? There is a sense of dreaming in them as well. A certain, let's leave all this behind and do something else. These have been thoughts and themes in my life a lot lately. Growing unrest and frustration with my job, feelings of stagnation in living in Rochester, general unease about the general state of things in America have often made me seek escapist thoughts. The sudden realization of adulthood. Dreaming of other places I've been. Thinking of places I would like to be again with Nerdwife, walking along Stinson Beach north of San Francisco, or riding the Aqua Bus to Granville Island to go to the market in Vancouver, or even just stand upon the shores of Lake Superior like we did on our honeymoon. My thoughts of places I'd rather be tend to drift to locations near large bodies of water. Some of the most "in the moment" I've ever been have been in these places. The only other memory I have of being so of that moment in time, was laying in a darkened hospital room, four days into the chemotherapy, Nerdwife dozing in a chair by my side, listening to my heart beat, the sounds of the room, it was late, or really early, night shift in the hospital. I often was awake at this time, it was peaceful, quiet, I really didn't worry about anything, or have any cares. Not even "will I live?" I was just there. I had a similar experience the other night. I was lounging on the floor, we were watching City of God, when I suddenly, I'm not sure why, I looked up at the ceiling and it hit me full force...this is our house...we bought it, we're paying the mortgage on it...I'm an adult. This may not seem profound or earth shattering to others. And really it wasn't, but it was a moment when the child inside me receded a little farther. I had never, up to that point ever thought about this situation like that before. Suddenly, it was like something caught up with me, and I'm not sure I was ready for it. But life is a journey, not a destination, while part of me stands on the road and looks at where I've been and at places I wish I could return, part of me looks forward and wonders what is around that next bend in the road?
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same, 10
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back. 15
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 20
-Robert Frost
casual_friday { American Conflict WWII -> Present
As told by food of the countries involved, see war in its graphic absurdity.
and now for something completely different...but similar...sort of...
3.13.2008
3.11.2008
nerd/politics { Candidates w/ Monster Manual Entries
Saw this on boingboing. Brilliant.
John McCain (Demon Prince of Republicans.) (Lesser God.)
FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO APPEARING: 1
ARMOUR CLASS: -7
MOVE: 3" (72" per flight sector on the campaign jet)
HIT DICE: 200 hit points (But first you have to defeat 4d8 Secret Service Agents)
% IN LAIR: 0%
TREASURE TYPE: All your NATO base are belong to us!
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: Invades Iran. Takes 100d20 casualties in first strike while inflicting 20 x 100d20 civilian casualties. Followed by war of attrition, economic collapse, recrimination.
SPECIAL ATTACKS: 5% chance of 30,000 Megaton nuclear first strike on Upper Volta.
SPECIAL DEFENSES: +3 or better weapon to hit. In event of combat, 20% chance of heart attack per round, followed by the swearing in of President Santorum. You wouldn't want that, would you?)
MAGIC RESISTANCE: 80% (10% vs. mind control spells by Cheney.)
INTELLIGENCE: Normal.
CHARISMA: 12 (16 to neocons)
ALIGNMENT: Chaotic evil if under control of Cheney; otherwise Chaotic neutral.
SIZE: M
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: X/29,950* (* for impeachment)
A huge, ancient, carnivorous dinosaur from the swamps at the heart of Republican country, not unlike Godzilla in appearance and wrinkled integument, McCain has seen better years. Nevertheless he can breathe fire and threaten to stomp flat the capital city of any country that Fox News disapproves of with the best of them.
The biggest danger in facing off against a McCain is that he might be under the mind control of the Svengali-like Cheney, Prince of Darkness. In this case, he is likely to be lethally aggressive and even more unpredictable than usual.
3.10.2008
3.07.2008
election { Going Low, Going Negative
The thing I hate most in elections, is the negative mud slinging. This tactic was refined and taken to new heights by the campaign strategies of Karl Rove for Bush in 2000 (a good example was the push polling saying McCain had a "black baby" in South Carolina).
I'm a little disappointed that Hillary is using this, below is a campaign ad that was used in Texas and Ohio before the race:
Its a Fear ad, much like the one from Defense of Democracies. Meant to scare us and tap into that primal emotion.
The Obama campaign hasn't used fear ads, instead going for more of a sympathy tactic. However, supporters have gone negative, and directly against her, such as in this non-endorsed supporter ad:
I wish both sides would not go negative. I wish there was a way candidates could counter each other and maintain an honest, fair, and sportsmanlike race. Facts seem to not matter much anymore and they are hard to weed out of the noise or find in a raw, unbiased format.
Going negative foremost is childish. To those who don't support you, it deepens their anger and disgust. For those who do support you, or believe the ads/remarks, it can create false impressions of the other candidate. Either way it creates an unnecessary tension at best, and a complete split where either side will not listen to the other at worst (the scorched earth approach).
Personally I support Obama, but I could live with Clinton (at the moment). I get a lot of flak from people (which is good, it sparks good healthy debate) because I support a candidate who "lacks experience." But I keep going back to, in my mind, that this lack of experience, to me, is not a detriment. I want change. I don't want someone who come from the inside (even though Obama does) who wants to maintain the status quo. The status quo is so broken I want outside of the box thought and input. I want someone not biased by years of being in that toxic environment. You want a competent President yes (although we haven't had one since 2000), but you also want a charismatic President. Someone who can energize and inspire. That trait does not come from experience, you either have it or you don't. I don't want change for the sake of change either, but change is needed.
P.S. If anyone can link Obama endorsed, anti-Clinton ads similar to Clinton's '3AM' ad, let me know. And yes I am aware that by not asking his supporters to stop going negative, Obama is passively supporting it.
3.06.2008
musings { A Day in the Office
Tea bags pile up in the cap of my tea cup the way butts accumulate in the ash tray of a chain smoker. Its been a three bag day. The caffeine flows through my veins like electricity, clouding the mind, making things hard to focus on. Its Thursday. Usually a day of 4 hours of meetings. Today was cut short.
I keep my headphones on at all times, to help with the illusion of privacy afforded in my small box, well slightly larger box than I had a few weeks ago. A white noise generator supposedly provides cover for phone conversations, however this is a myth. It only provides a low level slightly annoying over time hum.
Email has been quiet, almost too quiet.
The project plan in front of me continues to grow. I need to watch scope creep, easy to do with large projects.
Review of the news turns up that Jeff Healey died last week. Gygax this week, they say celebrities go in threes. I liked Jeff Healey.
Our contractor stops by, he took my 'Solaris Performance and Tools' book with him recently to a tech summit in Chicago, he had it signed by the author Jim Mauro. Sweet.
I read a story about a Marine who threw a live puppy off a cliff, and it was video taped. What the hell? I avoid trying to think deeper into this, it was on You Tube, but like the Saddam hanging, was removed relatively quickly. I don't feel the need to go look for this, I've traveled enough of the digital river that I've seen more than I probably should have, I don't need to see this.
Ribs tonight. Friends tonight. I look forward to both.
The movie '28 Weeks Later' sucks royal. And this is from a guy who likes cheesy zombie movies. '28 Days Later' was a great creepy movie, this was just a shitty sequel. The other movie we watched 'La Cirque Rouge' was an awesome cops and robbers French flick. One that oozed cool and is highly recommended to anyone.
The Presidential race remains a yawn fest. Obama/Clinton, either one. Perhaps I've grown too cynical to think either can actually help guide us out of this shitstorm in which we've become quagmired.
Time to go home.
musicvideos { Some Fatboy Slim to cheer things up
Been feeling blue, I think its the weather, these helped cheer me up.
'The Joker' (cuteness factor approaches red zone on this one)
'Right Here, Right Now' (Evolution illustrated)
'Weapon of Choice' (because you gotta love Christopher Walken)
3.04.2008
in memoriam { Farewell Dungeon Master
Gary Gygax has died.
Update:
I guess I should add that I met Gary on a couple of occasions (Gen Con 18 and 20). He was nice enough to talk to me for a couple minutes while he was waiting for lunch in the Hyatt Regency in Millwaukee during GenCon 18. I was a young kid and he was just this nice guy who created a game which over my lifetime has given me thousands of hours of enjoyment, not to mention a love of fantasy, mythology, theatrics, and platonic solids. I still have a couple of the old first edition AD&D books that Gary autographed, although my signed Players Handbook was stolen at a Con. I never got the chance to play D&D with Gary (although I have played with Dave Arneson). He was one of the fathers of Role Playing Games, and his impact in both the PnP and video game industry was considerable.
(Gary, fourth from left)
3.03.2008
tech { My compy died...
So I had to rebuild a new one.
I was never able to fully identify what was wrong with my old computer, but I suspect bad RAM, a failed power converter on the mobo, or a dead proc. The symptoms were that a random, the computer would lock up with a high pitched squeal in the headphones. At first I thought it was some kind of compatibility problem with the new (as of patch 2.3) sound engine in WoW and my Creative X-Fi sound card. But last Wendesday it locked, and in this situation, a reset would usually fix it, but this time, a reset caused the monitor to go into 'No Signal' mode and nothing happened anymore, no HDD spin up, speaker beep or anything. I was crushed. I built the computer back in 2002, it was my companion while I was house bound during my recovery from AML.
Well the computer is dead, long live the computer.
I put together a new system. Here is its specs:
Motherboard: Asus P5E Pro WS; LGA775, 1600/1333MHz FSB, 2xPCI-Ex16 slots, 1 PCI-X slot, 2 PCI slots, I'm an Intel man and after my first Asus mobo a few computers back, I'll be hard pressed to ever switch
Memory: Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 PC2 6400 4-4-4-12 CAS 2x1GB memory kit (soon to be 4GB)
Processor: Intel Core Duo 3.0GHz 4MB shared L2, E6850 Conroe
Video Card (new motherboard required a new video card): BFG Tech GeForce 8800GTS 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 SLI ready, I went nVidia even though I prefer ATI because this card received good benchmarks and most games now have been optimized for nVidia chipsets (which is sad)
PSU: 500W CoolMax M-500 ATX12V
Soundcard (only piece I carried over from the old system): Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Fatal1ty
The parts arrived last Friday. I was hoping to have the system rebuilt and re-installed before 9pm, in time for our Karazhan raid (which didn't happen because 1/3 the raid never showed up). The brain and CNS transplant went successfully and I was done at 8pm. The WinXP re-install was a pain, but it always is since I refused to go Vista, it mean about 3 hours of WinXP install, SP2 install, and about 900 patch updates. I then installed and updated the mobo, vid card, soundcard, and various drivers. I didn't have to play with the BIOS beyond setting up my boot devices, which is one thing I like about Asus mobos, jumperless, fully customizable settings from the BIOS. The biggest problem I've had was re-installing and re-importing my iTunes library. I install my iTunes onto a separate disk in a non-default location, which makes importing it a pain, but it can be done.
This computer is about 2 generations newer than my old one. I was going to upgrade it sometime this year anyway because graphics technology has moved from AGP to PCI-E, and my ATI X1650 was the last AGP video card I was going to buy.
Performance specs (anecdotal):
World of Warcraft (about the only game I play routinely):
Resolution (old/new): 1680x1050/1680x1050
Settings (old/new): Minimum Vid settings + high texture detail/Full Vid settings, all sliders maxed
Average FPS (old/new): 30/170
Average Latency (old/new): 120ms/120ms
Yeah, I'm averaging 120-170fps in most of the world. In Shattrath City, the main hub, most populated, worst performing area of the game for everyone, I used to get 7-17fps around the central area and banks, with my new system, the lowest I've seen was 70fps in the Scryer's bank. In instances I'm doing about 90-120fps. In battlegrounds (also low performing due constant updates from server) I'm averaging 80fps. It feels like a whole new game with the level of detail I've never played with before.
Sins of Solar Empire
Resolution: 1680x1050 (both old and new)
Settings (old/new): Minimum + ship detail = high/Full, all settings max
Average FPS: unknown/unknown, the game has no easy FPS meter
This game plays smooth as silk on maximum detail and environment settings. I even created a custom map with 500 planets, and there was no slow down or lag. I can now have the detail turned up to the level where planets are richly detailed as are the ships instead of vague geometric blobs with different colors.
This computer build should last me for years to come. I generally get 5 years or so of life out my home built computers and I picked this one so that it would last me another 5 years.
I <3 my new compy and I <3 Nerdwife who puts up with my tech addiction and understood my need to build a new computer.
season { Spring is near
I grew up with part of my life on a farm. I know what it means to be in sync with the clockwork of nature and life. Spring is life and renewal, fall is diminish and death, summer is activity, winter is rest. Spring is close and I welcome and look forward to it. I hope each year the world will be reborn anew. I wait for the coming of the green, and hope it will not become brown too early. Winter must have snow, and summer must have sun. Spring must have warmth and fall must have chill. This is how life should be according to my internal clock. This is how it has always been for me living a lifetime thus far in Minnesota. The year has four parts. Each leads to the next. Each make up a cycle of the year. We are entering a time of renewal and rebirth. The gray will pass and out will come the sun.
'Suvetar', Gjallarhorn (yes, I've posted this before, its a fitting song for spring)
translation:
Suvetar, fine matron
Arise to see the seeds
Raise the matron's corn
So that we may be spared pain
Manutar, matron of the Earth
Lift up the shoots from the ground
New shoots from the stumps
So that we may be spared pain
Feed us with honey-hearts
Give us honey-drink
Delicious honey-grass
On a blossoming knoll
You have shining silver
You have glistening gold
Rise up, O maiden
Black from the soil
Underground crone
Most ancient of Nature's daughters
Make the peat shoot forth
And the ground turn over
Underground crone
Most ancient of Nature's daughters
Lift up a thousand seedlings
To reward my efforts.
2.28.2008
word { Sesquipedalian
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
ses·qui·pe·da·li·an /ˌsɛskwɪpɪˈdeɪliən, -ˈdeɪlyən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ses-kwi-pi-dey-lee-uhn, -deyl-yuhn] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective Also, ses·quip·e·dal /sɛsˈkwɪpɪdl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ses-kwip-i-dl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation.
1. given to using long words.
2. (of a word) containing many syllables.
–noun
3. a sesquipedalian word.
[Origin: 1605–15; < L sésquipedālis measuring a foot and a half (see sesqui-, pedal) + -an]
2.27.2008
local { Krispy Kreme leaves Minnesota
Krispy Kreme leaves Minnesota. I can't say this surprises me. The one that opened here in Rochester closed before a year even passed. Besides the slaughtering of the spellings of crispy and cream for the sake of a brand name, I found them distasteful because the donuts really were not that great a pastry. They were greasy. They were sickly sweet. The coffee they sold sucked. They're no Tim Horton's.
Here in Rochester, I chalked the closure up to the mistake of opening 1/2 block from a local (and outstanding) bakery, Daube's.
On a side note, last night KTTC, the local JV quality NBC affiliate, whose 10pm newcast I can't stop watching...its sooo bad...ran a 5minute equivalent of an infomercial because Starbuck's closed early for training of its employees on how to make a good cup of coffee. Well good for Starbuck's, but I guess I can't see how this is news. It smelled a helluva a lot like a paid commercial, sneaked into the newscast as news. But there was a nugget at the end, Starbucks will be closing 100 under-performing stores. Which is about time, I think they hit saturation point about 10 years ago. When we went to San Francisco in 2005, literally, there were areas of downtown San Fran where three of the four corners of the intersection had a Starbucks. It was obvious the reason they were so dense was they bought out or pushed out a local shop that was in that location previously.
P.S. KTTC, your 10pm newscast could improve greatly by getting rid of Tim Overlie. You made a vast improvement by getting rid of Betsy Singer and replacing her with Rachel Wick. (We ran into Betsy Singer one night going to a movie at Chateau, she was fronting some evangelical christian jesus-fest activity that involved a lot of screaming kids and a ball bin).
In politics, last night KTTC ran a commercial, and I really wish I could remember the name of the organization that paid for this, it had one of those innocent sounding names, yet the organization is pure evil type things like Americans for a Democratic Society.
UPDATE: Found it, the group is 'Defense of Democracies'. Here is the FUD ad. WARNING, this ad contains Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt as well as unhealthy amounts of Jingoism with no facts.
The commercial is a FUD piece saying the Senate had shown true leadership and concern for the safety of this country by voting FOR the new FISA bill (which is the bill the Bush Administration wants that include Telecom immunity), while the House ducked its responsibility and went on vacation. It showed a whole bunch of scary images and pro-American jingoism, terrorist bad bullshit common in these times thanks to the Bush Adminisration. The end put up Tim Walz's picture and contact information (which isn't on the YouTube version, and must have been added regionally for each member of Congress targeted) and urged people to call him and tell him to vote YES for security! Vote FOR the FISA bill (now with new and improved Telecom Immunity!). I won't go into why this ad is wrong on so many levels, as it makes me so enraged I get even more incoherent. But sufficed to say, the new FISA bill will not make us safer, the old FISA legislation (which had been updated) protects us and our civil liberties by requiring judicial oversight and review (even after the fact if time of the essence) and the new bill weakens civil liberties and expands the power of the Administrative Branch by weakening the checks and balances. The fact this ad could give no facts and only provide push-button emotional rhetoric should illustrate why everyone when they see something like this should, in the words of Buffalo Springfield, 'there's something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear...stop children, what's the sound? Everybody look whats goin down...'
2.25.2008
politics { The Cottonwood Tragedy
StarTrib actually has a good article urging level headed thinking in
response to the accident that claimed the life of 4 children, instead of
the hate fueled divisional politics of the vigilantes (and certain
Republicans).
2.24.2008
wtf { Lvl32 Citizen WTB civil liberities
Spo0kz could b3 inz my g@mez sn00ping my chatz omgwtfbbq!!!!1111!!!11!1one!!!
WP article.
2.21.2008
2.20.2008
2.19.2008
2.18.2008
politics { Couple of things...
First, Obama should tap Bill Richardson as V.P. No discussion! Do it! Do NOT tap Edwards.
Secondly, this website puts a lot of the political issues in easy to understand cartoon form! The latest is about FISA and Illegal Wiretapping and is narrated by Snuggly the Security Bear.
2.14.2008
casual_friday { Gonna be busy tomorrow
So two videos today for tomorrow:
Ashley MacIsaac - Sleepy Maggie
Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
(yes I realize today has been a videogasm)
love { For you Nerdwife
Jeff Healey Band - Angel Eyes
Heather Nova - Walk This World (still one of my favorites)
Brian Adams - Heaven
The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be
Liz Phair - Supernova
Oasis - Wonderwall
Crash Test Dummies - Swimming in Your Ocean
2.13.2008
politics/privacy/civil_liberties { FISA Bill passes Senate WITH Telecom Immunity
And the small pebble rolling down the slippery slope hits another small pebbles which starts to roll down the slope and pick up speed...
The Bill (HR version)/Senate version.
Who voted:
Grouped by Home State
Alabama: Sessions (R-AL), Yea Shelby (R-AL), Yea
Alaska: Murkowski (R-AK), Yea Stevens (R-AK), Yea
Arizona: Kyl (R-AZ), Yea McCain (R-AZ), Yea
Arkansas: Lincoln (D-AR), Yea Pryor (D-AR), Yea
California: Boxer (D-CA), Nay Feinstein (D-CA), Nay
Colorado: Allard (R-CO), Yea Salazar (D-CO), Yea
Connecticut: Dodd (D-CT), Nay Lieberman (ID-CT), Yea
Delaware: Biden (D-DE), Nay Carper (D-DE), Yea
Florida: Martinez (R-FL), Yea Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Georgia: Chambliss (R-GA), Yea Isakson (R-GA), Yea
Hawaii: Akaka (D-HI), Nay Inouye (D-HI), Yea
Idaho: Craig (R-ID), Yea Crapo (R-ID), Yea
Illinois: Durbin (D-IL), Nay Obama (D-IL), Not Voting
Indiana: Bayh (D-IN), Yea Lugar (R-IN), Yea
Iowa: Grassley (R-IA), Yea Harkin (D-IA), Nay
Kansas: Brownback (R-KS), Yea Roberts (R-KS), Yea
Kentucky: Bunning (R-KY), Yea McConnell (R-KY), Yea
Louisiana: Landrieu (D-LA), Yea Vitter (R-LA), Yea
Maine: Collins (R-ME), Yea Snowe (R-ME), Yea
Maryland: Cardin (D-MD), Nay Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Massachusetts: Kennedy (D-MA), Nay Kerry (D-MA), Nay
Michigan: Levin (D-MI), Nay Stabenow (D-MI), Nay
Minnesota: Coleman (R-MN), Yea Klobuchar (D-MN), Nay
Mississippi: Cochran (R-MS), Yea Wicker (R-MS), Yea
Missouri: Bond (R-MO), Yea McCaskill (D-MO), Yea
Montana: Baucus (D-MT), Yea Tester (D-MT), Nay
Nebraska: Hagel (R-NE), Yea Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Nevada: Ensign (R-NV), Yea Reid (D-NV), Nay
New Hampshire: Gregg (R-NH), Yea Sununu (R-NH), Yea
New Jersey: Lautenberg (D-NJ), Nay Menendez (D-NJ), Nay
New Mexico: Bingaman (D-NM), Nay Domenici (R-NM), Yea
New York: Clinton (D-NY), Not Voting Schumer (D-NY), Nay
North Carolina: Burr (R-NC), Yea Dole (R-NC), Yea
North Dakota: Conrad (D-ND), Yea Dorgan (D-ND), Nay
Ohio: Brown (D-OH), Nay Voinovich (R-OH), Yea
Oklahoma: Coburn (R-OK), Yea Inhofe (R-OK), Yea
Oregon: Smith (R-OR), Yea Wyden (D-OR), Nay
Pennsylvania: Casey (D-PA), Yea Specter (R-PA), Yea
Rhode Island: Reed (D-RI), Nay Whitehouse (D-RI), Yea
South Carolina: DeMint (R-SC), Yea Graham (R-SC), Not Voting
South Dakota: Johnson (D-SD), Yea Thune (R-SD), Yea
Tennessee: Alexander (R-TN), Yea Corker (R-TN), Yea
Texas: Cornyn (R-TX), Yea Hutchison (R-TX), Yea
Utah: Bennett (R-UT), Yea Hatch (R-UT), Yea
Vermont: Leahy (D-VT), Nay Sanders (I-VT), Nay
Virginia: Warner (R-VA), Yea Webb (D-VA), Yea
Washington: Cantwell (D-WA), Nay Murray (D-WA), Nay
West Virginia: Byrd (D-WV), Nay Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea
Wisconsin: Feingold (D-WI), Nay Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Wyoming: Barrasso (R-WY), Yea Enzi (R-WY), Yea
Thankfully Klobuchar voted 'Nay' this time. Obama and Clinton should have voted.
2.12.2008
politics { blog wars part IX
No there weren't VIII other parts, I just thought the title was good.
There was a discourse between the blogs 'Norweigiantity' and 'The Cucking Stool' and by discourse I mean in that intellectual smack down way. But I think I missed something in their debate.
Spotty falls back on a tiresome wingnut meme:
Of course, the reason that the people who volunteered to be delegates were not quizzed more closely about their choice for senator or congressman/woman is that most precincts had room for anyone who wanted to be a delegate to be one. From what Spot hears, that happened in some heavily-DFL precincts in Minneapolis and St. Paul, too. There was absolutely nothing to prevent anyone from asking who the delegate volunteers supported. Perhaps there is room for the discussion of a more formal primary system for presidential preference - and a discussion of who will pay for it - but what would you have us do for the other offices, professor?
[crickets] . . . [/crickets]
Crickets? Spot, old dog, all you had to do was ask me and I would have been glad to explain this to you.
First off, our favorite Dalmatian needs to realize that in no other state does the party endorsement precede a primary. This is Minnesota's problem, and one that the DFL is curiously resistant to discussing. This makes the delegate slots incredibly valuable, and a thing worth running for whether you want to participate in the party or not.
All across Minnesota people stepped up to become delegates not because they necessarily are hungry to do the hard work political parties need to have done, but because they want to advocate for their candidate for U.S. Senate. What happens to all those delegates whose candidates get flushed this June? I would argue that they largely drop out of the process, weakening the party in the general election.
Caucuses also favor the better retail politicians. They are one of the few things that stand in the way of entirely media-driven campaigns. Spot likes that and says it is healthy for democracy.
That's the theory, but not the practice. This year Minnesotans have been deluged with mass mailings thanks to Al Franken's successful out-of-state fundraising. That and Al's celebrity status benefited Franken enormously as he traveled the state drawing large crowds, but large crowds that he didn't necessarily convert to his cause.
Move the primary to May, and then ratify the voters' choice in June. That's the honest thing to do, and you still have a caucus system for the workers and activists.
But so long as Minnesotans yoke their party endorsement to a flawed system, the Minnesota caucuses will continue to weaken the DFL, costing the party dearly on election day.
And no, I don't think I sound much like a cricket.
I read both sides and can agree with points on both sides. I did notice in my Precinct (CD1, Ward 2, P1) everyone was all about the President, and there were a few advocating Senate race. But the Senate race was not a focus. Even though we had 300 people, attend, we had a hard time filling 29 delegates and 5 alternate spots.
I would agree there is a problem with how the DFL endorses candidates, but I don't think moving the Primaries up would solve it. Or rather I don't understand what was suggested in Norwegianity would fix. I do, as an average citizen feel there is a bit of a disconnect in the caucus (i.e. resolutions seem to take a backseat to candidates stumping, but this could also be a by product of how the DFL is run in Olmsted County). I was spoiled as my first caucus was 2004 in St Paul CD5/SD65A and it was an issue soaked passionate liberal smack down (in a positive way) where I coined the phrase Full Frontal Democracy.
I tend agree with Spotty, our current system isn't perfect, but I think it works and I feel it is healthy, however it could use a bit more dissension and discussion of issues. But again that may be an Olmsted County thing. CD5/SD65A caucus was all about issues and criticism of the local DFL (which in my opinion makes it stronger). I (and Nerdwife) were the only ones who confronted Rep Tim Walz at the caucus to inquire his reasoning behind voting for the FISA Bill back in August, and I'm glad I did. But we're both a different species of liberal down here than most.
Both in CD5 and here in CD1 everyone was welcoming of new people, at the Precinct level. At the county level in 2006 the Olmsted DFL executive committee tried to pass a bylaw that limited service in the leadership of the county DFL to those with six years of service to the party...which of course both angered and alienated the independents, Republicans, and Libertarians who left their parties to throw in with the DFL cause. That was a bad move and thankfully was voted down. New people were encouraged to be delegates, and some were voted in by consensus as delegates. Those who were interested, but shy, were greatly encouraged to if not serve as delegate, at least server as an alternate. It took a while but we eventually filled all 34 slots.
But never asked were the questions: Who do you support for Senate? Who do you support for President? Is that a problem? Yeah I guess it kinda is because it may mis-represent and filter so to speak delegates at higher levels (since one caucus elects delegates to the next and so on), however at the Senate District/County Level I think some of that is offset by the walking caucus, where people openly declare who they support and what issues they support.
What I think we need more of at the Precinct level is the walking caucus, but I realize the walking caucus is chaos and quite intimidating to first timers. It would also tax the volunteers, who at this years caucus I think did an amazing job with the 200-300% over projected turn out.
Also, the caucus serves a purpose more than just selecting candidates, it is also a forum for discussion on issues and resolutions, which work their way up to form the foundation of the DFL platform. Sadly it seems a lot of our resolutions are filtered down here by a select few, in 2006 I noticed a few good resolutions made at the precinct level never make the county/SD level. This was done under the guise of reducing duplicates, but even then, 75% of the 140+ resolutions brought to the convention were in fact duplicates or slight variation on a theme of support education, which in itself was well covered already in the DFL platform.
But again, I guess I don't understand the problem they were discussing, so I don't have a solution.
2.08.2008
casual_friday { Bow Down Before Me Peons!
(because I'm in a badass sort of mood)
John Williams - The Imperial March
2.06.2008
odd/tech { International Underwater Cables being Cut
Just caught wind of this off OmniNerd, then read up on Schneier's blog.
I agree could be coincidence but the fact Iran is now isolated seems fishy.
test { Results Not Surprising
Saw this quiz linked on 'Wheat is in Everything'.
| You are a Social Liberal (78% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (5% permissive) You are best described as a:
Link: The Politics Test |
2.05.2008
politics { Congressional District 1, Ward 2 Caucus
Update: Salon.com has a great results page.
Just got back from the Caucus here in Rochester. Record turn out, over 2000 people showed at our caucus. In my precinct alone 300 people showed, more than twice the number in 2006 (and the veterans were saying in 2000 only 20 people showed to caucus). There were so many, they ran out of ballots at 7:15pm and had to start cutting up resolution papers. We were late because the parking lot was full and cars were backed up for a considerable distance. There was a lot of energy in the air, positive and hopeful. It was good to see 75% of our immediate neighbors there and ready.
The Ward went ~1400 Obama, 689 Clinton, and <100 for the others.
I've been made a delegate (along with Nerdwife) for the County Caucus on March 29.
Resolutions passed in my Precinct:
*DFL will oppose any constitutional (state or national) that restricts the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.
*Provide or subsidize health care for all residents.
*DFL will support and recognize labor unions and support measure providing fair wages for all residents.
*DFL will support and fund transportation infrastructure including effective public transportation, railways, roadways, and bridges.
*Fully fund and support education programs for all. (a lot of education programs have been mandated, but not funded)
Resolutions that were rejected:
*Support of the Marty Bill providing Universal single-payer health care. This was a tough one. Much debate, many good points for and against, but it was pretty much over when Sheila Kiscaden spoke against it as a division point that would polarize discussion on the issue in the legislature instead of providing a phased implementation towards a universal health care solution. I'm not familiar with the legislation, but I voted for this resolution as in my opinion it is a step in the right direction.
The biggest event of the night: Nerdwife and I met with and confronted Representative Walz on his vote for the FISA bill. He was very energetic and honest on the topic and we talked for almost 15 minutes. He understands the frustration and the feelings of betrayal those on the left felt for him after that vote- but Walz put forth a passionate defense. He voted for the FISA bill to keep the topic open for discussion because it had a six month end clause forcing renewal (note that Walz states he opposed the recent 15-day extension, which was a voice vote). He felt further deliberation provided a chance for substantial revision or repeal in the Senate. Unfortunately, the Senate's bill came back with only one change: a clause granting immunity to the Telecom Companies. He (and a few other Democrats) voted for the initial bill to deny it as wedge issue the GOP could use against them in the election. Walz has promised a "No" vote on renewal - lets see if he keeps his promise. After discussing this topic with him, and playing good constituent/bad constituent (guess who was who!)we both felt he was honest, and his reasons made sense. It changed my feelings on the subject and regarding him. At this point, I am likely to vote for him for another term.
nerdwife: I can't say I agree with Walz's logic- after all, isn't a "no" vote at this point simply going to afford the GOP a wedge closer to election time?- but he seemed genuine, well-informed about the bill and his decision, and most importantly, ready to knock the current bill down. To those who have written/called/emailed: he is very aware of your feelings! Walz was really on point about this vote, and had answers ready for this frowning constituent.
politics { Caucus Night!
...or stuffing 8 pounds of residents into a 5 pound can.
Back from precinct caucus night.
WOW!
309 people showed up, registered, and voted in the straw poll. There's maybe 2000 registered voters in this precinct. (SD62, Minneapolis, Ward 9 Precinct 9) That is huge. Ran out of chairs and people were standing after 7pm, with a line down the hall and out the door of the school of people waiting in line to sign in. It took until the time-certain ending of voting to get everyone in and have them vote.
73% Obama
26% Clinton
We ended up passing several resolutions, some of great intelligence, some a little more vague, some by first time caucus attendees (maybe 1/2 of who showed up had never been to a caucus before - that's great).
Here's to community democracy in action.
UPDATE: Seems that was the case a lot of places.
politics { This phrase sums me up as political voter
From an article on salon.com
From the start, the Democratic field offered only varying degrees of dissatisfaction: Where was the candidate who believed that all Americans deserve educations, healthcare, the right to marry whom they please, and more reproductive freedoms than they could possibly use up in a lifetime? He or she did not exist, at least not in any purely terrestrial incarnation.
Why don't we have a viable candidate that represents these values? Kucinich comes the closest, but he's like Ron Paul, not electable.
Its sad that I think more people paid attention to last week's Super Bowl than have the last 2 years to the state of this country.
To quote a friend, "We get the government we deserve."
2.04.2008
politics { Super Tuesday
Reminder: Tuesday is Caucus night in Minnesota.
Find your caucus location here
My Endorsements (does not reflect on the other Cubezoo contributors):
President - Barack Obama (not my first choice, but the best choice given the candidates)
Senator - Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer
2.01.2008
reviews {'Cloverfield'
Meh.
Moving on: I just watched a fucking movie about a man who shaves his mustache off, and was enthralled the entire time. Cloverfield is a goddamn big monster movie, and I was counting the seconds. It's not like the bar to entertain me is impossibly high, here. The achievement of Cloverfield was to force this viewer to experience time dilation in the movie theater while entertaining fantasies of fleeing madly out the exit, unmindful of my raptly attentive car-key holding spouse. Seconds became hours. The door is further, further away! Run! Don't look back, it's still playing!!! I've never been so ready for protagonists to die a horrible fiery nuclear death.
Overall: D
ps, La Moustache overall: A+++
GeistX review of 'Cloverfield': I liked it. Nerdwife has not seen 'The Star Wars Christmas Special' or 'Congo', now those are the true definition of the word pain.
reviews { 'La Moustache'
'La Moustache'
Synopsis: Man shaves off mustache, breaks with sanity.
Man shaves off mustache and no one notices and in fact claim he's never had one. Are they playing a joke on him? Is his crazy? Are they? Are you? Is this real? Isn't it?
Overall: A
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