Dexter’s a Scab

January 29, 2008 at 12:24 am (Entertainment, You Tubes)

“Negotiating is really the art of the possible. I’m not sure you’re going to get guys making a million dollars a year to walk a picket line.” ~Ed Garvey

On Feb 17, 2008, Dexter is going to air on CBS to fill the programming void left by the writers strike. I just saw the opening to this show (above YouTube) and wow. If the show is as brilliant as this opening then I’m really torn about boycotting a network that won’t pay its writers well.

I already wanted to see Dexter because my favorite 6 Feet Under actor Michael C. Hall is the star. Also, I’m predisposed to liking Dexter since it’s is based on a novel (Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay). And who can resist a series about a serial killer who works as a blood pattern analyst? All you have to do is cross the picket line.
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Bedouin Bigfoot Struts for NASA

January 25, 2008 at 4:58 pm (News)

“It’s not the photographers’ fault. Bigfoot is blurry. And that’s extra-scary to me. There’s a large, out-of-focus monster roamin’ the countryside. ‘Run, he’s fuzzy, get out of here.’” ~Mitch Hedberg

Bigfoot on Mars

In case you missed it, here’s the soon-to-be-famous picture of Bigfoot on Mars captured by NASA explorer Spirit. Those people who’ve been arguing that Bigfoot is an extraterrestrial are pretty psyched right about now. They’re going to par-tay this weekend. They’ll be the drunks saying “in your face” to passersby. Don’t engage them!website stats

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Foxy Drinks Bad Milk

January 25, 2008 at 12:47 pm (News, You Tubes)

“Newspapermen, as journalists used to be called, have long been charged with the sin of cynicism. a characterization that many of us encourage to deflect attention from our far more widespread flaw, incorrigible sentimentalism.” ~Robert Manning

When you have a lot of money, you can make the news and buy loyalties and shut people up at whatever cost. The sticky wicket is that most reporters get into the business because they’re idealists, fiercely loyalty to The Truth.

At the risk of perpetuating a stereotype, I’ll admit that I’ve never met more jaded, cranky cynics than reporters. The ones I’m thinking of would rather be penniless and miserable than take bribes and redact their work.

Sure, that’s not true of every reporter, otherwise there would be no explanation for Fox News, an abomination of journalism so yellow it burns my eyes when I look directly at it. Those corporate puppets are an extreme case. Nevertheless, even the most ethical journalists know that making compromises is inevitable. They usually just don’t care.

[For those who don't watch the YouTubes I post, this one is about some Fox News reporters - "The Investigators" - who were propositioned with a bribe to kill a story about bad milk. -Thanks to G]
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Rocket Man

January 24, 2008 at 1:19 am (News, Richard Branson, You Tubes)

“Come to the edge, he said. They said: We are afraid. Come to the edge, he said. They came. He pushed them and they flew.” ~Guillaume Apollinaire

Yesterday Richard Branson unveiled the design for his new commercial spaceship that isn’t built yet, but is already collecting deposits for reservations. It costs $200,000 for a two-hour flight where passengers will be weightless for 5 minutes. It’s times like these that I’m glad there are daring, wealthy people who’ll spend that kind of money on a ride in space. Oh, Icarus, I hope the wax thread holds.

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Black Hole Sun

January 22, 2008 at 12:32 am (News)

“Black holes are where God divided by zero.” ~Stephen Wright

Your Black Hole is in My Galaxy. No, Your Galaxy is in My Black Hole

The picture above is of a jet from a black hole at the center of a galaxy (lower left) striking the edge of another galaxy (upper right). Apparently this is the first time researchers have seen a phenomenon like this. It makes me dizzy. That black hole could be devouring life-sustaining planets. It’s galactic war out there.

As a kid, I was terrified of two things, nuclear war and black holes. Well, there was the fear of rabies, but I got over that. Of course, this was just a fear of death. Although I now contend that I’m not afraid of death, I still have some residual terror of black holes. The enormity of their capabilities for destruction make my head swim. Come to think of it, those cavernous Home Depot-Lowes-type stores give me the same feeling. ((shudder))

Just thought you might like to know.
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A Day On, Not a Day Off!!

January 20, 2008 at 11:38 am (Freedom, Holidays)

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Roosevelt Road - Riot April 6-8, 1968

Martin Luther King, Jr. is one of my favorite wise guys. Not a terribly unique choice, I know. But I’ve been a big fan of civil disobedience since my Nana told me I didn’t have to follow a rule if it was stupid.

I never thought it made much sense to fight violence with violence. Abortion clinic bombers kill adult people to save unborn baby people? Huh? Also, early in the Iraqi war, we were supposedly there “to preserve our freedom.” So, we achieve freedom by oppressing others? Nice. But, I guess in the end, if you’re having a nonviolent sit-in and someone shoots you in the head, that approach doesn’t work out so well either. Sigh.

But I don’t want to talk about that. I never get anywhere talking about nonviolence and preservation of basic human rights. The quote above is what I want to talk about:

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

Bleak, indeed. It reminds me of this famous quote by Martin Niemoller:

“In Germany they first came for the Communists and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me-and by that time no one was left to speak up.”

Together Niemoller and MLK are saying “think globally, act locally.” MLK is urging you to support the people you know (act locally). This makes sense coming from him, of course, since he was at the front of a national fight for equality and civil rights.

MLK was probably deeply confused when people didn’t support him. It’s unbelievable, really. How could his friends not agree wholeheartedly with his mission? They wanted to live with the status quo so badly that they would deny basic human rights for themselves and others? Truly appalling. Although, hindsight is 20/20, I guess.

Neimoller has the “think globally” message embedded in his quote. He wasn’t in imminent danger. When you have the luxury of remove, it’s easier to be apathetic. So he personalized the plight of others. He put his listeners in their shoes. But I’ve come to see this isn’t something the majority of people are capable of doing. It’s an intellectual exercise, in a way, that lots of people are either too stubborn or too stupid to accomplish.

Take for example our ever-shrinking civil liberties. The Patriot Act (II) gives the government access to all sorts of private information without probable cause including your phone, internet, medical, financial, and book borrowing/buying records. Most people say that they don’t care since they’re not doing anything wrong.

However, consider that the No Fly List has tens of thousands of names on it and they’ve used, among other things, credit reports to calculate risk. So, if you have bad credit and ever bought the Anarchist Cookbook, you could be detained indefinitely. Yes, you. Detained indefinitely. In fact, you could be detained indefinitely for even flimsier reasons than that. And you don’t have any recourse.

Actually, that’s not exactly true. You have recourse if you live in one of the local communities that have mobilized and passed resolutions to the Patriot Act. But, if you don’t … ah, never mind. We all have our own petty problems. Oy, that recession and the bills to pay and the kids to raise and the dinner to make. Not to mention that my car broke down and I need to get to work today. I understand.

Additionally, speaking out against injustice isn’t what the cool kids are doing these days. If you care about being liked or being agreed with, then fighting for civil liberties probably isn’t your path. For you, I recommend that you get on Facebook and meet up with your old high school pals. Try to convince them that you’re still as clever as they always thought you were. It’s a hoot. Plus, you might get a good recipe for dinner tonight.

To be truly effective, you have to care more about an issue than you do for your own self-preservation. This is asking a lot, because while speaking up may change the world in positive ways forever, it’s also the thing that can get you killed.

This year’s MLK Day theme is: “Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not A Day Off!!” I’m not kidding about the exclamation points. They’re enthusiastic. I’m not sure what to do on my day on, but I thought I’d let you know that I’d be glad to speak up for you if you decide to spend your day fighting injustices.

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The Crying Game

January 14, 2008 at 3:06 pm (News)

“Probably my worst quality is that I get very passionate about what I think is right.” ~Hillary Clinton

Young Clintons

I started ranting in the comments of my last post and decided I might as well post about Clinton crying. I didn’t see these infamous waterworks, and I don’t really care to. I have seen the video, and I’ve got to say HUH? We’re calling that crying? Last time I checked, crying included tears as in weeping, sobbing, bawling. I believe we still call what she did “talking,” speaking, communicating. Has the media gone insane? (Sigh)

Nevertheless, it’s one of those non-issues that the media won’t stop talking about it. Hence, people think it means something. It reminds me of other Presidential candidate gaffes like when Bob Dole fell or Gore French kissing Tipper on stage. These are image issues that, on a grand scale, mean very little. When a supermodel trips on the catwalk, it doesn’t suddenly make her ugly.

What’s the bigger issue Clinton’s “crying” brought out (besides the fact that the media can get people to believe Hillary cried when she didn’t)? If it’s about her ability to function under pressure, I’m pretty sure she’s shown over her many years in the game that she’s an expert politician. If the question is about her “appearance” to leaders of other countries, she’s been as definitive in her politics as any other Senator.

People who like her are saying her “tears” are evidence that she has a heart. She can get exhausted. She’s human. People who don’t like her are saying it was calculated. She a faker. She manipulating us. Naturally, it’s true that she’s both human (she has a heart) and a politician (she’s manipulating us). We are probably all, to a degree, both self-serving and altruistic. This is the very reason we care about who gets elected – we want someone who meets our needs but also someone we think will do the best job for our country.

Now, as I’ve mentioned, Kucinich’s politics are most closely aligned with mine (which is a subject for another post). But I like Clinton and always have. We should be so lucky as to have someone as smart, diligent, and politically savvy to run our country. She’s an advocate for women’s rights and education. She’s championed a number of important healthcare initiatives and has good ideas for election reform. She’s highly experienced and has actually done a few things in the Senate for a greener planet.

Are her supposed tears really something to debate? If you don’t agree with her politics, then more power to you with your candidate. But I can tell you right now, someday he’ll cry, or trip, or sleep with Marilyn Monroe and, if you care about those things, you’ll have a hard time defending him. But not as hard a time as you have now if you’re still a fan of G.W. I, for one, am at the point where just about anyone compared to Bush looks good. Well, anyone except that creep Romney…did you hear that thing he said about same-sex marriage being like terrorism? And he said it in a weird, squeaky voice. He is so not qualified for this job.

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I’ve Got Primary Fever

January 7, 2008 at 11:00 pm (Cool Friends, Distractions, Familia, Food, Freedom, News, Storytime)

“Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.” ~Barack Obama

Greetings from Manchester, New Hampshire

A man went to a tailor to get a suit made. The tailor took his measurements and a week later called to say the suit was ready. When the man tried on his new suit, one side fit beautifully, but the other side looked awful. It was too short in some parts, too long in others, and baggy through the middle.

“This isn’t right,” the man said. “It looks terrible on this side.”

“You’re crazy,” the tailor said. “It looks great. You’re just standing wrong.”

The tailor then proceeded to position the man. He tilted his body this way, maneuvered his leg that way, and crooked his arm just so until the man was bent and twisted. When the man looked at himself in the mirror, he saw that the suit indeed looked great!

“It’s perfect,” he told the tailor and hobbled out of the store.

I guess in some ways this story sounds like a typical lemonade-out-of-lemons tale. But I prefer to see it as a warning. Don’t fall into the optimist’s trap of taking reality and contorting it until it looks good. That’s what I’ve been keeping in mind as I read candidate platforms and voting records on heathcare, economic policy, and the Patriot Act. If there are too many things wrong, just pick another suit.

On that note, in election news yesterday, my consigliere reported in from Manchester, New Hampshire where he was trying to avoid slush and ice in the streets while on the trail for this guy. Naturally, I credit Obama’s rising success in NH to my wise and admirable adviser who always puts his money where is mouth is. Some people talk to a few friends or preach to the choir; some people write short pieces on their low-traffic blogs or for their local papers; and then there are those rare few who go straight to campaign central. When those people are experienced, intelligent, and articulate, I’m glad they’re playing on my team.

So, if you’re in New Hampshire and manage to take a minute to relax and check on your favorite blogs, good luck out there, and try to avoid the vicious dogs.

Undecided? Play USA Today’s Candidate Match Game.

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New Year’s Ball is Green…and Blue, and Red, and Yellow, and Rainbow Surprise

January 4, 2008 at 1:23 am (Art, Holidays, News)
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“New Year’s Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time.” ~James Agate

2007-2008 Times Square New Year’s Ball

The New New Year’s Eve ball in Times Square, another Waterford Crystal piece of art, was outfitted with tons of little changeable LED lights. Super-bright, colorful, energy efficient ones by Philips. Another step toward a greener planet. Yes, a huge, completely unnecessary decoration to celebrate an arbitrary numbering system is now more energy efficient.

I’m just joking. I like The Ball. It’s fancy.

Point of fact, they’ve been dropping The Ball in Times Square for 100 years. Well, actually, they took two years off during WWII when patriotic people across our fine nation saved electricity for the betterment of the country. I wonder if people could be convinced again to save energy for the betterment of the country? Apparently it’ll take more than a war.

While I’m on the subject, I just heard from Joe Biden that the war in Iraq has produced more amputees than any war since the Civil War and more traumatic head injuries since WWII. And with the military healthcare problems and the US healthcare problems … oh, what am I talking about? They’ll be fine.

Back to The Ball. Apparently, in the early days, the spectators would have a moment of silence at the stroke of midnight then they’d sing or kiss or cheer. I’m not sure. I got stuck at the “silence” part. Silence in Times Square at midnight on New Years eve? That sounds as crazy as some of my kooky anti-war / energy saving ideas.

I really do appreciate the green features of The New Ball. Turns out, upgrading The Ball is as much of a tradition as unpopular wars. (I’m sorry, I can’t help it.) The first ball was iron and wood and weighed 700lbs. In subsequent years they tried various things to make it lighter, but it wasn’t until 1955 when they managed to slim it down to 150lbs by using aluminum. People were really in love with aluminum in the 50s. Who could blame them, what with its applications for TV dinners and all?

Old New Year’s Eve ball

I’m establishing that The Ball has reflected the times in both material and design. Consider the commercialized 80s when they turned it into an apple to honor the “I Love New York” campaign. Ah, the shameless 80s. Nothing went without the bedazzler and a commercial tie-in. At least they didn’t turn it into a New Coke can.

In 2000 Waterford classed up the place with this fancy number, The Ball equivalent of formal wear:

The Millennium New Year’s Eve Ball

And now, here’s another shot of The 2007-2008 Ball:

The 2007-2008 New Year’s Eve Ball - or Roy G. Biv?

Yikes. Should we be worried? I mean, on one hand, the energy efficiency is a small victory. On the other hand, the ball was so bright, it could have doubled as a beacon to another world. And the colorful light show? Well, I guess if any other worlds saw it, at least they now know we’re ready to party techno-style.

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