Waiting for Cicero

Here we go again.

2009-08-14T02:48:00.000-07:00

What an awful stretch of time it's been. The last several years have been rough, really rough. 2008 was the worst, but 2009 is trying real hard to eclipse it. Where to start? When I was here last, I had picked up a cyber/real life stalker. A friendship that went completely south started it. Funny thing is, they still think that I took her in to try and get in her pants. Couldn't be more wrong, but it's their daughter, and they've learned to assume the worst. Anyway, they wrote me off, other than trying to make my life miserable, and to get revenge. Wish things had gone differently.

So, now I've got this girl living with me, and hey, that's great. I've been lonely, so having company around the house is a welcome change. Doesn't hurt that (at this point in the story) I'm absolutely in love with her. Having her there, though, this causes a whole 'nother set of problems. The people who've been financing my business, nosy bastards that they are, they decide that they do not like her living with me. I am given an ultimatum. Either I boot her out (she has nowhere to go, other than maybe a shelter, which is no place for a pretty young woman of 23), or they will rescind all funding, remove all of the office equipment that they have already financed, and go about making my life as difficult as they can. Woo hoo. I refuse to remove the young woman, they make good on the threat. We lose the house on the West Slope and the business. This would not be nearly as bad as it is, if it weren't for the fact that my brother owes me around $30,000. Between his DUII fees, his attorney, his rent and expenses, my rent and expenses, and my mother's rent, I am hemorrhaging cash at an alarming rate.

So, next the car breaks down, completely. In December, I finally pick up the beat up Subaru from my family in Grants Pass, but it has a whole host of problems that I can no longer address, due to my financial situation. The tags are bad, the lights don't always work, I can't afford insurance, it has an exhaust leak, etc., etc. As this is occurring, I am losing the ability to support myself, much less my entire family. My brother loses his house first, wraps up, and moves back home, to help out Mom for a while. I try to hang onto my own house for a while longer, but after several months of being late with the rent, my landlord files for eviction. The payment structure we set up falls through (that's a whole rant in and of itself), and, on May 15, I am served a 72 hour notice to vacate. I panic. I manage to clear out, losing some of my belongings in the process. I am now homeless.

The cats, the girl (and her dog), and I all seek shelter at her boyfriend's apartment. He, and his roommate, have an extra room to let. I will rent this room, the girl will keep staying with her boyfriend, problem solved. At least for a moment.

The apartment manager takes an immediate and irrational dislike to me. He accuses me of driving too quickly through the complex, and then when he realizes that I actually drive around 2-5 mph while on the grounds, he threatens to tow my car any time it is parked on site. You see, the tags are still bad, and he will not have it on his lot. Now I must park the car on the street, several blocks away. Anyway, he keeps looking for excuses to harass me. When I am seen handing something (my BlackBerry) to someone in a car (the person who bought the BlackBerry through craigslist), I am assumed to be a drug dealer, and the sheriff's office is alerted. Eventually, I am told that I must vacate the premises, or apply to be placed on the lease. It's actually the only fair thing he's done so far. And he's right. So, I fill out the application, acknowledging my recent eviction, but explaining that my savings offer more than enough to cover my share of rent for the next few months. Between that, and the girl's job, we should have no problems. Besides, the last roommate had two evictions in his recent history, and there was no problem with him being on the lease.

Well...

Apparently, what was the case for the last roommate, it's not the case where I am concerned. I am told that my eviction is grounds for automatic denial, even if I were to pay several moths rent in advance. I am told that I have until the first of August to vacate the premises, or the people on the lease will be in violation of their terms, and that they will be evicted. I am to be homeless again.

As this is happening, the car I am borrowing, it finally gives up the ghost. It can move small distances at first, but then it gets two flat tires, and is just stuck. I lack the funds to repair the vehicle, or even replace the tires. The car is towed. I am not even upset by the time it happens.

So, here I sit, in a cheap motel room that I share with 3 friends who are also homeless at the moment. We have two beds to share, and a small kitchen and bathroom. We've got a pretty good chance at a house that we're all going to share, but it'll be another week or two.

There are some good things, though. I just got a job, working for a political consulting firm. I start tomorrow. The pay will be enough to get by on, and there is plenty of room for advancement. I have experience in communication based work, and I have a decent shot at becoming a field manager, which would really help with the financial side of things. The girl and the pets are still living with the girl's boyfriend, and that takes care of quite a bit of my stress. Things aren't ALL bad, ya know?

But, yeah, they still aren't great. I attempted suicide earlier in the year. I'm not at that point anymore, but I've run pretty well out of hope. I'm still tired and lonely, and the woman I love, well she loves someone else. The folks I thought were my closest friends and family, they mostly abandoned me, and some of them went quite out of their way to see to it that I failed.

Anyhow, that's why I haven't posted here in so long. Sorry for the long winded, "woe is me" crap, but a fella's gotta vent sometime, eh?

Cheers, and here's hoping things are going better for you than they are for me.

Back to it.

2008-05-20T21:56:00.000-07:00

Comment moderation is now the order of the day. My apologies for the inconvenience.

Epic

2008-05-10T00:28:00.001-07:00

Oy.

"What can I say?"

2008-04-30T01:08:00.000-07:00

"Hey, little girl..."

So, okay. Mister Cicero has a crush. Gods, what wimp I am for even writing this.

Mister Cicero has a BIG crush. And it's for someone who is absolute trouble, all the way 'round, but still... Brains, and will, and charisma, and beauty, and pain, and happiness, and all the rest. You appeal to the best parts of me, and the worst ones, all at once. You make me nurture the human, emotional side that I reject so easily for cold logic and reason. You make the fucking sun come up in my world, kid. And I'm not even really sure how or when that happened. One moment, I was the master of my own destiny, the next, I was yours.

"So, hey, little girl,
I wanna be your boyfriend."

:)

I know the bullshit and drama that would come along with it, and I'd gladly take it all, and more, just for the chance to be with you. I know I'm not your "type" and that you're not mine. So what? You can't scare me.

"Do you love me babe?
What do you say?"

C'mon, you've even gotten me dancing and singing. Shows, and bad games of pool, and out of breath bike rides. You make me happy, and I like to think I do the same for you. Take a chance with me.

Lol. Alright, I'll stop inflicting my twitterpation on the rest of you.

:)

p.s. Bonus tunes:
I Think I Love You, The Partridge Family

Bleed The Freak, Alice In Chains

p.p.s.
Is this the digital version of telling it on the mountain? I think so.

One more time around.

2008-04-20T23:16:00.000-07:00

I woke the same as any other day
Except a voice was in my head
It said, "seize the day, pull the trigger,
Drop the blade, and watch the rolling heads."

The day I tried to live,
I stole a thousand beggars change
And gave it to the rich

The day I tried to win,
I dangled from the power lines
And let the martyrs stretch.

...
I woke the same as any other day, you know
I should have stayed in bed.

---

Bonus noise:

Wake Up, Rage Against The Machine

Not funny.

2008-04-08T23:13:00.000-07:00

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
.

Fuck.

Yes, we can.

2008-02-03T05:27:00.000-08:00

I won't be the only asshole to post this, but I'll give it a couple thoughts.

I do not support Senator Obama for President, not directly. I am an undecided Democratic voter. I will work for our nominee, whoever that is, because I believe that our worst is better than the best the GOP can offer. This video is part of the reason I believe that.

Let's visit the 90's for a sec.

2008-01-11T21:19:00.000-08:00

Just some thoughts, via song. Not exactly something new from me, I guess.

Feeling sort of wistful and melancholy, and most of these tunes carry strong memories or emotions for me. I may have posted some of them before.

And I'd give up forever to touch you
Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now

Iris, Goo Goo Dolls

Sucked Out, Superdrag

The World I Know, Collective Soul

In The Meantime, Spacehog

Counting Blue Cars, Dishwalla

Brick, Ben Folds Five

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles), The Proclaimers

Crash Into Me, Dave Matthews Band

Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand, Primitive Radio Gods

There, now that's a decent set list.

Cheers

I wonder how old he is?

2008-01-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

(Note: the following is a cross-post of a diary I wrote at the kollective this morning. It is not my habit to cross-post items, but I felt like this merited an exception.)

Looks like he's about 16 or 17. I'd guess he's probably closer to 20, but that's a stretch. The two girls who have been waiting to greet him look even younger.

I wonder how old he is?

The girls have been here a while. They both seem excited. I'm not trying to eavesdrop, but I pick up on the fact that Cody is coming home, and that it's been a long time, and that one of them is his girlfriend (I think). Idle chatter, until I hear someone say Iraq.

I'm standing in PDX, waiting for a good friend to arrive home from Boston. I'm a little early, so I take one of the available seats in the waiting area. The chattering pair of girls are two seats away. A couple of punk-rock chicks, carrying a sign welcoming "Tom-Tom" are the only other folks talking. Everyone else looks tired, subdued.

One of the girls mentions Iraq. She makes few breathless phone calls, then settles back in to wait. Won't be long. They lament the security that will keep them from running up and hugging their friend as soon as he disembarks.

Cody is off the plane before my friend, C____, so I get a good look. Still in his BDU's, First Cavalry Division, by the patch. He looks tired and happy. As soon as he enters the non-restricted area, the girls are on him. A long hug with one, while the other takes some pictures.

I wonder how old he is?

Everyone else seems to be studiously directing their attention elsewhere. A few sidelong glances, maybe. A couple of his fellow passengers size him up as they walk through.

Here comes C____. She looks tired and happy, too. We exchange a quick hug, and head downstairs, to baggage claim. Some idle chit-chat about the holidays. We wind up waiting a few feet from Cody and his welcoming crew. C____ says she has to find the loo, so I babysit the carry-ons for a few.

I wonder how old he is?

"15 months." More eavesdropping, but that's really all I catch. 15 months? Gods, he's had at least one birthday, "over there". He's fingering a pack of Marlboro Reds. Looks at the door, then the baggage carousel. Plays with the pack some more. I'm looking around, and there's still no one that even looks interested.

"Excuse me."
"Yeah?"
"Did you just get back?"
"Yeah."
Offer him my hand. Manage to choke out a "thank you", and a "welcome home". Seems like I should have more to say, but I can't think of what. One of the girls asks him if this happens often. He shrugs.

C____ is back. We're watching the carousel go 'round. More idle chit-chat, this time about about architecture in Boston, and on Martha's Vineyard. Here comes her bag.

"Thanks, again." Another handshake. He sort of smiles, just a bit. The girls start asking him what color his luggage is, teasing him that it's probably pink. C____ is ready to get home, so we leave.

I wonder how old he is?

Update [2008-1-3 7:51:31 by Marcus Tullius]: jimstaro has an excellent diary up, concerning those serving in the military, and the shortages they face.

Just a note of mourning...

2007-12-28T03:43:00.000-08:00

I just felt like adding my voice to the clamor regarding Benazir Bhutto. I am much saddened, and dismayed, by her passing. I fear what this will mean for her country, the region, the rest of the world. Such a damned shame.

So, now what? What happens after the January elections? Will there still be elections? Will they even matter?

I feel as if our chances for sanity and peace are flying from us, one by one, and ever faster.

Nothing much else to say, I guess. Hope is such a flickering candle, sometimes.

Candle In The Wind, Elton John

I believe...

2007-12-09T03:52:00.000-08:00

Thanks to a dear friend for reminding me to give it a listen.

I believe in the sand beneath my toes
The beach gives a feeling, an earthy feeling
I believe in the faith that grows
And the four right chords can make me cry
When I'm with you I feel like I could die
And that would be all right, all right.

It's four in the morning, and I'm sitting here, grinning like an idiot, just like I used to in that old Sentra. :)

Cheers, and many blessings.

Well,

2007-12-01T02:55:00.000-08:00

it's not pneumonia. Severe bronchitis, but not pneumonia. w00t! So, yeah, rest relaxation, and pharmaceuticals appear to be the order of the day.

Good thing Urgent Care was cheap. Gotta figure out what to do about this whole health insurance thing. Can't afford it, can't afford not to have it.

Anyway, more updates may, or may not follow. Never can tell.

Many blessings

Nice.

2007-11-28T00:25:00.001-08:00

I think I have pneumonia. Damn. Gotta love the lack of health insurance.

On a cheerier note, I believe it's Sam's birthday. If that means anything to you, consider giving him a shout out.

Think happy thoughts for my lungs. Nothing else seems to have helped, so, hey, it's worth a shot.

...for the rest of us

2007-11-24T23:30:00.000-08:00

'tis the season, and all that crap. The Grievance Clearinghouse is open again. Stop by and bitch, if you are so inclined.

Cheers.

Ladybugs & Crickets

2007-09-23T23:29:00.000-07:00

I can't tell you how happy I am. So many blessings to you two. And many thanks for allowing me to be part of such a special day.

The ceremony was beautiful. Weather was supposed to be spotty, but it was absolutely perfect. I think your vows are the most loving words I've ever heard spoken. And, though I'm a bit biased, I thought the wedding party looked pretty damn good. Can't wait to see the pictures and video.

The reception was a piece of work, too. I can't remember the last time so many of us were together. Did you notice how happy everyone was? Meeting some new people was great. I can't wait to go see your dad's shop, and I'm really hoping that your brother and I continue to cross paths, T. You have a great family.

I'll post some pics as soon as I can, but for now, just a couple of dedications.

Here Comes My Girl, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Here Comes Your Man, The Pixies

I love you both so much.

p.s. I'm back.

Back In Black, AC/DC

Break

2007-05-30T15:32:00.000-07:00

I am on hiatus, here and at Sam's. I can be found at the kollective, or you may feel free to contact me via email. I will probably still be around at Sam's during the shows.

That is all.

(Update, 6-2-07, 21:15)

Just a note to observe the passing of a good man. Steve Gilliard will be sorely missed.

---

Also, hiatus applies to this site only. I am on strike, as far as Sam's place goes.

h/t air-ono for the inspiration to do so.

No rest for the wicked

2007-05-10T02:32:00.001-07:00

God fucking dammit. I cannot catch a break.

Lydia broke down tonight. Well, not quite broke, but close enough. She'll have to be towed to Shorty's, and have a new block installed.

Woo fucking hoo.

So, yeah, got a feeling I'm about to be extremely strapped for cash.

Dammit. I need some rest, and a way to lower my anxiety level quite a bit.

Soon.

Whadaya gonna do?

2007-04-27T02:06:00.001-07:00

Eh, having a lot of fun lately, but nothing comes without conflict, I guess. Maybe I just need to get out a bit more. Good times and good people can be hard to come by. Wish it wasn't so. The friends and neighbors wrinkle isn't helping, either.

Oh, well.

Don't worry, there's a good chance most of the above won't mean much the next time I bother reading it. Just bitching. Circumstances (unfortunately) don't exist in a vacuum, and that's that.

Hope anyone reading had a good night, too. Mine was a blast, as is par for course over the last week and a half or so.

Later

Charlie Foxtrot

2007-04-18T21:30:00.001-07:00

A month like this is bound to have a day like the one I just had.

: |

Mulligan, please?

On a cheery note, I am commencing my belated birthday drunk. One bottle each of the following: Cantillon's Classic Gueuze; Avery/Russian River Breweries' Collaboration, Not Litigation Ale; Stone Brewery's Stone Imperial Russian Stout; Brewery De Ranke's Guldenberg; Echt Kriekenbier.

Good night.

A note to everyone

2007-04-13T10:08:00.000-07:00

If you have transcript info, or know where I can find audio archives of the Lionel Show, please leave it in the comments, or send me an email. I have work to do.

This'll be a new twist on Stark's Calling All Wingnuts gig.

So...

2007-04-12T02:13:00.000-07:00

I called Sam's show today, and let fly with a rant. Fun stuff. May have even started a meme. I hope so. This Lionel crap is a fucking insult.

Anyway, life is starting to approach some sort of normalcy. 'bout time. House is in order, work's just about caught up. Oughta be able to catch a few real days off in the next few weeks. Sweet.

May is looking up. Some good shows to see, a possible rafting trip. Have to apply for my passport pretty quick, I think Cathy and I are gonna try to make it to Japan in July or August. No details yet, but I'll bet we'd have a blast. Not sure if I'll do Europe this year or next, but I'd like to make it in November or December, even if it's only a short trip.

So what else...?

I cut my hair off about two weeks ago. Hadn't so much as trimmed it in two and a half years, and now I've got about 3/4 of an inch of fuzz. Different. Was time to quit mourning, though. Get busy living or get busy dying, all that rot. I feel more upbeat, I guess, but I miss being able to wear pigtails.

I think that's all I've got for now.

Many blessings.

Pissed the fuck off

2007-04-09T03:09:00.001-07:00

I'm reposting a rant I left at SEDER's joint. And some pissed off music.

SUCH UNMITIGATED HORSESHIT!

This is the network's show that: appeals to the youngest demographic; interfaces with, and features members of left blogistan; has some of the best guests; has some of the best interaction with it's listeners and bloggers; has some of the best commentary on current events; has the most current news and discussion topics (based, in large part, on it's interaction with the blogging community).

And the Green's have decided to cancel it.

I'll be listening on Sundays, but I want to take a moment to offer some thoughts for now.

Fuck you, Scott Elberg. Cutting the budget wasn't enough, eh fucker? You're hemorrhaging cash, why not start losing listeners. You stupid twat.

Fuck you, Mark Green. You had a golden opportunity to help secure AAR's place in radio, and opted instead for "less substance". I've had enough infotainment, and if that's the direction you're taking AAR, allow me to add, "rot in hell", to my, "fuck you".

Fuck you to every single one of the ignorant assholes that helped poison the well at AAR. Winstead, Chuck D, Maron, Garofalo, Malloy, Seder. What the fuck is the matter with you? I'd trade ten Frankens for any one of those people.

Fuck you, Evan Cohen, Danny Goldberg, and Ed Schultz, for everything that you are, and every thing that you stand for.

FUCK

/rant

From Mme. Chew:

Break Stuff,. Limp Bizkit

And from me:

Killing In The Name Of, Rage Against The Machine

Guerrilla Radio, Rage Against The Machine

Bulls On Parade, Rage Against The Machine

Superbeast, Rob Zombie

More Human Than Human, White Zombie

Remix of More Human Than Human, White Zombie

Wow

2007-04-02T03:00:00.001-07:00

I'm 27.

Yay.

This week sucks. My landlord is making life a pain in the ass, and I have a ridiculous amount of work to get done by Thursday.

(sigh)
One of these days I'll catch a break.

Since my birthday plans have been shot to shit, I'll have to postpone.

I am gonna be one drunk motherfucker this weekend.

: /

Inactivity

2007-03-22T15:44:00.001-07:00

I am a kossack.

My distinctiveness and individuality have been added to the kollective.

Resistance is futile.

---

Occasional posts will still occur.

That is all.

A lesson unexpected

2007-03-02T01:46:00.001-08:00

Tonight, I went downtown with some of the boys. We saw Mike's band, and then left to catch a bite at Dante's Pizza. On the way back into to Chinatown, a homeless man in a wheelchair asked for help. He was trying to put one of his shoes on, and just couldn't seem to do it. Said he was paralyzed. It was rainy, and cold, and there was no way I could say no. I grabbed his shoe, and helped him put it on, then went on my way.

About a block later, someone pointed out that we had somehow acquired a scent not unlike urine.

See where this is going?

Apparently, the gentleman was not just soaking wet from the rain, and he wasn't lying about being paralyzed. Yech.

I was mad at first. Couldn't believe it. Figured it was just my fucking luck for being nice. Decided I'd pass if the opportunity to assist in similar circumstances occurred again. And then I thought about it some more. No matter how ghastly it was for me, that moment was merely one in an endless succession for him. I'm mad because I got piss on me, but I wonder how it
must be for him. He had to have been soaked in it, cold, maybe hungry. Add to that the fact that he was upset at his own inability to even put on his shoes.

I take so much for granted.

Big Lips

2007-02-20T21:37:00.000-08:00

A story:

My step brother once dared me to suck a cup onto my face for ten minutes. The result lasted three days. I spent my entire weekend at the coast worried it was permanent.

Enjoy.

This is not a photoshopped picture.

Testing the new Blogger

2007-02-09T05:06:00.000-08:00

Well, there it is. Lord Google now owns another little piece of my soul.

Sorry for the lack of posts, it's really been a ridiculous couple of months. Getting quite a bit better, though.

In positive news, I finally have a bed (thanks Julia Bean!), and a decent computer (again, thanks to J.B. and company). My mother is making progress as a human being (peel my jaw off the floor), and my brother is letting me borrow a mountain bike. Hoo fucking ray for everyone showering me with the karma, I'll pass it on to the next one.

What else...

I'm shooting for the Coachella festival this year. We'll see whether or no that happens. I'd love to see Rage and Placebo. There's about a dozen other bands I wanna check out, and a bunch I've never heard of. Sounds like a good way to spend a few days.

Busy year, looks like. Coachella, Vegas in July, Kyoto and Belgium in the fall(-ish), and I'd like to make it to the coast for a weekend or three. Unfortunately, all this play means a lot of work. I have a feeling I'm gonna be hopping for the next few months, at least. : ) There are worse problems to have, I suppose.

Anyway, it's late/early, and this boy's tired. Hope all is right in your neck of the woods!

Many blessings

Taking the red pill

2007-01-20T19:34:00.000-08:00

Someone else thinks the youth are waking up.

Via Poputonian, at Hulabaloo

Me Doth Protest, A Little

by poputonian

Not many commenters picked up on one of the points I was angling for in the prior post, which is no doubt a reflection of my writing skill more than anything else. But aimai and carolyn13, along with a couple of others, did accentuate the impact made on society by the changes in communication technology. It seems no small thing that the medium for protest itself has undergone a massive paradigm shift. The current 100 million streams per day on YouTube and google video far exceed the numbers who view the old style 'teevee', and though much of what is being viewed over the net is entertainment, there is also a growing body of news and protest video. Think of the taser video of the UCLA student that spread organically and virally across the ether. Ditto for the video of Saddam's hanging, which circled the globe before the corporate press could get their fat 401k asses out of bed, or Bush strumming a guitar during the destruction of New Orleans, an image that propagated from person to person and surely had some influence on media coverage and public opinion.

*snip*

Both my teenagers asked a dozen questions about Vietnam and the street protests after watching Going Upriver, a documentary that revealed a true American anti-war hero in John Kerry. Watching Kerry, their eyes welled up with tears, as did mine. They later watched the bumbling press conferences of President Bush and hold him in contempt, and speak out against him. They pledge to vote against him and others like him whenever given the opportunity. My daughter pointed me to When The President Talks To God, the protest song by twenty-something indy-rocker, Bright Eyes. That song, which Bright Eyes made free to anyone who wants it, has now been heard by millions. The video of him performing the song on Leno has been viewed by hundreds of thousands, if not millions. My daughter ended a friendship with someone who became radically opposed to gays because of what that person's fundie parents had taught her. The culture battles are playing out in the schools and I believe the side of reason has the edge. Though it might not hold the visual drama of a street protest, per se, it is the rejection of bad ideas and beliefs.

So, I admit to being optimistic about the younger generation, what with their sensibilities and the new uses of technology. Having information spoon-fed by the monolithic media empire is being replaced by consumer-selected information sources. Print circulation is dropping and the networks are laying off staff as the MSM is out-flanked by the emerging, wired community. It's the wired community where you can find the bee-line to the truth, if you want it. As I see it, protest is still there, but it's perhaps a bit more efficient, subtle, and less obvious to those we're protesting against. Hopefully, this way leads to a greater gathering of numbers, and more sustainability as the precision-memory of digital reporting, coupled with smart governance, leads to a better world. I think the kids will figure it out.

That said, I have an appointment with a bottle and a blunt.

: )

Hmm... apparently, this is me.

2007-01-20T18:59:00.000-08:00

You are the Hanged Man

Self-sacrifice, Sacrifice, Devotion, Bound.

With the Hanged man there is often a sense of fatalism, waiting for something to happen. Or fear of

loss from a situation, rather than gain.

The Hanged Man is perhaps the most fascinating card in the deck. It reflects the story of Odin who offered himself as a sacrifice in order to gain knowledge. Hanging from the world tree, wounded by a spear, given no bread or mead, he hung for nine days. On the last day, he saw on the ground runes that had fallen from the tree, understood their meaning, and, coming down, scooped them up for his own. All knowledge is to be found in these runes.

The Hanged Man, in similar fashion, is a card about suspension, not life or death. sacrifice prophecy. You and in doing so, gain illumination. You the world differently, with mystical insights.

What Tarot Card are You?

Take the Test to Find Out.

A few quick thoughts

2007-01-16T23:21:00.000-08:00

Absolutely loved the snow we got today, even though it makes driving a pain in the ass. Everything seems a bit off, not bad or good, just different. For instance, while I was making dinner, I heard something strike my front window with a decent amount of force. My cat jumped off of the sill, all her hair standing up, and ran off. I looked outside, and there was a coyote. Apparently, he saw the cat in the sill, and decided he'd have a go at getting through. He just stood there in the snow for a minute, looking at me. Then, he walked off. Weird.

Not much new is happening. I've got some tapes and a book that MAT and Husbot loaned me. They are supposed to be the equivalent to a two year Japanese language study. Stoked on that, hafta see if I can start socking enough away to make it over there this year.

I'm tired a lot. Being sick for so long seems to have left me tired for right now. I guess it's better than being sick.

That's all for now, I suppose.

Many blessings

Mrs. Majority writes a letter

2007-01-12T19:26:00.000-08:00

ToUSA Today

SubjectAsk your mother!

MessageI am a mother. War is my worst nightmare. For now, my child is too young to be thrust into the black and bleeding heart of a civil war America can't win. But too many are not too young. President Bush's escalation plan, which would send thousands more of Americaâ€™s children to Iraq, is unconscionable and immoral because he knows it will fail. We all know it will fail. It is opposed by top military leaders, the Iraq Study Group, foreign policy experts, and the American people. President Bush's plan is shameful because it is nothing more than an effort to salvage lagging poll numbers by s! howing us that he's trying something new. But this is not new. This is just "stay the course" with more of America's children lined up at death's door. We citizens of this democratic nation must urge Congress to exercise its Constitutional authority to hold the president accountable for a change of course that allows for our troops to come home. We must do this for all of Americaâ€™s children whom he intends to needlessly send to war. And we must do it for the even younger children, so that if, God forbid, they ever find themselves with a President as irresponsible as this one, that future President will remember when American citizens stood up and demanded that their wishes be heeded. President Bush is just rolling over all of us mothers and fathers and all of our children as if we had no power. We must not let him do this. And Congress is our power to stop him.

you can write one too, here's help.

via Sam Seder

Digby on those awful, partisan Dems.

2007-01-08T16:28:00.000-08:00

Digby is much more eloquent than I am. Like that's any big surprise, eh? This meme that the Dems are responsible for all the partisan hackery, and that the only way they can govern is to do so by meeting the Repubs halfway, well, I usually stick with "Fuck. That. Shit."

Which is why I now present Digby's thoughts on the subject.

As regular readers know, I've been pondering this infuriating fixation on bipartisanship and moderation for the last couple of weeks and watching aghast as the press does the wingnuts' bidding, setting up the Dems as failing to fulfill their promise to the American people that they would be moderate and bipartisan if they won the election. This was simply not on the agenda during the election, other than that the House Democrats would restore some sort of fairness to the rules and pass anti-corruption legislation. In fact, the entire election was about the Democrats taking power to provide some needed checks and balance on the Republicans.

Oddly, however, in the last couple of weeks, the media has been obsessing that the election reflected a desire among the American people for the congress to stop fighting and work together, which makes no sense. The Republican congress didn't fight --- the Democrats just caterwauled ineffectually from the sidelines, while the Republicans did what they wanted. There was no gridlock, they passed virtually every piece of legislation they wanted and the congress was perfectly in sync with the president. If comity was what people were concerned about they obviously would have kept undivided government.

The American people voted for the Democrats because they wanted them to stop the Republican juggernaut. Look at the poll numbers. Look at the election results.

So, where is this coming from? First, it's obviously coming from the Republicans who have much to gain by whining incessantly about being trod upon by the horrible Democrats who are betraying the citizens who voted for them by being big old meanies. No surprise there. They make their money and derive their power among their mouthbreathing base by portraying themselves as being victimized --- whether in power or out, the liberals are always keeping them down.

As far as I can tell, the Democratic Party was overwhelming elected to be an opposition party, particularly with regard to the war, and the President's usurpation of powers. I'm okay with bipartisanship, but you don't split some things down the middle. Period.

And if you have some idea that the Repubs are just itching to work together with the Dems to change the tone in D.C., allow me to disabuse you of that notion. The R's had a lock on passing just about any legislation they wanted for the last six years. There was no talk of bipartisanship. Questioning the Congress or Junior was likely to have you branded coward or traitor.

"Elections have consequences." He proceeded from that election as if he had a mandate, instead of a slim fucking majority.

How should we proceed when we took the majority by a landslide?

What day is it? Shit, what year is it?

2007-01-08T00:11:00.000-08:00

Hmm...

Sorry I've been away for a bit.

I've been decidedly unwell, but I think I'm back in the swing of things. Lots of catch up to be done at work, and around the house. (sigh) Sometimes the aftermath of being sick is as much a pain in the ass as the illness.

I think December wins last year's worst month award. Crap, from start to finish.

January is starting off well enough. I'm cautiously optimistic. A bit lonely and overwhelming form time to time, but I think I'll manage.

Not much else to say for now, but I'll be back later in the week.

Many blessings

Grievance Clearinghouse

2006-12-11T02:53:00.000-08:00

I made a blog just for this whole "Airing Of Grievances" thing. If you wanna be a co-author, shoot me an email, and I'll send out an invite.

Or just make comments there, if you want. Or here, for that matter.

Whatever.

The Airing Of Grievances, Volume 2

2006-12-11T01:37:00.000-08:00

Alright, who's next?

The Bastard's Friends on the hill:

Learn to appreciate your kids more. They're phenomenal human beings, due in large part to you. It's time to start making that transition in your head that reclassifies them as real, honest-to-god adults. While you're at it, we've got to do something about that nasty habit you have of being so damn accepting of me. A guy's liable to to get all misty about being accepted into someone's home so readily. And quit being so damn critical of your cooking/baking. It's world class, accept it, and move on.

The Bastard's Ex:

I'm really glad you're happy. Now just go further away and be happy.

The Bastard's Best Friends:

Get your collective shit together. You are the best matched, most in love, beautiful couple I know. Start acting like it. Oh, and let me throw out a resounding, "Fuck that shit," to any thoughts of moving away. Not happenin'. And stop treating me like I'm so damn smart, Bean. If you aren't at least 10 I.Q. points, and 5 years of education ahead of me, I'll eat that Equity hat I bought tonight.

More tomorrow, I guess.

Many blessings

p.s.

Blog 3:16, NWFC version:

"For blog so loathed the world, that they gave their wholly besotted time, that whosoever will readeth within, shall not know peace, but have everlasting strife."

The Airing Of Grievances

2006-12-10T03:11:00.000-08:00

FDL has a late night post up regarding Festivus and the "Airing Of Grievances". I will state that I never watched Seinfeld, but I really like this idea, might make it a holiday tradition.

Here are a few of mine.

The Bastard's Brother:

You still have to work on that whole delivery thing, man. I know you're almost always right (except when you disagree with me), but you credit people in general with having a thicker hide than they really have. Go easy. Also, that whole thing where your drinking habit paid off with the coolest job ever. Fuck that, so not fair. You're still too generous, and you enjoy life way more than a body should be allowed. Gotta few things to learn about treating women, too. Hurry up and figure that out.

The Bastard's Mother:

You really need to let go of that whole "Jesus" thing. I think you know it's time, I think you've been questioning things for a while, but oh, how you fear change! I'm pretty sure Jesus didn't hate faggots, or love killing brown people for profit (remember the money changers?), so if you do have to believe, at least read the damn book once in a while. You need to be more appreciated for raising Rissy. You don't get enough credit where it's due, and you are to unassuming to demand it. Work on that.

Toshi's Mother:

You are a beautiful human being that needs to slow down and enjoy life a bit. Stop letting boys treat you like shit, you're better than that. Remember that this is only a ride (a la Bill Hicks), not a race. And that whole generosity thing. You're cutting in on my schtick here, love. Allow a fellow his vices, all right?

I think I'm gonna keep doing this as a small series over the next few days.

Much love, and many blessings

Enjoy some Danny Barnes

2006-12-10T01:48:00.000-08:00

Got to see Danny Barnes live at Imbibe tonight. Good show, if ya like serf/bluegrass/old-timey stuff (which I do).

Funtime

Hey Baby I'm Falling

Racoon Cat

Condition

Many blessings

Just Tunes

2006-12-09T02:13:00.000-08:00

Hair Of The Dog, Nazareth

Dune Buggy, The Presidents Of The United States Of America

Tahitian Moon, Porno For Pyros

Candy Man, Cibo Matto

Lost Cause, Beck

Paper Tiger, Beck

Guess I'm Doing Fine, Beck

9th Symphony, Second Movement,(Abridged), Ludwig Van Beethoven

Rude One vs. ISG Report

2006-12-06T21:54:00.000-08:00

Via The Rude Pundit:

The bottom line of the report, though, seems to be that it's time to pass the buck over to the Iraqis, after a few handy steps: "Iraqis may become so sobered by the prospect of an unfolding civil war and intervention by their regional neighbors that they take the steps necessary to avert catastrophe. But at the moment, such a scenario seems implausible because the Iraqi people and their leaders have been slow to demonstrate the capacity or will to act."

Call it the "sand nigger explanation": like slaves after the Civil War were more or less just expected to get over it and become good little demi-Americans, so must the Iraqis forget about the decades of deprivations under Saddam Hussein, U.N. sanctions, and, well, fuck, war, and just get on with it. It's there in Recommendation 21, the "No Iraqi Left Behind" idea: "If the Iraqi government does not make substantial progress toward the achievement of milestones on national reconciliation, security, and governance, the United States should reduce its political, military, or economic support for the Iraqi government."

How can one completely poo-poo a report where the authors say shit like leave Iran to the United Nations and fuckin' talk to Syria, that sets a timetable of "milestones" for Iraq to achieve, that states "The United States should not make an open-ended commitment to keep large numbers of American troops deployed in Iraq," and more? Because the whole document, massive press coverage and all, carries about as much actual legislative weight as, say, the 9/11 Commission report.

Hell, in that case, we've been told that the vast majority of the recommendations have been carried out, which may be true, in the same way that chimpanzees are mostly the same genetically as human beings, 98.8% so. But, looking at all the nit-eating and shit-throwing, one might think that the remaining 1.2% is crucial.

Technorati Tags: Iraq, Rude Pundit, ISG, Iraq Study Group, White Man's Burden

Bonobo night

2006-12-05T02:46:00.000-08:00

Pick Up

Change Down/The Sugar Rhyme

Transmission 94 (Parts 1 2)

Shadow Tricks

Sleepy Seven

Terrapin

Serve Chilled

Insomniac Picks

2006-12-03T02:56:00.000-08:00

Let Go, Frou Frou

Shout, Tears For Fears

What I Am, Edie Brickell And The New Bohemians

Destroy Everything You Touch, Ladytron

Brimful Of Asha, Cornershop

Maybe I'll Come Down, Soul Coughing

Bonus tunes brought to you by Nobody at MRR:

Edgar Winter - Frankenstein

Focus - Hocus Pocus

J-sama's video

2006-12-02T03:39:00.000-08:00

Technorati Tags: Jenise Treuting, Invitations and Ultimatums, Film, Documentary, U.S., Japan

It Went Like This...

2006-11-28T16:07:00.000-08:00

The car's on fire and there's no driver at the wheel
And the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides
And a dark wind blows
The government is corrupt
And we're on so many drugs
With the radio on and the curtains drawn

We're trapped in the belly of this horrible machine
And the machine is bleeding to death

The sun has fallen down
And the billboards are all leering
And the flags are all dead at the top of their poles

It went like this

The buildings toppled in on themselves
Mothers clutching babies picked through the rubble and pulled out their hair

The skyline was beautiful on fire
All twisted metal stretching upwards
Everything washed in a thin orange haze

I said, "Kiss me, you're beautiful..
These are truly the last days"

You grabbed my hand and we fell into it
Like a daydream or a fever

We woke up one morning and fell a little further down
For sure it's the valley of death

I open up my wallet
And it's full of blood

Dead Flag Blues (Intro), Godspeed You Black Emperor

Idee Fixe

2006-11-27T05:57:00.000-08:00

Why?

Sweet jesus, why can't I stop thinking about you? Two years should be enough. I've done my time, haven't I? I changed everything, everything about my life that was part of our life. And still, that fucking splinter drives inward, festering all the while.

Every time I think it's all right, something new happens. This latest setback reminded me of that Pollyanna moment I had about a year ago. I think I was pretty close to losing it for a while. Like when I was a kid all over again. Everything inside goes hollow, stomach feels like I have a ball of cold lead in it. That almost-but-not-quite-choking sensation.

I'm really looking forward to you living further away. I want you out of my head.

Out_of_My Mind, Duran Duran (incredibly slow download)

Patriotboy on Mitt

2006-11-27T04:18:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love (in purely Christian, heterosexual way) Gen. JC Christian, Patriot

This, Mitt believes... (Volume 1)

The kerfuffle over Andrew Sullivan's post on Mitt Romney's magical underwear inspired me to do a weekly series of posts on Mitt's Mormon beliefs. As the great great grandson of a Mormon prophet, Willford Woodruff, a holder of the Aaronic Priesthood, and an LDS Seminary Bowl champion, I think I'm more than qualified to do so.

We'll start out with Kolob. It's the star nearest to the planet where God lives. It's important to remember that. We Mormons get very angry when gentiles say we believe God lives on Kolob. It makes us sound crazy. God couldn't live on Kolob. He isn't a sun person; he'd burn his feet.

Go read the rest here. Make sure you check out his commentary on sacred underwear, as well as Sullivan's original post.

Some tunes

2006-11-21T05:02:00.000-08:00

Enjoy.

Summersong, The Decemberists

Yankee Bayonet, The Decemberists

I Turn My Camera On, Spoon

Into The Ocean, Blue October

Cannot Sleep Better Not Eat, The Prayers Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers

We Will Become Silhouettes, The Shins (Postal Service Cover)

Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now), The Postal Service (Phil Collins Cover)

Many blessings.

I don't even know what to say.

2006-11-18T13:08:00.000-08:00

Below the fold, I'm posting an extremely upsetting video. A UCLA student was repeatedly tasered in the Powell library, and someone recorded the encounter. The police can be heard threatening students who have asked for the arresting officer(s) badge number(s). The subject was refusing to move, and rather than simply handcuffing and removing him, they tasered him, handcuffed, and then repeatedly tasered him again, and again, and again.

I'm sick to my stomach over this.

I called UCPD, and they pretty much told me to fuck off. They wouldn't even tell me who I could contact, at the school, that had supervisory power over them. I was simply told to call back on Monday. No one would even discuss the matter until then. Maybe you'll have better luck than I will. Here's their number: 310-825-1491.
In case that doesn't work, the main switchboard at UCLA is 310-825-4321.

Again, this video is disturbing. The student being arrested is screaming in pain, the officers are shouting at him, the other students are visibly scared and angry.

Don't forget Poland!

2006-11-15T13:11:00.000-08:00

From Spiegel, via Jabberwonk, h/t jenise

My Half-Year of Hell With Christian Fundamentalists
When Polish student Michael Gromek, 19, went to America on a student exchange, he found himself trapped in a host family of Christian fundamentalists. What followed was a six-month hell of dawn church visits and sex education talks as his new family tried to banish the devil from his soul. Here's his story.

*snip*

"When I got out of the plane in Greensboro in the US state of North Carolina, I would never have expected my host family to welcome me at the airport, wielding a Bible, and saying, 'Child, our Lord sent you half-way around the world to bring you to us.' At that moment I just wanted to turn round and run back to the plane.
Things began to go wrong as soon as I arrived in my new home in Winston-Salem, where I was to spend my year abroad. For example, every Monday my host family would gather around the kitchen table to talk about sex. My host parents hadn't had sex for the last 17 years because -- so they told me -- they were devoting their lives to God. They also wanted to know whether I drank alcohol. I admitted that I liked beer and wine. They told me I had the devil in my heart.

*snip*

Then, seeing as we were already on the topic of God's will, the religious zealots finally brought up a subject which had clearly been on their minds for a long time: They wanted me to help them set up a Fundamentalist Baptist church in my home country of Poland. It was God's will, they said. They tried to slip the topic casually into conversation, but it really shocked me -- I realized that was the only reason they had welcomed me into their family. They had already started construction work in Krakow -- I was to help them with translations and with spreading their faith via the media.

Change

2006-11-13T03:35:00.000-08:00

Has anyone considered the make up of the incoming Senate yet?

Sanders and Feingold, backed up by people like Leahy and Kerry .

I grew up under Reagan and Bush 41. As far back as I can remember, the Repubs controlled nearly everything. The Gingrich Revolution is the first clear moment I have of congressional politics.

And I'm coming to the realization that things have changed in a fundamental way, one which I have no basis for comparison.

Above and beyond fixing Junior's fuck-ups, there's a pretty good chance that some progressive ideas will finally get a fair shot. Health care. Living wage. Proper oversight and regulation of corporate America. I really can't even fathom it.

Instead of debating whether waterboarding is torture, or if habeas corpus is outdated, maybe we can look at things like climate change and fair trade.

I'm daring to hope for the first time I can remember. And it feels good.

A note to the crew from Rapid

2006-11-08T01:56:00.000-08:00

A quick note from the Rude One

And South Dakota Discovers Its Citizens Are Sane:
Looks like the good citizens of South Dakota decided that the crazy law banning virtually every abortion was bullshit, voting it away. Power to the people. Eat shit, fundies.

Exactly.

Let's see if we can finish turning back this talibangelical tide.

Way to go, Dubya.

2006-11-04T03:53:00.000-08:00

A brief follow up to Wil's post about the Iraq WMD Website Disaster, brought to you by DarkSyde, over at Kos.

Now I realize that an alleged scandal involving a gay hooker, a Right-wing evangelical leader, and crystal meth is enough to make the Rita Cosby's of the broadcast news world tremble with excitement. But I thought a story about how our illustrious War President and Defender against Terrorism over rode his own weapons security experts at the behest of the Rubber-stamp Republican Congress and posted highly classified, detailed technical tips for making a fission bomb on the Internet might be worth a mention.
Here's a summary of some of what is being reported:
In the aftermath of the Iraq invasion, facing the embarrassment of no WMDs found, the White House found themselves in possesion of thousands of pages of Iraqi documents pertaining to obsolete WMD programs from before the first Gulf War

To provide fodder for out of context quoting and neocon fear monergering, to save time and money on translating, and to retain a few votes, the Republican Congress with the cooperation of President Bush wanted to post the raw docs on the Internet and invite right-wing bloggers and web surfers to pitch in and read through it all to find any quotable gems.

John Negroponte, bless his black little heart, had enough brains to oppose this incredibly asinine idea knowing full well that the data had not been read and vetted.

Apparently, Bush the Decider, a guy who wouldn't know a neutron from a noble gas, reportedly decided to over ride expert advice and do it anyway.

Buried in the stacks of dull inventories and mundane trivial minutia were the plans for how to fabricate and assemble the critical components of a working fission bomb.
On top of everything else some of it was published in Arabic and available for several months, thus giving the bad guys plenty of time and saving Al Qaeda the bother of having to translate it. I can only imagine that Islamic terrorists and sympathizers the world over fell off their camels peeing in hysterical laughter. Which would make a convenient segue for bowing to Mecca and praising Allah for answering their prayers with George Nukular Bozo Bush backed up by the Republican Big Shoe Atomic Clowns. Speaking of the latter, I can't wait to watch the warm-up GOP Solid Gold Pundit Dancers uniformly step-ball-chain from the Mushroom Cloud Stomp-n-Fear number right into the "accidentally posting the plans for a nuke in Arabic on the Web is no big deal" Tap Dance & Election Finale without missing a beat.

"I hear the voices... but I'm the decider."

Technorati Tags: Bush, Iraq, WMD, Treason, Negroponte, Nukular

Let me count the ways...

2006-11-02T20:20:00.000-08:00

So, the Rude One has another post up that I really enjoyed.

Why Vote Against Republicans? Because Fuck Them:
America, the good ol' USA, is a country that was brought into existence by groups of terrorists and insurgents aided by foreign powers. Its first rallying document was the Declaration of Independence, a list of reasons why King George III and the British sucked balls. However, no matter what that hand-scrawled Declaration told the colonists, a good many people living in Massachusetts or Maryland could've bottom-lined it for you: "Why revolt against the British? Because fuck them, that's why."

*snip*

Now, even through the deadening fog of Fox "News" rhetoric, multiple jobs, dying pensions, depleting health care, the waterboard effect of credit card debt, force-feedings of fatty foods, soul-killing reality TV, the entire cultural apparatus telling us we must want more and more stuff and shit, the dead-ends of public debate, government-instilled paranoia, dementia masking itself as religious faith, the unsubtle shove towards xenophobic isolation, an antagonistic corporate media, the vicious street-beating death of American intellectual thought, and Bush-worship masked as patriotism, through it all, man, all of it, we have come to this magnificent moment, frightening and exhilarating in its implications, where we, as a majority, are looking at the ruin and waste that surrounds us, piles of shit that we are told are mountains of gold, and we can finally, in this savage season of 2006, at long last come to say, "You know what? Fuck them."

How do I loathe thee?

Fuck them for trying to make us believe that America's acts of mass destruction, its bumblings into conflagration and apocalypse, in Iraq are actually just speed bumps, commas, if you will, on the road to a peaceful world of democratic nations bowing down to blow the cock of American hegemony.

Fuck them for holding themselves up as arbiters of morality and when they were confronted with a simple moral equation, they cast their lot with savages and genocidal maniacs. No, not the embryonic stem cell research vote, you backwards ass anti-science fundamentalist fucks. On torture and judicial rights, where even those who proclaimed themselves defenders of the detained and imprisoned ended up dancing like slut marionettes on a puppet pole in the Oval Office when it came down to actually, say, defending the detained and imprisoned.

Fuck them for making Americans fucking hated around the world, as if we're all ex-Nazis or, maybe more accurately, members of Pinochet's Chilean army back in the day, squandering the real triumph of America as a beacon of rights and fairness. However unreal that image was, it's better than being "that big ass country that tortures innocent people."

Fuck them for leaving New Orleans and the Gulf Coast to die, as if somehow those parts of the country were gangrenous toes that could just be cut off.

Fuck them for telling us we're too stupid or traitorous to understand what it is they're doing in trying to re-make the earth in their image, for keeping secrets in the name of their own security while literally and figuratively selling out ours.

Fuck them for lying to us about so goddamn much, about science, about their own policies, about what they actually, really were recorded saying, about what's genuinely important, like the out of control debt and the melting planet, instead trying to get us to think that, if a couple of guys wanna get married or if some pop singer's tit jumps out of her blouse, Godjeebus will smash the earth with his mighty Bible-club of divine justice.

Fuck them for...well, you know what? Just fuck them.

Go read the whole thing here.

Technorati Tags: Rude Pundit, GOP, Republicans, Iraq, President Bush

Performancing Test

2006-10-27T01:04:00.000-07:00

Wolcott on Corker:

Bob Corker is gay. He may not know it yet, he may never know it, he may go to his sarcophagus wrapped in denial, but his fascination with Ford's prowess and good looks gives him away, as does his political affiliation. All Republican political figures are gay, especially the men. When President Bush insists on kissing one bald head after another, the psychosexual symbolism speaks for itself. He's planting his lips on big uncircumcised Kojak peckers. When Rush Limbaugh packs his Viagra and jets off on a tropical jaunt with the guys, it's assumed there are saucy wenches awaiting him under the sultry palms, but I wonder--I wonder if it's cabana boys making the hammock sway under the moonlight. Republican women--those masochistic saints--are more like Joan Allen playing Pat Nixon under layers of frosting, their rigid smiles forged by years of living a lie with a man infatuated with other men and too timid to take out a subscription to Details magazine, lest he be exposed. The closet in which he dwells doubles as a panic room with a convenient minibar, so that if he ever stumbles or strays, he can blame it on the creme de menthe, not the burning yearning of his heart. Perhaps Corker has a special thing for black men, and can't get enough of that smooth and creamy Blair Underwood. There's no shame in that. Many a significant look has been exchanged in the locker room at half-time.

The only shame is that Harold Ford can't run for office without his Republican opponent, Karl Rove, and Ken Mehlman leching on him and taking turns at the keyhole. The South has made such progress, yet in affairs of the groin, it still has so far to go.

Technorati Tags: James Wolcott, Bob Corker, Harold Ford Jr., Gay GOP

Marching orders

2006-10-25T01:18:00.000-07:00

More love to spread, baby.

Two weeks to go, no time to slack off.

Apparently they are firing back and breaking links. This is gonna get really ugly, really quickly.

Sweet.

Goo Gull Balm, version 2.0

via thesill@dKos

So we need to counter their counter-g.b.

Senate

Connecticut: Ned Lamont
Maryland: Ben Cardin
Michigan: Debbie Stabenow
Missouri: Claire McCaskill
Montana: Jon Tester
New Jersey: Bob Menendez
Tennessee: Harold Ford
Virginia: James Webb

Democrat Held Seats

(CO-03): John Salazar
(GA-03): Jim Marshall
(GA-12): John Barrow
(IA-03): Leonard Boswell
(IL-08): Melissa Bean
(IL-17): Phil Hare
(IN-07): Julia Carson
(NC-13): Brad Miller
(PA-12): John Murtha
(WV-01): Alan Mollohan

Republican Held Seats

(AZ-08): Gabrielle Giffords
(CT-04): Diane Farrell
(CT-05): Chris Murphy
(CO-07): Ed Perlmutter
(IA-01): Bruce Braley
(IL-06): Tammy Duckworth
(IN-02): Joe Donnelly
(IN-08): Brad Ellsworth
(IN-09): Baron Hill
(FL-13): Christine Jennings
(FL-16): Tim Mahoney
(FL-22): Ron Klein
(KY-03): John Yarmuth
(NC-01): Heath Shuler
(MN-06): Patty Wetterling
(NM-01): Patricia Madrid
(NY-20): Kirsten Gillibrand
(NY-24): Michael Arcuri
(NY-26): Jack Davis
(OH-15): Mary Jo Kilroy
(OH-18): Zack Space
(PA-06): Lois Murphy
(PA-08): Patrick Murphy
(PA-07): Joe Sestak
(PA-10): Chris Carney
(VA-02): Phil Kellam
(WI-08): Steve Kagen

"Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war"

Things to know about some GOP types

2006-10-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

--AZ-Sen: Jon Kyl

--AZ-01: Rick Renzi

--AZ-05: J.D. Hayworth

--CA-04: John Doolittle

--CA-11: Richard Pombo

--CA-50: Brian Bilbray

--CO-04: Marilyn Musgrave

--CO-05: Doug Lamborn

--CO-07: Rick O'Donnell

--CT-04: Christopher Shays

--FL-13: Vernon Buchanan

--FL-16: Joe Negron

--FL-22: Clay Shaw

--ID-01: Bill Sali

--IL-06: Peter Roskam

--IL-10: Mark Kirk

--IL-14: Dennis Hastert

--IN-02: Chris Chocola

--IN-08: John Hostettler

--IA-01: Mike Whalen

--KS-02: Jim Ryun

--KY-03: Anne Northup

--KY-04: Geoff Davis

--MD-Sen: Michael Steele

--MN-01: Gil Gutknecht

--MN-06: Michele Bachmann

--MO-Sen: Jim Talent

--MT-Sen: Conrad Burns

--NV-03: Jon Porter

--NH-02: Charlie Bass

--NJ-07: Mike Ferguson

--NM-01: Heather Wilson

--NY-03: Peter King

--NY-20: John Sweeney

--NY-26: Tom Reynolds

--NY-29: Randy Kuhl

--NC-08: Robin Hayes

--NC-11: Charles Taylor

--OH-01: Steve Chabot

--OH-02: Jean Schmidt

--OH-15: Deborah Pryce

--OH-18: Joy Padgett

--PA-04: Melissa Hart

--PA-07: Curt Weldon

--PA-08: Mike Fitzpatrick

--PA-10: Don Sherwood

--RI-Sen: Lincoln Chafee

--TN-Sen: Bob Corker

--VA-Sen: George Allen

--VA-10: Frank Wolf

--WA-Sen: Mike McGavick

--WA-08: Dave Reichert

You can find the source code at the MyDD link below. Spread the love, baby.

Big h/t to Chris Bowers, via Kos and MyDD

And a special thanks to Lord Google for making this possible.

A Rude Test

2006-10-18T04:13:00.000-07:00

The Rude One has a great post up on how to properly frame the Iraq occupation debate.

A Quick and Easy Test to Determine Where You Stand on the Iraq War:
Let's say we line up, oh, hell, a couple hundred thousand American soldiers, fine men and women in combat uniform, officers, non-coms, grunts, and we put them on TV. Then George W. Bush walks in with a loaded glock. Now let's say that the President puts the gun to the temple of the first soldier and says, "If I shoot this Army private dead, there's a chance America will be victorious and democracy will bring peace to Iraq. Do you want me to do it?" There's no guarantees, though - just the chance. What would you say?

For the sake of argument here, let's say that you answer, "Yes, it's worth a soldier for the chance for peace in Iraq." So George W. Bush shoots the soldier in the temple and turns to his advisors, who check reports and, no, still no peace.

*snip*

How many soldiers would you let George W. Bush shoot dead? One? 3000? More? How many would you let him injure? 10? 20,000? More?

If you think the test is biased, unfair, and overly emotional, then you haven't been paying attention. For, really, and come on, is the current U.S. policy in Iraq any more wishful than a lottery of death and mutilation.

Feel free to play with friends. For big fun, substitute Iraqis and multiply by a couple hundred.

Thoughts on a show

2006-10-17T00:10:00.000-07:00

Cross-posted at The Babbling Academy (Lazarus Edition)

Evening, all.

Thought I'd give a couple of concert reviews this week. The Dresden Dolls played the Crystal Ballroom last night, and The Decemberists will be playing the same venue tomorrow evening. I guess I'll leave the set list on the front page, and my thoughts on the show "below the fold."

So...

Tunes:

Sing (video), The Dresden Dolls
Backstabber (Live), The Dresden Dolls
The Perfect Fit, The Dresden Dolls
Truce, The Dreden Dolls
Just People And Leaves, The Red Paintings
Walls, The Red Paintings

Enjoy!

(Let's make believe that blogger is cool enough for me to do this in post/extended post format)

------------------------------------------------------------------

The Dresden Dolls.
I got there at about 9:00. There were two opening acts. The Red Paintings played as a two piece combo. Apparently they've had a whole slew of problems this tour. Last night, one of their vehicles crapped out. Several of the band members did not make it to the show, so the violinist and the guitarist/singer performed together. It was great. They were very friendly, and the crowd really got into it. Ono, if you're out there, they're from your continent, so when they get back there, check 'em out.

Jason Webley followed The Red Paintings. Really high energy, got everybody on their feet pretty quick. Which is weird, 'cuz it's just him and his accordion. Think Tom Waits meets Jimmy Durante (credit to my friend Bean for that observation), with a dash of Weird Al. I absolutely loved it. Fairly short set, though. I think he did four songs, plus a guest appearance with The Dresden Dolls later on.

And then the Dolls went on.

Amanda was losing her voice, but it didn't sound bad. The scratchy voice thing really goes well with music that's as emotional as the Dresden Dolls. And damn, did they put emotion into that show. The entire set was great. Webley came out about halfway through and did an abbreviated cover of "Living On A Prayer", with Amanda playing drums and Brian on guitar. They also covered "Mad World" (Tears For Fears), with the singer/guitarist from The Red Paintings doing lead vocals and playing guitar.

Amanda said that they were going to do "The Jeep Song", but, because her voice was going out, she couldn't hit the high notes in the verses. So, The Brigade selected several members of the audience to come up and provide backing vocals. Sounded decent, all of the folks that got on stage knew the song.

"Half-Jack", "Sing", and "Girl Anachronism" were also fantastic, but I enjoyed "Backstabber" the most, I think.

I can't do them justice here, but The Brigade are a great addition to live shows. Much kudos to them

So, yeah. Overall, probably an 8 or 9 out of 10 as far as indoor concerts go (for me, at least). The venue is great. The whole floor is set on springs, the ballroom atmosphere is perfect for the Dolls, and the people were having a good time.

So, that's all I got.

Many blessings!

p.s.

Enjoy the unofficial video for "Backstabber"!

From the General

2006-10-08T01:09:00.000-07:00

I don't really have much in the way of commentary to add to this, but I'd just like to say how much it pisses me off to see these assholes trying to prevent high school kids from promoting tolerance. I don't get why, in an age of school shootings and apathetic teens, anyone would try to silence voices preaching peace and understanding.

Anyway, the General's satire is better for this sort of thing than my poorly written irritation, so...

A threat greater than the homosexuals

Dr. Benjamin A. Soria

Superintendent, Yakima County School District

Dear Dr. Soria,

I know you're going to catch a lot of heat for canceling A. C. Davis High's production of The Laramie Project.
Godless promoters of tolerance will certainly point out that there is nothing in the script that anyone would find offensive, but that is a lie. The play is a brutal indictment of one of our most effective tools for enforcing cultural conformity--the use of violence against those who would corrupt our culture by acting on their in-born attraction to those of their own gender. The Laramie Project demeans our long tradition of encouraging homophobia. It flings mud upon the Jackboots of Righteousness we've shined so lovingly for generations. What could be more offensive than that?

Link to full post

Harry Nilsson sings Coconut

2006-10-04T19:08:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't seen this

2006-09-28T04:19:00.000-07:00

Robert Newman's History Of Oil

Update
Credit where it's due:
This video was pointed out to me by MAT.
Thanks, Miss Anne!

Juan Cole has a few things to say about the NIE.

2006-09-27T06:14:00.000-07:00

A brief excerpt:

You can see the rise of anti-US sentiments under Bush most starkly in non-Arab countries such as Turkey and Indonesia which used to like us, believe it or not. In 2002, 52 percent of Turks had a favorable view of the US. In 2006, 12 percent of Turks have a favorable view of the US. In 2000, 75 percent of Indonesians had a favorable view of the US. In 2006, 30 percent of Indonesians have a favorable view of the US.

Even in major European countries such as France, Germany, Spain and the UK, Bush has cut the approval rating for the US in half or nearly so. Isn't that a bad sign, when the publics in our NATO allies rethink their view of us so radically? Won't we need the support of those publics at some point?

Bush by his Iraq misadventure has made us hated in much of the world, and especially in the Muslim world. Communist China is now widely viewed as mush less dangerous than the democratic United States. Don't you think that might turn into actual consequences?

Here's a link to the rest of the post.

Cross posted at The Babbling Academy.

Some Tunes

2006-09-22T02:44:00.000-07:00

Elegantly Wasted, INXS

Naked Eye (The Propellerheads Remix), Luscious Jackson

Dragula (Hot Rod Herman Remix), Rob Zombie

In A World Gone Mad, The Beastie Boys

Burn Baby, Burn, Ash

Cobrastyle, Teddybears

Portland, Oregon, Loretta Lynn and Jack White

conbo is a fucking genius

2006-09-21T01:59:00.000-07:00

I can't stop laughing.

Credit where it's due:

best daily show clip EVER:

Jason Jones on The Daily Show and the dangers of gays in the military:

Posted by: conbo at September 21, 2006 4:41 AM

Blue Monks and Muddy Waters

2006-09-21T00:38:00.000-07:00

Right.

Faboo evening tonight.

No.

Wait.

Start again.

Woke up today feeling pretty miserable. I must've slept poorly (given the state of my "bed", this comes as no surprise), because I woke up to a pounding headache. Took a couple of excedrin, which didn't help one damn bit. Thought I was gonna have to deal with a migraine while I attended Kevin's reading. As you can imagine, this did not make me very happy.

As it was, I managed to get a bit of necessary shopping done in the course of the cross-town drive. And then I sat in traffic for nearly an hour. Bleh. Headache got worse. I got cranky.

Arrived at the venue with a bit more than a half hour to spare, so I got an espresso. And was reminded that sometimes caffeine can do wonders for a headache. By the time Cathy arrived, I felt pretty good.

The reading itself was great. Tom Spanbauer is a very gracious human being, and I quite enjoyed meeting him. The Dangerous Writers were also good folks. Some very good writing going on there. Naturally, I'm a bit biased towards Kevin's material, although everyone that read was quite impressive.

We hung out for a bit after the reading, and then made our way to the Blue Monk for a few drinks and some dinner. Pretty good pasta, and a great beer and wine selection available. One of the few places I've been to with a decent number of Belgian ales, including two on tap.

Charles kept us entertained most of the evening. That's kind of his thing. He's brash, and obnoxious, but I enjoy his company. In measured doses, of course. Cathy and Ericka were a pleasure as always. Both lovely women, with more brains and perspective than I've been blessed with. Kevin was in good spirits, but seemed a bit subdued. He's got a nasty cold right now, imagine he'll bounce back in the next day or so.

I think it's about time to book another coast trip with the Rapid City folks. We oughta be able to get a decent off-peak rate for one of the cabins again. Do some crabbing, get drunk and lounge in the hot tub. Ahh...

Alright, I 'm rambling. I don't have that headache anymore, but I feel like there's a cold (Kevin's?) trying to creep up on me. Think I'll start a fire, and call it a night.

Much love, and many blessings.

Regime Change

2006-09-12T01:55:00.000-07:00

Painting by Wayne Coe

S-11 Redux

2006-09-11T04:25:00.000-07:00

Channel surfing the Apocalypse, via GNN

...And The Waves

2006-08-29T04:43:00.000-07:00

Today's music is brought to you via The Babbling Academy.
I was going to just post it, and then it occurred to me what day it is.

One year ago, that bitch showed up.

I was still in a self imposed exile at Barger.
Incommunicado.

Must have been going home early for Labor Day. I remember hearing something on the radio about the weather, but I've never really paid to much attention to that sort of thing.

And then I turned on the t.v. at Mom's house. Hadn't watched t.v. in months, I guess. Flipped right over to CNN.

And wept.

There's a certain dichotomy here. Walking On Sunshine is a fun song. Used to remind me of Ange. Now, it's the name of the band that sticks in my head. I know it seems flip to post that, but I don't mean it that way.

So, she gets that, and one more, and then I'll post the playlist.

"A year she said and you shook your head
Said I'm surprised it's gone on that long
Baby, baby, baby bitch
For words I am at a loss"

---

Evening.
Or morning.
Whatever.
I can't sleep.

I like this set. I can't seem to find the thread, but I think it all goes together somehow.

Goddess On A Hiway, Mercury Rev

Five On It (Remix), Luniz, featuring Dru Down, E-40, Richie Rich, Shock G, Spice 1

Empire (Video), Kasabian

Finch On A Saturday, Horse Feathers

Yeah, alright maybe it doesn't all go well together, but that's tonight's set.

Much love, many blessings

2006-08-26T00:29:00.000-07:00

Via The Babbling Academy

<crap><header><disclaimer>piracy = "communism";<justification>educational = "doubleplus good"</justification></disclaimer></header>

<something witty>I got nothing, sorry</something witty>

<tunes>

Processed Beats, Kasabian

Lost Souls Forever, Kasabian

F-Stop Blues, Jack Johnson

Behind The Sun, Red Hot Chili Peppers

Dumb, Nirvana

Hotdog In A Hallway, NOFX

Dying, Hole

</tunes>

<close>Many blessings</close>

</crap>

George Washington

2006-08-23T12:50:00.000-07:00

My buddy Kevin turned me on to this video. I laugh my ass off everytime I see it.

What a week I've had!

2006-08-23T00:46:00.000-07:00

Housesitting.

Never really minded doing it before, but I've been at it for three weeks now, for three different houses. I have to be at Kevin's house at least every six hours, have to be at my house twice a day, and on top of that, I've been helping out in northeast for the last four days or so. Plus a very brief side trip over Cornelius Pass to see Miss Anne and Husbot! Am glad things are calming down again tomorrow.

I have to pick up Ericka and Kevin at the airport, at which time Ericka will learn that Holly's tumor has come back with a vengeance. :( Kevin knows, but we both figure that there's no point in making the South Dakota visit any more unpleasant than necessary, so Ericka hasn't been told yet. I really hope that they can treat this, but it's moved pretty aggressively in the last five days or so.

On the positive side, the momma kitty that adopted Kevin and Ericka's porch has decided to trust me. That may have something to do with the fact that I feed her. She sure looks like she needs it. So skinny! The babies (actually, I've only seen one, but Kevin says there are three) only stare from a distance. Such a beautiful little cat. It's a little white puff ball, with grey ears, nose, and tail, and brilliant blue eyes. I am having a very hard time not adopting them, but I really don't have the space. Besides, I think Baby and Bitch would be furious at me if I brought home kittens.

Gonna try to get down to Eugene in the next day or so to see my brother. He's really enjoying the new job. That makes me happy. I'm so proud of him.

Anyway, I'm gonna go lurk at a few blogs, might post a tune or two at one of the MRR type blogs.

Much love, many blessings.

Of Bikes and Books

2006-08-14T03:21:00.000-07:00

So.

I've been riding the old Schwinn around the bike trails on Clinton Street. It's been years since I rode a bike last. It's really the only kind of exercise I enjoy enough to do regularly. And since Nate and Katie are back this week, I'll probably get in a few rides with them. I have to get a mountain bike. Trying to keep up while riding a heavy, single speed cruiser is not fun. Hills are fucking miserable.

Picked up Watership Down tonight while visiting Kevin and Ericka. Great book. I think I've only read it once since high school, so this'll be a treat. I started it at midnight, and I'm 97 pages in. Also picked up a Tom Robbins novel that Kevin recommended. Another Roadside Attraction is the title. So far, I've never been disappointed with his choice in literature. Tom Robbins will, however, have to wait until I finish reading about Fiver and Hazel.

Um...

Did I mention that I just finished The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy? How in the hell did I miss this book? I've never even picked up a Douglas Adams novel, but it's had the same effect on me as On A Pale Horse (Piers Anthony is a god). I have to get my hands on everything this guy wrote, and read it quick. akaHusbot was kind enough to loan me the original BBC six part mini-series, along with the book. Am planning on taking that over to enjoy with Kevin and Ericka.

I was gonna bitch about a few things, but this post just seems so nice and upbeat, I'm gonna leave it alone.

Many blessings!

Nothing in particular

2006-08-10T22:09:00.000-07:00

Just a few quick thoughts, I've got work to do.

I saw Whit again for the first time since she got married. Weird. Heard her say "my husband." That was just bizarre. Good discussion, though. We talked about the links between the decimation of the Amazon, and the lemming march of the glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica.

My brother (Quintus, in the pics on the bike) just got offered a job at the Bier Stein, as general manager. He's 22 years old, I told him that he should take it, great people to work for. Pays pretty good, too.

And in other news, the MRR blogger ladies have set up a couple of fantastic alt blogs.

Here they are

Wil's new blog

Shell's (OUR) MRR Blog

OMFG!

2006-08-09T04:00:00.000-07:00

LAMONT!

w00t!

We won one.

Less than 100 days out.

Save Sam Seder while you're celebrating.

Keep working.

LAMONT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-08-08T11:20:00.000-07:00

C'mon, baby.

Time to see that Liebermortis.

2006-08-04T04:01:00.000-07:00

Matt Taibbi bitch-slaps David Brooks

Brooks is the perfect priest of American conservatism, and by conservatism I don't mean the bloodthirsty, gun-toting, go-back-to-Africa, welfare-bashing right-winger conservatism of the NRA and Sean Hannity and the Bible Belt. I mean the dickless, power-worshipping, good-consumer pragmatic conservatism of Times readers and those other Bobos in Paradise who have exquisitely developed taste in furniture, coffee and television programming but would rather leave the uglier questions of politics to more decisive people, so long as they aren't dangerous radicals like Michael Moore or Markos Zuniga.

That's why the marriage of David Brooks and the Democratic Leadership Council makes perfect sense. It's repugnant and the kind of thing one should shield young children from knowing about, but it makes perfect sense. Both prefer a policy of being "cautious soldiers," "incrementalists" who shun upheavals and vote the status quo, although they subscribe to this policy for different reasons. Brooks worships the status quo because he has no penis and wants to spend the rest of his life buying periwinkle bath towels without troubling interruptions of conscience. The DLC, a nonprofit created in the mid-1980s to help big business have a say in the Democratic Party platform, supports the status quo because they are paid agents of the commercial interests that define it.

Even Falafel Bill agrees.

2006-07-28T02:20:00.000-07:00

This amuses me.

Busy, busy, busy

2006-07-27T04:28:00.000-07:00

Right.

So I saw the Dresden Dolls last night, great show. I was completely prepared for Amanda Palmer to steal the show, but it was Brian who really impressed me. The man is simply an amazing percussionist. Their rendition of "War Pigs" literally left me with my mouth open. The whole set (which was unfortunately cut short) was great, but Backstabber and Girl Anachronism seemed particularly tight, with an honorable mention going to "Hit Me Baby, One More Time".

The headlining act was much less entertaining. Panic at The Disco is simply not my thing, to be quite honest. They appeared to be aping some of the style of bands like The Dresden Dolls or perhaps Rasputina, but where both of those groups succeed, Panic failed miserably. It seemed to be a prepackaged, teeny bop parody of the punk cabaret show I was looking for.

The Dresden Dolls ended up continuing the show at The Mission Theater, combining the event with Amanda's "Fuck The Back Row" project, but, alas, it was not to be. Laurel is not of legal age to attend, so we left the Expo, and I took her home. Had a good conversation with her on the drive, really enjoying getting to know her. Good soul, that one.

Talked to Dan and Suzy for a bit, then left for home.

Laurel sent me a copy of a story she's written. I enjoyed it quite a bit, although I'll save that for later. I will say she's quite talented.

That's all for now.

When I Die...

2006-07-23T04:46:00.000-07:00

When I die, I hope this is what awaits me.

Temperature and Pressure

2006-07-23T03:33:00.000-07:00

Does it seem to you that everyone has been rather pissy lately?

I offer the following list of culprits.

First, the ME is heating up again quite badly (not the temperature, we'll get to that presently). Israel seems pretty intent on using Lebanon to make an example to the rest of its neighbors. Problem is, the rest of the world's not buying ('cept us, of course), although I don't think Israel gives a fuck how the rest of the world feels.

Bad juju.

Secondly, there's the cost of gasoline (which ties in rather nicely with the above). I'm getting a real bargain at $2.759 for regular, although I have to put premium in Lydia's tank, or she gets grouchy. So, I actually pay 2.959 per gallon, which is still .$10-$.17 cheaper than most of the city. I don't know how people can do this. I worked in the credit industry for several years, I know that many families are only a paycheck or two away from bankruptcy. So how long are people gonna be able to keep up with the price of gas having more than doubled in the last five years?

I mean look, I'm not that bad off, and I'm feeling quite a bit pinched at nearly $3.00 per gallon.

Thirdly, the temperature. It was 111° Fahrenheit here two days ago. Yesterday, it was 104°. In fucking Portland! People are just not being very civil, as a result. I have noticed that this irritability is also occurring in other areas of the U.S., which are also dealing with record temperatures.

Anyway that's all for now. I'll find something else to bitch about later

Widening the corridors and adding more lanes.

2006-07-23T02:51:00.000-07:00

So, I won't waste a lot of time being all weepy, but JG and JOSH left the show on Friday, and I am kinda bummed.

I am sure they will both do well, but I hafta wonder what the future holds for SEDER. Found a new cartoon that he is doing at least one voice for, and I've heard he has pilot in the works, but no details so far.

Anyway, no more MRR stuff for now.

Quintus and Rissie

2006-07-18T02:49:00.000-07:00

Yay!

Momma Cicero sent me pics of my brother and niece on his new bike!

Posting them now.

Goodsell Art

2006-06-28T21:12:00.000-07:00

So, I just found an art page that I really enjoy. This one's my favorite.

Hmm...

2006-06-21T01:44:00.000-07:00

I've never been much of a diarist, and this blogging thing goes a bit against the grain, so to speak. I'll do my best not to let the page fall into neglect, but we'll see how well that actually works out.

Gonna try to upload a pic, now.

Oh, that worked quite nicely.

Right.

Let's see how that looks.