SnowDoesn'tSuck

Portland METRO

2010-09-15T16:23:00.003-05:00

Well. Hi there. It sure has been a while.

So, I was looking at the Portland METRO site yesterday. It's the site that covers the Greater Portland Transportation District. The site is usable, but just. I was having trouble planning any sort of a trip without switching back and forth between different route schedules. Then it occurred to me that "Hey, Google does it for me!" So, I headed on over to Google Maps. ("It's the best." / "True that!" / "Double True!" - Anyone? Anyone?) Unfortunately, after a try at their public transit direction, I noticed that, well, it didn't work. So I dug up the Google Transit, which is the same as the transit layer in Maps. Portland is not represented. Nor is anywhere in Maine. Or NH or VT.

Fools, I thought. Spend a bunch of money on IT and still have a half-ass'd website, or let Google do it for you. For free. And also better.

Well, in one of those moments of civic-minded web browsing, I decided to write to METRO. Within the site it is actually pretty difficult to find a "contact us" type thing. So naturally I settled for emailing the president of the METRO board of directors. I mentioned Google Transit and mentioned that in a tech savvy town like Portland they should really be involved. I didn't expect results, certainly, or a response of any sort. That guy is probably too busy for me, plus I may have come across as a bit snide. (Although I didn't mean it.)

And so, my first blog post in years is this news: This morning in my inbox I had a reply! Thank you, Kevin Donoghue! Unfortunately, METRO and other regional providers are in queue with Google. And "it could be a while ..."

So I'm psyched, but not, all at the same time. And, just to give Kevin more props, I will mention that I emailed the several other agencies, mostly at the State level, this summer. And never got a single response, even from the email address' listed for help and questions.

Beer Rules

2008-12-08T23:57:00.001-05:00

I wish I'd found this one, but i didn't. If you love beer, then click on this link and be happy that Goose found it, and simultaneously sad that you didn't.

Walmart sucks.

Exxon Mobil

2008-12-05T12:12:00.002-05:00

A couple weeks ago Exxon Mobil announced their third quarter profits. They again set a US record, with almost 15 billion dollars made.

From CNNMoney.com :

The latest quarter's net income equaled $1,865.69 per second, nearly $400 a second more than the prior mark.

Oh, and remember when Obama promised to enact a 'windfall' tax on the oil and gas industry, and use it to help families pay their heating costs? Well, that promise is gone off into the wild like the oil that blasts out my old uninsulated walls. (You can check his official www.change.gov to see where it isn't - in the economic section.) I guess its back to business as usual.

Cynicism Continues [an email to Ken Silverstein]

2008-11-19T14:57:00.001-05:00

In looking at your posts from 5 November I feel jealous of Len Cassamas' position, namely that he feels like a citizen again. I wonder if he lives in Ohio or Pennsylvania or some other battleground state. If he does I wonder if he would feel the same way if he did not?

I, unfortunately, am having trouble not being cynical – for many of the reasons (money) that you point out. I do rejoice at the notion that we have elected a black man president. But some evidence already raises questions in my mind. In my little corner of the country all the McCain signs are down. But what of the Obama signs? Many still line the roads and intersections. This seems telling. Are they left there standing proud because of this historic vote, or are they there gloating in self-satisfaction? If the first, then well justified. If the second then we have good reason to be cynical.

I think my cynicism can be dispelled through some important acts, which must take place not within the first 100 days of Obama's term, but in the first 10.

Commence closing the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. The suspension of habeas corpus is the most troubling of the many offenses for which the sword of impeachment should have been swung on W. The closing of this camp would not go unnoticed around the world.

An executive order halting the use of torture and rendition for the DOD, CIA, FBI, everyone. And re-affirmation that the USA is in fact a signatory of the Geneva Conventions, and that they apply to our captives.

What a start that would be. Then maybe I'll start feeling like a citizen of the world again.

LSD

2008-11-16T11:56:00.003-05:00

On this day in 1938 LSD was invented. And music quickly got better.

Open Comment to Hannaford

2008-11-14T19:29:00.000-05:00

The past few times I've been into the Damariscotta store I have only been able to locate Mexican avocados. This particular item is of particular importance because the US import restrictions on Mexican avocados have recently been loosened. (Californian avocado growers are alarmed by this, not only because they have enjoyed some level of protectionism, but also due to very real pest and disease concerns.) I think that you should offer customers a choice of USA/Californian fruit vs. Mexican fruit. I don't think the lowest price should be the only criteria for your produce buyers.

This I think also applies to many other produce items and other goods. Especially in these uncertain/poor economic times, consumers should have a choice among competing local/national/international goods.

Thanks for your time.

Observation

2008-11-06T15:30:00.003-05:00

Between here and Rockland there is not a single visible McCain sign still stuck in ground. There are, however, dozens of Obama signs still upright and visible. Gloating, anyone?

The Cost of Democracy

2008-10-22T20:19:00.001-05:00

Gross National Product:

Malta: $5.49 billion

Madagascar: $5.37 billion

Cambodia: $5.34 billion

Spending on Fall 2008 U.S. Elections: $5.3 billion

Burkina Faso: $5.24 billion

Mali: $5.12 billion

Nicaragua: $4.97 billion

Bahamas: $4.92 billion

[from Ken Silverstein]

Nader for President

2008-10-22T07:25:00.001-05:00

McCain Edit

2008-10-08T22:06:00.003-05:00

2008-10-08T21:47:00.003-05:00

So a hacker broke into Sarah Palin's email account, and exposed the fact that (as Governor) she subverted the Open Records Act by using private email accounts to conduct public business.

From Harper's:

The prosecutors in this case owe us some explanations. And they should start by disclosing who at the Justice Department concluded that a bigger manhunt should be launched against a University of Tennessee computer hacker out to embarrass a Republican political candidate than the Bush Administration sent out after Osama bin Laden at Tora Bora. At a minimum we’re looking at some seriously twisted priorities.

2008-10-05T18:26:00.001-05:00

Maine Senator Watch

2008-10-02T08:30:00.004-05:00

I was recently (somewhat) excited to see that Snowe and Collins are (according to the National Review) the most liberal Republican Senators in Washington.

On the other hand, they did both just vote for the lame-ass bailout bill. Which is a lot of our F-ing money to be spending (on shite securities) without any real idea of what the hell is going on. $700 million could save a hell of a lot of Americans from bankruptcy and foreclosure.

[Obama and McCain also voted for this bill. Both are clueless.]

I Can't Wait

2008-09-30T09:29:00.003-05:00

So I did finally get my act together and start doing a little bit of looking around at this Sarah Palin character. Now she's what I call dumb. Tragically so. Inarticulate. Unprepared. Useless.

In fact, pretty much all you need to know is right here in the interview that Katie Couric did on CBS.

Still not sure if you feel comfortable with her being the number two in Washington? Have a go at the second half of the interview.

I almost can't wait for the vice presidential debate, which I believe is Thursday. I'm really looking forward to the possibility of another Dan Quayle type moment.

That's OUR Money

2008-09-26T17:15:00.001-05:00

Police State

2008-03-14T01:21:00.002-05:00

Comments?

Jefferson on Power

2008-03-11T11:10:00.001-05:00

"I wish that all nations may recover and retain their independence; that those which are overgrown may not advance beyond safe measures of power, that a salutary balance may be ever maintained among nations, and that our peace, commerce, and friendship, may be sought and cultivated by all. It is our business to manufacture for ourselves whatever we can, to keep our markets open for what we can spare or want; and the less we have to do with the amities or enmities of Europe, the better. Not in our day, but at no distant one, we may shake a rod over the heads of all, which may make the stoutest of them tremble. But I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power, the greater it will be.

–Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thomas Leiper, June 12, 1815, in: The Writings of Thomas Jefferson (Memorial ed.), vol. 14, p. 308 (Jefferson anticipates the doctrine of soft power)

Still Think You're a Dem?

2008-03-08T13:56:00.002-05:00

Read this, and be afraid. Very afraid.

[http://harpers.org/archive/2008/03/hbc-90002574]

Why I'm Voting for Nader

2008-03-01T21:01:00.000-05:00

[Cross posted from The F Show]

Obama has been a senator for, what, not even 4 years? And apparently he learns fast (from the rest of the degenerates in Washington.)

This story is just more evidence.

I have the audacity to hope that it's not true.

I'm Not Back, But This is Good ...

2007-10-12T15:15:00.000-05:00

2007-05-06T18:54:00.000-05:00

2007-04-12T16:43:00.001-05:00

Imus' Explosion

2007-04-11T21:37:00.000-05:00

Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.

I'm glad that racism and bigotry are a big deal. They should be. But I also know what every 5th grader in the country knows. See above. Then get over it.

I Love TV Again

2007-03-09T07:44:00.000-05:00

No, I still don't have a TV. But I did come by a DVD of The Office [Season 1] and I'm pretty hooked. I'm sure i'm 3 seasons behind, no idea how long it's been on the tele, but for once I'm actually psyched to get another DVD.

Other things I've seen recently:

Control Room - Story of Al Jazeera during the early Iraq war, evidence of the "different sources, different truths" doctrine. Lead PR spin guy from the military has since quit his job and taken a job with Al Jazeera. [**** 4 stars]
Out Foxed - Who knew, Fox News is neither fair nor balanced? Documentary of how insidious they really are. Nothing new, but good for the masses. [*** 3 stars]
V For Vendetta - Took me a while to see this one, but it's pretty solid. Definite 1984-type rip of the possible future, but some alarming strings tied to the present. [*** 3 stars]
The Departed - Interesting. Not sure if it's as good as everyone else seems to think, but certainly well-worth the watch. Kate Blanchett is hot in this movie, as opposed to scary as shit (ie. Lord of the Rings) Not a big fan of the plot twist at the end that seems a little to easy. [**** 4 stars]
Van Wilder II: The Rise of Taj - I won't even consider this piece of monkey dung. I haven't seen it, I won't see it, why did they make it? National Lampoon is sliding downhill. John Belushi is crying. But at least he's drunk.

Read What I Read?

2007-03-05T22:03:00.000-05:00

Since I don't have anything clever to say, I will just plug my new feature. If you're ever curious about what sort of drivel I'm reading on the Internets, just look to the top pane to the right.

---

The Goose and Danielle have another little one on the way, keeping up with the Goodwins, as it were.

Speaking of, congratulations to Goody and Amy for their Molly. And then there were four.

The Goods on CFLs

2007-02-23T17:11:00.000-05:00

The Goods on CFLs
(get it?)

Goody asks a good question:
"Johnson, make 10 Million dollars, and buy everyone in America 1 of these lightbulbs. It would reduce emissions by 800,000 tons/year.

But on the downside, there is a small amount of mercury in these bulbs. How do we dispose of them?"

I would love to make 10 million for this purpose. Or just to keep my lazy ass from having to work all that much anymore. But here's my skinny on the deal...it's a great question.

A deposit on them which is refundable when they are recycled? Don't think it would work well but it would be better than not. As with many things, doing the "right thing" is the answer (why pollute the environment by throwing them away when you can take them to be recycled?) Recycling the little devils is really pretty easy.

If you're buying, buy Phillips (and maybe GE?) because they have less Hg per bulb than others, less than 2mg each.

I also read somewhere that even with Hg in the bulbs, you save more Hg contamination from NOT burning coal for electricity (vs. incandescent bulbs).

Oh, and while we're at it, there is quite a lot (relatively speaking) of mercury in cars. There are trace amounts in many switches, but there are a lot of switches in your car. What do we do with cars these days? In Maine we drive them out back and let them rust into the ground. We don't even take them to the junkyard, which at least moves all the pollution to someone else's land...

What Can Washington Learn From Corporate America?

2007-02-22T20:44:00.000-05:00

What Can Washington Learn From Corporate America?

To answer this question, you need only look here to see what JetBlue did after it fucked over its passengers for a week. They issued an apology. I don't even think they're bullshitting, any more than anyone would in such an instance. At least in as much as it effects their bottom line, I think that JetBlue is genuinely sorry that they blew it. (When it comes to corporations, what more can you ask them to be genuine about?)

How about just a little accountability in the halls of power? It's not too much to ask. Even now I would relish the release of such a statement by FEMA regarding the Katrina debacle. Plagiarize the damn thing, change a couple of words and you've got it. Would it be so bad for the government to own up to its failures? And, more importantly, where does that patent denial stem from? Is it a reflection of the populace as a whole? Are we, as a people, unable to own up to our wrongs, our transgressions, our fuck shows? Does this tie together with the culture of blame in this country, the reliance on tort and lawsuit to assign culpability (anyone but me) to all events?

Is this genetic defect in the country's collective DNA responsible for both a $2.9 million McDonald's coffee lawsuit and a generalized inability to take responsibility for action? Did we, as a nation, learn this from our government? How would our grandfathers, and our grandfather's government, deal with these same issues?

NotPocalypse

2007-02-22T20:38:00.000-05:00

Today's sign that the end may not be as close as I fear:

Australia yesterday decided to ban traditional incandescent light bulbs. They will be phased out over the next 3 years.

Globally, lighting accounts for about 3/4 as much Carbon emission as cars do.

SHOCKing and AWEful

2007-02-20T11:01:00.000-05:00

Show this to yourself.

Iraq: The Hidden Story

Burning Bushes

2007-02-03T09:29:00.000-05:00

A Call For Sequels

2007-01-25T18:52:00.000-05:00

So maybe this is a little past due. But I wanted to throw something out there: the long MLK day weekend in Portland was a bitchin' time. (I am sorry that Z injured himself of course, but other than that...) I'm rather glad that .5 inches of snow kicked the Visco's and my ass into not leaving.

I want to call for repetition. I think that perhaps once every two months would be gooder than not.

- Jen was a Major rockstar all weekend. 4 Stars.
- Drunk trivial is actually as fun as I remember it being in college.
- Drinking all day Sunday is a sign that God may in fact exist. (Not working on Monday is proof.)
- Aahnna puking: 4 stars. Not feeding the dog? 1 Star penalty.

As Visco pointed out recently, sometimes sequels are as good as the original.

Good Morning, Guantanamo

2007-01-18T20:54:00.000-05:00

The pentagon released rules for detainee trials this week. They include, I shit you not, the ability to use hearsay as valid evidence against the defendant. Hearsay is evidence based on the reports of others (not direct knowledge) and is therefore not generally admissible in court, or important for that matter. It's sorta like if Visco told me some guy from RiRa said he saw Joe kissing some dude in the kitchen I wouldn't just take it as fact that Joe is gay. But the tribunals in Guantanamo would.

NotPocalypse

2007-01-12T21:27:00.000-05:00

[Today's Sign That the Apocalypse Is Not As Near As I Think]

WallyWorld has accepted bids on what could become the largest solar power project in history. If they proceed it will be 50x larger than the (currently biggest) Google corporate headquarters solar array.

At the end of February Walmart will announce a decision, so they still have ample time to reverse course. But there is some small measure of hope.

Generation Z

2007-01-12T07:35:00.000-05:00

[click me to make me big and readable]

Ars Discordia

2007-01-10T22:24:00.000-05:00

Well, I just listened to the best thing ever: hearing the Shrub (try) to speak. It really amuses me. The speaking part anyway. (What he says? That, my friends, is a horse of a different fucking color.)

So there is this: Shrub speaking reminds me of, well, me speaking. Only the me I'm referring to is 18 and hungover, is fumbling thru COM 103 in his first semester at UMaine, and is not the leader of the free world.

---

The title of this post is Ars Discordia. It's Latin, but i don't know if it means anything. I took Latin in High School, and you can imagine that my grammar (never good) has not exactly improved since that time. The point is that I am considering starting another blog. One that I will probably not write in. But I might. And if i did it would be slightly more serious political and social commentary. Less swearing and more detail-oriented.

It is unclear to me at this late hour whether or not this is a good idea. Is it respect for the few people who read my blog that I might split off my mundane musing from my leftist babble? Or is it vanity, thinking that some people would actually read two different blogs posted by me?

These things I don't know, so in honor of "sitting on the fence" I will write a new post. I give you, my loyal but tiny audience the opportunity to either read it below, or on Ars Discordia (where there is also a definition.)

Strategy v Tactics -or- How Bush is Stupid

2007-01-10T21:37:00.000-05:00

Strategy: the planning and conduct of battles to gain the end of war

Tactics: a plan for engaging and defeating an enemy in battle

---

George Bush has finally made his appearance. He waited. He hid. By keeping the doors closed and the phone lines secure since the November elections, Bush has effectively held the citizenry of this country in limbo. Equally important, but almost always forgotten, he has kept the citizenry of Iraq hostage to the terror and strife that descended there in the aftermath of our "mission accomplished" victory.

For two months the President and his staff have been talking about the unveiling of a new "strategy" in Iraq. Their words.

We can look at the definitions above and see that strategy is big picture. Tactics are small picture. You win a battle with tactics. You win the war with strategy. Are battles important? Absolutely. But not if they don't help towards your objective. In terms of football: first downs are only useful if you don't turn the ball over ever possession.

So, what did Bush say? Well, he said basically only two things. (One might argue a third.) First, he said that he is ultimately responsible for the errors of the war thus-far. Interesting, but ultimately unimportant. We all knew this anyway; he's just attempting to gain some measure of credibility by his apparent humility. Second, he said he's sending in 21,000 more troops. And that's it.

What he didn't say is more telling. He did not say that we are going to change the mission of the troops that are in Iraq. He did not say that we are going to engage in aggressive diplomacy with the states of the region to enlist their help in stabilizing Iraq. He did not say that we are going to undertake a massive effort the likes of which haven't been seen since the end of WW II to rebuild the shattered country of Iraq. He did not say that the US will put massive pressure on the peace process in Israeli occupied territories to help treat the cause of the terrorism disease.

From what he didn't say we can deduce that he did not in fact change the strategy for the war. He changed the tactics. More troops. "Stay the Course II."

Sequels are always worse than the original.

Little Drummer Republicans

2006-12-19T20:58:00.000-05:00

I made this song in my mind today while I was working. To the tune of Little Drummer Boy.

Come, they told me rump-a-pum-pum.

Our gay-ass leaders to see pa rump-a-pum-pum

Our finest sons we send rump-a-pum-pum

Now I say to them rump-a-pum-pum
rump-a-pum-pum
rump-a-pum-pum

The president is an idiot for sure pa rump-a-pum-pum.

He attacked Iraq for oil pa rump-a-pum-pum.

Then Rumsfeld fucked all of our troops in the rump-a-pum-pum.

Georgie has his head stuck way up his rump-a-pum-pum.

Condi straps one on so she can give it in the rump-a-pum-pum.

Ted Haggart thinks that Heaven is in some other dude's rump-a-pum-pum.

Mark Foley loves to get all up in his page's rump-a-pum-pum.

Now it's time to get all up in their rump-a-pum-pum.

And change this shit pa rump-a-pum-pum.

...

This Guy's an Idiot

2006-12-18T16:49:00.000-05:00

Our friend, Mr Tom DeLay, is a fuck-show. He started a blog that actually allowed comments ... for 75 minutes. Before they all got deleted some dude took a snap shot...

Some of the comments are pure genius...have a look here, I particularly like the assclown one.

Morning Post

2006-12-13T06:55:00.000-05:00

I wake up every morning at 6, and usually listen to a a couple (30) minutes of public radio. The last few mornings I keep hearing about the Shrub and how he is now committed to changing course in Iraq. (But he still doesn't want to pull out early - that would be warus interruptus.) Wasn't it last month that we were winning the war?

But I digress: First she was going to make a big speech before Christmas and let all of his adoring fans in on the "new plan" for victory. Now, the internets and NPR are reporting it will be January before the big announcement.

Translation: For the next 3 weeks at least, 4 Americans will die every day while the military continues in the current manner, that now even Shrub recognizes to be failed.

How do you ask a soldier to be the next to die for a mission that soon will no longer exist?

I couldn't. But Shrubbery can; he doesn't even mind asking an extended number of soldiers that question, and exacting the last full measure of payment while he wanders around Washington and the world having meetings and reading memos.

Odds and Ends

2006-12-11T19:58:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Goods for pointing out the best little mini-flick I've seen in some time.

The other one being a Bill Maher piece on new colognes being offered for the holidays:

George Bush's Quagmire - if you use it she won't want to pull out
Spray it in your undisclosed location - Dick Cheney's Go Fuck Yourself

[By the way, the HBO show Real Time is pretty fantastic, and the episode from which the above was lifted was great...podcast it in iTunes. Listen to Richard Dreyfuss, he's quite brilliant. ]

In other news, you can send some of the holiday spirit here.

The New Horror

2006-12-08T09:09:00.000-05:00

Dread Mullet: The new horror that has taken hold of America!

Open Letter to Shrub

2006-12-02T21:53:00.000-05:00

Let me be perfectly clear here. You very obviously have no idea what is going on in the world. Nor do you have the mental acuity to heed even the other idiots who are closest to you and will soon call for our disengagement from this fools errand in Iraq.

Mr Shrub, how is Iraq like Vietnam? We'll win unless we quit? You said that last week, and I'm still puzzled. It sounds like something my god damn track couch spouted on the practice field. No blood or death there, just pride. Not so in war, you jackass. Comments like this allow even the most dimwitted of us to see you for what you are. Your callous disregard for life, Iraqi and yes, American, can only be treachery - the high crimes and misdemeanors worthy of a House impeachment. That impeachment will not be forthcoming, but one will. You will be impeached in the court of public opinion and found guilty by the jury of history; an offense not easily pardoned by a future Republican president.

Since you seem incapable of reason on the simplest plane of normal human existence, perhaps thru art you can be persuaded. A recent pop movie smash hit was titled Spiderman. I know you saw it, it doesn't take a whackjob like you to fantasize over Kirsten Dunst. Most of the movie was monosyllabic enough for you to understand it. You may have missed something very poignant however, since it didn't involve all that much action. At this one point in the movie, the one I'm sure you missed, Peter Parker's uncle tells him that "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility." You should think long and hard about this, and what it could mean - how could it apply to you?

If you're grinning in answer to this query, thinking that you are soon to be in Kirsten's pants with Laura none the wiser, then I applaud your myopic tunnel vision. Or perhaps I will paint you a grimmer picture Mr Shrub, one without a young aspiring actress draped over your knee. Parker, you see, is America. He has great power, he is a 'superhero'. America too has power, it is a 'superpower'. Thus, a metaphor. Get it? Now for the hard stuff, the power and responsibility part. You are the illegitimate leader of America. Illegitimate as you may be, you are still the leader. Now take the next step. I know you can't do it, so I'll help: America has great power, and you lead America. Thus, you have great responsibility. And as my final gesture of good will I will tell you that responsibility is the sense in which one is responsible for achieving (or maintaining) a good result in some matter. The idea, Shrub, is that one is entrusted with achieving or maintaining this outcome, and expected to both have relevant knowledge and skills, and to make a conscientious effort.

We somehow have entrusted you ma'am. And through lies, deceit, idiocy and cowardice you have neglected your responsibility, you have neither achieved nor maintained anything good. On these grounds and those outlined above I call for your impeachment and removal from office and ask the God that you so often call on to take heavenly mercy on your twisted soul.

A Helping Hand

2006-12-01T21:06:00.000-05:00

My new weekly segment: The best thing in the world.

This week the award goes to Kiva.org which allows people like us to help the working poor around the world with micro-loans to fan the flames of entrepreneurial spirit.

Loan terms very, usually around a year in length. Thus far Kiva has 100% repayment.

The guy I sent $25 bucks to (he could still use a few more): Ion Cernoivanenco

I encourage everyone to pass this along, loan money if you can, and hope that maybe the internets will save the world yet.

Computer Climate Prediction

2006-12-01T07:08:00.000-05:00

ClimatePrediction
&
Bionic

Download Bionic, it's an open source program that shares your computer's extra clock ticks with projects that need the help, in this case a climate prediction model. Sorry, no Mac version that I know of.

Bottom Line: Reduce your carbon footprint by making use of idle CPU time, and feel good that you are proving Shrub more wrong with every passing millisecond.

James Bondage

2006-11-30T22:24:00.000-05:00

The new Bond is blond and blue eyed. He's an fucking Aryan, so what? No chest hair? That, my friends, is a horse of a different color. Part of what makes Bond, Bond, is that he bucks the magazine model stereotype - and still slays bad guys and good girls alike.

But enough of that. The new film rocks. It is certainly a shot in that arm that so badly needed it after the last two films blew goat ass. (I did consider the first Brosnan film [Goldeneye] to be worth the watch.) The action is solid, the acting is good, entertainment value is high. There is darkness here. It crosses a number of lines that are unknown to Bond films. There is also insight into his soul, or lack there-of as it turns out.

Complaints: plot is a little too twisty, I still don't have it quite figured out in all its nuances. Card scenes are a little long and Texas Hold 'Em is just a little too chic right now to make any sense (suddenly I'm watching ESPN...).

Bottom Line: Best action/thriller I've seen in some time. Worth the 8 bucks.

But What the Hell Do I Know?

2006-11-25T18:52:00.000-05:00

Part I:

1. If the vote is the fundamental keystone of democracy, why the fuck do we vote for president by proxy? Deep six the electoral college. Get rid of it, it's old, it's lame, its antiquated. Most people don't even know what or why it is.

1a. While we're at it, make all electronic voting machines print a paper ticket hard copy of the vote to be signed by the voter, and saved until hell freezes over or pigs fly, whichever comes first.

2. Get out of NAFTA. It will only take 6 months. Free trade is never free. See well-paying jobs hemorrhage south to Mexico. The only people that it helps are executives. Ending our freak involvement in this 'deal' will start putting the middle class back in the middle. Consequently consumers will have enough buying power not to have to buy cheap Walmart crap, which seems to be about the only argument in favor of NAFTA.

3. Force Israel to get the hell out of the west bank and occupied territories. (Sorry Drew.) We can, because the Washington has more influence in Jerusalem than it does in San Fransisco. I'm no anti-Semite, but this conflict is messed up, and is directly responsible for almost all the animosity felt by the US from this part of the region. Now I agree that a country has the right to defend itself, but it wouldn't need to if it weren't taking land and killing civilians in a war decried by almost all the world, including the UN security council, as unjust.

4. Iraq. Good god, where to start. Get our troops home. They're not wanted, and can't do the job anyway thanks to Shrub and his lackeys. Start now. As they leave we should pay, in entirety, for an all-Muslim force to help the Iraqi army/police. We should fix all the destruction. Imagine if we spent 10% of what we're currently spending per day on reconstruction, water, electricity. That would save $1.6 Billion a week, and still be more than adequate to build schools, water treatment plants, roads, protect archeology sites and museums.

5. End the trade embargo with Cuba. It is a disgrace that the most powerful country in the world somehow finds it pertinent to starve and belittle our not-really-that-dangerous neighbor. The cold war is gone, get over it. Castro will die soon, let that be the 'excuse' we need to end the embargo. (It's sorta like the 5th grade bully stealing lunch money from the dorky 1st grader. What the fuck does it prove?) Remember that Cuba offered to send us 1,000 doctors after Katrina. We (read Bush) refused because, well, we are assholes and prefer the suffering of our own citizens to the help of a communist country.

The Giving of Thanks

2006-11-23T09:19:00.000-05:00

99,000 families still living in trailers in the Gulf region.
But we can spend 255 million in Iraq each day.

655,000 Iraqi civilian deaths due to US invasion.
And 33% of Americans still favor the war.

The national dept is very roughly 8.1 Trillion $.
And we're supposed to be scared of 'tax and spend' liberals.

Chew on This

2006-11-17T12:53:00.000-05:00

The election is over, and gas prices have stayed the same. Oh wait, they haven't.

I heard somewhere that on the 28th of this month the US will have been invloved in Iraq longer than we were in involved in WWII.

Worst Snowe in the World

2006-11-16T07:26:00.000-05:00

Today's reason that I think Olympia sucks:

She supported Trent Lott for minority whip of the Senate.

Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot

2006-10-30T21:35:00.000-05:00

Here's the TV spot.

Here's Rush's take. (Who happens to be a big fat idiot oxycotton druggie fuck show freak.)

Post-Election Gas Prices

2006-10-24T18:49:00.000-05:00

Habeas Corpse [Rebate]

2006-10-23T08:53:00.000-05:00

Habeas Corpus (The Great Writ) has been tarnished and broken, as a bill passed by Congress and signed into law by Shrub. And almost no one cares. Ben Franklin is reported to have said:

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor safety.

I'm not the first to write about this, nor will I be the last. I even stole the quote from somewhere, because I'm just not current on my Franklin quotes. I just feel compelled to put something down in words, even if some of it is a cheap rip-off.

As a part of Constitutional Law, the right to know why you are imprisoned and what evidence there is against you is fundamental. Without that right, you really have little else; just hope they don't come for you. Under the new law, any "unlawful" detainee labeled by the executive has no recourse - no right to appear in court, no right to a lawyer, not even the right to see evidence piled against you.

My ancestor fought along side of Washington and the many other patriots in the first Revolution (do we need another?) against the red-coat Brits back in the day. Many of our families go back that far. Many more do not, but that in no way lessens their inheritance. That check, written in blood and signed by sacrifice, was the great gift given by the revolutionaries to all that would follow them. The new bill (err, law) written with lies on the paper of deceit and signed by a shameless fool, is a big red 'void' stamped on that inheritance. At best disrespectful, at worst treasonous, against the ideals of the founders and those who stood with them.

There is no check, no balance on this new law. Nothing to stop my name, or your names, from being on the list. There only need be the assertion that you have provided "material support" to the enemy. And when you're on that list, who is going to get you off?

TABORstupidity

2006-10-20T19:45:00.000-05:00

One final thought:

Passing TABOR will permanently tie the funding of health care, education, and other essential services to the cost of a loaf of bread. That's fucked up.

Habeas Corpse (Or There Goes the Country)

2006-10-20T19:41:00.000-05:00

Olbermann on why I want to be a lawyer.

[Talk about shit that is under the radar...this is a must watch.]

Analysis

2006-10-18T09:35:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Visco et al for getting me to actually pay attention to voting issues before day-of cramming.

First thoughts on the Tax Payer Bill of Rights. (Having applied my Law of BS.)

TABOR is neither a Bill, nor does it include any Rights.

1. A Bill is either a piece of legislation passed by congress and not yet singed by the governor or a piece of paper that described in detail how someone bent you over and screwed you for money. TABOR is neither of these, and is certainly not modeled after the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, that from which it borrows its name.

2. TABOR doesn't deal with Rights at all, unless you consider a town's inability to create and fund a budget that it sees fit as a Right.

More to come.

In the Not So News

2006-10-15T18:19:00.000-05:00

More Olbermann, this time on the Death of Habeas Corpus.

Rule of BS

2006-10-15T17:11:00.000-05:00

The following list is a small excerpt from my list of test conditions that I use when deciding if something in the political spectrum is bullshit.
---

1. When activists borrow wording from popularly understood concepts to forward their agenda, they are trying to screw you. [See USA PATRIOT Act]

2. When groups chose verbiage with positive connotations in order to forward their agenda, they are trying to screw you. [See Pro-Life literature]

3. You are in the group referred to by you if you are middle class.

4. Number 3 applies doubly if you are not white.

5. Number 4 applies doubly if you are poor or a woman. Extra points for being old.

6. Based on current trends, most groups and activists either have, are, or will screw you.

7. "Evil will always triumph because good is dumb."

Work is Killing Goody

2006-09-29T07:41:00.000-05:00

Thanks, Goodwin, for confusing me with someone who just cut off his own balls with a diamond ring. Great.

Olbermann is the nuts now. I've known him to be smart (ie somwhat liberal) for some time, but he seems to have gotten teeth recently. Maybe MSNBC gave him tenure and he's not worried about his job anymore.

More from Keith on the smug lying bastard here...

Olbermann Again

2006-09-26T21:58:00.000-05:00

The best use of 10:47 of your time is to watch this.

[The source material is here if you want it.]

It's Only Money

2006-08-14T21:04:00.000-05:00

How much money has the United States spent fighting the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the broader war on terrorism, and how much more can we expect will be allocated over the foreseeable future?

Including all the funds Congress has voted this year, we will have spent $437 billion on Iraq, Afghanistan, and other parts of the war on terror since 2001—about $1,500 for every American. All this despite Paul Wolfowitz's promise that the war would be over quickly, the troops home soon, and that the reconstruction would be self-funding, thanks to the sale of Iraqi oil supplies. Back in 2003 the President's economic advisor, Larry Lindsay, predicted that the Iraq adventure would cost more than $100 billion. He was fired, in part, for saying it, yet he greatly underestimated the cost. Spending on Iraq alone makes up over 70 percent of the $437 billion, with Afghanistan costing another 20 percent and the rest for counter-terror operations elsewhere in the world. Another way of looking at it is that funding for Iraq, Afghanistan, and the war on terror accounts for 20 percent of all the funds the Defense Department has spent over the past five years. The Congressional Research Service estimates conservatively that we might spend another $371 billion on these operations through 2016.

I'm an Idiot

2006-08-04T01:05:00.000-05:00

Thank you Anonymous. I'm a retard. This morning when i was typing a link, I butchered it. And i used to write code. I now hang my head in shame. Look to my next post to correct the errors of my ways.

Yours in shame.
John

Movie Idea

2006-07-29T08:02:00.000-05:00

I just had a great idea for a movie. It's good like Tony Robbins good. See, there's this plane. And some people on it. Maybe it's a Boeing 777. Maybe all the passengers are the genetic equivalent of the group Bush's tax cuts help. Now here's where is gets really fun. There are snakes on the plane. (Time to suspend your disbelief.) Maybe they're ill-tempered and have laser beams attached. Maybe not. Either way, they roam around the plane (which clearly should have no pilots) looking to satiate their god-given bloodlust. They succeed. The end.

War on Terrorble Disease

2006-07-23T20:12:00.000-05:00

Bush-Activism

2006-07-22T09:21:00.000-05:00

---

Potluck Explained

2006-07-17T14:15:00.000-05:00

I think the true origin of the term 'potluck' is: "if you eat what's in that pot, good luck."

That's why I'm not having a potluck dinner the second weekend of August. What I am going to have is Hammered Fest. As in hopefully a bunch of nails get hammered into my cabin during the daylight, and hopefully a bunch of humans get hammered at night. Visco might tell you something about that being a double entendre. I might tell you something about that being fun.

Anyway, that's the tentative plan at the moment. I will take comments here, and come up with an email sometime soon. Working on my cabin will be strictly optional. Other jobs include a multitude of foremen (or women) who aren't scared to drink before noon and heckle those of us foolish enough to try and accomplish anything.

Oh, No

2006-07-13T09:59:00.000-05:00

Congratulations are due to Goody and his boss. Good luck with that kids (pun intended.)

Regarding W

2006-07-09T22:19:00.000-05:00

A Change of Name

2006-07-08T18:36:00.000-05:00

Hence forth I shall be known only as Robinsisco.

Death of a Con Man

2006-07-05T11:49:00.000-05:00

Strong evidence that karma is real came today in the timely death of Kenny Boy Lay. He died remorseless in Colorado of a massive heart attack. He was 64.

I wonder if all the money he made will buy back his soul?

Hookers and Tramps

2006-06-24T08:57:00.000-05:00

Is there anything better than a lovely French hooker? If there is, I've yet to know of it.

So, all Visco's talk of hookers has required of me a blog post. I was up in Baxter Park for 3 days this week. It's been a long time since I was up there, being out west and all, and I missed it. But not much has changed, which of course was Percival Baxter's intention. The mountain is still rugged, the water is still clean, and cell phones aren't to be used. I can attest to the fact that his vision is being well executed by the park authority. If only other pieces of the state government could work so well. Donnie Rumsfeld is war criminal. But I digress.

On the way out of the park I'm cruising thru East Millinockett heading for the highway. I see someone hitchhiking on the side of the road, scandalously close to La Casa, northern Maine's home of the finest in adult entertainment. (I'm not sure if anyone who speaks spanish has ever even been in the town, but whatever.) As I slow down (I pick up hitchers quite often) I do a quick scan of the girl. Yup, she is a stripper. For sure. Not a doubt. The long length denim skirt has a front and a back. But they're not attached. At all. Tight T-shirt, no bra. Underwear? Unlikely. Big duffel bag of, well, whatever strippers have big duffel bags of.

In hops "Delilah," doesn't think twice about riding with two dudes who smell like roses and just took showers 5 minutes ago. "Where you headed?" "Bangor." "OK." So were off, and poor Mike thinks maybe the time in the mountains has effected my brain. I'm thinking that at least it's a story, because what's life without a story. Turns out that "Delilah" isn't much of a chatter ... I've always had a lot of questions to ask a stripper from northern Maine. How's the money? How many people have you banged as a result of your stage job? Does being a stripper make you a whore, or the other way 'round? Woe is me, but I will have to wait a while longer to know the answers to these questions.

The other question on everybody's mind was whether or not she was, in fact, a hooker. Sorry Visco, she clearly wasn't French. So, if she was a hooker would she have propositioned us during the ride? (She didn't.) Or maybe she is a hooker, but just wasn't working that morning. It's hard to know.

Ahhh, life.

Football Blues

2006-06-23T08:11:00.000-05:00

So US soccer sucks again. That's fine ... we just need to get one of these two guys on our team. Plus I love that a bald guy can kick so much ass.

Genghis Bush

2006-06-18T21:41:00.000-05:00

"I am the Decider."

What is that, a new Marvel superhero?

[The above is a QuickTime movie of our beloved W. getting his man on.]

Also, see my new favorite site on the internet.

Not So Boring After All

2006-06-18T08:08:00.000-05:00

Who would have known, the US v. Italy match on Saturday is being called the most exciting of the World Cup thus far. Of course, I don't have any delusions about soccer replacing Baseball as America's pastime. Nor would I desire or commend that. But I'm pretty sick of soccer being downplayed as a worthless sport and all this. It's not fun to watch. It's too slow. Not enough goal scoring. Condosleeza Rice is an alien freak. I keep hearing it everywhere.

Well, how about this. Basketball and football suck because they have TV time outs. The money-making advertisements are more important than the game are they? Not to me. And they try to hide it too ... the ticker that says "Timeouts - Boston: 2 , Lakers: 1" doesn't make any mention of the goddamn 12 automatic stoppages the ref will whistle so that we can all be indoctrinated to buy gatoraid and coke.

I won't even get into the last 2 minutes of a close basketball game taking 20 minutes to play. When cheating (fouling) becomes the most important aspect of play then you've got one hell of a lame sport.

Then there's soccer, even the lowly MLS, showing all games in their entirety and uncut/uncluttered by TV breaks. How's that for refreshing?

Colin Powell Goes Back to the UN

2006-06-16T06:02:00.000-05:00

The Good Work

2006-06-16T05:53:00.000-05:00

Vedder for President

2006-06-13T22:22:00.000-05:00

So I got ahold of the new Pearl Jam [self titled] disc recently, and have finally had a chance to give it a good listen. Actually, it usually takes twice thru an album for me to make up my mind. By the second time thru I usually know what's up with it. Don't kid yourself though, you really do need to put it into your ears in its entirety; the flow is important. (See my future blog about why greatest hits CD's suck.)

Anyway, I did. And Pearl Jam turned out to kick some ass. And it reminded me that I've been thinking for a while that a rock star, ala Eddie Vedder or Bruce Springsteen, should really be our next president. I would vote for that guy from Chicago before Hillary Clinton, who the hell wouldn't vote for Vedder? And PJ could just throw a tour to raise money - stadiums would be packed, Eddie could give a bit of speach, and then play some music. A political rally and concert combined, kinda like it used to be when music didn't suck, musicians were outspoken, and young people still cared.

JR's Index

2006-06-08T20:30:00.000-05:00

Rank of 'curse' in the list of things to do when it rains: 1

Least pleasant vehicle to drive to South Bristol from Starks in the rain: motorcycle

Number of days it has rained this since Sunday: 4

Number of those that John has cursed: 4

Ratio of number of days that it rained sicne Sunday to George Bush's brain cells: 1:1

Best bumper sticker John saw on Monday: What would Jesus Bomb?

Price per barrel, in Dollars, of the oil that Hugo Chavez has offered to sell the US: 50

Number of barrels that the US has bought at that price: 0

New tools purchased recently: air compressor

Number of tanks of gas John can put in his truck for the price of the compressor: 2

Amount of time the compressor will last: a lot more than 800 miles of driving

Total Information Awhatness?

2006-06-04T09:24:00.000-05:00

Total Information Awareness is supposedly the database that the government wants to/already has setup to keep tabs on, well, everything. Laura Bush is really ugly. My question is really quite simple.

Where the hell is the CIA / NSA getting all these crack programmers? Generally, the best and the brightest are harvested by private business because of bigger pay checks. Goody knows, I have it on good authority they he was recruited heavily out of UMaine to become one of the evil minions. Hillary Clinton's face is god's idea of a not-that-funny joke.

So, I'm listening to iTunes in the background now, and let me tell you ... pretty ok program. But not great. Seriously, maybe the Mac version is perfect, that is unknown to me. But the Windows version is pretty messed up when it comes to some pretty basic issues.

For instance, when you're deleting files (especially podcasts) iTunes asks if you want to keep the file or move it to the recycle bin. (No, i want to keep it, you stupid bitch?) Sometimes iTunes doesn't listen and I find the file i supposedly deleted floating around my HD anyway, god damn it. You can also check a box that says "always do this action". That check box doesn't work, it asks me freakin' every time.

Also, you can't manage files in either the party shuffle or any playlists. Say i want to delete a song i just heard in the shuffle because it sucks donkey cock like GWB does. Can't. Have to go into the library, search for the fucker, and delete it from there. Also, deleting files is called "Clear," get with the fucking program Apple. Delete is called delete, unless it's called erase.

I'm done now, but Billy Goat Gates' Windows Media Player is a rickety piece of baboon ass too.

Which leads me to: Microsoft and Apple, on the cutting edge of computing (and with deep pockets) can't even make a program for Total Music Awareness. How the fuck is the gov't producing Total Information Awareness?

I can imagine an interface that doesn't actually do anything, consists of colored circles and squares, and spits out garbage like a mad-lib or potato-head kid of words. Clearly, W. or Condasleeza can't write an ODBC query.

5th season, 6th sense

2006-06-02T22:49:00.000-05:00

Well, damn it, I'm dry. All my blood is gone. Sucked out by the black flies that inhabit this peninsula. Why did I move back here? Again? I don't know. What I do know, however, is that the corn that I planted today better taste fucking great. Like blow your mind, better than sex (in prison) great.

Bugs don't like me. It's not that I don't get bitten, just that I get bitten less. Some people might remember Visco's camp, me and Luis the crazy Spaniard on the dock. His back awash in a bloody torrent, me calm and collected and black fly free.

OK, so maybe I made that up. Or maybe anyone next to a Spaniard is safe. I don't know. What I do know is that today was bad for bugs, as bad as I've ever seen it. And I'm not excited about it.

All I want to do is make them all pay. With their lives. Thus my desire for a sixth sense, no more of this clotted blood to find out (too late) that some fly chowed on your flesh. I want to know, in advance, where they will land and take W-like preemptive action. Do them in, smash them, pound them. Maybe even torture them a bit. That would be nice.

Distress on the Highway

2006-05-28T08:23:00.000-05:00

Just a quick bit of anger today, before I go out and enjoy this most wonderful day. I was down in Portland the other afternoon picking up a truck cap. Thanks Will and Lindsay. Osama bin Forgotten. Stopped for a beer at that fake Irish joint called Ri Ra. Hit the highway heading north and tuned the radio to 100.3 fm. No, not KIT out of Bangor, but the other one - HEB out of Portsmouth.

So these douche bags are on there talking, two DJ's with douche bag fake redneck accents. So I assume that the skit is a joke or something. Bring the troops home. Not true, they're going over real news about the world, including Nascar and basketball, etc. Domestic news in the nasally voice, but it's all real stuff that's really happening. Then they get to the global front and I shit you not:

"It looks like Marines are to blame for the deaths of 12 civilians in Iraq. Can I just say this? War is hell. I don't blame those guys for doing what they're doing over there, even if it's killing innocent civilians."

Fuck me, I almost decapitated a tree. FCC tells me that I can't say tits on the radio, but that jackass can say that? I'm all for free speech, tempered by decency. That being said, Fuck Clear Channel in the ass with rusty meat hook.

W Finally Shows Some Feeling

2006-05-27T13:26:00.000-05:00

Rumsfeld is reporting to the President and the Cabinet. He says, "Three Brazilian soldiers were killed today in Iraq."

The President says, "Oh, my God!" as he buries his head in his hands.

The entire Cabinet is stunned. Usually George Bush shows no reaction whatsoever to these reports.

Just then, Bush looks up and says, "How many is a brazilian?"

Kenny Boy, Novak, and Memorial Day

2006-05-26T09:36:00.000-05:00

Surprise, surprise. Ken Lay, defrauder general of Enron, destroyer of 4,000 jobs, fleecing of pensions, and lying sack of shit still believes he's innocent. The jury did not agree, and found him guilty on all counts. I wonder if old W. will extend the olive branch of presidential pardon? Somehow, I see it in the works. Lay gives a lot of money to the Republicans. Maybe he can even be appointed to head the Federal Reserve. I must ask, however, if two guilty verdicts are enough; clearly there a whole mob of people complicit in these activities that are jumping for joy, still free to roam corporate America and steal again.

Do yourself a favor, and check this out. Read it, or listen ... pretty amazing stuff.

Also, this just in. Robert Novak promised Karl Rove that he would protect Rove in the event of any investigation into the leak. Who knew.

Now that Hayden has been confirmed as CIA director, I'll probably get arrested immediately if I say that for this memorial day we should honor the dead soldiers of this country by bringing those who are still alive and in harm's way home from Iraq, so their names are not added to the lists of dead.

DeLay Hitting the Crack Pipe Again

2006-05-25T10:29:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Zach for bringing this to my attention. DeLay is an idiot. Maybe I'll see him in jail when the NSA comes for me.

Google Amuses Me

2006-05-23T13:25:00.000-05:00

Can I say how amused I am that I just ran spell check on my last post, and the dictionary on Blogger thinks that 'blog' and 'blogging' were misspelled?

And here we thought Google was amazing.

Even Goods?

2006-05-23T12:44:00.000-05:00

Clearly, Goody's new job has restored at least enough of his creativity to type his blog at 360.yahoo.com instead of lame code at maine.gov Which, by the way, is a URL that doesn't work even though there are stickers plastered all over the state that say that it should. Impeach W. As a side note, I'm not surprised that he left, I'm glad he did.

Which lead me to the push topic (see Goody's blog above). I agree in many ways with what he said. The NSA sucks. Like Goodwin, I feel somewhat ashamed that a blog is the way that I interact with people. Alito is a right-wing scumbag. Although at this point there are still relatively few of my friends who write blogs. Cheney is devil-spawned. I'd like to add however that my blogging is not only to create an outlet (venting, if you will) but also to give you all the ability to to shut off the feed, stop my pushing, throw up your hands in exasperation.

For instance, I think everyone will agree that it is better that I don't call once a week and rant about W. and his war for money, healthcare, and the 400 million dollars that the retiring CEO of Exxon just got for himself. Car bomb. If you don't care it won't hurt my feelings (that much), just don't read my f-ing blog. That's a lot better for everyone (including my ego), since it would be slightly painful to be told "shut the hell up" during my weekly phone call.

On the other hand, I do believe that the dispersonalization of communication, especially email and txt messages, are a horrible tragedy for the world. When was the last time any of you wrote a letter to someone? I love Condoleeza Rice with an un-natural passion. I can tell you that I haven't since January. (I still try to write the old fashioned thank-you letters, but other than that...)

Depersonalized communication shows that you care enough to do the absolute minimum. Like getting a txt of "happy birthday!" or some shit. (It's happened to me, how about you?) There is a reason your mom would freak out if you just emailed her on mother's day, that would make you suck as a person.

I see a blog as different because it is a complete thought (usually) and offers a window into the writers life/mind, something you just don't get from an email or txt message. And often not even from a phone conversation. The written word has power. That's the only reason I know who Shakespeare is.

I really meant to go off on txt messages more, but I'll save it. That is all.

Ken Lay is a psychopath.

Nothin' Runs Like a Deere

2006-05-21T19:39:00.000-05:00

Let me tell you that tractors are amazing things. Especially with 4WD they will go over or thru just about anything that stands in their way. Of course i found out the flip side of that coin yesterday. As it turns out, when your tractor decides it can't drive over or thru whatever you want it to go over or thru, there is a pretty serious problem. Because you went over and thru a lot of shit before you got stuck.

So I took the 2355 out to do some man's work for the day. Started out by getting a load of sand from the orchard (we dug it up to plant some apple trees) and dumped that on the driveway where the rain has been doing a number. Then I decided to head down on the woods road that goes to my cabin, because there's a wet area that i wanted to smooth out with the loader. So I cruise down there and start busting up the road, having a grand old time. Then I decided that everything would be a lot better if the water had somewhere to drain. I worked on that, and it helped ... but not quite perfect. So I got my chainsaw and cut down some trees in order to back down into an area and really make a trench to drain the water. Which I did.

And the water followed me down in there, and made the ground all soft and shit, so I threw her in 4 and started to claw my way out. And i almost made it, too. Then I backed up to get ramming speed and try again. No luck. One more try. Nothing. Fuck. All this time I've just been making the damn ruts deeper and deeper. Now I'm really screwed. Back to the chainsaw. Cut down some more trees and jam them under the tires for traction. Doesn't really even help, certainly makes the ruts deeper. Now she's sunk right down and high-centered. So I pick up the front end by pushing the loader down all the way, gets the front wheels out of the mud. I get another tree, cut the limbs off, get two chains, and chain the small log to both the front tires (cross-wise) so they have something to climb on. Fire up the 2355, throw her in gear and away I go. Sort of. It's at this time that something in the mud gets a hold of my rear tire and rips the valve stem out - flat tire. Done for. Screwed. The best day ever. I'm a stupid rookie. A fucking idiot.

Thankfully my neighbor is Pete, and Pete has a big 4WD tractor too. My dad was the best man at his wedding, so he agrees to help me out. Pun intended. So down he lumbers with his beast, and we hook the chains up to the front axle of my rig. He starts pulling for all he's worth, does nothing but tear apart my road. Mine won't budge. Maybe an inch at best. Out comes the saw, but it's out of gas. Standard. Fill 'er up, cut some more trees. Get rocks, etc for traction. Try pulling again, nothing. Shit. What now? The roto-tiller on the back of my Deere weights a metric ton. Seriously. Maybe if I disconnect it she'll come right out. We do, it does. But now i'm still in the middle of the woods with a flat tire, it's starting to get dark out, and the tiller is stuck in the damn quicksand 50 feet from the road. And I'm supposedly better off than I was three hours ago. I guess. Whatever.

Moral of this story: A cock is a blessing.

And a curse.

Plan B

2006-05-20T10:27:00.000-05:00

My new theory is that I'm going to attach some random key words to all my emails. Words like impeach, terrorist, bomb, etc. I'm also going to throw them into phone conversations, so if you call me be prepared for Tourette-style outbursts at any given time. Maybe I can single-handedly crash the NSA data mining servers. Or maybe not. That is all.

Had my first night at 93 Townsend last night. Didn't make a hundred bucks or anything, but not bad for a first night. I even managed to get weeded for a while. The manager is cool, the owners seem to be a little ... well ownerish. Smuggle Mexicans under the border. They have live piano on the weekends. That's a joke, because it sucks. And the menu is confusing, which sucks. And the damn bartenders cork the wine at the bar before you present it to your table, which is like working at McDonald's. Which sucks. George Bush Hates Black People. And other than that everything was great. Thank god it's only two nights a week.

One other thing. Why the hell is my lawn growing like a frickin' weed plantation. I just got done mowing the bitch two days ago and it already looks like a jungle. Impeach Bush. At least the weather is nice so I can start mowing it again, there is that.

Oh, Yeah

2006-05-19T08:23:00.000-05:00

So I'm back. And with a vengeance. Steve et al, go read the opening Notebook piece in this month's Harper's. It's great, Lapham opens right up and talks about throttling the president with his bare hands.

Oh, and for the NSA, who I'm sure are reading along with us, this is my disclaimer: I don't actually want to kill W. But I do respect is as a legitimate topic for discussion.

My current reading list if: a. i get any money to buy books b. i exhaust what's already languishing on there.

1. Armed Madhouse : Who's Afraid of Osama Wolf?, China Floats, Bush Sinks, The Scheme to Steal '08, No Child's Behind Left, and Other Dispatches from the Front Lines of the Class War

2. Failed States : The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy

3. Curious George at the Zoo

iNSAne demenCIA

2006-05-19T08:09:00.000-05:00

I woke up this morning to fog like soup, so natually my mind turned to politics. I wrote down this letter, and have sent it to Snowe and Collins, who will not care and do nothing.

--

Dear Senator Collins. Please do you what you can to stop the Hayden confirmation that appears to be going thru the Senate without a hitch. Consider breaking party lines, you've done it before and we have been thankful. Many of your constituents are upset (at best) by the NSA's activities, and more needs to be understood about what this man did there / will do once he is at the CIA. It's not as if this position is a meaningless piece of puffery bestowed as an honorary degree. Director of the CIA is serious power, serious responsibility.

And for all our sakes, do something to stop the abuse of power and illegal use of government agencies (warrantless information trolling by the NSA just to start) You know that Mainers are fiercely independent; this spying and subterfuge perpetrated on citizens by your party will not stand with voters.

You can toe the line and refuse to ruffle feathers, another of the party faithful, or you can stand for your voters, for Maine, for the nation.

Sincerely,
John Robinson

I don't write, but i can still read.

2006-02-27T18:06:00.000-05:00

http://harpers.org/TheCaseForImpeachment.html

Google This

2006-02-21T15:35:00.000-05:00

Go into google.com and type 'asshole' in the text box. Then hit the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button.

Progressive Manifesto

2006-01-18T18:08:00.000-05:00

To steal someone else's great words, I hold these truths to be self-evident.

A great country is measured:

Not by the size of her army, but how infrequently she uses it.

Not by the riches of her wealthy, but the poverty of her poor.

Not by the greatness of her health care system, but by how many people have access to it.

Not by the masses of children that have everything, but by those who have nothing.

Not by the number of her adults who can read, but the number who can't.

Not by her power of influence on the world, but what she does with it.

People's History

2005-12-26T16:03:00.000-05:00

If you can, listen to today's Democracy Now! it's a reading of Howard Zinn's Voices of a People's History of the United States. I don't think you can download it from democracynow.org (you usually can) but listen to it on the radio or PodCast it from iTunes. Powerful stuff.

If you miss it, i have a copy in mp3 which i can post.

The Cable Man

2005-12-22T19:10:00.000-05:00

Well, I think Visco and Goody covered it pretty well. What else can I add, save for the little-known fact that I hate TV. I hate TV because it's mindless entertainment and sometimes I crave it. And then I think I'm less of a human.

Oh, and the gf has DirecTV. Something happened to all the channels recently. Except Fox News still comes in. That and the Angel Network. Tell me that's not fucked. I'm seeing some Orwellian theme here, does Rupert Murdock control DirecTV to indoctrinate the hapless sons-of-bitches that have a satellite receiver and no subscription? (I did hear Bill O'Reilly say that the ACLU is the most dangerous institution in the US last night, confirming the previous statement.)

The man has all 20 dirty little fingers and toes in all the telecom business these days. It started a long time ago, in a country far far away. Remember when AT&T got busted up into a million different little pieces? Didn't do much for your phone bills did it? How about TV on demand? Sure, you can buy pay-per-view on a per use basis, but not sportscenter? Come on. We're all being anally probed without the reach around.

I'm a little worried about iPods taking over the world, but I will say this: podcasting has a place in my heart when I can subscribe to NESN and watch some sox games in Utah. We're already seeing MLB-TV and such actually make a little profit. I think that pressure from these 'net based alternatives will force cable's hand soon enough.

Enough is enough. I won't even get into the FCC auctioning off our public airwaves to rich corporations without even the requirement of public access. CSPAN, as dry as it is, may soon see its day come and that will be a loss.

I'll bitch about something else soon.

Evil Cheney

2005-12-21T19:53:00.000-05:00

Don't have much of my own to say today; I'll just post this link in lieu of having to think.

Cheney Gets His Schwerve On

[also]

CensureBush.org

That is all. Oh, and Visco/Goody. I sold my TV for $25 bucks two years ago, and still consider it an excellent way to finance a drinking binge.

Impeach is Not a New Kind of Fruit

2005-12-20T14:26:00.000-05:00

I wish I were too busy nursing my injuries and hangovers to stop paying attention to the world. If I were, then I might have missed the fact that Shrub got up and told the world that he ordered the NSA to spy on Americans. I might have missed him spewing about his constitutional powers. I might have missed him, on live TV no less, telling the US people that he committed a felony.

So now I have to do a little reading, maybe listen to Democracy Now!, you know educate myself. My limited understanding of FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) comes mostly from various untrustworthy sources like my memory and the internet. Basically, the govt. (including NSA and other) used to listen in on all sorts of domestic traffic. Richard "I'm not a crook" Nixon claimed he didn't need the courts to surveil people, but that was struck down. FISA basically established itself (in '78) as the only law governing domestic espionage. FISA requires the govt. go to the court for a warrant to tap phones etc. It can take as little as 5 minutes to get a warrant. FISA also allows you to get a warrant after you tap just in case you don't have 5 minutes to spare. How hard is that? Finally, FISA makes it a felony to violate those (very relaxed) provisions. It doesn't mention anything about the President not having to follow the law.

Hence, when Shrub says he didn't go to the court he is admitting to felony actions. I guess I'm of the opinion that the Constitution, where it mentions "high crimes and misdemeanors" in Article II, section 4, is basically providing a way for us to get rid of monkey boy.

Go for a Million?

2005-12-18T23:49:00.000-05:00

I haven't skied in a week due to the "trauma." Here's my log so-far, think i can crack a million vertical feet?

............675 ft - 12/01/05 10:17:00 am - Moonbeam
............1,500 ft - 12/01/05 11:29:00 am - Eagle Express I
............1,500 ft - 12/01/05 11:40:00 am - Eagle Express I
............810 ft - 12/03/05 11:34:00 am - Sunrise
............1,235 ft - 12/03/05 8:47:00 pm - Summit
............1,235 ft - 12/03/05 9:04:00 pm - Summit
............1,600 ft - 12/04/05 11:31:00 am - Powderhorn
............1,600 ft - 12/07/05 9:32:00 am - Powderhorn
............1,600 ft - 12/07/05 9:51:00 am - Powderhorn
............1,600 ft - 12/07/05 10:12:00 am - Powderhorn
............1,600 ft - 12/07/05 10:33:00 am - Powderhorn
............880 ft - 12/08/05 1:35:00 pm - Apex
............1,500 ft - 12/08/05 1:44:00 pm - Eagle Express I
............1,500 ft - 12/08/05 1:54:00 pm - Eagle Express I
............1,500 ft - 12/08/05 2:05:00 pm - Eagle Express I
............1,500 ft - 12/08/05 2:16:00 pm - Eagle Express I
............1,500 ft - 12/08/05 2:28:00 pm - Eagle Express I
............1,500 ft - 12/08/05 2:40:00 pm - Eagle Express I
............1,500 ft - 12/08/05 2:55:00 pm - Eagle Express I
............810 ft - 12/09/05 10:25:00 am - Sunrise
............1,235 ft - 12/09/05 10:38:00 am - Summit
............1,235 ft - 12/09/05 10:54:00 am - Summit
............1,235 ft - 12/09/05 11:08:00 am - Summit
............1,235 ft - 12/09/05 11:22:00 am - Summit
............810 ft - 12/11/05 11:17:00 am - Sunrise
............1,235 ft - 12/11/05 11:31:00 am - Summit
............1,235 ft - 12/11/05 11:45:00 am - Summit
............1,235 ft - 12/11/05 12:02:00 pm - Summit
............1,235 ft - 12/11/05 12:15:00 pm - Summit
............1,235 ft - 12/11/05 12:33:00 pm - Summit
............810 ft - 12/12/05 11:16:00 am - Sunrise
............1,235 ft - 12/12/05 11:28:00 am - Summit
............1,235 ft - 12/12/05 11:43:00 am - Summit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Vertical Feet 42,350

"They" Might be Reading

2005-12-17T14:30:00.000-05:00

The Pentagon keeps records on peace activists in a database. They monitor anti-war and anti-nuclear protests, describing them as 'threats.' Now that NBC has broken the story, the Pentagon says it will look into the database and whether it violates personal liberties. Wow, good for them.

The NSA has been listening in on 1000's of American's international phone calls since just after 9/11. The Times delayed publishing this information for over a year because the Shrub administration asked them to do so. Liberal media my ass.

I wonder if they're watching us.

Grey Matter

2005-12-16T14:18:00.000-05:00

My brain hurts. And it's not because of the nasty close-to-death fuckshow that was my skiing the other day. Visco's post about the global warming and the reading has me thinking about quitting my job and locking myself in a library for a while, I've only read one Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse Five. I do have his new one, A Man Without a Country, on my list. I'll let you guys know.

I have basically two things to say today. Apathy is the glove into which evil slips its hand. I think that's from Van Wilder, originally from some guy I've never heard of before (again, the library thing) named Bodie Thoene. If you can name a more apathetic civilization than ours, please let us all know.

Also, great world powers, whether or not considered hegemonic in nature, are always brought down from within, by an explosion of, and a complete intoxication by, decadence and moral turpitude. I'm I'm not just talking about inside the beltway.

Kudos to NASA for being one of the few govt institutions that can (occasionally) voice something akin to truth. As far as environmental funding goes, let's have a quick look at who does the research. Non-profits, universities, and Left-Wing Envirofreaks. Not the sorts of outfits that pour millions into the campaign coffers of either party. Who does fill the treasure chests of Washington? We all know. Exxon-Mobil, Enron, Halliburton, etc. Not typically fond of environmental discourse. Or any discourse. Machiavelli in the 21st century; money makes right.

Ooops, I did it Again

2005-12-14T13:50:00.000-05:00

Second day in a row with a brain-rattling crash. This time with broken helmet and slight concussion. I'm not skiing again till it snows. Alot. And the trail gets softer. And, from now on, i'm going to be drunk when on the hill. This shit is fucked up.

That crack is all the way through. There's also one (smaller, only 1 inch) on the back.

Oh, and by the way, if you don't wear one you should start. I actually might start using one to walk around town.

Peace love dope.