In an effort to be a better citizen, no scoffing Q, i have dedicated myself to watching the DNC and RNC. The first part was easy. Like minds and all. The RNC has been more difficult and yet, i did manage to sit through all of Palin's speech last night.
If you haven't seen it I would suggest reading the transcript, which i posted just below.
Now, to be fair, Gov. Palin didnt write most of this speech. Some people are saying that because large chunks were written by someone else it just shows how horrible the republicans are. But honestly, i think there are very few candidates who actually write the entire speech themselves. Some have more of a hand in it than others however. I didnt expect Palin to write this speech. She was just announced so it would have been a serious struggle for her. If i was McCain's campaign mang. i would have had someone working on it for a week in advance as well.
Also, keep in mind that this speech wasnt supposed to win over independents. At least, i hope not! It was a speech targeted at the Republican base...which is why all those folks ate it up.
The reason it wont, or at least i hope it wont, fly with independents is that it was so filled with vitriol and lacked any kind of substance.
She openly mocked Obama's community organizing work, which seems out of step with the "we are for the common people" line. She criticised Obama's stage design while standing in front of an IMAX sized screen. She made fun of his popularity while the republicans called her, "Our Obama". She criticised Obama for being soft on defense when he is the only person who actually wants to go after Bin Laden and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan...where we should have been the entire time.
In Obama's acceptance speech he specifically said that he wasnt attacking a person's character, just their policies. Yet, Palin and the McCain campaign offered nothing but character attacks. She didnt spend a moment talking about what exactly the republicans were going to do for the country, which seems like a bit of a waste.
What she did do, however, was lie. Maybe we are calling it half-truths. Specifically, the Bridge to Nowhere. The bridge to nowhere would have connected the city of Ketchikan to their airport. When Palin was running for governor she went to Ketchikan and expressed her sympathy for the media's representation of it as a bridge to nowhere and actually supported it. When she was elected, and congress gave Alaska the money for the bridge she cancelled the project in a press release. However...she didnt give the money back. She kept it and used it for other projects. So it wasnt quite the "Thanks but No Thanks" response to congress. More like a "Thanks, but i have another project in mind for this."
Regarding energy she said, "America needs more energy; our opponent is against producing it." Honestly, is she insane? First, Obama supports drilling in the OCS. Second, can you really say something as blatantly wrong as Obama is against producing energy?! He may be critical of oil and our dependence on it but a huge platform for the democratic party is to develop new energy...wind, solar, natural gas, clean coal, and nuclear (or at least the investigation of nuclear...but I say come on Dems lets get those plants built baby!). He is just thinking to the future and realizing that the oil you so badly want to drill wont be available for just under a decade so lets get some other ideas going in the mean time.
Gov. Palin said that Obama had not authored "a single major law or even a reform, not even in the State Senate." This is another lie. While in the senate he co-sponsored the ethics reform legislation as well working on legislation to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. While in the state senate he was a leader on several hot button issues, racial profiling and unfair interrogation practices of death penalty cases. Has he been in the senate as long as McCain or Biden? No...but I dont think Palin's time as a mayor of 5000 people is too impressive to begin with.
***
So...while she did very well as an attack dog, which is what the veeps are supposed to do i suppose, it will be interesting to see how well she does when it is time to talk about the issues. To explain ideas and policies and plans and the actual guts of it all.
Now, the last bit that really drove me crazy last night is a little snarky. Did you see all the "homemade" signs that said Hocky Mom! and Palin Power! They weren't homemade. They were just made to look like that and then handed out to mostly women by the rnc staff. Why? Why go to the trouble to look like all these people made signs? It seems unnecessary and...well, smarmy.
Tonight, McCain speaks. I read that he is having the stage rebuilt so that it will look and feel more like the Town Hall meetings that he likes so much. You know what that means...expect another comment about how "Greek" like Obama's stage was a week ago. Because it is clear that we vote for a person not based on their issues, or ideas but based on the size of their setup....yep, that's the important bit.
Happy watching-
Bird
04 September 2008
Memories....Like the Corners of My Mind
I Love This
I will be blogging about Gov. Palin's speech at the RNC later today so enjoy the happiness while it lasts.
You Hate This
~tweet tweet goes the irked Bird~
I will be blogging about Gov. Palin's speech at the RNC later today so enjoy the happiness while it lasts.
You Hate This
~tweet tweet goes the irked Bird~
03 September 2008
Ummm...What? Palin Into Banning Books?
According to this Time article as mayor of Wasilla Alaska, Gov. Palin "asked the library how she could go about banning books."
umm...what?
The librarian, "Mary Ellen Baker, couldn't be reached for comment, but news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving "full support" to the mayor."
Seriously, fucking banning books because they had inappropriate language? I really hope this story isnt true because i would hate to think that someone with such a closed mind could actually be in charge of something as important as the nation.
What also worries me is the McCain vetting of Palin. Did he know about this incident when he asked her to be his veep? If not, what else doesnt he know about. If he did know, I am left to wonder if these are ideals that McCain shares.
Ugh.
~Bird
umm...what?
The librarian, "Mary Ellen Baker, couldn't be reached for comment, but news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving "full support" to the mayor."
Seriously, fucking banning books because they had inappropriate language? I really hope this story isnt true because i would hate to think that someone with such a closed mind could actually be in charge of something as important as the nation.
What also worries me is the McCain vetting of Palin. Did he know about this incident when he asked her to be his veep? If not, what else doesnt he know about. If he did know, I am left to wonder if these are ideals that McCain shares.
Ugh.
~Bird
02 September 2008
Music Redux
It is very fall like today. I love the fall. It wont last so I am trying not to get my hopes up but i can say that I am in a crazy good mood.
Currently listening to a couple of songs that i think will make you feel as good as I do. Please check them out if you feel so inclined.
Love and Understanding by Red Pony Clock
A Little Bit of Arson Never Hurt Anyone by Matson Jones
and Common People by Pulp (which you will have to hunt out on your own, sorry).
In other bird music news, the Breezy Porticos, my favorite local band, is dissolving. Sadness.
You remember the Breezy P's right? Anyway, they are having a final show on October 10th at the most wonderful Hi-Dive and I think you should come. Yes, you. No, not you in the striped shirt, you there behind that guy. Yes, you! Please come.
Currently listening to a couple of songs that i think will make you feel as good as I do. Please check them out if you feel so inclined.
Love and Understanding by Red Pony Clock
A Little Bit of Arson Never Hurt Anyone by Matson Jones
and Common People by Pulp (which you will have to hunt out on your own, sorry).
In other bird music news, the Breezy Porticos, my favorite local band, is dissolving. Sadness.
You remember the Breezy P's right? Anyway, they are having a final show on October 10th at the most wonderful Hi-Dive and I think you should come. Yes, you. No, not you in the striped shirt, you there behind that guy. Yes, you! Please come.
01 September 2008
Louisiana SB 733
Pat Robertson said in November of 2005 that, disaster may strike a Pennsylvania town because "they voted God out the city" having ousted school board members who favored teaching intelligent design.
Strange cuz, Hurricane Gustav is currently raining down upon Louisiana and that state just made Louisiana SB 733 a law. This would allow teachers to bring supplemental material into classes to "help" teach evolution, global warning, and the origin of life. Seems like the big guy upstairs would give the state a pass on this one.
The "Science Education Act" has been sponsored by Sen. Ben Nevers the same guy who, in 2001, voted "in favor of a measure declaring Charles Darwin and the theory of evolution to be the cause for racism."
...So you can tell the kind of intelligent people we are dealing with here.
"Nine of the nation's most prestigious scientific societies sent letters to the governor asking him to veto the bill."
Goddamn people. Why cant we get past shit like this? How many times do the founding fathers need to be trotted out with quotes like "Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man" from Jefferson, "Lighthouses are more useful than churches" from Franklin, and referring to the cross, "Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced" from John Adams.
Oh and yes, this from the constitution, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." That means, no matter how much you want to, you cant put the ten commandments in the courthouse, you cant have prayer in school, and you cant teach creationism in science class.
Aside from how completely against the law it is...there is another reason not to teach ID in classrooms. It is wrong. The fact that there are complex organisms in the world doesnt point to a designer. Suggesting that there isnt a designer doesnt mean that we evolved out of chance. The two choices arent Design and Chance. They are Design and Natural Selection and only one is even probable.
However, that isnt even my problem. People will choose to believe what they want and i am not here to change their minds. What bothers me is that religion has no place in science. No place at all.
This bill will be overturned in court, like they all are, and another will be signed in its place. But it makes me wonder, why do we go through all this? Why cant people just keep their religious opinions out of schools? They are free to teach their kids whatever they want as the grow up. They can pull them out of public school and send them to a private school where everyone prays and sings hymns and so forth.
Why keep fighting this fight? Especially when you always loose.
~B
Please see Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion, The Selfish Gene, et al. for further inspiration.
Strange cuz, Hurricane Gustav is currently raining down upon Louisiana and that state just made Louisiana SB 733 a law. This would allow teachers to bring supplemental material into classes to "help" teach evolution, global warning, and the origin of life. Seems like the big guy upstairs would give the state a pass on this one.
The "Science Education Act" has been sponsored by Sen. Ben Nevers the same guy who, in 2001, voted "in favor of a measure declaring Charles Darwin and the theory of evolution to be the cause for racism."
...So you can tell the kind of intelligent people we are dealing with here.
"Nine of the nation's most prestigious scientific societies sent letters to the governor asking him to veto the bill."
Goddamn people. Why cant we get past shit like this? How many times do the founding fathers need to be trotted out with quotes like "Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man" from Jefferson, "Lighthouses are more useful than churches" from Franklin, and referring to the cross, "Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced" from John Adams.
Oh and yes, this from the constitution, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." That means, no matter how much you want to, you cant put the ten commandments in the courthouse, you cant have prayer in school, and you cant teach creationism in science class.
Aside from how completely against the law it is...there is another reason not to teach ID in classrooms. It is wrong. The fact that there are complex organisms in the world doesnt point to a designer. Suggesting that there isnt a designer doesnt mean that we evolved out of chance. The two choices arent Design and Chance. They are Design and Natural Selection and only one is even probable.
However, that isnt even my problem. People will choose to believe what they want and i am not here to change their minds. What bothers me is that religion has no place in science. No place at all.
This bill will be overturned in court, like they all are, and another will be signed in its place. But it makes me wonder, why do we go through all this? Why cant people just keep their religious opinions out of schools? They are free to teach their kids whatever they want as the grow up. They can pull them out of public school and send them to a private school where everyone prays and sings hymns and so forth.
Why keep fighting this fight? Especially when you always loose.
~B
Please see Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion, The Selfish Gene, et al. for further inspiration.
29 August 2008
Republican VP- Sarah Palin
I dont know much about the Gov. of Alaska, Sarah Palin.
She appears to be dealing with corrupt issues up there in the Land of the Midnight Sun, which i like. However, she is a social conservative and that totally turns me off.
More so, i feel like this is a real pander to the HRC voters. I hate to make it sound like Gov. Palin isnt qualified because I really dont know anything about her, but would she have been the choice if Clinton and Obama hadnt gone to the wire?
I dont think so. And that alone, makes me sick to my stomach.
Doesnt matter much in my case since i am not a McCain fan. I just hate to feel worked, you know?
I also hate that so many women out there dont seem to care about issues...just gender. Honestly, if you supported HRC because you liked her politics, you arent going to like Palin because they are forever apart on core issues. So are you really just voting for a woman because of her uterus? Isnt that just as insulting as a man voting for McCain or Obama because he has a dick?
I guess i just dont get it.
She appears to be dealing with corrupt issues up there in the Land of the Midnight Sun, which i like. However, she is a social conservative and that totally turns me off.
More so, i feel like this is a real pander to the HRC voters. I hate to make it sound like Gov. Palin isnt qualified because I really dont know anything about her, but would she have been the choice if Clinton and Obama hadnt gone to the wire?
I dont think so. And that alone, makes me sick to my stomach.
Doesnt matter much in my case since i am not a McCain fan. I just hate to feel worked, you know?
I also hate that so many women out there dont seem to care about issues...just gender. Honestly, if you supported HRC because you liked her politics, you arent going to like Palin because they are forever apart on core issues. So are you really just voting for a woman because of her uterus? Isnt that just as insulting as a man voting for McCain or Obama because he has a dick?
I guess i just dont get it.
28 August 2008
DNC Day 4
So that's the end eh? Lots of confetti to clean up before this weekends college game.
I have to say, the reports of the "Huge" "Ridiculous" "Greek God Like" stage were so much blather. The stage looked fine. It was nice and wasnt a big deal. If that is the biggest dig the Reps have on Obama, the next 67 days are going to be really annoying.
My only complaint? More Stevie Wonder songs please!
I will have some clean up posts from the Mile High City in the next couple days, "Hippies crapped in my bushes!" and the whatnot.
I am looking forward to the RNC next week. While i cant enjoy the antics from the twin cities, i am sure i will find something to talk about.
This weekend, there will be a blog about the Lousiana "Academic Freedom" bill.
Till then...Happy returns!
Bird
I have to say, the reports of the "Huge" "Ridiculous" "Greek God Like" stage were so much blather. The stage looked fine. It was nice and wasnt a big deal. If that is the biggest dig the Reps have on Obama, the next 67 days are going to be really annoying.
My only complaint? More Stevie Wonder songs please!
I will have some clean up posts from the Mile High City in the next couple days, "Hippies crapped in my bushes!" and the whatnot.
I am looking forward to the RNC next week. While i cant enjoy the antics from the twin cities, i am sure i will find something to talk about.
This weekend, there will be a blog about the Lousiana "Academic Freedom" bill.
Till then...Happy returns!
Bird
"A Massachusetts man is so far the only person arrested during the week of the Democratic National Convention in Denver who is facing charges of attempting to use a feces-filled bottle as a weapon."
Oh you knew this was coming right? Q has a very interesting story about containers of similar items found in a Denver neighborhood.
What i find strange is, the man arrested said that it was all a mistake and that "the bottle contained coffee with soy milk, not feces".
I think there is a very easy way to figure out who is telling the truth here.
******
I hate that celebrities can just meander into the Pepsi Center and Mile High Stadium wearing their "I'm Famous" credentials, without so much as a whiff of a baton to their heads, while the rest of us who are also excited about the DNC and who also count for one vote have to hope we get random credentials from Obama's website (we didnt).
Sigh...i suppose that is what i get for being untalented. Unless you want to count writing an ICRMP as a talent. No? Okay then, talentless.
Oh you knew this was coming right? Q has a very interesting story about containers of similar items found in a Denver neighborhood.
What i find strange is, the man arrested said that it was all a mistake and that "the bottle contained coffee with soy milk, not feces".
I think there is a very easy way to figure out who is telling the truth here.
******
I hate that celebrities can just meander into the Pepsi Center and Mile High Stadium wearing their "I'm Famous" credentials, without so much as a whiff of a baton to their heads, while the rest of us who are also excited about the DNC and who also count for one vote have to hope we get random credentials from Obama's website (we didnt).
Sigh...i suppose that is what i get for being untalented. Unless you want to count writing an ICRMP as a talent. No? Okay then, talentless.
Wow...
Comment posted to the "Hundreds Hope to Catch a Glimpse of Obama" article on the 9 News website:
"jmfslots wrote: For anyone who missed seeing the "Messiah" then they can visit the Denver Zoo Monkey Cage and see his brothers."
You stay classy and racist Denver...
See what i mean about having no faith in us as people?
Comment posted to the "Hundreds Hope to Catch a Glimpse of Obama" article on the 9 News website:
"jmfslots wrote: For anyone who missed seeing the "Messiah" then they can visit the Denver Zoo Monkey Cage and see his brothers."
You stay classy and racist Denver...
See what i mean about having no faith in us as people?
27 August 2008
Back to DNC Day 3
Listening to the Roll Call.
Familiar with it? If not, you should check it out...though by the time you read this it will surely be over. In fact, when I tuned in they were already at Kentucky.
Each state gets to say how many votes they are casting for Hillary or Obama. It is insanely annoying as each state spends forever talking about their lame ass state (I am looking at you Michigan). I dont give a crap about your damn special blue hills, or sea shores, or the fact that your NCAA sports team won some sort of crazy ass award. And Mass. if you are going to mention the Red Sox, the Celtics, and the Patriots, cant you just throw a freakin bone to the Bruins? Sheesh...
Oh...New Mexico just yielded to Ill. who yielded to NY, who trotted out HRC where she gave the obligatory "i move to suspend the procedural rules.." and there you go...
So that was fine, Florida and Michigan got to cast their votes and the rest of the States (sorry O-W)probably dont care anyway. And now, "Love Train" is playing.
Sigh....politics.
I am just glad there was no kerfuffle...
but what is this???
Familiar with it? If not, you should check it out...though by the time you read this it will surely be over. In fact, when I tuned in they were already at Kentucky.
Each state gets to say how many votes they are casting for Hillary or Obama. It is insanely annoying as each state spends forever talking about their lame ass state (I am looking at you Michigan). I dont give a crap about your damn special blue hills, or sea shores, or the fact that your NCAA sports team won some sort of crazy ass award. And Mass. if you are going to mention the Red Sox, the Celtics, and the Patriots, cant you just throw a freakin bone to the Bruins? Sheesh...
Oh...New Mexico just yielded to Ill. who yielded to NY, who trotted out HRC where she gave the obligatory "i move to suspend the procedural rules.." and there you go...
So that was fine, Florida and Michigan got to cast their votes and the rest of the States (sorry O-W)probably dont care anyway. And now, "Love Train" is playing.
Sigh....politics.
I am just glad there was no kerfuffle...
but what is this???
Brief Aside
Please read the following article about a new law in Lousiana that "allows teachers to bring in 'supplemental textbooks' about evolution, the origins of life and global warming to science class."
Louisiana Senate Bill 733
I am not going to go into a lengthy discussion now, i dont have the time, but soon there will be a discussion about this.
~B
"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." -Stephen Henry Roberts (1901-71)
Louisiana Senate Bill 733
I am not going to go into a lengthy discussion now, i dont have the time, but soon there will be a discussion about this.
~B
"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." -Stephen Henry Roberts (1901-71)
DNC Day 3
"Is this town big enough for both Sean Penn and the Obama Girl?"
Do I care enough to read the remainder of the story? No, i dont. But i encourage you to do so because you know they will mention all the famous people (oh wow! I love famous people!!) who happened to be seen in Denver.
Do I care enough to read the remainder of the story? No, i dont. But i encourage you to do so because you know they will mention all the famous people (oh wow! I love famous people!!) who happened to be seen in Denver.
26 August 2008
DNC Day 2
All this talk about Hillary's speech tonight and "Ohhh what is she going to say?"
Seriously, what the hell do you guys think she is going to say? This is the DNC so there will be no surprises here. She will tow the same line she has since she dropped out. Thanks to all the women who worked hard for me. There is only one choice in this race and it is Obama. Do for him what you did for me.
That is all.
She will talk about her historic race, and even though I am not a big fan of HRC, it was indeed historic. She won primaries and was a serious rival for Obama. Especially today she should be given her due.
But lets not be stupid. is there division within the party? Yes. Are there HRC fans who wont vote for Obama? Yes, but i dont believe they would have voted for him regardless. Will it cost Obama the election? No. Not to say he is a shoe-in, but if he loses it wont be because of the crazies at Hillary is 44.
She is still a Senator and has a political career in front of her. she cant say something stupid here and screw up her future. That goes for Bill too.
Again, it is a convention...there's no such thing as surprises.
Seriously, what the hell do you guys think she is going to say? This is the DNC so there will be no surprises here. She will tow the same line she has since she dropped out. Thanks to all the women who worked hard for me. There is only one choice in this race and it is Obama. Do for him what you did for me.
That is all.
She will talk about her historic race, and even though I am not a big fan of HRC, it was indeed historic. She won primaries and was a serious rival for Obama. Especially today she should be given her due.
But lets not be stupid. is there division within the party? Yes. Are there HRC fans who wont vote for Obama? Yes, but i dont believe they would have voted for him regardless. Will it cost Obama the election? No. Not to say he is a shoe-in, but if he loses it wont be because of the crazies at Hillary is 44.
She is still a Senator and has a political career in front of her. she cant say something stupid here and screw up her future. That goes for Bill too.
Again, it is a convention...there's no such thing as surprises.
"One important visitor to Denver took a break from the Today Show to sit down with 9News reporter Kyle Dyer to talk about what she's seen in the Democratic National Convention so far.
Ann Curry arrived in Denver fresh from the Olympic Games in Beijing to help cover the DNC. Though Curry admitted to being exhausted from the 14-hour time change from Beijing to Denver, this hasn't stopped her from being in the forefront of the coverage."
A reporter interviewing a reporter? I think my head just blew up. This is ludicrous! Aren't reporters supposed to be impartial anyway?
Ann Curry arrived in Denver fresh from the Olympic Games in Beijing to help cover the DNC. Though Curry admitted to being exhausted from the 14-hour time change from Beijing to Denver, this hasn't stopped her from being in the forefront of the coverage."
A reporter interviewing a reporter? I think my head just blew up. This is ludicrous! Aren't reporters supposed to be impartial anyway?
Celebrities seen on the first day...
"Kal Penn of the 'Harold & Kumar' movies and the TV series 'House,' who worked for a good part of the day as a 'delegate whip.'"
Oh yes, we are really rocking and rolling here in Denver. And guys, this is only from the first day!!
Woot!
"Kal Penn of the 'Harold & Kumar' movies and the TV series 'House,' who worked for a good part of the day as a 'delegate whip.'"
Oh yes, we are really rocking and rolling here in Denver. And guys, this is only from the first day!!
Woot!
25 August 2008
DNC Day 1
"A few dozen anti-war activists held hands and shouted "Love, Peace and Justice" during a stunt to "levitate" the Denver Mint on Monday, shake out its money and redistribute the wealth.
The group Recreate '68 wanted to circle the mint on the opening day of the Democratic National Convention. In truth, protesters only made it halfway down one block. The quarters that showered the ground were made of plastic, and the group's leader wore a red robe that he acknowledged was an old Halloween costume. "
I didnt know that 1968 was so lame and completely embarrassing...
The group Recreate '68 wanted to circle the mint on the opening day of the Democratic National Convention. In truth, protesters only made it halfway down one block. The quarters that showered the ground were made of plastic, and the group's leader wore a red robe that he acknowledged was an old Halloween costume. "
I didnt know that 1968 was so lame and completely embarrassing...
Your Democratic National Convention Headquarters!
I was thinking, how can i Share all the exciting DNC news with the readers of this blog. I am in Denver so surely I have some sort of foot up on your regular joe q. public blogger right?
I have thought and thought, what role can i serve "my readers", my party...nay my country! And then, as if struck by lighting it came to me...
"The Delaware senator eventually made his way to the counter where he ordered five pulled pork sandwiches."
I will provide you with all the non-news. All the stupid stories...the dumb things people in denver will be talking about (ZOMG, i totally bumped into Sean Penn at the paradise bakery on the 16th St. Mall! He was eating a muffin!). You can see what homers us colorado folk are, we can make fun of celebrities and politicos and news people, and hopefully my average reader number will shoot into the teens...
Bird~
I have thought and thought, what role can i serve "my readers", my party...nay my country! And then, as if struck by lighting it came to me...
"The Delaware senator eventually made his way to the counter where he ordered five pulled pork sandwiches."
I will provide you with all the non-news. All the stupid stories...the dumb things people in denver will be talking about (ZOMG, i totally bumped into Sean Penn at the paradise bakery on the 16th St. Mall! He was eating a muffin!). You can see what homers us colorado folk are, we can make fun of celebrities and politicos and news people, and hopefully my average reader number will shoot into the teens...
Bird~
20 August 2008
Oh The Hate!
I was preparing a blog about how I dont have any hope for us as Americans. About how we are so angry and selfish and heartless that there is no hope.
It gets me too worked up. I cant get all the crazy thoughts in my head down on paper as it were.
Dont worry, nothing horrible happened that made me suddenly doubt all of us...but actually, you should worry because nothing dramatic happened at all. This is just a realization that we are horrible people and that there is nothing redeeming about us at all. A person can be great and wonderful, but group us together and we suck something fierce.
Maybe if you know the bird in person we can meet and chat and i can get all emotional about the situation. If not...this lame ass thing will have to do.
B
PS I am learning to knit. Scarfs for all! (boo!) Very well, no scarfs for anyone! (boo!) Scarfs for some, minature American flags for others (yay!)
It gets me too worked up. I cant get all the crazy thoughts in my head down on paper as it were.
Dont worry, nothing horrible happened that made me suddenly doubt all of us...but actually, you should worry because nothing dramatic happened at all. This is just a realization that we are horrible people and that there is nothing redeeming about us at all. A person can be great and wonderful, but group us together and we suck something fierce.
Maybe if you know the bird in person we can meet and chat and i can get all emotional about the situation. If not...this lame ass thing will have to do.
B
PS I am learning to knit. Scarfs for all! (boo!) Very well, no scarfs for anyone! (boo!) Scarfs for some, minature American flags for others (yay!)
18 August 2008
Dumb Stuff
I am all about crazy Olympic events...for christs sake, i attended a curling class so you know I am up for the zany, but I hit my zany limit last night around 2am while watching Pairs Synchronized Swimming.
*yes i was up at 2 watching crappy olympic games, judge me if you must.
Not only is the whole concept of synchronized swimming silly but the commentator! Man, i nearly lost my shit listening to her descriptions of the moves.
Let me break them down for ya...
"Spin"
Spinning....upside down
"Flamingo"
Like a flamingo...upside down
and my favorite
"Eggbeaters"
It's called treading water....
*****
How is this a sport. I mean, it isnt really even very fun to watch? The women are all wearing makeup, so very practical, and the moves all look the same. I mean, we have all spent an afternoon in the pool with our friends so we know there are only so many "moves" you can actually perform in the water.
For me and my friends there were only five or so: the one handed handstand, the one handed front flip, the one handed leg split, the one handed half spin, and the one handed leg flick. "All one handed," you migh say, sounding impressed. Yes, the other was plugging my nose.
~Peaches and Tweets
Bird
*yes i was up at 2 watching crappy olympic games, judge me if you must.
Not only is the whole concept of synchronized swimming silly but the commentator! Man, i nearly lost my shit listening to her descriptions of the moves.
Let me break them down for ya...
"Spin"
Spinning....upside down
"Flamingo"
Like a flamingo...upside down
and my favorite
"Eggbeaters"
It's called treading water....
*****
How is this a sport. I mean, it isnt really even very fun to watch? The women are all wearing makeup, so very practical, and the moves all look the same. I mean, we have all spent an afternoon in the pool with our friends so we know there are only so many "moves" you can actually perform in the water.
For me and my friends there were only five or so: the one handed handstand, the one handed front flip, the one handed leg split, the one handed half spin, and the one handed leg flick. "All one handed," you migh say, sounding impressed. Yes, the other was plugging my nose.
~Peaches and Tweets
Bird
13 August 2008
Long Black Veil
The song was written by Danny Dill and Marijohn Wilkin and first recorded in 1959 by Lefty Frizzell but the best version was done by Johnny Cash in '68.
This song is so great. It's the M Night Shyamalan of songs...The Sixth Sense not The Happening.
Give it a listen and have a happy hump day.
This song is so great. It's the M Night Shyamalan of songs...The Sixth Sense not The Happening.
Give it a listen and have a happy hump day.
11 August 2008
Old and Busted: The Endangered Species Act...
New Hotness: Watching An Animal Die In Your Front Yard
"The Bush administration wants federal agencies to decide for themselves whether highways, dams, mines and other construction projects might harm endangered animals and plants."
Please read the article because it will explain the situation better than i can.
What it boils down to is this, attorneys for federal agencies like the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management etc. have decided that for construction projects, drilling, mining, et al, it is too costly and time consuming to go through the process of determining whether or not a plant or animal is in danger.
This is honestly, the most insane thing i have heard in a long time. This allows folks that benefit from the construction/drilling/mining etc., to decide if there are any animals or plants in the way. And look, i am not saying that independent scientists wouldnt allow these projects to pass, just that they would force their clients to mitigate the threats. Maybe move around the nest of the bald eagle. Maybe revegitate the area after work is done. We are not talking about shutting down projects, we are talking about making sure we dont kill off plants and animals that are threatened.
I could go on and on about how silly this is. About how insulting it is to hear attorneys declare what is best for endangered species. That it takes too long and costs too much. Yes is does cost a lot, and that is the price we pay for building houses in the woods and mining for coal. It is the price we pay for skiing in fresh powder and roads that get us there. It's the price we pay for water in the summers and heat in the winters.
This is a complete slap in the face of an act that has protected hundreds of animals from extinction. It is completely audacious....I am nearly speechless.
"The Bush administration wants federal agencies to decide for themselves whether highways, dams, mines and other construction projects might harm endangered animals and plants."
Please read the article because it will explain the situation better than i can.
What it boils down to is this, attorneys for federal agencies like the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management etc. have decided that for construction projects, drilling, mining, et al, it is too costly and time consuming to go through the process of determining whether or not a plant or animal is in danger.
This is honestly, the most insane thing i have heard in a long time. This allows folks that benefit from the construction/drilling/mining etc., to decide if there are any animals or plants in the way. And look, i am not saying that independent scientists wouldnt allow these projects to pass, just that they would force their clients to mitigate the threats. Maybe move around the nest of the bald eagle. Maybe revegitate the area after work is done. We are not talking about shutting down projects, we are talking about making sure we dont kill off plants and animals that are threatened.
I could go on and on about how silly this is. About how insulting it is to hear attorneys declare what is best for endangered species. That it takes too long and costs too much. Yes is does cost a lot, and that is the price we pay for building houses in the woods and mining for coal. It is the price we pay for skiing in fresh powder and roads that get us there. It's the price we pay for water in the summers and heat in the winters.
This is a complete slap in the face of an act that has protected hundreds of animals from extinction. It is completely audacious....I am nearly speechless.
10 August 2008
Melon Farmer
Sure, yeah it's the Olympics and everything...I like handball and synchronized swimming during these two weeks as much as the next person, but there is no way i want to sit through a qualifying and semifinal round. Jesus, wake me up for the medals you know.
So watching a movie on basic cable, which means they have to take out all the fuckers and shits and dickheads. Sometimes they just remove the offending word...leaving silence and moving lips. More often they replace the word with some ridiculous phrase. It often adds an element of unintentional comedy when this happens, as was the case tonight when Samuel L. Jackson called Bruce Willis a "racist melon farmer."
Yippie Kai Yay...my friend...yippie kai yay
So watching a movie on basic cable, which means they have to take out all the fuckers and shits and dickheads. Sometimes they just remove the offending word...leaving silence and moving lips. More often they replace the word with some ridiculous phrase. It often adds an element of unintentional comedy when this happens, as was the case tonight when Samuel L. Jackson called Bruce Willis a "racist melon farmer."
Yippie Kai Yay...my friend...yippie kai yay
07 August 2008
Douchey McFavre
I really dislike this guy. Dont get me wrong, I used to like him. He used to be the All American Quarterback. That is before he held a teary press conference and said goodbye. That was before the Packers offered him 25 million to just stay at home. Do you know how insane that sounds? 25 million to stay at home and eat nachos and armchair quarterback all season long. I liked Favre before Goodell waved his hand and forced the Packers to take him back. I liked Favre before he arrived in Green Bay in the rain and then preceded to have a whine fest with Mike McCarthy.
Gene Wojciechowski at espn says, "For all those Favre critics who insist he's a drama queen, remember that he could have stayed in Green Bay, practiced, competed in an open competition with Aaron Rodgers and dared Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy to keep him on the bench. But he didn't. He left after several days because he has more respect for the Packers than the Packers have for him."
Seriously? You think this guy has respect for the Packers? Give me a break...if he had respect he would have never tried to get reinstated months after retiring. He would have seen that by offering him 25 million they were sending a clear message that Aaron Rodgers was the future of the organization. Brett made his bed and the Packers had to move on. It is disrespectful for Favre to decide that he can just force a situation with his former team. Give me a break Wojciechowski...
Favre is just another sports star willing to sacrifice his legacy so that he can keep playing and playing and playing... *Cough* Jerry Rice *Cough*
At some point, what is best for everyone is to ignore Dylan Thomas and stop raging, raging against the dying of the light.
Gene Wojciechowski at espn says, "For all those Favre critics who insist he's a drama queen, remember that he could have stayed in Green Bay, practiced, competed in an open competition with Aaron Rodgers and dared Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy to keep him on the bench. But he didn't. He left after several days because he has more respect for the Packers than the Packers have for him."
Seriously? You think this guy has respect for the Packers? Give me a break...if he had respect he would have never tried to get reinstated months after retiring. He would have seen that by offering him 25 million they were sending a clear message that Aaron Rodgers was the future of the organization. Brett made his bed and the Packers had to move on. It is disrespectful for Favre to decide that he can just force a situation with his former team. Give me a break Wojciechowski...
Favre is just another sports star willing to sacrifice his legacy so that he can keep playing and playing and playing... *Cough* Jerry Rice *Cough*
At some point, what is best for everyone is to ignore Dylan Thomas and stop raging, raging against the dying of the light.
04 August 2008
Robot Guts 2.6
For the Friend I couldn't Keep
by Chantilly 2007
I wonder if old friends are happy with new friends
If they think their friendships will last forever, just
like they think their undocumented memories will
and pictures of them laughing and joking and hugging
and kissing.
I wonder if all these memories are woth keeping
Although I don't think I have a choice
They are coated with smells of beer and stale,
lingering housefire smoke
And lined with Burgar St sounds of cursing and
shooting up and, "Hey, you want any perks?"
Our bond is lost at sea like dead bodies in the
Welland Canal, left behind at "the other place"
Memories attached with necklaces and paintbrushes
and pictures that were once a gift
Once you said, "People care more than you think they do."
But actions speak louder than words
And yours have drowned out.
Learn from the best of times
Learn from the worst of times
Breathe, and move on.
It's all we can do.
****
Please take and apply to all your failed friendships.
~That is all~
Bird
by Chantilly 2007
I wonder if old friends are happy with new friends
If they think their friendships will last forever, just
like they think their undocumented memories will
and pictures of them laughing and joking and hugging
and kissing.
I wonder if all these memories are woth keeping
Although I don't think I have a choice
They are coated with smells of beer and stale,
lingering housefire smoke
And lined with Burgar St sounds of cursing and
shooting up and, "Hey, you want any perks?"
Our bond is lost at sea like dead bodies in the
Welland Canal, left behind at "the other place"
Memories attached with necklaces and paintbrushes
and pictures that were once a gift
Once you said, "People care more than you think they do."
But actions speak louder than words
And yours have drowned out.
Learn from the best of times
Learn from the worst of times
Breathe, and move on.
It's all we can do.
****
Please take and apply to all your failed friendships.
~That is all~
Bird
03 August 2008
How's Bird Feeling?
Oh my god...football. Finally....Yay!
Football football.....
AyeAyeAyyee...football....
TThhhhhbbbbbbbbbppppppp yiiyiiyii!
Football football.....
AyeAyeAyyee...football....
TThhhhhbbbbbbbbbppppppp yiiyiiyii!
02 August 2008
OKC...
As you did not read here, but probably already know, the Seattle SuperSonics are no longer.
Officially in Oklahoma City now, the team has yet to decide on a name. Last Monday, the league filled several nicknames with the US Patent and Trademark Office: Barons, Bison, Energy, Marshalls, Thunder and Wind.
Good lord, they dont really intend to call their team the Oklahoma City Wind, do they? What kind of logo do they plan on going with...this guy?
I can just hear it now, "Oklahoma really blows...yukyuk"
I seriously think this could possibly be the worst team name ever. And the Energy? Is OKC a WNBA team or something? Jesus people...
I myself would go for bison if only because bison are neat and it comes with a built in mascot.
Here he says, "I am going to kick your ass Golden State..."
Hopefully we will get a look at names and logos soon...
Officially in Oklahoma City now, the team has yet to decide on a name. Last Monday, the league filled several nicknames with the US Patent and Trademark Office: Barons, Bison, Energy, Marshalls, Thunder and Wind.
Good lord, they dont really intend to call their team the Oklahoma City Wind, do they? What kind of logo do they plan on going with...this guy?
I can just hear it now, "Oklahoma really blows...yukyuk"
I seriously think this could possibly be the worst team name ever. And the Energy? Is OKC a WNBA team or something? Jesus people...
I myself would go for bison if only because bison are neat and it comes with a built in mascot.
Here he says, "I am going to kick your ass Golden State..."
Hopefully we will get a look at names and logos soon...
31 July 2008
Thursdays
Thursdays are becoming my favorite work day. Mostly because I subscribe to the Answer Me This! Podcast and it drops every thursday morning. Sometimes I try and wait to listen but I get excited and cant hold out.
I think you should listen also because i care and want good things for you.
Enjoy!
~Tweets
B
I think you should listen also because i care and want good things for you.
Enjoy!
~Tweets
B
28 July 2008
"Life Would Be Tragic If It Weren't Funny"
Stephen Hawking knew what he was talking about.
I have six or so items I have been saving up since none merit a posting of their own. Enjoy the little buggers
* Curling: Cubie and I went to a Learn to Curl class last thursday. It was super fun and I am investigating leagues and a three week learning "league" in August. It is hard to explain but actually throwing the stones is harder and easier than it looks. I didnt fall, though i did tip over while in the throwing position. I highly recommend trying it out if you live in the Denver/metro area (Ice Ranch). If not, get ye to a near by rink and check it out.
* Congressional Baseball: Did you know that each year the members of congress get together and play a baseball game? Reps versus Dems...each player wearing a uniform inspired by their home state/town/high school. Yeah me neither. Did you know that this year was the 47th annual? Yeah, me neither. I have missed 47 congressional baseball games?! Crazy. This year the democrats lost, again. They are 0-8 and have only won 1 out of the last 11 games. Yikes...how can we rule the country if we keep making costly errors in the final inning like overthrowing first on the final out and allowing two republicans to score?
* Duck Bakon:
Bacon, by it's very definition is, "a side of a pig cured and smoked" So duck cant be bacon. Only delicious bacon can be bacon. Also, where exactly on the duck does this bakon come from I wonder?
* Movies: I dont know if you have heard but the Dark Knight is pretty good. I am going to go out on a limb here and say, Go See It. On the other hand, avoid the X Files movie at all costs. It is horrible and random and stupid and makes no sense at all. Let me share one of the dumb scenes that is typical of the whole movie.
::scene:: West Virginia-dead of winter-freezing and snowing like a bitch
Mulder: Here's a swimming suit, it is frozen solid!
FBI Lady Amanda Peet: *sniffs* Chlorine! She must have been at the pool!
Mulder and FBI Lady: *super excited 'WOW We Are Smart Faces!'*
Really, dead of fucking winter and you think she was swimming in a pool rather than...hmm a totally frozen fucking lake? There was no reason to have this exchange. They could have just picked it up and said, hmm...lets go to the pool. Lame
* Truman Capote: Wow. Have you actually read anything by this cat? I am slightly embarrassed that i havent read it until now. Needless to say, super excellent. I have to agree with Norman Mailer when he said about Capote, "He writes the best sentences word for word, rhythm upon rhythm." For example...
"We eat our supper (cold biscuits, bacon, blackberry jam) and discuss tomorrow. Tomorrow the kind of work I like best begins: buying. Cherries and citron, ginger and vanilla and canned Hawaiian pineapple, rinds and raisins and walnuts and whiskey and oh, so much flour, butter, so many eggs, spices, flavorings: why we'll need a pony to pull the buggy home." - A Christmas Memory
Go pick his stuff up now because you wont be sorry.
* All things Border Related: Seriously, i spent all day trying to get information about ownership in the Marfa Sector. I spoke to...no less than ten folks who transferred me to random switch boards and a Sprint/Nextel salesman. I randomly called a number and ended up talking to an Army Corps person in New Mexico (lucky!). He just got back from Afghanistan where he was randomly called by people hoping to speak to the Social Security folks in Virginia. (Q says, "Hi, this is the Social Security Administration, Afghanistan Office...)
I have spent the better part of a week trying to talk to someone at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality about a dissolved water district only to be passed along over and over again. Finally a nice young man named Justin, who called me ma'am, was able to help (in that he officially confirmed that all my searching has been a waste of time). They do grow them polite in Texas.
All in all, work has been extremely frustrating but i suppose this is the nature of research. Lord knows i have been here before.
Being rejected by all things Texas..."Life would be tragic if it weren't funny."
I have six or so items I have been saving up since none merit a posting of their own. Enjoy the little buggers
* Curling: Cubie and I went to a Learn to Curl class last thursday. It was super fun and I am investigating leagues and a three week learning "league" in August. It is hard to explain but actually throwing the stones is harder and easier than it looks. I didnt fall, though i did tip over while in the throwing position. I highly recommend trying it out if you live in the Denver/metro area (Ice Ranch). If not, get ye to a near by rink and check it out.
* Congressional Baseball: Did you know that each year the members of congress get together and play a baseball game? Reps versus Dems...each player wearing a uniform inspired by their home state/town/high school. Yeah me neither. Did you know that this year was the 47th annual? Yeah, me neither. I have missed 47 congressional baseball games?! Crazy. This year the democrats lost, again. They are 0-8 and have only won 1 out of the last 11 games. Yikes...how can we rule the country if we keep making costly errors in the final inning like overthrowing first on the final out and allowing two republicans to score?
* Duck Bakon:
Bacon, by it's very definition is, "a side of a pig cured and smoked" So duck cant be bacon. Only delicious bacon can be bacon. Also, where exactly on the duck does this bakon come from I wonder?
* Movies: I dont know if you have heard but the Dark Knight is pretty good. I am going to go out on a limb here and say, Go See It. On the other hand, avoid the X Files movie at all costs. It is horrible and random and stupid and makes no sense at all. Let me share one of the dumb scenes that is typical of the whole movie.
::scene:: West Virginia-dead of winter-freezing and snowing like a bitch
Mulder: Here's a swimming suit, it is frozen solid!
FBI Lady Amanda Peet: *sniffs* Chlorine! She must have been at the pool!
Mulder and FBI Lady: *super excited 'WOW We Are Smart Faces!'*
Really, dead of fucking winter and you think she was swimming in a pool rather than...hmm a totally frozen fucking lake? There was no reason to have this exchange. They could have just picked it up and said, hmm...lets go to the pool. Lame
* Truman Capote: Wow. Have you actually read anything by this cat? I am slightly embarrassed that i havent read it until now. Needless to say, super excellent. I have to agree with Norman Mailer when he said about Capote, "He writes the best sentences word for word, rhythm upon rhythm." For example...
"We eat our supper (cold biscuits, bacon, blackberry jam) and discuss tomorrow. Tomorrow the kind of work I like best begins: buying. Cherries and citron, ginger and vanilla and canned Hawaiian pineapple, rinds and raisins and walnuts and whiskey and oh, so much flour, butter, so many eggs, spices, flavorings: why we'll need a pony to pull the buggy home." - A Christmas Memory
Go pick his stuff up now because you wont be sorry.
* All things Border Related: Seriously, i spent all day trying to get information about ownership in the Marfa Sector. I spoke to...no less than ten folks who transferred me to random switch boards and a Sprint/Nextel salesman. I randomly called a number and ended up talking to an Army Corps person in New Mexico (lucky!). He just got back from Afghanistan where he was randomly called by people hoping to speak to the Social Security folks in Virginia. (Q says, "Hi, this is the Social Security Administration, Afghanistan Office...)
I have spent the better part of a week trying to talk to someone at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality about a dissolved water district only to be passed along over and over again. Finally a nice young man named Justin, who called me ma'am, was able to help (in that he officially confirmed that all my searching has been a waste of time). They do grow them polite in Texas.
All in all, work has been extremely frustrating but i suppose this is the nature of research. Lord knows i have been here before.
Being rejected by all things Texas..."Life would be tragic if it weren't funny."
25 July 2008
Stuff and Junk
Hello all my faithful readers (three of you) and everyone else who accidentally finds the webpage in their random searches for puffin images and "ipod" "game".
I have been rather uncommunicative recently. Grouchy and little to share.
I am building up a couple of stories i want to share and today was the day but my head hurts and I am in a sour mood because no one I speak with on the phone is able to help me with anything i need.
I think I am going to skip the post and instead show you a photo. Perhaps the heat this weekend will trap me inside and allow me to chat with all of you.
Happy weekends...
Bird
I have been rather uncommunicative recently. Grouchy and little to share.
I am building up a couple of stories i want to share and today was the day but my head hurts and I am in a sour mood because no one I speak with on the phone is able to help me with anything i need.
I think I am going to skip the post and instead show you a photo. Perhaps the heat this weekend will trap me inside and allow me to chat with all of you.
Happy weekends...
Bird
23 July 2008
Ag Aggravation
I am mad at all things agricultural this morning.
Stupid ranches.
And, as always, I am miffed at irrigation resources as well.
Seriously, how did i get smooshed into this pigeon hole? As you can clearly see I am a puffin, not a pigeon.
Annoyed Bird...
Stupid ranches.
And, as always, I am miffed at irrigation resources as well.
Seriously, how did i get smooshed into this pigeon hole? As you can clearly see I am a puffin, not a pigeon.
Annoyed Bird...
18 July 2008
16 July 2008
If I Could Have Only One Wish...
...I wish for this Mama Mia excitement to die. I am tempted to wish a slow death upon it but that would drag out my exposure to the goddamn plot line and songs that, if i had liked at one point, I now cannot stand.
Part of the problem is that a quick look at the title instantly sticks the ABBA song in your head and nothing short of "I'm Henry The 8th I Am..." or "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime..." will dislodge it.
The other problem is that i hate musicals. hate hate hate them....
Also, Meryl Streep in overalls? How many times do I have to say this people; only children and very pregnant women are allowed to wear overalls (you hear me crazy hippie wearing cutoff overalls at the Brewgrass last weekend?)! AND, if the very presence of the horrid things werent enough, she only has one buckle done. That style is never allowed.
Please god, make it all end!!
Part of the problem is that a quick look at the title instantly sticks the ABBA song in your head and nothing short of "I'm Henry The 8th I Am..." or "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime..." will dislodge it.
The other problem is that i hate musicals. hate hate hate them....
Also, Meryl Streep in overalls? How many times do I have to say this people; only children and very pregnant women are allowed to wear overalls (you hear me crazy hippie wearing cutoff overalls at the Brewgrass last weekend?)! AND, if the very presence of the horrid things werent enough, she only has one buckle done. That style is never allowed.
Please god, make it all end!!
14 July 2008
Offshore Drilling
President Bush is lifting the executive ban on offshore drilling.
It doesnt mean much as Congress needs to lift its ban before drilling could be allowed but I thought it would give me an opportunity to discuss just how much oil is thought to be out there and what that really means to us here in the US.
It can be difficult to understand how much oil is really out there waiting for our rigs to come and pump it out. Numbers between 86 billion barrels (in the OCS) to as few as 3.6 billion barrels have been spewed about. These are pretty disparate numbers so how many barrels are we really talking about and how does that translate into what the US is actually consuming?
As expected, it all depends on whom you are talking to. Engineers tend to give three numbers when talking about how much oil there is in an area. The high, the mean, and the low. Supporters of lifting the ban tend to use the high number while people opposing the lifting of the ban use the low numbers.
In addition, we talk in billions of barrels, which is a pretty abstract concept. How long does a barrel last and how many barrels do we use in the U.S. each day?
Lets look at ANWR, or the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. The high, mean and low numbers often used are 16 billion barrels, 10.4 billion barrels, and 5.7 billion barrels respectively. These numbers fluctuate depending on what website you are checking out but not enough to really skew the outcome.
The US uses approximately 20 million barrels of oil a day with 45% of that total going towards gas. Doing some quick math that means that ANWR has enough oil to supply the United States for just over 2 years at the high number, just over 1 year at the mean number, and just over 10 months at the low number.
Doesnt sound so impressive when it is broken down into units that mean something to non-petroleum engineers.
President Bush says there could be as much as 18 billion barrels of oil just sitting off our coast if Congress would just go and drill it. Putting that in perspective, it comes to a supply that will last us 2 years and five months. Others suggest that there is more like 3.6 billion offshore that isnt already being tapped. That would only give us an additional 6 months of oil.
Also, none of this oil would see our gas tanks or plastic factories or chapstick tubes until several years from now.
There has to be a better idea than just drilling for more oil right? I mean, wouldnt it make more sense to take the amount of money we would spend drilling and give it to companies who are developing renewable energy? Give them the ten years we would be waiting for ANWR or Offshore oil to hit the market and see what they come up with?
I should point out that i am writing all this from the local Discount Tires where i sit and wait for the tire monkeys to fit my birdmobile with new Mohave Tires.
Fair disclosure and all...
B
It doesnt mean much as Congress needs to lift its ban before drilling could be allowed but I thought it would give me an opportunity to discuss just how much oil is thought to be out there and what that really means to us here in the US.
It can be difficult to understand how much oil is really out there waiting for our rigs to come and pump it out. Numbers between 86 billion barrels (in the OCS) to as few as 3.6 billion barrels have been spewed about. These are pretty disparate numbers so how many barrels are we really talking about and how does that translate into what the US is actually consuming?
As expected, it all depends on whom you are talking to. Engineers tend to give three numbers when talking about how much oil there is in an area. The high, the mean, and the low. Supporters of lifting the ban tend to use the high number while people opposing the lifting of the ban use the low numbers.
In addition, we talk in billions of barrels, which is a pretty abstract concept. How long does a barrel last and how many barrels do we use in the U.S. each day?
Lets look at ANWR, or the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. The high, mean and low numbers often used are 16 billion barrels, 10.4 billion barrels, and 5.7 billion barrels respectively. These numbers fluctuate depending on what website you are checking out but not enough to really skew the outcome.
The US uses approximately 20 million barrels of oil a day with 45% of that total going towards gas. Doing some quick math that means that ANWR has enough oil to supply the United States for just over 2 years at the high number, just over 1 year at the mean number, and just over 10 months at the low number.
Doesnt sound so impressive when it is broken down into units that mean something to non-petroleum engineers.
President Bush says there could be as much as 18 billion barrels of oil just sitting off our coast if Congress would just go and drill it. Putting that in perspective, it comes to a supply that will last us 2 years and five months. Others suggest that there is more like 3.6 billion offshore that isnt already being tapped. That would only give us an additional 6 months of oil.
Also, none of this oil would see our gas tanks or plastic factories or chapstick tubes until several years from now.
There has to be a better idea than just drilling for more oil right? I mean, wouldnt it make more sense to take the amount of money we would spend drilling and give it to companies who are developing renewable energy? Give them the ten years we would be waiting for ANWR or Offshore oil to hit the market and see what they come up with?
I should point out that i am writing all this from the local Discount Tires where i sit and wait for the tire monkeys to fit my birdmobile with new Mohave Tires.
Fair disclosure and all...
B
09 July 2008
Brooms and Stones and Zamboni's...
Oh My!
Cubie and I signed up for a curling class in a couple of weeks.
I am beyond excited and assumed everyone else would be as well. I mean, we are talking about curling here. As it turns out...most people kinda rolled their eyes or openly laughed at me.
Sadness. How can they not appreciate the majesty of the broom?
I am hoping that i turn out to be some kind of curling savant...if not, I hope to have a good time.
The other very exciting news is that I am finally taking a Zamboni class. On August 2nd I am going to plop down my cash, take a quick two hour class, and drive myself some zamboni!
Don't be jealous...i will still talk to you after it is all over.
Peaches and Tweets
~B
Cubie and I signed up for a curling class in a couple of weeks.
I am beyond excited and assumed everyone else would be as well. I mean, we are talking about curling here. As it turns out...most people kinda rolled their eyes or openly laughed at me.
Sadness. How can they not appreciate the majesty of the broom?
I am hoping that i turn out to be some kind of curling savant...if not, I hope to have a good time.
The other very exciting news is that I am finally taking a Zamboni class. On August 2nd I am going to plop down my cash, take a quick two hour class, and drive myself some zamboni!
Don't be jealous...i will still talk to you after it is all over.
Peaches and Tweets
~B
07 July 2008
Music and Fun
After returning from Texas i promptly went and purchased some music. There is only so much old timey country and spanish polka music a bird can take, you see.
One was the self titled Vampire Weekend album. Bueno! As i was telling Palmer, this is the archetype band for my favorite style of music (favorite of the moment, of course). Very indie pop but just different enough to keep me interested.
May i suggest you listen to Campus and relive some wonderful college days...
~Tweets
B
One was the self titled Vampire Weekend album. Bueno! As i was telling Palmer, this is the archetype band for my favorite style of music (favorite of the moment, of course). Very indie pop but just different enough to keep me interested.
May i suggest you listen to Campus and relive some wonderful college days...
~Tweets
B
03 July 2008
Im Leaving On a Jet Plane...
Two sadly ass posts for ten days of work. Sorry folks who tuned in hoping to find some sort of something. The good news is that I will be leaving today and that means...
...well nothing really.
But it means I get to sleep in my own bed with mister q and not shovel and screen for a while, which is nice for me.
Alright folks, i will see you soon...
Bird
...well nothing really.
But it means I get to sleep in my own bed with mister q and not shovel and screen for a while, which is nice for me.
Alright folks, i will see you soon...
Bird
23 June 2008
The Stars At Night are Big and Bright...
(clap, clap, clap, clap) Deep in the Heart of Texas...
I am off to Eagle Pass for more border fence fun.
The fence is in the news all over the place today. First, the Supreme Court rejected the case made by environmental groups to stop construction on portions of the fence that have already begun. Chertoff waived 30 plus laws (environmental, cultural, etc etc) so that construction could begin.
Second, the Times cover is about, "The Great Wall of America". I haven't read the article so i cant really speak to it. What i do know is that the US cover is about the wall that divides us but the cover for the Europe, Asia, and South Pacific editions are all about "The Games That Bring Us Together".
Q and i were talking about this idea of togetherness being sent across the world while at home Time talks about our divisiveness.
Eagle Pass should be interesting. The town itself is very anti-fence so I plan to stay low key...or as low key as I can get. Hopefully we will be in about out and wont have to drop any 1x1's. Cross your fingers...
Meanwhile, i will dispatch from the land of lincoln...no wait...the Lone Star State. You enjoy your regular afternoon thunderstorms and I will enjoy my 103 degrees and mild humidity.
Tweet's and Whistles
~Bird
I am off to Eagle Pass for more border fence fun.
The fence is in the news all over the place today. First, the Supreme Court rejected the case made by environmental groups to stop construction on portions of the fence that have already begun. Chertoff waived 30 plus laws (environmental, cultural, etc etc) so that construction could begin.
Second, the Times cover is about, "The Great Wall of America". I haven't read the article so i cant really speak to it. What i do know is that the US cover is about the wall that divides us but the cover for the Europe, Asia, and South Pacific editions are all about "The Games That Bring Us Together".
Q and i were talking about this idea of togetherness being sent across the world while at home Time talks about our divisiveness.
Eagle Pass should be interesting. The town itself is very anti-fence so I plan to stay low key...or as low key as I can get. Hopefully we will be in about out and wont have to drop any 1x1's. Cross your fingers...
Meanwhile, i will dispatch from the land of lincoln...no wait...the Lone Star State. You enjoy your regular afternoon thunderstorms and I will enjoy my 103 degrees and mild humidity.
Tweet's and Whistles
~Bird
20 June 2008
Music...
I had forgotten how much i liked the song Crimson and Clover and then today while at the grocery store i heard some horrible muzak version and went...oh yeah!
Sigh...music makes me smile
B
Sigh...music makes me smile
B
19 June 2008
Crazy of the Week
Our crazy of the week is brought to you by,
Jarts!
Ouch, That's Fun!
You may not know the name Leon Kass
but he was the Chair of the President's Council on Bioethics from 2002-2005. I didnt even know there was a bioethics council but i guess if you are looking to stop stem cell research, Leon is the guy to do it.
He once said, regarding women and technology, "Her menstrual cycle, since puberty a regular reminder of her natural maternal destiny, is now anovulatory and directed instead by her will and her medications, serving goals only of pleasure and convenience, enjoyable without apparent risk to personal health and safety."
Hmm...since i actually am a woman i can tell you it is never convenient and enjoyable. God forbid we take a pill that can regulate it (somewhat) and possibly reduce the stupid cramps that we get each month...yes it is us screwing with our maternal destiny, how dare we.
Most of his ideas are pretty old white guy standard....with one exception...
"Worst of all from this point of view are those more uncivilized forms of eating, like licking an ice cream cone --a catlike activity that has been made acceptable in informal America but that still offends those who know eating in public is offensive."
Umm...licking an ice cream cone?
"But eating on the street -- even when undertaken, say, because one is between appointments and has no other time to eat -- displays in fact precisely such lack of self-control: It beckons enslavement to the belly. Hunger must be sated now; it cannot wait. Though the walking street eater still moves in the direction of his vision, he shows himself as a being led by his appetites. Lacking utensils for cutting and lifting to mouth, he will often be seen using his teeth for tearing off chewable portions, just like any animal"
Does Kass run into folks trying to eat steak while 'between appointments' or does he use utensils to cut chewable portions of sandwiches and corn dogs?
"This doglike feeding, if one must engage in it, ought to be kept from public view, where, even if WE feel no shame, others are compelled to witness our shameful behavior."
If anything is shameful behavior Mr. Kass it is that ridiculous comb over you are trying to pull off. Please, it ought to be kept from public view...
~B
quotes from here
Jarts!
Ouch, That's Fun!
You may not know the name Leon Kass
but he was the Chair of the President's Council on Bioethics from 2002-2005. I didnt even know there was a bioethics council but i guess if you are looking to stop stem cell research, Leon is the guy to do it.
He once said, regarding women and technology, "Her menstrual cycle, since puberty a regular reminder of her natural maternal destiny, is now anovulatory and directed instead by her will and her medications, serving goals only of pleasure and convenience, enjoyable without apparent risk to personal health and safety."
Hmm...since i actually am a woman i can tell you it is never convenient and enjoyable. God forbid we take a pill that can regulate it (somewhat) and possibly reduce the stupid cramps that we get each month...yes it is us screwing with our maternal destiny, how dare we.
Most of his ideas are pretty old white guy standard....with one exception...
"Worst of all from this point of view are those more uncivilized forms of eating, like licking an ice cream cone --a catlike activity that has been made acceptable in informal America but that still offends those who know eating in public is offensive."
Umm...licking an ice cream cone?
"But eating on the street -- even when undertaken, say, because one is between appointments and has no other time to eat -- displays in fact precisely such lack of self-control: It beckons enslavement to the belly. Hunger must be sated now; it cannot wait. Though the walking street eater still moves in the direction of his vision, he shows himself as a being led by his appetites. Lacking utensils for cutting and lifting to mouth, he will often be seen using his teeth for tearing off chewable portions, just like any animal"
Does Kass run into folks trying to eat steak while 'between appointments' or does he use utensils to cut chewable portions of sandwiches and corn dogs?
"This doglike feeding, if one must engage in it, ought to be kept from public view, where, even if WE feel no shame, others are compelled to witness our shameful behavior."
If anything is shameful behavior Mr. Kass it is that ridiculous comb over you are trying to pull off. Please, it ought to be kept from public view...
~B
quotes from here
15 June 2008
Um What?
I leave for a week and Tim Russert dies?
Sadness...
Completely off topic, the Leroys* in Vaughn, New Mexico wins the "Best Bathroom In The Middle Of No-Where Award."
*May not be the correct name, but does it really matter?
Sadness...
Completely off topic, the Leroys* in Vaughn, New Mexico wins the "Best Bathroom In The Middle Of No-Where Award."
*May not be the correct name, but does it really matter?
05 June 2008
Ugh
I hate seeing this...
But probably not for the reason you think. I have never been a red wings hater. I like the team and in general enjoy watching them play. However, red wings fans force me to root against the team.
Sadly, the wings have a similar fan base as the Yankees, Patriots, and Red Sox. Fans that just randomly pick a favorite team based on how good they are. These people have never been to the city or probably even the state in question. They prefer to stay in their midwestern homes and wait for the teams to visit their town so they can don the gear and go to the rink/field/park and be loud and obnoxious. They dont take the time to learn the history of the team, they dont care about the past and often dont even care about the sport.
I should say that all of these teams have plenty of fans that are knowledgeable and dedicated and have a history with the team. They can be respectful and very pleasant. However, I cant even count the number of red wings fans I've been around who dont know what the octopus is for. "I think it was just their old mascot or something..." Hockeytown indeed.
So, I am glad that 46 year old Chelios has another cup. I am happy that Zetterberg won the Conn Smyth. I like Osgood so I am okay with his winning, even though shitty ass Hasek will get his name on the cup again. I just wish that I wouldnt have to see retarded wings fans driving around Denver with Orange Crush and Native stickers on their freakin trucks and a red wings car flag hanging out the side window.
But probably not for the reason you think. I have never been a red wings hater. I like the team and in general enjoy watching them play. However, red wings fans force me to root against the team.
Sadly, the wings have a similar fan base as the Yankees, Patriots, and Red Sox. Fans that just randomly pick a favorite team based on how good they are. These people have never been to the city or probably even the state in question. They prefer to stay in their midwestern homes and wait for the teams to visit their town so they can don the gear and go to the rink/field/park and be loud and obnoxious. They dont take the time to learn the history of the team, they dont care about the past and often dont even care about the sport.
I should say that all of these teams have plenty of fans that are knowledgeable and dedicated and have a history with the team. They can be respectful and very pleasant. However, I cant even count the number of red wings fans I've been around who dont know what the octopus is for. "I think it was just their old mascot or something..." Hockeytown indeed.
So, I am glad that 46 year old Chelios has another cup. I am happy that Zetterberg won the Conn Smyth. I like Osgood so I am okay with his winning, even though shitty ass Hasek will get his name on the cup again. I just wish that I wouldnt have to see retarded wings fans driving around Denver with Orange Crush and Native stickers on their freakin trucks and a red wings car flag hanging out the side window.
02 June 2008
Democrat Delegate Debacle
Q and I watched the DNC rules and bylaws committee meeting on Saturday (yes we are that geeky and we fucking love it!)...Jesus Christ (i said that in spanish by the by) what a freakin mess the Dems are this year.
If you missed it and have completely shut off the interwebs, television, and radio you might not know what is going on. Well, let birdy help you, yes?
Florida and Michigan, who both held their primaries before the date allowed by the DNC were told that their delegates wouldnt be sat at the convention in August. They held the primaries anyway. All of the hopeful candidates agreed that they would not campaign in either states and they didnt. In Michigan, all the major candidates pulled their names off the ballots except for Hillary Clinton. So, the FL and MI primaries come and go and we move on with nomination process.
At the time, all the candidates were quoted several times saying that they know that Michigan and Florida dont count. All is fine and well.
As you may be aware...Obama has been gaining ground on Clinton and after primaries in Indiana came back much closer then expected, Obama effectively put the nomination out of Hillary's reach. Obama began to get support from undeclared super delegates and the math just wasnt there for Clinton.
About this time, the problem with Florida and Michigan became fervent. No one, either Obama, Hillary, or the DNC, wanted to stiff both states out of their votes (the dems try to pride themselves on not disenfranchising folks--even if they were warned and possibly deserve it), the problem was how to divide the delegates in one state where Obama's name didnt appear on the ballot.
Both Hillary and Bill Clinton as well as her outspoken supporters, then began talking a blue streak about how the press was pushing her out of the race. How they are trying to cover up the fact that she is "winning" the popular vote. Hillary of course is counting her big win in Michigan and Florida as well as her other, legitimate, primary wins (including Puerto Rico where the citizens have a say in who is a nominee but cant vote in the general election). By these numbers she says that she is winning this nomination and for the press and others to ask her to leave the race is insulting, sexist, etc. The Clinton line is that she has won more votes...that she has won bigger states...and that Obama is relying on Caucus states too much.
This all culminated in Saturday's Rules and Bylaws Committee where DNC members had to decide what to do with Michigan and Florida. After hours of "discussions" constantly interrupted by Obama and Clinton supporters screaming from the peanut gallery, it was decided that Florida would seat all its delegates with each getting 1/2 a vote. The Obama/Clinton breakdown would follow the % won during the primary. In Michigan, where Obama was not on the ballot, it was decided that all the delegates would be sat at the convention in August, each with 1/2 a vote. In the initial primary Hillary received 328,151 votes and Obama received 0. However, there were ~237,000 "uncommitted" votes placed in the Michigan primary. If Michigan voters wanted to vote for Obama or Edwards they would have to vote uncommitted.
The R&B Committee voted to give Hillary 35 delegates and Obama 29. The Michigan Democratic Party said that the numbers were based on work they did with Michigan dems who voted uncommitted, including exit polls etc. in an attempt to ferret out who they had voted for. Obviously the Hillary supporters were pissed saying that the committee had stolen votes and hijacked the nomination. I agree that it isnt an ideal situation however short of holding a new primary (something suggested early on and rejected by everyone involved) what is the committee to do?
However, the problem I have with Hillary and her supporters is that their argument that she is "winning" the popular vote is wrong and also completely moot.
First off, it doesnt even matter if she was truly winning the popular vote. The popular vote isnt what decides the Dem nomination...delegates are what candidates need and as i type the numbers say Obama 2,076 and Clinton 1,917. This means that even if Clinton was given all the delegates from michigan, she still wouldnt have the numbers needed to pull ahead.
What is more troubling to me here in Colorado, are the states Hillary is NOT counting in her winning formula...namely, the caucuses states. There are 14 states that hold caucuses and 11 of those states actually report turnouts for each candidate...leaving only Texas, Hawaii and Washington unaccounted for.
Why doesnt Hillary count the caucus numbers in her winning formula? Does she think that a vote in a primary is more important that a vote in a caucus? I know Colorado isnt a big win for any candidate, but the 120,001 people who took the time to go to their caucus on Super Tuesday would be a little insulted to find out that our vote doesnt matter...
After adding in the remaining caucus states the popular vote total looks something like this...
Obama: 17,780,516
Clinton: 17,589,514
Doing the math....carrying the one....
Clinton is behind Obama by 191,002 votes.
Hmm...fuzzy math.
As mentioned above, none of it matters because the popular vote doesnt get you squat. It all comes down to delegates and Obama is far ahead in that department.
I am hoping that after the final primaries tomorrow that the long nightmare will be over. That Clinton will concede and give a nice speech where she says that Obama is our nominee and lets all be good little dems and rally behind our candidate. If she chooses to push this issue to the Credentials Committee as Harold Ickes suggested she might, I swear to god I will have an aneurysm.
Here's to hoping Clinton does the smart thing.
~B
All numbers were culled from here or here.
If you missed it and have completely shut off the interwebs, television, and radio you might not know what is going on. Well, let birdy help you, yes?
Florida and Michigan, who both held their primaries before the date allowed by the DNC were told that their delegates wouldnt be sat at the convention in August. They held the primaries anyway. All of the hopeful candidates agreed that they would not campaign in either states and they didnt. In Michigan, all the major candidates pulled their names off the ballots except for Hillary Clinton. So, the FL and MI primaries come and go and we move on with nomination process.
At the time, all the candidates were quoted several times saying that they know that Michigan and Florida dont count. All is fine and well.
As you may be aware...Obama has been gaining ground on Clinton and after primaries in Indiana came back much closer then expected, Obama effectively put the nomination out of Hillary's reach. Obama began to get support from undeclared super delegates and the math just wasnt there for Clinton.
About this time, the problem with Florida and Michigan became fervent. No one, either Obama, Hillary, or the DNC, wanted to stiff both states out of their votes (the dems try to pride themselves on not disenfranchising folks--even if they were warned and possibly deserve it), the problem was how to divide the delegates in one state where Obama's name didnt appear on the ballot.
Both Hillary and Bill Clinton as well as her outspoken supporters, then began talking a blue streak about how the press was pushing her out of the race. How they are trying to cover up the fact that she is "winning" the popular vote. Hillary of course is counting her big win in Michigan and Florida as well as her other, legitimate, primary wins (including Puerto Rico where the citizens have a say in who is a nominee but cant vote in the general election). By these numbers she says that she is winning this nomination and for the press and others to ask her to leave the race is insulting, sexist, etc. The Clinton line is that she has won more votes...that she has won bigger states...and that Obama is relying on Caucus states too much.
This all culminated in Saturday's Rules and Bylaws Committee where DNC members had to decide what to do with Michigan and Florida. After hours of "discussions" constantly interrupted by Obama and Clinton supporters screaming from the peanut gallery, it was decided that Florida would seat all its delegates with each getting 1/2 a vote. The Obama/Clinton breakdown would follow the % won during the primary. In Michigan, where Obama was not on the ballot, it was decided that all the delegates would be sat at the convention in August, each with 1/2 a vote. In the initial primary Hillary received 328,151 votes and Obama received 0. However, there were ~237,000 "uncommitted" votes placed in the Michigan primary. If Michigan voters wanted to vote for Obama or Edwards they would have to vote uncommitted.
The R&B Committee voted to give Hillary 35 delegates and Obama 29. The Michigan Democratic Party said that the numbers were based on work they did with Michigan dems who voted uncommitted, including exit polls etc. in an attempt to ferret out who they had voted for. Obviously the Hillary supporters were pissed saying that the committee had stolen votes and hijacked the nomination. I agree that it isnt an ideal situation however short of holding a new primary (something suggested early on and rejected by everyone involved) what is the committee to do?
However, the problem I have with Hillary and her supporters is that their argument that she is "winning" the popular vote is wrong and also completely moot.
First off, it doesnt even matter if she was truly winning the popular vote. The popular vote isnt what decides the Dem nomination...delegates are what candidates need and as i type the numbers say Obama 2,076 and Clinton 1,917. This means that even if Clinton was given all the delegates from michigan, she still wouldnt have the numbers needed to pull ahead.
What is more troubling to me here in Colorado, are the states Hillary is NOT counting in her winning formula...namely, the caucuses states. There are 14 states that hold caucuses and 11 of those states actually report turnouts for each candidate...leaving only Texas, Hawaii and Washington unaccounted for.
Why doesnt Hillary count the caucus numbers in her winning formula? Does she think that a vote in a primary is more important that a vote in a caucus? I know Colorado isnt a big win for any candidate, but the 120,001 people who took the time to go to their caucus on Super Tuesday would be a little insulted to find out that our vote doesnt matter...
After adding in the remaining caucus states the popular vote total looks something like this...
Obama: 17,780,516
Clinton: 17,589,514
Doing the math....carrying the one....
Clinton is behind Obama by 191,002 votes.
Hmm...fuzzy math.
As mentioned above, none of it matters because the popular vote doesnt get you squat. It all comes down to delegates and Obama is far ahead in that department.
I am hoping that after the final primaries tomorrow that the long nightmare will be over. That Clinton will concede and give a nice speech where she says that Obama is our nominee and lets all be good little dems and rally behind our candidate. If she chooses to push this issue to the Credentials Committee as Harold Ickes suggested she might, I swear to god I will have an aneurysm.
Here's to hoping Clinton does the smart thing.
~B
All numbers were culled from here or here.
Oh. My. God.
Finally...jesus christ. It has taken so long for me to get online. Here is my first dispatch.
It is hot. I am dirty. My back is all wanky. My hair feels so soft. Everyone here is insane.
Seriously...everyone.
I am hoping to come home early.
nice goodbye's for McGuckin.
Also, this morning i saw a dog humping another dog's face. It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen and i nearly crashed the rental into a post laughing.
If that is the highlight of the trip you can imagine the lows...
I heard that the mayor of Eagle Pass is the only one in town who is really against the border fence. Word on the street (border patrol agents) is that he is in cahoots with the Mex. folks across the river. No idea what that specifically means. The political hot spots in town are the Cactus Restaurant (good lunch!) and the Golf Course Pro Shop. Strange. We were given a stack of "No Border Wall" bumper stickers by one of the Mayor's pals while leaving work at Fort Duncan. I guess most people think that because we are interested in preserving the past that we are actively working towards stopping the fence from going up. Sadly, as most archaeologists know all too well, we cant stop development...maybe just slow it down a bit.
So far the big find is two military uniform buttons. If anyone knows something about buttons let me know eh?
Back to work...
Peaches and Tweets~
Bird
It is hot. I am dirty. My back is all wanky. My hair feels so soft. Everyone here is insane.
Seriously...everyone.
I am hoping to come home early.
nice goodbye's for McGuckin.
Also, this morning i saw a dog humping another dog's face. It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen and i nearly crashed the rental into a post laughing.
If that is the highlight of the trip you can imagine the lows...
I heard that the mayor of Eagle Pass is the only one in town who is really against the border fence. Word on the street (border patrol agents) is that he is in cahoots with the Mex. folks across the river. No idea what that specifically means. The political hot spots in town are the Cactus Restaurant (good lunch!) and the Golf Course Pro Shop. Strange. We were given a stack of "No Border Wall" bumper stickers by one of the Mayor's pals while leaving work at Fort Duncan. I guess most people think that because we are interested in preserving the past that we are actively working towards stopping the fence from going up. Sadly, as most archaeologists know all too well, we cant stop development...maybe just slow it down a bit.
So far the big find is two military uniform buttons. If anyone knows something about buttons let me know eh?
Back to work...
Peaches and Tweets~
Bird
28 May 2008
An Open Letter To iTunes...
Look...you don't really know me, and for you to assume that I would like Smash Mouth and Brad Paisley kind of hurts. Also, the Juice Newton thing is an aberration. I mean, that song has a very specific memory you know? Certainly you can understand that. Everyone has a song like that...one that they cherish and at the same time, are embarrassed by.
I can tell you this, if you did know me you wouldn't offer up Jimmy Buffet just because I like Surfer Girl. How do those even relate? You aren't that dense are you, to just plop all "beach music" into one category? And just because I bought that DeVotchKa song from the Little Miss Sunshine Track doesn't mean I enjoy soundtracks and am interested in owning the music from August Rush...it means that 'Til the End of Time' isn't on any other album.
Anyway, thanks...
Your Pal,
Bird
I can tell you this, if you did know me you wouldn't offer up Jimmy Buffet just because I like Surfer Girl. How do those even relate? You aren't that dense are you, to just plop all "beach music" into one category? And just because I bought that DeVotchKa song from the Little Miss Sunshine Track doesn't mean I enjoy soundtracks and am interested in owning the music from August Rush...it means that 'Til the End of Time' isn't on any other album.
Anyway, thanks...
Your Pal,
Bird
27 May 2008
I Heart Gary Larson
Sigh...he is so damn strange and quirky and wonderful and I would like to pry open his skull and touch his brain.
I can read his cartoons over and over again and am still very entertained.
I remember reading his stuff and always running across a couple I could never understand. Later, i remember getting excited when i was finally able to go...Oh thats a play on Edmund Hillary.
Anyone who can make you laugh and educate you at the same time must be pretty special right?
B
I can read his cartoons over and over again and am still very entertained.
I remember reading his stuff and always running across a couple I could never understand. Later, i remember getting excited when i was finally able to go...Oh thats a play on Edmund Hillary.
Anyone who can make you laugh and educate you at the same time must be pretty special right?
B
25 May 2008
Amazing Things UPDATE
The first bit isnt amazing...yet.
Jim Payne is the Wheat Ridge Fire Chief. Chief Payne was critically injured following a fall at his home on April 5, 2008. He remains in critical condition in the ICU at a Denver Metro hospital.
Jim is a generous man. He is warm and funny and caring. A great man who's family is in need. So far this sounds much less than amazing but wait...it is because you can do something to help.
The James Payne Assistance Fund has been established to help pay medical and related expenses. Anyone wishing to contribute to this fund may send donations to Wheat Ridge Fire directly or stop by any branch of Wells Fargo Bank.
Check can be made to:
The James Payne Assistance Fund
c/o Wheat Ridge Fire District
P. O. Box 507
Wheat Ridge, CO 80034
Q and I will be doing whatever we can and if you feel driven to help a great family, i hope you can do the same.
*******
Did you get a chance to watch the mars landing this afternoon/evening? If you arent familiar with the story, the Phoenix Mars Lander was making its landing today. Unlike spirit and opportunity, two other rovers, Phoenix was too big to use the inflatable balloons...
Phoenix had to do a soft landing, like NASA has done on the moon. So, how do you get a freakin lander to go from Mach 1.7 to 5km? A supersonic parachute of course...
"Shortly after the parachute blossoms, the vehicle's protective heat shield is jettisoned. Then the probe's landing radar is turned on and its legs extended.
Even under parachute, Phoenix speeds through the martian atmosphere until it comes within .6 miles (1 kilometer) of Mars' landscape. At this point, the lander frees itself from the parachute. It then throttles up a set of landing thrusters fed by ultra-pure hydrazine and decelerates.
When Phoenix is either at an altitude of 39 feet (12 meters) or traveling at 7.9 feet per second (2.4 meters per second) the spacecraft starts traveling at a constant velocity. On touchdown, the landing engines are turned off, controlled by footpad-mounted sensors that detect contact with the surface."
How amazing is that??! Check out an animation video of the landing...be warned it takes a while to load.
Needless to say, it landed and by 10pm est we will have photos of mars. New photos, color photos like we've never seen before...
Amazing...
UPDATE
neat
Jim Payne is the Wheat Ridge Fire Chief. Chief Payne was critically injured following a fall at his home on April 5, 2008. He remains in critical condition in the ICU at a Denver Metro hospital.
Jim is a generous man. He is warm and funny and caring. A great man who's family is in need. So far this sounds much less than amazing but wait...it is because you can do something to help.
The James Payne Assistance Fund has been established to help pay medical and related expenses. Anyone wishing to contribute to this fund may send donations to Wheat Ridge Fire directly or stop by any branch of Wells Fargo Bank.
Check can be made to:
The James Payne Assistance Fund
c/o Wheat Ridge Fire District
P. O. Box 507
Wheat Ridge, CO 80034
Q and I will be doing whatever we can and if you feel driven to help a great family, i hope you can do the same.
*******
Did you get a chance to watch the mars landing this afternoon/evening? If you arent familiar with the story, the Phoenix Mars Lander was making its landing today. Unlike spirit and opportunity, two other rovers, Phoenix was too big to use the inflatable balloons...
Phoenix had to do a soft landing, like NASA has done on the moon. So, how do you get a freakin lander to go from Mach 1.7 to 5km? A supersonic parachute of course...
"Shortly after the parachute blossoms, the vehicle's protective heat shield is jettisoned. Then the probe's landing radar is turned on and its legs extended.
Even under parachute, Phoenix speeds through the martian atmosphere until it comes within .6 miles (1 kilometer) of Mars' landscape. At this point, the lander frees itself from the parachute. It then throttles up a set of landing thrusters fed by ultra-pure hydrazine and decelerates.
When Phoenix is either at an altitude of 39 feet (12 meters) or traveling at 7.9 feet per second (2.4 meters per second) the spacecraft starts traveling at a constant velocity. On touchdown, the landing engines are turned off, controlled by footpad-mounted sensors that detect contact with the surface."
How amazing is that??! Check out an animation video of the landing...be warned it takes a while to load.
Needless to say, it landed and by 10pm est we will have photos of mars. New photos, color photos like we've never seen before...
Amazing...
UPDATE
neat
22 May 2008
20 May 2008
Let's Get a Little Perspective Here...
Right now I am angry at the Library of Congress. All i want to do is find some stupid information about Fort Duncan in Eagle Pass but every time i get into the system I am promptly booted out because, "All available connections to
the Online Catalog are currently in use." How can that be, LOC, when I am looking at a lists of results? Shouldnt I be using one of those connections? Over and over and over again this would happen. Get in, type Fort Duncan, get the boot. Get in, type Fort Duncan, get a list of results, get the boot.
I kinda wanted to fly out there and kick someones ass but then I read that Ted Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor and I thought, "You know what bird? Just shut up about your Library of Congress 'problems'" And that is just what i did.
Two Minutes Hate
It's been awhile since i have had a good hate....
Today it comes to you courtesy of Focus on the Family. I stumbled on a recent article where FOF is asking Marriott International to stop offering adult movies to guests, the group "also suggested that hotels make guests request the movies at their front desks instead of from their rooms."
Now, i dont think pron is for everyone and if you think it is immoral and wrong you are totally entitled to that opinion. In fact, i dont even mind FOF making the request. I mean, I dont have a problem with pron or people wacking off to it at the hotel, there is no way Marriott will drop it, but if you wanna ask then go right ahead. The bit that really annoyed me are the reasons FOF gave for trying to ban the pron...they said "pornography feeds prostitution and sexual abuse."
...Um What?!!? Prostitution and abuse? Do they have some sort of data to back up a claim like this or is it like me saying that Broccoli feeds wizardry and tennis elbow?
Not only is the claim ludicrous and without merit but it actually takes away from the real causes of prostitution and abuse. Do they think crazy guys like Brent Brents' looked at a copy of Juggs and then said, "Hmm, i feel like raping a 11 year old girl and her grandmother."
Does FOF think that if you get rid of dirty mags and videos that people will stop thinking about their junk? Everyone will be asexual until they get into a monogamous relationship when they will then realize their junk's a burnin' and then they will have sex in the missionary position until they die.
Do they think that if I catch glimpse of a pair of boobs or, heaven forbid a wang, that i will promptly leave my job as a shovelbum and go start sleeping with men for money. Is the only thing keeping me from prostitution the lack of anal play i have watched while staying at a Marriott? Or, perhaps, could it be contributed to a million other relevant things?
If FOF wants to deal with sexual abuse in this country I am all for it. But maybe lets focus on actual causes like the fact that sexual assault is a question of power, not passion. And that "Of convicted sexual assaulters, 50% repeat their crimes."
If you want to stop prostitution then maybe focus on why these men and women choose to sell themselves. Perhaps look into poverty, addiction to drugs or alcohol, low self esteem, history of abuse and neglect, no education and a feeling of no alternatives, and those who are forced either through human trafficking or some other violent and threatening means.
******
Sigh....
That felt nice.
Bird~
the Online Catalog are currently in use." How can that be, LOC, when I am looking at a lists of results? Shouldnt I be using one of those connections? Over and over and over again this would happen. Get in, type Fort Duncan, get the boot. Get in, type Fort Duncan, get a list of results, get the boot.
I kinda wanted to fly out there and kick someones ass but then I read that Ted Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor and I thought, "You know what bird? Just shut up about your Library of Congress 'problems'" And that is just what i did.
Two Minutes Hate
It's been awhile since i have had a good hate....
Today it comes to you courtesy of Focus on the Family. I stumbled on a recent article where FOF is asking Marriott International to stop offering adult movies to guests, the group "also suggested that hotels make guests request the movies at their front desks instead of from their rooms."
Now, i dont think pron is for everyone and if you think it is immoral and wrong you are totally entitled to that opinion. In fact, i dont even mind FOF making the request. I mean, I dont have a problem with pron or people wacking off to it at the hotel, there is no way Marriott will drop it, but if you wanna ask then go right ahead. The bit that really annoyed me are the reasons FOF gave for trying to ban the pron...they said "pornography feeds prostitution and sexual abuse."
...Um What?!!? Prostitution and abuse? Do they have some sort of data to back up a claim like this or is it like me saying that Broccoli feeds wizardry and tennis elbow?
Not only is the claim ludicrous and without merit but it actually takes away from the real causes of prostitution and abuse. Do they think crazy guys like Brent Brents' looked at a copy of Juggs and then said, "Hmm, i feel like raping a 11 year old girl and her grandmother."
Does FOF think that if you get rid of dirty mags and videos that people will stop thinking about their junk? Everyone will be asexual until they get into a monogamous relationship when they will then realize their junk's a burnin' and then they will have sex in the missionary position until they die.
Do they think that if I catch glimpse of a pair of boobs or, heaven forbid a wang, that i will promptly leave my job as a shovelbum and go start sleeping with men for money. Is the only thing keeping me from prostitution the lack of anal play i have watched while staying at a Marriott? Or, perhaps, could it be contributed to a million other relevant things?
If FOF wants to deal with sexual abuse in this country I am all for it. But maybe lets focus on actual causes like the fact that sexual assault is a question of power, not passion. And that "Of convicted sexual assaulters, 50% repeat their crimes."
If you want to stop prostitution then maybe focus on why these men and women choose to sell themselves. Perhaps look into poverty, addiction to drugs or alcohol, low self esteem, history of abuse and neglect, no education and a feeling of no alternatives, and those who are forced either through human trafficking or some other violent and threatening means.
******
Sigh....
That felt nice.
Bird~
19 May 2008
Hullabaloo
I dont hear the word very much but today, three times, i ran across Hullabaloo.
Strange how things like that happen.
Tomorrow a post about pron!!
pic from...
Strange how things like that happen.
Tomorrow a post about pron!!
pic from...
17 May 2008
16 May 2008
Ummm....
I have nothing to say. I havent posted in a while so i feel like i should but really, there is nothing that has piqued my interest.
In the last week I have acquired bronchitis, highly recommended if you havent tried it.
I watched War of the Worlds, the Tom Cruise version with the scary ass robot sounds.
I stayed home on Monday and Tuesday and watched horrible day time television, which included an ANTM marathon. Sadly, or luckily, i was in and out of sleep the whole time.
I was tricked.
And just now I saw a coyote.
he didnt look that mad though....
Also...this just makes things worse for shovel bums...
~Pretty lame week? Yes, I suppose....but have i mentioned that my born day is less than a week away? Indeed. Checks can be made out to N-e-l-n-e-t S-t-u-d-e-n-t L-o-a-n-s.
Tweet tweet
**B
In the last week I have acquired bronchitis, highly recommended if you havent tried it.
I watched War of the Worlds, the Tom Cruise version with the scary ass robot sounds.
I stayed home on Monday and Tuesday and watched horrible day time television, which included an ANTM marathon. Sadly, or luckily, i was in and out of sleep the whole time.
I was tricked.
And just now I saw a coyote.
he didnt look that mad though....
Also...this just makes things worse for shovel bums...
~Pretty lame week? Yes, I suppose....but have i mentioned that my born day is less than a week away? Indeed. Checks can be made out to N-e-l-n-e-t S-t-u-d-e-n-t L-o-a-n-s.
Tweet tweet
**B
11 May 2008
iWhat?
I have an unatural love of iRobot. I have seen it, oh-a thousand or so times on FX (Which must have some sort of Will Smith contract because Independence Day plays a lot too).
I was talking with Sklimps and Q today about Iron Giant..."Superman" and how i get all verklempt at it. If you know the bird you know that I am not very girly and hardly ever get worked up at films. Something about Iron Giant though...
I am guessing that the iRobot and Iron Giant thing are related. Maybe i just have an insane love of robots? Hmm...robots are pretty cool.
and of course...
Robots love us...
...and we love them.
Or at least Bird does.
I was talking with Sklimps and Q today about Iron Giant..."Superman" and how i get all verklempt at it. If you know the bird you know that I am not very girly and hardly ever get worked up at films. Something about Iron Giant though...
I am guessing that the iRobot and Iron Giant thing are related. Maybe i just have an insane love of robots? Hmm...robots are pretty cool.
and of course...
Robots love us...
...and we love them.
Or at least Bird does.
09 May 2008
Munpe Q Gets His Wish
"The Colorado Avalanche announced Friday morning that Head Coach Joel Quenneville will not return next season."
Hmm....will they move Granato up or bring in someone new? Very interesting...
***
Speaking of Interesting...
How freaking cool is this? Read all about this Dirty Thunderstorm at National Geographic.
08 May 2008
I Got Me an Edgeucashion
I was talking with a co-worker about having a little file with all sorts of nasty grammar information tucked away for future reference. She mentioned the OWL, Purdue's Online Writing Lab...
B: "How does that spell OWL?"
N: "O-online, W-writing, L-lab..."
B: "Oh god, i was thinking ORL R-righting..." Success-showing up for work Failure-being so sick you embarrass yourself
submitted from success has failed
B: "How does that spell OWL?"
N: "O-online, W-writing, L-lab..."
B: "Oh god, i was thinking ORL R-righting..." Success-showing up for work Failure-being so sick you embarrass yourself
submitted from success has failed
Bird Checkup
My cold moved into my chest. God how I hate chest colds. It feels like there are five pounds of wet heavy paper towels sitting inside my lungs. That feeling where you cant breathe is the worst....just the worst.
And what makes it even more miserable is that you cant just sleep it off. All night I tossed and turned and woke up to try and clear my throat. You get no sleep and feel really crappy the next morning. I would like to retract my head cold post, this new thing is much worse...
And what makes it even more miserable is that you cant just sleep it off. All night I tossed and turned and woke up to try and clear my throat. You get no sleep and feel really crappy the next morning. I would like to retract my head cold post, this new thing is much worse...
07 May 2008
Songs I Like...
I am not a big Beach Boys fans and besides Pet Sounds, I would have to say that I have never owned an album. Sure, i sing along to the occasional Little Saint Nick and Sloop John B when it comes on the fish radio in my shower...
However, I am so in love with Surfer Girl. I remember hearing it in high school and thinking it was the bees knees. It popped into my head today since Mr. Q was able to retrieve my music and photos (he rocks like that) and so I thought it would be nice to share with you.
Click here
However, I am so in love with Surfer Girl. I remember hearing it in high school and thinking it was the bees knees. It popped into my head today since Mr. Q was able to retrieve my music and photos (he rocks like that) and so I thought it would be nice to share with you.
Click here
06 May 2008
God Cuz Damn...
I have a head cold....
I hate colds. I guess that is a stupid thing to say because seriously, is there someone who lives for a good fever and chills? Dumb.
One of the things I hate the most is how stupid a cold makes you feel. For example, this morning alone, I have spent:
3 min trying to get hot water out of the hot water machine before i realized it wasnt on.
1 min humming out loud before my co-worker asked me if I was humming the theme from the pirates of the Caribbean (i wasnt...it turns out i was humming Green Day).
2 min staring at the papers in front of me before i remembered i was supposed to be writing a annotated bibliography.
and 1 min opening drawers in my filing cabinet before I could remember what i was looking for.
Oy vey...
I hate colds. I guess that is a stupid thing to say because seriously, is there someone who lives for a good fever and chills? Dumb.
One of the things I hate the most is how stupid a cold makes you feel. For example, this morning alone, I have spent:
3 min trying to get hot water out of the hot water machine before i realized it wasnt on.
1 min humming out loud before my co-worker asked me if I was humming the theme from the pirates of the Caribbean (i wasnt...it turns out i was humming Green Day).
2 min staring at the papers in front of me before i remembered i was supposed to be writing a annotated bibliography.
and 1 min opening drawers in my filing cabinet before I could remember what i was looking for.
Oy vey...
05 May 2008
01 May 2008
Swept Away
A horrible Madonna movie and an even worse second round series against the Red Wings. If you've seen swept away you know how bad that is.
Here's the score for you non-fans, non-sports center watching, non-newspaper reading folks...
8 to 2....the Avs lost Game 4 eight to fucking two.
I mean, what can you even say about that? It is just pathetic. I remember feeling the same way after a very similar game seven loss against the red wings in 2002. At the time i said something like, it was such a shitty loss that you cant even be mad. I mean, it wasnt like we didnt get it done...like we werent prepared. When you lose 8-2 it means you didnt even show up. It means that you got distracted by something shiny in the locker room and never even made it to the bench.
Ugh....
Here's the score for you non-fans, non-sports center watching, non-newspaper reading folks...
8 to 2....the Avs lost Game 4 eight to fucking two.
I mean, what can you even say about that? It is just pathetic. I remember feeling the same way after a very similar game seven loss against the red wings in 2002. At the time i said something like, it was such a shitty loss that you cant even be mad. I mean, it wasnt like we didnt get it done...like we werent prepared. When you lose 8-2 it means you didnt even show up. It means that you got distracted by something shiny in the locker room and never even made it to the bench.
Ugh....
Race
Two in one day...and so close to each other, who's the luckiest of all?!
I know this is way old news but I wanted to post a link to Obama's March Philly speech about race. Please take the time to read it. I caught part of it but not the whole thing.
Honestly, it is one of the best things I have read...as I was telling Q, it is as good as Haruki Murakami, as Orwell and Tolstoy (three of my favorite).
The link is here.
I promise you, it is so very worth your time.
B
I know this is way old news but I wanted to post a link to Obama's March Philly speech about race. Please take the time to read it. I caught part of it but not the whole thing.
Honestly, it is one of the best things I have read...as I was telling Q, it is as good as Haruki Murakami, as Orwell and Tolstoy (three of my favorite).
The link is here.
I promise you, it is so very worth your time.
B
Greetings Comrade!
Happy May Day to you reds out there.
Everyone else...
Get your self to a May Pole!
Unless of course you live in colorado and you woke up to this...
I just love spring in the rockies...
****
The Avs play Game 4 against the Red Wings tonight in Denver. How's the series going you ask?
If you dont know what that means...dont ask because I dont have the heart to discuss it further. GD avs...
~Peaches and Tweets
Bird
Everyone else...
Get your self to a May Pole!
Unless of course you live in colorado and you woke up to this...
I just love spring in the rockies...
****
The Avs play Game 4 against the Red Wings tonight in Denver. How's the series going you ask?
If you dont know what that means...dont ask because I dont have the heart to discuss it further. GD avs...
~Peaches and Tweets
Bird
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