The full title of the movie is Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, but I'll just be referring to it as SUNF.
Tracey's parents were kind enough to visit and watch Abel today, allowing us to take a rare few hours away by ourselves. We decided to go see an early showing of SUNF. I've read each of the books a couple times, I like them so much, and Tracey has read the first three or four. We were both curious to see how the series would translate to film.
There were a few key questions whose answers would determine my reaction to the film:
1. How well would the movie retain the quality and character of the books?
This is the biggest question for any screenplay adaptation, but it is of particularly high importance when the books are as well-known and loved as these books are. (The obvious point of comparison would be Harry Potter, even though nothing quite compares to that as a cultural phenomenon.) This is a first-rate adaptation. Unlike in Potter, where J.K. Rowling reportedly insisted on the strictest loyalty to the novel, there is a willingness here to be loose with the narrative when it becomes necessary to move the action along. Yet it never offends the spirit of its source and generally remains quite true to the chronology of the original books.
That said, fitting three books into one movie necessarily means some of your favorite scenes will be left out, even if the books are as short as the SUNF books are. This is the problem some die-hard fans ultimately had with The Lord of the Rings. Not much can be done about it, and although I would have liked to have seen a few key events that were left out, I nonetheless applaud the adaptation. (In future movies, this may become more of a problem because in SUNF, as in Harry Potter, each installment is longer than the last.)
2. Would Jim Carrey's interpretation of Count Olaf be too zany and goofy for me to tolerate, let alone enjoy?
For me, this was a bigger fear than the first question. I am hot and cold on Jim Carrey; I find him hilarious in certain comedic roles, but sometimes it seems he just can't bear to restrain himself, even when a role demands it. In this case, he handled himself very well indeed. Count Olaf is a bit of a ridiculous character, but he is also irrefutably a genuine villain. Jim Carrey walked this line carefully for the most part. If you've seen the trailer, you've seen all the significant stumbles, in my opinion. And his penchant for alter egos comes in handy in playing Count Olaf, who is famous for phony-baloney disguises that would be hilarious if they weren't so nefarious. Between this role and the one from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I think I owe Jim Carrey the benefit of the doubt for his next several films.
3. Since the narrative centers on three small children, how well would the child actors be able to perform?
These child actors do a fine job. In my estimation, a child actor has done the job well if the movie doesn't grind to a halt every time he or she speaks a line. For example, Jake Lloyd made his scenes in The Phantom Menace intolerable, while someone like Drew Barrymore was good enough in E.T. that she actually became a legitimate star of the film. But I never expect these performances, and I don't need child actors to amaze me. I just need them to be believable. The children in SUNF lie somewhere in between Jake Lloyd and Drew Barrymore, and somewhere noticeably better than the actors in the first Harry Potter movie. (Hermione in particular almost brought everything to a screeching halt on a couple of occasions in that film. I must say their performances have improved with each episode, however.) If these actors are signed for subsequent films, I will look forward to their performances becoming even better.
Some general observations:
This film looks fabulous. Anyone who has seen the trailer has already noticed this. The set is deliciously dark and sinister looking; the city is gray all over just as you imagined it might be as you read the books. When the few beams of light that exist in the plot make their appearances, you really notice it.
The supporting cast is a definite highlight. Catherine O'Hara, Jennifer Coolidge and Cedric the Entertainer shine in smaller roles, while Meryl Streep (as Aunt Josephine) and Billy Connolly (as Uncle Monty) are both nearly perfect in their larger parts. I won't spoil it, although I know you'll probably go to IMDB.com and look it up anyway, but a big-time star gets a nice laugh in an uncredited walk-on.
The film is bookended by two delightful pieces. Prior to the start of the action, there is a great laugh in the tradition of the bogus dust jacket on The Unauthorized Autobiography of Lemony Snicket—I won't say more. And the end credits deserve a paragraph (probably even a review) of their own:
A recent film trend I've noticed is credit rolls that have some compelling feature that makes you want to pay close attention to them. This is a stroke of movie brilliance as a way to get the names of otherwise obscure people flashed in front of your face. Some of the good ones are Monsters, Inc., Catch Me If You Can and Napoleon Dynamite. The end credits of SUNF outshine them all, with a clever, darkly animated sequence where the three children try to escape Count Olaf, whose silhouette keeps morphing out of the the background scenery. No one in the theatre got up, not even the kids. We were transfixed. If there was any doubt about whether or not I would buy this DVD when it came out, it was erased with the ending credits, which I will want to watch again very closely. I'm serious, they were that good.
Rating on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best and anything 8 or higher being worth buying on DVD: A very strong 9. It is definitely worth seeing on a big screen, but it will live happily on my DVD shelf for many future viewings.
(As a point of reference, I would probably rate Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone a 7. It was very enjoyable, but I never considered buying it on DVD.)
Friday, December 31, 2004
How To Get Enlightened Liberals To Support Iraqi Democracy
Radical Muslim groups are threatening heavy violence against Iraqis who want to participate in the new democracy by voting on January 30, Australia's Herald Sun reports:
"The radical Ansar al-Sunnah Army and two other groups warned democracy was un-Islamic and could lead to the passing of laws such as permitting homosexual marriage."But the radicals have made a crucial mistake. When worldwide liberal opponents of the war learn that democracy in Iraq would good for more than just lining George W. Bush's pockets with oil money—namely, that it could lead to social reforms such as gay marriage—they will rally behind the effort, thus robbing the terrorist insurgency of a significant advantage: low support among the world's existing democracies.
Apple to Release sub-$500 Mac?
Rumor site Think Secret reports that Apple may be preparing to "drop a bomb" at the Macworld Expo in early January: a new iMac sans monitor that will retail below $500:
And yes, that sound you just heard was Tracey dropping to her knees to pray this rumor is false.
"With iPod-savvy Windows users clearly in its sights, Apple is expected to announce a bare bones, G4-based iMac without a display at Macworld Expo on January 11 that will retail for $499, highly reliable sources have confirmed to Think Secret."Hmm, I've got an old monitor lying around that no longer has a working computer attached to it. And I've been thinking we could use a second machine for when I am traveling with the PowerBook...
And yes, that sound you just heard was Tracey dropping to her knees to pray this rumor is false.
Bad Precedent for NBA Suspensions
From ESPN.com:
We now know that the commissioner's ruling on suspensions is not binding with respect to any misconduct in the stands (as opposed to on the court of play, a dubious distinction if you ask me):
This is just another example of that. The November 19 brawl in Detroit was the worst event in recent NBA history, the kind of thing that can leave permanent damage on the game's reputation. David Stern's suspensions, though not perfectly balanced, sent a clear message that this kind of activity will not be tolerated—ever.
Now, thanks to union lawyers and a sympathetic judge, we know that it might be tolerated, depending on how far away from the hardwood you are when you sock a fan. Great.
"A federal judge ruled Thursday that Indiana All-Star Jermaine O'Neal does not have to serve the final 10 games of his suspension for fighting with fans at the end of the Pacers-Pistons game last month. The ruling makes permanent the temporary decision U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels made last week, which allowed O'Neal to return to action even though he had not served all of the 25-game suspension imposed by NBA commissioner David Stern."Never mind that David Stern's suspension of Jermaine O'Neal was too harsh relative to the corresponding punishments Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson received. It was. This is a bad precedent for the NBA.
We now know that the commissioner's ruling on suspensions is not binding with respect to any misconduct in the stands (as opposed to on the court of play, a dubious distinction if you ask me):
League lawyer Jeffrey Mishkin argued that the fight with fans was on-court behavior, especially when players were "wearing an NBA uniform on national television."Pro sports players' unions are often so relentless in their battles with the owners or league commissioners that they take counterproductive steps. (For example, the MLBPA's refusal to allow meaningful steroid testing has ruined the players' credibility with the fans.)
Union attorney Jeffrey Kessler argued that it was not.
"Fighting with or striking a fan has never been characterized as conduct on the playing court," Daniels said, reading from a written ruling. "Striking a fan is inexcusable, and appropriately considered something different and much more serious."
Kessler called the ruling "a very clear precedent."
"Anything with a fan is going to be arbitratable," he said.
This is just another example of that. The November 19 brawl in Detroit was the worst event in recent NBA history, the kind of thing that can leave permanent damage on the game's reputation. David Stern's suspensions, though not perfectly balanced, sent a clear message that this kind of activity will not be tolerated—ever.
Now, thanks to union lawyers and a sympathetic judge, we know that it might be tolerated, depending on how far away from the hardwood you are when you sock a fan. Great.
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Peggy Noonan & The Tsunami
Not much leaves me speechless, but the earthquake/tsunami in southeast Asia has pretty much done it. I just don't know what to say.
Peggy Noonan's weekly editorial is one of her finest works in recent memory. She is an excellent writer and a wonderful, reasonable mind, and I always like her. But this week she was able to articulate many of the feelings I've been experiencing in the wake of this terrible tragedy. As she manages to do with most everything in life, she finds some good in a gnarled, churning ocean of bad.
I recommend you click the link and read the whole piece; it would be worth your five minutes.
She concludes:
Peggy Noonan's weekly editorial is one of her finest works in recent memory. She is an excellent writer and a wonderful, reasonable mind, and I always like her. But this week she was able to articulate many of the feelings I've been experiencing in the wake of this terrible tragedy. As she manages to do with most everything in life, she finds some good in a gnarled, churning ocean of bad.
I recommend you click the link and read the whole piece; it would be worth your five minutes.
She concludes:
"The biggest story of 2004 has come, has not yet gone, and will be with us for some time. Two thousand five begins on Saturday. For the new year, two thoughts. Remember it can all be swept away in a moment, so hold it close and love it while you've got it. And may we begin 2005 pondering how much we have in common, how down-to-the-bone the same we are, and how the enemy is not the guy across the fence but the tragedy of life. We should try to make it better. We should cut to the chase."Yes. I will try to make it better.
Some Optimism About the Economy
An editorial from OpinionJournal.com compares the U.S. economy to the rest of the world, and finds it outperforming its peers. According to the editorial, which I assume was written by OpinionJournal editor James Taranto, the relative success of the U.S. economy is due to our lower tax rates and regulations:
Check out the whole article for its interesting comparisons of U.S. unemployment (both general and long-term), economic growth, etc. with other major economic powers in the world. Although there is no satisfactory analysis of the rampant deficit spending within these shores, it's worth a read. There's too much naysaying going on lately, and it's nice to have a break.
"To look closely at international economic data is to be reminded that countries with comparatively low tax rates and regulatory burdens consistently outperform countries with high ones. Of course it's nice to know that America's 'sluggish' economy remains a world-beater. It's even better to know why."Indeed.
Check out the whole article for its interesting comparisons of U.S. unemployment (both general and long-term), economic growth, etc. with other major economic powers in the world. Although there is no satisfactory analysis of the rampant deficit spending within these shores, it's worth a read. There's too much naysaying going on lately, and it's nice to have a break.
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Worst Celebrity Playlist EVER!
OK, so I occasionally look at the celebrity playlists that appear in the iTunes Music Store. And even though I've never seen an episode of Alias, I clicked on Jennifer Garner's (iTunes required) for some reason. (If you told me it's probably because she's hot, I'd have a hard time arguing with you, as much as I'd like to.)
It sucks.
I generally wouldn't criticize a celebrity's taste in music. After all, people like what they like. There's no accounting for taste, as they say. But it's not the songs so much as the (lack of) content that inspired me to post this.
I want to quote the whole thing here for you, but you can't copy the text out of the iTunes window, and if I typed the entire list manually, I'd have to forfeit my college degree just on principle. I can't believe Apple didn't edit this at all.
It's a "Workout Mix," so most of her description consists of "This song is great to workout [sic] to!!" in some form or another. Beyond that, we get a few variations on "He/She/They are so talented!!" and "This is one of my favorite songs!" All of this done with the linguistic stylings of a cheerleader writing a book report.
Absolutely no meaningful descriptions of the music, or what it means to her, or anything I could be expected to find remotely interesting. It's as if it were written by a middle school girl in a note to her boyfriend ("To Scott: Top Ten Songz I Luv, written cuz i was bored in science"). I like the celebrity playlist feature in iTMS, but this is just a waste of server space.
Ugh—I should talk. I just wrote more than 250 words criticizing the musical recommendations of a TV star. And now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go eat myself out of depression at the Old Country Buffet.
It sucks.
I generally wouldn't criticize a celebrity's taste in music. After all, people like what they like. There's no accounting for taste, as they say. But it's not the songs so much as the (lack of) content that inspired me to post this.
I want to quote the whole thing here for you, but you can't copy the text out of the iTunes window, and if I typed the entire list manually, I'd have to forfeit my college degree just on principle. I can't believe Apple didn't edit this at all.
It's a "Workout Mix," so most of her description consists of "This song is great to workout [sic] to!!" in some form or another. Beyond that, we get a few variations on "He/She/They are so talented!!" and "This is one of my favorite songs!" All of this done with the linguistic stylings of a cheerleader writing a book report.
Absolutely no meaningful descriptions of the music, or what it means to her, or anything I could be expected to find remotely interesting. It's as if it were written by a middle school girl in a note to her boyfriend ("To Scott: Top Ten Songz I Luv, written cuz i was bored in science"). I like the celebrity playlist feature in iTMS, but this is just a waste of server space.
Ugh—I should talk. I just wrote more than 250 words criticizing the musical recommendations of a TV star. And now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go eat myself out of depression at the Old Country Buffet.
"Elvis Water" Selling at More Than $100/oz.
An eBay seller has just made a nice wad of cash selling ordinary water, according to a Reuters piece:
Who are these people, anyway? If you are a fan of a musician, it makes sense, I suppose, to collect interesting artifacts from his or her career. But—and this is the Big Elvis "But"—the artist's leftover water is not an interesting artifact. A jacket he wore on stage, a guitar pick he tossed into the audience, maybe even a travel mug he always carried with him—I could probably understand someone who was really devoted to Elvis Presley being interested in such souvenirs. But water?! Come on, people.
I don't know which is worse, bidding on and buying the water, or KEEPING IT IN YOUR FREEZER FOR THREE DECADES. Who ARE these people?
Sigh...given that Elvis died a couple weeks before I was born, I guess I'll just never get it.
"Wade Jones of North Carolina says he snared a plastic cup from which Elvis Presley drank at a concert in 1977 and kept the cup and the water for 27 years before selling the remaining few tablespoons of water on eBay.Well, that's too bad.
The winning bid for the water was $455. He says he won't sell the cup."
Who are these people, anyway? If you are a fan of a musician, it makes sense, I suppose, to collect interesting artifacts from his or her career. But—and this is the Big Elvis "But"—the artist's leftover water is not an interesting artifact. A jacket he wore on stage, a guitar pick he tossed into the audience, maybe even a travel mug he always carried with him—I could probably understand someone who was really devoted to Elvis Presley being interested in such souvenirs. But water?! Come on, people.
I don't know which is worse, bidding on and buying the water, or KEEPING IT IN YOUR FREEZER FOR THREE DECADES. Who ARE these people?
Sigh...given that Elvis died a couple weeks before I was born, I guess I'll just never get it.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Amazon.com Donations to Asia Tsunami Relief
Amazon.com is offering 1-Click donations to the Red Cross tsunami relief fund.
As Glenn Reynolds and his readers point out, the numbers are flying up, a testament to the generosity of American citizens.
Please consider donating to the relief effort.
As Glenn Reynolds and his readers point out, the numbers are flying up, a testament to the generosity of American citizens.
Please consider donating to the relief effort.
Misleading Headline From the AP
Not very surprisingly, the AP has a headline that would cause you to assume something that would be completely untrue. In this case, the faulty assumption would be that the President's margin of victory in Ohio was considerably closer after a recount. Here's the headline and link:
Ohio Recount Ends, Shows Vote Closer
But if you go read the story, you'll find that the new margin is "about 300 votes" closer. In an election where 5,625,281 people cast a vote in Ohio, these 300 votes amount to a really, really tiny percentage of the vote. To show you how tiny, I'd have to use that fancy math thing where you say "times ten to the negative fifth power," and that's too confusing—I'm in the humanities, for crying out loud.
But to put it in perspective, the 14,695 voted garnered by Libertarian Party candidate Michael Badnarik was still effectively 0%.
The 300-vote swing only changed the margin of victory by 0.25%.
So the headline "Ohio Recount Ends, Shows Vote Closer" is really quite ridiculous. (By the way, friends, "ridiculous" does not have the letter "e" in it. A little pet peeve of the grammar Nazi.) The vote is only closer in the most technical of terms. Implying that the change was significant, as this headline does, is irresponsible journalism.
I wouldn't be surprised if the AP changes this headline within the day. I find they often do that with their headlines after they've been vetted by the public for a few hours.
Ohio Recount Ends, Shows Vote Closer
But if you go read the story, you'll find that the new margin is "about 300 votes" closer. In an election where 5,625,281 people cast a vote in Ohio, these 300 votes amount to a really, really tiny percentage of the vote. To show you how tiny, I'd have to use that fancy math thing where you say "times ten to the negative fifth power," and that's too confusing—I'm in the humanities, for crying out loud.
But to put it in perspective, the 14,695 voted garnered by Libertarian Party candidate Michael Badnarik was still effectively 0%.
The 300-vote swing only changed the margin of victory by 0.25%.
So the headline "Ohio Recount Ends, Shows Vote Closer" is really quite ridiculous. (By the way, friends, "ridiculous" does not have the letter "e" in it. A little pet peeve of the grammar Nazi.) The vote is only closer in the most technical of terms. Implying that the change was significant, as this headline does, is irresponsible journalism.
I wouldn't be surprised if the AP changes this headline within the day. I find they often do that with their headlines after they've been vetted by the public for a few hours.
New Blog Design
My friend Nate was kind enough to point out that my links didn't show up very well on the old template, which was inconveniently blue. So I went and changed it. I like this better, don't you?
Thanks, Nate.
Thanks, Nate.
Abel Photos Updated; Redesigning traceyandscott.com
Well, I try to make this blog interesting for people who don't know me, not just those who do.
(Not that I have any readers who don't know me, but someday that would be nice. Speaking of which, feel free to pass this blog on to anyone who might be interested in its content.)
All that being said, this post is definitely for those who know me, because it announces a redesign of my family website, which is basically a glorified photo album. Actually, it's slightly more than that now, but you'll have to visit to see what I mean.
If you don't care about the new interface, and just want to see the latest, greatest photos from Abel's adventures, you will be happy to learn that there has been a nice update with photos from Christmas and more.
Go ahead and visit. The link is right here.
(Not that I have any readers who don't know me, but someday that would be nice. Speaking of which, feel free to pass this blog on to anyone who might be interested in its content.)
All that being said, this post is definitely for those who know me, because it announces a redesign of my family website, which is basically a glorified photo album. Actually, it's slightly more than that now, but you'll have to visit to see what I mean.
If you don't care about the new interface, and just want to see the latest, greatest photos from Abel's adventures, you will be happy to learn that there has been a nice update with photos from Christmas and more.
Go ahead and visit. The link is right here.
Sunday, December 26, 2004
Christmas in E-flat, Final Product
I mentioned I had gone to do some recording with my friend Mike. He has sent along the final product of the track that includes my sax part, which I will link for you here. But first, a couple plugs for him.
His studio is called Belly of the Whale Recording Studios. It's a very nice setup, and he is a talented sound engineer. If you have been looking for a nice place to record in the greater Rochester area, contact him. The studio website is www.botwstudios.com, or just click here.
He also has a band that is very good. I suggest you go see them live. You can visit their website at www.theophilusband.com, or just click here.
And now for that song file. It's available in mp3 format by clicking this link to hear it in your browser (right-click to download it before listening, if you prefer). The actual URL for the file is http://www.sjaustin.com/christmas_song.mp3, in case you want to access it that way.
Let me know what you think!
His studio is called Belly of the Whale Recording Studios. It's a very nice setup, and he is a talented sound engineer. If you have been looking for a nice place to record in the greater Rochester area, contact him. The studio website is www.botwstudios.com, or just click here.
He also has a band that is very good. I suggest you go see them live. You can visit their website at www.theophilusband.com, or just click here.
And now for that song file. It's available in mp3 format by clicking this link to hear it in your browser (right-click to download it before listening, if you prefer). The actual URL for the file is http://www.sjaustin.com/christmas_song.mp3, in case you want to access it that way.
Let me know what you think!
TiVo and the Singaporean Healthcare Model
The folks over at Razormouth are pretty sharp, if conspicuously absent lately. They have a worldview that seems to do a good job of not letting their faith dull their intelligence—or vice versa.
A couple weeks ago, Timothy Roloff posted a piece about Medical Savings Accounts (which are mandatory but not socialized in Singapore, hence the title), comparing the paradigm shift that will be necessary for Americans to accept them to the shift that was necessary for certain people to understand TiVo:
A couple weeks ago, Timothy Roloff posted a piece about Medical Savings Accounts (which are mandatory but not socialized in Singapore, hence the title), comparing the paradigm shift that will be necessary for Americans to accept them to the shift that was necessary for certain people to understand TiVo:
TiVo switches control from broadcasters to viewers. MSAs move control from health insurance companies to patients. Health insurance companies been calling the shots for too long. It's time for patients to hold the reigns.Interesting stuff.
Friday, December 24, 2004
Unique gifts that help end world hunger
One more thing before I go, a humble prompting: Consider giving to my favorite charity this season. Heifer International provides poor people all around the world with farm animals of all types, helping people obtain a sustainable source of food and income—not only for themselves, but as the animals reproduce, for their neighbors as well.
Unique gifts that help end world hunger | Heifer International
Unique gifts that help end world hunger | Heifer International
Christmas Greetings From the 4th Century
I'll be away from blogging for a couple days. On this Christmas Eve, I leave you with excerpts from the Christmas sermon of Gregory of Nazianzus:
Christ is Born, glorify ye Him. Christ from heaven, go ye out to meet Him. Christ on earth; be ye exalted. Christ in the flesh, rejoice with trembling and with joy; with trembling because of your sins, with joy because of your hope. Christ of a Virgin, with out Mother, becomes without Father (without Mother of His former state, without Father of His second.) He Who is not carnal is Incarnate; the Son of God becomes the Son of Man....
Therefore let us keep the Feast, not after the manner of a heathen festival, but after a godly sort; not after the way of the world, but in a fashion above the world; not as our own, but as belonging to Him Who is ours, or rather as our Master's; not as of weakness, but as of healing; not as of creation, but of recreation.
Now then I pray you accept His Conception, and leap before Him; if not like John from the Womb, yet like David, because of the resting of the Ark. Revere the enrollment on account of which thou wast written in heaven, and adore the Birth by which thou wast loosed from the chains of thy birth, and honour little Bethlehem, which hath led thee back to Paradise; and worship the manger through which thou, being without sense, wast fed by the Word....
Look at and be looked at by the Great God, Who in Trinity is worshiped and glorified, and Whom we declare to be now set forth as clearly before you as the chains of our flesh allow, in Jesus Christ our Lord, to Whom be the glory for ever. Amen.
Homeless Man Builds Hut In Drawbridge, Plays PlayStation
A man in Chicago was recently "evicted" from his "home," a hut he built into a drawbridge over the Chicago river. But you'll never believe how well he was living:
"Inside, authorities found Dorsay's home was clearly more elaborate than the kind of warren other homeless people create in the city's nooks and crannies. He had tapped into the bridge's electricity to power a television, microwave, space heater and a PlayStation video game. There he could relax and, on occasions, turn on a Chicago Bears game, invite friends over and pop open some beers."With that kind of ingenuity and gumption, you'd think the guy could hold down a job somewhere.
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Anyone Want a Laser?
No, not a laser pointer. I mean a real laser, like the kind you'd attach to a shark. Only $703.00 delivered to your door, FDA certified and legal.
Lasershoppe.com - High Power Green Laser
Whatever, man.
Lasershoppe.com - High Power Green Laser
Whatever, man.
Cream Reunion? Sign Me Up!
Yahoo! (via E! Online) reports that rock's first supergroup is set to reunite:
"[Eric Clapton] revealed to BBC Radio 2 last week that he and his former mates in rock's first supergroup, singer-bassist Jack Bruce (news) and drummer Ginger Baker (news), are planning to reunite for four shows next May at London's Royal Albert Hall, the legendary venue where the power trio played its final gig in 1969."I would definitely be into buying those CDs. (I'd also be into going to London to see the shows, but somehow I think that's less likely.)
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Confessing Christ in a World of Violence
From Sojourners, a statement that rejects much of what evangelicalism is swallowing about the war, the teachings of Christ, and America.
Here is one paragraph I found quite interesting:
Here is one paragraph I found quite interesting:
"We reject the false teaching that America is a 'Christian nation,' representing only virtue, while its adversaries are nothing but vicious. We reject the belief that America has nothing to repent of, even as we reject that it represents most of the world's evil. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23)."Some interesting names on the signature list, including Brian McLaren and Rochester's own Richard Middleton.
I'm Guessing They Won't Want Another Recount Now?
It appears Washington state Democrats have gotten the result they wanted out of their hand recount of the ballots in the race for governor: Christine Gregoire is now in the lead over Dino Rossi. By 8 votes.
Not surprisingly, the Democratic party in Washington is satisfied with the latest result, even though it is five times closer than the machine recount and thirty-two times closer than the original count:
I admit, I haven't followed this story closely enough to weigh in on whether I think the recount has been fair. (It seems on the up-and-up to me from what I've read.) I just find the instant reaction from the Democratic leadership amusing.
Looks like we're headed for the courts again, sadly.
Not surprisingly, the Democratic party in Washington is satisfied with the latest result, even though it is five times closer than the machine recount and thirty-two times closer than the original count:
"The stunning turnaround was reported late Tuesday by the head of the state Democratic Party, who said party officials' analysis of hand-counted returns from King County — the last county to finish the grueling process — showed that Gregoire had eclipsed the dwindling margin that Republican Dino Rossi has held since Election Day.Of course you do, Mr. Berendt. Your candidate is now in the lead. Funny, there was no talk of concession from your camp when the results were not favorable to Ms. Gregoire.
'We're confident Christine Gregoire has been elected the governor of the state of Washington,' Democratic Chairman Paul Berendt said. 'I believe Dino Rossi should concede.'"
I admit, I haven't followed this story closely enough to weigh in on whether I think the recount has been fair. (It seems on the up-and-up to me from what I've read.) I just find the instant reaction from the Democratic leadership amusing.
Looks like we're headed for the courts again, sadly.
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Robbie Williams Laments Giving Up Drugs
Yahoo! News - Robbie Williams Laments Giving Up Drugs
Just trust me. Read the whole thing. It's only six paragraphs. I wanted to give you an excerpt, but I couldn't decide. Each sentence was better than the one before it.
My good friend Tom is inexplicably a huge Robbie Williams fan, even though he, Tom, is a fantastic musician and you'd think he would know better. So this one's dedicated to him.
Just trust me. Read the whole thing. It's only six paragraphs. I wanted to give you an excerpt, but I couldn't decide. Each sentence was better than the one before it.
My good friend Tom is inexplicably a huge Robbie Williams fan, even though he, Tom, is a fantastic musician and you'd think he would know better. So this one's dedicated to him.
Links, Windows, Tabs, Part II
Not long ago, I wrote that I force my links to open in new windows because I myself preferred to open links in new windows.
I've come to realize this is not actually true, at least not anymore.
When I read through a page with lots of links, I open several links in new tabs behind the current one, but when I'm done with the page, I just click through to one last link and leave the page behind. I find it incredibly annoying when this link happens to open in a new window. Then I end up closing the new window, opening the last link in a new tab, and closing the original tab.
So now that I am a lover of tabbed browsing, my habits have changed, and I think I'll reflect that change accordingly by making my links work in the traditional fashion. Just promise you'll open them in new tabs and not leave my blog until you're all done.
I've come to realize this is not actually true, at least not anymore.
When I read through a page with lots of links, I open several links in new tabs behind the current one, but when I'm done with the page, I just click through to one last link and leave the page behind. I find it incredibly annoying when this link happens to open in a new window. Then I end up closing the new window, opening the last link in a new tab, and closing the original tab.
So now that I am a lover of tabbed browsing, my habits have changed, and I think I'll reflect that change accordingly by making my links work in the traditional fashion. Just promise you'll open them in new tabs and not leave my blog until you're all done.
Monday, December 20, 2004
First, Consumers Made Ads; Now, They ARE the Ads
A new service getting a lot of Internet buzz will allow you to submit a picture and have it artistically rendered into one of the trendy, stylized iPod ads. It's called iPod My Photo:
Anyone got twenty bucks I can borrow?
"Transform your photos into colorful and exciting iPod ads. iPod My Photo will customize any photo and once you've seen the amazing results, you can print your own unique iPodified photo on t-shirts, greeting cards and much more. iPod your photo - give it a try!"I have to admit, the results look awfully cool.
Anyone got twenty bucks I can borrow?
How Much Longer Can Rummy Last?
More pressure on Rumsfeld on the Sunday news programs today, as Reuters (yuck) reports:
Whether or not this stuff is all valid, the President and the Secretary should realize that perception is reality. It may be time to terminate him—even if it is only to send a message to the people. In fact, it may be too late to send that message. He's clearly a PR albatross at this point, though. Does Bush think his effectiveness at his job outweighs this fact? It seems so, at least so far.
"Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld did not personally sign his name on letters of condolence to families of troops killed in Iraq but instead had it done by a machine, an action lawmakers said on Sunday showed insensitivity and was inappropriate for leadership during war"Abu Ghraib, body armor, that soldier's harsh question at the press conference (trumped up by a reporter or not), lawmakers expressing no confidence in him, now this.
Whether or not this stuff is all valid, the President and the Secretary should realize that perception is reality. It may be time to terminate him—even if it is only to send a message to the people. In fact, it may be too late to send that message. He's clearly a PR albatross at this point, though. Does Bush think his effectiveness at his job outweighs this fact? It seems so, at least so far.
Flammable Jammies
Just a quick word of warning for you new parents out there:
If you're going to warm your baby's pajamas in the microwave (a great way to make him or her nice and toasty at bedtime), make sure you use jammies without metal snaps. You could start a fire. I'm not saying you would, just that you could.
If you're going to warm your baby's pajamas in the microwave (a great way to make him or her nice and toasty at bedtime), make sure you use jammies without metal snaps. You could start a fire. I'm not saying you would, just that you could.
Sunday, December 19, 2004
H.W. Longfellow's "The Fire of Driftwood"
As promised, here is a real poem to help us forget the open mic stuff I mentioned earlier. It's probably my favorite poem by a great poet and native of Maine, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Quoted in full—not sure the copyright situation on this old poem, but my source is here.
"We sat within the farm-house old,
Whose windows, looking o'er the bay,
Gave to the sea-breeze damp and cold,
An easy entrance, night and day.
Not far away we saw the port,
The strange, old-fashioned, silent town,
The lighthouse, the dismantled fort,
The wooden houses, quaint and brown.
We sat and talked until the night,
Descending, filled the little room;
Our faces faded from the sight,
Our voices only broke the gloom.
We spake of many a vanished scene,
Of what we once had thought and said,
Of what had been, and might have been,
And who was changed, and who was dead;
And all that fills the hearts of friends,
When first they feel, with secret pain,
Their lives thenceforth have separate ends,
And never can be one again;
The first slight swerving of the heart,
That words are powerless to express,
And leave it still unsaid in part,
Or say it in too great excess.
The very tones in which we spake
Had something strange, I could but mark;
The leaves of memory seemed to make
A mournful rustling in the dark.
Oft died the words upon our lips,
As suddenly, from out the fire
Built of the wreck of stranded ships,
The flames would leap and then expire.
And, as their splendor flashed and failed,
We thought of wrecks upon the main,
Of ships dismasted, that were hailed
And sent no answer back again.
The windows, rattling in their frames,
The ocean, roaring up the beach,
The gusty blast, the bickering flames,
All mingled vaguely in our speech;
Until they made themselves a part
Of fancies floating through the brain,
The long-lost ventures of the heart,
That send no answers back again.
O flames that glowed! O hearts that yearned!
They were indeed too much akin,
The drift-wood fire without that burned,
The thoughts that burned and glowed within."
Quoted in full—not sure the copyright situation on this old poem, but my source is here.
"We sat within the farm-house old,
Whose windows, looking o'er the bay,
Gave to the sea-breeze damp and cold,
An easy entrance, night and day.
Not far away we saw the port,
The strange, old-fashioned, silent town,
The lighthouse, the dismantled fort,
The wooden houses, quaint and brown.
We sat and talked until the night,
Descending, filled the little room;
Our faces faded from the sight,
Our voices only broke the gloom.
We spake of many a vanished scene,
Of what we once had thought and said,
Of what had been, and might have been,
And who was changed, and who was dead;
And all that fills the hearts of friends,
When first they feel, with secret pain,
Their lives thenceforth have separate ends,
And never can be one again;
The first slight swerving of the heart,
That words are powerless to express,
And leave it still unsaid in part,
Or say it in too great excess.
The very tones in which we spake
Had something strange, I could but mark;
The leaves of memory seemed to make
A mournful rustling in the dark.
Oft died the words upon our lips,
As suddenly, from out the fire
Built of the wreck of stranded ships,
The flames would leap and then expire.
And, as their splendor flashed and failed,
We thought of wrecks upon the main,
Of ships dismasted, that were hailed
And sent no answer back again.
The windows, rattling in their frames,
The ocean, roaring up the beach,
The gusty blast, the bickering flames,
All mingled vaguely in our speech;
Until they made themselves a part
Of fancies floating through the brain,
The long-lost ventures of the heart,
That send no answers back again.
O flames that glowed! O hearts that yearned!
They were indeed too much akin,
The drift-wood fire without that burned,
The thoughts that burned and glowed within."
Amateur Poetry Derails Attempt at Academic Writing
—Rochester, NY
I am sitting in a café, trying to wrap up my paper on Romans 14-15. Unfortunately, it’s open mic poetry night here, and although it’s underpopulated—two lone Gen-X poets sitting at a table for two across from one another—it is just distracting enough to take me away from my (other) writing.
Amateur poetry is just colossally bad. Poetry is a very delicate balance, a beautiful dance between diction and syntax that is evocative and meaningful when it’s done right and completely unbearable when it’s done wrong. I’m trying not to be too critical—I’ve written enough terrible poetry in my life to have decided to give it up altogether—but this stuff is bad. If it were intentionally bad, it would be hysterical, that’s how bad it is. But it’s unintentionally bad, and it ends up being a pathetic self-parody.
It’s all “If lust is all I have, it is a chalice I will drink from greedily” and “Where’s my cable TV? Where’s my fancy car? Where’s my salmon mousse hors d’oeuvre?” and “Paladin’s quest undertaken, canteen in one hand and sword in his other,” and worst of all, some completely gratuitous and awkward reference to Damocles. Then they sit and talk through it, explaining what it meant in an even more boring and unpoetic way. Ugh.
I can’t turn my iPod (John Coltrane’s Atlantic Recordings boxed set The Heavyweight Champion, incidentally) up high enough to drown this all out without hurting my ears.
Just to purge my mind of this nonsense, I need to go home and read a couple good poems. I’ll even post one, so you can purge your mind, too.
I am sitting in a café, trying to wrap up my paper on Romans 14-15. Unfortunately, it’s open mic poetry night here, and although it’s underpopulated—two lone Gen-X poets sitting at a table for two across from one another—it is just distracting enough to take me away from my (other) writing.
Amateur poetry is just colossally bad. Poetry is a very delicate balance, a beautiful dance between diction and syntax that is evocative and meaningful when it’s done right and completely unbearable when it’s done wrong. I’m trying not to be too critical—I’ve written enough terrible poetry in my life to have decided to give it up altogether—but this stuff is bad. If it were intentionally bad, it would be hysterical, that’s how bad it is. But it’s unintentionally bad, and it ends up being a pathetic self-parody.
It’s all “If lust is all I have, it is a chalice I will drink from greedily” and “Where’s my cable TV? Where’s my fancy car? Where’s my salmon mousse hors d’oeuvre?” and “Paladin’s quest undertaken, canteen in one hand and sword in his other,” and worst of all, some completely gratuitous and awkward reference to Damocles. Then they sit and talk through it, explaining what it meant in an even more boring and unpoetic way. Ugh.
I can’t turn my iPod (John Coltrane’s Atlantic Recordings boxed set The Heavyweight Champion, incidentally) up high enough to drown this all out without hurting my ears.
Just to purge my mind of this nonsense, I need to go home and read a couple good poems. I’ll even post one, so you can purge your mind, too.
Windows, Tabs, Browsers Good & Bad
I've been asking for opinions lately about how I should handle links in my blog. As my regular readers (ha!) know, I write my posts in a way that forces linked pages to open in new windows. My rationale is simple: I don't want to send people away from the article I've written, because I fear they may get sidetracked and not return.
Also, back when I used Internet Explorer on Windows (which is how most people access my blog), I always "control-clicked" links in articles I was reading because I preferred not to navigate away from the source. So I guess I've built that into this humble little publication in order to give people the experience the way I would prefer to have it.
I realize, however, that not everyone appreciates this. Many people prefer to have control over how their links open, and I can understand that. If I don't force them to open in new windows, the reader can choose to do so. If I do force them, however, the reader is left with no choice.
That is, unless he or she is using a browser that enables tabbed browsing. Many browsers (sadly, not the most ubiquitous one—perhaps if it had been updated once or twice during the past three years, but it hasn't) allow users to open links in a new "tab" within the same window, which makes flipping back and forth among multiple pages simple, easy and manageable.
Apple users enjoy this feature in Safari, the OS X-native browser. Windows users who want it will have to go to a thrid-party browser, most notably the Mozilla's excellent (and free) Firefox, which has continued to increase its user-share dent over the last year. (Firefox is also available for Mac OS X.)
I would highly recommend that Windows users go out and at least test-drive Firefox. Tabbed browsing is addictive and revolutionary in that it changes the way people use the Internet. There is no excuse for Microsoft not adding it to Internet Explorer yet. Except that they don't need to because about 90% of the world uses this Path of Least Resistance Browser even without such a feature, so why spend the money?
Also, back when I used Internet Explorer on Windows (which is how most people access my blog), I always "control-clicked" links in articles I was reading because I preferred not to navigate away from the source. So I guess I've built that into this humble little publication in order to give people the experience the way I would prefer to have it.
I realize, however, that not everyone appreciates this. Many people prefer to have control over how their links open, and I can understand that. If I don't force them to open in new windows, the reader can choose to do so. If I do force them, however, the reader is left with no choice.
That is, unless he or she is using a browser that enables tabbed browsing. Many browsers (sadly, not the most ubiquitous one—perhaps if it had been updated once or twice during the past three years, but it hasn't) allow users to open links in a new "tab" within the same window, which makes flipping back and forth among multiple pages simple, easy and manageable.
Apple users enjoy this feature in Safari, the OS X-native browser. Windows users who want it will have to go to a thrid-party browser, most notably the Mozilla's excellent (and free) Firefox, which has continued to increase its user-share dent over the last year. (Firefox is also available for Mac OS X.)
I would highly recommend that Windows users go out and at least test-drive Firefox. Tabbed browsing is addictive and revolutionary in that it changes the way people use the Internet. There is no excuse for Microsoft not adding it to Internet Explorer yet. Except that they don't need to because about 90% of the world uses this Path of Least Resistance Browser even without such a feature, so why spend the money?
"In" the World, Not "Of" the World
A friend and I were recently having a conversation about the Christian idea of being "in the world but not of the world," a popular expression within Christianity. I admitted to him that I don't really like that phrase, and that I think it's probably a false dichotomy.
In case you don't know, being in the world but not of the world (hereafter referred to as "in/not of") is a way of saying that Christians should not separate themselves from the culture, but also should not be conformed to it in a way that compromises their faith. But as with most clever phrases, the folk-level reality is that it is of questionable origin biblically and is misapplied in almost every conceivable way.
The biblical origin of "in/not of," as far as I can tell, is John 17, in which Jesus prays for his disciples (all of us, we assume, not just the twelve apostles) shortly before he is betrayed, tried and executed. In that prayer, as translated in the popular New International Version (NIV), Jesus says,
"In" is fairly easy, I think. We all exist in the world. We are "in" it, and there is nothing we could do about that, even if we wanted to.
"Of" is where the problem lies. What on earth does it mean to be "of" the world, anyway? For better understanding, we turn to a better (in my opinion) translation. Where the NIV translates "They are not of the word, even as I am not of it," the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) prefers "They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world."
In English, we use apostrophe-S for possessive: Scott's blog, Beth's dog, etc. In other languages, Greek included, there is no such use of apostrophes; instead, we use a prepositional phrase to indicate possession: the blog of Scott, the dog of Beth, etc. So the NRSV likely has a better translation here. And for my money, it's also more understandable. We are to exist in the world without being owned by it. "In/Not [the property] Of."
Translation issues aside, Christians often abuse the mini-principle of "in/not of," reducing a rather complex idea to an overly simple conclusion: "Christians should never go to dance clubs. We're called to be IN the world, not OF it!" Well...okay, but is that kind of blanket rule consistent with the lifestyle and practices of Jesus himself? And are you sure you're not just looking for a way to get around that whole not-judging-others rule?
The problem is that Jesus' words are never as simple as they seem. (This is probably why even atheists recognize Jesus as a great teacher and philosopher.) If you want to distill the prayer from John 17 into a six- or seven-word platitude, you have to realize that you'll be stripping it of its richness and profound meaning for your life.
In case you don't know, being in the world but not of the world (hereafter referred to as "in/not of") is a way of saying that Christians should not separate themselves from the culture, but also should not be conformed to it in a way that compromises their faith. But as with most clever phrases, the folk-level reality is that it is of questionable origin biblically and is misapplied in almost every conceivable way.
The biblical origin of "in/not of," as far as I can tell, is John 17, in which Jesus prays for his disciples (all of us, we assume, not just the twelve apostles) shortly before he is betrayed, tried and executed. In that prayer, as translated in the popular New International Version (NIV), Jesus says,
"I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name–the name you gave me–so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it."The key to understanding this passage, of course, is knowing what Jesus meant by "in" and "of."
"In" is fairly easy, I think. We all exist in the world. We are "in" it, and there is nothing we could do about that, even if we wanted to.
"Of" is where the problem lies. What on earth does it mean to be "of" the world, anyway? For better understanding, we turn to a better (in my opinion) translation. Where the NIV translates "They are not of the word, even as I am not of it," the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) prefers "They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world."
In English, we use apostrophe-S for possessive: Scott's blog, Beth's dog, etc. In other languages, Greek included, there is no such use of apostrophes; instead, we use a prepositional phrase to indicate possession: the blog of Scott, the dog of Beth, etc. So the NRSV likely has a better translation here. And for my money, it's also more understandable. We are to exist in the world without being owned by it. "In/Not [the property] Of."
Translation issues aside, Christians often abuse the mini-principle of "in/not of," reducing a rather complex idea to an overly simple conclusion: "Christians should never go to dance clubs. We're called to be IN the world, not OF it!" Well...okay, but is that kind of blanket rule consistent with the lifestyle and practices of Jesus himself? And are you sure you're not just looking for a way to get around that whole not-judging-others rule?
The problem is that Jesus' words are never as simple as they seem. (This is probably why even atheists recognize Jesus as a great teacher and philosopher.) If you want to distill the prayer from John 17 into a six- or seven-word platitude, you have to realize that you'll be stripping it of its richness and profound meaning for your life.
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Gay Marriage, Pope John Paul II & Reuters
An infuriating Reuters story (via Yahoo! News) about the Pope's most recent comments on gay marriage.
So much to say on this one. I'll try to keep it brief.
The Pope will no doubt take serious flak on this stance, as he has on many matters of traditional Christian morality. I don't care to elucidate my own opinion on gay marriage at the moment. It struck me as sad, however, that millions of cynical and/or antireligious people will remember John Paul II as an anti-abortion rights, anti-gay rights moralizer—rather than as a tireless human rights activist.
But what really annoys me is Rueters' diction. Why is it that they refuse to use the word terrorist without "scare quotes" (to use James Taranto's term), but they don't mind tossing out the term religious right? Reuters calls people who strap bombs to themselves and blow up bus passengers "insurgents," but they apparently find it acceptable to use a pejorative term for religious people who also happen to be politically conservative:
So much to say on this one. I'll try to keep it brief.
The Pope will no doubt take serious flak on this stance, as he has on many matters of traditional Christian morality. I don't care to elucidate my own opinion on gay marriage at the moment. It struck me as sad, however, that millions of cynical and/or antireligious people will remember John Paul II as an anti-abortion rights, anti-gay rights moralizer—rather than as a tireless human rights activist.
But what really annoys me is Rueters' diction. Why is it that they refuse to use the word terrorist without "scare quotes" (to use James Taranto's term), but they don't mind tossing out the term religious right? Reuters calls people who strap bombs to themselves and blow up bus passengers "insurgents," but they apparently find it acceptable to use a pejorative term for religious people who also happen to be politically conservative:
"Votes for Bush included solid support from the religious right and his win was interpreted by some as a victory for conservative Christians on issues like gay rights and abortion."As a religious person who also happens to be politically conservative, I eschew the term religious right and would prefer not to be referred to in those terms. If Kerry had won in November, would he have been swept into office by the "atheist left"? Somehow I doubt Reuters would use those terms.
Who the @#$*%# Still Lets Their Kids Go to Neverland Ranch?!
From Yahoo! (via the AP), here is a story about how Michael Jackson was nice enough to come out and greet some kids who were visiting his Neverland Ranch amusement/molestation park.
What?! That place hasn't been shut down? At least while the investigation and trial are ongoing? They're kidding, right? Right?
And let's say this is true, that the feds have not closed this place down and roped it off, or better yet burned it down. You mean to tell me that some kid brought home a permission slip for a trip to Michael Jackson's amusement park, and their parents signed it? What the crap is wrong with these people?
For the faint of heart, avert your eyes; for the rest of you, I present the scariest/creepiest/saddest line in the story:
"One of the youngsters shouted, 'We love you!'
'I love you more,' Jackson replied before putting an umbrella over his head and walking back toward his house."
Yuck.
UPDATE: I've been thinking about this, and there's something more that bothers me. How could a ten year old possibly even know who Michael Jackson is?! What has he done in the last decade, other than touch kids inappropriately or dangle an infant a hundred feet off the ground, that has him in the public eye? Why would these children even want to go to that place? It's just creepy on so many levels. I can't write about it anymore...
What?! That place hasn't been shut down? At least while the investigation and trial are ongoing? They're kidding, right? Right?
And let's say this is true, that the feds have not closed this place down and roped it off, or better yet burned it down. You mean to tell me that some kid brought home a permission slip for a trip to Michael Jackson's amusement park, and their parents signed it? What the crap is wrong with these people?
For the faint of heart, avert your eyes; for the rest of you, I present the scariest/creepiest/saddest line in the story:
"One of the youngsters shouted, 'We love you!'
'I love you more,' Jackson replied before putting an umbrella over his head and walking back toward his house."
Yuck.
UPDATE: I've been thinking about this, and there's something more that bothers me. How could a ten year old possibly even know who Michael Jackson is?! What has he done in the last decade, other than touch kids inappropriately or dangle an infant a hundred feet off the ground, that has him in the public eye? Why would these children even want to go to that place? It's just creepy on so many levels. I can't write about it anymore...
Friday, December 17, 2004
More Whining From Petey
Pedro Martinez made some ridiculous statements, even by his standards, in an interview with the Boston Herald. (As reported by the AP and ESPN.com):
'Schilling is 38, I'm only 33,' he said. 'The fact that I had an off-year doesn't mean that I can be below Schilling. Still, with an off-year, I'm way over Schilling as a pitcher and I've pitched pretty much like Schilling the last few years, if you're going to talk about durability.'
Um...Pedro? Schilling is a Yankee killer. And the Yankees are your self-proclaimed daddy. So A, shut up. And B, don't be so stupid. In an off-year, you're "way over Schilling as a pitcher"? Please.
'Schilling is 38, I'm only 33,' he said. 'The fact that I had an off-year doesn't mean that I can be below Schilling. Still, with an off-year, I'm way over Schilling as a pitcher and I've pitched pretty much like Schilling the last few years, if you're going to talk about durability.'
Um...Pedro? Schilling is a Yankee killer. And the Yankees are your self-proclaimed daddy. So A, shut up. And B, don't be so stupid. In an off-year, you're "way over Schilling as a pitcher"? Please.
Some Slappin' and Tappin' Acoustic Guitar Playing
I don't know who this guy is, but he can play.
Albino Blacksheep - Video / Guitar (Larrivee Movie Clip)
I wish I could get this kind of response from acoustic guitar strings. Heck, I can't get this kind of response from an electric guitar! Quick hands, too.
Albino Blacksheep - Video / Guitar (Larrivee Movie Clip)
I wish I could get this kind of response from acoustic guitar strings. Heck, I can't get this kind of response from an electric guitar! Quick hands, too.
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Now Here's An Aging Pitcher I Could Get Behind!
No time for details; suffice it to say that Randy Johnson is older than Pedro Martinez in years but has proven to have much more in-game longevity over the past few years. Plus, he's a lefty.
And soon he'll be a Yankee.
Also, the Yanks get to unload Javier Vasquez, who was a dynamite pitcher in Montreal but was never able to achieve success in the Bronx.
Haven't scoured the numbers, but I like this deal. The rotation for '05 looks pretty darn good.
And soon he'll be a Yankee.
Also, the Yanks get to unload Javier Vasquez, who was a dynamite pitcher in Montreal but was never able to achieve success in the Bronx.
Haven't scoured the numbers, but I like this deal. The rotation for '05 looks pretty darn good.
Trivia Question re: Renteria To Red Sox
ESPN.com (via the AP) reports that Edgar Renteria is off to Boston to join the Red Sox. This is a considerable acquisition for the (ack) world champs, but more importantly, it inspires a great trivia question:
In what way is this a homecoming for Renteria?
Well, I'd offer a prize, but I don't have any readers, so I'll just tell you.
Renteria began his career in heavenly Portland, Maine with the AA Portland Sea Dogs. At the time, they were the farm club for the Florida Marlins. (Renteria played with other notable Sea Dog Charles Johnson.)
Now, however, the Sea Dogs are the farm club for the much more local BoSox. So that is the way in which this is a homecoming for Renteria. Yeah, I know. It's obscure. But it gave me a reason to call Portland, Maine "heavenly." Which it is.
In what way is this a homecoming for Renteria?
Well, I'd offer a prize, but I don't have any readers, so I'll just tell you.
Renteria began his career in heavenly Portland, Maine with the AA Portland Sea Dogs. At the time, they were the farm club for the Florida Marlins. (Renteria played with other notable Sea Dog Charles Johnson.)
Now, however, the Sea Dogs are the farm club for the much more local BoSox. So that is the way in which this is a homecoming for Renteria. Yeah, I know. It's obscure. But it gave me a reason to call Portland, Maine "heavenly." Which it is.
Christmas in E-flat
At the request of my good friend Mike, I wiped the dust of my alto sax last night and trucked on down to Victor to blow some notes on a Christmas CD he's putting together for family and friends.
It went off pretty well. I was a bit nervous about how I would sound after so many months off—not to mention so many years since I stopped playing with any regularity—but it's a bit like the cliche about the bicycle. Anyway, I feel like I got some good licks in, and man was it fun to play the horn again.
I've been in a great mood all day, and I think it's because I finally had a good reason to play the ol' sax. Here's to much more of that in the future...if anyone is in need of a cheap session player, let me know!
It went off pretty well. I was a bit nervous about how I would sound after so many months off—not to mention so many years since I stopped playing with any regularity—but it's a bit like the cliche about the bicycle. Anyway, I feel like I got some good licks in, and man was it fun to play the horn again.
I've been in a great mood all day, and I think it's because I finally had a good reason to play the ol' sax. Here's to much more of that in the future...if anyone is in need of a cheap session player, let me know!
Mets Shell Out Waaaaay Too Much For Aging Pitcher
ESPN.com reports that the Mets have finalized their deal with Pedro Martinez, and as expected, they've paid too much and signed for too long:
"Martinez was introduced at Shea Stadium on Thursday, a day after he passed his physical and the Mets finalized his $53 million, four-year contract."
As Peter Gammons showed, Pedro is still good, but he's gotten progressively worse, and that will no doubt continue over the next few years. I guess having that chip on his shoulder all these years has taken its toll.
Of course, the beautiful news in all this is that the Yanks avoided the disaster that would have ensued had Steinbrenner decided to pull rank on Cashman and sign this guy. Poor Willie Randolph, though! Not only does he have to coach the Mets, but he has to coach the prima donna pitcher with the rotting arm and poor attitude.
"Martinez was introduced at Shea Stadium on Thursday, a day after he passed his physical and the Mets finalized his $53 million, four-year contract."
As Peter Gammons showed, Pedro is still good, but he's gotten progressively worse, and that will no doubt continue over the next few years. I guess having that chip on his shoulder all these years has taken its toll.
Of course, the beautiful news in all this is that the Yanks avoided the disaster that would have ensued had Steinbrenner decided to pull rank on Cashman and sign this guy. Poor Willie Randolph, though! Not only does he have to coach the Mets, but he has to coach the prima donna pitcher with the rotting arm and poor attitude.
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
You Know Your Career Is Fading When...
Hallmark announces the "long-awaited, first-ever seasonal album" by singer-songwriter James Taylor.
The most unintentionally funny paragraph in the announcement:
"He’s a multiple Grammy Award winner. He has earned more than 40 gold, platinum, and multi-platinum awards over the course of his esteemed music career spanning more than four decades...James Taylor has recorded his first-ever holiday album – James Taylor: A Christmas Album – exclusively for Hallmark Gold Crown® stores." [emphasis added]
Call me crazy, but if I were a famous musician, "exclusively for Hallmark" is not exactly the sort of thing I'd want to see after the name of my latest CD.
Poor JT. No one will ever think he's tough again, no matter how many 12-letter swear words he sneaks into the vocal ad-lib at the end of "Baby, It's Cold Outside."
The most unintentionally funny paragraph in the announcement:
"He’s a multiple Grammy Award winner. He has earned more than 40 gold, platinum, and multi-platinum awards over the course of his esteemed music career spanning more than four decades...James Taylor has recorded his first-ever holiday album – James Taylor: A Christmas Album – exclusively for Hallmark Gold Crown® stores." [emphasis added]
Call me crazy, but if I were a famous musician, "exclusively for Hallmark" is not exactly the sort of thing I'd want to see after the name of my latest CD.
Poor JT. No one will ever think he's tough again, no matter how many 12-letter swear words he sneaks into the vocal ad-lib at the end of "Baby, It's Cold Outside."
There's An NHL Lockout?!
ESPN.com drops a bombshell: apparently, the NHL has been locked out for 89 days! I had no idea. But it's true: Report: NHL to reject union proposal outright
Actually, they could have been locked out for the past five seasons, and I wouldn't have known the difference. I never really bought that "Big Four" major sports thing anyway. It's MLB, NFL, NBA, and the rest don't matter. And if there is a fourth, it sure ain't hockey. For proof, check out ESPN's main page, and note the progression of sports (left column), which are always in order of current importance:
NFL
College FB
NBA
Men's College BB
Women's College BB
MLB
Golf
Tennis
Motorsports
NHL
Good news, though, hockey fans. Your "major sport" lockout information is more important than Olympic Sports, U.S. Soccer, Horse Racing, Boxing, and (ahem) the WNBA.
Nice job, hosers.
Actually, they could have been locked out for the past five seasons, and I wouldn't have known the difference. I never really bought that "Big Four" major sports thing anyway. It's MLB, NFL, NBA, and the rest don't matter. And if there is a fourth, it sure ain't hockey. For proof, check out ESPN's main page, and note the progression of sports (left column), which are always in order of current importance:
NFL
College FB
NBA
Men's College BB
Women's College BB
MLB
Golf
Tennis
Motorsports
NHL
Good news, though, hockey fans. Your "major sport" lockout information is more important than Olympic Sports, U.S. Soccer, Horse Racing, Boxing, and (ahem) the WNBA.
Nice job, hosers.
The Fast Ferry, Race Relations, and the Rochester Job Market
Local commentator Bob Lonsberry, longtime opponent of the "Not So" Fast Ferry (my name for a boat that can get you from Rochester to Toronto approximately 5 minutes faster than driving your car), makes an interesting observation. Now that the city is trying to buy the boat from CATS, Lonsberry says, this has become about more than just a boat:
"In City Hall’s backyard is an adult bookstore, the most stable business for blocks in every direction. Inside City Hall a plan is being pushed to borrow $40 million to buy a ferryboat. A ferryboat whose clientele and employees will be overwhelmingly white, overwhelmingly suburban and overwhelmingly employed.
A black city will be buying a plaything for white suburbanites. And the city’s black mayor is insisting that it be done.
Which might be one symptom of the leadership that has presided over Rochester’s decade-long decline."
This is fascinating in a socio-political way, because if Lonsberry were a liberal and the mayor a Republican, this article would be called race-baiting by many conservatives.
But that doesn't mean the argument is invalid. There are better ways the city could spend $40 million, ways that would help underprivileged minority populations get on their feet. As Lonsberry suggests:
"If City Hall has $40 million to throw around, and another $5 million a year to maintain the boat, maybe that money might be more usefully spent by giving 160 quarter-million-dollar loans or grants to small neighborhood businesses. And maybe they could give out another 20 each year thereafter, and use the repaid loans as a circulating fund to capitalize other new businesses."
I have heard some people say that the city should buy the ferry because the tax revenue it will generate from increased tourism would more than make up for the cost of the boat. Thus buying the boat would allow us to do some of the things Lonsberry suggests might be possible only if we don't buy the boat. I'm not so sure. But even if this is true, the city needs to look at the possibility that operating a much smaller boat would be even better financially.
"In City Hall’s backyard is an adult bookstore, the most stable business for blocks in every direction. Inside City Hall a plan is being pushed to borrow $40 million to buy a ferryboat. A ferryboat whose clientele and employees will be overwhelmingly white, overwhelmingly suburban and overwhelmingly employed.
A black city will be buying a plaything for white suburbanites. And the city’s black mayor is insisting that it be done.
Which might be one symptom of the leadership that has presided over Rochester’s decade-long decline."
This is fascinating in a socio-political way, because if Lonsberry were a liberal and the mayor a Republican, this article would be called race-baiting by many conservatives.
But that doesn't mean the argument is invalid. There are better ways the city could spend $40 million, ways that would help underprivileged minority populations get on their feet. As Lonsberry suggests:
"If City Hall has $40 million to throw around, and another $5 million a year to maintain the boat, maybe that money might be more usefully spent by giving 160 quarter-million-dollar loans or grants to small neighborhood businesses. And maybe they could give out another 20 each year thereafter, and use the repaid loans as a circulating fund to capitalize other new businesses."
I have heard some people say that the city should buy the ferry because the tax revenue it will generate from increased tourism would more than make up for the cost of the boat. Thus buying the boat would allow us to do some of the things Lonsberry suggests might be possible only if we don't buy the boat. I'm not so sure. But even if this is true, the city needs to look at the possibility that operating a much smaller boat would be even better financially.
Monday, December 13, 2004
Lemme guess...the price is going back to $50 next year?
Well, for those of you who like video game football, it looks like it's Madden or nothing for the next five years. Darren Rovell of ESPN.com reports that the NFL has signed an exclusive deal with EA Sports, the maker of Madden football.
The Madden franchise has set the bar for video game football as long as I've been playing it. So I can't say I'm too disappointed.
Recent competition has been good for consumers, however:
"Before this year, EA's Madden franchise -- which the company has sold more than 40 million copies of since its debut in 1989 -- previously dominated the football game marketplace. Bit players, including Midway, 989 Sports and Microsoft, dropped out of the licensed football game business this year.
But the Madden 2005 game was seriously challenged by NFL 2K5, thanks to good reviews and a pricing war. NFL 2K5 was available in stores in August for $19.95. For three months, the Madden game was priced at $49.95, until the company finally relented on Nov. 8 and lowered it by $20."
I think it's safe to say that EA Sports will ratchet that price back up toward fifty bucks. This will probably price me out, though I think my friends will still let me play the game at their houses.
The Madden franchise has set the bar for video game football as long as I've been playing it. So I can't say I'm too disappointed.
Recent competition has been good for consumers, however:
"Before this year, EA's Madden franchise -- which the company has sold more than 40 million copies of since its debut in 1989 -- previously dominated the football game marketplace. Bit players, including Midway, 989 Sports and Microsoft, dropped out of the licensed football game business this year.
But the Madden 2005 game was seriously challenged by NFL 2K5, thanks to good reviews and a pricing war. NFL 2K5 was available in stores in August for $19.95. For three months, the Madden game was priced at $49.95, until the company finally relented on Nov. 8 and lowered it by $20."
I think it's safe to say that EA Sports will ratchet that price back up toward fifty bucks. This will probably price me out, though I think my friends will still let me play the game at their houses.
Straight Talk Express Leaves the Station Four Years Early
In an AP interview, John McCain has sharply criticized Donald Rumsfeld:
'I have strenuously argued for larger troop numbers in Iraq, including the right kind of troops — linguists, special forces, civil affairs, etc.,' said McCain, R-Ariz. 'There are very strong differences of opinion between myself and Secretary Rumsfeld on that issue.'
In so doing, McCain has begun to put some distance between himself and the President—something he probably wanted to do more of during the campaign, but couldn't. McCain has an interesting balance to strike: he desperately wants to appeal to moderates who dislike President Bush, yet he can't afford to alienate too much of the Republican base that will need to vote in 2008 in order to put him in office.
I like McCain; in fact, I would have preferred him over Bush in 2000. Assuming that the 2008 election finds us in roughly the same cultural and political climate we're in now, I'll vote for him. But I grow weary of the popular perception that he stays above the fray, avoiding political games and "talking straight." Please. He's a very good politician, which means he seems not to be one at all.
'I have strenuously argued for larger troop numbers in Iraq, including the right kind of troops — linguists, special forces, civil affairs, etc.,' said McCain, R-Ariz. 'There are very strong differences of opinion between myself and Secretary Rumsfeld on that issue.'
In so doing, McCain has begun to put some distance between himself and the President—something he probably wanted to do more of during the campaign, but couldn't. McCain has an interesting balance to strike: he desperately wants to appeal to moderates who dislike President Bush, yet he can't afford to alienate too much of the Republican base that will need to vote in 2008 in order to put him in office.
I like McCain; in fact, I would have preferred him over Bush in 2000. Assuming that the 2008 election finds us in roughly the same cultural and political climate we're in now, I'll vote for him. But I grow weary of the popular perception that he stays above the fray, avoiding political games and "talking straight." Please. He's a very good politician, which means he seems not to be one at all.
Consumer-Generated Media
Another small sign of the cultural shift the world is experiencing. It's more than just moving from print to digital—it's not about the medium so much as the fact that everyday people are driving the content. It is significant that many of us are getting our news online rather than in print; it is world-changing that many of us are writing the news.
Now, from Wired News, a story about consumers making their own advertising, specifically a guy who made his own 60-second commercial for the iPod mini:
"'There's a real trend toward consumer-generated media. People are creating news, they're blogging. People will create marketing as well. This guy is a great example.'"
Interesting stuff. The ad itself is pretty solid; there's a link to it in the full story, and it's worth watching. But to me the "grand scheme" that this little incident represents is more interesting than the incident itself.
Now, from Wired News, a story about consumers making their own advertising, specifically a guy who made his own 60-second commercial for the iPod mini:
"'There's a real trend toward consumer-generated media. People are creating news, they're blogging. People will create marketing as well. This guy is a great example.'"
Interesting stuff. The ad itself is pretty solid; there's a link to it in the full story, and it's worth watching. But to me the "grand scheme" that this little incident represents is more interesting than the incident itself.
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Bonnaroo Seeks Wider Lineup in 2005
Blogging From Panera
I'm posting today from Panera Bread (too lazy to link it at the moment), where there is good lunch, decent pastry, and free WiFi. I suggest you check it out; it's a great option if you've got a wireless laptop.
I'm here working on a paper based on Romans 14 and 15, where Paul advises the Romans about their disputes over eating meat that has been sacrificed to idols. I'm going to try to attempt to link this to the modern mini-dispute over whether it is acceptable for Christians to drink alcohol in moderation. After it's finished, I'll probably post some of it here for the enjoyment of my many readers. (Ha.)
For now, though, back to work.
I'm here working on a paper based on Romans 14 and 15, where Paul advises the Romans about their disputes over eating meat that has been sacrificed to idols. I'm going to try to attempt to link this to the modern mini-dispute over whether it is acceptable for Christians to drink alcohol in moderation. After it's finished, I'll probably post some of it here for the enjoyment of my many readers. (Ha.)
For now, though, back to work.
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Well, this seals it for me? How about you?
ESPN.com reports that Dusty Baker thinks Barry Bonds is telling the truth about not knowing the substances he used were steroids:
"'If he said that to a grand jury, those are words you go by,' Bonds' former manager said Saturday."
Well, shoot, that's good enough for me. Because Dusty Baker is always on the ball. I've never known him to say something completely stupid.
"'If he said that to a grand jury, those are words you go by,' Bonds' former manager said Saturday."
Well, shoot, that's good enough for me. Because Dusty Baker is always on the ball. I've never known him to say something completely stupid.
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...
...my eye.
Here in Rochester it's about 35 degrees, cloudy, and raining. We haven't seen any accumulated snow since before Thanksgiving. I can't even go buy a tree because they're all soaking wet, and who wants to bring a soaking wet pine tree into the house? This weather is lousy, and it puts me in a foul mood. All the most annoying parts of the Christmas season (that means you, Saturday shoppers) and none of the good parts.
Here in Rochester it's about 35 degrees, cloudy, and raining. We haven't seen any accumulated snow since before Thanksgiving. I can't even go buy a tree because they're all soaking wet, and who wants to bring a soaking wet pine tree into the house? This weather is lousy, and it puts me in a foul mood. All the most annoying parts of the Christmas season (that means you, Saturday shoppers) and none of the good parts.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
If the fringe takes over, what of the center?
MoveOn PAC recently sent a letter to Terry McAuliffe, the beleaguered DNC chairman, excoriating the Democratic Party for its ineptitude in recent elections, and telling him that MoveOne and other grassroots organizations have "bought" the party and now "own" it.
MoveOn to Democratic Party: 'We Own It':
"'In the last year, grass-roots contributors like us gave more than $300 million to the Kerry campaign and the DNC, and proved that the party doesn't need corporate cash to be competitive,' the message continued. 'Now it's our party: we bought it, we own it, and we're going to take it back.'"
Now I'm fairly conservative. (I usually say "center-right.") I think it would be a terrible tragedy if the DNC caved in to MoveOn and its ilk, because it would mean the end of a viable voting option for millions of moderate Democrats, women and men who may have voted for Clinton but didn't much like Kerry—and no way in hell would they ever have voted for Howard Dean.
(Speaking of Dean, electing him as the new DNC chair would be a sign of the party's fateful shift toward the fringe.)
That $300 million may as well be solid gold. It might sound good to a party that for the last few elections has barely kept its head above water. But if the Democrats sell out to MoveOn and other fringe efforts, they will soon find themselves on the ocean floor, bloated and lifeless.
MoveOn to Democratic Party: 'We Own It':
"'In the last year, grass-roots contributors like us gave more than $300 million to the Kerry campaign and the DNC, and proved that the party doesn't need corporate cash to be competitive,' the message continued. 'Now it's our party: we bought it, we own it, and we're going to take it back.'"
Now I'm fairly conservative. (I usually say "center-right.") I think it would be a terrible tragedy if the DNC caved in to MoveOn and its ilk, because it would mean the end of a viable voting option for millions of moderate Democrats, women and men who may have voted for Clinton but didn't much like Kerry—and no way in hell would they ever have voted for Howard Dean.
(Speaking of Dean, electing him as the new DNC chair would be a sign of the party's fateful shift toward the fringe.)
That $300 million may as well be solid gold. It might sound good to a party that for the last few elections has barely kept its head above water. But if the Democrats sell out to MoveOn and other fringe efforts, they will soon find themselves on the ocean floor, bloated and lifeless.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Blog test post
This is a test post so I can try out some new stuff with the CSS in my blog template and be able to see how it works without having to dig through looking for a blockquote or something.
In fact, here is a little blockquote right now:
How did that look? Pretty crappy, right? I am hoping to change that, though, so stay tuned. And yes, at this point I am talking only to myself. At least I hope so. Walt? Is that you? Do the Others have you? Where are you?
In fact, here is a little blockquote right now:
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Praesent feugiat. Sed elementum, magna et pharetra luctus, felis arcu volutpat nisi, sit amet vulputate sapien est non elit. Donec nibh dui, tempor non, tempus ut, vulputate eu, tellus. Nulla volutpat mauris ut mi. Praesent sit amet massa id dolor lacinia tristique. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Etiam ornare. Proin varius tortor et dolor. Praesent luctus lorem non lectus. Sed tempus rhoncus sapien. Maecenas nisl. Donec vitae sem eget lectus convallis ultricies.
How did that look? Pretty crappy, right? I am hoping to change that, though, so stay tuned. And yes, at this point I am talking only to myself. At least I hope so. Walt? Is that you? Do the Others have you? Where are you?
Yao Ming, the Chinese Trey Anastasio
ESPN.com's Bill Simmons on Yao Ming:
"I blame the Rockets for surrounding him with the wrong players. In three seasons, they haven't had a single point who could throw Yao an entry pass, plus they haven't had a single shooter who could consistently make threes (and prevent teams from collapsing on Yao). This current team features the worst point guards in the league (although Bobby Sura just came back); three undersized rebounders (none of whom would ever be confused with Maurice Lucas); and only one reliable shooter (T-Mac, who thrives with one-on-one stuff). I like T-Mac, but he isn't a sophisticated enough offensive player to play with someone like Yao. None of these guys are. It's a shame. It's like watching one of the guys from Phish playing in Ashlee Simpson's band."
First of all, this is consistent with what I've said about Yao and the Rockets. When they traded Steve Francis for Tracy McGrady over the summer, I couldn't believe it. Why force a guy who could potentially become the NBA's best passing big man to play with a guy who is one the NBA's top two or three one-on-one players? It doesn't make sense. TMac is a definite upgrade over Stevie Franchise (isn't that nickname ironic, now that he's been traded?), I don't disagree with that. But it's the wrong guy in the wrong system.
Sadly, that last sentence now describes Yao, who was drafted to become the face of the franchise. They should trade him to a team with a coach who will use him properly.
But Simmons comes up with a great analogy here. Can you imagine Trey Anastasio in Ashlee Simpson's band? Of course, Simmons can't come up with any of the names of the "guys from Phish," but that's to be expected. He's a good sports writer, my favorite at the moment, but he's not nearly as well-rounded as, say, me.
"I blame the Rockets for surrounding him with the wrong players. In three seasons, they haven't had a single point who could throw Yao an entry pass, plus they haven't had a single shooter who could consistently make threes (and prevent teams from collapsing on Yao). This current team features the worst point guards in the league (although Bobby Sura just came back); three undersized rebounders (none of whom would ever be confused with Maurice Lucas); and only one reliable shooter (T-Mac, who thrives with one-on-one stuff). I like T-Mac, but he isn't a sophisticated enough offensive player to play with someone like Yao. None of these guys are. It's a shame. It's like watching one of the guys from Phish playing in Ashlee Simpson's band."
First of all, this is consistent with what I've said about Yao and the Rockets. When they traded Steve Francis for Tracy McGrady over the summer, I couldn't believe it. Why force a guy who could potentially become the NBA's best passing big man to play with a guy who is one the NBA's top two or three one-on-one players? It doesn't make sense. TMac is a definite upgrade over Stevie Franchise (isn't that nickname ironic, now that he's been traded?), I don't disagree with that. But it's the wrong guy in the wrong system.
Sadly, that last sentence now describes Yao, who was drafted to become the face of the franchise. They should trade him to a team with a coach who will use him properly.
But Simmons comes up with a great analogy here. Can you imagine Trey Anastasio in Ashlee Simpson's band? Of course, Simmons can't come up with any of the names of the "guys from Phish," but that's to be expected. He's a good sports writer, my favorite at the moment, but he's not nearly as well-rounded as, say, me.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Dubya: Evil Genius, or Complete Dumbass?
John Podhoretz of the New York Post makes a point I've been making for a long time now, that he can't possibly be both:
"For years now, liberals and leftists have been unable to decide whether they dislike George W. Bush because they think he's a doofus or because they think he's evil. So they've come up with a peculiar new political caricature to make sense of the president they simply cannot understand: To them, he's the Evil Doofus.
But this just doesn't work. You can't be both evil and a doofus. Doofuses have a sweet and dopey quality. Evildoers know what they're up to, and they're frightening in their relentless pursuit of bad aims."
I guess the anti-Bush people would try to convince me that Karl Rove is the missing link between Bush's stupidity and his unnerving success in the quest for world domination. I just don't buy it.
"For years now, liberals and leftists have been unable to decide whether they dislike George W. Bush because they think he's a doofus or because they think he's evil. So they've come up with a peculiar new political caricature to make sense of the president they simply cannot understand: To them, he's the Evil Doofus.
But this just doesn't work. You can't be both evil and a doofus. Doofuses have a sweet and dopey quality. Evildoers know what they're up to, and they're frightening in their relentless pursuit of bad aims."
I guess the anti-Bush people would try to convince me that Karl Rove is the missing link between Bush's stupidity and his unnerving success in the quest for world domination. I just don't buy it.
Monday, December 06, 2004
I wouldn't dare post about pro golf, would I?
You bet I would...but only because Tiger Woods was interviewed at halftime on MNF. Al Michaels opened the interview by mentioning the fact that Vijay Singh captured the PGA Player of the Year Award, which Tiger had won five years running.
Tiger handled this graciously enough, if a bit robotically. But the real gem came at the end of the interview, which Michaels concluded by saying something like "Tiger Woods, one of the greatest golfers playing today, thank you very much." Tiger gave Al a forced smile—sort of like you might see on a corpse—and said, "You're welcome, Al," but his eyes were blazing. It was as if this was the first time anyone had publicly acknowledged that Tiger was not unequivocally better than all his peers.
I've got nothing against Tiger—or Vijay Singh, for that matter—but as a sports fan, I found this interesting. Much more interesting than the football game between the Seahawks and Cowboys, that's for sure.
Tiger handled this graciously enough, if a bit robotically. But the real gem came at the end of the interview, which Michaels concluded by saying something like "Tiger Woods, one of the greatest golfers playing today, thank you very much." Tiger gave Al a forced smile—sort of like you might see on a corpse—and said, "You're welcome, Al," but his eyes were blazing. It was as if this was the first time anyone had publicly acknowledged that Tiger was not unequivocally better than all his peers.
I've got nothing against Tiger—or Vijay Singh, for that matter—but as a sports fan, I found this interesting. Much more interesting than the football game between the Seahawks and Cowboys, that's for sure.
Somehow, this doesn't seem as important as it did four years ago...
From Yahoo! News (specifically, what they deem the number one political story from the AP Wire right now):
Ohio Certifies Bush Win by 119,000 Votes:
"This battleground state on Monday certified President Bush's 119,000-vote victory over John Kerry, even as the Kerry campaign and third-party candidates prepared to demand a statewide recount."
Whew! Boy, am I glad to have that harrowing five weeks behind us! I was really biting my nails there for a couple days.
Have they certified Pennsylvania yet? Who cares? Why is this news?
Ohio Certifies Bush Win by 119,000 Votes:
"This battleground state on Monday certified President Bush's 119,000-vote victory over John Kerry, even as the Kerry campaign and third-party candidates prepared to demand a statewide recount."
Whew! Boy, am I glad to have that harrowing five weeks behind us! I was really biting my nails there for a couple days.
Have they certified Pennsylvania yet? Who cares? Why is this news?
Sunday, December 05, 2004
Warning: The words "slave" and "master" are innately offensive!
From Reuters, a story about the most politically incorrect phrases (as determined by the pompously named "Global Language Monitor"):
Yahoo! News - 'Master/slave' Most Politically Incorrect Phrase:
"In computer terminology, 'master/slave' refers to primary and secondary hard disk drives. But a Los Angeles county purchasing department told vendors in late 2003 that the term was offensive and violated the region's cultural diversity. The county's department of affirmative action undertook a hunt to replace it on packages...
Also on the list this year were 'Red Sox lover,' to use in place of 'Yankee hater,' 'progressive' for classical liberal, 'incurious' rather than more impolite invectives for President Bush (news - web sites), 'insurgents' instead of terrorists in Iraq (news - web sites), 'baristas' for waiters, and 'first year student' rather than freshman."
Now, as a writer, I acknowledge the importance and power of words. For example, I support my institution's requirement that its students and faculty use non-exclusive language in all formal writing.
But this is ludicrous. I'm no computer expert, but these terms are simply not offensive in this context. Now, if some racist computer hardware pioneer had chosen to name the primary drive "White" or "Man" and the dependent drive "Black" or "Woman," we would have an issue. But that's not it.
If we've reached the point where the existence of the ideas of slavehood and masterhood is offensive—where the very fact that there is such a concept within the English language is cause for action—then we are very screwed up indeed.
This is more than just semantical, however. Focusing on this sort of inert usage of words can only sap energy and effort—not to mention attention—away from the important work of racial reconciliation.
Yahoo! News - 'Master/slave' Most Politically Incorrect Phrase:
"In computer terminology, 'master/slave' refers to primary and secondary hard disk drives. But a Los Angeles county purchasing department told vendors in late 2003 that the term was offensive and violated the region's cultural diversity. The county's department of affirmative action undertook a hunt to replace it on packages...
Also on the list this year were 'Red Sox lover,' to use in place of 'Yankee hater,' 'progressive' for classical liberal, 'incurious' rather than more impolite invectives for President Bush (news - web sites), 'insurgents' instead of terrorists in Iraq (news - web sites), 'baristas' for waiters, and 'first year student' rather than freshman."
Now, as a writer, I acknowledge the importance and power of words. For example, I support my institution's requirement that its students and faculty use non-exclusive language in all formal writing.
But this is ludicrous. I'm no computer expert, but these terms are simply not offensive in this context. Now, if some racist computer hardware pioneer had chosen to name the primary drive "White" or "Man" and the dependent drive "Black" or "Woman," we would have an issue. But that's not it.
If we've reached the point where the existence of the ideas of slavehood and masterhood is offensive—where the very fact that there is such a concept within the English language is cause for action—then we are very screwed up indeed.
This is more than just semantical, however. Focusing on this sort of inert usage of words can only sap energy and effort—not to mention attention—away from the important work of racial reconciliation.
Return Policy Madness
HOLIDAY 2008 UPDATE: Please note that this post is now almost four years old. You're probably not going to find any useful information in it. The long and short of it: if you want to return your iPod, you're almost certainly going to need a receipt. If you don't have a receipt, just sell it on Craigslist or eBay. You'll probably get 90% of its retail value out of it.
Today I went out to the suburbs to try and exchange an iPod. I have an extra, one, you see, that I received unexpectedly, and I figured the best thing to do would be to return it to a store that sells them, and use the store credit toward something I want or need.
In every retail setting I've ever worked, this is an acceptable practice. As long as something is in its original packaging, it can be resold at full price, and customers can receive store credit without a receipt. Apparently, something has changed. At least three retailers were relatively uninterested in boosting their stock on the hottest holiday gift item going.
I had planned on taking it to the Apple Retail Store in Buffalo, but when I called them, they said they would look up the serial number to see if it was purchased there. If not, no dice. I'm not sure why they would have such a policy. An iPod is an iPod, right? They can sell it for exactly $299, right? But I happen to know it wasn't purchased there, and you don't argue with the clerks at the Apple Retail Store. They're far too passive and Zenlike—I knew no matter how stupid I thought the policy was, I'd just end up having a warm conversation with them and agreeing that the new iMac G5 would be a great addition to my credit card statement. So I didn't bother to make the trip.
Then I called Target. The clerk in electronics said I could return it there, but only for credit in electronics. That seemed weird, and I couldn't really think of anything I would want in Target's electronics department, so I moved on. Target is stupid anyway.
Then I called Circuit City. The dude on the other end—I say "dude" because he sounded as if he had just stepped off a snowboard in an American Eagle ad—told me, "Yeah, you can get store credit, as long as it's in the original packaging."
"Good. It is," I said. "I'll be there shortly."
I arrived at Circuit City and immediately began to look around. (I'm the prototype for that guy in the commercial who walks into Circuit City and immediately starts sprinting through the store excitedly.) After about a half hour or so, Tracey and I agreed to pick up a Mini DV camera made by the nice folks at Sony. We even talked to a salesperson about it first.
I proceeded over to the customer service desk to let them know I was going to be coming back in with the iPod, which was still in the car. I said, "I called this morning and was told I could get store credit for an iPod as long as it was unopened."
The man behind the counter, looking anxious, replied with the one thing you don't want to hear. "Do you know who you talked to?" Crap. You know you're sunk when they say that. What it really means is, "Oh, someone told you that? I intend to discipline that person harshly for his or her utter inability to grasp the subtleties of our return and exchange policy, which clearly states 'No soup for you.' May I have their full name, please, so as to make it easier for me to fire them?"
Turns out that for any purchase over $100, they have to look up the receipt in the computer to ensure it was purchased there. I know this because he repeated it with robot-like insistence after everything I said:
"But it's in the original packaging."
"I'm sorry; for any purchase over $100, we have to look up the receipt in the computer."
"But the snowboard guy told me I could bring it back!"
"I'm sorry; for any purchase over $100, we have to look up the receipt in the computer."
"Could you please prove to me that you're a heartless moron without a brain OR a soul?"
"I'm sorry; for any purchase over $100, we have to look up the receipt in the computer."
"Thanks."
I was incredulous. Why was this so hard to grasp? I give them an iPod, which they undoubtedly will sell before closing on Christmas Eve. Every teenager wants one! Anticipating that, they give me a credit of $299, which I will spend on a digital video camera before closing TODAY. It works out for everyone! No. It was not to be. For this particular iPod happens not to have arrived to their store on a big red truck labeled "Circuit City," so they didn't want it in their stockroom.
Then I had an epiphany. I could go get my DV cam at Target! That was an electronics purchase, and the very intelligent, well-educated employee I spoke with on the phone said I could return it provided it was in the original packaging and I intended to buy something from the electronics department. And there was a Target just up the street! I could taste victory.
After walking the half mile from the parking lot to the entrance of Target, which inexplicably was on the left side of the storefront, I entered the customer service bay. I saw a big board with their exchange & return policy on it, and I read it. My heart sank. They, too, would look up the item to see that it was purchased within the chain before issuing store credit. I knew I was out of luck. But I'm a glutton for punishment, so I took a number and waited to speak to a customer service representative.
When I reached the front of the line, I explained that there seemed to be an inconsistency between what the electronics clerk had told me on the phone and what was on the board I had just read. She told me she'd be glad to look up my iPod in the computer system if I brought it in to her. I said, "I'm pretty sure it wasn't purchased at Target. But it's in the original packaging, and it's definitely saleable." ("Saleable" is a retail codeword. I was hoping she'd recognize it and it would help her understand that I was in the know about such things. Apparently, she either didn't get the hint or didn't care.)
She looked at me as if I had casually placed a chinchilla on the counter and asked for three hundred dollars worth of diamond jewelry, and she said "We don't give credit for merchandise from other stores," her left eyebrow raising ever so slightly as she said the words "other stores."
I was livid. I was inconsolable. I could not believe this. As I walked out of the store and began the long trek back to my car, I mentally reenacted the scene, but this time I really let her have it. "This is not hard. Here, let me tell you what. I will give you three hundred dollars. All I want you to do is hold it long enough for me to run to the electronics department, where I will pick up an item that costs four hundred dollars. Then I'll bring it back here, give you another hundred, and I'll be on my way. OK?"
Alas, it was not to be. No amount of whining or yelling or sarcasm was going to get me what I wanted, anywhere. Apparently, this is to protect against theft. But it makes no sense. Let's assume for a second that I stole this iPod. (I didn't.) What good is denying me store credit going to do? If I wanted cash, it would be one thing. But I don't want cash. I want a digital video camera, so I can make cheesy movies of my son and subject my family to them. Maybe that's it. Maybe some distant cousin has seen the damage I have done with a digital still camera and a website, and is doing everything in his or her power to prevent my foray into home movies.
At any rate, now I'm stuck selling it on Half.com or Ebay or something. I guess I will end up with cash after all—sometime next month. So much for instant gratification.
UPDATE: I sold the iPod on Half.com, and since the payment comes in a few days, I went out and got my camera today. I wish I could say I stood up to the man, but I ended up getting it at Circuit City. Their buy online, pick up in store policy is just too good to ignore.
Today I went out to the suburbs to try and exchange an iPod. I have an extra, one, you see, that I received unexpectedly, and I figured the best thing to do would be to return it to a store that sells them, and use the store credit toward something I want or need.
In every retail setting I've ever worked, this is an acceptable practice. As long as something is in its original packaging, it can be resold at full price, and customers can receive store credit without a receipt. Apparently, something has changed. At least three retailers were relatively uninterested in boosting their stock on the hottest holiday gift item going.
I had planned on taking it to the Apple Retail Store in Buffalo, but when I called them, they said they would look up the serial number to see if it was purchased there. If not, no dice. I'm not sure why they would have such a policy. An iPod is an iPod, right? They can sell it for exactly $299, right? But I happen to know it wasn't purchased there, and you don't argue with the clerks at the Apple Retail Store. They're far too passive and Zenlike—I knew no matter how stupid I thought the policy was, I'd just end up having a warm conversation with them and agreeing that the new iMac G5 would be a great addition to my credit card statement. So I didn't bother to make the trip.
Then I called Target. The clerk in electronics said I could return it there, but only for credit in electronics. That seemed weird, and I couldn't really think of anything I would want in Target's electronics department, so I moved on. Target is stupid anyway.
Then I called Circuit City. The dude on the other end—I say "dude" because he sounded as if he had just stepped off a snowboard in an American Eagle ad—told me, "Yeah, you can get store credit, as long as it's in the original packaging."
"Good. It is," I said. "I'll be there shortly."
I arrived at Circuit City and immediately began to look around. (I'm the prototype for that guy in the commercial who walks into Circuit City and immediately starts sprinting through the store excitedly.) After about a half hour or so, Tracey and I agreed to pick up a Mini DV camera made by the nice folks at Sony. We even talked to a salesperson about it first.
I proceeded over to the customer service desk to let them know I was going to be coming back in with the iPod, which was still in the car. I said, "I called this morning and was told I could get store credit for an iPod as long as it was unopened."
The man behind the counter, looking anxious, replied with the one thing you don't want to hear. "Do you know who you talked to?" Crap. You know you're sunk when they say that. What it really means is, "Oh, someone told you that? I intend to discipline that person harshly for his or her utter inability to grasp the subtleties of our return and exchange policy, which clearly states 'No soup for you.' May I have their full name, please, so as to make it easier for me to fire them?"
Turns out that for any purchase over $100, they have to look up the receipt in the computer to ensure it was purchased there. I know this because he repeated it with robot-like insistence after everything I said:
"But it's in the original packaging."
"I'm sorry; for any purchase over $100, we have to look up the receipt in the computer."
"But the snowboard guy told me I could bring it back!"
"I'm sorry; for any purchase over $100, we have to look up the receipt in the computer."
"Could you please prove to me that you're a heartless moron without a brain OR a soul?"
"I'm sorry; for any purchase over $100, we have to look up the receipt in the computer."
"Thanks."
I was incredulous. Why was this so hard to grasp? I give them an iPod, which they undoubtedly will sell before closing on Christmas Eve. Every teenager wants one! Anticipating that, they give me a credit of $299, which I will spend on a digital video camera before closing TODAY. It works out for everyone! No. It was not to be. For this particular iPod happens not to have arrived to their store on a big red truck labeled "Circuit City," so they didn't want it in their stockroom.
Then I had an epiphany. I could go get my DV cam at Target! That was an electronics purchase, and the very intelligent, well-educated employee I spoke with on the phone said I could return it provided it was in the original packaging and I intended to buy something from the electronics department. And there was a Target just up the street! I could taste victory.
After walking the half mile from the parking lot to the entrance of Target, which inexplicably was on the left side of the storefront, I entered the customer service bay. I saw a big board with their exchange & return policy on it, and I read it. My heart sank. They, too, would look up the item to see that it was purchased within the chain before issuing store credit. I knew I was out of luck. But I'm a glutton for punishment, so I took a number and waited to speak to a customer service representative.
When I reached the front of the line, I explained that there seemed to be an inconsistency between what the electronics clerk had told me on the phone and what was on the board I had just read. She told me she'd be glad to look up my iPod in the computer system if I brought it in to her. I said, "I'm pretty sure it wasn't purchased at Target. But it's in the original packaging, and it's definitely saleable." ("Saleable" is a retail codeword. I was hoping she'd recognize it and it would help her understand that I was in the know about such things. Apparently, she either didn't get the hint or didn't care.)
She looked at me as if I had casually placed a chinchilla on the counter and asked for three hundred dollars worth of diamond jewelry, and she said "We don't give credit for merchandise from other stores," her left eyebrow raising ever so slightly as she said the words "other stores."
I was livid. I was inconsolable. I could not believe this. As I walked out of the store and began the long trek back to my car, I mentally reenacted the scene, but this time I really let her have it. "This is not hard. Here, let me tell you what. I will give you three hundred dollars. All I want you to do is hold it long enough for me to run to the electronics department, where I will pick up an item that costs four hundred dollars. Then I'll bring it back here, give you another hundred, and I'll be on my way. OK?"
Alas, it was not to be. No amount of whining or yelling or sarcasm was going to get me what I wanted, anywhere. Apparently, this is to protect against theft. But it makes no sense. Let's assume for a second that I stole this iPod. (I didn't.) What good is denying me store credit going to do? If I wanted cash, it would be one thing. But I don't want cash. I want a digital video camera, so I can make cheesy movies of my son and subject my family to them. Maybe that's it. Maybe some distant cousin has seen the damage I have done with a digital still camera and a website, and is doing everything in his or her power to prevent my foray into home movies.
At any rate, now I'm stuck selling it on Half.com or Ebay or something. I guess I will end up with cash after all—sometime next month. So much for instant gratification.
UPDATE: I sold the iPod on Half.com, and since the payment comes in a few days, I went out and got my camera today. I wish I could say I stood up to the man, but I ended up getting it at Circuit City. Their buy online, pick up in store policy is just too good to ignore.
iPod a write-in favorite on teens' wish lists
Lots has already been written about this, but I find it interesting, especially the fact that "iPod" has pulled a "Kleenex"—it's a brand that is becoming synonymous for its category, as in "Hey, Dell Guy, I see you're crying about the DJ MP3 Player flopping. Do you need a Kleenex?"
iPod a favorite write-in candidate on teen's wish lists
(From the Chicago Sun-Times):
"''It was really surprising,'' Munster said in an interview from his Minneapolis office. ''They didn't say music player. They said iPod. Teens want to be cool, they want their music, and the iPod is a cool way for them to get their music.''"
iPod a favorite write-in candidate on teen's wish lists
(From the Chicago Sun-Times):
"''It was really surprising,'' Munster said in an interview from his Minneapolis office. ''They didn't say music player. They said iPod. Teens want to be cool, they want their music, and the iPod is a cool way for them to get their music.''"
Saturday, December 04, 2004
Abel's New Hat
Abel got a new hat for Christmas, which we celebrated (with my family, at least) in Virginia over Thanksgiving. Cute, huh?
Actually, the only reason I'm showing you this is to test out Flickr, a web-based photo sharing service that integrates well with Blogger, enabling Mac users to include photos in their blogs more easily.
Actually, the only reason I'm showing you this is to test out Flickr, a web-based photo sharing service that integrates well with Blogger, enabling Mac users to include photos in their blogs more easily.
Barry Bonds in Pictures
This timeline of photos from 1988 until the present (from ESPN.com) is pretty revealing.
MLB GALLERY
Did he know he was using steroids? How could this happen to your body after age 35 and not cause you to suspect there was something fishy about that "flaxseed oil"?
Ridiculous.
MLB GALLERY
Did he know he was using steroids? How could this happen to your body after age 35 and not cause you to suspect there was something fishy about that "flaxseed oil"?
Ridiculous.
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