And on the way home...

Taken on a Friday night...

On the way to work...

Took this one on the move.

Moon shot tonight

Methodist Church Downtown

Another pretty one.

Catholic Church Downtown

It's a pretty one.

Pretty as a picture

Tuesday my girlfriend and I celebrated our one month 'anniversary'. Before work, I snuck into her workplace - she works at a different library - and I left a 'Thinkiing of You' card with a teddy bear on it and a vase filled with carnations. We then went to lunch at a new place called Chunky Chef with our friend Francesca. We've had lunch out at different restaurants since we started dating in September.

After work, we met up and went to the Barbeque of Seville - an annual event held by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra - and then listened to classical music.

Was a great date.

She's sweet, kind, has a certain sense of naiveté, patient, honest, loving, cute, funny, loud and passionate, and I'm pretty sure I could come up with more flattering adjectives and attributes, but that'll do.

*sigh*

These pictures are from when we went to the beach a couple of weekends ago. Four hours in the sun with a pretty girl.

TTFN

Been away

Well not really.

Just been very busy. Moved to a better apartment. Started seeing someone I really like. Very lucky in both regards.

Other news...

Mom discovered that almost everything she had put in storage was pretty much destroyed by Katrina. This includes some of the few remaining items from mine and my brother's childhood - a good bit of which was lost in 1990 after the divorce began and everyone moved out of a trailer that was repo'ed. From the conversation that I recall, it's mostly just a few pictures, and that's all that my Dad has as well.

Antiques that belonged to my grandmother and great-grandmother were destroyed. Mom had put them in storage to keep them safe - it was one of those 'climate-controlled' indoor storage places. Hahaha. Irony.

My brother may have word on a better job. Hope it works out for him.

Work is going well. To see what I mostly do for a living go to http://jpl.coj.net. I revamp the Library's website, working on improving it as well as my knowledge of Java, HTML, XHTML, XLST, PHP, etc. etc. I wish there were original versions of some of these pages to show what I have improved upon - there are probably (definitely, more likely) people who have better visions of a Library website, as well as more skills, but when you come from a hard-coding, self-taught, Notepad background, well, it takes some time.

*Shrug*

The world goes on, as much as I bitch and moan about things, it's all good. I've got better things to think on. She'll be in the next post. :)

TTFN

Only picture in the recent few that seemed post-worthy. :) 

The picture is of a loading platform in the St. John's river, between the Dames Point Bridge and the Matthews, seen from Heckscher Drive. The sun has just gone down, and I'd really have loved to have gotten pictures from the bridge, but traffic wasn't about to let me park on it.

TTFN

Mom's back in New Orleans

Most recent missive from my mom:

"> home hon
> and it is a bloody war zone here....
> soldiers everywhere with guns....
> no food and have to go get MREs every day
> no stores....
> but some are coming back...
> god this is atrocious....
> but we have bathing water, power, and now cable...
> we are COMING back!!!!!!!!!!!
> new orleans i mean...."

She had spent two weeks living in my cousin's mobile home. Crowded with four families, lots of pets, kids, etc.

At least she's home.

TTFN

Bill Maher's letter to the President

Found this to be hilarious.

And true.

Here's the text:

Dear Mr. President


"Mr. President, this job can't be fun for you any more. There's no more money
to spend--you used up all of that. You can't start another war because you
used up the army. And now, darn the luck, the rest of your term has become the
Bush family nightmare: helping poor people. Listen to your Mom. The cupboard's
bare, the credit cards maxed out. No one's speaking to you. Mission
accomplished.

"Now it's time to do what you've always done best: lose interest and walk
away. Like you did with your military service and the oil company and the
baseball team. It's time. Time to move on and try the next fantasy job. How about
cowboy or space man? Now I know what you're saying: there's so many other things
that you as President could involve yourself in. Please don't. I know, I know.
There's a lot left to do. There's a war with Venezuela. Eliminating the sales
tax on yachts. Turning the space program over to the church. And Social
Security to Fannie Mae. Giving embryos the vote.

"But, Sir, none of that is going to happen now. Why? Because you govern like
Billy Joel drives. You've performed so poorly I'm surprised that you haven't
given yourself a medal. You're a catastrophe that walks like a man. Herbert
Hoover was a s___y president, but even he never conceded an entire city to rising
water and snakes.

"On your watch, we've lost almost all of our allies, the surplus, four
airliners, two trade centers, a piece of the Pentagon and the City of New Orleans.
Maybe you're just not lucky. I'm not saying you don't love this country. I'm
just wondering how much worse it could be if you were on the other side.

"So, yes, God does speak to you. What he is saying is: 'Take a hint.' "


HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

TTFN

NO MORE BU--SH--

Surprise surprise

Highlighted sections:

Section 3142(a) of title 40, United States Code, provides that "every contract in excess of $2,000, to which the Federal Government or the District of Columbia is a party, for construction, alteration, or repair, including painting and decorating, of public buildings and public works of the Government or the District of Columbia that are located in a State or the District of Columbia and which requires or involves the employment of mechanics or laborers shall contain a provision stating the minimum wages to be paid various classes or laborers and mechanics."

Section 3142(b) of title 40, United States Code, provides that such "minimum wages shall be based on the wages the Secretary of Labor determines to be prevailing for the corresponding classes of laborers and mechanics employed on projects of a character similar to the contract work in the civil subdivision of the State in which the work is to be performed . . ."

Section 3147 of title 40, United States Code, provides that "[t]he President may suspend the provisions of this subchapter during a national emergency."

"NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do by this proclamation suspend, as to all contracts entered into on or after the date of this proclamation and until otherwise provided, the provisions of subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code, 40 U.S.C. 3141-3148, and the provisions of all other acts providing for the payment of wages, which provisions are dependent upon determinations by the Secretary of Labor under section 3142 of title 40..."

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

What does this mean, in effect?

It means, that in order to give the appearance of employment, in order to give the President good PR by having people working, he is in effect waiving the Minimum wage and Minimum earning potential of any laborer or contract worker in the affected Counties or Parishes of the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

People would normall make the $5.15 minimum wage in those areas can expect to be employed for LESS than that. Minus taxes, supposed benefits, and various other sundries such as transportation, clothing, etc. etc., George Bush has in this proclamation created a condition for creating virtual slavery in these areas. As if these people are not poor enough, they can expect to be working for less than a fast food cashier makes.

Also,

Halliburton's KBR unit gets contract to repair Gulf Coast facilities

Dick Cheney, that epitome of selfishness, priggishness, self-aggrandizement, anti-modern society, warmonger and war criminal (okay, I might've exaggerated a little), stands to benefit from this.

KBR can, in effect, subcontract jobs to laborers and mechanics the repair work in these areas for LESS than they normally would. As the federal government has contracted KBR to rebuild, the waiving of the Minimum wage clause allows KBR to not employ a minimum wage in its dealings with subcontractors. It does not affect the money that KBR charges the federal government for work that it does.

So, KBR makes money off the sweat of virtual slave labor, increasing its profits, and Halliburton's profits, increasing the value of Dick Cheney's shares, making the rich even richer.

What a f*ckin' country.

TTFN

NO MORE BU--SH--

Insurance 'losses'

Came across this link in the news today.

How in the HELL can an insurance company call what it is DESIGNED to do a 'loss'?

I mean, don't people pay insurance companies to cover their losses? I pay automobile insurance. IN CASE something were to happen to my car.

Now, I've paid insurance on automobiles since 1995. For ten years, with different cars, different companies, different premiums. Claims? I've had to go through comprehensive to replace a totaled Toyota Tercel - not my fault for the accident, but driver of the other car was uninsured so since I had uninsured motorist, I was able to get my car replaced - and that's it. So aside from that one payout, every other dime has been PURE PROFIT for these people.

And that's the thing of it. Insurance premiums ARE PURE PROFIT for insurance companies. They pay their workers out of your premiums, because they DON'T EXPECT TO PAY FOR SQUAT when it comes to the insured.

So, God forbid, something happens to your home, your car, YOUR G'D LIFE, and these bastards go off and say it's a loss to their company!

What complete and utter BULLSHIT.

They make billions off everyone, drive up costs, support legalized discrimination against the young and the old, and DON'T GIVE A FIG about what happens to the people who pay their salaries!

*sigh*

TTFN

NO MORE BU--SH--

Superdome on the morning of Wednesday, August 31st 

Superdome before Katrina 

What a week

Well,

I think the difference in the pictures illustrate the week that was.

Actually I hadn't heard from my dad since before Katrina, and the last I'd heard from my mom was Sunday afternoon before the storm hit and the flooding occurred, so by Wednesday I was panicking, and my doctor noticed my blood pressure was high when I went to see her.

By Friday, though, I'd heard from both of them and my Aunt who lives in the Westbank, so I was much better.

Much.

Friends of mine are setting up relief and recovery operations - information sources as well as helping libraries and other such organizations getting word, help, back on their feet. It's small scale, but it's something. If you'd like to help, please visit the Geaux Library Project website.

I'm only peripherally involved, but I want to get the word out as much as possible.

Outside of the disaster, you're already hearing of the finger-pointing going on.

Regardless of where the blame lies - whether on Nagin for telling people to get to the Convention Center and Superdome (I mean come on people, they want to blame Mayor Nagin for advising people WHO COULD NOT LEAVE THE DAMN CITY [for whatever reason] to get to a HIGH, VISIBLE (and supposedly) SAFE AREA?), or on Gov. Blanco for not immediately dispatching the National Guard or signing them over to federal control (Does anyone RATIONALLY believe that Bush or his cronies need to be commander of ANYTHING anymore?) after the flood, or on the federal government for stripping funds, for removing National Guard to Iraq, etc. (Like the federal government gives a shit, but that's another story) - you can smell the sharks starting to circle.

Democrats against Republicans. Liberals vs. Conservatives. Locals vs. Federal. Political sniping, character assassination, all of it is beginning to go on. Calls for the firing of Michael Brown ('Brownie' to the Shrub and his cronies) who said on Friday that the earliest he knew of the problems at the Morial Convention Center was on THURSDAY morning, when CNN was there on Wednesday may be justified. FEMA has been stripped of a lot of what it could do before Shrub took over.

But in the side stories.

Insurance adjusters not validating claims because 'wind-driven rain' is not covered in hurricane insurance. NPR had an interview with a guy, saying that if the roof blew off fine. But if rain came in through a window or vent, the owners were SOL if that specific cause 'wind-driven rain' was not covered.

People angry and upset about the needless deaths of family members. Can we say 'L-A-W-S-U-I-T'?

The estimated costs of the damage to New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast is in the $30-40 billion dollar range. The loss of culture, heritage, arts, is immeasurable. Beauvior - the estate of Jefferson Davis, former President of the Confederate States of America - and the Presidential Library basically wiped out. The Aquarium of the Americas, destroyed. Flooded and looted buildings in the Quarter and elsewhere.

The damage to the infrastructure of America's transportation network that relies heavily upon the Port of New Orleans. This will affect farmers in Iowa, automobile factories in Michigan.

The pollution in the water, even when people are endangering THEMSELVES, again, can we smell 'L-A-W-S-U-I-T'?

New Orleans was the armpit of Louisiana, the center of its culture, arts, a world city with history, prestige, beauty. It was sometimes an eyesore, often lovely. It represented the best and worst in people.

Its death was a nightmare.

Now, the body is beginning to smell, and all the problems are coming to light. You thought it was bad last week. Before it's all over, some heads will roll. And quite possibly, more than that.

TTFN

Hurricane Katrina

Well, being from Baton Rouge, I am glad I'm not there right now.

Most of my friends there are without power. May be for days. And it's not even in the news. The Advocate, BR's paper, is without power, so the news out of there is sparse.

Slidell, New Orleans, Mandeville, Covington, Destrahan, Harahan, Westwego, Kenner, Port Sulphur, Plaquemine Parish, Orleans Parish, Jefferson Parish, Tammany Parish, all of them. And more. No power, flooded, death, looting, prison riots in Orleans...

As a kid, I used to say the Big One would come... hell, a lot of people did.

But, man, I was half-joking and wanted the city to be prepared... I didn't ever envision something like this.

Just fucking insane.

I'm just glad those I know and can remember are safe and evacuated in time. And, God willing, may those who stayed in the Superdome and elsewhere be safe - if not, He will welcome them home.


TTFN

Belongings

Sometimes people get so wrapped up in just getting by, they attach a lot of value to the things that they've acquired. These belongings become the things that define their lives, the things that matter most.

Then something happens that damages, ruins the perceived perfection or value in that item. And these people become depressed about their lot in life, simply because of this damage.

Usually such people have few friends or others to confide in. To tell that there's something wrong. To cry to, to complain to, to vent with. So it's let out alone, in self-destructive tendencies, or swallowed.

Sometimes I get indigestion. I rage sometimes... have never been self-destructive.

The bitch of it is, I'm in the middle of an otherwise pretty damn good family get-together. But through my own stupidity, and carelessness, one of my most prized possessions, one of the few things in my life that I'd acquired and meant a huge enough deal to me, gets damaged.

I value my family. I love them. But in my own existence, apart from them, it's a little duller now. And it's not them I'm mad at. It's me. Mea culpa.

Indigestion. I need to find some antacid.

Well, take care.

TTFN

Death in the Middle

Scotty (James Doohan) died Wednesday. Dozens died in London on 7/7 and thousands die every day.

A coworker's very close aunt passed last Friday. A good friend of mine's mom passed last night. Very sad. She had serious problems in December 2003 and no one thought she'd make it then, so her family and friends have had a year and a half of good and not-so-good times, but there are memories that were made.

I could write a poem, or a haiku, or editorialize on the worth of a life. I didn't know her mom, except from what my friend told me and everyone else. I kind of regret not meeting her at some point, but it wasn't my world, or my place. Not pretending to be magnanimous or anything, just observing a fact.

I'm always an outsider. Even with my own family, I've always felt that way. The whole ennui thing, y'know. There are my friends whom I've felt more at home with than anyone, and still, I feel that way. Maybe we all do.

My point?

We are not what we think we are. We are not the centers of our universe, even though it always feels that way - that things revolve around us. It's the connections that matter, the memories, the things we touch, the stuff we leave behind. Regardless of how we see ourselves, regardless of how we feel inside, it's the perceptions of others that determine how we are remembered. Whether through good or ill intentions, cross or alike purposes, our comrades, our families, our acquaintances, those individuals whose lives we touch in a single moment, these are the ways we affect the world, the ways we pass on our legacies.

I can be a cold sonofabitch, or the warmest person in the world, it all depends on who I interact with. I'm a hypocrite, a liar, a lover, a friend, honest, sometimes wise, many times a fool, and never as smart as I think I am. But all of these things, unless they are remembered, unless they are kept by others, don't matter a hill of beans in the end.

She loved her mom, is a strong person, a giving heart, and a great person to be around. The way she felt and talked about her mom and her dad, her mother will be remembered well for a long time.

Such an intangible thing, these impressions and memories. A memory can be as fleeting as the blue car passed yesterday evening, or as lasting as the last kiss from your first true love.

But in the end, that's all we are. Make them worth it, and live forever.

TTFN

Palm Coast Marineland Statue....

I was visiting with Mandy (girl I'm currently talking to) and we were driving around seeing what there was to see in the small village of Palm Coast. It was damaged a while back by wildfires, and presumably was lashed a good bit by the 'canes last year (ie. beyond shopping areas and country clubs, basically nothing).

So, I'm driving with her down A1A, past beach houses, and everything, and come across this statue near Marineland just south of St. Johns County. It's completely overgrown and the marble is turning green from exposure, and there is only rubble and what used to be a parking lot there. So I stopped to take a picture, not knowing if I'll ever purposefully see it again.

Beautiful and poignant, is there anything he represents? Was this a statue of Poseidon, Lord of the Sea at an entrance to the now closed park? A shepherd with no flock... standing and facing the ground, thinking on past glories...

Dunno.

TTFN

World of Warcraft

This is just about the most ass-kickingest MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) out there. I used to play Dark Age of Camelot (Link) but it got old, boring, and I love Blizzard's previous products - WarCraft I-III, StarCraft, Diablo, Diablo II and their expansion packs - so I waited and waited. Been playing it since it came out, off and on... gave it up for a while whilst I paid attention to more worthwhile things.

But if anyone reads my blog and plays - I'm on Boulderfist, name of Czernobog, guild of Draconis Lumenis.

Enjoy.

TTFN

George Romero's Land of the Dead

Well, not great, as some of the critics write. It is nice to watch, good to see the innovation in zombie movie FX that is so apparent. But it's another small-scale movie, not epic in grandeur, not even a character study really. The relevance to modern life is obvious, the politics of the film practically see-through.

So I wasn't overwhelmed - it was about what I expected. Will have some appeal to some, lots of appeal to others, and absolutely none to most I imagine.

TTFN

Firefly

This is absolutely one of the best written shows that never made it on TV.
Damn FOX. Damn them.

Here's an article on the Cultural Gutter about it.

TTFN

Beach this morning 

Beach this morning 

Dreams and a girl...

The last night you spent with me, you left in tears. Trying to make things better, I made things worse and frightened you. Yes, I liked to holds hands... perhaps too much.

But walking with you, arms wrapped around you, seeing you every day with love and desire in my eyes, I expressed it without reservation. I still see you when I close my eyes, still smell you when I concentrate, even though I know you're long gone and never going to realize what I'd dreamed. I know you didn't share them.

Karma may have had its way with me, knowing how I more than likely - nay, undoubtedly - closed off someone else from my heart, someone who also could have been the realization of my dreams years ago. I was sorry when that happened and I hid my heart away until you opened it up again.

I'm not always what I dreamed for myself, what I wanted to be. I don't think anyone ever is, except those rare lucky few. But thanks to the experience of being with you, even for such a short time, I know I'm moving again... towards that goal.

And if our paths cross some time in the future, and I have the life you saw me leading, and you're happy in your life, I would like for us to be able to sit, share a drink, and smile... just as I wrote you what seems like so long ago.

(So it's a bit sappy. I'm a romantic. You don't like it, don't read it.)

TTFN--

Discrimination

You know, everyone bitches and moans, suing and countersuing over racism, perceived racism, ageism, sexism, sexual harassment, etc.

But THE MOST PERVASIVE AND LEGAL DISCRIMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.... is the stripping of the rights of eighteen-to-twenty year olds in this country.

An eighteen year old can sign up for basic duty, be given a weapon to fire, be shipped off to duty in another country within two years, and ORDERED TO LEGALLY MURDER PEOPLE (or killed themselves).

Yet, that same eighteen year old, when he returns as a nineteen- or twenty-year old back to this country, CANNOT ... buy booze (but can sell it), buy cigarettes, buy a lottery ticket, afford car insurance, among other things. HE/SHE can MAIM/MUTILATE/DESTROY/MURDER/KILL another human being (as long as it's 'legit' - no drive-bys from the Humvees on the Baghdad Highway, unless they shoot first, or refuse to stop even though they can't hear your orders).

Tell me, does this REALLY make sense? An eighteen-year old, according to the United States Constitution, in Amendment XXVI, is clearly established as a voting citizen of the United States. Amendment XIV, Section 1 reads:

"Section 1.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

Emphasis mine.

So the civil rights of an eighteen year old (or for that matter a two-year old) ARE the equivalent of a twenty-one year old.

Yet federal law in 1984, Sec. 158 of the Federal Highway Code says:

"State grandfather law as complying. - If, before the later
of (A) October 1, 1986, or (B) the tenth day following the last
day of the first session the legislature of a State convenes
after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, such State has
in effect a law which makes unlawful the purchase and public
possession in such State of any alcoholic beverage by a person
who is less than 21 years of age (other than any person who is 18
years of age or older on the day preceding the effective date of
such law and at such time could lawfully purchase or publicly
possess any alcoholic beverage in such State), such State shall
be deemed to be in compliance with paragraphs (1) and (2) of this
subsection in each fiscal year in which such law is in effect."

Emphasis mine.

It is quite apparent that the Highway Code penalizes those states which do not have UNCONSTITUTIONAL laws abridging the "privileges or immunities of citizens", denying them federal funds in maintaining or improving the federal highway system.

Now, there is the "without due process of law" aspect added to the "protection" afforded to eighteen-year olds who want to buy booze. Since the due process of law produced the Federal Highway Act amendment to Section 158, is this within the Constitutional argument? If so, then why can't black people be denied the right to buy booze? Whites? Why can't there be a law passed to deny women a license to drive an automobile? Because Court decisions have supported the rights of women and stopped such discrimination.

Activist courts.

If eighteen-year olds really want to do things legally, they need to vote. They need to pursue this argument. Any law proscribing a privilege from one group, which is afforded to other groups of people is UNCONSTITUTIONAL if the sole factor in prohibiting said group from enjoying that privilege is a generic factor beyond their control. That is plain. Stand up for your rights, people.

South Dakota v. Dole did not pursue the unconstitutional discrimination angle. Someone should. States may lose the 5%. But if one case were tried, all state drinking laws would be invalidated. The outcry from the governors and states in such a case could very well force Congress to change this outrageous stipulation.

Care, people. Stand up. Believe in yourselves.

NO MORE BU--SH--

Movies I watched and really liked

The Notebook

About a Boy

Okay, I'm not totally bolloxed. But I watched the first, and I really liked it, as it's a sweet, sentimental flick. Chick flick obviously. The second pretty much could be, but has a wider appeal, as it deals with adolescents and those trapped in adolescence.

Enjoy!

TTFN

Friend's boys in the paper

Amy Marsala, a good friend of mine from back home (well now she's in Houma, but we're both from Baton Rouge) called me at work to express her pride in her boys - Bryson who's 7, and Brandon, who's 6. The appeared in a local paper in Colorado while visiting their grandfather.

TTFN

No More Deep Throats? Ever?

Well, the Supreme Court did it. Miller and Cooper may actually end up doing time for refusing to reveal their sources on the controversial leaking of Mr. Wilson's wife's role as a CIA operative - and no, we're not talking Dennis the Menace's neighbor. These two correspondents - Mr. Cooper for TIME and Ms. Miller for the New York Times - are trying to uphold the nature of investigative reporting held since the days when Woodward and Bernstein broke the Watergate scandal, bringing down the presidency of a certain "I am Not a Crook" personage. With their attempts to keep their sources private, these two may end up in jail until they give up the name(s) of the individual(s) who leaked the information to them.

The rub of it all, however, is that ROBERT NOVAK - the right-wing nut on CROSSFIRE, a relic from the days of Nixon who publicly castigated Mr. Phelt (aka Deep Throat) - has not revealed whether he has cooperated with the investigation or not. Either Novak has - and is a spineless coward - or he hasn't - and isn't being touched for one reason or another (possibly that he's a RIGHT WING NUT and the investigating D.A. is a Republican. I'm not saying there's smoke or fire on Fitzgerald (who's been an upstanding, Elliot Ness-type apparently), just saying that something's fishy about Novak. Or weasel-ly.)

Regardless, do you think if this goes to its currently logical conclusion, that any new voice of criticism will leak criminal activity to the media? While Ms. Plame (Wilson's wife) is not a Nixon, the aim of the articles were to rebut the accusations appearing earlier about Mr. Wilson and his wife. Woodward and Bernstein would be doing time in today's world apparently.

Other takes:

Financial Times


TTFN

NO MORE BU--SH--

MGM v. Grokster

Another ruling today... MGM v. Grokster

Hollywood wins Internet piracy battle.

Well, the case really wasn't decided. What was decided was to have the lower court actually try the case. So there's no clear-cut ruling on whether P2P software is legal or illegal.

What the SC focused on is the "intent" of the creators/distributors of the software, and as NPR aired, one of the aims of Grokster was to take the place of the failed Napster, and snag as many customers as possible. Thing is, how does one determine "intent" actually? Without watching over the shoulders/reading the emails/constantly shadowing the producers of the software?

There's bound to be more cases on this. The Betamax ruling will hopefully stand. The software technology is more useful than just piracy. If they rule the actual operation of the software illegal, then the principle behind scanning documents, faxing, taking photographs of artwork, VCRs, TiVos, etc., becomes a very open target for lawsuits. Hopefully they stay away from this Pandora's box.

As if piracy were the real culprit behind the decline in ticket sales to movies and CD purchases.

For different articles on this: Slate's take

MSN Money's take

Rolling Stone's take


Edit: Here's a link that is for students - the biggest audience in the d/l "wars":
http://chronicle.com/free/2005/06/2005062409n.htm.

TTFN

NO MORE BU--SH--

Supreme Court ruling on Brand X

Well.... Even with a supposedly "balanced" Court, the following has happened:

Cable gets big win - As of now, the Supreme Court has thrown away the ingenuity that led to the Internet explosion. When phone companies were forced to allow their lines to be used by third-party companies, third-party long-distance companies came into being. The old TelAmerica, MCI, Sprint, WorldCom, etc., came into being. With the relaxed nature of the control over phone lines, AOL, CompuServe, Prodigy, etc., grew to use those lines in their dial-ups and engineered the Internet Age which we currently live in. (Okay, it might be a reach, but seriously... if the oligopoly were still in effect during that time period, do you think AOL would've been able to work? We'd all be using Bellsouth.Net or SBC.com or something.)

We're moving backward people.

TTFN

NO MORE BU--SH--

Revamps

I'm always playing with the setup of the blog, so if it does something screwy, or appears to change overnight... get over it and read! :) Or not. Do as thou wilst.

Jax at Night 

Sara downtown 

Jax Moon 

Crazy schiesse in Florida

The County Commission of Ocala, Florida.

Wonderful well-meaninged right-wing idiots.

For further information, read:
Commission adopts new library policies

followed by:
A solution in search of a problem


There's other fun stuff as well.

News on the Tampa Bay "ban" on gay lit:

Commission To Consider Reining In Gay Pride

Excluding Gays Is A Giant Step Back On Human Rights

Reaction to the Hillsbrough County ban

Libraries belong to everyone. If you pay a penny for a tax in your county, the effing library belongs to YOU as well as the jack's that play politics with your money and the big-time developers who want to strip your homes and build condos.

TTFN

NO MORE BU--SH--

Stupid news

I'm not saying it's true, but doesn't this smack of someone making a mountain out of a molehill? If the store is closed, how is it racist to say 'We're closed'?

Fantastic Four

There's also the comic website at http://www.marvelcomics.com/ .

I don't know if it's been discussed by anyone before but isn't it wierd that in the superhero movies that are coming out this summer we have the following character archtypes?

1. Fantastic Four - the four elements of nature - water (Mr. Fantastic), wind (Susan Storm), fire (Human Torch), and earth (The Thing) - fight against the corrupting nature of the fifth element discovered by man - metal (Dr. Doom).

2. Batman Begins - the avenger (Batman) overcoming the difficulties/antagonists which birthed him - fear (Scarecrow) and anger (Ras al'Ghul).

(Okay, the latter is a DC movie, the website for which is at http://www2.warnerbros.com/batmanbegins/index.html but it still has the primitive elements.)

Hmmm..... maybe there's somthing to this.

TTFN

AFI salute to Lucas...

Anyone else watch this? Carrie Fisher - drunk. Harrison Ford - drunk almost to the point of stumbling. Slurred speech and everything. He's publicly hated Star Wars for years. Must be a real pita for him to be there. At least Mark was sober.

Still, hard to believe. 28 years ago already, the film came out. Dayum.

Weekend coming

Well, I have to work for the opening of the new South Mandarin branch. I volunteered for the overtime, forgetting for a second that my bud was going to be in Tallahassee on his interview. Yep, I'm absent-minded sometimes. Just slipped. I hope you get the job, bud. *fingers crossed*

Probably be a half-day, and time would be too short to drive back and forth to Tallahassee in a day. Have to catch ya next time. I'll hopefully be in Baton Rouge/New Orleans/Alexandria soon.

Oh vey.

TTFN

Sigh...

I don't know if it's love or obsession. Maybe a little of both. But in the night, when the wolves come knocking at the door, I find myself reliving some things. I remember tight blue jeans, a black leather jacket, a purple velvety top with a v-neck and a chain, and the most gorgeous eyes I'd ever seen on a woman.

Then there's a night she wore an outfit that when I saw it, my jaw literally dropped - a tight red v-cut blouse, a black skirt, and black calf-high boots. Sex appeal on two legs, live and lusty.

A night of flowers and Italian food, conversation for hours, and a suggestion of another date. A red top, black slacks, and dress pumps.

Even when she called herself dumpy, and wore a green top, faded old jeans, and flip flops (which annoy the hell out of me on anyone else), with tears in the rain and heartbreak on the wind, she was nothing short of beautiful to me.

I'm a romantic and a fool. I didn't give as much to one person because of fear of myself, and I followed that up by giving everything I had to another who was only looking for a good time. Live and learn. I know what I want. But at night, in the dark, with memories and dreams my only company, I know what love is. And the wolves can't take that.

Good night.

Week so far...

This week's been pretty cool.

Sunday saw Mr. & Mrs. Smith with my brother after hitting the beach. Monday, slept a good bit. Tuesday, went to London Bridge Pub & Grill downtown and played trivia, socialized, listened to Open Mic night and played pool with a friend. Wednesday, I bought a laptop, a Compaq Presario v2000. Not a bad little computer. And tonight, well, blog time, personals, fixing up laptop's apps (bought a tripod for my camera for night pics and a carrying case for the pc too)

The main use for the laptop will be working on my story, taking it with me when I travel so I keep in touch, and such.

Well, TTFN

Remember, No More BU--SH-- (okay, not just the Pres, just the BS in general)

Batman Begins

(Picture from Warner Bros publicity site.)

This is the best one. Christian Bale easily beats Keaton, Kilmer, or Clooney. The story is serious and dark and dramatic. The way the Dark Knight should be. (Ok so I geek out for it, but, hey, I'm only human.) I honestly can't wait to see the sequel, which is presumably in the works already.

Yes, it does slow down at times. But, those pauses build the drama. The movie rocks. Plain and simple. Beats the loving shit out of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and dare I say it, Revenge of the Sith..

See it. Feel it. Love it. :) Enjoy.

TTFN

Remember, No More BU--SH--

"Preserving Innovation in Telecom Act"

This bill is another reason why Congress has lost its way.

Web edition at Library of Congress website.

Other articles:

Clark Community Network
D'Addario boards
MuniWireless.com
SurfWax

And I'm sure there are plenty of others.

Remember, just because he's President, doesn't mean he isn't completely full of BU--SH--

TTFN

Into the West

This is pretty damn good. Tonantzin Carmelo as Thunder Heart Woman is beautiful, the story is great, Will Patton is great as always as Mr. Fletcher, Josh Brolin as Jedediah Smith is great, they even throw in Gary Busey, Skeet Ulrich, Alan Tudyk, lots of familiar faces. Coming from a European-Native American mix (not that you can tell in me, but my brother and my dad both show traces of it) and always dreaming of a way to right the old wrongs, the show touches my heart in ways I can't describe. Similar to how I felt when I watched Dances with Wolves, Last of the Dogmen, Squanto, Smoke Signals.... I want to be there. As good as I can be in the modern sense, I've always wanted to be alive back then. Don't know if I have an old soul, or just dissatisfaction with modern man, whatever... movies, books (Helen Hunt Jackson's work and others), always trigger this emotion. But, yeah, like the story. Spielberg's name might've gotten it done, but I'd've watched it anyway.

Song of the moment - OutKast's I Love the Way (You Move)

Weekend

This weekend....

Well, started out good. Went to the Farmers' Market in downtown Jax. Had lunch there - shrimp & chicken kabobs w/ rice pilaf and corn-on-the-cob. Was good. Just wish I had had my camera with me - had left it at home accidentally. Still, a good day.

Rained, so didn't do the walking on Fri like I've started. Did buy some new walking shoes - old ones were too small and killing my feet. Didn't go to '80s night as I didn't want to try a new club by myself.

Saturday beat Civ3 again - yes, it's a three-year old game but I still like it without the expansion packs - on my way to beating it with every civ. The Aztecs went for a domination win. First time I did that since I bought it so long ago. Also racked up a few levels for my alts in World of Warcraft. (I was staying inside because every time I got ready to do something, it rained. And I'd slept through most of the day, having performed my Friday night ritual of staying up til dawn, regardless of what I do.)

Sunday woke up late - is there anything better to do on the weekends when there's just time to kill? - and then went to the beach as it had stopped raining. Have some new pics up. To see my photos I have so far - at least the ones I want to share - go here. Had fun, picked up a couple of more shells. There was an older man beach-sailing. Lots of little kids out. Pretty way to end the day.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Well, this movie was fun to watch. The actors are beautiful, the action is great. But.... what HAPPENED?!? I mean it... the ending is not an ending. It's a joke. There's an entire part of the movie missing. It's like Doug Liman (the great director of the Bourne Identity) just cut the film off at the middle. There's no resolution at all to the third act - just a 'happy ending' which Jane Smith (Angelina Jolie's character) says only happens when stories aren't finished. Is this some kind of in-joke at the fans' expense? Is this supposed to be a modern-day fairy tale, where the couple go to counseling, discuss (or don't discuss) their problems, then an outside event thrusts them together and the problems are happily resolved or pushed aside/made irrelevant?

*sigh*

As if I expected Shakespeare or a Merchant Ivory production. But still.... unfinished it is, and unsatisfied it left me.

Song of the moment - AC/DC's Back in Black

My car - Mustang Sara 

Long time no see....

A return from the dead, I guess.

Haven't updated this blog in months. But, that will change.

Stories upcoming - love found and lost, parts of a story I'm writing, tales of high adventure.

Today was a good day at work - got some things accomplished. Didn't get everything I needed to, though, so I look forward to nailing down some more things next week.

Things I have done since my last post -

• Found what could have been the love of my life, and may very well be, only to have her complete a U-turn in her life and go back to Sicily and get married. I'm somewhat of a romantic and passionate person, I discovered, and that can be too much of a good thing, apparently.


• Redesigned webpages for the library - the home page being one (http://jpl.coj.net/welcome.html) and others scattered here and there throughout the site. Meeting next week to go over some of my ideas.


• Rediscovered a friend that I hadn't forgotten, but just hadn't talked with in quite a while.


• Developed a social life away from work, but it's always a work in progress.


• Bought a new car and have fallen in love with it. (Don't most American men?) Love driving just to feel the car. (Okay, not THAT in love with it.)


• Had crawfish for the first time in two years.


• There's always other things...

Favourite song of the moment: Tito Tarantula's After Dark from the From Dusk 'til Dawn soundtrack - the song Salma Hayek dances to.

Most recently watched (and loved) movie: Hotel Rwanda

Books - Orson Scott Card's Ender series, Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars, Arthur Herman's To Rule the Waves.

And btw, I'm still a Republican. I just hate the way my party has gone.