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June 29, 2005 (10:49 pm) I've been to ticked off by the Supreme Court ruling in the Kelo vs. New London case to write in the blog. From what I recall, the fifth amendment of the US Constitution states that no person shall be "deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." The Supreme Court has decided the a private real estate deal counts as public use. Private property rights are the cornerstone of the America ideology. Watch out if a Wal-Mart truck pulls up in front of your house and starts taking notes - you could be next.
Comrade Alex and I played an epic game of tennis tonight. We started directly after work around 6:00, the on court temperature hovered around 130 degrees. After warm up Comrade Alex had the serve. Right from the start, everything was on. Serve was outstanding, he was mixing up his shots and running me all over the court. The beautiful part is I was playing well too, just not as well as him. I'll lose all day long if it's because Comrade Alex is hitting a deep top spin shot followed by a gentle drop that I can't get to. He took the first set 6-2. The second set got of to an even start, both of us were serving well and that makes it tough to break. Alex's serve was a little less consistent and he kept having 20 deuce games. I broke at the critical 5-5 junction and ended up winning the set 7-5.
We were both hot and tired, but there was no question we had to play a third and deciding set. Thank goodness Comrade Alex had finagled two insulated water jugs to provide cooling water during the breaks. We played even again to 5-5 before I pulled out to win 7-5. Spectacular tennis, you should have been there.
June 27, 2005 (11:13 pm) I'm back from Sweden! I'll write about it and post some pictures soon (yeah right). Tonight I'm too tired, Comrade Alex and I played a four set "battle for the ages", whatever that means. It means we're tired.
June 16, 2005 (11:40 pm) "Internet" (Steve Jobs, 1984) is so cool, I'm sitting here writing in the Lame Blog while chatting and watching real-time video of Alex (and she of me). So cool. I'm off to Sweden tomorrow, this will be the last Lame Web blog update for a while. Lisa and I went to Charles and Cecelia's for a going away dinner. Here're some pictures:
Sid, Olivia, Cecelia, and Lisa on the couch as Cece eats Olivia's foot
Sid, Olivia, and Charles. Check out the cool "Keep Austin Weird" tie die shirt Lisa got for O.
And finally, the reformed flower bed and bushes from a couple of weekends ago.
June 12, 2005 (9:54 pm) I did, seriously, work on the Lame Web Page today. Unfortunately, I have nothing to show for it. Nothing visible to the casual Lame Web Page reader. I completed the templates for the movie reviews sounds and I started a review of "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". I'm going to move the Lame Web Cam to the main page, and work on a Lame Bandwidth version.
Comrade Alex and I played Wednesday. Frankly, it was not pretty. I'm going to note the score only for the sake of history, nothing more. 6-4, 6-1, 6-0. Comrade Alex, in an attempt to tame the "bezerker" that has been in check the last couple of weeks, relaxed almost to the point of falling asleep during the last set. Friday, Comrade Alex and I took on a new challenge - a doubles match with Bruce and Lance, who we met while playing at the Red Tennis Court. I have never played doubles, and I never play at the net. Comrade Alex is excellent at the net, but I assumed they'd figure that out in a heartbeat and go after me. We were able to prevail 6-4, 6-6 (7-2) in a very close match. I think we won it with our serves.
This is going to be a busy week. Work will be crazy while I get ready to leave for Sweden on Friday. We're having dinner with Jef on Wednesday, and we're hoping to get together with Charles and Ceceila once more before they head off to Virginia.
Funny how the Republicans pretend to be pro-constitution (right to bear arms) unless it won't win them votes (separation of Church and State). A cleaver quip from a journalist is one thing, but a quote from the horse's mouth is more meaningful. According to an AP transcript Governor Perry said the following:
This is exciting! More Yahoo news, written by Paul Farhi, Washington Post staff writer:
A little progress is nice, I won't be happy until I've heard that none of my tax dollars are going to CPB.
June 8, 2005 (11:50 am) Brief lunch time update. Comrade Alex and Sid had another epic battle Monday. Comrade Alex, in top form, jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the first set. Forehand, backhand, serve, volley - everything was on fire. Capitalist Sid, reaching into the inner depths of open trade and free markets pulled together a five game run to take the set 7-5. The run continued into the second set, 6-3 Cap Sid. Set three went to 5-3 before we retired to give someone else a little time on the court. Rematch tonight!
June 5, 2005 (10:15 pm) We had an enjoyable weekend with the parents. I took a vacation day Friday to clean up around the place, I spent most of the day working outside in the flower beds. I removed the huge cactus that had fallen under it's own Pavarotti-like weight, don't cry for the cactus; parts have fallen before, it will return. I also cleaned out a long neglected flower bed by the porch, that was a chore. I planted four small shrubs. I'll take a picture or two.
Lisa and I watched the Discovery Channel's "100 Greatest Americans" as nominated by we the people. We now vote to crown the greatest. The list included such luminaries as Tom Cruise and Madonna. Missing were Steve Hawking, William Faulkner, and Clara Barton - just to name a few. Lisa and I are going to put together our own list. We'd love your input, send an email with your nominee and a brief bio to sdunlap2@austin.rr.com.
I'll write more about the weekend tomorrow. I'm le tired.
June 3, 2005 (9:10 am) Oh, glorious day off. I have a list for today - starting with pay bills. Followed by clean the place, trim the bushes, remove the fallen cactus (boo) and vacuum the new car. Oh, refill my prescription, buy a tire gauge. I'm already off to a crummy start - I can't find a pen. How am I supposed to pay bills without a pen? Damn. Added to list - buy a pen.
Comrade Alex and I converged at the tennis arena Wednesday and played a match that will go down in history. Capitalist Sid prevails 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 - you'll notice that second set was not mine. This is wholly unacceptable. Granted, I admit Comrade Alex is a better tennis player. But I always win. I recall losing one set in San Marcus many years ago, but not since. Wednesday, Comrade Alex brought it on - cunning play, made the shots, good touch, the works. I was amazed and impressed, and it was a hell of a match. Naturally, we were both looking forward to a rematch. Yesterday the trash talk was flying, and we agreed to meet. You might recall from a previous blog entry that my arm hurts after a match and I should not, nay can not, play two days in a row; especially after a three set battle. Low and behold, last night I'm out there pounding away, Comrade is going "Becker" all over the place. I prevail 6-3 but must retire so I can come home and yell and scream in pain, lamenting my stupidity for playing back to back matches. Lisa was so great rubbing my arm and not giving me a hard time for my stupidity.
I'll write more as the day allows.
May 31, 2005 (11:09 pm) Over a three day weekend you tend to forget how much energy having a job requires. I didn't do a darn thing this evening, I didn't have the energy. I had a simple list, pull in the trash can, make dinner, trim the bushes. I made dinner, that's about it. Chatted with Alex online for a little bit, that was really nice. Watched a "Seinfeld" with the commentary on with Lisa, that was fun. I took a "nap" from about 9:15 to now, and now a quick Lame Web Blog update.
Comrade Alex and I played tennis yesterday, a little bonus Memorial Day tennis. He played some of the worse tennis I've seen him play. 6-0, 6-1 Capitalist Sid over the Commie. Needless to say, we were chomping at the bit for a rematch tonight. I did something I've never done before - I turned down a game of tennis. In spite of cruising through Monday's match, my arm hurt like a son-of-a-you-know-what afterwards. I came home and put it on ice and took a bunch of Tylenol. It feels better today, but it still hurts. I've played consecutive days recently and thought my arm was going to explode. So I resisted temptation. We'll play tomorrow if it doesn't rain. Comrade Alex thinks the problem is my unconventional back hand motion. I'm going to work on a more standard grip or perhaps even a two-handed swing. Problem is, I like my back hand, when it's on it's effective. I can slice like a Ronco knife, or hit flat. Can't really hit topspin, but that's not my game anyway. We're really getting into a good game rhythm, I'm enjoying thinking more about strategy than actually making the shots. Rule #1 - do not try and smash away from the baseline with Comrade Alex - he will destroy. Mix it up. Comrade Alex has recently gone back to a two handed backhand, and man it is powerful. I used to play to his backhand on serve because he has a big swing with his one handed return, now with the compact stroke of the two hands he gets more back with more power. Damn.
May 30, 2005 (12:42 am) We just completed a rare two movie afternoon. We started off with "Revenge of the Sith" at the Alamo South. I'm definitely doing a review, no matter how lame, to jump start that section of the Lame Web Page. We left the film to find South Austin in the middle of a huge thunderstorm, and we decided it would be prudent to stay and see something else. So we saw "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". I'm a huge fan of the book(s) so expect a review there as well. I have three plans for the bonus day off tomorrow. Nine AM, tennis with Comrade Alex. Follow that with a little straightening up around the Lame condo, and then some much overdue Lame Web Page updates.
May 27, 2005 (9:41 pm) Whoo-hoo, three day weekend! I'm not going to work a lick this weekend. Comrade Alex and I enjoyed a highly competitive tennis match this afternoon. I was lucky to come out ahead 6-4, 7-5. We're really getting our game back. Yesterday I helped Comrade Alex and Jef with Eli move Stacey the Red's piano. Three flights of stairs, I should have taken the camera. A challenge, but done with the precision of a Chinese knock-off of a Swiss watch. Lisa treated me to dinner at Mothers as we continue our no meat trend. We'll see how long that keeps up, we'll probably stop when our hair and teeth are left on the pillow in the morning. I feel an update coming on this weekend, stay tuned!
May 24, 2005 (11:47 pm) Today was too stressful to even think about, so nothing to report.
May 22, 2005 (11:42 pm) While I'm waiting for the heartburn to go down before bed, I'll sit here and ramble. This headline really bothered me - "Scholar's Survivors Sue Doctors, Hospitals". An article written by AP writer Mark Pratt reports the family of late (or ceased to evolve as he might say) scientist Stephen J. "Jay" Gould sued his doctors and hospitals because the allegedly missed a 1 cm tumor on a chest x-ray. The cancer spread and eventually killed him. He died in May 2002, so three years have gone by. I wonder what prompts this action now? What a scary precedent. Terrible how society (or some of it anyway) seems to think medicine and the people who practice it should be infallible. Some seem to think mistakes made equals financial opportunity. If this goes to trial and an award is made, I'll enjoy paying for it with higher health insurance premiums, and I hope you do as well.
May 22, 2005 (11:22 pm) What a short weekend, hot too. Lisa and I both worked Saturday and that pretty much blows the day, although we did have a lovely dinner at Vinnie's. Today we slept in, then went to breakfast at the Bakehouse Restaurant and Country Club. Then we went to the store, came home, and goofed off for a while. I made dinner, Lisa washed clothes, and here it is time for bed. I can't believe another week is already upon us, I'm looking forward to the long weekend.
I'm almost finished with the next incarnation of the Lame Web Page. I've been in the mood to do some updating but I never seem to have time. We have lots of pictures to post. We'll see how the week goes.
Comrade Alex and I are getting great use of the tennis facility at his new apartment. We had an especially competitive match last Friday, both of us lost an arm in the battle. Perhaps we'll be healed enough to play this week. Now that we're playing lot we're getting more consistent, less focus on the hitting and more focus on the game play. We've decided we can take anyone living at his complex. Bring it on!
May 20, 2005 (12:31 am) I fell asleep on the couch and had a strange dream about my Dad in which I emotionally recounted memories from childhood. Now I'm off to real bed, and TGIF.
May 15, 2005 (11:01 pm) Notice the new Lame Web Page icon in your browser's address bar. Cool. I must confess I'm working on a new Lame Web Page layout. Perhaps someday I'll actually post some updates.
May 15, 2005 (12:28 am) I love the internet. Only in this day and age can I sit here and chat online with a Bolivian architect about a new Honda. You should check out her website, maligna2.tripod.com - she has various cams around her house, and unlike the Lame Web Cam they're usually on. She has one outside during the day, check out the amazing swimming pool.
May 15, 2005 (12:04 am) We're now officially a two Honda family. We met up with Lisa's Mom and brother Friday night when they got to town and we took the new Accord to dinner. I do like having a car four people can ride in comfortably. This morning we did the big exchange of Lisa's car (formerly her Mom's car) to Matt. We had dinner at home, afterwards we ran a couple of errands and then sat and listened to Art Bell. We were driving down Guadalupe after picking up a couple of bottles of water at a convenience store and the car behind us was rear ended! We were stopped at a light, the car behind us was stopped and was hit. Fortunately they had stopped with enough space that we didn't get hit. That was a close call. I'm so used to driving Mr. Nakimoto, zipping in and out of traffic and parking spaces, stopping on a dime, etc. I feel like I'm driving a tank even though the new car is not huge, and I drove big Oldsmobiles for a number of years. I can't get used to how nice it is. I only have one complaint - it shifts hard between first and second, there's definitely a lag, when in a slow acceleration. When I accelerate a little faster it seems to shift better. One thing about Mr. Nakimoto that has always amazed me is how smooth the transmission is, for a car with a 95 hp engine. The Accord has a 160 hp four cylinder, and it really is smooth, just not that first shift. Here's a picture:
This is exciting - here's a picture of Comrade Alex and Stacey's new apartment, with it's outstanding tennis court. I believe we're on for a match tomorrow, weather permitting. We played a full three sets last week, it was some powerful tennis. The arrow points to their balcony.
May 12, 2005 (11:39 pm) Tomorrow's the big day, we pick up the new car. Lisa and I met after work at the carwash to give our cars through cleanings. Funny how the best clear your car or house will ever be is the day you clean it to give it to someone else. We then replaced Lisa's side mirror. We had a little trouble with the inside remote control, there's a little cheap plastic clip that holds it in place, it broke when the mirror was kit and thus wouldn't stay on the remote. We fashioned a retaining washer with a coat hanger and glued it in place. We'll see how it looks tomorrow. We'll also report on the new car. May 9, 2005 (10:40 pm) Enough with the promises to put together some big production or story to go along with this, so I'll just exclaim it - Lisa and I bought a new car. Yes, a car - 2005 Honda Accord EX, "Redondo Red" metallic. Funny how that sounds ok, though technically not a sentence. I'll tell you the story sometime, the search, haggling, walking away only to return more hungry, etc. In the meantime, here's a picture:
Moving on to the more disturbing, my Dad had to force feed his beloved Burmese Python "Katy" a rat. This in and of itself did not surprise me, as early on in my life I recall Katy, who was hand raised by my Dad from a mere worm (or whatever you call a baby snake), used to be fed chicken breasts one at a time with a pair of thongs. At some point instinct took over and she ate whole prey. Kind of a full circle you might say, expected in the golden years of an older snake (she's my age). No, the shocking part is the pole up the rat's ass. What a way to go, shoved head first down the throat of a snake via a pole up the butt. I must point out that the rat was euthanized in a very humane manner prior to this method being employed. This is like a really dark Far Side. This pretty well sums up my childhood.
May 8, 2005 (10:56 pm) Well, we did make it to the store. We had a lovely dinner together, and now here it is time for bed. I promise I'll post a good one tomorrow. Right now, I really need to go to bed.
May 8, 2005 (9:52 am) Rainy Sunday, how perfect. I have much news to report, I'll go so today after we go to the grocery store.
May 3, 2005 (11:52 pm) Well low and behold, it be so! Lisa worked her magic and we're off to New Zealand next February. Two glorious weeks, this time the focus will be the south island as we make our way from Queensland to Wellington. How's this for the flight there - Austin to Los Angeles to Auckland to Christchurch to Queensland. On the return, Wellington to Sydney, Australia to Los Angeles to Austin. That's a lot of flying.
Lisa and I went to Vinnie's Italian Cafe, more popularly known as the place where we had our rehearsal dinner. She has spinach lasagna and I had spinach manicotti, which were basically the same ingredients in different shapes. Very good. We absolutely had to have a piece of tiramisu for dessert, it's very light and airy there. Then we went to Sonic and sat and talked for a while.
Again, it's late so I'm off to bed. I promise more updates (i.e. movie reviews) soon, I'm committed to fresh content. I've made some progress behinds the scenes including solving Flash 5 issues with preloading and sounds and I'm working on a revised index that's a little larger. I assume everyone's screen resolution is at least 800 x 600. Comrade Alex keeps his at 12800 x 9600 so the current Lame Web Page looks like a postage stamp.
May 2, 2005 (11:07 pm) Here it is eleven at night and I'm ready to go to bed. Long day tomorrow. Lisa and I met at Magnolia for dinner, it had been a while. Lisa got the special, tilapia over pasta tossed with tomatoes, scallops, and some other goodies. I had minestrone soup (it was surprisingly bland) and a pancake. Then Lisa called American Airlines to book the trip that Ted and Gill are giving us in return for working on their computers, and in general for Lisa's outstanding service as an employee. OK, they say it's for me but I know Lisa's a big part of it. Anyway, nothing to New Zealand will work with our schedules. We'd like to go sometime between December and March, and that's all booked. I can't imagine waiting until fall 2006, but we'll see. We're tossing around other options like Sydney.
Lisa has hundreds of picture from Hawaii to put on the Lame Web page, so I'll get to that soon. I would like to vote more time to working on the Lame Web Page, it's due for some updates.
Comrade Alex and I played tennis last week and I had to quit because my arm hurt. We had played the night before. Frankly, it still hurt a little. I've never really been able to play back-to-back days, at least since college. I think Juliet and I played everyday for an entire summer - getting older sucks. Anyway, I think we'll be able to play more often now that we're getting back into it. We're schedule to play at the Westlake High School and Country Club after work Wednesday, of course it's supposed to rain. If we get rained out we're planning to inaugurate the Comrade Alex tennis center on Friday when he and Stacey the Red move into their new South Austin (Sunset Valley, actually) apartment.
May 2, 2005 (12:11 am) We just pulled in from Houston. We had a wonderful time, I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.
April 27, 2005 (9:53 pm) A fine evening of tennis with Comrade Alex. Perfect, warm and breezy weather, a court all to ourselves, and a superb display of tennis ability. Comrade Alex decked out in all-black to celebrate his new "evil black" strings. Sid, representing all that is good, clothed in a traditional white shirt playing with my new white stings. Good over evil 6-2, 6-4. I stung my racket at 65 lbs., only afterwards to see the max is 63 lbs. We'll see if it explodes.
Let's look at a couple of headlines. I should probably stop commenting on the headlines before I say something I regret. No, I suppose I should support the first amendment and voice my opinions. Reviewing the headlines, we find a couple of related stories:
From the AP, by Laurie Kellman: "WASHINGTON - The House passed a bill Wednesday that would make it illegal to dodge parental-consent laws by taking minors across state lines for abortions, the latest effort to chip away at abortion rights after Republican gains in the November elections. In a statement, President Bush praised the House for passing the measure. "The parents of pregnant minors can provide counsel, guidance and support to their children and should be involved in these decisions," Bush said. 'I urge the Senate to pass this important legislation and help continue to build a culture of life in America.' If passed by the Senate and signed by the president, the policy would represent the fifth measure since Bush took office in 2001 aimed at reducing the number of abortions."
Now this from Reuters, by Katie Nguyen: "NAIROBI - It was futile to keep on wishing that the baby would disappear, so Anne decided to take fate into her own hands and a kitchen knife to her belly. The teenage schoolgirl was rushed to a Kenyan hospital, her stomach a mess of stab wounds. Surgeons struggled to patch up her shredded uterus and stem the bleeding, but Anne died on the operating table -- another statistic in Kenya where up to 2,000 women die every year because of complications arising from botched abortions. Doctors say Kenya's strict abortion laws have forced thousands of women and girls to the back streets where charlatans use all manner of sharp instruments -- metal wires, knitting needles, forceps -- to penetrate the womb and kill the fetus."
So Bush is trying to push the US to be more like Kenya. Why, W, why? Official Lame Web Page view on abortion - Not going there! Although I will say I'm rabidly anti-death penalty. But that's for another day. Oh, what the hell. The Chicago Tribune investigated a recent execution in Texas and reports the following: After examining evidence from the capital prosecution of Cameron Willingham four national arson experts have concluded that the original investigation of Willingham's case was flawed and it is possible the fire was accidental. The independent investigation, reported by the Chicago Tribune, found that prosecutors and arson investigators used arson theories that have since been repudiated by scientific advances. Willingham was executed earlier this year in Texas despite his consistent claims of innocence. He was convicted of murdering his three children in a 1991 house fire.
What more
could you possibly need to put a moratorium on the death penalty? I also
can't understand how right-wing pro-life Christians, the same groups who want to
keep the ten commandments in public buildings, can be in favor of the death
penalty? If I recall my fine Christian education, one of those
commandments is "Thou shall not kill". I don't recall any
disclaimers, and I think "thou" pretty much blankets everyone
including the federal government. I also find it funny as more and more
Western countries abolish the death penalty, the conservatives like to point out
that America does not look to other countries for moral guidance. This
from the county that imposes its values on other countries by force. Irony
abounds. I'm going to bed before I get too frustrated to sleep. Arson expert Gerald Hurst said, "There's nothing to suggest to any reasonable arson investigator that this was an arson fire. It was just a fire." Former Louisiana State University fire instructor Kendall Ryland added, "[It] made me sick to think this guy was executed based on this investigation.... They executed this guy and they've just got no idea - at least not scientifically - if he set the fire, or if the fire was even intentionally set." April 26,
2005 (10:42 pm) Let's try something new! Here are the top twenty headlines in the Yahoo news most popular stories. Yahoo is the official Lame Web Page source for news.
1. "Star Wars" Downsizes
Not going to read this one.
2. Tiberius Crowned King of Wrinkles, Drool
Couldn't care less about the dog.
3. New Home Sales Hit Record High in March
Until I'm one of them, doesn't interest me.
4. Time to Redefine the Kilogram, Scientists Argue
I agree! The kilogram is too damn heavy. Let's make it lighter, say maybe around one pound. To think the French control the current standard unit.
5. World Terror Attacks Tripled in 2004 by U.S. Count
I really had my hopes up on this one. I figured the since the Government's war on drugs has been so wildly successful, the war on terror would be a piece of cake (insert sarcastic tone). Maybe we need to look a little closer at our tactics. I was so irritated by the attacks from the far out right accusing the left of
appeasement after 9/11. Bush was fond of saying our safety is the number one priority and thus he is justified in pre-emptive attacks in an attempt to get the terrorists before they get us. I guess no one told him (you can't say he didn't realize because that's understood) how many terrorists he might create with his tactic. The official lame web page position on terrorism is we must be protected at whatever cost. With that said, the Bush administration and it's closed minded lemming followers are too fixated on their dogma to even remotely consider there might be a better way. Appeasement? I don't like the idea but everything must be considered when our safety is at stake. And Bush clearly has considered one side - his side. Scary. Are we safer today than we were four years ago? Some would say no. I'm just thinking we should look at ever angle to a problem with life and death
consequences.
6. Clashes Growing Between Bush and GOP Moderates
I glad some have decided not to follow W over the cliff.
7. Herd of Buffalo Corralled on Tennis Court
This is a gross misuse of a tennis court. Hooves are not approved for court use, they leave marks. And
possibly divits.
8. Exercise as Good as Surgery for Shoulder Injury
Orthopedic surgeons disagree, where's the money in that?
9. Apple Retaliates Over Jobs Biography
First amendment scaredy cats. PCs rule!
10. Sumatran Quake Left 'Scar' on Earth's Gravity
Geeks.
11. Photo China to get Oktoberfest beer festival
Your point is?
12. DNA solves mystery of Gibraltar's macaques
This mystery was really bothering me, I'm glad it's solved.
13. States hope laws will curtail meth labs
Let's hear it for the super effective war on drugs. Now I have to suffer with a headache because some loser is cooking up meth in his outhouse.
14. Man Who Put Mom in Freezer Had Odd History
Only #14, I would expect something like this to be higher up the list.
15. Life is shortest for tiny reef fish
Put this in the trivial pursuit file.
16. Arizona Border Patrol Looks to Canada
I love this one. Don't get me started on border security. OK, fine then - push me into the controversy. Official Lame Web Page immigration position - lock down the borders. Especially Canada. Use the
resources we're wasting a half a world away and make those borders as tight as control top hose on Kirstie Alley. Unpopular I know. Arnold
Schwarzenegger got in trouble for saying that recently. I don't understand the controversy. Not letting people cross is what makes a border a border. Some say illegal immigrants perform jobs American's won't do. Ask unemployed Americans what they think. As for that argument, let people immigrate legally. We can set the number of people allowed to come in to this county at any number we want to or need to. But the point is, we need to know who crosses the borders. Immigrate legally, get a job, pay taxes, participate in Government, enjoy the benefits of a legal immigrant. I really can't see why that's unpopular. Another think I don't like is selective law enforcement, because I can't imagine it would ever apply to me, at least as far as every example I see. It seems so strange to pass laws allowing illegal aliens to get drivers licenses and social services. If I do something illegal I get to go to jail. Someone who's
presence in this county is a violation of the law and there's no consequence, that seems unfair. I say either grant amnesty to those already here and stop calling them "illegal", or keep the law as it stands and do something about people who are breaking it.
And then let in as many people as you want, just as long as we know who wants to come over.
17. Computerized Shoe Adjusts on Fly
I learned a new word today! Ebullient \ih-BUL-yuhnt\, adjective: "The glasses he wore for astigmatism gave him a deceptively clerkish appearance, for he had an ebullient, gregarious personality, a hot temper, and an outsized imagination." Ten points if
you tell me who this quote is describing.
18. Ratings Show Sad State of Network Sitcoms
I can't comment on this because I don't watch any sitcoms.
19. Unbelievable...
Crazy college kids.
20. Ukrainians remember victims of Chernobyl nuclear disaster April really sucks for remembering tragic events.
April 24, 2005 (10:25 pm) That last entry wasn't short after all. Saturday in Dallas I helped my parents replace some boards on the side of their garage. Apparently, termites had done some damage at some point in the past. That evening we went to "Noodles", soon to be renamed "The King and I". We were celebrating my Grandmother's 87th birthday. I had Pad Thai, which I'm obligated to get at all noodle type restaurants, even though I wanted the miso soup. I'll give it an "A" for "Average", it was pretty bland and greasy. You can't blame me for being picky, I had Pad Thai from Thai Taste in Brian as my first experience, and all future Thai will be measured against that. We then went to my Grandmother's place to open presents, I had taken Benedryl, which puts me under to the point where you could operate (don't though) so I was out of it. As soon as we were home I crashed. The next morning came the moment we have all been waiting for, the glorious return of Lisa to the contiguous 48. She popped in at about 6 am. At about 7:30 we headed to Barbecs for breakfast, sort of a Dunlap family tradition. Much to our dismay, it was closed! Thankfully, the busboy (ok, busperson) was standing out front. We asked if they were going to open again, he replied "not today" which was obvious from the boards over the doors. "Ever?" we asked, he said "yes". Perhaps they didn't tell him they were going to remodel and he's just going to stand there until they're finished. We headed over to Cafe Brazil, which turned out to be a worthy alternative. I had veggie crepes. Lisa had a spinach and feta omelet. We're still on a limited meat diet, I have a weakness for sesame chicken that I don't think I can kick.
We headed home, pulling up at about 2:00. Lisa had been awake for over 24 hours, so she was beat. She wanted to stay up so she could sleep tonight, so we figured a movie might help. We say "Kung Foo Hustle" at the Alamo Village. What a fun movie! I liked that it wasn't so damn serious, it was even slapstick at some points. Really, it's a love story, and also very stylish. Perhaps I'll get back on the review kick.
I need to pay some bills then I'm off to bed. If I survive work tomorrow I'll write about what I got for my birthday, I'll even tell you what Jenny got me and why that's significant.
April 23, 2005 (1:02 am) It's late, I'll keep this short. The plan was I'd clean last weekend and then have all week to enjoy a clean place. No such luck. I'm happy to say the super spring cleaning is complete, ready for Lisa's return. I'm headed up to Dallas tomorrow to see my parents and I'll see Lisa early Sunday morning when she returns.
As for the birthday day, first there was a typical day at work, followed by a rousing game of tennis with Comrade Alex. The weather was against us, steady rain as we drove to the courts. When we arrived, people were hiding under overhangs and cursing the clouds. Not us, we must play the game! After Alex smacked me around during warm up we played about four games before the rain started coming down. Lots of thunder and lightening, and we all know how I feel about lightening. After about 45 minutes the clouds broke and what was left of the sun came out. The court was soaked, but this is a very, very good court. Not slippery at all, and perfectly level so there was no puddles. We didn't have a squeegee and there was a lot of water, so naturally the balls got soaked. We persevered, playing out a full two sets (Sid over Comrade Alex, 6-0, 7-5). Wet, hairy balls flying all over the place, what a great time.
I then went to Target to get some things and had a great surprise - a birthday phone call from Alex. We talked for a long time as I tooled around the store with my cart, it was great. Then I went home and listened to birthday wishes on the answering machine, thanks everyone! One odd thing is I hadn't checked the mail since Lisa left. Not until today as a matter of fact. Let's go through it, shall we?
1. Credit card checks from MBNA. I received an offer for a "MBNA American Express" card, and I figured what the heck. I keep getting offers with the last four digits of the new account number, but I don't have the card. Perhaps it's in the pile. 2. Lowe's flyer 3. Birthday card from the Brownells, yeah! 4. Credit card checks from Providian 5. A notice from the post office that over the next few weeks a person in a polo shirt (seriously) will be walking the route with the mail person. 6. A thank you card from Suzanne, Trent, Annelise, and Jonah 7. Austin community college flyer 8. Verizon ad 9. FTD.com add 10. Three flyers from the Hyde Park Theater advertising a new play "Pageant", which we saw last weekend 11. Citibank add for Lisa 12. Bank of America statement (checking) 13. Honda ad 14. Travis county 2005 property tax appraisal - $4 more than 2004 15. Cingular bill, it's about 8000 pages and makes no sense 16. Utility bill 17. Birthday card from Aunt Buzz, yeah! 18. Ads 19. "Have you seen us" - nope 20. Furniture ad 21. SBC ad
I posted some random thoughts in the last entry, one was "why can Comrade Alex the smoker run four miles while Sid the non-smoker can only run 1/4 miles". I received this reply from Comrade Alex, presented in glorious communist red:
In 1973 Comrade Alex was working secret KGB operations in the mountains of Northern Afghanistan. After narrowly escaping capture by the enemy, he stopped at a local bistro to rest and obtain some much needed nourishment for the long journey home. The operators of the establishment, being sympathetic to the cause of the rebels, poisoned Comrade Alex with a radioactive plate of Baklava. Realizing too late his folly, Comrade Alex bolted from the restaurant in a blaze of gun fire, swearing and vomiting. He headed North for the much disputed Soviet-Afghani border. Barely clinging to life, Comrade Alex crossed the border into the hands of his comrades, but the nuclear dessert had already done too much damage, his brave life came to an end on the soil of Mother Russia. Not wishing to be without their most valued operative, the KGB powers-at-be decided to take a bold step. They tasked a team of top Soviet Scientists* to do what had never been done before. They were only given two concise directives; 1) Comrade Alex must live again and 2) They had the whole of Mother Russia behind them. At first the task seemed daunting but soon the scientist realized they had the technology to rebuild him. So it came to pass that on July 24, 1974, after a year of diligence, blood and tears in the lab, Comrade Alex emerged from the dead. His new codename (based on the budgetary restraints of the project) was “The Six Million Ruble Man”. And that Uncle Sid is why Comrade Alex can run four miles and smoke while you cannot. *educated at the prestigious Western Minsk Community College
That's all folks, off to bed.
April 19, 2005 (10:39 pm) What a historic day for the Universal Church also know as Catholicism as the Cardinals emerged from their sequester to announce a new Pope. Say hello to Pope "Eggs" Benedict MCMXVILLI - given he's already beating the average life expectancy for a German male by a decade, I suspect we'll get to repeat the Papal fire drill again very soon.
Lisa's week away was to be my week to get some serious updates on the Lame Web Page. As Reverend Ray and my Mom can tell you, that just isn't happening. At issue - I promised myself I would present Lisa with a clean, and I mean "Spring Clean", place. I had planned on finishing up tonight but item #1 took much more time than expected. Completely re-mounting the shelf in the bathroom above the washer / dryer. I'm happy to say that mission is accomplished. Second mission - find a good filing cabinet. I have a filing cabinet made of thick aluminum foil, and it's staring to buckle under the load. A good HON file cabinet runs about $300.00. Forget that, I'll stack piles on the floor before I'll pay that much. I asked Bill, official concierge to the Lame Web Page where I could find a good used file cabinet. He consulted official Lame Web Page Rollergirl Laurie, who immediately directed me to Tops used office supply and natural art store (really) on the East side. Sure enough, they had about 60,000 two drawer file cabinets for $55. I found a good looking HON, clean, still wearing a UT serial number tag. I'll work on the transition tomorrow.
I was thinking about social security. I know, you liberal folks, there's nothing wrong with the system. Come on, even the fund administrators admit there need to be some changes. The Government gets to take an average of 6% right off the top of the money we earn and you don't think there's a problem? Before I get into the fix, the biggest whine I hear is if we allow workers to put a portion of that percentage into their own retirement fund, their future benefits will go down. And you wonder why liberals have lost their majority in every branch of the elected government. Duh, the amount you get from Uncle Sam will go down but the overall amount of money you'll have to live on when you retire will be more. Duh. Just duh. I also get irked when in typical liberal fashion they (being liberals) whine that John Q. American is too stupid to save for retirement. Thank you liberal intellectual elite for doing the thinking for the rest of us idiots. A good reform plan will not allow Jester. P. Alabama to invest for his retirement in Uncle Jed's new badger racing track. You get to take a portion of your pre-tax earnings and deposit it into your 401-K or an IRA. That's it. Official Lame Web Page Mother Mom likes to yell "Enron" at me every time I mention my 401-K. Believe me, after Enron every large company took 401-K money out of company stock faster than Ken Lay running across the exercise yard to get to his cell. For example, my 401-K is invested in Vanguard, and my company matches my contribution in cash, not stock. Kenneth Lay, one of Bush's "Pioneers". What a group they are!
I made vegetable soup so dinner's taken care of. The only birthday plans I have are cake at work and afternoon tennis with Comrade Alex. Lisa and I will celebrate like smokin' chimps when she gets back. And now, daily thoughts from Sid:
I would write letters if I had a label maker. Why are internal wars called "civil"? There's nothing civil about them.
"Boogie
Nights" was a great film until he whipped it out at the end.
Why is it Comrade Alex the smoker can run 4 miles while Sid the non-smoker can only run 1/4 mile?
I wish Buster Poindexter would cover "The Hokey Pokey". I've received spam / viruses from some great random email names, but today's "Homesickness Q. Tuna" takes the cake.
April 18, 2005 (5:33 pm) Stupid computers. I went to Logic Approach to get a bare hard drive and CD burner for Lisa's work. They had a used Western Digital 40 gig drive for $40. I love that drive, it houses the in progress Lame Web Page and has been extremely reliable. The Windows drive is a 60 gig Western Digital, also a fine drive. I also for a Lite On CD burner rather than one of their cheap OEM drives because I need the Nero that comes with it. While I was there I noticed how much processors have come down since I last looked at computer stuff. I browsed a bit online, and I could get a new AMD Sempron 2600 processor for $79! The same site had a new Western Digital 80 gig drive with OEM Windows XP home edition for $115. Naturally, I started thinking about the need to someday upgrade my parents to Windows XP, but then I remembered we're all broke, at least to the point where we don't need to upgrade computers. It's not like we're running anything different since the last upgrade. Although the Sims 2 drags on the Lame Web Page machine, currently running an AMD Athlon 1700. Seemed so fast when we got it. 512 megs ram, but our video card seems to lag behind. That's what I've asked my parents for my birthday.
I'll write more later, with Lisa in Hawaii it's not like I have anything better to do. Except maybe fix the toilet and install a runner to re-attach the shelf over the washer / dryer. Hmmm...
April 17, 2005 (10:29 pm) Lisa's off to Hawaii with her Mom. They arrived safely after the eight hour flight from Dallas. Lisa says Maui's more wild and untamed than Oahu. The condo sounds nice and spacious, although the beds are hard. Lisa's used to the best here at the house of Sid and Lisa. After taking Lisa to the airport early Saturday I worked for until noon, came home and dozed in front of the TV, then met Comrade Alex for a rousing game of tennis. We haven't played in a while and it showed in our inconsistency however we did have some great moments. Comrade Alex continues to tee off on my second serve, and there were a bunch. We had a lot of breaks of serve. All in all a great two sets of tennis in the idyllic and prosperous setting of West Lake High School. Hopefully there will be much more tennis this spring, and once Comrades Alex and Stacey move into their new apartment overlooking the tennis court, there will be no stopping us.
I'm not sure what I did today. I think I cleaned, although you wouldn't know it. Spring cleaning is in the air, I moved the bed for goodness sake and cleaned behind and under it. I'd like to give Lisa a super clean house for her return. I had a great awkward moment at Central Market. I stopped by to pick up some shrimp for my stir-fry dinner. They had some good looking rock shrimp which I like because it reminds me of crawfish. I asked for a half a pound, the fish dude handed it to me lovingly packed in ice and he asked "so what are you going to do with the rock shrimp". I replied "eat it" followed by ten seconds of strange silence.
Tomorrow's a long day of training on our new accounting / manufacturing / order entry program at work, so I'm off to bed.
April 14, 2005 (11:27 pm) Did I mention there's a new religion brewing in the world of the Lame Web Page? I'm working up the instructions this weekend. Based on the direct inspiration of the universally encompassing deity (for lack of a better word) that defies human definition. Makes it difficult to come up with a name. Communicated originally to Comrade Alex via text message, and now to me since Comrade Alex no longer has a cell phone. I've decided to start a new series in the blog called "Things you won't see in Comrade Alex and Sid's new religion". Hmmm, I smell a new top ten list. Comrade? The "Top Ten Things You Won't See in Comrade Alex and Sid's New Religion"? For inspiration, here are some tidbits as reported by Reuters:
"Indians Charged for Burying Children Alive - Indian police have charged 80 people for burying children alive in an ancient Hindu ceremony known as 'the festival of pits.' The ceremony, in which children -- some less than a year old -- are buried alive briefly and then dug up, happened on Monday in southern Tamil Nadu state, The Asian Age reported on Thursday. The children are drugged to make them unconscious and placed in shallow "graves" in temple courtyards. The pits are covered with leaves and dirt and the children are pulled out after Hindu priests chant a brief prayer -- lasting up to a minute."
Strictly forbidden by the deity that defies definition. Let's call it "DTDD" for short. Needs some vowels, though. Perhaps I can contact essayist and voice talent Sarah Vowell for a vowel, or Vanna White. Encompassing Deity Universally Defying Definition Or Description. Ed Uddod. There we go, the deity of the new religion will be called Ed Uddod. Ed Uddod is the inspiration for all religions on earth, each an interpretation of Ed Uddod's earlier inspirations to less evolved human minds. For example, Christianity holds that God created people basically because of a lack of self esteem and a need to be praised. So we praise, pray, worship, build extravagant temples, perform strange rituals to please him, all in hopes of eternal life. Ed Uddod sets the record straight - Ed Uddod isn't in this for the praise. Praise will get you nowhere. I admit it's fun to yell "Praise Ed Uddod" many times a day, but that won't get you anywhere. For Ed Uddod it's simply a logistics issue of what to do with the billions of "personal essences" that build up as people die (think "soul"). Ed Uddod likes the idea of the essence of a person traveling to a very good place or a very bad place after death here on earth. And how does Ed Uddod sort out the good from the bad? Strictly in how you've treated other people during your time here. Praise? Do it all you want, it's pointless. Be good to your fellow people, gain favor with Ed Uddod, go to a happy place when you die. Sounds nice, right?
Comrade Alex asked Ed Uddod how best to guide the flock to gain favor. Ed Uddod said inspiration would come in greater detail soon but for now there are two basic principals: Courtesy while driving a vehicle, and not doing things that irritate Comrade Alex. Of course, we are "blessed" with a handy top ten list (March 29) to help with the latter. So enjoy, be nice to others, and don't irritate Comrade Alex.
Let's move on politics for a real life example of how the new religion will work. President George W. Bush has nominated John R. "Michael" Bolton to be the next ambassador to the United Nations. Let's see what those who have worked with John R. M. Bolton have to say about him.
"It's an 800-pound gorilla devouring a banana," Carl Ford Jr. recounting Bolton's treatment of an analyst further down the food chain. "quintessential kiss-up, kick-down sort of guy. There are a lot of them around. I'm sure you've met them."
"There is no United Nations. There is an international community that occasionally can be led by the only real power left in the world - that's the United States - when it suits our interests and when we can get others to go along." - John Bolton (oops)
"I'm with the Bush-Cheney team, and I'm here to stop the count." - John Bolton. You might recall that John R. M. Bolton was one of the lawyers used by the Republicans to stop the recounts of ballots in Florida after the 2000 election.
"There's no such thing as the United Nations. If the U.N. secretary building in New York lost 10 stories, it wouldn't make a bit of difference." - John R. M. Bolton
I guess that
pretty well sums it up. Of course, he will be confirmed because our
elected representatives only vote along part lines. I don't suppose this
might be another case of George "W" Bush rewarding an old ally with an
ambassadorship. I'm sure George "W" Bush thinks he's the best
person for the job, and that's why he nominated him.Recall while raising funds for the 2000 election George "W" Bush came up with the cute label of "Pioneer" for those fund-raisers who personally collect $100,000.00 or more for his campaign. I wonder what became of some of these "Pioneers"?
Elaine Chao, appointed Labor Secretary
Twenty-two "Pioneers" received ambassadorships. Utah shopping mall developer John Price was appointed ambassador to Mauritius a month after being found guilty in court of cheating his business partners out of more than one million dollars.
Here's an awesome update of a Bush campaign contributor - In 1999, Charles Cawley threw a party at his home with Bush in attendance raising $200,000.00 for Bush's campaign. Cawley is the head of MBNA America Bank, issuer of fine credit card products like the one who's balance I just transferred to Providian because those bastards raised my interest rate. Cawley wanted Bush to push for a new law making it harder for families hit by unemployment or huge medical bills to declare bankruptcy.
Low and behold, just look what's in the news this very day: "Congress Passes Bankruptcy
Reform Bill". To quote the AP article - "After eight years of strenuous efforts by congressional backers, banks and credit card companies, the legislation was catapulted toward enactment starting earlier this year. The legislation, which garnered some Democratic votes, cleared the Senate last month on a 74-25 vote."
"The measure would require people with incomes above a certain level to pay credit-card charges, medical bills and other obligations under a court-ordered bankruptcy plan."
"Opponents say the change would fall especially hard on low-income working people, single mothers, minorities and the elderly and would remove a safety net for those who have lost their jobs or face crushing medical bills."
"'These commonsense reforms will make the system stronger and better so that more Americans — especially lower-income Americans — have greater access to credit,' Bush said after the vote." Even poking fun at the President can not overcome the need for sleep, so I'm off to bed.
April 12, 2005 (11:52 pm) What a long day this was. I got home at 6:15 and thought Lisa would be right behind me but she ended up getting home around 7:00. We decided on Mother's Cafe for dinner. She had tofu enchiladas (!) with black beans and brown rice, and I had a spinach salad and tomato-artichoke soup. The we walked for about an hour, then we sat and listened to Neil Boortz on the radio for about an hour, now we're home.
Special thanks to Charles for sending a review of a Metallica documentary I've never heard of. Lars Ullrich is an excellent tennis player. We saw him at the "Grand Slam Jam" a couple of years ago.
Congratulations to Comrades Alex and Stacey, the State has approved their relocation to a housing project in Sunset Valley, Texas - not far from Austin. The best news - their new apartment overlooks a well maintained tennis court, with lights and a great surface. Hello, tennis. Time to get my racquet re-strung to celebrate.
April 11, 2005 (10:45 pm) How the evening passes by. I went for a walk at the park after work, ran into Comradette Stacey (actually, she ran by me), chatted for a bit, then went to the store. After some serious grocery shopping I came home, had a quick dinner, watched "The Daily Show" with Lisa, and now it's almost 11:00. Lisa needs her backrub, so I'm off.
April 10, 2005 (10:47 pm) No excuses for the lack of Lame updates, pure and simple laziness is the cause. Updating could have greatly interfered with our intense napping schedule this weekend. Here's a little something, a double top ten list, Pope themed, just in time before the Cardinals convene the conclave. Presented for the first time right here in the blog.
Top Ten reasons the Conclave should elect Comrade Alex as the new Pope
Top Ten reasons Comrade Alex will make an excellent Pontiff April 5, 2005 (11:25 pm) I'm back from Washington DC, so let the Lame Web Page updates begin! But not tonight. Perhaps tomorrow. |
