Rhino 1515

The proper function of man is to live, not to exist

2011-01-31T21:22:00.000-08:00

I would rather be ashes than dust !
I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dryrot.
I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.
The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.
I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them.
I shall use my time.

-Jack London

LOLCat Bible!

2010-08-15T13:31:00.000-07:00

Ceiling Cat Prayer

Teh Ceiling Cat of us, whu haz cheezeburger, yu be spechul

Yu ordered cheezburgerz,

Wut yu want, yu gets, srsly.

In ceiling and on teh flor.

Giv us dis day our dalee cheezburger.

And furgiv us for makin yu a cookie, but eateding it.

And we furgiv kittehs who be steelin our bukkits.

An do not let us leed into teh showa, but deliver us from teh wawter.

Ceiling Cat pwns all. He pwns teh ceiling and teh floor and walls too.

Forevur and evuhr. Amen.

(Thanks so much, LOLCat Bible Translation Project!)

Perfect Pairing: Palm Wireless Keyboard 3245WW and iPhone 4

2010-08-13T16:05:00.001-07:00

OK, I'm not sold on this Evernote program I've recently downloaded. We're still feeling each other out and trying to decide if we're compatible or not.... I think he's a bit complicated and over-reaching, he thinks I don't appreciate his many features. But, I DID want a program for writing on my iPhone 4, and they are few and far between.

The reason I was looking for a writing program is the new ability the iPhone 4 has been given: Bluetooth keyboard compatibility! Who would have thought I'd ever have any use again for my old Palm wireless keyboard?!

The keyboard is an ingenious piece of technology. The keys are spaced just far enough apart to touch type. They don't have that 'cheap' keyboard feel. The keys depress and spring back up just like they should. And, the keyboard folds in half and is then very portable -- about the size of a big wallet.

But, having given up using my last Palm years ago when I got my first iPhone, I never thought I'd use the cool keyboard again. It sat in a moving box for the past year -- and was lost in the clutter on a shelf, unused and unwanted, for years before that.

Then, Apple decided it was time to allow Bluetooth keyboards to connect to the iPhone. Thank you, Apple! I love my iPhone, but beyond a short e-mail or a quick text message, I never really enjoyed using the iPhone's on-screen keyboard.

I remember when the update was released that allowed external keyboards. I was still using my 3G, which wasn't covered by the update. But my partner's phone, a 3GS, was included. I started looking through boxes thinking that maybe, just maybe, the old Palm keyboard was Bluetooth and not IR, and might just be compatible.

Sure enough, I found it (in near mint condition, I might add) buried under some old paperwork in a moving box. I pulled out the old Palm Wireless Keyboard 3245WW, swapped out the AA batteries -- and we paired it with the 3GS in a few seconds! There is even a convenient slide-out stand built in to the back of the keyboard. Perfectly positioned to stand the iPhone upright or set it on its side for landscape orientation.

Now, it's not a perfect solution. The basic keys work just fine. The letters, shift key, enter, the number row across the top, the backspace and the basic punctuation keys work perfectly. But, any of the additional characters and functions accessed by using the CTRL, FN or ALT keys are either non-functioning or produce, um, unexpected results....

I've been searching the web to see if someone else has chosen to use the old Palm keyboard and has figured out how to activate the other functions -- maybe a driver would be possible...?

But, in the meantime, I'm more than happy with 26 letters, 10 numbers, some basic punctuation and an enter and backspace key. Really, what writer needs anything more...?

Sent from my iPhone

Love Ya, Montreal!

2010-08-13T15:30:00.001-07:00

Looking for a destination city that offers the excitement of a trip to a foreign land without leaving North America? Consider Montreal!
I can't say enough good things about it. The food is fantastic, the interesting neighborhoods are all within walking distance of each other -- or, at worst, a short metro ride away. Summer days are well-lit until late into the evening -- Montreal is as far north at Portland, OR.
And, best of all, the Montrealers are DAMN friendly! When you're visiting the majority of the city, where French rules, a simple Bon Jour will ease the language barrier and make communication easier.
So, book a flight, get on a train or drive north across the border -- and visit Montreal. You won't be disappointed!

Sent from my iPhone

Getting My Groove Back

2010-07-11T02:57:00.001-07:00

Trying my damnedest to get back into blogging. Hoping my iPhone 4 that allows Bluetooth keyboard use will be just what I need to reinvigorate my writing.
Also, here's a picture of today's delicious kalua pork -- thanks Jay!

Atheists did not see the Virgin Mary in a stale taco.

2010-03-08T00:24:00.000-08:00

LOVE THIS!

- T

Girl Makes Most of 10-Hour Snowpocalypse Delay in Pittsburgh Airport

2010-02-23T00:24:00.000-08:00

This girl rocks!!

- T

Least Effective. Ad Placement. Evar.

2010-02-19T23:45:00.001-08:00

At the bottom of a Planet Atheism page in Google Reader -- an ad for Mid-America Christian University.

As if!

- T

Talk Amongst Yourselves

2010-02-14T19:41:00.000-08:00

So, today during church services in a Bay Area church, hooded gunmen entered the church, fired off a bunch of rounds, and wounded two parishioners.

Therefore, either god is all-powerful and knew this was going to happen and did nothing to stop it -- and is obviously evil

he didn't know it was going to happen and took no action, or he knew it was going on and yet didn't have the power to do anything about it -- and either way he is, by all reckoning, not a god.

In the prophetic words of our savior Linda Richmond, "Talk amongst yourselves."

Happy 2010 To All

2010-01-02T11:42:00.000-08:00

Simples Neujahrslied

Vorüber ist das alte Jahr,

Ich wünsche Glück zum neun!

Was euch das alte noch nicht war,

Soll euch das neue sein.

Ich greife zu dem vollen Glas,

Und trink es aus und sag,

Ich wünsche Jedem Alles was

Er selbst sich wünschen mag.

Ich wünsch euch Alles, was auch euch

Befriediget und reizt,

Und dass mit euern Wünschen sich

Der meinen keiner kreuzt!

So treten wir ins neue Jahr

Getrosten Mutes ein -

Und was im alten noch nicht war,

Erfülle sich im neun!

- Ludwig Eichrodt, 1827-1892

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T00:38:00.001-07:00

I haven't posted in a while and, since it's now Halloween (albeit very early in the morning), I thought I'd post a creepy picture to entertain ya. Plus, it goes along with the zombie jesus theme of the previous post.

(It was either this or some cannibalism image of a bunch of christians chomping down on their savior, but I though the zombie image was more Halloween-y.)

- T

Zombie Jesus: Only the Living Dead Can Give You Eternal Life

Photo © istockphoto/Birgitte Magnus; Poster © Austin Cline

The Undead

2009-08-11T00:52:00.000-07:00

(thanks and credit to DJ Bogtrotter [what a fantastic screen name!])

- T

Kook Christians, YOU ARE WICKED AND YOU SUCK!

2009-06-26T23:21:00.000-07:00

From God Is For Suckers: a disgusting example of Christianity's backwards, 15th-Century attitudes and practices - - in the year 2009.

Just try and tell me there is anything redeeming about a religion that treats people -- no, CHILDREN -- in this way.

I demand you Christians never speak another word of proselytization to ANYONE until you freaks clean your own house. This includes ANY form of child abuse: the laying on of hands instead of the use of modern medicine, forcing children to attend your weird worship services, demanding your children wear religious garb of any sort in order to make them the laughing-stock of their peers -- I'm talkin' to you, yarmulke and burka fashion disasters.

And, most of all, torturing your children because they may exhibit signs of being -- GASP! -- gay or lesbian.

How dare you bring your ridiculous ancient beliefs into our modern world. Leave these silly, dangerous activities in the caves of the Negev Desert where they came from.

- T

Peggy Noonan Steps In It ('it' being shit)

2009-05-21T20:43:00.000-07:00

Oh, Peggy Noonan.... As the leader of your Grizzled Old Party, Michael Steele, so eloquently put it: you've 'stepped in it big time' this time, haven't you?

Speaking Sunday the 17th of May on Meet The Press, Peg was expounding on the way 'forward' for the Republican Party. She'd just finished telling us all what a big tent the Republican Party was and what big tent poles the Republicans are when she then said this:

MS. NOONAN: I think the way for it to go is to try to be serious with regard to Mr. Obama's proposals, react seriously, react by speaking the English language--which is something the administration has, has not been doing so good--and by tying all of its views to philosophy in a way that is understandable to normal human beings.

Really? REALLY?!

Nooner, you really thinks that the current administration has not been speaking the English language 'good'?! Really.

First off, Nooner: the word you were stuttering about trying to find is 'well', not 'good'. I believe most 4th or 5th grade students in the US learn not to use an adjective when an adverb is required.

Second: just where have you been during the past 4 months?!? Have you heard ANY of the speeches the current President has given?!? How about his acceptance speech in Chicago last November?!? Maybe you heard the speech he gave during the inauguration?!? No? Been hiding out somewhere licking your GOP wounds with cotton in your ears?!?

And third: have you developed some debilitating form of memory loss? Have you so quickly forgotten the blundering, floundering, stammering fool your party propped up as president for the previous eight years?!

Have you forgotten such wonderful quotables as:

I've abandoned free market principles to save the free market system.

I've been in the Bible every day since I've been the president.

We've got a lot of relations with countries in our neighborhood.

I don't particularly like it when people put words in my mouth, either, by the way, unless I say it.

And we mustn't forget the cream of the crop:

They misunderestimated me.

There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.

Before I arrived in President, During I arrived in President.

And my personal all-time favorite:

I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family.

So, Ms. Noonan, mind your p's and q's and adverbs and adjectives, retract your statement about the current administration's English - - and, most of all, do NOT forget what tormented language the most recent GOP president spoke while making our ears bleed.

- T

Thank You, Robert Ingersoll

2009-05-19T23:11:00.000-07:00

Secularism means food and fireside, roof and raiment, reasonable work and reasonable leisure, the cultivation of the tastes, the acquisition of knowledge, the enjoyment of the arts, and it promises for the human race comfort, independence, intelligence, and above all liberty. It means the abolition of sectarian feuds, of theological hatreds. It means the cultivation of friendship and intellectual hospitality. It means the living for ourselves and each other; for the present instead of the past, for this world rather than for another.
- Robert Ingersoll

American Religious Identification Survey

2009-04-19T21:28:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit behind-the-times here. The results of this survey have been out for a few weeks now.

Life's busy, work's busy.... Too much going on in a too-short 24-hour day. (Can you say "VACATION!"? Because I need one....)

Nonetheless, from Newsweek:

According to the American Religious Identification Survey that got Mohler's attention, the percentage of self-identified Christians has fallen 10 percentage points since 1990, from 86 to 76 percent. The Jewish population is 1.2 percent; the Muslim, 0.6 percent. A separate Pew Forum poll echoed the ARIS finding, reporting that the percentage of people who say they are unaffiliated with any particular faith has doubled in recent years, to 16 percent; in terms of voting, this group grew from 5 percent in 1988 to 12 percent in 2008—roughly the same percentage of the electorate as African-Americans. (Seventy-five percent of unaffiliated voters chose Barack Obama, a Christian.) Meanwhile, the number of people willing to describe themselves as atheist or agnostic has increased about fourfold from 1990 to 2009, from 1 million to about 3.6 million. (That is about double the number of, say, Episcopalians in the United States.)

Bold emphasis mine.

See the entire article here.

- T

O U C H ! !

2009-03-31T23:20:00.000-07:00

Not for the faint of heart....

Thanks to Wired.com for this, umm, pointed article!

- T

Great SD Blog!

2009-03-05T23:51:00.001-08:00

Hey, 619ers! Got a great blog for ya to read. This guy covers new plans and projects around the city, new architecture, restaurants, etc.

His most recent entry is about Seaport Village -- and mirrors what I've been thinking for a while. (Which is: "What is this great stretch of San Diego bayfront property doing masquerading as a Fresno strip mall?" [No offense intended, Fresnonians!])

And, no -- I'm not a fan of the all-lower-case style. But, since I really like the content, I can read past it.

- T

The Bashing Babies Ballad

2009-03-05T22:16:00.000-08:00

The word psalms is derived from the Greek: Psalmoi, originally meaning "songs sung to a harp", from psallein "play on a stringed instrument", Ψαλμοί. -- Wikipedia

The psalms are said to be beautiful, poetry-like songs. Inspiring. Uplifting. Spiritual.

Like this beautiful ditty from the bible: Psalm 137:9

Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

Well, now.... Wait a minute.... That can't be right. This is meant to be sung accompanied by a HARP?!

I know, I know -- that was the King James Version. Maybe it's a bad translation -- ya know, a less uplifting version of the bible....

Other versions must present this psalm correctly. Ya know, more inspiring. More harp-worthy.

Let's see....

New American Standard Bible
How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones Against the rock.

GOD'S WORD Translation
Blessed is the one who grabs your little children and smashes them against a rock.

American King James Version
Happy shall he be, that takes and dashes your little ones against the stones.

American Standard Version
Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones Against the rock.

Bible in Basic English
Happy is the man who takes your little ones, crushing them against the rocks.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Blessed be he that shall take and dash thy little ones against the rock.

Darby Bible Translation
Happy he that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the rock.

English Revised Version
Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the rock.

Webster's Bible Translation
Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

World English Bible
Happy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock. By David.

And, my fave of this medley of melodies . . .

Young's Literal Translation
O the happiness of him who doth seize, And hath dashed thy sucklings on the rock!

Ahhhhh..... Those are MUCH better. (Imagine them sung to the tune of "This Land Is Your Land" -- you'll see just how BEAUTIFUL this psalm can be.....)

- T

[thanks to bible.cc for the quotes!]

I came not to send peace, but a sword

2009-02-06T21:39:00.000-08:00

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. - Matthew 10:34 (King James Version)

Really? REALLY?! This is what 'his holiness', that peace-loving Jesus everyone seems so attached to - - - THIS is what he preached?!

I had no idea. Ugh.

- T

Pope Assigns Bishop Pricks

2009-02-01T13:01:00.000-08:00

Going from bad to wurst, Pope Teufel the First chooses a Holocaust-
denier and an ass who suggests New Orleans had it comin'....

What a dick.

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_8537/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=TE9AogTl

- T

Like a Train Wreck -- Ya Can't Look Away!

2009-01-17T00:13:00.000-08:00

Adios, chimpanzee.
I'll miss..., um, I'll miss...

OH! I'll miss . . .
not a god-damned thing about ya! THAT'S what I'll miss!

- T

[no title necessary...]

2008-12-28T14:30:00.000-08:00

Courage Campaign

Equality California

San Diego Equality Campaign

- T

A Bit of Poetry

2008-12-14T10:58:00.000-08:00

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

You know, I'm in president during this period of time but I think
uh when the history of this period is written people will realize
a lot of the decisions
uh that were made on Wall Street
took place over
you know a- a decade or so, before I arrived in president, during I arrived in president.
I'm sorry it's happening of course, obviously
I don't like the idea of people
losing jobs or being worried about their 401Ks.
On the other hand, the American people got to know that-
that uh we will safeguard the system, I mean
we're in, and if we need to be in more, we will.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Nope, this isn't gibberish (well, I guess it is, actually....) This is a statement made by George W Bush to Charlie Gibson during an interview on ABC News on December 1st, 2008.

I see a kind of poetical beauty (free-form, to be sure) in the final, stuttering utterings of our diminishing, delirious president....

Good-bye George W.... We'll miss you....

N O T !

[many thanks to Language Log for sharing this piece of art]

- T

I'm Exhausted....

2008-11-13T23:44:00.000-08:00

I haven't been this tired -- or this involved in our community -- in years. And I am not doing nearly as much as so many other organizers are to make this coming Saturday a success.

It will be an amazing experience -- simultaneous marches, rallies and protests. Across the country. All for one cause.

I've hung signs all around two different neighborhoods, in many restaurants, bars, cafes and bookstores. Handed out fliers and chatted with dozens of people outside of the KD Lang concert here in San Diego tonight. Attended a training and planning session this evening with dozens of other dedicated volunteers.

But now I need my rest. Saturday morning will be here soon enough -- and the excitement is killing me!

***************************************************************************************

Join us for a Peaceful, Positive Protest -- a Protest Against Proposition 8:

San Diego

Saturday, November 15 -- 10:00 AM Protest March

From 6th and Upas to SD County Admin Building
1600 Pacific Highway

1:00 PM Protest Rally
SD County Admin Building

http://protest8sandiego.wordpress.com/

Keith Olbermann Stands Up For Loveand San Diego Prepares toTAKE TO THE STREETS -- AGAIN!

2008-11-10T23:17:00.000-08:00

In one of the most heartfelt pleas for justice and love and humanity that I have heard in a long time, MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann comes out STRONGLY against Proposition 8.

Please take some time in your busy day and watch this video:

And, in more local news...

The National Protest Against Prop 8 / JoinTheImpact
along with local organizers ask you to join us:

Saturday, November 15th
10:00 a.m.
6th Ave and Upas St

March for Our Rights!

This is San Diego's cooperative effort, along with protesters in other cities across the nation, to rally and march against hate.

Not in San Diego? No problem. Click here to check out the JoinTheImpact website. Click on links to check for organizers in your city who may need help getting the word out. Or perhaps you are a community organizer and your city has no one working on this important national protest.... You know what to do!

Click the thumbnail above for a .pdf to print and post (legally, please!) in your favorite coffee shop, restaurant, grocery store or ice cream parlor.

Our rights are too important for you to not get involved.

- T

San Diego Anti-Proposition 8 Rally - GIANT Saturday Edition

2008-11-10T11:52:00.000-08:00

The support from and turn-out by those inside the gay community and also by so many other right-thinking citizens is amazing. The outpouring of energy, strength, commitment and, yes, even ANGER is overwhelming and revitalizing. The protests are taking place across the state -- and even across the entire country. Check out Join The Impact to see where upcoming protests are taking place near you. Another excellent source is Queers United. Or contact your local gay and lesbian center, such as San Diego's excellent The Center.

[Click this blog post's title for more photos of San Diego's huge Anti-Prop 8 March on Saturday.]

We must keep fighting for our rights. I know we all have busy lives with many responsibilities and duties pulling us in multiple directions. I am no exception. My time is divided between work, family, our current search for a new home -- all of these things, along with the mundane (grocery shopping, laundry, beauty sleep, the latest episode of Ugly Betty) can take up a lot of our time, keeping us from getting out and doing what we know we must do to repeal Proposition 8.

But, if we continue the fight -- if we continue to come together in such huge numbers as we did on Saturday the 8th here in San Diego -- we will certainly be heard by those around us. And they will know that we are seriously pissed off by the lack of social justice their passing of Proposition 8 has demonstrated.

On Saturday, by the estimates of the San Diego Police Department, somewhere between 8000 and 10,000 participants took to the streets to show their support for gay marriage. These thousands upon thousands upon THOUSANDS of protesters could have stormed churches, meetinghouses, temples, ministries, tabernacles -- what ever you call your evil place of worship. (We know who you are and where you prey if you gave funds to Yes on 8 -- it's on your Yes on 8 website!)

And yet, all 10,000 participants behaved wonderfully. Not one single arrest took place, not one incident was noted by the police. I'm very proud of how my community, and those from outside the community who joined us, behaved this past weekend.

Even the REPUBLICAN Govern-ator, our own Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, seems to have had a change of heart regarding gay marriage. He now has spoken out encouraging us all not to give up the fight. And he reminds us that we have a goal in mind: bring this issue back before the Supreme Court (as we have already done!) and have them settle it ONCE AND FOR ALL!

This from the Los Angeles Times in an interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger:

Schwarzenegger tells backers of gay marriage: Don’t give up
By Michael Rothfeld and Victoria Kim

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today expressed hope that the California Supreme Court would overturn Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that outlawed same-sex marriage. He also predicted that the 18,000 gay and lesbian couples who have already married would not be affected by the initiative.

“It’s unfortunate, obviously, but it’s not the end,” Schwarzenegger said in an interview on CNN this morning. “I think that we will again maybe undo that, if the court is willing to do that, and then move forward from there and again lead in that area.”

With his favorable comments toward gay marriage, the governor’s thinking appears to have evolved on the issue.

In past statements, he has said he personally believes marriage should be between a man and a woman and has rejected legislation authorizing same-sex marriage. Yet he has also said he would not care if same-sex marriage were legal, saying he believed that such an important societal issue should be determined by the voters or the courts.

Following that position, he publicly opposed Proposition 8, which amends the state Constitution to declare that “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”

Today, Schwarzenegger urged backers of gay marriage to follow the lesson he learned as a bodybuilder trying to lift weights that were too heavy for him at first. “I learned that you should never ever give up. . . . They should never give up. They should be on it and on it until they get it done.”

See, in my view, civil rights are NOT a matter for the lowest-common-denominator in our society to decide for the rest of us. If this were the case, we would still have slavery, laws against miscegenation and women's suffrage.... Such important advances in our society are often brought about only by level-headed, reasoning and reasonable courts -- not by the teeming, steaming, brain-dead masses.

Stay angry, stay focused and stay peaceful. Mostly, though -- STAY ON THE STREETS!

- T

San Diego Anti-Proposition 8 Rally - Friday Edition

2008-11-07T22:24:00.000-08:00

I'm all outta words tonight.... If you want vitriol, read a few of my previous posts on the subject.

Instead, why not enjoy some pics I took this evening?

- T

- T

Stand Up For Your RIGHTS!

2008-11-07T14:26:00.000-08:00

Protests are springing up all over the place. Californians are NOT turning the other cheek this time. Proposition 8 may have passed (by the slimmest of margins), but unfair is unfair -- and we're speaking out. This would be the first time Californians voted to take away civil liberties from a group of their own citizens. Is this how California should be known to the world?!

It is hard to find a definitive list of upcoming events to follow the first few protests in Los Angeles at the Mormon Temple yesterday and the day before. But, here is one blogger who is doing a good job of it. I will post any other lists of protest sites I find as they become available.

Here in San Diego, there will be a rally and march tonight:

Friday, November 7th. Rally and march will begin at 6th and Laurel at the edge of Balboa Park and progress downtown to City Hall. Meet at the rally site by 9 p.m. (2100 for you military types.)

Then there is this information from a site called Saddleback 8 Protest:

Saddleback Church Prop 8 Protest!

No one’s religious beliefs should be used to deny fundamental rights to others,” said Lorri L. Jean, chief executive officer of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. “Our civil rights are inalienable.”

This peaceful protest will take place this Sunday (November 9th) at 10AM PST. Please spread the word!! Prop 8 is unfair and unconstitutional. A church’s definition of marriage should not be allowed to be applied to the whole population.

Rick Warren of Saddleback Church came out publicly in an email to his congregation telling them to Vote Yes on 8.

Please bring your friends - gay or straight. Christian or not. All who support marriage equality are encouraged to come show their support in front of one of the largest churches in America.

Bring your signs if you have them!

C'mon, San Diegans -- it's Orange County. It's not THAT far away!

Rick Warren had this to say about our rights:

Warren Endorses Prop 8 in California - October 29, 2008

CBN - Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren has publicly taken a stand against gay marriage in California.

In an e-mail to his Lake Forest congregation, Warren endorsed the state's proposed constitutional amendment. It defines marriage as being between one man and one woman.
On Nov. 4, California voters will go to the polls to determine if they agree with it.

"We support Prop 8, and if you believe what the Bible says about marriage, you need to support prop 8," Warren wrote. "I never support a candidate, but on moral issues I come out very clear."
"For 5,000 years, EVERY culture and EVERY religion -- not just Christianity -- has defined marriage as a contract between men and women," Warren wrote in the e-mail.

"There is no reason to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2 percent of our population. This is one issue that both Democrats and Republicans can agree on. Both Barack Obama and John McCain have publicly opposed the redefinition of marriage to include so-called 'gay marriage,'" he added.

"Of course, my longtime opposition is well known," he continued. "This is not a political issue, it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about. There is no doubt where we should stand on this issue."

"This will be a close contest, maybe even decided by a few thousand votes. I urge you to VOTE YES on Proposition 8 -- to preserve the biblical definition of marriage. Don't forget to vote!," Warren concluded.

Here's my response: KEEP YOUR DAMN BIBLE OUT OF MY BEDROOM!

And, in a very gracious move, the gay and lesbian community in Utah is staging a protest at LDS company headquarters. Read this interesting article to find out more about it.

I send out a big thank you to those Utahns who stand behind us in our fight for equal rights.

- T

Done Sittin' Idly By

2008-11-06T21:14:00.000-08:00

Time to take to the streets.

We're not in the mood to be placated or toyed with. It turns out when you begin to take people's civil rights away, it does strange and unpleasant things to their psyches. You force them into action -- which is exactly what happened today. Watch here to see video of the demonstration at the Mormon Temple in Los Angeles today.

And here's a laughable snippet from a news organization somewhere along the Utah/Idaho border (KIDK News):

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints temple in Los Angeles is closed as hundreds of people are protesting around the building.

The protesters are upset about the LDS support of the Proposition 8 ban against gay marriage.

Opponents of Proposition 8, which outlawed gay marriage in California, are marching, waving banners and chanting. The protest started about two hours ago.

Los Angeles Police Department has put several officers on the scene.

Thousands of gays protested in LA Wednesday night shutting down streets. At least seven people were arrested, four at the intersection of Hollywood and Highland, where one man jumped on top of a police car.

Television cameras captured one protester struggling with officers and being struck on the legs by batons.

The LDS temple is apparently being targeted because of church members' funding and support of the proposition.

Church spokeswoman Kim Farrah issued the follow statement concerning the protest:

“The Church acknowledges that such an emotionally charged issue concerning the most personal and cherished aspects of life — family and marriage — stirs fervent and deep feelings.

The Church calls on those involved in the debate over same sex marriage to act in a spirit of mutual respect and civility towards each other. No one on either side of the question should be vilified, intimidated, harassed or subject to erroneous information.” [text highlighted by me]

Can you BELIEVE the hypocrisy spewed by the Mormon spokeswoman?! "No one ... should be vilified ... harassed..." Is she KIDDING?! Did she even WATCH the videos her damn organization funded?! Or did she not see them, cuz she's watchin' TV in UTAH! Not here where she sent her damn money and where her funds were doing their evil work?!

And don't you "call on" me to act civilly and respectfully. Those days are over, church-lady! I will loudly and proudly demand my rights here in CALIFORNIA. Your demands may sway people in UTAH with that type of chiding, but here in CALIFORNIA, I get to decide how I act toward those who will deny me my rights.

The LA Gay and Lesbian Center has set up a website to allow those who wish to donate money to fight the legal battle against the Proposition 8 fallout. And, best of all, they will send a postcard to President Monson, king of the Mormons, telling him that this donation was made IN HIS NAME to fight hatred and bigotry. (A bit of an inside joke as I see it: his church baptizes dead people into the LDS faith who have had no say in the process - - - cuz they are DEAD.)

Also, a local group here in San Diego is gathering signatures and planning rallies to begin the process of removing the Mormon Church's tax-exempt status. Seems that if you spend too much time and money on political actions and not enough on feeding the poor, letting black people into your church, sheltering the homeless or just plain leavin' people the hell alone then you become something other than a tax-exempt church! Find this group's information here.

I know that the Mormons were not the only group that spent dollars and nonsense on Prop 8 -- but they were the biggest, loudest and most 'generous' and therefore have earned (now, how did that spokeswoman put it...?) - - - OH YEAH - - - VILIFICATION, INTIMIDATION AND HARASSMENT!!

- T

Thank You, Mayor Sanders

2008-11-06T16:14:00.000-08:00

Last night at the San Diego Center, hundreds of members of the gay and
lesbian community gathered to hear some of the leaders in the fight to
defeat Proposition 8 discuss our options now that 8 seems to have passed.
We can expect many legal battles before this is over -- already, the ACLU,
HRC, and the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco are bringing cases
before the court to void the proposition's results.
And our city's mayor, who took such a strong stand against the proposition,
was recognized and then gave a rousing speech encouraging the crowd not to
give up the fight and to press on with our demands for true equal rights.
His daughter and her partner joined him on the stage.
There was some good-natured ribbing from the other leaders on stage, as
Mayor Sanders is a Republican. But, his stand and commitment is so
commendable that everyone gave the mayor a huge round of applause. In fact,
his speech may have been some of the most strident I heard last night.
Thank you, Mayor Sanders.
- T

A Sea Change

2008-11-04T22:06:00.000-08:00

A huge victory was won by Barack Obama and also by the United States tonight.

To think that so many Americans could look past race, an uncomfortably alien-sounding name and only a few years' experience in national politics and elect Barack Obama as our next president. It is truly amazing.

It is very heartening to know that, given the situation we're in today in the United States, we would look to someone with well-articulated, new plans for the country and not to someone mired in the past, linked to the current Republican administration and obviously representative of a less-than-popular, outdated point of view.

Congratulations, Mr Obama -- please serve us and represent us well. I have faith that you will.

And yet, on a night filled with such positive emotions and hope for the future, I'll be going to bed with some disappointment and anger in my heart.

It looks like my fellow Californians will have decided to take away from my fellow gays and lesbians marriage rights currently in place. I couldn't be more saddened that there are so many bigots and religious Neanderthals in my state.

Shame on all of you who voted for Proposition 8. Shame on you for not thinking with your heads and your hearts and instead following the 'party line' set down by the royalty in your various religious sects....

That so many churches got involved and made an election issue into an issue they would spend pulpit time and (tax-free!) money on disgusts me. Why must these bigots take an issue that has NO effect on them (unless they are involved in a gay or lesbian relationship) and push their hate-driven agenda on their 'sheep'? And why must there be so many 'sheep' who can't see past their superstitions?

Speaking in tongues? Handling snakes? Baptizing dead people? Avoiding cheese with beef? Really? You think this crap is still viable in the 21st Century?

Again: shame on you. Now crawl back into your caves.

And to those of you who did the right thing and voted NO on 8, I thank you and hope you know how much your vote is appreciated by those of us for whom you were trying to help secure civil rights.

- T

What if they held a hate-fest . . .

2008-11-01T17:58:00.000-07:00

. . . and nobody came?

S'posed to be about midway through the evil gathering -- sure does look mighty empty, doesn't it?

Did they perhaps fly their brooms instead of drive to the hate-fest?

Vote NO on Proposition 8!

Voodoo Snake-Handling Inquisitionists for 8

2008-11-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

I'm working today -- right next door to Qualcomm Stadium. Usually, we have to deal with visiting Raider groupies or the occasional drunk Charger fan coming through the store.

Today, though, we'll be faced with a far more ridiculous yet malicious visitor: Yes on Proposition 8 religious fanatics.

It seems the religious nuts have decided to hold a 12-hour fast and prayer-athon to ask GAWD to pass Proposition 8. They're gathering at Qualcomm Stadium and fasting for 12 hours, so no food will be served there.

[The mall I work at has the nearest McDonald's and Subway, so you KNOW they'll be sneakin' out around lunchtime and coming over here. I decorated my truck to welcome them. (Don't ya just want to bake some bread and cinnamon rolls and barbecue some ribs next to the stadium -- and then rent a big industrial-sized fan...?)]

So, instead of getting out and building homes for the homeless, cleaning up trash on the highways and beaches or cooking meals for the many hungry families around SoCal, they're wasting hundreds of thousands of man-hours focusing all their hatred and bigotry and evil thoughts on just one cause: bug the old man on the cloud long enough and loud enough that he'll magically revoke civil liberties with his wand.

Very "Christian" of them, isn't it?

- T

Vote No On Proposition 8

2008-10-28T18:29:00.000-07:00

Interesting reaction to my post of yesterday evening.... NO comments, neither positive nor negative. But nonetheless, a HUGE amount of interest created by the posting.

In less than 20 hours, I've had 60+ hits on just that one blog entry. The majority (nearly 50 hits!) are from just two ISPs: the Californian State Senate and the California State Legislature.

Mighty curious.... Are staffers for those politicians listed as endorsing Proposition 8 searching the web to see who has noticed their bosses' bigotry?

Are there actually interns sitting in offices in Sacramento taking a tally? "Senator Tom McClintock: 10 blogs against his support, 2 blogs for. Assemblywoman Mimi Walters: 22 blogs against, 5 blogs for." I sure hope they're unpaid interns.... I can't imagine that the State of California (that is to say: "we taxpayers"), with our dismal budget issues, can afford to PAY people to do this on government time using government internet access.

And now, for your viewing pleasure:

- T

p.s. Had to remove my Google Ads banner on the right side of my site. The first ad I noticed Google had posted there this evening was a "Yes on 8" ad. I'll forgo ad revenue to keep hate speech off my blog, thank you very much! (On the other hand, Google has spoken out against Proposition 8. Much obliged, Sergey Brin.)

Bigots

2008-10-27T23:46:00.000-07:00

There is a chance that Proposition 8 may actually pass -- in 2008 . . . in California!

This would mean that a majority of voters in my own state would want to limit my civil rights and the civil rights of every other gay and lesbian citizen of this state.

And why would they want to do that?

Because they feel threatened. Threatened that somehow, by allowing gays and lesbians to marry, their own marriages would be in danger. Through some magical form of marital transference, two people in one part of the state getting married and living happily ever after with each other would suddenly cause the otherwise stable and happy couple Joe and Jane Breeder in Podunk, California to suddenly turn on each other, causing their marriage to spiral into a deep, unhappy abyss ending eventually in a messy divorce. Jane will become a hooker workin' a truck stop in Blythe and John starts having anonymous sex with young hustlers he picks up along Santa Monica Boulevard....

Sorry, my imagination got the best of me....

But seriously -- there is no affect on your straight marriages, people! We already HAVE gay marriages in California. Can you name one straight marriage that's failing because of it?

I am quite certain that the ONLY reason these groups and individuals are spending so much money and spreading so many lies is . . . BIGOTRY.

Bigotry: Intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself

The largest contributor by far to the Yes on 8 campaign has been the Mormons. (I realize I have recently spent a lot of space here slammin' the Mormon Church -- but, really.... Keep your nose out of my business and I'll lay off your religion, capisce?) But just wait. They're not the ONLY players in the bigot game. There's plenty of bigotry goin' on in this fine state -- and I want you all to have a good, long look at the following list.

See if your neighbor, your dry cleaner, your mom's church or the sweet, old woman on the corner is on this list. Maybe the nice day care provider who watches your children is listed. The restaurant owner you give so much of your hard-earned cash to.... He may be on here, too.

And worse -- look at all the elected official on here! Do they not KNOW that they represent the very people they are trying to oppress? Of course they do - - they just don't care. They think that you support them in their bigotry. Do you?

The worst offenders, as usual in my opinion, are the churches. They MUST keep their damn noses out of politics! Or, they can pay taxes like any other business and carry on with their bigotry. BUT, you don't get it both ways, churches. Stick to what you say is most important to you: love, caring for the poor and sick, feeding the hungry, clothing the indigent.... I believe that's what Jesus was tellin' you folks to do. NOT promote political agendas which take away civil rights! Even I know that much about your religion.

And LDS -- stay in UTAH where you belong. Do not cross over the state line and try to tell us what to do here. I don't come there and tell ya to display your liquor bottles in your bars or to take off your funny undies, do I?

If you do find those you know on here, please confront them. Tell them that they have nothing to be afraid of. No one will annul their marriages, sneak into their bedrooms or void their wedding licenses. (Wait, those are the very things THEY want to do to our marriages!)

And, if you are listed here.... Be aware that "bigot" is really not a pleasant tag to have put on you. In fact, it hasn't gotten much use since bigots were on the wrong side of the Civil Rights Movement in the '60s. You may find you lose friends, that your business contacts stop networking with you or that your parishioners find a more Christian church to attend....

So, in the spirit of California's beautiful, bright sunshine, I herewith list (directly from the Yes on 8 website -- luckily my computer didn't explode when I went there!) all of the bigots who have publicly supported Proposition 8.

PUBLIC OFFICIALS WHO ARE AGAINST CIVIL LIBERTIES:
Senator Dick Ackerman
Senator Sam Aanestad
Senator Roy Ashburn
Senator James Battin, Jr.
Senator Dave Cogdill
Senator Dave Cox
Senator Jeff Denham
Senator Bob Dutton
Senator Tom Harman
Senator Dennis Hollingsworth
Senator Abel Maldonado
Senator Bob Margett
Senator Tom McClintock
Senator George Runner
Senator Mark Wyland
Assemblyman Greg Aghzarian
Assemblyman Joel Anderson
Assemblyman John Benoit
Assemblyman Chuck Devore
Assemblyman Bill Emmerson
Assemblyman Guy Houston
Assemblyman Bob Huff
Assemblyman Rick Keene
Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa
Assemblyman Bill Maze
Assemblyman Mike Duvall
Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi
Assemblyman Roger Niello
Assemblyman George Plescia
Assemblywoman Sharon Runner
Assemblywoman Audra Strickland
Assemblyman Van Tran
Assemblyman Michael Villines
Assemblywoman Mimi Walters
Mayor Candace Andersen, Town of Danville
Mayor Neil C. Blais, City of Rancho Santa Margarita
Michael Calta, Chino Valley Unified School District
Dick Daniels, Escondido Councilmember
Mayor Curt Hagman, City of Chino Hills
San Diego County Supervisor, Bill Horn (District 5)
Mayor Eric King, City of Folsom
Mayor Pro-Tem Dan Kirby, City of Monrovia
Placer County Supervisor Bruze Kranz (District 5)
Imperial County Supervisor Wally Leimgruber (District 5)
San Bernadino County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfel (District 1)
Linda Lindholm- Laguna Niguel Councilmember
Mayor Jeff Miller, City of Corona
Mayor Pro Tem Leroy Mills, City of Cypress
Mayor Pro Tem Robert Ming, City of Laguna Niguel
Mayor Randall Norton, Town of Duncan
Mayor Curt Pringle, City of Anaheim
Frank Ury- Mission Viejo Councilmember
Mayor Todd Seymore, City of Cypress
Mike Spence, West Covina Unified School Board Member
Mayor Pro Tem Justin White, City of Chowchilla
Marie Waldron, Escondido Councilmember
Mayor Dennis Yates, City of Chino
Ken Campbell, Placer County Republican Chairman
Former Assemblyman Ray Haynes
Former Assemblyman Tim Leslie

CHURCHES THAT ARE AGAINST CIVIL LIBERTIES:
A. V. Alpha & Omega Ministries, Palmdale
Abundant Life Assembly of God, Copeland
Abundant Life Christian Fellowship
All Seasons Ministries, El Cajon
Alpha and Omega Arlington Apostolic Church, Riverside
Alpine Anglican Church, Alpine
Amador Family Fellowship
Baldwin Park Church of Christ
Bethel Christian Fellowship
Bible Fellowship Church, Ventura
Biggs Community Assembly of God
Bright Mission Chapel
Bundy Canyon Christian Church and School, Wildomar
Calvary Assembly of God
Calvary Assembly, Milpitas
Calvary Baptist Church
Calvary Baptist Church, Modesto
Calvary Chapel of the Harbour
Calvary Chapel Chino Hills
Calvary Chapel Rancho Santa Margarita
Calvary Christian Center
Calvary Church
Calvary Temple
Camarillo Community Church
Canopy of Prayer Ministries
Canyon View Church of Christ, San Diego
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
Centerpoint Church
Central Baptist Church of Indio
Centro Cristiano Pan De Vida
Chapel in the Pines, Arnold
Chinese Evangelical Free Church, Monterey Park
Chinese Grace Bible Church, Sacramento
Christ Driven Church of Fowler Ca.
Christian Life Assembly
Christian Life Center
Christian Life Tools
Christian Outreach for Armenians, Glendale
Church of Christ, Upland
Church of the Living Christ
Church of the Living God of Perris
Church of the Nazarene
Church of the Rock
Church of Scientology of San Diego
Community Counseling Services, Inc.
Community Christian Alliance Church
Core Christian Fellowship, Murrieta
Cornerstone Baptist Church
Cornerstone Baptist Church, Nicholasville KY
Cornerstone Christian Church, El Dorado Hills
Cornerstone Community Church of San Clemente
Cornerstone Fellowship, Livermore
CrossPoint Community Church of the Nazarene
Dan Kricorian Ministries Int'l
Dayspring Christian Fellowship
Desert Stream Ministries
Destiny Faith Center
Divine Mercy Knights of Columbus (14158), Natomas
Door of Faith Ministries International
East Clairemont Baptist Church, San Diego
Eastside Christian Church
El Cajon Wesleyan Church, El Cajon
Elsinore Christian Center, Lake Elsinore
Evangelical Free Church of Walnut
Faith Chapel Church of God in Christ, San Diego
Faith Community Church by the Sea, Encinitas
Faith Tabernacle
Faith to Faith Fellowship, Temecula
F.C.F. Int'l Ministries
Filipino American Community Church
First Baptist Church Anaheim
First Baptist Church of Fillmore
First Baptist Church of Hesperia
First Baptist Church of Menlo Park
First Baptist Church of Taft
First Baptist Church, Lomita
First Evangelical Church of Cerritos
First Fil-Am Christian Church
First Foursquare Gospel Church of San Jose, San Jose
First Fundamental Bible Church of Monterey Park
First Presbyterian Church, Amarillo TX
First Southern Baptist, Yucca Valley
Fontana Foursquare Church
Foxworthy Baptist Church
Free Indeed Christian Fellowship, Perris
Freedom Community Christian Church, Perris
Freewill Missionary Baptist Church, San Diego
Freewill Missionary Baptist Church, San Diego
Friends Church, Yorba Linda
Friendship Christian Fellowship Church, Moreno Valley
Gem of the Valley Church, Murrieta
God’s Word Church, Apple Valley
Golden Altar Ministries, San Jose
Golden Gate Christian Church
Hamilton Square Baptist Church
Harvest Christian Fellowship
Heart of the Canyons Church
High Desert Church, Victorville
Highland Springs Fellowship, Banning
Hillsdale Baptist Church, North Highlands
Hope Vineyard Church, Santa Clarita
House of Luke, Hemet
Independent Church of Lake Elsinore
Irvine First Chinese Baptist Church
Joy Ministry for Christ, Los Angeles
Jubilee Family Church, Oskaloosa IA
Kingdom Conditioning Ministries, INC.
Koinonia Evangelistic Center, Moreno Valley
Lake Murray Church, Assemblies of God
Life Center Church, Lakewood
Light by the Bay Church, San Lorenzo
Lighthouse Assembly of God, Murrieta
Lighthouse Community Church, Lathrop
Live Ride Christian Church
Living Faith Christian Fellowship, Garden Grove
Living Stones Ministries
Living Word Christian Church, San Diego
Love and Unity Church of God in Christ, Compton
Luke Four Eighteen Ministries International, Temecula
Maranatha Chapel
Maranatha Chapel, Rancho Bernardo
Menlo Park Community Church of God in Christ, Menlo Park
Meridian Southern Baptist, El Cajon
Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, San Diego
Mountain View Community Church, Temecula
Mount Zion Assemblies
Napoleon Washington, Jr. Evangelistic Assn.
Nations Harvest Church, Sunnyvale
New Birth Kingdom Covenant
New Covenant Ministries Christian Fellowship
New Day Church
New Destiny Christian Church, Inc.
New Life Presbyterian Church
New Light Church of God, Riverside
New Seasons Church
Newhall Church of the Nazarene
New Venture Christian Fellowship
Northside Christian Church
Oasis of Faith Christian Center
Oroville Nazarene Church
Our Lady of the Redwoods Catholic Church
Our Redeemer Lives Church, Lake Elsinore
Paradise Hills Southern Baptist Church
Progressive M.B.C. of Berkeley
Rancho Baptist Church, Temecula
Ray of Hope Church, Pomona
Redemption Christian Fellowship
Refuge Ministries
Resurrection Power Ministries
Revival Christian Fellowship, Menifee
Ripon Grace Brethren Church
Rose Drive Friends Church, Yorba Linda
Rubidoux First Assembly of God
San Antonio Heights Community Church, San Bernardino
San Diego Christian Worship Center, San Diego
San Jose Church of Christ, San Jose
San Jose Foursquare Church, San Jose
San Jose Open Bible Church, San Jose
San Jose Word of Faith Christian Center, San Jose
San Mateo Pro Life
Santa Rosa Diocesan Council of Catholic Women
Set Free Ministries of San Diego, San Diego
Seventh Day Sabbath Second Advent Church
Sierra Madre Congregational Church
Shepherd of the Hills
Skyline Wesleyan Church, El Cajon
Solid Ground Brethren in Christ Church, Alta Loma
Sonoma Valley Community Church
South Coast Christian Assembly
South Valley Christian Church, San Jose
Southwest Christian Church, Temecula
Southwest Community Church, Indian Wells
Spirit Life Worship Center
St. Andrew Orthodox Church
St. Joseph Church
St Timothy Orthodox Church
St. Mary Catholic Church
St. Patrick's Church
State College Blvd. Church of Christ, Anaheim
Survivors of Assault Recovery/Living Word Christian Church, San Diego
TEN27 Church
The Bridge Church
The Calvary Chapel Churches
The Church of God of Prophecy, National City
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
The Home Church, Campbell
The Oasis Foursquare Church
The Rock Church, San Diego
Trinity Baptist Church
Tyler Baptist Church, Riverside
Valley Christian Church, Chino
Victory International Church, San Mateo
Victory Outreach of Eagle Rock
Vineyard Family Christian Fellowship, Downey
Vista Hope Church of the Nazarene
Voices of Hope Ministries
Whittier Church of Christ, Whittier
Wildwood Calvary Chapel
Windsor Hills Baptist Church, La Mesa
Word of Life Ministries Int’l, Riverside
Word of Truth Ministries
World Overcomers Church International
Zion Christian Fellowship, Spring Valley
Zion Lutheran Church, North Highlands, CA

INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE AGAINST CIVIL LIBERTIES:
A-K
L-Z

Now, get out there and vote next Tuesday! Our country's future and the future of many of the marriages of my friends depends on it.

- T

Palin Pants

2008-10-27T21:23:00.000-07:00

More than a month now since I've touched my blog.... I'm setting a weekly alarm to remind me to post something, ANYTHING!, once a week! I've got so much to write about, including our recent trip to New York.

Got a few things to get off my chest immediately, though, and this is one of them.

Sarah Palin (the right-wing, anti-choice, anti-gay-marriage, ultra-religious cuckoo that McCain chose as his running-mate) has been given a wardrobe worth $150,000 by the Republicans. Actually, she didn't get the entire budget -- they spent some of the cash on her husband and children.

Now, don't get me wrong -- I'm more than happy to see some of the Republican's budget going for something as useless and clothes and makeup, instead of funneling the funds into another ad campaign. But it turns out that not only is this squandering of money in EXTREMELY bad taste when our economy is in the crapper and the two of them are claiming to be on the side of the average Joe, but it is ALSO illegal!

See, we've got got something called the FEC (Federal Election Commission). The FEC is in charge of enforcing campaign laws -- which state that you may not use election funds for personal use SUCH AS BUYIN' YOURSELF NEIMAN-MARCUS DESIGNER OUTFITS AND MAKEUP!!!

So, I say: lock up the lot of them. I'm not sure how many laws you can break (KEATING FIVE, TROOPERGATE) before you don't get elected and DO go to jail.

- T

The View From The Top Of Manhattan

2008-10-01T18:47:00.000-07:00

Republican Gaffe of the Campaign?!

2008-09-03T22:55:00.000-07:00

WHOOPS!

After all the hardened, saccharine-looking smiles on the faces of the Republicans this week when asked about the choice of Palin for running-mate, and after all of the forced-sounding soundbites proclaiming Palin to be the best thing since sliced bread.... After all of that GOP-speak, we finally get to hear exactly what two top Republican strategists REALLY think about McCain's huge mistake in choosing Palin.

Peggy Noonan (speech writer and special assistant to Reagan), and former McCain campaign manager Michael Murphy were caught red-tongued when the mic was left open after a piece they were doing with Chuck Todd on MSNBC.

(Thanks to the Christian Science Monitor and Talking Points Memo for the following transcript):

Chuck Todd: Mike Murphy, lots of free advice, we’ll see if Steve Schmidt and the boys were watching. We’ll find out on your blackberry. Tonight voters will get their chance to hear from Sarah Palin and she will get the chance to show voters she’s the right woman for the job Up next, one man who’s already convinced and he’ll us why Gov. Jon Huntsman.

(cut away)

Peggy Noonan: Yeah.

Mike Murphy: You know, because I come out of the blue swing state governor world: Engler, Whitman, Tommy Thompson, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush. I mean, these guys — this is how you win a Texas race, just run it up. And it’s not gonna work. And –

PN: It’s over.

MM: Still McCain can give a version of the Lieberman speech to do himself some good.

CT: I also think the Palin pick is insulting to Kay Bailey Hutchinson, too.

PN: Saw Kay this morning.

CT: Yeah, she’s never looked comfortable about this –

MM: They’re all bummed out.

CT: Yeah, I mean is she really the most qualified woman they could have turned to?

PN: The most qualified? No! I think they went for this — excuse me– political bull**** about narratives –

CT: Yeah they went to a narrative.

MM: I totally agree.

PN: Every time the Republicans do that, because that’s not where they live and it’s not what they’re good at, they blow it.

MM: You know what’s really the worst thing about it? The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical.

CT: This is cynical, and as you called it, gimmicky.

MM: Yeah.

Click this link for the news story and click here for the YouTubed video of the debacle.

Refreshing to know that even the Republican strategists are thinking EXACTLY what the typical American is thinking about the Palin choice!

- T

Way to go, Pelosi!!!

2008-07-17T23:23:00.000-07:00

California's congresswoman and the US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi ROCKED today! She was on Wolf Blitzer's show on CNN and spoke some hard truths about GWB:

"You know, God bless him, bless his heart, the president of the United States, a total failure, losing all credibility with the American people on the economy, on the war, on energy, you name the subject."

She also said: " We're trying to sweep up after (Bush's) mess over and over and over again ... The president knows it. He needs something to talk about. Because he has no ideas."

Attagirl! Not nearly as much has been done as promised since she and other Democrats took the majority in the House -- but a lot of that has to do with the Senate's slim Democratic majority not being enough to pass these bills due to Republican senators blocking everything sent their way.

What HAS upset me is how quiet and soft-spoken she and other Democrats have been about the "Mission Accomplished" by our fearless leader.... FINALLY she's speaking her -- and our -- mind!

- T

Get out of my bedroom, Mr Monson!

2008-06-26T11:36:00.000-07:00

Mormons enter Calif. marriage fight

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is asking California members to join the effort to amend that state's constitution to define marriage as being between a man and a woman.

A letter sent to Mormon bishops and signed by church president Thomas S. Monson and his two top counselors calls on Mormons to donate "means and time" to the ballot measure. A note on the letter dated June 20 says it should be read during church services June 29, but the letter was published Saturday on several Web sites. (thanks to Gay.com)
-------------------------------

So, apparently the new LDS prez does not yet realize he's in the 21st Century with the rest of us.... You'd think he'd bring an open mind, a loving heart and some basic human decency and understanding to his new post. BUT NO! Not a chance -- he's going after my friends and trying to influence legislation outside of his own state -- here in California.

Wait a minute.... Aren't there certain legal responsibilities churches must take on in order to remain tax exempt? Why, yes Todd, there are. So, what does the tax code say about this? Why, it says:

-------------------------------
Exemption Requirements
To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates. (thanks to IRS.gov) <<< [never thought I'd have an occasion to put THAT in print...!]
-------------------------------

So, mind your manners, mind your decency and MIND THE LAW, Monson! Do NOT think you are somehow immune (or protected by your holy underwear) from the laws of this country. And, please: stay tucked away in Utah where you may influence as many sheep as you like. Stay out of MY state's legislation and out of MY bedroom (unless I invite you there)!

- T

White House, Black House -- I Don't Care, Just Boot Out The Republicans!

2008-06-26T01:34:00.000-07:00

This is one of the most distasteful things I've seen in a long time. These buttons were sold at the Republican Party's State Convention in . . . [drum roll please!] . . . Texas. (Big surprise.)

Throughout the primary campaign, I had to continually re-adjust my choice of candidates. Just as I would find one who suited my wishes for what I wanted the future Democratic candidate (and hopefully, President) to stand for, he would drop out. Kucinich, Edwards, Clinton....

There was a point, long before the primaries had even begun, when I began to hear Obama's name bantered about. He had spoken so eloquently at the 2004 Democratic Convention and I began to listen to podcasts of other speeches he had made. He showed himself to be a great speaker and a man with some reasonable, forward-thinking ideas.

BUT, very early on in the primary cycle, he made a huge error in judgment. At a rally, he chose to have a homophobic gospel singer perform and help him raise money for the campaign. And when he was called out for such a massive mis-step, his only reaction was to offer to counter the homophobe by having a pro-gay speaker appear at another time during the event.

So, his way of trying to rid his campaign of homophobia was NOT to remove the homophobe from the line-up, but rather to try a half-baked attempt at appeasement. Disgusting.

How would it look if I ran for public office and had a card-carryin' KKK member speak at my rally and raise money for me? Then, when called on it, I grudgingly found a representative from the NAACP to also speak...?? Funny, some things don't just require you to present two points of view. Some things should not be said in the first place. Every time there is a news story about an achievement by someone who is black, we don't counter that story with some Klanmember's press conference, do we?

So, I lost interest and faith in Obama. As a gay man, I've seen this double standard reaction before: a member of a minority who somehow, even though he or she has faced all kinds of adversity in life, does not recognize bigotry for what it is when the target is someone else. Or worse, condones and encourages said bigotry.

(I feel the same way when I hear about Asian-owned stores in black neighborhoods being vandalized, ransacked or worse because the residents don't like the Asians making money off of them in their areas.... What the...? Look in the mirror, bub -- you're a minority just like they are -- have some compassion, work together, build some alliances, put yourself in someone else's shoes, etc. Your histories may not be the same, nor your looks, nor your difficulties -- but surely you'd gain more from working together and increasing your influence than battling with each other, one small group against another small group?)

Anyway, Obama went from that debacle to the crazy priest problem at his favorite church.... Not to mention the other religious guy Pfleger and his rant s.

So, I kinda ended up with Obama as my candidate as his last opponent (Hillary) fell out of the race.... He was not my first (nor second, nor third) choice. Nonetheless, he is going to be the Democratic candidate in November. And when presented with the two choices, Obama and McCain, there really is only one choice for me and for what future I would like this country to pursue.

Let's just hope that, between now and November, the campaign doesn't get much uglier than this button -- and that we can get a Democrat back into the White House without too many racial epithets. There may have been a time when such sentiments were considered funny, but those days are long, long gone and today such jokes are seen as sad and childish. Get into the 21st Century, GOP, or continue to lose your place in politics as the old, racist, right-wing assholes die off and can't (legally) vote for your backwards candidates anymore. At some point, there won't be anyone left who would buy and wear such crap as that button, much less vote for your candidates....

- T

p.s. I have been very neglectful of my blog -- in part because of long hours and more responsibilities at work and in part because of time spent on other things. I vow to try and devote a short writing session at least once a week to let ya know what's on my mind or new in the world of Todd.

More Californians Support Gay Marriage Than Oppose It

2008-05-28T23:51:00.000-07:00

In a poll conducted between May 17 and May 26 by Field Poll, it was found that more Californians now support gay marriage than oppose it.

The poll found that 51 percent of respondents backed legalizing same-sex marriage and 42 percent opposed it, DiCamillo said.

In 2006, when participants were asked, "Do you approve or disapprove of California allowing homosexuals to marry members of their own sex?" 44 percent said they approved and 50 percent objected. In 1977, the first year Field posted the question to voters, 28 percent approved and 59 percent were opposed. - The Associated Press

Way to go, fellow Californians! You're lookin' mighty progressive there!

- T

Gay Marriage Ban DISSOLVED!

2008-05-18T13:11:00.000-07:00

It is truly unbelievable -- and unexpected to this blogger. I was not expecting ANY movement on this issue until winter, when the California public is due to vote on amending our state constitution with a BAN on gay marriage.

[Could anything be more disgusting than wishing to amend our constitution in order to DENY a minority group of CITIZENS their human rights?!? Is this the 1800s? Are we not due the same damn rights as the straight citizens of California? Can a decent, loving, straight voter in this state REALLY stand in the voting booth and morally cast his vote to deny rights to me and my beloved friends...? If you can somehow justify doing this in your mind, all I can say is SHAME ON YOU.]

And yet, perhaps temporarily, those who wish will shortly be able to join their partner in marriage. If you are at all the marrying type, and you are in a committed, loving relationship -- by all means, MARRY!

If any one thing could keep this from being a short-lived blip on the radar screen, it is a large, vocal group being threatened with having their marriages revoked by the evil majority.

- T

p.s. If you have the stomach for this kind of bile, read an LA Times article describing the kind of hateful people we will be up against this November....

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Yours, A. Einstein

2008-05-16T10:31:00.000-07:00

... I read a great deal in the last days of your book, and thank you very much for sending it to me. What especially struck me about it was this. With regard to the factual attitude to life and to the human community we have a great deal in common.

... The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this. These subtilized interpretations are highly manifold according to their nature and have almost nothing to do with the original text. For me the Jewish religion like all other religions is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions. And the Jewish people to whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no different quality for me than all other people. As far as my experience goes, they are also no better than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything 'chosen' about them.

In general I find it painful that you claim a privileged position and try to defend it by two walls of pride, an external one as a man and an internal one as a Jew. As a man you claim, so to speak, a dispensation from causality otherwise accepted, as a Jew the privilege of monotheism. But a limited causality is no longer a causality at all, as our wonderful Spinoza recognized with all incision, probably as the first one. And the animistic interpretations of the religions of nature are in principle not annulled by monopolization. With such walls we can only attain a certain self-deception, but our moral efforts are not furthered by them. On the contrary.

Now that I have quite openly stated our differences in intellectual convictions it is still clear to me that we are quite close to each other in essential things, i.e. in our evaluations of human behavior. What separates us are only intellectual 'props' and 'rationalization' in Freud's language. Therefore I think that we would understand each other quite well if we talked about concrete things. With friendly thanks and best wishes

Yours,

A. Einstein

[Thanks to the Guardian for printing this excerpt of a letter written by Einstein in 1954.]

- T

Oh, Mrs. Beasley -- what have you become...?

2008-05-07T22:27:00.000-07:00

Unbelievable what some kids still have to put up with in the more backwards, under-developed areas of the country....

Take a look at this blog entry and see for yourself what a PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL thinks is proper behavior based on rational judgment. This bitch, one Daphne Beasley, decided it was her place to out two gay students in her high school to not only faculty and other students -- but to the students' parents!!

Anyone who has dealt with the coming-out process knows that it has to be handled on a one-on-one basis. Some people tell their parents at an early age, others wait until they're safely away from home and not in danger of being evicted from their parents' home or even of being physically abused by their parents. And others may choose to never tell their families they are gay.

And yet here is someone supposedly educated -- and not only educated, but educated in childhood development -- who felt it was her place to tell the school, the faculty, the parents.... And why? No, not out of her sense of caring towards these students. Not because the students had caused a "scene" at the school, whatever that might mean. (They hadn't, by the way.) She outed them because she "didn't like gay people and wouldn't tolerate homosexuality at her school". Way to go, Memphis -- you sure can pick ya some damn fine principals there in the land of buck teeth and hayseeds.

And, remember -- this isn't some religious school where the students were told beforehand they couldn't reveal that they are gay, had to wear funny plaid skirts or kneel on a wooden beam before god. No -- this is a PUBLIC school, paid for with PUBLIC tax dollars -- which also pay this bitch's salary.... Again, way to go, Memphis....

Oh, if you'd like to e-mail Daph and let her know what you think of her modern education policies, you can reach her at: beasleyd@mcsk12.net

- T

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Just a few things...

2008-05-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

Suspicions Confirmed: “All-natural” Pinkberry frozen yogurt isn’t quite, but the founder of the firm thought he could legally say it that way because the “yogurt” part was all-natural, even if the dozen-or-so additives weren’t....

Tempe, Ariz., motorist David Lopez grabbed his gun to threaten an allegedly lousy driver in a Road Rage Moment, but then, while waving it around, Lopez accidentally shot himself.

[News of the Weird, Thursday, April 24, 2008]

Man, I love this kind of stuff.... We have SO much horrible news in the world -- food prices rising so quickly that it may lead to famine, war (Iraq, the threat of war with Iran, other conflicts going on around the world), that poor messed-up family in Austria and the even worse events south of San Angelo, TX. It is nice to know someone is still tracking the News of the Weird.

Thank you, Chuck Shepherd!

In other news: I've been playin' around this week with using Flickr instead of/along with Picasa for photo upload and sharing.... Many of my friends use Flickr, the interaction with others is really nice, the organization tools are great and easy to use (even after the photos have been uploaded).... And yet, I somehow think things will get complicated posting some photos in one spot, others in another.... Who else has used both products? What kind of suggestions do you have?

- T

Tag - You're It!

2008-04-29T00:18:00.000-07:00

My days off went by too quickly. We went to a friend's 40th birthday party on Saturday. It was a great party but I wasn't really feeling it. I think my mind was elsewhere....

I worked part of the day Sunday (my day off) -- but made up for my diligence at work by partying quite a bit at the Hole later that afternoon! I definitely enjoyed my evening with Bill, Tj. and the gang at the Hole.

And today was a HOT one -- close to 95°. I spent most of the day sitting at home, staying cool, browsing the web, checking out friends' Flickr pix.... Not very productive -- until around 3 p.m., when a buddy came by and we went biking for 2+ hours. (With a much-needed pizza stop and a more needed Gatorade stop along the way.) Has anyone of you ever ridden your bike up/down the huge hill on Juniper St in South Park? I am way too much of a wuss and always get off and walk it.

This was posted on a blog I've taken to reading on a regular basis. The girl seems so cool -- and so very different from me. Nonetheless, she seems like someone I'd take a liking to. Hi, Ehu!

******************************
What were you doing 10 years ago?
Hmmm, my memory's not the best at [cough] 39.... Let's see, 1998.... I was living with Tj. in San Francisco! We were having a great time living on Hermann St behind the Safeway (although the other tenants in the building SUCKED!) and working downtown. That March, I moved from a job as Asst Front Office Mgr at a high-end, Japanese-run hotel just off Market St to a fun, smaller hotel near Union Square where I was Front Office Manager. Weekends were a blast and were spent exploring the city during the day and having a beer at the Eagle, Lonestar, Daddy's or the Edge at night. We also got out of town occasionally and went to Guerneville and the whole Russian River area. Fort Ross was as far north up the California coast as we ever made it.

5 things on my to do list:
1. Ship my uncle's birthday gift. I heard he was fond of one of my photos (see above) and I had a huge print (15 x 45) made for him.
2. Start my upper-body and abs workout. I've been successfully losing weight (about 8 lbs in 2 months) and getting out biking, hiking, walking.... BUT, I'm not happy with the lack of arm/chest definition I have right now. (I have to brag, though, that my calves and legs look damn good lately!)
3. Clean my desk at home. My desk at work is neat and clean -- can not say the same about the one at home. (Or the storage shelves behind it, either.)
4. Find out if my sister was able to download the QuickTime video I sent my nephew. It was kinda big -- I might have to load it to a server and send her the link.
5. Finally learn more about KPBS's Reading for the Blind service. I've been meaning to check into volunteering my time, but never seem to find the time to apply. This week at the latest!

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. Trail mix -- prefer it to have yogurt-covered raisins or M&Ms, please
2. Wheat Thins
3. Chocolate -- of any kind
4. Marzipan
5. Baby carrots -- gotta put SOMETHING healthy on here!

5 places I've lived:
1. Chicago, IL
2. Monterey, CA
3. San Angelo, TX
4. Augsburg, Germany
5. Hamburg, Germany (I could keep going -- guess I'll stop at 5)

5 jobs I've had:
1. Busy Bee Bakery (one day and I was outta there)
2. Arboretum View Animal Hospital - all-around clean-up and surgery prep guy. One of the best jobs I've ever had
3. 98C1L-RU/GE
4. Night auditor at the Holiday Inn Munich-Schwabing where I had a lecherous boss
5. English teacher at Inlingua in Augsburg (excellent job, great co-workers, fun students -- one of my favorite jobs!)
******************************

- T

Apologies to Warhol

2008-04-25T18:51:00.001-07:00

I am now the proud owner of a new MacBook. My PowerBook was beginning to show its age. It had seen me through thick and thin: being carted around town in my backpack and a move from San Diego to Hamburg and back again.

Five years of pretty much daily use had taken its toll. Recently I had the hard drive replaced after it kicked the big one. (A recent backup made that less of a major heartache than it could have been.)

Then, just a few weeks ago, the superdrive (CD/DVD burner) failed on me. I think I wanted to rip some Jamiroquai songs into iTunes [don't laugh!] when, instead of calmly taking the CD and opening iTunes, my PowerBook took the disc and spit it right back out again. How rude! Our relationship was never to be the same again.

I began looking at replacement options and felt the MacBook Pros were too big to be very portable. (They come in 15 and 17-inch sizes.) I was used to the carry-in-one-hand-while-juggling-a-Starbucks-and-a-pastry-in-the-other 12-inch size of my PowerBook. Also, at nearly double the clamshells, price became a factor, too.

But white? I'm just not really a bright colors, everything white kinda guy.... Luckily, the MacBook also comes in a great matte black.... You know which one I got!

And, once it arrived and I tested it out -- it was all over. The speed, the brightness of the new glossy 13.3-inch screen, the amazingly quick reaction times -- and the features in the new OS X Leopard. I haven't looked back.

The PowerBook got a good home, though. Tj. had been eyeing up my PowerBook for a while -- he'd been wanting to experiment with GarageBand, iPhoto, maybe even purchase Aperture.... So, along with his many other PCs, Unix boxes and Sun machine, he now has a Mac to hack away on.

- T

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Palomar Mountain - Take Two!

2008-04-21T19:16:00.000-07:00

Took another drive out to Palomar Mountain today. I met a buddy at IHOP in Escondido and, after breakfast, we drove out to Love Valley and got a short, easy hike in there.

Then we headed up to the State Park. We chose what we thought was a medium hike from Doane Pond to Scott's Cabin -- but the map didn't really tell us it was up the side of a large hill/small mountain! (That on top of the 5500-ft elevation left me panting a bit. But, I adjusted to the slightly thinner air fairly quickly.) And, at the end of the trail called Scott's Cabin, it turns out there is no cabin.... False advertising? :-)

The missing cabin notwithstanding, I got to enjoy a great day out on a mountain, a good workout (man, my calves are tight tonight!) and some damn funny conversation!

- T

"Hey! Preachers! Leave them kids alone!"

2008-04-18T23:36:00.000-07:00

OK, I've said it before (and fairly recently) and I apparently have to say it again -- LEAVE THE KIDS OUT OF IT! We all have heard and read about the FLDS cult in Texas that has been in the news the past week or two. (And we've certainly all seen the crazy 1800s garb and hair-don'ts that the women wear....)

More important than what the adults do in their big white barn/church, how bad their fashion sense is, what kind of damn bread they bake or how many men or women or cows they each screw around with and how often - - - HOW MANY CHILDREN HAVE THEY BRAINWASHED AND HAD SEX WITH?!

"The custody case is one of the largest in U.S. history and involves children from 6 months to 17 years in age. Roughly 100 of the children are under age 4.

State officials contend the children were being physically and sexually abused or were in imminent danger of such abuse. In initial court filings, they said girls were forced into spiritual marriages — relationships ordained by the church but not legally recognized — with adult men and that boys were conditioned to be abusers as they grew up." - The Associated Press

Do you know that some of these kids can NOT identify their own parents? Some of them have never left the compound -- and some of them are having sex with men IN THEIR FIFTIES AND SIXTIES?!?!

So, once again: do what you please. Wear whatever weird polyester farm dresses you like, go for the full-body underwear, wear a beanie or a necklace made of flower petals. Pray to Jehovah, Jah/Yah, Yahweh, Allah, Zeus, Satan, Thor or even some kook tax accountant from Utah (photo above) or his loopy rapist son - - - go right ahead. But leave the children out of it. (Again, I refer to my previous post.)

Thank you and good night.

- T

GraphJam

2008-04-15T23:44:00.000-07:00

From the guys who brought you icanhascheezburger.com, it's self-proclaimed " pop culture for people in cubicles".

There are too many charts and graphs relating to rap lyrics, but the ones I actually understood I thought were at least clever and sometimes even damn funny!

- T

Disneyland and Record Heat

2008-04-14T02:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday (Sunday) broke temperature records for this date in Anaheim, CA -- 102°F!! Disney was tied for the highest temperature in the US yesterday -- and it was truly baking.

I slathered on the 30 SPF and got through the day without a sunburn. What I did manage to have, though, was a very good time.

View the pix, if you'd like.

- T

Disneyland Fireworks

2008-04-12T21:49:00.000-07:00

We're joining a bunch o' guys at Disney tomorrow. And, we're in luck -- the
weather should be hot and sunny. (Hurray! Water rides!)

Tonight, though, we had a quiet evening. Dinner at CPK and the fireworks from
our hotel balcony.

- T

Heh heh heh heh

2008-04-09T23:36:00.001-07:00

Thanks, xkcd, for a little bit of laughter before bed.

- T

Wisconsin Pix

2008-04-08T23:20:00.000-07:00

You've read blog entries about the trip, you've seen shots of the Chicago part of the journey -- now be astounded by the actual photos taken in Door County, Wisconsin!

Took me long enough, I know. And what you see is actually only the first part. There's another batch of Easter pictures to come soon.

(You know the drill: click the pic, the post title above or worm your way through the web by clicking the Picasa link on the right.)

- T

Love Valley and Palomar Mountain

2008-04-07T23:15:00.001-07:00

Hard to believe I had never been to Palomar Mountain until today. Beautiful countryside (although marred by the effects of the huge county-wide fires last year), winding country roads, lakes, an observatory. What had I been waiting for?!

Click the picture to the left or the post title to see today's pictures. (I decided to try out Tj.'s Canon Rebel XT today -- had some learning-curve issues, along with some dust or dirt on the lens -- but overall, I'm happy with the results.)

- T

Love Valley Meadow

2008-04-07T13:42:00.000-07:00

Having a good day hiking out in the Palomar Mountain area. Beautiul out
here....
- T

Swarovski-Crystal-Encrusted Nespresso Coffee Machine

2008-04-06T22:40:00.001-07:00

Mmmm.... Coffee from condensed coffee capsules AND Swarovski crystals...?! All for only 4000 bucks?

My birthday's in October, everyone. And you might want to coordinate with each other -- I don't need more than one. (I'd just end up re-gifting the extra ones anyways....)

- T

Late night . . .

2008-04-06T00:10:00.001-07:00

. . . at the Ould Sod! [Diana and Patrick (our friends from El Centro) and Bill]

- T

Merrell Outland Hiking Shoes

2008-04-05T18:46:00.001-07:00

I've needed some stable, good-gripping, hiking shoes for a while. (Don't want me fallin' off a mountain, do ya? DO YA?!)

So, after hearing Dave rave about Merrell shoes for so long, I decided to try 'em, along with some others. Finally decided to go for these Merrell's. (Like the fit so far and the color -- just not that the color's called Beluga Blue -- like a whale...?!)

Will get to try them out at Palomar Mountain on Monday. Watch for pix to follow.

-T

A stolen sunny afternoon . . .

2008-04-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

. . . Paul van Dyk on my iPod . . .

. . . a walk in the park . . .

It's not so hard to put a smile on my face.

- T

"I'm In Charge Here"

2008-04-02T16:10:00.000-07:00

I've been with IKEA for almost 8 years -- most of that time as a manager.

Somehow, though, I've been lucky enough to avoid the Duty Manager
roster.... Until now.

Not that it's that bad to pull the duty, but it does take out of my day and
keeps me from my 'real' work.

But, I'm actually really good with customers and can usually calm them down
or put a smile on their face. And, it's only a few shifts a month, so it's
a nice change of pace from my regular behind-the-scenes job.

- T

Murdering Your Child Out Of Religious Conviction

2008-03-31T21:56:00.000-07:00

So, take a look at this ABC News story....

And now read this UPI news article....

And then tell me again why it's OK for religious parents and the churches to which they belong to have ANY say in how a child's health issues are dealt with?

And then tell me why the parents in these two cases should NOT be rotting in jail with no medical care, ever?

And then tell me exactly WHY the churches they belong to shouldn't be closed and the priests who preside over them shouldn't be jailed...?

Tell ya what -- if you turn 18 and you (somehow, outta the blue, cuz the great Bejeezus spoke to you) decide you want to go run off and join some lunatic fringe group, go ahead.

BUT -- there will be some rules: no talking to your kids about your weird man in the sky obsession, no taking them to your speaking-in-tongues, bobbing-your-heads, dunking-your-babies, playing-with-snakes, burning-your-incense, wearing-your-yarmulkes bullshit brainwashing sessions. You just leave them with the rational babysitter on Sunday or Saturday, be sure they attend school, are well-fed and clothed, get regular medical treatment -- and leave your crazy god ideas far away from the kids.

Because, at some point, you'll either just let them die while you wave your hands over them and ask your fairy godmother for help -- or they'll grow up to be religious freaks like you and I'll have to deal with them later in life.

- T

Chicago Pix

2008-03-30T23:20:00.001-07:00

I spent some time today working on the last of my Chicago pictures. I posted them here, if you'd like to see them.

That still leaves, hmmm . . . 140 pictures from the Wisconsin part of the trip to sort through, clean up and post. Yikes.

- T

. . . too much beer . . . ?

2008-03-30T13:58:00.000-07:00

Turns out 4 imperial pints = 80 ounces = 2.366 liters
(As a reference, a regular U.S. 6-pack = 72 ounces)
So, last night, we each drank the equivalent of a 6-pack of Harp,
plus an additional 8-ounce glass

Doesn't sound like THAT much -- so why does my head feel so fuzzy today?

- T

Something Stinks...

2008-03-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

Oh, yeah -- now I remember:

WORKING SATURDAY STINKS!

- T

M3 and Apertivo

2008-03-27T21:39:00.000-07:00

OK, first I've gotta say this is the last time I'll refer to Dave's new beau Mike as M3. Now that I've met the guy, I realize he deserves more than a letter/number designation! Unfortunately, there are already PLENTY of Mikes in town.... Got a middle name, Mike? Maybe a nickname? How about "Sparky"?

We got a sneak preview of Mike at dinner tonight -- before the rest of you guys tear him to pieces tomorrow night! Gotta say he seems like a really nice guy. Pleasant, friendly, very cute. [Ad-lib your own "So what is he doing with Dave?" joke here.]

Dinner was fine -- too much penne! But, amazingly, we polished off nearly all the plates we'd ordered. Although, for a while at least two appetizers had to be in motion at any one time for everything else to fit on the table.

So, here's to Mike. May he find Dave as endearing and lovable as many of us have.

- T

Back Home (aaahhh-CHOOOO!)

2008-03-25T10:48:00.000-07:00

The trip back to San Diego was not the most pleasant. All three of us are in one stage or another of a cold/flu thingy.... I was the least buggy at the time, so I tackled the drive from Door County to O'Hare. Even with quite a bit of construction, there was little traffic and we made great time.

It turns out the worst way to fly is when you are all stuffed up, sneezing, congested -- and (like Bill) feverish. Ugh. The 5-hr drive and 4-1/2-hr flight seemed to last two days....

Easter with the family was great, though. While Bill and I continued to nap at the hotel, Tj. (who was still feeling well at the time) went to my folks' place and worked on Easter dinner. Later in the the afternoon, he drove back to the hotel and shuttled us to a wonderful meal! Thanks, Tj.!

Today was supposed to be our first workday -- but, with the bug, we've all decided to take an additional recuperation day and rest at home. (I HAVE been able to work on some of the photos from my trip -- I took nearly 400 over the 10 days, cleaned up the first 80 or so -- and posted the first 'presentable' ones on my Picasa site.)

- T

Too Good To Post Only One!

2008-03-22T20:59:00.000-07:00

I had no idea such things existed -- romance novels for the Amish? Or maybe they're written for the Mennonite audience (they've always been the racier sect of the two, haven't they?!)

My bro-in-law suggested the one should have included its full title: "On Her Own: Her First Zipper". :-)

Some research shows Wisconsin now has the fourth-largest population of Old Order Amish, as sons and grandsons move further west and away from more traditional Amish areas to find affordable farm land. (I have always been a fan of New Order myself....)

- T

Late Winter -- Door County

2008-03-21T15:40:00.000-07:00

While buzzing around today helping my parents clear out their old house and moving some of the 'keepables' back to their new place, we made a few stops to take some photos.

Although much of the country is feeling the warmer temps of a spring thaw, the weather here in Door County, Wisconsin is still in deep winter mode. Teens at night, low 30s during the day -- and today it has been threatening to flurry.

This farm caught my eye -- it's on the east side of the peninsula (less touristy, more actual working farms.)

I'm not a fan of cold weather, but there's a certain mood set by dark, cloudy skies and snow on the ground that I really appreciate and enjoy.

- T

Husby's Restaurant and Bar

2008-03-20T13:15:00.000-07:00

. . . in Sister Bay, Wisconsin.

Thinking of you, Bryson!

- T

Bush Blathers for 20 Minutes; Popularity Plummets

2008-03-20T07:39:00.001-07:00

Quoted from CNN.com:

Poll: Bush's popularity hits new low

WASHINGTON (CNN)
Five years after he green-lighted the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, President
Bush faced strikingly low approval ratings as he reaffirmed his commitment
to "accept no outcome but victory" in the war.

Just 31 percent of Americans approve of how President Bush is handling his
job, according to a poll released Wednesday, the anniversary of the start
of the conflict in 2003.

Sixty-seven percent of those questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research
Corporation survey disapprove of the president's performance.

The 31 percent approval number is a new low for Bush in CNN polling and is
40 points lower than the president's number at the start of the Iraq war.

During a speech at the Pentagon Wednesday, the president called the debate
over Iraq "understandable" but insisted that a continued U.S. presence in
the region was crucial.

"Defeating this enemy in Iraq will make it less likely we will face this
enemy here at home," he said.

"We're helping the people of Iraq establish a democracy in the heart of the
Middle East. A free Iraq will fight terrorists instead of harboring them."
- -

Delusional and with no support of the people -- that's our president!

- T

My New Nephew

2008-03-19T20:15:00.000-07:00

We've been busier than you might think here in northern Wisconsin.

Socializin' with the family, taking a long walk around town while the
weather was bearable today (low 40s for part of the afternoon -- but it'll
only reach the 30s the rest of the week), helping my bro-in-law move his
camper and charge up his mint-condition red '74 Fiat convertible..... ($3500 if
anyone's interested.)

But, I still found time to take some great shots of Luke, my new nephew. In the meantime,
a shot from my Treo.

- T

Tj....

2008-03-18T06:35:00.001-07:00

really gets into the St. Patrick's Day spirit (with a little help from a
local Chicago entertainer....)

- T

...and now it's snowing...

2008-03-17T17:32:00.000-07:00

Last night ended up being a "stay-in-and-order-Chinese" night. We got lots
of sleep and then headed downtown this morning to meet my aunt for lunch.

After a great lunch (Volare for Italian food) and walking around Michigan
Ave and State St, we dropped my aunt off at the train station and headed
back to Lakeview.

While on the bus, the snow started. The pic is of Tj. and Bill in the
flurries on our way to the Threadless retail store.

Yahoo! Love their shirts! Tj. bought one (Clockwork Kit) and Bill's
ordering two online right now that they didn't have in his size
(Color-Coded Criminals and Make Love Not War.)

- T

Late Afternoon, Michigan Ave

2008-03-16T19:08:00.000-07:00

Spent a lot of time in the cold in Millenium Park today. But, got some
great photos out of it (which won't be posted until we're back home next
week.)
This phone pic was taken from the park back towards Michigan Ave.
- T

Chicago On Foot

2008-03-16T14:24:00.000-07:00

We got a late start, but have done a lot already today. First stop: Caribou
Coffee in Lincoln Park. (Coffee = elixir of life)

Then we walked down Wrightwood past my first apartment in the city. I had
just returned from the Army and was going to school downtown while staying
with my parents in the suburbs. The commute by train was fine, but it was
even better to live in the city on my own, work and go to school downtown
and have the city at my doorstep. (This trip to Chicago is turning into an
extended episode of "This Is Your Life".)

Next stop was the Maxwell Street Market -- a huge outdoor flea market on
the Near South Side.

Then a BRISK (both quick and chilly) walk to the South Loop for Jewish deli
food -- what you see here is my open-faced corned beef rueben on rye. (Good
to see I'm eating light, huh?)

Can't wait to see what else the weekend will bring.

- T

White Castle & Beer

2008-03-16T01:31:00.001-07:00

We hit the streets of Chicago tonight. The bars were fun but not packed -- could have been a better crowd, but we still had a good time checking out Jackhammer, Touché and Eagle.

We've already gotten a lot of use out of our CTA passes. Cabs and buses are the way to get around -- we got back to the room by 3:30 a.m.

Along the way, we stopped at White Castle -- a greasy, oniony, pickly mess, but they sure are tasty burgers. And they bring back some nice childhood memories.

- T

Travel Accessories

2008-03-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

Exactly what I needed on the plane today -- music and a cap to pull low
over my eyes.

The new earphones: great! Treble coming in nicely now - and an excellent
fit with the largest silicone buds. (Are my ears as oversized as my ear
canals seem to be?)

- T

C Ya, IKEA!

2008-03-14T17:45:00.000-07:00

Hurray! I'm on vacation! Man, do I need it, too....

Work has been BUSY lately -- and the added responsibilities since getting
the promotion have taken some getting used to.

But, there are some signs that things are improving on the work front. (My
latest little logistics coup will definitely help.)

In the meantime, though, a little R&R.... We fly tomorrow a.m. (pre-dawn!)
and arrive around 12:30 p.m. In Chicago. We'll have Sat, Sun and Monday (St
Patrick's Day!) nights in the city. Good food, museums, some barlife at
night.

Then, on Tuesday, we'll make the 6-hour drive up to Door County to see my
family, including my new nephew.

Should be a great trip (except for the cold), and will give me some time to
relax (and burn in those new earphones.) Watch here for updates!

- T

Zen

2008-03-13T22:15:00.001-07:00

"Zen: A school of Mahayana Buddhism that asserts that enlightenment can be attained through meditation, self-contemplation, and intuition rather than through faith and devotion..." [thanks, Answers.com]

I wonder how Buddhist monks sitting in a monastery in China would feel about their school of thought being used to market headphones to this non-Buddhist Westerner?

But with the amount of time I've been spending with my earphones in my ears lately (music and driving are my two favorite ways to reach inner calm), and considering the amount of stress I've been under lately, it seems fitting that the earphones I bought today (after some web comparison shopping) ended up being the Creative Zen Aurvanas. [Again with the Buddhist tie-ins.]

They were compared favorable to Shures and Etymotics costing $30-50 more -- and so far seem to be just what I was looking for. Good, clear mid-range, some decent (but not dance-floor level) bass and a mild treble.

And maybe the monks wouldn't be so upset with the marketing. I feel more calm and introspective already -- plus, they're made in China.

- T

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Welcome To The World, Luke

2008-03-12T07:52:00.000-07:00

My brother-in-law Rob called at 6:45 this morning to let me know that my 2nd nephew is here! My sister is doing well and Luke is healthy and large. (Picture to follow.)

Amazingly, after only one hour, my sister Becky called me herself. The cesarean went really well, she was a bit shaky but fully alert and ready to talk to her favorite (ok, her only) brother.

She had the baby's details: 9 lb 11 oz and 19 1/2 in. She was choosing his first little baby cap while she was called from her hospital bed -- white with baby blue trim. (Fashion first.)

So, congratulations to my my sister and brother-in-law. They've done a wonderful job raising my first nephew James and I have no doubt that they'll be just as successful this time around.

Welcome to the world, Luke.

- T

OMG WTF!

2008-03-11T22:22:00.000-07:00

ITN - Tuesday, March 4 05:08 pm

Padded lampposts are being trialled in a London street to protect inattentive pedestrians.

A pilot scheme has been launched in Brick Lane after it was found to have the highest number of 'walking and texting' injuries in the country.

A study carried out by 118 118 found one in ten people has hurt themselves while focused on their mobile phone screen.

The charity Living Streets is so concerned that it has teamed up with the directory enquiries service to test a scheme to wrap up the nation's lampposts.

A poll will be carried out on Brick Lane to gauge the response of locals.

If successful, the concept will be rolled out in Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool.

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

One in ten Brits have injured themselves while texting? Dorks.

Wow. If this story is true, it's really sad. And funny.

- T

An Excellent Day in the Mountains

2008-03-10T22:38:00.000-07:00

Got out to Mt Laguna today with a friend. The day was great -- good weather, fairly clear views, peacefulness and intelligent conversation. I couldn't have asked for a better Monday.

You'll find a link to all my pix on the right -- or click the post title above to go directly to the photo album.

- T

YouTube Night @ Mike & Matt's

2008-03-08T11:06:00.000-08:00

We had a blast last night at Mike & Matt's.

What was going to be a small group for beer and movies turned into a big,
fun, relaxed gang of guys watching YouTube videos and eating ENORMOUS
pizzas!

Thanks for hosting this get-together -- a fun way to wind down at the end
of the week.

- T

"The Land That Time and San Diego Forgot"

2008-03-07T09:32:00.000-08:00

Back in December, we took a trip out east on Highway 94. It was like time-traveling to the early 20th century. Small mom-and-pop stores, large ranches, the rail bridge over the two-lane highway.

If you live in San Diego, you might forget how far east this county really stretches -- and how much history there is here. It's worth the time to explore if you get the chance.

[Click the post title to reach this gallery.]

- T

"Davey's Place for Food and Fun"

2008-03-06T21:17:00.000-08:00

Dave is great at getting people together -- and introducing the many and varied people in his circle of friends to each other.

If you ever get tired of Odd Designs, we could always start up that bar/restaurant we talked about during a former life.... You bring the firefighter paraphernalia and I'll bring my charm and brawn! It's sure to be a success!

[Click the post title to link to the pictures!]

- T

3-Month-Old Pix

2008-03-03T19:32:00.000-08:00

Work, travel, work, daily life and some fun time spent with friends -- there, you're caught up.

Enjoy the snaps I took back in December when the waves were big and the surfers came out to enjoy them.

- T

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T12:16:00.000-08:00

A very happy, healthy and prosperous new year to everyone!

Hard to fathom that 2008 is already here and we haven't agreed on what to call the decade: The Aughts, The Naughts, The Zeros? "Ah, I remember The Zeros. Those were the days. Nothing like the dull years after 2020 -- The Boring '20s...." [sorry for the lame joke]

Thanks to Steve and Henry for providing a wonderful party venue and to the various DJs for the great music last night. The mood was decidedly calm and relaxed, the lighting wonderful and the company was warm and pleasant.

Here's a somewhat dated but very funny article I found online today. I promptly sent it to my dad, Jüüüüüürgen.

- T

Mt Laguna

2007-12-20T17:43:00.000-08:00

Took a drive today out to Mt Laguna in the Cleveland National Forest. There was snow on the ground and thick fog rolling in over the mountains. Beautiful.

I stopped to take a few pictures at an overlook that looks down into Storm Canyon towards Vallecito Valley. Click here to see a map of where I was when I took this shot with my Treo.

- T

Ali: Muhammad's 'Best Teddy Bear Friend Forever'

2007-12-07T22:52:00.001-08:00

If you've seen a news program, newspaper or news website in the last two weeks, you know about Gillian Gibbons. She is the elementary school teacher from England who accepted the challenge of moving to Sudan to teach children, only to be sentenced by the Muslim-ruled government for letting her students name a class teddy bear Muhammad / Mohamed / Mohammad / Mohammed / Muhammed / Mahommed / Mehmed / Mahomet / Mehmet -- you choose your favorite transliteration. (How could there NOT be a standard translit for such a common name?!)

Somehow, what is supposed to be such an "important", "proud" and "holy" religion (Islam) felt SO threatened by a TEDDY BEAR that they had to IMPRISON a 54-year-old teacher and threaten her with lashings and execution!!!!

I would laugh and laugh at the silliness of such a religion and at any follower who felt this way - - if the situation hadn't been so dire.

And don't think I am only pointing and laughing at Islam. Recently the Catholic Church and its "Catholic League" have been imploring people not to see the new movie "The Golden Compass". Is their mythology SO weak and tissue-paper-like that the mere viewing of a fantasy movie will tempt thousands or millions of devout Christians away from god?

Wow. These religions have set up some pretty unstable Potemkin Villages that can be destroyed by a teddy bear and his CGI polar bear pals....

["See, ya got yer American League, yer National League and yer Catholic League -- they play the worst baseball of all, what with their cassock baseball uniforms."]

- T

Laughlin and Oatman

2007-12-07T22:29:00.000-08:00

Work is getting in the way of my blogging and photo-posting.... I've got hundreds of new photos to sort through and post to my Picasa site -- in the meantime, here are two shots from our trip to Laughlin, NV / Oatman, AZ last month. Loved it and looking forward to going back sometime!!
- T

Ungrateful SOBs

2007-11-24T15:57:00.000-08:00

Below is a quote from (and a link to) a great essay written by an ex-Coast Guard yeoman.

Have you ever seen a TV news story where someone is saved from some great calamity by a firefighter or policeman who put his or her life at great risk to save the poor sod -- only to have that person not thank the rescue worker, but rather thank God...?

In contrast, I have heard a number of people exclaim, "Thank God you came." I wanted to puke every time I heard that. A god had nothing to do with my crew and me being there. A god was not helping us save them at the risk of our own lives. Our skill, training and luck is what saved them, not some mythical being. There were times when I heard the "thank god" phrase that I wanted to throw them back and see if a god really would answer their prayers. But I'm a humanist, and human beings are more valuable alive and growing than floundering in the sea. Nevertheless, some days, the temptation was great.

- from "The Work Gods Are Too Busy to Tend To" by Karl E. Taylor

A heartfelt thanks goes out to anyone in a dangerous line of work, who puts himself or herself on the line for others.... Whether you hear it often or not, know that your hard work is appreciated by most of us.

Chargers vs Texans

2007-10-28T13:32:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Angry Sky

2007-10-24T21:02:00.000-07:00

"[Red, purple and orange] colours arise from Mie Scattering, low angle scattering of light off dust, soot, smoke and (ash) particles. Mie Scattering (producing the colours of sunset and sunrise) is beautifully recognizable down-wind of and after dust storms, forest fires and volcanic eruptions that inject large quantities of fine particulate matter into the atmosphere." - Wikipedia

No real post today. Finally the fires nearest San Diego are subsiding somewhat -- but there is still plenty of smoke, soot and ash in the air. The Harris Fire to the south is now threatening areas east of Rancho San Diego near Jamul and points east. Parts of Camp Pendleton and areas of the Rice Canyon and Witch Valley Fires continue to burn....

Downtown, the wrath of the fires makes itself known through spectacular sunsets.

- T

San Diego Fires

2007-10-24T07:51:00.000-07:00

The past few days here in San Diego have been difficult for many. More than 500,000 people have been evacuated from their homes. Many are being housed in shelters around the county, including 12,000 people at Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley.

Some early estimates of the cost of the fire damage are above the $1 billion mark.

Huge areas of the county have been affected. If you click on the picture to the left, you'll see the fires in Southern California and the smoke plumes blowing off the coast and out across the Pacific Ocean. The two large fires and the one smaller fire closest to the California/Baja California border are all in San Diego County.

For those of you who know the San Diego area, rest assured that the downtown area, the zoo, Coronado, La Jolla, Mission Bay, the beaches, Balboa Park, Point Loma, Old Town, etc are just fine! We have had no damage in any of these areas, besides some falling ash and hazy, smoky conditions.

In the north, the Rice Canyon and Witch Creek fires moved in from the back country into some areas of northern and central San Diego County: Camp Pendleton, Fallbrook, Escondido, San Marcos, Palomar Mountain, Rincon and La Jolla Indian Reservations, Lake Hodges, Rancho Santa Fe, Ramona, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, San Pasqual, Barona, and the El Capitan Reservoir.

In the south towards the Mexican border, the Harris Fire affected parts of Potrero, Tecate, Barrett Junction, Dulzura, all along Highway 94 and Otay Lakes Rd, Engineer Springs, Jamul, Otay Mountain, Lyons Valley and into the very eastern edges of Eastlake. The fire worked its way up Mt. San Miguel, taking out the KPBS transmission tower.

Many other areas that seemed to be threatened were evacuated but were not reached by the fires. These areas include Solana Beach, Del Mar and Chula Vista.

The San Diego Fires continue, but seem to finally be waning a bit thanks to the huge efforts of the firefighters and the weakening of the Santa Ana winds. Today seems to be the turning point for the fires -- they aren't advancing to the west as they have been for the past 3 days, which means they may turn back on themselves and burn out.

Also, we're seeing many areas which are no longer under immediate threat being reopened and residents are being allowed back to their homes.

There are, unfortunately, many areas in the back country that are now threatened as the winds shift, including the historic town of Julian. I was there a few weeks ago and will try to post my pictures of the town later today to my Picasa site.

Here's a portion of a letter I sent around to friends yesterday. I've added a few links to the text:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello All:

I'm sending a quick e-mail with some information about the fires here in San Diego. First, thank you for the kind thoughts and messages. Maik and Andy: I just read your e-mail and it was nice to hear from you two -- and know that you're thinking of us. Michael: I was in a meeting here at work when you called and left your voicemail. We were discussing impact on the store here, whether we should remain open for the day, etc. Thanks so much for your call -- it was great to hear your voice when I finally got to hear the message!

Let me tell you guys right away: Dave, Tj., Bill and I are all OK. We're (luckily) in a small strip of the county that hasn't been affected much by the fires -- the winds are blowing the fires from the west to the east and there (so far) haven't been many fires directly east of us -- so, no fire and very little smoke and ash.

As Dave mentioned in his blog, we began to see the effects in the North Park area of town on Sunday evening. Dave had a group of us over for beer, bratwurst and good company. In the evening, we began to smell and see the smoke and later even saw the ash falling.

We've been in the middle of a long bout of Santa Ana winds -- this is when the airflow shifts from the usual cool, moist ocean breezes (west to east) and instead blows east to west from the desert, across the mountains and foothills and through the city towards the ocean. It isn't very often that this happens (maybe a few times a year) -- and usually has the same effects as the Föhn has in Bavaria: headaches, sinus problems, maybe some dry skin (because the humidity drops and the temperature rises) and tempers flare up a bit!

BUT, this time the Santa Anas were sustained for a much longer period and the humidity dropped all around the county to near zero. This, on top of very dry conditions over the past 1/2 year (almost no rain at all) combined to cause a huge fire hazard.

The two major fires are north and south of us. About 500,000 people have been evacuated due to increased fire risk. Thousands of them are right here next to the IKEA at our football stadium. Bill and I drove there yesterday and dropped off a few things -- things are calm, everyone has plenty of food and drink, they have their children and pets with them -- it is devastating to see so many people unable to live in their own homes, but at least they are safe. There are dozens of other smaller evacuation sites around the county and north towards LA, too.

Many, many acres have been burned already -- last I heard, it was 241,000 acres (almost 98,000 hectares). The scary part is they don't have it under control -- the two fires continue to burn towards the coast -- the area north of La Jolla called Del Mar and Solana Beach have both been evacuated -- the fires could reach the ocean if they continue to burn.

About 1000 homes have been destroyed -- but they don't have a good count yet -- not even the firemen can get into the burning areas. LUCKILY, very few people have been injured -- and only one death has been reported.

Most people were unable to come to work today -- we have just a handful of people working. But, there are very few customers, as well! Some co-workers have lost their homes -- I know of three personally who have lost their places. Also, many, many more have been evacuated and are staying somewhere other than their own homes.

Here's a great site you can go to and see some of the photos and videos from around the county.

And here's a site that shows the maps of which areas are burning or have been evacuated.

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

For those of you who know me well, you know I'm a map geek. Here's a Google Map link provided by KPBS, our local public radio station. They are updating it hourly and there's LOTS of information available about different areas, evacuation sites, temporary animal shelter sites, etc. Also, I found a Flickr photo pool of fire photos. Other local news sites covering the fires are: Union-Tribune, KNSD, KFMB, KGTV.

I'll post again in a few days once the fires are fully under control. It looks like the worst is definitely behind us.

- T

Desert

2007-10-08T16:38:00.000-07:00

The past week has taken me to two extremes in Southern California: the desert of eastern San Diego County and Disneyland (now officially known as Disneyland Resort to include Disney's California Adventure).

My trek out to the desert started with an early drive out the 8 Freeway and then north past Cuyamaca and up into Julian. I made a quick stop in Julian to tank up -- and ended up taking a few pictures, too. (Pictures of the trip can be found through the Picasa link.)

From Julian, I headed up the Banner Highway and then south into Anza-Borrego Park.

I drove into Blair Valley where the real fun began. Here I took my Element about 5 miles through the desert sands to the Pictograph Trail trailhead.

This trail is right next to the Mortero Trail. Morteros are depressions made by Native Americans into the boulders and rocks -- using a pestle, they would grind various grains into flour. These morteros are in many of the larger boulders in the area -- I must have seen 15 to 20 of them, and I wasn't doing a very thorough search. I was REALLY here for the Pictographs.

Apparently, somewhere along the Pictograph Trail, Native Americans had left various symbols and drawings painted on the some of the large boulders here. I had read about them online and in a desert guide book -- and I wanted to see them myself.

I connected back to the Pictograph Trail after seeing the morteros -- my first mistake. I then began to hike deeper and deeper into Smugglers Canyon. This was great -- extremely quiet, very peaceful. It is strange, though, how it takes a bit of time to get used to the silence. At first it is almost uncomfortable and makes me a bit ill-at-ease. But, after some time, the quiet is really relaxing. (I wonder if this is what being in a sensory deprivation tank feels like.) Every once in a while, a bird would fly overhead and you'd hear the wings flap from hundreds of feet away. Or a small rock would roll down the canyon face and make a disturbance. But mostly there was just silence.

I went as far as I could into the canyon without really making a 2-hour hike into a longer daytrip. Still, no pictographs.

I doubled back and found the way uphill, out of the canyon, a lot easier to hike. I certainly didn't follow the exact same 'path' (there was no real path to follow in most places). But I guess I could see a bit further ahead and could make better choices.

Still, though, I was disappointed that I hadn't seen the pictographs. Hey, that's why I'd gone all that way to begin with. I kept a watching for any sign of faded drawings on the boulders, even turning around every few yards to see what I was passing. Nothing.

Toward the mouth of the canyon, almost where the valley started to flatten out into the desert again, I turned around after going forward a few minutes. Sure enough, there on a huge boulder behind me, was a set of crisp, clear, black drawings. I walked back to where there were -- you can see the pictures of them on the Picasa site.

They were pretty impressive -- not too sure what they might represent, but I did read that most of the drawings found in that area were fertility-related.

Then, I finished working my way up the valley and back to the truck before the long drive home.

I got home, excited but a bit skeptical about the pictographs. Could they be authentic if they looked so clear and dark? I did a bit more searching and found that the pictographs mentioned on the web were made with red and yellow pigments -- and much less clear. I'm guessing the markings I found were done recently by someone imitating older drawings....

Still, it was a great hike!

- T

Street Scene 2007

2007-09-22T17:20:00.001-07:00

It's Tj.'s birthday and we're at Street Scene!

Later we'll hear Ozomatli, Panic! At The Disco & Muse -- haven't even heard of some of the earlier bands, but we're enjoying the atmosphere and the beer.

- T

Pocket Shots

2007-09-20T23:20:00.000-07:00

Saw this on the web yesterday -- what a convenient idea. It's sort of like
a modern version of the old metal flask. But, this won't set off any metal
detectors!

Apparently, they are individual shot-sized plastic pouches of various
liquors: rum, gin, vodka, etc. You can toss them in a backpack, carry 'em
in your carpenter pants pocket, maybe store 'em in your glove compartment.
[Just kidding -- probably not a good idea.]

Then, when the urge for a pick-me-up hits, you've got the most important
part of the cocktail right there. Just add mixer and enjoy!

Honestly, it seems like it makes having liquor at your disposal just a
LITTLE too handy. And, should I be worried that it looks so much like a
10-year-old's Capri Sun pouch...?

But, I must admit -- as soon as I see them on my corner liquor store's
shelf, I'm buying a few!

http://www.pocketshot.net

Oh, one more thing -- I posted my Yosemite pictures yesterday.

- T