Friday, January 05, 2007
Hunk'd!
omg, this is awesome: http://www.hunkd.com/. It's google but with a hot guy! hahahahaha. How innovative! Lemme see if I can find one with a chica.
I have the plague
OK, so I don't have the real-deal, killed-a-third-of-Europe plague. But I've been sick for a week now, and it barely seems to be abating. I've forgotten what it's like to live a normal, de-congested life. You norms out there have it so easy, with your dairy and your kleenex-free lifestyles.Of course, I may have aggravated the illness a bit over the weekend... Lessee.
- Friday night my good friend Drew (college roommate) got married, so I was out pretty late that night. Sure, most of the evening was spent in discussion with my friend-dating-back-to-6th-grade Justin and his wife Sarah, but there was definitely a parade of boozes involved. Mmmmm, booze.
- Then I flew back to SF from Chi on an 8am flight... that was brutal. I didn't sleep at all on Friday night, due to the wedding followed by the packing followed by an acute fear I'd sleep through my flight. So my mom drives me to the airport early, with plenty of time to check in my bags... but a bus literally unloaded people right in front of me, swelling the check-in lines just long enough to keep me from reaching the kiosk until 7:16, one min after the 45 min baggage cut-off. So I end up on a 10am stand-by, sleeping on a bench for the hour or so in-between. I also got in a very slow-motion argument with a jerk-ass United gate attendant about whether I should take the shitty seat they gave me or roll the dice on a later flight. I ended up taking it, and the seat wasn't the back-row middle he claimed but was an aisle seat a good 20 rows from the back of the plane. He was such a bastard to me, too... couldn't he tell how exhausted I was from how slowly my words were forming? I hope his pension gets lost in arbitration. =P But anyways, I slept well on the plane, because I was determined to rest up in preparation for that night...
- ... which was, of course, New Year's Eve Eve. As this was our 2nd Annual NYEE, us Cali kids had plans to go out that night, be they malformed or not. We ended up going to Slide, which is underneath Ruby Skye. Jamie Foxx was there... we totally hung out. He's a good guy. Roger danced a lot. Kaylynn partied hearty. I bought champaign for 15 people to ring in the fake new year (we actually counted down at midnight, in the middle of a packed club). Leah macked on what looked to be a boy scout, then threw up most heartily. The Spaniards, who'd arrived earlier that evening, developed an acute case of vaginitis and stayed in, despite my promises to the boob-focused doorman that they'd be showing up later. We were out till 3 or 3:30, then stayed up talking till 5am, before 45 people passed out in varying piles around my apartment.
- Sunday was designed to be low-key, but by then the Spaniards had conquered their terrible wasting disease, and were ready to hit the clubs. If you'll recall, I was still sick at this point, so I figured I should stay in. Of course, Emilie and the Spaniards would have none of that. They administered 100 cc's of booze and my vaginitis cleared right up. Sadly, Kelly and Leah were beyond saving, as were Tiffany and Stefan. But Brook, Joe, Roger, Emilie, the Spaniards and I were all raring to go... We rang in the new year at my apt, then we all went out to 1015 at 1am. Still a $40 cover at that point. But we danced for a few hours before wandering over to Mel's at the Metreon for a late night feast. At that point, it literally felt like someone was raking daggers down my throat every time I swallowed, but I think it was all worth it.
So here I am, ~4 days later, and I'm still sick. I'm pretty sure I deserve it, which is why I felt so guilty about staying home on Tuesday. But now I'm back down in San Diego, it's 1am, and I'm not asleep. Think I'll be getting over it any time soon? Haha.
wtf.... Tony Bennett's cooler than me and Lindsay?!
This is total crap… from an article about the first House session of the 110th Congress today (http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/01/05/pelosi/)… “Up in the gallery, the coolest man in the room, the octogenarian Tony Bennett, occupied himself throughout the proceedings by sketching the House floor with a fine black pen and a small notebook.”
Wtf!!!!! When Lindsay and I sat in on Congress in August, we were prohibited from taking writing utensils up to the gallery with us. Which really bothered me then (and now), because those people on the floor are working for me, dammit, and if I want to take notes on what's happening, who the hell are they to say they can't?? There's got to be some fundamental principle of democracy being violated with that idiotic rule, at least in spirit if not in letter.
So my question becomes, why the hell does Tony Bennett get to take writing utensils up there, and me and Lindsay don’t?!?!?! How many countries do I have to sell out a concert in before I get to break the [nonsensical] rules of the US Congress, too?
Wtf!!!!! When Lindsay and I sat in on Congress in August, we were prohibited from taking writing utensils up to the gallery with us. Which really bothered me then (and now), because those people on the floor are working for me, dammit, and if I want to take notes on what's happening, who the hell are they to say they can't?? There's got to be some fundamental principle of democracy being violated with that idiotic rule, at least in spirit if not in letter.
So my question becomes, why the hell does Tony Bennett get to take writing utensils up there, and me and Lindsay don’t?!?!?! How many countries do I have to sell out a concert in before I get to break the [nonsensical] rules of the US Congress, too?
Monday, January 01, 2007
National Park Service ordered to be agnostic on geology
This is a press release provided by PEER (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility). If you need a bit of New Year's Day depression, this should do it.
Original post is here: http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=801
===================================
HOW OLD IS THE GRAND CANYON? PARK SERVICE WON’T SAY
Orders to Cater to Creationists Makes National Park Agnostic on Geology
Washington, DC — Grand Canyon National Park is not permitted to give an official estimate of the geologic age of its principal feature, due to pressure from Bush administration appointees. Despite promising a prompt review of its approval for a book claiming the Grand Canyon was created by Noah's flood rather than by geologic forces, more than three years later no review has ever been done and the book remains on sale at the park, according to documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).
“In order to avoid offending religious fundamentalists, our National Park Service is under orders to suspend its belief in geology,” stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. “It is disconcerting that the official position of a national park as to the geologic age of the Grand Canyon is ‘no comment.’”
In a letter released today, PEER urged the new Director of the National Park Service (NPS), Mary Bomar, to end the stalling tactics, remove the book from sale at the park and allow park interpretive rangers to honestly answer questions from the public about the geologic age of the Grand Canyon. PEER is also asking Director Bomar to approve a pamphlet, suppressed since 2002 by Bush appointees, providing guidance for rangers and other interpretive staff in making distinctions between science and religion when speaking to park visitors about geologic issues.
In August 2003, Park Superintendent Joe Alston attempted to block the sale at park bookstores of Grand Canyon: A Different View by Tom Vail, a book claiming the Canyon developed on a biblical rather than an evolutionary time scale. NPS Headquarters, however, intervened and overruled Alston. To quiet the resulting furor, NPS Chief of Communications David Barna told reporters and members of Congress that there would be a high-level policy review of the issue.
According to a recent NPS response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by PEER, no such review was ever requested, let alone conducted or completed.
Park officials have defended the decision to approve the sale of Grand Canyon: A Different View, claiming that park bookstores are like libraries, where the broadest range of views are displayed. In fact, however, both law and park policies make it clear that the park bookstores are more like schoolrooms rather than libraries. As such, materials are only to reflect the highest quality science and are supposed to closely support approved interpretive themes. Moreover, unlike a library the approval process is very selective. Records released to PEER show that during 2003, Grand Canyon officials rejected 22 books and other products for bookstore placement while approving only one new sale item — the creationist book.
Ironically, in 2005, two years after the Grand Canyon creationist controversy erupted, NPS approved a new directive on “Interpretation and Education (Director’s Order #6) which reinforces the posture that materials on the “history of the Earth must be based on the best scientific evidence available, as found in scholarly sources that have stood the test of scientific peer review and criticism [and] Interpretive and educational programs must refrain from appearing to endorse religious beliefs explaining natural processes.”
“As one park geologist said, this is equivalent of Yellowstone National Park selling a book entitled Geysers of Old Faithful: Nostrils of Satan,” Ruch added, pointing to the fact that previous NPS leadership ignored strong protests from both its own scientists and leading geological societies against the agency approval of the creationist book. “We sincerely hope that the new Director of the Park Service now has the autonomy to do her job.”
Original post is here: http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=801
===================================
HOW OLD IS THE GRAND CANYON? PARK SERVICE WON’T SAY
Orders to Cater to Creationists Makes National Park Agnostic on Geology
Washington, DC — Grand Canyon National Park is not permitted to give an official estimate of the geologic age of its principal feature, due to pressure from Bush administration appointees. Despite promising a prompt review of its approval for a book claiming the Grand Canyon was created by Noah's flood rather than by geologic forces, more than three years later no review has ever been done and the book remains on sale at the park, according to documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).
“In order to avoid offending religious fundamentalists, our National Park Service is under orders to suspend its belief in geology,” stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. “It is disconcerting that the official position of a national park as to the geologic age of the Grand Canyon is ‘no comment.’”
In a letter released today, PEER urged the new Director of the National Park Service (NPS), Mary Bomar, to end the stalling tactics, remove the book from sale at the park and allow park interpretive rangers to honestly answer questions from the public about the geologic age of the Grand Canyon. PEER is also asking Director Bomar to approve a pamphlet, suppressed since 2002 by Bush appointees, providing guidance for rangers and other interpretive staff in making distinctions between science and religion when speaking to park visitors about geologic issues.
In August 2003, Park Superintendent Joe Alston attempted to block the sale at park bookstores of Grand Canyon: A Different View by Tom Vail, a book claiming the Canyon developed on a biblical rather than an evolutionary time scale. NPS Headquarters, however, intervened and overruled Alston. To quiet the resulting furor, NPS Chief of Communications David Barna told reporters and members of Congress that there would be a high-level policy review of the issue.
According to a recent NPS response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by PEER, no such review was ever requested, let alone conducted or completed.
Park officials have defended the decision to approve the sale of Grand Canyon: A Different View, claiming that park bookstores are like libraries, where the broadest range of views are displayed. In fact, however, both law and park policies make it clear that the park bookstores are more like schoolrooms rather than libraries. As such, materials are only to reflect the highest quality science and are supposed to closely support approved interpretive themes. Moreover, unlike a library the approval process is very selective. Records released to PEER show that during 2003, Grand Canyon officials rejected 22 books and other products for bookstore placement while approving only one new sale item — the creationist book.
Ironically, in 2005, two years after the Grand Canyon creationist controversy erupted, NPS approved a new directive on “Interpretation and Education (Director’s Order #6) which reinforces the posture that materials on the “history of the Earth must be based on the best scientific evidence available, as found in scholarly sources that have stood the test of scientific peer review and criticism [and] Interpretive and educational programs must refrain from appearing to endorse religious beliefs explaining natural processes.”
“As one park geologist said, this is equivalent of Yellowstone National Park selling a book entitled Geysers of Old Faithful: Nostrils of Satan,” Ruch added, pointing to the fact that previous NPS leadership ignored strong protests from both its own scientists and leading geological societies against the agency approval of the creationist book. “We sincerely hope that the new Director of the Park Service now has the autonomy to do her job.”
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Wheaton in the news
Oh lord, this is nasty. I will say this though... I went to the other Wheaton high school, not this filthy cesspool. Hahhaaha.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1215065salad1.html
Happy holidays! =P
G
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1215065salad1.html
Happy holidays! =P
G
Monday, December 11, 2006
Fun with travel!
So I’ve been flying a lot lately, but I’ve been fighting the power and checking my bag so I don’t have to play their silly 3-1-1 plastic-bag-with-3-oz-liquid-containers game. Yes, I’ve been severely inconveniencing myself for a pointless principle. But no longer!! This morning I missed the baggage cut-off so was put on a standby flight 2 hrs later… even though I got to the gate with 15 mins left to board. Yargh!!!
So this week I will be creating a travel pack of liquid toiletries, so I can do my part to support the TSA’s pointless security procedures, and avoid checking my bag. L At first I thought I could only take 3 of those containers, and I was like: hmmmm…. Which 3? Shampoo, face soap, and lube? Hahahaha. But it turns out you can take as many as fit in a 1-qt bag. So that means all my lotions and conditioners can come, too! Yay! Hahahahaaha.
Ahhhh… fun with travel. I might also be selling out and getting a rollerboard. :( My bags are too uncomfortable to do as shoulder bags, so I’ve been carrying one by hand slung over my back. But it’s got my accounting textbook, my running stuff, extra shoes… it’s a heavy muthah-fuckah. So in the interest of sparing my wrists some bizarre traveler’s carpal tunnel, it looks like I’ll be taking one more step towards becoming an Anderclone. :(
So this week I will be creating a travel pack of liquid toiletries, so I can do my part to support the TSA’s pointless security procedures, and avoid checking my bag. L At first I thought I could only take 3 of those containers, and I was like: hmmmm…. Which 3? Shampoo, face soap, and lube? Hahahaha. But it turns out you can take as many as fit in a 1-qt bag. So that means all my lotions and conditioners can come, too! Yay! Hahahahaaha.
Ahhhh… fun with travel. I might also be selling out and getting a rollerboard. :( My bags are too uncomfortable to do as shoulder bags, so I’ve been carrying one by hand slung over my back. But it’s got my accounting textbook, my running stuff, extra shoes… it’s a heavy muthah-fuckah. So in the interest of sparing my wrists some bizarre traveler’s carpal tunnel, it looks like I’ll be taking one more step towards becoming an Anderclone. :(
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Lieberman is a Giant Douchebag
I just want to take a moment to point out that Joe Lieberman is a giant douchebag.
The man lost his party's primary nomination, so what did he do? He left the Democratic party and ran for Senate under his own new party, arrogantly titled "Connecticut for Lieberman". Now he's won the seat as an independent, but will he suffer any consequences for turning his back on his party? Not likely.
Instead, because of the delicate balance in the Senate, the Democrats will need Lieberman on their side. This means they'll likely let him retain his seniority, including his chairmanships of various committes, despite the fact that he spit on the party's own processes, and even abandoned using the party's name. So Lieberman gets to have his cake and eat it, too.
Ergo, Lieberman is a giant douchebag.
There are rumors that Rumsfeld will step down today, and that Bush will nominate Lieberman as the new Secretary of Defense. If that happens, the Republican governor of Connecticut will be empowered to appoint a replacement to the Senate for the next 6 years. That would mean that regardless of the results of the Virginia and Montana Senate races, the Republicans would hold onto the Senate. So keep alert the next few days... Lieberman may soon be doubling-down his betrayal of the Democratic party.
The man lost his party's primary nomination, so what did he do? He left the Democratic party and ran for Senate under his own new party, arrogantly titled "Connecticut for Lieberman". Now he's won the seat as an independent, but will he suffer any consequences for turning his back on his party? Not likely.
Instead, because of the delicate balance in the Senate, the Democrats will need Lieberman on their side. This means they'll likely let him retain his seniority, including his chairmanships of various committes, despite the fact that he spit on the party's own processes, and even abandoned using the party's name. So Lieberman gets to have his cake and eat it, too.
Ergo, Lieberman is a giant douchebag.
There are rumors that Rumsfeld will step down today, and that Bush will nominate Lieberman as the new Secretary of Defense. If that happens, the Republican governor of Connecticut will be empowered to appoint a replacement to the Senate for the next 6 years. That would mean that regardless of the results of the Virginia and Montana Senate races, the Republicans would hold onto the Senate. So keep alert the next few days... Lieberman may soon be doubling-down his betrayal of the Democratic party.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Camera creates image from just one pixel
Another Scientific American article... http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=0003FA95-AAB6-1526-AAB683414B7F0000
Researchers have created a single-pixel camera that can create mexapixel-sized images, using a clever mix of the way light patterns are captured combined with new mathemetical compression algorithms. Neat!
Researchers have created a single-pixel camera that can create mexapixel-sized images, using a clever mix of the way light patterns are captured combined with new mathemetical compression algorithms. Neat!
Protein gel staunches bleeding
This is a neat article on Scientific American: http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000D056A-AAFC-1526-AAB683414B7F0000
Basically, researchers have found a proten gel that rapidly stops bleeding with no observable side effects. It doesn't create or enhance clotting, but instead seems to just block the flow like a hair clog in a drain. Imagine the applications... for emergency workers, soldiers on a battlefield, or just home use when you cut your finger slicing carrots.
Basically, researchers have found a proten gel that rapidly stops bleeding with no observable side effects. It doesn't create or enhance clotting, but instead seems to just block the flow like a hair clog in a drain. Imagine the applications... for emergency workers, soldiers on a battlefield, or just home use when you cut your finger slicing carrots.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
National Coming Out Day
Ah shit... I'm the worst gay man ever. Wednesday, October 11 was National Coming Out Day, and I didn't even know. =P
HRC and PFLAG have created a resource called "A Straight Guide to GLBT Americans." For all you breeders out there, check it out. I'm sure it'll provide some useful info for you. =)
HRC and PFLAG have created a resource called "A Straight Guide to GLBT Americans." For all you breeders out there, check it out. I'm sure it'll provide some useful info for you. =)
MBA in Sustainable Management
Did I mention that I'm working on an MBA? And it's in Sustainable Management, no less! Yes, that's right, it's the Hippie's MBA! Yay! And yes, it's a real MBA... but they weave in the concepts of sustainability into every course. Most programs that broach the subject just add a single class, but meanwhile teach the same ol' way of doing business in all the others. The faculty are brilliant, and the students are incredibly diverse (all ages, all ethnicities, and backgrounds in Fortune 500s, start-ups, NGOs, small business).
Anyways... I'm doing the part-time program, but still working full-time. So far so good, though I'm starting to realize how precious my free time is. =P
You can read more about the program here: Presidio School of Management.
Anyways... I'm doing the part-time program, but still working full-time. So far so good, though I'm starting to realize how precious my free time is. =P
You can read more about the program here: Presidio School of Management.
UCS: US Northeast will be totally hosed by climate change
OK, so I'm paraphrasing the summary of their findings, but the Union of Concerned Scientists (one of my favorite lobbying groups in all of time and space) just informed me of a recent study that found that the US Northeast will experience the following changes by century's end:
- Northeast winters could warm by eight to 12 degrees Fahrenheit and summers by six to nearly 14 degrees.
- The length of the region’s winter snow season could be cut in half.
- The frequency of short-term droughts could increase significantly.
- Sea-level could rise from eight inches to as much three feet.
- Many Northeast cities can expect about 25 days per year over 100 degrees. (Currently, Northeast cities experience this type of heat only once or twice a year.)
Pretty awesome, huh? Sea-level rises of 3 feet... that would be pretty devestating to NYC, the Hamptons, Martha's Vineyard, etc... maybe the richies should get off their asses and try to fight climate change...!
Anyways, much much more detail can be found at the UCS-owned website www.climatechoices.org.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
omfg, how do they still have a broadcasting license?!
From salon.com's War Room:
"During Bill O'Reilly's show Tuesday night, Fox News repeatedly ran video clips of Mark Foley over a caption identifying him as a Democrat."
That is... ridiculous. Foley is 100% Republican, and in fact has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the party and for fellow candidates. How in god's name can Fox do that sh1t and not get penalized somehow?!?! Abuse of power ftl. >:(
"During Bill O'Reilly's show Tuesday night, Fox News repeatedly ran video clips of Mark Foley over a caption identifying him as a Democrat."
That is... ridiculous. Foley is 100% Republican, and in fact has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the party and for fellow candidates. How in god's name can Fox do that sh1t and not get penalized somehow?!?! Abuse of power ftl. >:(
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Now they're saying Foley was molested as a child
From a "breaking news" alert from CNN: "Former Rep. Mark Foley was molested as a teenager between the ages of 13 and 15 by a clergyman, his lawyer says."
OK, so now this seems like a pretty blatant attempt to gain sympathy for Foley. If it's true, I certainly sympathize for him. But that doesn't give him a free pass to commit the same crimes, does it?!
The great part of all of this (politically speaking) is that the GOP leadership has, as usual, gone out of its way to cover up the whole scandal. But unlike previous scandals (such as the Abramoff lobbying stuff), which are often difficult to follow due to the convoluted ethics involved and the he-said-she-said that the GOP is so good at distracting everyone with.... this Foley scandal is disturbingly easy to follow. A GOP Congressman was sexually harrassing minors *in the Capitol building* for at least three years, and no one did anything to stop it.
So the GOP has to find some way to explain why they let this continue for so long. They can't blame Democrats, because there's only one Democrat on the page board, and he was never notified about any of this. So it's 100% a Republican problem. And there are no good excuses. So in the end, the GOP is going to suffer for this, massively.
The Republicans let one of their own continue to sexually harrass children for months, if not years, in order to spare themselves political embarrassment.
There can be no clearer statement of what's happening here. And if all of the other scandals and incompetence weren't enough to tear down the GOP majority, then perhaps this one will. And how wonderfully poetic would it be for the GOP to be politically gutted by one of the very "family values" issues on which it so rabidly claims the moral high ground!!!
OK, so now this seems like a pretty blatant attempt to gain sympathy for Foley. If it's true, I certainly sympathize for him. But that doesn't give him a free pass to commit the same crimes, does it?!
The great part of all of this (politically speaking) is that the GOP leadership has, as usual, gone out of its way to cover up the whole scandal. But unlike previous scandals (such as the Abramoff lobbying stuff), which are often difficult to follow due to the convoluted ethics involved and the he-said-she-said that the GOP is so good at distracting everyone with.... this Foley scandal is disturbingly easy to follow. A GOP Congressman was sexually harrassing minors *in the Capitol building* for at least three years, and no one did anything to stop it.
So the GOP has to find some way to explain why they let this continue for so long. They can't blame Democrats, because there's only one Democrat on the page board, and he was never notified about any of this. So it's 100% a Republican problem. And there are no good excuses. So in the end, the GOP is going to suffer for this, massively.
The Republicans let one of their own continue to sexually harrass children for months, if not years, in order to spare themselves political embarrassment.
There can be no clearer statement of what's happening here. And if all of the other scandals and incompetence weren't enough to tear down the GOP majority, then perhaps this one will. And how wonderfully poetic would it be for the GOP to be politically gutted by one of the very "family values" issues on which it so rabidly claims the moral high ground!!!
Rep Foley checks into alcohol rehab
So I assume you've all heard the story about Rep Foley from Florida, who has resigned from the US House of Representatives after being accused of making extremely inappropriate advances on 16-yo House pages, over the course of several years. If you haven't heard this, the story's on CNN here.
Apparently, after resigning he promptly checked himself into alcohol rehab.
Is it just me or did this strike any of you as a load of BS? As if by implying he's an alcoholic, that'll somehow soften or even dismiss his heinous actions?
I don't buy it.
Apparently, after resigning he promptly checked himself into alcohol rehab.
Is it just me or did this strike any of you as a load of BS? As if by implying he's an alcoholic, that'll somehow soften or even dismiss his heinous actions?
I don't buy it.
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