| So.. Sick for the last few days.. Very full July ahead of me... |
[Jul. 9th, 2008|10:32 am] |
I had a great time at the "Cheeseburgers in Paradise" party... good social hello time and the discovery that WII is not a *complete* waste of tech...
Saturday I had planned to go to a friends party... I thought I was just funking out (couldnt really get the enthusiasm to get out the door.. oh and enjoying "Trinity Blood" with Brian which added up to 'stay home' regardless) .. by about midnight I was doing the fever and chills too hot/too cold dance.. no appetite and generally miserable sneezy achey must be a summer cold rumba (cha cha cha)
Went to work Monday *entirely* because, apparently , no one is ever believed when they say their sick on the monday of a three day weekend.... stayed home tuesday and skipped fencing AND that brings us to today where I'm functional.. but still pretty drained, drinking Pedialyte because for some reason my body is craving electrolytes (if this stuff tastes BEARABLE even cut with juice you must NEED it) and dragging a bit... should be fine with one more nights sleep...
which brings us to busy busy July....
An early "Happy Birthday!" to ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) sharjinka and , if I'm feeling human again, hopefully joining you for Wall-E tomorrow night.
this coming weekend is clear but probably time to fine calibrate the video studio for bluescreen work and get more rest. If anyone wants some low key goofy/geeky fun you'd be welcome to join in on that
Undersoul will be playing in the 17th and I hope to be there... and then on the 18th the SCA has a grand event at Castletown... with many swashes to buckle and much daring to do.. (I love rapier melee's and cant imagine they'll do without a few)
On friday the 25th theres the "weclome home Nikki!" bash and on that saturday during the day.. possibly Tubing and in the EVENING definitely the Waylon Jennings/Honky Tonk heroes bash that Daves putting on in the compound.
that leaves Monday the 14th, 21st and 28th open along with Wednesday the 23rd and 30th and Thursday the 31st... I should probably plan on walking or swimming some of those days.. anyone want to come join me? |
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| Waylon Jenning's Bash with bands and keg... at my place. |
[Jun. 30th, 2008|10:50 am] |
My neighbor in this lovely 3plex is holding a Bash in honor of his own personal Guitar Hero... Waylon Jennings. He asked me as a favor to gin him up a flyer and then said to go ahead and invite all my friends to the :
7th Annual Honky Tonk Heroes Memorial Bash and Waylon Jenning's celebration
I'm not normally a CW fan.. but to the extent I am... theres at least a few songs to thank this guy for ... (youtube links below)
(picked purely for the audio.. )
Mental Revenge
Wrong (my personal favorite.. and probably the most applicable)
Dukes of Hazard Theme
Are you Sure Hank Done it that way
Lukenbach Texas
Trouble Man
Anyway.. I'll be home and helping out with this a bit BUT if youre not otherwise busy and have been inclined to drop by and say hello .. this might not be a bad time to do it. I'll have batteries charged and the studio prepped in case anyone wants to do silly CW portraits or such. and I suspect "a good time was had by all" may apply. Musicians inclined to Jam CW and Rock should definitely feel free to bring instruments... and it wouldnt surprise me not one wit if there was dancing and such.
I should mention while it IS on the 'bad'-ish side of town and not the swankiest place.. we do have... a good performance stage with speaker poles... a LARGE firepit, and a huge waterfall sculpture as well as cafe style seating for a bunch of folks |
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| a really funny article on same sex marriage |
[Jun. 24th, 2008|09:23 am] |
This is too good to pass up reading and passing on
Like most true things its funny BECAUSE its so very true.. and ALMOST should be taken as a serious suggestion
or at least as seriously as they would have us take theres.
with thanks to satyregirlie |
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| From my friend who are fans of Terry Patchett my reveiw of :"Hogfather:The Movie" |
[Jun. 23rd, 2008|02:24 pm] |
I actually recommend this one..if a bit luke-warmly to folks who have read the book. I do NOT recommend it as an intro to Pratchett.. or even as a movie... its more like a bunch of well crafted scenes taken from the book and awkwardly jammed together to recreate the narrative.
If anything they err in taking too much as gospel the original author and trying to bring a book EXACTLY to the screen and it just doesnt work that way. the ENTIRETY of scenes involving Unseen University could and should have been cut along with Bilious (Oh God of Hangovers)... I'm sure fans demanded them but in a three hour movie they advanced the plot not one wit.. and actually MISSED the main point of their being there.
For instance Ridcully's heedless (and temporary ) reopening of the BS Johnson bathroom could have been MUCH shorter and would have been better for merely showing him enter... making a lot of noise.. and then showing his ignomineous retreat and orders to have it resealed RATHER than showing the wizards IN the bathroom .. a sight I could have done without even if they had managed to get the humorous point accross which they completely failed to do.
Similarly the crux of Billious, the "Oh God" of hangovers was the bit where he finally gets the god of Wine to taste the bitter fruits of his vices ... which , while retaining the character , they dropped.
and in fact if theres a single criticism of the peice aside from the fact that its much more like a companion to the book made for those who revere pratchett and NOT as a movie in its own right , its that they didnt really capture the sense of humor very well.
The effects are good , the acting is good, the art design is good and theres very little to criticize in a lot of the individual scenes. I enjoyed it. The actress portraying susan does a particularly fine job and the collection of actor, artisan and effects people who brought Death to the screen did so VERY well.
(Mr Te-ah-tim-eh is has a REALLY annoying laugh and off putting voice and is just OFF... but thats exactly as the character was described so I can hardly fault the actor or film for it...)
You'll even recognize a couple of the actors... Mr Downey is more memorable as "The Evil one" from time bandit (and a host of other films) and Arch-chancellor Ridcully was last seen either as a russian Ambassador who'd lost ANOTHER submarine in Hunt for Red October , or taking a bullet between the Eyes as a a South African Ambassador in Lethal Weapon. (clearly academic life suits him better)
If youre on this list feel free to ask and I'll be happy to loan it to you... its worth watching once but you probably wont treasure and presumably wouldnt want to actually buy it. |
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| Meme: which of these 'best films of the last 20 years' that I havent seen SHOULD I ? |
[Jun. 23rd, 2008|08:55 am] |
A friend of mine posted this list as '100 best films of the last 20 years'.. rather than haggle about the list itself I decided to go with the flow the ones I've seen are in BOLD type.. if you read this, tell me one of the films I HAVENT seen that, knowing me as you do, I really OUGHT TO, especially if you'd care to sit down and watch it WITH me :) . If you dont see any that strike you that way... feel free to add one.
-new and IMPROVED meme.. now with actual usefulness :)
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| Names are important: Radical Authoritarian Theocrats= RATS! |
[Jun. 18th, 2008|11:14 am] |
In the battle for hearts and minds names matter a LOT.. which is why they called the 'fuck the constitution' laws "The Patriot Act" and similar Orwellian lies...
well .. I have a new name for the enemies of all... Not the "Religious Right".. two words that taken seperately have positive conotations.. nor Conservatives, nor even fundimentalists... their true name is Radical Authoritarian Theocrats... which fits them more accurately than ANYTHING thats been used to describe that bunch to date... and of course.. in general usage we can use the acronym RATS
names have power.. true names doubly so Pass it on! |
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| Living in the here and now, not so gr8 akshully. (philosphical post) |
[Jun. 13th, 2008|09:10 am] |
Living in the here and now is so LIMITING...
This morning I turned on some music .... it happened to be Fife and drum because I *like* fife and drum.. other days it might be Gregorian chant , or Organ music by bach, or the Eagles or the Pogues or AC DC or Glen Miller or the soundtrack from the new Dr Who or Art of Noise....
And I *like* suits sometimes and even ties.. sharp tailoring.. trenchcoats, tailcoats, greatcoats, microfibre fabrics, cloaks, breaches, tall boots , mandarin collars and guantleted gloves .. HATS... I also like comfy fatigues and *practical* leathers (or synthetics), T-shirts and Jeans, sidezip combat boots ...
and on any given day I'm likely to be reading "The Guns of August", Thomas Jeffersons correspondence, or Abraham Lincolns. or listening to Bobby Kennedy or his older brother on youtube as well as seeing todays headlines and pondering a LOT on what comes next in the near and far term. (and what can be done to make both of those more to my liking)
I had a professor of medieval studies once who said "Those who ride rule those who walk"
SO many people trying to be in the here and now. the current fashions, the latest news , the band thats hot now.. aware not only of thier immediate geography.. the people and places that touch their lives daily.. but aware only of an ever moving NOW with little thought of past or future....
and even if you can expand thier view of the world to include 3 dimensions spanning a globe and maybe even to the stars... and even if you add a fourth dimension going forward and back so they can take CONTEXT and choose what they like from CENTURIES rather than just todays 'hot' list thats STILL just a 4th dimensional LINE instead of a PLANE... perhaps that what the view is from the "many worlds" hypothesis .. time, not just in 2 dimensions but in 3 .. a superimposed hyperplane of things that could have been and the things that could be...
my life is greatly enriched by the imaginings of 'might have beens' and 'still could be' and while those are clearly just internal renderings.. interpolations of external data with more than a dash of optimism and groundhog day type hindsight... people who are tied to "here" and "now" and "Is" .. in some metaphysical way have restricted themselves to existing as a single point on plane or possibly a line... instead of being a sphere .. among spheres.
Hmm tis a half finished half baked thought.. will have to get back to this. |
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| I'm not *normally* a memesheep.. but , curiosity, cats.. that sort of thing. |
[Jun. 12th, 2008|11:44 am] |
If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, even if we don't speak often, please post a comment with a memory of you and me. It can be anything you want -- good or bad. When you're finished (standard free-will addendum: IF YOU WANT), post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people remember about you. (screened... because apparently some folks like making me blush :) )
note 03/13/2008 I've decided to unscreen most of the comments simply because I'm not really sure how the 'screen' works here... and so as not to seem ungrateful for the various accolades ... lest anyone get the wrong idea though.. I'm NOT exactly what you'd call 'very active'.. my total number of partners in this life is actually pretty low. averaging less than one per year of my adult life... very *selective* is more like it but I also tend not to lose touch no matter how many years or miles... I treasure people... and good and wonderful women Ive ever been close to , doubly so. |
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| For any Dr Who fans . you'll love this webcomic.... |
[Jun. 5th, 2008|10:05 am] |
The very best fan comic of anything I've ever seen... "the 10 Doctors" (click here to go see) at least in part because its not even POSSIBLE to do in film .. but its pretty easy to imagine...Kudos to the creative mind who
I was geeking about webcomics last night with friends... this seemed to be the one MOST folks hadnt already found...
Just in case though.. if you like webcomics and you havent found THESE yet... you probably want to.
ANYTHING by Airship Entertainment -GirlGenius, Buck Godot (zap gun for hire), or Fun with Phil and Dixie)
Yet another Fantasy Gamer Comic
Looking for Group
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| Lots of good changes AND dad's visiting till Tuesday. |
[May. 23rd, 2008|09:44 am] |
1) The 92 Mitsubishi Expo is up and running..repaired, registered, and passed inspection.. I am now REASONABLY mobile after what where hopefully just some initial 'the universe needs to taunt you just a bit longer' tribulations. For years now, driving my old faithful 85 Linclon towncar was something I did only with reluctance for all but the essentials of grocery and work simply because A) arrival anywhere felt like being granted yet another gift for which I was thankful and B) I knew that at some point I'd get a 'fatal error' too expensive for me to repair economically and I had to put that off till a replacement was online- because shopping for a car when you dont have on at all is REALLY annoying. SO for the past couple of years I have been artificially scarce and the ending of THAT makes this a whole new chapter. oh yes.. and going from 10mpg to 25mpg doesnt hurt either.
2) As it happens , just after the 92 Mitsubishi was repaired and running.. .My dad came out for another visit. Its great to have him around .. hes semi-retired and has the time now but I'm sure its because he's worried about me and the direction (or lack of it) I seem to have just now... a comfortable job just getting by is.. well really not enough. well past time to start thinking/planning/working hard on whatever comes next. ALSO .. hes rather fond of that old blue Lincoln and while he acknowledges it didn't make economic sense for ME to keep it up rather than moving on to a newer vehicle, he lives in a completely different economic reality and has generously decided to help me repair the simple stuff (junkyards are a father/son bonding of long standing in my family) and have a good garage do the rest. That especially works for him because it would take a bold thief to look a failure analysis engineer/rocket scientist (who used to disassemble and reassemble cars to the last damn bolt and gear just for FUN ) anything but the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Before dad left home(divorce) he had my brother do the same thing he had done as a teenager -disassemble / reassemble an old Nash Rambler-and ever since Phil has been an ace mechanic who does his own work... unfortunately I was three years younger, and as I recall recovering from Pneumonia at that time. Thats a week long lesson I'm always going to regret missing... and regret not being able to pass on. With two GOOD cars in the family now its possible to start Brian on Driving lessons and eventually a bit more independence which is I think another thing that dad is thinking ahead to.
3) MORE On the good news front... Jess's boyfriend has apparently closed on the Condo he has been looking to buy for some months.. and She and the twins will be moving in the next two weeks. Which , as much as I adore the twins, will be a great relief... I'll be moving OUT of the photo studio and back into the large bedroom and the amount CROWDINGwill be greatly eased. This will also change my financial status from 'running on the bare edge' to 'able to start saving/having some money to spend' after a couple of months.
4) I really OUGHT to host a party then. All in all I have reason to celebrate and a fairly CENTRAL location to do it in.. with a giant firepit and a stage with speaker poles and though my home itself qualifies as 'modest' at best for a 2 bedroom apartment, AFTER I've had a chance to get things rearranged and do some minor upgrades it will certainly be time to host a celebration of some flavor.. and its LONG overdue to enjoy more playful photo/video studio time.... I really DO need to work on finding a paying market for my output AND upgrading my equipment in the next few months.
SO... this has been another year where I've missed PBF and Flipside and Sci Fi conventions and more moviegasms than I can count . and its been another year of 'just getting by'. Looks like that may be the last one :)
Dad's staying through Tuesday .. we'll be doing car stuff for part of the weekend but t'would be good to say 'hi' to whatever folk aren't out at flipside. |
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| Oh Henry Pun off anyone? |
[May. 17th, 2008|10:15 am] |
if you see this and are headed for the Oh Henry Pun-off at 409 East 5th street this morning and you would care for more company amy cell is 512-743-3616
On the 'parking will be scarce' theory I'll be headed out about 11-ish |
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| So a genral update and a free smile in case you needed one... |
[May. 16th, 2008|11:10 am] |
I've had a lovely week or so.. all things considered...
LAST Tuesday I went fencing again for the first time in forever..it was wonderful.. welcomed by old friends , had a grand time with my rather eccentric sword and tactics...
On Sunday morning I took the mile or so stroll to bramblekite's Waffle breakfast.. which was good food and good friends and I was very glad for seeing her and fractallia and thax and kalidascopeeyes (+cody and her clan) and wesbante and feetwilltravel et alia again.. it was a beautiful day for walking and I strolled home about noonish.. in time to change and run out for a date with an interesting and beautiful but rather cool lady at flipnotics and then Barton Springs... any day spent at Barton Springs.. .swimming and enjoying the sun and good conversation is a good one. She was on Benadryl and apologized for being ' a bit out of it' ... so will look forward to meeting her when shes more herself... Another lass who'd had to cancel a saturday date called on sunday to apologize and offered me tickets to join her for "The Thin Man" at the Alamo on Monday .. We had a LOVELY time and she's ... an undiscovered Gem... We'll probably be picnicing at Zilker to the sounds of "Much ado about nothing" this weekend.
On Tuesday I went fencing again... and again.. why is it ever DONT go is the big question? its like dancing but in some ways more... stimulating. great excercise, witty banter... shiny pointy things, whats not to love?
Next week Dad is coming for another visit.. not sure *why* hes coming back so soon after the last one (a mere two weeks ago) but he has the time and the money and I enjoy having him around... only wishing I had more room to accomodate him. My Son Brian was actually... interactive... and willing to get to know his Grandfather .. which may be why dad is coming out again. Brians mom pretty much cut him off from my family and (and me to the extent she could) and worked hard to leave a negative impression... hes looking for himself now and thats a WONDERFUL thing.
Brians doing well in a part time job doing exactly the sort of web work hed been looking for.. it pays well but , still only part time so while I'd like him to show a bit more hustle looking for something comparable but full time... hes, on course if not up to speed and as dads of 20 year olds go I have not much to complain about.. hopefully.. in my fondest dreams he finds his feet socially soon and will be too busy to spend time with dad.... oddly enough, thats what success tastes like and I get little ttiney fore-astes of it every now and then.
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| Sad precognition.. and the reason I'm not enthusiastic about Obama... |
[May. 8th, 2008|09:33 am] |
I think Obama may be the next JFK.. in both the good and the bad ways....
and I dont think I have the heart or patience left to deal with another Warren Report cover up. that would indeed be the absolute last , final straw on the camels back binding me to society and law and any belief that the America I love is alive at all.
People right now are speculating on Mr. Barrak's running mate.. and they are talking about electability and constituancies and experience and such... but hes not a stupid man.. and hopefully not blinded by optimism. His running mate ... learning from the way Republicans have done things has to first off be someone the right-wing would be even MORE horrified to see in the Whitehouse...
but the most important characteristic I think they'd have to have is the gaurenteed integrity and courage to stand over the investigation HANDS ON , follow it where-ever it goes regardless of personal risk or threat to his family , his reputation or his life.. and then call treason by its name and hang however many millionaires, civil servants, senators, covert operatives, mercenaries etc that put even one thumb into the assassination or cover-up.
I was born in 1964... but part of my earliest childhood memories .. and strong ones.. included a 33rpm record album of John Kennedy's speeches .. produced as a commemerative in the outpouring of grief surrounding his funeral... a copy of 'profiles in courage' and the story of PT109. I remember the PAIN of discovering thats not how presidents normally ARE .. men of vision.. looking high and leading us forward to a beacon with our strengths and our optimism and our idealism. helping us be BIGGER. My parents loved Kennedy. Both of them... dad was PART of the space race.
The first step of disillusionment was when I was during the Watergate hearings. I remember how WOUNDED and outraged I felt as a child that people were ATTACKING the president... and the slow stunning realization that he not only wasnt a great man.. but not even a good one... The final straw , almost the death of hope came during the Reagan era over shenanigans in central America which I was much older and able to understand and for which it was VERY clear that the executive thought 'legal is whatever we can get away with.. constitution be damned'.. and were proved right.
So to hear the ringing words.. the trumpet call to the high ground.. to even hope to see that in my lifetime... and already be able to hear the gunshot in my minds ear is heartbreaking in advance. I believe I would truly go mad. |
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| I'm sure this is more for MY curiousity than yours... |
[May. 2nd, 2008|10:11 am] |
| Your LJ Slut Stats! |
| Out of your 77 friends, percentages you have: |
| met |
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70.12%
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| hugged |
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42.85% |
| dated |
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6.49%
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| kissed |
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15.58%
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| seen shirtless |
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15.58%
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| seen naked |
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11.68%
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| had net sex |
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9.09%
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| made out with |
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14.28%
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| had oral sex |
|
5.19%
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| fucked |
|
7.79%
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| Get your LJ Slut Stats! |
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| On TV news... |
[Apr. 28th, 2008|10:57 pm] |
I havent had a TV for several years now. I just spend about an hour at a Cici's pizza buffet in front of one and the analogy that came to mind is this...
and pardon my language here but...
if you'd grown up being handed a plate of raw *shit* each day and managed to hold it down... then went away to someplace they served.. well.. really bad food but not actual *shit* and then came back and spooned a steaming pile into your maw...
yeah, thats what watching CNN was like even with the sound off.
It was a bloody anti-Obama hatchet job of a night ,making every attempt to look fox-like 'fair and impartial'... and doing all they can to make McCain look presidential.
Heck the spin may be even MORE obvious with the sound OFF because they dont care what you hear or any specific facts or even opinions presented are.. what the effort clearly is , is toward leaving a 'general impression'
btw.. I'm NOT an Obama supporter as of yet. I may be an Hillary detractor and not enamored of McCains bedfellows but not really an Obama supporter...
but at THIS rate... |
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| Who wants to wreck whole cites while flying giant mecha? |
[Apr. 28th, 2008|10:48 pm] |
Theres this nifty game that you can learn about by going to
http://rapidshare.com/files/111277402/Bootfighter_Windom_XP_sp-2.NET_v1.023__mirror_moon_.exe
if the Windows/Linux showdown is something you feel you want to take sides in (its a windows game, but the mecha are all named after various flavors/code names of windows and Linux.. so you can have Antrium stomping on Whistler for example.... and you like giant mecha with lazer swords and bazookas... AND you'd like to level a few city blocks while fighting with/against friends... check it out.
other minor niftyness is that allows you to put your own avatar as the pilots face and your own OGG files to be its voice effects/canned messages. |
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| I'm off the Net for a bit... |
[Apr. 14th, 2008|06:17 pm] |
Among other things that went splat this weekend was my PC... So I'll be scarce on the ether for a week or two till I replace it...
the long hoped for Van is a total loss.. not going to pass county inspection here without an insane amount of work.. fortunately I've only got $1k (and an almost infinite amount of patience) flushing down with it...
lost, and recovered my credit card on saturday... DIDNT make it to PBF (grar! yet again! and the pirate tag! how could I miss the pirate tag!) but DID make it to the steampunk ball which was a fabulous evening out.
and a funky punky photoshoot the next morning with Lee and Matt in the yard.. and patio...
anyway.. no Email access in the evenings- for maybe a week or two.. so on the very OFF chance you need to reach me try Seven four three three six one six in the five one two areacode. |
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| If I were a better artist this would be a webcomic....the invention of fire: |
[Apr. 6th, 2008|01:12 pm] |
inovation.. however small always seems to meet the same phases of resistance... I can just see the heartbreak of the guy who figured out how to light fire... picture the primitive camp scene.. skins, stone tipped spears, and the guy over on the side striking rocks together while folks laugh at him till the tiny patch of tinder and logs catches on...
"neat trick but whats it good for?"
"really bearskins are warm enough for anybody and why would you want to do THAT to good meat?"
"HEY! thats dangerous someone could get hurt! there ought to be a rule against that sort of thing"
the theres the passive acceptance phase
"its nice but it should be someplace else"
"its really not a good size"
"nah.. you do it REALLY well, I wouldnt presume to learn how but could you..."
and in the end , for at least a generation... everyone thinks its kind of a neat party trick, and really handy for some things but NOBODY who grew up without is in anyway motivated to make their own...
I've had a couple of experiences like that .. but the one that comes to mind is bringing a collapsable 20 foot pole and an Amercian flag to your average march/rally... everyone seems to think its NIFTY 'what a cool idea!', 'can I hold it?' but never , ever do they think about getting their own or bringing them ...
hell, If I was doing that sort of thing more I would PROBABLY take 5 gallon water jug, dress it up as an old fashioned marching drum and rig it to do dual duty as a drum and put a boom box in there.. maybe learn how to play the fife for cyring out loud..if your GOING to do a march why just do the same old 'clever' (and the quotes indicate sarcasm) poster board signs done with sharpies and paper 'banners'..
you know what will REALLY make the powers that be?
not a thousand folks straggling through the streets yelling.
you want to impress them? lead with flag bearers on poles.. keep it tight , keep it in step... and add a fife and drum for effect. THAT will frikkin get noticed...
I didnt make it to yesterdays anti "NAFTA highway' protest... I'm finally and for real getting that darn van fixed , but I'll wager they had a a couple of tired folk singers and some more modern music acts on the capital steps, some boring speakers and a bunch of folks shouting random slogans and holding signs looking small and disorganized walking in blobs up Congress ave to get there. |
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| moviegasm... I'm looking for a ride and happy to cover some fuel cost.. |
[Mar. 31st, 2008|03:46 pm] |
due to a story far too long and boring to relate here I'm still driving my venerable 85 Lincoln to work and back... but its max comfortable radius seems to be about 20 miles... which unfortunately puts fabulously fun moviegasmness out of range....
if you've got an open seat, and wouldnt mind having some one pitch in for the gas money... do let me know :) |
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