Category: Personal

For the last couple of months I’ve been subscribed to Tom Heald’s Remote Patrol. I get it as a daily newsletter but you can also read it on TV Barn or subscribe to the RSS feed. Oddly, even though the thing features Tom Heald’s name in the title, it seems to be written by Jon Delfin.

Regardless of who does the writing, I like it. The newsletter/column is snarky and wacky, just the way I would do it. For example, sampling from today’s installment:

• “Mysteries of Noah’s Flood” (9 p.m., TLC) reveals that Ham just left the faucet on.
• A Roman catapult is created by a team on “Building the Impossible” (10 p.m., TLC), and then snuck into Iraq to try to convince France to approve the current U.N. resolution.
• “Wild Kingdom” (8 p.m., Animal Planet) suggests that meerkats aren’t as sarcastic as Nathan Lane made them out to be in “The Lion King.”

If you watch more than two hours of TV a day and can spare three minutes for a bit of humor, read this regularly.

I received an excited email, apparently circulating widely in the Jewish community, worked up about a film Mel Gibson is directing and producing called The Passion. The primary concern of the email’s author is that this film portrays the Jews (of his time) as responsible for Jesus’ death. No small accusation since in the past this canard was responsible for centuries of oppression and murder of my people.

But since no one who knows what the film shows just yet is talking, the furor is a little ahead of itself. All Gibson will say in interviews is that his film is accurate according to what’s in the Bible. He’s a deeply religious man, but a Catholic who worships at his own church, separate from the official hierarchy. Apparently he (and his family) never accepted the changes of Vatican II and went their own way. One of the key elements of that monumental change in the Church was an official acknowledgement that Jews, as a group, were not responsible for killing Jesus.

Get a sampling:

From the Wall Street Journal: The Greatest Story, Newly Told

Weblogger 1: Yourish in response to

Weblogger 2: Cut on the Bias

All launched by the New York Times: Is the Pope Catholic…Enough?

and an LA Rabbi: LA Rabbi Asks Mel Gibson to Reconsider Jesus Film.

If the film, which uses dialog in Aramaic, Latin, and Hebrew but no English (and no subtitles), really does try and turn the clock back, this will be a bad thing at a bad time.

For some reason Postmodernism is a topic that has been catching my eye a lot lately. garret pointed to a very interesting Daniel Dennet essay today, Postmodernism and truth, and I recommend it to any of you interested in a contrast of scientific and philisophical truth or, rather, Truth.

For awhile now I’ve been wondering about the appeal of ultra-violent video games, especially since I found that one of my closest friends loves nother better than a few hours of going toe to toe with Quake 2. So many of the bestselling games are wrapped up in violence, though my cursory attention has also noted a few that offer sexual titillation as well–I’ve really been confused about where the out and out pornographic games are hiding, to be frank–that I wonder about the appeal of such a high level of violence.

We do get fairly explicit violent movies and TV shows, and rap music indulges quite a bit of it too, but nowhere near the level of games like Grand Theft Auto, Halo, or Quake. Why is this difference so substantial? I played Quake a few times at my friend’s house but to me there is no thrill in shooting at his character or playing in team mode and shooting monsters the game serves up. Violence is, to me, in nearly any form a terrible and undesirable thing. Necessary at times to defend oneself but always unfortunate. So why do so many people get such a thrill from the game version.

And can the players ultimately separate the pretend from their reality or will it seep through in the long run? I was not surprised at all to read this morning’s paper and see that a study has been released correlating quantity of violence seen on television with violent behavior. The researchers interviewed hundreds of children ages six to ten, waited 15 years or more for them to grow up, and went back and examined their behavior. The key findings:

“Men who really liked such television shows as children were much more likely to have pushed, grabbed or shoved their spouses, shoved someone who insulted them, been ticketed for speeding or convicted of another crime.

Women who enjoyed violent shows, including Charlie’s Angels, were four times more likely to have thrown something at their husbands, shoved or punched someone else, or been caught speeding or committing another crime.”

So what are we letting ourselves in for in another decade or two when today’s six to ten year olds grow up and the destruction they craved and learned in Resident Evil and Master of Orion seeps into adult behavior?

Mark was inspired to post his own 5 line portrait. Won’t you?

I hope you’re not wasting lifespan watching Oliver Beene. This is pathetic and only on my screen because I’m surfing the web and too lazy to get up. But wasn’t the Krusty for Congress Simpsons excellent?

Steve J comes up with the words I’ve been pondering the last three or four days. Dave often has interesting linkage but way too often his commentary is far too self-serving and obviously absurd.

Update, 3/9: Dave responds today to Steve, criticizes Steve for not getting his facts straight (though I think many would disagree with this assessment), and then proceeds to get his own facts wrong. Silly Dave!

A 5000 Lire note, cinquemila, sits on my desk

A 1000 Lire note, mille, rests atop it

Reminding me of the trip to Sicily and Sorrento

I took not too long ago.

But these notes are no longer legal tender,

No longer worth the few American pennies I

Exchanged for them at the hotel desk,

Replaced by the latest Euro fashion.

Consider that I could easily have bought an

Espresso and canoli with them instead of bringing

Them home, was that the right choice?

The past is gone and cannot be changed.

But then what is the worth of them as a reminder to me

Of the wonderful time I spent with my father

Of the two weeks in a new place and a different culture

Of the ways in which my eyes were opened?

I know I would not trade them for a couple of shiny Euros

I would rather have them right here to see, to touch

The portraits of Montessori and Bellini looking to the distance

The green and tan and blue, the blue and magenta of two old notes.

I enjoy doing many different artsy, creative things. Have never achieved any, say, competence at any of them but nonetheless do enjoy the effort. So when the g-man passed along the 5 line self portrait, how could I resist? I couldn’t:

I encourage you to give it a go yourself. Are my lips really that big?

Tom Shales goes a little Hunter Thompson on GWB: Bush’s Wake-Up Call Was a Snooze Alarm with an analysis of last night’s press conference. I was thinking that the president’s long pauses were more likely due to him waiting for suggestions from aides. That is, either via an earpiece or a monitor on his lectern, our fearless leader was getting help with his answers and needed a moment to read before speaking. If you believe movies such as Wag The Dog, such a thing wouldn’t be out of the question.

For my opinion on Desert Storm II, I’m wavering but still on the have to do it side. Some on the anti side say it’s all about the oil but I think Nobel Prize-winning economist Gary Becker effectively demolishes that argument. The economics of the situation argue against war or even longlasting sanctions. The French and Russians threaten to veto any Security Council resolution; what’s the rush, they ask. And then we find out that a Fench company is selling spare parts for helicopters and jet fighters to Iraq even now.

What about the big crowds turning out in the US and elsewhere to protest this war? I think most of them are scared about the consequences for themselves. There have been, after, press reports in the last week claiming that Iraqi agents are here in America ready to unleash terrorist-like actions on our soil should we invade. After all, some chemical agents (like Sarin) are easily manufactured from ingredients anyone can purchase at the supermarket, so it’s not like the agents would need to sneak material in with them.

But these reports are just rumors, of course, unconfirmed. I am not satisfied that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction or is particularly close to getting them; my government may have evidence but they haven’t shared it. And at the UN this morning, the inspection report stated that documents supporting allegations of a deal between Iraq and Nigeria for the sale of uranium were likely forgeries, though this conclusion is based on interviews with and information supplied by Iraqi and Nigerian officials. The same report explains away the aluminum tubes Iraq bought that were pointed to as evidence of their nuclear weapons program.

People will die if we go in and that is a bad thing. Sometimes, though, events lead down a path with no other destination. Much as I disagree with Bush and his administration over so many things, for now I will cast my vote to go.

Let’s see. The weigh-in. Breakfast, cheese omelette, couple slices bacon, couple slices low-carb toast, green tea, courtesy of the Sweet One. Read the paper, read the overnight email. Took TS1 to her train. Back home, surfed the news list, more email, shower. Coffee with Evan. Conversation: raid level zero, Andreeson’s ReplayTV setup, wedding preparation, Niacin. Home again, more surfing.

Guy from the carpet store, the sales manager, showed up. The bedroom door doesn’t stay open since the new carpet was installed. He tries to fix it. Nothing obviously wrong. Ten minutes, 20 minutes, nearly an hour. Finally Sean wants to give up. I’m not satisfied, and, see, they need to do something because I still have the second half of their payment in hand. He promises to send one of his handymen on Monday and I say fine. This is accompanied by much dialog on his part trying to get me to agree that this is not their problem anymore, but I do not. He’s almost out the door and then decides to try one more thing–stuffing little bits of paper into the hinges.

Ta-da! The paper, along with tiny bits of masking tape, do the trick. No need for the handyman to come. Door stays open yet still closes when pulled. Sean leaves, glad to escape. I agree to call tomorrow and pay. Well after noon now, I am hungry. Delicious leftover fried chicken from last night, courtesy of TS1. I eat it, along with a Chocolate Peanut Butter Atkins Advantage Bar. Nummy! Watch this morning’s episode of Lois and Clark: the Adventures of Superman–Tivo is great. This was the episode where Lois tries to respond to Clark’s proposal. Cool shot of Superman flying her up over the clouds. When she complains about being a bit chilly, he warms her by wrapping the cape around her. As if she wouldn’t freeze and choke to death for lack of oxygen at that altitude! LOL

More email. I send a resume to a recruiter in New Jersey who posted a couple of interesting jobs to KITlist-tech. Later he posts a few more and now they include the requirement that the candidate be local, no relocation available. I’ll be getting that phone call tomorrow, right? Take out a bag of catfish to defrost for dinner.

Time to roll. First stop is the party supply store on El Camino but they do not carry calligraphy pens any more. Odd. I go to Long’s, across the street, to mail Annie’s birthday gift to her in Hungary. Something nice, to be sure. While there, I check and sure enough, Long’s carries calligraphy pens. $6.59 for a pack of five but of course that includes several colors I have no need for. They do not sell single black pens. No matter, I buy the pack. Starbucks alert–it’s right there across the parking lot. Must have more coffee! Fortunately, their supply has not run out and they sell me a grande for only $1.55. Hey, it’s hot and it’s coffee.

Next stop Safeway. Got to love a supermarket that always has a two for one special on an 18 pack of fresh eggs, given that we eat so many on the Atkins Nutritional Approach. Probably around 30 a week between the two if us. Plus some bok choy for dinner. Before this diet began I don’t think I’d ever eaten bok choy but now probably once a week. It’s good, you should try it, either steamed with a little salt in the water or sauteed with some minced garlic. The cashier must have just come on shift, she is all bubbly and energetic.

Home again, garbage has been collected from the curb but mail is in the box. Nothing interesting or useful. As if I have the excess cash flow to send to (certainly deserving) groups these days! Instead I whip up a batch of Atkins Blueberry Muffins. A little bit of elbow grease (and vegetable oil) and we have a dozen muffins, enough for about a week of breakfasts. Since I’m in a surprisingly good mood–must be the coffee–I wash the dishes too.

More websurfing. For some reason I did not make the Daypop Top 40 for the, let’s see, 720th straight day. Glenn Reynolds or Dave Winer I am not. But I play one of them in this surreal dream that garret has every once in a blue moon. Karl enjoys an article I send on Line 6. Mom calls to talk about the hotel situation in Mountain View. The President comes on the TV and tries to hypnotize the White House press corp but as best I can tell they resist successfully. I do my wrist weight work while watching, to avoid the hypnosis.

Finally TS1 come home from work and I get the hug that is so urgently needed. Phew! She admires the calligraphy pens and starts to play with one, writing my parents’ names over and over on a blank sheet of paper. She has much better penmanship than she realizes. The invitations look great, I made them the other day at Evan’s place. Are you coming? Then I smell dinner cooking, courtesy of TS1, fried catfish, the last few shrimp, steamed bok choy. First time we are having catfish but I like it. Fish is another thing I never ate before the diet but just goes to show what a well-meaning person can miss without even trying. Afterwards, I watch this afternoon’s episode of Roswell. Alex died, suicide or is it murder?!?!?!?! Brush the teeth and floss.

[censored]

Sleep time. Nighty night Internet.

This morning at the gym, one of the TVs on the wall in front of me was tuned to Good Morning America and so I watched a sad attempt by the new Treasury Secretary, John Snow, to promote the Bush plan for the economy. You know, the one with all the giveaways to the rich, including making dividend payments tax-free to the recipient (albeit only when the payments come out of actual profits), that most economists think is worse than ridiculous.

The one that will send our already-spiraling budget deficit through the roof, which is why so many CEO’s, who you’d think would generally benefit from the plan, are taking such a Dim View of it instead. Alan Greenspan and his pals at the Federal Reserve aren’t too hot on the plan either in light of the sad shape the economy is in.

Snow, formerly CEO of a huge transportation company who often spoke out against deficit spending when Clinton was president, tried to duck that hypocrisy while speaking with Diane Sawyer but could only come up with a non-responsive obfuscation instead. Particularly when she asked him about the effect of a war with Iraq on the economy. Later in the day, testifying at a congressional committee, Snow continued his claim that fears of deficits were way overblown and, anyway, it isn’t the fault of his administration since any surpluses people spoke about two years ago were fantasies of the outgoing administration. Sad what we got ourselves into based on a few hanging chads, isn’t it?

Giving to a charity? Wouldn’t you like to know that most of the money actually goes to the charity? I know I would. Seems like many charities don’t really want you to find out that they sometimes pay over 80% over the donated money to the firm hired to do the soliciations. And, in a case argued before the US Supreme Court this morning, apparently they have a First Amendment right not to tell us.

Yes, we all want to know about our givernment’s successes in the War on Terror. The more of them, and the sooner such events transpire, the better. Sometimes, though, I wonder about why information is released when secrecy, at least for a while longer, would make a big difference in the overall value of the victory.

This weekend’s capture of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in Rawalpindi is such an instance. Along with the man who is allegedly the chief operations officer for Al Qaeda, the arresting team scooped up computers, cell phones, and other materials apparently containing a good deal of current information on the outlaw crew’s plans and resources.

In contrast, Attorney General Ashcroft only today announced that German authorities arrested another key terror leader, Sheik Mohammed Ali Hasan al-Moayad, back in January.

So why did the more significant arrest get plastered all over the world’s news media before the government could decipher and analyze, much less act on, what they found? I suppose the only real answer is that this arrest was not a quiet affair and those most directly affected by it would know anyway. Still, if the team tracking Mohammed was a little more clever, you have to think they could have arranged to take him in secrecy and make the arrest even more effective in the long run.

In the extensive, detailed essay 2003 And Beyond, Andrew Grygus surveys the business computing scene and discovers that it’s all about Microsoft. PC makers such as HP, Gateway, and even Dell are on a death spiral: Microsoft is already showing the intent to sell MS-branded home computing machines with XBox, XBox2, and Home Gateway. Most software publishers are dead or will die within five years: Microsoft is slowly but surely expanding into all parts of the market. High end hardware and software and applications that require extensive customization may escape from the Redmond hug in the medium term but if BillG’s crew continues to succeed eventually they’ll get up there too.

All is not hopeless. Microsoft faces challenges in getting where this picture leads. There are Linux, Apache, and the rest of the open source packages which organizations are turning to in increasing numbers, enough that MS has now cited it as a top competitive threat in SEC filings. There is significant resistance to its latest licensing plan. There is even the possibility that stagnant core market growth and continued arrogant behavior will trip them up.

This is a very long essay and some parts seem pasted in from older essays, but probably worth the read if you want to look at our business from a different perspective.

[via Winterspeak]

John Belushi. I remember driving on Sunset Boulevard the afternoon he passed away, hearing the news when I was only blocks from the hotel where it happened. He was amazing with physical comedy and wordplay. But romantic comedy was just too much of a stretch for him, in the years when he was still hitting the booze and drugs so hard; maybe if he’d lived another 15 or 20 years he would have grown into it but we’ll never know. I always think of Bill Murray’s film from the same period, The Razor’s Edge, when Continental Divide comes up.

So 1981’s Continental Divide was not the great leap forward he probably hope for. Blair Brown was beautiful and well-suited to the part of the nature nut love interest. Belushi played Ernie Souchak, a Chicago newspaper columnist, who needs to get out of town in a hurry and heads to the Rockies to try and get the inside story on Brown’s ornithologist. He goes nuts in the wild, misses his cigarettes, comes on to her to a negative reception, but then charms her by hurting his back and getting attacked by a mountain lion. They fall in love but his time on the mountain is up and he returns to the city. Boo hoo. She comes to the city for a lecture, they have wild sex and can’t say goodbye. Woo hoo. Neither can stand living where the other does but they get married anyway and then go home alone. Huh?

Mildly recommended

Roger Corman made many forgettable movies. Many. But some were worth watching and 1979’s Rock ‘n’ Roll High School was surely one of them. Corman films never have any budget to speak of but in RRHS he got a terrific mix of the Ramones (the concert scene has four of their songs alone), PJ Soles, Clint Howard, Mary Woronov and Paul Bartel in a 20 years behind the times story. By the late ’70s, adults were no longer trying to ban rock music but that doesn’t matter to the three directors and six writers who put this farce together.

Bartel and Woronov are most notable for the indie classic Eating Raoul. The Ramones, of course, went on to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Howard appears in many of his brother’s films, and Soles never got the stardom she deserved, though she has been happily married since 1984.

Recommended

Ice Cube and Mike Epps make an attempt to step up in class in last year’s All About The Benjamins. An action/comedy about a bounty hunter (Cube) hooking up with a small time con man (Epps) who get in the middle of a $20 million diamond heist while trying to retrieve the winning ticket for a $60 million lottery. Other than the fact that the leads here are Black, I don’t see how the movie is any better than your standard Brian Bosworth/Julie Strain straight to video effort. And with Strain at least viewers get to ogle her awesome body.

Not worth the 90 minutes

Today marks six months on the diet for me and the Sweet One. I’m proud to report that we’ve both been keeping to the straight and narrow and that we believe in the Atkins as a healthy way to manage our food, so we will keep on it for a long time to come. Multivitamins, calcium, glucosamine and condroitin pills. Generally four workouts a week at the gym.

Mornings are pretty standard: two hard boiled eggs or two egg omelette plus an Atkins blueberry muffin, with two or three slices of bacon added on the weekends; occasionally pancakes or french toast instead, with low carb maple syrup. I make a batch of the muffins once a week. Lunch is leftover meat or lunch meat plus a salad. I usually have two Atkins bars a day, Chocolate Mocha Crunch or the new Smores flavors, while Vivian prefers the Endulge Caramel Nut Chews and sesame seeds.

Dinners are usually terrific. Meat runs every five or six weeks to Costco supplemented with the occasional fresh shrimp or piece of veal keep us stocked and we rotate chicken thighs, whole chickens, ground beef, steaks, pork chops, pork or beef ribs, steaks, sole, salmon, and, the newest addition, catfish. Plus visits to In’n’Out (like last night) for a double-double protein style and otherwise rarely eat out.

We pick up fresh veggies for sides at the Mountain View Farmer’s Market on Sundays or at the supermarkets weekdays: spinach, bok choy, string beans, brocolli (steamed, sauteed, or even pureed), zuccini, or asparagus, once in a while sauteed mushrooms and onions. As the good doctor (Atkins, that is) says, lots of garlic.

How much weight have we lost? I shouldn’t–won’t–say about TS1, two things one doesn’t ask are a woman’s age or weight, but I’ve lost 39 pounds. Still a long way to go to 170 but I’m encouraged and motivated. Our wedding is only 70 days away!

You did watch Bruce and the E Street Army on CBS tonight, didn’t you?