So much for that idea

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My plan for the morning was to wander down the hill and see Kerry speak on today’s swing through Seattle. It even looked like I was going to be able to pull it off — I set my alarm an hour early, actually managed to haul myself out of bed, and was out the door by 8:45am.

Springtime in Seattle, though, doesn’t always have the best weather, and today is definitely one of the drearier days. Grey, windy, and rainy. I wasn’t terribly concerned about this on the walk down the hill, as one of the first things I learned about being a Seattleite is that an umbrella is a necessary part of one’s supplies. I walked down Pike to the Pike Place Market, took the stairs down through the market, and crossed Alaskan Way to head to the pier. One of the police officers on duty directed me to the line, and I started working my way down…

…and down…

…and down…

Waiting to see Kerry speak

…and about five blocks later or so, finally found the end. Still, I’ve got no big problem with queueing up for something that interests me, and I’ve been curious for a while as to how Kerry would strike me in person. What little I’ve seen of him (generally during snippets on CNN while I’m eating lunch, as I’m without TV at home) hasn’t really impressed me to date, but I also know that many people can come across far better in a personal appearance than in a compressed 15-second news soundbite. So, I staked out my spot in line and waited.

And kept waiting.

An hour later, after having moved only about the length of two blocks, it became very clear that chances of actually making it into the designated area when Kerry was still around were getting slimmer and slimmer. The final straw, though, was when word came down the line that due to security measures, umbrellas were not being allowed into the secure area. Bags not being allowed I was expecting — that had been mentioned on Kerry’s website — but umbrellas? Sure, I’m not going to melt, but that doesn’t mean that I particularly relish the idea of standing out in the wind and rain, either.

The pile of umbrellas

So, I gave it a few more minutes to think it over, decided that it wasn’t worth it, and wandered my way back home. On the way out, I passed the solution to the umbrella situation: a huge pile of umbrellas at the bottom of a lamppost close to the screening area at the entrance. Ugh. Talk about a quickly improvised and badly thought out solution. I was not impressed.

So, that was my morning adventure — an aborted and unsuccessful attempt to form better impressions of the Democratic nominee for the 2004 election cycle. Hopefully I’ll have another chance before November rolls around (and if I do, I hope it goes better than this one did).

iTunes: “Heartbeat (Armand van Helden)” by Somerville, Jimmy from the album Platinum on Black, Vol. 2 (1995, 4:53).

A Portrait of the Author as a Young Man

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Or, rather, seven portraits.

I recently found a stack of old ID cards from my high school days in a drawer, a discovery that led to an interesting mix of amusement and horror as I flipped through them. My self-image has never been very good — it’s only been in the last few years that I’ve really started to be comfortable with the way I look — and flipping through these really reminded me of just how low my self-esteem was in those days. Pretty scary, actually.

So what do I do, but take them to work, scan them all in, and bring them back here to expose them to the world.

There’s something seriously, seriously wrong with me. ;)

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Alaskans against CAPPS II

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Stop CAPPS II button

Alaska can be a pretty interesting place to travel around in. Once you get out of the “big cities” (“big” being used in a fairly loose sense here) of Anchorage and Fairbanks, there are only a certain small number of places you can go by car. When you’re trying to get around a state as big as Alaska (more than twice the size of Texas) and most of the towns aren’t accessible by road, unless you’re planning on training for the Iditarod, your best bet is flying.

Because of this, aviation plays a huge part in Alaskan transportation, with six times more pilots per capita and 14 times as many airplanes per capita as the rest of the U.S. That’s a lot of airplanes, and a lot of flights.

And it’s also a lot of Alaskans that aren’t very happy about the proposed flight restrictions of CAPPS II.

Washington DC bureaucrats think we need their permission before we can get on a plane.

We think they’re wrong. They don’t understand that up here in Alaska, we use airplanes the way you use taxis.

And that’s why we, a group of Alaskans, are turning to the US District Court for help.

(via Mike)

iTunes: “Rasta Rave” by Aar from the album Zoo Rave 1 (1992, 5:32).

Kerry in Seattle tomorrow

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From the Seattle PI: John Kerry to speak in Seattle:

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry will be in Seattle at a free public appearance on Pier 62 tomorrow morning.

The 9:45 a.m. event is open to the public. Those who want better seating can stop by the Democratic Party campaign headquarters at 1848 Westlake Ave. N. for reserved seats. The morning event is not a fund-raiser.

Kerry, who arrives in Washington late this evening, plans to talk about the steps he would take as president to make the country energy-independent. Kerry will speak tomorrow evening at a \$1,000 a plate fund-raiser at the Westin Hotel.

If I can get my butt in gear early enough, I may wander down the hill and see if I can make it to this. Early in the morning for me, but would be good to see how Kerry presents himself, as I have to admit that he hasn’t overly impressed me in what I’ve seen so far.

iTunes: “Posthaste” by Crack Machine from the album Freak Accident (1994, 3:41).

Disney Propaganda (I want this!)

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Oooers — anybody want to get me a late birthday present? ;)

Walt Disney Treasures: On the Front Lines

On December 8, 1941, the Disney Studio was taken over by the military as part of the war effort. Making the most of the talent that hadn’t shipped out yet, Walt Disney spent the next four years creating and producing training, propaganda, and educational films for the Armed Forces. In addition to these films, this extraordinary volume also includes the full-length feature “Victory Through Air Power.” Released theatrically in 1943, this powerful propaganda film has never been reissued until now. You’ll also see recently discovered on-the-set footage, and get rare firsthand accounts about the work and culture at the Disney Studio in interviews with Disney Legends Joe Grant, John Hench, and Roy Disney. Featuring exclusive introductions by film historian Leonard Maltin, this is a timeless collection from generations past for generations to come.

Yes, I’ve been working on drastically reducing my DVD library, and renting rather than buying. But some things are just too good to ignore, and given the combination of animation, history, and politics that this entails, I’d love to have my own copy.

Related: a DVDFile interview with Disney animator Dave Bossert, the producer of the set.

(via MeFi)

We’re Not Gonna Take It

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This is so incredibly bizarre.

Currently playing on our in-store Muzak system: Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It!”

I’m torn between laughing, singing along, and just being amazed that Twisted Sister’s pean to 80’s glam rock anti-establishment rebellion has been deemed acceptable for Muzak.

Oh, we’re not gonna take it.
No! We ain’t gonna take it.
Oh, we’re not gonna take it anymore!

We’ve got the right to choose and
there ain’t no way we’ll lose it —
this is our life, this is our song.
We’ll fight the powers that be, just
don’t pick our destiny, ’cause
you don’t know us, you don’t belong.

Oh, we’re not gonna take it.
No! We ain’t gonna take it.
Oh, we’re not gonna take it anymore!

Oh, you’re so condescending,
your gall is never ending,
we don’t want nothin’, not a thing from you!
Your life is trite and jaded,
boring and confiscated.
If that’s your best, your best won’t do.

Oh…
Oh…
We’re right! (Yeah!)
We’re free! (Yeah!)
We’ll fight! (Yeah!)
You’ll see! (Yeah!)

Oh, we’re not gonna take it.
No! We ain’t gonna take it.
Oh, we’re not gonna take it anymore!

Oh, we’re not gonna take it.
No! We ain’t gonna take it.
Oh, we’re not gonna take it anymore!

No way!

Oh…
Oh…
We’re right! (Yeah!)
We’re free! (Yeah!)
We’ll fight! (Yeah!)
You’ll see! (Yeah!)

Oh, we’re not gonna take it.
No! We ain’t gonna take it.
Oh, we’re not gonna take it anymore!

Oh, we’re not gonna take it.
No! We ain’t gonna take it.
Oh, we’re not gonna take it anymore!

(Just you try and make us.)
We’re not gonna take it!
(Come on!)
No, we ain’t gonna take it.
(You’re all worthless and weak.)
We’re not gonna take it anymore!
(Now drop and give me twenty.)
We’re not gonna take it.
(Oh, crinch pin.)
No, we ain’t gonna take it.
(Oh, you and your uniform.)
We’re not gonna take it anymore!

Showgirls commentary track

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While I’ve never had a chance to catch it, for a while now local Seattle writer David Schmader has been hosing screenings of the infamous Showgirls, providing a running commentary skewering the film in what I’ve heard makes for an absolutely hilarious showing.

MGM, rather than taking umbrage at this, has decided to play along, and has asked David to record a commentary track for an upcoming special edition DVD release.

After numerous successful screenings, Schmader was moving on when “Showgirls'” producer MGM called. Rather than suing him for commercially skewering its product, MGM asked him to provide a commentary for the “special edition” DVD to be released at the end of July.

That’s just cool. Good for you, MGM.

iTunes: “(I Left My Heart In) San Francisco” by Bennett, Tony from the album Pop Music: The Golden Era 1951-1975 (1962, 2:51).

Republican lightbulb joke

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How many members of the Bush Administration are needed to replace a lightbulb?

The Answer is SEVEN:

  1. one to deny that a lightbulb needs to be replaced
  2. one to attack and question the patriotism of anyone who has questions about the lightbulb,
  3. one to blame the previous administration for the need of a new lightbulb,
  4. one to arrange the invasion of a country rumored to have a secret stockpile of lightbulbs,
  5. one to get together with Vice President Cheney and figure out how to pay Halliburton Industries one million dollars for a lightbulb,
  6. one to arrange a photo-op session showing Bush changing the lightbulb while dressed in a flight suit and wrapped in an American flag,
  7. and finally one to explain to Bush the difference between screwing a lightbulb and screwing the country.

(via Daily Kos)

iTunes: “Situation (Richard”Humpty\” Vission Radio Edit)\” by Yaz from the album Don’t Go/Situation (1999, 4:01).

The Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Iraq

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There’s a creature in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy called the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal.

Daft as a hairbrush, the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal is arguably the most insanely idiotically dense creature in existence. It believes that if you can’t see it, it can’t see you. Therefore, if you are faced by the horrid (yes, horrid, in spite of its intelleigence, or lack of) Beast you should wrap your towel around your head (you do have one, don’t you!?) to TEMPORARILY ward off the Beast’s voracious apetite and furious… fury… sorry.

It seems we have our own local Earthly variant now, reacting to the Abu Ghraib scandal with the belief that if we didn’t see it, it wasn’t there — and banning digital cameras in Iraq.

Mobile phones fitted with digital cameras have been banned in US army installations in Iraq on orders from Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Britain’s The Business newspaper reported yeterday.

Quoting a Pentagon source, the paper said the US Defence Department believes that some of the damning photos of US soldiers abusing Iraqis at Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad were taken with camera phones.

“Digital cameras, camcorders and cellphones with cameras have been prohibited in military compounds in Iraq,” it said, adding that a “total ban throughout the US military” is in the works.

(via Boing Boing)

iTunes: “Drink With Me” by Crivello, Anthony/Students/Women from the album Les Misérables (1986, 2:39).