:: Archipelapogo ::

:: 13.2.03 ::

As if I needed another reason to like the guy

I've had a lot of referrals over the last week coming in to the 'pogo looking for searches like "Steve Nash + Iraq" and variances of such things. I finally figured out what the hell was going on. Good on you, Steve.

Wearing a T-shirt that said "No war -- Shoot for peace," the Canadian celebrated his 29th birthday by making his position perfectly clear.

Nash said he felt that U.N. weapons inspectors should be allowed to complete their mission before any further action is taken, and that the United States in particular had provided insufficient evidence to warrant an attack.

He also blamed the media for beating the war drum. "I think a lot of what we hear in the news is misleading and flat-out false, so I think it's important for us to think deeper and find out what is really going on."

Nash did allow that he's still learning more about the situation in Iraq, and he encouraged others to do the same. "I'm still trying to educate myself ... and I think people should should just go out and try to educate themselves and learn so they can make an informed decision."

The Mavs have a game here on Saturday night, so he'll be in town. I wonder if he'll be at the march. How cool would that be?
:: Scott S [+] ::
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A sneak preview at the Oscars of 2005

Screw the Oscar hype this year. I've got a sneak preview at the awards for two years from now. Everybody knows the internet movie database is a cool site (except for the pop-ups!). But I've found a new (to me at least) use for it: a sneak preview at movies slated to be released in 2004. Here's the list. It's mostly comprised of blockbusters and sequels and includes some flicks that have some good potential and some that are just down-right wrong. Here's some hints:

Movies with actual potential based on title and assumption:
**Alexander the Great -- directed by Baz Luhrmann, starring Leo and Nicole Kidman. Could be good, could be shite.
**Alice -- directed by Wes Craven, Alice returns to a Wonderland gone mad. Again, could be good, could be tripe.
**Catwoman -- title role played by Ashley Judd. Likely to be crap, but I won't close my mind to it.
**Ghost Rider -- I really hope this one is good. More than likely to star Vin Diesel and be XXX the XVII or something.
**MacGyver -- IMDB doesn't even say for sure that Richard Dean Anderson will be in this. At least Patty and Selma will be happy.
**Mad Max IV -- Will star Mel Gibson. Better not be super high-tech.
**Ulysses -- If this is based on the book, it should run approximately 32 hours and 14 minutes, by my calculations. And if you want to finish the book before the movie is released, you should've started it in December at the earliest.
** Wallace and Gromit: The Great Vegetable Plot -- Finally! Yes. I'm psyched about this one. A lone guarantee so far for 2004.

And then there's the sequels that need no comment, just a slap on the head, a kick in the ass, and a bullet in the chest:
** Die Hard 4 -- with Britney Spears as Bruce Willis' daughter.
** Jumanji 2 -- After Death to Smoochy Robin Williams must be strapped for Cocaine money.
** Left Behind 4 -- Straight to video? Do you not understand the drawing power of Kirk Cameron?
** Ocean's Twelve -- Okay, now that's just cheesy.
** Rush Hour 3 -- Like TBS really needed another movie to show at 4 in the morning for stoned college kids.
** Scooby 2 -- No comment....must...protect...precious childhood memories...
** Seriously Dude, Where's My Car? -- Okay, so maybe Ashton Kutcher will finally get the respect he deserves from the Academy.

Wow, I can't hardly wait, can you?
:: Scott S [+] ::
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Freaking O's

Don't ask me why, but I just figured out that I can type my entire name with my left hand if it weren't for the two O's. One in the first name, one in the middle. There are numerous applications and justifications for this. I shouldn't even have to outline them, but since there's such a stigma (and a bunch of stale old jokes) about one-handed typing, I'll lay out a few examples:

-- Like when you're eating an apple and you don't want to set it down on your crusty ass desk that has spills and sticky spots and memos from authority figures and whatnot (this can apply both at work and at home).
-- When you're at home on the computer before going to bed, and you finally took the wool socks off that you had to wear to work because all of your other six pairs of non-white socks are already dirty and even though you changed your shirt and shoes when you got home, you couldn't change your socks because all of your clean white socks are at your girlfriend's place where they've been for more than a week and a half because you're too damn lazy to haul them back to your place because you know that when you do, you're going to have to separate them and do something with them or else they'll just lie in the floor in a big heaping mess and isn't it better for them to be doing that at your girlfriend's place rather than your own, and so you need your right hand to help air out and crack your toes.
-- Because you're an incessant finger drummer but you have no natural rythym and so when it comes time for you to enter something with your right hand but you have a decent beat going and you're really beginning to feel it and think to yourself "damn, maybe I can pull this off, I should buy a used Djembe and give it a shot" you don't want to dash your dreams so immediately so you keep the beat going for that extra ten seconds until you lose it and you've never felt more unhip and white.

I could provide more examples, but that would be redundant. So, let's all join left hands in the crusade to take away the stigma of "one-handed typing". Together we can make a difference.

Signed,
Scett Rabert Secreest.
:: Scott S [+] ::
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Still too busy to do anything original

Instead, go read this great piece on Art Class Models by John13
:: Scott S [+] ::
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Song time

When I read stuff like this, about survival planning at your home in case of a terrorist attack, all I can think of is the Subhumans' song When the bomb drops from the Rats E.P.

When the bomb drops it'll be a bank holiday
Everybody happy in their tents and caravans
Everybody happy in their ignorance and apathy
Nobody realizes until their television breaks down
The voices of the people are going unheard
They got nothing to say cos they're deaf and dumb
Too concerned with money luxury adultery
Complacency and politics and apathy will never mix
When the bomb drops they'll be a 4 minute warning
Three minutes of anarchy and one of blind futility
No-one left alive and no chances to survive
You've heard it all before-but I'm telling you once more
To forget is to forgive but there's nothing to forget
I ain't forgotten how to live and it hasn't happened [yet]
They'll drop the bomb for something to do can't remember what it's for
But I ain't forgot Hiroshima
I ain't forgot the war

I don't know. It's getting where reading the news just makes me shake my head and sigh anymore.
:: Scott S [+] ::
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A quick slappity slap, and I'm out

Too busy to do much today (word of the day: Multitasking!) but here's two links that may or may not entertain:

------Legislator Wants To Mandate Use Of Cloth Napkins When Eating BBQ -- Where? Oklahoma, of course. (via mefi)

------- And I found this site about Squirrel Fishing quite cool, especially since I love squirrels. (via daypop top40)
:: Scott S [+] ::
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Announcement

For anybody in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area that is interested, there's going to be an anti-war march/rally in downtown Dallas on Saturday February 15th. Here's the info that was sent to me via e-mail:

******************Please Forward Widely to North Texans******************

Stop the War in Iraq March and Rally

Saturday, February 15, 2003, 1:00 p.m.

Downtown Dallas

The world says NO to war. So does Dallas!

Join millions of people around the globe who will take to the streets on February 15 to protest a U.S. war against Iraq. Massive rallies are planned for NYC, Chicago, and San Francisco, and cities across the U.S. and the world are planning local actions. This event will be the largest peace rally Dallas has seen in many years. Come, bring your friends and neighbors. Organize your religious institution, community group or student group to participate. If we don't say it, they won't hear it: NO WAR IN IRAQ!

Schedule:

1:00 p.m. Gather for March behind the Cathedral Guadalupe Church, 2215 Ross, Dallas

1:30 p.m. March through Dallas to the Kennedy Memorial, stopping briefly at symbolic locations

3:00 p.m. Rally for peace at the Kennedy Memorial that will include speakers, music, and more

This is a non-violent, legal event. We will have a permit from the City of Dallas to hold a march on the streets, and the police will block the streets of the march route. Trained Peacekeepers will be wearing green armbands and will be available to help participants, intervene in disputes, and guide the march and rally.

Sponsored by the Dallas Coalition Against War in Iraq, a broad coalition of peace, justice, and religious organizations.

More information: info@northtexaspeace.org. Check www.northtexaspeace.org for updates and confirmed speakers list.

Tips for the march and rally:

a.. The march route is about 2 miles; be prepared for the weather, and bring water and snacks.

b.. The closest DART rail station to the Cathedral is the Pearl stop, which is on the Blue and Red lines. The closest DART rail station to Kennedy Memorial is the West End stop, which is also on the Blue and Red lines.

c.. If you drive, park on the streets near the Cathedral. You could also park near Kennedy Memorial and walk up Ross to the Cathedral so that when you get through with the march and rally, your car will be nearby.

d.. Signs will be provided, or you can bring your own sign. Join the Work Party to make additional signs or banners.

Work Party to Prepare for March and Rally

Saturday, February 8, 10:30a.m.-6:00p.m. (come anytime, leave anytime)

1315 S. Henderson (E. Grand and I-30)

Bring your group (or just yourself) to make a banner with your groups' name on it. A work shop and supplies will be available.
:: Scott S [+] ::
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Laugh or Cry?

So suppose you're Ian MacKaye and you happen to be sitting at home flipping around on the television and you happen to land on MTV and it happens to be one of their "News Briefs" that are really more like advertisements (barring the occasional obituary or arrest) and the news piece happens to be an announcement of a tour containing Metallica, Limp Bizkit, and Linkin Park, and they happen to show a picture of a member of each of those bands, and you see this.

What do you do?
:: Scott S [+] ::
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Book Review

On the train yesterday, I finished Millennium: A Comedy of the year 2000 by Upton Sinclair. After reading The Jungle, I was very enthusiastic about picking up something else that Sinclair had written. I was a little bit disappointed.

The Millennium is a satirical allegory, to best describe it, that was originally written as a play by Sinclair. It winds up being a pretty short book (about 240 small pages). It's about eleven people who are left as the only inhabitants of Earth after a radium explosion. Most of these people are very rich, of the ruling class. Two of the survivors are not. If you're familiar with Sinclair's philosophy on life and political stances, you can predict pretty easily what will happen in the book. The survivors are left to go through the stages of what can best be described as a microcosmic scenario summarizing Sinclair's socialistic ideals. It's not a bad read, but it's not that great. For a comedy, it certainly isn't very funny, and it's lacking the sharp tongue and quick wit of a good satire. It's just kind of.....feh. I by no means regret reading it, but there are dozens of other books that I would recommend before I would recommend this one.
:: Scott S [+] ::
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Some quick links, and a hint

Bored at work? Need something to read while eating lunch? Give these a shot:

Fascist Websites for Children -- Concerned that your children might not be getting the guidance that they need in their quest to grow up to be healthy and productive citizens of the Homeland? Worry no more! (I posted it on MeFi. Via SixDW)
+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+
AOL reports first drop in subscribers. The first crumble in the stone that upholds the evil empire. I'm guessing that everybody that's going to be on the net and is over the age of 60 is already signed up. Now they're losing subscribers. You do the math. (via anil's sidebar)
+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+
Handy (and friendly interfaced) little HTML color wheel that I found yesterday.
+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+
Oh, and the hint? With the two year anniversary of the 'pogo coming up next month, I'm deciding how to celebrate. I think I've figured it out (and no, it's not a redesign). But some pieces have to fall into place first. We'll see how it goes.
:: Scott S [+] ::
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Best. Episodes. Ever?

In celebration of the upcoming 300th episode, Entertainment Weekly makes a list of the 25 best and 1 worst Simpsons episodes ever. I won't comment on the worst (suffice to say, I disagree) but for my money (and quotability!) here are my favorite seven episodes. I had five, but of course kept thinking of more, so I'd better stop before I just list every damn episode. And only one of mine matches up with the EW list. No particular order, blah blah etc.

Lisa the Vegetarian -- A trip to a local petting zoo leads to confrontations at the dinner table when Lisa decides to become a vegetarian. The two-minute or so educational video about Vegetarianism is the funniest moment in Television history. Period. No discussion permitted.

22 Short Stories About Springfield -- If for nothing else, the Cletus and Professor Frink theme songs -- "Professor Frink, Professor Frink, He'll make you laugh, He'll make you think!"

The Springfield Files -- I found this episode so funny even though I've only watched maybe two episodes of the X-files. From the very beginning: Leonard Nimoy "Hello. I'm Leonard Nimoy. The following tale of alien encounters is true. And by true, I mean false. It's all lies. But they're entertaining lies. And in the end, isn't that the real truth? The answer is: No." And it gets better from there.

In Marge We Trust-- The "Mister Sparkle" episode. "Well, there's your answer, Fishbulb"

Homer Vs. the Eighteenth Amendment -- Spectacular from beginning to end. Homer: "At first, I thought prohibition was a good thing. People were drinking more and having a lot more fun. Without beer, prohibition doesn't work!

Bart Carny -- In which Bart and Homer become carnies. Guest starring Jim Varney (of Hey Vern! It's Ernest fame). The part where Chief Wiggum is trying to get a bribe is roll on floor funny. "It's a ring toss game."

Home Sweet Diddily Dum Doodily -- In which the Flanderses adopt the Simspon kids since they were taken away by Child Welfare people after some extenuating circumstances. "Stupid Babies need the most attention", "oh, bitch bitch bitch" (granpa);

Homer: OK, OK, don't panic. To find Flanders, I just have to think like
Flanders!
[thinking] I'm a big four-eyed lame-o, and I wear the same
stupid sweater every day and --
[aloud] The Springfield River!

Feel free to disagree, heathen.
Found originally on MeFi.
:: Scott S [+] ::
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Why, after all this time, I still visit exploding dog at least once a week

Could you draw a picture of Britney Spears picking her nose?
:: Scott S [+] ::
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Just 'cause

Best MeFi thread in a while, regarding the Super-Bowl debuted anti-drug ad where the girl smoked pot, got pregnant, and now her parents will be the youngest grandparents on the block. The comments have some good humor and some very poignant points.
:: Scott S [+] ::
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Up in smoke

The Dallas Observer weighs in with a brief but informative article on the recent smoking ban.
:: Scott S [+] ::
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I'm Speechless. Completely fucking speechless.

Found while checking my e-mail, MSN KidZ (note cool spelling, it's more eXtreMe, y0) How Punk Are You quiz.

Includes this question: "There's a new kid in your class. He's wearing an old white T-shirt with the words "MINOR THREAT" hand-written on it in black marker. What are you thinking?"

And possible answers :

--I don't know what that means, but I think he's a total spaz. Remind me to steer clear.

--He's kind of weird. It seems like he likes punk music, because I'm pretty sure that's a punk band. But why doesn't he just buy a Minor Threat T-shirt like I've seen at the mall?

--That kid rules. He did it himself instead of spending mad cash on it, which is really punk. Plus, maybe he knows that the Minor Threat T-shirts you see in stores are actually bootlegs.

Just, ugh.
:: Scott S [+] ::
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Summoning Gene Siskel

I've been extremely pleased with my NetFlix experience so far. The only thing I don't like about them is that they violate my rule for not supporting those that use pop-ups for advertising. But a man can only go so far, and BlockBuster has proven to be a much more Evil Empire in the past (cite: their taking over of the entire video market in South Tulsa, shutting down at least three local businesses) so screw them. But I get about a two day turnaround time (i.e. if I send a movie back on Monday, I usually have the next one by Wednesday) so that's very impressive. And, once my ten day free trial was over, my account was charged for a month that began on that day. I guess I was worried that they begin a fee cycle on the 1st of the month and I was going to be charged for all of January even though I was only using the service for about two weeks. But no, it worked out fine.

I've also seen some great movies. Last night, though, I watched probably my most favorite so far, Central Station (Central do Brasil). The story is one of the strengths of the film. Dora is a sixty-something retired school teacher who makes ends meet by writing letters for illiterate people in the large train station of Rio de Janeiro. She becomes the sole contact of an orphaned nine year old who desperately wants to meet his father, who lives in a small town very far away. Together they embark on an odyssey to seek out this man. During their journey they become quite close and go through a variety of tribulations.

The film is shot beautifully on location in Brazil, so the scenery is spectacular. The acting is also great, with the woman that plays Dora being nominated for a Best Actress Oscar in 1998. The film was nominated for best Foreign Language Film in 98 as well, but lost to Life is Beautiful. (It did win the Golden Globe in that category though). I highly recommend this film. Plus, this Tulsa band does a killer version of the theme song.
:: Scott S [+] ::
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Soy contra guerra!

Thanks to lagado for the hip no war logo. You can find out more about it here.
:: Scott S [+] ::
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blogage

I've added a few links to the sidebar lately, if you've not notice (are you reading the donger yet? why the hell not?) but I've got to give a Hoo-Rah (b/c I'm 23 and therefore too old for "shoutouts" and "booty calls" and what have you) to Skot for his amazing izzlepfaff, which is just too fucking funny, and chicobangs, el mono nuevo for general coolness, but especially this entry, which is dear to my former European travelling soul. *sniff*. They'll get permanent links on the sidebar tomorrow. Like they'll notice.
:: Scott S [+] ::
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Oh, the pain!

Ratio showing number of times that a co-worker has asked about my Professor Frink as the Invisible Man Burger King toy* to the number of times I have hit my chair against my desk, sending Frinky falling off of my monitor, bouncing off of the desk, and landing in the trashcan: 1:1.

*I've had him for a few months now, but he finally made it to work with me today.
:: Scott S [+] ::
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Response to a letter received from Tom Daschle

Senator Daschle,

I agree with you. The night of November 5th was long and difficult. The Republican control of Senate (along with the presidency) does put a lot of things that I belive in, that I find importance in, at risk. I agree that it would be preferable to have a Democratically controlled Senate. I appreciate your offer to join the Deomcratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, but I'm going to decline. Here's why:

In the months after the terrorist attacks, you personally voted for, and led the Democratic Senators to follow suit, to allow President Bush free reign over the money and armed forces of this country to go on any whim that he found fanciful, putting our lives and the lives of millions around the world at risk. During the President's campaign to bomb Iraq, I've not heard you nor any of the Democratic leaders calling out for a rebuttal. You've consistently stood by his side, patting his back, and nodding in assent to every item that he's set out on the agenda.

You state that "with the Republicans in the majority, there will be no action on affordable healthcare coverage for the millions of Americans without health insurance. There will be no accountability for the corporations whose recklessness has sent Americans' 401(k) plans plummeting. There will be no serious discussion on helping Americans who are out of work find new jobs ... no chance for better child care benefites .. no hope of raising minimum wage for those who are struggling to make ends meet in low-paying jobs ... and more."

This is true, Tom. However, in the elections last year, none of these issues were raised by you and your Democrat partners during their campaigns. You painfully ceded all of the issues that the Democratic Party supposedly stands for, opting instead to align yourselves with Bush and the "war against Terror" and Homeland Security. You and your party failed to establish any difference between yourselves and your opponents, deciding instead to play on the fears that the media has been feeding the public for the past year and half. To try to separate yourselves from the Republicans, you decided to make personal attacks on your opponents past history, further burying the issues that I and several million like me hold dearly and desperately want to be raised. You and your people failed us Tom, not the other way around.

Don't tell me that you need funds to stop the Repbulicans. You made your bed. Now we all have to lie in it. Not only have you failed to address any of the issues above, but we've seen thousands more getting laid off in the past year. We've seen Ken Lay and his cohorts escape justice. We've seen Dick Cheney with-holding documents about his company's dirty dealings in Afghanistan and Iraq under the false premise of "National Security". You've allowed people to get away with the destruction of people's lives only to find themselves the benefactors of Golden Parachute clauses and million dollar dream-houses. What happened, Tom?

I'm aware of the fact that some of the very few truly progressive Democrats are up for re-election in 2004. Should I choose to support any of them, I will make a check out to their personal campaigns, Tom. But you sir, you will not be getting a single penny from me. Thanks for the offer, but I politely decline to join you in another year of lip-service and doublespeak. And should you, sir, through some twist of fate become the Democratic nominee for President in 2004, rest assured that I will again be supporting a third party candidate.

Goodbye, Tom.

(cross-posted to the Collaboratory)
:: Scott S [+] ::
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Spontanious plans

Alright. Denise and I are now going to see Mitch Hedberg perform at the Improv in Addison at 10:30 tonight. If you aren't familiar with Mitch, you damn well should be. He's definitely one of the most unique and funny comedians around these days. He's had a few specials on Comedy Central, and I've seen him on the late-night shows a time or two. Man, I'm psyched.
:: Scott S [+] ::
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What a strange and vast intarweb she be

Okay, the whole ticketstubs Bright Eyes thing was cool and crazy enough. But when an Australian Newspaper picks up on it, it gets just a little odd. Are you kidding me?

The author chimes in with an amusing little anecdote of his own about his daughter's first train ride, the stub from which is planted in her baby book. A well-written piece about a nice little project.
:: Scott S [+] ::
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A few quick links

A great photography project in which ten different people take a photo each involving an open-ended theme (i.e. Loathe, Face, or Love). I stumbled upon this a few months ago and loved it. Stumbled upon again tonight and decided to link it.

+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+

For those with expensive dining habits, let the buyer beware. Ten things your restaurant won't tell you. I rarely eat at 'fancy' places, but it's interesting to see what you get versus what you pay for. Sidenote: holy crap, two pop-ups when you close the article! (via dejah)
:: Scott S [+] ::
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Regress, no way!

Well, they've finally done it. They banned smoking in restaurants in Dallas. (pop-up warning). If you know me, you know I'm not a huge advocate of smoker's rights. I've got better things to spend my time and energy doing. But this really does irritate. Not because I won't be able to smoke in restaurants any longer, but because of the violation of the freedom of owner's of restaurants to be able to do what they want to do with the property that they own.

I have no problem sitting through a meal without smoking, and at times I find it preferable. I go to many restaurants that don't premit smoking and still enjoy dining there. But if I owned a restaurant, I'd be right pissed about this. Who the hell does Laura Miller (mayor) think she is to tell me whether or not I can allow people to smoke in my business? There probably will be people fleeing to the burbs now so that they can smoke while they eat, which hurts local business.

I guess the part that annoys me the most is that they were so vehemently opposed to any kind of compromise (separate, walled in sections like Austin, etc.). But oh well, what can you do.

Alex has his (non-smoker) thoughts about it here.
:: Scott S [+] ::
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Touch my monkey!

No, really, do it. (it is safe for work, by the way). Make your own and leave me the URL. (Flash req'd).

via mefi.
:: Scott S [+] ::
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