End of August Already

I've been pleasantly surprised with how the 35W redirection on I-94 and 280 have affected my commute. Getting in I've noticed no difference while going home is actually a little faster. West-bound on I-94 is a bit more confusing as one lane was destroyed, only to return when 280 merges. Then there's also a stretch where the shoulder is now a lane. It was all done pretty damn quick but looks like it will work until the bridge is rebuilt—currently slated for the end of 2008.

Today is the work outing to the State Fair. On the way in I could see the rotating arm of that huge whirly-thing I rode twice last year. While I wouldn't voluntarily go, it's fun taking a slice out of the work day to go with the team; the animal smells, hand-made knick-knacks, and screaming children will be diverting. Like last year, Tanya has offered to buy whatever food/drink/alcohol we come across so I'll likely be sick tonight. Already checked my camera batteries so I might have more shots this year.

• The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority.
  Ralph W. Sockmanul

One of Three

Just read an article on BBC News that said Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki “called recent US criticism of his work "discourteous".” Then, “The White House was swift to respond, saying in a statement that Mr Bush still believes that Mr Maliki is the right person to lead Iraq.” I was immediately offended; what gives us the right to make such a statement? And what kind of government would tolerate it?

Sometimes I wonder how well our democracy really works, mainly in the executive branch. I agree it is important to have one central figure that can react quickly when the situation calls for it. Yet the election of that person is all about careful slander, mostly covert graft, and the bandying of patriotic words. After that, we have some asshole in there that's going to do what the hell they want, dance like mad for public opinion and a second term… making good on as many private promises are necessary while dodging the public commitments that got them there.

A majority of our country put Bush back in office. Now he and his appointed cabinet are making these statements and decisions on that majority's behalf. I certainly don't agree with Bush's stance in Iraq; I never wanted a Vietnam for my generation. Yet I have to wonder if the majority does. Maybe they were cattle. Lemmings led by the political maneuvering. Does it make them less culpable? Does it make me less culpable for what my country is doing?

The worth of our democracy will be shown in how we handle this debacle.

I Can Feel the Love

Suddenly, it all makes sense…

General, the military has been easing restrictions on enlistment in almost every area. On criminals, older veterans, even those with serious medical conditions. Why not gays? Gay people are different, Brandon. Under no circumstances can we put America's homosexuals in danger.
But homosexuals themselves are demanding the right to serve their country in a time of war. Gays of America are the only group left untouched by war. They're special. Pure and rare like a gleaming diamond or a snow white colt. We must protect them.
Has this always been the goal? It has been the solemn oath of every man in uniform to lay down his life in defense of America's precious, precious homosexuals.
How many soldier's lives is the life of one gay man worth? Seven.

'Gays Too Precious To Risk In Combat,' Says General

Introducing the new iMac and iLife '08

Introducing the new iMac and iLife '08


That is so true. In fact, I need to go purge now…

Idle Hands, Indolent Mind

Main project is going through an overhaul so half the team has been reassigned to mitigate budgetary impact. This basically means zero-traction coding and a dramatic increase in “WTF CLUE PLZ” meetings. So I got some illustrations started:

The Beginning of the End There must be a way to isolate and inhibit the breeding impulse. We must break through the 10% barrier.	Coming In for a Landing The mothership hovers effortlessly above the Travolta Prime Dome.

Anyone who has tried to create gradients with a ball point pen will forgive me. Not sure why I have Scientologists on the brain, but I was thinking Tom Cruise must have a kick-ass mother ship by now. I do know that stupid people are still breeding, so there should be some way to curb that. Unfortunately I didn't have time to sketch out ideas of what to attach the emitter to. Perhaps sea bass. Ill-tempered sea bass, if they're available.

Anyway. Back at my desk I'm losing all focus. I keep wanting to wave people away like Aughra parted vines… gesture indifferently while mumbling, “Boojai boojai boojai!” Heh. Yeah, I'm excited that The Power of the Dark Crystal is supposed to start shooting in a few months. *snicker*

"Click Click" Will Make Your Life So Much Better

In The Know: Should We Be Shaming Obese Children More?

A very poignant and insightful discussion…

• I think it can be a fun for the whole family. Get everybody involved. Show them a slide of an overweight man searching for his penis in the folds of skin that surround it.
• I don't know that the shaming thing really works that well. I've been constantly berating my handicapped son for years to no avail. He still can't walk.
• Running into a room, slamming a door, and crying your eyes out burns a lot of calories. I think the media really needs to step up to the plate in getting across how wonderful it is to be thin for children. They always show the corpulent person as the sassy, wise-cracking, funny sidekick.
• We need to stop glamorizing the fat and making fat people seem ultra-confident like that damn Camryn Manheim. That is a lie. That is a lie.
• We shouldn't even have characters on TV that are fat that have dates.
• You introduce a fat character, have that fat character die of heart disease before the season is over.
• We see public service commercials for orphans over seas that are always thin. They have no food. The message of those commercials is often that, "These kids are starving, let's help them." Why shouldn't it be, "These kids are starving, they're having fun."