The Brilliant PJ Harvey

Come Walk With Us on April 29th!

Walk with the Jeffco Young Dems!

Fantasy Baseball Draft Complete!

Here is the team I'll be going to war with. I went VERY heavy on starting pitching early, which is unlike me. But, I think it will pay off...pitching is so lacking this year.

Starting Pitchers:
Roy Oswalt, Roy Halladay, Dontrelle Willis, Mike Mussina, Jason Marquis

Relief Pitchers:
Joe Nathan, Derrick Turnbow, Chad Orvella, Scott Eyre, Juan Rincon

Hitters:
C - Rod Barajas, Kenji Johjima
1B - Mark Teixeira, Richie Sexson, Adam LaRoche
2B - Robinson Cano, Ryan Freel
SS - Clint Barmes, Khalil Greene
3B - Troy Glaus
OF - Cliff Floyd, Ken Griffey Jr., Shawn Green, Preston Wilson, Jacque Jones

How Corrupt is Howard Kaloogian?

Running for the House in California is a man named Howard Kaloogian. If there was ever a better example of a Rubber-Stamp Republican, I couldn't tell ya.

On his Web site, he posts the following (Mirrored):

We took this photo of dowtown Baghdad while we were in Iraq. Iraq (including Baghdad) is much more calm and stable than what many people believe it to be. But, each day the news media finds any violence occurring in the country and screams and shouts about it - in part because many journalists are opposed to the U.S. effort to fight terrorism.

Update: Read the context here. Kaloogian has taken his site down!

Well, the liberal blogosphere found this very curious. Most identified this not as a picture in Baghdad, but Turkey! Look at the woman's spaghetti-strap top, look at the signage.

After a day of investigation, here it is. Conclusive proof. A picture of the same intersection at this site (Mirrored):

Look familiar?

How can you vote for a man who claims that the "liberal media" is lying to you about how bad off Baghdad is -- then supports this by showing a picture of TURKEY!

These frickin' people disgust me.

Update! Kaloogian has replaced the photo with an actual picture of Baghdad. Here now, his new example of how Baghdad isn't as bad as people say it is:

Wow! Look how close he got! Look at the people! Surely, this pic was taken from the confines of military security. He has actually discredited his case. HAHAH. Amazing stupidity.

Hey kids, see how safe Baghdad...wh-hhhhy...if you look really closely at the picture you might see a few cars driving around laying IED...errr, I mean, commuting to work.

Fantasy Draft Today!

I want David Wright. Third round if need be. :-)

Rid of Me by PJ Harvey

Tie yourself to me
No one else
No, you’re not rid of me
Hmm you’re not rid of me

Night and day I breathe
Ah hah ay
Hey, you’re not rid of me
Yeah, you’re not rid of me
Yeah, you’re not rid of me
Yeah, you’re not rid of me

I beg you, my darling
Don’t leave me, I’m hurting

Lick my legs I’m on fire
Lick my legs of desire

I’ll tie your legs
Keep you against my chest
Oh, you’re not rid of me
Yeah, you’re not rid of me
I’ll make you lick my injuries
I’m gonna twist your head off, see

Till you say don’t you wish you never never met her?
Don’t you don’t you wish you never never met her?
Don’t you don’t you wish you never never met her?
Don’t you don’t you wish you never never met her?

I beg you my darling
Don’t leave me, I’m hurting
Big lonely above everything
Above everyday, I’m hurting

Lick my legs, I’m on fire
Lick my legs of desire
Lick my legs, I’m on fire
Lick my legs of desire

Yeah, you’re not rid of me
Yeah, you’re not rid of me
I’ll make you lick my injuries
I’m gonna twist your head off, see

Till you say don’t you wish you never never met her
Don’t you don’t you wish you never never met her
Don’t you don’t you wish you never never met her
Don’t you don’t you wish you never never met her

Don’t you don’t you wish you never never met her
(lick my legs I’m on fire)
Don’t you don’t you wish you never never met her
(lick my legs of desire)
Don’t you don’t you wish you never never met her
(lick my legs I’m on fire)
Don’t you don’t you wish you never never met her
(lick my legs of desire)
Don’t you don’t you wish you never never met her
(lick my legs I’m on fire)
Don’t you don’t you wish you never never met her
(lick my legs of desire)
Don’t you don’t you wish you never never met her
(lick my legs I’m on fire)
Don’t you don’t you wish you never never met her
(lick my legs of desire)

Lick my legs I’m on fire
Lick my legs of desire
Lick my legs I’m on fire
Lick my legs of desire

First Preview of Chess Avatara

This is the first preview of Chess Avatara -- Flash Edition. As you can see, if you've been keeping up with my blog, I got to this point a LOT faster than I did when the UI was in Java.

Currently, you can move around and chat. The chat system is even more fleshed out than it ever got on Java. You can chat with the mouse or keys, and show/hide the chat window and chat log. The look of the chat features is also much better. Ignore some of the gaudiness, it's just to show what can be done. NONE of the graphics appear as they will in the final system.

The next feature to come is the chess play. Once I finish it, I will be caught up with the Java client! It shouldn't take me that long either. Maybe a week or two. Probably in between.

OK, I'm sick of coding for today...on to more fun things. Ciao!

Well Color Me Happy!

The question is -- what didn't I love about the new InsureWorx offices? :-)

My commute was only 27 minutes. About a 10 minute reduction from the last office! That gives me more home time! I got home in the same time, which saved me 15 minutes of commuting...Instead of getting home at 4:45 every day, I can get home at 4:30. Whoo!

The shorter commute also comes with an extra bonus. It's highway miles. I should be able to reduce my gas bill, too!

The new office is pretty swank. All the cube farms are new, we have a huge kitchen with two fridges, a kitchenet, our own bathrooms, and even the scan cards are nicer -- the sensor variety rather than the slide-thru.

I can take the stairs up into the office for extra exercise, the walk to the parking garage is shorter...there's eateries in the area within walking distance including Sonic, Qdoba, Quiznos, Pudge Bros., and several delicatessans. :-)

All in all, a great new work atmosphere. It feels like I'm getting a fresh start...but I still have my 2.5 years of seniority.

Ahhhhhhhh.

Bush Was Set on Path to War, Memo by British Adviser Says - New York Times

This story is just breaking, and goes out to all the Bush sympathizers who just can't stand to face the reality of his, and his party's, incompetence.

Bush Was Set on Path to War, Memo by British Adviser Says

"Our diplomatic strategy had to be arranged around the military planning," David Manning, Mr. Blair's chief foreign policy adviser at the time, wrote in the memo that summarized the discussion between Mr. Bush, Mr. Blair and six of their top aides. "The start date for the military campaign was now penciled in for 10 March," Mr. Manning wrote, paraphrasing the president. "This was when the bombing would begin."

A-Movin' on...Up?

Friday was the last day at the InsureWorx office on S. Colorado Blvd. I remember the day I interviewed there, September of 2003. Wearing my starched shirt and tie, I trekked the 45 minutes to the area of Colorado Blvd. I hate the most, right by Mississippi.

Talk about urban wasteland. That road gets backed up harder than Kobayashi on the 4th of July. And over the last 2.5 years, I've hated the commute. Loved the job (for the most part). Hated the commute.

So, when we were told we were looking to move, I was excited! Unfortunately, the location choice was another nasty urban wasteland: The Denver Tech Center.

Well, Michele and I visited it today. The plus side is, we got there pretty quick -- in under 25 minutes. Of course, it's a Saturday. :-)

The building is pretty nice, and we did some walking and I discovered that the Sonic and Quiznos in the area -- are walking distance! Very cool. There's also a 7-11 you can reach, a chinese place, and a Pudge Bros. Pizza. All that is enough for me.

The down side is that it's the Tech Center. My commute will switch to C-470...and I haven't been a big fan of it lately. Another un-perk is that the parking garage is detached from the building, so those not-so-great weather days will be a bother -- because before I could go from garage to garage and back without elemental exposure. :-)

Another plus, though, is the outdoor area of the building is nice. There are tables, chairs, umbrellas...could be a nice place to take your work outside and enjoy the day. Perhaps I should ask for a laptop? ;-)

Honoring Ken Daneyko

Fan favorite 'Dan-O' sees his No. 3 retired

Ken Daneyko was my first favorite hockey player. A tough-guy with an ugly streak, he helped the New Jersey Devils win THREE Stanley Cups. They retired his number yesterday.

The most shocking thing is to see him without his trademark beard he wore so often during the playoff runs. :-)

Doomed To Repeat History...

"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."

-- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials

Riverdance!

Michele and I got tickets for Riverdance on April 16th, at the Buell Theatre. Whoo hoo! :-)

The Braindead

Greetings from the road!

The best part of these quotes is that they don't follow their own advice. :-)

"I doubt that the journalists at the New York Times and NPR or at ABC or at CNN are going to ever admit just how wrong their negative pronouncements were over the past four weeks."
- (MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, 4/9/03)

F.A.I.R.

What a Frickin' Cool Video

And I'm so proud that it's one of my favorite bands in the world, Slipknot! :-)

Frickin' mesmerizing. And a happy ending to boot. :-)

She is everytihng and more
The solemn hypnotic
My Dahlia, you're bathed in posession
She is home to me

I get neverous, perversed when I see her to worse
But the stress is astounding
It's now or never she's coming home
Forever

Oh (She's the only one that makes me sad)

Hard to say what caught my attention
Vixen crazy, Aphid Attraction
Carve my name in my face, to recognize
Such a pheromone cult to terrorize

I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me

(Yeah!)

I'm a slave, and I am a master
No restraints and, unchecked collectors
I exist throught my name, to self ablige
She is something in me, that I despise finds

I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me

I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me
I won't let this build up inside of me

She isn't real!
I can't make her real!
She isn't real!
I can't make her real!

(She isn't real, I can't make her real)
(She isn't real, I can't make her real)

The Way It Is Right Now

A little boy goes to his dad and asks, "What is Politics?"

Dad says, "Well son, let me try to explain it this way:
I am the head of the family, so call me the Prime Minister. Your mother is the administrator of the money, so we call her the Government."

He continues, "We are here to take care of your needs, so we will call you the People. The nanny, we will consider her the Working Class. And your baby brother, we will call him the Future.

"Now think about that and see if it makes sense."

So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what Dad has said.

Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him. He finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper. So the little boy goes to his parent's room and finds his mother sound asleep.

Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny's room.

Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny.

He gives up and goes back to bed.

The next morning, the little boy says to his father, "Dad, I think I understand the concept of politics now."

The father says, "Good, son, tell me in your own words what you think politics is all about."

The little boy replies, the Prime Minister is screwing the Working Class while the Government is sound asleep.

The People are being ignored and the Future is in deep shit."

Sound familiar?

A Little Bit of Monica...

I'm nearing the end of Blinded By The Right. Brock has gotten into the Lewinsky fiasco. It's amazing to me that Mr. Bill did anything of the sort when the right-wing had been on him for years -- with nothing but lie after lie.

No, he didn't kill Vince Foster. No, Whitewater was a ruse. No, he didn't rape Paula Jones. No, he did not fist-fuck Chelsea Clinton. (He was actually accused of this, dear god...)

But, he did have sex (depends on what your definition of is is...) with Monica Lewinsky. Whoopidy doo. And finally the right-wing neo-con nut jobs who hate America and love themselves had something.

Except it was nothing...

But, I have pride in my country, who rejected the fraud of an impeachment...which always hurts our country...and gave Clinton stellar review numbers throughout.

And it's so sad, we have a war going on 3-years...and our country, licking our wounds since 9/11, has been and WILL BE in a perpetual state of war. And we have illegal spying. And we have Katrina.

And, Bush goes unaccountable by the Republican Congress.

But again, I am proud of my country...rejecting Bush and tagging him with a 60% disapproval rating. It give me hope for November which gets closer and closer.

...

Tomorrow, Michele and I are going downtown for St. Patty's day. We're headed to Buenos Aires Pizzeria with our friends Mike and Dorrie as part of their Denver Restaurant Review Club. Afterwards, who knows...perhaps we'll blow a bit of the bonus I got from Insureworx (Thanks!) at D&B's or something. :-)

So, Happy St. Patrick's Day to all, and have a *safe* night!!!

Call Yourself a Conservative and I Smack You!

Republican Senate Raises Debt Limit--Again

What part of being "conservative" don't you get, Republicans? And what excuse does anyone have voting for this madman?

Vote Bush and you get wars, no emergency help, and a federal deficit which requires EACH and EVERY American to play $30,000!

Conservative M-Y A-S-S.

Pixie by Ani DiFranco

i'm a pixie
i'm a paper doll
i'm a cartoon
i'm a chipper cheerful free for all
and i light up a room

i'm the color me happy girl
miss live and let live
and when they're out for blood
i always give
the man behind the counter looks like he's got
a half a dozen places he'd rather be

and furthermore it looks like he's prepared
to take it all out on me
buddy, i don't really care what your problem is
just don't make it mine
come on kids, let's all hold hands
and pretend we're having a good time

maybe you don't like your job
maybe you didn't get enough sleep
well, nobody likes their job
nobody got enough sleep

maybe you just had
the worst day of your life
but, you know, there's no escape
and there's no excuse
so just suck up and be ni-i-i-i-i-ice

all the privilaged white kids on TV
playing at death
banishing their cold cuts
with their ghostly makeup
and their heroin breath

and all the little fishes are flapping wildly
on their hooks
while all the top critics find great meaning
in the telephone book
the little emperor he has no clothes
so he can't come out to play

and besides which life is suffering
and he likes it that way
and the little guy is not so friendly
but you know life has been cruel
so wipe that smile off your face, baby
and try to be cool

maybe you don't like your job
maybe you didn't get enough sleep
well, nobody likes their job
and nobody got enough sleep

maybe you just had
the worst day of your life
but, you know, there's no escape
there's no excuse
so just suck up and be nice

yeah, i would like to perfect the art
of being studiously aloof
like life is just a boring chore
and i am living proof

i could join forces with an army
or ornery hipsters
but then i guess i'd be out of a job
so i guess that's out of the picture

cuz i am a pixie
i am a paper doll
i'm a cartoon
i'm a chipper cheerful free for all
and i light up a room

i'm the color me happy girl
miss live and let live
and when they're out for blood
i always give

Can I Get a Technical Editor, Please?!

Well, this is funny. So, I'm re-reading The Middlegame in Chess and I'm getting frusterated with all the typos in the chess notation that crept in when the book's chess notation was changed to algebraic notation.

I read about 50 pages, and finally just got fed up. Just about every page had an error...and they weren't mere typos, sometimes there are 7 or 8 in a row. It was incredibly annoying. Even diagrams were wrong!!!

So, I decide to leave a negative review on Amazon, and I discover there are already 8 reviews saying as much. So, I'm scanning through them and, hilarity ensues, because I alread left such a review almost three years ago!

My Amazon Review

So, I'm done reading the book. I have too many others like it to deal with the frickin' typos. :-)

What's Up, John?

It's interesting to see the progression of my blog over the last almost 2 years. I used to blog all the time about events in my life, now it seems most of my blogs are short entries: pictures, political statements, etc.

But every so often, I do need to post about what's going on...and since it's been a while, here's an update.

...


My mom is doing much better these days, even if she doesn't return my calls. ;-) She's finally stayed out of this hospital and has had a good block of recovery time. I'll get more updates tonight.

Whislt Chess Avatara is less of a priority now, I'm still working on it. I have a definitive list of the minimal things necessary to get the system playable and fun...without ALL the bells and whistles. Once I get there, I'll be able to take the next step.

I'm studying chess again...beginning with The Art of the Middlegame by Reuben Fine. I have a lot of review to do, but it's all fun. :-)

I've solved Phoenix Wright and am now playing Final Fantasy II. Been fun so far!

Over the weekend, Michele and I went to the Esquire Theatre to see "Why We Fight" with Linn and Damon. We also ran into our friends Dorrie and Mike, who were there as well. Great documentary, I'd recommend it. It's all about the "military-industrial complex" and a great insight into, well, why we fight.

At work, we're getting our 2005 bonuses this week! Whee! I won't be able to say how much we'll be getting, but it's like Christmas in March anyway. The money will go to debt or investment anyway. :-) Perhaps I can buy more Sirius stock...since the price is so damn low. ;-)

Sean Christmann, at work, is gone. The bastard quit and started a new job yesterday. So, no more video game talk at work. Bah!

Speaking of work, our office moves to the Denver Tech Center in less than 2 weeks. WHOA!

All is well with Michele and I. We've both had a few too many run-ins with doctors lately, but it's all over with now...maaaaaaaaybe. :-)

Right Wingers Are Crazy Psycho Delicious!

So, I just couldn't get enough of the whole Get Your Head Out Of Your Butt (Hi, Google!) wingnut-o-sphere, so I had to do a little more posting.

Here's a great thread on the Alabama church burners who we know so much about. Well, the suspects anyway -- we don't know for sure. But we do know this of the perpe-...errr, suspects:

* They go to Birmingham Southern College.
* One of the suspects is reported to have said the burnings started as "a joke."

And, uhhhh, they are white. And, uhh, there are three of them. Surely, this is enough to make a very specific opinion.

Well, the "non-partisan" fellows at Get Your Head Out Of Your Butt (Hi, Google, again!) have a really entertaining thread on their site to read.

Here's me posing as Tim. Amazingly, they figured me out...I just simply don't know how, I thought computers were complete anonymous! ;-) After being so amazingly clever as to track me down via Google when I dissented with them before, they were able to miraculously (*cough*) figure out who I was, even though I said my name was Tim.

And here I was, thinking the whole name change would throw them. At the very least, maybe they'd just respond to my opinions rather than call me names.

But I digress. Check out this amusing thread:

Oh it was a joke…

My good buddy, Piker, is so cordial. Piker, if you're reading this, and I no doubt know you are since you love tracking me down because you can't counter anything I say...I just wanted to say Hi and hope all is well with you and your rehab program. :-)

Really, get off the uppers. It's sad. For Robert, who's prolly also gonna read this...please intervene with him. He really needs the help. He's liable to shoot someone someday (maybe me!).

Oh, and another thing...good luck on your lawsuit against Daily Kos. I'm sure the judge will side with you...Daily Kos is no doubt negligent for, ya know, allowing a poster to, well, think it'd be witty to Google bomb you even though, well, uhhh, he didn't do it...and, uh, said it prolly wasn't a smart thing to do anyway...yeah.

Daily Kos definitely should have made their poster's information public to everyone after you complained. They should have given you his address or something. Isn't that what blogs do?

Next time yer in Denver, stop by my place...let's play some DDR. :-) I don't do drugs, though, so ya know, bring your own.

Smoke it outside, please.

But, before I go -- let's honor Piker by re-publishing one of his ramblings. This is probably the most dumbass thing I've ever read and definitely shows why he's a single, late 30's bachelor. :-)

Wes, you tool,
Nixon had the class to step down…Clinton did not.
Watergate was an attempt to gather evidence that the DNC was running a prostituion ring out of their HQ.

Dang. He figured out where the Dems get their money...they rent out whores! How did he find out?!?! HAHA

Are GOP'ers Madmen??

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (CNN) -- Home-state favorite Bill Frist won the Southern Republican Leadership Conference straw poll Saturday night, besting a slate of other potential 2008 GOP presidential candidates in this unscientific survey of Southern and Midwestern Republicans.

With 1,427 ballots cast, the Senate majority leader from Nashville received 526 votes, or 36.9 percent -- and all but 97 of them were cast by Tennessee delegates. Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney made a surprising second-place finish with 205 votes, or 14.4 percent.

Frist overcame an 11th-hour attempt by Sen. John McCain of Arizona and other GOP leaders who urged voters to write in President Bush as their choice in a symbolic sign of support for the embattled leader. Bush tied for third place with Sen. George Allen of Virginia. Each received 147 votes, or 10 percent.

McCain, whose write-in effort was largely viewed by attendees as an attempt to derail a Frist victory, placed fourth with 66 votes. McCain's political advisers denied that that was his goal, and said it was appropriate to stand by Bush as the United States fights the war on terror.

...

Is McCain mad?? Launching a write-in campaign for someone who can't possibly be President again...to SUPPORT the so-called War on Terror?!

Why didn't he just launch a write-in campaign for Teri Schiavo to show his support for life?

Or a write-in campaign for a $20 dollar bill to show support for bankrupting the government? :-)

Phoenix Wright: Solved!

I cannot begin to explain how cool this game is for the Nintendo DS. Best DS game ever! I loved every minute of it! What a game!

And it's solved... :-) Now time for some Final Fantasy II for GBA!

The Sopranos Are Back!

Tonight, the Sopranos return to Primetime! The FINAL season! OOOOOOH, can't wait!!!!!

How Republicans Keep Taxes Low...Borrow, borrow, borrow...

Enter George W. Bush. In the four and a half years of the Bush Presidency, he and the Republican Congress have added $2.463 trillion to the debt, bringing it to almost $8,270,900,000, 000, an increase of 40% in less than five years. The current debt ceiling is $8.184 trillion. There is talk of raising it to $9.65 trillion, even though President Bush promised to halve the budget deficit (the yearly contribution to the cumulative debt) by one half by the time he leaves office. And the culprit?

More...

Operation: Phoenix

Today begins Operation: Phoenix, which marks my return to competitive chess. I'm not sure which of my old buddies are still involved, I've lost all touch, but it's time for me to go at it again.

Though I've been playing on Red Hot Pawn, I'm still very rusty. I've picked out some books from my library that I will use to get me back to where I was -- and hopefully beyond.

Openings, middlegame, and endings...oh my!

Police: U.S. hostage shot, tortured

Here ya go, num-nut Neo-Cons. This is why...you...don't...tor-ture.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/03/11/iraq.hostage/index.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- American hostage Tom Fox -- who was kidnapped with three other Christian peace activists in November -- has been found shot in the head with his body showing signs of torture, Iraqi emergency police told CNN Saturday.

On Being Vice President and Doctor Chopping

Been a weird week. Firstly, Chess Avatara down-shifted into a low priority project whilst I get my sanity back and free up some time for other activities.

Avatara may have a future, it may not -- if I come up with some good ideas then it may, but for now I'll only work on it when I'm in the mood. (And there will be times.)

With that, I open up more free times for my two passions, politics and chess.

On Wednesday, we met with Bill Winter and I'm definitely excited about helping him out when the time comes. But, during the meeting, we also held elections and I was nominated for and won the Vice Presidency of the Jeffco Young Dems!

I'm definitely very proud. I've come a good ways since joining the group not even a year ago. We're still a small group, but we've all grown close and we're still slowly expanding...and in an election year, it should get easier!

Now this weekend, I begin my regimen for chess. I'll start going through some books, and maybe identify my first tourney. I'll have to register for USCF (United States Chess Federation) and CSCA (Colorado State Chess Association), but I'll do that when it's time.

I have a lot to catch up on!

In eBay news...I've sold three DS games and bought a SuperDisk drive...so Jabber is coming soon to a ZETA system near you. ;-)

And finally, the highlight of the week. I had some "chopping" done to my neck. Let's just call it some clean-up work. ;-) I haven't had a medical procedure done in eons, but this one was pretty easy I guess. I'm definitely lighter, let's just say.

Yowch!

O'Connor Decries Republican Attacks on Courts

Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor showed Thursday that she's not absent from judicial issues. During a speech in Washington, she said Republican leaders' attacks on the courts threaten the constitutional freedoms of Americans.

NPR

A Rare Look at a Future Congressman

Last night at our monthly Jeffco Young Dems meeting, we hosted Bill Winter, Democratic candidate for CD-6 here in Colorado.

What a special evening it was, let me explain.

Bill showed up a bit late due to the weather. (Sleet.) The *entire* Young Dem group had arrived. Every member, with just about every significant other. In addition, we had new potential members and other guests arrive including Becky, Kelzie, Kyle, and Vincen's workmate Pat.

To complicate matters, there was a caucus going on in our room due to a scheduling conflict. However, when Bill arrived, even they stopped to listen to what he had to say.

The room was packed.

Bill talked about who he was and why he was running. The room stirred. Bill is going head-to-head with Tom Tancredo in our district...and he'll have a lot of support.

When he was done, we Young Dems opted to leave the room and talk further with Bill -- who was happy to stay and talk to us some more. So, here we were, walking through the building, looking for a place to sit and chat. But, we could find no lobby, no meeting room...

So, we settled in a little corner of the hallway. Here we were, about 9 of our number (a few had left at some point)...all sitting on the floor, on this snowy evening, talking to Bill Winter -- our future Congressman -- also sitting on the floor with us.

And what a great time we had. He answered some of our questions and we voiced our outrages and hopes for where he could make a difference. Bill Winter's issues are alongside other Americans -- he is outraged at the disrespect towards public education, he is ex-Marine and ex-Navy military and objects to this war of corporate greed in Iraq, and he objects to those ont he right who hide behind the flag whilst they tear its freedoms away.

I just can't emphasive how personable and likeable Bill is. Whether you are into politics and government or not...this is the man you want as a Congressman. He is honest. He doesn't mute his opinion. He wants what we all want...and it includes things like better education, and healthcare. While Tancredo is a one-trick pony who does nothing about the immigration problem, just politicizes about it, Bill Winter stands for everything we all want -- a better life for ourselves and our children.

We in the group *love* Bill Winter. But, he needs our support. Love won't help him now. We must come right out and say it -- speak with your $$$. Bill needs all our financial support this quarter, ending April 15th. Without it, he won't receive the party support he needs to take on the likes of a maniacal, one-issue, CD-6 neglecting incumbant such as Tom Tancredo. If you're going to give, you need to do it now!

Please support Bill Winter. He has asked for our help, and we must provide it.

I've Waited Long Enough

I have one day to decide where my priorities lay.

Tomorrow are the Jeffco Young Dem elections. I still -- STILL -- haven't decided what to run for. One thing I have decided is that I'm going to step down as Social Committee chair and nominate Linn for the position. It will be in good hands.

As for a position for myself, I've thought about VP and President...but I may still elect to go for a different committee chair. The complications arise in decidedly un-JYD matters.

Firstly, there is Chess Avatara. It *must* be done this year and is already wayyyyy late from my hopeful release of January 2006. :-) This is OK though, there's no money being lost on the deal...and it's a lot of work.

But I'd like to finish it, or cancel it, THIS year. I can't let this reach a third calendar year of work!

Another item on the agenda is tournament chess. I'd like to revive my career, possibly. How much time will I put into the effort -- which will be more of a fun effort this time? Remains to be seen.

So -- how will I balance business, chess, and politics in my life. Ah, the million dollar question.

Stay tuned.

Yippee for America!

In the end, we all win. NOT.

Congress on Tuesday renewed controversial provisions of the U.S.A. Patriot Act -- a vote which sends the measure to President Bush for his signature. The law has been bouncing between the House and Senate for weeks as both chambers looked for an acceptable compromise. Passed in the weeks after the September 11 attacks, it is intended to help investigate and capture possible terrorists -- but includes powers such as allowing library and medical records to be accessed without a court order.

Court order? That would entail government not being able to get involved in your life -- which is what the Republicans stand against.

Oh, WTF, wait a minute...

New South Dakota Logo

Brilliant!

The Only Moral Abortion is My Abortion

A must read: http://mypage.direct.ca/w/writer/anti-tales.html

"I've had several cases over the years in which the anti-abortion patient had rationalized in one way or another that her case was the only exception, but the one that really made an impression was the college senior who was the president of her campus Right-to-Life organization, meaning that she had worked very hard in that organization for several years. As I was completing her procedure, I asked what she planned to do about her high office in the RTL organization. Her response was a wide-eyed, 'You're not going to tell them, are you!?' When assured that I was not, she breathed a sigh of relief, explaining how important that position was to her and how she wouldn't want this to interfere with it." (Physician, Texas)

Love Ya Buddy

Kirby

Losing a Hero

America lost a great baseball hero today in Kirby Puckett. Kirby was the consumate professional and one of the great role models for kids to look up to. He played baseball clean, and he played it well...a many-time All-Star and led the Minnesota Twins to two World Series titles in 1987 and 1991.

Kirby was a pudgy man, but with great speed. He was an *incredible* centerfielder and he played his whole career in Minnesota. His career was cut a bit short due to glaucoma, which led to him becoming blind in one eye, and after baseball he ran into some legal problems.

He was one of my favorite baseball players as a kid, and I got to see him live once while attending a Yankee game. What a great player, on and off the field.

He died at the age of 45. That's a crime. If only all baseball players can live up to half of who Kirby was. He was greatness. :-(

Touch em' all, Kirby Puckett.

Sleepytime Tea

Celestial Seasonings is a tea-maker. We took the free tour and it was quite excellent. The smell of the tea was amazing, and overpowering. The tour guide showed us where the tea is milled (what a mess!), mixed, packaged, and stored.

They actually store the team in specific rooms, because the tea smells can mix very easily through the air. One room is devoted completely to spearamint and peppermint. I swear, you'd think you were gonna die in there -- it was like having candy canes stuffed into each nostril. Wait, no....OK, maybe 20 candy canes stuffed into each nostril. :-)

They also offer free samples of lots of tea varieties...and the gift shops are well-stocked, if you want a $3.50 chocolate bar.

Afterward, we snapped this brilliant picture. Priceless. :-)

Exploring NCAR

Today, the Adventure Club (those loyal, anyway) went on two free tours in the Boulder area: NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research) and Celestial Seasonings.

Aside from being free, they were also both interesting tours, though no free samples at NCAR. :-) NCAR prodives an audio tour which includes many exhibits on atmospheric conditions such as Global Warming, how fog works, how light works, etc.

The picture of me is down in the basement where the supercomputers were. Mmmmmm, supercomputers...but I didn't get to see the Cray they promised. Well, at least, I couldn't identify it through the window, anyway. :-(

In between tours, the AC gang (Kevin, Aaron, Adri, Michele, me, Annie, and Colleen) ate our sack lunches -- and then scooted off to Celestial Seasonings of tea-making fame.

Still haven't said it!

Don't worry, Mr. President Shmuckface, I still haven't used that D-word I gave up for Lent! :-D

The President of Dirt

You are a horrific President...a President of dirt. A President of a chunk of land in name only. You are not my President. You disgust me.

The President works for America...he's not supposed to work us over. Go to hell, Mr. President.

The "Liberal" Teacher

The media has gone nuts over this teacher in Aurora who said some people compare Bush to Hitler.

Ummm, what's the problem? He's right. A lot of people do. Not to say I agree...he's a disgusting man, but he's no Hitler. But...some people make the fascist comparison. (Of course, the more vile Hitler actions may never be comparable.)

If this kid doesn't like what the teacher says, he should just stop being a little puss and debate him -- no? Is it painfully obvious that the kid and his daddy are far right-wingers? Duh!

The attack on academic America continues. Right-wingers just can't handle disagreement. America, home of the free, my ass.

Funny, the neo-conservative movement has done everything in their power to bring their neo-conservative rhetoric in the classroom...Intelligent Design, anyone?

As usual, smear the teacher without learning the facts...but never, never dispute the teacher. Sadly, most of America agrees with him. That's not our fault. That's Bush's fault.

On a separate, completely unrelated note...8 more months til the 2006 mid-term elections. :-) Bye bye, Neo-Cons.

DDR Sweetness!

Well, the new DDR pads we ordered on Sunday came in today. HOOOO-whee! We got em from Buy n' Shop and they are good quality pads! Michele and I were hitting some AA's right off the bat.

Trust me, spend about $50 for some good pads, and skip the $20 cheapies. It's well worth it!

The new pads have dense foam (not the small stuff), rubberized arrows, and are very sensitive. We're actually getting more perfects than our simple flat pads.

If these puppies give us several months of good performance, I'll never consider buying from another dealer ever again. Screw Red Octane, why spend $100 when you can get the same quality for half? Buy a pair!

Hey Mr. Dumbass...ERR, President

Enjoy Pakistan...cause you sure aren't solving any problems here. Thanks a bundle. Go spread nukes all over the world.

I'm sure the world will be fine once we all use them. Good thinking.

Go Away, Mr. President

Mr. So-Called-President. Nobody likes you, nobody thinks you are good for this country, and we'd like you to take your lying sack-of-shit ass and go home.

Go away.

The Fraud President

This President must be indicted, impeached, and imprisoned right now.

Update

President Bush is a fake Christian, fear mongering, illiterate, lying, motherfucking piece of shit.

Day 1 of Lent comes to a successful end.

What I'll Give Up For Lent

I will give up, for 40 days, calling President Bush a dickhead.

Go West by Liz Phair

Safe on the interstate
New York is three thousand miles away
And I'm not looking forward to following through
But it's better than always running back into you
I've closed my eyes and my bank account
And gone west, young man

Take off the parking brake
Go coasting into a different state
And I'm not looking forward to missing you
But I must have something better to do
I've got to tear my life apart
And go west, young man

And it feels like I've got something to prove
But in some ways it's just something to do
My friends turn me around and say,
"You go west, young man."

Stepping down off my platform shoes
Sixty-nine in the afternoon
And I'm waiting for someone in the know
Like Pirner tells me on the radio
Says "Take it from someone who's been there before,
You go west, young man."

And I'm looking for somebody to do my thinking for me
Till I come through
The state-line highway sign says,
"You have gone west, young man."

And it feels like I've got something to prove
But in some ways it's just something to do
The state-line highway sign says,
"You have gone west, young man."