The Weekend
Saturday
the backstory
Earlier last week I downloaded the GURPS lite rules and innocently laid them in a binder next to where Alex hangs out in the living room. Well it took till Friday to notice them. What's this? Oh just something I printed up for you to look at. Oh.. and he disappears to his room.
Came back out and was stoked. GURPS is the Generic Universal Roleplaying System by Steve Jackson games. It puts all the other RP systems to shame, and is truly what it says. Over 200 "worldbooks" have been published to support this system so you can RP in any environment imaginable.
what I did
So I went looking for my full rule book and worldbooks on Thu night and couldn't find them. Therefore Saturday was dedicated to completely reaming the attic and reorganizing boxes. I pulled out the mirrors that came with the furniture from Denver, and mounted one of them. I threw away five trash bags of stuff. I put all of Alex's old toys i...
Posts
Just don't think they are not net savy
Have you seen the latest thinly disguised attack on Kerry by the right? It's one of those internet pieces that floats around that becomes "urban lore" if not nipped in the bud.
Now I got this piece from UR in France, so I'm not sure how prevalent it is in the US yet. But it is allegedly a piece written by a Vietnam War Vet named "Mike", who throws dirt on Kerry's war record by questioning just about every fact that exists.
Now there is a site that jwrites turned me onto called SNOPES, that investigates these types of things. The version of the e-Mail I got from UR had been passed around quite a bit, so I reformatted it and sent it along to them. The part I sent along is reproduced with my carriage returns, so I think it was from my submission.
Take some time to note the site, and what it says. When you get this dirty trick e-Mail from some poor unsuspecting soul make sure to reply that it is ...
A Day at LaSalle
As many of you family members know from phone discussion or reading earlier blogs, we have decided to send our son to a private school next year. After much debate and recommendations from family friends we chose LaSalle Institute .
This is a positive move for our son for the next three years, allowing him to be guided more closely than the public schools can understandably offer. At the end of 8th grade he will (if his grades are acceptable and we think he is disciplined enough) be offered the opportunity to attend the excellent public high school in our 'burgh.
So our son got to spend a day there Tuesday. Gosh he was so pumped and excited. He is even going to use the agenda (this is a date book cum assignment calendar that has become standard in schools today) he got from LaSalle. His attitude is better here at home, and he is paying more attention in school.
I have some concerns that this is a boys only school, but on the other hand they ha...
Sunday Night Concert at the Egg
This pic is from a show in Birchmere VA, not the Egg, but it illustrates a point...
We saw Nanci Griffith at the Egg tonight. Nancy plays "folkabily which is folk/country/bluegrass with her band The Blue Moon Orchestra. Now she only had part of the band so she called it the Half Moon Orchestra... She's a funny lady.
These were the tickets I gave Liza for her birthday back on the 1st. We had center section about half way up at the Egg, and there really is not a bad seat in the house. The usual crowd was there, the aged hippy Pete Seger crowd, including our own mini celebrity (at least in his own head) Alan Chartok. (Alan runs the local PBS radio station, is a professor, does political commentary etc etc etc.)
The concert opened with a band called Olabelle who opened with a soulful set of gospel-influenced rock, highlighted by a take of Blind Willie Johnson's "The Soul of a Man". They were very Jam Bandish, wit...
Stupid is as Stupid does
The stupid man who put Bush in the White House is going to run again for President.
I don't mean Carl Rove.
Looks like Ralph Nader is thinking of running again?
Is he not satisfied that he put Bush in the White House four years ago? Misleading young voters that a vote for him was a vote for his platform?
A vote for Nader is a vote for Bush. It is simple maths. The electorate is a zero sum game. No "Green" die hard would ever vote for Bush, if Nader did not run they would go Democrat as that is the party more likely to support their casues.
For some reason Nader thinks that is is a Parlimentary Democracy like in Europe. It doesn't work that way in this country. A vote for Nader simply bleeds off left wing support for the man who will replace Bush in the White House. Its not about "making a change" cause he isn't going to change the system. It isn't about "making a statement" because unless h...
Where are the Voices in the Wilderness?
A strong sounding board for this blog has e-mailed me with this quesion. After reading the Rhetoric vs Reality pieces she simply asks: My question is simple: how come no one cares? Why are we the voices in the wilderness?
Very thought provoking!
There are voices in the wilderness, but they are truly in the wilderness and not heard.
They are buried by the "liberal" media, too afraid to piss off its' corporate sponsors by running quality journalism about this administration.
Rove et al have brilliantly marketed the concept that questioning what this President does is unpatriotic and helps the "terrorists".
Meanwhile Bush keeps throwing ultra right wing conservative judges at the senate. His latest is Bill Pryor, to the Eleventh Circuit federal bench.
The left is in major disarray. For the last 20 years the Right has been quietly taking towns, then counties, then state assemblies and senates with ...
Rhetoric and Reality Part IV
Fiscal Responsibility
The Rhetoric
“One of the ways we've got to make sure that we keep our economy strong is to be wise about how we spend our money. If you overspend, it creates a fundamental weakness in the foundation of economic growth. And so I'm working with Congress to make sure they hear the message -- the message of fiscal responsibility.” Bush, 9/16/02
The Reality
Less than 6 months after this pronouncement, Bush proposed a budget that would put the government more than $300 billion into deficit. As National Journal noted on 2/12/02, Bush’s own 2004 budget tables show that without Bush’s tax and budgetary proposals, the deficit deficit would decline after 2006, but with Bush’s proposals the deficit would grow indefinitely.
Vocational/Technical Ed
The Rhetoric
“I want to thank the good folks here at Rochester Community and Technical College for your hospitality…The most important issue -- the mo...
Rhetoric and Reality Part III
Retirement Security
The Rhetoric
“We've got to do more to protect worker pensions.” – Bush, 8/7/02
The Reality
Just four months after touting pension security, Bush’s Treasury Department announced plans to propose new rules that “would allow employers to resume converting traditional pension plans to new ‘cash balance’ plans that can lower benefits to long-serving workers. Such conversions are highly controversial. Critics contend that they discriminate against older workers in violation of federal law” [Washington Post, 12/10/02]
Labor
The Rhetoric
“Our workers are the most productive, the hardest working, the best craftsmen in the world. And I'm here to thank all those who work hard to make a living here in America.” – Bush, 9/2/02
The Reality
Bush’s 2003 Budget proposed a 9% ($476 million) cut to job training programs and a 2% ($8 million) cut to the Occupational Safety and Health Administ...
So anyway......
I am blogging along by hitting the random blog button as I like to do every once and a while, just to see what others are saying.
I find one from Los Angeles and one of his/her links is In and Out Burgers . This is the amazingly fantastic burger joint I used to go to in college. Hell we all went to it. Mega pig out on fat and beef. Ah those were the days.
So I checked out the T-shirts. Cool. Maybe I'll get something to remember my bygone days. Then I see "locations".
What the hell I'll check it out, see which one I used to go to.
Well damn if they don't have a picture of it. Same as it used to always look! What a walk down memory lane.
Upland California, on Foothill Blvd just East of the Colleges.
Same leaden sky, same old building. It really brings back a rush of memories. I have VERY fond memories of my years in College, the camaraderie of a large group of people all within 4 yrs of age, all extremely intelligent...
Ok I had one other comment
And this one is really strictly for the men, and those who enjoy cultural commentary.
Last year after the SI Swimsuit issue came out, I read a column where the commentary was basically, at this point what do you do to top what they have done for 39 yrs? His answer was simply to have the models just naked with the swim suits draped on the beach next to them. I couldn't find one example to show you but the pic below is pretty close.
Well go get this year's edition because that is exactly what they have done on a few pics. I mean What Is The Point?
Is SI now just a girlie mag once a year, at least up until now there was some semblance of legitimacy, showing the bikini's being actually modeled. NOW they just lay them in a heap on the sand.
Frankly its very funny. Sad, titillating, but funny.
By the way that's my 2nd fave super model Marissa Miller. All of 24 yrs of age. Damn I'm getting old...
Rhetoric and Reality Part II
Even Start
The Rhetoric
Under the headline “Bush lauds Albuquerque woman for volunteerism” the AP reported on Bush’s visit to New Mexico to tout Lucy Salazar, a volunteer with the Even Start literacy program. “One of the things I try to do when I go into communities is herald soldiers in the armies of compassion, those souls who have heard the call to love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself, and have followed through on that call; Lucy Salazar is a retired federal government worker. She teaches reading skills to pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children -- incredibly important…And oftentimes, citizens such as her never get the praise they deserve. Lucy, thank you for coming and representing thousands of people like you.” - Bush, 4/29/02
The Reality
According to the Associated Press, Bush proposed “to slash funding 20 percent for the Even Start program, which offers tutoring to preschoolers and literacy and job tra...
Rhetoric and Reality, Part I
(Thanks to Vacuum Kitty for this information)
Children’s Hospitals
The Rhetoric
“This is a hospital, but it's also - it's a place full of love. And I was most touched by meeting the parents and the kids and the nurses and the docs, all of whom are working hard to save lives. I want to thank the moms who are here. Thank you very much for you hospitality…There's a lot of talk about budgets right now, and I'm here to talk about the budget. My job as the President is to submit a budget to the Congress and to set priorities, and one of the priorities that we've talked about is making sure the health care systems are funded.” – Egleston Children's Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia 3/1/01
The Reality
Bush’s first budget proposed cutting grants to children’s hospitals like the one he visited by 15% ($34 million). His 2004 budget additionally proposes to cut 30% ($86 million) out of grants to children’s hospital...
Bit of a burning Day
Nay, not a hot day ye silly bugger. Usin' that thar burner in this here computer don't ya know.
First off was actually yesterday: I burned a three disc set of old Edison cylinder transcriptions that I got from a friend for Uncle Ed. I didn't actually say who they were from so it will be interesting to see if he susses it out WITHOUT HIS WIFE'S HELP.
Then I spent this am trying to figure out which of the six remastered LA Forum Pink Floyd: The Wall live recordings was the best. A friend from the UK is remastering every Wall show he can get his hands on. Turns out the best quality is the show I went to, the last day of the LA leg of the tour in 1980.
Then some odds and ends: The SEVA Foundation Benefit that the Dead did in December of this year. Two Lizard (Polish Prog) shows. The XM Radio show that Rick Wakeman did (which is side splitting funny as well as having great music). A Pendragon show. Probably some others I can't th...
Valentines Day
Most people don't know that Feb 14 has extra special meaning for L and I.
It was basically our first date. So when one of Alex's friend's Mom called and asked if he could spend Saturday night over, well DUH!
So this old married couple celebrated that fateful date 17 yrs ago by spending some private time in the afternoon and then going out to our favorite Mexican Restaurant - Garcia's. We even have a favorite waiter named Sergei. He is from Belorussa and is the most attentive wait person we have had in ages. Liza gave hime a big kiss on the cheek for Valentines Day, which completely blew him away lol.
As we were sitting at the bar waiting for our Table the bartender blithely asks me how my company is doing by name. I just looked at him, and then down at myself wondering if I had some sign on saying who I worked for. But no, turns out the bartender was one of my co-worker's roomates! Small world.
Anyway it was a wonderful evening ...
What I got
2001 Honda Civic EX Sedan
Obviously this is not MY car... there is no snow in the background.. and honestly I do take much better pictures....but its the same year model and color and it will suffice till I get the Digital Camera out this weekend....
The all new, 2001 Honda Civic EX Sedan, 1.7L I4 OHC 16-valve engine (127 HP); FWD; automatic transmission; front independent suspension with stabilizer bar, rear independent suspension with stabilizer bar; power steering; front disc/rear drum brakes with 4-wheel ABS; front seatbelt pretensioners; 15" x 5.5" steel wheels, P185/65HR15 tires; air conditioning, pollen filter; 6-speaker, AM/FM, CD Player, and element antenna; cruise control; engine immobilizer; remote power door locks; power windows, 1 one-touch operation; power front glass sunroof; Instrumentation and warnings include tachometer, clock, low fuel; fixed intermittent wipers, rear window defroster; premium/velour upholstery, height-adjustable dr...
Musically Enriched.
I have to give a big hand to the Grammies this year, and the musicians in general. I felt enriched after watching the Grammies this year by not only the integration of many disparate musical forms that performed live, but also by the kudo's that the industry offered their own. Seeing, for instance, the Foo Fighters play with Chick Corea, or Sean Patrick perform with Sting, and the entire Funk portion of the show, filled me with hope that the music industry has a future.
See I think the Same Old Pop that the industry puts out is really mindless garbage. Yes there will always be Christina Aguillara almost falling out of her outfit. But seeing, for example a band called Black Eyed Peas for the first time, and listening to their very uplifting rap lyrics filled me with hope for all genres. See I don't have a problem with this cross genre molding. Whatever your personal opinion of say Kid Rock, he is pioneer in bring Country, Rap and Heavy Metal toge...
Mega Update Blog..
Personal first, politics second.
Personal odds and ends.
The Car
I got a good offer today (yea Sunday go figure) from Progressive Insurance Co today on the Nissan. They are indeed totaling the vehicle, and they offered right around what I could have sold the vehicle for on the open market, this is more than the dealer trade - in and less than what a dealer would sell it for. The big decision is whether to give them the car, or to go pick up the car. If I give them the car then I get the rental till Friday, and they get to keep 150 of the write off. If I go get my car back (it is drivable) then I get the whole amount. So is the trade in worth more than 150 in it's wrecked state? Can my car guy find me a vehicle I want by next Friday? These are the questions I have to research on Monday.
Kathy
Is home in NH and resting fine. The ankle surgery went longer than expected and she is laid up for quite a while. I keep missing her; she is...
It's not like I have not been writing.....
It's just not been here. See there are only so many minuites of the day that I can sit and write, and I've been sucked into a couple of "message boards", Slate and of all things my local Times Union. (Albany's Newspaper)
So if you want to see the latest melting of Mikey's mind go to The Forum at the Albany Times Union . I am the Mike Montfort guy if you can't figure it out...
It all starts with someone posting a piece that has been flying about the web, a Bush Resume if you will. It's not very nice to be blunt, and it is mostly bluntly true. Needless to say the Conservatives on the board were upset. If you continue to page forward by hitting the "more" button at the bottom of each page you can follow the conversation.
This was my first and last dipping into the "message board" waters. My dear friend CJWrites has warned me what a huge time "black hole" thes...
Ok some backdated quicky updates from the family side of things
Mother Kathy has broken her ankle severly by slipping on black ice in NH this week, well today in fact. Surgery will follow.
Mother Kay had a wonderful visit with Our Fine Selves for L's birthday. She took us to the Albany Pump House on Saturday night and I took us to Fresno's for Sunday Brunch.
Remember this is BACKDATED. As of Thursday at the close of the day I had still not heard from Progressive Insurance regarding my vehicle. I had dropped it off Monday afternoon to have it fixed and they got me a rental (more on that later). Got a call Mon afternoon saying that they were going to total out the vehicle. Said I'd get a call Tues. No call yet.
I am driving a 2003 Ford SUV called an Escape. This is the LAST thing I would want to Escape in. I think it gets 17 MPG city and 24 HWY. My god, Father Larry's 1964 1/2 Mustang 286 got 15 MPG city. More powerful lobbyists here.
Wife Liza ...
MUCH ado about nothing
Leave it to the braying press. That "liberal" media. They are haveing a field day with Janet Jackson's boob job. No bunch of liberals would care by the way, it's just another indication that one of the great American Myths is the "Liberal" Press.
Was it an costume malfunction? An accident? Genuinely preplanned?
Who gives a _________!
So let me get this straight. It's ok to show multiple killings, psychopathic madmen, rapists, violent war scenes and gang killings on Television but the human breast is off limits?
Oh gosh honey the children saw a boob.
Don't be a boob people. A little less interest in how to wipe each other off the planet and a tad more interest celebrating the human body and the world would be a better place.
As for Kid Rock wearing the American Flag, what do you expect from a self promoting white boy trying to be a rapper?
he he
OUT