So I can't really think of anything creative to say tonight, especially as 5 November is past where it matters. But nevertheless, Happy Bonfire Night!
Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I can think of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up the King and Parli'ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
An email I just sent
My parents are in Italy for this--what is now historic--election. I sent this email to them, which describes my feelings toward this election, as well as the outcomes as their were being broadcast (and posted online). For those who are somehow in doubt, I am so far left that it makes some liberals (and certainly anyone who's too patsy to be a "liberal" and is instead a "progressive") cry. If this means anything to you, I voted for Dennis Kucinich in the 2004 primaries, and had I the chance, BIll Richardson in the 2008 primaries; because he dropped out, I voted for Hillary, then for President-Elect Barack Obama. Someday I'd like to say that I crossed party-lines to vote for the best candidate, but that's not this year. It's time for something different (not a change, necessarily), and dammit, I voted for that. Though my initial Senate candidate is under 5 feet tall and has a hook hand (yeah, I voted for a quasi-pirate who could hook other Senators in the crotch--sue me).
In other news, I did include some info on the various Oregon/Lane County ballot measures. So ignore them if you wish. Also, Joe Biden got re-elected to the Senate. By a lot. Which cracks my shit up, but I suppose is immaterial.
They just announced that there will (most likely) be 17 women in the Senate. That makes me happy. But I'm sad, because there should be more. 50? Not necessarily. But 17 is less that 25% of the Senate, and that stinks. Even so, tis yet another step forward.
MY EMAIL:
After most of half of a duck breast, and all but one remaining Riedel glass (so about a 1/5 of a bottle) of Masterpiece Red Willie, I can fairly confidently say that Barack Obama is the next president of the United States. Jeff Merkley is beating Gordon Smith, and Kitty Piercy is beating Jim Torey 51% to 49%.
They've just called Virginia for Obama as well. It's gonna be a landslide, unless the electoral college decides to vote differently. And if they do, I'm pretty sure they will be assassinated. Not a threat. Just a fact.
Grant Park in Chicago is (obviously) jam packed, waiting for Obama's victory speech. Hopefully he'll wait to speak a bit longer, particularly as they're saying that McCain is going to speak shortly at the Biltmore in Phoenix. And it's wonderful to see all the excited blacks in Grant Park, some in tears (like Jesse Jackson), who are--as the black commentator says--are amazed by the fact that a black man can be president.
It feels really, REALLY good to know that, for the first time since I could vote, the person I voted for will be elected president. They're even now calling him President-Elect Obama.
And they just called Florida for Obama as well. All the big swings are blue. It looks like the Yahoo Political Dashboard was dead on. Arizona did go for McCain, and by 10%. But he's now giving his speech. He knew. You can see it on his face. You can also see how much it hurts him. And part of me feels bad for him. I still believe that if McCain just said what HE believed, and ignored everyone else, he could have possibly won, or at least made a real showing. And his speech is, in places, heartfelt. He also sent his condolances for the loss of Obama's grandmother. He's also asking his supporters to pledge their goodwill to Obama. Which is fairly classy. Whether or not his supporters think he's being honest, I really do.
I'll send a second email with the State/County/City measures when I see them. Though it looks like 57 and 61 (various sentencing bills) are passing. As is Building Permits. But as I said, I shall follow them more closely in a while.
On Indecision 2008 Colbert kept saying "an historic" as did the reporters on KVAL (CBS?). An horse's ass? Hence the email title.
Sarah Palin looks happy as a pig in shit. Bitch.
Montana just elected a democratic governor. W00t.
Good on McCain. He wasn't the best, but he could have been worse. Now to look into the local stuff. Which they are now reporting, so I may just continue this email.
Brownlow is getting 6% tonight. Which isn't much, but still. Piercy is still winning but by less than 1000 (less than 600 or 300, but I can't remember) and Handy is winning with about 600 votes. LCC is probably going to get their bond. As is the city of Eugene road repairs. Measure 57 is passing (increase prison sentences). Measure 61 is now failing. Sorry. I think I screwed that up earlier. And measure 62, which would reallocate lottery funds to public safety, is failing.
So that's the start.
Love, and buy an Italian table a carafe of wine when you're next out to dinner. Seriously--I'll pay for it. Or a German, or a Brit. I can spare $10 or so (or less) to share the goodwill. Or your waiter. I don't care, but please find some way to share this whilst you're over there.
Love,
Katie xxxxx
"Ladies and gentlemen take my advice, pull down your pants and slide on the ice."
~~Dr. Sidney Freedman, M*A*S*H
NOT IN MY EMAIL
Also, Kate Brown is beating forman KEZI anchor (I think, maybe meteorologist) Rick Dancer, for Oregon Secretary of State, and the redistricting measure (not important if you're not in Oregon) is winning, meaning that the redistriction doesn't take effect before terms end. Also, the mayor is less than 300 votes apart for current mayor (and my pick, though I don't live in the city so I can't vote) Kitty Piercy. And some punter named Saxby Chambliss is winning in Georgia. Seriously, what the hell kind of name is that?!
In other news, I did include some info on the various Oregon/Lane County ballot measures. So ignore them if you wish. Also, Joe Biden got re-elected to the Senate. By a lot. Which cracks my shit up, but I suppose is immaterial.
They just announced that there will (most likely) be 17 women in the Senate. That makes me happy. But I'm sad, because there should be more. 50? Not necessarily. But 17 is less that 25% of the Senate, and that stinks. Even so, tis yet another step forward.
MY EMAIL:
After most of half of a duck breast, and all but one remaining Riedel glass (so about a 1/5 of a bottle) of Masterpiece Red Willie, I can fairly confidently say that Barack Obama is the next president of the United States. Jeff Merkley is beating Gordon Smith, and Kitty Piercy is beating Jim Torey 51% to 49%.
They've just called Virginia for Obama as well. It's gonna be a landslide, unless the electoral college decides to vote differently. And if they do, I'm pretty sure they will be assassinated. Not a threat. Just a fact.
Grant Park in Chicago is (obviously) jam packed, waiting for Obama's victory speech. Hopefully he'll wait to speak a bit longer, particularly as they're saying that McCain is going to speak shortly at the Biltmore in Phoenix. And it's wonderful to see all the excited blacks in Grant Park, some in tears (like Jesse Jackson), who are--as the black commentator says--are amazed by the fact that a black man can be president.
It feels really, REALLY good to know that, for the first time since I could vote, the person I voted for will be elected president. They're even now calling him President-Elect Obama.
And they just called Florida for Obama as well. All the big swings are blue. It looks like the Yahoo Political Dashboard was dead on. Arizona did go for McCain, and by 10%. But he's now giving his speech. He knew. You can see it on his face. You can also see how much it hurts him. And part of me feels bad for him. I still believe that if McCain just said what HE believed, and ignored everyone else, he could have possibly won, or at least made a real showing. And his speech is, in places, heartfelt. He also sent his condolances for the loss of Obama's grandmother. He's also asking his supporters to pledge their goodwill to Obama. Which is fairly classy. Whether or not his supporters think he's being honest, I really do.
I'll send a second email with the State/County/City measures when I see them. Though it looks like 57 and 61 (various sentencing bills) are passing. As is Building Permits. But as I said, I shall follow them more closely in a while.
On Indecision 2008 Colbert kept saying "an historic" as did the reporters on KVAL (CBS?). An horse's ass? Hence the email title.
Sarah Palin looks happy as a pig in shit. Bitch.
Montana just elected a democratic governor. W00t.
Good on McCain. He wasn't the best, but he could have been worse. Now to look into the local stuff. Which they are now reporting, so I may just continue this email.
Brownlow is getting 6% tonight. Which isn't much, but still. Piercy is still winning but by less than 1000 (less than 600 or 300, but I can't remember) and Handy is winning with about 600 votes. LCC is probably going to get their bond. As is the city of Eugene road repairs. Measure 57 is passing (increase prison sentences). Measure 61 is now failing. Sorry. I think I screwed that up earlier. And measure 62, which would reallocate lottery funds to public safety, is failing.
So that's the start.
Love, and buy an Italian table a carafe of wine when you're next out to dinner. Seriously--I'll pay for it. Or a German, or a Brit. I can spare $10 or so (or less) to share the goodwill. Or your waiter. I don't care, but please find some way to share this whilst you're over there.
Love,
Katie xxxxx
"Ladies and gentlemen take my advice, pull down your pants and slide on the ice."
~~Dr. Sidney Freedman, M*A*S*H
NOT IN MY EMAIL
Also, Kate Brown is beating forman KEZI anchor (I think, maybe meteorologist) Rick Dancer, for Oregon Secretary of State, and the redistricting measure (not important if you're not in Oregon) is winning, meaning that the redistriction doesn't take effect before terms end. Also, the mayor is less than 300 votes apart for current mayor (and my pick, though I don't live in the city so I can't vote) Kitty Piercy. And some punter named Saxby Chambliss is winning in Georgia. Seriously, what the hell kind of name is that?!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Time Magazine's 50 Best Inventions of 2008
I happen to think that number 5 is awesome (the quote from Yahoo! said "Even if it makes a black hole that destroys the earth, it'll be worth it because it's that cool."), and that number 15 is a hilarious, but great choice. Sadly, I haven't seen it yet, because unemployment means that I don't really have the money to throw at iTunes :(
Here's the full list, starting at #1 and heading to #50.
Time's 50 Best Inventions of 2008
Here's the full list, starting at #1 and heading to #50.
Time's 50 Best Inventions of 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Zoofari
I got to pet a hippo on Sunday!!! Adam's parents gave a donation to the Oregon zoo in my name, and made me a ZooParent to one of the hippos in the zoo. The biggest part of the ZooParent perks is a pass into an annual event called Zoofari, which allowed me to go behind the scenes in a few different areas of the zoo. Five areas were open, but Grandma and I only made it to two. Which was ok, because the first one we went to was the rhino and hippo area. I got to meet Petey, the black rhino, and I got to pet him (I chose not to feed him a carrot--he was very drooly). He was endearing, and came right on over when he was called by the zookeeper.
After we left Petey, we went over to meet the hippos, who also came (slowly) when they were called. Their names are Bubbles and Poppy, and like good hippos, they put their chins up on the bars of the gate, so that we silly humans could pet their chins. I was both surprised and impressed that we were allowed to touch and feed them. Hippos are very dangerous, but these guys were well enough trained (and the keeper wouldn't let us pet her girls when they started acting up). I was surprised at how soft and supple their skin was. I expected it to be rather bristly. I declined to feed them though, because one small piece of apple or carrot kinda gets lost in their giant mouths.
So yes, Sunday was a happy day, as I got to pet a hippo and a rhino, and meet a giraffe behind the scenes too (couldn't pet him, though :( ). And lest Adam feel overshadowed by his parents, he gave me Father Ted on DVD and the complete collection of Star Wars Kinder Hippos, and I've looked at them every day for the three months I've had them. And I've watched Father Ted as well, toasting Jephcott in spirit.
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