Monday, January 23, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Adventures in Baby Land
Allow me to introduce Katherine (Katie) and Marie. They are the twin daughters of my cousin* Jim and his partner Charles. Aren't they adorable?
Now. The girls were born a few weeks premature in Northern California. They hung out at the hospital for a while and are now ready to go home.
To upstate New York.
In a rented Winnebago.
I have a slight amount of disappointment that I was not invited on this trip to document what would surely become the next innerwebs sensation.
That's all I'm saying.
*cousin. Actually I think my grandfather and Jim's mother were cousins and the number of seconds, thirds, and twice removeds is beyond my reckoning capabilities and so, since we *are* Southern, we'll just let it go at cousin.
Now. The girls were born a few weeks premature in Northern California. They hung out at the hospital for a while and are now ready to go home.
To upstate New York.
In a rented Winnebago.
I have a slight amount of disappointment that I was not invited on this trip to document what would surely become the next innerwebs sensation.
That's all I'm saying.
*cousin. Actually I think my grandfather and Jim's mother were cousins and the number of seconds, thirds, and twice removeds is beyond my reckoning capabilities and so, since we *are* Southern, we'll just let it go at cousin.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Adventures in Thordom
Thor saves us from the invasion of the peanut sucking zombie squirrel:
Thor sez: No thanks needed. Second breakfast will be sufficient.
(Photos by JAZ)
Thor sez: No thanks needed. Second breakfast will be sufficient.
(Photos by JAZ)
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Go Get 'em, Mitt!
Mitt Romney is airing a commercial in SC saying that he will judge every federal spending program by this criteria:
"Is is worth borrowing money from China to pay for?"
Awesome!
I'm sure Wells Fargo, BP and other corporations who raked in record profits over the past few years AND received about $125 BILLION in tax payer money on top of that profit are shaking in their boots now!
Right Mitt? Corporations that make huge profits, we don't need to borrow money from China to give them anymore, right?
Mitt? Mitt? Hello! Over here! Mitt, I'm trying to ask you a question.
Average federal tax money spent on "traditional" welfare programs: 59 Billion.
Average federal tax money spent of "corporate" welfare programs: 125 Billion.
To paraphrase Ghostbusters, "Who you gonna cut?"
Mitt? Yes or no? Are your corporate sponsors on that China criteria or not?
Yes or no.
Thor sez: Even I can answer a yes or no question, Mitt.
"Is is worth borrowing money from China to pay for?"
Awesome!
I'm sure Wells Fargo, BP and other corporations who raked in record profits over the past few years AND received about $125 BILLION in tax payer money on top of that profit are shaking in their boots now!
Right Mitt? Corporations that make huge profits, we don't need to borrow money from China to give them anymore, right?
Mitt? Mitt? Hello! Over here! Mitt, I'm trying to ask you a question.
Average federal tax money spent on "traditional" welfare programs: 59 Billion.
Average federal tax money spent of "corporate" welfare programs: 125 Billion.
To paraphrase Ghostbusters, "Who you gonna cut?"
Mitt? Yes or no? Are your corporate sponsors on that China criteria or not?
Yes or no.
Thor sez: Even I can answer a yes or no question, Mitt.
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Do You See What You are Looking At?
Last night, Jason got an assignment and I was allowed to tag along. I earned my ticket price by acting as a human light stand for a little while, so it's all cool.
We went to see a screening of a documentary that is beginning to make a splash and SHOULD be making a tsunami.
The title is Miss Representation.
Here is a trailer:
If you can watch the entire documentary, please, please do. Pay particular attention to how women of power are treated in the media. The film makers also most excellently draw the lines from deregulation of the air waves in the 80's and 90's to the explosion of political opinion as news that we see today on all sides of the spectrum.
One illustration that stood out to me was a print article in which a female legislator had "complained that", but a male counterpart had "stated that".
There was a good crowd there and a lively panel discussion with much input from the audience. I wanted to say something but didn't because, believe it or not, I am extremely shy in crowd situations. But the question was, what do we do from here? We've seen these things, now what do we do?
And I wanted to say, "Tell other people. Because once you see something, once you know something, it is very hard to unsee, unknow it. You can go into a state of denial, but the tension will always be there. Once you know how you are being manipulated and lied to, it will begin to lose its power."
I will add to that, don't buy that magazine. Don't watch that tv show. It only takes a quick search to find an email address and shoot off an email to a network to express why you will no longer watch their product, much less time than it will take to watch the show, I am sure. When you pull up your favorite news site, don't click on the celebrity news story. Don't click on the obviously made up for sensationalism story.
It isn't exactly true that the media is only giving us what we want. They are giving us what makes them the most money. So take your money away from them and they will have to find new things to give us.
Watch the documentary with everyone you know. Talk about. Find examples in your everyday media consumption and ask yourself, why? Why did they use that word? Why is the woman dressed like that and the man is in a business suit? Why?
And, here is my little pet peeve. I cringe at the word feminist sometimes because it is so easily manipulated into something ugly. I was very happy with the number of men in the audience last night because this isn't only about women. Men are affected by this also. It's a human problem when half of the population is not allowed to reach full potential.
The boyz say: But what about the negative portrayal of cats and cat people in the media?
We went to see a screening of a documentary that is beginning to make a splash and SHOULD be making a tsunami.
The title is Miss Representation.
Here is a trailer:
If you can watch the entire documentary, please, please do. Pay particular attention to how women of power are treated in the media. The film makers also most excellently draw the lines from deregulation of the air waves in the 80's and 90's to the explosion of political opinion as news that we see today on all sides of the spectrum.
One illustration that stood out to me was a print article in which a female legislator had "complained that", but a male counterpart had "stated that".
There was a good crowd there and a lively panel discussion with much input from the audience. I wanted to say something but didn't because, believe it or not, I am extremely shy in crowd situations. But the question was, what do we do from here? We've seen these things, now what do we do?
And I wanted to say, "Tell other people. Because once you see something, once you know something, it is very hard to unsee, unknow it. You can go into a state of denial, but the tension will always be there. Once you know how you are being manipulated and lied to, it will begin to lose its power."
I will add to that, don't buy that magazine. Don't watch that tv show. It only takes a quick search to find an email address and shoot off an email to a network to express why you will no longer watch their product, much less time than it will take to watch the show, I am sure. When you pull up your favorite news site, don't click on the celebrity news story. Don't click on the obviously made up for sensationalism story.
It isn't exactly true that the media is only giving us what we want. They are giving us what makes them the most money. So take your money away from them and they will have to find new things to give us.
Watch the documentary with everyone you know. Talk about. Find examples in your everyday media consumption and ask yourself, why? Why did they use that word? Why is the woman dressed like that and the man is in a business suit? Why?
And, here is my little pet peeve. I cringe at the word feminist sometimes because it is so easily manipulated into something ugly. I was very happy with the number of men in the audience last night because this isn't only about women. Men are affected by this also. It's a human problem when half of the population is not allowed to reach full potential.
The boyz say: But what about the negative portrayal of cats and cat people in the media?
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Charles Towne Landing
Douglas, Adrianne and I met my brother Mike and his son Eammon at Charles Towne Landing last week.
This is a life sized statue depicting a captured Indian woman.
A picture of Doug and Adrianne taking a picture of Doug and Adrianne.
Rigging on the Adventure, a replica of a trade boat.
Eammon steering us to distant lands.
Bison!
Bobcats!
And Thor,
oh my!
This is a life sized statue depicting a captured Indian woman.
A picture of Doug and Adrianne taking a picture of Doug and Adrianne.
Rigging on the Adventure, a replica of a trade boat.
Eammon steering us to distant lands.
Bison!
Bobcats!
And Thor,
oh my!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Photo Walking, 2
Computer is being slow to upload pictures will try to put more up later. Some random shots from this week:
Nephews Douglas and Eammon playing a game at Charles Towne Landing.
This is how Thor sees himself in his mind.
Loki learns that other people aren't really going to kill him and might even be nice.
Nephews Douglas and Eammon playing a game at Charles Towne Landing.
This is how Thor sees himself in his mind.
Loki learns that other people aren't really going to kill him and might even be nice.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Photo Walking
There are a few places on earth where you don't dare not bring a camera. Downtown Charleston is one of them.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Ghosts of Christmas Past
Yesterday, I led my nephew Douglas and his girlfriend Adrianne on a JanetLee style Charleston tour. (On Broad Street, I pointed out the South of Broad/North of Broad divide, at John Calhoun's mansion, I described him as "sort of the Newt Gingrich of his time".) Most likely not approved of by the visitor's board.
Anyway, we were walking up Church Street when I spotted this anchor. I snapped a quick picture and told Doug and Adrianne, "I think I took a picture of that exact same anchor back when I was a teenager."
And sure enough, I was right. The date on the back is stamped 1978, but I think it was in late 1977 when I took it. That was back in the days of mailing off your film to be developed.
Anyway, we were walking up Church Street when I spotted this anchor. I snapped a quick picture and told Doug and Adrianne, "I think I took a picture of that exact same anchor back when I was a teenager."
And sure enough, I was right. The date on the back is stamped 1978, but I think it was in late 1977 when I took it. That was back in the days of mailing off your film to be developed.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Insanity. In a Good Way
This is why I so love my Confederacy of Geeks. Who else would hook me up with this little bit of insanity?
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Exhibit A
One of the Occupy Wall Street groups hands out a card with their "goals":
1. End corporate "personhood".
2. Get big money out of politics.
3. Support Occupy Wall Street.
The response they get?
Dirty lazy liberal pussy babies think we owe them everything. Go take a bath a get a job you socialist crybabies.
How can we solve anything with vomited out rhetoric slamming shut any lines of communication?
Unless....gasp!
That's what the corporate "persons", those funneling billions into electing "their" boy or girl, those raking in billions playing the poorly regulated Wall Street games with our pensions want.
Loki sez: No!!!!!?????
1. End corporate "personhood".
2. Get big money out of politics.
3. Support Occupy Wall Street.
The response they get?
Dirty lazy liberal pussy babies think we owe them everything. Go take a bath a get a job you socialist crybabies.
How can we solve anything with vomited out rhetoric slamming shut any lines of communication?
Unless....gasp!
That's what the corporate "persons", those funneling billions into electing "their" boy or girl, those raking in billions playing the poorly regulated Wall Street games with our pensions want.
Loki sez: No!!!!!?????
Tell That To. . .
I was reading an article on the teenage girl in Kansas who refused to apologize for expressing her opinion of her Governor in a tweet.
And in the comments section, someone dragged out a version the completely disrespectful, "people died for your right to say that."
It makes me cringe every time I hear it.
Why?
Because it is used to SHUT UP another person's exercise of free speech.
It is said by someone on one side of an issue to someone on another side of an issue.
The problem?
It is so completely disrespectful to those who HAVE died to support what America is all about - freedom. Freedom of speech in this case.
What you are saying when you use this is that people have died for your right to speak your mind so you better shut up.
I'm sorry, but if I died for the right for people to speak freely, I sure would want them to do so and not use my death to shut up others.
But it has become one of the many things we parrot back without ever really sitting down and thinking our way through what it really means and do we really agree with what we are saying? We've become so used to using sound bites to encapsulate a complex idea that we forget the many facets that are steamrollered over by such narrow platitudes.
Thor sez: How about some freedom to have canned food three times a day?
And in the comments section, someone dragged out a version the completely disrespectful, "people died for your right to say that."
It makes me cringe every time I hear it.
Why?
Because it is used to SHUT UP another person's exercise of free speech.
It is said by someone on one side of an issue to someone on another side of an issue.
The problem?
It is so completely disrespectful to those who HAVE died to support what America is all about - freedom. Freedom of speech in this case.
What you are saying when you use this is that people have died for your right to speak your mind so you better shut up.
I'm sorry, but if I died for the right for people to speak freely, I sure would want them to do so and not use my death to shut up others.
But it has become one of the many things we parrot back without ever really sitting down and thinking our way through what it really means and do we really agree with what we are saying? We've become so used to using sound bites to encapsulate a complex idea that we forget the many facets that are steamrollered over by such narrow platitudes.
Thor sez: How about some freedom to have canned food three times a day?
Monday, November 28, 2011
Huh?
So, Grover Norquist, the non elected "random person" was giving an interview in which he said, (paraphrasing): The Republican members of the Super Committee assured me that there would be no tax increase.
And the interviewer just IGNORED that statement.
I want to know:
1. Why are our elected representatives having to go to the man to whom they have sworn an oath (after swearing their oath to office) and having to tell him that they will do things his way?
2. Why did the reporter not jump all over that like white on rice?
3. Why does no one care?
Loki sez: Because there is no sex scandal, Americans only pay attention if there is illicit sex involved. It's too hard to write our representatives and tell them we are mad.
Thor sez: zzzzzz
And the interviewer just IGNORED that statement.
I want to know:
1. Why are our elected representatives having to go to the man to whom they have sworn an oath (after swearing their oath to office) and having to tell him that they will do things his way?
2. Why did the reporter not jump all over that like white on rice?
3. Why does no one care?
Loki sez: Because there is no sex scandal, Americans only pay attention if there is illicit sex involved. It's too hard to write our representatives and tell them we are mad.
Thor sez: zzzzzz
Saturday, November 26, 2011
I Have a Dream!
A dream that next year, the biggest media story will be the deserted stores, the absent crowds, the empty cash registers of the chain stores on the day after we give thanks for living in the land of plenty.
I have a dream that for one Christmas season, everyone in America will make home made gifts, give gifts bought second hand or from solely local merchants or give donations to charities.
See, we all seem to hate the avarice and shamefulness of what "Black Friday" has become. But to excuse it: well, I know those people are crazy, but for me, it's just a fun time to spend with my family. It's a tradition.
Those excuses condone the entire sham.
It happens because we participate.
Anyone who has ever gone shopping on that day is guilty. (And, sorry, Charlie, with my crowd phobia, my hands are cleaner than clean on this issue.)
Our culture is so far gone that only massive shock treatments will work.
Everyone stay home next year.
If you haven't finished your shopping this year, vow to buy local, buy secondhand - putting the money directly into the hands of your fellow citizens - or give to charity.
The big companies do this because WE participate. We go along with it.
Stop. Opt out.
Thor sez: Give the best gift ever: pictures of ME!
I have a dream that for one Christmas season, everyone in America will make home made gifts, give gifts bought second hand or from solely local merchants or give donations to charities.
See, we all seem to hate the avarice and shamefulness of what "Black Friday" has become. But to excuse it: well, I know those people are crazy, but for me, it's just a fun time to spend with my family. It's a tradition.
Those excuses condone the entire sham.
It happens because we participate.
Anyone who has ever gone shopping on that day is guilty. (And, sorry, Charlie, with my crowd phobia, my hands are cleaner than clean on this issue.)
Our culture is so far gone that only massive shock treatments will work.
Everyone stay home next year.
If you haven't finished your shopping this year, vow to buy local, buy secondhand - putting the money directly into the hands of your fellow citizens - or give to charity.
The big companies do this because WE participate. We go along with it.
Stop. Opt out.
Thor sez: Give the best gift ever: pictures of ME!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Trying to be Thankful
I think for New Year, I'm going to give up news. And watching television in general.
This is the saddest thing I have heard:
People are boycotting and smearing the American company, Butterball, because they labeled their turkeys as kosher.
I mean, seriously, what harm is there in giving someone with dietary restrictions information on your product?
Isn't that what the free market and capitalism all about? Framing your product to appeal to as many people as possible?
Seriously? People are signing petitions and calling Butterball to say that they will never buy another turkey from them because they put a religious dietary label on their product.
Isn't that the stupidest thing you've ever heard of?
Oh, wait, well, I was mistaken, Butterball labeled the turkeys with "halal" not "kosher". Halal is the Arabic word used for determining if a product is allowed within Muslim dietary restrictions.
Did you think it stupid people were mad about kosher?
Do you think they have a point about halal?
What's the difference?
Loki sez: I don't care about halal or kosher, but is Thor gluten free?
This is the saddest thing I have heard:
People are boycotting and smearing the American company, Butterball, because they labeled their turkeys as kosher.
I mean, seriously, what harm is there in giving someone with dietary restrictions information on your product?
Isn't that what the free market and capitalism all about? Framing your product to appeal to as many people as possible?
Seriously? People are signing petitions and calling Butterball to say that they will never buy another turkey from them because they put a religious dietary label on their product.
Isn't that the stupidest thing you've ever heard of?
Oh, wait, well, I was mistaken, Butterball labeled the turkeys with "halal" not "kosher". Halal is the Arabic word used for determining if a product is allowed within Muslim dietary restrictions.
Did you think it stupid people were mad about kosher?
Do you think they have a point about halal?
What's the difference?
Loki sez: I don't care about halal or kosher, but is Thor gluten free?
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Tuesday Tinkering
Playing with the website. Check it out.
Hoping to add a blog to it soon. Baby steps.
The boyz say: That's what all the bad words were for?
Hoping to add a blog to it soon. Baby steps.
The boyz say: That's what all the bad words were for?
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