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Ben Newman's LiveJournal:
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| Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 | | 1:24 pm |
Hans
I just finished talking to Simon and I'm still in shock. RIP Hans, you were a truly great guy. I can't say we were close, and we certainly didn't get near enough time together, but I did count you as a friend. I hope the Valkyries stocked extra mead because they're going to need it. | | Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 | | 10:17 pm |
| | Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 | | 2:42 pm |
 Am I a bad father because my train of thought on this photo goes something like this: 1. My son is adorable! 2. Unintentional Goatse.cx! | | Sunday, September 27th, 2009 | | 11:17 pm |
| | Saturday, August 29th, 2009 | | 3:36 pm |
S.E.R.V.E. Alameda
I just got around to reading the Alameda Sun this morning, and I just had one of those "I can't believe this is happening in the Bay Area" moments. As you might recall, the Alameda School District got into some hot water for allowing subject matter promoting the "homosexual agenda" into its curriculum. It was just a section in the non-discrimination lessons teaching kids to be tolerant of gays and the children of gay couples. The opponents of it painted it as some sort of explicit description of sexual activities being taught to grade schoolers and manager to generate enough heat that the school board pulled it from the curriculum. Now they're taking it a step further and a group called S.E.R.V.E. Alameda is collecting signatures to recall 3 school board members because of their support of the non-discrimination teachings. This is a classic school board power grab by a far right group. Letting this sort of thing through and allowing it to fester is the reason that Kansas schools can't teach evolution any more. All I can say is, not on my island. This is yet another step in the religious right trying to dictate our morals and in relegating LGBT people to permanent second class citizen status. This is totally unacceptable, both on social justice grounds and in the practical sense of kicking three experienced members off of the school board at a time the district is going through monumental fiscal problems. So, who wants to help me stop these people? I think passing out literature countering the lies that this group is promoting next to any signature collection tables that they set up should be a good start. It'll take some time and effort to fight back this movement, and they're better organized and have a head start, but I cannot let these people dictate the curriculum for the schools that my son will be attending. Letting this through now will have a chilling effect for years and we have to stop this vocal minority from controlling Alameda schools. The S.E.R.V.E website: http://www.servealameda.org/Equality For All Children - the group that initially pushed back against the non-discrimination teachings. http://www.eqforall.com/ | | Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 | | 1:25 pm |
Last Chance!
OK, it's almost done! Sunday is your last chance to take part in the thrilling and exciting world of home renovation! I'll be working pretty much all day, and there are lots of low impact detail jobs that need to be done for the less burly. Any help would be greatly appreciated. | | Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 | | 11:37 am |
More housework opportunities!
You want painting? We got painting! You want to tile? We can get you that too! Hardwood floor installation? Man have we got that! You want to jack up the foundation and install cement pilings? That'll have to wait until next week. Not one but 2 opportunities coming up! Friday and Sunday! All day! Put in a 16 hour work day if you want to! What an opportunity! | | Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 | | 9:22 am |
Shout Outs
Back at work and going crazy, but I wanted to send a quick thank you out to ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) angel_boi, coopgirlkiz, podle, rxw, umpqua, vechan, vegasjohnny and my Aunt Sharon. You people rock, you really put in some great work Sunday and yesterday. It still isn't done, but the kitchen is starting to look much more kitchen like then it was. | | Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009 | | 10:37 am |
Come on down!
Have you yet to experience the joy that is sheetrocking? Have you ever wondered if you could lift a slab of granite? Do you long for the myriad joys of kitchen cabinet installation? Ever wanted to get face to face with a sewer pipe while installing a toilet? Well come on down to Crazy Newman's house of renovations where you can experience all that and more! Next Sunday, June 14th were having a full blown work partay! Come on down and get that visceral thrill of hard manual labor that your wussy desk job doesn't afford you! 1613 Stanton St Alameda CA I've got tools, but some extra cordless drills might come in handy. | | Thursday, May 21st, 2009 | | 9:10 am |
Its Official
We are officially homeowners. The deed transfer was finalized last night. Good thing too considering vegasjohnny and I tore down a wall on Tuesday. | | Monday, May 4th, 2009 | | 10:56 am |
I had heard about what a cesspool of immoral behavior craigslist had become, but I didn't think it had spread all the way to the building materials for sale section of the site.  | | Thursday, April 16th, 2009 | | 9:25 am |
Ok seriously
I know I'm genetically wired to feel this way, but how can you not look at this and think hes the cutest thing on earth? | | Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 | | 12:39 pm |
The Queen's iPod
*rant mode on* I'm sure people have heard of this already. Obama gave the Queen of England an iPod. How inappropriate! International diplomatic crisis! Obama is obviously over his head with this whole presidency thing. Except it isn't true. Look at the facts: Obama gave the Queen an antique Rodgers and Hammerstein songbook that was signed by Rodgers; a very valuable antique, a great piece of American cultural history and supposedly Rodgers is one of the Queen's favorite composers. Then in addition he gave her an iPod Touch to replace her old iPod nano (which she supposedly enjoyed very much) filled with Rogers and Hammerstein songs and videos of her last trip to America. So we have a valuable piece of American history coupled with an example of cutting edge American technology tied into the personal taste and experience of the Queen. How is this not a great, diplomatic, well thought out and appropriate gift? Of course the "story" the press is selling is that they gave the Queen something they sent an aide off to buy from the airport gift shop at the last minute, and it plays so well after the Gordan Brown DVD incident. But this is such a non-story, there is nothing there at all, and please please please can the press keep their eye on the ball with the g20 summit? I know international meetings like this are just so complicated and boring and rarely generate a good headline, but this one is really, really, really important. Our closest allies are really pissed that their economies are tanking because of a mess that we created, we need to have a coordinated plan if we are going to prevent global trade from falling (further) off a cliff and there's a strong possibility we'll be borrowing another trillion from the Chinese in order to keep the EU solvent. There will be decisions made at this meeting that will impact all of us, possibly for the rest of our lives. So go ahead and criticize Obama for taking on too many policy changes at once, criticize him for not laying out a clear enough plan for a recovery but don't criticize him for something that didn't happen. Dear god don't let "Obama doesn't know how to give gifts" become this year's "Al Gore invented the Internet". | | Wednesday, April 1st, 2009 | | 2:33 pm |
Today in the financial district
We've been getting protested in the financial district a lot lately, and its been a little wearing. Yes I know, I work for evil financial overlords that ravaged the economy in order to fund their collection of authentic puppy fur coats. But trust me, assuming you still have a job I am much more worried about keeping mine then you are, the executives by and large don't work in the offices you are marching in front of and keeping me from getting a sandwich at noon isn't going to help anything. What a refreshing change it was then to see a demonstration I actually enjoyed today. Something that reminded me why I love San Francisco so much. ( You see, today is St Stupid Day! ) | | Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 | | 11:56 pm |
I am the worst father ever
Just a few minutes ago I was changing Xander's diaper and had managed to lull him into a false sense of security through a carefully orchestrated series of chin tickles and peek-a-boos. Little did the child realize what horrors I had in store for him, what levels of depravity and cruelty his father would sink to. For I was about to unleash: The worlds most traumatic raspberryI caused my son to scream, scream like I have never heard him scream before. He became a beet red flaming ball of wailing fury in a split second and he remained inconsolable until Mommy shoved a boobie in his face. In one fell swoop I'm pretty sure I ruined any chance of us having a normal father-son relationship, lowered his future SAT score and possibly turned him into some form of sexual deviant. Not the good kind either, he'll likely be a furry or coulrophiliac or something. Yep, I am the worst father ever. | | 2:29 pm |
Battlestar Galactica
Can anyone convince me not to delete the final season of Battlestar Galactica off of my MythTV box? I've tried to get into the series 3 times, and not once has it bitten me. I watched half of the first season when it came out on DVD, watched again during the New Caprica segment because of all the buzz it got because of parallels with the Iraq war, and once again at the end of last season. The thing just does nothing for me. I keep hearing how smart and interesting the show is and I just don't see it. So here is a list of things I don't like about the show, please tell my why I am wrong: The unrelenting grimness. Ok, it's a show about the last band of survivors fleeing a genocidal force that wiped out most of the human race. I get that its starting from a dark place, but it always comes across as a solid hour of grimness cranked to 11. There's no humor or levity to give any texture or depth. The whole thing comes across as one note and that's boring. Frak. That grates on my spine like nails on a chalkboard every time I hear it. Of course I get why they did it, but after 2 seasons of Deadwood listening to writers pussyfoot around vulgarity is just annoying. The acting. Edward James Fucking Olmos is of course great, and its always nice to see Dean Stockwell and Lucy Lawless chew up some scenery, but the rest of the cast is mediocre at best. Boomer should have her SAG card revoked. The "depth". Ohhh, the robots believe in God! That might have blown my mind if I hadn't wasted my youth reading so much Heinlein. Seriously do they ever really go anyplace interesting with this or are we at a point in American society where anyone who discusses any form of spirituality outside of standard forms of Christianity no matter how superficially is instantly considered cutting edge and deep? Being an ensemble show that uses serialized television to entertain while tackling serious issues is great when done well. Joss Wheden is a master at this and when David Simon did it in The Wire he produced what I consider the best television ever made. A smart, ensemble driven sci-fi show should be right up my alley and I'd be willing to be convinced to give it another shot. Between the boy, school and the house I'm not likely to be able to watch it anytime soon, but I can leave the final season recorded. So what's the big deal? So many people who's opinion I trust keep saying its the best thing on television but I just don't see it. What am I missing? | | Wednesday, March 18th, 2009 | | 12:07 pm |
Details
Details for those asking: http://www.redfin.com/CA/Alameda/Undisclosed-address-94501/home/1100157We had an offer accepted at $325K with &11K back at closing, which is great considering it was being offered at $359K (although the bank lowered their price again yesterday :/). The house last sold last Sept for 569,500 although I'm not sure if that's what the bank foreclosed on it at. Other houses in the area have similar comps though so I'm going to call that it's price at the peak of the bubble so we're getting it at 57% its peak price. The place needs some work; new paint, new flooring and there are no appliances in it but electrical, plumbing, foundation, heating, roof and sewer have all been repaired in the last 10 years. It is a 100 year old house, but has been upgraded with central heating, copper plumbing and multiple electrical outlets in every room. Great location, 3 blocks away from a great elementary school in one direction, 2 blocks from a park in another direction and 3 blocks from the Tiki bar in yet another direction. All in all I think its the perfect starter home for us, and while we're still figuring out the financials we should be paying the same or less then what we'd pay to rent something similar. | | 11:17 am |
| | Wednesday, February 25th, 2009 | | 1:18 pm |
15 Albums
Cross posted from Facebook Think of 15 albums, CDs, LPs that had such a profound effect on you they changed your life. Dug into your soul. Music that brought you to life when you heard it. Royally affected you, kicked you in the wazu, literally socked you in the gut, is what I mean. Then when you finish, tag 15 others, including moi. Make sure you copy and paste this part so they know the drill. Get the idea now? Good. Johnny Cash - The Man in Black I grew up in house with lots of late 70s, early 80s country, Kenny Rodgers, Dolly Parton, Billy Ray Cyrus back when Miley was just a glimmer in hes eye. I remember finding this album in my Mom's collection and thinking it was somehow different, somehow better then the rest of the stuff she played. So yeah this is an important album for me because listening to it caused me to have my first feelings of music snobbery. ABBA - The Singles Yep, first album I bought with my own money when I was 11 or so. I'll admit it, if I could just get over the whole sexual attraction to women thing I would make an excellent gay man. Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet Hey, no one said these had to good influential albums. This is the album that started my unfortunate middle school hair metal phase. Think Stewart, the kid in the Winger shirt from Bevis and Butthead. This is the main reason I support an aesthetic amnesty for any music loved between the ages of 13-16. Nirvana - Bleach My friend Danny took me to a Nirvana show at an old garage when I was 17 and it was like a whole new world just opened its door to me and invited me inside. I actually found a photographer who took pictures at that show, and there's one of Cobain crowd surfing where you can see me holding up his leg. A print of that is at the top of my list of things to buy when I can spend $800 frivolously. Singles - Motion Picture Soundtrack Man I hated this movie when it first came out. I saw it as nothing but a bunch of Hollywood types coming north and ruining our scene. I was working at a Seattle area Tower Records when this came out and I brought the full weight of my record store employee disdain against any yuppie types that bought this. I didn't even see the film until 5 or 6 years ago, and while I still don't think its that good its sins can be forgiven for this admittedly great soundtrack and for all the footage shot inside the OK Hotel. Nine Inch Nails - Broken Trent Reznor, the man who showed me that fishnet stockings could be used as shirts as well. This album is still great to listen to while on the elliptical at the gym, second only to Nashville Pussy's Let Them Eat Pussy. Wax Trax Block Box OK, cheating here by including a box set but this is such a great cross selection of music I loved; Coil, My Life with the Thrill Kill Cult, a bunch of Al Jourgensen projects. If only they had managed to clear up the licensing to get Front 242 on it would have been perfect. As it stands the Deliverance remix of The Revolting Cocks' Beers Steers and Queers is still my favorite dance song ever. The Sisters Of Mercy - Floodland Oh Andrew Eldritch, how badly I wanted to be you at one point. How embarrassed that makes me now. Ramones - Ramones Great album, classic. For me though this one really sticks out because of seeing them live. It was the last Bumbershoot festival I went to, and I had just managed to get on top of the crowd when they started playing "Beat on the Brat". As I was literally thrown from one side of the audience to the other, I remember having the thought "I am getting too old for this" for the very first time. Switchblade Symphony - Serpentine Gallery I think the combination of how much I loved this album when it came out and how much I loved their show at A Winter Gone By when I came for a visit is the real reason I moved to San Francisco. Massive Attack - Mezzanine Is there anyone who was in their 20s in 1998 who didn't make out to this album? Tom Waits - Mule Variations Not my favorite Waits album, but it was released right when I went to work in Germany. It sparked a renewed Waits obsession that helped me through the low points of that trip and seeing him live in Berlin was definitely a high point. Indigo Swing - Indigo Swing Front to back, I still want to lindy to every track here. Lavay Smith - One Hour Mama Best album of the new swing movement period. More important for me, one of the first conversations I had with Wanda was over how great this album was, a trip we planned together to see Lavay in Seattle led to us dating and we saw her in SF on the night I proposed. Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood This was a nice reminder that I could still find a musician to go bongo crazy obsessive over. For a good 4 months in 06 I barely listened to anything besides this or one of her other albums and saw her in concert 5 times. New one drops next week, I can't wait. Damn 15 albums aren't enough. Nothing from those artists where their entire body of work means a lot to me so single album doesn't stick out (Joy Division, Bauhaus, Sleater Kinney) or those artists that I think of more by song rather then album (Sinatra, Creatures, Underworld) or those albums that relate intensely to a single period of my life but seem disconnected afterward (The Sundays - Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic = my first semester in college ). Maybe next meme. | | Thursday, February 19th, 2009 | | 6:38 pm |
Dear editorial cartoon writers
I regret to inform you that you are hereby banned from including any images of monkeys in your political cartoons for the next 4 or hopefully 8 years. True you had a great run comparing the last President to a monkey but trust me that it will not be taken well with relation to the current administration. Now you New York Post cartoonists, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and believe that you are innocent and were shocked absolutely shocked that anyone could take offense at a cartoon that showed a chimpanzee with three bullet holes in his chest and linked it to the first major legislation passed by new African American president. You have obviously missed this country's entire racial history so let me fill you in on a few things. The Mammy character in old Tom and Jerry is not necessarily remembered fondly. Abbott and Costello routines have generally aged better then Amos and Andy bits. Barbershop quartets good, minstrel shows bad and you will be unable to enjoy the culinary joys of a Sambos any time soon. The only time we expect to see "whites only" these days is when its attached to laundry instructions. So now that you've been warned please don't do this again. If you do we'll be forced to believe that you meant the implication intentionally, and that you are a bunch of knuckle dragging troglodytes intent on dragging us back to painful past that most of us hope we have moved above and beyond. Now will you please get back to doing what you do best, offending Muslims. Thanks You, The Management |
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