Blogout

I’ve finally gotten to a point where I can breathe and relax. Most everything is set up, the CD project for my dad is coming along and should be ready before my stepdad Jerry visits on the 27th. Meanwhile, Travis and I are setting up OrtliebFamily.net, a site where family can post photos, commentary, and calendar dates, so we can keep in touch regularly.

I’ve been pretty burned out on blogs for the last couple of months… the only ones I’m reading lately are Washington Monthly, Good Morning Silicon Valley, Defamer, and regular submissions to Salon. These seem to have something to say, whereas most of the time I don’t.

After three days of doing this protein watch, I’m feeling a lot more alert… of course, it’s balancing with fruits and vegetables, which was never a problem. I’m still having to rely on a protein shake in the morning and an energy bar, although the nutritionist recommended imagining where the source of protein comes from. And if it’s a CLIF bar, I know exactly where: 5th and Virginia in Berkeley, California… inside the building.

DVD/CD project

The project is taking a bit longer than I thought, and I’m trying to get it finished by the end of the month. The video, audio and relevant images have been put into the computer. The end result is to be a CD/DVD project as an audio video dedication to my late father, Jim, who passed away in February, 2001.

Distractions include Will Ferrell as Neil Diamond; my favorite talk DJ from Chicago, Kevin Matthews (currently between radio gigs, and broadcasting weekly on the Internet); Dukes of Hazzard Institute VP named; the San Francisco Trouser Snake event; the five-bedroom, six-figure rootless life; one man’s quest: 1,000 bars in a year.

35 years young

Hey, it’s my birthday! And so also it is with Donald Trump’s trophy wife Melania Knauss. And Sigmund Freud.

35 years young!
Me

And a lovely, if cheesy, birthday gift: Neil Diamond performed live on the Today Show (but mute the Al Roker duet… yow).

Sadly, though the ending day for Marlene Detrich. Happily, likely the career end for a pastor of a church that kicked out Democrats, as those shunned retain legal counsel. Of note, besides the article’s tongue-twister headline, is that the IRS may review that church’s tax-exempt status, as a church may not endorse a political candidate.

TV Turnoff Week

The original version of Godzilla, stripped of political context, for its initial release in the United States. Forgetting political context, conservatives learn to love South Park?

This is the sad fate of the bastard machine: to be blamed for everything. “Oh, my television casts such a spell over me that I’m unable to do anything about it. I’m a helpless victim! For God’s sake, will someone come to my house and unplug it?” Where’s the responsibility here? Why can’t people own up to their faults, their shortcomings? It’s the smoking-gave-me-cancer or McDonald’s-made-me-fat argument.
Tim Goodman of the SF Chronicle offers another take on TV Turnoff Week

Is America slipping back into the Dark Ages? Yes, says a famous atheist.

A most literal and self-explanatory animation of the day.

Action Philosophers!

Senator Al Franken? Personally, I think he’s better suited to radio than to politics, and much more powerful that way.

ACTION PHILOSOPHERS!

Steve Jobs pulls a publisher’s books from Apple Store shelves after the release of iCon: Steve Jobs, the Greatest Second Act in the History of Business.

Does your auto make and model determine your political standing? Yes, says this article from the New York Times.

Perhaps the humanitarian gift Iraqi women weren’t expecting.

Al Franken

Al Franken comes to Seattle May 9th for a live radio broadcast!

He also knew, even as a mere lad of 14, that this never would be just any romance, because the object of that rapturous gaze happened to be his cousin Eleanor. And not a distant cousin, located somewhere in the far branches of the family tree. Their mothers were sisters.
Sometimes in order to marry your first cousin, you have to travel to a state that allows that

Gas prices are prompting more mass transit use. Meanwhile, reports that thieves are syphoning tanks from park cars.

Neat. Simulated patients.

Ballard party blotter

Can’t get away for a holiday? Go Google sightseeing!

When they arrived at the home just after midnight last Monday, Seattle police found broken windows, holes in walls, a balcony railing ripped out and a printer sprayed with fire-extinguisher foam. Someone even took the toaster.
A house party in Ballard goes wrong.

A 40-minute Star Wars fan film “Revelations”, done for the love and $20K in credit card debt.

Buy your own inflatable Titanic-hits-Iceberg!