The 2008 primaries have been instructive. They've reminded us all of how sleazy and shallow the Clintons are. We've also learned that Geraldine Ferraro is either a bitter racist or suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. Maybe it's both.

What's most depressing to me is what I've learned about my immediate family. I usually don't talk about politics too much with my family because we share few core beliefs. Still, I was surprised to hear one college-educated family member refer to Barack Obama as a nigger, and two other family members suggest that Obama may be some sort of Islamist sleeper agent secretly planning to decimate our military and surrender to al-Quaeda and possibly Iran. He may also be Marxist. Of course, I was told we don't know enough about the guy to determine his real allegiances. All we really know, I gather, is that he doesn't wear an American flag lapel pin and that he's not white.

I wish I could say I was joking, but that's what was expressed to me. Sadly, these are views that aren't limited to my relatives south of the Mason-Dixon line. There's a strong, ill-informed segment of the population that apparently believes this sort of backwards nonsense.

What's wrong with my family?

What's wrong with our country?

Technorati Tags: Geraldine Ferraro, racism, primaries, Barack Obama, USA, 2008 elections

It's May 1, which means it's International Workers' Day. Well, except in the US where workers' struggles are ignored in favor of Loyalty Day. Loyalty Day was specifically created to counter May Day. Combined with the US's anti-labor Labor Day celebrated in September, Loyalty Day allows good Americans the opportunity to avoid any untoward display of anarchist, communist, or socialist sentiment. It's an easy way to let the boss know you're one of the good workers and not the uppity, trouble-making kind that might need to be hung or beaten to death by security guards.

I suppose Loyalty Day isn't overly popular. Does anyone actually celebrate it? It was created in the same nationalist, anti-revolutionary spirit as the "under God" addition to the Pledge of Allegiance, and the transformation of the national motto to "In God We Trust" as opposed to E Pluribus Unum. Questioning the value of Loyalty Days and of pledges to god and country isn't terribly popular in the US. Americans, it seems, are content to celebrate their allegiance to State, God and Capital rather than their own liberty, or their own historic struggles for it.

Sometimes it's hard to believe there was ever a revolutionary spirit in the US.

We have not come to do the work of political parties, but we have come here in the cause of labour, in its own defence, to demand its own rights. -Eleanor Marx, Speech on the First May Day

The Marxists Internet Archive has a page of May Day links worth reading.

[Update: 5.1.2008 @ 1:23 PM]

Dockworkers Protest Iraq War - New York Times:


Thousands of dockworkers at West Coast ports stayed off the job on Thursday in what their union said was a call for an end to the war in Iraq.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union said more than 25,000 members in 29 ports stayed off the job. The action came despite an order issued Wednesday by an arbitrator directing the union to tell its members to report for work as usual in response to a request from employers.

Cool.

Technorati Tags: anarchism, International Workers' Day, Marxism, May Day, work

When did the following become acceptable language in journalism?

Article (new window)

Is this an attempt to make health news more interesting to stupid people or just another indicator of general illiteracy?

I've been sick for almost a week now. I guess I had a cold or a flu. My temperature was 101°F on Saturday. It's been a while since I've had a fever. I didn't really enjoy it and wouldn't recommend having a fever to anyone else.

In addition to being sick, I've been teaching myself how to use R. Previously I've done all of my statistical analyses in SAS.¹ I've wanted to learn R for a while, but have been putting it off. I don't have anything against SAS except that it's expensive and requires a remote connection when I need to work. Also, there's no Mac version. I mostly worked with SAS, batch mode, over a ssh connection from home. The biggest benefit was that I didn't have to leave the house. Now that I can use R, I don't have to worry about Internet access and I can run it off of my own machine. Plus, I hear all of the cool kids are using it for their statistical analyses.

Being sick has also meant I haven't been able to exercise. Since February, I've been making an effort to exercise. Sitting on my ass in front of a computer 10 out 12 months of the year hasn't done much for my general fitness. I'm not a huge fatty or anything, but huge fattiness runs in my family. I guess I should do something to avoid that. I'm not doing anything terribly hard exercise-wise, just some basic routines and some running. I have to admit that it isn't as fun as not exercising and smoking. To balance out exercise and otherwise generally clean living, I've been drinking more gin. I've also been trying eat healthier, which means eating more vegetables. I hate vegetables.

I guess that's all I have to say for now. Oh yeah. I applied for application to the reforming Shitty Blogs Club. I think this should help fulfill the requirement that I blog occasionally. I'd hate to have my membership rejected.

I did not proofread this post. You'll get over it.

Clinton: 'Rocky' and I aren't quitters - CNN.com:

"Let me tell you something. When it comes to finishing the fight, Rocky and I have a lot in common. I never quit," she said.

Apparently Senator Clinton has never watched Rocky. Otherwise, she would realize that the movie ends with Rocky losing to Apollo Creed. All Rocky wanted to do was go the distance against an opponent he knew was superior. Is she trying to tell us something?

Maybe the comparison is appropriate, because Clinton seems hellbent on achieving an ugly loss. Unlike Balboa though, Clinton has no chance of winning over the crowd with her persistence.¹

I originally intended to blog a lot during the primaries. I soon realized what a waste of energy it would be since I can't vote in my state's primary. Part of me hopes that Clinton's continued campaign to derail the Democrats in the general election ultimately destroys the party. The US needs a real leftist party, not a slightly less right-wing party and another rightist party.

Technorati Tags: 2008 elections, politics, primaries, Hillary Clinton, Rocky

I guess I failed my saving throws versus sad and nostalgia:

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (AP) -- A sad day for fans of role-playing games: The man who co-created Dungeons & Dragons is dead.

Gary Gygax died Tuesday morning at his home in Lake Geneva, Wis. His wife Gail says the 69-year-old had been suffering from health problems for several years. (AP News)

Also: First announcement¹ | Gary Gygax, 1938-2008: Rest in Peace, Dungeon Master

I'll admit it. I was a huge D&D nerd for a long time. My friends and I would play RPGs, mostly D&D, for hours any chance we could get. Nothing could beat a great DIY adventure or campaign one of your friends cooked up. Anything could happen. None of the computer games or online RPGs I've ever played could match the fun of a good D&D session with friends.

Some of our parents thought we were worshipping Satan, of course. I did grow up in the Deep South after all. Some of the guys couldn't keep books at their house because their folks would through them away if they found them. My parents didn't forbid it but they didn't really encourage it.

The only time I ever shoplifted anything was a Dungeon Master's Guide. It was from a bookstore in the mall.

I haven't played since ca 1993 or 1994, I guess. I'm not even sure where my books are. I think one of the people I used to game with still has them. I know my dice are around here somewhere. I don't know anyone that still plays, and I doubt I could make time for it anymore if I did.

I still miss that game.

I've never met Gary Gygax, but he helped make that fun possible.

I haven't had a strong opinion on the primaries. I live in a state with closed primaries and I'm registered as an independent. That means I only get to vote in the general election.

I don't have a problem with this.

Hillary Clinton's campaign called today. The woman on the phone asked if I was voting for Clinton in the primaries. I said "No, I'm an independent..." She cut me off with some nonsense about Clinton. I'm fairly certain her phone flunky was either calling from out-of-state or was ignorant of how voting works in this state. So, I told her I'm voting for Obama. I figured, "why not?" If she isn't going to listen, I'm going to start making stuff up.

She asked, "Why?"

I told her some vague BS about not caring for Clinton's politics. Actually, I can't stand Hillary Clinton and would vote against her daily if I could. There's no way I'm voting for her in the general election. I'd rather stay home.

I thought maybe the caller would give up on me or at least defend her candidate. I wasn't prepared for her cunning strategy. Instead of arguing her candidate's positions, this woman says (paraphrasing):

Well, their positions are very close to each other, so why not just vote for Hillary instead? It would be the same.

I wish I was joking. That paraphrase is actually almost an exact quote.

I hope this sack of shit doesn't win.

Technorati Tags: Hillary Clinton, politics, primaries

Since the wife and I have had Netflix, we've watched more documentaries that you possibly imagine. I wouldn't say I'm a fan of the genre; documentaries can be interesting, but just as often they can be as inept as any of the garbage normally at the movies. The worst of them is like listening to someone explain an interesting and complex topic to you, but they're too dumb to grasp the basic concepts. Basically, a bad one is like reading a blog: pointless.

This weekend we saw Confessions of a Superhero. The movie is about street performers, some say panhandlers, in Hollywood that dress up like superheros. The film's synopsis describes it as

CONFESSIONS OF A SUPERHERO explores the fascination, obsession and allure of fame through the eyes of some very unique people struggling to make it in Tinseltown.

...

This deeply personal look into their daily routines reveals their hardships and triumphs as they pursue and achieve their own kind of fame.

These people are looking for fame, stardom, or at least a step towards an acting career beyond the street level. What the film impressed upon me, though, was the strong desire these people have to escape their own situations. Each one of them is living in some sort of fantasy, to different degrees, about where they are, where they're going, and how they'll get there. I don't say that to slight them because I think this is an overwhelming common but unrecognized condition. I know a plenty of people whose dreams stretch beyond their talents. Some of them are still pursuing those dreams despite the evidence they encounter. When do you give up? When do you start looking for something else? Is it heroic or tragic to persist?

What's interesting about the street performers is the seeming willingness of tourists to engage in their illusion. Sure, that might not translate into a "tip." But, calling them "Superman" or "Wonder Woman" seems to validate their act and reinforce the fantasy. I wish the filmmakers had explored that interaction a little more. While the Superheros' reaction to the non-tipping public was evident, I would have liked to see the contrast between people that took them seriously and those that reacted negatively. But, maybe that was a little more potential humiliation than the filmmakers wanted to capture?

Finally, I wonder about the parallel between the tourist public, the superhero's friends and families, and acting industry (eg., Wonder Woman's agent and acting coach). Is their support just patronizing or is it sincere? I don't doubt the support the Superheros give each other. They seem to believe in their mission. But the rest benefit from the Superheros somehow, whether it's money or entertainment they're receiving. Is there an obligation to refuse to partake in a fantasy at some level? Can you support someone too much?

The film is, I think, sincere in it's portrayal and is not mean-spirited. That said, I don't think these people deserve the meanness they might otherwise attract.

The worst part of the movie, and this is no fault of the filmmaker, is Morgan Spurlock's introduction to the movie. I found it obnoxious and unnecessary. I don't think it fit well with the film's tone. But what do I know? I'm not a documentarian.¹

Anyway, you should see this film.²

[posted with ecto]

Technorati Tags: Confessions of a Superhero, Batman, Hulk, Wonder Woman, Superman, documentary

I'm not a businessman, so maybe that's why I don't understand this site's business scheme.

The founders of Abunga.com¹ believe that it is time for a wholesome marketplace where illicit materials are restricted and new product offerings are constantly monitored by both the company and its growing community of users that care about decency, hence empowering decency.

Abunga provides three levels of content filtering:

Internal Filter – We remove broad classifications of illicit materials by the information classifications set by the publisher. Currently, over 65,000 books are eliminated from our available inventory to protect your family.

Individual Customer Block - On any search, any Abunga customer member can click the block button and that particular book will never show up as an offering on their account.

Community Block – Abunga records your blocks and if a number of customers block the same product, Abunga will remove it from their offering. (About Abunga.com)

Their plan is generate profits by letting everyone permanently filter out books? In essence, they plan to specialize in not selling you stuff? So really, they're saying:

Internal Filter - There's tons of stuff we can't selll to you! Currently, over 65,000 books are for sale somewhere else! Try Amazon!

Individual Customer Block - Doubtful that our other users are doing a good enough job filtering your search results? Block it just for you! Find even less stuff with every search!

Community Block - If a undefined number of anonymous potential shoppers find a book particularly bothersome, we won't' sell you that either. Just sit back and watch your purchase choices dwindle.

Is it just me, or is this phenomenally retarded?

The result is, basically, a store that mostly sells Christian nonsense (redundant, I know). Why not just ignore the titles you don't want to see? Why are "families" so damn sensitive? What's the chance a search for a "family friendly" title is going to return an illicit suggestion? I buy a lot of books online and not once have I ever been presented with an illicit item on my searches. For example, I've searched for and purchased osteology books online and have never found results for books about "the wrong kind of bones" (i.e, hard dicks, we're not family friendly here). Maybe their software people just can't write a decent search engine?

Finally, is it really empowering to hide the title and tiny pictures of book covers from yourself?

I think someone is overstating the importance of their business.

To test this theory, I searched for some religious titles (e.g., the Bible, Purpose Driven Life) and then blocked them. It was pretty boring. In addition, it took much more work to find things that I might hate and block them than it did to not search for them at all. But wait! I can also view all of the books I've blocked, in case I've forgotten what's been offensive to me. But I thought I didn't want to see these titles again? Apparently they can't even protect me from the stuff I hate when I make an effort to tell them. What's the point of this endeavor then?

It's Dumb. Very dumb. I hope this business fails and everyone involved starves to death in an alley.

So they're not just dumb. They're also annoying. Thanks, Abunga.

[Update]: Here's link to a recent post at abunga's blog. They pat themselves on the back for not selling the Golden Compass²

[posted with ecto]³

Technorati Tags: Abunga, family friendly

NoMeansNo - Graveyard Shift (Live)

Technorati Tags: punk, NoMeansNo