There's something oddly satisfying about cashing one's unemployment check at the liquor store...
or is that just me?
Friday, August 05, 2005
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
File Under: What the F? - NRLB Redefines 'Your Own Time'
Slashdot | NRLB Redefines 'Your Own Time':
"Doc Ruby writes 'The U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has ruled to ban off-duty worker 'fraternization,' at the employer's discretion. So getting together for a beer after work can now be prohibited by the boss. With IT workers so commonly producing some of our best work 'after hours,' even at home or in restaurants/bars, will this ruling come back to bite employers in the IT industry? Can they really stop you from talking with your cubicle neighbor on the bus home, if they can't even stop you from reading Slashdot while on the clock?'"
"Doc Ruby writes 'The U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has ruled to ban off-duty worker 'fraternization,' at the employer's discretion. So getting together for a beer after work can now be prohibited by the boss. With IT workers so commonly producing some of our best work 'after hours,' even at home or in restaurants/bars, will this ruling come back to bite employers in the IT industry? Can they really stop you from talking with your cubicle neighbor on the bus home, if they can't even stop you from reading Slashdot while on the clock?'"
Monday, August 01, 2005
Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall: July 31, 2005 - August 06, 2005 Archives
Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall: July 31, 2005 - August 06, 2005 Archives: "You can't make a solid argument that wages in other countries have found their natural level if one of the major 'inputs' is organized political violence to keep wages low and labor activism inert.
To put it more concretely, one part of a real market in labor is the ability for people to protest conditions, either actively (through organizing) or passively (through quitting or refusing to work). But if people who try to form labor unions are murdered then that whole theory falls apart."
BINGO! Somebody give that man a cigar.
A free market requires free labor
which required free laborers...
freedom of speech,
freedom to protest,
freedom to ORGANIZE!
without these things,
and others,
all you've got is a rigged game.
To put it more concretely, one part of a real market in labor is the ability for people to protest conditions, either actively (through organizing) or passively (through quitting or refusing to work). But if people who try to form labor unions are murdered then that whole theory falls apart."
BINGO! Somebody give that man a cigar.
A free market requires free labor
which required free laborers...
freedom of speech,
freedom to protest,
freedom to ORGANIZE!
without these things,
and others,
all you've got is a rigged game.
excerpting an excerpt to say an unrelated thing! whoohooo!
Cast Our Nets Like Rampage!!!:
"When I talk to the Japanese manga editors, and they talk about the process of creation, they talk about different story-telling themes as being important. You talk to an American English professor and they'll talk about conflict as what drives story. The Japanese editors talk about friendship driving the story, not being driven by conflict at all. "
I am absolutely in love with the idea of a literature not driven by conflict.
That is all.
"When I talk to the Japanese manga editors, and they talk about the process of creation, they talk about different story-telling themes as being important. You talk to an American English professor and they'll talk about conflict as what drives story. The Japanese editors talk about friendship driving the story, not being driven by conflict at all. "
I am absolutely in love with the idea of a literature not driven by conflict.
That is all.
Sunday, July 31, 2005
From the DMG Newsletter - Albert Mangelsdorff is gone.
******************************************
"On July 25th, German trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff passed away at age 76 after a long illness. He was considered Germany's most famous and beloved musician and one of jazz' most accomplished trombonists. Mangelsdorff's career began in the mid '50s through his older brother Emil (a capable jazz saxophonist and flutist who is still active). He played with many different German groups in his native Frankfurt, recording often with Hans Koller's groups. He was a German representative in the Newport Jazz Festival International Youth Band. His first exposure to world audiences came in 1962 when he recorded Animal Dance with the MJQ's John Lewis. From 1963 to 1971, Mangelsdorff led a working group that recorded such seminal European jazz albums as Tension, Now Jazz Ramwong and Never Let It End. He was an active participant in the Norddeutscher Rundfunk big bands for decades as well as a late addition to the Globe Unity Orchestra. From the '70s to the present, Mangelsdorff recorded numerous albums, including several for solo trombone. He was a co-leader of the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble with Wolfgang Dauner. He has been honored numerous times for his accomplishments, most recently in 2003 when his 75th birthday was celebrated in the Royal Opera Hall in Frankfurt. He was Artistic Director for the Berlin Jazz Festival in '90s and a prestigious German jazz prize is named for him, given annually by the German Jazz Union.
In Germany jazz circles, just saying the name "Albert" is enough. Mangelsdorff was involved in every phase of German - and European - from the rise of the big bands to the development of original small groups sounds and the rise of avant garde and free music. His influence on any progressive trombone player cannot be understated and he and Paul Rutherford are almost completely responsible for the ascent of the trombone as a solo instrument. He has been called the #1 trombonist in the world, an appellation he in his modesty eschews. However, with his passing, Europe loses a pioneer and jazz loses an irreplaceable voice." - Andre Henkin from All About Jazz
For more information on Albert Mangelsdorff:
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=539
http://www.jazzpages.com/Mangelsdorff/index_e.htm
http://www.jazzinstitut.de/
"On July 25th, German trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff passed away at age 76 after a long illness. He was considered Germany's most famous and beloved musician and one of jazz' most accomplished trombonists. Mangelsdorff's career began in the mid '50s through his older brother Emil (a capable jazz saxophonist and flutist who is still active). He played with many different German groups in his native Frankfurt, recording often with Hans Koller's groups. He was a German representative in the Newport Jazz Festival International Youth Band. His first exposure to world audiences came in 1962 when he recorded Animal Dance with the MJQ's John Lewis. From 1963 to 1971, Mangelsdorff led a working group that recorded such seminal European jazz albums as Tension, Now Jazz Ramwong and Never Let It End. He was an active participant in the Norddeutscher Rundfunk big bands for decades as well as a late addition to the Globe Unity Orchestra. From the '70s to the present, Mangelsdorff recorded numerous albums, including several for solo trombone. He was a co-leader of the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble with Wolfgang Dauner. He has been honored numerous times for his accomplishments, most recently in 2003 when his 75th birthday was celebrated in the Royal Opera Hall in Frankfurt. He was Artistic Director for the Berlin Jazz Festival in '90s and a prestigious German jazz prize is named for him, given annually by the German Jazz Union.
In Germany jazz circles, just saying the name "Albert" is enough. Mangelsdorff was involved in every phase of German - and European - from the rise of the big bands to the development of original small groups sounds and the rise of avant garde and free music. His influence on any progressive trombone player cannot be understated and he and Paul Rutherford are almost completely responsible for the ascent of the trombone as a solo instrument. He has been called the #1 trombonist in the world, an appellation he in his modesty eschews. However, with his passing, Europe loses a pioneer and jazz loses an irreplaceable voice." - Andre Henkin from All About Jazz
For more information on Albert Mangelsdorff:
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=539
http://www.jazzpages.com/Mangelsdorff/index_e.htm
http://www.jazzinstitut.de/
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Click opera - July 30th, 2005
On the topic of guerilla art, street theatre, etc...
Click opera - July 30th, 2005: "'I'd like to draw your attention to a most extraordinary tour that's going on in Japan right now, and being blogged in an excellent collective blog. Shobus Diary documents Shobo Shobo artists O.lamm, Domotic, Davide Balula, and Minifer during their 'Shoboshobus / Mobium Japan Tour 2005'. (Ishida Daisuke is the Japanese host.) Since these are highly original people, this is a bit different from your average rock or laptop tour. Instead of concert halls, the French artists have opted to busk. They've built portable speakers which hang from their necks, each one supporting a laptop. They're playing on the roofs of buildings, at the Tsukiji fish market, in malls and car parks, anywhere. The blog is brilliant, and expanding rapidly with photos, sounds and videos. The Shoboshobus are quite aware of the problematical issues their guerilla tactics raise about disruption, noise pollution and their status as guests in Japan. There's a lot of noise pollution in Japan already, but it tends to be in commercial or industrial areas; areas zoned for residence are hushed. Rehearsals on the roof of Yahiro Factory, where the Shoboshobus are staying, were stopped, for instance, when an employee of the Austin Mini dealership next door shouted that he couldn't stand it any more.
"
Click opera - July 30th, 2005: "'I'd like to draw your attention to a most extraordinary tour that's going on in Japan right now, and being blogged in an excellent collective blog. Shobus Diary documents Shobo Shobo artists O.lamm, Domotic, Davide Balula, and Minifer during their 'Shoboshobus / Mobium Japan Tour 2005'. (Ishida Daisuke is the Japanese host.) Since these are highly original people, this is a bit different from your average rock or laptop tour. Instead of concert halls, the French artists have opted to busk. They've built portable speakers which hang from their necks, each one supporting a laptop. They're playing on the roofs of buildings, at the Tsukiji fish market, in malls and car parks, anywhere. The blog is brilliant, and expanding rapidly with photos, sounds and videos. The Shoboshobus are quite aware of the problematical issues their guerilla tactics raise about disruption, noise pollution and their status as guests in Japan. There's a lot of noise pollution in Japan already, but it tends to be in commercial or industrial areas; areas zoned for residence are hushed. Rehearsals on the roof of Yahiro Factory, where the Shoboshobus are staying, were stopped, for instance, when an employee of the Austin Mini dealership next door shouted that he couldn't stand it any more.
"
Friday, July 29, 2005
Cast Our Nets Like Rampage!!!
Cast Our Nets Like Rampage!!!:
"It is 2021, tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of 9/11 It is up to an underground group of bio-mechanically enhanced conservatives led by Sean Hannity, G. Gordon Liddy and Oliver North to thwart Ambassador Usama Bin Laden's plans to nuke New York City...And wake the world from an Orwellian nightmare of United Nations dominated ultra-liberalism."
A cyborg Sean Hannity? I have to read this.
"It is 2021, tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of 9/11 It is up to an underground group of bio-mechanically enhanced conservatives led by Sean Hannity, G. Gordon Liddy and Oliver North to thwart Ambassador Usama Bin Laden's plans to nuke New York City...And wake the world from an Orwellian nightmare of United Nations dominated ultra-liberalism."
A cyborg Sean Hannity? I have to read this.
Eros Blog: The Sex Blog -- By Bacchus
Eros Blog: The Sex Blog -- By Bacchus:
"But did you know that the spiffy new porn steaming in your output tray is secretly encoded with your printer serial number and other info that could be used to identify you?
That's a function your government got snuck into your hardware, ostensibly to catch counterfeiters. But nobody knows what else they are using the secret markings for. If you print subversive fliers or protest literature, it might be smart to worry."
The post goes on to point you to the EFF who are working on the issue.
I was a dues paying EFF member for a while...
They are worth supporting.
"But did you know that the spiffy new porn steaming in your output tray is secretly encoded with your printer serial number and other info that could be used to identify you?
That's a function your government got snuck into your hardware, ostensibly to catch counterfeiters. But nobody knows what else they are using the secret markings for. If you print subversive fliers or protest literature, it might be smart to worry."
The post goes on to point you to the EFF who are working on the issue.
I was a dues paying EFF member for a while...
They are worth supporting.
How we lose
Copyfight:
"Microsoft is going to prevent what they call 'hardware attacks' (as well as 'software attacks') on premium content. Such attacks include what others call fair use. My attempt to watch content on my own screen is an example of just such as 'hardware attack.'"
If a legislator wanted to insure the vote of techies everywhere they'd propose a law making it illegal to cripple a device in any way that could possibly interfere with fair use. A sort of anti-DMCA. Of course it would never pass, but it could start some interesting discussions.
"Microsoft is going to prevent what they call 'hardware attacks' (as well as 'software attacks') on premium content. Such attacks include what others call fair use. My attempt to watch content on my own screen is an example of just such as 'hardware attack.'"
If a legislator wanted to insure the vote of techies everywhere they'd propose a law making it illegal to cripple a device in any way that could possibly interfere with fair use. A sort of anti-DMCA. Of course it would never pass, but it could start some interesting discussions.
IDSnews.com
IDSnews.com:
"Drunk and Unpublished, 'an unofficial poetry organization,' conducted their second session of guerilla poetry Monday night. Their target audience: Wal-Mart patrons. "
I like this a lot in theory.
In fact a couple of years back I was really into the idea of getting some street theater stuff happening.
I didn't.
But for a while I thought I would...
anyway, this does get me thinking...
this and my recent time spent in the galleria.
If you could get a group of poets we could scatter around the whole place and read poems at random positions inside the mall at regular intervals for say, an hour or so...
Do a short piece, move along, and say, 5-10 minutes later do another.
Seems like that would be fairly effective.
Any ideas folks?
"Drunk and Unpublished, 'an unofficial poetry organization,' conducted their second session of guerilla poetry Monday night. Their target audience: Wal-Mart patrons. "
I like this a lot in theory.
In fact a couple of years back I was really into the idea of getting some street theater stuff happening.
I didn't.
But for a while I thought I would...
anyway, this does get me thinking...
this and my recent time spent in the galleria.
If you could get a group of poets we could scatter around the whole place and read poems at random positions inside the mall at regular intervals for say, an hour or so...
Do a short piece, move along, and say, 5-10 minutes later do another.
Seems like that would be fairly effective.
Any ideas folks?
oddz and endz
Well,
o.k. the internet is back on at the house...
whoohoo!
haven't been updating much...
so, what I have been doing since I lost my job?
mostly sleeping.
sleeping and tamalalia.
but now I've spent so much time in bed
that my back hurts, so I guess it's time
to get back to life...
uh, yipee.
I did go to the "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"
audtions on Wednesday...
didn't pass either test,
but Melissa was there and she got in on the movie week quiz...
and I did read Sartre's "The Condemned of Altona" while I waited in line. Great stuff.
I was at the Galleria from 10:30 till around 3:00, and the guy next to me smelled a little, and had very bad breath.
overall it was probably about as productive as looking for work,
maybe more so, after all, I did finish the Sartre.
If yr thinking about coming to see Tamalalia make your reservations NOW.
We are selling out quickly.
Oh, and for those of you who didn't make it to the starr project show, here's
Suitcase, the band that won our round...
they're great.
that's all I gotta say right now.
and now I've said it.
o.k. the internet is back on at the house...
whoohoo!
haven't been updating much...
so, what I have been doing since I lost my job?
mostly sleeping.
sleeping and tamalalia.
but now I've spent so much time in bed
that my back hurts, so I guess it's time
to get back to life...
uh, yipee.
I did go to the "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"
audtions on Wednesday...
didn't pass either test,
but Melissa was there and she got in on the movie week quiz...
and I did read Sartre's "The Condemned of Altona" while I waited in line. Great stuff.
I was at the Galleria from 10:30 till around 3:00, and the guy next to me smelled a little, and had very bad breath.
overall it was probably about as productive as looking for work,
maybe more so, after all, I did finish the Sartre.
If yr thinking about coming to see Tamalalia make your reservations NOW.
We are selling out quickly.
Oh, and for those of you who didn't make it to the starr project show, here's
Suitcase, the band that won our round...
they're great.
that's all I gotta say right now.
and now I've said it.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Siouxsie & The Banshees re-release entire album back catalogue - NME.COM
Siouxsie & The Banshees re-release entire album back catalogue - NME.COM:
"SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES RE-RELEASE ENTIRE CATALOGUE"
Can I get a hell yeah?
ok, probably not,
Siouxsie fans are not
exactly the hell yeah type
are they?
Well,
at least it's nothing to mope about
unless you like moping...
anyway,
I have to admit I'm more excited about this than I should be.
"SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES RE-RELEASE ENTIRE CATALOGUE"
Can I get a hell yeah?
ok, probably not,
Siouxsie fans are not
exactly the hell yeah type
are they?
Well,
at least it's nothing to mope about
unless you like moping...
anyway,
I have to admit I'm more excited about this than I should be.
BBC NEWS | Health | Beta-blockers 'blot out memories'
BBC NEWS | Health | Beta-blockers 'blot out memories':
"A common blood pressure drug could help people who have witnessed traumatic events, such as the London bombings, to block out their distressing memories."
Don't people remember things for a reason?
I don't like this one bit.
Can't they just go ahead and invent and legalize Soma and get this whole brave new world in full swing?
"A common blood pressure drug could help people who have witnessed traumatic events, such as the London bombings, to block out their distressing memories."
Don't people remember things for a reason?
I don't like this one bit.
Can't they just go ahead and invent and legalize Soma and get this whole brave new world in full swing?
Monday, July 25, 2005
one more
go see Hotel Pasiphae.
It's pretty damn amazing.
Although ya might wanna brush up on yr
Greek myths and tragedies first...
it can only help.
It's pretty damn amazing.
Although ya might wanna brush up on yr
Greek myths and tragedies first...
it can only help.
party sat night...
If you know me,
and you know where I live
you should be at my house on Sat the 30th.
I won't be there till after Tamalalia
(which you should go see) I imagine the party
will start before I get there.
It's a going away party for Tom.
He's headed to NYC then Brazil.
Leaves Monday.
So come by and wish him well...
seeing as both of us are unemployed
I'm afraid it will be a byob affair...
remember:
MAYBE PARTYING WILL HELP.
and you know where I live
you should be at my house on Sat the 30th.
I won't be there till after Tamalalia
(which you should go see) I imagine the party
will start before I get there.
It's a going away party for Tom.
He's headed to NYC then Brazil.
Leaves Monday.
So come by and wish him well...
seeing as both of us are unemployed
I'm afraid it will be a byob affair...
remember:
MAYBE PARTYING WILL HELP.
not dead yet
but my internet connection at home is
and will be
till I get some
financials
figured out.
so expect some dead air here at "This is not a compliment."
and if you need to contact me at all
I will be checking my gmail account every few days
and my phone still works (for now) ;)
and will be
till I get some
financials
figured out.
so expect some dead air here at "This is not a compliment."
and if you need to contact me at all
I will be checking my gmail account every few days
and my phone still works (for now) ;)
Thursday, July 21, 2005
By the Bayou
By the Bayou: "
2. At the end of the article, Harley takes a step beyond the usual 'love the sinner, hate the sin' rhetoric of the far right 'ex gay' crowd.
Politically correct people do not understand that gay people 'taint' others around them, she says, and so gays should be barred from the Boy Scouts of America. 'Birds of a feather flock together,' Harley tells us. 'It's not in the Bible, but it's true. You can't have a homosexual buddy and think you are going to be buddy-buddy and nothing [will get] off on you.
Ouch. This is a call for social shunning of gay people. We have bad gay cooties that will leap off of us and get on you, so you better run, and lock up the women lest they become lesbians."
I know crazy people
I know people are crazy
but wow
2. At the end of the article, Harley takes a step beyond the usual 'love the sinner, hate the sin' rhetoric of the far right 'ex gay' crowd.
Politically correct people do not understand that gay people 'taint' others around them, she says, and so gays should be barred from the Boy Scouts of America. 'Birds of a feather flock together,' Harley tells us. 'It's not in the Bible, but it's true. You can't have a homosexual buddy and think you are going to be buddy-buddy and nothing [will get] off on you.
Ouch. This is a call for social shunning of gay people. We have bad gay cooties that will leap off of us and get on you, so you better run, and lock up the women lest they become lesbians."
I know crazy people
I know people are crazy
but wow
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
news from me - ARCHIVES
news from me - ARCHIVES:
"Comic book artist Jim Aparo has died at the age of 73 following a losing battle with cancer."
"Comic book artist Jim Aparo has died at the age of 73 following a losing battle with cancer."
the tap on the shoulder
came today...
apparently they couldn't wait any longer for me to pass my CCNA after all...
so welcome me to the world of the unemployed...
there'll be no unemployment checks this time,
and I'm not at all sure how I'm going to handle this...
If anyone knows of ANY openings right now please let me know...
I intend to update my resume tonight and hit the bricks tomorrow.
apparently they couldn't wait any longer for me to pass my CCNA after all...
so welcome me to the world of the unemployed...
there'll be no unemployment checks this time,
and I'm not at all sure how I'm going to handle this...
If anyone knows of ANY openings right now please let me know...
I intend to update my resume tonight and hit the bricks tomorrow.
Monday, July 18, 2005
File Under: Another thing the Japanese do better than us...
The Japanese use kittens in costumes to fight piracy.
Just thought you might like to know that.
neomarxisme: Namennayo! - On Pirates and Cats
Just thought you might like to know that.
neomarxisme: Namennayo! - On Pirates and Cats
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