August 31, 2004

Ugh! I need a new theme already?

Okay, for those who don't know, Gina was sick and had been in the hospital for the past four days or so but is back out. She is home, resting and feeling a bit better.
My own condition is getting slowly worse while I wait for my insurance company to get their act together. My latest symptoms are intense fevers followed by profuse sweating. It's great. I've dropped like five pounds just by sweating. Late at night when I'm really tired I look like someone on chemotherapy. It's not that bad though. I'm careful what and how I eat so I'm not in any pain at the moment. Sometime the fevers make me hallucinate a little and that's kind of cool. Excluding alcohol, I have never done any recreational drugs, so it's a new experience for me.

Meanwhile check out this latest abuse of the system to stifle free speech.
http://www.bikesagainstbush.com/blog/index.php

This guy was very careful to set up his rig with water soluble, biodegradable spray paint. However, with a typical disregard for the facts, the police arrested him anyway. They seized his equipment and held him for 24 hours. He has a court appearance on Friday, right after the end of the RNC. What's important is that the police who arrested him knew he was not breaking the law. This would be like catching a kid drawing a hopscotch board on the sidewalk with chalk, calling it graffiti, and arresting them. Worse it would be like arresting a kid, before they even drew the hopscotch board, for possession of chalk.
The only difference being a message of powerful political content.
They knew that any charges would likely be dismissed, but meanwhile, just long enough, they could keep him from expressing himself.
Does anyone even remember the concept of Free Speech?
Anyone?
Bueller?
Free Speech?
Anyone?


P.S. Today is my daughter's boyfriend's Birthday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE!

August 24, 2004

Cobweb and Jebus.

I am still unable to schedule the treatment I need but I'm feeling okay at the moment. Now, of course, Gina is also having some medical problems.
So what to do?
Well, this past Sunday we decided to forget our troubles and head on up to the NY Renaissance festival. Gina wore her new Cobweb costume inspired by a character from "A Midsummer Nights Dream".

Cobweb

I tried for a magical cleric type of character costume. Gina as always looked great but I ended up looking like some alternate universe version of Jesus or something.
Just call me Jebus.

Jebus?
"Why are you obsessed with fighting?
Stick to fishing from now on"

Also the Fair itself was more crowded than we had ever seen it before. All the parking lots were full and cars were parked for miles (I'm not exaggerating here, I drove out watching my odometer) down the road leading to the fair.
Gina had a hard time with her wings because she couldn't even turn around without hitting someone. There were lines for everything. It was cool though. We managed to have fun and make friends with other people on the food line. Gina's new look was also hugely popular and we were of course stopped for pictures more than a few times.
Eventually I wore myself out and we had to leave a little early.
Even for all that I had to pull over for a quick nap at a rest stop to make it home safely.
Still and all though, a very fun and successful outing.

August 19, 2004

"Remember as far as anyone knows,
we're a nice normal family."
- Homer Simpson

As you might have deduced by my lack of posting, I'm sicker than I thought. The worst part is I still haven't been able to address my sickness due to an insurance snafu at the office. This is not the fault of anyone in my company, just very bad timing on my part. On the plus side I'm losing a bit of weight on my mush only diet.
Actually I got over confident the other day and decided it would be good idea to have a roast beef sub. "Yeah that sounds good, and could I have a bowl of gravel and crushed glass on the side with that?"

Sometimes . . . I'm an idiot.

It's partly the medicine I think, it fights the infection, but it also weakens and confuses me.
I actually got sent home early from work one day this week.
I got home, went to bed, and slept almost straight through to the next morning, when I got up and went right back to work.

Meanwhile my daughter Jessica has moved back in.
Those of you who read her blog already know the broad strokes of the story.
I will not comment on that aspect of it as I see no real need to.
One result of this however, is that the house is quite full at the moment. Talia and the baby are around some of the time. (Her boyfriend Nick is allergic to our cats, so they spend a lot of time at his parents.) Our boy Nick is still with us; working and getting ready for his last year of high school. Now add to this Jess, who is currently crashing on the couch. She still has plans, with her boyfriend Mike, to move down to North Carolina shortly - so she doesn't really need a permanent setup. She just needs a bit of temporary support so she can keep working and get things going down in NC. I am, of course, only too happy to help her out to the limited, short term extent that I am able to.

In other personal news a good friend is looking to move out to Utah. I'd like to take this opportunity to wish Brian and his wife all the best in this new chapter of their lives. This move represents a chance for them to start a whole new life together. Those of you of long acquaintance will remember Brian as my former First Officer on the Integrity and later as Captain of the Vindicator. Be safe and stay in touch guys.

August 10, 2004

WTF!

AH! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Oh my! Heh, heh, heh. Whooo. Let me catch my breath and calm down a bit.

Okay.

Hey everyone, whatever you do, DON'T CLICK on this link!
Seriously, I take no responsibility for this and highly recommend that you avoid it altogether.

Honestly.

With a silent nod and wink to xoverboard.

August 10, 2004

Running at about 75%

Ha ha! I've managed to bring the infection I have under control a little bit. I may even try some solid food later. Meanwhile I am back in the office and will be scheduling the dental work, and so on, that I desperately need done over the next few days.

Meanwhile I have a couple of thoughts about the various set backs suffered by a couple of notable X-prize contenders. First I'm very glad to hear no one was hurt. Good work to the respective staffs for putting safety first and all that. Secondarily I am very impressed to hear the time estimates for building a new Rubicon 2 ship will be a little more than a month. This is a significant development that the mainstream media seems to have missed. They are claiming that can go from scratch to space worthy vehicle in about forty five to sixty days. Wow!

August 8, 2004

Opening Day
NY Renaissance Festival 2004

Gina and I had a great time this past Saturday. Although we only met some of the friends we were looking for, a good time was still had by all. Lots of drinking, eating, laughing and . . . um . . . more drinking. Which probably explains the general poor quality and lack of pictures. Anyway here is a pretty good picture of Gina.

In other news I am sorry to report I am very ill. I need a dentist, then an oral surgeon, a doctor, a few prescriptions, lots of liquid, bed rest, then a sushi chef, and a bartender.

I should be better in a week, until then posting here may be a bit sporadic.

August 6, 2004

"W" Stands for WRONG!

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
- G.W.B.

. . .

That's . . . just . . . . perfect.

Meanwhile:
Coalition Casualties: http://icasualties.org/oif/default.aspx

August 5, 2004

"It's a Wonderful Life" remake to feature
Vice President Dick Cheney as 'Mr. Potter'.

Okay, okay, I made that up. Can't you just see it though?

Meanwhile, back in the real world, Bruce Springsteen has stepped up for Kerry saying that "the stakes of this election are just too high". Wow! Well said, couldn't agree more. Also Republican Senator John McCain has called on the White House to condemn one of the latest anti-Kerry ads. The White House has, of course, declined.
So it looks like things are really coming apart over in the Bush camp and that is a good thing.

You know I came into this thing just wanting the entire Bush Administration out.
As things unfold however, I find I am more and more Pro-Kerry.
During the DNC I was watching when Rev. Al Sharpton came up to speak. I actually thought to change the channel, but I didn't, and when he was finished speaking, I was stunned.
"Suffering Cats!" I thought, "I agree with Al Sharpton. What kind of alternate reality, square planet, Bizzaro universe is this I've stumbled into?"
It's not just about Kerry himself. It's the people that are getting behind him, people like Barak Obama, and what they stand for, that is winning me over.

Love America! Loathe Bush!
Kerry in a Landslide!

August 4, 2004

Link Farming

First of all, today we have a really good article on Space.com about Amplified Intelligence.
It's the wave of the future folks. Pay attention!

Secondly, to those of you who have, despite my admonitions not to bother, taken the time and trouble to write me hate mail, to those among you who think I'm just an over opinionated, egomaniacal, needlessly obscene, loudmouth . . . (drum roll please) . . . ladies and gentlemen I give you http://maddox.xmission.com.

This fucking guy makes me look like Albert Schweitzer.
"Excellent!"
Special shout out to the former Integrity officer, formerly known as H'Tan for the link.

Also a quick link from the Al Franken Show on Air America:
Have you ever said to yourself "Sweet Jesus, I HATE Bill O'Reilly!"?

You know you have. Admit it. CONFESS!

Well there is good news for all you folks:
http://www.sweetjesusihatebilloreilly.com/
(an organization of hope.)

and
http://www.ihatefoxnews.com/

You'll laugh, you'll cry . . . maybe you'll even VOTE!

August 3, 2004

Bush on anti-depressants?!
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_4921.shtml

Loyalty Oaths?!
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_07_25.php#003234

. . .

Why are we even waiting for November? Can anyone tell me?

August 2, 2004

The Justice League

This month's theme, as suggested by one of our loyal readers, will be the Justice League.
This past week I watched the premier of the Justice League Unlimited cartoon.
Very cool stuff. Watching it makes me feel like a kid again.

Also a few scheduling notes:

August 9: Gina and I plan to be at the NY Renaissance Festival.(Saturday)
August 10: We will try to also hit the NY Renaissance fair this day (Sunday) as well.

A little further out:
October 9th: (Saturday) Gina and I plan to go to Romance Weekend and renew our vows. Should be fun. We will probably hit the MD fair prior to this date, but this date is firm.