I See You

Ever get the feeling that the cable people are spying on you through the cable box?


Maybe they are.

Late Night Ellipses...

Even though I laughed a lot, I think maybe the Futurama Holiday Special could have been better... We're out of this house next week, I sure hope we can get everything packed in time... Sarah Palin posted a bunch of Obama gaffs, doesn't take into account he had a national reputation as a thinker first. Maybe if she spent more time preparing and less time defending... People just disappear like they were never there in Harry Potter movies, one line and they're gone... We're still trying to sell a car, give away a cat, and sell a house in Chicago if you know anyone who might be interested... Is there really a reason to put a microwave oven in a box when you are moving??? I hope Tom Delay gets life without parole... Oh, and probably giving away two yard-a-saurs too now that I think of it... Really this ought to be a post about what I am thankful for, but I guess that would be about two hours too late... Monday I have to switch all the utilities. I better get my voicejail shoes on... We went to a restaurant for Thanksgiving, first time I've done that. Aside from not being able to immediately retire to the couch I think it's a pretty good plan... I am going to miss this house I think... My dad was unable to go through the airport magnetometers the last few years of his life. I wonder if that would have lined him up for enhanced pat downs these days... I've got my sister and brother in law's holiday gifts figured out, now I have to start on my wife's side of things... Still hoping the new Tron won't suck. Pray with me... If I can cancel my parking at work when I move, it'll be like giving myself a raise - even during a salary freeze... I am considering retaking the green page after the first of the year. It's just not the same without me...

Because I am Inherently Lazy

Don't Do This

It's not like you are actually going to get around to sorting it. I have a file in my office that says "pending." Pretty much once a year I empty it into the trash. I don't remember what I found in this box, but I bet I didn't keep it.

Matt Dickleman

Here's hoping my old friend from across the street has a Google Alert on his name.

In a continuing effort to re-energize posting here I will post another picture.


I took this over the summer while working on Dad's house. It's a picture of one of my best childhood friend's home - or at least the space where his home used to be. The people next door bought the property some time back to enlarge their yard, then the bottom fell out, the money dried up and the lot went up for sale. It was a little sad.

Long Time No Post

I haven't had much to say lately, or more likely more energy to say it with. I'm sitting waiting for the iPhone sync to crash. The machine is missing a DLL file, something to do with syncing contacts. Crashes every time, but I upgraded iTunes so I thought I would give it a shot.

While we wait for that, here's a picture of Bean:

Turn Out, Vote Blue

There's an election this week. For a few months now I have been feeling like this year's midterms will be very significant in the charting of this nation's course over the next generation. In the last Presidential election we made a big step toward changing this country for the better, walking away from many policies that weren't in our best interests but rather that served special interests. This week we can either validate that mission or deal it a crippling blow.

Because of that I wanted to be sure to take the time to ask you to be sure to come out and vote this round and when you do to please vote Democratic - and while there is time spread the word to as many others as you can to make sure they come out and vote Democratic as well.

The chief reason people have to vote the other way is fiscal policy and for the purposes of this message I am going to set that aside. I believe there is a good argument to be made that the current administration is on the right side of fiscal policy and the Republican opposition is not. But just for the sake of conversation I'll set it aside and leave them on the right side of that issue.

But we cannot ignore that even if they are right about taxes, spending, and debt...

they are on the wrong side of foriegn policy

they are on the wrong side of immigration policy

they are on the wrong side of international trade policy

they are on the wrong side of reproductive rights policy

they are on the wrong side of pay equity policy

they are on the wrong side of gay rights policy

they are on the wrong side of net neutrality policy

they are on the wrong side of education policy

they are on the wrong side of civil rights policy

they are on the wrong side of separation of church and state

they are on the wrong side of separation of powers

they are on the wrong side of environmental policy

they are on the wrong side of market regulation

they are on the wrong side of corporate regulation

they are on the wrong side of drug policy

they are on the wrong side of energy policy

and I'll lay favorable odds they'll be unable to keep their promises on their fiscal stand as well (I remember "read my lips...")

Even if we believe the Republicans have the right answers to taxes and spending, how could we possibly cast our votes for representatives who will be against us on nearly everything else?

The Right believes in military intervention over diplomacy, in closing our borders to people and trade, that abortion should be illegal for the Doctor and patient, that markets are fair to women and minorities, that corporations should determine your access to information and can be depended upon to regulate themselves, that religion should shape your education, and that there's nothing wrong with the continued status quo for fossil fuels.

I can't risk that sort of policy making no matter what they might be right about.

Turn out. Vote Democratic.