March 28, 2006
It's Morning In California
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released his first ad of this election cycle. Entitled "Tomorrow", it touts his accomplishments during his shortened first term, namely reducing the budget deficit and cutting the "unfair" car tax. I like the background music. I'm not sure about the busy visuals though. Lots of action that doesn't really mean anything. Overall, it's a good ad. You could insert a voiceover of "It's morning in California" at the beginning and the flow would be the same. Very Reagan-esque.
If you're a political ad junkie like me, click here to view the ad in Windows Media Player.
March 27, 2006
Flat on my back
Saturday, yesterday, I threw out my back while moving a love seat down two flights of stairs. Now, quite a shot of pain runs through my back when attempting to move from a sitting position to a standing position, and vice versa. Needless to say, I've been spending a lot of time on my back with heating pad on full steam. While it has led to one unproductive weekend, it has also forced me to slow down a bit. While inconvenient, it has also been fairly relaxing and needed.
Eric treated me to breakfast this morning at the Frisco shop. What a sweetheart! And what a tasty start to Sunday morning! We seated ourselves at the bar. Shortly after ordering, I noticed a man at the end of the bar who talked loudly to anyone around him, notably the unfortunate stranger sitting next to him. After listening to him rail about the Democratic Party, oil, the Arabian Peninsula, women, and local property taxes, I realized that he was Austin's crankier version of Cliff Clavin. He seemingly knew everything about every topic, and was not unhindered in sharing it with whomever happened to be around. Eric and I also met Lawrence, a longtime employee of the Frisco. He was a funny guy with lots of interesting stories. And he greeted patrons by name as they came in to eat. It struck me as odd, since you just don't see that kind of service anymore, anywhere, in any industry.
This semester, I am taking Government 370L: Campaigns and Elections. My professor described American politics as not being uniquely negative. Few believed him and scoffed at his assertion. Well, I am now watching Prime Minister's Questions in the British House of Commons on C-SPAN. Oh man, we've got nothing on the British. They openly boo, hiss, bemoan, laugh, and utilize any other gutteral noise to show their disapproval of Prime Minister Tony Blair's answers to their questions. I thought the Dems showed some balls when standing and applauding during Bush's comment about not being able to do what he wanted with Social Security in the '06 SOTU address. But no, that's nothing compared to the British House of Commons' open dissidence. Oh, how I would love for the US President to be forced to answer Congress' questions in open, on a regular basis. Bush would be laughed out of the building. He should take a cue from Blair on answering questions under pressure, instead of continuing to look life a buffoon whenever he answers questions from unfriendly audiences. Should we ever change the Constitution to include such a practice, C-SPAN's ratings would rocket through the roof.
Before Prime Minister's Questions, I watched a program called Q&A, which is an hour-long interview with someone, uninterupted by questions. Tonight's interview was Dallas Maverick's owner Mark Cuban. I really became fascinated by him. Cuban talked a bit about reading Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead and its influence on his outlook in life. I may have to pick up the book and take another stab at it. I'm going to add his blog, BlogMaverick.com to my frequent reading. Other recent blogs I've picked up recently include The Austinist, The DCist, and Towleroad. It seems I actually don't have any original thoughts in conversation or emails anymore; I just regurgitate information from those blogs. I've also become addicted to a self improvement blog: LifeHacker. I get so many great tips and tricks on everything from time management to software tweaks.
I'm still watching C-SPAN - Road to the White House 2008 is on. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is in Manchester speaking about something. He's there every other week. Do you think he wants to run for president in '08?? Too bad he has no shot whatsoever. Hillary will crush him. And why in the hell does New Hampshire get the first primary? That makes no sense. I don't have a better solution yet, but a state with 4 electoral votes has every presidential candidate from every party heading up there in a now-perpetual election cycle. Candidates must go shake the hand of every mayor, state assemblyman, and justice of the peace of this tiny New England state, while big states like Texas, California, Florida, Illinois and Pennsylvania get ignored...at least until the general election race heats up. How does a candidate's popularity in New Hampshire determine how fit they are to run a country? I have no idea.
Oh my god! Bill Richardson is now talking to a leprechaun in Manchester. LOL!!!! The governor of New Mexico is about to be in the Manchester, NH St. Patrick's Day Parade. WTF? How does this democracy thing work again?!? Now, they've cut to Chuck Hagel droning on about national security. You know, the most fascinating thing for me to watch in Road to the White House is the not the speech, but the 20 minutes of post-speech coverage...watching the candidate work the room, shaking hands, and making conversation with everyone who just forced down the chicken dinner they paid $250 a plate to eat. Hagel is too boring; he won't be president either. Hell, I watched John Kerry a couple of weeks ago on C-SPAN and he worked the room much better than Hagel. But neither of them are Bill Clinton. Ah, Bill, how we miss you so.
Back to my comfort of my heating pad. Hopefully tomorrow, I'll be able to go to the kitchen without needing 1000 mg of aspirin to kill the pain.
March 24, 2006
National Champions
January 4, 2006. A date soon not forgotten.
Texas wins its first National Championship since 1970. To celebrate, the University held a celebration in DKR-TMS on Sunday, January 15, that was open to the public. Eric and I went in our burnt orange to cheer on the team and bathe in the glory that is watching college students win athletic contests. Below are the pictures from that celebration. Click on a picture for a bigger version.
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Yes I Am
You Are Austin |
 A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll. You're totally weird and very proud of it. Artistic and freaky, you still seem to fit in... in your own strange way. Famous Austin residents: Lance Armstrong, Sandra Bullock, Andy Roddick |
March 16, 2006
4 Things
From Colin:
A. FOUR JOBS YOU'VE HAD IN YOUR LIFE:
1. Computer dork
2. Hospital cafeteria worker
3. Soap maker
4. Basketball score keeper
B. FOUR MOVIES YOU COULD WATCH OVER AND OVER:
1. Thirteen Days
2. Brokeback Mountain
3. All Over The Guy
4. Airplane
C. FOUR CITIES YOU'VE LIVED IN:
1. Austin, Texas
2. Round Rock, Texas
3. Georgetown, Texas
4. Richmond, Texas
D. FOUR TV SHOWS YOU LOVE TO WATCH:
1. The Office
2. The Daily Show
3. The West Wing
4. The Amazing Race
E. FOUR PLACES YOU'VE BEEN ON VACATION:
1. New Orleans, LA
2. Washington, DC
3. Orlando, FL
4. Seattle, WA
F. FOUR WEBSITES YOU VISIT DAILY:
1. Google
2. LifeHacker
3. Towleroad
4. TomPeters
G. FOUR OF YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE RESTAURANTS:
1. Austin Java Co.
2. Trudy's
3. Outback Steakhouse
4. Hoover's
H: FOUR OF YOUR FAVORITE FOODS:
1. Burgers
2. Steaks & Chicken Fried Steaks
3. Chicken - grilled preferably
4. Burritos
I: FOUR SCHOOLS YOU'VE ATTENDED:
1. The University of Texas at Austin
2. Lamar High School
3. Chisholm Trail Middle School
4. Eastside Elementary
J: FOUR PLACES I'D RATHER BE RIGHT NOW:
1. Washington, DC
2. Graduate school
3. On the beach
4. In bed
K: FOUR THINGS YOU FIND YOURSELF SAYING:
1. Gawd damnit!
2. Take your time!
3. Ummm.........ya
4. Hey little hottie!