I have one word of advice for the cast members of the upcoming Star Trek movie: chart your subsequent career path very carefully, or you might end up starring in a movie about homicidal bunny rabbits.
And in case you’re doubting the existence of such a cinematic abomination, here’s a video clip, complete with a stampede of said mutant bunnies. This piece of filmmaking is one more reason to be thankful that the Seventies can never, ever come back.
My friend brought his copy of World of Warcraft with him and he has graciously allowed me to try it out using a guest pass. I’m normally not a huge fan of on-line games, but this I’m beginning to think that this one should be put on the controlled substances list. If I was a weaker man, I could easily see myself calling in sick for days on end just to give myself more playing time. My blog would become neglected and I’d stop returning friends’ phone calls. Before long, I’d require an intervention and months of detox. All the more reason to be glad this pass only last ten days.
Which should be enough time for Farwalk, my level 4 night elf cleric, to reach at least level 10.
To the guys at BoingBoing: you’re starting to make me look bad. Why should people continue to visit my blog when they can get all their gimp-centric news from you? Sure, I could post something semi-original about the new DVD of excerpts from artist Sean Patrick’s forthcoming documentary on his experience with Lou Gehrig’s disease, but we’d both know I was just shamelessly cribbing your material. How about we negotiate some sort of deal on who gets to scoop the big gimp stories? I’m willing to be reasonable. Have your people call my people.
It’s almost 9 p.m. and I’m still here in the office, trying to finish things up before I leave on vacation. Blogging might be a little light over the next week as I’ll have a friend visiting me. I predict much loafing, late-night gaming, and all-around geeking out.
I so need to get away from this computer before I think of another e-mail to send. Time to make my getaway.
I spent the evening at my friend Rosie’s house, where I made the acquaintance of Percy, her chocolate lab. Percy, in a demonstration of impeccable character judgment, took an instant liking to me and he eagerly deposited his goopy tennis ball on my lap several times. He seemed a little puzzled when I wouldn’t throw it for him. I considered using my Jedi powers, but I’m actually a little hesitant to do so. Once I start using them, I may not be able to contain myself. Before long, I’d be shooting lightning out my fingertips as a means of disciplining my nurses.
Minneapolis’ wi-fi network, which I’ve discussed previously, proved its worth when the 35W bridge collapsed. Emergency responders were able to transmit detailed maps of the site to and from the command center. US Internet, the private firm responsible for operating the network, also took the civic-minded step of opening up the network for the use of the general public in the hours immediately after the disaster. As the Minnesota Monitor points out, the performance of the wi-fi network during the recent emergency should silence any remaining critics of its construction.
While I’m on the topic, I’d like to point your attention to this Request for Proposals that was just released by the Minneapolis Foundation. A considerable amount of money is available to local non-profits and government entities for purposes of promoting digital inclusion. This could include computer education, making personal computers available to low-income residents, or any number of other creative purposes. I sit on the Digital Inclusion Fund Advisory Committee, which is responsible for reviewing the proposals and making funding recommendations, and we really want to see some innovative proposals. This is a unique funding opportunity and the deadline is September 14th, so I’m hoping people will spread the word.
As a strong supporter of DFL candidates like Tim Walz and Amy Klobuchar during the last election cycle, I’m deeply dismayed with their vote to authorize the Protect America Act (a title that is only a smidgen less cynical than the PATRIOT Act). The law grants the government the power to conduct warrantless wiretaps with almost no judicial oversight or explicit restrictions on the surveillance of domestic communications. As it’s currently worded, the law contains a gaping hole that lets the administration spy on any phone call or e-mail as long as the surveillance is “directed at a person reasonably believed to be located outside of the United States”. I read this to mean that the government can listen in when my mom calls one of my uncles in Germany. Or it can read the e-mails I send to my brother when he’s overseas.
I’m not completely surprised by Walz’s vote. He’s a Blue Dog Democrat who is trying to look tough for the conservative voters back home. Except this isn’t acting tough–it’s acting scared. Walz flinched when the administration put on its Bin Laden mask and said, “Boo!” Disappointing, but predictable. Klobuchar, however, should know better. When she took her oath as an attorney, she vowed to uphold the Constitution. Even when it’s politically inconvenient. Even when it might earn you the scorn of Fox News. Even when you’re tired and crabby and ready to go on vacation. All the time, Amy. All the time.
I know my fifty bucks doesn’t mean much, but they’re going to have to do a lot better than this if they expect me to pull out my wallet for them in the future.
I was all psyched to see Sunshine today, but I failed to realize that this is also the final day of the Uptown Art Fair. All of the street parking was blocked off and I didn’t want to see the movie badly enough to pay nine bucks to park in a lot. I need to catch up on some things here at home, so it’s probably just as well. The staff at the Lagoon Theater was starting to greet me by name, which was a little embarrassing.
Last night’s party was great fun, but I’m starting to think I should throw another party just to get rid of all this excess food.
A friend and I were talking last night about the stellar emergency response to the 35W bridge collapse. The crisis management protocols at the local and state level functioned just as they were supposed to. The responders on the scene were well-trained and competent. Regular citizens played an important role in rescuing survivors in the first few minutes after the collapse. I would expect nothing less from my fellow civic-minded Minnesotans. As far as disasters go, this one was relatively small in scale, but that doesn’t detract from the exemplary performance of our emergency services. And for the rest of the country, it’s a good example of careful planning put into practice.
You are coming to my party tomorrow. This is not a request. I have enough booze sitting around here to give a whole space shuttle crew alcohol poisoning. And I’m really tempted to start picking at the lovely cheese plate I picked up at Byerly’s, but that would be bad form.
You know you want to come. There will be cake. Everybody likes cake.