Friday, October 31, 2008

Scary is for Halloween, not Election Day



Every year our Austin Chronicle comes up with a scary mask for their cover that you can actually use if you want - cut out the eyeholes and glue it to cardboard. This year it's a twofer - The Monster and The Bride. If you want to download these, go here, and select pages 1 and 3. Format is PDF.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Purrsday Night - In Style



Here's Jax, a black cat who's right in style for Halloween. The cats don't really enjoy the holiday, because the doorbell rings every couple of minutes, and he will get his usual routine interrupted - not a cat's favorite thing. He will just have to put up with it like everybody else. Have a fun Halloween, and keep the kitties and doggies out of the chocolate. There's more for you that way. ;-)


Here are some links to galleries of pets in costumes:
Pet Halloween Costume pics at JibJab

Cute Overload 1

Cute Overload 2

PetSmart

Webshots


Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at Chey's Place - -

A real grassroots effort

With this election getting closer, people are getting a little panicky, and the incidence of yard-sign stealing or vandalizing has gone up. This woman in Austin, after losing a yard sign, decided to paint her lawn. Story here, with video.

We wouldn't be able to do that, since we have taken out almost all the grass. :-)

ADDENDUM: Peter Frampton is upset over the continued theft of his Obama yard signs!

Youtube yard sign theft
Google yard sign theft

At least somebody is doing alright...

[sarcasm]
Will somebody please give these great folks a tax cut? What are you, a socialist? Why do you hate America?
[/sarcasm]

:-P

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Red Reds?

David Gergen (political consultant and presidential advisor during the administrations of Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton), on with CNN's Anderson Cooper discussing Reagan and Teddy Roosevelt's tax plans. (about 2 minutes in)
[source of quote] Gergen suggested that the Democrats should invoke the example of Teddy Roosevelt, who was both a Republican and one of the greatest advocates of progressive taxation in the years immediately preceding the enactment of the current income tax.

Gergen also noted that the Reagan administration was responsible for enacting the Earned Income Tax Credit, an extremely successful redistribution program which returns money to the working poor.

Here is McCain from 2000 at one of his Town Hall meetings, explaining why it's alright to tax the wealthy more than the lower income people, and why it's the middle class who should receive a tax cut before the wealthy. There are plenty of clips and quotes out there where he says the same thing.


We don't have to go back all those years to find Palin not only believing in "sharing the wealth" but making it happen, big-time.
[source for quote] But Palin’s criticisms of Obama’s “spread the wealth” remarks are ironic, as she recently characterized Alaska’s tax code in a very similar way. Just last month, in an interview with Philip Gourevitch of the New Yorker, Palin explained the windfall profits tax that she imposed on the oil industry in Alaska as a mechanism for ensuring that Alaskans “share in the wealth” generated by oil companies:
And Alaska—we’re set up, unlike other states in the union, where it’s collectively Alaskans own the resources. So we share in the wealth when the development of these resources occurs. … It’s to maximize benefits for Alaskans, not an individual company, not some multinational somewhere, but for Alaskans.

In fact, Alaska’s Clear and Equitable Share (ACES) program, which manages the redistribution of oil wealth in Alaska, brings in so much money that the state needs no income or sales tax. In addition, this year ACES will provide every Alaskan with a check for an estimated $3,200.


This is also outlined on McCain Fact Check

Them that smelt it, dealt it.
So desperate and pathetic.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Have a Blatz for the baby's sake!


Scared?

Find your phobia - by fear - or - by phobia name


Halloween is nearly here, and all the scary stuff comes out. A lot of movies, stories and costumes feature the devil. Personally, I have gotten over him. I don't actually believe in him so he doesn't scare me anymore. I've had a few friends who called themselves Satanists, and it was quite fascinating to hear them tell about it, but these days I don't think that, as a religion, it's any weirder than any other one. Witches? Oh please. I have had Pagan friends from the time I was a teenager to the present day, and any enemy of Sarah Palin and her wacky preacher is OK in my book. Black cats? Right up my alley.

I do have my share of phobias though, and then some. For instance, this picture and article just freaks me right out. [spider warning]. Yes, I am an arachnophobe. It's not uncommon. I have dealt with it somewhat over the years. I am no longer phobic about tiny spiders, just bigger ones (quarter-sized counts as "bigger").

A phobia is an irrational fear. If something actually presents a danger that's in line with the measure of your fear of it, then it's not irrational.

Some things that are feared truly are not dangerous. For instance, fear of money (called Chrometophobia or Chrematophobia) or fear of music (Melophobia). There is the fear of relatives (Syngenesophobia), sermons, sitting down, bats (don't come to Austin if you have a fear of bats - not in summer anyway), things on the right side of the body, bald people, or dinner conversations. How about the fear of the number 666? Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia. My mother was afraid of the number 444. I'm not kidding. She was convinced that she would die at 4:44. She didn't.

Here's a funny one: the fear of long words is sometimes called Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (or its alternate spelling Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia) (I am not making that up).

This particular spooky season, there's one thing that is scaring me the most.

This.
There must be a word for it. It would be related to the fear of fraud and/or Fascism.

This scares me a lot too. Fear of the haters.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Local color - part 2

The Thriller dance was performed simultaneously in cities and towns around the world, and Austin had the highest number of people with 881! The next highest was Gurnee, Illinois with 334, so no other cities even came close!

Here are some pics of the event.


There are much better photo links on the website.


Later in the evening/afternoon we did not end up at North Loop or even at the Backyard. We rented DVDs and watched one called Immortal. It was laughably bad, but that's OK.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Local color - part 1


First of all, apologies for the lack of a catblog this week. I promise to do better next Friday.

This is a beautiful weekend we are having. We took Friday off (a day off for me is when I work a lot less), started out with a great brunch at Bouldin Creek Coffee House. This is the mural we sat next to. All the food at Bouldin Creek is vegetarian so the menu is pretty easy for us to pick from. I had the blueberry cornbread with agave nectar and scrambled tofu (my sub for eggs, which they do serve).

Then we went over to Planet K on Stassney to pick up a couple of VOTE FOR PROP 2 signs. I took ours to the polling place but there's been a real clearing out of the signs over there. Not sure if Randall's or guerrilla sign pullers are responsible. Planet K is a chain of head shops, each characterized by a painted derelict car which is used as a planter.




Friday night was spent at home, watching Lehrer, Olbermann and Maddow, watching the McCain campaign crumbling (he could still win though. There's no way I'm getting cocky over this).

Saturday morning, we got up really early and got in a loooong line to buy a rain barrel at the special price of $45. One per household, please. Here are a couple of dogs who are about to share a trip home with a barrel. Nobody is strapped in, so I hope all made it home OK.


Next up, a report on "Thrill the World Austin." Looks like this town may have broken the world record with 881 dancers. Mañana. The owls are hooting outside, so it must be bedtime.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Candidate of change

[source] John McCain, who has harshly criticized the idea of sitting down with dictators without pre-conditions, appears to have done just that. In 1985, McCain traveled to Chile for a friendly meeting with Chile's military ruler, General Augusto Pinochet, one of the world's most notorious violators of human rights credited with killing more than 3,000 civilians and jailing tens of thousands of others.
[source] In 1987, John McCain cast several votes in an attempt to force the Reagan administration to meet with RENAMO, a guerrilla organization in Mozambique that State Department officials at the time described as a "terrorist group," without requiring that the group meet any preconditions.

McCain is the candidate of change, because he is always changing his views. He's like a merry-go-round. Just wait awhile and he will be all the way on the other side and heading in the opposite direction.

Of course, there's a very long list of issues where he has done a 180° turn.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Freebies

Thursday, 5pm: Carrie Rodriguez will be playing an in-store at Waterloo Records. MrB will be going, and I was planning on it but now Jax has a vet appointment. It's all about the cats...

Speaking of cats, it's pretty hard to resist this flier! North Loop has some great shops, love that part of town even though we live and generally hang south. Click on the picture for more information.


Here's something I want to see. Thrill the World is an attempt to get the largest number of choreographed zombies doing the Thriller Dance, breaking the Guinness World Record, and Austin has been practicing. They might have a shot at it! Here's an early practice/presentation down at City Hall, and that's our Mayor joining in toward the end (the one in the shirt and tie)

Where to see it or get info on being part of it:
Saturday Oct. 25
Thrill the World performance
The Long Center
Registration at 10 a.m.
Performance at 1:00 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 1
Day of the Dead Procession
Zombie March and Thriller performance on Sixth Street
Assemble at Plaza Saltillo at 5pm (I think there's a $5 charge for the Day of the Dead celebration)
cat

Saturday night there's a big free bash at The Backyard. It's closing after this weekend after being ruined by ugly chain store development. I hear it's relocating somewhere that's less likely to suffer the same fate. Here's the lineup:

FREE SHOW - Final Backyard Weekend
w/ Del Castillo | The Boxing Lesson | White Ghost Shivers | Alpha Rev | Dremnt the End | Los Gallos| Driver F | High On Hotdogs | Joker| DrumJam |

Here's the lineup for Central Market N. Lamar (I love Rattletree Marimba!)
Fri.,Oct. 24
African Dance Party:
Djembabes (7:30 to 9:00)
Rattletree Marimba (6pm to 7pm)

Sat.,Oct. 25
Joel Guzman & Sarah Fox (Latin R&B)

Sun.,Oct. 26
Rich Harney Trio (12 to 2:30) (Jazz)
103BOB FM Howl-O-Ween Pet & Kid Costume Contest
(2:30 to 5pm)
Benefiting emanciPet
Contest Categories include Best in Show, Best Pet/Owner Duo
Best Kid Costume & More

(It's hard to get much cuter than a pets and kids costume contest)

The weather should be beautiful.

McCain picks up important endorsement!

Unfortunately for him, it's from al-Qaeda.

[source] The message, posted Monday on the password-protected al-Hesbah Web site, said if al-Qaida wants to exhaust the United States militarily and economically, "impetuous" Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain is the better choice because he is more likely to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"This requires presence of an impetuous American leader such as McCain, who pledged to continue the war till the last American soldier," the message said. "Then, al-Qaida will have to support McCain in the coming elections so that he continues the failing march of his predecessor, Bush."

SITE Intelligence Group, based in Bethesda, Md., monitors the Web site and translated the message.

"If al-Qaida carries out a big operation against American interests," the message said, "this act will be support of McCain because it will push the Americans deliberately to vote for McCain so that he takes revenge for them against al-Qaida. Al-Qaida then will succeed in exhausting America till its last year in it."

Monday, October 20, 2008

I voted, now it's your turn.

This is the first time I've seen a line for early voting, but it wasn't a terribly long line like I've seen on the news in other places. I voted at the Randall's over at MOPAC and Wm. Cannon. There were maybe a dozen people ahead of me at 1:00 pm. No problems, I just gave them my driver's license as always, and they scanned the back of it. Smooth.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Bikes and beer circus

Saturday was a beautiful day for the keepin' it weird bike and beer celebration hosted by New Belgium Brewery, Tour de Fat. It's a traveling circus (where most of the circus is you). We got there early for the bike race. I don't ride a bike and MrB is not big on wearing costumes so we were spectators.


 The park was a WiFi hotspot, but that was no help to these low-tech terminals.

There was pancake juggling. This guy, fortunately, was better at knife juggling than with this poor pancake, which ended up as grackle food after plopping on the stage several times.
 Some kids with a cool dad.

If only it was this easy to stop time, you could make the day last longer.

I captured a bit of the "Carpocalypse" parade on video, but you might want to turn the speakers down at first - it starts off in mid-honk.
All that fresh air and early beers gave us a good nap in the afternoon, and we spent the evening under the stars at the Nutty Brown Cafe watching one of our favorites, The Band of Heathens. And excellent day and weekend. Tour de Fat

Friday, October 17, 2008

Plumbers for McCain


Paid his debt? All OK now? No longer a terrorist working to harm this country? He made these statements after that debt was paid, in 1994:
* August 26, 1994 - Now if the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms comes to disarm you and they are bearing arms, resist them with arms. Go for a head shot; they're going to be wearing bulletproof vests." ... "They've got a big target on there, ATF. Don't shoot at that, because they've got a vest on underneath that. Head shots, head shots.... Kill the sons of bitches.

* September 15, 1994 - If the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms insists upon a firefight, give them a firefight. Just remember, they're wearing flak jackets and you're better off shooting for the head.

G. Gordon Liddy wiki

(I whipped up that photoshop graphic. Feel free to pass it around if you like)

Furbaby Friday - Not Much Shakin'

Jax went back to the vet, thinking he would be getting a DepoMedrol shot, but he was given a pass. His regular doctor wants to wait until he gets itchy again. He's not so sure he likes that pink carrier, but he likes the vet's office even less.


Henry doesn't have much to do other than wait for his food and meds. Everyone is enjoying the weather we're having now.

Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at Life from a Cat's Perspective on Sunday - -

Thursday, October 16, 2008

The Debate - Talk to the Crack.

Joe Blows.

Please! At least Joe-Six-Pack is fictional (pretty much). Now we've got a real guy who is being deified and empowered as the "guy whose opinion matters more than yours". They've already done some homework on him, and it turns out that he doesn't make $250,000 or more, not even close (so he would benefit more from Obama's proposed plan than McCain's). Also, he's got a state lien against him for not paying $1,182.98 from nearly 2 years ago... how can you cut someone's taxes who refuses to pay them? This just in... he doesn't even have a license to be a plumber! He thinks he doesn't need one because he works for someone else. Wrong. Plus the guy he works for is not licensed in that county either. So this is Mr Swing Vote? He's just a Republican or Libertarian, and his views are in line with the right wing. That's it. Listen to him here hating Social Security and more right wing rants on immigration and Iraq. Say it ain't so, Joe.

And McCain... what's with all the eye blinking? This must be a nervous tic or something. Anyway, it was creeping me out watching him blink about twice a second. (Really kind of ironically funny since Palin made such a strong statement to Charles Gibson about how "you can't blink".

Then there was Cindy and that hairdo that was straight outta Alfred Hitchcock, giving her that icy-cold elegant and beautiful but _highly_ dysfunctional look that his heroines often had. Between that and his twitchy, scary behavior I am getting the heebee jeebees. Since the McCain campaign is having so much trouble finding theme music*, may I suggest this, on the right?

*just today there's another instance of that, this time Palin has pissed off Jon Bon Jovi by using his song. Bon Jovi just threw a $30,000 per person fundraiser for Obama last month.

And finally, the debate renders this prize of a photo. (It's for real, not photoshopped) Bound to make you crack a smile.

Beer, bikes, and pancake juggling

We finally got some wonderful rain, although not enough to battle the drought. Also the temperature is cooling down - today only in the 70s! Wearin' sleeves!! According to the weather people it will clear up for the weekend and be in the 80s. As WaMu used to say (and I guess they will not be using this slogan anymore), "Whoo Hoo!" Tour de Fat rolls through town [Austin schedule]. It's a touring event put on by New Belgium Brewing Company (the name being a nod to their Fat Tire beer). Basically just bring your bike if you've got one, wear a costume if you want to, try and ride the really weird bikes, listen to music, bring the kids, bring your pets, drink good beer, get some sun.
The Squirm Burpee Circus was there last year and will be there again. No animals, of course (I would never promote an animal circus).

Texas straight ticket confusion

We can vote Monday! So glad that this election will soon be over for better or worse. There is some confusion about straight ticket voting, but here's a clarification from the Texas Dem. Party. Basically, if you vote straight ticket, don't continue to vote for those same individual candidates or you will cancel out your vote for them.
[info] When you mark "Straight Democratic" then cast your ballot, your vote will count for Barack Obama and all the Democratic candidates, including all congressional, state and local Democrats on the general election ballot.

NOTE: A separate vote for an individual candidate is required only in a special election (e.g., Senate District 17)

OR

If you do not wish to vote a straight party vote, you must mark each individual candidate for whom you wish to vote, and then cast your ballot.

BUT

DO NOT SELECT "STRAIGHT DEMOCRATIC" AND THEN SELECT INDIVIDUAL DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES. THIS COULD CANCEL OUT YOUR VOTE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATES!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Russians visit Alaska but nobody told Palin

Ooops! I can't believe they admitted this, but Palin's campaign says that Russian officials arrived in Alaska on Monday to discuss energy, but she wasn't told about it. You'd think they (the Russians) would have wanted the USA's Foremost Energy Expert* in attendance, but their meetings were with others.

[source] DOVER, New Hampshire (CNN) – The campaign of vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin said the Alaska governor was unaware of a visit by Russian energy officials to Anchorage on Monday.

Eight high-level officials from Gazprom, Russia’s state-controlled energy conglomerate, traveled to Anchorage earlier this week to meet with the Alaska Department of Natural Resources and the chief executive of ConocoPhillips to discuss energy projects and the possibility of expanding into new markets.


* as McCain says he believes, and that this expertise gives her the national security experience that she should have.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

! THE JEEBUS FACTOR !



What do you want to bet that this guy isn't that bothered by Christians killing Muslims, whether they are babies or adults?

Pic from FiveThirtyEight

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Weekend Update

We were not planning on going out for music this weekend, but Friday it was set to be a beautiful night and I noticed that Van Wilks was opening for Johnny A over at Threadgill's. This is also one of my favorite outdoor venues. It's very comfortable, there's plenty to eat and drink, the sound is good (except for the street traffic noise), and we always see lots of friends. Van is a friend and a great player too. Here's a video for the soundtrack of this post. Listen to this acoustic piece on the 12-string.


Johnny A is a great guitar player from Boston, one of the best around. He's all instrumental (when I think of instrumentals now, it reminds me of the Jug Band, and one of their instrumentals that they will tell you is a "true story").

Saturday was movie matinee day, and we went to see Body of Lies at the Alamo Drafthouse. First, Leonardo DiCaprio has got another award-worthy performance. He's incredible in this. Russell Crowe is great too, but I really think his role is more of supporting actor. This is directed by Ridley Scott, and I won't spoil anything about it, but I will say that common threads have seen in several of Ridley Scott's movies are the corruption of empires, the futility of wars, and the empty offerings of organized religions versus the meaningful things in life that can be found on more personal paths. It also demonstrates how easy it is for the CIA to credibly pull off their "fun and games". That's all I will say about it. And speaking of fun and games, did you know that the CIA has a Kid's Page? Yeah. I didn't either.

It was tough to pick out a movie this week, as we also wanted to see Appaloosa, and Blindness. City of Ember looks entertaining too. We will save that for a rental, and The Duchess too. (I love Keira!)

Tomorrow it's back to old routine. On the bright side, there are less than 100 days left in the Bush presidency (and I will have to wait until it's over before I can stand to watch the movie "W."). Looking forward to the Debate this coming week, and VOTING the week after. Hope that the voting machines work as they are supposed to this time.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Furbabies Friday - Upping the meds


Jax is naked again, thanks to a new approach, maybe on the risky side but there's a chance it might work. First he's switching to a hypoallergenic food. (That's not risky.) Second, he's getting 3 DepoMedrol injections, spaced 2 weeks apart. It's a steroid that's normally not given more often than once a month. After the first shot, the itchies went away (we know from experience that it's temporary). Now he's just wishing everyone would just leave him alone.


Henry was enjoying his brief reduction in prednisolone dosage, until the return of his eosinophilic granuloma that flares up inside his ear. Those are just big words for itchy, inflamed, and driving him nuts. None of us will be getting much sleep until the newly increased dosage works (and there may be an injection in his near future too). This is in addition to his Flovent (another steroid) for his asthsma. Seems like steroids have become an absolute necessity for cats! At least for the older ones.

Tags and links: Friday Ark - -

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

The Dream is Over

Many, many years ago, the Beatles changed my life. I was about 10 when they first hit the States. They seemed like the embodiment of wholesome delight, so funny, so cute, they were ideal pop stars. Music, clothing, social trends... these things seemed to bend to the will and power of The Beatles.

As the years went past, they were found to have all the same types of frailties and shortcomings that all humans have. Well, of course they did. They were, and had been, humans all along. Just regular humans with marital problems, screwed-up personal lives and other issues, who just happened to be worshipped like gods and still are. I spent plenty of time in that denomination myself. I idolized The Beatles for many years, and have found that reading various bios, journals, and other kiss-and-tells more recently has turned them back into humans for me. They really were just a rock and roll band -- a brilliant and inspired bunch of people who turned out masterpieces of modern music.

My own journey through religion and embracing of humanism is similar in some ways. There was an awakening at some point, and I found I could think more clearly. Waking life may be harsher, but I still prefer having endless questions over false answers. I prefer the red pill. John Lennon was an inspired genius with a gift for expression, especially in matters such as these, he was not afraid to speak the unspeakable and clear the air. It was liberating for him, and for us too.


John Lennon was born Oct. 9, 1940.
Sharing a birthday: Sean Ono Lennon, born Oct. 9, 1975. Website (plays music), or Wiki.

Tags: -

Monday, October 06, 2008

McCain's "pal," G. Gordon Liddy

Our opponent though, is someone who sees America it seems as being so imperfect that he’s palling around with terrorists who would target their own country? -- Gov. Palin, numerous times.


First of all, there's no evidence that Obama and Ayers were close, or "pals" as she puts it, but there's plenty of evidence linking McCain and G. Gordon Liddy.

(The video on the right offers a verbal summation of Liddy by the Young Turks) As a member of Nixon's Re-election Committee (and the White House "plumbers" unit), came up with several plots to thwart the Democrats in the election, including firebombing the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. (in order to destroy certain documents), kidnapping anti-war organizers and taking them to to Mexico to prevent their disruption of the Republican Convention, and many other activities which were mostly not carried out. One that was carried out was the break-in at Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office (Ellsberg had leaked the Pentagon papers). He was also one of the burglars who broke into the Democratic National Committee offices in the Watergate Hotel. Liddy was convicted of conspiracy, burglary and illegal wiretapping, and received a 20-year sentence which was commuted by Pres. Carter after 5 years.

In his autobiography, he states that he once made plans (with E. Howard Hunt) to kill journalist Jack Anderson, based on a literal interpretation of a Nixon White House statement "we need to get rid of this Anderson guy."

In his post-prison role as a conservative talk-show host, he made these statements advocating the killing of Federal agents:
* August 26, 1994 - Now if the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms comes to disarm you and they are bearing arms, resist them with arms. Go for a head shot; they're going to be wearing bulletproof vests." ... "They've got a big target on there, ATF. Don't shoot at that, because they've got a vest on underneath that. Head shots, head shots.... Kill the sons of bitches.

* September 15, 1994 - If the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms insists upon a firefight, give them a firefight. Just remember, they're wearing flak jackets and you're better off shooting for the head.


This video (actually just audio with captions) is McCain's appearance on Liddy's radio show in 2007, where Liddy is greeted as an old friend (he held a fundraiser at Liddy's house in 1998), and McCain tell him, "I'm proud of you, I'm proud of your family."... "It's always a pleasure for me to come on your program, Gordon, and congratulations on your continued success and adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great."

Riiiiiight.

G. Gordon Liddy wiki
Media Matters: McCain's Own Ayers

Nutty Brown night


I think the Nutty Brown Café and Amphitheatre in Dripping Springs is my favorite outdoor venue these days. During this hotter-than-average summer I wimped out a lot and stuck to indoor activities more than usual, but with the return of cool nights it’s a great time for going. Del Castillo played there on Saturday night, with Alpha Rev opening. Had not seen Alpha Rev before, and they were a great surprise! They are an Indie pop rock band, and I loved the fiddle player’s style. Second time lately I've seen a fiddler produce guitar-like sounds from the instrument (the other being Stuart Duncan on "Black Dog" last week with Plant & Krauss). We will see them again, maybe at the Oasis in a couple of weeks - a free sunset show overlooking the lake.

The Nutty Brown holds probably 1000-2000 people, not really sure, and this show was competing with a big football game so it was less crowded than it would have been normally. There was plenty of room to move around everywhere, even up front. We left the front rail for an elevated perch for awhile (it used to be the stage before the place was redesigned), and there was a nice, cool, strong breeze blowing - strong enough to blow over a half-full drink. Had not seen Del Castillo in about 4 months (that's a long time)! I've seen them so many times that we know each other, and all the other big fans are there so it's like a big happy familia... like a family reunion where people actually like each other. They put on a great show! I know it's great for bands to get to play to the hometown crowd.

The Nutt's patio is really pretty large, with lots of trees, room for kids to romp, a talking parrot, and also has a big parking lot in the back - free parking AT the venue. What a concept! They will seat you at a table if you want to order food and drinks that way, or you can even bring your own chairs. The whole experience was in stark contrast to the ACL Festival from the week before.

Debate Watch parties



This is the main party, and looks like a good one with special guests Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Luci Baines Johnson. The Long Center is a wonderful place with incredible acoustics, but they are fussy about food and drinks in the auditorium itself, so you will not be able to dull the McCain pain with tasty beverages unless you do it from the lobby. Also the great acoustics will muffle your screams. RSVP at Turn Texas Blue.

The Alamo Drafthouse, S. Lamar, will be showing it on the big screen while you enjoy as much food and drink as you can afford. I imagine we will probably just stay home and keep the cats company. Always a good option.

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Get your stinking paws off my new car, you damned dirty ape!


To: My no-account devil-spawn Catholic, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, agnostic former friend or relative
From: Heaven
Subject: I told you so: You've been left behind

Say the Rapture happens. OK... how do you get in that final "See, I was right"? The website (previously) linked above will take care of it for you, and for $40 per year you can store your documents that you want released after you leave to as many as 12 hellbound heathens (they recommend storing sensitive financial info). Also, send out emails to 62 people of your choice.

Why bother? The site explains it this way:
Imagine how taken back they will be by the millions of missing Christians and devastation at the rapture. They will know it was true and that they have blown it. There will be a small window of time where they might be reached for the Kingdom of God. We have made it possible for you to send them a letter of love and a plea to receive Christ one last time. You can also send information based on scripture as to what will happen next.

Messages are sent out 6 days after the Rapture.

How do they know that the Rapture has happened? The e-mails will be automatically sent when 3 out of 4 designated couples who are likely to be Raptured fail to log in for six days in a row.

Send your sensitive financial documents to these people, and don't worry, they will be safe. They are Christians.

I'm thinking that a good alternate to this would be to just let your lawyer take care of it. Will lawyers be Raptured? Article at Wired via Glen Phillips' blog.

Another site for us left behinders is "Advice for a NonRaptured World," which, unlike the above, seems to be a parody (although it's hard to tell sometimes - that's the beauty of it). They've got some great links, including Rapturewear (jewelry, shirts, dog tags, even handbags). Just a comment here... that butt-ugly purse is not going to Heaven with you. Just sayin'...

And don't think you can leave it behind for me either, I will accept cash but the purse goes to Goodwill.

Even better is this site, which offers Rapture diapers, wipes, power bars, and a couple of graphics which made me laugh out loud.

Friday, October 03, 2008

Do I Amuse You?


Am I a clown? A plaything?

Got nothing better to do than make me look silly on yer Youtubes? Keep in mind that payback is a bitch.

;-)

(Nobody can embarrass you like your friends and family armed with a video camera.)

Furbaby Friday - Blue Boy has the blues


Back in late August we put Jax in this soft e-collar to keep him from licking his nipple bloody. Unfortunately, he is still wearing it. We take it off of him to let him groom while we watch him like a hawk so that he doesn't lick the wrong spots, but unfortunately he has started a new "booboo" on his elbow, and licked the back of his hind leg until it bled everywhere. He can get to that area with the collar on {sigh}. Prozac has already failed, so now we're trying a surge of Depomedrol shots and a change of diet.


Tags and links: Friday Ark - Carnival of the Cats - This week's carnival is at The Catboys Realm - -

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Farktastic and more

Well, it's been hard not to focus on this political train wreck. It's obviously been difficult for this man, who is fascinated by Ms. Palin to the point that he has done a nude painting of her to hang in his bar.
"I've been following her religiously," he said Monday at the bar. "I had never heard of her before, like everyone else. I find her bizarrely fascinating, even though I pretty much despise everything she stands for."


The part that makes it Fark-worthy? The fact that his daughter posed for it. [Check it out at the link.]

Watching the debate tomorrow? At home or at a party? I think we are considering the Alamo Drafthouse, where there is sure to be plenty of hooting, hollering, and tasty beverages.