I skipped today because the weather's supposed to be gnarly up there, may go up tomorrow.
5 years.
Bears forever.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Happy Anniversary, Bear
I skipped today because the weather's supposed to be gnarly up there, may go up tomorrow.
5 years.
Bears forever.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Sound change for Cage's 'As Slow As Possible'
The eighth 'sound change' of the current performance of John Cage's 'As Slow As Possible' (ironically acronymed as ASAP) at the St. Burchardi church in Halberstadt, Germany was added a few days ago. The next sound change is scheduled July 5, 2010.
The performance began September 5, 2001 and is scheduled to continue until the year 2640.
The performance began September 5, 2001 and is scheduled to continue until the year 2640.
Happy Birthday, my revolutionary sweetheart
Boulder turns 150.
I hear they're dressing in period spandex downtown this weekend.
I shouldn't snark. Boulder's has hosted my entire adult life. Love, loss, joy, sorrow, work, play. Thin air, dark beer, Mighty Burgers and $.99 nachos at What's Up FAC.
First job here was in a furniture factory, staining chair sides for minimum wage, a job I landed on my 23rd birthday. I recall walking to work everyday from 19th and Marine to old Pearl, throwing up clouds of hoppers across the vacant lots along the way. Bought a case of Molson every payday.
Many memories. Some toxic, many fond.
Happy Birthday.
I hear they're dressing in period spandex downtown this weekend.
I shouldn't snark. Boulder's has hosted my entire adult life. Love, loss, joy, sorrow, work, play. Thin air, dark beer, Mighty Burgers and $.99 nachos at What's Up FAC.
First job here was in a furniture factory, staining chair sides for minimum wage, a job I landed on my 23rd birthday. I recall walking to work everyday from 19th and Marine to old Pearl, throwing up clouds of hoppers across the vacant lots along the way. Bought a case of Molson every payday.
Many memories. Some toxic, many fond.
Happy Birthday.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Fallout 3
I had been following the main quest at a distracted, leisurely pace - exploring for a bit, picking it up for a few milestone events, then exploring again - until I actually stumbled into the end sequence and basically finished the game a few days ago.
I've since gone a few save games back and pointed myself into new territory to go wander in...but oddly, it feels somewhat empty and pointless now, as if any experience or swag gained through it is now rendered meaningless. The vibe of the wasteland is addictive and provocative. You just want it to go on indefinitely.
Everyone said the main quest was short, but by comparison...it took me at least 9 months of playing a few hours a week to finish the main quest in Oblivion, and barely 2 to do the same in Fallout 3.
I've since gone a few save games back and pointed myself into new territory to go wander in...but oddly, it feels somewhat empty and pointless now, as if any experience or swag gained through it is now rendered meaningless. The vibe of the wasteland is addictive and provocative. You just want it to go on indefinitely.
Everyone said the main quest was short, but by comparison...it took me at least 9 months of playing a few hours a week to finish the main quest in Oblivion, and barely 2 to do the same in Fallout 3.
Plant / Krauss
Congrats to Robert Plant and Allison Krauss for nabbing 5 Grammy awards for Raising Sand last night - I found it interesting that "Please Read The Letter" won as best record, being a throw-away song of Plant and Page's from the Zep days, ressurected for their Walking Into Clarksdale album from 1999, and finally finding specific gravity with Krauss' yearnful vocal.
Is it just me, or is Plant at his best when delving into, and almost-but-not-quite channeling pure Americana musical mythos. Chicago Blues, 40 years ago, and now country / bluegrass.
Krauss has now won 26 Grammy awards. The term "lovely and talented" should be permanently retired in her honor. And does T-Bone Burnett ever make a bad record?
As for Plant, his stubborn refusal to do what everyone wanted him to do, and work this project instead, would certainly seem to be vindicated.
Still, that won't stop people from wanting him to do it anyway.
Is it just me, or is Plant at his best when delving into, and almost-but-not-quite channeling pure Americana musical mythos. Chicago Blues, 40 years ago, and now country / bluegrass.
Krauss has now won 26 Grammy awards. The term "lovely and talented" should be permanently retired in her honor. And does T-Bone Burnett ever make a bad record?
As for Plant, his stubborn refusal to do what everyone wanted him to do, and work this project instead, would certainly seem to be vindicated.
Still, that won't stop people from wanting him to do it anyway.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Stimulate THIS
As Obama pointed out recently, "...these days, everyone's an economist..." Thus, in the debate about the proposed $800 billion-with-a-b economic stimulus, everyone on all sides of the political spectrum has an opinion.
My political inclinations are no secret to anyone who knows me (modern Republicanism is a dangerous sham and toxic to working people), so I'm basically in favor of anything that will reverse the corrosive effects of ceaseless tax-cutting and infrastructure neglect that post-Reagan conservatism, in its hidebound and evidence-blind way, has visited on this nation. Like Krugman, though, I do feel that bill that the Capital Hill compromise is likely to yield will probably fail in its broader purpose, which is to remake America as a work-valuing, forward-looking society again - which may end up being Obama's biggest political exposure. The thing just isn't big enough, it's too focus on tax cuts, and getting three Republican votes to get it pass means that it both fails in content and fails as a model of bi-partisanship.
The fact is, the Republicans have trained themselves to reflexively offer tax cuts as a solution to pretty much everything, as well as decry every nickel of non-defense government spending as "wasteful" or "pork". They have disappeared up their own dark rhetorical recesses so far, they are (or at least appear to be, which, in politics, is basically the same anyway) completely blind to the plight of the 100's of thousands being tossed out of work. It may make for reliable campaign contributions from the wealthy, but it fails solidly and tragically as economic theory in even good times, and as an abyssmal, dissonant joke in times like this.
As John Cole pointed out during the fray about "bi-partisanship" in the stimulus debate"
Gotta agree.
My political inclinations are no secret to anyone who knows me (modern Republicanism is a dangerous sham and toxic to working people), so I'm basically in favor of anything that will reverse the corrosive effects of ceaseless tax-cutting and infrastructure neglect that post-Reagan conservatism, in its hidebound and evidence-blind way, has visited on this nation. Like Krugman, though, I do feel that bill that the Capital Hill compromise is likely to yield will probably fail in its broader purpose, which is to remake America as a work-valuing, forward-looking society again - which may end up being Obama's biggest political exposure. The thing just isn't big enough, it's too focus on tax cuts, and getting three Republican votes to get it pass means that it both fails in content and fails as a model of bi-partisanship.
The fact is, the Republicans have trained themselves to reflexively offer tax cuts as a solution to pretty much everything, as well as decry every nickel of non-defense government spending as "wasteful" or "pork". They have disappeared up their own dark rhetorical recesses so far, they are (or at least appear to be, which, in politics, is basically the same anyway) completely blind to the plight of the 100's of thousands being tossed out of work. It may make for reliable campaign contributions from the wealthy, but it fails solidly and tragically as economic theory in even good times, and as an abyssmal, dissonant joke in times like this.
As John Cole pointed out during the fray about "bi-partisanship" in the stimulus debate"
I really don’t understand how bipartisanship is ever going to work when one of the parties is insane. Imagine trying to negotiate an agreement on dinner plans with your date, and you suggest Italian and she states her preference would be a meal of tire rims and anthrax. If you can figure out a way to split the difference there and find a meal you will both enjoy, you can probably figure out how bipartisanship is going to work the next few years.
Gotta agree.
Loveland Day 8
My skepticism about Facebook has rudely violated by the appearence a few weeks ago of my old high school pal Bob, who found me shortly after I logged on. As luck would have it, he had a ski trip planned for Summit County, and we hooked up for a day of turn-carving at Loveland last Friday with his friend Cindy.
Conditions were surprisingly good, given the warm weather he had the week prior prior. Packed powder, a touch of loose snow on top, A little blustery but not too bad for Loveland in early February.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Loveland Day 7
Spectacular day - Super Bowl Sunday and the hill was empty. Chill temps, four or five fresh inches the night before on top of a packed powder base. Great skiing, tons of sun. 26 runs in total. Very good day, exactly what a midseason day in Colorado should be.
Monday, February 2, 2009
H1B Bailouts
Saw this today...
But...but.....union auto workers make about $2/hr more than non-union ones!!!! No bailouts for them. /snark
The tech industry has been H1B-ing its labor force for years, I was personally unaware that banks have been doing so also.
Welcome to globalization. The American worker has become a toxic commodity to the biggest corporations in the world. And now that the corporations are paying the long term price of gutting the American middle class and disabling our ability to consume their goods, they pose at Congress' gate with their hand out, pleading for 'stimulus' cash.
As far as I'm concerned, and fully cognizant of the seriousness of the situation, I wouldn't give anyone a nickel until they are forced to hire Americans. You want to hire Indian H1B's - fine, ask New Dehli for stimulus cash.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Even as the economy collapsed last year and many financial workers found themselves unemployed, the dozen U.S. banks now receiving the biggest rescue packages requested visas for tens of thousands of foreign workers to fill high-paying jobs, according to an Associated Press review of visa applications.
The major banks, which have received $150 billion in bailout funds, requested visas for more than 21,800 foreign workers over the past six years for senior vice presidents, corporate lawyers, junior investment analysts and human resources specialists. The average annual salary for those jobs was $90,721, nearly twice the median income for all American households.
The numbers of visas sought by the dozen banks in AP's analysis increased by nearly one-third, from 3,258 in the 2007 budget year to 4,163 in fiscal 2008.
The AP reviewed visa applications the banks filed with the Labor Department under the H-1B visa program, which allows temporary employment of foreign workers in specialized-skill and advanced-degree positions. Such visas are most often associated with high-tech workers.
But...but.....union auto workers make about $2/hr more than non-union ones!!!! No bailouts for them. /snark
The tech industry has been H1B-ing its labor force for years, I was personally unaware that banks have been doing so also.
Welcome to globalization. The American worker has become a toxic commodity to the biggest corporations in the world. And now that the corporations are paying the long term price of gutting the American middle class and disabling our ability to consume their goods, they pose at Congress' gate with their hand out, pleading for 'stimulus' cash.
As far as I'm concerned, and fully cognizant of the seriousness of the situation, I wouldn't give anyone a nickel until they are forced to hire Americans. You want to hire Indian H1B's - fine, ask New Dehli for stimulus cash.
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