Famous and nonfamous strangers

For everyone who needs cheering up

david — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:04:44 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVNTdWbVBgc

Details about the story here.

Charging for checked bags is a stupid idea

david — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:17:16 +0000

Ever since American Airlines announced they’d be charging for the first checked bag, this is the blog post I’d intended to write. Well, close to it anyway — I’d also thought that the only effect is going to be everyone trying to bring bags on board and making the clusterfuck that is boarding even worse, but charging for carry-on bags instead
is a brilliant idea. The only modification I’d make is to make it apply to bags in the overhead compartments only (the space in front of your legs is still free). The airlines could sell a limited number brightly-coloured carry-on bag tags (for say, $15 each) for each flight, and anything found in the overhead compartment without a tag automatically gets checked. (Passengers in bulkhead seats get a free tag to compensate for the lack of underseat storage.) It’s a great way of managing a limited resource, and a revenue generator for cash-strapped airlines.

And on a similar topic, I now refuse to fly US Airways since they announced they were to start charging for soft drinks during flights. This is simply penny-pinching gone to far. In the dry environment of a low-pressure airline cabin, everyone needs a drink. Just add a few dollars to the fare, for chrissake, and save all the costs of re-engineering the beverage and cash collection process!

Married in California

david — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:57:40 +0000

I just discovered from this useful guide to gay marriage from the LA Times that as of 5:01PM on Monday, Jay and I will be married in California, thanks to our Vancouver, BC Wedding. I wonder if that means we can now go through immigration at LAX together — several times we’ve been rudely turned back from the podium after approaching it together because we’re “not a family”. (Welcome to the USA!) I wonder if the state law will trump the federal bigotry in this case.

I also learned something quite disturbing in the same article:

You do not have to live in California to marry here, and Massachusetts and New York state will recognize the marriages. Other states may not recognize the marriages, and some, including Wisconsin and Delaware, impose criminal penalties on its residents “if they enter a marriage outside the state that would have been prohibited in the state,” such as gay marriage, according to a fact sheet posted on Lambda Legal’s website. The law in Wisconsin, for example, permits authorities to punish offenders with a fine of up to $10,000 and nine months imprisonment.

Seriously? A huge-ass fine and nine months in prison just for going through a wedding ceremony in another country or state? Wisconsin, welcome to my list of places I’ll never visit.

Habeas Corpus Still On Life Support

terry — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:24:37 +0000

The Supremes have pitched the Bush Administration their 3rd strike.

I am cautiously hopeful with the slight majority for Democrats in Congress and the lame duck status of The Idiot. I am unsure this means we can immediately restore the foundation of democracy - the right to challenge detention by the government. When Congress originally passed the Military Commissions Act, I got a bit maudlin here. Rather than jump for joy I want to see what The Idiot’s Minions and Congress are going to do about this latest slap from The Supremes.

(more…)

Today, I surprised myself…

terry — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 05:49:59 +0000

With the end of the Democratic Party primary, I took some time today to review two speeches (Hilary Clinton’s concession & Barack Obama’s St. Paul, MN, address). I listened to Senator Clinton’s speech first because of 2 major factors: 1) The meme going about that somehow Senator Clinton’s die-hard supporters could vote for McCain and 2) The months-long barrage of sexist attacks made upon the senator by the right-wing noise machine that ended up being echoed by the MSM.

(more…)

Radiohead Fans… This Is Amazing

shaun — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:16:47 +0000

i totally recycled this from Engadget but if you haven’t already seen this… it’s amazing. http://www.vimeo.com/1109226

sidenote: i saw radiohead in dallas last week and it was one of the most inspiring concerts i’ve ever seen them do. thom was actually having fun and joking with the crowd. he even took time to heckle a heckler during exit music (for a film).

Lest you think the right isn’t racist

paulette — Thu, 29 May 2008 05:32:12 +0000

Some rightwing nutjob I’d never heard of convinced Dunkin Donuts to pull an ad featuring Rachel Ray. Not because it featured Rachel Ray (which is a perfectly valid reason not to show an ad), but because she was wearing a scarf which said nutjob thought seemed reminiscent of something some Muslims might wear, and was therefore, somehow, supporting terrorism. (insert sounds of disbelief here)

And the DD, whose donut I have always adored, caved.

Here’s the money quote from the nutjob:

“It’s refreshing to see an American company show sensitivity to the concerns of Americans opposed to Islamic jihad and its apologists. Too many of them bend over backward in the direction of anti-American political correctness…. Fashion statements may seem insignificant, but when they lead to the mainstreaming of violence — unintentionally or not — they matter. Ignorance is no longer an excuse. In post-9/11 America, vigilance must never go out of style.”

So, in addition to not eating my favorite donuts or buying their admittedly good coffee, from tomorrow on, I will be wearing a hejab. Because fashion statements may seem insignificant, but they can lead to mainstreaming perfectly reasonable cultural values and traditions that pose no threat to a post-9/11 America other than challenging ignorance and racism.

I’m actually quite interested if you all think that my quiet protest is going to offend Muslims (which is certianly not my intention). I have tremendous respect for what the hejab represents, in that I believe it is about keeping women from being objectified by society. You might well have a different impression, and I don’t mind offending anyone who has an issue with Islam, but I don’t want to offend anyone of the Islamic faith.

Photos from Sicily

paulette — Fri, 02 May 2008 01:33:50 +0000

Can be found here. All I can say is that landing in Newark after leaving “God’s Kitchen” was something of a letdown.

Jay is 35

david — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:28:37 +0000

Thanks to everyone who came to Jay’s 35th birthday party — it was awesome to see everyone and I think it helped Jay get over his midlife crisis :). The photos are up on flickr. And confidential to Julie: the flowers were gorgeous, thanks!

I can only hope this brings you as much glee as it did me

paulette — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:42:13 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFR-8NVjw-k

and if you like that, you should go looking for Shatner’s version of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds!