TV
I'm not sure. I pay 30 bucks a month to watch TV for 3 hrs on Friday night (and soon to be one hour, as the Stargates are getting disappointing). Anyone have anything they like to view that they could recommend to me?
Friday, July 29, 2005
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Monday, July 25, 2005
a rare partisan rant
Well not all that rare, in the past I did them all the time.
But I have to make note.
I just finished watching "The Daily Show" (stayed up past my bedtime). As usual, Pennsylvania's junior Senator did not disappoint.
He was on pimping his new book "It Takes A Family." I've skimmed this book briefly in the B.Dalton down at Strawberry Square. It reminds me as to why I don't read political books. It's awful, self-serving tripe. Avoid like the plauge.
But anyway, on "The Daily Show" Senator Santorum believes that the government really needs to nurture and protect families, even though I think most people do a great job at being individually responsible for their own families without government intervention.
Pay attention to that phrase, individual responsiblity. It will become very important for our discussion.
Now the Republicans have always been "The Party of Individual Responsiblity." This is their mantra. It is the code word they've used to slowly dismantle most social programs to varying degrees. They don't like government. Limited, small government is their thing. No biggie, I can respect that.
They castigate liberals for too much government such as throwing money at broken problems like public schools and cities and creating "the nanny state."
It seems, lately, the Republicans have coopted this role. Now with Pennsylvania embarking on an "Academic Freedom" initiative to protect college kids from being "indoctrinated," various people screaming about whats on the TV (uh, turn the TV off and make your kids go read a book or play outside?), and now Santorum saying "we need to nurture families, eww gay people," it is clear they want to create their own "nanny state." It was a bad idea when Democrats wanted to do it and its an even worse idea now. I am totally for "Individual responsibility." Gee, I suppose that could make me a Republican.
I'd like some feedback on this, as I see this all the time. It's an irritant. It is also a fear that this sort of thing will send us Into The Long Dark Night*. What do you all think?
PS--A job related rant- Congress, please pass the highway bill so departments of transportation nationwide can do their jobs. These extensions are ridiculous.
*Into the Long Dark Night is the (new) tentative title of the research I'm working on, once I get it written.
Well not all that rare, in the past I did them all the time.
But I have to make note.
I just finished watching "The Daily Show" (stayed up past my bedtime). As usual, Pennsylvania's junior Senator did not disappoint.
He was on pimping his new book "It Takes A Family." I've skimmed this book briefly in the B.Dalton down at Strawberry Square. It reminds me as to why I don't read political books. It's awful, self-serving tripe. Avoid like the plauge.
But anyway, on "The Daily Show" Senator Santorum believes that the government really needs to nurture and protect families, even though I think most people do a great job at being individually responsible for their own families without government intervention.
Pay attention to that phrase, individual responsiblity. It will become very important for our discussion.
Now the Republicans have always been "The Party of Individual Responsiblity." This is their mantra. It is the code word they've used to slowly dismantle most social programs to varying degrees. They don't like government. Limited, small government is their thing. No biggie, I can respect that.
They castigate liberals for too much government such as throwing money at broken problems like public schools and cities and creating "the nanny state."
It seems, lately, the Republicans have coopted this role. Now with Pennsylvania embarking on an "Academic Freedom" initiative to protect college kids from being "indoctrinated," various people screaming about whats on the TV (uh, turn the TV off and make your kids go read a book or play outside?), and now Santorum saying "we need to nurture families, eww gay people," it is clear they want to create their own "nanny state." It was a bad idea when Democrats wanted to do it and its an even worse idea now. I am totally for "Individual responsibility." Gee, I suppose that could make me a Republican.
I'd like some feedback on this, as I see this all the time. It's an irritant. It is also a fear that this sort of thing will send us Into The Long Dark Night*. What do you all think?
PS--A job related rant- Congress, please pass the highway bill so departments of transportation nationwide can do their jobs. These extensions are ridiculous.
*Into the Long Dark Night is the (new) tentative title of the research I'm working on, once I get it written.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
interesting sites of local interest
Well, of local Pennsylvania interest.
The outrage over the legislative pay raises has spawned the following sites:
1. Operation Clean Sweep
2. RollbacktheRaise.org
Everywhere I go in Harrisburg, people are outraged. I don't think this issue will go away for awhile.
Well, of local Pennsylvania interest.
The outrage over the legislative pay raises has spawned the following sites:
1. Operation Clean Sweep
2. RollbacktheRaise.org
Everywhere I go in Harrisburg, people are outraged. I don't think this issue will go away for awhile.
heh
I suppose with the new legislative pay raises, there's just not enough money to go around for benefits.
I suppose with the new legislative pay raises, there's just not enough money to go around for benefits.
rss feed
Here's the RSS feed to this blog. I didn't know what an RSS feed was until this evening, so if it doesn't work just let me know and I'll read up on how to fix it.
Here's the RSS feed to this blog. I didn't know what an RSS feed was until this evening, so if it doesn't work just let me know and I'll read up on how to fix it.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Dear Harrisburg City
Or to whom it may concern:
Please unblock the stormdrains at 3rd and Emerald. The intersection floods everytime a heavy shower comes down. I've only lived in the neighborhood for a few weeks now, and I've seen it flooded twice. I don't even want to imagine what will happen if a hurricane comes through like Floyd or Isabel or Ivan and dumps heavy rain on the area for more than 12 hours. Or dare I say it, Agnes.
Thank you.
A Concerned Neighbor.
(PS, I actually live along the river, so a big flood occurance would make this moot to me. I'm just saying it could affect a lot of homes and a few businesses, including a halfway decent grocery store, if the intersection were to really flood.)
Or to whom it may concern:
Please unblock the stormdrains at 3rd and Emerald. The intersection floods everytime a heavy shower comes down. I've only lived in the neighborhood for a few weeks now, and I've seen it flooded twice. I don't even want to imagine what will happen if a hurricane comes through like Floyd or Isabel or Ivan and dumps heavy rain on the area for more than 12 hours. Or dare I say it, Agnes.
Thank you.
A Concerned Neighbor.
(PS, I actually live along the river, so a big flood occurance would make this moot to me. I'm just saying it could affect a lot of homes and a few businesses, including a halfway decent grocery store, if the intersection were to really flood.)
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Idiot of the day
"The NAACP unfortunately in the 2000 campaign likened the president to James Byrd, who was a racist killer in east Texas, who the president brought to justice."
Ken Mehlman. You are an idiot. Please note, that James Byrd was the victim.
Transcript.
Via Atrios.
"The NAACP unfortunately in the 2000 campaign likened the president to James Byrd, who was a racist killer in east Texas, who the president brought to justice."
Ken Mehlman. You are an idiot. Please note, that James Byrd was the victim.
Transcript.
Via Atrios.
Terry In the Big City, Episode One
I'm finally settled in Harrisburg and I finally have the time (and ability, now that the DSL is on) to write about stuff.
Some stuff I won't write about:
1. My job (or more specifically, my observations on the people I work with.) I'd rather not get fired. I will say that I enjoy what I do thus far as a transportation planner in training, and the people I work with are easy-going and friendly.
2. Political rants. It's just too exasperating. You hear one thing that gets you angry, that's fine. However when it's a daily litany of outrages ongoing for nearly half a decade, you get a little worn out. As Forrest Gump once said, "Sometimes, there just aren't enough rocks."
Some stuff I will write about:
1. My friends , though they'll all be given code names in the cast of characters to protect their privacy.
2. My hobbies. I'm currently looking into buying another aquarium. And maybe a new computer. And some plants.
3. Harrisburg. It is my new home.
4. Rants about local goofiness. Pennsylvania's greedy legislature just voted themselves a payraise. The poor dears were only making about 70 grand. Now they're somewhere in the 80s. I suppose their kids need to get that super expensive private education and I also suppose they need to pay for the expensive cars I see lined up along the Capitol. But I digress.
That's all for now.
I'm finally settled in Harrisburg and I finally have the time (and ability, now that the DSL is on) to write about stuff.
Some stuff I won't write about:
1. My job (or more specifically, my observations on the people I work with.) I'd rather not get fired. I will say that I enjoy what I do thus far as a transportation planner in training, and the people I work with are easy-going and friendly.
2. Political rants. It's just too exasperating. You hear one thing that gets you angry, that's fine. However when it's a daily litany of outrages ongoing for nearly half a decade, you get a little worn out. As Forrest Gump once said, "Sometimes, there just aren't enough rocks."
Some stuff I will write about:
1. My friends , though they'll all be given code names in the cast of characters to protect their privacy.
2. My hobbies. I'm currently looking into buying another aquarium. And maybe a new computer. And some plants.
3. Harrisburg. It is my new home.
4. Rants about local goofiness. Pennsylvania's greedy legislature just voted themselves a payraise. The poor dears were only making about 70 grand. Now they're somewhere in the 80s. I suppose their kids need to get that super expensive private education and I also suppose they need to pay for the expensive cars I see lined up along the Capitol. But I digress.
That's all for now.
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