October 2004 Archives

In preparation for the real election on Tuesday, try something different by electing a Zombie! (OK, its not actually all that different.)

Chuck's Zombie Contest has wrapped up and voting continues all day today. Exercise your democratic duty and may the best Zombie win.

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this as an idea, but I thought I'd share for those that don't share my unease. For those living in swing states with progressive ideals (i.e. wanting to vote for someone besides the party zombies), Votepair offers to pair you with a party loyalist who is willing to swap votes, and vote for Nader or Badnarik or Cobb (or even Charles Jay) in their own incredibly safe state of Nebraska or California or Texas in exchange for a vote for their candidate (typically Kerry) in a swing state.

So my already lax posting habits will be getting worse, but it won't be because I'm not writing. I've decided (at Laura's urging) to participate in this year's NaNoWriMo (which is a fun to say abbreviation for National Novel Writing Month). Founded by Chris Baty, the goal is simple. Start writing a novel at midnight on November 1st and keep writing your novel until it reaches 50,000 words. If you make it by November 30th, you win!

I like it because:

1) It's thoroughly insane.
2) It allows for an opportunity to meet other thoroughly insane people and complain.
3) It enforces a deadline which usually helps me produce my best work.
4) It encourages quantity over quality, which helps break the perfectionist procrastination trap, and may help me get through my other projects.

I have no idea what I'm going to write yet. I'm throwing some ideas around. I plan on posting excerpts up here on the blog as it goes along, since I won't have much time to write anything else. Also, the election season will (hopefully) be over by the time I start so it will be a nice break.

In any case, I encourage all of you to join this insanity. You get to write shitty prose, waste lots of time, alienate and piss off your loved ones, and at the end of it all you'll have a long mostly crappy book to show for it. What more you could ask for? It's one more crappy book than most other people have written.

So I've been too busy to write, and its far too late to do a debate column. So I'll just do some wrap up and some other observations.

Andy put this in the comments of an item below, but I thought it deserved front page notice. Its worth asking: Is this President so afraid of having to admit he's wrong that he won't even allow people who disagree *near* him? I share Andy's disgust for this kind of fascist behavior being forced upon the Secret Service (an organization for which I have tremendous respect). It's an insult to freedom and everything this country stands for. And its being done by our President.

Bush Rallies routinely eject people for their political beliefs

In case anyone was curious about my take on the VP debate, here it is: I didn't see it. Everyone I've read says Edwards did very well, which wasn't an incredibly big surprise to me. I missed it mainly because I forgot. However, I was watching West Wing at the time, so that's sort of like fulfilling my civic duty.

Also, I have to say I (reluctantly) agree with the French on the Duelfer report stuff. We classify the names in the report of American businessmen who were bribed to protect their privacy, but release all the names of non-American citizens?

And how much would you like to bet that an official with Halliburton (along with Exxon Mobil) is on that list? Maybe with enough political pressure they'll release it and we can find out.

Actually, I'm just speculating here, but wouldn't that be the kind of smoking gun needed to turn this election directly to the Democrats? Proof that Halliburton (while Cheney was in command) deliberately violated the Oil-for-food program, I mean. I have no evidence whatsoever that such a thing happened, but it seems to me that it's not impossible, and would be quite the bombshell were it true.

In case you're lost

these links might help

Hey, just wanted to let everyone know, my friend and semi-frequent collaborator Chuck ('not that Chuck' for some of you, and 'yes, that Chuck' for the rest, and the link on your left that says (wait for it) NOT "Chuck" but rather "Grab Bag Comics" for those who are confused and have started to become annoyed by this incredibly long parenthetical that I couldn't possibly try to follow with my original thought, but you could possibly be prepared for it, as I actually talk the same way most of the time (which is neither here nor there)) is having a Zombie contest. All you have to do is draw your favorite Zombie picture by October 20th and email it in to him. More details can be found here at his site.

I don't think I'll participate as my manual visual arts skills are nearly non-existent. (And please don't tell me that its easy to learn, as I've broken nearly a dozen people who thought that already.) But I'm sure there are some talented artists out there who've been anxious to show off their Zombie illustrating chops. Here's your chance!

And while yer at it, stick around and check out the comics.

Chuck ("Yes, that Chuck for ... nevermind) found this link and I had to share. Culture Jamming rocks (in a totally non-legally binding in no way endorsing such destruction of federal-property "please don't hurt me Mr. Ashcroft" kind of way).

jamming the USPS

OK, I was totally ready to ignore this, and then I tried it to see what would happen.

Creepy. Especially 5 parts of "_____"

I don't know what that is, and neither does anybody else. I think I like it that way, actually.

(comes to me from Princess Blogonoke)

I've always loved just how far Rockstar games has taken their satirical content beyond the game itself. While the highlight so far has been the "Degenatron Emulator" allowing you to "relive" the 8 bit video game experience, there are several other examples, from other false websites to actually providing answering machines at the phone numbers called out in the game. (Try 1-866-9SAVEME or 1-866-PILLAGE)

Anyway, as we're on the cusp of the newest GTA (San Andreas) release, I thought I'd share one of the newest. Fear it? Do it!

Also, some trailers: August Trailer (WM9)

Official Trailer (WM9)

GTA San Andreas Official Site