Tiananmen Square
Originally uploaded by Balakov.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
quote of the day
"Fundamentally, the Bible is not a book of science... It's a love letter written by God to his people in the language of two or three thousand years ago... So one cannot ask the Bible for scientific responses."-- José Gabriel Funes, Pope Benedict's official astonomer.
Whoever made this video needs to keep that in mind.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
Free the Hops update
Dear member or supporter of Free the Hops,Unfortunately, an unexpected controversy in the Alabama Senate Thursday caused several hours of stalling tactics and the Gourmet Beer Bill was delayed until Monday, May 19. The controversy had nothing to do with us. We were just caught in the crossfire. May 19 is our last chance to pass Gourmet Beer this year as it is the last day of the regular session.
We should continue to look at the positive. This gives you more time to keep the pressure on your state senator and encourage your friends, co-workers, family, and everyone else to do the same. You have done great work so far. Thanks to your phone calls and emails last week and over the years, we now have 16 senators who have publicly stated their support for our bill, 7 more who are "probable" Yes votes, and several more who are undecided. Only a couple of senators are absolutely opposed to us, which is incredible work in Alabama.
We need to keep up the good work. We believe we already have the votes to pass, but we need to make sure they realize this is an important issue to their constituents, with broad support, that needs to be addressed this year. Because of the rules of the Senate, any senator can delay our bill in a variety of ways. Time is running out, and I want to make sure we're voted on as soon as possible. Even if your senator is a definite Yes vote, continue to communicate with him or her. When we passed the House of Representatives this year, some of our supporting legislators worked behind the scenes to keep their colleagues from delaying the vote. The more support we have, even among senators who already plan to vote Yes, the better.
Several people who have contacted me after calling their senator said it took around 2-3 minutes at most and most of them talked to a secretary. It's really very simple and it's our best weapon. We don't have millions of dollars in campaign money or a powerful union, but we do have a lot of dedicated voters.
Here's a suggestion if you don't know what to say:
"Senator, my name is (name) and I live in your district. I just wanted to call to let you know I would like you to vote yes on HB196, the Gourmet Beer Bill. Thank you, and have a great day."
Some of you have been able to engage in more conversation, but letting them know that you are a constituent and you support the Gourmet Beer Bill is all that I'm asking for. Thank you for all you've done so far, and for continuing your advocacy.
Together, we can Free the Hops!
Stuart Carter
President
Free the Hops | Alabamians for Specialty Beer
assistance requested
OK folks, I need your ideas/genius/brainfarts. So I'm really enjoying this beer-brewing silliness and have decided it might be fun to come up with some labels to put on the beer I force my friends to drink. The labels will need a super-cool logo, and that's where you come in.
The name of the beer is "Crooked Brew" and I need a suitable logo to match the kickassery of this name. Do you have any ideas? When my dad ran for circuit court judge a few years back he made some signs that included a shepherd's staff (or 'crook') cleverly hidden in the design. Maybe something like that would be cool. Anyway, send me your ideas. Beer will reward the idea I end up using.
Logo ideas that include skulls, power tools, weapons, or my dog Scout will be considered first. Logos that include all four may be accepted sight unseen. Logos that include references to amoebic dysentery, cryptosporidium or any other water (or beer)-borne illness will not be considered.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Friday, May 09, 2008
Thursday, May 08, 2008
go Zach go
Support Zach Feinstein in Getting Drafted into the NBA
"The short story is that I, Zachary Feinstein, have declared for the 2008 NBA Draft. As a 5'8" 130 pound Caucasian, I am the perfect candidate for professional basketball. Also, I do not play basketball.
You see, I am not currently on my college's basketball team (Division 3 just for reference) nor did I try out to be. I was at no point on my high school's basketball team nor did I try out to be. I was at no point on my middle school's basketball team nor did I try out to be. The last time I was on a basketball team was before Bill Clinton got caught with his pants down.
So there you have it, I, Zach Feinstein, am in the 2008 NBA Draft."
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
free the hops emergency help needed!
A message from Stuart Carter, President, Free the Hops
Members and supporters of Free The Hops,Nothing is certain in Alabama politics, but we are confident that our lobbyist can get HB196 on the Senate's special order calendar tomorrow, which is the next-to-last day of the 2008 session. Passing a Senate floor vote is the final hurdle before the Gourmet Beer Bill can be sent to the Governor to sign it into law. It all comes down to this moment.
Although we take nothing for granted and encourage everyone to make a final call and email to your own Senator to encourage him or her to vote Yes on HB196, we have good reason to believe we have the votes needed for passage. Unfortunately, we have gotten word that one Senator may be prepared to stop our bill from ever coming up for a vote. Senator Hank Erwin has said he is inclined to filibuster the Gourmet Beer Bill because of his religious convictions. He is fundamentally opposed to all "pro-alcohol" legislation, period.
Because the end of the session is close at hand, the Senate as a whole has no patience for filibusters at this point. If anyone threatens a filibuster, they will most likely carry over the controversial bill and move on, possibly ending our chances of success this year.
So we are asking ALL of our members to call Hank Erwin today or early tomorrow (before 10am). Even if you are not one of his constituents, his threat to filibuster could prevent your own Senator from ever having a chance to cast a vote on the bill, which is not fair. BE POLITE. It is absolutely imperative that we all take the high road and be models of Christian charity and civility. But he needs to know that Alabamians are overwhelmingly in favor of HB196 and we want him to allow it to come up for a vote.
All you need to say is that you support HB196, and while you respect his convictions and understand he will vote No, you would simply like him to allow the bill to be voted on. Keep it short and simple.
He will be in the State House today and in the morning. His office number is (334) 242-7873. You can also send an email to senatorerwin@aol.com, but phone calls will have the biggest impact.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
makes cents
A fine analysis of the federal tax rebate coming to a mailbox near you. As summed up by Dave Barry:
Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?Also amusing: http://www.howispentmystimulus.com/.A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.
Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.
Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidgen.
Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.
Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China?
A. Shut up.
still there
When the U.S. fought Japan in the Pacific during the years 1941-1945, many of the battles occurred on small, mostly uninhabited islands. There were occasionally surprising results from the unexpected arrival of troops. On some islands, like Kwajalein, the battles were intense and still affect the lives of the natives living there, mainly through the existence of unexploded ordinance ("UXO") left on the beaches. Nearly 70 years later, the U.S. is still trying to clean up after those conflicts. This guy worked on a UXO demolition team for three years in the Pacific, and has some amazing photographs. Be sure and check out the WWII artifacts he found.
Monday, May 05, 2008
big storm
This electrical storm on Saturn is roughly the size of the planet on which you are presently affixed. And it's been kicking for three straight months.
a common lament
Saturday was Dirt, Sweat & Gears, the 2nd annual 12-hour race in Fayetteville, TN. It was a doozy. Notice the guy's rear derailleur in the photo--yep, it's trashed. After a heavy rain Friday night the mud was bad on the first lap and there were a lot of cycle casualties. But the weather cleared and it became a beautiful day. Hard 10-mile trail but a great event. DSG is a superbly organized race and everyone on the trail was courteous and helpful. I was so tired afterwards it was all I could do to stand and listen to the awards ceremony.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
quote of the day
I believe that today more than ever a book should be sought after even if it has only one great page in it: we must search for fragments, splinters, toenails, anything that has ore in it, anything that is capable of resuscitating the body and soul. It may be that we are doomed, that there is no hope for us, any of us, but if that is so then let us set up a last agonizing, bloodcurdling howl, a screech of defiance, a war whoop! Away with lamentation! Away with elegies and dirges! Away with biographies and histories, and libraries and museums! Let the dead eat the dead. Let us living ones dance about the rim of the crater, a last expiring dance.
But a dance!
But a dance!
-- Henry Miller, Tropic of Cancer
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
because having only 200 friends is so 2007
I used to think blogs were cool. Now the only social network for me is ncludr.
R.I.P. Charlie Blair
Charlie Blair was an eccentric but nice fellow who worked on the copy desk with me at the Birmignham Post-Herald a few years ago. He passed away recently. Someone's set up a blog where people can post their memories of Charlie. It's a good thing.
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