Raft of Stuff
Jul. 13th, 2004 03:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ltmurnauWow, it's getting busier and busier for me as the rest of the world appears to slow down to enjoy the hot weather. As usual, I reflect that I am in the wrong line of work.
Last Thursday there was Prophecy at Lucky Bar, a damn fine place to have it. There will be another one on Tuesday August 10, and this time a Syrian zither player won't be opening for our fine DJ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
shadesofwinter.
Saturday was the 2004 Gothnic at Gyro Park, attended byscuttle, epexegesis, emperorkefka, and nocturnalmuse among others. The Sagacity folks were next table over, and braved the rain that fell at 4:00. They had decorated their picnic site with black and blue balloons, which I thought was a nice touch. That night to dzherzhinski's new floating home to play Samurai and Vinci. We had a good time.
Sunday was capped by a visit to the Hall of Wonders, far underground at a shopping mall near you. An amazing trip through dark tunnels, with neat soda-straw stalactites and weird gunge everywhere. Aki had a great time, found a $20 bill in the parking lot and we all had ice cream later.
Tonight there is a Jan Svankmajer film showing by "Schock Corridor Cinema" at the FiftyFifty Arts Collective, at its new digs near Douglas and Bay. 9:00, two dollars, BE THERE!
Meanwhile, more in the "I told you so, but not just yet" department:
***
U.S. reviews Election Day terror contingency plans
COMBINED NEWS SERVICES
July 12, 2004
American counterterrorism officials, citing what they all "alarming" intelligence about a possible al-Qaida strike inside the United States this fall, are reviewing a proposal that could allow for the postponement of the November presidential election in the event of such an attack, according to Newsweek magazine.
The success of March's Madrid railway bombings in influencing the Spanish elections -- as well as intercepted "chatter" among al-Qaida operatives -- has led analysts to conclude "they want to interfere with the elections," says one official.
The prospect that al-Qaida might seek to disrupt the U.S. election was a major factor behind last week's terror warning by Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. Ridge and other counterterrorism officials concede they have no intelligence about any specific plots, though.
Newsweek reported in its issue out today that Ridge's department asked the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel last week to analyze what legal steps would be needed to permit the postponement of the election were an attack to take place.
The Justice Department was specifically asked to review a recent letter to Ridge from DeForest Soaries Jr., chairman of the Election Assistance Commission, which was created in 2002 to provide funds to states to replace punch-card voting systems and provide other help in conducting federal elections.
In his letter, Soaries noted that, while a primary election in New York on Sept. 11, 2001, was quickly suspended by the state's Board of Elections after the attacks that morning, "the federal government has no agency that has the statutory authority to cancel and reschedule a federal election."
Soaries, a Bush appointee who two years ago was an unsuccessful GOP candidate for Congress, wants Ridge to seek emergency legislation from Congress empowering his agency to make such a call. Homeland officials say that as drastic as such proposals sound, they are taking them seriously -- along with other possible contingency plans in the event of an election-eve or Election Day attack.
"We are reviewing the issue to determine what steps need to be taken to secure the election," says Brian Roehrkasse, a Homeland Security spokesman.
But yesterday a senior House Democrat was skeptical of the idea.
"I think it's excessive based on what we know," said Rep. Jane Harman of California, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, in a interview on CNN's "Late Edition."
Harman said Ridge's threat warning last week "was a bust" because it was based on old information.
Republican Rep. Christopher Cox of California, who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, told CNN that the idea of legislation allowing the election to be postponed was similar to what had already been looked at in terms of how to respond to an attack on Congress.
"These are doomsday scenarios. Nobody expects that they're going to happen," he said. "But we're preparing for all these contingencies now."
***
I think they ought to just drop the gloves and abandon even the pretense that the US is a participatory democracy, except on the lowest town-meeting level.
Sideshow Bob: Your guilty consciences may make you vote Democratic, but secretly you all yearn for a Republican president to lower taxes, brutalize criminals, and rule you like a king!
OK, now for the Interests Meme, just because I've seen this a few other places:
Based on the lj interests lists of those who share my more unusual interests, the interests suggestion meme thinks I might be interested in
1. writing score: 25
2. music score: 24
3. reading score: 22
4. history score: 17
5. industrial score: 17
6. cats score: 17
7. art score: 17
8. coffee score: 15
9. photography score: 15
10. sex score: 15
11. monty python score: 14
12. drawing score: 14
13. the cure score: 14
14. nick cave score: 13
15. david bowie score: 13
16. movies score: 12
17. coil score: 12
18. mythology score: 11
19. front 242 score: 11
20. punk score: 11
coded byixwin
Find out more
Doesn't make a lot of sense as I do not particularly like cats, and my Monty Python phase was long long ago, but I suppose it shows up because many of my LJ friends have these interests.
And now the First, Last, Now and Miscellaneous Questions Meme, Mark XII:
Firsts-
First job: French tutor.
First screen name: Citizenx
First funeral: Age 22, a guy in my platoon killed himself.
First pet: Beagle puppy.
First piercing: None.
First tattoo: Einsturzende Neubauten man, right shoulder, 2002.
First credit card: MasterCard.
First enemy: He'll never tell.
First favorite band/musician: Devo.
Lasts-
Last car ride: home from the Hall of Wonders.
Last movie watched: The Faculty, on Friday.
Last beverage drank: Coffee. Crappy coffee. Cold crappy coffee.
Last food consumed: chicken sandwich, didn't have breakfast.
Last phone call: Cathy, to get some student contact hours information.
Last time showered: Last night.
Last CD played: Tuva - Among the Spirits.
Last website visited: Consimworld.com.
Now-
Sex: male.
Birthday: October 24, 1964
Sign: Scorpio.
Siblings: one sister, 37.
Hair color: dark brown
Eye color: hazel
Shoe size: 9 usually.
Height: just under 5'11"
Right now what are you-
Wearing: black zip-off pants, green cotton shirt.
Drinking: Coffee. Crappy coffee. Cold crappy coffee. Make it stop!
Thinking about: I want a sammich. Or a slice.
Listening to: Traffic noise outside.
1. Your name spelled backwards.: Niart drahciR nairB
2. Where were your parents born?: Dad: Cabbagetown Mom: North Battleford
3. What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer?: PDF of something more fun than work.
4. What's your favorite restaurant?: Ocean Garden.
5. Last time you swam in a pool?: Phoenix, mid-May
6. Have you ever been in a school play?: Yes. I was always the MC or narrator, for some reason.
7. How many kids do you want?: One's enough, and I've got him.
8. Type of music you dislike most?: Rap, hip-hop.
9. Are you registered to vote?: Yes.
10. Do you have a car?: No, never owned one.
11. Have you ever ridden on a moped?: no
12. Ever prank call anybody?: I like to use weird voices on the phone.
13. Ever get a parking ticket?: No.
14. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving?: Bungee no; sky-diving yes; done it several times.
15. Furthest place you ever traveled?: Germany, whichy is a bit further away from here than Japan.
16. Do you have a garden?: Yes, but I planted only opium poppies this year.
17. What's the size of your bed?: King.
18. Do you really know all the words to your national anthem?: Yes.
19. Bath or Shower, morning or night?: Shower at night.
20. Best movie you've seen in the past 4 months?: In a theatre: The Fog of War.
21. What's the next movie you want to see?: The Nomi Song.
22. Chips or popcorn?: Both!
23. Have you ever broken any hearts?: Not yet.
24. Premarital sex?: Yup.
25. Are you a good cook?: For simple things.
26. Orange or Apple juice?: apple.
28. Favorite type of drink?: Cold.
29. Best thing in the world?: Fun with good people.
30. Have you ever broken a bone?: Ohhh yeah, have I ever.
31. Have you ever won a trophy?: Yes. a Go board.
32. What is your favorite board game?: Right now, Vinci.
33. What is your dream car?: Someone else's.
34. Ever order an article from an infomercial?: No.
35. Coke or Pepsi?: Pepsi.
36. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to work?: Ha ha, sure!
37. Last thing you bought at a pharmacy?: Clif bars.
38. Who are you going to marry?: Already married. It was a mistake.
39. Who would you like to meet?: Met her.
40. Do you believe in love at first sight?: no.
41. What features do you find most attractive in the opposite sex?: just fun to be around, interested, interesting.
42. Where would you go for a romantic evening?: long walk on a warm night.
43. How many pairs of shoes do you own?: three pairs combat boots, three pairs sneakers, three pairs Doc Martens/police ankle boots.
44. Last song stuck in your head?: Oingo Boingo, "Dead Man's Party"
45. Any pets?: Not since the Triops died.
46. What's your all time favorite Saturday Night Live Character?: Dieter! Now is the time on Shprockets ven ve daunce...
47. What is one thing you would like to learn to do?: Weld.
48. What do you do when you are bored?: screw around on the Internet, read, design or play board games, wank, listen to music.
49. Where were you born?: Corner Brook.
50. What one thing would you want someone to appreciate about you?: That they appreciate me. I don't think it's an awful lot to ask.
51. What is one thing you are grateful for today? Betty.
Last Thursday there was Prophecy at Lucky Bar, a damn fine place to have it. There will be another one on Tuesday August 10, and this time a Syrian zither player won't be opening for our fine DJ
shadesofwinter. Saturday was the 2004 Gothnic at Gyro Park, attended by
scuttle, epexegesis, emperorkefka, and nocturnalmuse among others. The Sagacity folks were next table over, and braved the rain that fell at 4:00. They had decorated their picnic site with black and blue balloons, which I thought was a nice touch. That night to dzherzhinski's new floating home to play Samurai and Vinci. We had a good time.Sunday was capped by a visit to the Hall of Wonders, far underground at a shopping mall near you. An amazing trip through dark tunnels, with neat soda-straw stalactites and weird gunge everywhere. Aki had a great time, found a $20 bill in the parking lot and we all had ice cream later.
Tonight there is a Jan Svankmajer film showing by "Schock Corridor Cinema" at the FiftyFifty Arts Collective, at its new digs near Douglas and Bay. 9:00, two dollars, BE THERE!
Meanwhile, more in the "I told you so, but not just yet" department:
***
U.S. reviews Election Day terror contingency plans
COMBINED NEWS SERVICES
July 12, 2004
American counterterrorism officials, citing what they all "alarming" intelligence about a possible al-Qaida strike inside the United States this fall, are reviewing a proposal that could allow for the postponement of the November presidential election in the event of such an attack, according to Newsweek magazine.
The success of March's Madrid railway bombings in influencing the Spanish elections -- as well as intercepted "chatter" among al-Qaida operatives -- has led analysts to conclude "they want to interfere with the elections," says one official.
The prospect that al-Qaida might seek to disrupt the U.S. election was a major factor behind last week's terror warning by Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. Ridge and other counterterrorism officials concede they have no intelligence about any specific plots, though.
Newsweek reported in its issue out today that Ridge's department asked the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel last week to analyze what legal steps would be needed to permit the postponement of the election were an attack to take place.
The Justice Department was specifically asked to review a recent letter to Ridge from DeForest Soaries Jr., chairman of the Election Assistance Commission, which was created in 2002 to provide funds to states to replace punch-card voting systems and provide other help in conducting federal elections.
In his letter, Soaries noted that, while a primary election in New York on Sept. 11, 2001, was quickly suspended by the state's Board of Elections after the attacks that morning, "the federal government has no agency that has the statutory authority to cancel and reschedule a federal election."
Soaries, a Bush appointee who two years ago was an unsuccessful GOP candidate for Congress, wants Ridge to seek emergency legislation from Congress empowering his agency to make such a call. Homeland officials say that as drastic as such proposals sound, they are taking them seriously -- along with other possible contingency plans in the event of an election-eve or Election Day attack.
"We are reviewing the issue to determine what steps need to be taken to secure the election," says Brian Roehrkasse, a Homeland Security spokesman.
But yesterday a senior House Democrat was skeptical of the idea.
"I think it's excessive based on what we know," said Rep. Jane Harman of California, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, in a interview on CNN's "Late Edition."
Harman said Ridge's threat warning last week "was a bust" because it was based on old information.
Republican Rep. Christopher Cox of California, who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, told CNN that the idea of legislation allowing the election to be postponed was similar to what had already been looked at in terms of how to respond to an attack on Congress.
"These are doomsday scenarios. Nobody expects that they're going to happen," he said. "But we're preparing for all these contingencies now."
***
I think they ought to just drop the gloves and abandon even the pretense that the US is a participatory democracy, except on the lowest town-meeting level.
Sideshow Bob: Your guilty consciences may make you vote Democratic, but secretly you all yearn for a Republican president to lower taxes, brutalize criminals, and rule you like a king!
OK, now for the Interests Meme, just because I've seen this a few other places:
Based on the lj interests lists of those who share my more unusual interests, the interests suggestion meme thinks I might be interested in
1. writing score: 25
2. music score: 24
3. reading score: 22
4. history score: 17
5. industrial score: 17
6. cats score: 17
7. art score: 17
8. coffee score: 15
9. photography score: 15
10. sex score: 15
11. monty python score: 14
12. drawing score: 14
13. the cure score: 14
14. nick cave score: 13
15. david bowie score: 13
16. movies score: 12
17. coil score: 12
18. mythology score: 11
19. front 242 score: 11
20. punk score: 11
coded by
ixwinFind out more
Doesn't make a lot of sense as I do not particularly like cats, and my Monty Python phase was long long ago, but I suppose it shows up because many of my LJ friends have these interests.
And now the First, Last, Now and Miscellaneous Questions Meme, Mark XII:
Firsts-
First job: French tutor.
First screen name: Citizenx
First funeral: Age 22, a guy in my platoon killed himself.
First pet: Beagle puppy.
First piercing: None.
First tattoo: Einsturzende Neubauten man, right shoulder, 2002.
First credit card: MasterCard.
First enemy: He'll never tell.
First favorite band/musician: Devo.
Lasts-
Last car ride: home from the Hall of Wonders.
Last movie watched: The Faculty, on Friday.
Last beverage drank: Coffee. Crappy coffee. Cold crappy coffee.
Last food consumed: chicken sandwich, didn't have breakfast.
Last phone call: Cathy, to get some student contact hours information.
Last time showered: Last night.
Last CD played: Tuva - Among the Spirits.
Last website visited: Consimworld.com.
Now-
Sex: male.
Birthday: October 24, 1964
Sign: Scorpio.
Siblings: one sister, 37.
Hair color: dark brown
Eye color: hazel
Shoe size: 9 usually.
Height: just under 5'11"
Right now what are you-
Wearing: black zip-off pants, green cotton shirt.
Drinking: Coffee. Crappy coffee. Cold crappy coffee. Make it stop!
Thinking about: I want a sammich. Or a slice.
Listening to: Traffic noise outside.
1. Your name spelled backwards.: Niart drahciR nairB
2. Where were your parents born?: Dad: Cabbagetown Mom: North Battleford
3. What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer?: PDF of something more fun than work.
4. What's your favorite restaurant?: Ocean Garden.
5. Last time you swam in a pool?: Phoenix, mid-May
6. Have you ever been in a school play?: Yes. I was always the MC or narrator, for some reason.
7. How many kids do you want?: One's enough, and I've got him.
8. Type of music you dislike most?: Rap, hip-hop.
9. Are you registered to vote?: Yes.
10. Do you have a car?: No, never owned one.
11. Have you ever ridden on a moped?: no
12. Ever prank call anybody?: I like to use weird voices on the phone.
13. Ever get a parking ticket?: No.
14. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving?: Bungee no; sky-diving yes; done it several times.
15. Furthest place you ever traveled?: Germany, whichy is a bit further away from here than Japan.
16. Do you have a garden?: Yes, but I planted only opium poppies this year.
17. What's the size of your bed?: King.
18. Do you really know all the words to your national anthem?: Yes.
19. Bath or Shower, morning or night?: Shower at night.
20. Best movie you've seen in the past 4 months?: In a theatre: The Fog of War.
21. What's the next movie you want to see?: The Nomi Song.
22. Chips or popcorn?: Both!
23. Have you ever broken any hearts?: Not yet.
24. Premarital sex?: Yup.
25. Are you a good cook?: For simple things.
26. Orange or Apple juice?: apple.
28. Favorite type of drink?: Cold.
29. Best thing in the world?: Fun with good people.
30. Have you ever broken a bone?: Ohhh yeah, have I ever.
31. Have you ever won a trophy?: Yes. a Go board.
32. What is your favorite board game?: Right now, Vinci.
33. What is your dream car?: Someone else's.
34. Ever order an article from an infomercial?: No.
35. Coke or Pepsi?: Pepsi.
36. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to work?: Ha ha, sure!
37. Last thing you bought at a pharmacy?: Clif bars.
38. Who are you going to marry?: Already married. It was a mistake.
39. Who would you like to meet?: Met her.
40. Do you believe in love at first sight?: no.
41. What features do you find most attractive in the opposite sex?: just fun to be around, interested, interesting.
42. Where would you go for a romantic evening?: long walk on a warm night.
43. How many pairs of shoes do you own?: three pairs combat boots, three pairs sneakers, three pairs Doc Martens/police ankle boots.
44. Last song stuck in your head?: Oingo Boingo, "Dead Man's Party"
45. Any pets?: Not since the Triops died.
46. What's your all time favorite Saturday Night Live Character?: Dieter! Now is the time on Shprockets ven ve daunce...
47. What is one thing you would like to learn to do?: Weld.
48. What do you do when you are bored?: screw around on the Internet, read, design or play board games, wank, listen to music.
49. Where were you born?: Corner Brook.
50. What one thing would you want someone to appreciate about you?: That they appreciate me. I don't think it's an awful lot to ask.
51. What is one thing you are grateful for today? Betty.
