February 2012
Mind-Blowing Charts From the Senate's Income... →
HEY EVERYONE, WANNA FEEL SICK TO YOUR STOMACH, WITH CHARTS?
opbmusic: Music Blog: Support opbmusic With a... →
If you like good music and great in-studio performances at your fingertips, without having to listen to any commercials, maybe you should consider throwing a few bucks toward the folks at the mostly volunteer-staffed OPBmusic. (I’m proud to count myself as one of those volunteers) They’ll send you a CD from Kill Rock Stars!
DO IT!
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First Aid Kit - Emmylou
Why is that Norse people...
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Peace and Quiet
Try thinking of a time and place where you were completely disentangled from everything but yourself and the natural world around you. I’m talking about having no cell phone nearby, no laptop, no television, no iPad, no headphones, nothing.
I can’t think of a time recently when I could check off each of those criteria and say that I was truly on my own. Sure, there are plenty of...
They're Ruining "Scary Stories To Tell In The... →
Y’know, part of the fun of these books, for me at least, was BEING FUCKING SCARED OF THE ARTWORK! What is the point of having a book of scary stories with artwork that isn’t even remotely scary whatsoever?
January 2012
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Viagra regs paired with abortion rules - Virginia... →
A slow clap this morning for Virginia state Senator Janet Howell for introducing an amendment to a bill that would require women to undergo an ultrasound before getting an abortion. She proposed that- “Prior to prescribing medication for erectile dysfunction, a physician shall perform a digital rectal examination and a cardiac stress test…”
Janet’s reasoning? “I think we should...
“If you’re born in the fall, you may have a better shot at living to a ripe...”
– That bad attitude? Blame the birth month - latimes.com
November 10th, y’all!!! See you in 70 years or so! (well, maybe not if you’re not a fall baby…)
Rudolph Kleven, Alvarado, Minn., letter: When did... →
He had me until the last paragraph, but that doesn’t mean that he’s not right. Executive greed trumps employee standard of living every time these days.
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Rick Santorum: Left uses college for... →
Perhaps, just perhaps, Rick, those of us who go to college and come out more liberal and less religious aren’t indoctrinated.
Maybe knowledge and critical thinking lead some-but not all-people away from religion.
Maybe being instantly saddled with massive, often crippling debt simply due to a desire for knowledge and understanding of the world gives some people a more progressive view of...
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What Should Liam Neeson Punch Next? : Monkey See :... →
I approve of Liam Neeson punching just about anything, especially bankers and Steven Segal.
“I believe the federal government has grown out of control, threatening the...”
– Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas • Describing why he decided to skip an event in which Obama honored the team for winning the Stanley Cup last season. While the event went off without a hitch, Thomas’ no-show has drawn a lot of controversy, as many felt that the move showed a lack of respect to the...
Lockouts grow as employers up ante vs. unions | |... →
FYI, American Crystal Employees are still locked out.
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Episode 11 - Mike Taus #2 | Past Forward Podcast →
The latest Past Forward Podcast is up and available to excite your ears!
I sat down once again with my old friend Mike to look back on the year that was 2011 and discuss his car being stolen not once, but twice.
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Joe Paterno: Bury A Man, Keep The Statue -... →
As he so often does, Spencer Hall sums up a overwhelming event in college football with wit, style, and substance.
If I could add anything, it would be that the legend and the man became one toward the twilight of Paterno’s career, even perhaps in his own mind.
Joe had absolute power in Happy Valley, and as we all know, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Even for a man of Paterno’s...
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January Fucking Sucks
January got off to a rousing start with multiple flat tires on my bike. The second one forced me to walk the rest of the way to work, three miles, in 35 degree weather. And yes, walking in 35 degree weather is somehow colder than riding a bike in 35 degree weather, in case you were wondering.
I was rear-ended on my way to work (I’m okay) and my car was declared a total loss due to a bent...
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“All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now...”
– George Washington, 1790
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7 Charged as F.B.I. Closes a Top File-Sharing Site... →
“international criminal enterprise”
Guffaw.
I guess that’s why the government wants to pass SOPA or PIPA, so that they can do this kind of shit in the dark of the night and hope that people won’t notice. Well, we notice. We notice that even the FBI is apparently beholden to the MPAA.
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Portland and Snow, A Wintery Mix
Big, fat flakes were wafting to the ground outside my office window this morning, landing softly on the grass below, where most of them melted into obscurity within seconds, though a lucky few stick around for literally minutes more. It was quite a sight to behold. The roof of the building across the street was a placid white. It gave that non-descript beige law office a folksy,...
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Rick Perry Defends Marines Who Urinated On Corpses →
You couldn’t make this sort of headline up if you tried.
I don’t like linking to the Huffington Post, but I don’t like Rick Perry even more. In fact, in light of such a brazenly idiotic statement, I’d say I hate the motherfucker.
This empty-suited chickenhawk, who advocated re-invading Iraq and has been rattling the saber for military action against Iran is daring to...
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WatchYes, this is real. Yes, it’s funny. Yes, our system is irrevocably broken and Stephen Colbert is throwing it in our faces. Well done, Stephen. You’re right, our system of funding elections is a complete and utter joke.
Colbert, 2012.
Fuel Fix » Measure takes ND oil taxes for wildlife... →
I would hope that my friends back in North Dakota would seriously think about signing the petition to get this on the ballot this year.
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Cyclogeddon: Slow Start to 2012
It’s been a frustrating start to the new year for bike commuting. After spending the holidays working mornings and evenings-which is not conducive to riding my bike, especially in the late dawn/early dark of winter-I’ve been forced to do more driving in the new year, despite highly cooperative weather. I mean, it was nearly 60 and sunny last week. That just ain’t right, but I...
Why I Won’t Turn Off My Gadgets on Planes |... →
I’m with this guy. The only time I use Airplane mode on my phone is when it’s a long flight and I want to conserve my battery.
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Portland Then and Now, 1890 to 2012 →
Very cool.
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Watch(via opbmusic: Studio Sessions: Radiation City)
Another cool session at OPBmusic that I was privileged to help out with.
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How Americans really feel about drugs - Salon.com →
I don’t know that I speak for the majority of people, but at least among my circle of friends, it seems like the feeling is that the “War on Drugs” has been a spectacular failure.
It’s not so much that we want marijuana legalized as we think it’s stupid to keep locking up and arresting people who smoke pot. Repeated studies have shown that it’s less harmful...
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Ohh, Iowa...
So Romney won Iowa, barely. Not a huge surprise. Out of the poo-poo platter of candidates that the GOP has put forth, he’s really the most palatable to the rest of America. Sure, he’s still an empty suit with nice hair and magic underwear, but at least he’s not Newt Gingrich.
I’ve had friends who live in and are from Iowa tell me over the past few weeks that I should wait...
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Let’s Start Paying College Athletes - NYTimes.com →
A very interesting look at a big problem in major college sports. I like Nocera’s take on this. It’s a refreshing look at the issue of paying college athletes that actually makes a lot of sense, thought it requires fans and schools to be more honest with ourselves as to what major college sports mean.