Funniest character EVER to grace the TV screen.
...In a moment it will be
time to execute
rock concert movement number three:
The up and down jumping motion. Here are your instructions...
Obama's coffers have been filling since Sarah Palin attacked him repeatedly in St. Paul last night.
An Obama aide confirms Drudge's report that Obama has raised about $8 million from more than 130,000 donors and is on pace to raise $10 million by the time McCain reaches the stage tonight.
UPDATE: Obama spokesman Bill Burton says, "Sarah Palin's attacks
have rallied our supporters in ways we never expected. And we fully
expect John McCain's attacks tonight to help us make our grassroots
organization even stronger."
From the deli: mesquite-smoked roast turkey and fresh caraway rye
From the garden: one small tomato (yes, I said GARDEN, it matters)
From the regular grocery: classic dijon mustard, classic mayonnaise, good-quality kosher dills
Wash and slice the tomato, and slice a few of the pickles. Don't use too much mustard or mayo on the bread; you should be able to taste it, not slurp it. Pile on some of the sliced turkey; add tomato and pickle slices. I made three small sandwiches this way. Add a beverage of your own choosing. (I have a diet Sunkist, but really there are better choices, heh)
Nothing fussy or overdone here, just some really nice ingredients. SO VERY YUM.
No photo; sorry. I kinda zoned out after the first bite. ;-)
You know, I rarely actually write anything about politics, never here, and rarely on the community blogs I frequent. It's primarily because I'm not the best writer in the world, and usually because someone has said what I want to say better than I could anyway. But all morning I've been dying to write something about Giuliani's speech last night. I haven't been able to formulate a good way to write it without sounding like it's straight out of the metafilter echo chamber. so I'm not going to write one here. But this comment from Douglas Rushkoff's blog, quoted in the thread, sums up what I want to say.
I felt a bit nauseous watching the Republican convention last night. I’m very much a give-the-benefit-of-the-doubt kind of guy, so I try to listen to the arguments people make even when they’re made in over-the-top or patronizing ways. Sometimes it’s good to distinguish between the rhetorical devices and the underlying substance. Even people who use manipulative language sometimes have an important point beneath their persuasion techniques (ads against smoking, for example).
I usually don’t feel uneasy when I put those filters on, but last night - during the Guiliani speech - I realized I was no longer filtering a speechwriter’s intentional manipulation; I was trying to look beyond real hate. These folks were gritting their teeth, shaking their fists, and smiling the way gladiators do when going into combat against barbarians. And this is the incumbent party. The ones currently in power.
What is it they hate? Guiliani and Palin both made it pretty clear:
community organizing. Community organizing is energized from below.
From the periphery. It is the direction and facilitation of mass energy
towards productive and cooperative ends. It is about replacing conflict
with collaboration. It is the opposite of war; it is peace.
I woke up with an earworm, and I'll share it with you. You're welcome.
A few weeks ago we went to a Yankees game (our last of the season, our last in the old Yankee Stadium). Unfortunately, the start of the game was delayed by a thunderstorm. We hadn't gone inside yet to meet our friends, and were standing under cover outside the stadium, eating pizza, when I overhead this conversation between a little boy (around 9 or 10) who was there with his dad, and a friendly stranger who was chatting to him.
Man: So is this your first time to Yankee Stadium?
Boy: Yep
Man: Well, I was talking to A-Rod earlier, and he said he'd hit a home run for you!
Boy: ...
Man: How'd you like to see A-Rod hit a home run and win the game?
Boy (to Dad): But you said A-Rod's a choker! You said he doesn't hit home runs at the right time!
Me: heh.
For 10 minutes of relaxation, play the audio file while staring at the animated waterfall.
The Wicked Tinkers stole the show, and I say this with all due respect to the Games - I will attend again next year if the Wicked Tinkers are going to be there. Seriously, they stole the show and are what/who will bring me back again next year.
The next most popular attraction was the Sheepdog Trials. That was so fantastic to watch that the stands were full and it was standing room only. Those dogs are quick, nimble, and so incredibly intelligent. And the sheep they herded were just too cute.
The Clydesdales were beauties, as were Bonnie & Clyde, the Highland Cattle. Bonnie is such a pretty girl, but Clyde needed a good brushing. They were really huggable looking, but I wouldn't want to be gored by either of their horns.
I thought it was pretty funny that in a corner of the Birds of Prey attraction they had Scottish Fold cats in residence. Such odd bedfellows.
Of course, there were bands, piping, drumming, harping, and dancing. All immensely enjoyable.
The Living History group looked amazing. I am so glad the weather broke and we had absolutely gorgeous weather all day long, it had been 108 the day prior for the March Under the Arch in downtown Pleasanton (very entertaining). Yes, that's right 108, in the shade. So, I am glad for them in their 45 pound costumes (I asked) that we had a cool day.
The United States Marine Corps. Marching Band was there and sounded great. And let's be honest, we all know I love Marines as much as I love men in kilts.
There were MANY vendors, so many, too many to tell you what all was for sale. I didn't buy anything except a Games Program and a subscription to Scotland Magazine, which is well written and easy to read. Very enjoyable. I've already devoured my first issue.
I am very pleased to report that even my worst shortbread is better than what I had at the Tea Room. Theirs was worse than any failed shortbread I have ever made, so YAY! for me. But the Lemon Curd they served was top shelf.
I turned my nose up at the food, and I love fried grease as a food group, but I got a face-full of some nasty BBQ smoke as I was walking around that killed my appetite, so it really wasn't the food.
Oh, I almost forgot why I went. The Heavy Athletics. I should have went down to the track and got Ryan Viera's autograph, I am kicking myself for not.
And that Summer Pierson! I loved her. She really got the crowd into it. She is a package of strength, looks, personality, and I am certain brains too. She was able to get the whole stands clapping in rhythmic unison every time she took a toss, even though she was throwing at the same time as some of the really popular professional male athletes. She stole the crowd's attention. She's the coolest ever!
And I saw a world's record set too for "weight for height" in the Woman's group. I can't recall her name, or the weight of the weight, or name of the weight of the thing she threw but she went last and has blond hair, I think is married to one of the male competitors and the height was 19.6 feet.
I didn't watch any rugby, shinty or soccer, but I enjoyed the Kilted Mile Race so much I might enter it next year when I go back to hear the Wicked Tinkers.
Oh, and by the way, Pleasanton lives up to its' name. It IS a very pleasant little town, and I liked it very much.
I am sure as the week rolls on more videos will appear on youtube, but for now this one has a nice conglomeration of many of the events.
VIDEO CREDIT goes to gogoaraiguma @ http://www.youtube.com/user/gogoaraigumaEvent.
I am sure I've forgotten to mention a hundred and two things, but for now... See you next year!
Oh yeah. This is why it's good to be a geek. You're like a real-world wizard. I can get your frozen concentrated OJ out of that cardboard can for you, too.
